tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post8752901927237480343..comments2024-03-20T06:04:22.978-04:00Comments on The Venice Experience: Technically "Venetian"karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02387141835879842596noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-33074804973258655642012-02-27T17:30:33.041-05:002012-02-27T17:30:33.041-05:00Karen,
I had to grin about your expectations that...Karen,<br /><br />I had to grin about your expectations that you would wait and wait for your carta d'identita'. And what a lovely surprise that you did not have to wait long. K love your Italian stories. Please keep them coming. They bring many bright spots into my day!<br /><br />DianneDiannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08249874735043959774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-25270363331427345602012-01-22T08:09:14.996-05:002012-01-22T08:09:14.996-05:00Whew, that was a close one!Whew, that was a close one!Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09790643093613089654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-44445070775067072202011-12-31T20:11:14.395-05:002011-12-31T20:11:14.395-05:00Buon Anno - Happy New Year to you both from Sunny ...Buon Anno - Happy New Year to you both from Sunny Adelaide Australia - 41 degrees todayjanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07724975862119206764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-81852266299801469642011-12-31T00:37:43.082-05:002011-12-31T00:37:43.082-05:00Ciao Karen
Congratulations! What a wonderful stor...Ciao Karen<br />Congratulations! What a wonderful story! I felt like I was there with you in the waiting room and I could hear the stamping! It is so true everything that you recounted. Your story reminds me of the book "Italian Neighbors" by Tim Parks. It was written awhile back but it is all about experiences like yours. He is from England and married a woman from Verona. He lives in Italy and has written many fictional novels. "Italian Neighbors" is based on experiences from his life in Italy. It's a great read and for any one who has spent time in Italy beyond the tourist experience, you will say many times while reading, "this is sooooooo true! only in Italy!" He also wrote the follow-up "An Italian Education" based on his life in Italy raising a family. These books are filled with happenings of Italian life. I would love to be a resident of Italy someday. I have an "only in Italy" story for you. On my last trip to Venice in Sept. I went to the local mini market. I grabbed my few items and walked into line to pay. I was the third one in line. In front of me speaking to the cashier was an older woman in her 70s who was beautifully made up and dressed. You could tell she took pride in her appearance (as like most italians do). She was explaining to the cashier how disappointed she was that she couldn't find her usual make-up. She went on to ask the cashier if she thought the one she chose was a good a match. Now, let me remind you, there is only one cashier and now there was a person in back of me waiting to pay. The cashier, maybe 20 years old, opened the make-up, tested it and declared that it was not a good choice. She walked from behind the counter and went to pick out another kind, returned to the counter, opened the package, tested the make-up for the woman (who praised her for her choice) and then finally started to ring up the items. I stood there smiling at this scene and said to myself, "only in Italy." I was amazed that no one in line complained about the wait. It was wonderful. I could only imagin the scene in the States. First off no cashier I have ever encountered would take that much time to help a customer. Lately, I barely get a thank you when I pay. Second, people in line would have asked to open another register or would have commented on the wait. Although there are many things in Italy that are headaches or inconvenient, the customer service is fantastic. It is always refreshing to go shopping. I have never entered an italian shop with out a clerk saying buon giorno and never left without hearing grazie. The workers really respect the consumer. Finally, to get to the end of the story, the clerk went on to tell the woman that she was getting a better bargin and that she qualified for a shopping bag that had wheels and a handle! She then went on chatting while she opened the bag and put the woman's items in. The woman was so happy and complimented the lovely bag and told the clerk what wonderful help she was and the both of them exchanged many good-byes. By the way, everyone in line agreed with the woman what a lovely bag it was. She had included us in the conversation. Unfortunately with the amount I spent I did not qualify for one of the bags. The clerk apologized. Off I went and out on the sidewalk I saw the woman happily telling a friend about her new shopping bag. I smiled and nodded and said (in italian of couse) signora, what a lovely bag, you will be able to do a lot of shopping today. She agreed immediately with a smile and bid me a bella giornata. I walked back to my hotel thnking, I love this country. I hope this story was not too long winded. It is just one of the many wonderful daily experiences that I have encountered while in Italy. I wish more people in the States would slow down and be more polite to each other and take the time and effort to show a bit more kindness to each other in everyday encounters. <br />Buon anno Karen!<br />A presto<br />MarisaMarisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-40695776902609842832011-12-30T17:55:52.347-05:002011-12-30T17:55:52.347-05:00Karen:
When I saw that there have not been any co...Karen: <br />When I saw that there have not been any comments for several days, I assumed that everyone is off "doing their thing" and not checking in. I could not allow you to be ignored.<br />I enjoy all your entries very much and think you are an enormously talented writer. Have you thought of publishing your pieces in book form? Jeff Cotton (Fictional Cities blog) is doing just that, incorporating his entries on Venice and self-publishing. <br />Now that you have overcome a lot of obstacles, not to say adversity, in your goal of moving to Venice, settling in and becoming quasi-Venetian, I hope you will not stop posting your experiences. It is always enjoyable to discover a new entry. <br />We stopped going to Venice in December 2009 after more than 40 years. All good things come to an end. We "lived" in the Giudecca so were able to hang on to the realness of Venice longer than in other sestieri. <br />I admire your faith and optimism in finding an authentic Venetian life. <br />Perhaps you will branch out beyond Venice, as we did, and visit other places in the Veneto (but it was always wonderful to come back to the centro storico after an outing). One of our favorite jaunts was going to the Prosecco country around Asolo, visiting wineries and enjoying the beautiful countryside. We developed an interest in these outings because of the madness of Venice on Saturdays and Sundays. <br />Here's wishing you and Mike a wonderful year ahead full of good fortune, good health and everything else you hope for.<br />Ciao,<br />JaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-36942308234475153082011-12-30T17:08:38.260-05:002011-12-30T17:08:38.260-05:00Yeh! Congratulations on becoming just a little bit...Yeh! Congratulations on becoming just a little bit more Venetian!<br /><br />I'm posting this from the comfort of my own sofa, back in E14, no more Venice for me this year!<br /><br />Rob :-(Rob Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13737852771345116009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-71567567304254598782011-12-30T14:55:52.239-05:002011-12-30T14:55:52.239-05:00Congratulations my Venetian friend!!!
And Happy Ne...Congratulations my Venetian friend!!!<br />And Happy New Year to you and Mike.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14990125469349075873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956489623554999361.post-69864990455184561242011-12-29T14:55:15.206-05:002011-12-29T14:55:15.206-05:00This is good news, I am very pleased for you.
Bles...This is good news, I am very pleased for you.<br />Blessings,<br />AnnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com