Italy from the Inside

How do you say ‘Goodbye’ in Italian? Ask Google…



UPDATE: Click here to watch a video on How to say Goodbye in Italian.

Did you ever need to do a quick word translation or a simple currency conversion? Google has been offering for some time a few useful extensions to its Search engine that may just be what you need. Google language tools lets you translate text or entire Web pages in 9 different languages. I tried English to Italian and the results are good for single words, but fairly inaccurate for entire sentences.
The Currency Conversion feature performs quite well. Check out how much is ‘1 Euro in USD‘ at today’s exchange rate. These services are also available via SMS using your US cell phone.

Pre-paid parking permits


In my recent trip to Italy, I’ve noticed that municipalities of small towns have been adopting a new way to collect parking fees. Instead of using traditional parking meters, drivers can purchase pre-paid parking permits sold in coffee shops and newsstands. How does it work? Just scratch the date and time of arrival, put the permit on your dashboard and come back in time before the Vigili Urbani give you a ticket. The average parking fee is around $0.60 per hour.

The Chinotto soft drink


Next time you are visiting Italy and are ready to order your favorite pizza, ask for a Chinotto instead of the usual Coke. Chinotto is a natural citrus and herbal beverage with a unique taste. It is one of Italy’s traditional soft drinks. Thanks to a collaboration with Nestle’, you may be able to find the Chinotto San Pellegrino brand in your local Italian food store too. My impression is that this is a beverage that you either love at first taste, or hate it. What do you think of Chinotto?