bars

When visiting big Italian cities keep in mind that public restrooms are easier to find near tourist attractions. Most of the time a small fee is required and there is usually an attendant (who expects to be tipped). Either way, always have some change with you. Remember: Uomini means Men, Donne means Women.

Besides, by law you have the right to use a bar/coffee house restroom, however many times they allow only customers to use their facilities (sometimes they lock the restroom and you have to ask the bartender for the key). For this reason, it is advisable, and certainly more polite, to get something at the bar before using the toilet.

{This is an excerpt from Chapter 15 “Miscellaneous information” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”}

If there’s something I love about Italy and that I sometimes miss when I’m in the States is the social life, the fact that you run into people virtually every time you walk on the street without planning it.

I love to see elderly people gathering around a red check tablecloth, sipping a glass of red wine, nibbling on some tartine, laughing and joking.

I love to run into an old friend of mine that I haven’t seen in more than 15 years, then seeing her again two days later and finally finding out that she is one of the teachers in my son’s elementary school.

I love to stop by the pizzeria al taglio in my neighborhood and have a friendly chat with the lady behind the counter (who sells the best pizza in town) and that I know since the times I was studying at the university.

And even though I don’t go to bars (which are coffee houses where they sell alcohol as well) I love to think that some people go there because they feel lonely and they know that they can find someone to spend a few minutes (or even hours) with.

Italians really are social animals, they love people, they love to talk to people and be with them.