Author Topic: All things Italian (Read 14065 times)

vstevens · « **on:** May 31, 2016, 09:11:17 AM »

I'm not Italian. Just another American Mutt, but I do appreciate so very much of the Italian style and creativity, taking the mundane and breathing color and life into it.

Of course, Moto Guzzi character, reliability, and style... My Fiat 500 now has over 60k miles and is easy to maintain, fun to drive, cheap to own, and still makes me smile... I've looked at other cars and even test driven a few, but they lacked that special something ...

Italian. What is it that you love about it?

canuguzzi · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2016, 09:19:31 AM »

That Fiat got around to dumping Tony.

Fix it again Tony doesn't seem to affect the 500. They are quick, ride pretty good and have flair in styling. The Abarth sounds really good too. Grin makers.

Adan · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2016, 09:24:46 AM »

I'm half Italian and was raised by the Italian side of my family. What do I like about Italian culture I wouldn't know where to begin . . .

I recently watched one of those WWII reprise series, like the ones I've viewed many times, but somehow never really focused on the Italian theater, particularly their retreat. Over and over again it was, "the Italians barely put up a fight, they just ran."

Italians . . . they're not stupid!

Kiwi_Roy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:00:09 AM »

Quote from: Adan on May 31, 2016, 09:24:46 AM

I'm half Italian and was raised by the Italian side of my family. What do I like about Italian culture I wouldn't know where to begin . . .

I recently watched one of those WWII reprise series, like the ones I've viewed many times, but somehow never really focused on the Italian theater, particularly their retreat. Over and over again it was, "the Italians barely put up a fight, they just ran."

Italians . . . they're not stupid!

Exactly, it wasn't their fight to lose.
They earned a lot of respect in El Alamein
Didn't they change to the right side before the Italian campaign, I recall reading somewhere that the Germans
disarmed them before they had time to re-organize.

segesta · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:08:05 AM »

Of course, the new Cinquecentos--Cinquecenti?--are made in Mexico for the USA market, and in Hungary for Europe. Next thing you know, they'll be making Chevrolets in Canada!

Shorty · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:17:07 AM »

I don't remember where I read it, but here goes: Italians grow up surrounded by things that have been around for many centuries. Beautiful things that stood the test of time. In such surroundings, the only way to get noticed is to be , um, colorful, flamboyant. The ancient tombstones tell them where we all end up, so they drink, dance, love, drive, eat like they mean it.
What is not to admire about that?

redrider90 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:37:42 AM »

The country itself and its people, language, art, food, wine, architecture, gardens and cars/bikes. Lovely place to visit and want ever so bad to go back again. Growing up in Chicago probably 1/4-1/3 of my neighborhood and friends were Italian. Chicago has some of the best Italian food in the US and I grew up with a good appreciation for its cuisine.

twowings · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:38:15 AM »

The Italians are MASTERS of these things: A. beautiful design, B. lustful romance, and C. passion for living

Exhibits A, B, and C:

Oh, and DESSERTS.....did I mention desserts?

Toecutter · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:50:25 AM »

I dunno, but I've found that Italy creeps into my life from all sides.

-I loved the country. Travelling through Italy was life-changing.

-As a cook by trade, I love cooking Italian food, and love eating it even more. The meal at my wedding was Osso Bucco.

-Wine? Love Italian reds. Brunello is all I need to survive, honestly.

- My speakers? Italian.

-It seems like every time I buy something that I really like, something I really want to keep... tools, bags, whatever... they turn out to be Italian.

I dunno. But I've got a thing for Italy, it seems.

rocker59 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2016, 11:05:12 AM »

it is not hard to see why:

Testarossa · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2016, 11:09:53 AM »

Everyone loves Italian food, wine, movies (and movie stars), music, art, style, warmth, enthusiasm, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, scenery, architecture, athletes. No one ever has ever come back from traveling in Italy and said "Done that." Instead, you say "Can't wait to do that again."

Why ask why?

ken farr · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2016, 11:54:08 AM »

Quote from: segesta on May 31, 2016, 10:08:05 AM

Of course, the new Cinquecentos--Cinquecenti?--are made in Mexico for the USA market, and in Hungary for Europe. Next thing you know, they'll be making Chevrolets in Canada!

........blasphemy!!!!.....

kjf

oldbike54 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2016, 11:55:59 AM »

About that Italian food , so much of it is tomato based , say a little thanks to Mexico for that .

Dusty

Damnyankee · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2016, 11:57:13 AM »

Now you guys have done it!

Just within a half mile from our apartment!

Demar · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2016, 12:22:59 PM »

This is the town my grandparents came from - Lorsica. They were married in the church in the picture. It's about 20 miles south-east of Genoa.

rocker59 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2016, 12:50:16 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on May 31, 2016, 11:55:59 AM

About that Italian food , so much of it is tomato based , say a little thanks to Mexico for that .

Dusty

I wonder what Italian food was like before they started eating tomatoes there in the late 1600s.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2016, 12:54:37 PM »

They also design beautiful aircraft of alternative design.

GliderJohn

Damnyankee · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2016, 01:03:50 PM »

Quote from: Demar on May 31, 2016, 12:22:59 PM

This is the town my grandparents came from - Lorsica. They were married in the church in the picture. It's about 20 miles south-east of Genoa.

Beautiful! My grandparents and one uncle were born in Barrea, AQ and now we live here amongst family.

Penderic · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2016, 01:07:17 PM »

Me too! Style and craftsmanship!

Food!

alienbogey · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2016, 02:19:31 PM »

Not everyone likes Italian food. Just sayin'.....

blackcat · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2016, 02:56:24 PM »

Funny.

kidneb · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2016, 03:14:32 PM »

Quote from: Penderic on May 31, 2016, 01:07:17 PM

Nice socks ! Very Italian

canuck750 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2016, 03:30:45 PM »

What is there not to like?

My wife and I are day dreaming about retiring to Italy, spending 8+ months a year their and keeping a very small apartment in Canada. We don't speak a word of Italian so that will be big challenge for us as we close in on 60. From time to time we look at Italian real estate on line showing restored farm houses in the country, beautiful scenery and amazing villages. I have been a couple times, most recently the pilgrimage to Mandelo and my wife has been several more times to Umbria and down the east coast. So long as I can find a place with a mild winter, an outbuilding for motorcycle fiddling and reasonably close to an airport that can connect me back to Canada I may take the leap. It's something we may get serious about in a year or two, if anyone has suggestions for a specific region fill me in.

kidneb · « **Reply #23 on:** May 31, 2016, 04:35:37 PM »

Well- in my eyes there are a lot of things not to like about Italy, not unlike most places- and there are a lot of things to love.
Especially their artistic approach to everything that they do.
When it comes to motorcycles, the design some times have what I would call a brutal elegance to it that I find very fascinating.

Here is a picture of my elder sister and me, visiting the Certosa monastery outside Florence in oct. 1955. The monastery dog is of course dressed up to the event.
The holy spirit of the place seems to have got to me, while my sister look a bit more sceptical. I remember that the munk had some small bottles with colorful liquor that he offered our parents.

Turin · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2016, 10:37:17 PM »

These guys made refrigerators!!!

ITSec · « **Reply #25 on:** June 01, 2016, 01:42:20 AM »

Quote from: Turin on May 31, 2016, 10:37:17 PM

These guys made refrigerators!!!

And I ride a NORGE!!!!

twowings · « **Reply #26 on:** June 01, 2016, 03:37:39 AM »

Quote from: alienbogey on May 31, 2016, 02:19:31 PM

Not everyone likes Italian food. Just sayin'.....

Barbaro!

lucydad · « **Reply #27 on:** June 01, 2016, 08:15:43 AM »

Truly a lovely thread. Makes my heart sing.

When we lived in Tunisia, my French teacher often said: English is precise, French is oblique, German is long, but the Italian language: it is beautiful. Michele was an incredible linguist, grew up in Belgium.

Barolos...

Chris Botti

Pavarotti...

Hoping to entice family to Italy in the next year or two. Peered across Alps to Italia several times.

See a lot of the little Fiats around Houston, they always stick out for their clear, unique style. Still wonder about the Fiat version of the Miata that is supposed to come soon.

The culture is powerful. Nobody has mentioned Roman history influence, and of course the Catholic church, nor the best virgin olive oil on the planet...

segesta · « **Reply #28 on:** June 01, 2016, 08:58:01 AM »

On a more somber note, Italy's biggest cultural challenge is its birthrate; like Japan, they are in a demographic death spiral. It's not even a matter of young people leaving the small towns for the big city; there are simply no young people in the first place.
My wife's extended family is an example of this "upside down" family tree: many of the grandparent generation, a few adult children (my wife's cousins), and maybe one grandchild. Italians love their culture, but don't seem optimistic enough to want to leave it to another generation.

PJPR01 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 01, 2016, 10:18:02 AM »

I was struck by a comment made by several of my close Italian friends in the last couple of years, and without delving into a political tailspin...the influx of refugees floating across the Mediterranean has put a strain on the economy and jobs opportunities lately.

The phrase that struck me as something I hadn't heard in 30 years of travelling to Europe and to Italy regularly was:

Italy is a beautiful place to visit, but it's getting harder and harder to live here permanently (for the Italians themselves), not for expats or retired folks who choose to move there...a bit sad to hear indeed.

News:

Author Topic: All things Italian (Read 14065 times)

canuguzzi

twowings

oldbike54

Penderic

kidneb

canuck750

kidneb

twowings

lucydad