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Post by lagatta on Jun 11, 2021 19:42:15 GMT
What language is this?
I do find Italy trumps France in terms of coffee. (France has far better bread, to say nothing of croissants).
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Post by whatagain on Jun 13, 2021 7:17:21 GMT
I had an espresso in Milano in early november 1990. It must have been about 5 cc. I didn't sleep that night. Never again did i have an espresso in Italy and when offered coffee i ask to delay it in at least the same volume of water.
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Post by patricklondon on Jul 18, 2021 5:03:23 GMT
We used to have a family joke about "packing everything but the kitchen sink", but I never thought I'd come across it for real: Ok, I haven't actually flown with sheets, but have bought them while traveling when the sheets provided were't cutting it. Same with grill grates. When traveling locally, I always bring pillows, a comforter and sheet. Sometimes I bring a spa robe. My new during covid trends were bringing cutlery and plates and a sharp knife and cutting board. After our first foray into a local hotel with restaurants booked, it makes a huge difference in take out when you have proper dinnerware. My craziest item packed was and ice machine. Nothing says clean ice. like your own machine and spring/filtered water. How often does that motel/restaurant service their ice machines. never mind all the dirty hands that reach in. And yet, I do not consider myself a germaphobe.
I would fly with 4 pillows if it was logical to do. How often are those pillows at your lodging really washed properly. Still, I can pack my own pillowcases to double up in those provided. My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 18, 2021 5:17:38 GMT
Here is her suitcase ~
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 18, 2021 6:27:30 GMT
Not a germaphobe?
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Post by questa on Jul 18, 2021 11:05:13 GMT
omg! All you need to travel is a towel. Just ask Mr Arthur Dent.
(At least I also carry an all purpose large sarong)
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Post by whatagain on Jul 18, 2021 12:01:19 GMT
I like the idea of the ice machine. Always makes me smile as i consume about 19 ice cubes a year.
At home we have what we call an american fridge, (big one) with possibility to connect water (previous owner was US). The system stopped working pretty fast due to lack of use and when we need icecubes, they have shrank due to being left untouched for months.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 18, 2021 12:52:07 GMT
I generally use 8 ice cubes a day. (I know this because I know where I use them and also when I fill up my 12-cube ice tray, there are always 4 cubes left.)
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Post by fumobici on Jul 18, 2021 13:10:49 GMT
I generally use 8 ice cubes a day. (I know this because I know where I use them and also when I fill up my 12-cube ice tray, there are always 4 cubes left.) Typical American. I doubt I've used 8 ice cubes in this century.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 18, 2021 13:19:26 GMT
I generally use 8 ice cubes a day. (I know this because I know where I use them and also when I fill up my 12-cube ice tray, there are always 4 cubes left.) Typical American. I doubt I've used 8 ice cubes in this century. No Pastis Fumobici ?
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Post by fumobici on Jul 18, 2021 13:39:39 GMT
Almost never. Here in the US, nobody does, and in Italy, it's digestivi, but neat.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 18, 2021 18:29:59 GMT
I doubt I've used 8 ice cubes in this century. No smoothies at your house?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 18, 2021 18:58:23 GMT
I'm feeling inspiration to make a caïpirinha to celebrate Sunday evening. (When I was working I absolutely would never have celebrated Sunday evening!) Luckily I have more than one ice tray.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 18, 2021 19:11:03 GMT
I have a couple of small ice-cube trays that came with my (almost new, but second-hand) fridge, but never use them, personally. Would like a pastis, though. Never think to buy it, though small bottles are available.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 18, 2021 20:29:17 GMT
My caipi was spectacular.
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Post by fumobici on Jul 18, 2021 21:16:37 GMT
Smoothies have ice cubes? I assumed they were made only of fruit and veg and maybe medical goop like yeast or spirolina. How very naïve of me.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 18, 2021 21:20:39 GMT
Naaaah. Ice cubes & ingredients done just right will make them as though they contain ice cream.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 19, 2021 9:05:41 GMT
My caipi was spectacular. Good. I am a caipi lover myself.
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Post by questa on Aug 19, 2021 0:13:03 GMT
Meanwhile, back with the coffee...In the last few years various 'experts' have raved about the coffee in Melbourne. I am not a coffee drinker much but I have been assured it is better than Europe and, we did drive Starbucks out of Australia. Only American tourists ever drank it. Is Oz coffee better than most? Does the Melbourne water (which is noted for its softness) give it a special flavour?
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 3, 2021 20:17:36 GMT
If only wimps would stay home!
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Post by fumobici on Sept 4, 2021 3:39:14 GMT
If only wimps would stay home! USAsians going to Italy at the moment aren't required to test or quarantine if they have a CDC vax card and that card is legally acceptable in lieu of a GreenPass. I'm going to have to go before long regardless the hoops set up so I hope things improve (or at least don't become worse) in the next few months.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 14, 2021 19:22:50 GMT
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Post by patricklondon on Sept 16, 2021 9:50:59 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 16, 2021 13:07:33 GMT
Oh, those women appear to be sneaking in everywhere!
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Post by patricklondon on Sept 17, 2021 9:58:05 GMT
I think this one has done the rounds of "Karen memes". I think it originally appeared on Reddit. I'm telling you about one event but I must have a "retail" face because I'm approached so often. I wear a suit at work. When I call in at any shop on the way home I leave my jacket in the car so I'm just wearing a shirt and tie. I couldn't tell you how many times people assume I am staff.If they're civil, I'm civil.If they're struggling, I'm helpful.If they're rude, I have fun.The reason I remember this one is because I've said all of these things separately before but this was the first time I got them all squeezed into one single interaction. It just went so perfectly. It will never happen again."
I had called in to a large supermarket to pick up birthday candles.I first saw the woman being very rude to another customer for no apparent reason. Imagine Rush Limbaugh in drag. Sorry to put that in your head. She was just impatient and the other customer wasn't moving fast enough for her liking so she was insulting her. She definitely ranked above asshole so let's call her Douchebagette or DB for short.As she turned I saw the "missile lock" in her eyes as she spotted me. She galumphed her way over. I decided to enjoy it and settled on being deadpan literal as a plan. I looked away.
DB: Excuse me!! Me: Why, what have you done? DB: What?!
She paused for a second looking like a dog that had been shown a card trick. Then angrily asked:- DB: Can you help me? Me: I couldn't possibly know. I don't know what you want.
She makes a Tucker Carlson face. DB: Where do you keep your eyelash curlers? Me: I don't keep them anywhere. DB: Yes, you do. I've seen them before. Me: I'm certain I don't. I've never owned any. My eyelashes manage to bend all on their own. I'm more than happy with the bendiness of my eyelashes. DB: Huh? What? No, idiot, I mean the shop. Where in the shop are the eyelash curlers?"
Me: I haven't got a clue. DB: Why not? Me: I refer you to my previous answer. I never use them. DB: Aargh! Are you trying to be stupid? Me: No, it's effortless. DB: This is insane! Are you going to find out where the eyelash curlers are, or would you prefer that I speak to your manager? Me: I'd say neither but if I had to choose I'd go for option (b) DB: What?? You want me to speak to your manager? Me: No.
She shakes her head in angry confusion and says:- DB: You just said you did. Me: No I didn't. You asked me which I'd prefer. If I was offered a rectal exam or a slap in the face I don't want either but I'd prefer the second to the first. See how it works? (This is a phrase I use with my wife when she gives me shitty alternatives.)
She stood in silence for a few seconds with her mouth open and the deepest frown. She then built up to a shout with:-
DB: This is RIDICULOUS!!! Me: I completely agree. DB: WHERE is your manager? Me: I'm not exactly sure but my guess would be at home with his family. DB: AAARGH! You're being STUPID! Who supervises YOU here in this store RIGHT NOW?
She actually stamped her foot twice when she shouted "right now".
Me: Nobody. DB: What? Why not? Me: Because I don't need to be supervised. I haven't needed supervision in a shop since I was about 9 years old. DB: OH MY GOD, IT'S LIKE TALKING TO THE WALL!!
I could see that her shouting had attracted a member of management. She was approaching quickly.
DB: Why aren't you HELPING ME!!! Me: Why would I?
I think I saw a slight hint of understanding spread across her puzzled face.
DB: You do WORK HERE don't you? Me: No. DB: WHY DIDN'T YOU FUCKING SAY SO?! Me: You didn't ask me. Until now.
The manager arrived just as Douchebagette shouted into my face DB: YOU'RE A FUCKING MORON!!! Manager to DB: Madam, please lower your voice and stop swearing. There are children in the store. Manager to me: What's happening Sir? Me: I'm not really sure. This woman was being rude to another customer then she approached me and started to interrogate me about my personal grooming habits. She wasn't happy with my answers and started to spit shout at me.
DB: NO, THAT'S NOT FUCKING TRUE. I WAS SHOUTING BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WORKED HERE! Manager: Whether he was an employee or not you can't talk like that. You can't abuse customers and we have a strict policy about abuse towards staff. We don't tolerate it. DB: ITS NOT MY FAULT. HE'S A FUCKING IDIOT. IF HE HAD ......
She was interrupted by the manager. Manager: Please. stop. shouting! The manager pressed transmit on her radio and said:- Manager: Security, urgent, code 4, aisle 14. Manager to me: Are you OK Sir? Me: Yes I'm fine I just needed birthday candles. Could you tell me where they are? DB: WHAT THE FUCKING HELL IS GOI.... Manager to DB: Stop. Shouting. Stop. Swearing. If I have to warn you again you will have to leave the store. Manager to me: They're on aisle 22. Me: OK. Thank you.
I started to walk away. Meanwhile, DB was still shouting. Two security staff turned the corner and passed me on their way to DB. I could hear her shouting for another 30 seconds. The next time I saw DB I was standing at the self checkout. She was being followed out of the store by the security staff. She was complaining into her phone, loudly but unclearly, about the shop, the staff and "some fucking moron" as she left empty-handed. Do you think that moron was me?
I was wishing so hard for her to look left and see me but she didn't. If she had shouted at me, regardless of what she said, I was going to raise my little box of candles and say "Yes thanks, I found them".The whole thing was so funny. I almost broke and nearly started laughing when she stamped her foot in time with "right now".
I've been mistaken for staff dozens of times but I've never had it go so perfectly. Probably never will. Don't expect a sequel.
My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 17, 2021 11:23:32 GMT
Priceless.
I get asked for assistance at the supermarket all the time, not because they think I'm staff, but because the shrunken little old ladies always want something on the top shelf that is out of their reach. Just yesterday it was the triple pack of canned peas that they couldn't get without my help.
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Post by onlyMark on Sept 17, 2021 19:45:25 GMT
I seem to get stopped quite often in the street for someone to ask directions.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 17, 2021 19:53:48 GMT
That happens to me too. It is the price we pay for looking like we know where we are going.
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Post by questa on Sept 17, 2021 21:02:24 GMT
Cool dude + critical thinking = some wicked glee.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 28, 2021 18:41:23 GMT
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