IMHO italians are special. they do not want too many rules as such coming from too far away. there are alot of rules within the family, the company, the village, but everything beyond that, coming from government is very suspicious. italians love everything informal. what is written down is too hard, too precise, can't be applied easily enough to real life. my quote on driving in rome includes two things. first the chaos and absence of binding rules. but second the pure fact that this works. i do not think there is signficant more accidents than in bamberg, germany (the other end of the order-spectrum). and the italian's feeling for "flow" is amazing ...
that's true but bureaucrats think and have always thought otherwise: the more written rules, regulations and laws the merrier. italy is ridden with red tape and bureaucracy like no other country. we sure dont like it and would like to see reforms but the problem is so huge policy makers dont even know where to start.
you know what? there will be no place on earth where they take a handful of whatever and out comes great, beautiful food. and there will be no time ever when italians do not complain ... especially about federal law, the buyout of the land by rich ignorants from abroad and the latest soccer scandal ... it is in the genes. cesar was no italian, cervantes was ...
Was Caesar from Bamberg, then? NO! LoL. Loved that reference. I like your description of the 'feel for flow' the Italians have. And I share your love for the country and it's people. Sadly I have to live in the cold and wet north of Europe but fortunately I currently spend about 5 weeks per annum in Italy. Hope to increase that in future. Are you from Italy, man? Bit is, I think. Ursa..
Wifey and I love roaming about the streets of Rome. We are in New Orleans and it is supposed to be the Big Easy. However, Rome appears to be easier and we love it. The food and the wine makes it special. Should not forget the granitas. What is the use of working your butts off if you can't enjoy the fruits of your labor? I think Romans take it a bit too easy, but maybe that is what makes that city so special and has helped it survive some 2,800 years.
no i'm not! unfortunately. i love these crazy, arrogant, beautiful people. their pride, their way to move, to cook, to love. they are truly unique. these people are born with natural aesthetic feelings. but i am aware that the outside view is alway distorted. i guess it can be quite hard to live in italy at times ... an their politics ... o my god ... i once drove down from swiss mountains towards lake como and switched on the radio. they had a mess on air and i listened to about two hundred ave marias over the next hour ... truly amazing. weird somehow, but great as well ... italian ...