WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.200 As soon as you step off the plane in Rome 2 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:05.639 or Milan, there's a rush of excitement. You're finally here, 3 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:08.919 and Italy announces itself in a way that it only 4 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.039 knows how. The hiss of the espresso machine and ancient ruins, 5 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:17.879 surrounded by cafes, chaotic traffic and never before seen driving maneuvers, 6 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:21.000 people talking with their hands as much as their voices. 7 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.199 Ben Venucci, Welcome to Italy. You've arrived. Now how do 8 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:29.679 you go about really feeling part of it? In this episode, 9 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:33.119 I'm joined by my Roman friend Deizine to explore how 10 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:35.240 to get into the Italian vibe when you. 11 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:46.719 Arrive Tawatuti and Benvenuti Tuan Told Italy the travel podcast 12 00:00:46.759 --> 00:00:50.359 to where you go to the townsend villages, mountains and lakes, 13 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:54.719 hills and coastlines of Ballet Italia. It's week your host 14 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.719 Katie Clark takes you on a journey in a search 15 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:03.479 of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, gelato, and of course 16 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.640 a whole lot of pasta. If you're dreaming of Italy 17 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:10.560 and planning future adventures there, you've come to the right place. 18 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:23.920 Ben Binucci, Welcome to Untold Italy, where we help travelers 19 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:27.120 move beyond the checklist so they really feel part of Italy. 20 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:29.439 This is the Untold Italy Way. 21 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.200 I'm your host, Katie Clark, and on today's episode, we're 22 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:35.719 going to learn how to feel really part of Italy 23 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.799 from the moment that you arrive. Assimilate if you will. 24 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:43.480 After all, travel is all about embracing new experiences and 25 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:47.760 soaking up what makes each place unique and special. And 26 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:49.799 you know what, I might be a little bit biased, 27 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:52.280 but there really is no better place to do this 28 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:57.280 than in Italy, thanks to its easy, relaxed vibe, encouraging people, 29 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:01.920 and of course, the most delicious food the planet. Somehow 30 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:04.840 we all become a little Italian when presented with a 31 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.400 plate of mouth watering handmade pasta or a chunk of 32 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:13.159 life changing buffalo mozzarella cheese, it is very difficult to 33 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:18.159 suppress your appreciation of this deliciousness. Joining me today is 34 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:21.560 my Roman Vestie Nazim, the founder and tour host at 35 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:24.240 Full Belly Tours, a food tour company that takes you 36 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:26.919 right to the heart of Rome's food district to start 37 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.199 you when Naziine grew up. Nazim and I met back 38 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.240 in twenty nineteen on a food tour, of course, and 39 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:36.879 we've been friends ever since. So andiamo, let's get started 40 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:41.599 and learn how to specifically express appreciation across a busy 41 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:44.719 Roman road, greet people the Italian way, and in the 42 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:50.719 process really feel part of Italy. Ben Tonato, Nazim, welcome 43 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:52.479 back to the Untold Italy podcast. 44 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.439 Thank you so much. It's always a pleasure. 45 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.400 Always, always, Now Nizim is a bit of a regular 46 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.000 here on the Untold his Lily pog cars, but perhaps 47 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:04.759 this time you can reintroduce yourself for our new listeners. 48 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:06.919 So my name is the same. 49 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.360 I run a food to a company in Rome called 50 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:14.599 full Baly Touris. I grew up here even though I'm 51 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.479 not Italian French mother, Tunisian father born in the US, 52 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:22.199 raised here, and I worked in restaurants most of my life. 53 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.560 So food is absolute passion and feel proudly Roman. So 54 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:29.039 I like to share all of the wonderful like food 55 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.840 that this city has and to show people that you 56 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:33.800 actually can eat well in Rome because it's very easy 57 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.599 not to unfortunately. 58 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:38.560 Oh yeah, and it's very easy to eat well when 59 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:41.919 you go with Nazim. Trust me, people, he's the master 60 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.120 and you know you may not have been born there, 61 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.960 and you may not have Italian parents, but I can 62 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.680 assure you Nazim is very Roman and when you walk 63 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:55.240 around his neighborhood with him, you will see that he 64 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:59.240 is much loved there by all the locals. So yeah, 65 00:03:58.759 --> 00:03:59.800 it's your home. 66 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:02.800 It absolutely It's the only place in the world where 67 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:03.879 I have a sense of belonging. 68 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:06.000 It's like my home. 69 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:09.120 And it's also the only place where people will say, yeah, 70 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.360 here's one of us. Yeah, because for everyone else there 71 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:12.800 is something that doesn't quite fit. 72 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:14.199 Whereas like here in Rome. 73 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:16.240 You know when I speak at how and I have 74 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.560 a thick Roman accent, and I'm very, very proud of 75 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.720 the city and distachers the neighborhood I grew up in 76 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:25.839 and run my tours in, and so yeah, it's like 77 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.360 a tiny little village. There's about eight thousand people that 78 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.160 live here out of the three million in Rome. Yeah, 79 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.000 if you come on tour with me, it's basically like 80 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:35.480 being like, you know, one of the villagers is my 81 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:35.920 wife and. 82 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.600 I column Okay, folks, now, we have a fun episode 83 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.959 plan for everyone today, and it's all about getting into 84 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.879 the vibe of Italy when you arrived. So I don't 85 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:47.959 know about you, but whenever I travel to another country, 86 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.560 and especially Italy, I like to do a bit of 87 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.480 pre planning and research so that I get into the 88 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.319 spirit of the country, understand the cultural norms, and I 89 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.319 feel like I'm really part of it because you know, 90 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.279 I don't know about Unizine, but being part of another 91 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.120 culture is the best reason to travel, because you know, 92 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:07.759 like it's one thing to see sites like the Colosseum, 93 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.839 but it's a whole other experience to figure out how 94 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:13.279 not to get run over in Roman traffic. 95 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.519 Absolutely, So we'll get to. 96 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.839 Some tips on that in a minute. 97 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.120 But first, Nazine, do you like to get in the 98 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.800 spirit of destinations that you go to. I know you're 99 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.519 off to Copenhagen in Denmark soon. Are you prepping up 100 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:28.759 by getting ready to jump on a bike and order 101 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.480 some delicious motor bond? 102 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:31.720 Yes? 103 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:34.920 No, most definitely, And I agree like whenever my wife 104 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:39.519 and I travel, we do extensive research, especially like food wise, 105 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:42.519 and my wife and I basically travel for food, and 106 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.240 we basically figure out what else we do based on 107 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.279 where we're eating or you know, what snacks or what 108 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.279 places we're visiting for food, and so Yeah, we definitely 109 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:53.199 do a lot of research. 110 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:54.519 And as you. 111 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:58.160 Say, I think it's important to kind of figure out 112 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:01.240 a bit about the country you're going to, because one 113 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:03.800 of the things I would always hate is to be 114 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:07.199 like the ugly tourist that's not necessarily aware of doing things, 115 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:09.959 because sometimes you don't even know that you're doing something 116 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.360 that is kind of not appreciated or something that you 117 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:15.639 know maybe you shouldn't be doing. So I agree, I 118 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.560 think it's very important to, you know, do a little research, 119 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:21.800 look up like how people interact, how to greet people, 120 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.079 get like a basic vocabulary down, even if you don't 121 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.160 memorize them. Or what I do is I have I 122 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:32.079 make like notes on my notesap on my phone with 123 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.319 you know, a handful of words for restaurants, handful of 124 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.040 words for greetings, a handful of words for appreciation. And 125 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:43.160 I think those are especially good because it shows that 126 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:47.639 you're like making an effort to be appreciative and to 127 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:51.240 kind of integrate because unfortunately, a lot of people that travel, 128 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.079 and this can sometimes be a cultural thing, get to 129 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.079 places and they communicate the way they do at home, 130 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:00.680 and that can sometimes come off as being very rude, 131 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.240 and that'll rub people like the wrong way and can 132 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:09.519 be very counterproductive. Here, for example, there's like a formal 133 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:12.480 way of addressing people and then like a direct way 134 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:16.360 of addressing people. And if you know the person, addressing 135 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.639 them directly is fine, but if you don't, it can 136 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.839 come off a little kind of pretentious or a little 137 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:24.839 like disrespectful. And so it's that kind of thing that's 138 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:26.399 good to know before you head to a place. 139 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.959 Yeah, right, So when we lived in the UK, they 140 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.879 have a very specific manner. Even though I'm half well, 141 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.360 i am officially a British citizen as well as an 142 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:37.199 Australian citizen. 143 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:40.920 But Australians are very direct, not as direct as. 144 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.800 The Dutch, but we can be very very specific and 145 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:50.560 it can be very uncomfortable for people who aren't used 146 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:55.319 to that level of specificity when it comes to expressing 147 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:57.199 preferences and you know. 148 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.000 So I always remember when we lived in England, people 149 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:00.560 who say. 150 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:02.040 Oh, you must come around for a cup of tea 151 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:05.160 and how about now, you know, and they don't they 152 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:09.920 don't mean that, I mean maybe in the future, some 153 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.720 vague time in the future, you know, and pressing them 154 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:15.839 on a day a time is really awkward. So yeah, 155 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:17.720 I think we should definitely get into some of the 156 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:21.439 especially those language things before we get there. I love 157 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:26.079 getting to a place and you immediately feel like something's different, 158 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.480 you know, like it's different than your home, and I just. 159 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:30.319 Love that feeling. 160 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:33.960 I get so energized when you arrive in Rome in Italy. 161 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.120 What do you think that feeling is when you arrive? 162 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:39.919 Well, to be perfectly honest, it's one of the things 163 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:45.600 that I'm most jealous of visitors, because I'm incredibly lucky 164 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.200 to have been raised here, but it means that I've 165 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:52.679 never seen Rome like with new eyes for the first time, 166 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.919 and so I've always been jealous of people that. Obviously, 167 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.919 I mean, as I said, I'm very lucky but raised here, 168 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.159 but I think it must be incredible to experience a 169 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:07.360 city that has so much cultural heritage, so much beauty, 170 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:11.600 so much food. And Rome is a very big city. 171 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:17.200 It's like larger than the nine largest cities after Rome 172 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.519 in Italy fit within the circumference of Rome, which is 173 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.200 why I can seem a bit overwhelming in comparison to 174 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:27.639 say Florence or Bologna or Milan or whatever, and so 175 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:31.120 it can be a bit much. Italians are quite animated, 176 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:34.480 we're very affectionate, we're quite loud. I don't know, and 177 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:38.080 so it can be a bit of a sensory overload, 178 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:43.679 but I imagine it must be spectacularly interesting because I think 179 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:46.200 of Rome is an open air museum, and I think 180 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:48.320 all the sites that they are at to see, you 181 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:51.159 should definitely do your best to see them. But then 182 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.240 I also think it's important to take the time to 183 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.600 just like walk around the center a bit, maybe like away, 184 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:00.600 like down the little alleys, because Rome is so beautiful 185 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:06.720 and we have so much incredible stuff absolutely everywhere. I 186 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.759 think one of the best things you can do is 187 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:12.799 just walk around and like look up at buildings and 188 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.600 you know, listen to the saints and sounds. Stop for 189 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:18.159 a coffee, you know, sit in a square for a bit, 190 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:22.559 try to interact with a local, and yeah, you'll get 191 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:24.879 a much fuller experience. 192 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:24.840 Out of it. 193 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:28.519 Yeah, for someone who's like a frequent visitor to Italy 194 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.159 and my first threell you and I get off the 195 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:33.159 plane is the the energy. 196 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:36.399 There's a different energy and it's really fun. 197 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.639 Some people might find it scary at first, but you know, 198 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.559 the traffic is a bit chaotic, but there's that, but 199 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:46.120 there's also that there's a fastness and a slowness, and 200 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:50.000 so when people are walking, they're not rushing. No one's 201 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:53.879 rushing when they're walking, and they're sort of like ambling 202 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.320 along and they might be arm in arm with their 203 00:10:56.399 --> 00:11:01.360 friend or their partner or whoever, and it's just it's 204 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:04.240 a different like there's these fast paces, scooters zipping in 205 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.840 and out, and then you've got this, you know, piano piano, 206 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:10.720 this slower, you know, mode of traveling. Like I just 207 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.159 love that contrast actually when you see that, and then 208 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:16.799 also the noise and the you know, the honking of 209 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:21.399 the horns and whatnot, like it's always in the background, 210 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.879 and it's just, Yeah, it's such a great thing to do, 211 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.039 is just to sit there and really soak it all 212 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.840 up and just take notice of what's going on, because 213 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:32.960 it is different to where you're from, and I think, 214 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.320 you know, some people maybe get a bit anxious about it, 215 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:39.799 but if you just notice and just notice the differences 216 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.639 and lean into it, I think that's where it gets 217 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.360 really exciting. 218 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:45.480 Yeah, absolutely, one hundred percent. And I think it's one 219 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.519 of the things that makes travel so much fun because 220 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:51.840 when you're home, you know, home is wonderful, but you 221 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.960 know everything, you're used to everything, you know how to 222 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:57.559 navigate everything, and so to get into a new place 223 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:00.480 is always so much fun to me because it's like, well, 224 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.879 how does this place work? What does this place look like? 225 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:06.960 Sound like, smell like, feel like it? So yeah, I 226 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:10.919 agree completely. Those first hours are like day or two 227 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:14.240 when you get into a place, are so interesting. And 228 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:16.159 you know, the more you travel, the more you see, 229 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.240 the more your mind you know, opens, the more things 230 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.440 and foods you experience. So yeah, it's one of the 231 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.879 things where I've always loved travel. It's like food and 232 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:28.200 travel are my absolute favorite things in the world. 233 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.240 Yeah, that's why we like each other so much. 234 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:34.559 So the thing is, I think as well lately, I 235 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:36.360 think fund's gone out of travel a bit. 236 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.759 That's why I wanted to talk to you about this. 237 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:40.080 When you suggested these topics, I was like, yes, let's 238 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.720 do it, because travel's got a little bit too. I 239 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.639 don't know, like everyone's like, you do have to plan, 240 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.360 and I'm very good at sharing how to plan. 241 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.960 Because it's and it's important. 242 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.720 You know, if you're going and you want to see 243 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:56.519 things like the coliseum, you have to do these days Unfortunately, 244 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.600 it's just you know, these the spontaneity has gone out 245 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.399 of that so things. But you know, I first started 246 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:06.360 traveling when I was younger. It was that real excitement 247 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.840 of experiencing new places and different ways of doing things 248 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:13.639 that really captured my imagination. And I was saying to 249 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:17.000 someone earlier today, I grew up in the suburb where 250 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:21.480 two very big travel brands started. One is Lonely Planet 251 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.279 and the other one is Intrepid Travel. And these are 252 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.360 really big global brands that started in the same suburb 253 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:32.519 as me where I grew up, and that's Glen Iris 254 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:35.000 for those of you who live in Melbourne, and Glen 255 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:35.840 Iris is great. 256 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.519 It's a lovely suburb, but it's very boring. 257 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:43.919 So first opportunity that I had, I was out of there, 258 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.120 you know, because I wanted to see the world. 259 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:48.080 And it's because of these differences. 260 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:52.720 Okay, So no, see, now you mentioned language and some 261 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:57.080 words and you know, being respectful with certain words in Italian. 262 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:00.759 One of the most popular words in Italian is chow. 263 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:04.320 Let's talk about choo for a bit, shall we, because 264 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:07.960 I think people want to say, hey, jow bella choo, 265 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:12.200 you know, but maybe we need to go a little 266 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:15.080 bit more slowly before we launch into our chows. 267 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.279 Yeah. 268 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:20.080 So chow is a very versatile word and you can 269 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:23.799 use it for more than just greetings. But it is 270 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.679 a greeting that you would use, so it can mean 271 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:30.799 both hello and goodbye. As a goodbye, you can use 272 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:35.799 it in most situations. But it is quite direct, Like 273 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.720 going back to what I was saying about there being 274 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:41.639 a direct way and a more formal way of addressing someone. 275 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.080 And so if you walk into a place and you 276 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.879 say choo, and you've never been to this place before, 277 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.720 you are greeting them, you are putting in the effort. 278 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:52.039 It is nice, but it may not come off like 279 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:57.080 that to an Italian person because like Italians are very 280 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.720 warm and friendly and welcoming, but there's this kind of 281 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:05.039 dance that is somewhat expected of you, and it would 282 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.080 kind of be like coming. 283 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.000 In guns blazing a bit. 284 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.639 No, it's like coming into a place that you've never 285 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.279 been to in an English speaking country and addressing someone 286 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:15.440 kind of like saying like hey, and so, yeah, chow 287 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:20.600 is great, but I always start with salvi. Salvi is yeah, 288 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.559 like a polite way of saying hello. It's fairly informal, 289 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:28.480 so it comes off like very easy, but it shows 290 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:34.480 respect and by addressing especially older people like someone older 291 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:38.519 than you, but not only shows that you're being respectful, 292 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.960 and it makes them more receptive to you. And so 293 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:45.159 chow is great, especially if you're familiar with someone, but 294 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:48.600 like say, you know, you're saying someone there's like a 295 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.320 cafe that you go to in the morning to have 296 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.080 your coffee. 297 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:55.120 The first time, you know, be more formal. 298 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:58.200 Then by the time if you go back a second time, 299 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.399 you know, and by the third they'll probably recognize you. 300 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.480 By then you can get a lot more familiar, you know, 301 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.200 and they'll warm to you a lot more like here 302 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.960 in Rome if you go to a place, like even 303 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.399 me who grew up here, if I go to a 304 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.919 place for the first time, they tend to be quite 305 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.720 stony and cold. 306 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.080 By the third time they're your best. 307 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.639 Friend, you know, because they see that you appreciate them, 308 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:22.519 you appreciate what they're selling, and especially if you're nice 309 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.039 and you're polite and you say things like schoozy Salve grazia. 310 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.360 It is true that coming from a hospitality background, I 311 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.440 always take the time to thank everyone, and you know, 312 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.200 because I think a lot of people forget that when 313 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.840 you're dealing with hospitality businesses, you are still dealing with humans, 314 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:44.200 and so it is nice to go the extra mile, 315 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:48.080 and you know it not just being transactional, where in 316 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.960 some countries maybe that is absolutely fine and it's like 317 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.720 you're not required to do that little song and dance, 318 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:57.960 but that song and dance is very appreciated here in Italy. 319 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:07.079 Quick Break shorter than your morning espresso for on the go, 320 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.920 curated travel tips, restaurant recommendations and fun things to do 321 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:14.839 in classic and hidden spots across Italy. Download the Untold 322 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.799 Italy app link in the show notes. 323 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.720 And So, I think salve is one of the best 324 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:27.440 words that you can have in your repertoire because it's 325 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:31.240 a word that Italians don't necessarily expect foreigners to know, 326 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:34.400 and it's a very nice, polite way of like opening 327 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.039 the interaction. 328 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.759 Yes, I love salve. It's very good. 329 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:41.440 Yeah, people do look surprised when you say that, actually yeah. 330 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.039 And also one of Jonata, which is you know, enjoy 331 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.279 the rest of your day basically, and that's a really 332 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:50.640 good one too. Be they're not expecting that one either, 333 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:55.559 because it's kind of colloquial, right, not colloquial, but it's 334 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:57.480 like a more local way of saying things. 335 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.400 So you're not going to learn that one necessarily in school. 336 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.240 Yeah, no, exactly. 337 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:07.880 And it's ways that locals communicate. And I try to 338 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.839 learn like little words like this when I travel too, 339 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:15.119 because it shows it's a very easy way to show 340 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:17.039 that you have put in the effort. I agree, And 341 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.720 a little goes a long way, and so they'll be 342 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:25.039 much more appreciative the effort, you know, is noticed and 343 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.799 is welcome, as opposed to some countries where maybe if 344 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:31.599 you try to speak to them in their own language 345 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.000 if you don't, like I'm half French and I love 346 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:36.759 the French, but they can sometimes be a bit much 347 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.599 if you know, you mispronounce something like I don't understand, 348 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:44.160 you know, Whereas in Italy, even if you don't pronounce 349 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:47.119 it perfectly, it's still very much appreciated. So as long 350 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.759 as you're putting in the effort, then a little goes 351 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.279 a long way. 352 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.039 That's so true. Is there any other words that you 353 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.599 think might be useful schools? 354 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:00.319 Is alve permisso or you pay miss so? Yeah? 355 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.599 Is how you say, like, excuse me if you're trying 356 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:08.400 to pass. Prego is also very useful. Prego means you're welcome, 357 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.759 but it also means like after you. So, like, I know, 358 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:16.119 if I'm walking on an arrow sidewalk and you know 359 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:19.200 there's someone that has their shopping bags, or you know 360 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:21.960 there's an older person coming my way, I'll step out 361 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.880 the way and I'll be like prego, And it's a 362 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.240 very polite way of saying like go ahead, you know. 363 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.200 Go by. 364 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.200 How do you say Gratian? 365 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:31.759 Ah? 366 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:37.799 Yes, right, So in Italy you pronounce all of the letters, 367 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:43.720 and so it's grat cy. The z in Italian is 368 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:47.640 often pronounced as p s, especially in the middle of 369 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:52.240 the word, and so it's grat ye because it's g 370 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.960 r a z I e and so you pronounce both 371 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.359 the i and the e. So if you say gratzy, 372 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:02.400 you say gratse, you say, they'll understand it, but. 373 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.759 It's grats yea. 374 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:09.079 The ye sound is sometimes harder for non Italians to 375 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.440 get to. 376 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.359 Yeah, and it's thank you. 377 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.039 So I think if you're going to make the effort 378 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:16.480 to say thank you, then it's nice to actually say it, 379 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:19.640 you know, correctly, if you can, so gratsy. 380 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:23.559 It Yeah, and there's also a difference when you're greeting 381 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:26.200 someone between like in the time. 382 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.240 Of day you're greeting them. 383 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:31.759 So during the day, say until about lunchtime, it's bon 384 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:38.599 Giorno is day bono is good, whereas in the like 385 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:46.279 afternoon evening, it's b is evening. Technically there's a third one, 386 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:51.480 which is buon pomio Pomitico's afternoon, and so theoretically it's 387 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:54.799 bon Jordan until about lunchtime. From lunchtime until about four 388 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.680 or five o'clock it's bon pomrijo, and then in the 389 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:01.359 evening it's bonas. But to be honest, like at least 390 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:04.039 in room, no one really says bompo mediutuo. So I 391 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.920 just do bonjo until about lunchtime, and then once it's 392 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:10.640 the afternoon, when you're leaving, you say buenaa. It's that 393 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:13.839 extra little thing that lets them know that you know, 394 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.319 you've done the research, and then I actually think that 395 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.160 you just live there and you're not just a visitor. 396 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.400 Yeah, I love that. 397 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:23.079 And what about do you want to express appreciation for food, 398 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.759 because I think that's very important. You know, the fastest 399 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.920 way to make friends within an Italian needs to appreciate their. 400 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:35.440 Food, right absolutely, So there's a number of ways to 401 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:42.839