Italy in Trouble

[aberkowitz]

I found this article today from last week in the New York Times. I thought it was really interesting as I personally did not know how sad the state of affairs was in Italy. There's a line towards the end of the article that refers to Italy as "The Florida of Europe." Take some time and think about the implications of that. Could you imagine if that's what this country with thousands of years of history and culture is reduced to? Really fascinating.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/world/europe/13italy.html?fta=y


P.S. Not trying to debate politics with this thread....

 

[Halon451]

That's too bad... Italy is one of my favorite places in the world. My wife and I have strong notions of moving there and growing olives once Hillary becomes our next President.

 

[stratman]

I found this article today from last week in the New York Times. I thought it was really interesting as I personally did not know how sad the state of affairs was in Italy. There's a line towards the end of the article that refers to Italy as "The Florida of Europe." Take some time and think about the implications of that. Could you imagine if that's what this country with thousands of years of history and culture is reduced to? Really fascinating.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/world/europe/13italy.html?fta=y


P.S. Not trying to debate politics with this thread....

Sadly it's beginning to look and sound like our home. (Florida), I know all major cities and states have problems with politics, but Florida is rare in it's ability to surpass the idiotic and absurd when it comes to politics, hence The Banana Republic of Miami moniker, in some cases rightly so.

 

[Halon451]

Hey! I resemble that remark!!

 

[Tomorrow]

Wow! Reading that article was like looking in a mirror. Dimished numbers of small businesses going under via competition from the world's Walmart-country, China...generational divides...corrupt government...leadership vacuum...etc...sounds a LOT like the good ol' U.S. of A. Even the polled confidence figures for government approval matches ours. As (I think) Aberkowitz pointed out in the "Youth" thread, apathy has reigned for years and one has to hit a brick wall to hear the call to action.

My guess is that most of civilization will soon reach the point made about Italy, as success and technology has enervated so many countries.

It's ironic that as the world grows closer through communications, world commerce, and technology, we seem to become more isolated as individuals.

 

[mazersteven]

That's too bad... Italy is one of my favorite places in the world. My wife and I have strong notions of moving there and growing olives

LOL I have been talking with my wife about doing the same thing.

 

[mike c]

the desserts and coffee over there is the $ht! and I don't even like coffee.

 

[stratman]

The problem in Italy (Europe really) is the cost of living, especially now with th Euro hovering near $1.50, Italians stay at home after their weddings to save money for an apartment, one of the reasons you'll find 30-somethings still living at home. So if you liquidate your assets to move over there, you'd better have plenty of greenbacks to simulate your standard of living here in the states.

 

[Halon451]

LOL I have been talking with my wife about doing the same thing.

Cool! We'll head up the Italian division of Audioholics when we get there!

 

[stratman]

Cool! We'll head up the Italian division of Audioholics when we get there!

Audioholicos, no?!

 

[Halon451]

Audioholicos, no?!

Sì! Audioholicos lungamente in tensione! Mama mia!

 

[aberkowitz]

I'm actually going to Tuscany in June for 10 days- my father for his 60th birthday has decided to rent a villa and fly us out - so I'm looking to explore for myself firsthand.

 

[Halon451]

I'm jealous man. Italy is a blast, and there is so much history! You have got to make it down to Rome of course, if you can.

That's me, second from the left there...

 

[aberkowitz]

Dude- you're looking quite jacked in that picture...

Rome will not be on the agenda for this trip. We're mainly going to stick to the Tuscany region and visit Florence, Siena, Pisa, maybe a daytrip to Bologna, and as many wineries as possible . Since we will have rental cars these trips should be pretty easy.

Next trip to Italy will include Rome, Naples, and Sicily- hopefully sometime in the next few years.

 

[Halon451]

LOL... eh, that was taken during my Navy days, when all I had to do during my free time on the boat was watch movies, read, and work out. Nowadays, I have a desk job and age and gravity are starting to take their toll.

I never made it to the region you're going to be in, as I would have like to visit Pisa. Rome of course, goes without saying - Naples (the city) wasn't much to brag about, but it was in close proximity to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, which were both incredible! I hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius and stared down into the crater, which mind you - is still considered an active volcano. We returned to Naples that evening, after all the hiking and walking around the ruins of Pompeii, sat down at a local resturant and ate like champions. It ranks as one of the best experiences of my life.

Either way, I don't suspect you will be disappointed with any place you visit in Italy.

 

[stratman]

My wife lived there during her college years, she absolutely adores Italy, my dad's side of the family is Italian. We still have relatives there.

One thing that's pretty consistent regarding Italian eateries, in major cities if you stay away from the tourist haunts you'll get superior food, not the Americanized version. For instance don't ask for spaghetti and meatballs, it's not Italian, the lasagna is very interesting over there, not quite what people are used to on this side of the pond.

I make the real deal (lasagna) in a bechamel base, Delizioso! Squisito! Como en Toscana.

 

[Halon451]

One of the best meals I had there was gnocchi with peas and sausage.

Squisito! Exquistite!

 

[aberkowitz]

It's not Italian, the lasagna is very interesting over there, not quite what people are used to on this side of the pond.

Do they use a Bechamel in their lasagna (thick white flour and butter sauce, similar to a roux)? I have a good friend who's mother in law is Sicilian and that was the key ingredient to her lasagna, as well as her traditional "gravy". One piece of that stuff and you wouldn't want to eat for 3 days... of course she would then find a way to stuff 3 more courses down your throat!

what I'm actually looking forward to most is cooking. The villa we're renting is huge- 6 bedrooms, bunch of bathrooms, pool, jacuzzi, and a top of the line fully furnished kitchen. My mother, father and I all love to cook, so we're planning on going to the outdoor markets and buying fresh food to bring back and make several course meals out of. We've already decided that my girlfriend, brother, and sister have the honor of doing all the dishes!

 

[stratman]

Do they use a Bechamel in their lasagna (thick white flour and butter sauce, similar to a roux)? I have a good friend who's mother in law is Sicilian and that was the key ingredient to her lasagna, as well as her traditional "gravy". One piece of that stuff and you wouldn't want to eat for 3 days... of course she would then find a way to stuff 3 more courses down your throat!

what I'm actually looking forward to most is cooking. The villa we're renting is huge- 6 bedrooms, bunch of bathrooms, pool, jacuzzi, and a top of the line fully furnished kitchen. My mother, father and I all love to cook, so we're planning on going to the outdoor markets and buying fresh food to bring back and make several course meals out of. We've already decided that my girlfriend, brother, and sister have the honor of doing all the dishes!

Yes Tuscan lasagna (a very regional dish) is authentically made using bechamel. And what we call gravy here is not really from Italy, that came from the Italian neighborhoods around the turn of the century, you know, the traditional Sunday gravy, another Italo-American invention, I love it and make it as much as I can. The only decent Italian restaurant we have down here is Grazziano's on Giralda Ave in downtown Coral Gables. It belongs to former boxing champ Mark Randazzo and his menu is straight from his grandma's Chicago kitchen, excellent fare, the meatballs, out of this world. Ok, I'm getting hungry!

 

[aberkowitz]

Yes Tuscan lasagna (a very regional dish) is authentically made using bechamel. And what we call gravy here is not really from Italy, that came from the Italian neighborhoods around the turn of the century, you know, the traditional Sunday gravy, another Italo-American invention, I love it and make it as much as I can. The only decent Italian restaurant we have down here is Grazziano's on Giralda Ave in downtown Coral Gables. It belongs to former boxing champ Mark Randazzo and his menu is straight from his grandma's Chicago kitchen, excellent fare, the meatballs, out of this world. Ok, I'm getting hungry!

I know there's a couple very good places up towards Ft Lauderdale and Boca- my parents live down there now- they're originally from NYC so this comes with a seal of approval!