What I Learned During My Few Days in Rome

During my stay in Rome as part of my Italy vacation, I was able to observe and learn the effortless chic Roman way of life, from their style to the way they say hello to the way they take their coffee.

Learning the Language

                 

 

I noticed that English is not spoken as widely in Rome as it is in other European regions, so locals appreciate it when visitors make an effort to converse in Italian.   In hotels and many restaurants, someone will be on hand to speak in English if you get stuck, but a quick “ciao” or a courteous “grazie” (thanks) goes a long way. A simple “scusi” or non parlo Italiano” (sorry, I don’t speak Italian) will work across the board.

How to Greet People

There are a number of ways to greet people in Italy, the most common of which is “ciao,” which is used for both “hi” and “bye.” Ciao is a casual greeting, so I also learned to use the more formal “buongiorno” when I arrive at a restaurant or enter my hotel and switch to “buona sera” starting the late afternoon onwards.   And of course “arrivederci” when you want to politely say goodbye during the day.

I also observed that women give kisses on both cheeks when they meet and embrace one another.  Left first then right.  Men only kiss each other on the cheeks only if they are close friends.  A handshake is more appropriate and used for a first meeting.

What to Wear

Before I left for Italy, I did some research on what to wear and pack for the trip.  I am glad I did and brought the right stuff.  Italians pride themselves on their fashion sense, especially in Rome, the nation’s capital.  It shouldn’t be an issue to wear jeans but Italians tend to go high-end even with their denim so I know not to bring my distressed jeans with holes and rips that might be stylish here in the US but definitely not in Italy.  I also invested in the right footwear.  I didn’t give up my sneakers for pumps I would usually wear but I made sure that I bought a stylish pair of street shoes.  One staple that I am glad I didn’t forget to bring was a stylish pair of sunglasses.  I also brought a stylish scarf in case I had the need to dress up a casual outfit.

How to Get Around

When we were in Rome, we quickly realized that we need to be alert when walking and crossing the streets.  The cars will not stop for you first but will slow down if they see you crossing so we learned to be brave and to step out at the crosswalks.  It can also be challenging to go from one place to another.  The streets are teeming with people who tend to walk at a leisurely pace.  So when in a rush, allow extra time or hail Rome’s white taxis that you can catch on one of the taxi lines around the city.  Rome is small and most of the sites are within reasonable walking distance so we ventured out and got around in Rome on foot.

At the Coffee Bar

Although I’m not a coffee drinker, my husband and sister, who were with me during the trip, are.  Coffee drinking in Italy is different from how coffee drinkers in America are.  After 1 pm the only coffee you should be ordering are Expresso or Macchiato.  Latte and Cappuccino are strictly ordered in the morning.  Also be careful to say Caffe Latte when you want a Latte.  You will be served a glass of warm milk if you do not add “Caffe” when you want a Latte.  No coffee to-go-orders.  You can stand at the bar and have your coffee or sit at a table and be charged more.    When sitting at the table, remember to head out as soon as you finish your coffee so others can sit down.

What have you learned when you visited other cities?  Please share in the comments below.