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March 07, 2006
"è bello!"
Here's one tale we'd heard about Italy that proved to be absolutely true: that they would go bonkers over a baby. And they did!
So much so that Michael the Baby had to institute a "Please, no photographs" policy:
No, not really.
But it was true that almost everywhere, the baby got attention. "è bello" is what they said, over and over again. Walking down the street, on the public transportation...wherever. They'd catch his eye, respond to his smile, play with him, and worry about his condition. In his backpack, his pants had a tendency to hike up above his knees, and at least twice, total strangers reached out and fixed them. Try that in the U.S.....
It was nice to see, but what would be nicer would be if they had more babies themselves...
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
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Comments
lol,
I love the internet.
I find so meny things.
Posted by: Coxy at Mar 7, 2006 10:49:36 AM
The problem is that babies are considered social goods or community property, like the air.
Since they are community property and therefore belong to everyone, no one needs to have one of his own.
PVO
Posted by: mulopwepaul at Mar 7, 2006 10:52:33 AM
Amy-
I missed reading you very much but I'm so happy you had such a wonderful time. I went to Rome about 13 years ago and I loved every minute of it. How wonderful to read your posts this morning. How wonderful that you were brave enough to take those two little boys for such a great trip. As I write, 2 of my children are in Peru with my parents having adventures of their own. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Maria Ashwell at Mar 7, 2006 11:08:53 AM
Or maybe since there are fewer babies around seeing one is that much more an experience of joy and an affirmation of the miricle of life for those who need/want to be reminded.
Posted by: Tim at Mar 7, 2006 11:12:36 AM
I am so very proud of you, chére Amelie, for having figured out that controlling the camera controls pictures of yourself!!
Posted by: RP Burke at Mar 7, 2006 12:54:26 PM
A friend of mine tells the story of once when he was in Italy with his wife and three kids and an older Italian woman who saw them exclaimed "Tre! (three!) Bravo!(good!)" -- she was impressed that someone actually had three children.
Posted by: Dan at Mar 7, 2006 12:55:34 PM
Amy,
I have been to Italy several times, visiting family. I was struck by how few kids there were. Schools were closing right and left.
I visit the north (Milan and Belluno), and I also noticed how people on the streets seemed very "serious". Maybe this is a northern phenomenon, but I always drew a parallel with the lack of children. Kids infuse JOY into life.
Looks like you are bringing some JOY to Rome!
God Bless!
Posted by: Michael Hugo at Mar 7, 2006 1:01:45 PM
Fabulous pix from Rome, Amy. Keep 'em comin'.
Posted by: Gerard E. at Mar 7, 2006 1:57:48 PM
Michael,
Regarding the seriousness of hte north, someone once compared Milan to NYC (tutti Negozzi)and Rome (and points south) to Mexico City ("Domani")
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Mar 7, 2006 2:37:08 PM
Dan,
That may have been an expression of politeness within a certain culture, not astonishment of the amount of children. When I was in Italy the first time in 1969 (at the age of 6), my mother (at the time a widow since 3 years) was surprised at the amount of people who applauded her for having one GIRL and one BOY. I'm sure that at that time a lot of Italians had a lot more than that but that they expressing the same kind of feeling we do when someone has a new baby and we seem all impressed that someone has A GIRL or A BOY, as if no one had that before.
Posted by: Anna B at Mar 7, 2006 5:09:41 PM
Amy,
We're heading to Rome at the end of March with 4 under 5 . . . It will be interesting to see how the Italians react. The Swiss haven't been too welcoming, especially in Mass.
Guess where we're staying? Same apartment in Castel Sant'Angelo! Thanks for the referral.
Regards,
Stephen
Posted by: Stephen Joseph at Mar 8, 2006 4:49:16 AM
Stephen!
Good to hear from you!
Listen - I need to write the listing agency and tell them to change one thing on the list - there is no bunk bed. Perhaps they think the day bed shown is called a bunk bed. There isn't one. There's the big master bed, which is smaller than a king, but larger than a queen, and quite comfortahble, there's the day bed, and then there's the fold-out couch in the living room. I guess that should accomodate your crew just fine, but be warned - no bunk bed!
The best market is at Via Alberico II - that's the one I had a hard time finding. IT's like a small grocery store and should have everything you need. There are lots of smaller delis and other type of stores all around. There is a good fruit and vegetable market down the cross street next to the apartment - the lady there just loves little children.
Borgo Pio has many pizza places, but the best one, I think was to the east, almost at the Internet Cafe. It was called "Pane e Pizza" or something, and had baked goods as well. I had some olive and onion pizza from there that was the best I'd had. To the west on Borgo Pio about a block, there's a really good pastry shop. There's a place on the corner of Borgo Pio and the cross street called Gran Caffe Borgo which also has good pastries, as well as sandwhiches and gelato, but the gelato wasn't as good as that which I had elsewhere and was more expensive.
Make sure Vinnond or whoever shows you the apartment shows you how to work the satellite TV. We could hever figure it out. Let me know if you have any more questions!!!!
Posted by: Amy at Mar 8, 2006 9:42:34 AM
