On a recent trip to Paris and Italy, I learned a thing or two I never knew about Europe.
I’d never been before this trip with my hubby to Paris, Florence, Positano/the Amalfi coast, and Rome. There were a few things that stood out to me as different than America / things I never knew!
I started keeping a list on my phone while we were there. These are more things to do with their culture/the way they do things than enlightening historical facts, so just be prepared—it ain’t deep!
12 things I learned in Europe:
- France has a lot of pink toilet paper! My seven-year-old self would be in heaven.
- A green pharmacy cross doesn’t mean marijuana. It’s simply their sign for a pharmacy!
- There’s not always a toilet seat! This is a luxury not the norm!! {At least when it comes to public bathrooms.}
- Dorothy, were not in Starbucks anymore. Italian coffee… it’s tiny, it’s espresso, it’s well, not “American coffee”—even if you order an Americano!
- Wear sleeves + knee-covering pants or skirt to churches. There is a dress code + it is enforced!
- You might have to pay to pee! Some of the public restrooms require you pay to enter. Literally never seen that in America. Ever! {Hint: keep some change in your pocket at all times!}
- You can drink for cheap here! House wine! So good! About the same price as bottled water in America ;)
- Everything is smaller. From coffees to cup holders. No wonder America has a weight problem…
- People smoke here. Everywhere. Around children. In crowded lines for buses. Don’t matter to them! {Hint: bring Zyrtec if you have allergies! I took one almost every day!}
- They eat a lot of pork, or “wild boar” as our cooking class tour guide called it in Florence. {In my opinion that’s just a euphemism for “pig”!}
- It’s pronounced “gratzi-A.” {That is, the Italian word for “thank you.”} Americans have widely butchered this word, simply pronouncing it as it’s spelled—gratzi!
- One word: aperitif! My fave + best discovery—the Italian happy hour. Order a drink for less money AND it comes with quite a nice spread of appetizers for free! {We Americans could catch on to this!}
Happy traveling, friends!
