For the last month I've been suffering from daily excruciatingly painful migraines, after going to the doctor this morning I was given an injection of toradol and for the first time in over a month I can actually think straight. I'm the type of person who hates to take medicine, but wow, what a difference.
Anyway, what that all means is I have no excuse not to write a blog post.
As I've been planning my brother and Daniele's trip for May, Daniele and I have been talking about things that we miss from certain countries. Cultural habits if you will. These are normal day to day habits that people in other cultures take for granted that differ from habits where we are currently, in the Bay Area.
We started thinking about this because it is so difficult to find a decent tapas place that isn't overpriced and overly trendy. That's the downside of people trying to bring some of these food ideas to this area, they always end up overly trendy and far from the original.
Other than tapas, Daniele misses the Italian way of taking a coffee at an espresso bar. Although he has gotten used to grabbing a coffee to go, he still misses standing at a coffee bar, taking a espresso and then leaving.
I personally miss the culture of taking tea that I loved so much in the U.K. Yes, I am obsessed with getting afternoon tea when I travel (but never in the Bay Area, sadly afternoon tea is all wrong here), but as much I love exploring the different interpretations of afternoon tea abroad, it is the fact that in England especially, you can just walk into a cafe, a pub, a hotel lounge, whatever it may be, and have a midday tea with some snacks in the form of a scone and clotted cream or some sandwiches or a pastry.
Other things I miss are the neighborhood dumpling shops in China where you can buy a bowl of wontons for breakfast. The habit of street food in Asia that has food trucks in the states tried to replicate, but just missed the mark.
Back to Italy, I wish we had apertivo like the Italians. I'd gladly give up having drink specials during happy hour and instead pay more for a drink but have access to some good food. Plus they are kid friendly!
And pub culture. Oh how I miss that. Pubs as places to meet, have a meal, have a drink, or celebrate. Family friendly fun and not just about drinking.
Cafe culture, this one is a big one that most people who have traveled in Europe would probably agree with. I idea of lingering over a drink, not really doing anything, but hanging out. Maybe because I live so close to the Silicon Valley, but I see way too many people in coffee houses working on their computers.
Public transportation. Alright, I know this one sounds weird, but having a reliable means of public transportation for long distance travel. I know America is built for cars, but the idea you could hop on a train or a bus and after a few hours end up in the center of a new city, it's amazing!
That's it for now, but I'm sure there are things I am missing.
Anyway, what that all means is I have no excuse not to write a blog post.
As I've been planning my brother and Daniele's trip for May, Daniele and I have been talking about things that we miss from certain countries. Cultural habits if you will. These are normal day to day habits that people in other cultures take for granted that differ from habits where we are currently, in the Bay Area.
We started thinking about this because it is so difficult to find a decent tapas place that isn't overpriced and overly trendy. That's the downside of people trying to bring some of these food ideas to this area, they always end up overly trendy and far from the original.
Other than tapas, Daniele misses the Italian way of taking a coffee at an espresso bar. Although he has gotten used to grabbing a coffee to go, he still misses standing at a coffee bar, taking a espresso and then leaving.
I personally miss the culture of taking tea that I loved so much in the U.K. Yes, I am obsessed with getting afternoon tea when I travel (but never in the Bay Area, sadly afternoon tea is all wrong here), but as much I love exploring the different interpretations of afternoon tea abroad, it is the fact that in England especially, you can just walk into a cafe, a pub, a hotel lounge, whatever it may be, and have a midday tea with some snacks in the form of a scone and clotted cream or some sandwiches or a pastry.
Other things I miss are the neighborhood dumpling shops in China where you can buy a bowl of wontons for breakfast. The habit of street food in Asia that has food trucks in the states tried to replicate, but just missed the mark.
Back to Italy, I wish we had apertivo like the Italians. I'd gladly give up having drink specials during happy hour and instead pay more for a drink but have access to some good food. Plus they are kid friendly!
And pub culture. Oh how I miss that. Pubs as places to meet, have a meal, have a drink, or celebrate. Family friendly fun and not just about drinking.
Cafe culture, this one is a big one that most people who have traveled in Europe would probably agree with. I idea of lingering over a drink, not really doing anything, but hanging out. Maybe because I live so close to the Silicon Valley, but I see way too many people in coffee houses working on their computers.
Public transportation. Alright, I know this one sounds weird, but having a reliable means of public transportation for long distance travel. I know America is built for cars, but the idea you could hop on a train or a bus and after a few hours end up in the center of a new city, it's amazing!
That's it for now, but I'm sure there are things I am missing.
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