The above photo is of the coastal town of Scilla in Reggio, Calabria. This is not far from where my family is from in Reggio, Calabria, Italy.
To some of you this photo might look typical of the brochure style Italy that is marketed by the marketing people of the world, but it's far from that fake, shallow 'ideal' life style that is promoted as being Italy. People that truly know Italy, know it for much more than this, AND much less!
That's right I said less and the reason I say less is because that's what Italy is about in more ways than one can ever know.
Simple has often been a word associated with the Italian lifestyle, but the word itself has connotations of no complexities or backwards or even prehistoric. I find that the lifestyle in Italy (not il dolce vita by the way - originally used as a derogatory term in Italy now hijacked by the marketing people...) is balanced. What do I mean by balanced? Let's look at some things:
Italians love food, that is no secret.
Italians love family - LIVE for family!
Italians do things well as can be evidenced by the way Italian food and products are all over the world, and yet in direct contrast to the cheap rubbish that comes out of China - more often, Italian products are expensive, but nonetheless the industry of producing marketable and salable products has thrived.
So, what don't Italians care too much for?
Unnecessary rules?
Fascist laws?
The cold, aloof, and somewhat clinical society of Anglo-Saxon states such as Australia?
Italy can be called many things, but cold is not one of them. Love is in the air all around and that is what draws me to want to live in Italy, because from where I stand right now, I'd rather live in a society that is bound by affinities rather than by rules and regulations.
But where do I go to live? I have thought much about Abruzzo; visited it, looked at land and houses for sale and researched it. Then there is the south, such as Calabria, where my family is from, but the Mafia remains a deterrent for me, or am I being silly? Lastly, the north. The north has some appeal because economically it is better off, but am I missing out on so much more by contemplating leaving the south out of my search?
I have yet to decide.
Perhaps letting my heart decide once we are in Italy will help.
catch you later.
Aden
To some of you this photo might look typical of the brochure style Italy that is marketed by the marketing people of the world, but it's far from that fake, shallow 'ideal' life style that is promoted as being Italy. People that truly know Italy, know it for much more than this, AND much less!
That's right I said less and the reason I say less is because that's what Italy is about in more ways than one can ever know.
Simple has often been a word associated with the Italian lifestyle, but the word itself has connotations of no complexities or backwards or even prehistoric. I find that the lifestyle in Italy (not il dolce vita by the way - originally used as a derogatory term in Italy now hijacked by the marketing people...) is balanced. What do I mean by balanced? Let's look at some things:
Italians love food, that is no secret.
Italians love family - LIVE for family!
Italians do things well as can be evidenced by the way Italian food and products are all over the world, and yet in direct contrast to the cheap rubbish that comes out of China - more often, Italian products are expensive, but nonetheless the industry of producing marketable and salable products has thrived.
So, what don't Italians care too much for?
Unnecessary rules?
Fascist laws?
The cold, aloof, and somewhat clinical society of Anglo-Saxon states such as Australia?
Italy can be called many things, but cold is not one of them. Love is in the air all around and that is what draws me to want to live in Italy, because from where I stand right now, I'd rather live in a society that is bound by affinities rather than by rules and regulations.
But where do I go to live? I have thought much about Abruzzo; visited it, looked at land and houses for sale and researched it. Then there is the south, such as Calabria, where my family is from, but the Mafia remains a deterrent for me, or am I being silly? Lastly, the north. The north has some appeal because economically it is better off, but am I missing out on so much more by contemplating leaving the south out of my search?
I have yet to decide.
Perhaps letting my heart decide once we are in Italy will help.
catch you later.
Aden