February 13, 2023 • 61

Lens-Artists Challenge #236: East Meets West

One ship drives east and other drives west by the same winds that blow. It’s the set of the sails and not the gales that determines the way they go.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Living abroad is exciting, nerve-wracking, confusing, annoying, and wonderful–almost all at the same time. Here we are–two people who have lived on the East Coast of the USA and the Midwest. When we decided to spend a year in Italy, we were sure it wasn’t THAT different from the USA. Like most Americans, we knew a bit about Italy and Italian culture. What’s more, I’ve been studying the language, we’ve explored various parts of Italy, and my family is Italian. We thought it should be easy to understand the culture and feel at home. Right?

But here we are nine months into our stay, and we are still peeling back layers of the cultural “onion” of Italy. Given that there are books on this subject, I’m going to narrow it down to just a few areas.

At first, I noticed the superficial differences, like mail slots and door knockers that are functional, but also works of art…

The street art was a lot of fun to explore. I became familiar with artists like Blub who pokes fun at Van Gogh in the image below. Below that there’s another artist who paints whimsical and thoughtful messages like “Live Your Dreams.” I’m still searching for the name of the artist.

All over Italy we’ve been eating great food. I thought I was already familiar with most of it. Every Italian-American knows about meatballs and spaghetti, for example, but we learned that Italian restaurants never serve them together on the same plate. Pasta comes first (il primo), followed by meatballs which are the second course (il secondo). Even pizza had surprising ingredients…like the one below made with burrata cheese and ‘nduja–a spicy, savory topping made from sausage.

Pizza with Burrata and ‘Nduja

We discovered even more about the food. Here, food traditions vary by region and they are complex. Local Florentine favorites are sandwiches made with trippa (tripe–the first or second stomach of the cow) or lampredotto–(the 4th and final stomach of cattle). The meat is cooked for hours and served with a savory sauce. The long lines snaking from food stands–like this one–attest to their popularity.

Another surprise–authentic Florentine bread is made without salt. Why? There are several theories–a popular one states that hundreds of years ago Florentines did not want to pay the tax on salt to their rival, Pisa. They continued their protest long after the tax was lifted.

And finally, let’s talk about cakes and cookies…one of my favorite topics. We discovered that the Florentines bake many traditional treats for different holidays and celebrations. Here you can see a Christmas/New Year’s cake with chocolate sprinkles and candied beads. It’s inscribed with the Italian wish for a happy new year (auguri). Right now, the pasticcerias are featuring fritelli di riso–small balls of rice, rolled in sugar. For those of you who like to try new recipes, here’s a link that explains how to make some of these sweet treats.

As I end this post, I must confess that I’m hungry! Very special thanks to Amy for hosting this week’s challenge and for giving me the chance to explore some subtle and not so subtle differences between Italy and the United States. Be sure to read her post here. It will inspire you.

More thanks go to everyone who shared their monochrome images in last week’s Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome challenge. The range, beauty, and variety of your images were truly inspiring.

Next week, we welcome Bren as our next guest host.  She challenges us explore softness with her theme: Lowering That Clarity To Bring Softness.  This is a new topic for me, so I’m ready to learn more about it and experiment with it.

Until then, wishing you a week filled with hope, satisfaction, and beauty.

Interested in joining the Lens-Artists Challenges? Click here for more information.

Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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61 replies »

  2. You can imagine that this post resonates with me, Patti. Do you like tripe? I confess that I’ve never tried it. We have a dozen or so Italians in our walking group and they are the most voluble, likeable people you can imagine. Mostly from the Milan region, their love for life is totally infectious. And food is a high priority with them. The contrast between them and the Portuguese is marked but, like all of us, there are similarities. I loved your post almost as much as I’d love that chocolate cake. Beijinhos! (kisses, in Portuguese)

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    • I was thinking of you, Jo, when I wrote the part about the cake!! I’m sure you have had similar experiences in Portugal. I admire you for settling down there. We’d love to settle in Europe but we’ve got to do a lot more digging into the financial end of things. That’s wonderful that you’re making friends with Italians in your area. It’s true. The love for life is an art form here and woven into the fabric of the culture. We love it! Thanks again for your wonderful comments.

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  3. Being able to spend a year in Italy would be my idea of heaven. Are you just in and around Florence? I am a traveller and would have to go everywhere
    Some memories in here from me thanks Patti 🙂

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    • Hi Klara. Thanks so much for your thoughts. I just posted 2 comments on your site–one anonymously by mistake. I loved that image you posted for the challenge! And yes, it’s true. It has been a wonderful experience to be here. I totally agree.

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  5. Delicious choices (except that stomach stuff) for the challenge, Patti. Yes, Italy is very different and as always, some differences are wonderful and some not so much. I discovered spaghetti carbonara in Brindisi, so I’ll always be grateful for that. Have you read any of Francis Mayes books about living in Italy? They’re beautifully written and so interesting. I consider them comfort reading and have re-read them a number of times. Hated the “Under The Tuscan Sun” movie, though. :-/

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    • Hi Janet. Wonderful to hear your thoughts on this one. It’s true that my food memories are tied with places, too. The first time I tried cacio e pepe in Rome was a revelation! It sounds like your experience with carbonara was the same thing. Yes, I’ve read some of Frances Mayes books. Like you, I really disliked the movie. I could have been so much better.

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  6. Oh Patti! Amazing images, especially the food. I’m not sure about the tripe, but who knows. I loved your images of the cookie and cakes. The bread? I’d love to spread some butter on a slice. Enjoy the rest of your year!

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    • Hi Anne. Thanks so much–about the food photos. I do love food, but I guess you can see that! Bread and butter are wonderful, aren’t they? I am going to miss the food and friends when we leave in a few months. But hopefully we’ll be back soon. Enjoy your travels, too. They are coming soon!

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  7. I could eat several of your photos right off my computer screen. I have been to Italy several times and loved it. I think it is great that you have been spending real time there and learning the language.

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    • Hi, Anne. Wonderful to hear from you! I hope all’s going well in Florida. Your comment about the photos made me laugh! It has been a great experience living here. And we still have so many regions we haven’t been to yet! Maybe there will be time to see a few more?? Take care.

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  8. Italian food in Italy is nothing like Italian food anywhere else, although when I worked as an au pair in Geneva to an Italian/English couple I had to cook many unusual dishes including stuffed brains!! I wouldn’t eat that now, nor tripe though my father was a big fan. Italians do seem to enjoy offal. I have recently been watching a TV programme about Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and drooling over the food he found all over the country.

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    • You cooked stuffed brains! Wow! I tried brains once–unknowingly. I wasn’t crazy about the texture. But I have ventured into unknown territory….like pasta with goose sauce. It was delicious. Ah yes, Tucci. I’ve seen a few episodes. He does a great job describing the regional differences. Thanks for stopping by! Maybe it’s time for pasta??

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  9. WOWWW. What a great experience. I’m so envious. Stanley Tucci has had a documentary series on CNN called Searching For Italy in which he explores regional foods all over the country. It’s to drool for.

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    • Hi, John. We feel incredibly lucky to be doing this. It has been truly a great experience. I saw a few episodes of Tucci’s documentary. I like how he explores the country region by region. That’s the way to do it! Thanks as always for your insights!

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  11. What a thrilling year you’ve had, Patti! Such a great way to learn about a place. Love your photos and your descriptions of your delicious adventures.
    I remember my first pasta in Italy brought tears to my eyes it was so incredible. 😄You’ve enticed me to return!

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    • Hi, Jane! Wonderful! I’m glad you decided to come back. It’s easy to fall in love with this place! I know what you mean about the tears. I had that experience when I ate my first tomato here and my first homemade ravioli (lemon and ricotta….amazing) and…..and…. Our food in the USA isn’t as fresh and it’s overly processed, I think. What a difference! And thanks so much for your kind words about the post.

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  12. I always amazed me that you and your husband decided to just go. I think sometimes thats the best way. Nine months? We love Italy, and I learned so much about the food through you. Spaghetti and meatballs on separate plates. I would be ok with that, definitely a cultural difference. And when we were there I admit I was disappointed in the bread at first. Its not what we expected, what we often expect is American. lol And what better about the great food, is you walk everywhere, don’t you?

    We loved our four years living in Spain for many of the same reasons as you. To experience all of it! I loved this Patti.

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    • It was strange, Donna. We hadn’t planned to do this, but one trip led to another and another and finally we decided to just spend a year here. It’s true. We eat and walk; walk and then eat. It’s a great combination. I didn’t know you lived in Spain. Where?

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      • Small town Rota, south of Sevilla. It was a great experience for us. Our daughters were young, I worked at the American high school, my husband was financial support counselor on the Spanish base. During the summers we camped through Europe. I don’t think the girls really knew the impact of our life there, until we returned.

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  13. I always love seeing Italy through your eyes Patti! It’s our favourite European country, we’ve travelled there a lot and my husband is par t Italian, but nothing beats living in a country to really get to know it – and its cuisine!

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    • Thanks Sarah! I love to hear that. So true. We have been staying longer in each place we visit, so we can truly get to know the city and its culture. You’ve traveled far and wide, I know.. . So where’s the next stop?

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      • We’re currently in Cartagena in Colombia. We have a few more days here and on the coast nearby, and will get home in a week’s time. After that we have a city break booked for April – Tirana. And I’m going to Norway (Trondheim and Tromso) with Virtual Tourist friends in May/June 😀

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  15. What a beautiful post, Patti! Love your phots of Italy. living in a country or a place (like Florence) is ideal to appreciate arts, history… . Italy would be a my choice. We had been Italy a few times, I miss their pasta, breads, cheese… Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Wonderful post! A year in Italy sounds amazing! My Dad was stationed in Italy for two years in the late 1960’s when I was in high school. I can still remember the delicious pizzas, pasta and minestrone. Your photos and stories brought back happy memories of that time in my life.

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  18. I remember the first time I had risotto in Italy and I’ve never been able to forget it, awful thing. Now I love it. It did give me the thing of always trying everything, especially when you don’t really know what it is…
    Great post, Patti words and photos working like a charm.

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    • So true, Sofia. It takes time to get used to new food. I now like anchovies (I didn’t say “love” 🙂 ) and I love burrata…I think you’re absolutely right…try it at least once. And thanks too for your kind words about the post. I will send you an email shortly.

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  19. Well Patti, first, I cannot believe you’ve been there that long! Seems to me you just got there 😊. Second, PLEASE stop posting images of the Italian food, honestly it borders on cruel and unusual punishment!! GOD it looks fabulous! Loved your post, especially the street art, and of course the darned pizza and bread (salt or no salt!!!!

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    • Hi Tina. 🙂 🙂 That’s funny! No more food pictures, um?? I don’t know if I can help myself. Sorry!! Food is an art here…. and a major topic of conversation! Yes, almost 9 months–with a break in the summer. We leave here at the end of April. Hard to believe, truly. I appreciate your thoughts on the food pictures. Good enough to eat??

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    • Thanks so much, IJ. It’s interesting. There are several types of foccacia that bypass the “no salt” tradition. We just realized it this trip! I hope you can come back here and enjoy the city again.

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  22. I admire you, Patti, gone to live in another country for so long – it’s amazing! What an opportunity! I could dream of it, but it would never be realized. I wanted three months in Italy during our darkest months here, but my husband says no. He wants to go for some weeks and then return home. You are amazing you two. Love your take on, your stories, the street art and maybe most of all your gorgeous food photography. So deliciously pictured. I am really not good at photographing food, maybe also because I don’t love food as much as you do…;-D

    I have an old, funny memory of food in Italy. – When I was 16, pizza had just become the thing in Sweden, and I loved it. Then we went to Italy and tried our first “real” pizza – and it was a great disappointment. Of course! Some years later I loved it, but as a young girl, Swedish pizza was more spicy and tasty. And in Italy they did not have any pizza salad…

    Live and love the rest of your year over there – I know you will!

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    • What a wonderful comment, AC. Thank you! I guess Rich and I are both restless and curious people who get easily bored!! 🙂 🙂 I think that helps. And we’re between homes, not sure where we’re moving next. This gives us time to decide and have fun exploring at the same time. All that said, I appreciate your kind thoughts. Thank you. And I love your pizza memory. It’s interesting how food can be adapted to local tastes. It’s that way in the USA, too.

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      • It will be interesting to see what/where your next home will be! My husband is the most restless person I know, and we are both curious always. I really don’t understand why he doesn’t want to try my suggested tour…but, he travels abroad (and I used to go with him for many years) at least 10 times a year. I think 5-7 times is enough. Since the pandemic we have slowed down.

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      • Um…maybe he associates travel with work? I wonder. Some people just feel more relaxed and content at home. Maybe that’s his reason? You live in a beautiful part of the world, too!

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  24. Oh, how I enjoyed this trip to Italy – and the food you served too. I’d forgotten about tripe. I’ve not eaten it for years – but trippa alla milanese – how I loved it! I don’t think you can even buy tripe any more here. So many happy memories you’ve dished up here!

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