We are clearly not Italiani veri (true Italians) as proven
by our beach practices. Today was another scorcher, up to 94, with little
reprieve in the forecast. By the time we arrived at Lido Ritz at 11, the sand
was broiling hot and the water was warm. And the Italians were packing up and
heading home.
Italians have a practice of eating their big meal, pranzo
(lunch), right about 1 p.m. It is such a practice that the beach club ends
their morning aqua balli di gruppo (water group dancing) at 12:30 with a song
that ends in buon pranzo (good lunch or similar to bon apetit). On the other
hand, Mom and I enjoy the peace and quiet of a deserted beach for the few hours
that everyone else is back home. Most people either don’t have air conditioners
or are afraid to use them for fear of catching a cold or raising their electric
bill, so you can imagine cooking and eating in the heat of the day in a hot,
stuffy condo. No thanks. At least there was a slight breeze on the beach. When
we were in the water today, we saw a pescatore (fisherman) walking the beach
with a wheelbarrow of calamari (squid), vongole (clams), and cozze (mussels)
that he caught or scraped from the rocks today. As we exited the water, a
couple passing by asked us in plain English if my mother needed her walker moved
closer. They were from England, and they recognized us as fellow stranieri
(foreigners) immediately.
We are clearly not Italiani veri (true Italians) as proven
by our beach practices. Today was another scorcher, up to 94, with little
reprieve in the forecast. By the time we arrived at Lido Ritz at 11, the sand
was broiling hot and the water was warm. And the Italians were packing up and
heading home. 
Italians have a practice of eating their big meal, pranzo
(lunch), right about 1 p.m. It is such a practice that the beach club ends
their morning aqua balli di gruppo (water group dancing) at 12:30 with a song
that ends in buon pranzo (good lunch or similar to bon apetit). On the other
hand, Mom and I enjoy the peace and quiet of a deserted beach for the few hours
that everyone else is back home. Most people either don’t have air conditioners
or are afraid to use them for fear of catching a cold or raising their electric
bill, so you can imagine cooking and eating in the heat of the day in a hot,
stuffy condo. No thanks. At least there was a slight breeze on the beach. When
we were in the water today, we saw a pescatore (fisherman) walking the beach
with a wheelbarrow of calamari (squid), vongole (clams), and cozze (mussels)
that he caught or scraped from the rocks today. As we exited the water, a
couple passing by asked us in plain English if my mother needed her walker moved
closer. They were from England, and they recognized us as fellow stranieri
(foreigners) immediately.