Baking Soda and the Italian Post Office

mercoledi, 31 maggio 2017


What?  No they are not related but 2 quick stories for today.

I decided to make zucchini bread with some of the zucchini's I received from Giovanni.   I made a list of all the needed ingredients as I would need to go to the store.  It all seems pretty basic and I was sure I would be able to find it all.  HA - jokes on me.   I was able to find everything I needed EXCEPT baking soda.  Go figure.  A very basic ingredient at least in the U.S.    So I came home and started googling it and what I could do to substitute.  Baking Powder can be used as a substitute - hmmmmm don't remember seeing that at the store either.   I then texted my Italian cousin that lives in Germany (she speaks English) and she mentioned the Pharmacy!  YES - that makes sense as the Italians use it for medicinal purposes - maybe Luigi would have it as a medicine and not a baking ingredient. So off to the Farmacia we go - down the 132 steps.  Success - yes he had it.  Another mystery solved.  Baking on the agenda for tomorrow morning.  But interesting what things you assume are universal and they are not.  

While at the Farmacia Luigi gave me two pieces of mail that had arrived for me.  Now this is where I transition to the post office story.  Seriously they couldn't deliver the mail to my house?  The postman drives a truck!  I have seen him at the post office and driving around the village.  Interesting that earlier in the day I had a package delivered from Amazon.  It was a different delivery service but they seem to be able to find my house.   Well the postal service in Italy does leave a lot to be desired.  When going to the post office  (there is a small branch in the village) there is always a line.  You see Italians can do a lot of different services at the post office.  I may venture to say they probably do more "other" services than actual postal work.  I know they can pay different bills as well as other things I have yet to learn.  But it seems all they do is talk!  I stopped yesterday morning to mail a card back to the states.  There were 4 people waiting in line and one being waited on - 15 minutes later the same person is still at the counter.  I decided to come back after running my errands.  Maybe it was busy as it was closed the day before OR it is the end the month. I was sure it would not be busy later in the day.  Well I was half right.  When I returned there was one person being waited on, and one in line.  Not bad I thought.  NOT!  The person at the counter finished quickly but then the next person stepped to the counter.  15 minutes later they are STILL talking and I wasn't sure much business was being transacted.  Then when they finally finished the postal worker asked me to wait a minute - he got up from his chair when to the back of the office and literally drank some beer!  This folks is southern Italy.  When I learn the language better I MAY get up enough nerve to challenge but at this point - when in Rome........  

So with that story I will close for the day.  I'm excited for this weekend as Friday is a National Holiday here in Italy - Republic Day. Will be interesting to see how they celebrate.  Will update you in a future post as well as let you know how my zucchini bread turns out.

Fino a tardi.....  

p.s. still trying to figure out how to post videos - it should not be this difficult but.....  I may have to post to Youtube and include links.