1. There are no traffic lights here - it just hit me the other day as I was driving around doing errands. There are very few stop signs as well. There are roundabouts that are used to help traffic flow. I have learned the rules but as anything else here - rules are made to be broken - so the best rule to live by - be defensive in your driving and stay alert.
2. Most cars here have at least one light (headlight, turn signal, brake lights, etc.) that is not working. Not sure if there is a law against it like in the states but they don't seem to care. And even if the turn signals work they don't use them so again see #1 above for the best way to drive!!
3. I read an article the other day that said Italians don't dress for the temperature they dress for the season. I get it - even though in the summer I still don't understand why the women wear long pants at night - whatever - but when out shopping in Vallo this past fall I noticed many people had on jackets - not just light jackets but "down" jackets. Now I agree the sun was setting and there was a chill in the air but down in October???? It proved the point of the writer - they do dress for the season and not the temperature. Many even had scarves around their necks. Now that winter is here they do dress warmly as the temperature does get chilly at night.
4. Local notices - so how do you find out about local events, festas, deaths, etc.? You find out from the local boards in the village. Most important information is posted on boards throughout the village. There is a very large board as you enter into town across from the Farmacia. In addition there are smaller boards throughout the village. Notices of death which include the details of the funeral, thank you notices from families after funerals, notices of upcoming sagras and festivals and even notices of upcoming elections. Other news will travel via word of mouth as well. Villages are starting to have Facebook pages as well so those into technology can check out the FB pages for some things but those mentioned above typically don't get posted on FB.
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| Notice about upcoming election - Sunday, March 4th |
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| Local Board - notice how new notices are just plastered over older notices so if you don't read them promptly you are out of luck |
5. Post office hours are not posted - and it can be closed when you think it should be open. This can apply to other stores as well.
6. Package delivery - expecting a package? - you better be home. No courier service will leave a package at your house. You must be home and you MUST sign for it - no matter what it is. The good thing is most courier services will at least tell you the day it is to be delivered once you placed your order and the item has shipped. But that means you sit at home all day and wait. They will then call when they are close to ensure that you are home. I am learning that many things I need/want I can not find locally but I can find them online. So I do order quite a bit on line now - i.e. cosmetics, hair care products, ink for my printer, etc. But I am also learning the delivery patterns of the couriers so I can leave the house briefly if needed. The scary thing is some of the deliverymen now know me as the "Americana" - haha!! And some will try and speak English. So fun!
7. Vegetation - it continues to amaze me as to what grows here. In the fall there are some trees that lose their leaves but most do not. Fig trees lose their leaves, olive trees do not. Winter gardens are planted and many different type of flowers grow or are available at garden stores and the markets for planting. Here are some pictures I have taken on my walks with Oscar over the past few weeks.
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| Citrus trees produce fruit all year long Lots of lemon trees in Acquavella |
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| I love this person's winter garden It is so organized, beautiful and I am sure will be very bountiful |
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| Flowering trees in winter |
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| Bird of Paradise plant |
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| This fig tree is literally growing out of the side of the wall |
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| Proof that it is still alive Notice the buds and small figs already forming |
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| And how about some beautiful daisies to brighten your day |
