More Things I've Discovered About Italy

Electrical plugs and outlets: *There are two types of standard plugs in Italy: 10-amp and 16-amp. The 10-amp plugs have three slim round pins all in a line or they only have two slim round pins without a center ground or they have two slimmer round pins without a center ground that are slightly closer together. *The 16 -amp plugs have three hefty round pins all in a line or they only have two hefty round pins and if they have two round pins, the can be on a flat plug or a round plug. The 16-amp plugs are farther apart than pins on the 10-amp plugs. The round plug will fit in where ever you can plug in the flat plug, but the flat plug will not fit in a socket designed for the round plug. (Note: do not confuse the 16-amp hefty pin Italian plug with the heftier pin German plug). *Most wall sockets are designed for the plugs with three slim round pins, unless they are the recessed round two hefty pin outlets. Some female outlets have a port that is in the shape of an "8" that allows for both the 10-amp and 16-amp plug to be inserted. *Many shapes, sizes and configuration of adapters are available. My personal favorite is one that is about 6-inches in diameter and has the 3-slim, 3-hefty, 2-slim, 2 hefty and a USA non-polarized 2-prong male plugs sticking out all around the periphery of adaptor. God only knows if, when you plug one in, all of them are hot! *When you plug in you appliance and nothing happens, remember - most outlets have off/on switches on them. Light switches. *The first bit of advise I would like to give you is that when you push on the top of the light switch, which are usually rocker switches, the light will go off. To turn the light on, you must push the rocker switch down. Same goes for the switch on the outlet: up/off, down/on. *The second bit of advise is - pay attention to this one, it might just save your life - do not close the door to the toilet until you have used the available ambient lighting to locate and turn on the light switch! *There is no such thing as a standard location for the light switch. If you don't see one where you think it should be, shut the door part way and check behind it. If you don't see one there, look on the opposite wall. If you don't see one there, look back outside on either side of the door. If you don't see one there, give up and do it in the dark. Toilets. *Toilets come in two types: sitters and squatters. The majority are the of the sitter type, which is your good old fashioned toilet that you can sit on (duh!). However, being a sitter does not assure that one will have anything to sit on. Many Italians apparently have a toilet ring/lid fetish/collection. The squatters are a 30-inch square porcelain pad set into the floor, with a hole at the back and two raised blocks towards the front where you put your feet (toes pointed away from the hole). You do the math from here. *There are two types of tanks, overhead and normal (mounted on the back of the toilet). Usually the normal tank has a button or lever on the top that you push to flush, but not always, sumetimes you pull/lift. If you see a button in the middle of the wall, this too may be a way to flush the toilet. The overhead usually has a string that you pull to flush, but not always. If not, see "button in the middle of the wall" above. *When you go to the toilet remember two words - Pocket Door! While this is not the normal door, they are quite common. This bit of advise will save you the embarrassment of standing at a blank dancing that little dance that we all do from time to time until someone takes pity on you and shows you how to open the door. Or, after a night of drinking, it could save you the embarrassment of not being able to outsmart the door by yourself in time. *The Italian symbols for men and women on the restroom doors are simple. The one looks like a woman wearing a dress is the women's. The one that looks like a man wearing pants is apparently also a woman wearing slacks, as I have waited outside and both sexes have emerged, although not at the same time. However, just because you see a woman or man come out of a door marked toilet or toilette does not necessarily mean that it is a men's or women's restroom. It might mean that there is a common door to two water closets. Sinks. *The sinks in the toilets are not always in the toilets. Much of the time, they are in an area between the two water closets. *Another hint: When trying to turn on the water, look down. There just might be one or two pedals down there for you to step on. *While we are on the subject of sinks and turning water on, the "C" on the faucet stands for Caldo, which in Italian translates to hot. The cold water is marked with an "F" for Freddo. They are usually configured the same as US faucets with the hot on the left and the cold on the right. Next issue - Dining out. *Immediately upon being greeted, usually by a Buon giorno (good day)or Buonasera (good afternoon), say "Parlare Inglese". To which you will most likely hear "No". This does not present a problem as you can then say "Non c'e problema, prego, menu in Inglese", to which you will most likely hear "No". This still does not present a problem as there are a few names that you recognize, especially pasta. Spaghetti is spaghetti, lasagna is lasagna, penne is penne, linguine is linguine and gnocchi is gnocchi (small potato dumplings). It is what they put on the pasta that is the problem. I have found no good correlation between English meat/fish/fowl that it readily apparent in Italian. Beef is manzo, which is darn near intuitive if you ask me, whereas Pork is Maiale - see the difference? Prosciutto is ham and Tacchina is turkey. One to watch out for is Ostriche. This is not ostrich, which when cut into filets and grilled is excellent, but oysters. *Luckily, chicken is pollo, which, if you are from the American southwest you will instantly recognize. Steak is bisteccal, but only if it is carne (meat). Trancia would also be a steak, but it will be a fish steak. Fish, by the way, is pesce, The closest you will see here is trota or trout. If you want your meat cooked well done, it is ben cotto, for medium, medio and rare is al sangue (literally "with the blood"). Veggies are a bit better. *Carote is carrot, asparagi is asparagus, lattuga is lettuce, patate is potato, funghi is mushrooms and riso is rice, but il riso is laughter. On the other end, fagioli is beans, while fagiolini is green beans, granturco is corn and melanzana is eggplant. See... no problem. *So, if we apply what we have just learned, "Un Big Mac, menu maxi, con Coca Cola Light", you will not starve. Caio!