Hello! Such an enjoyable read! I didn’t realise the similarities of cultures with respect to cleanliness and bidets between Italians and the Islamic world!!! We have always had a bidet growing up (in Canada!) but I was surprised that it was seen as so foreign when I moved to the UK. This handheld bidet is life changing though! Thank you!! Also the bit about Coca Cola - as an avid fan who can and has won blinded taste tests - Mexican Coke and Italian Coke as well as Coke in South Asia are far superior then North American or British versions and also, it makes a huge difference that it be enjoyed via a chilled glass bottle :)
I love that you are a Coca Cola blind-taster!! Good to know about the Mexican and South-Asian Coke. I generally avoid it when outside Italy as I consider it as a treat, and I hate getting disappointed! And re: bidet, we have had historically quite a strong influence of the islamic culture on southern Italy, I wonder if there is a link there...
Funny to read this as a) I have never used a bidet and defo thought you were supposed to sit on them the same way as the loo and b) I always say I’m surprised bidets still exist since no one uses them. I clearly haven’t met enough Italians 😂
I love bidets! I was lucky to grow up in a house in the UK with one. Perfect for washing my feet whilst sat on the adjacent bath ledge, and having a daydream. I also would bathe my Guinea pigs in the bidet once in a while too.
Ooh, I enjoyed this post so much. I've been posting Substack notes about the things I found strange when I first moved to Italy but this post reminds me of the things that have been a delight to discover.
Liquirizia is my absolute favourite flavour of gelato. I will never choose anything else if it is available. I also love the licorice flavor white gessetti sweets 🩶
The groups of old ladies give me faith in humanity. The ones in my village all style their hair the same way and wear variations of the same clothes and, as someone who has upped and left every friendship group I ever had, to move somewhere else, it delights me and makes me sad at the same time.
I'm also teetotal and I love that Crodino is available everywhere and alcohol-free beer is really common too. Another bonus is that Crodino generally comes in a small 100ml serving which is just the right amount for me to not be over-saturated with sugar. I remember being at the pub in London and my friends or colleagues knocking back drink after drink and even on the coca cola I couldn't keep up... There's a limit to how much sickly sweet syrup one can drink!
oh Rama you are a girl after my own heart! I always buy a bag of Gessetti to take home too! Where did you move to in Italy may I ask? And I know what you mean completely, the sight of a group of old friends is just so heartwarming and a little painful, especially for people like us who moved away from their countries, as I think that kind of friendship is one that they have cultivated since they were little. But thinking on the bright side, we got to meet fabulous people from all walks of life, something you can only do when you flee the nest I think.And don't get me started on the dirty looks I used to receive when I was younger, being an Italian tee-total in London!
I'm in Cerrina Monferrato, in Piemonte. When I first moved to Italy we lived in Mantova so we were closer to your side of the country then. We also had a brief stint in Rome but it was NOT for us. We got out of there as quickly as we could. It's an exquisite city to visit but both my husband and I feel like we're too old for that big-city life now.
I went to a popular local Italian bakery and asked them what they had with anisette in it. The girl behind the counter didn't know what anisette was. I swallowed my shock and dismay, then I offered two pronunciations of "anise" and finally explained it as "licorice-flavored." She looked at me uncertainly and said she didn't think they had anything that flavor, but she would check with her manager. The manager then came out and said, sorry, they didn't make anything licorice or anise flavored. I had to bite my tongue from replying "then you're not an Italian bakery, then, are you?" 🤣 like, um, what???? Dude, I live in New Jersey. THERE ARE ITALIANS HERE. Most of us are at least third generation American, though, so maybe too many are forgetting their roots, lol.
For the record, I don't even LIKE licorice. My husband does; I was asking about a treat for him. I actually hate licorice, BUT... the mom and pop Italian bakery I was raised on (that is now out of business) always smelled of sugar, butter, almond, vanilla, and anisette. Anisette just has to be in the mix, or it just feels wrong.
I politely thanked the anisette-ignorant "Italian" bakery workers, walked out, and never went back. 🤣🤣
To be fair to that poor girl, I never heard of anisette either 😅. It’s not very common to find anise or liquorice products in Italian bakeries – liquorice is mainly used in gelato, candies and some cookies (but less mainstream than the first two). Might be more popular in Italo-american bakeries?
Interesting! Maybe it's more specific to where I live in Northern NJ. Or, maybe people realized just how gross anise/licorice is and stopped making things with it. 🤣🤣
They’re not very common in Canada - it would have to be a special edition in your bathroom, they’re not part of a standard build. I think a lot of Canadians are wary of them or counterintuitively think they’re unsanitary, but I think they’re fabulous.
I did, however, learn I was sitting the wrong way. 🚽 You’re suggesting you straddle it, facing the wall? I had never known this.
Glad to hear you are on board with Bidets Erin! The most common way to use the bidet is to face the wall yes! But depending on what "bits" you need cleaning you may sit either way. But I think it helps to face the water source!
Love the explanations especially Coke I discovered on a stay in Geneva the strange fact that in the UK Coca Cola tastes different. I often stand in the bath with a shower head which I suppose I use like a giant bidet - washing feet is gloriously easy in a bidet as I discovered the first time we had a family holiday in the Med when I was 10 - I also discovered wine on that trip !
Wondering what aperitivo would use our beautiful British fruits do Italians use black currants?
Glad you got to experience first hand the joys of a bidet Liz! 😂 And yes, a bath also does the job although not so efficiently, as you have to get half of your body wet to achieve the end goal (unless you are only washing your feet of course!). I wouldn't say blakcurrants are very common in Italy )although they do exist), but I never heard them used in an aperitivo. How would you use them?
Hi Becky! Yes there is soap although there are different school of thoughts on this subject. There are specialised intimate soaps but some people prefer just water. No loo roll as you are supposed to wipe yourself clean in the toilet like you would nornally do, but there are small bidet towels ☺️
I understand that Brenna! I’d say with Naples (like many southern cities unfortunately) the garbage issue is a quite dramatic problem that stemms from bad council organisation and poor resources unfortunately. I don’t think Napolitans are very happy with the state of their streets either!
Hello! Such an enjoyable read! I didn’t realise the similarities of cultures with respect to cleanliness and bidets between Italians and the Islamic world!!! We have always had a bidet growing up (in Canada!) but I was surprised that it was seen as so foreign when I moved to the UK. This handheld bidet is life changing though! Thank you!! Also the bit about Coca Cola - as an avid fan who can and has won blinded taste tests - Mexican Coke and Italian Coke as well as Coke in South Asia are far superior then North American or British versions and also, it makes a huge difference that it be enjoyed via a chilled glass bottle :)
I love that you are a Coca Cola blind-taster!! Good to know about the Mexican and South-Asian Coke. I generally avoid it when outside Italy as I consider it as a treat, and I hate getting disappointed! And re: bidet, we have had historically quite a strong influence of the islamic culture on southern Italy, I wonder if there is a link there...
Funny to read this as a) I have never used a bidet and defo thought you were supposed to sit on them the same way as the loo and b) I always say I’m surprised bidets still exist since no one uses them. I clearly haven’t met enough Italians 😂
Well I’m glad I set the record straight Eleanor 😂 available any time for further bidet clarifications!
or French.. or Spaniards.. or, as in my case, Austrians who have spent holidays in Italy since early childhood 😃
I love bidets! I was lucky to grow up in a house in the UK with one. Perfect for washing my feet whilst sat on the adjacent bath ledge, and having a daydream. I also would bathe my Guinea pigs in the bidet once in a while too.
You lucky girl! I mean not only you had a bidet, but a Guinea pig pet?! Jealous 😉
Ooh, I enjoyed this post so much. I've been posting Substack notes about the things I found strange when I first moved to Italy but this post reminds me of the things that have been a delight to discover.
Liquirizia is my absolute favourite flavour of gelato. I will never choose anything else if it is available. I also love the licorice flavor white gessetti sweets 🩶
The groups of old ladies give me faith in humanity. The ones in my village all style their hair the same way and wear variations of the same clothes and, as someone who has upped and left every friendship group I ever had, to move somewhere else, it delights me and makes me sad at the same time.
I'm also teetotal and I love that Crodino is available everywhere and alcohol-free beer is really common too. Another bonus is that Crodino generally comes in a small 100ml serving which is just the right amount for me to not be over-saturated with sugar. I remember being at the pub in London and my friends or colleagues knocking back drink after drink and even on the coca cola I couldn't keep up... There's a limit to how much sickly sweet syrup one can drink!
oh Rama you are a girl after my own heart! I always buy a bag of Gessetti to take home too! Where did you move to in Italy may I ask? And I know what you mean completely, the sight of a group of old friends is just so heartwarming and a little painful, especially for people like us who moved away from their countries, as I think that kind of friendship is one that they have cultivated since they were little. But thinking on the bright side, we got to meet fabulous people from all walks of life, something you can only do when you flee the nest I think.And don't get me started on the dirty looks I used to receive when I was younger, being an Italian tee-total in London!
I'm in Cerrina Monferrato, in Piemonte. When I first moved to Italy we lived in Mantova so we were closer to your side of the country then. We also had a brief stint in Rome but it was NOT for us. We got out of there as quickly as we could. It's an exquisite city to visit but both my husband and I feel like we're too old for that big-city life now.
Love this post! I lived in a flat for 6 months and never used the bidet! Thanks for the Norfolk recommendation, it looks lovely.
Thank you Laura! Do you mean you lived 6 months in Italy?
No it was Germany! I googled how to use the bidet but just never got around to using it! 🤣
OMG 🤣😫
I have to add, a bidet is amazing when it’s that time of the month! Also that spray cleaner is amazing, it will get any stain out.
Amen to that Ashleigh! All year round I would say but especially that time of the month — VITAL
I love this! ( I have brought laundry soap to a friend living in the US)
Oh I’m curious! Which one was it, do you remember?
Bio Presto! (buccato a mano)
another classic!
Wonderful
Made me very nostalgic for Mia Firenze
Thank you Felice! How long were you in Florence for?
Just short of 25 years
10 fissi e quasi 15 avanti e dietro dalla Florida
I went to graduate school knowing I would stay.
Oki changed my life. I also had such pain i would faint but not anymore!
It’s a little miracle worker isn’t it? I recently tried OKi Spray Gola and wow, just WOW. Made my two wisdom tooth extractions completely bearable!
I went to a popular local Italian bakery and asked them what they had with anisette in it. The girl behind the counter didn't know what anisette was. I swallowed my shock and dismay, then I offered two pronunciations of "anise" and finally explained it as "licorice-flavored." She looked at me uncertainly and said she didn't think they had anything that flavor, but she would check with her manager. The manager then came out and said, sorry, they didn't make anything licorice or anise flavored. I had to bite my tongue from replying "then you're not an Italian bakery, then, are you?" 🤣 like, um, what???? Dude, I live in New Jersey. THERE ARE ITALIANS HERE. Most of us are at least third generation American, though, so maybe too many are forgetting their roots, lol.
For the record, I don't even LIKE licorice. My husband does; I was asking about a treat for him. I actually hate licorice, BUT... the mom and pop Italian bakery I was raised on (that is now out of business) always smelled of sugar, butter, almond, vanilla, and anisette. Anisette just has to be in the mix, or it just feels wrong.
I politely thanked the anisette-ignorant "Italian" bakery workers, walked out, and never went back. 🤣🤣
To be fair to that poor girl, I never heard of anisette either 😅. It’s not very common to find anise or liquorice products in Italian bakeries – liquorice is mainly used in gelato, candies and some cookies (but less mainstream than the first two). Might be more popular in Italo-american bakeries?
Interesting! Maybe it's more specific to where I live in Northern NJ. Or, maybe people realized just how gross anise/licorice is and stopped making things with it. 🤣🤣
I love a bidet!
They’re not very common in Canada - it would have to be a special edition in your bathroom, they’re not part of a standard build. I think a lot of Canadians are wary of them or counterintuitively think they’re unsanitary, but I think they’re fabulous.
I did, however, learn I was sitting the wrong way. 🚽 You’re suggesting you straddle it, facing the wall? I had never known this.
Glad to hear you are on board with Bidets Erin! The most common way to use the bidet is to face the wall yes! But depending on what "bits" you need cleaning you may sit either way. But I think it helps to face the water source!
Love the explanations especially Coke I discovered on a stay in Geneva the strange fact that in the UK Coca Cola tastes different. I often stand in the bath with a shower head which I suppose I use like a giant bidet - washing feet is gloriously easy in a bidet as I discovered the first time we had a family holiday in the Med when I was 10 - I also discovered wine on that trip !
Wondering what aperitivo would use our beautiful British fruits do Italians use black currants?
Glad you got to experience first hand the joys of a bidet Liz! 😂 And yes, a bath also does the job although not so efficiently, as you have to get half of your body wet to achieve the end goal (unless you are only washing your feet of course!). I wouldn't say blakcurrants are very common in Italy )although they do exist), but I never heard them used in an aperitivo. How would you use them?
Loved this!! However, I have further bidet questions… is there soap? Towels or loo roll?! I really want one now xx
Hi Becky! Yes there is soap although there are different school of thoughts on this subject. There are specialised intimate soaps but some people prefer just water. No loo roll as you are supposed to wipe yourself clean in the toilet like you would nornally do, but there are small bidet towels ☺️
Can’t get down with the harsh cleaning chemicals though. I miss organic products. Also : why are Neapolitan streets so dirty but homes so clean? 🫣
I understand that Brenna! I’d say with Naples (like many southern cities unfortunately) the garbage issue is a quite dramatic problem that stemms from bad council organisation and poor resources unfortunately. I don’t think Napolitans are very happy with the state of their streets either!
I didn’t know about the period pain relief product! Great tip. 🙂 I also appreciate appertivo and have gotten used to the two bidets in my house.
Glad to hear you’re enbracing the local culture! ☺️🤗
Made a very interesting and amusing read! Thank you
Thank you Jackie, glad you enjoyed it!