Lesson #30 Sophistication

     There is something about being in a foreign country that makes you feel a little more grown up, more sophisticated. Here, people don't treat you like you are too young to understand something, they just treat you like you won't understand anything and it shocks them if you do. In a way, it's slightly refreshing. Instead of being treated like a little kid, you are treated like a stupid American . . .
     Anyways, there is a sense of accomplishment going anywhere here, especially when it works out right. On our trip to the Cinque Terre, we stayed in Riomaggiore. We were incredibly proud of ourselves that we made it there without getting lost once, and that our hostel and everything was working out perfectly. So, we watched the sun set, got all dolled-up for the night and went out. Restaurants in Italy are strange. You never quite know if you are supposed to just sit down, or go ask for a table. But when you get to a restaurant with no open tables, its probably a good idea to ask. As the only one with a little background in Italian, I asked for a table for three at a restaurant that I had gone to with my parents about 10 years ago. The waitress responded with a long winded  explanation saying a table for three was difficult as many of the tables were meant for two or four people, none for three (all in Italian) and explained that there was a half hour wait. So, our search went on as we continued down to the pier. We managed to get a table at another restaurant with only a small wait and decided we were so impressed with ourselves we should celebrate!

     We decided to order our special dishes of seafood and fancy drinks. We looked great, had delicious food and delightful cocktails (which are legal here btw . . .). We felt quite so sophisticated, and just because we finally managed to travel and make it to our destination without any faux-pas.

     Lesson #30: No faux-pas, just sophistication!

     P.S. We all had our party shirts on!