We had Big Things to accomplish on this sunny Thursday morning. But first, we slept in. Then, we headed out to find sustenance. Unfortunately, Obika wasn't open for breakfast, so we settled for a standard Italian breakfast at a coffee/bake shop down the street from our hotel. Things started with coffee (of course):
These coffee shops, omnipresent in Italy, are the exact opposite of those found in Greece. <-- Read about it in detail, but in short - "coffee" in Greece is a relaxed, leisurely social affair. In Italy, coffee is an in-and-out business transaction, more about the caffeine than the company. But Italians don't really do "to go" - this isn't a culture that's carting around coffee cups on the street. No, they are even more streamlined than that. Why bother toting your coffee around in a paper cup, when you can just order it, slurp it, and go, with the coffee safely stashed in your stomach, rather than your hand? This is efficiency in the extreme. The average Italian spends ~200 seconds in a cafe to order, drink, and pay (Holly's estimate, March 2012).
Though the cafes usually have a few stools at a bar, most people don't even bother to sit in the mornings. We were an anomaly. First, we insisted on sitting. Second, we ordered pastries to go with our coffee. Third, we occupied our seats for at least 10 minutes. Yes, this was marginally awkward. No, I didn't really mind. Breakfast is "the most important meal of the day" and that goes double, for me.
Unfortunately, I neglect to photograph *any* of our breakfast pastries, on *any* of the days we were in Italy. Food photography FAIL. But suffice to say - they were good, but not amazing. Unquestionably, the best pastries on our whole trip were found in Greece, as described here.
We'll loop back to breakfast again later on in Europe, but for now - a brief post, for an even briefer meal. Next up: laundromat adventures. I know you love how thorough a blogger I am, so be sure to come back soon!! =)
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| Cafe latte for me (L), and espresso for Kee-Min (R). And Flat Stanley begged to get in on the action (Center). And no, we did not allow him to have any coffee. |
Though the cafes usually have a few stools at a bar, most people don't even bother to sit in the mornings. We were an anomaly. First, we insisted on sitting. Second, we ordered pastries to go with our coffee. Third, we occupied our seats for at least 10 minutes. Yes, this was marginally awkward. No, I didn't really mind. Breakfast is "the most important meal of the day" and that goes double, for me.
Unfortunately, I neglect to photograph *any* of our breakfast pastries, on *any* of the days we were in Italy. Food photography FAIL. But suffice to say - they were good, but not amazing. Unquestionably, the best pastries on our whole trip were found in Greece, as described here.
We'll loop back to breakfast again later on in Europe, but for now - a brief post, for an even briefer meal. Next up: laundromat adventures. I know you love how thorough a blogger I am, so be sure to come back soon!! =)
I just remembered....I believe they charge more to sit, which is why most Italians gulp and run. It certainly isn't a main component of La Dolce Vita (that starts later in the day/evening I guess...)
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