Italians

The amount of coffee I consume to wake up

The summer of 2024 was the time when I was introduced to crazy rich Italian coffee culture. I would spend my time people-watching while sipping my cappuccino at 12 PM. I am sorry, my dear Italian readers, it is currently 12.17 PM where I live and I am drinking my cappuccino still. 

Turning back to my point. They have this lovely, engraved culture of coffee. It is a lifestyle for them, a brief break they take for 10 minutes to steam off. The number of times I saw a person standing on the bench with the most spiritually tranquil expression drinking their morning, noon, and afternoon espressos. I never caught them looking at their phones. They seem to isolate themselves from the world focusing on their short mindful moment. 

Still the same expression today

One more little detail that would catch your attention in Italy would be the amount old folks (physically not spiritually) that dress up and go out to sip mid-day wines with their friend group. 

There was a group I saw —and stared at a little bit—that looked like out of a movie scene. Three friends all dressed in their most beautiful dresses and accessories, were laughing. Their red lipsticks would leave a feminine stain on their again red wine glasses that they picked up occasionally but used rather as a prop on their stories. 

If I ever move to Italy —and believe me it seems like a possible scenario with this people watching giving me joy—I like to have a friend group as a retirement present. If I have a friend group like the one I saw at 70 years old, I can go out and sip my cappuccino while observing every little detail of people hanging out in the coffee shop I have chosen for that, I will be accomplished.