The Aviano Indoor Pool

After summer is over, the base pool closes and we can swim for free at the Aviano City Pool. It is actually a very nice pool, exceptionally clean with nice clear water. They do have a few rules that are slightly different from your average pool in America including:

1. Shoes must be left at the door to the locker room. You must put your flip flops on at that point (and you cannot accidentally wear the flip flops out of the building!)
2. Swim suits must be tight fitting - no board shorts for the boys
3. Robes are highly encouraged
4. Caps are required
5. You must shower before entering the pool (This is typical in America too but rarely enforced)
6. It is forbidden to shower without wearing a bathing suit
7. You cannot use your own hairdryer but must pay 10 cents to use one that is there

I didn't realize that Italians were such germ phobes. They sell several items at sporting goods stores to ensure that you never have to touch the floor and are comfortable while getting dressed. Here is an example of a pop-up mat that you can put down so that you have something to stand on while changing. The also make a hard fold-up disc that has some sort of carpeted material on the inside. If you ask me, I would rather take my chances with the germs on the locker room floor rather than what can grow inside those mats!

Anyway, all of this information is unrelated to the real reason for this post. Kwame and I went swimming yesterday. (Side note: I love it when Kwame swims with me but I can hardly ever get him to go. It was his suggestion yesterday!) He said that while he was in the locker room changing after our swim, there was an older man changing as well. The man's underwear said FRIDAY on it. I asked if he was wearing days of the week undies like a little girl (or boy?) might wear. Kwame said that FRIDAY was just written in there. I don't know what was funnier, the fact that the man had FRIDAY hand written in his undies or that it was Wednesday!

Cultural Differences

Here are a couple of things that we have learned since being here:

1. Italy has quiet hours from 12-4pm daily. No dog barking, kids playing in yards (and making noise), mowing the lawn etc. I wonder how long it will take me to mess this up!

2. Most stores have riposo from 12:30-2:30pm or so. That is the time that they are closed for lunch and nap. I think I will be able to adapt to this custom. . .

3. You are not allowed to keep weapons in your car. This includes golf clubs.

4. Children 13 and under require a babysitter. You have to be 14 to babysit, 16 to drink, and 18 to drive. So technically, you could end up with a tipsy 16-year-old babysitting your 13-year-old but you would have to pick them up to get to your house.

5. If you are pulled over for speeding or any other traffic violation, you have to pay the ticket price on the spot or the carabinieri (police) can take your car. The fine for speeding 11-20km (about 6-12mph) over is 180 euro or $240.

6. The police stand on the side of the road and stick out their "lollipop" (ha ha) to pull you over. If you decide to keep driving, they have the authority to shoot out your tires (or wherever the bullet happens to hit).

Cultural Fun!

The spritz apertol that Kwame had a dinner the other night. It is a local or regional drink and was very tasty!



Who needs to use the restroom? Men's and women's looked the same.



House wine out of a small jug. Kind of looked like a syrup container from Craker Barrel