La Dolce Vita

[Jaymes]

The Italians seem to me to have a uniquely Italian gusto about everything. I'm not just talking about a pride in and love for their country and cuisine. Most nationalities have that, of course, but the Italians seem to have incorporated it into their national identify. They appear, to me anyway, to have a pride in their nation, their traditions, who they are as a people, a determination to do things "their way," and an appetite and love for food, wine and the good life that is unparalleled elsewhere.

Is that true? Or are there other similar nations/peoples/cultures but we in the US don't see it because our country basically has a European heritage and the Italians get all the press? Or other nationalities that feel the same way but their "personality" is more reserved and subdued, so it's not so noticable? Is anyone else that much fun?

Are there any other countries to which you have traveled that are equally as enthusiastic about themselves as the Italians? Japan perhaps? Peru?

[Mario Batali]

mexico, morocco, india, chile, brazil, japan, thailand, soviet georgia, croatia and i could keep on going the trick is that the italians also do such a great job on design and marketing and make it easy to come visit or spend on ITALIA without probs mb