Culture Shock: The "Italian Riveria"

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On this particular weekend all of my roommates and english speaking friends had prior travel plans so I was left to fend for myself. Two and a half weeks of being in a hot dirty city made me decide to escape to the sea with the rest of the Milanese. Fortunetly one of the italians that I met had a house in Genova and offered to take me with him for a day at the "italian riveria."

I'm not sure what I was expecting. At home, in Philadelphia, when I spend a day at the beach my friends and I pack up our Cosmo magazines and Wawa iced-tea and head for the Jersey Shore to roast for the day, I guess I didn't think it would be too different. So far, I hadn't been totally shocked by the Italian culture because the friends that I had met spoke english pretty well, wore similar clothes, did similar things, we all fit in just fine.

"...and I in my modest tankini do not fit in with the topless women that surround me..."

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The drive down to the beach was typical weekend traffic. The italians said that many people from Germany like to come down to the beach. They also tell me that where we are going is the second best place in Italy for surfing, the home of Christopher Columbus, and of pesto, yum!

When we arrive at the beach the shock sets in. I realize that the friends I am with have chosen for their swim-wear some lovely italian speedos, and I in my modest tankini do not fit in with the topless women that surround me. I also wonder if these italians know what the word surfing means because I do not see a single wave, not even a ripple on the Medeterrain Sea. I wonder also if they have ever heard of sunscreen or skin cancer, because I realize as I slather on my SPF 30 that everyone around me has skin so tan it looks like leather; that could also be caused by the chain smoking that occurs constantly here.

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The "beach" it turns out is more like a small strip of gravel that seperates the city sewer from the Sea, not too comfortable for sunbathing! It's afternoon now and Paolo insists that we go "for a bath" in the sea to cool off. I imagine running into the water and floating around like others I see a few yards out. Not much running will be happening today however, more like stumbling along enormous underwater rocks that are slippery with moss and algee. I try to walk gracefully but when I fall flat on my bottom, I decide to crawl, Paolo calls it swimming, until it is deep enough to float. The water is beautiful though and the mountains are just behind us which makes for a beautiful backdrop. The pink and green buildings, the clear acqua water and the tall mountains together is one of the most beautiful sights. Everyone around me floats on their backs and just enjoys the water and the view.

I find out later that there are some beaches that have more of a sand like quality but they are still very small and private and expensive because the sand is brought in on trucks.

At the end of the day I decide that Italy is a beautiful, wonderful, and interesting place to visit and I very much enjoyed my day at the "italian riveria," but I am so happy that I am from the beautiful US of A where space and sandy beaches are plentiful!