tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699989418747859369.post4945913560519757269..comments2023-09-12T08:00:29.447-07:00Comments on Strange Pilgram: extended weekendChristine Gramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13783180729146518061noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699989418747859369.post-7885327778915411062011-08-06T03:12:20.016-07:002011-08-06T03:12:20.016-07:00I hear ya' about the 'just accept it' ...I hear ya' about the 'just accept it' part. Hours were A LOT worse, when I came here umpteen years ago. Italy-wide, stuff closed around 12:30, or 1 P.M., and reopened around 4 P.M. Furthermore, in my neighborhood, the baker was open except on Monday mornings. The meat store was open on Monday mornings, but not Monday afternoons. The fresh pasta guy (oh heaven) was open all day Monday (til 5 P.M.), but closed all day on Tuesday. The fruit and vegetable guy was open all day Monday and Tuesday, but closed on Wednesdays, except during the summer, when he was open on Wednesdays, but closed on Fridays AND Saturdays.... And no supermarkets. Now there are supermarkets, and--though the products often aren't as super--it's just too easy to do it all in one schlep (thought lots of housewife/retired types with time on their hands still go to the local open air markets, when one can be found). The little local (and WAY more expensive...that should be frightening, folks, because except for good table wine and good extra virgin olive oil, stuff here already seems to cost a lot more than it does--or at least did--in the U.S.) stores are closing, one by one. The stores that remain open (mercifully, for the customers) are beginning to adopt "continuous" hours (the concept of taking turns to go eat lunch finally dawning). Customer life is getting a bit easier. But I still miss that fresh pasta store around the corner.Starhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06350579051520505525noreply@blogger.com