“I actually love that Rome has a period of time where everyone just rests. From 3 to 5 pm a lot of restaurants tend to be closed. It’s basically setting the tone that you should be inside and resting. It’s almost like a period of relaxation where you can just breathe. Whether you need to get away from something or just breathe it is really beneficial.”

“Food is very important in Italian culture, not only as a source of nourishment, but there is also a distinctive pride in Italian dishes. I sometimes find the food quite bland because they believe in the quality of ingredients rather than quantity. Wine and coffee are also very important to the Italian diet. There is even a “coffee culture” and unique way of drinking espresso at a bar standing up rather than sitting down. Meals are typically eaten in group settings, with quality time being associated with sharing a meal.”