Twenty years ago, my zii (aunt and uncle) came to Italy to do the roots trip to Calabria – so we traveled south to Serra Pedace. On the way, we stopped at Pompeii, trolled the parking lot, and found ourselves one of those on-the-spot guides.

He said something to us that has stuck with me. “The Italians,” he exclaimed with great gesticulation, “invented Everything!” No amount of parrying with him as we tossed out one thing after another “Money?” “Television?” “Cars?” could veer him away from his pronouncement.

Now I don’t know if that is true (really!, how could it be? Hell, even on the culture front, the Italians took a lot of their shit from the Greeks!) but they certainly have adopted some amazing quotidian practices.

In no particular order of importance. And certainly no evidence for their provenance, here are but a few things that just make my day better.

The toilets. Efficient. Little water involvement. And, no, this public restroom at Fiumicino Airport is not representative but really how can you resist that toiley for a kid!!

The water. Yes, Rome is still using its aqueducts which provide potable, cool, refreshing water to the masses. Particularly adorable are the nasonis. Singular: nasone. So called because they resemble-ish Big Noses. The uninformed wash their hands in the water. And fill their water bottles. Those in the know, however, place their finger at the end of the spout which then diverts the water into one, sometimes two, little holes at the top of the curve. E voilà, the nasone is converted to a drinking fountain. One of my absolute FAVE things in the world! Well. The world as *I* know it.

The gas. In their homes (or at least in the apartments I have stayed in) – you have to turn on a valve on the line coming in – in order to get the gas flowing. And don’t forget to turn it off before you go to sleep. I presume it is more efficient. Or, perhaps it is just one of those peculiarities of the Italians. You know, like don’t drink cappuccino after, say, 10am. But food quirks probably require their own This and That.

Much more to come. Like this little doo-hickey to bridge the gap on your gas stove.