Saturday, September 10, 2011

The other, real Little Italy

This morning I got stuck behind tourists who were arguing about where Little Italy is. They were wrong and right all at the same time. They were right, both sides, because yes, it's both Mott Street and Mulberry Street. They were wrong because there's sort of a better Little Italy. Not the tourist one everyone knows near Chinatown. The real one. In the Bronx. I happened to live in a shitty section of the Bronx, but not all of it is shitty. There are a bunch of really beautiful parts, with fancy homes and safe neighborhoods and stuff.

Anyway, the Italian section of the Bronx is the Little Italy I like - it's like Little Italy without tourists. On Arthur Avenue in Belmont you can get all the real Italian foods, without all the crazy tourists. You know what I just realized? There is not enough of a break between when the summer tourists leave and the holiday tourists start flooding in. Watching them crank out the pasta this morning makes me want to make it myself at home, laying the sheets across the backs of chairs like my grandmother did.

Danielle was telling me about how much Italians make fun of American tourists. They think all Americans are like that. I'm amused by the idea that you could be normal, living in Kansas or wherever, but then when you decide to travel you pull on your capri khakis with big white sneakers, click your fag bag around your waist and begin talking loudly while waving around your camera/map/bag of overpriced shit with an apple logo. Dani said she laughed the hardest watching Italians do their imitations of American tourists.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"fag bag"? Really??

Ellie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa said...

Sam,
Thinking about you today. I have been reading your blog for some time, but have never left a comment. Honoring your mother, brother and all those who died in such a senseless attack.

Mizasiwa said...

I think its weird that tourist are weird all over the world - why is it that that stupid 'moon bag' (thats what we call those stupid things here) come out when people go on holiday?? luckily we dont get many were i live but if we do happen to go to a touristy kind of place you can always pick out the holidaying Americans - kakis moon bags and 'sensible' shoes - the europeans always were 'african' style clothes like animal prints kakis and high heals ints INSANE!! ;-) hope you have a good week!

Anonymous said...

I came across an article about Arthur Avenue and Little Italy in the Bronx while browsing the internet. I had to share since it made me laugh a little that you wrote about Little Italy in the Bronx also. :-) Hope you like it!

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/09/11/is-nycs-arthur-avenue-real-little-italy/

Amanda from CA said...

Totally feel free not to answer this, but I was wondering if you use your brother and sisters real names on the blog.