Shopping?

You know, one of my favorite things about living in Italy, once you get past the fact that the country shuts down from noon til three, are the markets. Not just the open air markets that happen just about every weekend in every little town. I mean the little produce markets, the butcher, the baker all the individual compartmentalized little stores that give shopping for dinner a sense of adventure.
Of course there are the mega stores that rival Costco or your typical American supermarket, that seems to be the trend of the world, fast and all in one place. Those places make shopping a burden, something that has to be done every week, it becomes almost a military operation. Get in, grab your stuff and fight your way to the check out and run! Pushing through mobs of sweaty bodies only to find wilted old produce or stuff that was grown in some third world country with who knows how much chemical compound used to kill bug infestations. There is something about shopping at these mega stores that is dehumanizing, almost degrading. It isn't a pleasure, at least not in my humble view. There is no connection between the product your buying and you.
When you walk into a bake shop in Italy it is almost like entering the Ritz. There is so much polished glass, marble and brass, the gleam almost hurts. Pristine white walls are obviously washed along with every other surface. It is just the way it is done, the product takes center stage within a clean, neat, inviting environment. There are actually people there who will service you, even discuss the weather! It seems like people have time! Lord knows where they get it, can you save up green stamps and exchange them for more time? I would like to know!
The butcher shop is a sparkling white tiled sanctuary for the meat lover. There you can find large Italian guys willing to carve up your animal of choice just the way you like it. Oh the joy! Sausages and prosciutto hang from the ceiling like prizes to be won at the carnival. Brash voices are heard bantering back and forth about all manner of things, one gets the sense of life in these places.
I guess it is the sense of community one gets from patronizing these small establishments. The fact that these businesses are mom and pop owned, not some large corporation over seas kind of deal. It allows one to feel like they belong and the more you visit these places the more you get known, your likes and dislikes. It makes you feel special. To be able to walk into an establishment and be greeted with a warm sincere hello is often enough to make anyone's day.
I don't think I'm slamming the American model, as I said it seems to be the way the world is turning and with more and more people arriving daily, we may lose the mom and pop shop entirely one day but I hope not. I think big stores are okay and they serve their purpose, albeit their purpose has become muddied because they try to cater to all and everything.
The joy is knowing that the thing you are buying from that baker or that butcher or that produce vendor has been handled with care and passion. In a sense you are not buying an item but a creation. Something that someone truly believes in and that is what makes it so special. The joy is walking from one place to the next in the steps of generations, being a part of the fabric that makes life rich. Shopping in this manner helps to slow you down, allows you to interact with people and enjoy life. To smell the roses as it were. It also helps you connect with what it is you will be eating, and what is in season is what becomes dinner.
When you go to Italy, (for I know you all will!) make sure you visit some of these shops, you'll get a sense of what life is about!

Buon appetito