A gesture to the land of gestures

   This is bound to be either a love story, or a story of unattainable love.

   These days I am packing my bags in order to travel to the land that is, on the one side the very essence of paradise, but on the other side a melting disaster of economics and politics. Italy is the naughty little brother of Europe. The one, that is full of scandals and corruptions but also the one that probably has the most fun. Where do you begin to explore a country like this?

   My journey has actually begun two years ago, when I made acquaintance, and immediate cultural clash with an Italian. Such naive approach to life. Such romantic ideals. Listening to his experiences, was like taking the journey of life, education and personal growth and dip it all in honey. I all of a sudden understood why a country in such bad shape, can still manage to have a population of people, with such great appetite for life. It is truly admirable. And a fascinating paradox.
   In order to compare - here is my normality as a Dane: Life is serious, and full of routines and tight schedules. You show up at the agreed time, or you show no respect. You work hard, in order to work harder. We are a land of unhappy and lonely people, that are all trying to live up to the ideal of "The happiest country in the world". Except that our definition of happiness, is usually propagated in expensive interior, polished appearance, two kids, two cars and financial freedom, that will allow us to, once a year travel to a different warmer country and agree that they are doing it all wrong.

   So it is with my baggage of danish skepticism and two agendas in mind, that I am going to explore this country:
One - I want to find out how the Italians are looking at the future prospects of the country. As far as I understand, there is a general romantic idea that the country will once again bloom. Despite the fact that there is more than 40 percent unemployment among young people and substantial infrastructural crisis.
Two - I want to explore the things that, despite of these problems, manage to make Italy the richest cultural country in the world. Based on architecture, monuments, music and of course food..ooh the food, there is nothing like Italy. "Italian food is the only thing worth getting fat for", I was once told, and I can only agree. Italy has the most elegant approach to cooking, and in my opinion even better than the french. Less is more in the classical Italian kitchen, but some how this still results in an explosion of taste. So it is by these great cultural manifestations that I will let my heart get lost and I can only hope that Italy will love me back.

Stay tuned for the first stop: The great Roman empire! No need for happy pills when living in Rome