blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2008-11-11 08:24 am

At the risk of sounding like an abject wanker ...

The pensione where I am staying is near to Pliazza della Repubblica, and is currently being serenaded by a very fine bel canto sporano who has run through Voi Che Sapete and Nessun Dorma and several Eurovision faves and has now begun a medley of the sort of songs Sarah Brightman likes, but, happily, sounds a thousand times better than the former Mrs Lloyd Webber. Oh gods, Con te partiro ... she still sounds great, though!

Um. Travel to Florence. It's really quite good. Oh, and if you do, tip the waiters sparingly, over-generous Americans used to their poor downtrodden waitstaff are apparently spoiling the Florentine variety for the locals, who have begun to complain.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought you weren't supposed to tip in Italy?

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It's OK to tip a little if you have enjoyed yourself, same as Australia. Mostly in restaurants only, occasionally for cabs.

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I will defer to you in terms of tipping questions. Europe always confuses me.

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Gloater


Which is like totally cool

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Now you sound like one of those beautiful Californian nuns!

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2008-11-10 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I have been keeping bad company.

And shall be keeping worse soon.

[identity profile] hollyxu.livejournal.com 2008-11-11 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
Is it true that they usually include the tips in the menu price already? (It's not usual practice in Canada and people generally feel tricked when they leave a tip and end up paying for it in the bill.)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-11-11 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
The system here is like that in most of the non US-world, wait staff are paid a decent wage with appropriate conditions. I hate to sound anti-American, but it is criminal the way that yours are treated. Then again, it's criminal the way most US workers are treated ...

(Anonymous) 2008-11-12 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
You,sounding like an abject wanker??
Never!!!
;)
SW

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2008-11-12 09:08 am (UTC)(link)
:-P

I have SUCH a silly pressie for you.