John Byars has inspired me to write a food post on the eatings in Italy, and Europe.

In the comming days, I’ll try to photograph some of the cuisine from across the pond.

Some things you should know… and I didn’t:

You have to pay for ketchup at McDonald’s… per pack.

Meals are expensive. Can you say: £2.99 ($5.50) Pepsi in London? €6.00 ($7.25) McNugget Value Meal at McDonald’s?

However, the bottled water is about the same. But, Rome has hundreds of amazing natural drinking fountains throughout the city.

Refills are not free. Asking for a drink refill is like asking for a meal refill. They look at you like you just asked if you could do jumping-jacks on their face.

They really do have pizza places on every corner of cities in Italy. In my three-block-walk from my hostel to the Rome train station, I have the option of 15 pizza diners.

Gelato (Italian ice cream) is fast approaching the level of love I currently only have for good ‘ole southern homemade ice cream. Your life is never the same after you’ve had classic, Italian gelato.

You don’t have to tip your waiter/waitress in Italy.

As I get more info as I travel, I’ll let you know.

1. David T. said:

   Landon. I need to know the name of the hostel at which you stayed in Rome. Interesting that it’s three blocks from the train station, as the hostel I stayed in was three blocks from the train station. I know there are a few hostels around there, and you probably didn’t stay in the one E. Cook, Hardcore, and I did, but I’m oh so curious. What if? And I HOPE you tried some blackberry gelato.

   3:15 pm on Feb 28 2006
2. Scott Taylor said:

   Landon, how much is the ketchup? Maybe we could come up with some ketchup selling enterprise. I can go and stock up with millions of packets and send them to you to sell for slightly less than the going rate in Italy.

   IT”S GENIUS!!!

   3:24 pm on Mar 1 2006