![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mydoublelifeinitaly.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/11\/1-121.jpg\" "\\"1-12\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n“Tramonto, Bernalda” \u00a0pastel on paper<\/p>\n
It is interesting to note that the English word “privacy” is used in Italy, \u00a0because there is no synonym in the Italian language! \u00a0 \u00a0There is also a verb for the act of taking oneself away from others to obtain privacy, which is “appartare.” \u00a0 To draw apart, to separate onself from others. \u00a0 Enter the automobile. \u00a0 The most important changes of the last century may be attributed to the mobility provided by the automobile, but there is another reason these tiny mobile rooms have changed society around here: they provide a place to be alone…together. \u00a0 When your house is small enough that it requires siblings to share a room, \u00a0and mom, \u00a0dad, \u00a0and grandma are always there, \u00a0there simply is no better place to go!<\/p>\n
The slow crawl of couples in their automobiles on their way out of town begins at dusk, \u00a0and ends later when they return to pass the evening in restaurants or among friends in sidewalk gatherings. \u00a0 Condensation on the windows is a universally recognizable sign that a couple is “fidanzati.” \u00a0 The word is similar to our appropriation of the French “fiance,” but the interpretation is more open-ended, \u00a0and it refers only to the current significant other, \u00a0and is quite changeable. \u00a0 Fidanzati come and go, \u00a0 and they will only be considered serious if they are taken to important meals with \u00a0the parents. \u00a0 One assumes their arrival to dinner is in a car with clear windows. \u00a0 I often embarrass myself when, \u00a0after my vigorous evening walk in town, \u00a0the windows immediately fog up as soon as I get into my car. \u00a0I wonder if people think ill of me, a married woman with kids, \u00a0as I drive by?<\/p>\n
At the end of gravel roads in the periphery of any city, \u00a0there will be small accumulations of white facial tissues and, \u00a0well, other items which have been tossed out of the fogged windows of parked cars. \u00a0 It would not be an exaggeration to say that every country road has its “Kleenex” area, \u00a0 and one would be wise to look the other way when hiking or biking. \u00a0 Alas, \u00a0it is a tradition that small paper items never ever make it into a trashbin if they are used in an automobile. \u00a0 The idea of keeping the countryside clean and attractive has not caught on everywhere yet.<\/p>\n
There is a small Fiat called a Panda, \u00a0 which is still in production today after thirty years, \u00a0although it has been souped-up and modernized. \u00a0 \u00a0In the days before the invention of the minivan, \u00a0 it was unique in that it had a back seat which was pure genius, \u00a0and obviously designed with the couple in mind! \u00a0 It was a kind of futon, actually, \u00a0 a thin mattress hung on two horizontal bars, \u00a0which could be unhooked at will. \u00a0 With the front seats folded forward, \u00a0 the back seat of the car could effectively become a cramped but accomodating bed. \u00a0 It was a very popular car both because it was economical and it had this added feature. \u00a0My husband and I both had Pandas back when we were courting, as did many of our friends. \u00a0 It was a bestseller…no doubt due to its excellent mileage.<\/p>\n
I can only imagine the comfort indulged in by couples nowadays, with their \u00a0fancy French minivans and Fiat Multiplas which are five times as large as the Panda ever was. \u00a0 Things might change in the future, \u00a0 but it will take tremendous economic growth before young couples can afford a place to go to be together other than an automobile. \u00a0 \u00a0I don’t see that happening anytime soon. \u00a0 Models may evolve, and the number of doors may change, but as long as there are dark country roads, the phrase to be used here in place \u00a0of \u00a0“Get a room!” might as well be, \u00a0“Take a drive!”<\/p>\n