Page 18 - Italian American Herald - May 2022

18 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | MAY2022 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD PER I BAMBINI
Dogs enjoy la dolce vita in Italy
By Melissa Cannavo and Sara
When I lived in Italy, I went almost everywhere with my family. Not just outside for walks, but into i negozi (e ne-go-zee)
the stores, alla spiaggia (a-la spee-ah-ja)
to the beach, to hotels and to many other
fun places. I wasn’t allowed inside churches and some other tourist sites, and I was not allowed to go with mamma when she went to a commercial mall. But most of the time Italy was dog friendly and I took frequent fun trips with mamma and the rest of my family.
I loved taking trips in the car, but I also loved the train. Car trips were great because I could rest in the back seat or sit on someone’s lap and look out the window. Mamma always marveled at how I knew we were close to home. Even if I was dormendo (door-men- doh) sleeping I would pop up, rest le mie zampe (lay me-a zahm-pay) my paws on
the window frame and start piagnucolando (pee-ahn-u-ko-lan-doe) whining. I also liked the train because there were always people who fussed over me. I traveled quite a bit by plane. I didn’t enjoy that as much because
even though I was inside the plane with mamma I wasn’t allowed out of my carry case. Mi è piaciuto molto trottare (Me a pee-ah- chew-toe mole-toe tro-tar-a) I loved trotting through the airport. I even took a ride once in the Frankfurt airport on a big golf cart because we were late for our next plane.
Of course, before I could fly, I would go
to the vet and have her update my tessera sanitaria (tess-air-ah sahn-e-tar-e-ah) health card. I even had my own passport to travel. Overall, I always enjoyed my plane trips because it meant we were going to visit family in the states.
I stayed in many hotels across Italy. I always slept in a comfy letto (let-toe) bed with mamma. Restaurants were friendly to me, too. When it was warm, we would sit outside, and I would drink fresh water and eat tasty pasta. There was one restaurant in Rome that would allow me inside. We went there often.
Another place I was able to visit was Pompeii. Our family took a trip there one summer on the way to Sicily and my uncle carried me around the ruins on his shoulders. And when I went to Pisa, I visited la Torre Pendente (la Tor-a Pen-dent-a) the Leaning Tower and took a picture with mamma.
Wherever I went, mamma always had food for me and a special water bowl so I wouldn’t be thirsty.
Wherever we were, visits to a gelateria were a must. They offered me my own cup of ice cream and mamma would ask them to
PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA CANNAVO
include whipped cream.
Italy today has more places that offer
lodging to dogs and restaurants that allow fur babies to be with their parents. Many beaches
are pup friendly, too! I am happy that many of my fellow cani (cahn-e) dogs can stay with their families when they are on a trip. IAH
NEWS FROM ITALY
NIAF president: ‘Admiration’ doesn’t equal ‘respect’ in U.S.
Italian-American Herald
ROME – The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) President Robert Allegrini spoke April 3 to an assembly of Italian senators at the government palace, Palazzo Giustiniani, in Rome, Italy. Allegrini was invited by Brussels-based think tank and NIAF partner ItalyUntold to address the image of Italy in the United States, the perception of Italians in America, and Italian stereotypes.
“When you ask, ‘What is the perception of Italy and Italians in America?’, it is a question that requires a complex answer. On the one hand, there is a lot that Americans love about Italy and Italians. There is a great love for Made in Italy products, from food, to fashion, to sports cars. There is admiration for Italian art and music, and appreciation
for Italian creativity and lifestyle. So, in those stereotypically Italian excellences, there is
a real admiration. But does this admiration translate into a constant respect and trust towards the Italian people and the country itself? I must admit that this is not the case,” said Allegrini.
Allegrini continued his remarks adding, “Italians must realize that the Italian- American community is one of their greatest assets and they must do more to support it because Italian Americans are immensely proud of their legacy. They are the first
to come to the defense of Italy when it is attacked unjustly just as the National Italian American Foundation regularly does.”
Italy is the fifth power in the world for trade surplus and the second European
manufacturing country. Italian industries enjoy leading positions in many high tech- nology sectors, from robotics to shipyards, and they build major infrastructure in more than 90 countries. The Italian language is the fourth most studied language in the world, a clear signal of the international attention to the country.
The partnership between ItalyUntold and NIAF, which was solidified in November of 2021, aims at amplifying these positive messages and disseminating them globally, helping Italy’s repositioning within the inter-national community. The conference was organized by Senator Laura Garavini, vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senators Fabio Porta and Francesco Giacobbe, in collaboration with ItalyUnTold. IAH