One of the institutions of Rome is "The Little Bar At The Corner"
Every Roman has a favorite one, and everybody goes to have breakfast there. For Italians, family life is of greatest importance so they have Lunch (if work permits) and dinner with the family, but breakfast belongs to the little Bar. An Italian Bar is actually a Café, that opens early in the morning and closes around 7pm. The place is always crowded, people ususally take their coffee standing at the Bar, nobody takes the time to sit down. Ah, and its also much cheaper that way!
People usually know each other at such places and the Bar is like a mini newspaper for the area you live in. All important (and unimportant) events are discussed there with passion and it's very important to leave a "gorgeous impression" (in Italian: Fare una bella figura), dressing well and looking chic and cool. Which sometimes even means wearing your designer sunglasses after sunset :)
Breakfast consists of a capuccino, a cornetto (croissant) and -the luxury version- freshly squeezed orange juice. The variety of tramezzini (Sandwiches) is unbelievable, just see for yourself:
Italians have an incredible sense of style and color that even reflects in the "design" of sandwiches.
I
suppose visiting your little Bar is more pleasant than a meeting with
your psyciatrist and does often the same job: After the visit you feel
so much better.
