Just came across your blog today. We spent 5 months in Italy recently so really enjoyed your post.

I’m sure my partner would tell you to go to Tunisia if you want to be worshipped as a “la donna bianco” – Morocco might even do the trick. Although I’m not sure “worshipped” is quite the word for it – I think that implies a little respect. Basically western women have a a reputation there for being “easy” so you should get plenty of attention as a single white woman. We were even told by one woman who went for a walk in the countryside that she had a car pull up and the driver ask her for sex!

We were told by a local in Italy that the no-touchy of fruit and veggies is for hygiene. We felt like naughty children when we were shopping with him and picked things up with our hands to his look of abject horror! The intensity of his reaction was hilarious! We found shopping for fruit and veg in supermarkets felt a bit more comfortable when we were still Italy newbies because they provide gloves so you can still pick things up and smell them and squeeze them till your hearts content!

By the way, I don’t think it’s unusual to not feel comfortable in a place after 2 months. Two months really isn’t a long time. I think our culture of a couple of weeks of holidays a year has left us thinking a couple of months in a foreign country is forever. Have you been to Sicily? We felt more at home there. The people were just so friendly I suspect it’s impossible not to feel comfortable in Sicily.

Looking forward to following your travels!

Cheers,

Michael