Shopping as a way to Learn Italian
Thursday, September 5, 2019

On the second day in my apartment in Italy, I decided to combine two needs:  shopping and practicing Italian.  Buona idea, no?  I wanted to get a teapot (because even in the country of coffee, I still prefer a cup of tea in the morning) and a ceramic mug from a favorite pottery store. I checked my map of Florence, wrote out a few shopping related phrases, grabbed my complimentary tote bag from the hotel Oltrarno Splendid, and exited my apartment.  

My first stop was La Via del Te', a serenely beautiful shop on via Santo Spirito.  The shop has an impressive variety of loose tea, boxed tea, and a tea cafe.  I attempted in Italian to explain what I wanted, and the saleswoman chatted fluently in response to my questions.  She helped me to pronounce the Italian word for teapot (teiera), teabag (bustina di te'), and loose tea (te' sfuso).  I bought a bright orange teapot and a small bag of loose English Breakfast tea. Success!  Ero felice.

Next, I needed to cross the river to find out information about a second phone and then find the pottery shop. I was near the Duomo and the shop is nearby.  If you imagine the Duomo as the center of a wheel, and each street as a spoke, I chose the wrong "spoke" and wandered  in a circle. When I reached the shop at 2:30, it was closed for another 30 minutes of the two hour mid-day break.  So, I poked around in a few other stores, bought face cream, and returned to the ceramic store, Sbigoli Terrecotte.  I have shopped in this store previously, and find it very special.  It's a family business and all of the pieces are made by hand (fatto a mano) right there.  The owner said she recognized me, and maybe that is true. I selected a mug and creamer with a bit of the same orange color as my new teapot. The owner and I chatted.  She was very patient, helped me to correctly say "teiera", and closed with "Spero di vederti ancora".  I hope to see you again.

https://www.laviadelte.it/

http://www.sbigoliterrecotte.it