Episode 84 - Italy (part 1)

Andrew from Partly Robot Industries ( https://partlyrobot.com/ ) joins Ben this week to share his vacationing experiences with his family in Italy!   After Ben delivers the obligatory definition along with a side of geographic facts, they dive right in to the storytelling festivities.  Andrew talks about the interesting history of Vatican City, his experience driving a Fiat 500L, staying at a farmhouse in Tuscany, a feast catered by a gaggle of nonne, and literally being “star crossed” the morning of a music festival in the Italian city of Lucca.   00:00:21 - Ben’s dad humor… with panna, and Andrew’s relaxing and exhausting vacation 00:02:21 - Geographic features of Italy, Vatican City, art history, Google Maps, and the pope 00:04:51 - Important Jesus days, and Protestants think you should take Jesus stuff seriously 00:07:50 - How Vatican City became a micro-state; Mussolini’s and the pope’s deal  00:09:47 - The most embassies, architecture, medical professionals with leeches, and tourists 00:12:59 - English speakers, a working farmhouse in Tuscany, Florence, and no choice in rental 00:15:40 - A sea of Fiats, the “big” Fiat 500 L, the wrong car, and manual vs muscle memory 00:19:30 - Mad Max driving in Disneyland, toll booths, and culture of driving on the Autostrada   00:23:10 - Roundabouts, driving on narrow roads, and Ben likes saying the word Chunnel  00:26:06 - “Sort of” rear ended,  a love tap, get the insurance, Fiat SpA, and some history 00:30:12 - A tiny garbage truck from Florence, Japanese Engineering, and Mexican knowhow  00:32:22 - A family vineyard, purple feet, wine peer pressure, and something unexpected 00:34:48 - Lucca not Luka, star forts, Napoleon Plaza, and Paul Stanley drinking espresso 00:38:36 - Summer Festival 2023, the Italian division of the KISS Army, and bastion forts  00:41:21 - “Iron, physics, and heavy stuff,” family home chapels, and more Jesus stuff 00:44:42 - A dinner catered by Italian grandmothers who are particular about pronunciation 00:47:55 - Andrew is pro-nap, getting tickets, a QR code mirage, and not hirable in Florida 00:51:43 - Nudity for statues only, no bare shoulders, the shawl stall, and do your research 00:54:39 - A second SNL skit reference, and the “so tell me about the Pringles” cliffhanger! TO BE CONTINUED in Episode 85 - Italy (part 2)   Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on… His website: https://partlyrobot.com/ On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on… Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]