Mmmm, the food looks so tasty! 
(In both pics!)
Haha, nice shoe advertising 
And did you say fireflies? I’ve always wanted to see fireflies…
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It’s not entirely uncommon around here either.
Yeah, sure! In Campania (the Region of Naples, Sorrento and Pompeii) everywhere they give you a glass of water before coffee. Everywhere, everytime.
And recently in my trip to Abruzzo it was the same there 
Now answer my question: did you drink that glass of water before or after coffee?
No problem, the important thing is you enjoyed your trip.
(Anyway it’s in Marina Grande, Trattoria da Emilia)
That’s a Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), one of the most typical trees of the local coastal flora.
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Don’t answer! It’s a trap!
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what she said…
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I’ve never thought before that fireflies weren’t common in northern Europe. They usually come out in this period here, I recently saw them near home. They’re wonderful
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They do appear here, but so rarely that it´s really special when you spot some. Like rainbows or unicorns…
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the only fireflies I ever saw: Brave, Princess and the Frog, TWP,…
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I don’t know if they’re “common” or not but you wouldn’t really see them most of the time unless you went looking for 'em. It’s a very different experience from Illinois, where the forest is like a freaking disco at night and the suburban built-up area also has plenty of 'em flying around.
The combination of cicadas with fireflies in America is overwhelming. Add in the coyotes and you quickly feel like you’re in some kind of primeval forest.
Our forests are incredibly tame by comparison. Although I did almost crash into a deer once.
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I bloody loved those 
like Nutella in a biscuit sandwich 
I wish they did that here. We’re too stingy. I enjoyed getting nibbles with our drinks, too.
That was the first time I’d seen them - it didn’t click at first and thought I was having a migraine, haha.
After. I’m guessing that’s ‘wrong’ based on what you said before that…
Weird, I looked all around there.
Aha, thanks 
I was calling them broccoli trees for the time being.
Gasp! Duuuuring?
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brocco-trees! 
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Well, you know, people here like to keep the taste of coffee, that would be washed away by drinking water after… 
check the picture The official language thread - #278 by Gffp
I never understood why they prune them that way… 
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And people here like to refresh their throat after a strong coffee
Why would you drink the water first, though?
Must’ve just missed it 
I rather like the glass of water to do just that. Clear the palate a bit.
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Yeah see, that’s what I thought it was for!
It should come with instructions.
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Haha, well, you know, it’s a matter of tastes. When you like the strong espresso coffee we make here, then you’ll probably want to drink water first. but there’s no rule about it, I was Just curious to know your tastes.
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No, I have to be more precise. It is a habit everywhere in southern Italy. Rare in Northern Italy, but it’s getting more and more common lately.
A guy from the south explained me like this:
“a good espresso makes you thirsty. So have some water. But take it before your coffee, or you’ll spoil its flavour”.
Anyway, i have another theory. Some water in your mouth makes your coffee slightly sweeter, and enhances its flavour. That’s the same reason for which in america they have water with whiskey.
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You have never seen fireflies? 
We have plenty of them! My teenage wouldn’t have been the same without them…
Oh, those summers… those girls… those first emotions…
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And Austria.
That doesn’t matter. It’s there because coffee is “draining”. The water is there to regulate the loss of the water in your body.
Same here in northern Germany: You’ll find fireflies but rarely.
Ah, @Ema’s “guy” explained it. But it’s not totally true, you don’t need the water.
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