9. Don’t Take a Photo With a Fake Gladiator
Walk by the Colosseum and you’ll no doubt be approached by an elaborately costumed gladiator trying to convince you to strike a pose with them. They look tempting in their flashy tunics, golden helmets, flowing red capes and mighty swords. However, they can be rather aggressive as they hassle passersby, and have been known to demand exorbitant fees for photographing them. Some deliberately photo-bomb unsuspecting tourists then demand payment. Others casually offer to take your photo and then demand payment to get your camera back. It’s actually illegal for them to loiter in front of the Colosseum and ask for money, but it’s a difficult operation to shut down. There are better ways to spend your money or get a scenic shot in Rome than with these cheesy faux gladiator tourist touts.
10. Don’t Ask for Parmesan Cheese
Speaking of cheese… remember, this isn’t the Olive Garden. While many American “Italiano” restaurants offer a sprinkling of tasteless cheesy snow atop sorts of entrees, real Parmesan (preferably official Parmigiano-Reggiano produced in Parma) is a hard, slightly sharp, nutty, complex artisanal craft formaggio not meant to be used as an afterthought condiment. If you ask for some Parmesan for your seafood pasta or risotto, your waiter might be aghast. It’s akin to ordering a cappuccino past twelve. It’s just not done. A good rule of thumb is to wait for the waiter to ask you if you’d like some cheese on your meal. If he offers, it’s appropriate. If he doesn’t, it’s not. By all means, ask if you really want it (it’s your money and mouth, after all), but they’ll be snickering about you back in the kitchen.
