BRENDAN^ BURDEN48 AFAR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
wander
- Dolce Far Niente
What it is: “Dolce far niente, or
the sweetness of doing nothing,
is about savoring the moment,”
Russell says. “Rather than fret-
ting about big issues, Italians
laugh at the chaos of the world
and say, ‘Who cares?’ They let it
wash over them and focus instead
on creating moments of bliss that
are within their control.”
How to find it: Although the
phrase for happy languor is not
commonly used by Italians, the
attitude is widespread: It means
eating decadently, going for
5 o’clock drinks religiously, and
5. Pura Vida
What it is: Pura vida, or pure life,
is not just a tourism marketing
slogan. It’s an embodiment of
the concrete steps Costa Ricans
have taken to prioritize what’s
important to them. In Costa Rica,
the government funds education,
health care, and conservation
instead of a military, and family
and friends come first.
How to find it: Pura vida is
accessible to visitors because
socializing is such an important
part of the culture. “When a Costa
Rican meets you for the first
time, they’ll be friendly,” Russell
not letting work take over your
life. The point is to savor doing
nothing of importance. Russell’s
suggestions: Linger over coffee
and a cornetto in Rome’s Centro
Storico; eat a second helping of
fettuccine with artichokes and
pecorino at Flavio al Velavevodetto
restaurant; and then relax into the
abbiocco, that post-meal drowsi-
ness. As Russell points out, “The
sweetness of doing nothing is
that it’s passive. You’re just letting
life happen and enjoying that,
and it feels quite revolutionary.”says. “The second time you meet,
they’re hugging you, and the
third time you’re friends for life.”
Beaches are ideal spots to find
new friends. “If you go surfing,
you are bound to start a conver-
sation with like-minded people,”
she says. Bars offer similarly
social atmospheres, so Russell
recommends grabbing some
chifrijo (a classic Costa Rican bar
snack of rice, beans, and crispy
pork) and making conversation.
As she says, “To come to grips
with the culture here, you have to
get into an open-hearted state.”Young Italian men
find their dolce far niente
by jumping from the
Scala dei Turchi cliff on
the Realmonte coast in
southern Sicily.