I wonder if the tomatoes in Italy are like the tomatoes in Turkey. When Dean and I went there (on our honeymoon, on our way to Jordan,) (and suddenly I feel the need to add a caveat that it was not as romantic as what you might be picturing — I mean the honeymoon part was romantic, but the setting sometimes lacked — picture trying to enjoy a long bus ride through the countryside while all the men sitting around you chain smoke.) ANYWAY, with that caveat out of the way: we would buy fresh tomatoes, and slice them on country bread for sandwiches. We did this every day, and every day it was unbelievably delicious. Every tomato I’ve tasted since then has been but a pale ghost of what a tomato ought to taste like.