Action Packed

Last weekend was full of action! On Friday, I went to the Formula One practice and the big race on Sunday.

On Saturday, Amber and I went to the film "Kickin' It" at the Milan Film Festival (a week long event showing 77 films in their original language, 10 premiers, and music). This documentary by a UK producer/ founder shows an intimate perspective on the Homeless World Cup and is very well done! It follows stories of about 5 teams of the 49 nations represented. It was interesting to hear about these homeless men's lives, of all ages, how they got where they are and how they are learning to better their situation as well as the positive influence this game has had on them.

The Homeless World Cup is "street football", 4 on 4, with a "pitch" much smaller than a standard field. Portugal (black uniforms) battled Brazil for a win in the semi-finals. There were some extremely talented athletes, very intense games.

Amber had been volunteering with this event all week and got to know a player from NY pretty well. He's had a tough life, struggling to put himself through school and pay the bills until finally he couldn't keep up and was turned out on the streets.

This guy from the UK is the world champion for ball handling skills. He did some amazing tricks with the ball utilizing every part of his body.

This little man at the Formula One race in Monza was too cute, clearly a fan for a looong time. This year marks the 80th anniversary for Formula one Grand Prix car racing. Ferrari being the the most supported team in Italy. Monza Park has hosted this event for 79 years and is known to be the fastest track, more straight aways than most tracks.

I thought the whole pig at a concession stand was a nice touch!

I was rooting for the Ferrari driver, Finnish, Kimi Raikkonen, who captured 3rd place after the youngest driver in F1, UK born, Lewis Hamilton wrecked on the last lap when trying to overtake the 2rd place driver.

I met a guy from SC on Friday at the practice and we hung out a good bit at the race which was nice. I moved around the track for different views. The cars are amazingly fast (of course), powerful, and sleek....very impressive!

Italians are in general very expressive and passionate people but at the track they were very calm. That was surprising to me! In part, I think they weren't thrilled with just 3rd place.

This dad and his little Ferrari fan son were adorable:) They start young here!

When the race was over, we got to walk on the infamous track!

Last weekend I also hung out with some friends along the canals one night and went to a 30th birthday party for an Italian guy I played beach volleyball with in Bibione, where I made some more friends! A very fun weekend!

Bibione Ball

Last weekend I went with my friend, Carmelo, to a beach volleyball tournament in Bibione. Bibione is a beautiful coastal town on the Adriatic Sea, in North Eastern Italy.

We got there late on Friday night and met up with many of his friends. Here, one of the girls, Stephania orchestrated an Italian line dance of sorts in a piazza we were hanging out in. It was hilarious to watch...the song they sang was something about being pretty. Then they made all the girls join in. The tune of the song was in my head the rest of the weekend. Saturday morning was very windy and cool but the tournament was full force, nonetheless. This is Carmelo's team, triples. Doubles played on Fri. and Sat. and 3's and 4's played Sat. and Sunday. This biannual tournament boasts 8,000 participants last May. This tourn. had about 2,000 players. I hope to have a partner to play with next May! The guy on the far right is one of the top pro beach players in Italy. He played in a demo match and was very good but very serious.

I played pickup, doubles, both days and got some great games in. Most Italian women are a good bit shorter than me and are very quick but I have a definite height advantage! I met several solid women players through Carmelo, one of which is going to help me get on a team in Milan.

Sat. night's tournament gave way to a "Spritz Party" on the beach. Pitchers of this sparkling white wine drink were flowing and the DJ was keeping everyone moving to some very random songs.....from Italian, to The Beach Boys, to some top US hits, to YMCA! All of Carmelo's friends were much more willing to speak English once they drank some Spritz.
Sunday this team caught my eye.....adult babies. I can't believe they played, and played well, with the diapers and bonnets on!
Over all I had a good weekend consumed in volleyball and the beach. Many times I had no idea what the conversations in Italian were about but I was able to meet some very nice people and have some one on one conversations in English.

*I'll have to take some better pictures at the tourney in May, I wasn't my normal shutterbug self, this weekend:)