So here is an update on events of the last week or
so in Florence. The first thing I want to mention actually took place a couple
of weeks ago, however, it was not till recently that I managed to get my hands
on some footage (thank you Catriona) of our flat supper and more importantly a
game of ‘Zoomie Zoomay’. I couldn’t
not include this video clip, firstly because this game is a bit of a big deal
in certain circles up in Edinburgh and secondly because it is quite amusing
seeing a foreigner try and play this game when even we English find it a bit
difficult after a few drinks!
There’s still a lot of work to be done but I am
optimistic that come the end of my time in Florence I will have all fellow
flatmates coming through ‘Zoomie Zoomay’ and even ‘Slaps’ with as little damage
as possible.
Last weekend I received a nice surprise as my Aunt
and Uncle happened to be on holiday down near Cortona on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. Since they were flying
out of Pisa on Saturday evening they thought it would be a good idea to get me
to come out and see them for lunch at VillaMangiacane just outside of Florence before they went on to the airport. It
was incredibly kind and generous of them and gave me the chance to relax by a
pool and enjoy a wonderful lunch whilst getting away from the thousands of
tourists and general humdrum that
is Florence at the moment. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and the hotel itself was
in a fantastic setting looking out onto the rolling hills of Tuscany with
Florence tucked into the hills not too far off in the distance.
One reason in particular as to why Florence is so
busy this week is because it is currently the host of the World Cycling Championships of 2013.
Now most locals have found this an absolute
nightmare because it has completely ballsed up their day to day routine. Roads
have been closed, buses have been cancelled and cyclists and tourists have
flocked from far and wide to follow this event. I for one have not been too
perturbed by the whole thing as it has done very little to affect me. On the
contrary it’s been quite exciting and my flat is also ideally placed for part
of the course. Indeed I just have to leave my front door, turn right and then
again and instantly I find myself up against the barrier of the track with only
a mile or two until the home straight.
I have a few video clips of the event and even
managed to see Bradley Wiggins race past on his way to a silver medal on Wednesday. Alas, my recording ability was not quite
up to scratch as I manage to almost completely miss Wiggins as he goes past
since I was much more interested in watching him myself. But I do assure you
that it is him! I'm really sorry also for the fact that I have not rotated the videos either.
Watching all this cycling has got me all eager to
get back on a bike again. You may or may not know but I along with two other
friends cycled from Kent to Cannes earlier this year and I am very keen to
conquer Italy as my next challenge at some point during my Erasmus year.
Hopefully with the help from my trusty two companions from the last adventure!
I went to The Old Stove (Check) last night, an Irish
pub, to watch the football. It was Inter v Fiorentina, so a big game for all
the locals. The bar was absolutely rammed for the game and I luckily got there
early and grabbed myself a seat. They have a good little set up with a TV set
up outside the bar with lots of tables and chairs so people can watch the game
outside. I was quickly joined at my table by a trio of Italian guys probably
around my age with whom I had a few chats throughout the game. I even managed
to follow quite a lot of their conversations with each other, even when one was
absolutely incredulous that Neto, the Fiorentina goalkeeper, was only a 73 on
the new FIFA 14 player ratings! I found this quite amusing.
Fiorentina sadly lost the game 2-1 despite taking
the lead. It was a shame but it was still good fun watching the match,
especially when surrounded by so many passionate fans. One man would shout,
without exception, every ten minutes or so the word ‘VIOLA!!’ at the top of his
voice twice when he felt the mood in the bar was getting too settled! Crazy.
In other news I am battling my way through the first
Harry Potter in Italian. It’s actually more difficult than I thought it would
be since I know the story line pretty well. But that is good I suppose and
hopefully it is doing some good for my language. Uni starts on Monday which is
also pretty exciting as after three weeks out here I am definitely ready to get
stuck into more stuff and hopefully meet a lot more people.
My phrase of the day, I say day, it’s more like
post, is: ‘Chi se ne frega?!’ ‘Who gives a damn?!’ Very nice.
Ciao.
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