The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



270. Campioni del Mondo

Where were you on Saturday 9th July 2006?




A question that will be asked for many years to come... After 24 years of waiting, a 3rd place in 1990, losing on penalties in the finals in 1994 and a couple of forgettable World Cups in '98 and '02 the trophy comes home to Italy. 4 times winners and second only to Brazil for the most successful all time!




An unforgettable experience and Annette's first match. We watch it up Piazzale Michelangelo with 4,000 screaming Italians. The 90 minutes against France finishes 1-1, after a Zidane penalty (that should never have been) a Materazzi header and the infamous Zidane headbutt. Italy keep a very cool head to win on penalties. Pirlo, De Rossi, Materazzi, Del Piero and Grosso.


The whole piazza goes crazy as Italy are crowned World Champions for the fourth time. We somehow manage to make our way to the car and drive home through crowded streets with people hanging out of windows, standing on cars and generally celebrating long into the night...


(Original journal entry 9/7/06)
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