Fireworks for San Giovanni, World Cup, Summer

Florence is pretty great - they know all of us Americans were going to miss our 4th of July fireworks so they decided to have them for us anyways - just a little early!  Actually, they were for San Giovanni - the patron saint of Florence - and they were pretty awesome!  The bridges and Arno streets were packed with people who came out to watch the 40 minute show.  I was impressed!

Other than that - it has been all about the Mondiale di Calcio over here.  I think it's the most patriotic the Italians ever get.  It has been fun to come home at night and watch a soccer game - I don't think I've ever watched an entire game before - but I have certainly become a fan.  Too bad Italy and the US are already out of the running - but now I will just have to switch allegiances over to Portugal and Ghana.  It's fun anyways to hear all the neighbors yelling and screaming together when a goal is scored or missed - and my roommate really gets into the games :)  I should've become a soccer fan earlier.

Last weekend I went up to Torino with a bunch of friends for a sports activity and to see a little bit of the city.  It was huge and gorgeous and green.  I loved it!  Now I need to go back and really see the city.  And I learned that I'm actually pretty good at soccer - and that I haven't improved a bit at beach volleyball. 

I've been busy finishing up school and teaching (finally done!!) and planning vacations mostly.  Even if I hated teaching (which I don't) - I think I could do it just for the pleasure of a summer break.. I've also made it to the beach a couple of times.  The weather was hot and then rainy (I never thought I would enjoy rain so much in my life!) and then sadly hot again.  6 years in SF have ruined me for a summer of 90 degrees and no AC - but I'm sure I'll slowly get acclimated.  At least I get to spend a lot of my time at the beach!  My mom comes Thursday and I'm super excited!!  She'll be followed by my dad and brother..and then Jean.  On the itinerary - Sardegna, Venice, Florence, Rome, Napoli and Sicily...then a brief pause before Sweden, England and the USA!!  It should be a great summer!
The past month has been mostly finishing up school and teaching - so excited that I am finally done!!!  And doing LOTS of planning for summer vacation - with a couple of trips to the beach thrown in.  The weather got hot and then rainy (I never thought I loved the rain so much but I wanted it to stay forever) - sadly, it has gotten hot again but I guess it is summer.  6 years in cold, foggy SF just haven't prepared me for a summer of the 90s without AC but I'm sure I'll adjust.  My mom is flying into Rome tomorrow and I'm SO excited to see her and to see Italy.  She'll be followed shortly by my dad and brother..and then Jean. On the itinerary - Sardegna, Venezia, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, Sicilia...then a brief pause before Sweden, England, and the good old USA!  It's going to be great!