An Italian Easter

Even though the distance from Turkey to Italy on the map isn’t far, it still took us over 14 hours, 2 plane rides and 2 train rides to get to Riccione. Which reminds me, we are still chasing the Gold Star Alliance membership. Anna is so close, hopelfully she isnt short by 2 points again before we start losing some at the end of the month! Then I can tag along with her when she goes to the lounges at the airports till I’m Gold as well. You would think that with all the flying we have done in the last year we would be Gold, but alas, not yet.

So here we are in the little Italian town of Riccione which is on the east coast of "The Boot", and fortunately well away from the earthqauke zone. It’s been really busy over the Easter weekend with lots of trendy Italian people sporting the latest fashions which seem to be black denim and leather, so we stand out a little with our height, tracksuit pants and jerseys plus a big bright yellow volleyball bag. We think that it may be a boutique kind of destination with stores from all the designer labels like Armani, Guess, D&G, Sisley and lots of restaurants on our 10 minute walk to the beach.

We train on a court in the centre of a beach festival. Lots of people wander off the shopping streets and watch our trainings and soak up some sun even though it is still technically spring if you look at the budding trees. So again it is tights and thermals weather although in the afternoon trainings we may only need tights and a t.shirt. We are still training with the German girls, Ilka and Katrin plus their coach Andi and now the Italian girls as well. I am back in my blocking position and things have been going really well. My finger is still in a soft splint, but handling the impact from the big hits. 

It has been really special being here and witnessing some of the Italian Easter traditions, or at least the ones that they have in the hotel we are staying in. I got to crack the biggest egg I have ever seen. It sat on display in the foyer till Sunday lunch and then at the end of lunch I got to crack the egg in front of all the guests. Inside the egg is a surprise and when I cracked the egg with a stick (think piñata styles) I could hear something drop inside. Ours had a garden gnome inside:) There is so much chocolate that 3 days later there is still some at lunch and dinner to nibble on, although I think it may only be Anna and I eating it now? Excellent, all the more for us! Anna also got me a delicious milk chocolate hen with little eggs which is possibly the best chocolate I have tasted!

Normally this would be a quiet town but apart from the trendy Romian holiday makers it is also busy because of the Beach Festival happening at the moment. There are approximately 1500 people from Germany competing in the beach festival that spans 5 days. There are nets set up stretching approximately 2km down the beach. I hope that this puts the popularity of beach volleyball into perspective here in Europe.

I hope everyone had a yummy Easter and enjoyed the good weather that spanned around NZ. Anna’s birthday is tomorrow so I will have to think of a special way to see in her 26^th year.