Viva Italia!

Despite the fact that some French and francophile interlopers threatened to be spoilers, we had a great time cheering on the Italian World Cup team at a local Italian eatery. The anxiety at the penalty kicks, madonna! And that silly head butt by Zidane in the final minutes of the game, che figura! And that Italianesque fondling of the cup itself in the euphoria of victory. Ma esageri! Our friend Rocco in Mantova told us he changed his shirt three times in his nervous sweat over the game and his voice was hoarse from exuberant shouting throughout the night. Italy celebrates all night long now, its first World Cup championship in 24 years.