Italy - Day 7

Riccione & Game 4
Today was a late morning in San Marino spent walking the stone streets, taking our time before heading off to the beaches once more. A courtyard just outside our hotel, the Hotel Titano, has a statue and a large building with guards posted outside. We aren’t sure what the building is, but the guards looked neat, and there was a changing every half-hour.

Courtyard outside the Hotel Titano

Guards outside courtyard building

We headed to the city of Riccione, which is near Rimini but just a tad further south on the Adriatic Sea. Much of the team chose to spend the day again lying in the sun with jaunts to the water for a refreshing swim. Dan and I chose to walk the streets filled with shops and have a memorable lunch. We found a small restaurant that fit the bill and had one of the best meals of our stay yet. We tried the piadina, a flat bread this area is known for, and found it was much like a tortilla, albeit slightly thicker. We finished our lunch by ordering Cafe’ Italiano, or espresso, and slowly sipped the strong beverage while enjoying small pieces of sweet cake for dessert. At first the drink was a bit strong, but as we slowly consumed the café’ and cakes, the taste began to wear on us and we really began to enjoy it, perhaps as much for the atmosphere as for the food and drink itself.

Afterwards, we continued to walk via Dante and take our time looking at the shops and sights around us. We stumbled upon a small wine and grocery market and entered to see if we could find a local Sangiovese to take back to the hotel. The owner of the shop did not speak much English, and of course we spoke no Italian beyond hello and thank you. After a few minutes, Dan began to speak in Spanish and it was enough for the two to communicate. We asked the owner if he could recommend a bottle of Sangiovese and he pointed to several bottles. Dan asked what he would drink and he pointed to a keg atop a small table next to us and then gave us each a sample. It was the “all day” wine that the people of this town drink, leaving the bottles for special occasions or as presents. The locals bring whatever bottles they have to fill with the wine (even water bottles). We selected a bottle (a regular wine bottle, not the two liter the gentleman first pointed to us) and took it home to enjoy. It cost 1.70 euros, about $2.45 US, and while not a superior wine, was good enough for us to enjoy as we relaxed for the evening.

The girls played their fourth and final game at 6:00 p.m. against an American team from the east coast, UK Elite. The girls played hard and began to really start to connect on their passes to each other on the turf. The opponent got a lucky goal just over the fingertips of our goalie, which was enough for them to hang on for a 1-0 win. It was a heart breaker, as the girls really did out play the other team, especially in the second half, and it was to be the girl’s last game. They have played well the whole tournament and represented not only the US, but the city of Longview and Timber Barons soccer as well. It has been a wonderful tournament and given everyone a new perspective on soccer in the world.

The Timber Barons 93 Select Soccer team in front of the Hotel Titano, The Republic of San Marino, 2009

After the game, we headed back to the hotel for the girls to shower and change for the dance that night. It was the goalie’s 15th birthday and Teri was able to find a store to buy a birthday cake. At dinner, the team sang happy birthday and the hotel staff wheeled in her cake, a happy surprise to her. She commented it was her best birthday ever.
As the girls prepared to leave for the dance all spruced up in their dresses and makeup, it caused me to pause and reflect on the past few years. It seems like just yesterday I was helping coach them in 4th grade basketball and it is hard to believe they have grown into beautiful young women already. It reminds us to cherish our time with our own beautiful daughters and to enjoy every moment.

The dads headed off to chaperone and the moms (and Dan) gathered in the sitting area to enjoy some wine and to share tales of the day, the trip and years past. It was a fitting end to a wonderful trip so far and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Tomorrow it is packing day and heading our separate ways. The team will head to Milan for their flight home, while we will begin the second half of our trip in Florence.

As we lay in bed resting for the day to come, we listened to the huge thunderstorm going on outside. It was a bit eerie yet enchanting to sit in a “castle” and watch the hillside and town of stone light up from the lightening, and was so intense it reminded me a little of Frankenstein. Quite the memorable night.