Saturday, 18 January, 2020
Let's start off this post with some fun facts about our adopted country . . .
Each Italian region is roughly
the equivalent of an American state
CAPITAL: Rome, the Eternal City, is Italy's capital.
POPULATION: Italy's population is currently set at approximately 62,250,000 souls as of 2018.
Comparatively, Italy is Europe's sixth most populous country trailing, in order, Russia, Germany, Turkey, France and the United Kingdom.
Italy is quite a bit larger than the USA's largest state (California 39,560,000 people) in terms of population.
AREA: Italy includes its familiar large, boot-like peninsula and the two large islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In area it is comprised of 301,340 square kilometers.
That makes it the eighth largest European country in terms of area behind, in order, France, Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland and Poland.
Comparing Italy area to American states, it would rank sixth in size after Alaska, Texas, California, Montana and New Mexico (315,194 square kilometers) and just ahead of Arizona (295,254 square kilometers).
A typical small strada
near our home as I strolled to
the bakery for bread this morning
My loaf of fresh baked bread cost a whopping 57 Euros cents, i.e., 63 cents USD.
Also, on a positive health note, my first week living in Varese, eating a Mediterranean diet and walking everywhere has led to my shedding of 2.6 kilos/6.17 pounds!
I love this country!
I had to celebrate my new found svelte body by, of course, going out for a pizza.
I believe La Piedigrotta to
offer the best pizza among the
countless outstanding pizzeria's
in greater Varese
Believe me, I have dined at several pizzerias in Varese over the last two years that would easily rank as the #1 pizzeria in Ventura County if they opened a California location. La Piedigrotta is just a cut above the others in my opinion.
Of course, my research to gather meaningful data for this study is still ongoing . . .
The La Piedigrotta Pizza
and a Coke Zero
YUM!
In afternoon, we were due to have three Skorpion practices at Skorpion Field.
Since I won't have a car for a few weeks, I took the train to Vedano Olona and then walked about ten minutes to the field.
Physical fitness is my life!
On my walk to practice I realized
that palm trees are not a great
landscaping choice in Varese's
alpine foothill climate
Skorpion Field's dormant grass
As is always the case at Skorpion Field, it was a BEAUTIFUL day for American football!
First up at 2:00 p.m. was
our Women's Flag Team practice
The Women warmed up
on the agility ladder
Most of the practice today was
dedicated to working the passing
game against air
At 3:00 p.m., our Prima Squadra's
Offense took the turf to also work
on the playbook vs. air
As is usual at the start of any American football season on any continent, our Defense was far ahead of our Offense during this week's two practices.
Our attack's pride led to this Offense only Saturday practice.
Much was accomplished today.
Our pulling Right Tackle . . .
. . . finishing his block
At 3:00 p.m., our coed U13 Flag Team
was also hard at work
It was good to be back at Skorpion Field working with so many positive, young people.
Our National Federation
announced the 2020 DII
schedule late today
The Skorpions are part
of DII again this year
The Skorpions are in
DII's Girone A
A Girone is a league. There are three, seven team Girones in DII this season.
The 2020 Varese Skorpions
Girone A Schedule
Saturday, February 29
Savona Pirates at Varese Skorpions
Saturday, March 7
Varese Skorpions at Legnano Frogs
Saturday, March 21
Bergamo Lions at Varese Skorpions
Saturday, April 4
Varese Skorpions at Brescia Bengals
Saturday, April 25
Varese Gorillas at Varese Skorpions
Saturday, May 2
Varese Skorpions at Bologna Braves
Saturday, May 9
Brescia Bengals at Varese Skorpions
Saturday, May 23
Varese Skorpions at Bergamo Lions
Our complete schedule includes
lots of Bye weeks
No times have been set as of yet for the kickoffs and, as with all things Italian, the dates can change based on stadium availability, travel issues and the Summer Solstice.
All three Girones (colorfully designated as A, B and C) are playing unbalanced schedules this season.
We will all play four of our league opponents once and two others twice.
We will only see the Bologna Braves and the Legnano Frogs on the road and the Savona Pirates and the Varese Gorillas at Skorpion Field once in the regular 2020 campaign.
We will be battling the Bergamo Lions and the Brescia Bengals twice this season on a home-and-home basis.
Stay tuned . . .
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