Are you ready for some football?!

No, not that kind of football.

The group has been enjoying watching the Euro 2008. In Tirane they have giant outdoor screens set up at the cafes and the places are packed. Every place has the TV set to the game. When I popped into an pub to catch the score I even understood it when the guy told me in Sqhipe (Albanian). Sometimes we were too tired to watch the game and stayed in the room. You could hear the entire city cheering and booing through the hotel window. I loved the solidarity. Our final night in Rome was Italy vs. Spain (click to see video of final winning penalty kick).

Most of the group wasn't that interested, but Mari and I were because we knew the whole place would go nuts and it would be a terrific experience.

View from Julius Cesar bar, what kind of drink requires a 3 foot straw???

She got the last table at the Julius Cesar Bar which was attached to our hotel. The place was rampant with youth hostelers; a very young crowd. We met up with them later a few blocks over at the Yellow's bar.

Mari, TJ and hilarious Irish kid who's name I forgot and me. Not to worry we are all perfectly sober.

TJ (who has a name like that?) was hot and bothered by the fact that we were librarians. As Pink says: "It's Just You and Your Hand Tonight".

We shared a table with some Venezuelan psychologists who were in town for a convention. They were great fun, and mentioned how much they missed A/C and ice cubes. I felt their pain.

Mari and Laura with great Venezuelan ladies.

As expected it was a great time.

Note to self and helpful hint: never go into a 9 hr. flight with a hangover ever again.