Jun 2, 2012 - Cremona to Rimini 5/27- 6/01

From Cremona to Rimini One thing I've found along this trip is that I'm always pleasantly surprised. I've met a lot of cool people in different cities and in different countries and whenever I have to leave I think that " wow this place was really cool" and I don't think that I'll find something better. Which is kind of funny because I have had the same thoughts at least 20 times. The experiences keep flowing in and I'm continuously having fun in a variety of ways with a variety of people. So even though its hard sometimes to leave one...

Sep 16, 2011 - San Giovanni to Rimini

Friday, September 16: Our next stop is Rimini, Italy on the Adriatic Sea on our return portion of the trip. Arrived in Rimini around noon and got checked in to a Best Western Hotel Nettunia, one block from the Adriatic. Spent the afternoon sunning and paddling around in the warm Adriatic Sea...31 C today.

May 2, 2011 - Rimini

We spent the evening and stayed over night in Rimini, Italy's answer to Miami Beach. It is the most famous beach town in the whole country and it is mobbed in summer. We hit it before the season started so the beautiful rooms were very cheap. While it was too cold to go in the water or even walk along the beach, that didn't stop us from resting in the cool evening air and eating a wonderful dinner. In Rimini, seafood is the specialty. A friend recommended a restaurant that turned out to be one of the best meals I've had since I arrived...

May 8, 2010 - There and Back Again ...

Tolkien was right … no matter the journey, its great to get home… So, 17 boys …9 days… 4 games … and 2 transatlantic flights later … all good intentions went out the window once the plane hit the tarmac… I intended to get this out Monday, but then life intervened... The short version is that it was a very successful trip on all fronts… the boys played well and represented Region 1 and their country with distinction, both on and off the field … culturally they spent a concentrated period of time in a foreign culture and embraced the...

May 1, 2010 - Region 1 - 2 vs Ancona Calico U15 - 3

Friday, April 29 Today we were able to get a friendly with Ancona Calico’s U15 youth team. Ancona is a professional side in Serie B and was in Serie A as recently as 2002-2003. The second time in two days were have been able to play against a professional team’s youth set up. Anconca is about an hour south of Riccione by coach. Their facility is of a very good standard … changing rooms, office, stands, … but the Field Turf pitch is narrow at 55 yards. We played 2 x 35. The team was very composed today even in light of stronger players...

Apr 29, 2010 - Region 1 - 0 vs Parma - 1

Thursday, April 28 Region 1 – 0 vs Parma – 1 We needed a result of any kind in this match and Parma needed a win. We started tentatively and the game was played mostly in midfield with very few chances. Parma scored in the 22 minute off a long-range shot. That said, in the half we had the better of the chances. Our best chance came when Akeem Ward hit the bar after chipping the keeper. The second half was more of the same, hard play in midfield and limited chances. Jonathon Uy had our best chance off of a free kick that the keeper did well...

Apr 28, 2010 - Region 1 - 4 vs Fano Calico - 0

Tuesday, April 26 Region 1 -4 vs Fano Calico -0 Two games … two wins … two clean sheets … Fano came with energy and determination but were not our match technically or physically. Our team play was improved over Sunday’s game. We were more fluid and much sharper… it was evident from the warm up that jet lag was behind us and they boys were physically more ready to play. Luka Martinovic whose grandparents came in from Croatia had two assists. The boys are playing with a lot of confidence. Our game Thursday against Parma will determine the...

Apr 27, 2010 - Region 1 - 5 vs A.S.D. Romangna Centro - 0

Monday, April 25 Region 1 - 5 vs A.S.D. Romangna Centro - 0 A good win to begin the tournament. The tournament seeds 12 teams in four groups and then local teams like Romangna Centro play in to fill out the brackets. Romangna Centro won a mini tournament of three teams to enter Group B. In this tournament we play 2 x 30 minutes with no reentry. We began the day with breakfast at 8AM and a training session at 10. We trained for little over an hour with Kelly leading a dynamic warm up, possession to targets and 5v5 to full goals. We finished...

Apr 26, 2010 - One Long Day

The day started at 7AM EST in time to get final packing done before the Man U vs. Tottenham game and travel to meet Pete and three of the players for the ride to JFK… We met the boys at JFK with out any problems at 3PM. The 5:05 flight from New York to Rome was 7.5 hours… and of course sleeping was problematic … the food was, well, food and the second movie was sub titled … two hour lay over in Rome and a short flight to Bologna arriving about 11AM their time (5AM EST) … we had tickets to the Bologna vs. Parma Serie A game at 3PM, so a box...

Jun 27, 2008 - Rimini

27 June Took the 0725 train to Rimini(11.75 euro) regionale(the cheap one) and walked to my hotel, Hotel Jolie, which I had reserved for 2 days. That was a loong walk in the blistering heat! Lets just say I will take the bus back to the train station when I have to leave! Rimini is known for its long stretch of beach, so I imagine there won't be too much physical activity during the day time and mainly relaxing on one of the private beaches.

Dec 15, 2007 - Rimini

It was more by accident than choice that I ended up staying in Rimini, I was heading for San Marino but thought I would stay in Bologna and travel from there. However, after booking the train to Bologna I went on t'internet to book a bed in Bologna and couldn't find a bed for much under 50 pounds or a room for less than 100. A search in Rimini found me a single en-suite with tv for 25 quid a night - sold. The room was fine but I was fuming about the tv for 10 minutes as there wasn't one. I was hoping to get the Newcastle game live but it...

May 14, 2007 - Crossing the Rubicon....we did today!

We went for a short tour today, toward some of the Malatesta castles. We didn't go very far because Glen is suffering from a sore throat and cough, so he needs some rest, Tylenol and orange juice! We did admire the scenery on the way to Sogliano al Rubicone (on the Rubicon river), and stopped at the 'supermercato' (a small grocery store) to buy a picnic lunch, and lots of orange and grapefruit juice. I waited in line behind some road workers - and learned that it is possible to have the person at the meat and cheese counter make a sandwich...