2021-12-21, 02:36 AM - Word count:
Everyone has heard the song about Dominic, the Italian Christmas donkey! Clip pity clip, hee-haw hee-haw and all that. But that won’t be played in the Calvatore house this Christmas, for fairly obvious reasons. They’re Italian, for crying out loud!
Alessio will be returning to his home city of Parma for Christmas, to celebrate with his family. He is very well placed for the holidays, as it’s just a short hop across the Mediterranean from Cairo to Parma, only a few hours by plane. Imagine travelling back from Tokyo, or LA!
Now, there is the small matter of a couple of games this week, prior to the Christmas break. Sitting at the top of the table for christmas would be the best present for the Cairo City players!
Alessio is due to fly home the morning after the final game before Christmas. Parma is quite a place around this time of year. The famous Christmas markets on the Piazza Ghiaia. It will, of course, be difficult to resist the lure of the traditional festive foods for sale in the markets. Tortellis, anolini in broth, slices of rich, fruity spongata. With some games still to come following the Christmas break, a player cannot afford to indulge too heavily, lest we see his Stamina and Natural Fitness plummet to 4!
Obviously, spending time with family will be a large part of the festive season for Alessio. Again, trying not to enjoy the culinary treats of the Emilia-Romagna region too much. All the fine meats, cheeses and wines from the region could definitely see any normal person put on a bit of timber, the effect would be magnified for a finely tuned football machine like Calvatore. He will, of course, do what he can to keep active. Walking round there aforementioned Christmas markets would be a fun way to get the steps in, as would a walk on the Piazza Garibaldi, to enjoy the Christmas lights, maybe even catch the traditional Procession of the Magi.
All in all, a wonderful festive season could be had in Calvatore’s home city, and he certainly plans to enjoy it (hopefully not too much!).
