The quarterfinaals happened for me in Belgium. Mechelen. Hot. Hot Party. Good times. Played some football as well. Now in Amsterdam, another great lowlands city. Going for dinner with some Australian guys. They hate Italians, as you might imagine. But we’re hoping it’ll go ok.

Quarterfinals, shocking, shocking and a little disappointing, but with plenty of bright spots. Well, one really. Italy won! Yes! Going to the semi-finals.

More to come.

*For anyone who has been complaining about the football focus here lately. Just wait until a few weeks after the World Cup, then we’ll return to our regular sporadic dosages of wry observations on Italian life and insights into my occasionally interesting life.