Italy Wins the World Cup - pandemonium in Guelph - this is what its like where I live.

IMG_4900, originally uploaded by Mic2006.

I suppose scenes like this are playing themselves out all across the world right now. I had been returning from an “abandoned mine” hunting outing with my wife Maggie and as we neared the town in which we live (Guelph), the sound of horns and cheering rose above the engine purr. I immediatly knew that somebody had won the world cup and in no time at all it was obvious who. Our city is twinned with the Italian town of “Loria”, for what reason or where it is I am not sure. Either way we have a huge and vocal Italian population and the world cup is locally reguarded as possibly the most important event in the last decade.

As we neared the downtown core the citizens were flooding into the street waving Italian flags. Within a space of about two minutes all traffic had stopped and we were surrounded on all sides by bonafied flag waving supporters. At the the town’s main intersection the local police had started looking a little stressed and a young constable was struggling to keep the traffic flowing. We just slipped through and I looked back to watch the crowd flood into the street, all hope of keeping the traffic flowing - abandoned.

I was amused to see a picture last week following Italy’s win over Germany of one of my co-workers, one very vocal “Peter Bortolon” in a striped Italian colored top hat atop a car in Guelph’s downtown blasting on a whistle. He had made front page news and increased his already somewhat celebratory status. (He is a well known hockey referee and recording secretary for the union at the factory in which I work).

I must admit, I was somewhat pleased as I had been convinced of Italy’s worth by Mario, a fellow blogger. I think he is from Italy. Congratulations Mario, I am pleased for your country’s success.

Anyway, I am still typing away and the noise from the centre of town is carrying through my study window. It is still rising in volume and frenzy. I hope it does not escalate to a riot, though Canadians are generally pretty law abiding and the atmosphere was one of good cheer about 15 minutes ago (as I passed through). The photo that I had taken was within minutes of the win and just prior to the street closing to vehicular movement.

… Its 12:30 at night now, no war or mass looting in Guelph though plenty of fireworks and the neighbours out back have a campfire going and they sound very drunk.

SEE MAY 19th POST - “HOOLIGAN RECLINES IN HAMMOCK” - An angry Everton hoodlum threatens me in my own back yard!