Soccer and Sun

I think I have become easygoing. I have always been envious of people who are spontaneous. People who aren't planners and don't give themselves panic attacks on the little scheduling details of life. Taking a huge trip like this is a good way to learn your lesson. Sit down, relax - stroll, don't walk. If you want to do something, do it. Why not?
So, I've decided to stay in Monterosso and cut out Ferrara entirely, which means Wednesday I will be taking a 7 hour, two train ride to Venice, which I am surprisingly ok with. I really just love this town so much, and coupled with the World Cup and they new friends I've made - I see no reason to rush off to another city and do a whirlwind tour. I'm perfectly happy sitting around eating anchovies and looking at the slightly overcast sea. Sadly, Manuel's Guesthouse was booked the next two nights - as was most everything else in town - so the owner made a few calls and found me a very cheap room in town, rented by a wonderful Filipino woman. Sadly, you really do get what you pay for. The room is fine, but there is a really odd smell that actually made me laugh. Like sour nailpolish remover or something equally as unpleasant. And there are no windows. I don't really spend so much time in the room anyway, so I'm not totally disturbed by a strange odor, but needless to say, I have certainly stayed in nicer places.
Dinner last night was pleasant - at Il Moretto. It was overpriced, but the anchovies were good and the pasta and pesto fresh. My insalata miste arrived with olive oil and balsamico in plastic spray bottles. Grade=F. Not acceptable in my book, and not even a free lemoncello will make me go back. Spray salad dressing? It makes me cringe enough in the USA, and in Italy it borders on terrifying. Plus, the people next to me ordered french fries. That drives me crazy. If I am eating in a region known for something, that is what I order, even if I'm not wild about it. I don't care for white wine, but that is what they make here so that is what I drink. Hence, my obesita from too much time in Tuscanny. For me, however, it is a necessary travel attitude to adopt. Do as the Romans do (or Ligurians, Florentines, so forth. You get the idea).
The Cantina I've been going to is home to the friendliest waitstaff I have ever encountered, and for some reason, they seem to like me. Last night I stayed after with the group and chatted and laughed - everyone is from all over the world, and really well traveled, so it's just nice to sit down and exchange stories. They invited me to their World Cup party at another bar tonight - they reserved a table and one of the girls gave me an extra Italia shirt (even though she's from Chile, but I'm not arguing). And tomorrow, another girl, also named Cristina, invited me out on her boat if the weather is nice with her and her sister and boyfriend. It wasn't a hard sell. Ferrara simply cannot compete.
The sun seems to be coming out again, which is fantastic. The weather here is so fickle. Rain then sun twenty times in the same day. I'm surprisingly ok with that too. Just a little bit of sun is enough to make everyone flock back to the beach, dotted with huge umbrellas every color of the rainbow. It's like we're all waiting today, sipping on cafe, taking a little longer to talk with a friend. Monterosso is biding its time - for sun or for soccer. I'll take either.