Somehow I wrote we ended first, that is clearly an error as you can guess by a sentence towards the end. We were third out of 6!

This summer, when the location of the European regional tournament was announced, thinking we would be there was for us half a joke, half something we wished we could do. We had just become the first italian official team and we really wanted to get some international experience, or any experience at all, since the italian quidditch scene is only now slowly taking its first steps. Seeing that flight prices were in fact affordable gradually convinced us that it could be more than just a wish, and in the next months 9 of us bought their ticket to Bordeaux. Since the moment we stepped out of the airport, it was an adventure. Ben (coming from the UK to be a snitch at the tournament) joined us in a visit of the city and we spent the next hours getting to know our first international quid-friend, with a slight premonition that that was how the whole weekend would have been. Which wasn't what happened. Because things kept getting more and more awesome! I could write a detailed summary of everything that happened there, and how we ended up in the first place out of the 6 teams that were there, but I'm sure it would not be that interesting. Instead I can just try to paint some istants of these days that have stuck in my mind. The hugs. Loads of hugs. Millions of hugs! I know that quidditch events involve a lot of hugging, but I'm sure this was one of the huggiest and cuddliest in the brief history of quidditch tournaments. Hugging with the other captain with the teams already lined up in front of the hoops. Pulling all of my team and the other team, the snitch, the officials, even random spectators in one big group hug after a match. Basically hugging any passerby. The matches, those we lost and those we won. The last one, which was also the last match of the day and decided for the third place, that we won at overtime. Seeing the whole team, even those normally most concerned about physical contact, putting all the energies they had on the field. Helping each other, constantly talking with each other, working together, as a team should. And more hugs later, of course! I left expecting for big things, I came back with even more. I can't but be graful for that. Let's do this again: the Meneghins are ready! Michele