Fede & Massi studying Tango



Before they left for the US, Fede and Massi had a week of rehearsals with two great Tango dancers - Nicoletta and Alberto are World professional champions in Argentine Tango - to prepare for the ODs of season 2006-2007.
I went to visit them first on tuesday, June 13th, with the purpose of taking some pics for their website and also because I thought I wouldn't be able to see them later in the week, to say good-bye. Then, totally by chance, I found myself in Milan on Thursday as well, and I went back to the Forum, to say good bye properly.

On Tuesday we had agreed to meet at the forum quite early, to follow them during the off-ice dance training in the gym... Silvia and I arrived at the Forum in time, and found Fede and Carlo waiting more r less patiently for Massi, who had gone to meet the dancers to guide them to the rink. After a few of chats and introductions, a quick look at the Olympic backstage DVD featuring even our beloved Toponiglio, we soon were off to the gym. The couples started dancing, and we were soon taking pics...
I still have to see Silvia's, but I have a few of my own... most of them will be uploaded on Fede and Massi' new website which we hope to launch in July (www.faiellascali.com), but since I took these photos, I think I can put up just a few here as well...

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After a while, a couple of changes of shoes, lots of dancing, twirling and kicking... and it was time to leave the floor to get on the ice...
Anna payed a surprise visit as well...

 

Unfortunately we couldn't spend much time with the guys after the end of the practice, because they had to leave in a great hurry to attend a funeral... I was a bit sad because we had to say goodbye without really having time to talk like we would have liked...

Unexpectely I found myself coming back to Milan on wednesday night instead of thursday, so on Thursday morning I packed my bag with my camera, a fleece and Toponiglio, and drove back to the Forum to see the guys once more.
I went there just for the ice practice, and took more pics. Actually as soon as I arrived by the boards to say hello, Fede already had tears in her eyes, which mounted when I told her I had brought her also Toponiglio for a good bye...
Today there was a new figure at the boards, as Pasquale Camerlengo had arrived as well... he followed with much interest the work that Fede and Massi were doing with Nicoletta and Alberto.

 
At the end of practice,
they got together for a group photo
 

While waiting for Fede and Massi to emerge from the dressing rooms, I decided not to wait for them and marched up to Pasquale to introduce myself, and got a few quotes from him for Fede and Massi's website... then they arrived, and Fede came immediately up to me with to enormous, shiny eyes... I gave her Toponiglio, and she tried once more to convince me to give it to her - but I told her "You're leaving, at least leave him with me!"... we hugged and hugged, while she was fighting back tears and I tried hard not to start myself... she confessed being excited, but sad at the same time for leaving so much behind...
She cheered up a bit when she introduced Toponiglio to Nicoletta and Alberto, showing off al the patches and its crazy passport... Again, I am always surprised every time I see how much they love our slly mascot, Federica in particular... never in a million years I would have guessed this silly bunny would be such a success, when I started sewing him in 2004!

Then it was really time to say goodbye for good... Okay, I confess I was as strong as I would have liked, and while Massi and I hugged for an eternity, I couldn't fight back my tears anymore... I'll miss these two great guys so much!
Pasquale tried to joke "come on, they're not leaving for the war!", but Massi defended my reaction, saying "But we're used to see each other every other day, it's hard!"... I told them once more to let us know how things are going, and told him "you two have spoilt us with this friendship, now we want to know what happens!". Again, Fede and I were looking at each other with teary eyes again, and she handed me back Topo... one more hug, and we just decided to cut it short, or we wouldn't stop crying! I grabbed my bag and went out to the parking, while she went to retrieve her things...

Bye - Bye guys, I love you two!

IN BOCCA AL TOPO!!!