It' All About The Cheese…Ruzzolone 2016

  This year the annual Ruzzolone, a cheese rolling competition/extravaganza, took place yesterday, Monday 28 March, here in Panicale.

  The day started out pretty, then took a turn towards cold, windy, and just a little wet. Thankfully by 3pm, it calmed down to just being sort of chilly. These are tough folks, so there was a decent turnout, despite the weather….

  

  From what I could discern, there were two teams. One skewed older, one younger….they took turns flinging the cheese as far as it would roll, around part of the outer walls of town. Whoever made the two...or was it three?...times around, won. 

  The cheese is rolled, then they mark where it lands, so the next team can take it's turn, and then the first team goes from the first spot, etc, etc, etc. Wine is passed around, there is lots of loud trash talk, and all is in good fun.

  It's tradition, and it's a blast to watch.

A younger team member prepares to roll the sixteen pound wheel of cheese.

  I was almost too close…I heard the whip of the rolling strap thingy, and felt lucky it didn't take out my eye…!

  I have written about this event a couple of times, and I do enjoy seeing the now familiar faces of the fellows on the teams.
  I assume these guys have known each other for years, if not their entire lives. The joking and teasing is all part of the scene...

The players all wear their cheese rolling 'straps' proudly throughout the day.

  Slowly working their way around the main walls of town.

  PS..That wisteria on the right will be stunning in about another week...

  It's a tough job, but this gentleman, below, seems to be enjoying his roll as the red team leader, and pretty much the guy that keeps things moving along. Between glasses of white wine, of course...

  This throw, below, was a classic. The cheese went along it's merry way, right into a culvert type hole on the side of the road...

 Of course, the next throw came from the next guy, below, who had to climb into the culvert and heave the cheese up and out….for a pretty sad roll, indeed….
  Lots of hilarity ensued, of course!

I think he kind of enjoyed being down there.

  This goes on for hours. We watch the first go around, and then kind of fade out and head back to the piazza. But I sure do enjoy taking photos along the way.

The cheese rolling strap.
No, I don't know how it works.

Every year the cheese takes a wrong turn
and bounces down this hill, into an olive grove.
This year, it happened no less than three times. Here, folks are just
waiting for someone to retrieve and toss it back up.

  Everyone seems to have a good time, and I always enjoy seeing all the locals out and about, cheering, yelling and generally making lots of noise. 

  Our pals Roberto & Giulia, rent the Little Pink House every year, and have begun a tradition of their own, serving wine to all who pass by.
  You can see everyone on the terrace in the background, enjoying the show, below….

  Once the cheese and it's various tossers found their way back up the hill, we found our way to Bar Gallo to enjoy the sounds from the ongoing festivities at an outdoor table.

  A very good day, indeed!

This is one very tired cheese.
R.I.P.
You did your job well.