Some guests accompanied us to a game of street Pilota in Genoves, which is about 20 minutes from Montichelvo. Pilota is an ancient game, a little like tennis (apparently tennis was developed from it). There are, however, three players per side and each player has their hands meticulously prepared as they are used as "rackets". Each hand is fitted with strong leather thimbles, metal supporting plates and bandage for padding, and then bound with tape to keep them all together!
There is no net as the object is to get the ball to the opposite end of the court (hopefully avoiding balconies, drainpipes and spectators etc). The ball is just larger than a squash ball and has a hard core and smooth leather shell. It hurts to get in the way of it as spectators often do! Spectators crowd at each end of the "court" which is a green painted village street, whilst others line the edge of the court, which does seem an extremely dangerous place to be!
Again....photos give an insight to the event.
And some excitement for me was that Spanish TV carried an interview with yours truly about why I liked the sport....all in Spanish too!
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