Day 2- Practice & Milan SIghtseeing

We Started the day off traveling from the airport to the hotel by bus. We dropped off our luggage and started walking to practice. Gym was very close, but we still got all turned around, thankfully we have some awesome tour guides with us! When we arrived, we practiced in a gym that felt like we were basically outside. Lots of bugs and everyone was very hot and sweaty. The gym had very nice sport court and only consisted of one court. We are able to play 6 on 6 now which is very nice that we have enough people on the team! 

First practice at Cento Pavesi FIPAV.

AFTER PRACTICE, WE CHANGED AND HAD LUNCH AT THE TRAINING FACILITY. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING, AND WE LEARNED THAT IN ITALY EVERY MEAL CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE COURSES. 

AFTER LUNCH, WE WALKED BACK TO HOTEL AND GOT READY TO GO SIGHT-SEEING. OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO SEE EUROPEAN HOTEL ROOMS FOR THE FIRST TIME. EVERYTHING IS A LOT SMALLER THAN IT WOULD BE IN AMERICA. AFTER THIS, WE FOLLOWED OUR TOUR GUIDES ONTO THE TRAIN AND TRAVELED TO THE INNER CITY OF MILAN.

Castello Sforzesco!

WHEN WE ARRIVED IN MILAN, WE WALKED THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL PARK. IN THIS PARK, WE HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CASTLE OF MILAN, ALONG WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF MILAN AND THE DUOMO. IT WAS INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND FIND OUT THAT THE CASTLE WAS ACTUALLY USED AS A MILITARY BASE IN MULTIPLE WARS. ALONG WITH THIS, WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CITY INCLUDING THAT LEONARDO DA VINCI LIVED HERE FOR OVER 14 YEARS AND THERE ARE NOW MANY MUSEUMS DEDICATED TO HIM. 

Duomo di Milano

FUN FACT: WHILE WALKING AROUND THE CITY, LOCALS WILL GO UP TO YOU AND GRAB YOUR ARMS TO PUT BRACELETS ON THEM WITHOUT EVEN ASKING. YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY, I LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE. 

WE WERE GIVEN A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR FREE TIME. EVERYONE TRIED GELATO FOR THE FIRST TIME ALONG WITH LOOKING AT ALL SORTS OF FOUNTAINS, BUILDINGS, SHOPS, AND THE DUOMO UP CLOSE. THE DUOMO IS A GIANT GOTHIC CATHEDRAL. WE TRIED TO GO INSIDE BUT IT WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF BAPTISMS. 
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LOCALS CAN DEFINITELY TELL WE ARE TOURISTS BECAUSE WE WALK AROUND LIKE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THROUGH A SCREEN. 

Wandering through the streets of Milan.

AFTER SIGHTSEEING FOR A COUPLE HOURS, WE HEADED TO DINNER WHERE AGAIN WE HAD A MEAL WITH MULTIPLE COURSES. STARTED WITH FRENCH FRIES, THEN FRIED RICE BALLS (SOME MIGHT SAY POLENTA) AND FINALLY PIZZA THAT WAS UNLIKE ANY PIZZA I HAVE EVER HAD AT HOME. ENDED WITH MINI CANNOLI'S THAT WERE FILLED WITH CUSTARD. BY THE END OF DINNER, EVERYONE WAS DRAINED AFTER SUCH A LONG TRAVEL DAY AS MANY OF MY TEAMMATES STARTED TO FALL ASLEEP AT THE TABLE. WE WALKED AND TOOK THE TRAIN BACK AND HEADED TO BED IN PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER AMAZING DAY TO COME!

-SYD COLE, Sophomore Setter