We are back in the country from the team's spring break trip to Italy, and I just wanted to give you a quick updated on how fantastic it was for everyone! We ran into some troubles with the WiFi abroad, so we weren't able to post the pics on Facebook and Twitter while we were overseas. Here is a little breakdown of how the week went:

Day 1: Travel/Rome
After a long day of travel, we landed in Rome and met our tour guide for the week, Gianluca. We were able to explore the area around the hotel a bit, try our first (of many) taste of gelato, and then enjoy a team meal together. Then it was off to the Serie A match - Lazio vs. Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico. Despite the brisk temperatures that accompanied the late night kickoff, the guys loved getting to see 2 good goals by German star Miroslav Klose in a 2-0 victory for Lazio. 

Day 2: Rome
The first full day in Rome was spent entirely exploring the narrow cobblestone streets of the ancient city. It seemed like everywhere we turned, there were little cheese & deli shops, fresh fruit/vegetable markets, cafes, and gelato shops. We took in some of the classic parts of the city, including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. We capped off the day with our first match of the trip. The guys shook off a bit of jet lag and rust for a strong Titan victory at Totti Academy.

Day 3: Rome
The next day in Rome was the highlight for much of the group, as we explored the famous Colosseum in the morning. The capabilities of the engineers and architects from over 2,000 years ago in building this huge structure was mesmerizing. In the afternoon, we toured the Vatican, where we were able to see the painting by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. We were all blown away by the attention to detail and ornateness found throughout the entire city. We finished off the night with our second match of the trip, a tough 2-2 draw against a very good squad from Dragona Calcio. 

Day 4: Montecatini
The bus trip from Rome took us along the 'spine' of Italy, the Apennine Mountains, to our lavish hotel in the region of Tuscany . Upon arrival, we had the opportunity to walk around and explore the quaint town of Montecatini Terme, known for its hot springs and spas. In the evening, we played our final match of the trip, rounding things out with a victory against the local club, Empoli FC. The night was capped off by a team dinner at the hotel, and some impromptu karaoke, including performances by both the coaches and players. 

Day 5: Florence
The next day was spent in the birthplace of the Renaissance - Florence. We started off with a guided tour of the museum that housed Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David. Then we proceeded to to the main church of Florence, the Duomo de Firenze, which took over 100 years to build and towers above the rest of the city. We continued to walk more of the Italian cobblestone streets, taking in sights such as the Palazzo Vecchio (the town hall that looked like a castle) and the Santa Croce Church. The afternoon was ours, free to explore the local shops (which included many leather goods) and sample the Italian cuisine (including gelato, of course). We departed the city in the evening, taking in one final breathtaking view from above at the Piazza Michelangelo. 

Day 6: Venice
We loaded the bus early in the morning to beat the traffic as we weaved through the Apennine mountains on our way to Venice. Venice is a city composed of 117 small islands, all connected by over 400 bridges and interweaving canals. Upon arrival, we walked together through the dizzying and narrow streets of the town, taking in this unique city and working our way to Piazza San Marco. We made a pit stop along the way to enjoy one of the city's famous gondola rides, and capped off the day with a boat ride through the Venetian Lagoon back to the mainland (where our hotel was located).

Day 7: Venice
On the last full day of the trip, we were able to move around and explore like the locals, taking the tram to and from the island. Many of us were able to see the Rialto Bridge and get lost on the unmarked, narrow streets in the city of Venice. We concluded the evening with a final team meal at a local restaurant back on the mainland. 

The trip in its entirety was extremely enjoyable, as a number of parents and family members joined the team to take in the famous sites of Italy. There was so much history to observe and a lot of culture to absorb. Needless to say, it was a very memorable experience for all of us!

Go Titans!