PRAGUE-->VIENNA-->MARIBOR-->VENICE-->ROME
December 26, 2016-January 6, 2017
Texas Advantage Juniors
This tour included 4 different countries (Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy), 34 Americans (11 players+3 coaches+16 parents+2 grandparents+1 brother+1 tour guide), 10 total days.
Prague to Vienna 205.7 miles
Vienna to Maribor 159.77
Maribor to Venice 227.58
Venice to Rome 326.38
Total 919.43
Americans are all about the 'Fit Bit' and counting their steps these days, we figured we averaged around 20,000 steps per day. I put these people through the grinder on hitting pavement, it's truly the best way to get from destination to destination; walk. You see a ton more.
With averaging around 20,000 steps per day, times 9 days of solid sightseeing days, that is about 85 miles by foot. Which takes us to a grand 1000 miles of European terrain covered in 10 days. Tired? Maybe a smidge.
PRAGUE
The tour started with getting in extremely late night to Prague, pizza party in the lobby and brief introductions. The next day we hit the ground running with crowd favorite tour guide, Jirka. Who never lacking in any sort of entertainment to our dear Americans. Or phone calls. Looots of phone calls. The phone was ringing off the hook on this tour.
Rain and cold wouldn’t stop us from covering the magical city of Prague from corner to corner, finishing off with a team dinner in a typical Prague restaurant to finish in style.
Other highlights:
-Scoot and shoot
-John Lennon Wall
-Schnitzel
-Christmas markets
-2 matches against Olymp Praha Senior team and Junior team
-Most importantly, GOULASH, made it’s appearance into our lives
Theme of Prague: “GOULASHHHHH”
Travel Day...
VIENNA
-The perfect halfway point for a bus trip from Prague to Vienna, and above average lunch stop on a road trip.
-Horse and carriage ride with Doobie Brother singing Christoph who used to play volleyball in high school in Romania
-The story dice were birthed in this city, giving further entertainment for the rest of the trip in many ways.
on to...
MARIBOR
We were lucky enough to have the tour overlap with a great parent, and my assistant tour guide for the trip, Randy. We celebrated his 60th birthday in style at our favorite restaurant, Rozmarin, in Maribor’s city center. Randy thought his cake read, “Happy Birthday”, in Slovene, but really it said, “He’s older than dirt”. Joke’s on you, old man ;)
The next day we made history, The Iran Youth National Under 18 team was also in Maribor training and Bring It Promotions, arranged a match between the two teams. It was the first time in history any women of Iran have been allowed to play against Americans. Incredibly powerful day. We’re very thankful for both parties for making the entire day a huge success and we hope the first step of many in helping women have more of a voice in Iran, and around the world.
Theme of Maribor: Making history; girl power!! And of course, Čevapčiči!!
Travel Day #2
VENICE
The perfect day in Venice. Cold but not too cold, and hardly any tourists filled the streets, just the way to see one of the most unique cities in the world.
Complete with Gondola ride, beautiful sunset and delicious Italian food at Beppino’s, TAV crushed Venice.
After 8 hours of, you guessed it, walking; we drove to our resort hotel, Galzignano Golf and Spa Resort to get ready for the tail end of our trip.
Theme of the day: “About an hour..”
Travel Day #3
FLORENCE
Who doesn’t love Florence? The birth place of gelato and the opera, the home of Renaissance art and architecture; this city is a gem.
With only 4 hours to see it all, we conquered the city then completed the 4 hour drive to Rome.
Theme of Florence: "Sooo, more gelato?"
ROME
Bella Roma. The city that inspires me to be a stronger, more resilient, more colorful person. Every time.
Logged a lot of walking steps in this city (shocker), some of the longest days I’ve ever experienced on tour. Never a shortage of fun, either. Or cold. Only a lack of sleep. The weather elements tested us, but we conquered the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and of course the great Colosseum all in a few short days.
Also, throw in two great matches. First day against University of Toronto and the final match of the tour ending on a high note in a 5 match thriller defeating the highly competitive VolleyRo team who rarely gets beat by our American competition.
Before we knew it, we were saying goodbyes.
And then, depression sets in. More best friends made out of complete strangers by spending the better part of 24 hours together in 10 days and conquering new cities and logging experiences. I am one lucky girl to have my job of getting to show my fellow Americans new parts of the world. We made history on this tour, we laughed, we (well, I) cried, and friendships were made for life. Just thankful.
Thank you parents for giving your daughters the gift of world travel and for being troopers on a fast paced, fun, European tour.
And thank you TAV for bringing your sense of adventure, fun nature and endless energy. You will be missed.
Can't wait to see you all again someday soon!
xo
