Day 1, August 3rd

Today was our first full day and we started off with a lovely Italian breakfast at the hotel before heading into town for a surf lesson! We did the surf lesson which was super fun, and then we laid on the beach for awhile before a picnic lunch. They got us an assortment of amazing small savory pastries to try. Then we sat on the beach for a bit before we got to surf again! The waves were much smaller and it was busier so we did just a bit more sitting on the boards and chatting but that was also fun. Then we headed back to the hotel to lay out by the pool for a bit. We had dinner during sunset on the beach and it was super fun, before we walked to the next village over, Camogli, to see part of the Festival of Stella Maris! The people float lanterns in the water to honor Mary, our star of the sea, and play music and have a great time. We got some more gelato and began our stroll back to the hotel under the moonlight. 

Day 2, August 4th 

We left our hotel at 10 to walk back to Camogli which is a bit of a hike but so worth it. We swam in the ocean for a while before getting some lovely lunch! We had foccacia, a colorful salad, salmon, and the most flavorful caprese salad. Then we hopped on the train to go to training!! we had a pool session with a bunch of young Italian players in a camp with the Italian national team which was so hectic because they don't speak English very well, which made it tricky. We barely caught the train back and we stopped at a grocery store before heading back to the hotel for dinner. We had focaccia al formaggio which is a regional specialty dish and was very tasty. Then it was time for bed before a busy day tomorrow. 

Day 3, August 5th 

It was a long day in Cinque Terre today! We started off with the train to Riomaggiore and spent about an hour there - we shopped a bit and visited the church and castle, but the real sight was the gorgeous view, which we then got to enjoy fully on our walk along the Via Dell'amore to the next town over, Manarola. There we went to the church and did a fair amount of shopping before a late lunch. We found a place to climb down the rocks and jump straight into the ocean, where we had a ton of fun. The water is so clear and blue it's gorgeous. Then, we got out and met the rest of our group for the train back to Recco! We had a dinner of hamburgers which were surprisingly really good, and are heading to bed for a long day of water polo tomorrow.
 

Day 4, August 6th

One morning, after a difficult training session with Italian coaches in a gorgeous outdoor pool, athletes, including myself, walked five minutes from the pool to the beach. My teammates and I were allotted time to window shop as well as explore the rocky shoreline. My teammate Carly Schnider and I enjoyed a seafood spaghetti including clams, scallops, and squid that had to have been caught that very same day. There was a notable difference in temperature between the shade of the ristorante (restaurant) and direct sunlight. Who knew the team would be visiting Italy during a heatwave! After resting on the beach, the team gathered for a light dinner consisting of pasta with red sauce and shredded cheese before our pool match against players we had just played with hours before. 

One of my favorite recreational activities from the trip consisted of a 20-mile bike ride along the Italian coastline. Our main guide, Luca, rocked dyed purple hair and a helmet with his own special purple paint he called his "crown." Although the bike route was comprised of very steep hills, our guides were full of spunk and gave us the energy and encouragement to keep up with them as we biked busy roads in a single-file line. I started in the middle of the pack and made my way to the front. I was able to ask him about his customized helmet. Apparently, he had painted the helmet exactly to match his hair after he had won it in a competitive road race. The post-bike meal consisted of focaccia, a flatbread originating from Genova, Italy. 

On one of our last days, the team took a ferry to San Fruttuoso, a small town home to Christ of the Abyss. This statue is over 50 feet underwater and is of Christ looking up towards you from the depths below, his arms outstretched. Our guide Serena, swam us from the beach to an area of the water that was much deeper. She told us to find the statue. I swam ahead and noticed a lighter color in the deep water. I recognised it as the top of Christ's head. After finding the courage, my teammates attempted to touch the statue. Despite the water pressure, I was able to give Christ a kiss on the head. Later on, a handful of us found a cliff to jump off of and clambered up the rocks and showed the Italians how it's done. 

After another day of exploring the stone streets and back alleys, a sea match, a water polo game played in the open ocean, ensued. We marched down to the water and split into teams. The beachgoers couldn't help but feel the competitive tension in the air as a small crowd gathered to observe the game. The salinity of the sea made it easier to move in the water; however, it didn't seem to make the game any easier, as oncoming waves and kelp splashed us. The crowd was tough, as the voices of two Italian boys around the ages of 8 chanted "Boo-S-A! Boo-S-A! I-tal-ia! I-tal-ia!" Despite the difficult playing conditions, the team showed grit against our very experienced rivals and finished the games with strength. Afterward, everyone celebrated the matches with a sunset picnic as we bid farewell to our new Italian friends. 

This trip to Italy has been one where I have learned a great deal. Although the USA doesn't have the same focaccia or salty sea, this adventure will always hold a special place in my heart. I've bonded with the team in a way I know will show in our upcoming season!