Women's Lacrosse's International Trip - Spain and Recap
June 16, 2011 | Women's Lacrosse
June 16, 2011
Hello again! We are stateside now, in the Land of the Free! (No accents needed)
Our final day in Seville started with a walking tour throughout the streets of the city, learning the history and important landmarks. The team learned about the famous bull ring, located on the river, and about insights about the famous bull riders that have performed in the arena. Next, we were acquainted with the cathedral, which served as a background to many photographs taken from the group. Later on that day, we were taken to a local gym in the city of Seville and introduced to the art of flamenco dancing. It was to our surprise, but very obvious, that our team lacked the necessary rhythm to perform at a somewhat public level. I think it is safe to say that the only time we will be flamenco dancing is in our rooms by ourselves, with the doors locked.
It was a bittersweet farewell to Spain and our many tour guides (too many men to name). The lovely souvenir calendar they gave to us for the 2011-2012 year will serve as great eye candy, especially for Aimee Dixon and Eleni Kozas. Lupe, you were oh so helpful on our exploration through Seville.
The last two days of the trip included a lot of traveling. The difficult bus ride was made bearable by the incredible landscapes of the countryside. The length of the drive became a hot debate between the backseat swelters (Katie Oliverio, Elieni Kozas, Brooke Campbell, and Meg Ryan) Was it six or seven hours with no air conditioning or bathroom? The team became all too familiar with the rest stops along our journey to Portugal, as well as the local cuisine served at the buffets. We could have done without some of the stops but when nature calls for Kellie Young (which seemed like every hour), there's not much you can do!
After what seemed to be forever, we reached our final destination, Lisbon. This city was very different from our previous spot in Portugal. It had a more urban vibe, still filled with rich history but was proof of a more depressed economy. Our fabulous tour guide, Miguel, shared his perspective on Lisbon and gave us an interesting tour of the city. Another tour guide named Pedro entertained us with a history lesson about the important events that helped build the city walls that stand there today. Once we reached the heart of the city, we were free to roam the many shops and explore some monuments before meeting up again for our farewell dinner. Tory Wilkinson displayed her rhythm and dance moves for the locals in the streets, creating quite the crowd around her. Look out Ladybirds!
Following our day in the city, we geared up for the mountain climb to the TOP of Lisbon. Not sure of our exact destination, the team put their trust in Pedro leading the pack and Miguel bringing up the rear. At last, we were able to watch the sunset over the city which was one of the most beautiful sights of the trip.
Traveling in a group of 28 girls tends to attract attention. However, no one was prepared for the bulldog barks from the locals as we walked through crowded streets in a very festive atmosphere.
Our farewell dinner consisted of several courses of fine Portuguese cuisine, which the team enjoyed while being serenaded by local musicians. It was a memorable ending to a once in a lifetime experience that will stay with us forever.
As a graduated senior, I remember sitting with my coach as she was trying to recruit the inaugural lacrosse team for the University of Louisville. Kellie Young had a dream, and one of these dreams included this international trip. The past four years we have worked hard to fundraise for the trip of a lifetime. Still, I never imagined I would get to see so many places and beautiful sights that I saw during this time in Europe with my teammates, and I couldn't have asked for a better group to share this memorable experience with.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.
CHEERIO, CIAO, ADIOS AMIGOS
