After spending our first night up at Casa Gioiosa, we awoke to a typical breakfast of hard rolls with a variety of delicious jellies or Nutella and tea, hot cocoa or coffee. We then headed down the mountain to our first outdoor practice. It took a while to get used to the concrete under the thin layer of rubber and the elements (especially the bright sun) but it was good to touch the ball and Mitja put us through some interesting drills. We’re looking forward to getting ready to actually play in a match over here.

Lunch consisted of bacon (we think) pasta at our favorite restaurant, Futura. Afterwards, we had the choice of resting or taking a “walk” along a little alpine river to a lake, which turned out to be more of a rigorous but delightful hike through the ravine. During the hike we almost lost our setter and fearless leader Jenna down the cliff, and TK took a spill in the river, along with others. We led the group since the tour guide felt more comfortable leading from the back. Although we never actually made it to the lake, the hike was an adventure through jungles of unknown plants and swarms of bugs, contrasted by the crystal clear river gushing over rocks to our left.

We got back in time to change before dinner (again at Futura), and our match in the mountains at Montefortino. The view from our court at sundown was breathtaking, and they had a variety of music suitable for the mood, including Ricky Martin! The Italian team we played (Monte Scaglioso) was small but scrappy. They played with passion and intensity and we would do well to take after them. We won the match, but hope to keep improving as a team as quickly as we are learning to follow Mitja’s sarcasm. One thing that he stressed was less focus “upstairs” or in mind and more focus on just playing. Going downtown to Comunaza for gelato was our victory celebration.

For more information, and some great photos, please see the past years journals: