Blog from Ellen Carter on the Georgetown women's soccer trip to Italy.
 
Day 1: Friday, March 3rd
 
The great Georgetown University women's soccer Italian adventure officially commenced at 11:45 a.m. on the rainy Friday morning before spring break (or, more importantly, Julia Leas' 22nd birthday). We simultaneously wished our beloved captain a happy birthday and said arrivederci to Georgetown as our bus, packed to the brim with dozens of massive suitcases, headed toward Dulles for the trip of a lifetime.
 
At the check-in counter, we anxiously held our breaths as the luggage scale determined how much shopping we'd be able to do without incurring the $100 overweight fee. It looks like Lily Froehlich, whose bag came in at 50.00 pounds flat, might be adding another suitcase to her shopping list. We made it through security without a hitch-except for the fact that the TSA agents thought Cyanne was trying to smuggle illicit substances inside her ankle brace-and headed to the gate to hang out and fuel up before the flight. Once aboard, we hunkered down with a majority of the girls finishing up assignments, watching the new season of Outer Banks, or listening to Morgan Wallen's new album (a total of 36 new songs!!!). 
 
We were airborne for nearly 45 minutes, making it as far as New York, before landing in JFK for our layover. After grabbing a dinner of Buffalo Wild Wings, Jamba Juice, or Bento Box Sushi (highly recommended by Boo), we boarded the plane, popped some Z Quil, and tried our best to fall asleep. A few hours in, Mary was drooling next to Joella and I, so I can only assume she was dreaming of the pizza, pasta, and gelato waiting for us upon arrival in Milan. 
 
Day 2: Saturday, March 4th
 
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are currently flying over the Italian Alps, if those sitting in the window seats would be so inclined to open their shades," has simply got to be the world's greatest alarm clock. What a way to start our first day abroad and dissipate some jet-lag... soaring over the snow-covered peaks in crystal clear skies. After a smooth landing we made it through customs (even though we first walked through the wrong line in true American fashion) and were introduced to our wonderful tour guide, Giancarlo. On our way into Milan, he made clear that he has few rules for the trip, but under no circumstances are we to utter the words "Starbucks" or "McDonald's" during our stay in Italy. Amen, Giancarlo!
 
I think it's safe to say that our first meal exceeded all expectations. We walked right off the bus into one of Milan's most famous plazas and were promptly escorted through a beautiful restaurant called Farinella. As far as we could tell, we were the only Americans in the building, a sign that the food awaiting us was going to be something special. 
 
The three-course meal was divine. We started with a round of delicious croquettes, followed by one of the best Margherita pizzas I've ever had. As the pizzas came out one by one, we tried to stave off our hunger and politely wait for everyone to be served before digging in. Thankfully, Giancarlo came to our rescue and informed us that it was, in fact, wrong to let the pizza get cold while waiting for everyone to be served and that we should instead eat immediately. He didn't need to say more. Satisfied and full from the meal, we set off to watch our first pro-game of the trip: Atalanta B.C. vs. Udinese.
 
When Dave told us we were going to be "honored" at the Atalanta game by the American GM of the club, I was not expecting that a film crew would be waiting for us upon our arrival to the stadium. Nor was I expecting that we would take photos on the field for 15 minutes before getting to watch the warm-up from the sideline. To say the least, it was a warm welcome. Despite the 0-0 score, the game was amazing and both teams put on a show with several close chances. The Atalanta fans were also a spectacle in it of themselves. Giancarlo told us before the game that "in Italy, soccer is religion," and this sentiment held true through all 90 minutes. 
 
After the game, we drove to our hotel in Lake Como, where we'll be staying for the majority of the trip. Heads were bobbing and eyelids were fluttering the whole drive as we tried to stay awake, but luckily most of us were kept busy by laughing at Esme's snoring. Shortly before arriving in Lake Como, we drove alongside a lookout of the lake and mountains, all lit up by the moon. It was stunning and made us all the more excited for what the scenery would boast during the daytime. As soon as we arrived at our beautiful lake-side hotel, we promptly bolted to our rooms to get some much-needed rest after an amazing first day.