Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Tigers in Italy: Days 1 & 2
June 17, 2019 | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Day 1
It's been an eventful 24 hours for the Tigers, but we have arrived in Italy! Some traffic and airport issues tried to slow us down but after our red eye flight, we've landed in Rome. We immediately were greeted by our tour guides Alessandra and Graziano and loaded up on two buses to make our way to city center.
We had a three-course lunch near the Colosseum and had time to walk around the city center and take in the sights before heading to our hotel around 4 p.m. (10 a.m., Eastern time). After a breather we were off to a team dinner at the hotel and are quickly discovering that they most likely will be three courses, with pasta to start – no complaints from this crew.
I think we're all feeling the 24-hours hit us and are all ready for some shut eye before another busy day tomorrow.
And be sure to check out our Twitter and Instagram accounts (@PrincetonTrack) to follow along on our trip.
Day 2
Today was our first full day in Rome! We had our first training session this morning at Stadio Paolo Rossi, while some of the distance crew headed out for early morning runs. After some quick showers, we had lunch at the hotel before heading out to Rome City Center.
Our first stop was a tour of the Coliseum with our two local guides. It was incredible to hear about how it was constructed - it took just eight years, and how iron was used in the construction before sections but then removed to re-purpose which is why there are holes in the Coliseum. We learned about the seating segments, where the entitled sat, where the women were allowed, how it could take one week to flood so they could have WATER battles inside, why it was called an arena from the word "la rena" meaning sand which covered the floor to soak up the blood and other liquids, how it took 10 means to raise the lift on each of the 30 trap doors to bring the animals up to the ground floor. It truly made what we've studied, read about, watched movies about become so real.
Next up was the Roman Forum, the original center of the city, the heart of Ancient Rome. We could see the Palentine Hill and were able to walk the Forum and explore the archeological excavations from 600 BC that were re-discovered in the 19th century.
We had a couple of hours of free time around Via del Corso where some of us took advantage of the local gelato and stopped at the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more. We met back up as a group of 70+ in front of the Pantheon to go to dinner at a local restaurant.
An unforgettable day for the team – and memories with each other that will last a lifetime.
Buona notte!
Video: The Colisieum - Who Would Win Princeton Edition
Video: Fred Samara vs. the Roman Ruins
It's been an eventful 24 hours for the Tigers, but we have arrived in Italy! Some traffic and airport issues tried to slow us down but after our red eye flight, we've landed in Rome. We immediately were greeted by our tour guides Alessandra and Graziano and loaded up on two buses to make our way to city center.
We had a three-course lunch near the Colosseum and had time to walk around the city center and take in the sights before heading to our hotel around 4 p.m. (10 a.m., Eastern time). After a breather we were off to a team dinner at the hotel and are quickly discovering that they most likely will be three courses, with pasta to start – no complaints from this crew.
I think we're all feeling the 24-hours hit us and are all ready for some shut eye before another busy day tomorrow.
And be sure to check out our Twitter and Instagram accounts (@PrincetonTrack) to follow along on our trip.
Day 2
Today was our first full day in Rome! We had our first training session this morning at Stadio Paolo Rossi, while some of the distance crew headed out for early morning runs. After some quick showers, we had lunch at the hotel before heading out to Rome City Center.
Our first stop was a tour of the Coliseum with our two local guides. It was incredible to hear about how it was constructed - it took just eight years, and how iron was used in the construction before sections but then removed to re-purpose which is why there are holes in the Coliseum. We learned about the seating segments, where the entitled sat, where the women were allowed, how it could take one week to flood so they could have WATER battles inside, why it was called an arena from the word "la rena" meaning sand which covered the floor to soak up the blood and other liquids, how it took 10 means to raise the lift on each of the 30 trap doors to bring the animals up to the ground floor. It truly made what we've studied, read about, watched movies about become so real.
Next up was the Roman Forum, the original center of the city, the heart of Ancient Rome. We could see the Palentine Hill and were able to walk the Forum and explore the archeological excavations from 600 BC that were re-discovered in the 19th century.
We had a couple of hours of free time around Via del Corso where some of us took advantage of the local gelato and stopped at the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more. We met back up as a group of 70+ in front of the Pantheon to go to dinner at a local restaurant.
An unforgettable day for the team – and memories with each other that will last a lifetime.
Buona notte!
Video: The Colisieum - Who Would Win Princeton Edition
Video: Fred Samara vs. the Roman Ruins
Princeton Athletics 2023-24 Highlights
Tuesday, June 04
Highlights from 2022 Gary Walters ’67 PVC Awards Banquet
Wednesday, June 22
Princeton Athletics 2021-22 Highlights
Monday, June 06
Thank You for Roaring Forward on TAGD 2021
Wednesday, December 01