Day in San Marino concludes with first practice with coach Maker

San Marino, August 21, 2008

The Ephs woke up this morning as the sun rose to explore the city of, excuse me, country of San Marino. Embedded within the Italian heartland, San Marino occupies a hillside in the northeast of Italy and is home to 31,000 citizens, slightly over three times the size of Williamstown. The Eph coalition had the outstanding opportunity of taking a guided tour of the charming city center.

During the tour, the Ephs were regaled with historical anecdotes and privileged to enjoy unbelievable views of the mountains and hills that surround San Marino to the edges of the Adriatic Sea, only a short drive away. The tour guide boasted of San Marino’s status as the oldest democracy in the world today, established in 300 A.D. and enlightened the Eph coalition to the perks of San Marino living – free public education and free health care, a growing reality in many European countries. However, San Marino’s military consists of only 250 armed guards (a couple of whom kindly offered to take photos with members of the team after an old-fashioned changing of the guard ceremony), perhaps enough to protect the government building in the center of town. It is no surprise they profess to be steadfast supporters and allies of the United States, as the Ephs' tour guide maintained. The tour ended in front of an ancient church at the top of the hillside town, from which one can see for miles and miles.

Following the tour, the team had some free time to explore San Marino on their own and to grab a bite to eat. Though, since it was still too early for lunch, many of the Ephs settled for some of the region's famous gelato to hold them over until lunch. (I know, six days into the trip and this is my first reference to Italy’s famous gelato, poor reporting. First of all; my apologies. Secondly, don’t be fooled by my silence on the issue, the team has become enamored with this chilly delicacy, in a way only possible in Italy. Note: it all began in Venice – I hear that’s a pretty romantic place?)

Anyhow, the Ephs spent their afternoon again in the seaside town of Remini, famous as a vacation spot for Italians. The team spent most of the time in the Adriatic Sea waves (or lack there of), playing Frisbee, tackling each other in the water, particularly those Ephs reluctant to get their hair wet, and engaging in other beach activities.  

After the beach, the Ephs traveled back to San Marino for practice in the evening, their first practice under new head coach Mike Maker.