Trip Itinerary

It's finally happening! Layne and I are leaving for our trip tonight!! I am not bringing my computer, so I will try to update the blog a few times using our hostel's computer just to let everyone know we are safe. Here is our itinerary for the moment:

4/12/11: Leave Bar (pm)

4/13/11: Arrive in Belgrade (am), Tour Belgrade (day), Train to Budapest (pm)

4/14/11: Arrive in Budapest (am), Tour Budapest

4/15/11: Budapest

4/16/11: Budapest, Train to Belgrade (pm)

4/17/11: Arrive in Belgrade (am), Tour Belgrade

4/18/11: 24-hour train to Istanbul

4/19/11: Arrive in Istanbul (am), Tour Istanbul

4/20/11: Istanbul

4/21/11: Istanbul, Train to Belgrade (pm)

4/22/11: Arrive in Belgrade (pm), Night train to Bar

4/23/11: Arrive in Bar (am)

Talk to everyone in 2 weeks!

More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from the celebrations that I stole from Layne. I am still trying to get the pictures taken in the gym right after our win.

 First and definitely not the last drink of the night!

The cup in all its glory

 The entire team with our coach, owner, and sponsor

Just the team!

Championship: GAME 4

We are the Champions, my friend!!! Well, Galeb pulled through! We won in three games, killing them in the second game. They changed their line-up in the third game and played a lot better, but we were still able to win. After the game, we went to Soho (our owner's bar and cafe) to celebrate. There were so many people there, and we were given roses by our team sponsor. We also drank champagne out of the cup! At about midnight, after 3 hours of drinking at Soho, the entire team (coaches/owner included) headed to a club called Fratello. At Fratello we danced the entire time and had more drinks. It was a lot of fun! Here are a few of pictures that I have; most are on Layne's camera:

 With the cup and all our flowers

 With Layne

Drinking out of the Cup!!!!!

Layne, Maja, Nikola, and I are heading to Podgorica today to be interviewed for TV which should be an interesting adventure. After that, Layne and I are heading on our trip to Belgrade, Istanbul, and Budapest on Monday night. Neither of us are bringing our computers, so I will be gone from blogging for almost 2 weeks. Check back then to get lots of pictures and stories about our travels. Go Galeb!!!!

Team Dinner

Instead of practice today, we all piled into three cars and headed to Ulcinj for a team dinner at one of Nikola's friend's restaurants. Layne and I drove with Nikola along with one other of our teammates. On the way there, we learned that it was located on what used to be one of the most popular nudist beaches in Europe. Thankfully, everyone was fully clothed when we got there. Nikola told us that one time they would not let him through to his friend's restaurant because he was not a nudest. Anyways, on our way there we ran into a herd of sheep taking over the entire two lane road. Nikola pulls up behind them and starts barking like dog out of his window which was quite humorous, but worked at getting them to the side of the road. A little farther along, we see a smaller herd of cattle on the road. Nikola tried barking again, but when this didn't work, he resorted to honking. An interesting car ride to say the least (It was actually kind of weird driving in a car for a trip because I have either walked or taken a bus everywhere lately. I think I have been in a car only a few times and most were quick trips from the apartment to the practice gym.).

The restaurant sat directly on a river that led into the ocean and was near one of the longest sandy beaches in all of Montenegro. It was sunset as we were eating, so it was really pretty but unfortunately Layne and I both forgot our cameras. This restaurant is known for their seafood, and I was able to try some unusual things. We started off with fish soup. There were two kinds, but the one that I ate was a tomato-based soup with chunks of white fish. It was pretty good. Next, the men brought out 3 huge platters filled with different foods. There was a white rice with shrimp, red rice with shrimp and calamari, black rice (made black from the squid ink) with calamari, little squids, and then octopus tentacles. I decided to try a little bit of everything, and actually liked it all. I think the black rice one was my least favorite, but everything else was delicious. I thought that was the end of the meal, but I was wrong! They asked who did not want fish (there were several girls including Layne who do not like fish) and this is when I learned that the meal was not over. They preceded to bring out even bigger serving platters with whole fish on them for those that wanted fish and steaks for those that did not. The waiters cut some of each fish off the bone for each person and added some spinach and potatoes to complete the plate. After I got mine, Nikola asked if he could show me how they prepare their plates and I of course said, "Yes." He poured this oil mixture with parsley and garlic over the fish, squeezed some lemon, and sprinkled it with salt. The fish was really good! I haven't had fish in such a long time, so it was a nice treat. However, by the end of the meal, I was stuffed! I was offered more, but couldn't eat any more! It was a fun dinner getting to experience some different foods and some of the same foods but prepared in a different way!

Championship: GAME 3

Another exciting game in the books! We finally won a five set match with Luka Bar! In each of the previous times we played Luka Bar to 5 sets, we lost (in the Cup Finals and the last match), so I was a little worried. Tonight, we won the first game, lost the second game pretty bad, won the third game, and after gaining a significant lead (18-11) ending up losing the fourth game. However, we came out on fire in the fifth set and ended up cruising to a 15-5 win. It was not nearly as nerve-racking as the previous games. We play the fourth game of the series on Saturday at 6!

Championship: GAME 2

Tonight was the second game of the Championship series with Luka Bar. After losing the first two sets and not playing very well, we came back to win the third and fourth games to send it to a fifth game. We were down 10-14 when our setter went back to serve. With several hitting errors from the other team and a service ace by our setter, we tied the score to 14 all. I was in the back row (therefore on the bench because of the libero) when all of this was happening, and it was very nerve racking. After siding out (now tied 15-15), we shanked a free ball (this should never happen) and then after a not so great pass, gave them a free ball which their middle killed to win the game. In the end, we lost 15-17 which is disappointing because we were so close. Our next game is Tuesday at 6 pm.

Championship: GAME 1

Tonight we played Luka Bar in the first game of the Championship series. After losing the first game, we came back to win the next three to win the match. It was exciting to take the first match of the best of five series. Now, we only need 2 more wins to be the champions of Montenegro! Our next game is Saturday night at 7 pm.