#MGoEurope Travel Log: Thursday, June 28
6/28/2018 6:31:00 PM | Volleyball
• Michigan Volleyball in Europe 2018
The University of Michigan volleyball program is on a 10-day trip to Europe (June 22-July 1) with stops in Italy and Slovenia. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#MGoEurope) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
Thursday, June 28
The Michigan volleyball team continued its #MGoEurope journey on Thursday (June 28) with practice and sightseeing in Maribor, Slovenia, including a trip to the Putj Castle and dinner on top of a mountain.
9:15 a.m. -- The Wolverines rose early for their first full day in Slovenia, getting in a full breakfast before changing into practice clothes and heading to the volleyball facility on site.
10:30 a.m. -- Michigan meets in the on-site training facility and practices for about two hours. The practice is crucial to shake out any soreness following last night's match and long bus ride, but it's also an important time to prepare for upcoming matches on Friday and Saturday.
1 p.m. -- Following practice, the girls get in a quick shower before heading back downstairs for lunch. So far, Slovenian food is much more similar to American food than any Italian food offerings. Lunch consists of chicken, fish, soup, salad and pasta.
2:45 p.m. -- With practice and lunch taken care of, the team bus departs for Ptuj, Slovenia, to tour the Ptuj Castle.
3:30 p.m. -- The team bus arrives at the base of the Ptuj Castle, and the team must make the short walk uphill to enter the grounds. Michigan's tour guide, Danica, is a local Slovenian who guides the Wolverines through the castle and explains the importance of the castle's history. Today, the castle stands as a museum and is home to many great works of art.
5:30 p.m. -- Michigan leaves the Ptuj Castle and makes the short drive back to the hotel. Along the way, Danica uses the microphone on the bus to share more with the team about Slovenian history.
6:15 p.m. -- The team bus arrives back to the hotel and training center, and the girls must change quickly before leaving for dinner. The evening's dinner plans will require warmer clothes, as there will be a change in elevation that the team has not yet experienced on the trip.
7 p.m. -- Michigan departs the hotel and the bus makes the short drive to a local winery in the mountains, where the team will be having its first dinner in Maribor. The scenery changes as the Wolverines enter wine country, and the bus travels higher and higher up into the mountains, which makes for a beautiful view. Once the team gets off the bus, the owner of the winery gives a brief welcome before dinner is served. Following dinner, the team is invited to the basement of the winery to see how the vineyard produces wine, and the owner explains that the winery has been in her family for many generations. At the end of the tour, the owner invites Michigan to "leave its mark" in the tasting room by signing the team name on the wall among the signatures of past visitors.
9:45 p.m. -- The team bus departs the winery and makes the short ride back to the hotel and training facility. The girls are in good spirits after a great meal and an opportunity to learn more about the Slovenian wine culture.
10:30 a.m. -- Dinner and lights out! Michigan will practice in the morning before sightseeing and returning to the facility in the evening for its third match of the week. Time to rest up!
• Previous Travel Logs: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
