On Top of the World

Our day began at 8:30 when we went for a short jog around the historical center of San Marino. We returned to the hotel for breakfast and showers before meeting our guide in the lobby for our walking tour. The tour took about an hour as we climbed up the small roads into the historical city. 




<-- Renaissance men Eric Marcelino, Nick Starr, and Andy Tucker blending in with the locals in San Marino.

San Marino is roughly 64 square kilometers, making it the oldest and smallest independent republic in the world.  The main city center, which includes the governmental buildings, is perched upon a mountainside and was not as crowded as the rest of Europe, so the city still had a relaxed atmosphere. The population is about 32,000 people. Our guide took us to a very scenic area of the city from where you could look out and see all the way to the Adriatic Coast. She also made a point of telling us that the San Marino National Soccer Team has only scored a single goal in the entire history of the program, however it was the fastest goal ever scored in international play, achieving their feat in 8 seconds. 

At the conclusion of the tour, we had several hours to continue exploring, get lunch, and do some shopping. Prices in San Marino can be much cheaper than in the more touristy parts of Italy, so many of us took advantage, buying souvenirs or gifts for friends and family back home.

After our free time, everyone piled on the bus and we headed to Sant'Angelo, where we met a local team to play our fourth match. 

The team we played was a highly technical team. They had a strong playmaker in the middle that gave the Bears a bunch of different looks. At the end of the game, the Italians bested the Golden Bears 4-0. It was a tough loss and they are looking to rebound in the tournament.

We headed back to our mountaintop hotel in San Marino for dinner after the match. The food on our trip has been spectacular. Post dinner we headed to bed in preparation of another big day tomorrow.