Release Courtesy of WSU Athletic Department
DETROIT - Wayne
State University women's basketball student-athlete Paige
Sickmiller competed for USA Athletes International during
a trip to Italy last month. Below is a recap of what she and
her teammates experienced while in Italy.
Day
1: We arrived in Rome after a nine hour
flight. Our first "tourist" stop was the famous Vatican where
we saw the Pope as he said a blessing over everyone in the square
outside of the Vatican. For dinner, I had a four-cheese
lasagna with tiramisu. That evening we played our first game
against Cus Roma and won 85-75 and I scored 25 points.
Day
2: We visited the Colosseum in Rome along
with the ruins of Ancient Rome, which included a guided tour
through each. Our next stop was at the famous Trevi Fountain, where
I made a wish. That evening we won again this time
against San Rafiel (72-63) and I scored nine points.
Day 3:
Transferred to Tuscany. Stopped in Assisi, and saw the Basilica and
Tomb of St. Francis. We shopped around the city and ate
traditional Italian pizza and a canole. We stayed in town called
Pescha in the region of Tuscany. That evening we played
Pallacanestro Prato and won 90-45. I scored 18 points in the
win.
Day
4: We went to the beach, but it was cold and
windy so we didn't stay long. Then went to the medieval town of
Lucca to shop and eat. We played Lamurra Lucca and won 91-52 and I
scored 20 points.
Day 5:
We visited a farm near Pescha and made our own traditional Italian
pizza that we ate there. Our next stop was in Pisa, where we saw
the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery. We had lasagna
and tiramisu for dinner. We had a great experience watching the
Italy vs. Croatia soccer game outside of a bar near the University
of Pisa. That night we lost, 66-60, to Ghezzano, the top team in
their professional divison. I scored seven points.
Day
6: We took the train to Florence, saw
the museum of David and Michelangelo statues, along with the fourth
biggest cathedral in the world. We ate a calzone bigger than my
head. We spent most of the day shopping at leather goods stores,
etc.
Day 7:
We bussed to Venice, with a stop in Verona for the day. We
saw an old arena now used for operas and also saw the Romeo and
Juliet balcony (balcony of the actual Capulet family). We
shopped in Verona then finished the drive to Venice.
Day
8: We went to Venice's famous glass factory,
spent the day walking around the beautiful city and along the
ocean.
