Check here for updates on Mastodon’s men’s basketball trip to Portugal and Spain. Team members will provide daily blog updates.

Day one

Coach’s Assistant ryan sims
“What a great way to start our trip. I spoke to Art Friedel on our bus ride from Fort Wayne to the Indianapolis airport. We had a few smooth flights from Indy to Philly and from Philly to Lisbon .Just as we landed we were greeted by our local hosts Lilia and Jose.Our first adventure was a tuk tuk tour of Lisbon.I really enjoyed seeing all the fountains and statues in the city. I was amazed how narrow the streets were and how bad a driver you have to be here in Portugal After the tour we had a few hours to relax in our hotel which is right on the beach “Each room overlooks the water which is filled with sailboats. We then headed out to dinner as a team. A lovely walk back to the hotel with the moon shining above the water!”

Deangelo Elisha
“This is my first time in Europe. When we arrived here, I looked out over the city and felt a sudden spark of excitement, a desire to explore this new culture before my eyes. We got on the bus and coach Coffman told us we were going on a tuk-tuk tour I had no idea what a tuk-tuk was so in the lead up to the tour he There was a tingle of anxiety inside me. I wondered what surprises awaited me in my fast-approaching future. When we finally got there, I finally saw what a tuck-tuck was like. It looks like a hybrid between a motorbike and a small taxi. I had no idea how I ended up fitting in and at first my legs were hanging out to the side. Then when we started riding , I realized how close other cars and pedestrians were to us, so I sacrificed my comfort for safety. ent wonderful to visit the different sites that had value for the culture of Portugal. We visited a very important mosque, and we can see the impact that Muslim rule had on the artistic side of this culture. We also saw a cathedral where they hold festivals around Easter and there is a giant bell that was there and was ringing around that time. We visited the port from where Portuguese explorers of the past started their expeditions. Then the tour was over and we had lunch. I had seafood which was so fresh and satisfying. After that, we headed to the hotel with an amazing view of the beach where tourists and locals go to socialize. I woke up from my well deserved nap and got ready to leave for dinner where I had garlic bread, spaghetti carbonara and cheesecake for dessert. This concludes this wonderful experience I had on the first day of our trip!

Redford–Dunton
“On our first day in Portugal, I discovered that the city of Lisbon has many displays of artwork that perhaps we don’t see as often in the United States. Buildings covered in graffiti and many large statues honoring historical figures from the past have given the city a certain zest and pop that you don’t see in many places.Houses and buildings in Lisbon are also painted with bright colors such as red, blue and the yellow that make them stand out and amaze you as you pass. Makes of cars that I have never seen before continued to capture my attention as these vehicles moved smoothly through the narrow streets navigating these difficult roads without effort. The people of Lisbon are full of life and myself and a few teammates felt this wonderful energy when we jumped into the ocean. Our last drink was te rminished by our entire group having an authentic Portuguese dinner and having great conversation over a delicious meal and building fairness to an unparalleled level! The first day in Portugal could simply be described as exhilarating and eye opening. People showed a lot of love and we did our best to return the favor and show our appreciation for Portuguese culture!”