Rome Travel Log: Monday, April 24
4/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 24, 2017
The Michigan football program is on a one-week special educational and football experience for its student-athletes with a week of learning and practice in Rome, Italy. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#HailRoma) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
Monday, April 24
7-7:45 a.m. -- Players and staff eat breakfast at the hotel by Emperor Groups; the team divided into six groups based on emperors of Italy for touring and team competition throughout the trip.
7:52 a.m. -- Everyone in the travel party begins to head to the buses for a full day of sightseeing in Ancient Rome.
8:40 a.m. -- The three buses arrive at the drop-off point where the three-hour walking tour will begin for the Wolverines, a short distance from the Spanish Steps.
8:51 a.m. -- The groups stop at the top of the Spanish Steps and work their way down to the bottom where the groups will separate and start with their guided tour.
9:17 a.m. -- The Trajan group that includes Coach Harbaugh, staff and 11 players arrives at the famed Trevi Fountain; the fountain was closed at the time of the team' visit for cleaning and the removal of nearly 2,000 euros worth of coins (the daily average).
9:20 a.m. -- Players take individual and group photos in front of the Trevi Fountain before moving along to their next stop on the tour.
9:25 a.m. -- Coach Harbaugh tossed two coins into the Trevi Fountain: one with a wish for a "championship" and the second was a traditional wish to return to Italy again.
9:45 a.m. -- Coach Harbaugh and Pep Hamilton's son, Jackson, toss a football in the Galeria Alberto Sordi before security guards ask them to stop throwing the ball indoors.
10:05 a.m. -- The group arrives at the Pantheon, which means honor all gods, and was built as a temple to all of the Pagan gods; the ancient building was constructed in two years and opened in 27 BC.
10:11 a.m. -- Coach and his daughter, Addie, hold hands on their way into the Pantheon, which is now a church.
10:31 a.m. -- Standing in front of Pantheon, Coach Harbaugh takes pictures with Michigan and college football fans from St. Louis, Pasadena, Syracuse and a young woman at U-M on Study Abroad.
10:54 a.m. -- The touring group walks through the narrow Roman streets and enters Piazza Novana, where Coach Harbaugh purchases a selfie stick from a street vendor for five euros.
11:14 a.m. -- The team heads into Campo di Forma market area where many of the players and coaches purchase items; Coach Harbaugh buys fruit and a purse for his daughter Addie and quite a few players buy soccer jerseys, Roma hats and T-shirts.
11:47 a.m. -- U-M crosses over the Tiber River on its way to lunch; Coach Harbaugh negotiates with a street vendor for two bracelets and some additional trinkets for Addie.
We spent our morning touring the city and taking in the sights and sounds. Check it out! pic.twitter.com/dMeaq7ulMj
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 24, 2017
Noon -- The entire travel party took a break for lunch at Ferrara, eating a multi-course lunch before heading out for the three-hour afternoon tour of the Colosseum area.
1:13 p.m. -- Michigan boards buses and makes the 20-minute ride to the drop off point for the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatino.
1:33 p.m. -- The team arrives at the Colosseum, walking past the Arch of Constantine, as they proceed to their gathering spot for the tour; each groupss split into its Emperor group and goes on guided tours around the historic sites.
2:34 p.m. -- The Aurelius group enters the Colosseum grounds through the Gladiator tunnel which is reminiscent of the Michigan Stadium tunnel; ironically, Fielding Yost studied the ancient Roman architecture and specifically the tunnels and column arches from the Colosseum when building Michigan Stadium.
2:34-3:27 p.m. -- The groups took guided tours throughout the Colosseum grounds, learning about the home of gladiator combats and wild animal fights that entertained Roman fans since the amphitheater was built in 72 AD.
3:45 p.m. -- The Aurelius group walks onto Palantine hill for its next excursion, viewing ruins from many of the emperors who built their palaces on the site; the group heads to one of the most picturesque spots overlooking the city of Rome and all of the historic sites, including the Roman Forum, Circo Massimo and the Colosseum.
4:40 p.m. -- The tour guide shows everyone the location where the city of Rome was founded in 753 BC.
We spent our afternoon exploring The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and much more!#GoBlue #HAILROMA » https://t.co/psqTjnxFGx
-- Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 24, 2017
5 p.m. -- The three buses loaded the travel party and made their way back to the hotel for some down time before dinner later in the evening.
7:30 p.m. -- The team breaks off into Emperor groups for dinner within walking distance of the hotel; the Aurelian and Marcus Aurelius group eat at a traditional Italian meal at the Ristorante da Luciano before returning to the hotel around 10:15 p.m. to get some rest for the third day in Rome.
