Wolverines Men's Basketball in Spain: Day Four
8/21/2018 6:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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The University of Michigan basketball program is on a nine-day trip to Spain (Aug. 17-26) with stops in Madrid and Barcelona. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#VamosAzul) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com. Additionally, follow The Athletic's (@TheAthleticDET) Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) and MLive's Andrew Kahn (@AndrewKahn) as they have made the trek with the team and will file daily reporting of the trip and games.
After a successful 82-72 opening win over the Madrid Generals on Monday night (Aug. 20), the Wolverines used Tuesday (Aug. 21) as a travel day heading to Barcelona for the remainder of the trip.
Boarding Spain's high-speed rail system -- Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) -- the Maize and Blue made what would have been a six-hour bus trip into a two-and-a-half-hour venture. Leaving the train station, U-M headed to the Las Arenas de Barcelona -- the former bull fighting arena which has been transformed into a shopping and restaurant center. The arena's highlight is the circular rooftop with views of the entire city of Barcelona.
On top of the steps of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the U-M coaching staff gathers in front of the views of Barcelona.
The Wolverines visited the site of the 1992 Olympic Games main stadium.
From atop the Las Arenas de Barcelona, downtown Barcelona's two towers are a central point of the city.
U-M heads to the former bull fighting arena -- Las Arenas de Barcelona -- which has been renovated into a shopping plaza and eatery.
Following a lunch break, U-M headed to explore Barcelona's city highlights via bus, stopping at the site of the 1992 Olympic Games. Exploring the main Olympic stadium, the basketball arena and general park areas around the stadium the Wolverines reboarded the bus and headed to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya with tremendous views of downtown Barcelona.
Checking in to the new hotel, and with more than two hours of free time, most unpacked while several others took a dip in the two pools associated with the hotel. Gathering together for dinner, the players headed to Port Olímpic to take in the sites and eat with views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 22), the Wolverines will have another touring day in Barcelona with shopping scheduled in the morning followed by a tour of the Sagrada Família in the afternoon.
Until then … #VamosAzul
• Wolverines Men's Basketball in Spain: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
The Wolverines headed to the Port Olímpic for dinner as the evening's sun started to set.
As dinner ended, the Port Olimpic area is one of the best night time spots in Barcelona.
Additional Article Coverage
• 8/21/2018 -- On the ground in Spain, my thoughts from a first look at Michigan basketball (The Athletic)
• 8/21/2018 - The Wolverines in Spain? A dream come true for one Michigan alum (MLive.com)
• 8/21/2018 - Turnovers in Michigan's first basketball game in Spain no cause for panic (MLive.com)
• 8/20/2018 - Saddi Washington is in a rare role, with an offseason of perspective guiding him (The Athletic)
• 8/20/2018 - Ignas Brazdeikis vs. the world (The Athletic)
• 8/20/2018 - Michigan basketball beats local Madrid team in first game in Spain (MLive.com)
• 8/19/2018 - In Spain with Michigan, Day 1 includes a candid conversación with Warde Manuel (The Athletic)
