2012 DWNT Day 11 and 12

Well after a few delays and almost missed connections I sit here at 9pm (Montenegro time) and type this update on Day 11 and 12. I am EXHAUSTED so I will try to be quick. On Day 11 we got up and had breakfast at 9:30 and returned to the dorms for our 10:30 meeting. I handed out the jerseys to the girls. I did a slide show where I connected each one of the players to a former Olympian from Canada. It was a great ceremony and I think the girls enjoyed it. We then headed over as a team to have pictures taken.

After the ceremony and pics, we packed our bags and weighed them as we began our journey. First we had one last meal at 1:30 and it was very good with a bunch of Canada themed decorations. A nice touch for a sendoff. We made it to the airport around 3:15 or so and got checked in. There was a slight delay but we made it to Montreal for our first stop. Then another delay. Not fun. We knew our connections were going to be tight but now they would be really tight. The flight was uneventful but 7 hours is long. I set my watch ahead to Brussels time and I was able to trick my body a little bit. I got a little sleep which I needed and woke up in time to land in Brussels.

Because of the delays our connection was crazy. We were scheduled to depart at 10:15 and we arrived at 9:45. WE had to clear customs and get to our gate. Luckily we had a team of flight agents at the gate. They rallied us together and everyone started sprinting. First to customs to clear that and then running to our game. We made it which was good. Our next flight in Vienna was tight as well but we made that one. Frantic connections with no sitting around makes for a rushed day. So finally we get ready to land in Podgorica. Landing in Belgium was pretty. Lots of green and we could see the coastline. I could almost envision war ships and soldiers on the beaches. Weird to look down and know so much history happened below.

Landing in Montenegro was much different. It is a very mountainous region and the landscape is dotted with trees. Not heavy forest but rocky with trees. Looked like when you were in science class as a kid and the teacher put the metal filings on a paper and let you run a magnet underneath. Clumps of trees here and there. We landed and a representative of the Basketball federation meets us and gets us to our bus. We had a 45 min. bus ride to get here. The landscape is rugged with more brush type trees than tall trees that we would be used to. Very nice though.

We finally arrive in Cetinje. It is a very pretty small city. Our hotel is very nice and is in a nice area. The people here are very friendly as well. I met the coach of the Montenegro team when we got here and he is from Montenegro but speaks french. He coached for a pro team in France for many years. He commented on how young I was. Not sure how to take that. LOL

So we arrive at 3:15 with a practice scheduled for 4pm. They also have lunch scheduled for us at 3:30. Gonna be tight. I get to my room and decide to shower quickly. Trouble us all they had was cold water at the time. BRRRRR but it cleaned me and woke me up. So I scramble down to lunch. We wanted just snacks before practice. Turned out lunch was more than just snacks.
We had some great bread to start and then a salad of cabbage and tomatoes. The cabbage was good and the tomatoes were OUTSTANDING. After that we had a plate with 3 pieces of chicken, peas, corn and carrots. The chicken was great and the peas were awesome. It finished up with a kind of apple "something something" desert.
So we scramble out the door and head off to practice and arrive just before 5. The gym is interesting. That's the way I can describe it. I will try and post pics soon. So we get about 45 minutes of true practice time before we have to leave because there is a big Handball championship going on and they need to practice. However before I leave I take video of a warmup drill they are doing. What a fantastic drill for basketball as well. Always learning.

So we get back to the hotel around 6:15 and have until 8pm for dinner. The staff decided to walk around for a bit. What an awesome little city and great environment. I will try and post pics of our walk when I can. We walked for a while and came upon some music in a city square. Today is some sort of holiday and there were lots of people about. In the square was a full orchestra playing. We stopped to listen for a few minutes and I took some video of it. After this we walked around a bit and I found a few little shops I may explore in the next few days. We stopped at a sidewalk cafe and had a drink while we people watched. It was a great evening outside and it was a fun chat.

We headed back to the hotel for dinner and it was another spread. Started with the nice bread again and then we were served deep fried cheese. YUMMY. After that came a plate with 2 nice pieces of beef with rice and grilled eggplant and zucchini. Not sure what they did with the veggies but they tasted phenomenal. Finished up with an apple for dessert. Never been served a plain apple for dessert but it was tasty.

After a few hours sleep in 24 hours I am fairly tired and now need to get some rest. 9:30 breakfast tomorrow and then practice at 11. First game as a head coach at the international level at 7pm. Not nervous or excited yet but we will see how that is tomorrow.

There is more I could say but I need sleep...until tomorrow.....