PORTUGAL - The Smith college basketball team went on an international trip to Portugal from October 9-13, experiencing the sights and culture, while also playing a pair of exhibitions against foreign competition. Graduate student guard Selam Maher recapped the memorable trip overseas. 

Smith BB Foreign Tour Itinerary:

October 9 | Depart Boston for Lisbon, Portugal

October 10 | Arrive in Lisbon, LX Factory, Tagus River Sailing Cruise

October 11 | Pena Palace, Sintra, Kayaking & Paddle Boarding in Cascais

October 12 | Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon, Two Exhibition Games, Fado Dinner

October 13 | LX Factory Shopping & Sightseeing, Return to Boston

DAY 1 - Arrival & Sailing

The Bears arrived at Lisbon Humberto Delgado International Airport on Saturday, October 10th around 10:30 a.m. local time. The team headed straight to the LX factory for a range of lunches, including seafood. The complex sits in Lisbon’s Alcantara district under the Ponte 25 de Abril, an infamous bridge built by the same builder of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Converting from a 19th-century textile factory into a hub of restaurants, shops, galleries, and street art. 

After lunch, the Bears boarded a sailing cruise across the Tagus River. The cruise passed several of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks, including the Torre de Belém, a 16th-century fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site. It also passed the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a monument honoring Portugal’s Age of Discovery, the historic Alfama neighborhood, and the Ponte 25 de Abril. The afternoon was spent sunbathing, swimming, and taking in the Lisbon skyline. 

The team checked into Hotel Caparica on the Costa de Caparica around 6:30 pm, and then watched the sunset from the beach before sitting down to a team dinner. 

DAY 2 - Pena Palace & Kayaking in Cascais

Sunday began with a team breakfast at the hotel before the Bears headed to Sintra, a magical town in the hills outside of Lisbon. Their first stop was Pena Palace, the colorful castle built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II. Its bright yellow and red towers stand out against the surrounding forest, and the palace blends many interior designs, including Gothic, Renaissance, Moorish, and Manueline styles. It is a  UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on clear days the terraces offer views stretching all the way to the Atlantic. 

The team then had lunch and free time to shop in the streets of Sintra.

In the afternoon, the Bears made their way to Cascais, a former fishing village turned seaside resort town on the Portuguese coast. There the team went kayaking and paddle boarding. Everyone returned to the hotel for a team dinner to close out the day.

DAY 3 - Tuk Tuk Tour, Two Scrimmages & Fado Dinner

Monday started early with breakfast at 7 am followed by a tuk tuk tour of Lisbon. The tuk tuks is a three wheeled, no door vehicle similar to a motorized tricycle. The tuk tuks drove through the city’s steep, narrow streets, which are built across seven hills. The tour covered the historic neighborhoods and gave the team an easy way to see the wonderful views overlooking the city.

After lunch, the Bears shifted gears to focus on basketball, playing two scrimmages against CRC Quinta dos Lombos. The games were a great competitive opportunity to be challenged against pro-level skill, along with building chemistry among the team, bringing along a terrific class of five first-years. 

The team capped the night with a traditional Portuguese dinner at Restaurante A Muralha, complete with live fado. The melancholic style of Portuguese music is built around the idea of saudade, a deep, bittersweet longing. 

DAY 4 - LX Factory & Return to Boston

On Tuesday, the Bears’ final morning began with breakfast at 9 am before the team returned to LX Factory for one last round of shopping and lunch. Players and staff picked up souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

At 2:30 pm, the team headed to the airport. The flight departed Lisbon at 5:40 pm and arrived in Boston at 8:20 pm ET, wrapping up the trip.

About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.