ABINGTON ROWDYS EUROPEAN TOUR Information Packet

ITALY ~ AUSTRIA ~ GERMANY

July 30th thru August 10th, 2015

UPDATED 7.5.15

This packet contains various information about the team’s upcoming tour.

You will find a few pages of information that should answer most of your questions about hotel and flight information, cell phone use, money, laundry, etc, and a suggested packing list.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me:[email protected]

Como

Como is a city in Lombardy, Italy. Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made it a popular tourist destination. Como was the birth- place of many historically notable figures, including the poet Caecilius who is mentioned by Catullus in the 1st century BCE, the far more substantial literary figures of Pliny the Elder and the Younger, Pope Innocent XI, the scientist Alessandro Volta.

The hills surrounding the current location of Como have been inhabited, since at least the Bronze Age. Remains of settlements are still present on the wood covered hills to the South-West of town. Around the 1st century BC, the territory became subject to the Romans. The town center was situ- ated on the nearby hills, but it was then moved to its current location by order of Julius Caesar.

In 1127, Como lost a decade-long war with the nearby town of Milan. A few decades later, with the help of Frederick Barbarossa, the Comaschi were able to avenge their defeat when Milan was destroyed in 1162. Frederick promoted the construction of several defensive towers around the city limits, of which only one, the Baradello, remains.

At the end of World War II, after passing through Como on his escape towards Switzerland, Benito Mussolini was taken prisoner and then shot by partisans in Giulino di Mezzegra, a small town on the north shores of Lake Como

Milan

Milan is the second-most populous city in Italy, behind Rome. Milan was founded by the Insubres, a Celtic people. The city was later conquered by the Romans as Mediolanum, eventually becoming the capital of the Western Roman Em- pire. During the Middle Ages, Milan flourished as a commercial and banking center. In the course of the following cen- turies, it had been alternatively dominated by France, Habsburg Spain, and Austria. Badly affected by World War II, and suffering a harsh Nazi occupation, the city became the main centre of the Italian Resistance. In post-war years, the city enjoyed a prolonged economic boom, attracting large flows of workers from Southern Italy.

The city is a major world fashion and design capital. Milan's museums, theatres and landmarks (including the Milan Cathedral, the fifth largest cathedral in the world, and Santa Maria delle Grazie, decorated with Leonardo da Vinci paintings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) attracts over 8 million annual visitors. Milan is home to two of the world's major football teams, A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano.

Interesting facts about Milan: 1) the "Panettone" Christmas cake is originally from Milan; 2) L'Ultima Cena (The Last Supper) by Leonardo is in Milan; 3) Milan has 15 sister cities including St. Petersburg (Russia), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Bethlehem (Palastine), Melbourne (Australia), Osaka (Japan), and Chicago; 4) AC Milan and Inter Milan share the same stadium commonly known as the ‘San Siro’ which is the name of the district of Milan where the stadium is located. It is officially known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, named in honor of Giuesepe Meazza, a two-time World Cup winner for Italy and a former Inter Milan player. However, AC Milan fans refuse to rec- ognize it as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and simply refer to it as ’The San Siro’.

Venice

Venice is a city in northeastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands sepa- rated by canals and linked by bridges. It is located in the Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Riv- ers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture, and its art- works. The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its la- goon. In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice.

The name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". Luigi Barzini described it in The New York Times as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man". Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain, and spice) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history. It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. Florence is famous for its history: a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, it is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.

The Historic Centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year with 1.8 million visitors in 2012. It was declared a World Heritage Site in1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it has been ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Florence is an important city in Italian fashion, being ranked in the top 51 fashion capitals of the world.

Bolzano

Bolzano is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. Bolzano is the seat of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, where lectures and seminars are held in English, German and Italian. The city is also home to the Italian Army's Alpini High Command (COMALP) and some of its combat and support units.

In a 2010 quality-of-life survey by the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Bolzano was ranked first among 107 Italian cities on the survey's list. In the 2011 edition of the survey, Bolzano was ranked number two and came after the top- ranked Bologna. In the 2012 edition, Bolzano regained the top place as the city with the Best Quality of Life in Italy.

Along with other Alpine towns in South Tyrol, Bolzano engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the im- plementation of the Alpine Convention. The Convention aims to promote and achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. Consequently, Bolzano was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2009.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol (Tirol) in western Austria. Innsbruck lies about half way be- tween Munich (Germany) and Verona (Italy). Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the so-called North Chain in the Karwendel Alps (Hafelekarspitze, 2,334 meters or 7,657 feet) to the north, and the Patscherkofel (2,246 m or 7,369 ft) and Serles (2,718 m or 8,917 ft) to the south.

Innsbruck is an internationally renowned winter sports centre, and hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics as well as the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics. Innsbruck also hosted the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012. The word bruck comes from the same root as the modern German word "Brücke" meaning "bridge" which leads to "the bridge over the Inn".

Munich

Munich, on the banks of River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps is the third largest city in Germany. The name of the city is derived from the Old/Middle High German term Munichen, meaning "by the monks". It derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who ran a monastery at the place that was later to become the Old Town of Munich; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Munich has been a centre of arts, culture and science since the early 19th century. The city became the Nazi movement's infamous Hauptstadt der Bewegung (lit.: "Capital of the movement"), and after post-war reconstruction was the host city of the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Munich is home to many national and international authorities, major universities, major museums and theaters. Its numerous architectural attractions, international sports events, exhibitions, conferences and Oktoberfest attract con- siderable tourism. Since 2006, the city's motto has been "München mag dich" ("Munich loves you"). Munich is a traffic hub with excellent international, national and local connections, running a fast and reliable public transport system. Munich achieved fourth place in the frequently quoted Mercer livability rankings in 2011 and 2012. For economic and social innovation, the city was ranked 15th globally out of 289 cities in 2010. In 2013, Monocle ranked Munich as the world's most livable city with the highest quality of life. Hotel Information:

-Como: 3 nights @ Hotel Leonardo da Vinci ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Via L. daVinci 6, 22036 Erba (Como), Italy T: +39/031.611.556 www.hotelleonardodavinci.com

-Montecatini Terme (Florence), Tuscany: 2 nights @ Grand Hotel Tettuccio ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Via Giueseepe Verdi 74, 51016 Montecatini Terme (PT), Italy T: +39/057.278.051 www.hoteltettuccio.it

-Padua: 1 night @ Hotel Crown Plaza ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Via Po 197, 35135, Padova, Italy T: +39/049.865.6511 www.crowneplazapadova.it

-Bolzano: 1 night @ Hotel Scala Stiegl ☆ ☆ ☆ Superior Via Brennero, Brennerstrasse 11, I-39100, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy T: +39/047.197.6222 www.scalahot.com/it/informazione/index.asp

-Munich: 3 nights @ Angelo Hotel Munich Leuchtenbergring ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Leuchtenbergring 20, 81677 Munich, Germany T: +49/89.189.0860 www.vi-hotels.com/en/angelo-leuchtenbergring

Flight Information (all times local)

US to Europe (one stop) -July 30: 3:55p: depart New York: JFK International Airport Lufthansa flight #: LH401

-July 31: 5:30a: arrive Frankfurt, Germany: Frankfurt International Airport

-July 31: 8:30a: depart Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt International Airport Lufthansa flight #: LH270

-July 31: 9:40a: arrive Milan, Italy: Milan Linate International Airport

Europe to US (no stops) -August 10: 12:05p: depart Munich, Germany: Munich International Airport Lufthansa fight #: LH410

-August 10: 3:00p: arrive New York: JFK International Airport

UPDATED -Dress code for the flight : (players only) team polo, team warm-up (jacket and pants), running shoes.

-Luggage tags: Remove any airline luggage tags that may be on your bags from previous trips.

-Carry on: You will most likely be permitted to take only one carry-on piece onto the plane with you. This will be your team bag. The most important items to have in your carry-on bag will be your complete uniform, including cleats, shinguards, and deflated ball. Reason being is that should your luggage get lost you will at least have what you need to train and play. This is common practice for athletes who fly. While waiting to board the plane, keep your carry-on bag with you at all times. It is a major security concern at airports. -Things to do on the flight: SLEEP! It is extremely important that you sleep as much as possible on the flight to Europe. We will arrive in Milan early in the morning and you will have a very long day that could include a light training session. Bring some summer reading in case you have trouble sleeping.

-Snack food: Feel free to bring some on the plane with you....just keep in mind that you will be preparing to train and play at a high level during the course of the tour - so limit the junk. I reserve the right to confiscate anything that will not help you perform at your best. I will throw out anything that looks bad…. and keep for myself anything that looks good.

-Behavior: I don’t have the time to write everything I have to say on this topic so it will be saved for later.

-Flight attendants: These men and women are not waiters and waitresses, they are professionals who have a job to do. That job is not to cater to your every want and need. That button above your seat that calls the attendant is not there because you want another bag of nuts - don’t abuse it. Treat them with respect: say please and thank you and they will take good care of you.

Sightseeing

When out sightseeing the group will be together as a whole. Typically, after seeing the major sights of a particular area we will have some free time, usually in a town square center. In order to get lunch or do some shopping, players will be divided into groups of 4 or 5 with an adult assigned to each group. Head- counts will be frequent and a close eye will be kept on everyone. Players will not be permitted to go anywhere on their own…….EVER.

UPDATED Money

-Travelers checks used to be the way to go but ATMs have made them obsolete.

-Exchange cash here or there?: It’s a good idea to have about $100 exchanged into Euros before you leave the US and then use ATMs as needed when in Europe. Try to avoid using ATMs in the airports in Europe as most of them are owned by Travelex, a currency exchange company, and will hit you with some of the highest exchange rates (+/- 15%). Also try to avoid using exchange kiosks (+/- 15%) in tourist areas. The best ATMs to be used will be the ones owned by banks (+/- 4%). If you have trouble finding an ATM in Europe (which is unlikely) the next best place to exchange money is postal banks inside post offices or inside actual banks (+/- 8%).

-Spending money: We recommend $30 per day for spending money/lunch. Breakfast and dinner are covered in the cost of the tour but lunches will be on our own since we will typically be out and about at training, playing matches, sightseeing etc.. If players are not so great with money it is sometimes a good idea to separate spending money, by day, into sealed envelopes. Player’s spending will be monitored to make sure the spending money lasts through the tour.

-You don’t want the map! When exchanging money at kiosks in tourist areas, some tellers, before giving you your money, may ask you if you want a map of the area - you don’t want it. It’s not free! They will charge you a ridiculous amount for it and, usually the maps are non-refundable.

-Slush fund: It’s a good idea to set up a slush fund for miscellaneous expenses along the way. For example, the players may need water for training or games, or a snack. Also, we will have a full-time a driver and multi-lingual tour guide with us and it is acceptable to tip each if we feel they have taken particularly good care of us.

Food

-Most of our meals will be taken at the hotel. There may be things that you may not recognize. Try something new. It is a great part of the experience of traveling abroad, plus...you just might like it.

-While out sightseeing you may see ‘restaurants’ (loose term) you recognize such as McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut. Don’t count on eating many meals in these places. FYI...if we do stop in fast food places be aware that fast food restaurants abroad may charge you extra for condiments (i.e. ketchup packets, etc.)

-If any of the players of the players have any food allergies, please email me so I contact the hotel in advance to see what can be done.

Laundry

-I’m not sure what the laundry situation will be at our hotels so it is a good idea to have a small amount of powdered laundry detregent put into a small zip-lock bag. The bathtub laundromat never closes. A length of rope is also a good idea as it can be used as clothesline.

UPDATED Cell phone use / staying in touch

-Using your mobile phone abroad can be very expensive when traveling abroad. That’s assuming your phone will work in Europe so the first step is to contact your provider to see if it will. In most cases you will need to call your provider and ask them if your phone will work in Europe. They may ask you what countries you are visiting and should be able to tell you what the rates will be for each country. Be sure to get clarification on rates for both phone calls (incoming and outgoing) and data (web browsing and texting).

If your phone will work there, keep in mind that since you will be too far away to get a signal from your own cell phone network in Europe you will need to ‘borrow’ one while you are there. All major US cell phone providers have relationships with European cell phone providers that enable you to use their networks but they can charge, sometimes, significantly more than you are used to paying.

NOTE** Sometimes, you cannot call US 800/888/877/866 numbers from foreign phone networks. So find out the non-800 number for your cell phone carrier’s customer support before you leave. That goes for any other 800 numbers you may need to call when overseas (e.g. your credit card company).

-A good option is a temporary phone to use while in Europe. You can buy inexpensive international-use phones at places like Bestbuy, or, some cell phone providers even have rental programs for travelers. Check with yours.

Following is one of the best synopsis’ I’ve read about cell phone use in Europe. I encourage everyone to research this topic as best you can. Cell phone use can be costly if you are not properly prepared and informed.

Using a sim-card in Europe (www.ricksteves.com)

While using your American phone in Europe is easy, it can get expensive. And unreliable Wi-Fi can make the reality of keeping in touch via a service like Skype more frustrating than it should be.

If you anticipate heavy phone or data use, consider traveling with a mobile phone fitted with a European SIM card. This gives you a European mobile number and access to cheaper rates than you'd get through your US carrier, even with an international plan. Generally with a European SIM card, it's free to receive domestic texts and calls, about 2–20 cents/minute to make domestic calls and calls within the EU, and 5–15 cents to send a text within the EU. For the best rates, buy a new SIM card every time you arrive in a new country.

To get a European SIM, you'll need to do the following:

1. Make sure you're equipped with a proper phone. You'll need either a European phone or an unlocked phone in order for a European SIM card to work (some phones are electronically "locked" so you can't switch SIM cards). Check with your carrier — it's possible the phone you have is already unlocked, as this feature is becoming more common in newer models. Otherwise, you can try asking your provider if they'll unlock it for you. Remember that as long as you have a European SIM in your own phone, you won't be reachable at your regular US number.

If it's not possible to unlock your phone, you can buy an unlocked phone either before your trip or at your destina tion (it's around $40 for a basic unlocked phone). It's also possible to buy an inexpensive mobile phone in Europe that already comes with a SIM card. While these phones are generally locked to work with just one provider (meaning you couldn't switch to another European SIM if traveling to other countries), they may be even cheaper ($20 or less, and often with enough prepaid calling credit to make the phone itself virtually free). If shopping for a phone in Europe, use the European term "mobile" (pronounce it the way Brits do — rhymes with "smile") or "handy" (common in German-speaking areas).

Finally, you may already have an old, unused mobile phone in a drawer somewhere. It's probably locked, but your provider may be willing to send you a code to unlock it.

2. Shop around for a SIM card. SIM cards are sold in Europe at mobile-phone shops, department-store electron ics counters, some newsstands, and even at vending machines. Costing about $5–10, they usually include about that much prepaid calling credit, with no contract and no commitment. Certain brands — including Lebara and Lycamobile, both of which operate in multiple European countries — are reliable and provide cheap international calls, including to the US.

If you have a smartphone, look for a SIM card that also includes data. Expect to pay about $15-30 for a SIM that includes one month of data within the country you bought it. Be aware that many smartphones (especially iPhones) use smaller micro-SIM or nano-SIM cards. Make sure you get the right size card for your phone.

Before buying a SIM card, ask the clerk about rates for calls within the country; to and from other countries you'll be visiting; and, if you plan on calling home, to the US and Canada. Also check the rates for data use and for sending/ receiving a text message (called an "SMS" in Europe). Make sure you get rates for data and texting both within and outside the card's home country. Rates can vary wildly from brand to brand and store to store.

3. Set up your SIM card. Once you buy your SIM card, ask the clerk to insert it, set it up, and make a test call to be sure it's working properly. Turning on the phone, you'll be prompted to enter the SIM PIN, which you may be asked to enter every time you start up the phone. If text or voice prompts are in another language, ask the clerk whether they can be switched to English. Also find out how to check your credit balance (usually you'll key in a few digits and hit "Send"). Remember to record your new phone number so you can pass it on to friends and family.

Note that many countries require you to register the SIM card with your passport as an antiterrorism measure. If that's the case, it may take an hour or two after submitting the information before you can use the phone.

4. Top up your SIM card. When you run out of credit, you can top it up at newsstands, tobacco shops, mobile- phone stores, or many other businesses (look for the SIM card's logo in the window). Tell the clerk how much credit you want. You'll either get a voucher with instructions (in most cases, to top up credit, you'll punch in a long string of numbers on your phone), or the clerk will send the credit directly to your phone. Some providers let you top up online.

Tips: Be aware that most European SIM cards expire after a certain period of inactivity (typically 3–12 months), so use up the credit or hand it off to another traveler. Also, be sure to save your contacts' phone numbers in the phone itself, rather than on the SIM card; otherwise, you'll lose access to them when you switch SIMs. When storing phone numbers, include the plus (+) sign and the country code to ensure that your calls will go through, regardless of where you're calling from.

EUROPEAN TOUR SUGGESTED PACKING LIST

CLOTHING

Rowdy uniform 3 game jerseys (white, royal blue, new blue)

1 pair game shorts (royal blue) 1 pair game socks (royal blue)

warm-up top warm-up pants team polo practice jersey beach/bath towel (players will be showering onsite after training and matches) deflated ball and hand pump (pack hand-pump in checked bag) 3 pair practice shorts minimum 3 practice shorts minimum 3 pair practice socks 1 pair khaki’s or casual pants bathing suit light rain jacket underwear, socks (5 sets each)

FOOTWEAR running shoes (for training and sightseeing) soccer cleats soccer/shower sandals

REQUIRED ITEMS passport alarm clock or cell phone or watch mesh laundry bag 1 trash bag (to keep items dry on sidelines in case of rain)

SUGGESTED ITEMS book, cards medicines, pain relievers powdered laundry detergent in a ziploc money belt/neck wallet European power converter shower gel power strip