EUROPEAN HOCKEY TOUR KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY YOUR EUROPEAN HOCKEY HOLIDAY will: - be 11 exciting days, 10 fantastic nights - depart from Ottawa, Ontario or Montreal, Quebec on Friday April 2, 2010 and return on Monday April 12, 2010. - include a minimum of six (6) exhibition and/or tournament hockey games including the GOLDEN PUCK tournament in Budapest, Hungary. Games will be played against local competition carefully selected to provide enjoyable, competitive games - may include stops in some or all of: CZECH REPUBLIC For most visitors to the Czech Republic all roads lead no farther than Prague, the most westernized, cosmopolitan city, known for its wondrous charm and stunning beauty. Fewer than 10% of tourists explore the country outside of the capital. If you really wish to discover the richness of this immensely cultured nation, however, venturing beyond Prague will be very rewarding. The magnificent, undulating landscape consists of mountains and upland plains, forests and farmland. Thanks to the fact that the country was spared widespread destruction during World War II, many of its cities and towns are a visual feast of medieval, baroque and art nouveau architecture and sculpture. Bohemian spa towns and sleepy Moravian wine villages alike have a historical integrity and welcoming atmosphere that gives you the feeling of being immersed in an open-air museum. The country also boasts over 100 castles -- from craggy fortresses to more refined, aristocratic chateaus -- that are open to the public. Today, venturing off the beaten path no longer means leaving comfort and service behind. The number and quality of restaurants and hotels in large and small towns alike has soared over the past five years, attracting more visitors while remaining relaxed and uncrowded. And with the help of local tourist offices, MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 2 . the once-daunting task of arranging accommodation or gathering information about local sites is a lot easier. PRAGUE, Czech Republic With rows of steeples stacked on onion domes piercing the sky, Prague has earned the moniker “The City of a Hundred Spires”. Sadly in four decades of communist rule, the city’s classical heart was infected by faceless architecture and neglect. Now, while rediscovered owners clean up the grime on decaying masterpieces and rebuild facades on many forgettable follies, the city is recapturing its more avant-garde tastes. Despite the furious development and reconstruction popping up all over, the classical monuments remain the city’s bedrock. Prague Castle’s reflection in the Vltava or the mellow nighttime glow of the lanterns around the 18th century Stavovske Divadlo (Estates’ Theatre) gives the city a Mozart-really-was-here feel. Some of Prague’s most popular sights are: the Prague Castle (St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica), the Old Town Hall and Old Town Square. BRNO, Czech Republic An industrial city with an industrial-strength image as "boring," Brno suffers a fate that many second cities around the world endure -- no respect. Sure, as you approach from the highway, the sight of dozens of concrete apartment buildings may give you second thoughts. But bear with the Communist-inspired urban sprawl -- the bad rap is undeserved. In fact, Brno is a vibrant and interesting city with a panache all its own. Since Brno came of age in the 19th century on the back of its textile industry, the city's architecture, for the most part, lacks the Renaissance facades and meandering alleys of other towns. Indeed, the main square, námestí Svoboda, bears this out. But spend a day or two here, and the beauty of the old city center will become apparent. Empire and neoclassical buildings abound. Quirky sights like the Brno Dragon and the Wagon Wheel add character. Spilberk Castle and the Gothic cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul give historical perspective. And lush streets and parks make aimless wandering a pleasure. MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 3 . OLOMOUC, Czech Republic The ancient town of Olomouc lies in the heart of the so-called Haná region. Its history dates back to the 10th century AD when it became an important trade crossing-point. It has the second most significant collection of historical monuments in the country after Prague. The second oldest university in the Czech Republic was founded in Olomouc in 1573. Olomouc was considered the capital of Moravia from the Luxemburgian period up until the 17th century. During the Thirty Years War with the town's occupation by the Swedish army, the town was destroyed to a large extent and lost its leading position. Today, the city has a population of over 100,000 inhabitants. It is the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic and the seat of the Olomouc Region. At present, the city is experiencing major development in the areas of culture, accommodation, food, dining and tourism. It has a great deal to offer both socially and culturally, with visits to the Moravian Theatre, concerts of the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, exhibitions at the Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Art along with a whole range of art galleries. In addition, tourists can visit the Zoological Gardens on Svatý Kopeček (The Holy Hill). VIENNA, Austria City of music, cafes, waltzes, parks, pastries, and wine -- that's Vienna. The capital of Austria is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Vienna is a true cosmopolitan center, where different tribes and nationalities have for centuries fused their cultural identities to produce the intriguing and often cynical Viennese. From the time the Romans selected a Celtic settlement on the Danube River as one of their most important central European forts, "Vindobona," the city we now know as Vienna, has played a vital role in European history. Austria grew up around the city and developed into a mighty empire. The capital became a showplace during the tumultuous reign of the Habsburg dynasty, whose court was a dazzling spectacle. MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 4 . Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna The face of the city has changed time and again because of war, siege, victory, defeat, the death of an empire, the birth of a republic, foreign occupation, and the passage of time. Fortunately, the Viennese character -- a strict devotion to the good life -- has remained solid. Music, art, literature, theater, architecture, education, food, and drink are all part of Vienna's allure. In Vienna, you can admire the imperial architecture, and visit the places that influenced some of the most famous classical musicians: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Brahms. BUDAPEST, Hungary Budapest's extraordinary atmosphere can be felt everywhere. From old women selling boxes of raspberries in the heart of downtown Pest, cars careening by on all sides, to young boys playing soccer in the green foothills of Buda, where the air is fresh and clean, this city and its people will take you in and hold you tight. Budapest is a remarkable and wholly unpretentious place. Explore it fully. Turn off any of the main boulevards and you'll quickly find yourself in a quiet residential neighborhood where the rich scent of a hearty gulyás (stew) wafts from a kitchen window, a woman with a brightly colored kerchief tied around her head sweeps the sidewalk with a homemade broom, and cigarette smoke fogs the cavelike entryway of the corner pub, where the sign on the door states that beer is served as early as 7am. You will spy rows of salamis hanging in the window of the grocery store next door. In the park across the way, men play chess in the shade of chestnut trees, young lovers kiss on a bench, and the famed Hungarian pedigree dog, the vizsla, can be glimpsed darting through the trees. MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 5 . Golden Puck Hockey Tournament Your tour will include entry into the 2010 Golden Puck Hockey Tournament in Budapest, Hungary. This is an annual tournament that routinely hosts many international teams. In the past, hockey teams from Finland, Italy, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Slovakia, Czech Republic as well as Hungary and Canada have participated in this tournament. MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 6 . ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS* April 2 – 12, 2010 Friday April 2: - early evening departure from Montreal or Ottawa Airport Saturday April 3: - arrival in Frankfurt, Germany; connecting flight to Prague, Czech Republic; Clear customs & immigration - Practice (optional) - Welcome Dinner CHARLES BRIDGE & PRAGUE CASTLE – Prague, Czech Republic Sunday April 4: - Guided city tour of Prague, including Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square - EXHIBITION GAME #1 vs. local House League select team - Free time to shop, explore in Prague Monday April 5: - Bus to Prostejov or Brno, Czech Republic - Meet billet families – Allowing the players to more fully experience the Czech culture - Non-players could enjoy a visit to a local Czech brewery! Tuesday April 6: - Visit to Bouzov Castle – the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 7 . - EXHIBITION GAME #2 vs. local House League select team BOUZOV CASTLE – Near Prostejov, Czech Republic Wednesday April 7: - Guided tour of Vienna, Austria including Schoenbrunn Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral - EXHIBITION GAME #3 vs. local House League select team Thursday April 8: - Bus to Budapest, Hungary - GOLDEN PUCK TOURNAMENT Opening Dinner MST Tour Package KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY Page 8 . KINGSTON CAL PANTHERS HOCKEY April 2010 Tour Highlights Friday April 9: - GOLDEN PUCK TOURNAMENT – Games #1 & #2 - Guided city tour of Budapest, Hungary HEROES SQUARE - Budapest, Hungary Saturday April 10: - GOLDEN PUCK TOURNAMENT – Games #3 #4 - Free time to shop in Budapest Sunday April 11: - GOLDEN PUCK TOURNAMENT – Finals & Closing Ceremonies - Farewell Dinner in Budapest Monday April 12: - Flight home - From Budapest to Frankfurt; Frankfurt to Ottawa or Montreal .