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Tips: off to Europe
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Opera | Operetta
Help for traveling singers
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Computer Connections: Europe
*Tip for laptop travelers: Samsonite now has a traveling-office airline carry-on with wheels. It has a padded section for your laptop, a section for a travel printer and room for documents. Its worth the investment!
Cable: For every country in europe you need a different fax or phone cable to hook up your computer and you must buy the cable within the country. If you are in an apartment, it is often possible to use the telephone cable. In Austria, Germany and possibly in Switzerland, the phone cable must be inserted into the specific fax jack in the wall. You need to buy the cable with the specific fax jack. Many european hotels give you the possibility to get online by:
1. Simply unhooking the cable from the telephone in your room and inserting it into your modem jack. This method works if your computer recognizes the telephone signal. Program in the number you need to get an outside line in the hotel (usually 0 or 9). Sometimes an adaptor is needed - a double jack to connect the telephone and computer at the same time. In this case you dial the number for the outside line, dial the access number and when the connection is made, hang up the phone. Patience is often the key word here: try everything!
2. If the hotel phone system does not allow you to get online, you can ask to use the fax- modem line in the hotel office to quickly download your e-mail. This is hit or miss and depends on the desk clerks and hotel policy. We have had good luck with this method, so put on your smile and try it!
If all else fails try the many cyber cafes (some McDonalds even offer online access).
Servers: Your best bets for international travel are AOL and Compuserve. They both have access numbers in most larger european cities. Download the european access numbers before you travel!
- Beware of the extra costs, for example, dialing AOL's global net numbers. And, the global net numbers often have extremely slow baud rates. If you will be in a country for a longer time, check out the prices on the local servers (in Germany: t-online, metronet, msn., direktnet, and gmx are popular. In Austria: netway,. They often have price specials for new accounts.
Access Numbers: AOL has a general access number within the following countries-
- Austria: in Vienna - 0181407, Outside Vienna - 07189 15052 (Tech. service in Vienna 858 84 83)
- France: 083 6061310
- Germany:01914 (Tech. service for germany 01805 313164)
- Switzerland:
- There are also local city access numbers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. (E-mail us for any local numbers that you need)
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- The Euro (Read about the Euro) is coming, but as of now, we still have to deal with the seperate currencies for each country. Change enough money to take a taxi and buy a meal BEFORE you enter the country. This is best done at a bank and not at the airport where they charge high fees to change money. Change-banks at airports and train stations often keep daytime hours and are not open if you arrive in the evening or on the weekend. Change the bulk of your money within the country, as the rates are generally better. Be aware that bank hours differ from country to country. List of currencies for each country. Currency Exchange.
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- All airlines in Europe and America seem to be weighing carry-ons as well as your checked luggage, so be sure to keep it as light as possible. Though you do not have to check the carry-on, for flights on smaller planes they will often have you load the carry-on before boarding the plane and give it back immediatly upon arrival. This avoids the excess rough handling that comes with checking your luggage. Be sure to check with the airlines on your baggage limits. It varies with the price of the ticket and the cost for excess baggage ist high.
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- When taking a flight to a guesting be sure to keep the following items in your carry-on luggage: your SCORE, make-up, any items that you will need on stage, and basic bathroom items. In the event that your luggage is lost, you will still be prepared to sing.
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Comportment and tipping at the theater - In most european countries the custom is to greet everyone with a handshake before each rehearsal begins. When meeting a mixed-sex group, offer your hand to the women first. New colleagues are expected to introduce themselves.
- It is customary to tip the make-up person and dresser after a guest performance. (20 Marks, 100 Shillings, or the equivalent of $10-$15 per performance). If you have a large number of performances, you can tip at the end of the run. In Italy, tip at the end of the run of performances. If you are engaged "fest" in the german speaking countries, a nice Christmas envelope subsitutes for the tip after each performance.
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- Flights: Small animals can be carried on board in containers specificed by the airlines. There is a cost and unsually only two animals are allowed in the cabin , so book the flight early. Animals traveling within Europe need proof of the typical immunization shots. Trains: do allow animals on board, though they charge a fee. Well-behaved dogs of all sizes are generally welcome in restaurants and hotels in Europe.
The exception to all rules is the England: All animals are subject to six months of quarantine upon entering the country.
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Check for local differences
Austria : In the first district in Vienna stores are generally open 9-6 on Monday through Friday. On Saturday many stores close at .one pm! In other cities and other districts of Vienna, they are often closed for lunch during the week. Grocery stores close at 6:30 or 7:00 pm and at 4:00 or 5:00 on Saturday. The Naschmarkt stays open until late afternoon and is the place to buy fresh food any day of the week. Most banks close for lunch and for good at 3:00 pm daily! Everything is closed on Sunday. In Vienna, go to the Westbahnhof (west train station) or to the Prater U-Bahn station for some basic groceries during the day on Sunday.
- In the other cites the hours are similar, if not quite exactly the same.
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France : The stores are open until later in the evening in Paris- 7:00 or 8:00pm.
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Italy : Everything closes for the afternoon in Italy. The hours vary from city to city but generally from 1-3 or 4 pm all is quiet. This means stores and banks too. All but the biggest grocery stores close on monday afternoons. Each city also has a half day on which the retail stores are closed. This is often on Wednesday. Everything is closed on Sunday.
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Germany : Store hours have improved greatly in the last year in Germany. The grocery stores now stay open until 6:30 or 7:00 pm and other stores remain open until 6:00 pm during the week. Be aware that stores outside of the city center may close for lunch. In the city center, stores stay open until 4 pm on Saturday. Most banks are open until 5:00 pm weekdays. Everything is closed on Sunday.
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Switzerland
: see Germany
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U.S.A.: Unless you are in one of the following cities, - Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco - you need a car to get around in America. (for car rental you need a drivers license and a credit card) Downtown retail stores are open until 17:00 and most malls are open until 20:00 or 21:00 (8 or 9 pm). The grocery stores are open until very late at night and often all night long. All 7/11 (seven/eleven) stores are open all night long. Malls and grocery stores , as well as most department stores in the bigger cities are open on Sunday. Bank hours vary, but most banks are open at least until 18:00 weekdays and often on Saturday mornings.
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- Taxis in Europe have fixed waiting areas in Europe and are usually not available to hail in the street. The stand areas are every few blocks in the city centers and further from each other in outlying districts. For a tip you should just round up to the next highest mark, franc or 5 -10 shillings.
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- Brought to you by 4internet Telephone Directories on the Web, e-mail directory, area codes
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