3:55 pm - The team bus from Providence to New York somehow manages to avoid the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which has turned Manhattan into a sea of red, white and blue flags, jerseys, bandanas, mini-shorts, mini-skirts, mini-panties and nudity.
8:35 pm - The flight from New York to Washington D.C. departs over an hour later than scheduled. When it touches down, the team is left with only a 25-minute window to make its connection.
9:20 pm - As the players rush through the Dulles airport, they are faced with a difficult choice: make their flight, or pick up a Bacon Double Cheeseburger Extra Value Meal at Wendy's. Within seconds, a line of thirteen hungry college athletes has formed at Wendy's. Through an act of divine intervention, the players all make the flight, vanilla Frosties in hand.
9:45 pm - 11 hours of flying begins, with the expected jostling and jockeying for position.
9:45 am - 11 hours of flying comes to an end.
10:15 am - The team boards its bus and passes through the sprawling suburbs of Buenos Aires. They observe the odd juxtaposition of dilapidated brick and concrete residences with colorful billboards for designer clothes and high end perfumes.
11:30 - The team checks in at the 725 Continental Hotel. Located just a few blocks off Calle de 9 de Julio, and within sight of el Obelisco, it is right in the heart of the downtown district.
3:30 - After lunch and a quick nap, the team heads to a training session at Club Atletico Platence. The stadium is a classic South American venue, with cement bleachers, decaying brick walls, patchy yellow grass, and barbed wire. They are let into the stadium by a friendly team of security guards and escorted to the sidelines of the game field. After a spirited session, they get back in their transport vehicles (aka "The Ice Cream Trucks") and navigate the crowded avenues and side streets of Buenos Aires. Despite the chilly temperature (high 40s), the streets are bustling with people. Trucks jockey for position with motorbikes that weave in and out of Calle 9 de Julio's fourteen busy lanes, while pedestrians slow traffic as they fight their way through the crowded side streets.
7:55 pm - After dinner at the hotel, the team settles into their rooms and takes in replays of the Euro 2008 games. After a long day of travel and training, it's early to bed...and early to rise.
