Social Events
Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception
The opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at the Congress Venue Creta Maris Hotel. A welcome reception hosted by the Congress Organizing Committee in honour of participants and accompanying persons, will follow.
Faculty Dinner (Presidential Dinner)
Monday, June 16th 2008.
Farewell Dinner
A Farewell Dinner will be organized on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
Participants and Accompanying persons wishing to participate should indicate this on the registration form.
Tours
Crete is always at the top of everyone's list of favorite travel destinations, it offers a remarkable number of cultural attractions and world famous landmarks set against an extraordinary natural beauty.
(Code: HDKN)
Knossos/Heraklion - Half Day excursion - (15:00 - 19:30)
The excursion will take place on June 17th, 2008 and June 19th, 2008
Knossos was undeniably the capital of Minoan Crete. It is grander, more complex, and more flamboyant than any of the other palaces known to us, located about twenty minutes south of the modern port town of Heraklion.
It has all the typical features of the architectural type established in 1700 B.C.: four wings arranged around a rectangular, central court, oriented N-S, which is actually the nucleus of the whole complex. The east wing contains the residential quarters, the workshops and a shrine. The west wing is occupied by the storerooms with the large pithoi (storage jars), the shrines, the repositories, the throne room and, on the upper floors, the banquet halls.
The north wing contains the so-called "Customs House", a lustral basin and the stone-built theatral area. The South Propylon is the most imposing building in the south wing. A second, paved courtyard to the west of the palace, equipped with the "processional ways" (narrow causeways), was probably used for religious ceremonies. The palace had many storeys, it was built of ashlar blocks and its walls were decorated with splendid frescoes, mostly representing religious ceremonies. After Knossos, we will arrange a sightseeing tour of Heraklion and you will have time for shopping.
Price per person 60,00€, including air-conditioned coach service, professional English speaking guide and entrance of Knossos. (Minimum participation 25 persons)
(Code: HDSP)
Spinalonga/Aghios Nikolaos-Half Day excursion(15:00-20:00)
The excursion will take place on June 16th, 2008
Embarkation at Elounda - A 20 minute boat trip will bring the participants to Spinalonga, A big part of the visitors of Crete make an excursion towards the island Spinalonga. This isle is known for its Venetian fortress, which was built in the course of the sixteenth century, for its Turkish village, built during the occupation by the Turks and also for the leper colony, which existed between 1903 and 1957.
Coming from the east the large Venetian fort on the islet of Spinalonga is easily seen. Once you round the Akrotiri of Agios Ioannis on the west you will also see the fort. The entrance to the lagoon is between the west mainland and the tip of the islet. The town of Elounda is at the end of the lagoon and there is a causeway that joins the mainland to the larger island of Spinalonga.
The town of Elounda is a luxury resort area. There is a small fishing harbour but it can be filled with tour boats in season. The lagoon of Spinalonga makes an interesting and pleasant boat trip. After Spinalonga, we will arrange a sightseeing tour of Aghios Nikolaos and you will have time for shopping
Price per person 50,00 €, including air-conditioned coach service, boat trip, entrance of Spinalonga and professional English speaking guide.
(Minimum participation 25 persons)
(Code: FDFO) Fodele/Chania/Rethymnon - Full Day excursion (09:00 - 16:30)
The excursion will take place on June 17th, 2008
First stop will be the famous village of Fodele, a quite sleepy place nestling amongst orange groves and plane trees, just 25 km west of Iraklion, a real oasis for the visitor during the hot summer. At the village square under a plane tree, which is over one thousand years old, there is a memorial to the great painter "Domenikos Theotokopoulos", better known as El Greco, who was born in Fodele in 1541.
Afterwards, we drive on to Chania, a city of unique beauty, filled with an abundance of fragrant flowers, and boasting a rich cultural heritage. We will visit ancient, modern and Turkish monuments, the Venetian Harbour, the Old Town, the famous market and have time to visit the narrow shopping streets and to enjoy lunch in one of the beautiful restaurants with traditional Greek food.
In the early afternoon, we drive back north and will stop at Rethymnon, a small Mediterranean town with its Renaissance architecture, Venetian fortress and museums where we'll have time for sightseeing, shopping and a coffee or refreshment.
Price per person 60,00 € including air-conditioned coach service and professional English speaking guide, entrance of Fodele Museum.
(Minimum participation 25 persons)
(Code: FDZA)
Phaestos/Matala/Zaros - Full Day excursion (09:00 - 16:30)
The excursion will take place on June 18th, 2008
This tour will bring us to the south coast of Crete. The first stop will be at the village of Zaros, where we have time to enjoy the beautiful nature around the lake. Afterwards we drive through the mountains to Phaestos, the second major Minoan site. At Phaestos you can see evidence of the original complex destroyed by fire and earthquake, and also the second, rebuilt complex. The tour goes on to the beach of Matala, overlooking the famous Neolithic caves.
Price per person 50,00 € including coach service entrance of Phaestos Museum, and professional English speaking guide
(Minimum participation 25 persons)
(Code: FDSA) Santorini Full Day excursion (06:30 - 21:.45)
The excursion will take place on June 16th, 2008, June 18th, 2008 and June 20th, 2008
Santorini, or Thira or Kallisti or Stoggyli. These names have been given to the Island through the ages. A famous island, a huge geological phenomenon, a great destination. Black sand and white houses are climbing over the Volcanic Caldera. Indigo sea and grey earth, breathtaking views and petrified lava. Nothing compares to this combination.
The history of Santorini is actually the history of a volcano. Contrasting layers of pumice stone and Santorini soil, bear witness to the eruption of the volcano, which took place 3.500 years ago.
This tour will start very early in the morning from the Heraklion port. Buffet Breakfast will be served on board. Arrival to the Island and free time to explore it. Departure from Santorini, in the afternoon, and dinner served with entertainment on board.
Euro 95,00 per person including transfer from the hotel to the port and vice versa, cruise to Santorini including breakfast and dinner with entertainment on board.
(Minimum participation 25 persons)
Congress Tours
Tour Code |
Date |
Cost |
HDKN |
17/6/2008 - 19/6/2008 |
60€ |
HDSP |
16/6/2008 |
50€ |
FDFO |
17/6/2008 |
60€ |
FDZA |
18/6/2008 |
50€ |
FDSA |
16/6/2008 - 18/6/2008 - 20/6/2008 |
95€ |