TREND 2 nd Year Meeting at University of Thessaly, Dept. of Computer and Communications Engineering, Greece

Transcription

1 TREND 2 nd Year Meeting at University of Thessaly, Dept. of Computer and Communications Engineering, Greece The next TREND 2 nd Year Meeting will be held in Volos, Greece, at the University of Thessaly, Dept. of Computer and Communications Engineering, October 1 & 5 th, Before the meeting a working session event will take place. This is arranged for Monday and Tuesday 1 & 2 Oct The general structure of the meeting is as follows: 1-2 October 2012: Working Session seminar 3-4 October: Plenary Meeting (discussion on the results and NoE administration) 5 October: Wrap-up session on topics discussed WiFi Access is available for the meeting Location: Tsalapatas Rooftile and BrickWorks Museum (University of Thessaly premises) Address: Tsalapata Museum, Gianitson & Lachana, 38334, Volos, Greece 1 P a g e

2 Monday, Tuesday 1, 2 Oct Dagstuhl-like seminar Rooms: Vocational Training Center Rooms of University of Thessaly Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 3, 4, 5 Oct TREND MEETING Room: Multi-purpose Hall of Tsalapata Museum 2 P a g e

3 The University of Thessaly (UTH) The University of Thessaly is a new and dynamic Institution of Higher Education. Its ultimate goal is the promotion of Knowledge through teaching and research, as well as the general contribution to the cultural and economic development of the society. The envisioned development is expected to occur by creating a learning environment which will be steadily fostering and promoting the critical thinking, the innovation, the unhampered creation and exchange of ideas and the faith in democratic ideas. The University of Thessaly has followed a rapidly ascent path within less of 25-year span and nowdays enjoys a highly rated position in the Greek and international map of the scientific research, even in comparison with the Greek Universities which are much older, and also with many European ones which are now approaching the last years of their first millennium of presence in the academic world. The constant support of research and educational projects as well as the international recognition of this relatively new and regional University are some of the major priorities of the present Rectorate. The University of Thessaly, with the continuous scientific interaction, the researcher s mobility, the cross-fertilization among the different disciplines and fields and the interaction with the local society, promotes in a promising way culture and science in the region of Thessaly and in the whole country. In our website you may find an overview of the University s historical development, as well as of its academic, institutional and administrative structure and function. However as rich as a website can be, it could never fully describe the present true picture of our University. I therefore invite you to visit University of Thessaly and meet us all. The Rector of the University of Thessaly Professor Konstantinos Gourgoulianis How to get to Volos, Greece The city of Volos is in the heart of Greece. Almost equal distance from Athens and Thessaloniki. If you can not find direct flights to Volos we suggest to fly to Athens and spend 1-2 days for site seeing 3 P a g e

4 The fastest way to come to Volos is to fly to Greece to either Athens or Thessaloniki and then get public transportation from there to Volos. Volos is indicated on the map above. Thessaloniki is 100Km closer to Volos than Athens. Volos by Car Volos is just 2.30 hours from Thessaloniki (around 216Km) by car and 80% of the Highway is superb. Only 40Km are a bit tiring because the road is not broad enough to easily overtake large trucks so you have to be patient there. The route is flat - you won't climb any mountains - and a modern car will not consume more than 40 of Gas (single way). There are several tolls that will cost around 15 (single way). You won't be need any special directions, just follow the Highway initially to Thessaloniki; after you reach Thessaloniki follow the highway to Athens and get off the highway at the exit "Velestino/Volos". It will bring you directly to the city center. Flights directly to Volos There are Ryanair flights connecting Volos directly to Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels and Berlin that may simplify travel, there are only few dates per week though. Please check to find a proper flight for you. Flights to Athens and then use public transportation to Volos Athens flights are convenient. It is more or less the same process with Thessaloniki except that both (in-city and intercity) bus rides will take longer and the Taxi service costs around 50. Both Taxi and city bus station are outside the airport arrivals building. Just follow the signs. The city bus number you will have to take is X93. The ticket costs 5 and you can purchase it at the airport bus station kiosk. Below you can find the iterinary for you reference You should get off the bus at the station ST.YPERA/KON LEOF. LIOSION This is the 9th station after the airport and is depicted below. You get off the bus at the main bidirectional street "Liosion" and find Gousiou "Γουσιου" road to reach the station. It is an 80m walk to the intercity bus station. Note, this is not the terminal bus station so beware to get off appropriately. Moreover, the intercity bus station is not located at a "good" neighbourhood. Thus, if you arrive late at night, take a cab from the airport and don't risk the walk. 4 P a g e

5 In the Athens Intercity Bus Station When you enter the bus station go to the main building, and look for "Volos" sign or "Magnisias". In Greek it is "Βόλος" and "Μαγνησίας". The bus schedule for Volos-Athens and Athens-Volos is everyday of the week: DEPARTURE from Volos 04:45, 07:00, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00, 21:00 DEPARTURE from Athens 07:00, 09:00 10:30, 12:00 13:30, 15:00 16:30, 18:00 20:00, 22:00 After you purchase your ticket, return to the bus parking lot which is just outside the building. The busses to Volos leave from the very first lane that is in front of the building. This lane is used for other destinations so make sure to check the front windscreen of the bus; it has a mini electronic board that will read "Volos". Typical total trip duration is 4:30 hours at most and this includes a 20 minute bus stop in the middle of the trip. You'd better choose the express routes which do not go through some stops in the middle of the trip to gain some time. The express routes are as follows: EXPRESS ROUTES FROM VOLOS TO ATHENS AT 04:45, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00 & 18:00 EXPRESS ROUTES FROM ATHENS TO VOLOS AT 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 & 20:00 In general, you will find tickets (~30Eu) for the bus especially if you arrive at the station half an hour before departure, but they have also a pilot online system for reservations which does not require a credit card. This is only in Greek, thus a translation will be provided to make a reservation. Still, even if you reserve a ticket, you have to arrive thirty minutes before departure to purchase it, or your reservation will be cancelled. The system is here also reachable via P a g e

6 The GUI is as follows: On the top, select the date. On the first column, you have to select Departure station, on the second column you select Destination station and on the third column you have to select the Departure time. So "ΑΘΗΝΑ" (Athens) and "ΒΟΛΟΣ" (Volos) is what you should select. On the 3 fields on the right, you have to put your Name and Surname on the first box, you on the second and your mobile phone number on the third. You finally press the button. Hopefully, an will be sent to you for confirmation but do not take it for granted! It is a pilot program. If an does not arrive they still have the reservation. The reverse process should be followed for the return. BIG FAT NOTE: While departure timetables are always followed exactly, arrivals (especially in city transportation) are subject to the city center traffic. Bottomline, do not count on exact arrival times and plan your trip with some reasonable (like half an hour) slack between arrival and departures. Also, don t count on catching the last intercity bus to Volos. Even if you don't find a ticket for a current ride to Volos, there is always a next one except if this is the last bus. KTEL ticket reservation is a fuzzy process, so beware Flights to Thessaloniki and then use public transportation to Volos If you find convenient flights, this is your best choice, especially if you want to leave Greece on Friday 8 June and be at your home at night. Thessaloniki airport is not a big one and does not have many options. If you are lucky enough to find a convenient flight this is what you need to do to reach Volos: Outside Makedonia airport there is a city bus stop. Follow the airport signs to that stop. The city bus you will have to take is 78 or 78A: 6 P a g e

7 Typically you can get a ticket at a kiosk (like the one depicted below) that should be outside the airport near the bus station. It is also possible to get a ticket on the bus; they have ticket machines on board. Standard tickets cost 0.8 (0.9 if issued by the in-bus ticket machines). This bus line ends up at the intercity bus station building called K.T.E.L. (which looks like a dome, So you don't have to mind which station you have to get off at, you just get off at the end of the line! Buses run every hour from in the morning until 22:00, which is when the last bus departs from the airport (the same goes for the opposite direction when you return). The trip duration to the bus station heavily depends on the traffic, but it will not exceed one hour (a worst case scenario). Another way to get to the intercity bus station is by taking a taxi from the airport. It will cost around 30 (or more) and it may buy you some time. Tell the driver that you need to get to the "K-T-E-L" bus station. Most drivers understand this in case they don't speak English. In the Thessaloniki Intercity Bus station ( When you enter "the dome" bus station (see below), look for "Volos" sign or "Magnisias". In Greek, it is "Βόλος" and "Μαγνησίας". Typically, the Intercity Bus is parked under the sign and in front of the bus there is the ticket kiosk. The bus schedule for Volos-Thessaloniki and Thessaloniki-Volos is (everyday and weekends: 7 P a g e

8 DEPARTURE from Volos 05:45, 08:00 10:15, 12:15 14:15, 16:15 18:15, 20:30 DEPARTURE from Thessaloniki 08:15, 11:00 13:15, 15:15 17:15, 19:15 21:15, 23:00 The trip is 3 hours approx. and includes a 20 minute stop in the middle. In general, you will find tickets (18.40 ) for the bus especially if you arrive at the station half an hour before departure, but they have a pilot online system for reservations, which does not require a credit card, it is only in Greek thus a translation is provided to make a reservation. Still, even if you reserve a ticket, you have to arrive thirty minutes before departure to purchase it, or your reservation will be cancelled. The system is here also reachable via The GUI is as follows: On top, select the date. On the first column on the left, you have to select Departure station, on the second column you select Destination station and on the third column you have to select the Departure time. So "ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ" (Thessaloniki) and "ΒΟΛΟΣ" (Volos) is what you should select. On the three fields on the right, you have to put your Name and Surname in the first box, your on the second and your mobile phone number on the third. You finally press the button. Hopefully, an will be sent to you for confirmation but do not take it for granted! It is a pilot program. If an does not arrive they still have the reservation. The reverse process should be followed for the return. 8 P a g e

9 BIG FAT NOTE: While departure timetables are always followed exactly, arrivals (especially in city transportation) are subject to the city center traffic. Bottomline, do not count on exact arrival times and plan your trip with some reasonable (like half an hour) slack between arrival and subsequent departures. Also don t count on catching the last intercity bus to Volos. Even if you don't find a ticket for a current ride to Volos, there is always a next one except if this is the last bus. KTEL ticket reservation is a fuzzy process so beware. Accommodation options Below there is list of hotels that are a few minutes walk from there. The order in which hotels are presented is based on location and quality A/A Hotel Stars Location Telephone/Fax URL/ Indicative rate per night 1 Hotel Kipseli 3* Located next to Volos Beach Address: Agiou Nikolaou 1 Str. Tel: Fax: info@hotelkipseli.gr 70 2 Hotel Nefeli 3* Located in the centre of Volos, 5 minutes from the beach Address: Koumoundourou 10 Str. Tel: Fax: info@nefelivolos.gr Park Hotel 4* Located in the heart of the city of Volos, next to the municipal park Address: Deligiorgi 2 Str. Tel: Fax: amparkv@otenet.gr The general hotel area you should choose is the Volos port depicted below (from 9 P a g e

10 Hotel Kypseli is a good choice with nice view (the price below is for 2 nights): Hotel Nefeli is probably the nearest to our premises cheap and decent but it is in the city center not the port (price for 2 nights): 10 P a g e

11 Park Hotel is an option that is also in the port, less expensive than Hotel Kypseli but a few more minutes walk from CERTH premises (price for 2 nights): All these hotels have wifi and are usually our visitors' choice. There are a few other options in this area which you can consider (see but be careful because some do not have free wifi and others do not have wifi at all. About Volos The city of Volos combines beautiful sea and mountainous areas. The city is famous from the Greek Mythology. The area that the city of Volos is situated was the ancient region of Magnesia, one of the oldest populated corners of the Ancient Helladic land. The first known pre-historic settlements go back to the 7th millennium BC. 11 P a g e

12 MYTHOLOGY The ancient region of Magnesia is the host of some of the most characteristic pages of Greek mythology. It was named after Magnus, the son of the king of wind, Aiolos, who was settled in Pelion. The mountain was the home of the Centaurs, half-human, half-horse looking beasts, which were born from the elegiac union of Ixion and Nefele (Nebula). A famous Centaur was Chiron, who was instrumental in the marriage between Peleus and Thetis. During the wedding ceremony, due to a dispute over the 'Apple of Eris', the Trojan War began. Asclepius, the God of Medicine, as well as Achilles, the hero of Trojan War, were both students of the wise Centaur Chiron. The Argonaut expedition started also from Magnesia. Please find more information here ( Below you can find a complete city-guide for Volos: 12 P a g e