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SpC 12: Go Go bio-gadget Dear Participant, The Local BEST Group of Thessaloniki would like to welcome you in our city and the Aristotle University! We will do our BEST to make you feel comfortable and spend 10 crazy days together with other European Students and our awesome Organisers. =) Here is your Survival Guide. In the following pages you will find everything you need! Don t forget to read it carefully and even print it and take it with you. We are looking forward to your coming here! The (dis)organizing Team 1. How to reach us a. By plain b. By train c. By bus d. By car e. Hitchhiking 2. What to bring 3. The Course a. The topic b. The Main Organizer c. Logistics 4. More about a. LBG Thessaloniki b. Greece and Thessaloniki c. Money and prices 5. Some basic Vocabulary 2
1. How to reach us By plain The International Airport of Macedonia is located 12 Km away from Thessaloniki and has connections with most of the major European cities. In case you take a flight to Athens, you have to catch an internal correspondence flight or take a train to Thessaloniki (see below). Connections from the airport to the center of Thessaloniki: Wait for one of the BEST members to pick you up =) Take the bus number 78. Buses depart every 30 and the trip lasts approximately 30. The ticket costs 0.80. We strongly advise you not to take a taxi. It usually costs around 13 Euros. But if you insist, there are many available at the airport. Tip: Ryanair and EasyJet fly to Macedonia Airport of Thessaloniki from several cities. By train ALL INTERNATIONAL TRAINS TO AND FROM GREECE ARE CANCELLED!!! National Trains: There 11 trains departing from Athens to Thessaloniki every day and the trip lasts 5h. The price is 19 (student) For more information check: http://trainose.gr/ Tip: There are offers if you book your ticket online and on time (starting from 9). Check: http://tickets.trainose.gr/dromologia/# How to reach the center: From the bus and train station you can easily reach the city center using public transportation (bus). There are several buses going to the center (No 2, 10,11, 14, 17), just pick one and go out at the bus stop Kamara. 3
By bus Thessaloniki has bus connections with all neighbouring countries and countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey etc. There are no major companies though coming to Thessaloniki, thus you have to search on Local Travel Agencies of your country. You can also check www.eurolines.com. For the timetable of buses inside Greece (i.e. Athens -Thessaloniki) check: http://www.ktelthes.gr/ To reach the city centre from the bus station you can use public transportation (bus) but it depends where you are coming from, there are several bus stations. In any case you need to reach bus station Kamara. By car If you have a great spirit of adventure, you can always come by car. Road networks in neighbouring countries are not always good, though. You will also have the opportunity to drive among the (famous) worst drivers of Europe the Greek drivers! Hitchhiking It is not so common in Greece but still you will not find it very difficult to get a lift. For more information check: http://hitchwiki.org/en/main_page Tip: You never know how long it will take you to arrive here hitchhiking so you d better start your trip a few days in advance and be prepared to stay in another city if needed. ;) 4
2. What to bring Yourself =) ID card/ passport Student s ID card (ISIC preferably) Travel insurance Medical assistance documents Some typical food and drinks from your country for the International Evening Typical clothes, recipes and songs from your country The flag of your country A sleeping bag Towels, Soap and deodorant ^_^ Some Greek currency (EURO) for extra expenditures (Food, accommodation and transportation will be covered by us) Some formal clothes for the opening session (no need for bow-ties or evening dresses) Photo camera Musical Instruments and any stuff you can use to entertain people! This Survival Guide (you know, the one you are reading now. :)) A big smile with a lot of BEST spirit and don t forget the present for the organicers!!! Tip: Want some help to pack everything in your bag? Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ulxhsgd58 5
3. The Course The topic: Go Go bio-gadget: a biomedical Adventure A Spring course on Biomedical Engineering, organized by BEST Thessaloniki!!! Dates: 27 th March - 5 th April 27 th is Arrival Day and 5 th is Departure Day For more information check out the website www.best.eu.org/thessaloniki/spc12 The main Organizer: Dimitris Karanassos Nickname: KaranACE or ACE Mobile: 0030 6977560829 Email: dkaranassos@gmail.com Yup, you are supposed to bother him for anything you need. ;) Logistics Accomodation: Hostel near the University campus which is in the city center Meals: Breakfast will be served in the Hostel, Lunch and Dinner will be served in the students canteen. Fee: amount of 40 will be requested for your participation in the Course. Depending on your country of origin, this fee is being reduced. You are advised to take along some pocket money for any extra expenses (drinks, suvenirs, stamps, etc) 6
4. Some more info LBG Thessaloniki aka Sexaloniki or Thessalokinky Organizing awesome events since 1999 Crew: 30 crazy members Board: 6 unique people The almost finished Mascot: A humanoid cell called Sickness (Greek:Αρρώστια/Arrostia) Mail: Thessaloniki@BEST.eu.org Site: www.best.eu.org/thessaloniki The board: The Almost Finished Dimitris Kosmidis Maria Sakkou Sophie Papakonstantinou President Secretary Treasurer Angelina Bintoudi Mike Daltzis Katerina Boutsiadou Human Resources (HR) Coordinator Fundraising (FR) Coordinator Public Relations (PR) Coordinator 7
Greece Name in Greek: Ελλάδα (Εllada) Capital: Athens Population: 11,305,118 (2011) Area: 131,990 km2 Language: Greek Curency: Euro Religion: Eastern Orthodox Thessaloniki Population: 1,006,730 The second biggest city in Greece, located in the North of the country. Landmark: The White Tower Traditional drinks: Frappe Coffee, Ouzo, Retsina Traditional food: Mpougatsa, Giros, Musaka Moto: Halara 8
Money and Prices The estimated prices for certain articles are: 1L milk: 1.20 1 bottle of water (0.5L): 0.50 1 bread roll: 0.60 1 coffee: 3.00 1 chocolate bar: 1.00 1 beer: 1.00 (supermarket/kiosk), 4.00 (bar) 1 long drink: 7 1 meal: 2.70 (fast food/ giros)- 7.00 (restaurant) Cinema: 9.00 A pack of cigarettes(20)between 2.50-4.00 25gr of tobacco 4 EU Stamp 0.60 A pack of (3) condoms between 2.50 and 3.50 Buses - Tickets Ticket One route Two routes (90mins)_ 24h Price from kiosk 0.80 0.90 4.00 Price on the bus 0.90 1.00 4.00 Taxis Item Price (Euro) Meter Starts 1.19 Per Km (Day) 0.68 Per Km (night) 1.19 To/From Airport 3.16 To/From Port/Train Station 1.07 Per piece of luggage 0.40 Tip: We advice you NOT to take the taxi from the Airport as it will charge you alot. There is a bus going there and away all night long (No 78). 9
Some basic Vocabulary How to read it: g as w ool, h as h ome, d as th e Hi! How are you? My name is... What s your name? I m glad to meet you! Goodmorning! Good afternoon! Goodnight, see you tomorrow! See you later. Bye! Yes No Thanks! You are welcome How much is it? Too much! Do you speak English? Sorry I don t speak Greek! I don t understand Bus/Train I would like a ticket Is this bus for? University To avoid stupid guys on the street Go to hell! To approach a girl/boy You are very beautiful/handsome You have beautiful eyes I want to kiss you I love you! Advanced approaching techniques... I m a strawberry, Eat me! I want to show you my butterflies collection... I want have sex with you, NOW! Già su! Ti kànis? Me léne... Pos se léne? Hàrika pu se gnόrisa! Kaliméra! Kalispéra! Kalinίhta, ta léme àvrio! Ta léme argόtera. Già su! Ne Ohi Efharistό! Parakalό Pόso kàni? Fotià ίse! Milàs aglikà? Signόmi,den milào elinikà! Den katalavéno Leoforίo / Tréno Tha ίthela éna isitίrio Aftό to leoforίo pài Panepistίmio Άi sto diàolo! ίse polί όmorfi / όmorfos Έheis oréa màtia Thélo na se filίso Sagapό ίme mίa fraulίtsa,fàe me! Thélo na su dίkso ti silogί mu me tis petalùdes Thélo na to kànume, TΌRA! And the 3 most important words: Halara, Malaka, Partuza (come to Greece to find out the meaning) 10
WE ARE waiting for you 11