HELLENIC PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

WATER DIRECTORS MEETING

TIMETABLE

Meeting : 17-18 June(until 13:00)

VENUE

Hilton Hotel, Athens

46 VassilissisSofias Ave.

(see map below)

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to and from the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, which lies 27km (16m) east of Athens, is provided by buses and taxis.

There is a regular bus connection (every twenty to thirty minutes) between the airport and the centre of Athens. This is the E95 express, which terminates at Amalias Ave, Syntagma Square. The trip lasts approximately one hour and it costs €2.90. For Timetables Consult

As for taxis, if you do not travel early in the morning, be prepared for long traffic jams along the main roads and fees around the region of €20-25.

IN-CITY TRANSPORTATION

Metro “Syntagma” station (5 min walk)

ACCOMMODATION

For their convenience, participants are advised to be accommodated in central Athenian Hotels (find below an indicative list). Hotel rooms may be booked either directly by the participants, or throughour Travel Agency,Petrides Tours, by filliing in the Registration Form.

Petrides Tours

Florence Petridou

Tel.: +30 210 6080217

Fax.: +30 210 6007445

e-mail:

REGISTRATION

The Meeting will be attended by the Water Directors of the European Union.Those interested to participate, should fill the appropriate Registration Form and send a copy to the Hellenic Presidency Bureau as below:

Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works,

Hellenic Presidency Bureau

C∕o Mara Papathanasiou, Elina Paliou

Tel.: +30 210 64 69 738

+30 210 64 69 479

Fax: +30 210 64 68 338

E-mail:

LIST OF HOTELS

(prices only by Petrides Tours)

Divani Palace Acropolis (150€)

19-25 Parthenonos str., 117 42 Makrigiani, Athens

tel: +30 210 9280100

fax: +30 210 9214993

e-mail:

Olympic Palace Hotel (78€)

16 Fillellinon str., 10557 Athens

Tel: +30 210 3237611/15

Fax: +30 210 3225583

e-mail:

Park Hotel, Athens (130€)

10 Alexandras Ave.,

106 82, Athens

tel.: +30 210 8894500

fax.: +30 210 8238420

Parthenon Hotel (90€)

6 Makri str., 11742 Athens

Tel: +30 210 9234594-8

Fax: +30 210 9235797

e-mail:

President Hotel (60€)

43 Kifissias Ave., 115 23, Athens

tel: +30 210 6989000

fax: +30 210 6924900

e-mail:

Royal Olympic Hotel (111€)

28 – 34 Ath.Diakou str., 11743,Athens

Tel: +30 210 9226411

Fax: +30 210 9233317

e-mail:

Titania Hotel (100€)

52 Panepistimiou str., 10678, Athens

tel: +30 210 3300111

fax: +30 210 3300700

e-mail:

Athens Gate Hotel

10, Syngrou Ave., 11742, Athens

tel: + 30 210 9238302-4

CULTURAL EVENT – EXCURSION

(17 June 2003)

This will feature a cruise to the Argosaronic gulf. The Argosaronic Gulf is in reality the combination of the Saronic and the Argolid gulfs. The gulf Ranges from Pireas (Athens main port) along the coast of the Peloponnese and down around the argoid peninsula. Being the main sea route into places such as Argos, Athens, Corinth, Epidauros, and Mycenae this gulf has played a significant role in the trading prosperity of Greece. The gulf at one point (most likely shortly after the last ice age) was a mountainous land bridge connecting attica to the Argoid peninsula. However, the waters came back in, covering over most of the mountains until only the peeks remained forming lush islands in the middle of blue water.

For further information about the city of Athens and its surroundings consult the web sites:


Information about the city of Athens

Athens is an important part of ancient Greek history, having set the basis for the past two millenniums in European art and culture. It holds returns of various eras that created the picture of the modern world we see today, penetrating the streets and houses and merging with the echoes of the past.

Places to visit in Athens are the Parthenon, on top of the Acropolis Hill, Lycabetus Hill, the various museums, the National Garden, Plaka district with the traditional market Monastiraki, the Panathinaikon Stadium and many other interesting sites, scattered around the districts or hidden in the busy streets of Athens.

The prefecture of Attica has so many more interesting places holding a special spot on the Greek history, and in particular on the ancient periods. A tour around the prefecture will bring you close to mythical places, such as Marathon, where the famous battle took place and where you can find a very interesting museum, Sounion where you can admire the Temple of Poseidon (5th century BC) and remind yourself of the tragic tale of the returning of Theseus and the temples of Dimitra and Artemis in Elefssina and Vravrona.