Second Bulletin
Please find below the information about transportation, registration, accommodation,weather, money exchange and more.Location
The Workshop will be held in the Novgorod region in the "Valdai" resort , about 400 km north from Moscow. The Valdai resort is located 140 km from Novgorod and 18 km from the city of Valday in a picturesque part, also called "mermaid mountain" on the lake Uzhin (Dinner) . We expect that participants will arrive to Valday on February 1, 2015 and will leave on February 8, 2015.
Arriving
The common way to reach Valdai is via Moscow. There is one train from Moscow (from Leningradskii train station in Moscow) to Valdai number N10A, "Moscow-Pskov", to departure for Pskov on February 1, 18:30. The travel time is ~6h40min. The tickets should be from Moscow to Valdai! One way ticket price is ~1250 Russian rubles (~20 euros) for reserved seat and ~1600 Russian rubles (~25 euros) for a place in compartment. It is recommended to buy electron tickets in advance on the web page of the Russian railway company. Leningradskii railway station can be reached in Moscow by underground metro train, it is at Komsomolskaya stop. At the Valdai buses of the "Valdai" resort will be waiting for the group of participants upon arrival of this train approximately at 1:10 and transport them to the "Valdai" resort (18 km from the railway station). Back tickets can be purchased on the train N10ch, "Pskov-Moscow", on February 8, 0:06. Return tickets should be from Valdai to Moscow.
Another way to get the "Valdai" resort is to take a high-speed train SAPSAN to the railway station Bologoe or Okulovka. It is recommended to buy electron tickets in advance on the web page of the Russian railway company. The SAPSAN train departs again from the Leningradskii railway Station in Moscow. Three SAPSAN trains stop at the station Bologoe (80 km from Valday resort). One train stops at Okulovka (18km from Valday resort) railway station. Travel time to Bologoe station is ~2h15min. The one way ticket price is ~2200 Russian rubles (~35 euros). There are many other trains go to the Bologoe and Okulovka stations from Moscow. The way in such trains will take twice more time than by SAPSAN train. If you need to book a transfer from the railway station Bologoe or Okulovka to Valday resort, please send a mail to Organizing Committee and point your arrival date and time.
Registration
It is expected that most participants will arrive on Sunday, 1 February, tonight. Conference Registration Desk in the hotel will be open between 18:00 and 22:00 on Sunday, 1 February. Registration will continue in the morning of the Conference Hall on Monday, 2 February. The registration fee will amount to 6000 Russian rubles per participant and 4000 russian rubles for the accompanying person. It covers rent of a conference hall, all local expenses in "Valday" resort (transfer from the Bologoe railway station to the "Valday" resort, coffee breaks), social events. Payment should be done to the Organizing Committee by cash only. No credit cards will be accepted.
Accommodation
Participants will be housed in the resort "Valday" . A limited number of rooms in "Valday" resort will be pre-booked for participants of the Workshop. The cost is 2950 rubles/night for shared double room (full board, double occupation) per participant and 4130 rubles/night (full board, single occupation). Breakfast, lunch and dinner in a buffet style and also an access to the swimming pool are included into the price. Please do NOT book the rooms by yourself, but send an information about your preferences in accommodation to members of Organizing Committee.
Registration Fee
The registration fee will amount to 6000 Russian rubles per participant and 4000 russian rubles for the accompanying person. The registration fee includes: rent of a conference hall, all local expenses in "Valday" resort (transfer from the Bologoe railway station to the "Valday" resort, coffee breaks) and social events. Payment should be done to the Organizing Committee by cash only. No credit cards will be accepted.Russian Visa
If you need Russian visa for participation in the Workshop, please contact Anna Kotova.
Social Program
Weather
Novgorod region has a continental climate. The average temperature at the end of January and beginning of February is -10 to -15 degrees Celsius. Although sudden drops of temperature (till approximately -30 degrees Celsius) could be expected, so we advise you to bring proper warm clothes.Presentations
Projection equipment will be available for computer presentations. Speakers are requested to have USB Flash Drives in PPT/ODF/PDF formats. The official language is English.
Money
Please note that all service (including hotel etc.) in Russia should be paid in Russian rubles only. Currence exchange is available by the cash machine in Valday resort.
Contacts