Travel, Meals & Accommodations
Air
You will have to make your own travel arrangements for travel to and from Greece. For those flying from North America you will have to change flights in Europe. Check the internet for special offers of Air Canada and KLM/Northwest and British Airways. Often, London is a good place to change planes. You can take a cheap flight to London and then take an Easyjet flight to Athens. To book flights on the latter, you must visit their websites directly, because they don not sell tickets through travel agents.
Ship
For those of you coming from Italy it is best to take the boat from Ancona (Superfast or Minoan) to Igoumenitsa or Patras.
Train
The best way to travel from Athens to Thessaly is by train. Buy a ticket at railway station Larissis (in Athens) to Paleapharsala and call me to tell what time you will arrive (tel (##-30-)697-6200539). One of us will pick you up and drive you to our village. Try to travel together as much as possible. We will set up a Kallithea 2012 Facebook site. Participants should plan to arrive at Paleapharsala on Sunday June 3rd. The course will end on Sunday June 24th and all students will leave then.
Travel Documents
You need a valid passport. No visas are necessary. Please make sure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your travels.
Purchase an adequate travel insurance.
Health care
You will be asked to provide information about any medical conditions when you register. You will also be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival in Greece. Good health care is available in Pharsala and Larissa. The private hospitals are very expensive. Check your health care coverage to see if additional insurance is required. In general, some extra coverage is strongly recommended as provincial plans are unlikely to be adequate. Bring some basic medications: tylenol, advil, bandaid, sunblock etc. If possible bring a mosquito net too. Shots are not essential for travel in Greece. However an up to date tetanus shot is mandatory for our fieldwork season.
In Thessaly tap water is safe to drink.
Money
The local currency is the Euro, worth about $1.60 Canadian. It is of course possible to purchase Euros in Canada, but you are not allowed to bring too much currency into the country. It is easier to use your card (credit or debit) at an ATM, available in all larger towns in Greece. The best ones to use are: Ethniki Trapeza (National bank of Greece) or Emporiki Trapeza. Do NOT bring Traveller’s Cheques; it will take forever to exchange them for cash. A money belt or neck pouch for your money and travel documents is highly recommended.
Accomodation
Narthaki is a small but very hospitable village. The mayor of Pharsala, under which Narthaki resides, has offered us the local schools and the building of the soccer team. The school has three large rooms, two of which will be used as dormitories. There are showers and washrooms. We have also rented a house in the village, which will be used as headquarters.
Living conditions will be reasonable but certainly not luxurious. We will have hot water, but be prepared to sleep on mattresses on army bunk beds! You will be asked to help out with chores, such as preparing lunch, cleaning up and assist with shopping. We will have dinner at the local Taverna in Narthaki where Ms. Evanggelia will make us a nutritious meal consisting of tradtional Greek food such as chicken with cinnamon, organically grown vegetables, lentil soup and so on. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by Ms. Eleni, the local baker. You will have to do your own laundry by hand.
The village has two taverna’s a kafeneion, a bakery and one convenience store. You will be able to visit Pharsala once a week to do some shopping. Wireless internet is available in the village.
Meals
Breakfast, coffee fruit and snacks will have to be carried uphill every morning. Bring your own mugs and bring your water. Lunch will be served at the headquarters. We will enjoy dinner at the local taverna. If you have any dietary needs, inform Margriet Haagsma as soon as possible. Meals will be provided from Monday through Saturday. Sunday’s food has to be purchased from the local taverna or at the location where we will end up with our fieldtrip.
Warnings