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Central
Europe &
the Mediterranean
Central
European University
Budapest,
Hungary
May 28-31, 2003
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Sponsored by:
Mediterranean Studies Association
Central European University
University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth
Arizona State University
University of Kansas
 The
Mediterranean Studies Association's 6th annual International Congress,
"Central Europe and the Mediterranean" will be held on May 28-31,
2003 at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Papers and
sessions on all subjects relating to the Mediterranean region and Mediterranean
cultures around the world from all periods are encouraged. Following a
half-day optional excursion to the Angevin-Renaissance castle of Visegrad,
the congress will open with a plenary session and reception on the evening
of May 28. Over the course of the next days over 150 scholarly papers
will be delivered before an international audience of about 250 scholars,
academics, and experts in a wide range of fields. Held in the center of
Budapest at the
Central European University,
the official language of the congress is English. In addition, complete
sessions in any Mediterranean language are welcome. A number of special
events are being planned for congress participants that will highlight
the unique cultural aspects of Budapest. The congress is sponsored by
the Mediterranean Studies Association, the Central European University,
the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Arizona State University, and
the University of Kansas. Selected revised papers will be considered for
publication in the Association's journal, Mediterranean Studies.
1. You must be a member of the Mediterranean Studies
Association for 2003. Dues are $40. Dues for Editorial Board members are
at the reduced rate of $30. If you are not a member for 2003, please pay
your dues as part of the registration process below.
2. Fill out the registration form. Indicate any optional
expenses such as the Wednesday excursion. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Please note if you require audio/visual equipment. You may use the online
form or send in a form.
3. If you wish to use one of the conference hotels, contact
the hotel directly. The number of hotel rooms is limited. You are urged
to book early.
4. If you want to participate in the post-congress tour
to Prague, please see the
information
page. Space is no longer available.
1. REGISTRATION
Registration – Everyone attending
the conference is required to complete an official registration form.
Individuals not presenting a paper or chairing a session may either pre-register
or register on site. All conference participants, however, must pre-register.
THE PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2003. One form is to be filled
out for each person; photocopies are acceptable. Before February 1 the
registration fee is $85, and $40 for a spouse or guest. After February
1 the registration fee is $110, and $40 for a spouse or guest. At the
Congress the registration fee is $135, and $40 for a spouse or guest.
REGISTRATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. (US currency only.)
Registrants must pay in US dollars and are urged to use a US bank
so as to avoid exorbitant bank fees. Registrants who wish to pay
with a check drawn on a foreign bank may do so, but must add $8 to the
total to cover bank fees.
You can pay by credit card. See the registration form for details.
You may register online or print out the form and send
it in. Note: the form to print out requires Adobe Acrobat; to get the
latest version click here:
CLICK HERE for
the online form.
CLICK HERE
for a form you can print out.
2. GETTING TO THE CONGRESS
Transportation
— StellarTours is the official travel partner of the
Mediterranean Studies Association. A division of Stellar Travel Services,
StellarTours is a one-stop, full service company staffed by experienced,
knowledgeable, and friendly consultants ready to take the worry out of
your travel planning by tending to your every travel detail. Specializing
in conference, group, and corporate travel, we will get you, anywhere
in the world you might want to go and usually at a price lower than standard
fare. Whether across the state or around the world, let our professional
and personable consultants get you or your group to your destination.
From negotiating discount rates with vendors to acquiring preferred seating
to arranging special event tickets, we do it all so that you don't have
to. It all starts with a toll free call to Deanna. Let her go to work
for you so that you can relax and enjoy the trip!
1-800-893-8973
1-615-941-1959 - fax
StellarTravel@msn.com
Founded in 1997 by Dr. Phil and Nancy Quinn, Stellar
Travel Services has grown into a multi-million dollar company on the strength
of satisfied customers getting where they want to be when they want to
be there and at the lowest price available. Capable of meeting the travel
needs of anybody going anywhere, we specialize in educational group travel.
Hotels — Special arrangements
have been made with the following hotels for the period May 27-June 1.
You will need to contact the hotels directly. Be sure and identify yourself
as a participant in the MSA Congress using the following code: MSA03.
- Hotel
Taverna **** Váci u. 20, H-1052 Budapest; FAX: +36-1-485-3111;
e-mail: hotel@hoteltaverna.hu;
Single $100; Double $120 (breakfast included). (reservations
must be made by April 15, 2003)
 
 
- CEU Residence and Conference Center
Kerepesi ut 87, H-1106 Budapest; FAX: +36-1-327-3169; e-mail: Ms.
Kati Sellyei; single $36; Double $48 (breakfast included). NOTE:
You must e-mail Ms. Kati Sellyei
<sellyeik@ceu.hu> and identify
yourself as a guest with Professor Janos Bak's conference to get this
rate. The Center is about 30 minutes by public transportation from the
congress site on the CEU campus; see this
map.
Reservations should be made as early as possible.
 
Links to Sites
about Budapest —
Airport Budapest-Ferihegy
(The airport is under reconstruction. Be prepared to have to walk some
distance to customs and luggage retrieval!)
If anyone needs a visa for Hungary (Europeans and North Americans do
not), this has to be arranged before departure: no visas are issued at
the airport.
Transportation to town
(1) Airport Minibus. You can sign up for while waiting for luggage or
after leaving customs. One-way costs about HUF 2100, ca. 8-9 EUR/USD.
If you purchase a return ticket, there is some savings. You state your
destination (they know the hotels and CEU Residence as well) and wait
until a busload comes together. Usually not more than 10-15 minutes.
(2) Tourist Taxi. The dispatcher for these is at the curbside on the
arrival level. Do not take any other cab, but those arranged by the dispatcher.
The fare is set for destinations in the given districts of town and is,
for the entire cab (up to 4 persons) between 5000 and 6000 HUF (ca. 20-25
EUR/USD). Since the way back from town with the same outfit is only ca.
3000 HUF (again a carload), it is quite reasonable.
(3) There is also public transport: blue bus to the terminal of the Metro.
Metro would take you to FERENCIEK TERE station, whence the two hotels
are 3-4 minutes walk. Without luggage this may be quite quick, as it
avoids traffic congestion. Price is minimal, bus 150, metro 150 HUF,
all told less than EUR/USD 2.00. Not practical for CEU Residence.
Money
Payment for all transportation is in HUF. You can change while waiting
for luggage or get money from the ATMs at several points in the airport.
Do not change much at the Airport; their rate is usually not very good.
There are better change-shops in the center city (hotel and CEU Residence
Reception are not advantageous either!) in Váci utca pedestrian
street. Or use ATM, easy to find everywhere, also in the lobby of CEU
Residence.
Security
Budapest is now a “big city.” Watch your purse and belongings.
Public transport
For those staying at the Residence, a 3-day tourist ticket (HUF 1850=ca.USD/EUR
8.00) may make sense. Alas, you can buy that only at the Metro terminal
(say: TURISTAJEGYET KEREK), but for the first bus ride to the Metro
you need a single-ride ticket. You will find one in your welcome package
at the reception if you have registered with CEU Residence in time.
Alternatively, you can buy transfer-tickets at the Metro terminal for
your trips to and from CEU (at least 8 for the 3 1/2 days) called ATSZALLOJEGY
(pronounce: atsallojedj) for HUF 210 (a bit less than 1 EUR/USD) each.
As you see it's about the same, but with the 3-day ticket you have
more “freedom.” Guests of the center city hotels will need
no public transport to get to and from the venues.
3. AT THE CONGRESS
Before the Congress —
Other Conferences and Events in Budapest
- A conference on Verocchio (for the opening of a major Verocchio-show
at the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts) will be held on 26-27 May.
- Two opera performances may be of interest to participants for Thursday
night (at 7 p.m.). In the (old) National Opera House (15-20 minutes
walk from city center/CEU/hotels) Verdi's Il
Trovatore is scheduled; in the staggione (Erkel Szinház,
easy to reach by bus or Metro, ca. 30 minutes from the center, or
10 minutes by
cab)
Don
Pasquale. Saturday
night will be a premier (few tickets) of a new study of Pique Dame and
(in Erkel) L’exilir d’amore, respectively. Program
changes are always possible. Tickets are between HUF 3000 and 7000
(EUR 15-35). The Congress secretariat (palannab@ceu.hu)
would be glad to
order tickets
(to be paid in cash upon arrival), if so requested before April 7.
As details become available, they will be posted here.
Map showing location of hotels, Metro, and CEU:
(1) From Hotel Taverna
Turn right (north) on the pedestrian mall Váci utca, cross two
squares (Vörösmarty tér and József nádor
tér), cross the busy street (József Attila utca) at the
traffic light and continue the same direction for another two blocks:
at the corner of Nádor utca and Zrínyi utca you will see
CEU. Approx. 5 minutes walk.
(2) From City Panzio Mátyás
Turn first right from the hotel, then cross the busy street coming from
the bridge by underpass. You are at the end of Váci utca: continue
north and you’ll reach Hotel Taverna in a few minutes—then
follow directions as above. Max. 12 minutes walk.
NB: in Budapest the Danube flows more or less north to south and gives
you easy orientation. (Bridges, thus, mark the east-west axis.)
(3) From CEU Residence
(The Reception usually has maps and instructions for getting to the university!)
Take any bus going towards town (i. e. going left when you come out the
main entrance). At its terminal (Örs vezér tere), look for
the METRO (red signs) terminal. (Note the place where you got off from
the bus to find it on your way home, when you will ride the Metro from
Deák tér to Örs vezér tere!) Take metro to
the station DEÁK TÉR (ca. 6-7 mins.; on top of the Map!).
Leave the station at the exit nearest to the escalator (ahead). Cross
the park (Erzsébet tér) diagonally (north-east as it were)
and then the busy east-west street at the light. Go (north) two blocks
to Zrinyi-utca (you’ll see the Basilica to your right), turn left
one block to CEU main entrance. All told 30 minutes is a safe estimate,
can be less.
The only external venue (Concert and Friday evening reception) will
be the Palace of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The street on the
(south) side of CEU, Zrinyi-utca, towards the Danube takes you in a minute
to Roosevelt tér (square) and you see the building on your right:
MAGYAR TUDOMÁNYOS AKADÉMIA in golden letters at its tympanon.
The concert will be in the 1st (one up!) floor; wardrobe on the ground
floor; elevator next to the wardrobe to your left. Reception in the Academy
Club, ground floor far left.
Congress Site — Central
European University, Nador u. 9, 1051 Budapest
Central
European University (CEU) is an internationally recognized institution
of post-graduate education in social sciences and humanities. It serves
as an advanced center of research and policy analysis and facilitates
academic dialogue while preparing its graduates to serve as the region's
next generation of leaders and scholars. CEU seeks to contribute to the
development of open societies in Central and Eastern Europe and the former
Soviet Union by promoting a system of education in which ideas are creatively,
critically, and comparatively examined.
For a
virtual tour of CEU, click HERE.
Schedule —
Wednesday, May 28
Optional excursion to the Angevin-Renaissance castle of Visegrad (lunch
in the Royal Palace included).
The bus will leave from Hotel City Panzio Matyas at 9:30 a.m. Hotel Taverna
guests should assemble in lobby at 9:15 a.m. from which we walk over
together (5 mins). From the CEU Residence (leave, to be on the safe side,
by 8:45) take any bus to the Metro terminal and then Metrol ("red
line") to ASTORIA station. Exit towards Hotel Astoria and walk down
(towards the Danube) Kossuth Lajos street to the last corner before the
bridge, turn left, and you'll see the sign of Matyas (max. 10 mins.).
We will arrive back to the same place by ca. 3-3:30 p.m.
5:00 pm Registration, CEU
6:00 pm Opening Session, CEU
7:30 pm Reception hosted by CEU
Thursday, May 29
9:00 - 10:30 am Sessions (1), CEU
10:30 - 10:45 am Coffee break
10:45 - 12:15 pm Sessions (2), CEU
12:15 - 2:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
2:00 - 3:30 pm Sessions (3), CEU
3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee break
3:45 - 5:30 pm Sessions (4), CEU
Friday, May 30
9:00 - 10:30 am Sessions (5), CEU
10:30 - 10:45 am Coffee break
10:45 - 12:15 pm Sessions (6), CEU
12:15 - 2:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
2:00 - 3:30 pm Sessions (7), CEU
3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee break
3:45 - 5:30 pm Sessions (8), CEU
6:00 pm Concert of Brahms and Fauré, Academy of Sciences, sponsored
by Central Michigan University (by ticket only)
7:00 pm Reception, Academy of Sciences, hosted by the MSA, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Arizona State University, University of Kansas
(by ticket only)
Saturday, May 31
9:00 - 10:30 am Sessions (9), CEU
10:30 - 10:45 am Coffee break
10:45 - 12:15 pm Sessions (10), CEU
12:15 - 2:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
2:00 - 3:30 pm Sessions (11), CEU
3:30 - 3:45 pm Coffee break
3:45 - 5:30 pm Sessions (12), CEU
Program
Excursions —
- Optional part-day excursion on Wednesday, May 28 to
the Angevin-Renaissance castle and palace at Visegrad at $50 each
(lunch
in the Royal Palace included); sign up on the registration
form. See photographs below. Visegrad is a sparsely populated,
sleepy riverside village, which makes its history all the more fascinating
and hard to believe. The Romans built a fort here, which was still
standing when Slovak settlers gave the town its present name (meaning "High
Castle") in the 9th or 10th century. After the Mongol invasion
(1241-42), construction began on both the present hilltop citadel
and
the former riverside palace. Eventually, Visegrád could boast
one of the finest royal palaces ever built in Hungary. Only one king,
Charles Robert (1307-42), actually used it as his primary residence,
but monarchs from Béla IV, in the 13th century, through Matthias
Corvinus, in the late 15th century, spent time in Visegrád
and contributed to its development, the latter expanding the palace
into
a great Renaissance center known throughout Europe. We will visit the
citadel, the donjon, and the Angevin-Rennaisance castle with the
newly
reconstructed Hercules fountain by Giovanni di Dalmata. Progress and
problems of excavations and reconstruction will be presented by
the
archaelogists in charge of the works. The bus will leave from Hotel
City Panzio Matyas at 9:30 a.m. Hotel Taverna guests should assemble
in lobby at 9:15 a.m. from which we walk over
together (5 mins). From the CEU Residence (leave, to be on the safe side,
by 8:45) take any bus to the Metro terminal and then Metrol ("red
line") to ASTORIA station. Exit towards Hotel Astoria and walk down
(towards the Danube) Kossuth Lajos street to the last corner before the
bridge, turn left, and you'll see the sign of Matyas (max. 10 mins.).
We will arrive back to the same place by ca. 3-3:30 p.m.
Receptions —
4. AFTER THE CONGRESS
Publications — Participants
are invited to submit their revised papers for consideration for publication
in the Association’s journal, Mediterranean Studies. See Guidelines
for Contributors.
Questions concerning the conference should be
directed to Benjamin F. Taggie, Executive Director, Mediterranean Studies
Association, msa@umassd.edu.
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