Social Events

1 - Sunday, May 28, 2000, Welcome cocktail

2 - Monday, May 29, 2000, Afternoon guided tour of the old part of Nicosia

A visit is planned to the old part of Nicosia. This is surrounded by a Venetian Wall with many bastions. Within the wall numerous narrow streets beg to be explored with many shops, market places, churches taverns and picturesque houses. A visit to the Archaeological Museum will also be attempted if time permits. Souvlaki (local dinner) will be enjoyed out in the open.

3 - Tuesday, May 30, 2000, Gala Dinner (20:30 - 23:30) Dress informal

4 - Thursday, June 1, 2000, Afternoon guided tour to Troodos

Contact the official travel agent of the conference.

          The impressive Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus, offering cool sanctuary and idyllic hours spent in long walks in its scented pine forests in summer and winter sports and skiing in winter. Here are the many famous mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries and churches on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and picturesque mountain villages clinging to terraced hill slopes.

The area has been known since ancient times for its mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline.

Nine Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains are included in the official UNESCO list of cultural treasures of the World's heritage: Stavros tou Ayiasmatos, Panayia tou Araka, Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri, Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Panayia Podithou, Assinou, Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis, Panayia tou Moutoula, and Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas.

5 - Thursday, June 1, 2000, Day Trip to Kourion and Pafos

Contact the official travel agent of the conference.

Some miles out of Limassol is the ancient city of Kourion in a beautiful setting with a Graeco-Roman theatre and magnificent mosaics. Pafos, in the southwest of the island, holds many treasures. Pafos focuses around an attractive little harbour. It nestles in the foot of the Troodos Mountains which adds to the beauty of the area. Pafos combines modern charms with history. The area, which was once the ancient capital of the island, is entwined with Greek mythology and the legendary birth of Aphrodite on her shores. Sites associated with this are the chunky rocks of her birthplace known as the Aphrodite Rocks, sanctuaries, the Baths of Aphrodite at Polis and the Fountain of Love or Fontana Amorosa at the Akamas peninsula. Fresh fish will be waiting for us at a seaside restaurant.

6 - Cruises to the Holyland and Egypt

Short 2-3 day cruises are offered. Contact the official travel agent of the conference.