SPT2004 - Fourth circular (April 2004) Dear Participants to SPT2004, this circular is mainly concerned with the transfer from your entry point in Sardinia to Cala Gonone. [If you travel by your own car and have the possibility of taking along some other participants, please let us know.] There is also some info concerning practicalities for talks delivering, copies, and computer facilities. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TALKS and COPY and FACILITIES As those who have already been in Palmasera know, the ONLY way to deliver talks is by use of OHP. Thus, no fancy technology (powerpoint and the like), no classical and beautiful blackboard; only slides. You should better have your slides already prepared, as making copies requires to go to the Dorgali center (10 km), and no printer is available. For the same reason, it might be nice to trake along some copies of your papers to be given to other participants. For what concerns printing and computer facilities in general, there is a computer/internet shop in Cala Gonone (this means a short and easy walk from the hotel) but not inside the hotel. If you take along your laptop, you can connect through the telephone line. If you are from abroad, however, this requires either an international phone call to reach your provider, or that you have an account with an italian provider -- which may be tricky to open if you do not have an italian tax code (basically before nowadays they want to make sure you exist before giving access to the net, for security reasons). All in all, it might be very relaxing to stay one week without e-mail and computer. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AIRPORT (or PORT) -- HOTEL TRANSFER As in previous years, we will organize a service to this effect, which should result cheaper than the one you might have access to on an individual basis or through the hotel. There are several points we would like to call your attention to in this respect: (1) Standard entry points are Olbia (port or airport), Alghero (airport), Cagliari (port or airport). Olbia is definitely the most convenient one as far as transfer is concerned; of course, flights to Alghero or Cagliari could turn out to be cheaper. (2) Transfer service is possible at any time, but in case you arrive late and prefer to sleep in, say, Olbia we have posted telephone numbers and (not updated) prices of hotels in the SPT2004 info page. (3) You are in no way bound to use our service: please feel free to arrange your own transfer (also via the hotel), albeit this will be most probably more expensive, or see the point below. (4) You might as well use public transportation; this is not always fast, but definitely reliable. We have also posted bus schedule on our web site. At the moment these refer to last year, but at the end of April we will receive and post the new schedules. Let us now come to the service we offer (5) We can offer help only if you arrive not earlier than May 30 and leave not later than June 7. At earlier (or later) times, we suggest you ask the hotel to arrange the transfer for you, or just take a taxi/bus from the airport (in both cases the fares will be higher than those we offer). (6) Taxi/minibus fares are also posted on our web site. Transfer costs are in any case entirely to your charge. (7) We will try to satisfy as much as possible your requirements concerning type of transportation, and to keep you waiting in the airport (or port, or bus station) as little as possible. However, please consider that we have to blend together the requirements of many people, so that e.g. there could be not enough people to share a minibus at your arrival time, or there could be to wait for the arrival of another participant. (8) Organizing the transfer, with many participants arriving basically in two days, is a difficult exercise for us and for the taxi drivers (consider there are quite more than 100 km between Olbia and Cala Gonone, and they are a small group of people); thus we are forced to have a STRICT DEADLINE: MAY 10 to require we provide the transfer service for you. After this date, no new taxi/bus will be organized; you might still use free seats, if any, in those we organize, but this is not probable as we will try to have cars running full to minimize the cost for participants. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A form is or will soon be available through our web site to require the transfer service. Please fill it (even if you have already communicated your flight details, using the form will make sure we won't loose your data) by MAY 10. We expect the arrangements will be made by MAY 20; they will then be posted on the web (not communicated individually: sorry, but last few days before the conference are always an hectic time). Please make sure you have the details of your transfer with you when you arrive ! Looking forward to seeing you in Cala Gonone Giuseppe Gaeta