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> Helsinki by Sea and visit to Suomenlinna Fortress > Get together for the young and young-minded > Concert and welcome reception in Finlandia Hall > Reception by City of Helsinki > Congress dinner > Free tickets for public transport

Monday, 14 June

15:00 Helsinki by Sea and visit to Suomenlinna Fortress    The tour starts from the city pier (Linnanlaituri) by the Market Square (Kauppatori), opposite the President’s Castle on North Esplanade, Pohjoisesplanadi 1. From Finlandia Hall you can walk to the Market Square (2 km) or take tram nr 4 southward, get off at Ritarihuone stop and turn right at next corner. Please check the map in your congress bag. A few extra attendants for this trip can be accepted at registration.      We embark the archipelago cruiser m/s Emma (SUNLINES) for a two hour tour through the archipelago of Helsinki. An afternoon snack is served on board. The boat then brings us to Suomenlinna Fortress, an 18th century monument of military architecture, constructed on seven islands just off Helsinki. We go for a one hour guided walking tour, ending at 18:00, after which you can strive around on your own or in good company. You can also have dinner in one of the restaurants (e.g. restaurant Panimo, see below). Regular ferry traffic then takes you back to the market place. From there you can walk or take tram nr 4 from Aleksanterinkatu back to your hotel.      At registration you will get a traffic card, valid for public transportation in Helsinki during the whole congress (see below). The card is also valid on the Suomenlinna ferry.

19:00 Get together for the young and young-minded    An informal get together has been arranged in the Suomenlinna Brewery Restaurant, Panimo. Some of you have registered for this occasion but not for the archipelago cruise. If you want to do it this way, you have to go to Suomenlinna on your own. The ferry leaves from the market square every 20 minutes, and the trip takes 15 min. The restaurant is adjacent to the main quay, where the ferry arrives. Reservation has been made for some ex tempore attendants, and you pay on site for what you consume.

Tuesday, 15 June

18:30—21:00 Concert and welcome reception in Finlandia Hall    We enjoy an inspiring hour with Finnish performing arts, a relaxing introduction to classical music, modern dance and innovative jazz. Featuring artists are Minna Pensola, violin, Anna Laakso, piano, Nina Hyvärinen, dance, and Jukka Perko Jazz Quartet. The concert has been sponsored by Mirion Technologies. After the concert a buffet is served on the Piazza.

Wednesday, 16 June

18:30—20:00 Reception by City of Helsinki    City of Helsinki has invited the congress delegates to an evening reception in the Town Hall, which lies next to the Market Square on Pohjoisesplanadi 11—13. The trip takes 15 minutes by tram from Finlandia Hall. Take tram nr 4 or 7B southward, get off at Senaatintori (Senate Square), turn right at next or second next corner and then left to Pohjoisesplanadi.      For those attending the workshops on Wednesday afternoon the time schedule is very tight, so for these people there are busses leaving from the parking area behind Finlandia Hall immediately after the program. Taxi from Finlandia Hall costs about 10 €.

Thursday, 17 June

20:00 Congress dinner    The congress dinner is held at Hotel Hilton Kalastajatorppa on Thursday, June 17 at 20:00. You can go to Kalastajatorppa by tram nr 4 northward to Munkkiniemi and get off at the last stop, Saunalahdentie, from which there is 300 m to walk. There will be people and signs to guide you. The trip by tram takes about 25 minutes.      Mainly for senior participants there are also a few busses, leaving at 19:30 from Hotel Scandic Continental, Crown Plaza, Helka (close to Domus Academica), Presidentti and Scandic Simonkenttä. Access to the busses is not restricted to guests of these hotels. Taxi from Finlandia Hall costs about 15 €.      After the dinner, tram nr 4 takes you back downtown. The last tram leaves at 2:00 a.m. Do not forget your traffic card for the tram! There are no busses chartered for the return.

Free tickets for public transport

Helsinki regional transport authority has kindly offered free public transport for the congress delegates. All registered delegates receive a card, valid 14—18 June within Helsinki in all trams and blue HSL busses, and also on the regular ferry between the Market Place and Suomenlinna.

Photos: City of Helsinki Picture Bank (Comma Image Oy, Pertti Nisonen, Matti Tirri) and Hotel Hilton Kalastajatorppa.