Social Activities
We invite you to take part in the following social and leisure sport activities and to join one of two half day excursions.
Welcome Party
Sunday January 22, 2006 at 20.00The Welcome Party is the first official meeting of participants during the conference.
Pleasant get-together with delicious food and drinks ... and piano player is waiting for you ...
Concert
Monday January 23, 2006 at 20.00Metropol Kvartet will play the following composers:
- G.F.Handel, J.S.Bach, A.Vivaldi, H.Purcell, W.A.Mozart, G.Bizet, J. Brahms and A.Dvorak.
Excursion to Prague
The half day excursions - Tuesday January 24, 2006Meeting Point: Hotel Reception at 13.00
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is our most valuable historical city reserve. In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register. Professional guide will take us on pleasant sightseeing tour of Prague with a pleasure walk through, Prague Castle, the Lesser Town, Charles Bridge and other Prague's monuments. The guide will meet us at the hotel reception and during our way by bus to Prague, you will get some interesting information about our country, about the life here, culture, nature, politics, specialities of the Czech Republic.
We will start the walking tour of Prague with the area of the famous Prague Castle.
Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle complex in Europe. Destructive wars and fires, along with differing political forces have combined to create a truly unique architectural complex. The Prague Castle complex, seat of Czech kings throughout the ages, includes the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral (the most conspicuous landmark in Prague), several palaces, a monastery, viewing towers, St. George's Basilica and the enchanting Golden Lane.
Today, Prague Castle is the seat of the President of the Czech Republic, and serves as the historical and political centre of both city and state. The Changing of the Guard at the front gates takes place every hour. At noon the ceremony includes a fanfare.
And because in January it is quite cold in the Czech Republic, we will need a small refreshment in a nice warm cafe...
With new power we will continue with walking through the Lesser Town, which was founded in 1257 on the slopes bellow the Prague castle and it is the part of Prague least affected by resent history.
Via the well-known Charles Bridge we will reach Prague Old Town. Firstly mentioned in 1091- it is the oldest of the towns of Prague - it gained the privileges of a town in the 13th century. However, its name dates back to the 14th century when the New Town was founded. The centre of the Old Town has always been the Old Town Square dominated by the Church of Our Lady of Tyn and the Town Hall. The most popular part of the tower of the Town Hall is the Town Hall Clock (Orloj). Originally installed in 1410, the clock was rebuilt by the Master Hanus in 1490. It consists of three parts: the procession of Apostles, the astronomical clock and the calendar.
Our last stop will be Wenceslas Square - the part of New Town. The carefully planned New Town was founded by Charles IV in 1348. Twice as large as the Old Town, it was mainly inhabited by tradesmen and craftsmen. During the late 19th century its outer fortification were demolished and redeveloped to its present appearance.
And then ... the bus takes us back to Merin.
Excursion to Hydroelectric Power Station Stechovice
The half day excursions - Tuesday January 24, 2006 (See pictures)Meeting Point: Hotel Reception at 13.00
Hydro Power Stations use the ever regenerating energy of water, which the sun transfers from the surface of seas and landmass back into the atmosphere. When converting water power into electricity, hydro power stations do not use up any raw materials, nor do they produce any waste. Electricity generated in hydro power stations reduces the need to generate it in thermal power plants and thus contributes to reducing the amount of ashes, oxides of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur that pollute the atmosphere. In this way hydroelectric power stations help limit the occurrence of the greenhouse effect.
All of the large hydroelectric power stations, including Stechovice, situated at the Vltava River form a cascade system called the Vltava Cascade.
The Stechovice I Hydroelectric Power Station was originally built as the second stage of the Vltava Cascade at the end of the World War II. The water reservoir of this medium-head hydroelectric power station is 9.4 km long and reaches as far as the stilling basin of the Slapy hydroelectric power station. Its capacity is 11.2 million m3 of water, and its predominant purpose is to balance the fluctuating runoff from the peak-load hydroelectric power station at Slapy. Along with the Vrane water reservoir, it balances the runoff from the entire Vltava Cascade. It allows for the peak-load operation of the Slapy hydroelectric power station, while it generates semi-peak-load electricity. The operation of the 22,5 MW Stechovice hydroelectric power station is controlled directly from the control centre at Stechovice.
The Stechovice water reservoir was built between 1938 and 1944. The concrete dam with a granite revetment is 22.5 m high and 120 m long, with five spillways with crest gates. These spillways with the capacity of 2,400 m3/s are able to handle floods as catastrophic as the one in 1890.
The medium-head power station is equipped as a classic run-off-river hydroelectric power station, with two sets of Kaplan turbines. It further includes an outdoor 110 kV switching station, and outgoing and distribution transformers.
Barbecue Evening
Original SOFSEM Barbecue EveningWednesday January 25, 2006 at 20.00
Barbecue Evening will be on Wednesday evening.
To get an idea you can have a look at the photos from the SOFSEM'04 one.
Leisure Sport Activities
All of following activities will be available according the time-schedule:- Swimming Pool
- Sauna
- Tennis Hall
- Squash
- Bowling
- Multifunctional Hall
- or Massage
See photos in Venue section.