HelMSIC Exchanges

Athens Survival Guide!!

2010-07-12T14:10:00.000+03:00

For our incomings to Athens!
Athens Survival Guide! :)
Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More athens

This is Athens!

2010-07-01T09:12:00.000+03:00

To get all of Athens in a photostream, just click here!
This is Athens!!! :-)

Virtual visits to famous places in Greece

2010-06-11T04:31:00.002+03:00

Get some virtual sightseeing to some beautiful places in Greece which you could visit during your stay, by following this link.

(http://360visits.gr)

SCOREview 2010

2010-03-18T20:06:00.004+02:00

A brazilian student's short reflection on his exchange in Athens!

2010-02-12T16:55:00.001+02:00

“I consider a unique experience for medical knowledge.”

The exchange internship in Athens-Greece was an opportunity that all medical students should have during their graduation program.

To know another country with different culture, habits and language is incredible.

To observe different medical conducts and different health services only increases our knowledge and will to dedicate to medical practice.

All the doctors and medical students that I met here in Athens work within ethics and respect towards the patients and their staff and they treated very well all the students that realized this exchange program.

I want to thank everyone at Hippokrateion General Hospital and all the Helmsic members!

Luiz Augusto Cardoso Lacombe

Brazil - 2010

Getting to Greece...

2010-01-30T19:32:00.003+02:00

Thessaloniki

Have a nice trip to Greece!!!

Πορτογαλία - Το σπίτι της Οδού Breyner...

2010-01-28T23:29:00.002+02:00

Από την πρώτη στιγμή που πατήσαμε το πόδι μας στην Πορτογαλία αρχίσαμε να μετράμε τις ομοιότητες με την Ελλάδα. Δεν ήμασταν στην Πορτογαλία αλλά σε μια άλλη Ελλάδα όπου όλοι ήταν μεταγλωττισμένοι και ίσως λίγο πιο σκουρόχρωμοι αλλά κατά βάθος ήμασταν στο σπίτι μας. Όλα αυτά σκεφτόμασταν και συζητούσαμε με την Αθηνά όσο πηγαίναμε από τη Λισαβώνα στο Πόρτο με το λεωφορείο, για να εγκατασταθούμε εκεί για τον ένα μήνα της ανταλλαγής. Και παραξενευόμασταν που οι σημαίες που κυμάτιζαν δεν ήταν γαλανόλευκες.

Κι έπειτα φτάσαμε στο Πόρτο... Δηλαδή σε μια πόλη με παλιά κτίρια, αφρόντιστα, με φτωχικές γειτονιές και βρώμικους δρόμους. Όλα αυτά δεν μας έδωσαν και την καλύτερη πρώτη εντύπωση. Και είναι πράγματι πολύ κρίμα γιατί τώρα που έχω ζήσει εκεί ένα μήνα, έχω γνωρίσει το Πόρτο όπως πραγματικά είναι. Δηλαδή μια πόλη όμορφη, γραφική που αξίζει να την επισκεφθείς και να απολαύσεις τις βόλτες σου στα γραφικά σοκάκια και στις όχθες του ποταμού.

Την ίδια κακή πρώτη εντύπωση μας έδωσε και η εστία, όταν την πρωτοαντικρίσαμε, αλλά όπως όλα κι αυτό ήταν ένα θέμα συνήθειας και στο τέλος αγαπήσαμε τόσο πολύ την αυλή μας και την ημιυπόγεια κουζίνα μας, που ούτε θα το φανταζόμασταν. Όταν φύγαμε αφήσαμε πίσω μας τόσο όμορφες αναμνήσεις από μέρη, από άτομα, από μικρά και ασήμαντα πράγματα που όμως μας γέμιζαν ενέργεια και τόση χαρά.

Από την Πορτογαλία λοιπόν θα θυμάμαι:

1. την πιο αστεία προφορά του κόσμου:την πορτογαλέζικη (!),

2. τη συνεχή έλλειψη προσανατολισμού μου τις πρώτες μέρες, ή καλύτερα βδομάδες,

3. τις εξόδους τα βράδια στο Piolho,

4. τις ατελείωτες συζητήσεις πριν κοιμηθούμε,

5. τα τραγούδια του Joao και του Luis με τις κιθάρες, ειδικά όταν έλεγαν το Alfonso,

6. την Πολωνή φίλη μου να με καληνυχτίζει στα ελληνικά,

7. τον Paul και το Marco να παίζουν πιάνο στο tea house και όλοι να τραγουδάμε,

8. τη βραδιά barbeque στην αυλή και την αυτοσχέδια disco στο πίσω δωμάτιο,

9. την ομίχλη και εμάς να την παρατηρούμε από το παράθυρό μας και να πιάνουμε κουβέντα με την Terry και την Camilla που επίσης έσκυβαν έξω από τα παράθυρά τους κι όλα αυτά στις 4:30 το πρωί και τελικά…

10. όλους τους υπέροχους ανθρώπους από τις τέσσερις γωνιές του κόσμου που γνώρισα στο σπίτι της οδού Breyner.

Μαρία Σκαρλατούδη,

Φοιτήτρια Ιατρικής ΑΠΘ,

Paris, je t’aime

2010-01-28T23:15:00.006+02:00

Τα πρόσωπα της ανταλλαγής μου

Μαρία (ελληνίδα συμφοιτήτρια), Marion (γαλλίδα συμφοιτήτρια, contact person και LEO επιτροπής Πανεπιστημίου Kremlin-Bicetre), Capucine (contact person κ εν δυνάμει από μηχανής Θεός…)

Οι προσδοκίες μου από Ελλάδα την παραμονή

…ήταν να περάσω ένα μήνα στο Παρίσι σε μια ανταλλαγή που θα μας τρέχουν όλους τους ανταλλασσόμενους τσούρμο από εκδρομή σε πάρτυ, όπως κάνουμε εδώ στην Αθήνα. Όλα αυτά με ένα μικρό ερωτηματικό, δεδομένου ότι Παρασκευή μεσημέρι μας έστειλε τελικά η Marion καινούργια ονόματα και τηλέφωνα για να επικοινωνήσουμε με το που θα φτάσουμε και κάτι καινούργιες διευθύνσεις διαμονής… η δική μου μία ώρα με το τρένο από το Πανεπιστήμιο…Μπα, σκέφτηκα… Λάθος θα κάνω… Οι πληροφορίες από το internet είναι κατά 50% λάθος…

Φτάνοντας στο αεροδρόμιο

… ήμουν μέσα στην τρελή αισιοδοξία (γιατί με είχα πείσει ότι οι πληροφορίες από το internet είναι κατά 50% λάθος) ότι όλα θα πάνε κατ’ ευχή… Μπαίνω στο τραίνο για να φτάσω στον σταθμό που μου είχαν πει ότι θα συναντούσα μια φίλη της Caroline, της φοιτήτριας στο σπίτι της οποίας θα έμενα, γιατί εκείνη είχε φύγει διακοπές… Αλί και τρισαλί… Το internet τελικά είναι σπουδαίος τρόπος ενημέρωσης… Μετά από μία ώρα κ ένα τέταρτο συναντώ την Clemence στην αποβάθρα… Μετά από δύο ώρες είμαι στο σπίτι της Caroline, σε ένα κατά τα άλλα πλούσιο και καταπράσινο αλλά στην άκρη του Θεού προάστιο....

Το πρώτο ΣΚ

Ως μια άλλη Scarlet, έχω μάθει να μετατοπίζω τα προβλήματα για αργότερα! Έτσι, αποφάσισα να λύσω το πρόβλημα της απόστασης κάποια άλλη στιγμή μέσα στην Κυριακή που θα έφτανε και η Μαρία και να διασκεδάσω το πρώτο ΣΚ γιατί μετά θα άρχιζαν οι κλινικές και δε θα είχαμε ελεύθερα τα πρωινά… Εκείνο το βράδυ λοιπόν, παρακολούθησα μαζί με χιλιάδες παριζιάνους από μια γιγαντοοθόνη στο γήπεδο Charletty το ματς Γαλλία-Βραζιλία… Δέχτηκα εκεί το πρώτο πολιτισμικό σοκ καθώς μέσα σε ένα δίωρο, υπό την επίδραση αλκοόλ και του αέρα της νίκης, τα ακαδημαϊκά γαλλικά μου μετατράπηκαν σε ωραιότατη αργκό και τα μόνα συνθήματα που ήξερα να φωνάζω σε ματς τύπου «σήκωσέ το, το τιμημένο…» και «Χαριστέεεεεας…» μεταφράστηκαν σε ένδοξα και ξελαρυγγιαστικά «Allez les Blues!» και «Zizououou, joue!!!». Μετά τη νίκη, ζήσαμε στιγμές όπως αυτές του προπερισυνού καλοκαιριού στην Ομόνοια αλλά αυτή τη φορά στις Champs-Elysees! Και είχα την πεποίθηση ότι καλά ξεκινά η ανταλλαγή! Αλί και τρισαλί!

Η λύση που έδωσε η Capucine

Το επόμενο πρωί που συνάντησα τη Μαρία, δοκιμάσαμε να επικοινωνήσουμε με την Marion για να δούμε τι θα γίνει τη Δευτέρα με τις κλινικές μας… Μετά από ένα τηλεφωνικό διαπληκτισμό με τη Marion που αναρωτιόταν γιατί άραγε θέλαμε να μιλήσουμε με κάποιον που να ασχολείται με τις ανταλλαγές και αρνιόταν να μας συναντήσει, μερικά τηλέφωνα στην HelMSIC Αθήνας, κλάμματα εκνευρισμού και αρκετά mails, αποφασίσαμε να εκβιάσουμε λίγο την κατάσταση και τη Δευτέρα πήγαμε μόνες μας στο γραφείο διεθνών σχέσεων της σχολής και αναγκάσαμε τη γραμματέα να πάρει η ίδια τηλέφωνο την Marion… Τρεις ώρες αργότερα, βρισκόμασταν τελικά στις κλινικές μας…

Όσο για τη στέγαση, μάθαμε τελικά ότι διοργανώθηκε καθαρά από αμέλεια, δυο τρεις μέρες πριν φτάσουμε (παρότι μας επιβεβαίωναν ότι όλα ήταν από καιρό κανονισμένα)

Τελικά, τη λύση έδωσε η Capucine, η συμφοιτήτρια που είχε δεχτεί τελευταία στιγμή να αναλάβει τη φιλοξενία της Μαρίας για να πάει κ αυτή ανταλλαγή την επόμενη χρονιά… Ένα στρώμα στο πάτωμα και η πολύ φιλόξενη οικογένειά της δημιούργησαν έστω και με μερικές μέρες καθυστέρηση και μια τρομερά κακή οργάνωση από τη μεριά της γαλλικής επιτροπής, το υπόστρωμα για μια υπέροχη ανταλλαγή!!!

Ένα καλό contact person είναι το αλατοπίπερο της ανταλλαγής

Η Grenadine

…είναι η γάτα της Capucine και ο εφιάλτης μας για το μήνα! Άμαθες από γάτες, τις πρώτες δέκα μέρες είμασταν σίγουρες ότι τρώγαμε τρίχες παριζιάνας γάτας σε όλα μας τα γεύματα… Αλλά σιγά σιγά, την αγαπήσαμε και την συνηθίσαμε και τη συνδέσαμε στο μυαλό μας με το Παρίσι και το Moulin Rouge… Άλλωστε, το πιο γνωστό καμπαρέ του Παρισιού το λένε μαύρο γάτο κι έναν τέτοιο έχει ως έμβλημά του… Η δική μας ανταλλαγή έχει μάλλον την Grenadine!

Mundial- Γαλλία-Ιταλία…

Τέρμα! Οι Ιταλοί είναι πιο ωραίοι παίκτες από τους Γάλλούς και αυτούς υποστηρίζαμε (στα ελληνικά! Γιατί στα γαλλικά δηλώναμε φαν του Zidane…) Και μετά, άντε να πείσεις τους Γάλλους ότι οι Ιταλοί κέρδισαν επειδή έπαιξαν καλλίτερα!

Συγχαρητήρια από την κλινική

Μια βδομάδα μαθήματα στα γαλλικά με ελληνικότατο accent και τελικά δέχτηκα το πρωί μετά το ματς συγχαρητήρια για τη νίκη της χώρας μου στο Mundial (?!?!?!?!)

Η Θεία Τούλα και το εστιατόριο Santorini

Σαν να παίζαμε στο «Γάμος αλά Ελληνικά» εμφανίστηκε από το πουθενά μια Θεία Τούλα από τα Ζακόνινα Αιτωλοακαρνανίας και μια ολόκληρη οικογένεια και ένα ελληνικό εστιατόριο που έκαναν την πόλη ακόμη πιο φιλόξενη! (restaurant Santorini, rue de la Harpe, Metro St Michel-RER B)

Bal des pompiers-sapiers… Η φαντασίωση παίρνει σάρκα και οστά???

Οι Pompiers-Sapiers είναι κάτι σε πυροσβέστες, ΕΜΑΚιτες, Supermen… και πολύ δημοφιλείς στο γυναικείο πληθυσμό… και πριν την εθνική τους εορτή , ανοίγουν τους σταθμούς τους και κάνουν ένα μεγάλο πάρτι για τους νέους του Παρισιού… Αν εξαιρέσουμε δυο τρεις ημίγυμνους πυροσβέστες που χόρευαν πάνω στις πυροσβεστικές σκαλωσιές… μάλλον περιμέναμε κάτι καλλίτερο… Μπράβο, όμως στα παιδιά…

Τα ποδήλατα, ο Lenaic και το δάσος της Βουλόνης

Ο καλλίτερος τρόπος για να δεις μια πόλη, είναι τελικά με ποδήλατα! Ένα εικοσιτετράωρο ως δικυκλίστριες, μας έδωσε την ευκαιρία να δούμε το Παρίσι από άλλη άποψη! Με οδηγό το Lenaic που υποτίθεται κινείται μόνο με ποδήλατο στο Παρίσι, καταφέραμε να χαθούμε, να ξαναβρούμε το δρόμο και να ξαναχαθούμε και τελικά να φτάσουμε …

στις Invalides την Δεκάτη Τετάρτη Ιουλίου για τα πυροτεχνήματα

… και να δούμε ξαπλωμένες στο γρασίδι μαζί με χιλιάδες άλλους Παριζιάνους τον ουρανό και τον Πύργο του Άιφελ ολοφώτιστους.

HIV ή αλλιώς αιμορραγία του υαλοειδούς …

Αυτοί οι Γάλλοι… αντιστρέφουν τα πάντα στην ιατρική ορολογία…SIDA αντί για AIDS, IRM αντί για MRI και τόσα άλλα… Τελικά κατάλαβα στην πράξη πόσο σημαντικό είναι να μαθαίνουμε την ιατρική ορολογία στα αγγλικά… Για να μπορούμε να συνεννοούμαστε καλλίτερα, βρε αδερφέ! Μου έκανε εντύπωση όμως που αν εξαιρέσουμε τα αρκτικόλεξα που παρουσίαζαν το παραπάνω πρόβλημα, γενικά ένας έλληνας φοιτητής με πολύ σχετική επαφή με αγγλική ορολογία μπορεί άνετα να καταλάβει και να εκφραστεί σε ιατρική συζήτηση στα γαλλικά. Οι Γάλλοι, βέβαια, δε μπορούν στα αγγλικά…

Ο κόσμος είναι πολύ μικρός για την IFMSA…

Ο Νίκος είναι ο LEO της Θεσσαλονίκης… τον γνωρίσαμε στο Παρίσι όπου έκανε ERASMUS και μας έκανε μια ωραιότατη ξενάγηση τόσο στο Παρίσι όσο και στο γαλλικό σύστημα ιατρικής εκπαίδευσης…

Μία γνωριμία απο τα παλιά, πισίνα πάρτι στους αμπελώνες της Γαλλίας και ξανά ο κόσμος είναι πολύ μικρός για την IFMSA…

Η Sabine είχε έρθει φέτος το καλοκαίρι ανταλλαγή με την IFMSA στην Αθήνα. Η Mathilde πέρισυ… Συναντηθήκαμε τελείως τυχαία και με τις δύο και κάναμε σαν να βλέπαμε έναν πολύ καλό φίλο ή συγγενή!

Η τελευταία με κάλεσε να περάσουμε το τελευταίο ΣΚ στο εξοχικό της αδερφής της σε κάτι που έμοιαζε λίγο με τις εκδρομές του ΟΦΙΣ ως προς τη σύνθεση. Μαζευτήκαμε περίπου πενήντα άτομα και κάναμε camping έξω από ένα ερείπιο αγροτόσπιτο περίπου 150 χρόνων, δίπλα σε μια καταπληκτική πισίνα! Surreal!

… Ουφφφ… Και είναι τόσα πολλά αυτά που θέλω ακόμη να μοιραστώ… Τελικά, είναι δύσκολο να χωρέσεις έναν υπέροχο μήνα σε ένα κειμενάκι… Δεν ξέρω πραγματικά τι να πρωτοδιαλέξω για να περιγράψω το πόσο υπέροχη ήταν η ανταλλαγή αυτή!

…και να φανταστεί κανείς ότι δεν ξεκίνησαν όλα όπως έπρεπε ή τέλος πάντων όπως κάνουμε εμείς τις ανταλλαγές στην Ελλάδα ή όπως μας περιγράφουν άλλοι φοιτητές που φεύγουν ανταλλαγή… Μπορεί εκείνο το μήνα να μασταν σε ανταλλαγή μόνο η Μαρία κ εγώ και όχι ένα ολόκληρο τσούρμο όπως περιμέναμε για καλοκαίρι… Μπορεί να μην οργάνωσαν social program… Μπορεί να έχουμε καταθάψει τους γάλλους και τις ανταλλαγές τους στα evaluations… αλλά, σας τ’ ορκίζομαι… ακόμη κι αν ήξερα πως ακριβώς θα είχαν τα πράγματα, πάλι θα το ξανάκανα!

Και είμαι σίγουρη ότι θα θυμάμαι αυτήν την κακοοργανωμένη υπέροχη ανταλλαγή για πάντα… και μέσω αυτής, φυσικά και τη HelMSIC!

Ζιόβα Αλεξάνδρα

Φοιτήτρια Ιατρικής Ε.Κ.Π.Α.

SCOREview 2009

2010-01-27T12:47:00.003+02:00

Hladim prsa! (μια απλή μέρα στο Πίλζεν της Τσεχίας, μεταξύ 5ης Ιουλίου και 1ης Αυγούστου 2008)

2010-01-27T04:33:00.001+02:00

Η απόσταση από την εστία μέχρι το νοσοκομείο είναι 5 λεπτά, μέσα από ένα αλσύλλιο. Είναι από τις πλέον ειδυλλιακές διαδρομές στη θεωρία, αλλά δυστυχώς την κάνω με κλειστά μάτια από τη νύστα. Οι χθεσινοβραδινές κραιπάλες και τα βάναυσα ροχαλητά του Τούρκου συγκάτοικου είναι οι συνήθεις αιτίες, ο ύπνος ποτέ δεν αρκεί.

Φτάνοντας στο νοσοκομείο, εκτίθεμαι σε μία γλώσσα που δε μου θυμίζει τίποτα και δεν μπορώ να βασιστώ στις ευγενείς μεταφραστικές προσπάθειες του επιβλέποντος γιατρού - παρ' όλ' αυτά κατανοώ ότι βλέπω πολύ ενδιαφέροντα περιστατικά και βασανίζομαι να κάνω μια αδρή μετάφραση αργότερα στο γραφείο των ειδικευομένων. Όχι για πολύ όμως, διότι η πολλή επιστήμη βλάπτει τα πτερύγια των αυτιών και πρέπει να γυρίσω σπίτι να τέρψω το στομάχι.

Η πόρτα του δωματίου παραμένει πάντα ανοιχτή, μιας και έχει γίνει κέντρο διερχομένων - η ύπαρξη φαγητού στο ψυγείο και στο τηγάνι (το οποίο όμως κανένας δε δοκιμάζει, δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω γιατί) και ο χαβαλές που επικρατεί στα 12 τετραγωνικά αποτελούν πόλο έλξης για τις βραδιές "παραδοσιακών ασμάτων", "παραδοσιακών ποτών" (Ρωσία εναντίον Τουρκίας, σημειώσατε 1), "παραδοσιακού μασάζ" (δια χειρών Ταϊβανέζου σπουδαστή παραδοσιακής Ιατρικής) και "καταστρώσεως εκδρομών" (υπεύθυνη ως συνήθως η Μύριαμ εξ Ισπανίας). Ακολουθεί κατανάλωση ζύθου. Μεγάλη κατανάλωση. Ύπνος βεβιασμένος.

Αντώνης Λιόλιος, 2008

Φοιτητής Ιατρικής Α.Π.Θ.

Ανταλλαγή στην Αγγλία!

2010-01-27T04:12:00.003+02:00

Ανταλλαγή στην Αγγλία, καλοκαίρι του 2008 και ορισμένες σκέψεις πάνω στις ανταλλαγές.

Θεωρώ τον εαυτό μου τυχερό που έχοντας συμμετάσχει στις εξετάσεις της HelMSIC, εξασφάλισα τη θέση της ανταλλαγής στην Αγγλία. Τον θεωρώ όμως ακόμα περισσότερο τυχερό, όπως και όλους τους φοιτητές Ιατρικής στις επτά Ιατρικές Σχολές της Ελλάδας, που έχουμε τη δυνατότητα να συμμετέχουμε στο πρόγραμμα ανταλλαγών της IFMSA. Αν αναλογιστούμε το χυδαιότατο τρόπο με τον οποίο το ελληνικό κράτος φέρεται στους απόφοιτους ιατρούς των ελληνικών πανεπιστημίων, κάθε ευκαιρία που έχουμε να φύγουμε στο εξωτερικό είναι παραπάνω από ευπρόσδεκτη. Και η HelMSIC ευτυχώς μας δίνει πολλές τέτοιες ευκαιρίες και μάλιστα με τρόπο αξιοκρατικό, κάτι που δυστυχώς σπανίζει στη χώρα μας. Αυτή την αξιοκρατία που χαρακτηρίζει τις ανταλλαγές της HelMSIC, είμαι σε θέση να τη γνωρίζω καλύτερα από πολλούς συμφοιτητές μου και αυτό ύστερα από την ενεργή μου ανάμιξη με την οργάνωση. Και πληγώνομαι όταν ακούω διάφορους να την αμφισβητούν.

Επανέρχομαι τώρα στην ανταλλάγή μου στην Αγγλία, που ήταν και η πρώτη (δυστυχώς και η τελευταία) ανταλλαγή κλινικού τύπου όπου συμμετείχα. Λόγω της υπεπληθώρας ιατρών που χαρακτηρίζει πλέον το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, η οποιαδήποτε επαφή με το NHS (το αντίστοιχο ΕΣΥ) αποτελεί σχεδόν απαραίτητη προϋπόθεση να ξεκινήσεις ειδικότητα στη χώρα αυτή. Γι' αυτό και όποιος έχει τη δυνατότητα σα φοιτητής να περάσει κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα σε νοσοκομείο του Η.Β. είναι για ΄μένα πολύ τυχερός.

Πολλοί βλέπουν τις ανταλλαγές της HelMSIC ως διακοπές στο εξωτερικό, ως μια ευκαιρία να γνωρίσουν μια ξένη χώρα και φοιτητές απ' όλον τον κόσμο. Είναι όμως πολύ περισσότερα από αυτό, ειδικά όταν πρόκειται για χώρες όπως η Αγγλία ή άλλες της δυτικής Ευρώπης που δέχονται εκατοντάδες Έλληνες ιατρούς κάθε χρόνο. Δυστυχώς όμως ο αριθμός των θέσεων είναι περιορισμένος, η ζήτηση μεγαλύτερη της προσφοράς. Ειδικά για την Αγγλία, όπου τα συμβόλαια κλείνονται ύστερα από απόφαση των Άγγλων φοιτητών που έχουν ήδη επιλεγεί να συμμετάσχουν στο πρόγραμμα ανταλλαγών της IFMSA, είναι ελάχιστες οι ευκαιρίες.

Ειδικά όμως τη στιγμή που βρέθηκα στο Leicester, συνειδητοποίησα πόσο ακριβώς τυχερός είχα σταθεί. Οι Άγγλοι φοιτητές ήταν υπόδειγμα φιλοξενίας και ώντας συνεχώς στο πλευρό μας γίναμε γρήγορα μια παρέα, διαψεύδοντας περίτρανα τις όποιες φήμες είχα ακούσει για το λαό αυτό. Η μεγάλη όμως διαφορά μεταξύ των ανταλλαγών στην Αγγλία και αυτών στη Θεσσαλονίκη, για τις οποίες ήμουν κάποτε υπεύθυνος, ήταν το γεγονός ότι τα μέλη της τοπικής επιτροπής στο Leicester ειχαν τη συμπαράσταση και την αρωγή του πανεπιστημίου τους. Αποτέλεσμα όλων αυτών μια -σε κάθε επίπεδο- άρτια οργανωμένη ανταλλαγή.

Στο σημείο αυτό θα ήθελα να κάνω μνεία στις ανταλλαγές ερευνητικού τύπου, που αποτελούν μικρό ποσοστό στο σύνολο των ανταλλαγών που προσφέρει η HelMSIC, αλλά κατά τη γνώμη μου είναι εξίσου σημαντικές με αυτές του κλινικού τύπου. Έχοντας περιορισμένη επαφή με την έρευνα, που αποτελεί άλλωστε στυλοβάτη της Ιατρικής, η συμμετοχή μας για ένα μήνα σε ένα ερευνητικό πρόγραμμα θεωρείται από τους ξένους σημαντική εμπειρία και προσόν. Γι' αυτό και αν κάτι θέλω να πω μέσα από αυτές τις αράδες είναι ότι είναι στο χέρι μας να διεκδικήσουμε κάτι περισσότερο, αξίοποιώντας στο έπακρο αυτές τις ευκαιρίες που παρέχει η HelMSIC, στους φοιτητές Ιατρικής. Και είναι στο χέρι αρμοδίων για την εκπαίδευση μας να τις στηρίξουν ειδικά τη στιγμή που εν ονόματι μικροκομματικών συμφερόντων ο νέος Έλληνας ιατρός έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με την εξευτελιστική αυτή τόσο για τον ίδιο όσο και για τον Έλληνα πολίτη κατάσταση.

Αλέξανδρος Χατζηαγοράκης, 2008

Φοιτητής Ιατρικής Α.Π.Θ.

Ανταλλαγή στη μαγική χώρα των 'Ινκας!

2010-01-27T03:40:00.002+02:00

Περού... Η αρχαία χώρα των Ίνκας! Ειρηνικός ωκεανός, απέραντες εκτάσεις ερήμου, οι πανύψηλες Άνδεις, ζούγκλα! Μάτσου Πίτσου, μυστηριώδεις γραμμές Nasca, λάμα, πιράνχας, λέξεις μαγευτικές που θα συναντήσεις αν συνεχίσεις να διαβάζεις.

Όταν τελικά πριν από πέντε περίπου μήνες αποφάσισα να το τολμήσω και να πάω για ανταλλαγή στο Περού, δεν μπορούσα να φανταστώ ότι θα περνούσα την πιο ωραία εμπειρία της ζωής μου! Με τα λίγα ισπανικά που ήξερα και χωρίς να έχω ταξιδέψει ποτέ μόνος σε μια τόσο μακρινή χώρα, το εγχείρημα έμοιαζε παράτολμο, συνάμα όμως συναρπαστικό.

Τώρα, έχοντας πια επιστρέψει από την ανταλλαγή, γεμάτος εμπειρίες και έχοντας κερδίσει πολλά, νιώθω την ανάγκη να γράψω στο χαρτί ότι μπορώ για να σας μεταφέρω στον μαγικό κόσμο του Περού και των ανταλλαγών!

Πατώντας το πόδι μου στη Λίμα, ένιωσα ξαφνικά να βρίσκομαι σε ένα άλλο κόσμο! Χτισμένη στην όχθη του ωκεανού, μια πόλη τεράστια, γεμάτη κίνηση και κόσμο διαφόρων κοινωνικών τάξεων, η πρωτεύουσα του Περού ήταν σίγουρα μια πρόκληση! Τα κακόφημα προάστια της Λίμα, τα γεμάτα λεωφορεία και τα σοκάκια με τα παλιά σπίτια έδωσαν τη θέση τους στη ζεστή υποδοχή από το Mario, το φοιτητή που θα με φιλοξενούσε και την οικογένεια του, που με έκανε να νιώσω σα στο σπίτι μου.

Για την οικογένεια όπου έμεινα ένα μήνα... δε θα ξεχάσω ότι φωνάζοντας Mario, μου απαντούσαν ο φοιτητής που με φιλοξενούσε, ο αδερφός του και ο πατέρας του!! (ναι, είχαν το ίδιο όνομα όλοι!). Δε θα ξεχάσω τη senora Marta, που φροντίζοντας με έγινε η δική μου μητέρα για ένα μήνα. Τη Rocio (η αδερφή) που μου έδειξε τα κατατόπια της νυχτερινής Λίμα, τη senora Matilde (η γιαγιά) που κάθε μεσημέρι ετοίμαζε με πολύ μεράκι παραδοσιακή περουβιανή κουζίνα για να δοκιμάσω και φυσικά την Pucchi, τη σκυλίτσα της οικογένειας που με πρόδωνε γαυγίζοντας όταν επέστρεφα στο σπίτι αργά το βράδυ!

Στο νοσοκομείο (Sabogal Hospital) δε θα ξεχάσω τους ντόπιους φοιτητές Brenda και Jose, που έγιναν οι καλύτεροι φίλοι μου στο Περού. Σε θα ξεχάσω τον υπεύθυνο γιατρό μου, Dr. Mollina, που αν και δε μιλούσε αγγλικά, στάθηκε το δίχτυ ασφαλείας μου καθ' όλη την παραμονή μου στο νοσοκομείο! Παρά τις δυσκολίες επικοινωνίας, με την είσοδο σε πολύωρα χειρουργεία και βοηθώντας σε μικροεπεμβάσεις, έκανα πράγματα που δε δοκίμασα καν σε 4 χρόνια σπουδών στην Ελλάδα!

Φεύγοντας από το νοσοκομείο, δε θα ξεχάσω τις ατελείωτες ουρές ανθρώπων που περίμεναν, τα πρόσωπα των Περουβιανών ασθενών που με ανοιχτές τομές μπροστά μου, με ρωτούσαν στα Ισπανικά αν θα γίνουν καλύτερα, τα αμέτρητα gracias που εισπράταμε όταν οι ασθενείς έφευγαν... Μικρά πράγματα, τόσο δυνατά όμως που θα μείνουν χαραγμένα στο μυαλό μου και που με έκαναν να γνωρίσω την πραγματική όψη της ιατρικής και να την αγαπήσω ακόμη περισσότερο!

Όσο κυλούσαν οι μέρες στη Λίμα, τα παλιά λεωφορεία έμοιαζαν πλέον γραφικά, ο θόρυβος έδινε τη θέση του στους ρυθμούς της μουσικής cumbia που ακουγόταν παντού, τα ισπανικά με τη λατινοαμερικάνικη προφορά άρχιζαν να βγάζουν νόημα και οι άνθρωποι που τρέχουν και φωνάζουν, στα μάτια μου άρχιζαν να έχουν χαμόγελα στα πρόσωπα! Η Λίμα ήταν πλέον μια πόλη στην καρδιά μου!

Αφήνοντας πίσω μου τη Λίμα τα Σαββατοκύριακα, καθώς και την τελευταία εβδομάδα είχα την ευκαιρία να ταξιδέψω και στο υπόλοιπο Περού! Τα ταξίδια ήταν μακρινά, ποτέ λιγότερο από 15 ώρες στο λεωφορείο, η διαδρομή όμως ήταν τόσο ξεχωριστή που σε καμιά περίπτωση δεν ένιωσα να βαριέμαι!

Οι ανταλλαγές δεν ήταν ένα τουριστικό ταξίδι. Ζώντας καθημερινά με ανθρώπους από το Περού, ένιωσα να γίνομαι ένα μαζί τους και έτσι, ακόμη και ταξιδεύοντας, δεν έμενα στον τουριστικό οδηγό αλλά ακολουθούσα τους ντόπιους και αναζητούσα την αληθινή εικόνα του Περού.

Οι προορισμοί πολλοί...

Οι μυστηριώδεις γραμμές της Nasca, πανάρχαιες γραμμές στην έρημο, που βλέποντας τις από ψηλά, ανακαλύπτεις ότι δημιουργούν΄διάφορα σχήματα. Ανεξήγητο και φανταστικό το πώς δημιουργήθηκαν και το γιατί δεν καταστρέφονται από τον αέρα ή τη βροχή! Η διαδρομή με το ελικοφόρο αεροπλάνο 5 επιβατών από το οποίο τις είδαμε είναι σίγουρα κάτι που δύσκολα θα ξαναζήσω!

Διασχίζοντας την έρημο και ταξιδεύοντας πάνω στην Panamericana avenue, (αναβιώνοντας τη διαδρομή που έκανε ο νεαρός μοτοσυκλετιστής Τσε πριν χρόνια), έφτασα στην πόλη της Arequipa, που είναι χτισμένη στους πρόποδες των Άνδεων. Εκεί σε υψόμετρο 5000m και με το λιγοστό οξυγόνο, γνώρισα τον πραγματικό κόσμο του Περού, με τις γυναίκες να φορούν τις παραδοσιακές πολύχρωμες στολές και να φορτώνουν τα φύλλα της κόκας στα λάμα (παραδοσιακό ζώο, κάτι μεταξύ αρνιού και καμήλας).

Η πόλη του Cusco και το Machu Pichu, η αρχαία πόλη των Ίνκας που κρυμμένη μέσα στα πανύψηλα βουνά, φέρει ακόμα τη μαγεία και τη δύναμη του σπουδαιότερου πολιτισμού που υπήρξε ποτέ σε ολόκληρη την Αμερική. Η διαδρομή στο μονοπάτι των Ίνκας, η ανατολή του "Θεού" ήλιου μέσα από τα ερείπια των ναών ζωντανεύουν, αφήνωντας τον κάθε επισκέπτη εκστασιασμένο.

Η πόλη Iquitos, χτισμένη μέσα στη ζούγκλα, με μοναδικό τρόπο να την προσεγγίσεις με το αεροπλάνο ή το πλοίο από τον Αμαζόνιο (δυστυχώς λόγω έλλειψης χρόνου έκανα το πρώτο). Εκεί, προχωρώντας ακόμη πιο βαθιά στη ζούγκλα, είχα την ευκαιρία να κολυμπήσω στον Αμαζόνιο με δελφίνια του γλυκού νερού, να δώσω φαγητό σε πιθήκους που πηδούσαν πάνω μου για να το πάρουν, να ψαρέψω και να κολυμπήσω με τα "αιμοβόρα" πιράνχας και να αναζητήσω κροκόδειλους το βράδυ στις όχθες του ποταμού. Είχα την ευκαιρία να δοκιμάσω τα πιο απίστευτα φρούτα του τροπικού και να γνωρίσω από κοντά τους ανθρώπους που ζουν εδώ, με όλες τις δυσκολίες, βλέποντας μια ζωή αλλιώτικη που ποτέ δεν φανταζόμουν ότι μπορούσε να υπάρχει!

Από το Περού δε θα ξεχάσω επίσης:

Το ζεστό μάτε κόκας (τσάι με φύλλα κοκαϊνης) που τις δύσκολες νύχτες στα βουνά των Άνδεων με κρατούσε ζεστό και τον κρύο χυμό μαρακούγια (passion fruit) που με δρόσιζε στην έρημο!

Τα αιμοβόρα κουνούπια της ζούγκλας (μάλλον περισσότερο αίμα έχασα από αυτά, παρά από τα πιράνχας!)

Την περουβιανή κουζίνα που εκτός των άλλων περιελάμβανε χοιροκούνελο (guinea pig), στομάχι και πνεύμονες αγελάδας, αλπάκο, πολύ πατάτα και καυτερό τσίλι!

Κι αν έστω και κάτι από αυτά δε σας έχει κινήσει το ενδιαφέρον, τότε οι ανταλλαγές είναι κάτι που πρέπει να αποφύγετε αυστηρώς!

Κωνσταντίνος Χριστοδουλίδης, 2008
Φοιτητής Ιατρικής Α.Π.Θ.

Ανταλλαγή στην Αίγυπτο!

2010-01-27T02:46:00.003+02:00

Τον προηγούμενο Αύγουστο συμμετείχα στις ανταλλαγές της HelMSIC. Πήγα Αίγυπτο! Και ήταν ο ομορφότερος, πιο ευτυχισμένος, γεμάτος, καλύτερος μήνας της ζωής μου!

Από την 1η Αυγούστου μέχτι την 31η, κάθε μέρα είχε και κάτι διαφορετικό, κάθε μέρα ζούσαμε τη ζωή στο έπακρο, ρουφούσαμε το μεδούλι της ζωής... Πραγματικά. Κάθε στιγμή ήταν απόλυτη ευτυχία, κάθε στιγμή ήταν μοναδική και ήμασταν σίγουροι πως δεν μπορούσε να γίνει καλύτερα, αλλά ερχόταν η επόμενη μέρα και μας διέψευδε, αφού ήταν ακόμα καλύτερη!

Αρχικά, μέναμε σε ένα hostel στην Αλεξάνδρεια. Οι Αιγύπτιοι είναι πολύ φιλόξενοι, πρόθυμοι και ζεστοί. Στο αεροδρόμιο, ενώ περίμενα το Contact Person μου, ήρθαν τουλάχιστον 5 μελαμψές οικογένειες και με ρώτησαν, στα ελληνικά κάποιες (!), αν ήθελα βοήθεια και μου πρόσφεραν το κινητό τους να πάρω τηλέφωνο... Το ελληνικό στοιχείο είναι πολύ έντονο στην Αλεξάνδρεια. Όλοι οι Αιγύπτιοι ξέρουν να μιλάνε λίγο ή πολύ ελληνικά και υπάρχουν πολλές πινακίδες στα ελληνικά. Ταβέρνες, καφέ...Στο δρόμο σου χαμογελάνε, σε χαιρετάνε και σε καλωσορίζουν...

Απ' το κρεβάτι μου έβλεπα το λιμάνι της Αλεξάνδρειας να απλώνεται στα πόδια μου. Και το ωράριο τους είναι διαφορετικό εκεί. Τα πάντα ανοίγουν 11-12 το πρωί και κλείνουν μετά τις 3 το πρωί... Δοκιμάσαμε και ναργιλέ και αιγυπτιακό τσάι και επισκεφθήκαμε και τη βιβλιοθήκη της Αλεξάνδρειας, η οποία απλά σου έκοβε την ανάσα. 'Ηταν τόσο σύγχρονη, με το μεγαλύτερο αναγνωστήριο, τους περισσότερους υπολογιστές για το κοινό, τα περισσότερα βιβλία, τόσο άψογα σχεδιασμένη και εξοπλισμένη. Ένα κτίριο με φοβερή αρχιτεκτονική (ξεχωρίζει από μακριά) και ακόμα πιο εντυπωσιακό εσωτερικό...

Το νοσοκομείο ήταν επίσης απίστευτη εμπειρία. Είχα μόλις τελειώσει το πρώτο έτος, επομένως η δυνατότητα να εξετάσω ασθενείς και να παρακολουθήσω χειρουργεία δίπλα ακριβώς στο χειρουργό, να "κλείσω" ασθενείς... Ήταν πέρα από τα πιο τρελά μου όνειρα. Αισθάνθηκα πραγματικά γιατρός και οι άλλοι γιατροί ήταν τόσο πρόθυμοι να διδάξουν, να εξηγήσουν, να σου δείξουν... Κορυφή, απλά κορυφή. Γύρισα πίσω ΤΟΣΟ πορωμένη να πέσω με τα μούτρα στο διάβασμα και την επιστήμη μου...

Και φυσικά, το καλύτερο κομμάτι ήταν τα ταξίδια. Πρώτα πήγαμε στη Βόρεια Ακτή, όπου μας είχαν οργανώσει ένα πάρτυ καλωσορίσματος, που κράτησε 3 μέρες, σε μια βίλα δίπλα στη θάλασσα, με την πιο ψιλή, κάτασπρη σαν αλεύρι άμμο, σε μια παραλία με το πιο τιρκουάζ χρώμα, τα πιο μεγάλα κύματα που έχω δει στη ζωή μου. Απλά εκπληκτικό, αλλά μηδαμινό σε σχέση με αυτά που ακολούθησαν.

Στη συνέχεια επισκεφθήκαμε μια πόλη-όαση μες τη μέση της ερήμου. Κάναμε και σαφάρι στην έρημο, με τα τζιπάκια που ανεβοκατέβαιναν απότομα τους ψηλούς αμμόλοφους, κάναμε sand surfing, κολυμπήσαμε σε μια λίμνη μες τη μέση της ερήμου, βουτήξαμε σε θερμές πηγές και τέλος κοιμηθήκαμε σε μια κατασκήνωση βεδουίνων... Φάγαμε μαζί τους γύρω από τη φωτιά και κοιμηθήκαμε κάτω από τ' αστέρια. Ο ουρανός της ερήμου είναι το κάτι άλλο! Δεν έχω ξαναδεί τόσο πυκνά αστέρια. Είδαμε γαλαξίες, το milky way, ήταν μοναδικό θέαμα. Τόσο φωτεινός ουρανός! Ουάου!

Επισκεφθήκαμε και το Κάιρο για 2 ημέρες, πήγαμε στις πυραμίδες της Γκίζας, ανεβήκαμε σε καμήλες, παζαρέψαμε στην αγορά του Αλ Χαλίλι, περιηγηθήκαμε στο αιγυπτιακό μουσείο, είδαμε πραγματικές μούμιες και σαρκοφάγους, κάναμε βόλτες με φαλάφελα (βαρκούλες) στο Νείλο...

Αλλά το καλύτερο ήταν μετά. Όπου κάναμε 5 μέρες κροαζιέρα στο Νείλο, με κρουαζιερόπλοιο 5 αστέρων, με πισίνα στο κατάστρωμα και 3 πολυτελή γεύματα - γραστρονομικές απολαύσεις- τη μέρα... Στο πλοίο κάναμε και πάρτυ με κελεμπίες!

Επισκφθήκαμε Luxor και Aswan, την κοιλάδα των βασιλέων (όπου μπήκαμε στους τάφους των βασιλιάδων), αρχαίους αιγυπτιακούς ναούς και μνημεία, που προκαλούσαν κάτι παραπάνω από δέος και θαυμασμό.

Επίσης κάναμε snorkeling σε κοραλλιογενείς υφάλους, ήταν σα να είμαστε σε ντοκιμαντέρ. Πολύχρωμα και επικίνδυνα ψαράκια κάθε σχήματος και μεγέθους, σαλάχια και ο φόβος των καρχαριών που έκοβαν βόλτες μερικά μέτρα στο βαθύ μπλε πιο πέρα. Και την επόμενη μέρα, οδηγήσαμε "γουρούνες", αυτά τα μηχανάκια με τις τέσσεις ρόδες, στην έρημο...Καλά, και αυτό "φυσούσε"...

Τέλος, ανεβήκαμε στο Σινά (2 ώρες σκαρφάλωμα) για να δούμε την ανατολή του ηλίου. Άξιζε φυσικά που μας βγήκε η γλώσσα και τα πόδια στις 3 η ώρα το πρωί, επειδή το τοπίο ήταν παραδεισένιο, σα να ανήκε σε κάποιον άλλο κόσμο, σύννεφα, βουνοκορφές, οροπέδια, όλα γίνονταν ένα και όταν είδαμε τον ήλιο ήταν σα να τον βλέπαμε για πρώτη φορά. Τρέμαμε από συγκίνηση για την ομορφιά που μας τύλιγε. Πραγματικά, λέγαμε "ΑΥΤΟ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΖΩΗ. Τώρα ζούμε πραγματικά. Τώρα βρήκαμε το νόημα της."

Χωρίς αμφιβολία, έχω παραλείψει πάρα πολλά πράγματα, αλλά το ηθικό δίδαγμα είναι ένα: το ταξίδι αυτό ήταν εμπειρία ζωής, γνώρισα άτομα εξαιρετικής ποιότητας, καλλιέργειας και επιπέδου, με άλλαξε ως άνθρωπο προς το καλύτερο, εμπλούτισε τον κατάλογο των εμπειριών μου και γι' αυτό το λόγο ευχαριστώ τα πιο εξυπηρετικά contact person του πλανήτη, αυτά της Αλεξάνδρειας, που τα είχαν οργανώσει όλα και έκαναν αυτό το μήνα αξέχαστο και ονειρεμένο, αλλά και τη HelMSIC που μου έδωσε αυτή τη δυνατότητα. Χωρίς καμία αμφιβολία, προτείνω σε κάθε φοιτήτρια και φοιτητή Ιατρικής να το επιχειρήσει χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη. Αν δεν πάτε, δεν πρόκειται να ξέρετε πόσο όμορφο είναι, ό,τι και να σας πούμε, δεν είναι αρκετό για να το περιγράψει.

Γεωργία, 2008

Φοιτήτρια Ιατρικής Αθηνών

Exchange in Athens (January 2010)

2010-01-21T18:36:00.011+02:00

A once in a lifetime opportunity

To be able to know another country, its culture, its people, its language and among all gain medical knowledge and experience, to see new diseases and learn new conducts and to evaluate another country 's health system has been a unique and wonderful experience for me.

To be able to see medicine where it all began and to live where modern civilization started is incredible. All the Greeks are really friendly and they all know english so well.

I have only to thank everyone at Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, especially the doctors and medical students for their kindness and patience explaining every case to me and answering all my questions.

“Thank you” Doctors Alexandra, Manolis, Jerry, Stavroula, David, Athens, Ilias, Irine, Katerina, Sofia. And “thank you” doctors to be: Elena, Eliana, Patty, Vaggeliw, Christina, Lucy and Dimitris.

Thank you all my new friends that lived this moment during a month by my side. The adventures we had together will never be forgotten and the friendship that we built will last forever!

“Thank you” Luiz Augusto, Julieta, Saint Claire, Tiago, Marina, Renata, Karine and Gabriel.

Last but not least, a special “thank you” to all the Helmsic members. Without you none of this would have been possible! And congratulations on your organization. The dormitory, the food, the survival guide and the social programs were all amazing. Also thanks for all you help whenever we needed it and for always being so kind towards us.

“Thank you” Evgenia (Jenny, the BEST and sweetest contact person ever), George, Xenia, Dimitris, Thomas and Helen.

Debora Lins Franciotti - Brazil

HelMSIC Exchange in Crete, July 2008

2010-01-18T17:51:00.003+02:00

My HelMSIC exchange in Crete could not have been more successful.

I did a clinical clerkship in the University Hospital of Crete, Heraklion, in the department of Orthopedics.

I stayed in Amoudara, holiday town 5km from center and shared a room with a girl from the Czech Republic. Amoudara was a very convenient place to stay as all other exchange students were staying there as well and it was located on the beach, which made it easy to combine the work and the holiday.

From the very beginning, my Greek contact person hosted me and showed me all the essential things that was to know about. The local medical students had their final exams in July, so they were quite busy with studying.

The Department of Orthopedics was a very good choice for improving my clinical skills as it is quite practical field of medicine. My greek being very poor, I obviously faced some language barriers in the hospital work but I was fortunate to have doctors explain to me all the main points in everyday work. Depending on the day, I followed and assisted the operations, followed the ward rounds and helped at the polyclinic and at the emergencies. I got lots f hands-on teaching which will help me in my future studies.

Apart from working at the hospital, Crete provides everything one can wish for a holiday. I was lucky to meet other exchange students from around the world. During the weekends, we travelled around the island and saw important sights, such as gorges of Samaria, the laggon of Balos and Elafonisi, the archaeological site of Knossos and also visited the city of Chania, Rethymnon and Agios Nikolaos.

The exchange was a perfect way to combine medicine and greek holidays. I really enjoyed the delicious greek food, although I probably ate too much feta cheese. It was very interesting to discover the greek culture and the working habits in the hospital. Most of all, I learned to appreciate the relaxed greek lifestyel and friendliness of the people!

Castren Eeva

Medical student in Finland

When Egypt meets Greece!!!

2010-01-18T17:33:00.003+02:00

Well... if I would describe my trip to Greece in one word, I would say WONDERFUL!!!

And I am gonna ask for more words to say and describe this amazing trip!!!...

It all started back in my city Mansoura when I decided to go for exchange and applied for the exchange just two hours before the deadline... I put Greece and Netherland as my only options and I didn't realize how I was so lucky ot get Greece until I went there.

My first days there were so hard actually, it was the new year's time and everybody was back home and busy with their family and I was the only exchange student, so I was a complete stranger and in a strange country who can't find a single shop in the street opened to buy something to eat, so I spent my first night with an empty stomach and I was just feeling homesick, I stayed alone for the first five days until my lovely friend Olympia invited me to her birthday party and that was my first time to meet with everybody, I was amazed how everyone was so welcoming, so friendly and so warm in the very first meeting... Well, I was just being myself!

So after this day, everything was suddenly changing, I started to meet with lots of Greeks and by the 10th of January, I made great friends and had a wonderful time with them... they were having their exams, but that actually didn't keep them from taking me to every place they go, and organize me lots of nice stuff and lots of times in the library and watching them studying while me just writing down some stories.

This month was actually one of the bet in my life, and not just because of the nice time I spent there, but also because of my friends there, I met very special people there that I will never forget about them for the rest of my life. It is amazing how the Greeks are so so so frinedly, so warm and so humorous that you wouldn't miss your home...

The things that really took my breath away while I was in Greece were the nature, the pretty girls :) and the FOOD!!! It's the most delicious food I have ever tasted in my life, I gained about 8 kgs when I was there and then when I left Greece to Hungary for spending antother two weeks with my friends there, I lost the 8kgs as I coudn't eat anything other than greek food, I was actually addicted to it :)

If I was in earlier year of Medicine, definitely I would go in exchange to Thessaloniki again, really it's amazing and not just the city which is amazing, but it's so amazing just because og its people, because of the lovely friends who are volunteering back there in HelMSIC... so if you are an exchange student needing an advice where to go for a summer exchange, I would tell you for sure that you don't even have to think... cause you should go to Thessaloniki, otherwise you' re gonna miss a lot of things, a lot of really nice caring people.

My greeting and all my love to every friend I know back in Greece just searching for a stronger word other than "Thank You" to express my deep gratitude to them.

Now, though am back home, but sometimes I feel homesick and I would like to return to Greece, I just feel that it's actually my home!!!

Abdalla E. Mossad
Medical Student,
Mansoura Univerity, Egypt

IFMSA Brazil / HelMSIC Exchange Program

2010-01-18T17:12:00.004+02:00

Greece and Its History

The reasons that lead me towards choosing Greece for this exchange program is mainly due to its historic role in developing the "rational medicine", not based in myths nor superstitious. The most ancient medical information came from the works of Homer. The physicians were highly considered.

One of the "doctor-hero", Asclepius, was divinized in the beginning of Arcaic Age and became the most important god of Medicine. The Temples of Cure spread out all over and the people would dream that they were cured by him.

The Medicine in Greece of 21st Century

Greece, through HelMSIC (Hellenic Medical Students' International Committee), is one of the countries for the IFMSA exchange program. At Aristotle University, in the city of Thessaloniki, I attended the Professional Exchange Program (SCOPE), in Internal Medicine. The program took place at the AHEPA University Hospital.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the biggest university in Greece and its medical school has over 2000 students. It also counts with 4 large hospitals Hippokrateion, Papanikolaou, Central and AHEPA. The Medical School has 9 Departments: Anatomy and Pathology, Physiology and Pharmacology, Biological Science and Preventive Medicine, Radiology, Medical Physics and Informatics, Sensorial Organs, Children Health, Neuroscience, Surgery and Internal Medicine.

University's Campus

I was introduced to professor Dr. Karamitsos, who explained shortly how the Department worked. Activities started at 9 o' clock A.M., through 2 o' clock P.M. I would be supervised by a sixth year student, and would be dismissed in case of lectures (that were in Greek). Everyday, I would help the attendance of 3 patients.

The doctors and the student use 3 different colors of pen to identify basic vital parameters: temperature, pressure and heart frequency. There is a table at the patient's bed, in which those parameters were constantly written.

AHEPA University Hospital

Besides the activities in the hospital, I attended the group of studies of sexually transmitted diseases. Professor Dr. Alexiou, was responsible for those activities, and in the first day I explained shortly about the AIDS in Brazil and the free distribution of anti-HIV medicines.

A very good thing in Greece is the free education. They have free new books every semester and two free meals every day - from Monday to Friday.

Final Considerations

This exchange program was more than politic - cultural - philosophic - economic learning and realizing. It made me think about Hippocrates' phrase about love; and iit does not establish limits or respect boundaries.

To take care is much simpler than diagnose and threat, but it goes beyond. Though I didn't speak Greek, only to touch amd to smile were eough to comprehend the meaning of love and for the art of healing. And this lesson I'll carry for all my life!

Leonardo Horacio de Brito, 2007

Medical Student in Brazil

Spanish students in Athens (September 2009)

2010-01-13T20:53:00.005+02:00

“This experience for me was gratifying for three main reasons: the medical experience because now I know how they work in the department of paediatrics in another country, the trip to Athens because it is a wonderful place, really nice and with a huge cultural interesting and, of course, all the great friends that I made in these exchange. I have never could forget them. Finally I want to thank all IFMSA members for doing possible this kind of experiences and I want to encourage us in order to continue with our IFMSA exchanges.”
Tina Martin Gonzalez, Spain, September 2009

“I didn´t expect so much of everything...the country with its wonderful islands and ancient towns, getting used to a different hospital organization, those nice students taking care of all the incomings and, the most important to me, knowing so much people of different parts of the world and living 24 hours a day with them, because they are now real friends.
An experience you must live. Definitely”
Paloma Lopez, Spain, September 2009

Social Program!

2010-01-09T12:57:00.005+02:00

2008-10-06T00:43:00.001+03:00

Exchanges in Thessaloniki HelMSIC IFMSA

INCOMING STUDENTS' IMPRESSIONS

2008-07-06T20:46:00.006+03:00

ATHENS
Zsuzzanna Kerekes-Hungary-July 2008

I attended General-Surgery in the capital of Greece,Athens.I stayed in an apartment,where we were two girls in the room,four in the flat.The flat washuge,with air-condition,the centreand th medical school was so close-I liked it!!The hospital was 10-15 minutes on foot,very easy way.About the boarding,we got lunch and dinner for free were delicious.
About my clerkship,I would like to help in the operation rooms,the doctors didn’t want students to help.I only followed the doctors on ward rounds.I gained overall impression of the foreign medical system,but not so much theoretical and practical knowedge.
About social program,I enjoyed staying in the city of Athens,because Athens never sleeps.I Came in contact with other exchange students and local students and people.

Local Committees of HelMSIC

2008-05-18T13:28:00.003+03:00

HelMSIC consists of 7 local committees, one in every city with a Medical School. Choose from the map above the city of your preference for more info.

HelMSIC Exchange Conditions

2008-05-17T23:09:00.010+03:00

SCOPE Exchange Conditions

Level of studies
All students applying for a professional exchange must be clinical.

Type of Clerkship
Clinical. Please bring your white coat and stethoscope with you.

Languages
English is required according to IFMSA regulations.
Adequate level of understanding / speaking English or Greek is required, otherwise the Local Committee has the right to interrupt the clerkship.
In some clinics other languages are also used.

Duration of Clerkship
4 weeks, this period is not expandable.
CALENDAR MONTHS ONLY , IF NOT ELSE SPECIFIED.

Periods & Towns
1. Athens and around locations: All year round, except August, April and May
2. Thessaloniki: all year round, except June, September, December, January and February
3. Patra : June, July, September, October, November, March, April and May
4. Crete:10 July - 10 August
5. Ioannina: March, August, October, November, December
6. Kavala: 15th July – 15th August
7. Alexandroupoli : July
8. Larissa : All year round, except June,July,August

Students are recommended to make at least 3 choices on the AF, since the first choice cannot always be provided.
If you fill in only one choice, this does not mean that you will be placed in that city, but that you agree to any city, if the one chosen is not available.

Application documents & deadline
All documents are required to be in ELECTRONIC FORM and must be sent until the 15th of MARCH!!!

All the documents for exchanges untill September must be send until the 15th of March.
for exchanges from October and after the documents must be send 3 months prior to the exchange.
*the e-AF MUST be stend until the 15th of MARCH!!*

The application must include:

Application Form (AF) of the IFMSA (filled in through e-exchange)
4 photos (passport size)
Enclosed with your form a typed letter of motivation
A proof of enrolment (certified by the University that the student attends). For those who have already been graduated the proof of enrolment must be valid until 6 months after having taken the degree, so that graduated students are accepted ONLY 6 months after the graduation.
Valid Insurance Certificate.
The student is required to fill in the rules form, which can be downloaded from the following link: www.helmsic.gr
Proof of vaccination/immunisation status as required from the following form: www.helmsic.gr

NOTES

The vaccination/immunisation form must be filled in and STAMPED by a doctor.
OFFICIAL National or International Certificate of English level (NOT signed by NEO)
All documents must be in English
If the student has not sent a CC 4 weeks before the clerkship starts the clerkship will be cancelled
The vaccination/ immunisation form, the rules form and the health insurance must be sent 1 MONTH before the beginning of the clerkship along with the CC
All the above documents must be sent on time, otherwise the Local Officers have the right to cancel the clerkship.

Insurance
Health insurance is required and must be arranged by the student and a certificate must be sent along with CC. Students without insurance will not be accepted.

Social Program
Provided by each local committee in each city , depending on the time of the year and the availability of the members of the LC.

Visas
Some Non-EU countries require visa
Please check with the local Greek Embassy and inform us so an invitation letter will be sent to the student

AFTER THE INVITATION LETTER IS SENT, NO CHANGE IN PERIOD OR SUBSTITUTION CAN BE ACCEPTED

Special Remarks

At the beggining of the exchange, the student MUST pay an amount of 70 euros as a deposit, which will be returned by the end of the clerkship, if no damages are made
As stated in the SCOPE bylaws, any damages made in the place of lodging by the incoming srudent MUST be paid by him/her
Board and lodging is provided only for students with CAs, this is not provided for friends and relatives. If the exchangee takes advantage of the board and lodging offered by the committee to host another person,his/her clerkship will be interrupted.
Pets are not allowed.
Clerkships may be automatically cancelled if the Local Committee receives claims from the hospital or the dormitories. In case of lodging in an apartment the student is required to pay a guarantee defined from the LC, which will be returned at the end of the clerkship.
Picking up the students is offered only during day. The Local Committee cannot guarantee that there will be someone available to pick you up during the night.
People coming in the winter: please bring with you warm clothes.
Students are supposed to arrive to Greece on or after the date that clerkship starts, due to complications with lodging if they arrive earlier. Also, the student is required to arrive within 4 days from the start of the clerkship.

These remarks are very important to us and any student not following them will make us cancel his/ her clerkship.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT HELMSIC MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND ARE MEDICAL STUDENTS LIKE YOU.

SCORE Exchange Conditions

Deadline for application (months in advance)

3 months

Documents required

Digital Documents ONLY!

CV and Motivation Letter (included in eAF)
OFFICIAL Language Certificate (NOT signed by NEO/NORE)
4 passport photos
Immunization form (www.helmsic.gr) and Health insurance to be sent latest 1 month before the exchange.
In the AF all three choices should be written (at least two different Local Committees)
The students are accepted only in calendar months (1st-31st month, if not differently specified by the project)

Special Requirements

eAFs & documents should be sent by the end of each year's March Meeting for incoming students for months April - September.

eAFs & documents for incomings October - March should be sent until the 10th of September.

Available Universities / Cities for Incoming Students

University of Athens (Athens): all months except April,May and August
University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki): all months except June, September, December, January, February
University of Patras (Patras): July, September, October, November

University of Crete (Heraklion): 10 July - 10 August

University of Ioannina (Ioannina): March, October, November, December
Demokritus University of Thrace (Alexandroupolis): July
University of Thessaly (Larissa): all except August

How to come to Thessaloniki

2008-01-30T19:01:00.002+02:00

There are 3 ways to come to Thessaloniki

By airplane, in Makedonia Airport of Thessaloniki .

By train, from Athens, or some Balkan Cities and Turkey. Click here for the Greek National Railway website.

By bus from Athens or any other city, to Makedonia bus station of Thessaloniki

Getting to Crete

2008-01-29T11:15:00.000+02:00

You can access Crete by air or by boat.

By Air

There are three airports in Crete

Heraklion airport (or "Kazantzakis" airport - code: HER)
Chania airport (or "Daskalogiannis" - code: CHQ) and
the small Sitia airport (code: JSH)

Heraklion and Chania are international airports, Sitia airport is currently receiving domestic flights only (charter flights are expected to start in the future).

Heraklion airport access

There are regular buses between Heraklion airport and Eleftherias square (the centre); tickets should be bought before boarding and cost 1 euros to the centre. A taxi into the town takes 10-15 minutes and costs 12-14 euros.

[There is an official charge, included in the above estimates, when a taxi takes you to or from an airport or port. Luggage can be charged extra].

Parking: Has paid parking, just across the road, opposite the airport entrance.

Airport facilities: Cash/ATM machines for cash advances and withdrawals, exchange booth. Coffee and snacks are available, as well as a sit-down cafe/restaurant. "Duty-free" shop and giftshops. Left luggage.

Tel: 2810-397129, 397136 (info 24hrs).

Chania airport access

At Chania airport there are only a few, infrequent, buses - a taxi is the best option if you are not renting a car. A taxi into the town takes 20 minutes and costs 14-16 euros.

Parking: There is paid (quite expensive) parking, running in front of the airport building. Long term (lower cost) parking is available a few hundred metres before the airport gates. The long term rental place offers pick up when you arrive service, taking you with their van to the parking lot.

Airport facilities: Cash/ATM machine for cash advances and withdrawal. Coffee and snacks are available. "Duty-free" shop and giftshops.

Tel: 28210-63245, 83800.

Sitia airport access

by taxi or car. 5-10 minutes to town.

Parking: You can park at the airport without a fee.

Airport facilities: None.

Tel: 28430-24424, 22671.

Charter flights to Crete

Charter flights are few in the winter, but there are many from end of March/April to the end of October. Charter flights to Chania and Heraklion from most European countries operate in this peak period, summer sun attracts! The number of charter flights to Heraklion is greater than to Chania. When the new airport at Sitia is upgraded in the future, some direct flights will then make access to the east of Crete that much easier.

Charter & scheduled flights to/from the UK and Ireland (Eire)

To help you in your search of direct charter flights to Crete, we give you below a list of websites that offer these, with online booking.

WeGoLo.com ~ Find flights to Crete, Greece and other destinations.

Avro.co.uk ~ Offering only Monarch flights - but there are many

Flightline.co.uk ~ Flights to most destinations from the UK.

Alternativeairlines.com ~ Flights from anywhere to Crete, including scheduled, charter and low cost airlines.

Justtheflight.co.uk ~ Flights from the UK and from Ireland to Crete - good system and clear booking layout...wide variety of flights.

Charterflights.co.uk ~ Again a good booking system and good flight selection.

Cheapestflights.co.uk ~ Also easy to use and selection is good.

Airlinedestinations.co.uk ~ Shows flights from all UK airports, listing flights by airport region.

Thomsonfly.com ~ Heraklion to Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle. Chania to London Gatwick, Manchester.

Jet2.com ~ Budget airline flies direct from Leeds/Bradford airport to Heraklion.

Budgetair.ie ~ Flights from Ireland (Cork, Dublin, Shannon) to Heraklion.

EasyJet flying directly from the UK to Crete.

EasyJet has acquired the British Airways subsidiary GBAirways, and is now operating direct flights from the UK to Heraklion (March to October). There are 4-7 scheduled flights a week from London Gatwick to Heraklion and 2 flights a week (Tuesday, Friday) from Manchester to Heraklion. Operates normally from 30 March to 25 October. You can book these online on their website.

Charter flights are also available to Crete from most other European countries, Russia, Israel and elsewhere - in some cases these can be obtained from local travel agents and online via various websites in each country.

Flights to Crete from other countries

Direct flights

(Most of these flights are available only in the summer, i.e. end of March/April to end of October)

Transavia ~ Flights from Netherlands (Amsterdam) to Heraklion.

Arkia ~ Sundor and Arkia flights from Israel to Heraklion.

Travemaker.co.il ~ El Al flights from Israel to Heraklion.

Air Berlin ~ Flights from Germany & Austria to Heraklion and Chania.

Condor ~ Flights from Germany to Heraklion and Chania.

German Wings ~ Flights from Germany (Cologne/Bonn) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

EasyJet ~ Flights from Germany (Berlin) to Heraklion.

Aegean Airlines ~ scheduled flights Italy (Rome) and Germany (Düsseldorf, Munich) to Heraklion.

NeosAir ~ Flights from Italy (Rome, Milan, Verona, Bologna) to Heraklion and Chania.

Luxair ~ Flights from Luxembourg to Heraklion and Chania.

Sterling ~ Flights from Scandinavia (Sweden-Stockholm, Denmark-Copenhagen, Norway-Oslo) to Chania.

Scandinavian ~ Flights from Norway (Oslo) to Chania.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ~ Flights from Norway (Oslo) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

Wizzair ~ Flights from Hungary (Budapest) and Poland (Katowice) to Heraklion ("low-cost" airline).

Belair ~ (site in German & French) Flights from Switzerland to Heraklion (Airlines: Belair, Edelweiss air, Swiss).

SmartWings ~ Flights from Czech Republic (Prague) to Heraklion and Chania ("low-cost" airline).

Alternativeairlines.com ~ Flights from anywhere to Crete, including scheduled, charter and low cost airlines.

Flying to Crete via Athens

All flights to and from Athens arrive and depart from "Eleftherios Venizelos" Athens airport at Spata, to the north-east of Athens.

And the Athens airport website with useful information about airlines, real-time arrivals/departures, parking. Tel. 210- 3530000.

Athens - Flights to/from the UK:

EasyJet: Bookable online, the further in advance, the cheaper it is.

2 flights every day from Luton airport and 1 flight every day from Gatwick

British Airways and Olympic Air: Both have regular scheduled flights every day.

Athens - Flights to/from Germany (low-cost airlines):

EasyJet ~ Berlin (Schoenefeld) to Athens

German Wings ~ Flights from Germany (Cologne/Bonn) to Athens (and Heraklion).

Athens - Flights from other cities in Europe:

Aegean Airlines flies from Athens to the UK (London Gatwick), Germany (Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Hannover) & Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Genoa, Trieste, Turin, Catania, Lamezia, Bari) and Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris), Belgium (Brussels), Portugal (Lisbon), Bulgaria (Sofia), Romania (Bucharest), Egypt (Cairo).

Virgin Express (or Brussels Airlines) flies Brussels to Athens

EasyJet flies daily Paris to Athens

Centralwings ~ Flights from Poland (Krakow) to Athens.

Europebyair.com - Especially good for non-European residents*, offers FlightPass, allowing low-cost air travel within Europe. Now also offers flight queries and bookings worldwide.

* USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South America, Japan, South Africa, Israel residents.

See also Alternativeairlines.com for flights from anywhere to Crete.

Athens - Direct flights from the USA:

Delta Airlines:

Daily direct flights Atlanta (ATL) to Athens & New York (Newark - EWR) to Athens

Continental Airlines:

Flights New York (Newark - EWR) to Athens

US Airways:

Flights New York & Philadelphia to Athens

Of course, Olympic Air also flies Athens to USA (New York) and Canada (Montreal).

By boat:

Ferryboat from Piraeus

There is a regular ferryboat service from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania.

The main company is Anek lines a company created in the 60s by Cretans who wanted better and safer service to and from the mainland of Greece. and runs daily between Piraeus, Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion. Another company, Minoan Lines sails every day to Heraklion. Rethymnon Lines run ferries to Rethymnon in the summer. And there is also SuperFast Ferries company.

Ferryboat from Italy

Several shipping companies connect Italy (Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi) with the mainland of Greece (Patras and Igoumenitsa). The fastest service to Patras is provided by SuperFast Ferries. It is slightly more expensive than other companies. It is preferable to book your passage in advance in the summer season

Ferryboat from the Peloponnese and the Cyclades

ANEN Lines run a service connecting the South Peloponnese (Gythion, Neapolis or Kalamata) to Kastelli (45 km west of Chania).

From April to October you can also get boats from Santorini (and other Cycladic islands) to Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos.

Source of the information above:

http://www.cretetravel.com/

http://www.west-crete.com/

Getting to Patras

2008-01-29T07:45:00.002+02:00

How do I get to Patra?

Patra is located 216 kilometres west of Athens, on the north-western coast of Peloponnese, at the foot of the Panachaiko mountain and on the coast of the Gulf of Patra.

By Car:

From Athens via the Korinthos/Patra National Road:

Driving from Athens take the Korinthos/Patra National Road.

Upon entering Patra (1st exit after the tolls), stay on the right lane that heads to the Centre of Patra, Port.

The distance from Athens to Patra is approximately 216 kilometres.

From the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos:

Upon leaving the Athens International Airport drive along the "Attiki Odos" headed to Elefsina.

Upon exiting the "Attiki Odos" highway you find yourselves on the national road towards Korinthos/Patra.

If you wish to travel by public transport from the Athens International Airport, board the Express Line bus E93 from outside the airport's main building (gates 4-5) and get off at the Kifisos Interurban Bus Station.

Patra is connected to Sterea Ellada by the Rio-Antirio Bridge.

(Distance from Thessaloniki: 490 km)

The New National Road Patra - Korinthos - Athens serves traffic to and from Athens as well as to and from Korinthos, Nafplio, Tripoli, Epidaurus and the rest of the Peloponnese regions.

Special care should be taken when driving along this road because for the greatest part of it there is no barrier separating the two directions.

In Achaia entry and exit junctions for the New National Road are located:

* On the 148th km. (coming from Athens) for Aigeira and Akrata..

* On the 159th Km for Diakofto and Kalavrita.

* On the 172nd km for Aigio.

* On the 182nd km for Loggos.

* On the 206th km for Rio.

The New Patra-Pyrgos National Road leads to Pyrgos, Ancient Olympia, Kyllini (from where you can board the ferry for Kefallonia, Ithaki, Zakynthos) and also to Kalamata.

This road also needs special care because there is no barrier separating the lanes but also because of frequent junctions with local agricultural roads.

Entry/exit junctions for the New Patra -Pyrgos National Road:

* On the 16th km, for the Industrial Area and the Municipality of Vrachnaika.

* On the 20th km, for the Municipality of Olenia.

* On the 23rd km for lower Achaia and the coastal area of Western Achaia.

* On the 30th km for Agios Nikolaos in Spata.

* On the 35.5.th km for Araxos Airport, Metochi and Kalogrias Beach.

The national road "111" connects Achaia with Arkadia (Tripolis) whilst in the Prefecture's interior there is a good road network of asphalt roads to all the villages.

By Train:

Patra is connected by rail to Athens and Piraeus as well as to Pyrgos and Kalamata.

If you board the train from Piraeus/Kiato (proastiakos) you will need to change at Kiato.

The journey by train from Athens lasts about 3.5-4 hours

The train terminal in Athens is called "Larissa station" (Stathmos Larissis).

A one way ticket costs approximately 10 Euro.

For information about the timetable of the trains that leave from Athens or Patras please visit the official website of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) http://www.ose.gr/

HOW TO GET to the Larissa RAIL STATION (Stathmos Larissis) in Athens

1. You can use the metro from the Airport to Syntagma. It leaves every half hour.

When you get to Syntagma you change metro line, from blue line to red line and you get down at Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis)

The ticket costs about 6 euros and you need about 45 minutes to get there.

2. You can use the bus X95 from the Airport to the city center (Syntagma Square) and then you take the metro (red line) to Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis).

The bus ticket cost about 3,50 euros and you can use the same ticket for the metro. You need about 1 hour for Larissa Rail Station (depends on the traffic)

For more information:

ΟSΕ Athens: 210 5131601, 5297777

ΟSΕ Patra: 2610 639108-9

By Bus:

Patra is connected to almost the entire Greek territory by interurban buses (KTEL).

In Athens the buses depart from the Kifissos Bus Station and the terminal is called KTEL Peloponissou.

From there you can board buses that go directly to Patra every half hour between 05:00 - 22:00.

A one way ticket costs approximately 12 Euro.

If you decide to reach Patras by bus from Athens, you should go from Athens airport to the Athens central long-distance bus station (Kifissos Bus Station).

You may either get a taxi (costs about 30 Euros) or use the X93 express bus line (costs about 3,50 euros).

For more information visit here

Peloponnese KTEL: Kifisou 100, Athens Tel : 210 5124911

Thessalonica KTEL: 2310 595433

Patras KTEL: 2610 623887

By Ship:

The Port of Patra is connected by a number of daily routes to the following cities:

Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, Venice

Kerkira, Igoumenitsa

Zakynthos

Kefallonia

Regular trips by the following companies:

SUPERFAST FERRIES: http://www.superfast.com/
A.N.E.K. http://www.anek.gr/
Minoikes: http://www.minoan.gr/
Agoudimos : http://www.agoudimos-lines.com/
My way: http://www.maritimeway.com/

For more information:

Patra Port Authorities: 2610 341002

By Airplane:

Patra is served by domestic and international flights by the Araxos Airport, located 45kms from Patra.

There are flights to and from Herakleion (Crete) and Thessalonica as well as International charter flights (especially during the summer months).

Charter flights frequently organised by the following companies:

'Hapaglloyd' (Germany)
'Star Airlines' (France)
'Tui Belgium' (Belgium)
'Austrian' (Austria)
'Transaero' (Russia)
'Travelservice' (Czech Republic)
'Swissair' (Switzerland)
'Livingston' (Lithuania)

Araxos National Airport

Tel: 26930-23598, 26930-51524, 26930-51037

Via Kerkira (Corfu)

BY AIR: There are frequent charter flights from most European countries (see the following table) to Corfu and then directly to Patras by seaplane (40').

Tel. 0030 2610620462

3 flights per day to Patras (http://www.airsealines.com/).

Pandair (England, Holland, Malta, German, Austria )

0030 2661036595

pandair.cfu@pandair.gr

Meander (England,Holland, Belgium, Serbia-Montenegro, Finland, Sweden, Spain,Czech)

0030 2661044953

takis@meander.gr

http://www.meanderhandling.com/

Interservice (Czech, German, France, Austria, Slovakia)

0030 2661028703

cfu-ops@interservice.gr

Aviareps (German, England, Belgium, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Finland, France, Switzerland, Italy)

0030 2661022588

corfu@aviareps.gr

http://www.swissport.com/

You can find more information about Access to Patras, at the following websites:

http://www.infocenterpatras.gr/

http://www.e-patras.gr/

ATHENS

2007-06-01T22:57:00.039+03:00

About history of Athens

Athens, the capital and largest city in Greece, is one of the world's oldest cities. Its recorded history spans at least 3,000 years.

Today the Greek capital, Europe's 8th largest conurbation, is rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union. A bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis with an urban population of 3.3 million and total population of about 3.8 million, Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece.
Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state. A center for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Akademia and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens was also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles, and its many other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. It is widely referred to as the cradle of Western Civilization, and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC on the rest of the then known European continent.

The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all the Parthenon on the Acropolis, widely considered an important landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a small number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries. Landmarks of the modern era are also present, dating back to 1830 (the establishment of the independent Greek state), and taking in the Greek Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy (Library, University, and Academy).

About history of "National and Kapodistrian University of Athens"

The "Othonian University", as it was called before taking its present name, "National and Capodistrian University of Athens", consisted of four Faculties, Theology, Law, Medicine and Arts (which included applied sciences and mathematics). It had 33 professors, 52 students and 75 non-matriculated "auditors".New classes began in a new building, which designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen, in November 1841.

National and Capodistrian University of Athens was founded on 3 May 1837, and was housed in the residence of architect Stamatis Kleanthes, on the north east side of the Acropolis. It was the first University not only in the newly- established Greek State but in all the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean in general.

A major change in the structure of the University came about in 1904, when the Faculty of Arts was split into two separate Faculties: that of Arts and that of Sciences, the latter consisting of the departments of Physics and Mathematics and the School of Pharmacy. In 1919, a department of Chemistry was added, and in 1922 the School of Pharmacy was renamed a Department. A further change came about when the School of Dentistry was added to the Faculty of Medicine.

In this first and "heroic" period for Greek education, the University faculty made great efforts to fill the gap between theirentrance examinations for all the Faculties, beginning in the academic year 1927-28. Since 1954 the number of students admitted each year has been fixed by the Ministry of Education and Religion, on the proposal of the Faculties. newly founded institution and older ones in other countries. Between 1895 and 1911, an average of one thousand new students entered the Faculties each year, a figure which rose to two thousand at the end of World War I.

In the 1960's construction work began on the University Campus in the suburb of Ilissia. The Ilissia campus now houses the Schools of Philosophy, Theology and Sciences.For more information about our university you can visit the site www.uoa.gr

About Acropolis

The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city's history are all connected to this sacred precinct.

The monuments of the Acropolis stand in harmony with their natural setting. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis of the fifth century BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles.

Pottery sherds of the Neolithic period (4000/3500-3000 BC) and, from near the Erechtheion, of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, show that the hill was inhabited from a very early period. A fortification wall was built around it in the thirteenth century BC and the citadel became the centre of a Mycenaean kingdom. This early fortification is partially preserved among the later monuments and its history can be traced fairly accurately.

The Acropolis became a sacred precinct in the eighth century BC with the establishment of the cult of Athena Polias, whose temple stood at the northeast side of the hill. The sanctuary flourished under Peisistratos in the mid-sixth century BC, when the Panathinaia, the city's greatest religious festival, was established and the first monumental buildings of the Acropolis erected, among them the so-called“Old temple” and the Hekatompedos, the predecessor of the Parthenon, both dedicated to Athena. The shrine of Artemis Brauronia and the first monumental propylon also date to this period. Numerous opulent votive offerings, such as marble korai and horsemen, bronze and terracotta statuettes, were dedicated to the sanctuary. Several of these bear inscriptions that show the great importance of Athena's cult in the Archaic period.

After the Athenians defeated the Persians at Marathon, in 490 BC, they began building a very large temple, the so-called Pre-Parthenon. This temple was still unfinished when the Persians invaded Attica in 480 BC, pillaged the Acropolis and set fire to its monuments. The Athenians buried the surviving sculptures and votive offerings inside natural cavities of the sacred rock, thus forming artificial terraces, and fortified the Acropolis with two new walls, the wall of Themistokles along the northern side and that of Kimon on the south. Several architectural elements of the ruined temples were incorporated in the northern wall and are still visible today. In the mid-fifth century BC, when the Acropolis became the seat of the Athenian League and Athens was the greatest cultural centre of its time, Perikles initiated an ambitious building project which lasted the entire second half of the fifth century BC. Athenians and foreigners alike worked on this project, receiving a salary of one drachma a day.

The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today- that is, the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike, were erected during this period under the supervision of the greatest architects, sculptors and artists of their time. The temples on the north side of the Acropolis housed primarily the earlier Athenian cults and those of the Olympian gods, while the southern part of the Acropolis was dedicated to the cult of Athena in her many qualities: as Polias (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promachos (goddess of war), Ergane (goddess of manual labour) and Nike (Victory).

After the end of the Peloponnesian war in 404 BC and until the first century BC no other important buildings were erected on the Acropolis. In 27 BC a small temple dedicated to Augustus and Rome was built east of the Parthenon. In Roman times, although other Greek sanctuaries were pillaged and damaged, the Acropolis retained its prestige and continued to attract the opulent votive offerings of the faithful. After the invasion of the Herulians in the third century AD, a new fortification wall was built, with two gates on the west side. One of these, the so-called Beul? Gate, named after the nineteenth century French archaeologist who investigated it, is preserved to this day. In subsequent centuries the monuments of the Acropolis suffered from both natural causes and human intervention.

After the establishment of Christianity and especially in the sixth century AD the temples were converted into Christian churches. The Parthenon was dedicated to Parthenos Maria (the Virgin Mary), was later re-named Panagia Athiniotissa (Virgin of Athens) and served as the city's cathedral in the eleventh century. The Erechtheion was dedicated to the Sotiras (Saviour) or the Panagia, the temple of Athena Nike became a chapel and the Propylaia an episcopal residence. The Acropolis became the fortress of the medieval city. Under Frankish occupation (1204-1456) the Propylaia were converted into a residence for the Frankish ruler and in the Ottoman period (1456-1833) into the Turkish garrison headquarters.

The Venetians under F. Morozini besieged the Acropolis in 1687 and on September 26th bombarded and destroyed the Parthenon, which then served as a munitions store. Lord Elgin caused further serious damage in 1801-1802 by looting the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. The Acropolis was handed over to the Greeks in 1822, during the Greek War of Independence, and Odysseas Androutsos became its first Greek garrison commander. After the liberation of Greece, the monuments of the Acropolis came under the care of the newly founded Greek state. Limited investigation took place in 1835 and 1837, while in 1885-1890 the site was systematically excavated under P. Kavvadias. In the early twentieth century N. Balanos headed the first large-scale restoration project. A Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments on the Acropolis was created in 1975 with the aim to plan and undertake large-scale conservation and restoration on the Acropolis. The project, conducted by the Service of Restoration of the Monuments of the Acropolis in collaboration with the First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is still in progress.Information by http://odysseus.culture.gr/

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Getting to Athens by plane

http://helmsicexchangesgr.blogspot.com/2010/01/getting-to-athens-by-plane.html

Getting to Athens by train
Greek Railways Company (OSE) --> http://www.ose.gr

Getting to Athens by sea
Ferries Schedules To/From Athens (Piraeus Port) --> www.gtp.gr/RoutesFormInt.asp

ACCOMMODATION in Athens:

Dormitories
The dorms are at Oulof Palme street, by bus station Estia (area: Ilisia).
Almost everybody knows Estia, ask if you are lost or if you want to take a taxi home.

Buses
To the dorms: 221 (starts from evangelismos), 140 (from the university), (250, 245 corner of dorms, 3min walk)
To the university: 622, 815, 140, 032,
To the Aretaieion hospital: 221, 622, 815 (from university)
Attention: 140 only for university to dorms and back

Metro
The nearest station to the dorms is Evangelismos.
From the station Evangelismos to the dorms you can take the bus:
221 stops in front of the dorms 220 stops in the street perpendicular to Oulaf Palme street (the dorms)
250 stops inside the campus, 2 minutes walk to the dorms

or if you decide to walk there are two directions:

First from metro station Megaro Mousikis -> Oulof Palme (the fastest)
1. Head southwest on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας towards Prosvasi Naftikou Nosokomeiou/Πρόσβαση Ναυτικού Νοσοκομείου (0.2 km)
2. Turn left at Papadiamantopoulou square/Πλατεία Παπαδιαμαντοπούλου (0.2 km)
3. Turn right at Dionysiou Aiginitou/Διονύσιου Αιγινήτου (0.4 km)
4. Turn left at Vakchylidou/Βακχυλίδου (45 m)
5. Turn right at Alkaiou st/Οδός Αλκαίου Continue to follow Alkaiou st (0.2 km)
6. Turn right at Dryos/Δρυός (60 m)
7. Turn right at Oulof Palme/Ουλώφ Πάλμε (17 m)
8. Continue on Ymittou/Υμηττού (52 m)
9. Continue on Ymittou st/Οδός Υμηττού (58 m) 1.2 km – about 16 mins

Second way is from metro station Evaggelismos to University Dormitories
1. Head east on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας towards Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue/Πρός Λεωφόρο Βασιλέως Κωνσταντίνου (0.2 km)
2. Turn left to stay on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας (8 m)
3. Turn right at Vasileos Alexandrou Avenue/Λεωφόρος Βασιλέως Αλεξάνδρου (0.5 km)
4. Turn left at Effroniou/Ευφρονίου (0.5 km)
5. Slight left at M. and S. Tsafou/Μ. και Σ. Τσάφου (27 m)
6. Slight left at Ymittou/Υμηττού (86 m)
7. Continue on Ymittou Street/Οδός Υμηττού (0.2 km)
You can see the map here

Also you can follow this directions if you want to go from Medical School to University
Dormitories:
1. Head southwest on Mikras Asias square/Πλατεία Μικράς Ασίας towards Dilou/Δήλου (0.1 km)
2. Turn left at Dilou/Δήλου (0.1 km)
3. Turn right at Papadiamantopoulou square/Παπαδιαμαντοπούλου (0.3 km)
4. Turn left at Lochagou Giannopoulou/Λοχαγού Γιαννόπουλου(0.1km)
5. Turn right at Georgiou Papandreou avenue/Λεωφόρος Γεωργίου Παπανδρέου (0.1km)
6. Turn left at Stratarchou Alexandrou Papagou st/Λεωφόρος Στρατάρχου Αλέξανδρου Παπάγου (6 m)
7. Turn right at Oulof Palme/Ουλώφ Πάλμε (0.6 km)
8. Continue on Ymittou/Υμηττού (52 m)
9. Continue on Ymittou st/Οδός Υμηττού (58 m).

Apartment of Agia Sophia's Hospital: (Mesogeion street, 38-40)
1. You get off the metro station -blue line Ampelokipoi-exit Panormou.
2. Head east on Alexandras avenue/Λεωφόρος Αλεξάνδρας towards Dimitriou Soutsou/Δημητρίου Σούτσου(0.4 km).
3. Continue on Feidippidou st/Οδός Φειδιππίδου (0.2 km)
4. Continue on Mesogeion st/Οδός Μεσογείων.
You can see the map here

Hotel Exarchion:Themistokleous 55,Exarchia Square,Exarchia.
You can see more information about this hotel http://www.exarchion.com
Directions:
1. Head east on Omonoias avenue/Λεωφόρος Ομόνοιας towards Stadiou avenue/Λεωφόρος Σταδίου(28 m),
2. Turn left to stay on Omonoias avenue/Λεωφόρος Ομόνοιας (43m),
3. Turn right at Eleftheriou Venizelou st/Panepistimiou/Οδός Ελευθερίου Βενιζέλου/Πανεπιστημίου(0.1 km),
4. Turn left at Themistokleous st/Οδός Θεμιστοκλέους (0.4 km),
Slight right to stay on Themistokleous st/Οδός Θεμιστοκλέους.
You can see the map here

TRIPS:

Nafplio:
go with the bus 051 from Omonia (ask for the busstation) or the subway (green line) to Kifissia, then take bus to Nafplio (9 €). We took the taxi because we left very early, it”s about 20 min (max! 8€)! It goes every hour and needs about 2,5 hours. A taxi to the bus station is easier and cheap (5-10€). You can visite Nafplio in one day. In November-March you can visit the Palamidi fortress for free on Sunday (normally 4€). You can walk the endless 999-steps to the fort, or you could take a taxi (5€ one-way). There is a nice small pebble beach, so don’t forget you’re swimsuit! You can take a dive in the Argolic Gulf. You can get some really good Italian ice-cream at Antica Gelateria di Roma (best of Greece).

@Nafplio: take a taxi or bus to Epidauros (1 hour to visit it) and Asklepius temple. On the way there is the oldest bridge of the world – ask the taxi or bus driver. Stay at night there: Dafni pension: 15 € night and breakfast.

Delfi:
place to see the ancient oracle à 3h from Athens 13,60 € with the bus. Go to the museum and ancient temple of Apollo. For student the entrance to the museum&site is €5 (normally €9), so bring a students card with you. You can see Delphi in one day. Go there early, especially in the summer so it’s not to warm. Check the opening hours before you leave, in the winter they close early. The view is really nice! The weather is changing fast, be prepared for that. It can be warm, but also very cold.

Olympia:
Antonia hotel: really good, 25€ night, with breakfast. It’s up the hill. (4 stars) To go to Olympia, you must go with the subway to Omonia (green and red line) and then go to the bus station. Check bus times (leaves around 9:00 hr). The trip is long, so you must spend the night there, because all the places close at 14:00 hr.

@Olympia: visit the ancient Olympics place, the museum and you can take a taxi to a temple close to there (about 70€).

Thessaloniki:
Many trains (takes 7 hr, about €14,10) you need reservation (phone) about 1 week before, buy then the tickets 48h hours before, ask Helmsics!! Try Tsureki (‘cake’ with chocolate) and the famous thessaloniki cream pie @ the bakery/pasticceria Terkenlis at the Aristotelous Square!!!! Hotel: We just took the first hotel (Rotonda) next to the train station and payed 70€ instead of 90€ (no main season) for a nice 3 person room with breakfast. 24 hours ticket is 2 € for the buses, just take a ride and look around. Nice places: boulevard, white tower (cafe on top with great view), statue of Alexander the Great, the ancient city walls, Rotonda church.

Greek Islands:
There are Hydra, which is the calmest and as a lot of people told us the island with the biggest difference to Athens, so maybe you should go there. There are no cars there.
Aegina and Spetses; all are reachable from Piraeus, which is a big harbor (city). We’ve been to Aegina, because the tickets are just around 9€ (without Passo!) and you need 1,25 hours to go there. Really nice taking a walk, sitting at the cafe, visiting the “Apollo temple”, beaches.

Here you can find some information about the ferries to greek islands:
http://www.greek-islands-ferries.gr
www.danae.gr
www.ferries.gr

Beach:
Take the train (green line) to Pireaus, then go to Piraiki or get off the train at Faliro station to go to Mikrolimano. These are nice places on the beach with lots of coffee bars, not for swimming, just to take a walk, have a drink or coffee.
Mikrolimano is not really a beach, it is by the sea and in February it was full of dirt… at night the harbour looks nice(r). Many private but also public beaches, with parties in the summer!

Some instructions on how to get to a couple of beaches in Athens, if you want to swim...

At Alimos (Αλιμος) region:
Akti Iliou (Ακτη Ηλιου) and Loutra Alimou (Λουτρα Αλιμου) - Ammos Beach Bar

To get there, you can take the tram from Syntagma
(You can find the map at http://www.tramsa.gr, for tram, isap(train) and the two metrolines).

There are 3 tram lines (3,4,5):
3 Thukididis (Θουκιδίδης): SEF - ASKLIPIO VOULA
*SEF (ΣΕΦ) = Peace and Friendship Stadium at Faliro region.
4 Aristotelis (Αριστοτέλης) : SYNTAGMA – SEF
5 Platonas (Πλάτωνας) : SYNTAGMA - ASKLIPIO VOULA

The line you should take from Syntagma is 5 Platonas.

For Akti Iliou you should get down at Kalamaki tram stop and for Loutra Alimou there is the stop Loutra Alimou :).

You can also get there by bus from Syntagma:
(info on bus routes at http://www.oasa.gr/)

For Akti Iliou: E22 (Syntagma-Saronida Express), A2 (Syntagma-Voula) and you should get down at the stop 3 Kalamakiou (3η Καλαμακιου)
For Loutra Alimou: A2 (Syntagma-Voula), B2 (Syntagma-Akadimia) until the stop Alimou (Αλίμου)

At Vouliagmeni (Βουλιαγμένη) region: (it is more far, but nice)
Plaz Vouliagmenis (Πλαζ Βουλιαγμένης)

By bus from Syntagma:
E22 (Syntagma-Saronida Express) until the stop B' Plaz Vouliagmenis

Shopping malls:
Attika: bus 220 or 221 Panepistimiou street.
Mall: Train (green metro line) to Kifisia, get down at station: Nerantziotissa.
Golden Hall: at Kifissias street, by bus A7, B7, X14, 550 and you get down at the station Olympic Stadium/Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο

Eating:
For free at the university:
Breakfast: 08:00-09:00 hr
Lunch: 12:00-16:00 hr
Dinner: 18:00-21:00 hr
You can also eat in the dorm, but you must buy a card. Ask by the reception.

Laundry:
You can wash your clothes at the basement of the dorms.
t costs €1,90 (you need a 1€, a 0,50€ and two 0,20€).
You can also dry you’re clothes there (0,90€). You have to get your own detergent.

Internet:
On the first floor, above HelMSIC’s office.
At the library, opposite the main entrance of the university, on the second floor (closes at 20:00 hr).
At the dorms on the second floor (opens around 11 and closes at 17.30 hr, just monday to friday)

Just try:
Rakomelo: warm Raki with honey
Enamelo: warm red wine with honey

HelMSIC Athens website:
www.athens.helmsic.gr

Group on facebook:
IFMSA Exchanges - Athens (HelMSIC)

Contact us @:
athens@helmsic.gr
+302107462033

THESSALONIKI

2005-09-02T14:23:00.009+03:00

About the City

Thessaloniki, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is officially the Symprotevousa (lit. co-capital) of Greece in much the same way as it was called the Symbasilevousa (co-queen) of the Byzantine Empire. It is the largest city in the wider geographical region of Macedonia, and also one of the largest cities in southeastern Europe. The Thessaloniki Urban Area extends around the Thermaic Gulf for approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) and comprises 16 municipalities. According to the 2001 census, the municipality of Thessaloniki had a population of 363,987, while the metropolitan population approximates one million inhabitants.
Thessaloniki is Greece's second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and its southeast European hinterland. It has been traditional for the country's Prime Minister to set out his government's policies for each coming year in a speech at the annual Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.
Thessaloniki retains several Ottoman and Jewish structures as well as a large number of Byzantine architectural monuments. The city has hosted an annual International Trade Fair, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora.

History of Thessaloniki
The city was founded around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon, on or near the site of the ancient town of Therma and twenty-six other local villages. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great (Thessalo-niki means the "victory over Thessalians"). It was an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Macedon. After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC, Thessalonica became a city of the Roman Republic. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on the Via Egnatia and facilitating trade between Europe and Asia. The city became the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia.
When in 379 the Roman Prefecture of Illyricum was divided between East and West Roman Empires, Thessaloníki became the capital of the new Prefecture of Illyricum. The economic expansion of the city continued through the twelfth century as the rule of the Komnenoi emperors expanded Byzantine control to the north. Thessaloniki passed out of Byzantine hands in 1204, when Constantinople was captured by the Fourth Crusade. Thessaloníki and its surrounding territory—the Kingdom of Thessalonica—became the largest fief of the Latin Empire. The city was recovered by the Byzantine Empire in 1246 sold it in 1423 to Venice, which held the city until it was captured by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II on 29 March 1430.^[5]
During the Ottoman period, the city's Muslim and Jewish population grew. By 1478, Selanik had a population of 4,320 Muslims and 6,094 Greek Orthodox, as well as some Catholics, but no Jews. By ca. 1500, the numbers had grown to 7,986 Greeks, 8,575 Muslims, and 3,770 Jews, but by 1519, there were 15,715, 54% of the city's population. The invitation of the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, was an Ottoman demographic strategy aiming to prevent the Greek element from dominating the city.^[6] The city remained the largest Jewish city in the world for at least two centuries, often called "Mother of Israel". Selanik was a sanjak centre in Rumeli Eyaleti till 1864. It was centre of Selanik Vilayeti, which consisted sanjaks of Selanik, Serez and Drama between 1864-1912.From 1870, driven by economic growth, the city's population exploded by 70%, reaching 135,000 in 1917.
During the First Balkan War, the Ottoman garrison surrendered Salonica to the Greek Army, on November 8 November [O.S. 26 October] 1912 without any resistance. In 1915, during World War I, a large Allied expeditionary force landed at Thessaloniki as the base for a massive offensive against pro-German Bulgaria. In 1916, pro-Venizelist army officers, with the support of the Allies, launched the Movement of National Defence, which resulted in the establishment of a pro-Allied temporary government that controlled northern Greece and the Aegean, against the official government of the King in Athens, which lead the city to be dubbed as symprotévousa ("co-capital"). Most of the old town was destroyed by a single fire on 18 August [O.S. 5 August] 1917, accidentally sparked by French soldiers in encampments at the city. The fire left some 72,000 homeless, many of them Turkish, of a population of approximately 271,157 at the time. Thessaloniki fell to the forces of Nazi Germany on April 22, 1941, and remained under German occupation until 30 October 1944. The city suffered considerable damage from Allied bombing, and almost its entire Jewish population was exterminated by the Nazis. Barely a thousand Jews survived. Thessaloniki was rebuilt and recovered fairly quickly after the war with large-scale development of new infrastructure and industry throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
On 20 June 1978, the city was hit by a powerful earthquake, registering a moment magnitude of 6.5. The tremor caused considerable damage to several buildings and even to some of the city's Byzantine monuments; forty people were crushed to death when an entire apartment block collapsed in the central Hippodromio district. Early Christian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988, and Thessaloniki later became European City of Culture 1997. In 2004 the city hosted a number of the football events forming part of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Information about the exchange

Hospital
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the biggest in Greece, with about 70, 000 students. It is also the 3rd biggest in Europe. The campus is located in the heart of the city. The Medical School currently has around 5000 students, including the Military Medicine cadets whose school is incoorporated in ours. Seven Hospitals in Thessaloniki house the University clinics.

The are 3 main University Hospitals in Thessaloniki in which exchange students are usually placed to do their clinical practice are AHEPA General Hospital and Hippokratio General Hospital, which are situated in the city center next to the university, and Papageorgiou General Hospital, which 30min away by bus from the city center.

The following disciplines are offered:

Internal Medicine
Neurology-Neurosurgery
Cardiology
Opthalmology
Ear/nose/throat
General Surgery
Gynecology-Obstetrics
Paediatrics
Orthopedics
Otolaryngology
Anaesthesiology
Radiology
Forensic Medicine

Working conditions: It depends on the department. Usually the students are expected to attend the department from 8.30am-12.ooam.

Accommodation
Usually the exchange students stay at the Halls of Residence of the University which are situated in the city center (1min walk from Ahepa Hospital) in single rooms. Occasionally there are no vacant rooms in the Halls, and the exchange students are hosted at the appartment of a student.

Boarding
Students who do their practise in AHEPA General Hospital and at the laboratories of the University have lunch and dinner provided by HelMSIC at the canteen of the hospital, whilst students that go to Papageorgiou General Hospital can have breakfast and lunch at the canteen of Papageorgiou Hospital.

Social Program
We organise a welcome dinner at a greek traditional restaurant "taverna" and a city tour the first few days of your exchange. Since there are so many opportunities to have fun so that you can possibly do even half of them we like to keep things free for you to organise as u like. Upon your arrival we advise you to visit the Tourist Office of Thessaloniki where you can get for free information, leaflets and maps about every place in Greece.

Transportation
A) How to come to Thessaloniki

There are 3 ways to come to Thessaloniki

By airplane, in Makedonia Airport of Thessaloniki .

By train, from Athens, or some Balkan Cities and Turkey. Click here for the Greek National Railway website.

By bus from Athens or any other city, to Makedonia bus station of Thessaloniki

You can look for cheap flights to Thessaloniki by visiting the following websites. We only suggest these websites; we don't have any kind kind of cooperation with them.
SkyScanner
Low cost Airline Guide
KAYAK
Easyjet
Germanwings
SkyEurope

B) Getting around the city

Buses
Thessaloniki has good public transport composed of a strong bus network. This network connects areas within the city to each other and one bus ticket costs 0.50 euros.

Thessaloniki is a small city. Its major attractions are not too far away from each other. You can even explore Thessaloniki on foot!

Taxis
Getting around Thessaloniki by taxi is great option as they are numerous and easily accessible. You can pick them up at the taxi stands on all main roads. You can also hail them anywhere else by simply waving them to a stop! Most trips around the city centre cost around 4 Euros and a trip to or from the airport costs around 15 Euros.

Cost of living
The currency in Greece is Euro. Cost of living is more or less like the in the other european countries. The price of a coffee 2-4 Euros, sandwich 2-3 euros, beer 3-4 euros, coke 2 euros, milk 1lt 1.40 euros. Advice: The coffee shops and restaurants in the city center where all the students live are cheaper than the others!

Contact us if you have any questions about your exchange or Thessaloniki!
website: http://thessaloniki.helmsic.gr/
tel: +302310999179
email: thessaloniki@helmsic.gr
or join our group in Facebook by pressing here

Getting to Alexandroupolis

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How to get to Alexandroupolis:

By Air

From Athens International airport to Alexandroupolis International Airport "Democritus".

For flight tickets you can check:

Olympic Air

Aegean Airways

Athens Airways

By bus

From Athens

There is one bus connection, departing at 17:00 from Athens to Alexandroupolis.

The trip lasts about 11 hours and the bus fare is approximately 40-50 euros.

If you decide to reach Alexandroupolis by bus from Athens, you should go from Athens airport to the Athens central long-distance bus terminal (named Kifissos station).

You may either get a taxi (cost about 30 Euros) or use the X93 express bus line (bus is 3.50 Euros).

From Thessaloniki

There are eight daily bus connections (departure times: 07.30 – 10.00 – 12.00 – 14.30 – 15.45 – 17.00(express-except for Saturday) – 19.00 – 23.30) from Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis.

The trip duration is about 4-4,5 hours and the bus fare is approximately 30 Euros.

If you decide to reach Alexandroupolis by bus from Thessaloniki, you should go from Thessaloniki airport to the Thessaloniki central long-distance bus terminal.

You may either get a taxi (taxi fare is about 15 euros) or use the Number 78 bus line (bus fare is 0.50 Euros; buses are leaving from the terminal every hour) that connects the airport with Thessaloniki's central long-distance bus terminal.

By train

Alexandroupolis is connected by rail to Athens and Thessaloniki.

The journey by train from Athens lasts about 9 or 12 hours, depending on the train you want to catch.

From Thessaloniki, lasts about 4 or 6 hours.

If you want to catch the train from Athens:

The train terminal in Athens is called "Larissa station" (Stathmos Larissis).

In order to get to the Larissa RAIL STATION (Stathmos Larissis) in Athens, from the Airport.

1. You can use the metro from the Airport to Syntagma. It leaves every half hour.

When you get to Syntagma you change metro line, from blue line to red line and you get down at Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis)

The ticket costs about 6 euros and you need about 45 minutes to get there.

2. You can use the bus X95 from the Airport to the city center (Syntagma Square) and then you take the metro (red line) to Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis).

The bus ticket cost about 3,50 euros and you can use the same ticket for the metro. You need about 1 hour for Larissa Rail Station (depends on the traffic)

If you want to catch the train from Thessaloniki:

You can take a taxi or a bus from MAKEDONIA airport to reach Rail Station.

For information about the timetable of the trains that leave from Athens or Thessaloniki, please visit the official website of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) http://www.ose.gr/

By boat

From the Greek Islands: Chios, Kalymnos, Kos, Lesvos (Mytilini), Limnos, Rhodes, Samos, and Samothraki.

Getting to Larissa

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Trying to help you in making your visit in our country an "easy story" :), we are giving you some useful information about your trip from ATHENS TO LARISSA and from THESSALONIKI TO LARISSA.

Distances

362 Kilometers Northwest from Athens and 153 Kilometers Southwest from Thessaloniki

Bus connection

Info about travelling by bus

Thessaloniki Bus terminal Tel: +30 2310 544133
Larissa Bus terminal Tel: +30 2410 537777

you can also visit http://www.ktel.org/ and http://www.ktellarisas.gr/

Train

From Athens to Larissa and from Thessaloniki to Larissa

Info about the train's itinerary

Athens Railway Station Tel: +30 210 5297777
Thessaloniki Railway Station Tel: +30 2310 598114-5
Larissa Railway Station Tel: +30 2410 236250
If you are in Greece, you can also dial the Call Centre of Hellenic Railways at 1110 or visit the official Hellenic Railways website at http://www.ose.gr/

A. ARRIVING AT ATHENS

After arriving at the International Airport of Athens named "Eleftherios Venizelos", you can use:

1. TRAIN TO LARISSA.

Departures to Larissa with the fast train (Intercity) as following:

06:50, 07:50 (Express), 10:50, 13:20, 15:45, 19:22 (Express), 20:40

2. BUS (ΚΤΕL) TO LARISSA.

Departures to Larissa as following:

07:30, 10:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:30 (only Friday and Sunday), 18:00,19:00 (only Friday and Sunday), 22:00

Please check in advance for changes in the timetables!

3. Of course in any case you can rent a car from the Airport, and drive to Larissa. All the big Companies are represented. The distance is about 360 Km and it will take you almost 3,5 hours.

HOW TO GET to the Larissa RAIL STATION (Stathmos Larissis) in Athens

1. You can use the metro from the Airport to Syntagma. It leaves every half hour.

When you get to Syntagma you change metro line, from blue line to red line and you get down at Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis)

The ticket costs about 6 euros and you need about 45 minutes to get there.

2. You can use the bus X95 from the Airport to the city center (Syntagma Square) and then you take the metro (red line) to Larissa Rail Station (Stathmos Larissis).

The bus ticket cost about 3,50 euros and you can use the same ticket for the metro. You need about 1 hour for Larissa Rail Station (depends on the traffic)

HOW TO GET to the Larissa BUS STATION (KTEL) in Athens

1. You can use the metro from the Airport to Syntagma. It leaves every half hour.

When you get to Syntagma you change metro line, from blue line to red line and you get down at Attiki station.

From Attiki metro station you follow the exit to LIOSION street. After a short walk you will find the LARISSA BUS STATION (KTEL).

The ticket costs about 6 euros and you need about 1 hour to get there.

2. Also you can use a taxi from the airport or from Attiki Line.

B. ARRIVING AT THESSALONIKI

You can take a taxi or a bus from MAKEDONIA airport to reach Bus or Rail Station.

Departures as following:

1. TRAIN TO LARISSA:

07:20 (Express), 10:20, 11:45, 14:50, 18:50 (Express)

2. BUS (ΚΤΕL) TO LARISSA:

08:00, 09:30, 10:00 (only Sunday), 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00,16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:30, 21:45

Please check in advance for changes in the timetables.

3. In this case, you can also rent a car from Thessaloniki. The distance is about 170 Km, and it takes almost 2 hours.

PATRA

2004-10-10T22:58:00.012+03:00

The History of Patras

Patras was first inhabited during the third millennium BC and reached its first peak during the Mycenaean period (1580 - 1100 BC). According to written sources, the city was founded by the conglomeration of different settlements in the area of Arhoe. There, 20 meters under the medieval castle still extant today, lie the ruins of the ancient acropolis, that dates back to the Mycenaean and classical era.

During 5th century BC, Patras was organized politically and in 280 BC played a leading role in the foundation of the Achaean League, a voluntary union of initially four and finally twelve Achaean cities that, parallel to the existing local government system, agreed to a common judicial system, with common currency, weights and units and a common annual assembly, as well as common political and military leadership. (One could say that this confederation was the political ancestor of the European Union, albeit with more advanced unifying actions than EU!). The League became a major power over the following years and defended, though unsuccessfully, the Greek independence war against the Romans in the battle of Corinth in 146 BC.

During the period of Roman rule and because of the destruction of the port of Corinth and the consequent importance it gained as the unique port to Rome, Patras enjoyed special benefits. The city presented a significant development until the end of 3rd century, when, after its partial destruction by an earthquake, it entered a phase of decadence.

During the Byzantine Empire, the city rose and fell, in tune with the historic variations of the Empire and its surrounding area. From 13th century, Patras was occupied in turns by the Franks, the Byzantines, the Turks and the Venetians, alternating between periods of prosperity and total abandon, especially after the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, until its liberation, in 1928.

After the establishment of the Modern Greek state, the city grew to be a major port to Europe, while its exports, raisins in particular, triggered a phenomenal economic development. Throughout 19th and the beginning of 20th century, Patras was the country's financial and cultural link to Europe and this can be witnessed by a surge in the city's population, an improvement in housing, as well as the pioneering cultural and social institutions and business projects it developed at the time. When raisin exports subsided and the port of Piraeus started to flourish instead, Patras took the second place, gradually transforming into an industrial centre until the 90's and into a transit trade, financial and cultural centre today.

For further information visit the following site: http://www.patras.gr/en/c1/index-c1.asp

About the city

Patras, the third largest city in Greece with a population of 200.000, is a major Mediterranean port and the country's main Gate to the West - a modern financial, commercial and cultural centre. Amongst other places of interest, the city has a wide variety of monuments bearing witness to its long historical journey.

Bits and pieces of its recent history are reflected in Patras' daily life and are easily accessible to the visitor, therefore adding to the city's character and beauty. The arcades in the central streets, the three stairs leading from the contemporary to the upper (old) city, where one can admire the neoclassical buildings, once the mansions of the currant merchants, the many fountains and statues that can be seen on the central squares, as well as the famous English mansions out of Patras dated from the same period - known as "Egglezika"- are the exact elements that combine the city's past with its present.

At the same time, the modern city offers all necessary banking, transportation and accommodation facilities and caters for cultural and entertainment needs. The city hosts a University, an Institution of Higher Technological Education, the Greek Open University(Student's total number: 40.000), several hospitals (University hospital, Regional State hospital, Regional Children's hospital etc.), a regional two-stage theatre, a classical music orchestra, a municipal and many privately owned galleries with numerous seasonal exhibitions, as well as museums, municipal and university libraries, conference centres, stadiums, courts and swimming pools.

In addition, the city has numerous cafes, patisseries, bars, restaurants and live music clubs (all these either in pedestrianized entertainment areas or around the city's numerous large squares), as well as entertainment and cinema complexes and a casino.

The countryside and the beaches nearby are easily accessible. The area around the city is scattered with spots of natural beauty and historical monuments, which render it an ideal destination for eco-tourism and outdoor activities. The countryside and the Gulf of Patras provide the authentic ingredients you can taste in the local cuisine and all that at moderate prices, as Patras is, as far as alimentation and shopping is concerned, one of the cheapest cities in Greece.

For Patras City Guide, please visit
http://www.e-patras.gr/portal/web/common/cityguide

Sightseeing

Church of Agios Andreas

The new, majestic Church built in Byzantine style was founded in 1908 by George the 1st and was inaugurated in 1974 by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Patra, Nikodimos.

It is the largest and most artistically significant church in the Balkans and one of the largest in Europe. Its construction was supervised by architect Anastasios Metaxas and following his death in 1937, by architect Georgios Nomikos.

The central cupola is 46 metres tall and is the base for a 5-metre gold-plated cross and twelve smaller ones, symbolizing Christ and his twelve disciples. At least 5,000 can attend sermon within the church.

Roman Odeon

Dated 160 A.C., the Odeon was banked up through the years, was rediscovered in 1889, was restored in 1952 and, since then, has been hosting the performances and concerts of the International Summer Festival (capacity 2.000 people). In its yard, you can see sarcophagus and beautiful mosaics of the Roman period.

Germanou and Sotiriadou street

- Free entrance.Open daily except Monday 08.00-15.00, Tel: 2610-220829

Other Roman Monuments

• Aquaduct: 6 km long, Patras' aqueduct extends until the foot of Dassylio hill.

• North Cemetery: dated 1st-2nd century AD.

• Stadium: 300m. long, is still being excavated.

• Nympheon

• Meilichos Bridge: a well-preserved bridge with two brick arches and a base built with carved stones

The Castle

Constructed by the emperor Justinian over the ruins of Patras' Ancient Acropolis, where a variety of archaeological finds is displayed today. Through the ages, the castle was conquered and reconstructed by the Franks, Constantinos Paleologos, the Venetians and the Turks.

Upper city - Free entrance - Open daily except Monday 08.30-15.00. Tel. 2610-623390

"Apollo" Theatre

In 1872, Patras obtained its own theatre-opera house, with an Italian stage and a double row of boxes, around the same period when the great capitals of Europe (Paris, Barcelona and Vienna) obtained theirs. Today, it hosts the performances of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras. King George A' sq. Free entrance. Open Monday to Friday, 08:00-13:30. Tel. 2610-273613

Pantokratoras Church

Built on the ruins of the ancient temple of Zeus, Pantokratoras is a Byzantine church, which was converted into a mosque during the Turkish occupation. Pantokratoros & Ilias str. Free entrance. Open daily, 08:00-11:00 & 16:30-19:00, tel. 2610-279454

Turkish Hot Baths (Hammam)

Dated 1500 AD, the Hammam is still in use today. 29, Boukaouri str. Tel. 2610-274627. Entrance fee: 5,00 euros

City Hall

It was built in 1880 and has been used as a city hall since 1910. Its interior is decorated with the beautiful paintings of Patras' famous painter E. Thomopoulos. 108, Mezonos & Votsi str

Achaia Clauss

On a green hill, eight kilometres South - East of downtown Patra, are the facilities of the ACHAIA CLAUSS winery which stands out as one of the area's most significant tourist sights.

It was founded by Bavarian Gustav Clauss, who came to Patra in 1854, to work for a German raisin exporter. During one of his outings he became acquainted with the area and was enchanted by its natural beauty. He bought a small vineyard so he could produce his own wine, and ended up building the Castle - Winery which stands intact until today. In 1861 he founded the company ACHAIA CLAUSS and the high-quality wines, amongst which is the Patra Mavrodafni, conquered the Greek and the international markets.

The stone buildings, the huge oak barrels, containing century-old mavrodafni, the traditional wine cellar for welcoming visitors and the unique scenery with the magnificent view, attract around 200.000 visitors on an annual basis.

Vests: daily from 09:00 to 17:00

Tel.: 2610325051 to 2610325059

The Carnival Workshop

A workshop, where the floats of Patras Carnival and other decorative items are manufactured and preserved in. Petroto, Patras. Open Monday to Friday 08.00-14.00

Patras Hydroelectric Station

The first hydroelectric station in Greece is located in the area of Glafkos river and is functioning with its waters. In the photo, you can see the vertical pipeline that starts from the top of the hill and rapidly carries the water down to the electric generators. It is also open to the public as a museum. Glafkos, Patras. Open daily 08.00-14.00

Old Municipal Hospital

A complex of consecutively constructed buildings, designed by the Danish architect Theofilos Hansen in 1872. It functioned as a municipal hospital for 100 years. Today, it accommodates the cultural centre of the Municipality of Patras

Municipal Slaughterhouses

An excellent sample of industrial architecture that was built in 1903 and operated as the city's slaughterhouse until 1998. In 1998 it was renovated and today it consists of a cultural and entertaining venue

The Castle of Rio

Built in 1499, together with the castle of Antirrio by the sultan Vagiazit II, to control the sea passage between the Ionian Sea and the Corinthian Bay, a passage also known as 'Mikra Dardanellia'. The castle was successively occupied by Spain and Genova, reoccupied by the Turks and finally surrendered to the French general Maison, in 1928. Open daily except Monday 08.30-15.00

Rio - Antirrio Bridge

The longest cable bridge in the world, 2.250m. long, successfully joined Western Greece and was delivered in 2004

Recreation Open Spaces, with a view over the city or the sea

Dassylio, Ipsila Alonia Square, the Lighthouse, King George A΄ Square, the Marina Museums

• New Archaeological Museum: under construction

• Archaeological Museum: exhibits sculptures and mosaics, vessels and jewelry from the Hellenic and roman period.
EVERY DAY EXCEPT MONDAY, 08.30- 15.00,MEZONOS 42, 2610275070, 2610640413

• Museum of History and Ethnology: with arms, paintings and scriptures dated 18th and 19th century.
EVERY DAY EXCEPT MONDAY AND FRIDAY 11.00-13.00,
SQUARE GEORGIOY A', Tel. 2610274962

• Press Museum: books dated 1604, as well as important historic documents and records about Patras and Greece since 1875.
FROM MONDAY UNTIL FRIDAY 09.00-13.00, MEZONOS 200, 2610310488

• Folk Art Museum: with exhibits from everyday life and working habits during the pre-industrial age. FROM MONDAY UNTIL FRIDAY 10.30-13.00, KORYTSAS & MAVROKORDATOY, 2610334713

• Zoological museum of Patras University: with approximately 3.000 stuffed birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and shells.Τel: 2610 969214

• Botanical museum of Patras University: with 90.000 desiccated plants of Greek and European flora. Τel: 2610 969200

HelMSIC Patras Blogspot:

http://helmsicpatras.blogspot.com/

Contact us @:

patra@helmsic.gr

+302610996127

IOANNINA

2004-09-30T23:05:00.002+03:00

ALEXANDROUPOLIS

2004-09-29T23:03:00.003+03:00

HelMSIC Alexandroupolis Blogspot:
http://helmsicalexpolis.blogspot.com/

Contact us @:
alexandroupolis@helmsic.gr

CRETE

2004-08-29T23:05:00.009+03:00

History of Crete

Crete was the centre of Europe's most ancient civilization; the Minoan. Early Cretan history is replete with legends such as those of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus passed on orally via poets such as Homer. Crete was involved in the Mithridatic Wars, initially repelling an attack by Roman general Marcus Antonius Creticus in 71 BC. Nevertheless, a ferocious three-year campaign soon followed under Quintus Caecilius Metellus, equipped with three legions and Crete was finally conquered by Rome in 69 BC, earning for Metellus the title "Creticus". Gortyn was made capital of the island, and Crete became a Roman province, along with Cyrenaica.

Crete was part of the Byzantine empire, but then was captured by Iberian Muslims led by Abu Hafs[4] who established a piratical emirate on the island. In 960 Nicephorus Phocas reconquered the island, which remained under Byzantine control until 1204, when it fell into the hands of the Venetians at the time of the Fourth Crusade. During Venice's rule, which lasted more than four centuries, a Renaissance swept through the island as is evident from the plethora of artistic works dating to that period. The most notable representatives of this Cretan renaissance were the painter El Greco and the writers Nicholas Kalliakis (1645–1707) and Vitsentzos Kornaros.

Under the rule of Christian Venetians, the city of Candia (Heraklion) was reputed to be the best fortified city of the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1574–77, Crete was under the rule of Giacomo Foscarini as Proveditor General, Sindace and Inquistor. According to Starr (1942), the rule of Giacomo Foscarini was the dark age for Jews and Greeks. Under his rule, non-Catholics had to pay high taxes with no allowances. This practice ended when the Ottomans conquered Crete in 1669, after a 21-year siege of the capital, Candia.

During Ottoman rule, many churches and monasteries were converted to mosques. However, freedoms and rights were still provided. Church attendance was permitted. Still, many Christians converted to Islam. According to Molly Greene (2001) there were numerous records of real-estate transactions during the Ottoman rule. In the deserted city, minorities received equal rights in purchasing property. Christians and Jews were also able to buy and sell in the real-estate market.

Muslim presence on the island started with the Arab occupation but was cemented by the Ottoman conquest. Most Cretan Muslims were local Greek converts who spoke Cretan Greek, but in the island's 19th century political context they came to be viewed by the Christian population as Turks. Contemporary estimates vary, but on the eve of the Greek War of Independence, as much as 45% of the population of the island may have been Muslim. Many amongst them were crypto-Christians who converted back to Christianity in subsequent years, while many others fled Crete because of the unrest, settling in Turkey, Rhodes, Syria and elsewhere. By 1900, 11% of the population was Muslim. Those remaining were forced to leave in 1924 in the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey.

Crete was left out of the modern Greek state by the London Protocol of 1830, and soon it was yielded to Egypt by the Ottoman sultan. Egyptian rule was short-lived and sovereignty was returned to the Ottoman Empire by the Convention of London on July 3, 1840.

Between 1833 and 1897, several more Christian uprisings took place, and in 1898, Crete, a complex autonomous Cretan State under Ottoman suzerainty, was nevertheless garrisoned by an international military force, with a High Commissioner (Armostis), chosen by Greece. Finally, Crete was joined with Greece on 1 December 1913.

During World War II, the island was the scene of the famous Battle of Crete where, in May 1941, German paratroopers sustained almost 7,000 casualties, meeting fierce resistance from both locals and the British Commonwealth force, commanded by General Sir Bernard Freyberg. As a result, Adolf Hitler forbade further large scale airborne operations.

Source: Wikipedia

Geography

Crete (or Creta or Kreta) is a mountainous island, the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, lies south in Greece separating the Aegean from Libyan Sea, the southest part of Europe, a link between three continents Asia, Africa and Europe.

Crete has four major parts (prefectures). These are from the the west to the east Chania, Rethimnon, Iraklion and Lassithi.

The biggest cities in Crete are Chania, Rethymno, Iraklio and Agios Nikolaos on the North part of the island and Ierapetra to the south part facing the Libyan sea.

About Heraklion

Heraklion or Iraklion is the largest city and capital of Crete. It is also the fourth largest city in Greece. Its name is also spelled Herakleion.

Heraklion is the capital of Heraklion Prefecture, with an international airport named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby.

The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens who had been expelled from Al-Andalus by Emir Al-Hakam I and had taken over the island from the Byzantine Empire.

The University of Crete

The University of Crete (UOC) is the principal higher education institution on the island of Crete. It is a multi-disciplinary, research- oriented institution, located in the cities of Rethymnon and Heraklion. It is a University with a well-known reputation both nationally and internationally for its state-of-the art curricula and graduate programmes. In addition, the University has developed considerable research activity and has undertaken innovative initiatives that reflect its dynamic. The University was established in 1973 and started functioning in the academic year 1977-78.

At Heraklion, the School of Sciences and Engineering includes the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Materials Science and Technology, and Physics, while the School of Health Sciences includes the faculty of Medicine. The Natural History Museum of Crete, established in 1981 at Heraklion, is also part of the University of Crete.

Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1983 and received its first students in 1984. Since 1989, it has been operating at its new campus, located about 7 km from Heraklion. It represents one of the newest medical and research complexes in Greece.

The campus includes a spacious and functional 24,000 square meter, ten-wing building and a modern, well-equipped 62,000 square meter University Hospital. During the twenty five years of its existence, it has established multiple activities in education, research, and health care and has collaborated with scientific and social sectors in Greece and abroad.

The Faculty consists of ten Departments: Basic Sciences, Morphology, Laboratory Medicine, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Mother and Child Health, Neurology and Sensory Organs, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Social Medicine. The teaching staff includes more than 130 faculty members. In addition, the permanent staff includes administrative staff and specialized technical personnel.

The undergraduate programme of studies lasts for six years. Balanced emphasis is given to Basic Sciences (semesters 1-4), Laboratory Medicine (semesters 4-7), Pre-clinical Training (semesters 6-8) and Clinical training (semesters 9-12). The Faculty of Medicine also offers several postgraduate programmes leading to a Master’s or doctoral degree.

Heraklion Sightseeing

The Koules Fortress

The Venetian Castle of Heraklion is called Koules, which means “fortress” in Turkish. It is an impressive fortress that surrounds the harbor of Heraklion, Crete. The Koules Castle is a massive fortress with two storeys that used to guard the entry to the port. The Castle was constructed by the Venetians in the early 13th century, when they conquered the town. The earliest description of the Koules Venetian Castle exists in the work of the Florentine monk Cristoforo Buondelmonti in 1429.

The Church of Saint Titus

This church stands on a square of the same name in Heraklion Town and is dedicated to Saint Titus, patron of the island. It is a beautiful monument that blends elements of Western and Eastern architecture and, and that was first built in during the Byzantine period. The Venetians used it as a Catholic Cathedral.

The Turks transformed it into a mosque, altering one more time the church’s architecture. The strong earthquakes destroyed it in 1856. Locals rebuilt it on its old foundations in 1872 but turning it into a Greek Orthodox church.The holy relics of Saint Titus are housed here.

Knossos Palace

The Minoan Palace at Knossos is over 20,000 square meters - and the largest of all Minoan palatial structures. It was built of ashlar blocks, had many floors and was decorated with really beautiful frescoes. The old palace was built around 2000 B.C but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 B.C. The newer, more complex palace, was built almost immediately after the first one was destroyed. In the middle of the 15th Century B.C, the Achaeans took over the island of Crete and settled in the palace. The palace was once again destroyed by fire in the middle of the 14th Century B.C and henceforth ceased to function as a palatial centre.

Legend has it that this palace was the source of the Labyrinth myth. It was a structure that was made by King Minos of Crete, to keep the mythical creature Minotaur – who was half bull and half man – away. Eventually the creature was killed by Theseus.

Palace of Phaistos

The Palace of Phaistos is located on the east end of the Kastri Hill, the end of the Mesara plain in South Central Crete. It is considered to be one of the finest of all Minoan palaces. The preserves of the old and new palace can be seen until nowadays. Excavations in the area began in 1884 and were carried out by F. Halbherr and A. Taramelli. After the declaration of the Cretan State as independent in 1898, continued by F. Halbherr and L. Pernier between in 1900- 1904.

Later the excavations were carried out by Doro Levi between 1950 and 1971 with the help of the Italian Archaeological School of Athens. Other findings of the area include thousands of seal impressions and some tablets containing the Linear A script.

The Archaeological Museum

The museum of Heraklion is located in the capital of Crete, Heraklion and is one of the most important and richest museums in Greece. In its 20 rooms, the museum houses finds that have been excavated exclusively in Crete, and related to its prestigious past, from Neolithic to Roman times, through the important and prosperous Minoan period.

Visitors may admire sculptures, clay figurines, superb jewels and astonishing frescoes and remains from the various Minoan palaces of Crete (especially from the palace at Knossos). Telephone: 2810 226092/224630/226470

The Aqualand of Hersonisos Heraklion

Privately created and maintained by John McLaren and his staff, the stunning Aquaworld at Hersonisos operates since 1995. It was created by an aquarium hobbyist who loved the animals, so he decided to make a place to host them. In the Aquarium of Hersonisos, you can find many species of reptiles, fish and other marines.

From turtles, snakes, fish, marines and many reptiles that are found in the countryside and the sea of Crete, the collection is great. The Aquaworld of Hersonisos not only collects animal and sea species but also takes in injured animals which need home.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum of Crete is located near the port of Heraklion, at Sofokli Venizelou street, and it is dedicated to present the natural environment of Crete and Mediterranean in general. Operating under the framework of the University of Crete, this museum was established in 1980 and has five departments: Zoological, Botanical, Anthropological, Paleontological-Geological and Mineralogical.

Hersonisos village

Hersonisos is the best equipped touristy resort of the prefecture of Heraklion. It is located 27 kilometres east of the capital of Crete and has a population of about 4100 inhabitants. Accommodations of all categories, restaurants, shops of all kinds, popular art shops, bars and night clubs are filling the resort while their number grows every year.

The little village of Hersonissos is located nearby this lively and busy touristy resort and seems to be indifferent to the crowd and bustle of the port, keeping its simplicity and authenticity. Ruins from the Roman period can be seen in the surrounding area as well as some port remains which are visible under the sea.

crete@helmsic.gr

+302810394775

LARISSA

2004-06-29T23:06:00.003+03:00

The Town of Larissa

The town of Larissa is situated in the center of the Thessalian plain and has been the capital of Thessaly throughout its long history, from ancient Pelasguiotida to this day.It constitutes the economic, administrative and scientific centre of Thessaly.

Larissa has important sights and monuments. It has strong business potentialities, too. The vast pedestrianized precinct of Larissa makes the town a pleasant place to take a walk in especially in the business centre.

The advantageous geographical position of the town has greatly contributed to its tourist development which is also connected with a number of professional activities.

It is also worth mentioning the cultural infrastructures of the town; there are two ancient theatres, a Municipal Gallery, a Municipal Regional Theater, a Center of Modern Plastic Arts, cinemas, a Folklore Historical Museum, 'G.I.Katsigrasʼ Museum etc.

Doubtless, the transport infrastructures of the Prefecture of Larissa, its railway network and the national road make the town easy of access and constitute major advantages, too. Likewise, the town economy contributes to the development of its business and congress tourism

Sea Tourism

The sea tourism of Larissa is significant and has very good infrastructures (harbors,schools of sea sports) as well as a large number of sea sports for years now.
Camps and sailing courses, canoë and water ski courses are also available for eleven to sixteen-year-old youths. It is also worth mentioning that a number of important sports events are held in Larissa such as the Championship of Central Greece, the Optimist and Laser Sailing races on the Spitaki Beach and the Pan-Hellenic Games of underwater fishing.

Winter Tourism - Ski

Mount Olympus is not a tourist attraction only for nature-worshippers and climbers. Every year a lot of skiers enjoy the enchantment of nature and the services offered by the modern ski resort on the spot of Vrissopoules.

According to the Greek mythology the twelve gods that decided upon the Ancient Greeksʼ fate lived on the peaks of mount Olympus. As mount Olympus rises up on the borderline between Thessaly and

Macedonia

and in the middle of the mainland of

Greece

, it is accessible from the national road, the railway network and the provincial roads. It is also visible from the peaks of most Greek mountains.

A part of the mountain was qualified as a National Park in 1938 while Unesco proclaimed mount Olympus “Sediment of Biosphere”. The Nature Conservancy status quo that this National Park is subject to contributes not only to the protection of the flora and fauna but also to its systematic recording. Climbers can find accommodation and food in its five mountain refuges.

Picturesque villages are perched on the wooded slopes of the mountain and constitute tourist attractions of the region as the passage of time hasnʼt taken away their authenticity. Tourists can visit several traditional buildings, fountains, houses, significant monuments (the monastery of Campana, the Virgin Mother of Polidendri) and watermills.Their thick forests extend as far as the Aegean coastline.

Archaelogical Monuments

The fact that the mountain region of the Prefecture of Larissa was first inhabited about 100,000 years ago accounts for the wealth of its history.

Dolihi, Azoros, Dodoni, Kifos, Iloni, Olosson, Hiretie, Gouni, Mallia were some of the prosperous towns founded in the region.
The Perevians were the first inhabitants of the region. They dominated over the region and assumed the political administration of Larissa. A large number of archaeological finds reveal the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of the town of Larissa is situated on Saint Achillesʼ hill. According to the archaeological finds the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age(6,000 B.C).
The inscriptions excavated witness to the fact that in the Classic era the Acropolis of Larissa was located on the same spot. In the early years of the East Roman Empire the Byzantines chose the same spot to have the Acropolis built.

Hippocrates Monument

Hippocratesʼ tomb came to light after an overflow of Pinios river in 1826.

First Ancient Theater

The big ancient theater of a seating capability of 10,000 persons is situated on the south side of the Acropolis hill. It was constructed in the reign of Philip V,King of Macedonia, towards the close of the 3rd century B.C. and was founded beyond the ancient city centre beneath the fortified Acropolis facing the ancient market.

Second Ancient Theater

The second ancient theatre is situated a short distance from the big ancient theatre at the crossroads of Ergatiki Protomagia and Tagmatarhou Velissariou street. There have been preserved thirteen tiers of two rows of seats each and fourteen scales. Excavations have brought to light an uninscribed stele dedicated to godess Demeter and her daughter which reveals that their temple was probably located on that spot.

A 19th century mosque temporarily houses the Archaeological Museum in 31 Avgoustou street. It contains important Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Archaic, Classical and Byzantine finds. In the future, a modern building which will be constructed at Mezourlo will house laboratories, spacious repositories and the two offices of the Antiquities of Larissa (Prehistoric-Classical and Byzantine).

In the town of Larissa the cultural events are integral part of its inhabitantsʼ lives. Throughout the year a large number of activities take place in its towns and villages. A new modern building houses the Municipal Art Gallery in the quarter of Neapoli.

A lot of exhibitions are organized on the ground floor of the Municipal Art Gallery. The Folklore-Historical museum that was inaugurated in 1983 aspires to exhibit various aspects of the material and intellectual life of the people who lived in the area and town of Larissa in the pre-industrial era.

Fun here we come!

Nightlife!

Being the center of Thessaly, Larissa matches each and every taste.

Every single time of the day cafés and snack bars are busy but in the evening town’s rythmes get wild. Tahidromiou Square is always full of life, Acropolis is a delicious oasis with it’s restaurants and traditional taverns but when clock strikes twelve it transforms into youth’s paradise full of bars and clubs until dawn. One more attraction for Larissa’s people is a category of places with live music where everyone dances and has fun until early morning.

Getting to Ioannina

2004-02-01T06:33:00.000+02:00

By plane

The easiest way to reach Ioannina is by plane via Athens.

On a daily basis three flights connect Athens airport with Ioannina. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour.

For your booking, visit the Aegean airlines and the Olympic Air web pages.

An alternative, but less straightforward path is to travel from Athens to Aktio-Preveza by plane (on a weekly basis there are three flights: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, flight duration approximately 55 minutes) and then from Preveza, reach Ioannina by bus (it is a one-hour bus ride). The Preveza airport is served by Olympic Air.

Flights are usually heavily booked, so booking in advance (2 months) is recommended. Typically, the airfare from Athens (or Thessaloniki) to Ioannina is less expensive, if it is booked as a domestic rather than an international flight.

By bus

Ioannina is accessible by bus from Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu or Igoumenitsa.

Bus from Athens to Ioannina:

There are nine daily bus connections (departure times: 6:00, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 13:00, 15:30, 17:00, 21:30, 22:30) from Athens to Ioannina.

The trip duration is about 6.5 hours and the bus fare is approximately 30 Euros (one way).

If you decide to reach Ioannina by bus you should go from Athens airport to the Athens central long-distance bus terminal (named Kifissos terminal).

You may either get a taxi (cost about 30 Euros) or use the X93 express bus line (bus is 3.90 Euros).

Bus from Thessaloniki to Ioannina:

There are six daily bus connections (departure times: 7.30, 11, 13.30, 15.00, 18.00, 21.30) from Thessaloniki to Ioannina.

The trip duration is about 5 hours and the bus fare is approximately 27 Euros (one way).

If you decide to reach Ioannina by bus you should go from Thessaloniki airport to the Thessaloniki central long-distance bus terminal.

Bus from Corfu or Igoumenitsa to Ioannina:

From May, there are several charter flights that connect most European capitals to Corfu.

Once you are in Corfu, you can reach Ioannina by bus.

There are two daily bus connections (departure times: 7.45, 19.15) from Corfu to Ioannina.

The trip duration is approximately 3 hours and the bus fare is approximately 15 Euros (one way - it includes the ferry fare).

If you miss the bus at Corfu, just take the ferry across to Igoumenitsa (ferry fare is about 5 euros) and then catch one of the buses at the Igoumenitsa long-distance bus station, which is within walking distance from the port.

From Igoumenitsa, Ioannina is a 1.5-hour bus ride.

There are ten bus connections (departure times: 6.30, 8.15, 9.15, 11.30, 14.30, 16.45, 18.00, 20.00, bus fare is about 8 euro - one way).

By boat

The port of Igoumenitsa is connected with several major Adriatic Sea Italian ports (Trieste, Venice, Ankona, Brindisi, Bari).

Then from Igoumenitsa, Ioannina is a 1.5-hour bus ride (see Bus information from Corfu or Igoumenitsa to Ioannina above) and less than one hour if you decide to drive.

By car

If you decide to drive from Athens or Thessaloniki to Ioannina, you may rent a car in the arrivals area of Athens or Thessaloniki airports.

Driving directions from Athens to Ioannina:

From the Athens airport, take Attiki Odos motorway and follow the signs to Athens and then Elefsina. After Elefsina, keep driving on Greek National Road 8A (sometimes called National Road 8) westbound, until you reach Rio Junction. Pass the Rio-Antirio bridge, and then follow National Road 5 northbound. National Road 5 ends at downtown Ioannina.

Driving directions from Thessaloniki to Ioannina:

From Thessaloniki airport, drive in the direction of Athens following National Road E-75/A1 for a while, which later becomes E-90 and E-75. Continue until you reach the intersection which takes you to Veria. Make a right turn towards Veria and Kozani. Now you are on E-90/A2 freeway (a.k.a Via Egnatia). Do not enter Veria. Make a left towards Kozani and stay on E90/A2 until Grevena. You go through Grevena and on A2 you follow the signs to Ioannina, Metsovo and Milia. The road goes through the mountains and you pass the villages of Kipourio, Krania, and Milia. After Milia, follow the signs to Metsovo and Ioannina. Do not enter Metsovo; just drive on the road that becomes E-92, following the signs to Ioannina.

Εντυπώσεις - Εμπειρίες Ελλήνων Φοιτητών

2003-09-06T00:31:00.007+03:00

Χριστίνα 2008, Μεξικό

Πηγα τον Αυγουστο στο Μοντερρευ του Μεξικου και περασα ΤΕΛΕΙΑ!!
Η πολη δεν ηταν τοσο ωραια, απο την αποψη οτι ειναι πολυ μοντερνα και συγχρονη και δεν μπορεις να δεις τοσο τον μεξικανικο τροπο ζωης, αρχιτεκτονικιης κλπ. Ομως μπορεις να επισκεφτεις αλλες περιοχες στο Μεξικο και να τα δεις ολα αυτα, ολη η χωρα ειναι καταπληκτικη.
Αυτο που εχει το Μοντερρευ ειναι μια υπεροχη ifmsa! Ολα τα παιδια ηταν εξυπηρετικα και προθυμα να μας βοηθησουν σε ο, τι και να χρειαζομασταν, απο το πιο ασημαντο μεχρι το πιο σοβαρο. Επισης ημουν τυχερη, γιατι το μηνα που πηγα ημουνα με αλλα 40 φοβερα ατομα απο ολο τον κοσμο με τα οποια περασαμε υπεροχα. Μαζι με τους μεξικανους, οργανωναμε συνεχεια παρτι γεματα χορο και μεξικανικο φαγητο.
Οι εστιες ηταν πολυ καθαρες και ανετες. Υπηρχε προσωπικο που καθαριζε τα δωματια μας καθε μερα και το πρωι μας ετοιμαζε πρωινο. Τα υπολοιπα γευματα ηταν στο νοσοκομειο και η τοπικη κουζινα μου αρεσε πολυ. Καποια παιδια ειχαν καποιες στομαχικες διαταραχες, αλλα εγω δεν αντιμετωπισα κανενα προβλημα.
Εχω κρατησει επαφη με τους περισσοτερους (να'ναι καλα το facebook!!) και σκεφτομαι να ξαναπαω καποια στιγμη στο μελλον. Κατα τη διαρκεια της ανταλλαγης αλλα και μετα ειχα την ευκαιρια να επισκεφτω και πολλες αλλες πολεις του Μεξικου απο τον Ειρηνικο μεχρι την Καραιβικη και καμμια δεν με απογοητευσε!!
Πραγματικα μετανιωνω που δεν ειχα παει νωριτερα ανταλλαγη, γιατι ορκιστηκα το καλοκαιρι κι ετσι δεν εχω τη δυνατοτητα να το επαναλαβω..
Ηταν με διαφορα το καλυτερο καλοκαιρι μου!!
Συνιστω το Μεξικο σε ολους ανεπιφυλακτα!!

Νάντια 2008, Ιταλία

Η Udine είναι μια μικρή αλλά υπέροχη πόλη!
Τα παιδιά της SISM εκεί ήταν πολύ εξυπηρετικά, από τη στιγμή που πάτησα το πόδι μου Ιταλία, πάντα διαθέσιμα να βοηθήσουν στο οτιδήποτε.
Οι εστίες στεγάζονται σε καινούριο κτίριο, ο καθένας είχε το δικό του δωμάτιο, με δικό του μπάνιο αλλα κοινή κουζίνα σε κάθε όροφο, τόπο συνάντησης και γνωριμίας με τους υπόλοιπους φοιτητές, Ιταλούς και μη.
Το νοσοκομείο της κλινικής άσκησης είναι μεγάλο και έχεις τη δυνατότητα να ασχοληθείς πολύ με ιατρικά θέματα, αν σε ενδιαφέρει, αφού οι περισσότεροι καθηγητές είναι κάτι παραπάνω από πρόθυμοι να σε διδάξουν και να αφήσουν καλή εντύπωση στους αλλοδαπούς φοιτητές.
Μπορεί η πόλη να μην προσφέρεται για αχαλίνωτο clubbing, αλλά υπάρχουν πολά δρομολόγια με τρένο και λεωφορεία για να ταξιδέψεις και σε άλλες πόλεις. Ο Ιούλιος είναι μια καλή περίοδος πάντως, γιατί έχει πολλές πολιτισμικές εκδηλώσεις στην πόλη και σε γύρω περιοχές.

Αναστασία 2008, Ουγγαρία

Τι να πρωτοπώ γι΄αυτόν τον μήνα;!

Η εμπειρία μου αυτή ήταν εκπληκτική και θα μου μείνει αξέχαστη!

Έμενα λοιπόν σε μια όμορφη πόλη της Ουγγαρίας, το Szeged. Αρχικά θεώρησα πως ήμουν άτυχη που δεν πήγα στη Βουδαπέστη αλλά τελικά έκανα λάθος! Η πόλη αυτή ήταν υπέροχη, γεμάτη πράσινο, και θα μπορούσα να πω ιδανική για αυτού του είδους τις ανταλλαγές!

Μέσα σ΄αυτόν τον μήνα γνώρισα πολλά απίστευτα παιδιά από όλον τον κόσμο με τα οποία μοιραστήκαμε πολλές όμορφες στιγμές! Οι μέρες μας ήταν γεμάτες, τα πρωινά με νοσοκομεία και μετά με βόλτες και βόλτες…

Κάναμε πολλές εκδρομές σε όλη τη χώρα και θα έλεγα ότι έμαθα αρκετά για την Ουγγαρία, μιας και ήρθα σε επαφή και με πολλούς ντόπιους!

Δυστυχώς δεν είναι δυνατό να περιγράψω την εμπειρία ενός ολόκληρου μήνα μέσα σε μια παράγραφο… Αυτό που μπορώ να πω με βεβαιότητα είναι πως θα ήθελα με κάποιον τρόπο να βρισκόμουν ξανά στο ίδιο μέρος, με τους ίδιους ανθρώπους…

VISA INFORMATION

2003-01-01T21:02:00.001+02:00

Visas for Foreigners travelling to Greece
1 . Greece follows the Schengen Agreement provisions and the subsequent acquis concerning short term visa issues. Countries applying the Schengen acquis in full (EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, plus associated countries: Iceland and Norway) follow a common visa policy for short-term stays of up to three (3) months in the Schengen area. The citizens of these countries are not subjected to border controls within the common area (airlines or other carriers require identification - I.D. Card or passport or any other piece of identification issued by a public authority).
2. Citizens of the following EU and other European countries do not need a visa to enter Greece (and the Schengen area). They have only to produce a passport or an I.D. card at the border.
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Ireland
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Hungary
Malta
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
United Kingdom
3. For holders of regular passports of the following countries who wish to visit Greece (and the Schengen area) and stay up to 3 months (90 days) within a six (6) month period, NO visa is required:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Israel
Japan
Malaysia
Mexico
Monaco
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
San Marino
Singapore
South Korea
The Holy See (Vatican)
USA
Uruguay
Venezuela
4. Holders of regular passports from the rest of the world need a visa in order to enter Greece (and the Schengen area)
NOTE: When travelling to Greece on a tourist visa, visitors are required to have travel insurance that covers cases of medical or other emergencies for the duration of the stay.

Getting to Athens!

2001-09-09T11:56:00.001+03:00

Getting to Athens by plane

Cheap Flights to Athens

Aer Lingus (Ireland) --> http://www.aerlingus.com
AeroSvit (Ukraine) --> http://www.aerosvit.com
Air Baltic (Baltic states) --> http://www.airbaltic.com
Air Berlin (Germany-Berlin) --> http://www.airberlin.com
Air France (France) --> http://www.airfrance.com
Air Malta (Malta) --> http://www.airmalta.com
Air Moldova (Moldova) -->; http://www.airmoldova.md
Air One (Italy-Bologna/Naples) --> http://www.flyairone.it
Albanian Airlines (Albania) --> http://www.albanianairlines.com.al
Alitalia (Italy) --> http://www.alitalia.com
Alpi Eagles (Italy-Venice) --> http://www.alpieagles.com
Armavia (Armenia) --> http://www.u8.am
Austrian Airlines (Austria) --> http://www.aua.com
Blue1 (Finland) --> http://www.blue1.com
British Airways (UK) --> http://www.ba.com
Brussels Airlines (Belgium) --> http://www.brusselsairlines.com
Bulgaria Air (Bulgaria) --> http://www.air.bg
Carpatair (Romania-Timisoara) --> http://www.carpatair.com
Centralwings (Poland-Krakow) --> http://www.centralwings.com
ClickAir (Catalonia-Barcelona) --> http://www.clickair.com
CSA Czech Airlines (Czech Republic) --> http://www.czech-airlines.com
Cyprus Airways (Cyprus) --> http://www.cyprusairways.com
Donbass Aero (Ukraine) --> http://www.donbass.aero
Easy Jet (Germany,UK,Italy) --> http://www.easyjet.com
Georgian Airways (Georgia) --> http://www.georgian-airways.com
Germanwings (Germany-Cologne,Stuttgart) --> http://www.germanwings.com
Iberia (Spain) --> http://www.iberia.com
Jat Airways (Serbia) --> http://www.jat.com
KD Avia (Russian Federation-Kaliningrad) --> http://www.kdavia.ru
KrasAir (Russian Federation-Moscow) --> http://www.krasair.ru
LOT (Poland) --> http://www.lot.com
Lufthansa (Germany-Frankfurt,Munich) --> http://www.lufthansa.com
Malev (Hungary) --> http://www.malev.hu
Myair (Italy-Bari) --> http://www.myair.com
Norwegian (Norway,Poland) --> http://www.norwegian.no
SAS (Denmark) --> http://www.flysas.com
SkyEurope (Austria,Czech Republic) --> http://www.skyeurope.com
Sterling (Denmark) --> http://www.sterlingticket.com
Swiss International Airlines (Switzerland) --> http://www.swiss.com
Tarom (Romania) --> http://www.tarom.ro
Turkish Airlines (Turkey) --> http://www.turkishairlines.com
Uzbekistan Airways (Uzbekistan) --> http://www.uzairways.com
Vueling (Spain,Catalonia) --> http://www.vueling.com

Greek Airline Companies
Aegean Airlines --> http://www.aegeanair.com
Olympic Airlines --> http://www.olympicair.com
Athens Airways --> http://www.athensairways.com

Getting to Athens by train
Greek Railways Company (OSE) --> http://www.ose.gr

Getting to Athens by sea
Ferries Schedules To/From Athens (Piraeus Port) --> www.gtp.gr/RoutesFormInt.asp