Dear colleagues and friends,

This second circular holds all the available information to date, including information on accommodation, travel, and the activities prepared by the conference organizers. All this information and future updates are also available on the conference website: (manuscriptcenter.org/translated)


1. VISA REGULATIONS
Non-Egyptian visitors arriving in Egypt are required to be in possession of a valid passport. Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic and Consular Missions Abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). It is, however, possible for most tourists and visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry, costing around $ 15. Please check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.

2. TRANSPORT
Getting around in Alexandria
Although a network of tramways and buses serves most areas in Alexandria, taxis are recommended as the easiest and not-so-expensive way to get around in Alexandria. City streets teem with black-and-yellow taxis ( ) that can be stopped anywhere by waving to the driver. Taxi fares range from 3 EGP for short hops to 30 EGP for the farthest destination, depending on traffic and traffic jams. A good online map of Alexandria is available at http://www.alex4all.com/tree/map/map1/indexmap.html

The Manuscript Center has arranged a bus to pick you from and back to the hotel during the conference.

From the airport
All airports in Egypt have a taxi service to city centers, operated on a flat fee basis (ask your airlines or the information desk at the airport).

Kindly note that the Manuscript Center is arranging cars to meet at the airport in case you confirm your flight details a week prior to the conference opening.


3. ACCOMMODATION
All participants in the conference are guests of the Manuscript Center at:
Renaissance Alexandria Hotel (formerly known as Ramada):
Classification: 5 Stars
Address: 544 El Geish Avenue - Sidi Bishr
Telephone: + 20 3 549 0935
Fax: +20 3 5497690
Distance to the Hotel:
Bibliotheca Alexandrina 30 minutes (by car)
Down Town 35 minutes (by car)
Alexandria Intl Airport 45 minutes (by car)


4. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Normally no immunizations are required or needed. Pharmacies are scattered around the city, and many are open 24 hours a day.


5. CURRENCY
The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). 1 EGP = 100 Piasters. Banks are open in major hotels for 24 hrs. Credit cards are accepted and widely used. The exchange rate floats and changes daily. You can check the current rate on-line at http://www.xe.com/ucc.You do not need to change money prior to arrival as currency exchange offices and ATM machines are all over the city. Most currency exchange locations are open 7 days a week, but banks are closed Friday and Saturday.


6. WEATHER & CLOTHING
May is fairly hot month in Egypt. The weather should be hot in the daytime (about 30 °C) and a mildly warm in the evenings after sunset (about 15.1 °C). It is advised to pack some light as well as warm clothes as a wise precaution.


7. SHOPPING
Shops are generally open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00 O'clock. Alexandria offers an array of shopping malls (such as Carrefour, Green Plaza, Zahran Mall, Deeb Mall, etc) and oriental bazaars (centered in the downtown area). Please consult the website http://www.alex4all.com/cat/shopping/malls .


8. FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about Alexandria please consult the following websites: http://www.alexandriaegypt.com
http://www.alexandriaegypt.com/tourism/index.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/alexandria
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/africa/egypt/alexandria.htm'
http://ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/alexandria/tourist/index.html


9. EXCURSION
Alexandria city tour will include the most interesting historical sights and a lunch at Tekka restaurant with a panoramic view of the eastern harbour and the Citadel. A preliminary program of the tour is as follows:

Saturday 2/6/2007

9:00-11:00 Pompey Pillar & Catacombs
11:00-12:00 Amphitheatre
12:00-1:30 Alexandria National Museum
1:30-2:30 Lunch at Tekka



10. CONTACT US
The Manuscript Center welcomes your comments and enquiries about the conference activities and facilities. The following list provides direct contact with the organizers concerning:

• Logistics

Ms. Malak Arslan
Senior Translation Specialist
Academic Activities and Specialized Translation Section
Mobile:+20102582664
Malak.arslan@bibalex.org

Ms. Wegdan Hussein
Senior Translation Specialist
Academic Activities and Specialized Translation Section
Mobile: +20101035409
wegdan.hussein@bibalex.org

• General Organization Aspects
Dr. Mohamed Soliman
Head of Publishing Heritage Section
Mohamed.Soliman@bibalex.org
Mobile: +20101704084

Mr. Ramy El-Gamel
Head of Academic Activities and Specialized Translation Section
Mobile: +2 010 16 74 382
ramy.magdi@bibalex.org
Ms. Wegdan Hussein

• Handing of Proceedings

Ms. Wegdan Hussein
Ms. Lamiaa Hegazy
Senior Restoration Specialist
Manuscript & Rare Book Restoration Lab
Mobile: + 20102598696

Ms. Cherine Mahmoud
Senior Translation Specialist
Academic Activities and Specialized Translation Section
Mobile: +20126449684
Cherine.mahmoud@bibalex.org

• Technical Requirements

Mr. Wessam Maher
Publishing Heritage Section
Mobile: +2012488545
Wessam.maher@bibalex.org
Ms. Wegdan Hussein

• General Information

Mr. Ahmed Moussa
Head of Museographic Display Section
Mobile : +20101035402
Ahmed.Moussa@bibalex.org

Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Samie
Senior Manuscript Specialist
Microfilm Section
Mobile: +20122775957
Mohamed.Abdelsamie@bibalex.org

Mr. John Hosny
Senior Manuscript Specialist
Microfilm Section
Mobile: +20125591966
John.Hosny@bibalex.org

• Manuscript Center & Museum Secretariat

Ms. Marwa Hussein
Administrative Officer (secretarial)
Fax: +203 4820461
Mobile: +20101772034
Marwa.hussein@bibalex.org

Ms. Abir Abed
Administrative Officer (secretarial)
Fax: +203 4820461
Mobile: +20102224708
Abir.Abed@bibalex.org

Ms. Heballah El-Sayed
Manuscript Specialist
Administrative Affairs Unit
Mobile: +20010176260
Heba.Elsaid@bibalex.org