Open Invitation to EAE Summer Star Parties-Mt Parnon, GREECE

Vagelis,
This looks fantastic!
I'll get busy working out holiday dates
but pencil me in for the June dates!

Cheers!

Dave et al,

I would respectfully suggest you forget the refuge and bring a sleeping bag with you ... nothing beats the "natural" feeling when out in the woods and atop a mountain.

Anthony is absolutely right. This is what I always prefer to do.
www.astrovox.gr/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=4343

Michael,

The dates provided by Vaggeli are the suggested dates which involve a Friday-Sunday expedition. Without getting into specifics, it is almost certain you will find someone in the area before Friday and on purpose. With less traffic and a lot more quietness, arrivals before Friday are best since with the company of two to three individuals you can enjoy a really productive session.

To this end, if flights are cheaper for dates before/after the Friday-Sunday period, it may be a blessing in disguise.

Yes, they are just suggested dates.
OK, why not Wednesday arrival ?
No problem for camping, but for the refuge, I will first have to make sure that it will be open. I 'll let you know.
Good thinking, dogstar.

Vagelis,
This looks fantastic!
I'll get busy working out holiday dates
but pencil me in for the June dates!

Cheers!

OK Frank

This sounds great ! My partner has given me permission to travel also.
In June the flights from Dublin are on the Wednesday. No Thursday flight that day. The cost from Dublin leaving Wednesday and returning on Sunday is about €280 via Aerlingus. Going from Shannon via Air France it is €380 but leaving on a Thursday with an afternoon flight out of Athens on the Sunday. Its a bit more expensive but more convenient timing wise and without the drive to Dublin/ parking charges etc-it would probably work out about the same cost.

For July 3rd to 7th, this is from Thursday to Monday.
I assume the Monday is when we leave - there isn't an observing session that night I presume?
From Dublin 2nd to 7th: Approx 305euro
Depart Dublin 07:55; Arrive Budapest 11:45
Depart Budapest 12:50; Arrive Athens 15:50
Could stay the night in a hotel in Athens, get some rest and head up the following morning with you guys, or, if someone was heading up to the site in the evening, could go with them?
On the way back:
Depart Athens 16:30; Arrive Budapest 17:30
Depart Budapest 18:55; Arrive Dublin 20:55

If staying the night in Athens was an option on the 2nd, then could fly with Aer Lingus direct from Dublin to Athens.
Depart Dublin 14:30; Arrive Athens 20:30
On the way back:
Depart Athens 21:30; Arrive Dublin 23:55
You'd be a bit wrecked for work the next day!
Price is approx 325euro incl taxes

Alternatively, for 265euro incl taxes:
Depart Dublin 16:45 (would only need to take a half day off work then)
Arrive Prague 20:15; Depart Prague 22:00; Arrive Athens 01:35
Could stay up for a few hours, sleep out the following morning, and you would be partially adapting your body for all-night observing!
Problem on the way back though with the flight leaving Athens at 04:30
However, one leg of the trip could be booked with one airline and the return leg booked with another.