Practical Information

Visas

According to our information, Croatian visas are required for visitors who are
citizens of the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Belorussia, Cyprus,
Chad, Chechnya, Denmark, Georgia, East Timor-Indonesia, Estonia, Greenland,
Guatemala, India, Iceland, South Africa, Congo, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Moldova, Paraguay, Peru and Yugoslavia. However, even if your country is not
listed here, we advise that you contact the Croatian Embassy in your country to
double check the information as regulations can change.

To receive a Visa you will
need a valid passport for the whole duration of your stay, two recent
photographs 30 x 35 mm, and an official invitation (which you should request
from the ARK office). It takes four to six weeks to get a visa issued, so start
working on this as soon as possible. You will have to pay a fee of
approximately US $15.

Money

Croatian currency is called kuna and lipa. One hundred lipas equals 1 kuna.

Bills come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 kunas. You may also be able
to use credit cards such as Diners Club, Visa, American Express, Master Card,
Eurocard -- along with Eurocheques and travelers cheques.

But to be on the safe side, you should always have with you some money in
kunas. Exchange offices can be found at airports, bus stations, railway
stations, hotels, tourist agencies, and banks. There also are exchange offices
in the center of Zagreb and Porec. You can also get cash with your Eurocard,
Master Card, and Cirrus card at bank automatic teller machines.

Language

Croatian is the national language of Croatia. Most Zagreb citizens understand
English and German, and in Porec most of them speak Italian, too.

Health

Croatia does not have any special health requirements, but if sanitary
inspectors from customs decide to check on you, they have the right to do so.

Electricity

Croatia uses 220 voltage, so visitors from countries with different voltage
should take adapters.

Telephones

There are public telephones in the airport, and in railway stations, post
offices, hotels, and squares. To use the public telephones you have to buy a
special telephone card. You can buy this card at newsstands, post offices and
markets. If you are planning to call outside the country, it is best to buy the
card with the longest duration (1,000 units).

Fees

The Croatian authorities require the payment of a residence tax of 2.10 DM per
day, usually payable at the hotel. This tax is included in the Triennial
registration fee for your stay at the venue, but you might/will have to pay it
if you travel or stay longer in Croatia. There is no fee for children under 12,
and the fee is reduced by 50% for people 12 - 18.

Travel to Porec

If you are traveling by plane, the closest airports are in Zagreb and Pula,
Croatia, Ljubljana in Slovenia; and Trieste in Italy. From these you will have
to take either another plane or a bus.

Transport from Zagreb airport (Pleso) to Zagreb city centre

Croatia Airlines buses leave the airport every 30 minutes in the morning
until 9:00 and after that every 60 minutes. They leave from in front of the
main airport building and arrive at the main bus station in Zagreb. A ticket
costs 20 kunas (approx. 5 DM).

Travel from Zagreb to Porec and Porec to Zagreb by bus:

The journey lasts 5-6 hours, and a return ticket costs between 80 to 130 kunas
(approx. 30 - 40 DM). The distance is 290 km.

NOTE: The above schedule can change at any time.

Travel from Zagreb to Pula by plane

If you prefer to continue your trip by plane from Zagreb, Croatia
Airlines has flights from Zagreb to Pula, in Croatia. From Pula, you will
have to take a bus to Porec, which is located 70km away (see below for bus
schedules).

The price of a return ticket Zagreb-Pula, with a determined date of return is
633 kunas (180 DM). With an open return date the price is 833 kunas (230 DM).
The fee for children younger than 2 years is 10% normal price, and for children
between 2 and 12 the fee is 50% normal price.

Croatia Airlines accepts cash, Diners Club, Master Card, Eurocard and Visa.

The flight is 40 minutes long — except on Sundays, when it is longer because
there is a stop in Zadar.

Plane tickets have to be reserved in advance.

Travel from Pula to Porec by bus:

The
price of a one-way ticket is 30 kn (10 DM). Distance from Pula to Porec is 70
km.

Travel from Ljubljana (Slovenia) to Porec by bus:

Journey
approx 4 hours.

Travel from Trieste (Italy) to Porec by bus:

Please note that there are no train or plane connections from Trieste to Porec.

The
price is 13900 ITL; the distance is 60 km.

Hitchhiking

As in the other countries, this depends on luck. It takes confidence and a big
smile! It is forbidden to hitchhike on highways.

Trains

Unfortunately, trains from Zagreb (and Ljubljana) go only to Pazin. From there you will need to
take buses, which is complicated and slow-going. We don't recommend this route.
It is much easier to take a bus directly from Zagreb.

Porec

The address of Hotel Pical, in which the Triennial will take place:

Hotel Pical, Nikole Tesle bb, 52000 Porec, Croatia

telephone number: +385 52 451 677; fax: +385 52 451 242

Hotel Pical is "A" category. The Congress Hall has 600 seats, and all the
equipment for simultaneous translation. Most of the rooms are doubles.

Climate

The average temperature in Porec at the time of the Triennial is 20 degrees.
Ocean temperature is 21 degrees.

Places to eat

Spaghettoteca Barilla, Eufraziana 26 - has the best spaghetti, lasagne
and tortellini - prices around 30 or 40 kunas (10 DM)

Konoba Sidro, Istarskog razvoda 1 - has chicken, steaks, pork, pommes
frites - prices 30 to 50 kunas (10 to 15 DM)

Pizzeria Nono, Zagrebacka 4 - has pizzas, pasta, salads, steaks,
and desserts - prices 30 to 60 kunas (10 to 20 DM)

Fast food Porec, Rade Koncara bb - hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot
dogs, toast, pommes frites - prices 10 to 15 kunas (3 to 5 DM)

Prices of sodas are between 2 to 5 DM.

Places to visit

One afternoon in the week is free, so we shall organise trips to local
projects. Information about your choices will be available at the conference.

Beaches

Since the hotel is by the sea, you have a range of beaches nearby.

Working hours

Most shops are open from 8.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m., and some are open Sundays
(until noon). Post offices, banks, and tourist offices are open everyday from 8.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.

For more information about Porec, you can visit their website:
http//www.istra.com/riviera.