Social programme
Although the schedule of the meeting is very tight, there is an ample social programme available for our guests. We will organize a conference excursion (Wednesday 27 September, afternoon), an after-conference outing (Friday 29 September, afternoon, for those who stay), and a conference banquet (Thursday 28 September, evening). During the lunch breaks guided tours to the Furnas hot spring areas and the Terra Nostra Garden are available. All of these activities are facultative and subject to surcharges. The availability and the programme of the social events might be subject to alterations, especially due to the changeable Azorean weather.
Conference excursion
On Wednesday 27 September in the afternoon, we will offer a half-day excursion including a dinner to our guests. We will start off from Furnas to Cha Gorreana (Europe’s only tea plantation), where we will have a guided tour and the possibility of sampling some of the products of the factory. Continuing along the northern coast, we will make a visit to a geothermal power station. We will then make our way to a nice garden in a valley with some hot springs and pools. Our way will further lead us to the picturesque Lagoa de Fogo with some photo stops. We will then make our way past the Lagoa da Furnas (photo stop). Passing by the hotel (where we will leave the people not joining the dinner and pick up those joining for the dinner only) we will further make our way to Ribeira Quente (site of extremophiles), then to the Restaurant Garajau, where we will have a dinner with local specialities. We will return to Furnas at 22:30. Good shoes should be worn at the excursion. The price for the excursion including dinner is €50. If you want to book only the excursion, it is €20; the dinner only is €30.
After-conference outing
On Friday 29 September in the afternoon we invite you to join us for an after-conference outing to Lake Furnas. We will walk up from Hotel Terra Nostra through the outskirts of Furnas and have the possibility of taking a walk up to a viewpoint above the lake if weather and trail conditions are permitting. Our trail will pass a Native Flora Replantation project. Then we will visit the hot spring area close to the lake (where the famous "Cozido dos Caldeiras" is cooked) and continue along the lakeside to the Seismic Monitoring Station, where we will stop for a visit. We will then have a short walk to the southern end of the lake from where we will have a shuttle to the Hotel Terra Nostra. A small contribution to the costs of the trip (max €5) can be charged.
Conference dinner
On Thursday 29 September the conference dinner will be held at Hotel Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. The dinner will have three courses. The price for the dinner is €50. One glass of wine per course and mineral water and soft drinks are included in the price.
Other activities
We will offer the following other activities during the lunch breaks:
- Visit to the Furnas geothermal area with a stop at the café Chalet da Tia Merces (run by a former extremophile researcher).
- Guided tour to Terra Nostra Botanical Garden with a horticulturalist.