The first fotographs are on flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/---/2918740@N25/

Thank you everyone for coming. See you tomorrow :-)

The greek book crossers living in Athens and our mascot Sofia are now ready to welcome you to our city. Registrations are open, site is up and running and our inbox is ready to receive whatever you want to ask.

You can visit our site here:http://www.athensbc2016.com/en/

As you all know summer and autumn have been very difficult in Greece. Due to capital controls and restricting tax laws, we can’t open a single bank account for Bookcrossing. But we can’t allow this to further delay registrations, so until we sort this out, you can book your place by completing the following form:

https://goo.gl/aYJHH1

Tickets for the convention cost 50€. If purchased before 30th November, you get the early bird price of 40€!
After receiving your email we will inform you on how to proceed with the payment.

Please feel free to ask whatever you want, to suggest whatever you think and start organising your trip!

(in case someone is searching the dates again, this convention takes place from Friday 22nd April till Sunday 24th April 2016)

FYI: Translated this post in the German forum
http://www.bookcrossing.com/---/524315

P.S: Oh, again too fast - first there was an email mentioned, and now a Form to submit ;)

in case someone is searching the dates again

... they are mentioned on the Convention page, right where they should be. :-P

in case someone is searching the dates again

... they are mentioned on the Convention page, right where they should be. :-P

Still one klick away ;)

(Inbetween the Form has come up mentioning them too)

We are terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Please fill in the form and Athens is just a click away! :)

Thank you very much!!!

Thank you so much!
Looking for accomodation it would be good to known where (in which part of Athens)the convention will take place. Do you know that already?

Thank you all for your responses. We are sorry for the bookcrossers that wont be able to come and wish to see them in a later convention (Oslo, perhaps?). We are still looking for the places but you can check the hotels in Plaka, Thisio, Monastiraki or places close to metro stations Syntagma, Evaggelismos, Monastiraki. We are focusing on the historical centre of Athens and we are trying to find one place for everything. We will keep you posted!

But will hopefully be able to catch up with everyone at a later convention/ uncon

Flights to Athens booked today! We are so excited to be coming to Greece for the convention. We are also planning to do a small mainland driving trip, two weeks staying on two or three islands (Santorini, Crete and ?) as well as side trips to Petra and Budapest. See you in April.

Looking forward to see you all!

Me too, I am so excited to meet again all those wonderful friends of Oxford and live once again all those memorable moments of April 2015!!!!!!!

Thank you! Form sent for the two of us today. Everything is booked, can't wait for our first visit to Greece.

Just booked my flights and filled in the form, and now I'm giddy with enthusiasm. See you there!

filled the form as well. Looking forward to the convention place announcement

so I will see you in Athens. I will have met some of you in Crete in 2008

Just booked my flights and filled in the registration form!

^ ^
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I got the ok for my holidays in April today and just filled in the registrationform :-)

Flights booked and registration form filled in for hubby and I. Only five months to go.

Our Facebook page is ready: https://m.facebook.com/athensbc2016/?...
We are wainting you in Athens :)

We inform you that you may find on the site the basic convention schedule and the first list of participants. We consider these additions essential for a good planning of your trip to Athens, therefore we extend the early bird registration period until the 30th of November 2015.

I registered in November and my name is on the list of attendees but I haven't received any info about paying. Should I have received something by now?

registered in November and my name is on the list of attendees but I haven't received any info about paying. Should I have received something by now?

Same for me! No info as of yet

registered in November and my name is on the list of attendees but I haven't received any info about paying. Should I have received something by now?

Same for me! No info as of yet

I registered a few weeks ago, also didn't receive any information and my name doesn't show up on attendees' list yet. I guess this is just not a busy time for people to register so they're not updating/replying that frequently at the moment?

Sorry for the delay. We are working on it. Give us some more time and thank you all for your patience.

http://www.athensbc2016.com/participants/

I am looking forward to seeing you all:-)

registered in November and my name is on the list of attendees but I haven't received any info about paying. Should I have received something by now?

Same for me! No info as of yet

Me too! I wasn't on the list a few days ago, but I am now, fortunately. But I haven't received any information about payment yet. Am eager to pay for this great event though ... !! :-)

registered in November and my name is on the list of attendees but I haven't received any info about paying. Should I have received something by now?

Same for me! No info as of yet

Got the letter today

Haven't got the okay for my holidays yet, but didn't want to wait, so I booked my hotel - the Acropolis View Hotel. Good reviews on tripadvisor, nice location, not too far from the venue. Anybody else staying there?

Haven't got the okay for my holidays yet, but didn't want to wait, so I booked my hotel - the Acropolis View Hotel. Good reviews on tripadvisor, nice location, not too far from the venue. Anybody else staying there?

I've just changed my booking to here. I wanted to add another 2 nights at the Hotel Plaka but they wanted more for 2 nights that I paid for 5 here.

Just today at my BC birthday I booked our flights and fill in the registration form.
The birthday present for myself. :-)

I had planned to book while off work for Christmas. I got as far as 3 nights at Hotel Plaka in Athens and then got offered a new job. Great news, but as we hadn't spoken about holidays already booked, I thought I better stop. I don't suppose there will be any problems and I'm sure at minimum I'll manage the long weekend but hopefully I'll get the rest of my holiday booked by the end of the month.

Flight, room (a very nice appartement, about 600m away from the convention place).
Registration is made and payed!

Athens, we are comming! Looking forward to meet you all there!

and my hotel. :D
I'll arrive Thursday afternoon and am staying in the Acropolis View.

.... and I just had to cancel my hotel (won't be getting anything back to the flight)... Will be living & working in Nepal by then, too far to pop over for a weekend :-(

.... and I just had to cancel my hotel (won't be getting anything back to the flight)... Will be living & working in Nepal by then, too far to pop over for a weekend :-(

An international convention without you? That is too bad :-(
But being abroad is a very good excuse for that. Sounds interesting. Have a good time :-)

Oh, sorry to hear one of the Guinness girls won't be with us- we shall miss you. Sounds like a great job opportunity in Nepal so hope all goes well for you there.

Oh, sorry to hear one of the Guinness girls won't be with us- we shall miss you. Sounds like a great job opportunity in Nepal so hope all goes well for you there.

Wish you good luck, ApoloniaX! We miss you, too!

.... and I just had to cancel my hotel (won't be getting anything back to the flight)... Will be living & working in Nepal by then, too far to pop over for a weekend :-(

Sorry to hear that you are not coming ApoloniaX, but good luck with your new life in Nepal. We wish you all the best, and we thank you for your offer. PM will follow.

.... and I just had to cancel my hotel (won't be getting anything back to the flight)... Will be living & working in Nepal by then, too far to pop over for a weekend :-(

Oh, Nepal - wow!

We will miss you!

I booked 3 nights in Athens straight away so that was the minimum I could stay although I wanted to say longer. So after an enquiry into increasing the nights, the 3 nights I have booked have gone from 79 euros per night to 236 euros. Really! - remember I am already booked on a flexible rate. Has the demand for the bookcrossing convention increased prices in Athens by 33.5%. I would rather cancel my holiday and not come to the convetion at all than pay such an increase.

Yeah we are at the Plaka Hotel and prices went up for us as well. We changed our travel plans twice and paid more each time.
Still happy to go to the Convention though :-)

That's unacceptable! Please search for another hotel. Take a look at booking.com or any other website. You don't have to stay near Acropolis, if the price is high. Any hotel close to a metro station will be fine.
Looking forward to seeing you.

The Hotel Plaka hasn't responded to my email and I was booked on a flexible rate so I have just changed my hotel. I've booked the Acropolis View Hotel which other bookcrossers seem to be staying at as well. It cost me less for 5 nights than Plaka wanted for the extra two.

Well done!

I've booked the Acropolis View Hotel which other bookcrossers seem to be staying at as well.

Yeah :-) I will be there.

I've booked the Acropolis View Hotel which other bookcrossers seem to be staying at as well.

Yeah :-) I will be there.

I am just now looking at booking my accommodations, and I am thinking of staying at the Athens Backpackers hostel. But I am also wondering if it is acceptable for an old woman to do so. Should I just suck it up and pay for a hotel room at the Acropolis View along with everybody else?

It's definitely acceptable for a woman of any age to stay in hostels - as long as YOU can stand it... I'm about your age (if it's correct on your profile page) and still stay in hostels every now and then, although it's only for financial reasons and not because I'd actually like doing it any longer. Most people will obviously be the 20+ crowd but there are always a few exceptions - I've met lots of people up to their 80s in the dorms :)

But, just a word of warning: I've stayed in Athens Backpackers years ago and it was very much of a party hostel at the time, so keep that in mind if you decide to stay there! Booking.com has also plenty of rooms at decent prices (at least it did a few weeks ago when I booked mine) so you might want to check that out too.

Thanks for the insights! I think I will do the Athens Backpackers hostel. I haven't stayed in a hostel since Spring Break 1991, so I am sure it will be a very different experience, but I am travelling completely alone this entire trip, so it might be nice to have some lively folks around to keep me from boring myself to death when I am not at the convention activities. :-)

I have received no payment info yet :-(

I have received no payment info yet :-(

Still no payment info :-(

I have asked. The convention committee knows, and they are working on solving the problem.

I have asked. The convention committee knows, and they are working on solving the problem.

Looks like the Athens convention website is up and running again:-)

a not bookcrosser with me. Do i have to pay for her too?

"The Convention Venue will be the Melina Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens, at Thiseio very close to Metro Keramikos at the Center of Athens." http://www.athensbc2016.com/---/convention-venue/

Looks like an excellent location, within marble toss of the Acropolis, well-served by transport and home to many cafes, bars and restaurants.

There are many AirBnB rooms and apartments nearby. I have managed to secure an apartment on the next block for my wife and I. A second bedroom with two singles or a (pushed-together) king is available if anybody wants to share.

Yippee!! Skyring and the enchanting Kerry will be in Athens! We have our own AirBnB reservations, but looking forward to seeing you there.

Yippee!! Skyring and the enchanting Kerry will be in Athens! We have our own AirBnB reservations, but looking forward to seeing you there.

Looking forward to seeing you as well!

Along with many other friends from adventures past.

I have been studying Plato fairly seriously for some years now. It will be a pleasure to tread his turf, so to speak.

Yippee!! Skyring and the enchanting Kerry will be in Athens! We have our own AirBnB reservations, but looking forward to seeing you there.

Looking forward to seeing you as well!

Along with many other friends from adventures past.

I have been studying Plato fairly seriously for some years now. It will be a pleasure to tread his turf, so to speak.

Has Jack been to Greece, I wonder? Has Stephen seen the Acropolis?

Yippee!! Skyring and the enchanting Kerry will be in Athens! We have our own AirBnB reservations, but looking forward to seeing you there.

Looking forward to seeing you as well!

Along with many other friends from adventures past.

I have been studying Plato fairly seriously for some years now. It will be a pleasure to tread his turf, so to speak.

Has Jack been to Greece, I wonder? Has Stephen seen the Acropolis?

I have a copy of Master and Commander right here in Lisbon with me. Perhaps I shall take it to Athens, perhaps I shall leave it at the port with a ticket for Mahon.

One might imagine that "The Wine-Dark Sea" takes place in Grecian waters, but no…

if i only come saturday...?

... we thought some of you might like these.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/store#!/Convention-2016-Bookplate-Greek/p/63404951/category=15273039 (if that's not clickable: http://tinyurl.com/Con2016Greek )
Or, in case that's Greek to you...
http://www.bookcrossing.com/store#!/Convention-2016-Bookplate-English/p/63404938/category=609830 (if that's not clickable: http://tinyurl.com/Con2016English )

Very cute!

... we thought some of you might like these.

Have ordered some!

Thank you BCSuppluStore!

To celebrate the upcoming Convention, we've added some special Greek Wings. There are Greek flags, and owls, as a symbol of Athens. We hope you'll like them!

the upcoming Convention

Whoo-hoo! :-D

To celebrate the upcoming Convention, we've added some special Greek Wings. There are Greek flags, and owls, as a symbol of Athens. We hope you'll like them!

oh, great!

I love my new Greek wings.

There doesn't appear to be a release zone set up for the convention yet. I would like to get organised as we leave in 10 days (woohoo!), so am wondering if I can set up a new zone and release books to -
Greece, Attica, Athens, 2016 BC Convention?

There is a release zone for the convention. It's Greece, Attica, Athens, BookCrossing Anniversary Convention Athens 22-24 April 2016

To celebrate the upcoming Convention, we've added some special Greek Wings. There are Greek flags, and owls, as a symbol of Athens. We hope you'll like them!

Oh, Greek wings! I need to update when I get home.

Dressed for the convention. Thank you :-)

Dressed for the convention. Thank you :-)

Me too!
We leave next week, time to start packing......

I love my owl wings - thank you!

We leave saturday 16th

Is there an official convention banner for our profiles this year?

Is there an official convention banner for our profiles this year?

Good question :-)
I would like to know that as well.

Is there an official convention banner for our profiles this year?

Good question :-)
I would like to know that as well.

http://s328.photobucket.com/---/convention%20banner%20_zps70a98vzr.jpg.html?...

Can you take it from here;

I think I only get a link to the website when I try that so it will disappear when you stop using the webiste. That happened to me with the Melbourne convention and I don't have that logo any more.

Can you take it from here;

Yes, I've got it!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/---/Krissa33/
Thanks

Because I'm starting to get jealous... I'm sitting on some steep mountain slope above some forgotten valley in Makwanpur, Nepal, from up here I have a mobile connection and can even go online with a bit of patience. Will be thinking of you all when you've gathered in Athens.

Because I'm starting to get jealous... Will be thinking of you all when you've gathered in Athens.

We will miss you.

Because I'm starting to get jealous... Will be thinking of you all when you've gathered in Athens.

We will miss you.

Ohh yes!

Yes, we will miss you, ApoloniaX. I am bringing with me your yarn bomb creations, though, so it will look like you are there with us.

In a couple of hours I'll meet up with Lytteltonwitch and we'll be off to the airport.

Then 33 hours and 5 airports later, we'll be in Athens!!!

See you all soon!

^ ^
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In a couple of hours I'll meet up with Lytteltonwitch and we'll be off to the airport.

Then 33 hours and 5 airports later, we'll be in Athens!!!

See you all soon!

^ ^
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That headline gave me a bit off a panic as I haven't actually left my house yet.

That headline gave me a bit off a panic as I haven't actually left my house yet.

Sorry! But "Almost on our way" didn't sound nearly as exciting :-)

In a couple of hours I'll meet up with Lytteltonwitch and we'll be off to the airport.

Then 33 hours and 5 airports later, we'll be in Athens!!!

See you all soon!

^ ^
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Have a nice trip!

FutureCat and Lytteltonwitch checking in from Sydney. Only 3 more flights to go...

Only 3 more flights to go...

I'm so looking forward to seeing the two of you again! Have a good trip!

And now we're in Bangkok. Getting closer...

Cat and witch checking in again. The broomstick has reached Dubai. Next stop Athens!

We have arrived ...and managed to find the convention venue by looking out our balcony window!

And we're here too! We've already met up with a few bookcrossers, and spent an exciting evening sightseeing and eating vast amounts of food. First impressions of Athens: it's amazing and beautiful and so fascinating!

And we're here too! We've already met up with a few bookcrossers, and spent an exciting evening sightseeing and eating vast amounts of food. First impressions of Athens: it's amazing and beautiful and so fascinating!

Oh wow, my experience too!

Apart from the evening and vast amounts of food. We spent the evening with katayoun in a cool Tehran cafe.

Toured the Acropolis Museum, saw a tourist, had our first grog in a week, marbeled at the history under our feet. This is a very special place.

We are here now, too. 😀

We are here now, too. 😀

We too ... ;-)

We are here now, too. 😀

Oops... I thought I was flying tomorrow, but it's today! So of course, I missed that flight... even though I gave it a good try. No matter, I'm now on a train to go to a different airport, and have booked a flight that leaves there at 1 tonight. I'll be in Athens by the end of tomorrow morning. See you all soon!

Oops... I thought I was flying tomorrow, but it's today! So of course, I missed that flight... even though I gave it a good try. No matter, I'm now on a train to go to a different airport, and have booked a flight that leaves there at 1 tonight. I'll be in Athens by the end of tomorrow morning. See you all soon!

Oh dear, sounds like trouble nobody really needs. Good journey, see you there :-)
I start packing my suitcase.