The International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Invented Languages
The conference will be held at Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), in Valencia, Spain. Our venue for the programme will be in La Casa del Alumno, on the university’s Vera campus.
Accomodation will be at Residencia Universitaria San José, about 15 minutes walk from the campus.
Valencia has an international airport, with regular direct connections to some European capitals, like Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Zurich. Many other cities from Europe and the rest of the world have indirect connections to Valencia, with only one change in Madrid, Barcelona, or Palma de Mallorca.
If you cannot find any convenient flight to Valencia, you can stop in Alicante, Barcelona, or Madrid, and take a train to Valencia (and do the opposite for your return). Those trains depart daily at intervals ranging from 1 to 3 hours, from approximately 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (the highest frequency is before 11:00 A.M., and after 5:00 P.M.). The following table shows the approximate durations and the 2010 fares of those train travels, considering a tourist class ticket, and the standard price of the fastest trains. The AVE (high velocity) Madrid-Valencia train will start to work in December 2010, according to its official agenda, and the fare is an unofficial estimate. You can also find cheaper, but slower trains, as well as some discounts if you buy the ticket by Internet, more than one month in advance. See more details and buy the train tickets in https://w1.renfe.es/vol/index.do (you can select English language by clicking on “Welcome” under the top menu).
| Origin/Destination | Duration | Fare (1 way) | Fare (return) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | ~1h30m | 28.80 € | 46.06 € |
| Barcelona | ~3h | 43.20 € | 69.10 € |
| Madrid | ~4h | 47.5 € | 75.95 € |
| Madrid (AVE) | ~1h35m | Est. 65 € | Est. 105 € |
Once you have arrived to Valencia, the most convenient means of transport are the Metro/Tram (http://www.metrovalencia.es/page.php?idiom=en). Both the airport and the main train station have Metro stops of lines no. 3 and 5. The airport stop is called “Aeroport”, and the one next to the train station is called “Xativa”. If you are heading to the UPV or the Residencia San José, you should follow these steps:
In August, the Metro line no. 3 departs every 20 minutes from the airport, and passes every 10 minutes through the stop next to the train station. The Tram does not have a strict schedule, but its average waiting time in August is 10 minutes. The longest of these combined trips is usually less than three quarters of an hour, including waiting times.
Larger map of the Residencia San José
Spanish currency is the Euro. Most shops also accept credit cards if the sale is over a minimum (usually 10 € or so), so you don’t need to go loaded with cash, if you don’t want to.
To plug your electrical appliances, please remember that power supply in Spain is 230 V, 50 Hz, and the usual wall sockets in Spain are Type C (“Europlug”) and Type F (“Schuko”). Please bring a transformer and/or adapter if your appliances are not prepared for that.
Valencia is a very hot city in August. Ambient temperature is rarely below 30°C (85°F) by day, and may easily be over 35°C (95°F). So take your lightest clothes, and if you like them, wear open shoes. A bottle of mineral water may be also a good companion if you are planning to go for a walk through the city. There are occassional short summer storms, which normally occur by night if at all, but you won’t probably want to take the trouble of carrying an umbrella just for that.
In the days of Omentielva, sun will rise at 7:00 A.M. and set at 9:00 P.M. Breakfasts are usually light for Spanish people, and the following meals are heavy and late: the “midday” meal is usually taken between 1:00 and 3:00 P.M., and dinner is served after 9:00 P.M. There is a lively nightlife in the streets, since night is the most comfortable time to go outside (unless you go to the beach). So be prepared to noisy nights, bring you earplugs if you think you need them, etc.
The languages spoken in Valencia are Spanish and Valencian (virtually identical to Catalan). Of course, you should have no language problems in the airport or other tourist places; but please don’t assume that English is a “Common Speech” everywhere else. Even many taxi drivers, waiters of commonplace restaurants, etc., will only understand the simplest English sentences, so it may be wise to have a Spanish speaker or a dictionary with you anytime.
To ensure a happy Omentielva, please take the same precautions as in any other European large city: do not carry large amounts of money with you, beware of pickpockets in crowdings, don’t walk alone by the poor neighbourhoods, etc. In case of accident or emergency, remember that 112 is the free European Emergency Telephone, where you will be immediately assisted (in English as well, and in other languages if operators are available). And if you come from an European country or Switzerland, please take your European Health Insurance Card, which will allow you to freely use the Spanish public health system. (Nevertheless, in case of injury or serious illness, hospitals will treat you even if you are uninsured.)
If you have practical enquiries, write to: Helios_DRM@omentielva.com.