We have booked rooms for all participants in the "Liborianum":
An den Kapuzinern 5-7
33098 Paderborn
T: +49 (0) 5251 121-3
E: info@liborianum.de
The reception is open 24/7 for you. Rooms are available at 2PM. If you plan to come to Paderborn on Wednesday the 5th, where the program starts at 1PM, you can either leave your luggage at the hotel or bring it to the conference site (see below). In both cases you can check in in the evening. From the hotel, you can get to the conference venue by bus by taking Bus 68 to Neuhäuser Tor and Bus 11 from there to "Museumsforum". You could also take a 10 minute walk to Neuhäuser Tor and take Bus 11 from there. Please check the exact route on https://www.padersprinter.de/en/.
Please note that in Germany you have to wear and FFP2 or N95 mask in public transport. There also is a high probability that further Corona protection measures will be put in place in October. Due to the entrance rules of the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, you can only participate in the workshop if you are either vaccinated or have recently recovered from Corona. (More information on https://www.hnf.de/en/visiting.html). Please remember to bring the necessary documentation and have it with you during the workshop.
Our workshop will take place at the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, the worlds biggest computer museum, in Paderborn, Germany. Please find it's address and directions on https://www.hnf.de/en/visiting.html.
If you come here by train, please book a ticket to Paderborn Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). From there, Bus 11 will bring you right to the workshop location. Leave the bus at "Museumsforum" and you are directly in front of it. Another option is to take a taxi, available in front of the central station Paderborn. The ride will last only a few minuts. Please tell the driver that you need a receipt (German: “Rechnung” or “Beleg”) and keep in mind, that in Germany, you have to use cash to pay the taxi.
You can book your ticket for the train at https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml. We recommend buying a second-class ticket. First class tickets cannot be refunded. We also recommend buying a ticket with Paderborn-Schloß Neuhaus as destination station.
For foreign guests, we recommend buying a “Flexpreis” ticket – you are allowed to use all trains going to your destination on the day of your ticket. If you pay a “saving fares” ticket, you are only allowed to use the trains on the ticket. You have to handle the following potential problem: If your train is late and you do not manage to get to the connecting train that is on your ticket, you have to find a conductor, who must give you a note concerning the lateness and then you have to explain this to the conductor in the next train or to buy a completely new ticket.
For German guests, we recommend to buy a “Sparpreis” ticket, if possible and to use your Bahncard, if possible.
If you asked for the reimbursement of your travel expenses, please pay attention to get receipts or invoices for those expenses you want to get reimbursed. Plane and train ticket should contain price information, otherwise you need an extra invoice. Please inform us in advance whether you need reimbursement and bring your paperwork so we can complete all formalities during the workshop.
The workshop will take place in Germany. The temperatures in Germany in October are quite cold with temperatures between 7°C and 14°C (between 44°F and 57°F), warm clothes are a must. You can expect about 3 to 8 days of rain in Germany during the month of October. It is recommended that you check the weather before you pack, and bring some layers for cold and chilly weather. Also, be aware for rainy days. For more information on the climate at Paderborn area, go to: https://weatherspark.com/y/61379/Average-Weather-in-Paderborn-Germany-Year-Round
Supply runs at 220–240V, 50Hz AC; sockets generally require a two-pin plug with rounded prongs. Visitors from the UK will need an adaptor; visitors from North America may need a transformer, though most of those supplied with electrical equipment – like cameras, laptops and mobile phones – are designed to accommodate a range of voltages.
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. The rate of credit and credit card use in Germany is way lower than in many countries. While credit cards are widely accepted in most shops, petrol stations, mid- to upmarket restaurants and hotels, expect to have to pay "cash only" in smaller cafes, bars and restaurants.
In common with most other Western European languages, the meanings of points and commas are exactly inverse to the English custom; in German a comma is used to indicate a decimal. For example, 2,99€ is two euros and 99 cents. The "€" symbol is not always used and may be placed both in front or after the price. A dot is used to "group" numbers (one dot for three digits), so "1.000.000" would be one million. So "123.456.789,01" in German is the same number as "123,456,789.01" in English speaking countries.
Germany consistently uses the metric system for all measures, including road signs (kilometers/hour) and gas (price displayed is per liter).
It is recommended that participants arrange insurance for medical expenses, loss and accidents that may occur during the Forum. The Paderborn University cannot be held responsible for any losses, damages or injuries.
EU citizens that are members of any public health insurance can get a European Health Insurance Card. The card is issued by your insurance provider and lets you use the public health care system in any EU country, including Germany. If you are an EU citizen, you simply have to tell a doctor or the hospital that it goes through the 'AOK', the German state health insurance scheme. If doctors and hospitals do not accept this, go to the local AOK office and they will usually telephone them to confirm.
If you're from outside the EU, or if you have a private health insurance, check if your insurance is valid in Germany. If not, get a travel health insurance for the trip - German health care is expensive.
Foreign insurance, even if it covers travel abroad, may not be accepted by local hospitals, i.e. you may have to pay up front and claim it back from the insurance company. (Be sure to keep the originals safe.) Alternatively, you might be sent a bill in the post.
Tax is included in prices. Unlike in some other countries, service staff are always paid by the hour (albeit not always that well). A tip is therefore mainly a matter of politeness and shows your appreciation. If you did not appreciate (e.g. slow, snippy or indifferent service), the staff will accept that you may not want to give a tip.
Since the introduction of the Euro, a tip (Trinkgeld, lit. “drink money”) of about 5-10% is customary if you were satisfied with the service. Nonetheless, service charge is already included in an item’s unit price so what you see is what you pay.
Tipping in Germany is usually done by mentioning the total while paying. Therefore, if for example a waiter tells you the bill amounts to "€13.50", just state "15" and he will include a tip of €1.50.
The time zone in Germany during our workshop is Central European Summer Time (Mitteleuropäische Sommerzeit, MESZ; UTC+02:00). International time zones can be viewed at The World Clock - Time Zones Website (www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/).
Every international traveler needs to check with their own authorities regarding travel visas for traveling to Germany.
Tap water has a good quality, is very strictly controlled and can be freely used for consumption. Exceptions have to be labelled ("Kein Trinkwasser" = not drinking water), usually found on fountains and in trains.
For detailed information, please see http://wikitravel.org/en/Germany