Accommodations in Italy

Please find below the links for the group accommodations in Italy. In Venice we will be staying at the Albergo Marin (and its apartments). Our hotel in Florence is the Hotel Mario's and in Rome we are at the Residence Candia. The links are below:

http://www.albergomarin.it/en/

http://www.hotelmarios.com/

http://www.residencecandia.it/index.php?lng=2

And Here We Go!!

Well this it it. The day has arrived!! Don't forget your passport and e-ticket (print it out in hard copy and bring with you to the airport). Remember that we are meeting at the Air Transat check-in counter in the departures section of Terminal 3, Toronto International Airport, at 8:00 pm.

Aside from your passports please note that it is advisable to have at least two extra pieces of identification on your person. I suggest carrying a valid driver's license and citizenship card (if you have one). It may be worth bringing your student card. Again, I would recommend that you have a couple of photocopies of your passport info (one to go in your checked luggage) and one on your person.

Good luck with the last minute packing! See you tonight!!

May 24: Some More Info...

During the last class I suggested that those with special dietary needs may wish to consult the Air Transat policy on food and drink during the flight. Here is a link to that information:

http://www.airtransat.ca/en/info/passengers-with-special-needs.aspx?ExitID=18&ContentType=voyageur

Please note that Air Transat will permit you to bring your own food and drink if you have concerns regarding allergic reactions to to the meals provided. 

For those with general concerns about permitted luggage dimensions and weight please consult the Air Transat website at:

www.airtransat.ca

NOTE THAT WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE AIRPORT AT 8:00 PM., TOMORROW NIGHT (3 hours prior to departure). WE WILL MEET AT THE AIR TRANSAT CHECK-IN DESK (DEPARTURES) AT TERMINAL 3, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

Please check the blog tomorrow for further updates!!

Monday May 21st: Proposals (Update)

Hello everyone,

I am going through the proposals. For those who will be presenting in Venice and Padua please know that I will be contacting you later today (by email) with feedback. Those presenting in Florence, Siena and Pisa I will be returning the proposals with comments on Wednesday.

More to follow!

Wednesday May 16: Update (e-tickets for flights)

Hello everyone!

I have sent through all of the e-tickets for our flights. By now you should have received your e-ticket. Please check your ticket carefully to ensure that all of the information, including your name (as it appears on your passport) is correct. 

If you have not received your e-ticket by email please contact me immediately.

You should print out a copy of your e-ticket upon receipt and bring it with you to Lester Pearson (Toronto International) Airport on the evening of departure (Friday May 25). You will need to present it at the Air Transat desk when checking in your luggage.

May 11: Readings and Course Updates

Hello everyone! I've had some technical issues with the blog but I'm now able to post again. As noted during our last class I am posting the previously-announced readings here. The readings for the Evelyn Welch text are as follows:

Introduction and Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

If you are using the Fortini Brown and Turner texts (references on the course outline) as alternatives to the Welch text you should read the texts in their entirety.  

As noted in our previous class there is a conflict with respect to the class dates on the course outline. Since Monday May 21 is a holiday we will have no class that evening. The test, which was scheduled for that date has now been changed to Wednesday May 16. Due to the holiday we will now have a final class meeting on Wednesday May 23. Please take special note of these changes (see Lecture Schedule below) and mark your calendars accordingly. 

With respect to the test format please note that I have shortened the length of the test to 30 minutes. The test will consist of two questions related to material discussed in class. You will be given 15 minutes to provide short responses to each question. I will be covering the format in more detail during our next class on Monday May 14.

ALSO... Please note that I will be forwarding your e-tickets (Air Transat flights) over the weekend. You will receive your e-ticket by email before Monday morning. Please retain this e-ticket in your files and print a copy to bring to the airport on the day of departure (Friday May 25). Shoud you have any questions feel free to contact me by email.

LECTURE SCHEDULE:

Monday April 30: Introduction; Course structure and Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO)

Wednesday May 2: Key Works & Collections; Venice & Padua

Monday May 7: Key Works & Collections; Venice & Ravenna

  

Wednesday May 9: Key Works & Collections; Florence & Siena

Monday May 14: Key Works & Collections; Florence, Volterra and Pisa

Wednesday May 16: TEST (in class, 30 minutes) Key works & Collections in Perspective

Monday May 21: HOLIDAY NO CLASS

Wednesday May 23: Final details before departure

FRIDAY MAY 25: Departure date.

Monday May 7: Info

Hello everyone! We are getting closer and closer to our departure date and excitement is building!! Please note that I have posted some new links here on the 3V03 blog (see list on right). I will add some more before the end of the week. You may find these useful as you gather information about different sites before departure. I would also recommend consulting some of the excellent travel guides that are now available. The Let's Go guides are very helpful as are the Lonely Planet guides. These guides offer excellent information in general and they provide useful travel tips (what to pack, how to deal with laundromats, banking issues, how to stay safe, etc). I will be going over more of these matters in the remaining classes before departure but, in the meantime, you may want o use these resources.

Tonight I will be taking you through Venice, Padua and Ravenna via map. I would like to get you oriented so that you have a general feel for the layout of these cities before we arrive. As we take our virtual tour we'll periodically pause to further consider the the characteristics of  the cities. Be attentive as the upcoming test will require require you to consider some of these points.

In the second half of the class we'll take some time to go over more logistical matters.

See you at 7:00!

ART HIST 3V03 2012: First Class Begins Tonight!

The first class begins tonight!! We'll be going over the last deposits and the course design in some detail. See you at 6:30 pm., in TSH 512.

GD

ART HIST 3V03 Begins Next Week!

Hello everyone,

Well, it all begins next week! So here we go...

The course text is on order. This year I am using Evelyn Welch's Art in Renaissance Italy (Oxford University Press, 2000). I am also putting together an itinerary booklet which we will use to take us through the key sites and works during the lectures before we depart. The booklet will be available next week and we'll begin using it on Monday. I will be making this available to you in electronic format. More on this to follow...

When we meet on Monday evening (April 30th) I'll be discussing the final deposits. A collection will follow later in the week.

Make sure that you have your passports handy. We only have four weeks left until departure!!

Flights Booked!

I have just finalized the bookings for all flights and they are now paid in full! Please note that I still need info from some of you. If you have not yet provided me with your name EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR PASSPORT please do so ASAP. This information is required by Air Transat and our travel agent.

Please also note that because there are variances in the costs for those with special flights and / or accommodations the final deposits will take some time to calculate. I do not expect to post the remaining balances for the last deposits until April 24th. A collection of the final deposits will take place shortly after that time.

REGISTERING ON SOLAR: UPDATE (Monday April 2nd)

Some of you have reported continuing problems with course registration on SOLAR. If you are still experiencing difficulties please contact Jackie Osterman or Darlene Hayward at Academic Advising (Humanities). Seat holds have been placed for all students who have paid the the first two deposits and completed the study trip application forms (on the 3V03 SOTA page).

IMPORTANT: Registering on SOLAR

Hello everyone. A number of you have contacted me about difficulties with registration on SOLAR. Please note that seat holds have been placed for all who have filled out the application forms and paid the first deposits. The system is now beginning to accept registrations for 3V03 however the seat holds have not fully opened up at this time. If you are experiencing difficulties with SOLAR please be patient. The seat holds may take another day or two to open up completely. If you experience further difficulties after Friday please contact me.

INFO UPDATE (March 21, 2012)

I am now in the process of finalizing bookings for sites in Italy and we are now getting close to the collection time for the third and final deposit. Before I can confirm the amount for the last deposit I will need to shore up the last few budget details with my coordinator Vincenzo. Once we have completed this I will notify you of the final deposit amount. In the meantime there are several things that I would draw to your attention:

1. I will need a confirmation ASAP of your full name exactly as it appears on your passport. I will need this information for the airline. Note that it is essential that the information match your passport identification EXACTLY. 

2. I will also require (along with the info above) a confirmation of your date of birth.

3.  If you have any food allergies or medical issues that may require attention during our time away please let me know ASAP.

4. If you have not yet submitted your second deposit please do so ASAP. If there are concerns regarding delivery please contact me by email or facebook.

Cheers!

REMINDER: MEETING TOMORROW

Just a reminder regarding tomorrow's meeting scheduled for 1:30-2:30 in TSH 321. Please make every effort to attend if you can. We will be going over some important information regarding accommodations, meals, flights, etc. Note that I will also be collecting your second deposits ($1000 CAN) at this time.

If you cannot make it to this meeting please be aware that a second session has been scheduled for Thursday March 8 from 12:00-1;00 in TSH 321.

See you there!

MEETINGS NEXT WEEK & 2nd DEPOSITS!!

Hello everyone. Please note that I have scheduled two meetings for next week to discuss details of the study trip and to go over important information related to accommodations, travel, etc. If you are attending the course your attendance is vital. Please check the following dates and select one that works best with your schedule. If you simply can't make either of these meetings please contact me at my email address. The meetings are each scheduled as follows:

Tuesday March 6, 1:30-2:30 pm. (meeting will take place in TSH 321)
Thursday March 8, 12:00-1:00 pm. (meeting will take place in TSH 321)

Note that I will be collecting the second deposit of $1000.00 CAN at these times so please bring your cheque or money order.

Please make every effort to attend one of these sessions.

See you there!

IMPORTANT: Update on FLIGHTS

Hello everyone!

I am making a deposit tomorrow (February 23) to secure our airline tickets. There are a number of you who have requested return flights on separate dates from the group flight out of Rome (returning to Toronto) on Wednesday June 13. I have listed below those of you who have made this special request. If you are NOT returning to Canada with the group on June 13 your name should be on this list:

A. Delbello
A. Lewis
J. Weisz

If you are one of these individuals (or if you are making a special request for a separate flight but you are not on this list) please contact me ASAP. I will need to confirm your return flight arrangements very soon.

Thanks!

Greg

INFORMATION SESSIONS THIS WEEK!

Please note that I will be conducting information sessions on the upcoming 3V03 course and study trip this Tuesday and Wednesday from 12:00 - 1:00 pm., in the foyer of Togo Salmon Hall (ground floor in front of the elevators). If you are attending the course but can't make it to either of these sessions please contact me.

IMPORTANT: INFO Session For ART HIST 3V03 2012

Please note that I will be holding information sessions next week for all students taking this year's 3V03 course. Participants in the course need only attend one of these sessions in order to receive updates on the itinerary, accommodation, flights and fees. I will be posting the dates, times and locations for the meetings shortly. Please check this space again soon for further information.

First Deposit Collection

Due to some schedule conflicts I will not be on campus for an extended period today. Please note that I will be collecting first deposits for the 3V03 trip tomorrow (Tuesday January 17) at my office (TSH 429) from 11:00 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 3:00.

I will also be collecting deposits on Wednesday January 18 from 1:00 - 3:00. Please remember to bring your completed trip application and registration forms (as noted in my previous post below).

All cheques should be made payable to:    McMaster Venetian Studies

Trip Application, Registration & First Deposit

We are almost ready for the first deposit (due on Monday January 16). Please note that you will need to fill out a study trip application form and a registration form. These forms are ONLY for the travel part of the course. They are NOT connected with the online SOLAR course registration which takes place in the spring.

The trip applicatuion and registration forms can be downloaded at the following course page:

http://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/arthist3V03/index.html

Please print out the forms and complete them before you make your first deposit. Note that I will be posting collection times and locations for the first deposit very shortly.

ART HIST 3V03: Reserved Seats

The following students have reserved seats for the ART HIST 3V03 Course and study trip in May. Seats will be conformed upon receipt of the first deposit on Monday January 16th. If you are hoping to go please check the list to ensure that your name has been included. Should your name not appear please contact me by email asap. Note that there is now only 1 seat remaining:

A. E. Corbett
C. LaChapelle
A. Marino
J. Weisz
B. Turner
A. Delbello
G. Palomo
K. Roloson
J. Martin
C. Smarkala
A. Kablak
E. Terejko
V. Skoric
J. Longfield
D. Infante
A. Lewis
R. Garcia Laiun
R. Perna
K. Dingwall
A. Wisniowski
S. Beattie
C. Tobin

Update: ART HIST 3V03 Deposits

I have just been on the phone with my coordinator Vincenzo (the man in charge of bookings). We are in the process of sorting through accommodations, reservations etc., and this means that it will very soon be time to start collecting deposits. The first deposit of $1000.00 CAN will be due on Monday January 16th. This should be delivered to me personally  as I will need to deposit the cheques into our McMaster account. I will post a time and location for the Monday collectionhere on this blog. If you are absolutely unable to drop off your deposit on that day do not panic! I will schedule an alternate date and collection time for those in need. Again, that information will be posted her on the blog.

Please note that with your deposit you will also need to submit a completed application form and a registration form. These two forms will take about five minutes to complete and they will be made available to you before the end of this week through the 3V03 course page linked to the SOTA homepage. The link will be posted on this blog before Friday January 13. The two forms will be available as PDFs and must be printed out and filled in by you. It is essential that these be completed and submitted when you make your first deposit. NOTE THAT THESE TWO FORMS DO NOT CONSTITUTE PART OF THE REGISTRATION PROCESS THROUGH SOLAR. They are only for the study trip component of the course. All students will still be required to complete McMaster course registration on SOLAR just prior to the spring term. At this time all students will need to pay tuition fees directly to the University.