Social activities
Socializing outdoors: For the sake of coronavirus safety, we urge participants to socialize only outdoors. Graz has many restaurants with outdoor seating areas. Bakeries on Jakominiplatz and Dietrichsteinplatz serve breakfast and snacks outdoors. (Note that, even for outdoor dining or coffee, you need to show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative Covid test). All coffee breaks at the conference will take place outdoors, in the courtyard.
Thursday hike: On July 22, 2021, we are planning a hike up Schöckl mountain from the village of St. Radegund. From St. Radegund it is a hike of approximately 2 hours to the top of Schöckl mountain (about 700m altitude difference). There is also the option of going up by cable car (Schöckl Seilbahn) instead of hiking.
Meeting time on Thursday: we meet on Jakominiplatz, corner of Gleisdorfergasse (bus platform M, at the very right edge of the map) on Thursday at 9:15 (hikers) or 10:15 (cable car users) precisely. Please be ON TIME. We are using public transportation. The bus leaves at 9:20 and 10:20. It does not wait for us.
What to bring: a mask (needed in the bus), Covid19 vaccination or test certificate (needed in the restaurant, even when sitting outside), a water bottle (no source of water on the way during a 2 hour hike). Wear shoes suitable for a walk on a trail in the woods, a bit rocky in places.
The top of Schöckl is a large plateau. It is possible to go for an extended walk on this plateau, enjoying a nice view. The terrain is mostly level, but rocky in places. There are also wheelchair accessible boardwalks.
Do wear good shoes (and socks)! Hiking boots or, at least, walking shoes whose soles have a good tread. Also, a drinking bottle will be useful. Think about sunscreen. Also, it may be windy on top of the mountain; a jacket may be indicated.
There are several restaurants on Schöckl mountain; we will have lunch together on the terrasse of one of them. Afterwards, we can go for a walk on the top of the mountain, or descend individually to St. Radegund, either on foot or by cable car. There is a bus from St. Radegund back to Graz every hour until 8pm.
We will leave for St. Radegund, Seilbahn Talstation (15 km north of Graz) by bus together Thursday morning starting from Jakominiplatz (bus platform M, at the corner of Gleisdorfergasse), by bus 250. The bus trip takes 45 min and costs about EUR 6.80 each way. The first group (hikers) takes the bus at 9:20 (meeting time 9:15) and the second group (cable car users) takes the bus at 10:20 (meeting time 10:15).
