17th International Surgical Pathology Symposium

May 4-7, 2010
Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Budapest, Hungary

Registration

To register, click on the “Register Now” button below. The registration fee of $895 includes tuition, USB drive containing PPT presentations, virtual microscopy DVD, break refreshments, and reception. Although it is not the policy of Mayo Medical Laboratories Education Department to limit the number of participants, conference room facilities may necessitate closing of enrollment; therefore, early registration is strongly advised. Registration deadline is April 2, 2010.  E-mail address is required upon registration. A letter of confirmation will be forwarded to this address upon receipt of payment and submitted registration. Present the letter of confirmation when checking in at the meeting registration desk.   

Mayo Medical Laboratories reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course due to unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event Mayo Medical Laboratories must cancel or postpone this course, Mayo Medical Laboratories will refund the registration fee, but is not responsible for any related costs, charges, or expenses to participants, including fees assessed by airline/travel/lodging agencies.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your participation in this conference on or before April 2, 2010, your registration fee, less a $75 administrative fee, will be refunded. Mayo Medical Laboratories Education Department must receive written notification of your cancellation. No refunds will be made after April 2, 2010.

Travel

Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the participant.

Hungary has everything from Baroque palaces to ancient wooden-porched peasant houses, as well as some of the most unspoiled countryside in Europe.  The Danube bisects the city into Buda and Pest.  Castle Hill looms over the river and Hungary’s fantastic parliament sits on the other bank.  In the last 19th century, Budapest was a growing city.  Huge boulevards were built by some of the greatest architects, graceful balconies, wrought ironwork and mosaics can be viewed throughout the city as well as artworks in stone.

Budapest is served by Feihegy International Airport.  The Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest is located 30-40 minutes from the airport by car.  The average cost for a public taxi is approximately 5600,-HUF ($30.50 US) one way.

For travel arrangements, you may contact Carlson Wagonlit Travel at 866-629-6885 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time. Identify yourself as attending the Mayo Medical Laboratories 17th International Surgical Pathology Symposium.

Lodging Accommodations

A block of rooms have been secured at the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest for participants and their guests, with special conference rates.  The Kempinski Hotel Corvinus is located on the pest side just a few minutes away from the pedestrian zone and the Danube.   To receive the special rate, you must make reservations before the room block is filled or before the expiration date of March 1, 2010, whichever comes first. Reservations will be taken following this date based on space and rate availability. Upon registration for the symposium, you will receive a hotel reservation form to complete and return to confirm your hotel reservation.

Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Erzsébet tér 7-8
H-1051 Budapest, Hungary
www.kempinski-budapest.com
Tel: +36 1 429 3777
Fax: +36 1 429 4777

The following rates include breakfast and are exclusive of the current 18% VAT and 3% City Tax:

Euro 179, Superior Room for Single Occupancy
Euro 199, Superior Room for Double Occupancy

Euro 199, Deluxe Room for Single Occupancy
Euro 219, Deluxe Room for Double Occupancy

Euro 359, Junior Suite for Single or Double Occupancy

Social Program

Conference Reception – Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Participants and a guest are cordially invited to join the conference faculty for the Conference Reception.  The reception welcomes you to Budapest and offers you the perfect opportunity to make connections with existing and new colleagues. Preregistration is required and can be done via the online registration form.

Tours

Tours are being arranged by Microcosmos, a Destination Management Company in Budapest, Hungary.  All tours include an English speaking guide and bus transportation when necessary.  The following tour options will be available:

Monday, May 3, 2010
Wine Tasting Tour in Etyek (Full-Day)
9:00 am – 4:00 pm approximate duration
EUR 119/person (lunch included)

Etyek is an approximately 30-minute drive from Budapest.

About Etyek Wine Region

After the phylloxera insect infestation in the late 19th century, wine production ended in the Buda area, and the vineyards were replaced by middle-class villas. But, today, the renaissance of the Hungarian wine industry is well under way. The Etyek area is the closest region to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The Etyek-Buda wine region spreads over 1,500 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) containing 14 villages around Etyek and another six villages from the Buda region that were attached to this wine region in 1998. Rainfall is rather small, but uniform, and together with the sunny, windy plateaus and the loess and adobe soil, the conditions for vine growing are excellent.

The Winery Etyeki Kúria

The Winery Etyeki Kúria was established in 1996 in the village of Etyek, 20 kilometers (km) south of Budapest. The region Etyek-Buda is famous for its dry and sunny climate, which mixes occasionally with the cold air from the Pilis Mountains. The chalky soil and the special climatic conditions are the ideal environment for fruity and rich wines

Hernyák Birtok – Etyek Öreghegy

The farm is situated in the most beautiful part of Etyek, near the city of Öreghegy. The 3,6 hectares vineyard around the farm is cultivated by the Hernyák family. They produce a wide range of wines, including: Szürkebarát, Sauvignon Blanc, Green Veltellini, Chardonnay, Olaszrizling, and Pinot Noir.

The Hernyák family produces excellent wine according to the traditional methods in the cellars, but also has incorporated modern technologies. The estate produces 12,000 bottles of wine a year. The wines conserve their light freshness for years. Wine tasting will start at the cellars, where guests can learn about current technologies and methods. Then, guests proceed to the tasting room. Salty biscuits and cheese are served with the wine.

The History of Haraszthy Vallejo Winery

Haraszthy Vallejo Winery was established in 1998, with the idea of producing exquisite wines, based on the grape varieties that are available in the Etyek-Buda Region. This winery was not only created to produce wines, but also as a tourist destination.

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Danube Bend
Euro 102/person (lunch and entrance fees included)
9:00 am–4:00 pm

Included will be visits to the towns of Szentendre and Visegrad, the Fortress of Visegrad, the Solomon Tower, knights’ tournament, welcome drink and snack, and rich medieval lunch with wine.

The tour will start at Szentendre, a charming little village that is a 25 minute-drive from Budapest on the shore of the River Danube. This village is one of the premier attractions outside the capital and home to many artists past and present. The village has many churches, museums, and winding, cobblestoned streets. The tour includes a visit to the Kovács Margit Ceramics Museum, run by a lady who is one of the most famous artists of the village. Her works are exhibited in a medieval house that is one of the best places for shopping.

From Szentendre, the tour will continue to Visegrád,

where the Romans built fortifications, and the kings of Hungary established a system of forts – the Fellegvár and the Solomon Tower. In the Solomon Tower, a knights’ tournament will be staged. This program starts with brief information on the history of Visegrád and the Tower. When the bugle calls, the gate opens and the castellan (the castle’s governor or warden) and the master of ceremonies accompany the guests into the courtyard. At the auditorium on the hillside, a servant offers wine and snacks to the guests. When the bugle calls again, the King and Queen of the castle enter the courtyard. Afterward, the knights display their skills with battle stars, lances and bows. The highlight of the program is the knights’ tournament. Small arms are used (battle-axe, broadsword, sword, club, spear) during single combat. Court musicians entertain guests during the performance. After the program, guests can examine the weapons, and an archery competition will be organized. The King invites his guests to a feast in the nearby restaurant, where waiters, dressed in medieval costumes, serve food specialties from that era in history. (The three-course lunch includes drinks.) After lunch, the group will be driven back to Budapest.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Budapest Sightseeing Tour by Bus
1:30–5:30 pm
Euro 26

Included are two entrance fees (Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church).

The city is divided into two parts by the River Danube. The hilly Buda side is mainly a residential area. Its nicest part is the Castle District with the Royal Palace, Fishermen’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and other highlights. The other side, Pest, is flat and comprises the centre of business, culture and shopping.

To begin, the tour will drive by the University of Economics and the Main Market Hall, then continue to the Small Ring (one of the boulevards). There, the National Museum and Europe’s largest synagogue can be viewed. The tour continues to Heroes’ Square, the first stop. The stop lasts for approximately 15 minutes. Next, the bus drives around the City Park and continues on to Andrássy Avenue, one of the nicest avenues of Budapest. On the avenue are such attractions as the Opera House and the Ballet Institute. Then, the bus drives by St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Parliament Building.

After crossing the river, the trip continues on the Buda side. Guests arrive in the Castle District, where they depart the bus and climb approximately 70 steps, as traffic is not allowed in this area. At the Castle District, the most important highlights are visited (Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church, including its interior) and free time is set aside for shopping. The last stop of the tour is the Citadel on top of the Gellért Hill, where guests are treated to the most beautiful view of the capital of Hungary.

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Walking Tour in the Castle District
Euro 41/person (includes entrance fee to Military Hospital)
1:30–5:30 pm

Included are two entrance fees (Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church) and funicular ticket.

The walking tour starts from the hotel. After a 10-minute walk, the group reaches the foot of the Castle Hill. Guests take the funicular to get to the Castle District.

Castle District
One of the most historic parts of Budapest is the Castle District. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated the Castle District a World Heritage Site. The Castle Hill, a 1,5 kilometer long flat crag packed with houses, could be compared to a floating stone gallery. Apart from some stately town houses, most buildings are simple plastered burgher’s houses. The streets, all leading from the old gates, follow the shape of the hill. The walls of the castle are extremely well preserved.

The first sight of the tour is the Royal Palace, whose royals were never residents, only visiting guests. The first Gothic palace was demolished in the 16th–17th century. The construction of the building that one sees today began in the 18th century. During World War II, the building and its furniture were almost destroyed. Now, the building houses three large museums and the national Széchényi Library. In front of the palace is a beautiful passage with a magnificent view of the River Danube.

The tour then continues to the heart of this district: Szentháromság Square with the Holy Trinity Column. Here, guests also visit the Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion.

Construction of the Matthias Church began in the 14th century. Over the centuries, the church was destroyed many times during wars, and construction was not completed until the 19th century. This is a practicing church, but visitors are always welcome.

The Fishermen’s Bastion is a lookout terrace with five round towers and a main tower with several floors. In the Middle Ages, the fish market was nearby, and this part of the wall was traditionally defended by the Guild of Fishermen (hence, the name).

The Rock Hospital is located under the Castle Hill. Its existence was basically unknown (even to the local citizens), and nobody knew where the iron gate was leading from the walls of the castle.

Some local businessmen started the project right before World War II to create safe storage for their goods. To reduce the cost, they used the caves inside the hill. The ongoing project was then taken over by the government of Budapest. Changing the original plans, it established an emergency surgery center there.

During construction, the caves were connected to one another, and a door was added to the tunnel system that leads to Lovas Street. The hospital was located 15 to 30 meters from the ground on different levels. The facility was serving 200 people at the same time near the end of 1943. Its length is approximately 2 km.

During World War II, this place was a shelter and a hospital. Near the end of the war, in February 1945, approximately 600 to 650 people were treated there, since it was the only protected hospital during the battle for Budapest.

The hospital was used for a while after the war, but eventually closed. After the revolution in 1956, the hospital was reconstructed, even to the extent of adding a nuclear filter system in the caves. 

No longer a hospital, the facility is a museum whose theme is the history of military hospitals.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Hungarian Cooking Course in the Chef Parade
Euro 107/per person
1:30–5:30 pm

Included are transportation, afternoon lunch and two soft drinks.

A very trendy cooking school was opened recently in the city centre. Guests will be divided into four to five subgroups and will cook different courses. At the end, everybody will eat together and taste each other’s meals. Some typical Hungarian dishes and international cuisine will be prepared

The interior design of the school follows concepts of more than just an “eating/talking” place.  The design is very modern, with several cooking areas, tables, and chairs arranged specifically to fit the needs of the group. A mini-shop and mini-bar are also available. Warm colors and modern lines introducing both industry and household architecture provide an enjoyable atmosphere to learn how to prepare authentic Hungarian dishes. Cookbooks, pictures, and spices are available for sharing.

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Visit to the Grassalkovich Palace in Gödöllő, the Summer Palace of Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife, Empress Elisabeth (Sissy)
Euro 45/person
1:30–5:30 pm

Admission to the Palace and the Baroque Theatre, and a coffee/tea with a slice of cake in one of Empress Elisabeth’s secret salons are included in the tour.

One of the most outstanding complexes of the 18th century Hungarian Baroque era, the 150,000-square-foot Grassalkovich Palace and its 70-acre park is situated in Gödöllő. On the M3 motorway, it is only a 30-minute drive from Budapest by coach. The aristocratic castle was erected by Count Antal Grassalkovics in 1730 and became the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth in 1867, and the Hungarian governor between 1920 and 1945. The castle was designed by Andras Mayerhoffer and was rebuilt several times before attaining its present-day double U-shape. The baroque complex came to be known as “Gödöllő style” and inspired many Hungarian castles.

After Word War II, the palace was used as a military camp for Russian troops until the end of 1989, when the Russians left Hungary.

Since 1994, the palace has been protected and restored by the Gödöllő Royal Castle Public Utility Company and the Gödöllő Royal Museum. It was renovated to recreate its past splendor and opened to visitors in the summer of 1996.

The palace has 26 completely renovated rooms, a unique introduction to the suites formerly occupied by Hungarian royalty. The Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth spent blissful times here, mainly in autumn and spring.

There is an additional unique program opportunity in the Grassalkovich Palace, namely the Baroque Theatre. Prince Antal Grassalkovich II established a theatre between 1782 and 1785 in the south wing of the palace. The Baroque Palace Theatre, with a capacity of 100, was a temporary theatre, only giving performances during the time that the Court stayed in the palace.

The theatre ceased to exist in 1867 when, due to the need of the Royal Court, a 15-chamber wing was established. The Palace Theatre was only later unravelled, in 1986, and became the only theatre working on the basis of a stage set up with coulisses.

This unique baroque theatre can be visited as part of the guided tour of the palace, and can be rented privately for concerts and theatre performances.

The tour includes the major part of the venue, including the palace, its chapel, the baroque theatre, and the garden as well (if the weather is pleasant).

Thursday, May 6, 2010
Inside Visit of the Parliament and the Opera House
Euro 48/person
1:30–4:30 pm

Included are two entrance fees (Parliament and Opera House).

Visit of the Parliament

The impressive neo-Gothic Parliament Building (built 1885–1902) dominates the Pest bank of the River Danube. The chamber of the former Upper House is available for meetings and conferences and is spectacularly beautiful. The building itself is worth a visit. The building took 17 years to build, with an average of 1,000 workers laboring at any one time. It was the greatest investment of the time, with the total cost ballooning from 18,5 million to 38 million gold crowns. The building is 268 m long, 123 m wide across the centre, has a dome 96 m high and covers 18,000 square meters of surface area and 473,000 cubic meters of space. Ninety statues and the coats of arms of various cities and counties adorn the exterior, while on the inner walls can be found 152 statues and motifs of national fauna. Nearly 40 kilograms (kg) of 22–23 carat gold was used for decorations. The building has 27 gates, 29 interior staircases and 13 personal and service elevators. Approximately 50 five-story apartment buildings could fit into the massive Parliament Building. An experienced guide will make this magnificent building come to life. Since the end of 1999, the Hungarian Coronation Jewels are also exhibited here.

Friday, May 7, 2010
Szentendre Tour by the Danube
Rate € 26/person
1:30 – 5:30 pm
Included: 1 entrance fees ( Open air  Village Museum)

Szentendre is a peaceful little town, it takes 20 minutes to get to the town. Szentendre is a town of arts and museums. It gives home to the Hungarian Open-air Museum exhibiting the folklore architecture and culture of the Carpathian recess. One of the most visited museums of the whole country, the Kovács Margit Ceramics Museum is also located here. There are further 14 museums and art galleries acquainting visitors with the rich historical past and teeming life of arts. It is not by chance that the quietness of the little town and the closeness of the bustling metropolis of Budapest have drawn over one hundred artists here.

First we visit the Open-Air Village Museum. The exhibition at the out-door museum is not yet complete, since of all the house types represented in the ethnographic regions of Hungary only those from the Upper Tisza region (North-eastern Hungary) and the Kisalföld (North-western Hungary) have so far been assembled. But even so, the Museum is well worth a visit as it gives a picture of 19th-century Hungarian peasant life.

From the Open-Air Village Museum tour continues to the centre of the town. There we have an approx. 1 hour walking tour including the most important highlights of the town and a visit to the Kovács Margit Ceramics Museum. In Szentendre we always leave free time for shopping!

Post-Conference Bicycle Trip
May 7 – 16, 2010

Hindriks European Bicycle Tours is organizing a 10-day post conference bicycle tour. The ride takes you through the northwestern part of Hungary not far and close to the mighty Danube River. From Hedervar to Szentendre, with stops along the way in Tata, Visegrad, Esztergom and in the hills north of the Danube, this trip takes you through the heartland of Hungarian culture and history. You will start cycling near Hedervar and following more or less an eastern route, partly along the Danube river, partly inland with magnificent scenery.  Highlights are the Hedervar castle, the horse farm at Bobolna, the towns of Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre, the splendid natural surroundings north of the river,  the local wines, and the Hungarian cooking class at the end of the trip. This trip combines great nature, small villages, interesting towns, fascinating history and culture with great riding. Accommodations are excellent, riding is easy to moderate and sightseeing opportunities are abundant. Trip price $ 3200, single supplement $ 500. Included are bus tranfers, comfortable hotels, all breakfasts,  8 dinners, some lunches, hybrid bikes, entrance fees to selected sights, bicycle guides, two support vans.

For more information regarding the bicycle trip, contact:

Kay Funk at Hindriks Tours - Phone 1-866-6050-289 or email at kay@hindrikstours.com