text:
Espoo

Espoo (Swedish: Esbo) with a population of a quarter of a million is the second largest city in Finland. It's part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and the small city of Kauniainen (Swedish: Grankulla) which is completely encircled by Espoo.

The national park of Nuuksio is situated in northwestern Espoo.

Understand

Espoo has several local regional centres, thus divided into seven major areas: Vanha-Espoo, Espoonlahti, Espoo, Kauklahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola. The Espoo center (Espoon keskus) is the administrative centre, but doesn't rise above its peers with respect to population. The population is concentrated in an inverted F-shaped area defined by the railway to Espoo centre (north) and the highway Länsiväylä (south) up to Espoonlahti. The rest is sparsely populated, and north of Espoo centre, the area is mostly forested. While Kauniainen is an independent municipality, in practice it is contiguous with Espoo and has no notable sights or services to travellers besides a small shopping center.

The science and technology-related campuses of the Aalto University are based in Otaniemi, Espoo, along with a thriving science community that includes numerous startups and organizations such as VTT – the Technical Research Centre of Finland. Nokia is headquartered in Karakallio, Espoo. Other high-tech companies such as KONE, Tekla and Fortum have their headquarters in Keilaniemi, Espoo, along with Microsoft's Finnish headquarters.

By bus
With respect to transit, the south of Espoo is served by the local highway, Länsiväylä. Buses via Länsiväylä to destinations in Espoo leave from the Kamppi bus station (Kamppi shopping centre, ground floor). The orbital line 550 connects the train stations of Oulunkylä and Huopalahti with the south-eastern part of Espoo (Leppävaara, Laajalahti, Otaniemi, Tapiola and Westend).

By train
Northern Espoo and Espoo centre (Espoon keskus) are served by Helsinki commuter trains Y, U, L and E (25 min from Helsinki) to Middle- and West-Espoo. In addition, A train (every 10-20 minutes, 17 minutes from Helsinki) serves the east part of Espoo. See local train map.

Southeastern Espoo is accessible from central Helsinki by metro, with trains every 3-10 minutes. Locations along the metro route include the Keilaniemi business district, Aalto University, Tapiola, Matinkylä and Kivenlahti, which serve as bus stations for feeder lines to destinations further afield. One in two trains terminates at Tapioca, while the rest continue all the way to Matinkylä.

The "Jokeri" orbital light rail (line 15), officially tram line 15, curves across eastern Espoo, connecting Keilaniemi, Aalto University, Leppävaara and then looping across northern Helsinki to terminate in Itäkeskus.

By plane
Espoo is served by Helsinki Airport, from where it can be reached by taxi in half an hour or less. For travelling from Helsinki Airport to Espoo by public transport, see Journey Planner for routes and timetables. Typical routes would be:

 * To southern Espoo, local train P from Helsinki Airport to Central Railway Station (Rautatientori), change to metro westbound (destination Tapiola or Matinkylä), change to feeder bus line if necessary.
 * To northern Espoo, local train I from Helsinki Airport to Huopalahti, change to local train Y, U, L, E or A northbound (see local train map), change to feeder bus line if necessary.

By car
Freeways 1 and 51 pass through Espoo, as do the westernmost portions of ring road one and three.

Get around

 * See Helsinki for information about fares and tickets

For public transport, generally just use Journey Planner or Google Maps for routes and timetables.

By train
Trains A, E, S, U run across Espoo. Train L runs late at night and on weekend mornings. Suburbs in southeastern Espoo including Tapiola and Matinkylä are connected by metro.

Jokeri light rail
The first light rail line of the capital region called Jokeri was officially opened in October 2023. In the Espoo area, the route runs from Keilaniemi to Vermo in Leppävaara, from where the route continues to the Helsinki side.

By bus
Buses are frequent and convenient enough. Check HSL Journey Planner for timetables. is a part of the Espoo zone.

By electric kick scooter
Swedish Voi, German Tier, American Lime and Finnish Joe Scooter rent electric kick scooters. The companies aim to keep the scooters available also in winter, conditions permitting, but the vehicles are not ideal in snowy or slippery conditions.

By bike
There are excellent cycling paths almost everywhere in Espoo, so it's worth cycling in a sunny day. Remember to wear a helmet. Detailed information of cyclist paths are available at HSL's website.

See

 * MIKES in Otaniemi.jpg

Do

 * Mini-Tapiola.jpg
 * Half Pipe Serena.jpg
 * . This is a "go to" place in Espoo, being probably the most accessible "true Finnish forest" near Helsinki. There is parking and footpaths. Although one has a metalled path up to a beautiful lakeshore, none are completely accessible to wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way.
 * Cinema
 * Swimming pool
 * . This is a "go to" place in Espoo, being probably the most accessible "true Finnish forest" near Helsinki. There is parking and footpaths. Although one has a metalled path up to a beautiful lakeshore, none are completely accessible to wheelchairs or prams, since all include unmaintained sections with rocky slopes and/or tree roots blocking the way.
 * Cinema
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool
 * Swimming pool

Events

Shopping centres

 * Tapiola shopping district, which includes Ainoa, Heikintori, a Stockmann, and numerous smaller shops.
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).
 * Tapiola shopping district, which includes Ainoa, Heikintori, a Stockmann, and numerous smaller shops.
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).
 * Smaller shopping centres are Lippulaiva in Espoonlahti; Olari Prisma next to Iso Omena on the opposite side of Länsiväylä; Niitty in Niittykumpu on the top of the district's metro station; Mankkaa and Viherlaakso; a hardware store area including the shopping centre Merituuli in Suomenoja; another similar area in Lommila and Muurala near Espoo centre, and numerous others. Most districts have at least one local grocery store (often with a couple of other shops and services in the same building).

Outdoor markets
Like most cities in Finland you can buy fruits, vegetables, fish and more and sit down for a cup of coffee at outdoor markets (tori). They are open 09:00–17:00. For maps and information on events, Espoon torikauppiaat association website.

 * Espoon keskus (Asematori)
 * Leppävaara markets (Läkkitori north of the railway station and Viaporin tori on the southern side, in the inner court of Sello shopping centre)
 * Espoonlahti market (Ulappatori)
 * Tapiola market
 * Karakallio market

Flea markets

 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)
 * There are some self-service fleamarkets around Espoo like Akseli (Sinikalliontie 1, Mankkaa)

Mid-range

 * Pork schnitzel with Koskenlaskija sauce at restaurant E.T. Charlie.jpg
 * Steak au poivre at Grilli Ribis.jpg
 * Steak au poivre at Grilli Ribis.jpg

Nightclubs
Most people head east to Helsinki when they're planning a night out, but there are a couple of night clubs in Espoo as well.

Stay safe
Although a part of the Helsinki metropolitan area, Espoo has few or no problem spots and is exceptionally safe. There are various reasons. The population of Espoo is affluent, with few low-income neighborhoods. Population is simply less concentrated, with few high-rise districts, traffic junctions or concentrations of nightlife. Thus, partygoers are more likely to head to Helsinki to cause trouble.

Caution is warranted in urban districts (along the railway) with nightlife during Friday or Saturday nights, for instance in Leppävaara and Espoon keskus. Suvela and Kirstinmäki, next to Espoon keskus, is often mentioned as the only "ghetto" in Espoo, although this is more reputation than fact if compared to districts in Central or Eastern Helsinki.

Cope
The Jorvi Hospital (Jorvin sairaala) is near Espoon keskus. This is the main emergency care and surgery facility in Espoo. Unfortunately this is a rather remote location relative to most other places in Espoo, 20 min by car from the southwestern corner.

Private clinics (search for "lääkäriasema" in Espoo) are found in Espoon keskus, Matinkylä, Leppävaara and Tapiola. See:
 * Mehiläinen Matinkylä (Piispanportti 10 A, 3. floor)
 * Mehiläinen Leppävaara (Panorama Tower, Hevosenkenkä 3)
 * Terveystalo Espoontori (Kamreerintie 7)
 * Terveystalo Iso Omena (Piispansilta 11)
 * Terveystalo Leppävaara (Alberganesplanadi 1)
 * Terveystalo Tapiola (Ainoa, Länsituuli 7)
 * Aava Tapiola (Länsituulentie 1 A)

The police station ("Kilon poliisi") is in Kilo district, Nihtisillankuja 4. Contacts.

Go next
West: Kirkkonummi–Siuntio–Ingå–Raseborg (Karis–Ekenäs–Pojo)–Hanko — The next cities westwards accessible by bus, train or car. North: Vantaa–Klaukkala–Hyvinkää

title: Espoo


text:
Esquel

Esquel is a town in Chubut in Argentina, south of Bariloche.

Understand
Esquel is a popular ski town in winter for people all over Argentina.

Get in
Buses leave for Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Bariloche, El Calafate (via Ruta 40, 26 hours, 420 pesos, 00:40 every other day) and El Calafate via Rio Gallegos (24 hours, 405 pesos, 13:30 daily). Check Plataforma10, Cetral de Pasajes or Taqsa for bus details.

Go next

 * Go to Futaleufu, in Chile, for some great rafting.
 * Los Alerces National Park

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Esquel


text:
Essaouira

Essaouira (Arabic: الصويرة) is a coastal city in Morocco. It is known as the Windy City.

Understand
In addition to the new town, Essaouira offers a picturesque medina (old town) surrounded by seawalls and city walls, designed by a French architect in the 18th century, a harbor with fish market, and a long beach with numerous water sports opportunities. Once a hippie hangout, Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens spent some time here. Orson Welles filmed part of his Othello in town; west of the medina there's a square named in his honor.

By plane

Flights arrive from Paris, Lyon and other places with some regularity.

By bus

Tickets are rarely available for the next departing coach with Supratours and CTM. Try and book your tickets the day before, or further in advance during peak travel periods.

Between Essaouira and Agadir it is very easy to catch an intercity bus anywhere along the way. During the day there is one bus about every hour. While CTM and Supratours are not allowed to pick up additional passengers, local intercity buses do not have such a restriction. This is a great way to explore the coast including Taghazout between these two cities without issues. The regular price for the full distance is 50 dirham.

By taxi
A whole grand taxi from Marrakech costs 450-800 dirham, depending on your negotiating skill, where you are, the mood of the driver, etc. It is about 80 dirham per place if you wait and take a grand taxi (six passengers, leave when full).

Get around
The walled center of town, the Medina, is supposedly restricted to non-motorized vehicles, but this rule is widely ignored in the case of mopeds which are an increasing nuisance. Other than that, there are occasional donkey carts to dodge.

Taxi costs a flat fee of 8 dirham during day and 9 dirham after 20:00 (as of Jan 2024).

See
Essaouira is a perfect example of a late 18th century fortified town, with the original canons still in place and where Orson Wells shot his Othello, "The Moor of Venice".

Medina
The UNESCO World Heritage Listed medina: check out the fish market at the west end, watch the sunset from the seawall at the Place Moulay Hassan, visit the Scala (wall tower north east of the Place), walk through the markets towards Bab Doukkala at the east end, and check out the artisan's shops near the eastern wall.

Do

 * The beach dominates the Essaouirans' leisure time. Although the strong wind and currents makes relaxed tanning and swimming a little difficult at times, it is perfect for kitesurfing and windsurfing. With good winds for most days of the year, Essaouira is a watersports' paradise. The best spots are reported to be Essaouira Bay, Sidi Kaouki, Cape Sim and Mouley Bouzertoune. Equipment can be hired from various hire centres on the beach front. However, this is not the ideal place to learn watersports, particularly kitesurfing. There tends to be a bit of a catch 22 - either its calm and you can't go out because there's no wind or its windy and you can't go out because there is a huge shore break. In addition the water can smell of sewage.
 * Camel and horse rides, quad-bikes, near the southern end of the main beach. A crowd of salesmen offering any type of rides can be found there throughout all day long.

Buy
Essaouira's craftsmen are renowned for their woodwork and lacquerware. Intricately inlaid boxes, chessboards and curios can be found for good prices in the city's hundreds of shops; however, be aware that extensive deforestation is taking place in the area due to these woods not being replanted. Artwork of all kinds can be had here.

Eat
Although Essaouira is on the sea, seafood sold to tourists can be quite expensive. Fishermen sell their catch through the market hall and you can have it cooked at the small stands nearby. Prices are clearly marked by weight on the large pricing board at the end of the fish market stalls, but this seems to make little difference to the chances of being hustled. Sample price: 5 dirham for pack of fresh sardines (10 one of them) in fish market. Carefully evaluate how much you are being charged. A cheaper option is to buy Harira (a spicy soup) for 5-8 dirham or a sandwich (i.e. at Blue facade for 10-20 dirham, walking at the street from fish stands to the Medina).

One of the best options is to buy your seafood from the dock (haggling sometimes required) where they sell everything from eels to sharks, then take your fish to the central market side streets (follow the smoke!) where they will grill it for you for only 5 dirham a grill rack, they will also grill your vegetables or make Moroccan salad. Seeing locals carry frozen fish in their hands around the corner to these stalls is common.

There are many reasonable restaurants and cafés on the main streets and squares.

Drink
Some of the hotels have licensed bars, but it's hard to beat the terrace bar Taros for its view over the lively Place Moulay el Hassan and the harbour. Popular with locals and tourists, has decent music

An off-license, the only one in town, can be found outside of Bab Doukkala on the Boulevard al Massira, to the right. Just inside this gate is the "black market" for alcohol on religious holidays and at night. Just ask the boys selling loose cigarettes!

Sleep
If arriving by bus, local women will surround you as you exit offering discount riads or accommodation in their homes for as little as 150 dirham (can be negotiated down to 75 dirham), though you will not get a view of the ocean for this. There are many hotel options available so feel free to bypass them. You can always return to the bus station and they will still be there.

Stay safe
Avoid the dealers selling "hash brownies" near the square, they are usually fake

Hashish is widely smoked in Morocco, but do not be fooled into thinking it is legal even if you see Moroccans smoking during the day. Smoking or being high in public is seen as a vice, especially near holy places, in the morning, or if you are drawing attention to yourself; use your judgement.

Go next

 * Agadir — the modern resort city with its beaches.
 * Marrakesh — city of hustle and stepping off point for the Sahara.
 * El Jadida — A holiday destination for Moroccans that has similar history and sights.

title: Essaouira


text:
Essen

Essen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. With almost 582,000 inhabitants (2020), Essen is a service and administrative city, with several large companies headquartered here. A highlight of Essen is Zeche Zollverein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with several museums. It is also famous for its Bauhaus architecture. This former industrial city was the European Capital of Culture in 2010 and the European Green Capital for 2017.

Understand
Essen is a regional centre of the Ruhr area. Although its history goes back a long way, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that it grew from a small town to a large industrial city, with over 750,000 inhabitants at its heyday.

Essen was famous as a classic heavy industry centre; this has changed since the 1970s. Only a few symbols remain from the former mining industry. Steel production is no longer as important as it used to be. Like the rest of the Ruhr area, Essen is affected by emigration. From 1990 to 2008 alone, the population fell by almost 50,000. However, unlike most of the Ruhr area, Essen's economy is one of the strongest in Germany; it houses numerous energy companies (thus giving it the title of "energy capital of Germany") and logistics firms.

The meaning of the city name is unclear; it probably means "(place in) the east".

By plane
Nearby airports are:
 * Düsseldorf-International (ca. 30 km, 30 min by train; largest international airport in the area)
 * Dortmund Airport (ca. 45 km; faster to reach by public transport and used by some no-frills airlines)
 * Cologne Bonn Airport (ca. 77 km)
 * Weeze Airport (about 80 km away): a base for Ryanair, direct shuttles can be booked ahead of time. Otherwise, expect to spend 1 hr by car or train))

By car
Essen is located on Autobahn 40.

 * From Hanover take Autobahn 2 to 40.
 * Autobahn 45 from Frankfurt.
 * Autobahn 52 from Düsseldorf.

By train
Essen can be reached quite easily by train. There are many express connections from Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and other major German cities. Flixtrain serves the city.

You can get here from many neighbouring cities in the Ruhr metropolitan area by regional trains. There are also multiple international connections per day from Bruxelles and Paris via the Eurostar trains.

By bus
Essen is part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr bus and train system. See also Ruhrbahn.

By boat
The Rhine river transportation system can be reached via the Herne Kanal. Weiße Flotte Baldeney operate ships on the Ruhr river.

Get around
Essen has an extensive Stadtbahn (light rail), tram, bus and night bus system.

The Light Rail (Stadtbahn, not to be confused with mainline S-Bahn trains) has 3 routes: U11 from the Messe/Grugapark, U17 from Margarethenhöhe, U18 from Mülheim, that merge together south of the central station and cross the city centre underground together, with U18 terminating at Berliner Platz, U11 and U17 passing the University and stopping in Altenessen where U17 terminates and U11 continues into Gelsenkirchen-Horst.

The local tram network extends into Gelsenkirchen and Mülheim, it also runs underground in the city centre and shares some of its stations and routes with the Stadtbahn. The vast majority of trams and stops are accessible.

Buses have a vast network that covers most of the city, including express buses and night service during weekend nights. All buses are disabled-accessible. During off-peak times some underused routes get replaced by a Taxibus (TB) service that requires prior booking.

S-Bahn trains connect the entire Ruhrgebiet and also cross Essen. There are 23 stations within the city.

Taxis are available plenty and always wait in front of both exits of the central train station, but can be a tad expensive.

You can find more information about fares and a journey planner at the Rhein-Ruhr Transit Association and Ruhrbahn, who serves Essen and Mülheim.

Essen shares its transport with Mülheim through the Ruhrbahn company, part of VRR. Tickets within Essen are fare zone (Preisstufe) A: Short-ride up to 3 stops without transfer, Single ride across Essen , 4-Ride (One stamp per ride and person) , a single day pass called 24h ticket , 2 persons 12.50, 3 persons €16.70, 4 persons €20.90, 5 persons €25.10. Tickets can be bought from bus drivers, ticket machines at most tram and Stadtbahn and many major bus stops, on your smartphone or at many kiosks. You must have a valid ticket when boarding any vehicle or face a penalty.

See

 * Kettwig Historical District featuring 17th and 18th century streets and buildings.
 * Synagogue and Jewish Museum
 * Synagogue and Jewish Museum

Do

 * International Christmas Market from late November to early December the streets and historic alleys of the city centre are filled with over 200 arts and crafts stalls.
 * Football: SGS Essen play soccer in Frauen-Bundesliga, the women's top tier. They play at Stadion Essen (capacity 20,000) 5 km north of city centre.
 * Rot-Weiss Essen the men's team play in 3. Liga, their third tier, at Stadion an der Hafenstraße
 * Football: SGS Essen play soccer in Frauen-Bundesliga, the women's top tier. They play at Stadion Essen (capacity 20,000) 5 km north of city centre.
 * Rot-Weiss Essen the men's team play in 3. Liga, their third tier, at Stadion an der Hafenstraße

Art
Small, but vivid: the art scene in Essen. Galleries allocate on the whole city region, with a concentration around the Museum Folkwang:

Cinema

 * Behind the shopping centre Limbecker Platz there is a Cinemaxx-Kino, with 5,370 seats, it is the biggest multiplex cinema in Germany.

Learn
The is part of a consortium of three universities in the Ruhr-area (University of Duisburg-Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund) and Germany's largest academic hub.

Work
If you are working for a place that is easy going for digital nomads, have a look at

Buy
Many shops are found in the city centre pedestrian zone. A big shopping-mall "Limbecker Platz" in the western part of the city centre opened in summer 2008. Also pay attention to the "Rüttenscheid"-district with lot of small boutiques.
 * Stores at Essen Central Station (Essen Hauptbahnhof), including the discount grocery store and the drugstore, will be open on Sundays too from 09:00-20:00 as they are exempt from Federal and State Sunday closure laws. Expect crowds.
 * Stores at Essen Central Station (Essen Hauptbahnhof), including the discount grocery store and the drugstore, will be open on Sundays too from 09:00-20:00 as they are exempt from Federal and State Sunday closure laws. Expect crowds.
 * Stores at Essen Central Station (Essen Hauptbahnhof), including the discount grocery store and the drugstore, will be open on Sundays too from 09:00-20:00 as they are exempt from Federal and State Sunday closure laws. Expect crowds.
 * Stores at Essen Central Station (Essen Hauptbahnhof), including the discount grocery store and the drugstore, will be open on Sundays too from 09:00-20:00 as they are exempt from Federal and State Sunday closure laws. Expect crowds.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Mid-range

Stay safe
Despite having a fairly strong economy compared to other cities in the Ruhr area, Essen has a very high crime rate by German standards. The poor northern suburbs of Essen (especially Altendorf, Altenessen and Karnap) suffer from occasional, potentially armed, robberies at night. Be aware of pickpockets on the Christmas Market and watch your bags in crowded bars and near the train station. Aggravated assaults have also been reported.

Religious services
Holy mass in Catholic churches at the centre:

 * Hohe Domkirche, Münster, An St. Quintin 3 (5-10 min north from central station). Sa 18:30; Su 07:30*, 10:00, 16:00*, 19:00; (*in the Anbetungskirche: M-F 07:00, 10:00, 17:30 (except Sa)).
 * St. Engelbert, Fischerstraße 12 (10 min south from central station). Sa 18:15; Su 09:45, 14:00 (English); M 7:30PM; Tu 09:00; W 09:15; F 18:00.
 * St. Ignatius, An Sankt Ignatius 8 (10 min southwest from central station).  Sa 09:00, 17:00; Su 11:15, 18:00; Tu Th F 19:00.

Index of Catholic churches in the Diocesis of Essen:

Diplomatic services

 * Am Zehnthof 55. M-F 08:30-15:00

title: Essen


text:
Essex

There is more than one place called Essex:

Canada

 * Essex (Ontario) - A town in Ontario, Canada.
 * Essex County (Ontario) - A county in Canada.

England

 * Essex (England) - A county in England.

United States of America

 * Essex (California) - A town in California.
 * Essex (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut.
 * Essex (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Essex (Iowa) - A town in Iowa.
 * Essex (Maryland) - A town in Maryland.
 * Essex (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts on the North Shore.
 * Essex (Missouri) - A town in Missouri.
 * Essex (Montana) - A town in Montana.
 * Essex (New York) - A town in Essex County, New York.
 * Essex (Vermont) - A town in Vermont.

title: Essex


text:
Essex (Connecticut)

Essex is a city in Connecticut River Valley.

Get in
CT Rt. 9 passes through Essex about 45 miles south of Hartford and about 5 miles north of I-95 exit 69 in Old Saybrook.

title: Essex (Connecticut)


text:
Essex (England)

Essex is a large county in East Anglia, England. It lies to the east and north-east of London, and is home to three cities, several bustling market towns, and hundreds of countryside villages.

Essex's coastline, with its estuaries and islands, is more than 350 miles long. Some of its green spaces and small towns have inspired artists and musicians - notably John Constable in the Dedham Vale (now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and Gustav Holst in Thaxted. Some of its green spaces have a special legal status, including the Lee Valley, Epping Forest, Dedham Vale, and seven National Nature Reserves. Colchester lays claim to being Britain's first capital city. Southend Pier, at 1.33 miles, is the longest in the world. Its county town is Chelmsford.

Some areas of East London were once a part of the county. Locals in Romford and Ilford, for example, often lay claim to being from Essex.

Towns and villages

 * – county town

 * – Britain's first Roman city which also features the largest Norman keep in England
 * – charming commuter town on the end of the London Underground's Central line
 * – ancient flitch town, worth a walk up and down the high street
 * - a picturesque English town with a market dating back to 1141
 * - classic and extensive seaside town
 * — with Mountfitchet Castle, a living reconstruction of a Norman village and close to Stansted Airport
 * - with a packed calendar of musical events and Morris dancing, Thaxted lends its name to the popular hymn tune "I Vow to Thee, My Country"
 * – Britain's first Roman city which also features the largest Norman keep in England
 * – charming commuter town on the end of the London Underground's Central line
 * – ancient flitch town, worth a walk up and down the high street
 * - a picturesque English town with a market dating back to 1141
 * - classic and extensive seaside town
 * — with Mountfitchet Castle, a living reconstruction of a Norman village and close to Stansted Airport
 * - with a packed calendar of musical events and Morris dancing, Thaxted lends its name to the popular hymn tune "I Vow to Thee, My Country"
 * - a picturesque English town with a market dating back to 1141
 * - classic and extensive seaside town
 * — with Mountfitchet Castle, a living reconstruction of a Norman village and close to Stansted Airport
 * - with a packed calendar of musical events and Morris dancing, Thaxted lends its name to the popular hymn tune "I Vow to Thee, My Country"
 * - a picturesque English town with a market dating back to 1141
 * - classic and extensive seaside town
 * — with Mountfitchet Castle, a living reconstruction of a Norman village and close to Stansted Airport
 * - with a packed calendar of musical events and Morris dancing, Thaxted lends its name to the popular hymn tune "I Vow to Thee, My Country"
 * — with Mountfitchet Castle, a living reconstruction of a Norman village and close to Stansted Airport
 * - with a packed calendar of musical events and Morris dancing, Thaxted lends its name to the popular hymn tune "I Vow to Thee, My Country"

Other destinations

 * - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with walks along the River Stour
 * - once a royal forest, now protected in law for "the recreation and enjoyment of the public"
 * - Essex's largest island under Ministry of Defence ownership, with restricted access
 * - more than 1,000 acres of woodland managed by the National Trust, with some trees over 1,000 years old

Understand
Contrary to popular belief and stereotypes, Essex is not actually an urban wasteland. Most of the county is rural, and has some very beautiful scenery that is not widely known to outsiders. Saffron Walden, in the north-west of the county, epitomises this defiance of the classic Essex stereotype, as do many of the smaller towns and villages. Essex is bordered by Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the south via the Thames Estuary and Greater London to the south west.

Many Essex residents especially in the southwest of the county work and commute in London. Most say it's like their second home. But do not tell people from Essex they're Londoners despite some southwestern parts being inside the M25 circle.

Talk
Accents vary in Essex. In the northern and rural areas of the county, you are much more likely to hear the traditional East Anglian accent. But in the south of the county the most commonly heard is known as the estuary accent; some say this is a cross between Cockney and East Anglian.

Some foreign languages are heard in some major towns and cities due to tourism and business, you will mostly hear their language in the southwest bordering Greater London. But in rural areas, locals only understand English.

By car
Major roads into the county include:

 * the M11 motorway (London - Cambridge) in west Essex;
 * the M25 motorway (London Orbital, onward connections to Heathrow Airport) in south Essex;
 * the A11 (London - Norwich) near Saffron Walden;
 * the A12 (London - Lowestoft) past Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester;
 * the A13 (London - Southend) past Thurrock;
 * the A120 (Puckeridge - Harwich) past Stansted Airport, Braintree and Colchester;
 * the A127 (Romford - Southend) past Basildon and Southend Airport;
 * the A131 (Sudbury - Chelmsford) past Braintree;
 * the A414 (Hemel Hempstead - Maldon) past Harlow and Chelmsford.

By plane
Beyond Essex, nearby airports include London City Airport in East London, London Luton Airport  which is also in the East of England, and London Heathrow Airport  west of London.
 * is near Stansted Mountfitchet, the A120 and the M11 motorway.
 * is near Southend-on-Sea and the A127.

By boat

 * is in Harwich - ferry connections to Hook of Holland, The Netherlands, and Felixstowe, Suffolk. Road connections via the A120.

National Rail from London

 * London Liverpool Street - Fast and local trains by Greater Anglia towards Audley End for Saffron Walden, Braintree, Brentwood, Clacton-on-Sea, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Harwich International Port and Southend Victoria. Stansted Express trains towards Harlow and Stansted Airport. Elizabeth line trains towards Shenfield via Brentwood.
 * London Fenchurch Street - Local trains by c2c towards Basildon, Southend Central and Thurrock.
 * [[East London|London Stratford - Fast and local trains by Greater Anglia towards Braintree, Brentwood, Clacton-on-Sea, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Harwich International Port and Southend Victoria. Elizabeth line trains towards Shenfield via Brentwood.
 * — The Elizabeth line, which calls at Brentwood and Shenfield in Essex, also calls major London stations such as Tottenham Court Road in the West End, London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.

London Underground

 * - The London Underground Central line calls at some towns and villages in Essex, including Chigwell, Epping and Loughton. Central line stations in Essex fall in fare zones 4-6.

National Rail into Chelmsford and Colchester

 * - Greater Anglia runs fast and local trains between Norwich (Norfolk)/Ipswich (Suffolk) and London. Most services stop at Chelmsford, Colchester and some smaller stations in eastern Essex.

National Rail into Audley End, Harlow and Stansted Airport

 * - Fast Greater Anglia trains from Ely/Cambridge to London Liverpool Street call at Audley End for Saffron Walden and Harlow Town in Essex.
 * - Local Greater Anglia trains from Cambridge to London Liverpool Street call at stations throughout west Essex.
 * - Local Greater Anglia trains between Norwich, Cambridge, Audley End and Stansted Airport.
 * - CrossCountry runs a fast train between Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

By car
Essex is excellent for car travel due to the rural nature of the county. Avoid the M25 and southwest Essex if you can as extremely congested traffic is common. But away from the M25, it is easier to drive around. Some towns and cities experience the usual rush hour, i.e., 7-9AM and 4-6PM.

By train
Essex has a good railway network like the rest of the country with frequent trains into London and Suffolk. In the southwest of the county, the Central Line on the London Underground runs into London from Epping. Trains run frequently from early morning to night.

See

 * Seals with orange fake sun-tans: this is the mark of any seal that dwells in Hamford Water near Frinton-on-Sea: the estuary mud contains iron oxides which stain the pelt. When these seals show up on beaches miles away, they stand out from the rest and are mocked as "Essex Girls".

Do

 * The Oak Trail is a walk through Epping Forest and nearby villages
 * Watch cricket: Essex CCC play at the County Ground in Chelmsford.

Stay safe
Contrary to popular belief, Essex actually has one of the lowest crime rates in England. However some poorer towns in the more urbanised south and west of the county should be approached with caution, especially at night.

As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a land-line if you can) and ask for Ambulance, Fire or Police when connected.

title: Essex (England)


text:
Essex (Massachusetts)

Essex is a town in on Cape Ann in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. Settled by direct descendants of the Mayflower passengers in the early 1600s, it was later world-renowned as North America's fishing schooner construction center. Today, history permeates the town, enhanced by its many antique stores. Its population was shy of 4k during the 2020 census.

By car
From the South Take Interstate 93 North to the Route 128/Peabody exit. Follow 128/I-95 North staying to the left (Route 128) at the 128/I-95 split. Take Exit 15 Manchester/Essex. At the end of the ramp turn left.

From the North Take Interstate 95 South to the Route 128/Gloucester exit. Follow 128/I-95 North staying to the left (Route 128) at the 128/I-95 split. Take Exit 15 Manchester/Essex. At the end of the ramp turn left.

By Train
While there is no direct train service to Essex, on weekends during summer months the Ipswich Essex Explorer connects with the MBTA commuter rail at Ipswich on the Newburyport line.

Buy
Essex is famous for its antique stores, many of which are converted from 1800s era residences. There is, perhaps, no finer array of antique shops, with over 35 establishments to browse.

Go next
Rockport and Gloucester are interesting next stops.

title: Essex (Massachusetts)


text:
Essex (New York)

Essex is a town in Essex County, New York, where the Adirondack Park borders Lake Champlain on the New York-Vermont border.

Understand
This charming Federal period town prospered in the 1800s and today has become a somewhat "sleepier" rural community home to vacationers and year-round residents with an appreciation for the well preserved architecture and friendly population. Lake frontage, its relatively flat land, and the powerful Bouquet River made the town of Essex readily accessible to settlement, and sped its rate of development.

According to the Adirondack History Centre Museum, "Essex County’s best known early settler, William Gilliland planned a baronial estate for Essex in 1765. His brother-in-law finished the first house the next year, and a lake shore community rapidly developed. But, when English troops passed through the area during the Revolutionary War, most of the settlers fled their homes, returning to their families. Once the trampling feet of the opposing armies were gone, the settlers came back to the land. When the War of 1812 began, Essex was the principal shipbuilding port on this side of the lake. Apple orchards thrived on the plain. By the late 1800s Canadian merchants would boat along the Champlain shore contracting for the apples grown in adjacent fields. These apples, and grains for distilling, were agricultural cash crops but hay and dairy products were the primary cash products."

Boat building, a knitting mill, and a buttery were among the business in the first two decades of the 20th century. Industries fell away as the 20th century progressed. Today tourists are drawn to its quaint shops and restaurants, the ferry service to Vermont and the beauty of the remaining farms.

By boat

 * A car ferry owned by Lake Champlain Transportation (LCT) runs between Essex, NY and Charlotte, VT.

Do
Essex Theater Company PO Box 117 518-524-7708

Historic Essex  P.O. Box 250, 518-963-7088 - Formed in December 1969, Historic Essex (aka Essex Community Heritage Organization) works to preserve one of the most intact collections of Federal and Greek Revival architecture in rural New York State. The Heritage Center offers exhibitions, programs and tours of Historic Essex.

Essex Walking Tour Route 22, Boquet Road 518-963-7088 - The entire village of Essex is on the National Register of Historic Places. Essex is full of well-preserved 19th century brick and stone homes, churches, inns and shops replete with carefully manicured lawns and gardens. The village has one of the finest and most intact collections of Federal and Greek revival architecture in New York State. Founded in 1765, Essex saw substantial growth due to the success of local stone quarries, iron mines, tanneries, and two shipyards. The Walking Tour Map of Essex includes a history of the area and brief details on over 50 structures.

Eat
Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast-- Inn and Restaurant 2297 Main St 518-963-4400

Portside Restaurant 963-3354

Shipyard Café 963-4200

Drink
Essex Wine Shop 2270 Main Street 963-4313

Sleep
Cupola House on Lake Champlain 2278 Main Street 518-963-7494

Essex Inn on the Adirondack Coast 2297 Main Street 518-963-4400

Cabins by the Lake Lake Street 518-963-8048

Lakehouse Bed and Breakfast 2273 South Main St 518-963-8840

Little Brick House Orchard Street 518-963-4199

The Stonehouse Corner Church and Elm Streets 518-963-7713

title: Essex (New York)


text:
Essex (Ontario)

Essex is a town of 21,000 people (2021) in Essex County in Southwestern Ontario.

Understand
The town comprises the communities of Ambassador Beach, Barretville, Belcreft Beach, Colchester, Edgars, Essex Centre, Gesto, Harrow, Klie's Beach, Leslies Corner, Levergood Beach, Lypps Beach, Marshfield, McGregor, New Canaan, Oxley, Paquette Corners, Seymour Beach and Vereker.

History
The Talbot Trail was heavily attributed with causing Essex to grow significantly in the last half of the 19th century.

Get in
The nearest airline, train and bus service is in Windsor (Ontario), 31 km away.

From Windsor, take Howard Ave. (County Road 9) south to Pike Road (County Rd 18) and turn east. Follow 18 to 11, and continue east along 11 until it turns off and 18 continues east again.

LTW Transit connects Essex to Leamington and Windsor.

Get around

 * SX Taxi & Limousine Service,
 * Essex Taxi,

Wineries
The Town is Essex is a key part of the emerging Essex County wine region:

Go next

 * Leamington and Kingsville — on the Lake Erie shore, with summer ferry services to Pelee Island.
 * Windsor (Ontario) — a mid-size, multicultural city across from Detroit, Michigan.

title: Essex (Ontario)


text:
Essex (Vermont)

Essex is a town in Northwest Vermont. It is the largest town and second most populated place in Vermont. About half the population lives in the village of Essex Junction, which is wholly contained within the town of Essex.

By car
Routes 15, 2a, and 117 will bring you to the center of Essex. All three roads connect with I-89.

By train

 * Route stopping at Essex Junction:
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton,  Philadelphia, Wilmington,  Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton,  Philadelphia, Wilmington,  Baltimore, and New Carrollton.

On foot
Essex Junction is small enough to be navigated on foot.

On a bike
Cycling can be a good way to get around the village. There are dedicated bike lanes on some streets and traffic moves at fairly low speeds,

Public Transportation
The Essex Junction, Essex-Williston, and Essex Town routes of CCTA all serve the village, however they are more useful for getting to and from Essex Junction than getting around. CCTA frequency can sometimes be low.

By car
Getting around Essex by car is the best option. VT Route 289 can be used to bypass traffic in the center of the village. There is ample parking, and the only problem you are likely to encounter is traffic at Five Corners during rush hour.

See
Admittedly, there isn't much here for the traveler to see. From some parts of town you can get excellent views of Mt. Mansfield and Camel's Hump. The rural parts of Essex offer pleasant landscapes, but these can be found all over Vermont. The older parts of town are fairly attractive, especially from late spring through fall, and that's about it.

Do

Essex is home to several golf courses and parks of interest as well as Vermont's busiest exposition center. If you do end up in Essex, it's probably to see a concert or attend a fair of some kind.

Buy
There are fewer shopping opportunities here than you might expect because the town isn't served by an interstate. There are lots of stores that serve residents (hardware, grocery, and autopart stores), but not as many that would be of interest to travelers.

Eat
Essex has the typical suburban chains like McDonalds, Wendys, KFC, and the ubiquitous (in New England) Dunkin Donuts. However most of the restaurants are one-off local places with much better food. Most restaurants are lunch oriented due to the number of people who work in Essex, but most still serve dinner.

Drink
Essex, despite being the second largest municipality in Vermont, isn't a nightlife hotspot. Most people looking for a night out will head into Burlington.

That being said, Essex does have a few bars. However, they are not quite like those in Burlington. The presence of IBM and the transition to a bedroom community for office workers has transformed Essex into a town of suburban yuppies, but it wasn't always that way and the old rural/blue collar Essex still exists. Unlike Burlington, most bars won't have an extensive list of microbrews, tasteful decorations, or rowdy college students. What you will find are cheap American lagers, dingy bar rooms, darts, pool, and sometimes karaoke. This is Northern Vermont, so you will always be able to find a Switchback if you don't like PBR and Rolling Rock.

Sleep
For some reason, Essex only has two hotels, one of which is a luxury resort. For most tourists, this won't be an issue as you will probably be staying elsewhere, however business travelers and people visiting relatives may have to stay in neighboring Colchester, Williston, or South Burlington.

Go next

 * Burlington
 * Quebec
 * Stowe

title: Essex (Vermont)


text:
Essex County

There's more than one place called Essex County:

Canada

 * Essex County (Ontario) - a county in southwestern Ontario, near Windsor (Ontario)

United Kingdom

 * Essex (England) - a county in England

United States of America

 * Essex County - in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts
 * Essex County (New Jersey) - in New Jersey
 * Essex County - in the Adirondacks region of upstate New York; contains the village Essex (New York) on Lake Champlain
 * Essex County (Vermont) - in Vermont
 * Essex County (Virginia) - in Virginia

title: Essex County


text:
Essex County (New Jersey)

Essex County is in the Gateway region in the northeastern part of New Jersey. There are various attractions in Essex County, such as the Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey Historical Society, Montclair Art Museum, Turtle Back Zoo, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, and Grover Cleveland Birthplace.

Cities

 * – The county seat and largest city in the state

title: Essex County (New Jersey)


text:
Essex County (Ontario)

Essex County, Ontario is the southernmost region of Canada with one of the longest growing seasons in the nation, unique outdoor activities and fascinating historic sites. The Lake Erie shore and Pelee Island viticulture areas offer 14 wineries as of 2023.

Cities

 * — a good base for exploring Essex County's many wineries
 * — an agricultural service town with several historical sites
 * — the Tomato Capital  of Canada, and jumping off point for Point Pelee National Park
 * — see the transportation museum and the tropical gardens
 * — the largest city in the region, with an ethnically diverse population

Other destinations

 * — the southernmost inhabited place in Canada is a place of peace and relaxation for its many visit, especially migrating birds and butterflies
 * , the southernmost point in mainland Canada, with accessible boardwalks through the marshlands tghat are important habitats for migrating birds

Understand
Conservative Mennonites have resided in Essex County since 1786. They emigrated to Ontario (then known as Upper Canada) from the United States after the American Revolution in 1776. They came from Pennsylvania, home to Mennonite immigrants since 1683.

Essex and much of Ontario's Niagara Peninsula served as a terminus for a vast Underground Railroad which led fugitive slaves north across abolitionist states to Canada. Ohio in particular bordered both slavery in Kentucky and freedom across Lake Erie, placing its routes among the shortest and most popular paths to freedom.

Today, major industries range from agriculture (a former Heinz factory cans tomato juice in Leamington) to auto manufacturing (Chrysler operates both in Windsor and across the river in suburban Detroit). The region is one endpoint for the Windsor-Quebec corridor, one of the most populous regions in the nation.

Visitor Information

 * Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

By plane
There is a small airport in Windsor (Ontario).

By bus
There are inter-city and cross-border bus services to Windsor, but not to other centres in the region.

By car
From the United States: From Canada:
 * From the Toronto area, take Highway 401 westbound; all exits beyond Tilbury are in Essex County.
 * It is possible to take a plane to Detroit from Toronto and drive from there.
 * From Niagara and Buffalo, take the QEW up to Hamilton and merge onto Highway 403.

Get around
It is advisable to use cars, when possible. Public transit in Essex is non-existent except for in Windsor and Tecumseh (both have their own bus systems).

See
As the largest city, Windsor is the focus of the region's cultural life, with an art gallery, a science museum, a Serbian Heritage  Museum, and several historic districts.

The Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum will appeal to those inte in old gas and steam-powered engines and antique tractors.

Amherstburg has several historic sites, including a War of 1812 fort, a military museum, a museum about enslaved Americans who found freedom at the end of the Underground Railroad, and an old navy yard.

Kingsville has a heritage village and transportation museum, and Colasanti's Tropical Gardens which exhibit tropical plants and animals.

Do
Point Pelee National Park is one of Canada's smallest national parks, attracts approximately 300,000 human visitors each year, and hundreds of thousands of migrating birds of hundreds of species.

The Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary in Leamington is another good choice for birders.

Because of the region's temperate climate, it is home to many wineries, many of which provide tours and tastings. See the listings in the Essex, Kingsville, and Amherstburg articles.

Kingsville Folk Music Festival, in August, puts on world-class folk, acoustic and world music, with an emphasis on Canadian artists.

Go next

 * Chatham-Kent — the region's gateway to the rest of Southwestern Ontario
 * Detroit — directly across the Detroit River, an easy day trip from Windsor or a gateway to Michigan.
 * Sandusky — on Ohio's Lake Erie shore, connected to Leamington or Kingsville by ferry in the summer. Home of the Cedar Point amusement park.

title: Essex County (Ontario)


text:
Esso

Esso is a village in Kamchatka's central region, 520 km north of the capital. It was established in 1932 at the junction of the rivers Bystraya and Uksichan.

Understand
In the language of Even people "Esso" stands for larch-tree. If you enjoy warmer temperatures, August and September are the best-advised months for you to visit. If you prefer cold weather then you may enjoy sightseeing all year long, especially in the winter when local geothermal sources such as the hot springs are most enjoyable. The abundance of hot water has supposedly caused the locals to give the place the nickname "Kamchatka Switzerland". Interestingly enough, hot springs are also used for heating homes in Esso.

Get in
You can get to Esso from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by car or public bus. The journey lasts roughly 10 hours. The road is gravel so you'll need some stamina.

Get around
You will mostly get around by foot, and less so by half-track and helicopter. Dogsleds and horses are a must vehicle here.

See

 * Ethnographic Museum  has a vast collection of ethnic clothes, utensils and religious artifacts.
 * Museum of Bears
 * Ethnic music groups performing traditional Koryak, Even, and Evenki songs.
 * Bystrinsky Nature Park
 * Koryak ethnic camp Chau-Chiv
 * Reindeer farms
 * Native common 'Katep' for dogsledding

Do

 * Dogsledding - It is the main means of transport in the village.
 * Hot springs - Large and small pools are available in all seasons.
 * Skijoring competition. Let the pair of dogs drive your ski and compete with all-Kamchatka champions.

Events
Annual dogsledding races Beringia (Берингия): The race is 1980 km long, and is listed in Guinness Book of World Records.

Buy
Local souvenirs are abound.

Eat

 * Cafe "Minutka"
 * Restaurant "Paramushir-tour"

There are several shops.

Drink&Sleep
There are several hotels run by families or small enterprises.

Go next

 * A number of travels are offered including day tours to see natural wonders and ethnic curiosities, rafting, horse riding, and extreme tours. Some of the tours are organized in the villages, some in Petropavlovsk.
 * Anavgai village and 'Menedek' camp.

title: Esso


text:
Esteli

Estelí is a city in the Northern Highlands of Nicaragua. Estelí continues to be a Sandinista stronghold and you can see almost as many murals bearing witness of this as in León. It is also a center of the coffee- and tobacco- growing industries of Nicaragua.

Get in

 * From the Honduran border, you can take a bus to Ocotal, then from Ocotal to Estelí. As Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have a border agreement you should not have to pay for crossing the border; however, some officials will still collect a fee.
 * From the south, there are frequent buses from Managua and other points. Buses from Managua every 30 minutes.
 * From León : Also expressos (a regular one leaves about 09:30 from the north terminal).
 * From Jinotega: The buses leaves at 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, C$50 (córdobas), every 2 hours.

There are two bus stations both on the Pan American about 100m from each other. The southern is smaller and better organised but more buses come and go from the north. Most main destinations are served by both though so you will need to check both for times, etc.

Both stations are a little out of the main town (C$15-20 in a collective to the Parque Central 2007). 20 minutes walking from the Parque Central. Turn left at the first paved road and then right about 4 blocks later - when you hit the main north/south street (with lots of shops, comedores and people around).

Get around
Local buses (C$4 to any destination) and shared taxis (C$12 in the central area and no more than C$20 within the city. Agree on the price before you get in). You can easily walk around the city center.

See
Lots of beautiful murals in various places around town.

Do

 * The Esteli region is also home to many fine cigar companies, most of whom will allow a prearranged tour, and some of whom offer special package tours of their factories (Drew Estate, in particular).
 * The Esteli region is also home to many fine cigar companies, most of whom will allow a prearranged tour, and some of whom offer special package tours of their factories (Drew Estate, in particular).
 * The Esteli region is also home to many fine cigar companies, most of whom will allow a prearranged tour, and some of whom offer special package tours of their factories (Drew Estate, in particular).
 * The Esteli region is also home to many fine cigar companies, most of whom will allow a prearranged tour, and some of whom offer special package tours of their factories (Drew Estate, in particular).

Buy

 * There is a public market called El Mercado Alfredo Lazo at the south end of town. Easy to find or just ask. Just north of that market are lots of leather shops. Good stuff at good prices. For example, you can probably get a custom made pair of boots for around US$50.

Learn
There are a number of Spanish schools in the town.
 * CENAC, on PanAmerican Hwy near intersection with Calle 6 SE. +505 2713 5437
 * Sacuanjoche Spanish School, about 7 blocks east of PanAmerican Hwy near Calle 1 SE. +505 2713 7580
 * Viva Spanish Esteli (part of Viva Spanish Programs), vivaspanishprograms@yahoo.com
 * Viva Spanish Esteli (part of Viva Spanish Programs), vivaspanishprograms@yahoo.com
 * Viva Spanish Esteli (part of Viva Spanish Programs), vivaspanishprograms@yahoo.com

Go next

 * Miraflor Nature Reserve
 * Somoto and its canyon
 * To León: A 15-person mini-shuttle leaves the bus station when it fills up, C$75, 2 hours.

Esteli

title: Esteli


text:
Estepona

Estepona is a seaside resort city of 67,000 people (2018) on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Remnants from prehistory have been excavated in Estepona. The Romans, Phoenicians and Moors left their mark on the city.

Understand
Estepona lies on the Mediterranean Sea with the Sierra Bermeja mountains over 1000 m high in the background. The beaches are 21 km long.

Estepona is one of the few coastal towns that has succeeded in maintaining its pueblo charm and character, despite the onslaught of tourism. Notwithstanding, all the tourist facilities are here, including hotels, restaurants, leisure and cultural activities, and shops.

The flip side is that the numerous street cafes and tapas bars still serve traditional Spanish delicacies and the steep, cobbled, narrow streets seem more suited to horses than cars. You'll also find unusual shops and bodegas in Estepona, where you'd least expect them, all very inviting, very friendly - and very cheap!

In addition to the old town of Estepona, a lot of urbanizations for vacationers were built in the fifteen years before the real estate bubble burst. Between the old town and the city limits of Marbella, the “New Golden Mile” was created along the Mediterranean Sea in competition with the “Golden Mile” of Marbella. The New Golden Mile includes the districts of Rio Padron, Villacana, Cancelada, El Saladillo, Benamara, Isdabe-Atalaya, El Paraiso. West of the old town towards Algeciras, the districts of Bahia Azul, Valle Romano and Buenas Noches emerged. Overall, the city now offers space for more than 100,000 residents.

By plane
The nearest airport is Malaga airport, more about flight arrival on the airport page. The journey time by car to Esepona is about an hour. From the UK, Estepona can also be easily reached via Gibraltar Airport.

By car
Estepona is on the A 7 and AP 7 motorways, which connect the provincial capital Málaga with the port city of Algeciras on the Strait of Gibraltar. The Autovia AP 7 is a toll route. You can drive 120 km/h. The A 7, the former N-340, can be used free of charge. In the summer months there are traffic jams caused by accidents on the A 7 almost every day. There is often only one connection between neighboring towns on the Costa del Sol, the A 7.

By train
Estepona has no rail connection. The nearest train station is in Algeciras.

By bus
From the bus station there are at least three daily connections from Algeciras to Madrid (9 hours) with Daibus and one night connection with Alsa on the coastal route to Barcelona (19 hours). There are direct buses from Malaga, Marbella and Algeciras. The bus station is between the marina and the town centre.

Regional lines serve Comes and Portillo.

Get around
There are three city bus routes (2018: €1.10-1.40):
 * 1 (minibuses) daily 07:30-21:30 every half hour: Urban. Beverly Hills (2 km west of the center) along the sea along Avenida del Carmen and Avenida de España to the American hamburger roaster at the motorway exit.
 * 2 daily 07:00-22:00 every half hour: between Estepona Puerto (in front of Edificio PuertoSol or Plaza de Toros) and the Urb. Mar y Monte. Numerous hotels are along the way.
 * 3 times a day all year round, more often in summer: Bus station to Bermuda Beach (Hotel Piedra de Paloma) along the Carrefour, Plaza Ortiz, Centro, Avenida Juan Carlos, Plaza de Toros, Kai Alde, Playa del Cristo, Segers, Beverly Hills, Valle Romano, Arena Beach, Don Pedro, Arroyo Vaquero, Bahia Dorada 2.

See
Noteworthy are historical buildings such as the clock tower, watchtowers, the fortress San Luis Castle, and the church Iglesia de los Remedios at Plaza San Francisco.

 * In the bullring Plaza de Toros, you will find the small Museo Paleontológico, a rather curious exhibition (Tu-Su 09:00-16:00) with a dinosaur skeleton in the middle and bullfighting posters on the walls of the:
 * Museo Taurino Antonio Ordóñez, C / Matias Prats (Plaza de Toros). In memory of famous bullfighters, founded in 1972.
 * Museo de Imagen y Sonido. Tribute to the director Luis García Berlanga. In the Sala Edgar Neville apparatus from the first hundred years of cinema history. Price: all 3 free.
 * Torre del Reloj (Bell tower). The remains of the first church built after the liberation from the Moors in 1473.

Do
There is an uninterrupted, well-kept sandy beach between the harbour and Carrefour.

Festivals

 * San Isidrio Labrador. On May 15, a festival of the farmers traditionally with procession.
 * Quema de los Bigotes de San Juan. A traditional night celebration on 23–24 June.
 * Fiestamayores Ferias. The festival takes place annually as a large folk festival in early July.
 * Virgen del Carmen. The fishermen's festival on July 16.

Buy

 * Carrefour shopping centre, Avenida de Litoral. Here you can find groceries, clothing, electronics, hardware stores, hi-fi and computers. Open: M-Sa 09:00-22:00.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Diana Park, on the A7 in the El Paraiso district. Tel .: +34 952884279
 * Hotel Atalaya Park, Avenida de las Golondrinas in the Atalaya-Isdabe district. Tel .: +34 952889000

Splurge

 * Hotel Iberostar Costa del Sol (formerly Playabella), near the A7 (exit Cancelada) in the El Saladillo district on the beach of Costalita. Tel .: +34 952880868 . The hotel is closed in winter.
 * Hotel Crowne Plaza, on the A7 in the El Saladillo-Benamara district. Tel .: +34 951-055500
 * Hotel Selenza, on the A7 (exit Cancelada) in the El Saladillo-Bel Air district, Camino de Brijan. Tel .: +34 952899499
 * Hotel Kempinski. Tel .: +34 952809500 . on the A7 in the El Padron district at Playa El Padron
 * Hotel Healthouse Las Dunas, on the A7 in the El Velerin district. Tel .: +34 952809400
 * Hotel El Paraiso, on the A7 in the El Paraiso district, Avda. de la Gardenia. Tel .: +34 952 88 30 00
 * Hotel El Paraiso, on the A7 in the El Paraiso district, Avda. de la Gardenia. Tel .: +34 952 88 30 00

title: Estepona


text:
Esterillos

Esterillos' is a beach town in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica.

Understand
Esterillos is located about 20 min from the town of Jaco. This beach is separated into Esterillos Este and Estrillos Oeste (East & West). On the far north end there is a small fishing community near the rocky point and on the southern end you'll find the main estuary, after which the beach is named after is found.

Esterillos is still very underdeveloped which makes it a quiet and relaxing place to get away from it all. There are good surf spots along the beach although most people seem to prefer the Oeste side. The 'Oeste' side is also called Bejuco by locals.

Drink
There are several bars and restaurants in Esterillos Oeste that are great.

Go next

 * Playa Hermosa - Popular beach town about 25 minutes North of Esterillos.

title: Esterillos


text:
Estes Park

Estes Park is a town in the Front Range region of the state of Colorado in America. It is located 90 miles northwest of Denver, on the eastern slope of the Front Range in north central Colorado. Estes Park sits at the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Understand
"Park" in this case is a term that means a valley or meadow. Estes Park is named after an early settler, Joel Estes, who attempted to make a living by farming. Because of the short growing season it never really worked out. Since the mid-1800s the main business of Estes Park has been tourism. The clientele ranges from hard-core backcountry types to tour-buses full of drive through sightseers. The main draw is the scenery, which is awesome.

Year-round population is approximately 6,000 people, adding the surroundings it may be 10,000. In the peak of tourist season that probably triples. The best time to visit for outdoor activities is July through September. Everyone else thinks so too, so it can get kind of crowded. The heaviest traffic is probably in August. The family/kids crowd thins out after Labor Day.

Winter is a charming time of the year as well, since it is an excellent time to go snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Winter also provides greater opportunities to enjoy the tranquility of the Rocky Mountains as there are fewer tourists.

Winter weather is warmer than most mountain towns. But summer is also short. Summer temps peak in the low 90's(F) in town, much cooler as elevation increases. If you plan on spending any time out of your car up on Trail Ridge Road take a jacket. Estes is in a dry zone, getting maybe 13-15 inches of moisture a year. During the summer the regular weather pattern is clear mornings with a buildup of clouds at midday and sometimes a short rain shower.

Elevation in town is 7,522 feet above sea level. Some people experience discomforts due to altitude.

By car
4 main routes:

 * West from Loveland, CO via US-34, approximately 30 miles
 * Northwest from Lyons, CO via US-36 approximately 25 miles
 * North from Golden / Black Hawk / Central City / Boulder through Allenspark, CO via CO-7
 * East from Grand Lake, CO via US-34 over Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park. This route is seasonal (it usually opens at the end of May and closes sometime in October depending on the snowfall) and you will have to pay an entrance fee to get through the National Park.

By plane
The closest major airport is DIA in Denver, about 90 miles away. A shuttle service or limo service to Estes can be obtained.

There are small airports in Boulder, Longmont and Loveland/Fort Collins.

Get around
The town is small and can be covered reasonably well by walking. Most tourist visitors have their own car. You can park in one of the city lots (free) and walk a couple of blocks to get downtown.

Estes Park has a free shuttle bus system that begins at the Visitor Center and has stops in Rocky Mountain National Park and a variety of stops in town.

There is some provision for bicycles. Paved trails radiate out from Lake Estes toward the south and west. But the part of the trail that goes downtown is restricted to walking only. Cycling on the main roads is OK, but shoulders can be sparse. Be careful of "tourist drivers" who will perform strange unpredictable maneuvers.

Transport within the National Park is mostly by private vehicle or by the shuttle bus service between the Moraine Park/Bear Lake areas. The shuttle bus service between the Estes Park Visitors Center and Rocky Mountain National Park is free, but you must to purchase a National Parks pass prior to entering Rocky Mountain National Park. There is an automated machine available at the Visitor's Center from which you can purchase 7-day or annual passes.

Hitchhiking can sometimes be effective particularly if you look like you are making an effort and have good personal hygiene. Speaking of hygiene, the laundromat in upper Stanley village also sells showers.

See

 * The neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park, particularly the drive over Trail Ridge Road.
 * Wildlife: elk (wapiti), bighorn sheep, mule deer, etc.
 * Fine arts/galleries
 * Historical museum

Do
Most visitors to town are here for the nature, and activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, horse riding, mountain climbing (in particular, Longs Peak), birding and rafting are very popular. There are also 27 holes of golf.

Buy
This place has been a tourist destination since day one and numerous stores exist allowing you to outfit yourself for camping, hiking, fishing, biking or just about any other outdoor activity. In addition, there are quite a few fine art galleries as well as stuffed-bear stores, Christmas ornament stores, cowboy hat stores, and two Starbucks. Options also exist for those looking for T-shirts and "rubber tomahawks".

For groceries, it's Country Market or Safeway and prices are comparable to the front range area. Car/RV service, parts and repair are available but somewhat limited. Gas prices are usually 10 cents/gallon higher than Loveland or Longmont. There is no WalMart, so for odd items you may need to go to one of the hardware stores or to the sundries aisle at Safeway. There are at least three pharmacies and a nice local hospital.

Eat
Much like other tourist towns, Estes Park features many different types of restaurants with everything from Mexican to wild game available.

Sleep
There are a few chain hotels of the Holiday Inn / Best Western type, but most lodging is at mom and pop motels and cabins. Condos are available for rent also. Accommodations can fill up in the summer and on holiday weekends.

Campgrounds
There are at least 5 commercial campgrounds in/near town, and additional campgrounds in the national park. There are also informal (free) camping sites on national forest land not far from town.

Connect
Cell phone service is pretty good in town, depending on the carrier, but spotty in the National Park unless you are on high ground. The local library has Internet terminals available for walk-in use, sign-up required. Kind Coffee, Notchtop Bakery, Barlow Plaza and various hotels and restaurants have free wireless Internet.

Go next

 * Rocky Mountain National Park - Most visitors to Estes Park are on their way to the nearby national park.

title: Estes Park


text:
Estevan

Estevan is a city of 11,000 people (2016) in Southeastern Saskatchewan.

Understand
The major industries in Estevan are coal mining, power generation, oil and gas.

History
The first European settlers in what was to become Estevan arrived in 1892, along with the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The name origin is attributed to George Stephen's registered telegraphic address, Estevan. George Stephen was the first President of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1881 to 1888.

On December 22, 1915, the 152nd (Weyburn-Estevan) Battalion, CEF was authorised and recruited men from the area before departing to Great Britain on October 3, 1916.

Estevan was the site of the notorious Estevan Riot in 1931. Although most of the strikers were from nearby Bienfait, the strike is associated with Estevan because it was in this city the demonstrators were met by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. After the subsequent riot, which lasted 45 minutes, three strikers lay dead. It was later proven the three miners had been killed by the RCMP. The miners had been organized by the Workers' Unity League.

Climate
Estevan's climate is characterized by cold, long and dry winters and warm, short and relatively humid summers. The mean temperature in January, the coldest month, is −13.7 °C (7.3 °F). The precipitation in winter is chiefly snow, averaging 56.0 cm (22.05 in). The spring is a short transitional season, with a mean temperature of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) and 107.3 mm (4.22 in) of precipitation, with significant snowfall in April. The summer is usually warm (the mean average high temperature is 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) (average high in July, the warmest month, is 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) and humid (190.8 mm (7.51 in) of total precipitation). Autumn, as spring, is transitional, being warm in September and cooler in October and November. At this time of the year, the average temperature is 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) and the total precipitation is 85.9 mm (3.38 in).

Estevan is the sunniest city year-round in Canada, and it is also the city with the clearest skies year round in Canada.

Get in
There are no scheduled intercity buses and no passenger train service into the city.

By car
Estevan is southeast of Regina on via Highways 6 and 39, with Highways 33 and 47 serving as an alternate route.

If driving from the USA, the closest ports of entry are Noonan, North Dakota and Portal, North Dakota. The North Portal customs office is open 24 hours a day, while the Estevan/Noonan port closes at 9PM.

By plane
The closest international/regional airport is Regina (~2 hours away.) A shuttle service connects Regina Airport to Estevan. Another option is Minot, North Dakota, USA (~2 hours away).

Get around
There is no public transit in Estevan. While the city is relatively walkable due to its size, one may choose to rent a car.

title: Estevan


text:
Eston

Eston is a small town in West Central Saskatchewan with a population of around 1000 (2016).

Understand
Eston is known for its rodeo, gopher races, the Real Men of Eston calendar (a fundraising project that had men aged fifty and older pose nude in a calendar) and the place where the game caps on roids or crowns was created.

Get in
Eston is about southwest of Saskatoon; follow Highway 7 from Saskatoon to Highway 30 at Brock.

See
Some local attractions are:
 * Rambler hockey team
 * The eight-foot gopher located at the end of Main Street

Go next

 * Kindersley is about an hour's drive.
 * Eatonia is about 45 minutes west on Highway 44.

title: Eston