text:
Frenchville

Frenchville is a town in Maine, in the United States of America.

Do
Outdoor activities include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, down hill skiing, snowboarding and ATV riding.

title: Frenchville


text:
Freshford (County Kilkenny)

Freshford is a village in County Kilkenny in southeast Ireland; in Irish it's Achadh Úr, "fresh field". Its main sight is the remains of the 14th century Ballylarkin Abbey, incorporated into a later church.

Get in
Bernard Kavanagh Bus 10 runs twice M-Sa from Kilkenny to Freshford (20 min), Johnstown and Urlingford. At Urlingford there's a connection with Bus 8 from Roscrea via Thurles, on the main Dublin-Cork railway.

By road from Dublin take M8 to Junction 4 at Urlingford then follow R693 east. From Kilkenny take R693 northwest, 14 km.

Get around
You can easily walk between village and abbey. You'll need wheels to explore the surrounding countryside.

See

 * Freshford Cross on the village green was first erected behind Uppercourt Manor in 1622. Only the little ziggurat of its base remains, moved here in 1790 when the mansion was rebuilt. Hence Bohercrussia Street: Bothar na Croise, "Base of the Cross."
 * Millennium Park is a pleasant green space north end of the village.
 * Three castles - medieval turrets - stand in the fields further west along R693. Clomantagh and Tubrid may be available for holiday rental, Balief is derelict. Don't go to the village of Threecastles east towards Kilkenny: it's notable for its lack of castles.
 * Foulkscourt Castle is another turret northwest of Johnstown. It's tumbledown and inaccessible.
 * is a village 9 km northeast of Freshford, with an attractive central square, 19th century church and the 15th century turret of Ormonde Castle.
 * Three castles - medieval turrets - stand in the fields further west along R693. Clomantagh and Tubrid may be available for holiday rental, Balief is derelict. Don't go to the village of Threecastles east towards Kilkenny: it's notable for its lack of castles.
 * Foulkscourt Castle is another turret northwest of Johnstown. It's tumbledown and inaccessible.
 * is a village 9 km northeast of Freshford, with an attractive central square, 19th century church and the 15th century turret of Ormonde Castle.

Do

 * Freshford Loop is an 8 km walking circuit through the fields southwest of the village. No dogs.
 * There's occasional talk of reviving the Odeon Cinema, but it's hard to see it prospering in such a small place. So all you get to see here is the Art Deco exterior.
 * There's occasional talk of reviving the Odeon Cinema, but it's hard to see it prospering in such a small place. So all you get to see here is the Art Deco exterior.

Buy

 * Lynch's Mace is open daily 07:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Bar food in the pubs is your best bet. Mace store also has a small cafe.

Drink

 * The village pubs are J Kavanagh's, Killeens and O'Farrell's.

Sleep

 * There's no camping or caravan site in this area.

Connect
As of March 2021, Freshford has 5G from Three and mobile coverage from Eir, but no signal from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Kilkenny is a lively small city with a medieval heritage.
 * Castlecomer to the northeast has the Discovery Park and a coal-mining museum.
 * Thurles in County Tipperary has a fine cathedral; near town is Holy Cross Abbey.

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

title: Freshford (County Kilkenny)


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Fresno

Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The city has a population estimated at 530,000 and around 1 million live in the county (2019).

Understand
Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras. The Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno ("Fresno State") has also played host to concerts featuring high-profile acts.

Fresno's most famous son is the writer William Saroyan, after whom a local theater is named. The city has a large Hmong community.

Climate
Winter weather typically features highs around, and "extreme" lows in the low to mid 30s F, often with morning fog and sometimes frost. Rain fall is sparse and occurs exclusively in winter and early spring months. Most rain storms last less than 2 days and are often spread weeks apart. It is not uncommon to experience hail, however it is very rare to see snow fall on the valley floor. The few times it does snow, the snow rarely sticks over night. While winter temperatures can reach below freezing, most all storms feature "warm fronts" that more or less eliminate the chance for snow (mid to low 40s F is a typical "cold" rain storm).

Summer temperatures average in the mid-90s F. Days with high temperatures or above are not uncommon. Humidity is only around 20% in the afternoon, though, making for a more bearable dry heat. The chance to find over 110° days commonly occurs beginning late July and continuing to mid August. During these days the low nighttime temperature will only get down to the mid 80s F. It is common for a heat wave to last two weeks.

By plane

 * The following airlines offer service from:
 * AeroMexico (Guadalajara)
 * Skywest dba Alaska Airlines (Portland, Seattle, San Diego)
 * Allegiant (Las Vegas)
 * American Airlines (Dallas-Ft Worth) and Skywest dba American Eagle (Phoenix and Los Angeles)
 * Skywest dba Delta Connection (Salt Lake City)
 * Frontier Airlines (Denver)
 * United Airlines (Chicago O'Hare) and Skywest dba United Express (Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco)
 * Volaris (Guadalajara Leon/El Bajio, and Morelia)

There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally and long shuttles and buses for onward transport to Yosemite National Park, Hanford, Lenmore and Visalia. There are also car rental available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around. See this Link for a list of ground transport providers. The #26 bus connects the airport to downtown Fresno and the up north along N Palm Ave to Villaggio Mall while #39 bus goes west along Clinton to W Clinton and Brawey Ave in the west side of town, nowhere near downtown.

By train
Amtrak serves Fresno with six trains a day via its San Joaquin route, running south to Bakersfield and north to either Sacramento or Oakland. is in a historic Santa Fe Passenger Depot at 2650 Tulare St.

By car
Almost everybody gets to Fresno by car. The drive to Fresno takes about 3 hours from San Francisco, 3½ hours from Los Angeles, and 5½ hours from San Diego. Coming from the southern Peninsula or South Bay, most people take U.S. Highway 101 to Gilroy, State Highway 152 over Pacheco Pass and through Los Banos, then State Highway 99 south to Fresno. From the northern Peninsula, one might take highway 92 over the San Mateo Bridge ($7 toll as of 2022), to 880 North, then 580 East to 205 East to 5 North to 120 East to 99 South. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north and State Highway 99 north. Fresno is accessible from the southern Central Coast by State Highway 41, usually used with State Highway 46. Fresno is the largest city in the United States without an Interstate highway running through it, but 99 provides much of that function and is slated to be upgraded to Interstate status.

By bus
Greyhound has a terminal next to Amtrak in downtown Fresno. Exercise caution in this area at night.

 * Flixbus, runs service along the 99 corridor.
 * V-Line runs six times a day between Visalia, Fresno airport, the university, and downtown Fresno.
 * KART, runs twice a day, weekdays, to Hanford.
 * Fresno County Rural Transit, runs service out to the small communities in Fresno County. Schedules vary.
 * Fresno County Rural Transit, runs service out to the small communities in Fresno County. Schedules vary.

By car
As is typical in California Central Valley cities, a car is useful and often necessary to access most parts of town. Traffic congestion in Fresno is not as bad as larger places in California, but Shaw and Herndon avenues can get quite crowded, especially since there is no east-west freeway through the north side. CA-99 runs along the west side of the city, becoming semi-rural before exiting Fresno County on the northwest side of Fresno. CA-41 runs down the middle of the city. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s these were the only freeways in Fresno, but a surge in growth has spurred the development of the CA-180 and CA-168 freeways.

By bus
There is a modest bus system, Fresno Area Express (FAX), but a car would be advised. The city has a bus rapid transit line.

By bike
In 2011, Fresno became the first town or city in the Central Valley to earn a Bronze Medal Designation from the League of American Bicyclists, recognizing Fresno as a bicycle friendly community. The city is expanding its bike lanes further in an effort to improve bike access.

Eat
River Park Plaza contains many popular chain restaurants, including The Elephant Bar and Yoshino's Sushi House. For a large and diverse concentration of local establishments, head to the (Tower District). There are also many notable restaurants sprinkled elsewhere throughout the Fresno area.

Drink
Night life in Fresno is great if you're in the right areas.

Stay safe
Crime presents considerable concerns in Fresno. As a rule of thumb, travellers should exercise increased caution in parts of the city located south of Shaw Avenue.

Homeless people are known to congregate near the city's so-called Chinatown area, across the railroad tracks from Chukchansi Park. The area also suffers from a high crime rate. Caution should be exercised when visiting the area.

Avoid the southeastern part of the city at night due to high crime rates.

Unlike other parts of California, earthquakes of any magnitude are infrequent in Fresno and surrounding areas. If felt, the quakes tend to cause very little (if any) damage.

Cope

 * Woodward Park is a large grassy park on the north side of Fresno, on Friant Road. There is an entry fee of $5 per car,but if you get there early enough (usually before 7AM) there is no charge.
 * Roeding Park is another large park in southwest Fresno. It contains the Chaffee Zoo and small amusement parks Storyland and Playland. It has the same $5 entry fee.

Consulates

 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador

 * 🇲🇽 Mexico

Go next
The adjacent town of Clovis has a small "old town" with numerous antique stores. The last weekend of April the town hosts the Clovis Rodeo.

Millerton Lake is about 20 miles northeast of Fresno on Friant Road. It's a popular site for fishing and waterskiing.

Many locals escape the summer heat at the lakes in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. These lakes have recreation areas, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts:
 * Shaver Lake (with nearby Sierra Summit ski resort)
 * Huntington Lake
 * Bass Lake
 * Pine Flat Lake

title: Fresno


text:
Fresno County

Fresno County is mostly in the San Joaquin Valley region of California, but also extending all the way up to the top of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

San Joaquin Valley
The following cities are in the agricultural portion of the county in the San Joaquin Valley:

Sierra Nevada
The following cities are in the portion of the county extending into the Sierra Nevada mountain range:

Other destinations

 * - This national park, which is north of and contiguous with Sequoia National Park, features a deep canyon and a rugged wilderness at the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, both of which offer excellent hiking and backpacking opportunities. A second section of the park is home to groves of giant sequoia trees, including the famous General Grant Grove.

Understand
Fresno is Spanish for "ash tree", with the county named after the abundant shrubby trees that grow along the San Joaquin River. The county was formed in 1856, and developed quickly once irrigation canals were built, leading to its role today as one of the nation's premier agricultural regions - with $5.3 billion in production, Fresno county ranked #1 in the nation for agriculture in 2007. Like other parts of the southern Central Valley, Fresno County is also an oil producing region, with the Coalinga Oil Field having historically been one of the most productive oil fields in the state, and today ranking as the state's eighth largest.

Get in
The primary north-south route through the county is Interstate 5, which travels up the western side of the Central Valley between Los Angeles and Sacramento. California State Route 99 is the other major north-south route, traversing the eastern side of the Central Valley from just north of the Grapevine up to Sacramento before ending in the northern part of the state near Red Bluff. It is served by the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) with flights from Mexico and the continental U.S.

Go next

 * - Fresno County's northwest neighbor is located entirely within the San Joaquin Valley. Most travelers will likely just take advantage of the county's hotels and other amenities, but there are a few attractions worth considering.  The Castle Air Museum in Atwater is home to over 50 planes, while the Merced National Wildlife Refuge hosts thousands of waterfowl during winter months, including huge flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes.
 * - North of Fresno County lies Madera County, whose agricultural western half offers plenty of hotels and amenities for travelers, while the mountainous eastern half features unspoiled Sierra Nevada wilderness that is home to portions of Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Devils Postpile National Monument with its impressive basalt columns and iconic Rainbow Falls. Be aware that there are no roads crossing the county from west to east, so it may be a very circuitous route for those who want to see everything Madera has to offer!
 * - Located northeast of Fresno County, remote and expansive Mono County is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park, home to the Old West ghost town of Bodie, and Mammoth Lakes is a favorite winter skiing getaway.  The gigantic Mono Lake is perhaps the county's premier attraction, a stopover for millions of migratory birds and thousands of tourists who explore its alkaline waters and bizarre tufa formations.
 * - Fresno County's eastern neighbor is a land of extremes, covering a massive expanse of the Eastern Sierra and California Desert. Inyo County is home to Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower-48 states, as well as Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the lower-48 states and host to earth's hottest temperatures and the continent's lowest elevation. In addition, ancient bristlecone pine trees can be found within the White Mountains, the oldest of which is estimated to be around 5,000 years old.
 * - Neighboring Fresno County to the south, Tulare County has two distinct personalities. The western half of the county lies within the agricultural Central Valley, offering rural landscapes as well as plenty of hotels and other amenities for travelers.  The eastern portion of the county features the wilderness and high elevation of the Sierra Nevada range, including the largest trees on earth in Sequoia National Park, and the western slopes of Mount Whitney.
 * - Located southwest of Fresno County, rural Kings County is responsible for billions of dollars of annual agricultural production, much of it from the dairy industry. Travelers passing through on Interstate 5 may find the area lacking in attractions, although there are a few hotels and other amenities in the county's small towns.
 * - Located west of Fresno County, Monterey County is what many people think of when they think of the Central Coast - the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the beautiful 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row, Pebble Beach golf course, and the rugged beauty of Big Sur. The northern part of the county contains every manner of amenity for travelers, ranging from chain motels to five star resorts, while the southern portion of the county is remote and accessible mainly by the Pacific Coast Highway or on foot by hikers.
 * - West of Fresno County, San Benito County is an inland county dominated by the Coast Mountain Range. It is relatively sparsely populated, with only about 55,000 inhabitants.  Pinnacles National Park and its dramatic rock formations lies in this county, as well as the town of San Juan Bautista and its historic mission.

title: Fresno County


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Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park is on the East Coast of Tasmania, consisting of knuckles of granite mountains all but surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park.

Freycinet National Park offers a wide variety of activities. Take a walk to the pass overlooking the perfectly shaped Wineglass Bay or try less strenuous activities like beach strolls, swimming or wildlife spotting.

History
Freycinet National Park was named after its first European visitor, Louis de Freycinet.

Landscape
Freycinet has stunning scenery - from the peaks of the Hazards of Coles Bay to the wonderful crescent of Wineglass Bay, Freycinet is a fascinating and breathtaking experience - one not to be missed on a visit to Tasmania.

Flora and fauna
You will be sharing the park with wonderful flora and fauna

Feeding of animals in the park is strictly prohibited, and is unhealthy for the animals. Fines will be imposed if you are caught feeding animals. Rangers are on patrol around the park. You can report people feeding animals to the visitor centre.

Climate
The climate in Freycinet is like most of Tasmania - relatively cool all year round. As it is windy, bringing an umbrella is not practical. Be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Visitor information
Freycinet National Park is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania. The ( is open 9AM–4PM. Toilets are available at the Visitor Centre, Ranger Creek, and the Wineglass Bay car park.
 * Park website

By car
Freycinet National Park is 2½-3 hours drive from either Hobart or Launceston. All roads to Freycinet are sealed, so a 4WD is not needed.

When driving from dusk to dawn, do take care as you are sharing the road with wildlife. Drive cautiously and keep a lookout for wallabies and wombats. An advisory speed limit of 60 km/h applies on the roads to and from the park after dark because of the risk of hitting wildlife.

Fees and permits
These can be bought at the national park visitor centre at the park entrance.

Get around
You can get to the major locations by car or bicycle, but then you will have to walk. There are some tours offered to the park.

However, if you do wish to follow tours or use public transport, find more information at the Parks and Wildlife Services of Tasmania's Freycinet National Park Section.

See

 * Wineglass Bay has been voted by several travel magazines as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Located on the south-eastern side of the peninsula, the bay can only be reached by boat or by a 3-hour hike over hills from the car park.

If you do not wish to get to the beach, go to the Wineglass Bay Lookout. It is the same walk as the one which takes you to Wineglass Bay, but it is half the journey. Enjoy spectacular views and take postcard shots from there.

 * The Hazards These spectacular mountains of pink granite welcome you as you enter the park.

Do
Take the many walks at Freycinet. Be sure to wear proper walking shoes, ideally waterproof enough to handle stepping in puddles, and have a good map. Here is a guide:

Short walks (under 2 hours return):

 * Sleepy Bay
 * Little Gravelly Beach
 * Wineglass Bay Lookout, well formed, well signposted.
 * Scenic Lookout, Friendly Beaches
 * Saltwater Lagoon, Friendly Beaches

Medium walks (2-4 hours return):
 * Wineglass Bay
 * Mt Amos

Long walks (4-8 hours return):

 * Wineglass Bay/Hazards Beach Circuit
 * Hazards Beach

Be sure to check the weather before planning the walks. Besides these walks, there are other shorter walks, like 5-10 minute walks which are worth taking. Get more information at the Freycinet Visitor Centre.

Do take scenic drives around Freycinet. Here is a guide:

 * Cape Tourville: The 6.4-km sealed road to Cape Tourville leaves from the main road just after the Freycinet Lodge.  From the carpark, take the short, boardwalked track around the cliffline to the lighthouse. Along this fenced track are sweeping views along the coast.
 * The Friendly Beaches: Spectacular views and miles of unspoiled white sand beaches are the main features of The Friendly Beaches, which were added to the national park in 1992. The beaches can be reached via a signposted turnoff on the Coles Bay Road. Gravel roads lead to car parks overlooking the beaches at a couple of points. Some information signs point out interesting features and foot tracks lead to the beaches.

Do participate in water activities at Freycinet. Swim at Wineglass Bay, snorkel and dive at Sleepy Bay and Honeymoon Bay.

Buy
Souvenirs can be bought at the Freycinet Visitor Centre. They are rather affordable, and you can find good stuff there.

Eat

 * Oystercatcher Cafe: Affordable, delicious fresh local seafood and amazing coffee. The Oyster Catcher Cafe can be found at Coles Bay at the town centre, close to the post office and ATM. The best fish and chips in the Freycinet Peninsula.

Drink
There is one pub in Freycinet, the Iluka Tavern in the town of Coles Bay which has a bottle shop as well.

Sleep
It is a popular area over summer so booking in advance is advised. Camping in the park over summer is by application and ballot. There is also accommodation in nearby Coles Bay and Bicheno.

Camping
You need a camping permit to camp at Freycinet. For more information, inquire at the Freycinet National Park Visitor Centre.

Stay safe

 * Bring sufficient water when going for walks. Temperature and weather can change drastically, and should be prepared to be caught in a thunderstorm when just minutes ago it was bright and sunny.
 * Bring raincoats, energy bars and some candy on the longer walks. Anything can happen and you find yourself stranded. Bring basic first aid equipment - some of the walks in Freycinet involve climbing, and a sprained ankle can cause you to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. However you should be more confident to attempt the Wineglass bay lookout walk, which is well formed, signposted, and popular.
 * On the road, observe speed limits: 50 km/h on all Tasmanian streets, and 100 km/h on highways unless otherwise signed. Fines are imposed if motorists fail to observe speed limits.
 * Do not provoke animals, and remember not to feed them.

Go next

 * Going south - Hobart, capital of Tasmania
 * Going north - East Coast including Bicheno and Bay of Fires

title: Freycinet National Park


text:
Fribourg

Fribourg is a city in Switzerland that is also the canton's capital and economic centre. The city was founded in 1157 by Herzog Berthold IV of Zaehringen. Fribourg is known for its cultural plurality, university, and bridges over the Sarine River that link the French-speaking part of Switzerland to the German-speaking part.

Fribourg offers a multitude of architectural sights. The Old Town, with Switzerland's best-preserved fortifications, is under a preservation order and there are still more than 200 Gothic-style houses to be admired. In addition there are aristocratic town houses, monuments, St. Niklaus cathedral and numerous churches.

Understand
Fribourg has been a part of the Swiss Confederation since 1481, with over 10,000 inhabitants at that time. Since the city was founded on a peninsula many bridges were built to span the Sarine River, the first one in 1250. In the 19th century Fribourg was famous for its suspension bridges which have now been replaced with concrete. The university was founded in 1889. The 2000 census showed a population of 35,000 city residents and 235,000 in the Fribourg canton.

Sprinkled throughout the city are Renaissance fountains and more recent fountains such as the Tinguely Fountain made in 1984.

By train
Fribourg has an excellent mainline rail service, run by SBB. Trains run frequently day and night from Geneva airport, Geneva, Thun, Lausanne, St Gallen, Bern and Zürich, and many other places in Switzerland. The is in the modern city centre, from here head east (downhill) for Old Town. There's a second railway station 1 km north at Fribourg Poya: you'd only use this for St Leonard Sports Stadium or Caserne military base.

By plane
Bern airport is close by but has few flights, so the best airport for Fribourg is Geneva, with direct trains every 30 mins taking less than 2 hours. Alternatively use Zurich or perhaps Basel.

By bus
Flixbus direct services from Fribourg include Lyon, Frankfurt and Munich.

The bus station is 100 m east of the SBB at Place Georges Python.

Get around
Walk: most sights are within walking distance. You'll probably arrive at the SBB station in the modern city centre, which is bland, in parts brutalist. Go north about 300 m for the University. For the Old Town go east: the signposts take traffic down Route des Alpes but it's pleasanter to follow pedestrianised Rue de Lausanne. Both routes lead downhill to Place Tilleul, with the Cathedral of St Nicholas, the Basilica of Notre Dame, the Gutenberg Museum, and Espace Jean Tinguely Niki de St Phalle; nearby are the Convent and Museum of Art History. Continue downhill past the Cathedral to the foot of town in a loop of the River Sarine, crossed by the wooden Pont de Berne.

Bus routes 2 & 6 run from the SBB down to Place Tilleul and the Cathedral.

Drink

 * RDV Café, Place de N. Friburgo. +41 26 322 32 55. A cozy little bar on a hill overlooking the main plaza between the old town and the slightly newer old town. There seems to be free wireless, though there are no signs advertising the fact, so it might just be a neighbor's access point. Fr. 4 coffee, Fr. 5 draft beer.

Go next

 * Gruyères
 * Basel
 * Bern
 * Neuchatel
 * Murten/Morat

title: Fribourg


text:
Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor is the main city on San Juan Island, the most populous of the San Juan Islands. It is also the county seat of San Juan County. Friday Harbor is quite commercially developed, considering its remoteness, and offers more of a laid-back, country club vibe than one of a fishing community.

By private boat

 * If you have access to a boat, guest moorage is available in the marina. Friday Harbor is an official U.S. ports-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. The Cardinal Rule is touch land at customs dock before any other stops, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. Besides a passport for everyone on board, you will need your boat's license number and User Fee Decal number.

Customs enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country and these guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.

By plane
Friday Harbor has a well-equipped though modest airport. Kenmore Air serves Seattle Boeing Field airport directly (35 minute flight). It is a US Customs Port of Entry, so it can be your first stop from Canada by personal aircraft.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance from the harbor and there are plenty of places to eat and things to do for those arriving by ferry to spend a day or two.

See

 * The laboratories are located on a 476-acre biological preserve which is open to the public for day-use. Public visitors are asked to check in at the Office before exploring the Preserve and to stay on the well-traveled, wide, fire-access road (the “fire trail”). The shore trail splits from the fire trail and goes along the coastline.
 * The laboratories are located on a 476-acre biological preserve which is open to the public for day-use. Public visitors are asked to check in at the Office before exploring the Preserve and to stay on the well-traveled, wide, fire-access road (the “fire trail”). The shore trail splits from the fire trail and goes along the coastline.

Do

 * Kayaking — There are several kayaking tour organizers in the town. Typically costs $85 for one day trips up to $150 per day for camping tours.
 * Washington State Ferries — Watch the majestic Washington state ferries sweeping in and out of Friday Harbor. Produces no waves even at 25 knots speed!
 * Sea-Planes — Watch the take-off and landing of seaplanes (Kenmore Air)from the south edge of harbor.
 * Whale watching — West coast of the island is famous for whale watching. You can get all relevant information in couple of tourist centers.
 * Check recent bird sightings at eBird's listing for San Juan County
 * Check recent bird sightings at eBird's listing for San Juan County
 * Check recent bird sightings at eBird's listing for San Juan County
 * Check recent bird sightings at eBird's listing for San Juan County

title: Friday Harbor


text:
Friedrichshafen

Friedrichshafen  is a city at the northeastern corner of Lake Constance (Bodensee), near the lake's widest point in the German federal-state of Baden-Württemberg. The city has played a vital role in the history of aviation, as this is where Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin developed and built his famous airships which dominated the skies in the early 20th century, and where similar smaller airships are made to this day. Friedrichshafen features a wealth of aviation-related attractions and museums. This city of 61,000 people (2019) has one of the longest waterfront promenades along the Bodensee.

Understand
This mostly modern city was almost completely rebuilt after bombing in World War II. It also has a nice view of Austria and Switzerland and the Alps across the lake on a clear day. In addition, the town's other highlights are three interesting museums and the dome-capped Schlosskirche, the premier remaining reminder of Friedrichshafen's baroque past. Friedrichshafen also was a major player in aviation history with the world-famous Zeppelin company, that still produces small airships. It is also home to the Dornier company, which, after several mergers and acquisitions, forms a part of the Airbus company.

By plane
You can also to fly to Zürich Airport in Switzerland and take one of the hourly trains to Romanshorn, and then take the ferry across Lake Constance. Since the last ferry during the off-season departs around 19:30 this is not an option for late arrivals. Alternatively take a train to Zurich main station and take Flixbus from there.

Another option is to fly to Allgäu Airport Memmingen and taking the train from Memmingen to Friedrichshafen. The train ride takes between 2 and 3 hours.

By bus
The private bus company Flixbus serves Friedrichshafen from Berlin, Munich, Zurich and other large cities. The buses arrive/depart at the.

By car
22 km (14 miles) west of Lindau, 20 km (12 miles) south of Ravensburg.

By ferry
There is a ferry port in the very centre of Friedrichshafen with many frequent services to other ports on Lake Constance shores:
 * A 45-minute car ferry service links Friedrichshafen to Romanshorn on the Swiss side of the lake. From there, you can board express trains to Swiss cities like Zürich, Lucerne and Berne.
 * A 40-minute Speedboat (Bodensee Katamaran) (pedestrians and cyclists only) links Friedrichshafen and Konstanz. There is a train station close to where the speedboat docks in Konstanz, where trains from many Swiss destinations, including Basel and Zürich, call.

By train
There is a regular train service from Stuttgart and Ulm to Friedrichshafen. Another train line runs along Lake Constance (though mainly inland and not very scenic) from Lindau via Friedrichshafen to Radolfzell, Schaffhausen and Basel. The main train station is, but there is also a small train station very close to the ferry terminal called. Both train stations are within walking distance of the city centre. In summer time, the trains to and from Friedrichshafen might be crowded with groups of cyclists.

Get around
The town of Friedrichshafen covers a fairly large area along the lake side and the hinterland. There is public transportation, including a fairly priced night-bus system, but the best way to get around is by bike or car. During high-season in summer and large exhibitions (e.g. Eurobike or Interboot) roads can get quite crowded and traffic jams getting in and out of Friedrichshafen are frequent. In particular on the B31 (Lindau-Friedrichshafen-Immenstaad-Hagnau-Meersburg-Überlingen).

There are plenty of opportunities to rent bikes in Friedrichshafen.

See
The at the square next to the main station could be a good starting point before venturing to explore the city.

Do

Go next

 * Meersburg
 * Ravensburg
 * Bad Schussenried
 * Lindau
 * Romanshorn (Switzerland)

title: Friedrichshafen


text:
Friesland

 * For the German Nordfriesland, see North Sea Coast (Schleswig-Holstein).

Friesland (West Frisian: Fryslân, Dutch: Friesland) is a province of the Netherlands. It is known for its unique language and culture. Friesland has a Nordic feel to it. It has a strong sports culture: ice skating is the most popular sport, and is done along indigenous sports such as fierljeppen (pole-jumping over a watered didge) and skûtjesilen (sailing in old cargo ships).

Cities

 * — capital of Friesland with an historic city centre
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes
 * — the annual Sneekweek boating event, gateway to the Frisian Lakes

Other destinations

 * — about two dozen lakes the Southwestern part of Friesland, popular in the summer among boaters
 * — islands in the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that can be traversed by mudflat hiking

Understand
Friesland has a long history. Its inhabitants are first referred to by the Roman writer Tacitus, in his work Germanica. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Frisia grew in importance, and at one point Frisian kings controlled the entire coast of what is now the Netherlands up into Belgium and parts of Northern Germany (which is still known as East Frisia).

The Frisians were later subjugated by Charlemagne, and have never achieved independence since. During the Dutch golden age in the 16th and 17th century, Frisia has stood in the shadow of Holland, remaining largely rural while trade and later industry flourished in other parts of the Netherlands. During this period, peat was dug from the soil, causing lakes to form. Also, all transport was done via water. This combination of lakes and connecting canals has made Friesland a mecca for water sports enthausiasts.

Frisia is one of the most sparsely populated provinces in the Netherlands (with only 160 people/km², compared to 488 people/km² for the whole country, or 67 people/km² for Scotland) and is mostly known for its lakes, wide open spaces, and general peace and quiet, as well as for its population. As the Netherlands are sometimes referred to as Holland, let it be known that Friesland is not part of Holland. This is a common mistake among tourists, and one which can be almost guaranteed to grossly offend any native Frisian you may be talking to. Holland comprises only the (coastal) provinces of North Holland and South Holland.

Ice skating
The 11-cities-tour (Dutch: elfstedentocht, West Frisian: alvestêdetocht) is a skating event, which can only be held in winter when all the water through and between those 11 cities is frozen. Friesland has only 11 cities, settlements with historical city rights. They vary in size from the provincial capital Leeuwarden (+92,000 inhabitants) to Sloten, with less than 1,000 inhabitants.

Flag
Although the use of the flag of Friesland dates back to mediaeval times, the current flag was only adopted in 1957. It is used to promote the province across all of the Netherlands and is also widley used on souvenirs. The seven red water-lilies (not hearts) represent the seven original areas of Friesland.

Talk
Friesland is bilingual, with West Frisian, the local language, enjoying equal status with Dutch. Everyone in Friesland is able to speak Dutch; however the preference for Frisian is strong with some. Signs, street names, etc. are mostly in two languages, depending on the community council.

The Dutch name of the language is Fries (West Frisian: Frysk), with Westfries being the name of the Dutch dialect in the northern part of the province North-Holland.

As in the rest of the Netherlands, almost everyone in Friesland speaks at least some English, and especially young people are likely to be fluent or near fluent.

Get in
By train one can travel from the direction of Groningen or Zwolle. And by bus from Den Helder or Hoorn. In the latter case you will pass over the Afsluitdijk, a 30 km long dike separating two seas. The bus stops at a viewpoint halfway on the dike.

There is a ferry running from Enkhuizen in Noord Holland to Stavoren. The journey takes around 80 minutes. In the summer the ferry runs up to three times daily, but in April and October not as frequent. The fare for adults is €10.60. Check timetables here.

Get around
The train system is low-grade by Dutch standards, which means that only the major cities are connected by rail. Sneek, Leeuwarden, Franeker, Harlingen, Heerenveen and Grou are accessible by rail. To get to the smaller town towns you will have to take buses, which usually leave from the train stations as well. See the article on the Netherlands for more details on the baroque system of public transport, and note that bus services will be sparse in the summer vacation.

Another way to get around is by boat. Friesland is noted for its large amount of lakes, but especially for the way they are all interconnected by canals. It is therefore possible to travel from one city to the next by sailing-boat. See the Do section for more information.

Like the entire Netherlands, Friesland is extremely bike-friendly. See the main article on the Netherlands for details.

See

 * Wieuwerd mummies - a small town where local church crypt created the right conditions for natural mummification
 * Fries museum - the local museum on the area (located in Leeuwarden)
 * Jopie Huisman museum (Workum) - an art museum dedicated to an eel fisher turned realist painter
 * Eise Eisinga's planetarium (Franeker) - a school teacher created the world's oldest still working planetarium (1774) to disprove claims that the world was going to end
 * Hindeloopen - a small town comparable to Volendam or Marken, though not as overly touristic
 * Sloten - a small fortress town with a rich past

Afsluitdijk
The Afsluitdijk is a 32 km long dike connecting North-Holland and Friesland. Built in 1927-1932 to close what is now the IJsselmeer from being flooded by the North Sea. The dike was built as part of a plan to reclaim land in the IJsselmeer; this land became the province of Flevoland. You can ride on the dike by car, what may shorten travelling considerately.

 * The Kazematten Museum. The bunkers defending the entrance to the Afsluitdijk were a vital part of Hollands defence plan during the Second World War. Some of the bunkers have been restored, with period-appropriate weapons, equipment and everyday items giving an overview of the soldiers' life inside the bunkers in 1940.
 * Het Monument. A small statue of a dike-builder which has been placed on the spot where the dike was closed in 1932. Next to the monument is a plaque, cafe and a watchtower where (because of all the water) you can see the Wadden islands on a bright day.

Do
There are many activities you can undertake in Friesland:

The main event in Friesland each year is the yearly sailing contest between 14 ships on the various lakes, which takes place in early August. The 14 10-meter long boats, each with a crew of more than ten people, compete over 14 matches on anything from the huge IJsselmeer to tiny Veenhoop. This event is called Skûtsjesilen, Skûtsje being the traditional type of sailing boat used in these contests.

It is quite possible to watch these matches from the shore, and many people do so. Inquire locally about the best place to watch, and be prepared to come early or the locals will beat you to the best places. It is also possible to watch these matches from the water, but some areas of water may be off-limits for spectators.

If you are traveling by boat, make sure you get a program of this because certain lakes or parts of lakes will be closed off, and the waterways towards those lakes will be filled with traveling spectators.

 * Go boating on the lakes or canals.
 * Go mudflat hiking to the West Frisian Islands. As the sea is dry at lowtide, it is possible to walk to some of the islands. Always do this under supervision of a licensed guide. Though tides change in regular cycles, these are easily misjudged by unqualified hikers, who could find themselves quickly surrounded by rising water on all sides. As hikers are basically walking in the middle of the sea, this is not to be underestimated.
 * Kaatsen is a sport dating to the Middle Ages, still being practised in Friesland, the Basque Country, and parts of southern France. A precursor to tennis; the game consists of two teams hitting a solid leather ball with their bare hands. The main event each year is the PC, in Franeker. The city will be filled with spectators. Warning: Kaatsen is to Frisians what cricket is to the English, i.e.: you will not understand a thing of what is happening.
 * Fierljeppen (far-jumping) - a sport where contestants attempt to jump as far as possible over a ditch, using a 10-foot pole.
 * Follow the route of the Elfstedentocht by car, bicycle or on foot. All cities of this tour are within Friesland, namely Leeuwarden, Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum. You can get a detailed map of the route at tourist offices throughout the area, and suggestions on how to traverse the route.
 * Hindelooopen Cycle Route (51 or 45 km) takes you through the flat, open pastureland of Friesland, famous for its Frisian cows to several of Friesland's lakes. Highlights of the route are the Hanseatic towns of Workum and Hndeloopen.

Eat

 * Fryske dúmkes, sweet cookies with crushed hazelnut
 * Oranjekoeke, a kind of cake with orange snippers
 * Drabbelkoeken, a buttercake, only in Sneek
 * Sûkerbôle, a sweet bread with 40% sugar and cinnamon

Drink

 * Beerenburg, the "national" drink of Friesland. An alcoholic drink, made by adding herbs to jenever. It has an alcohol percentage of around 30%.
 * Frysk Hynder (Frisian horse), the only Frisian whisky, distilled in Bolsward.
 * Ús Heit (Our father), Frisian beers, brewed in Bolsward

Respect
Do not refer to the local language as a dialect of Dutch, as this might be considered insulting, as well as being untrue. Although they are closely related, and nearly all Frisian people are able to speak Dutch, the language is old and distinct, bearing more linguistic similarities to English than to Dutch. Otherwise, the general mentality and rules of etiquette are the same as in the rest of the Netherlands. The region is by no means separatist, but there is a strong national feeling among Frisians. Its relationship to the Netherlands is comparable to the relationship between Wales and England within the United Kingdom.

Go next
From Friesland, most places in the Netherlands can be reached within four hours of travel (either car or train). The neighbouring provinces are the following:
 * Groningen — to the east, including the vibrant capital city Groningen
 * Drenthe — to the east, known for its heathland, sand grounds and the dolmen from the early Neolithic period
 * Overijssel — to the south, with the Weerribben-Wieden national park just across the provincial border
 * Flevoland — to the south, reclaimed land and the large Walibi Holland theme park
 * North Holland — to the west across the Afsluitdijk dam, including the North Holland Peninsula and Texel, the largest West Frisian island

title: Friesland


text:
Frigiliana

Frigiliana is a mountain town in Andalucia, Spain. A white Andalucian village only 5 miles inland, the village itself is a labyrinth of charming narrow whitewashed streets with old Andalucian houses. Around the village are a series of tiled wall displays telling the story of the village during the Moorish occupation and the Reconquista (the expulsion of the moors from Spain).

Understand
Frigiliana is a testimony to the Moorish times in Andalusia. It is considered one of the places where this structure is still preserved. This structure can still be seen very well, especially in the town center. Many travel companies have recognized the beauty of this place and offer bus trips here. It can very often happen that the village is a bit overcrowded when several buses arrive at the same time.

Frigiliana is one of the oldest places on the Andalusian coast whose traces go back to the Phoenicians and the Romans. Over the millennia, many cultures have left their traces in Frigiliana so that the place is also known as the village of three cultures. What is meant by this is the Muslim, the Jewish and finally the Christian culture.

The place still reflects its village charm today, and thanks to its location on the southern edge of the Almijara-Tejeda Mountains, at 425m, there is a mild climate even in winter.

As soon as you arrive you will be recognized as one of the White Villages, and in the early years of the "tourist settlement" it was particularly popular with artists. This is reflected in the many shops with pottery and ateliers.

Frigiliana has been honoured several times as "Most Beautiful Village in Andalusia".

By plane
The nearest airport is Málaga Airport. 40 minutes drive from Malaga International Airport.

By train
The nearest long-distance train station is Maria Zambrano train station in Málaga.

By bus
Frigiliana is via a shuttle bus line with the central bus station connected by Nerja.

By car
The best way to get to Frigliliana is via the Autopista del Mediterráneo A-7 coastal highway ( Symbol: AS km 295 - Nerja exit) and then continue north via the MA-5105 (approx. 4 km).

By taxi
You can hire a taxi at Malaga Airport. The cost to Frigiliana is €78-100 for the approximately 65-km (40-mile) journey. A taxi to Nerja is about €6.

Get around
The town is easy to walk around, allowing that it is built on a number of hills. Parking is easy off season in much of the town. There is also a car park.

In the central square, on Calle San Sebastian, there are always taxis to get to the surrounding area and Nerja.

See

 * Check out the animatronic Moor and parrot near the market place, by the police station. From the overlooking balcony at Ctra Circunvalacion, there is an excellent view over countryside and Nerja to the sea.

Do
Walk around town. Take photos. Go hiking in the surrounding Parque Natural de la Sierra de Tejeda y Almijara.

Buy
There is a market Thursdays near where the buses stop, Ctra Circunvalacion. There are numerous small shops spread throughout town. There is a post office at the coast end of Av de Andalucia if you buy post cards.

At the entrance to the village you will find a small but well-stocked grocery store "bei Louisa" on the left. Andalusian ceramics are best bought in the "Artisania de Frigiliana", which is housed in a former factory building at the entrance to the village.

Eat

 * Restaurante Romántica on San Sebastian Street - great food, beautiful terrace, superb wines.

Drink
A number of bars and cafes as well as shops which sell soft drinks. Locally produced Moscatel wine is also available.

Go next
Taxi or bus. A bus to Nerja, bus to Málaga and bus to airport if you have the time.

title: Frigiliana


text:
Frinton-on-Sea

Frinton-on-Sea is a small seaside town in the Tendring district of Essex. It had an estimated population of 4,800 in 2016. It is part of the Parish of Frinton and Walton. The parish consists of the towns of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, and the villages of Kirby-le-Soken, Kirby Cross and Great Holland. Connaught Avenue (the main shopping street) used to be known as the 'Bond Street' of East Anglia.

Understand
The town has a claim on the world's first wireless telegraph school, which was established in 1901 with the opening of a residential school for training engineers for Marconi's International Marine Communication Co.

In 1934 an estate of Art Deco houses was planned designed by Oliver Hill but was never completed and in 1936 building work stopped. Several of the original Art Deco properties remain.
 * Frinton community information

By road
Follow the A12 from London. Turn off just beyond Colchester on the A120, then the A133, then follow the signs to Weeley, then the B1033 to Frinton. Turn right when you arrive at the railway, level crossing roundabout.

By bicycle
National Cycle Route 150 runs along the coast from Walton to the NE to past Clacton to the SW.

Get around
Best by foot, but local buses run every 30 minutes between Walton and Clacton, and every two hours between Walton and Colchester. All buses stop close to the station, just outside the crossing gates.

See

 * is a wetland nature reserve in the estuary a mile or so north of Walton. It has grasslands, creeks, mud and sand flats, salt marshes and tidal islands such as Horsey. It has many resident and migratory birds. The reserve's most lurid denizens are the bright orange seals, both Atlantic / Grey and Harbour / Common seals. The mud flats contain iron ore, which the seal coats absorb to resemble an orange fake suntan, which lasts until the next moult. These seals are distinctive when they show up on shores many miles away, to be mocked as "Essex Girls".
 * is a wetland nature reserve in the estuary a mile or so north of Walton. It has grasslands, creeks, mud and sand flats, salt marshes and tidal islands such as Horsey. It has many resident and migratory birds. The reserve's most lurid denizens are the bright orange seals, both Atlantic / Grey and Harbour / Common seals. The mud flats contain iron ore, which the seal coats absorb to resemble an orange fake suntan, which lasts until the next moult. These seals are distinctive when they show up on shores many miles away, to be mocked as "Essex Girls".

Events

 * Every summer there is a respected Summer Theatre
 * An annual Literary Festival around October.
 * An annual Fun Run around May.

Buy
The main street, Connaught Avenue, is home to many charity shops, second-hand bookshops, antiques centres, etc. There are Co-op and Greggs stores in the town centre, and Aldi and Marks & Spencer food stores on the Frinton side of Walton-on-the-Naze. The Triangle shopping centre on the outskirts of Frinton houses two more sizeable supermarkets - a Fiveways and an Iceland.

Connect
Frinton and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Feb 2023, 5G has not reached town.

Go next

 * Clacton
 * Harwich
 * Felixstowe
 * Colchester
 * Ipswich

title: Frinton-on-Sea


text:
Frisco

There is more than one place called Frisco:

 * Frisco (Colorado) - A town in Colorado.
 * Frisco (Texas) - A town north of Dallas.

 * Some people use the term as a shorthand for San Francisco, a term variously embraced and derided by locals

title: Frisco


text:
Frisco (Colorado)

Frisco is a small town in the state of Colorado.

By car
Frisco is on I-70, which is generally open year-round. The southern road from Breckenridge (CO 9) is at high altitude and may face winter interruptions. The nearest major airport is at Denver.

By bus

 * Bustang connects Frisco with Denver to the east and Glenwood Springs, Eagle and Vail to the west. The bus stop is at the, along Meadow Drive between Lusher Court and Hawn Drive, behind the Frisco Station shopping center.

Get around
There is a free bus service that runs through Frisco and serves most of Summit County. The bus is called the Summit Stage.

Do
Many outdoor enthusiasts choose to stay in Frisco due to its location between Breckenridge, Vail and Keystone. The Ten-Mile Pathway is a popular road for bikers in the summer.

title: Frisco (Colorado)


text:
Frisco (Texas)

Frisco is a suburb of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

By car
Frisco has several state highway and toll roads. From North (Sherman) or South (Dallas) on either State Highway 289 (also known as Preston Road) or the North Dallas Tollway (NDT). Access to the NDT is a few miles west on SH 380 from the intersection with SH 298. From East or West State Highway 380 (northern Border of Frisco, Farm to Market (FM) 720 (Also known as Main Street) or or State Highway 121 (southern border), also known as the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SRT)

From Oklahoma, The best you can take either Interstate 35E fork which intersect with SH 380 in Denton TX or SH 121 Business and the SRT in Lewisville. US 75 which intersects with US 380 and SH 121/SRT in McKinney.

From Waco, Austin or San Antonio take the 35E fork till it intersects with the SRT in Lewisville or you can get onto the NDT in Dallas at the interchange near Harry Hines blvd which will take you directly into Frisco.

By plane
Frisco does not have a commercial airport. You must fly to DFW Airport and travel northeast on SH121/Sam Rayburn Tollway or to Love Field in Dallas and travel north into Frisco on the North Dallas Tollway or Preston Road.

By train
Frisco does not direct passenger train service, the closest Amtrak Stations are in Fort Worth's Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center and Dallas's Union Station.

Amtrak runs two routes to the DFW area.

Heartland Flyer - Fort Worth to Oklahoma City.

Texas Eagle - San Antonio to Chicago. Traveling north from San Antonio there is a one hour layover in Fort Worth before continuing at Dallas, and vice versa when traveling south from Dallas.

Get around
There is no public transportation within the city of Frisco, and DART, the public transportation system in Dallas, does not reach the city, although it serves neighboring Plano. It is strongly suggested to rent a car or use one of the many ride sharing services available in the Area.

Do
See local school football, hang around the numerous parks, or visit the awesome Frisco Public library with an amiable staff.

 * Texas Legends, a NBA G League basketball team that plays at the Dr Pepper Arena.
 * Texas Legends, a NBA G League basketball team that plays at the Dr Pepper Arena.
 * Texas Legends, a NBA G League basketball team that plays at the Dr Pepper Arena.

Buy
Practically anything along Preston Road is up for sale.

 * Timeless Luxury Watches. Watch store that carries a large variety of brands, including some you don't see very often such as NOMOS and Grand Seiko.
 * Timeless Luxury Watches. Watch store that carries a large variety of brands, including some you don't see very often such as NOMOS and Grand Seiko.

Eat
The Stonebriar Mall includes many nationwide favorites such as the Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen.

Ice cream: Double Dip, Sheridan's, Maggie Moo's, The Great Escape, Cold Stone Creamery, Marble Slab, and the Snow Cone Lady.

title: Frisco (Texas)


text:
Frisia

Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea. It is divided in the following sub-regions:

Netherlands

 * Friesland (or West Frisia) — a province in the Netherlands
 * Ommelanden — the region around the city of Groningen
 * North Holland Peninsula — a region in North Holland that includes the region West Friesland
 * West Frisian Islands — an island region in the north of the Netherlands

Germany

 * East Frisia — a region in Lower Saxony
 * East Frisian Islands — an islands region in Lower Saxony
 * North Frisian Islands — an islands region in Schleswig-Holstein
 * North Frisia — a region in Schleswig-Holstein

title: Frisia


text:
Frisian Islands

There is more than one place called Frisian Islands:

Germany

 * East Frisian Islands - A region in Lower Saxony.
 * North Frisian Islands - A region in Schleswig-Holstein.

Netherlands

 * West Frisian Islands

title: Frisian Islands


text:
Frisian Lakes

While the Frisian Lakes (Dutch: Friese meren, West Frisian: Fryske marren) are not well known among foreigners, the locals flock to this tourist area in great numbers. The Frisian Lakes consist of 24 lakes in central and southwest Friesland that attract boaters from all over the country in the summer. The highlight of the Frisian boating season is the Sneekweek (West Frisian: Snitswike), an annual boating event held in Sneek, the largest town of the area. A visit to the area is easily combined with other activities in the region, such as mudflat hiking to the West Frisian Islands or a visit to other towns in the Northern Netherlands.

Understand
The Frisian lakes consist of 24 lakes in Central and Southwest Friesland. The largest and most important lakes are the Sneekermeer (Snitser Mar), the Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar), the Heegermeer (Hegemer Mar), the Fluessen (Fluezen) and the Slotermeer (Sleattemer Mar). Among Frisians, most of this region is known as the Zuidwesthoek (Súdwesthoeke), an area with a distinct Frisian dialect. The municipality Súdwest-Fryslân and the upcoming municipality De Friese Meren belong to this area. Some lakes are outside of the Zuidwesthoek, such as those in Grouw and Eernewoude, but these are considered a part of the Frisian Lakes region. Besides Sneek, the largest towns in the area are Joure, Lemmer and Bolsward.

The lakes
There are many large and small lakes in the Friese Meren area, plus a number of them that are not directly in this South-Western part of Friesland, but are still commonly included when referring to the Frisian Lakes. Below is a list of the most prominent ones for sailing and other water activities. Note that the Frisian names, here indicated in italic, are the official ones. Although information in Dutch is common, you are likely to encounter the local language names here and there on maps and signs. The largest and most popular ones are indicated in bold.

 * 1) Heegermeer (Hegemer Mar)
 * 2) Fluessen (Fluezen)
 * 3) De Holken
 * 4) Morra (De Morra)
 * 5) Slotermeer (Friesland)|Slotermeer (Sleattemer Mar)
 * 6) Groote Brekken (Grutte Brekken)
 * 7) Koevordermeer (De Kûfurd)
 * 8) Langweerderwielen (Langwarder Wielen)
 * 9) Witte en Zwarte Brekken en Oudhof (Wite Brekken, Swarte Brekken en Aldhôf)
 * 10) Tjeukemeer (Tsjûkemar)
 * 11) Sneekermeer (Snitser Mar)
 * 12) Goëngarijpsterpoelen (Goaiïngarypster Puollen)
 * 13) Terkaplesterpoelen (Terkaplester Puollen)
 * 14) Idzegaasterpoel (Idzegeaster Poel)
 * 15) Grote Gaastmeer (Grutte Gaastmar)
 * 16) Zandmeer (Sânmar)
 * 17) Ringwiel
 * 18) Vlakke Brekken (Flakke Brekken)
 * 19) Oudegaasterbrekken (Aldegeaster Brekken)
 * 20) Idskenhuistermeer (Jiskenhúster Mar)
 * 21) Terhornsterpoelen (Terhernster Puollen)
 * 22) Terhornstermeer (De Hoarne)
 * 23) Brandemeer (Skarsterlân)|Brandemeer]] (Brandemar)
 * 24) Nannewijd (Nannewiid)

Get in
Large crowds find their way to this area on their own boat. A boat is of course a great way to see the best of the Frisian Lakes, and there are ample facilities for boat travellers. Make sure to bring a good map and take the many bridges into account. To get to specific lakes or areas, you will likely need to pass one of the many man-controlled bridges, which are operated during regular hours.

By train, get in via Leeuwarden. Direct trains run to Leeuwarden from Groningen and from the direction of Utrecht. From Amsterdam you'll have to change in Hilversum or Amersfoort. From Leeuwarden, a regional train operated by Arriva runs to Sneek and Stavoren.

Bus connections allow getting into the area from Den Helder or Hoorn in North Holland. These buses cross over the Afsluitdijk, the long dike that separates the IJsselmeer from the North Sea. As train connections in the Frisian Lakes area are limited, serving only a few major destinations, regional buses are your main public transport option to get into smaller towns. Most regional buses are operated by Connexxion.

The nearest airports are Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam and Groningen Airport Eelde near Groningen, which has a few international connections to popular European holiday destinations.

Get around
If you can't bring your own, there are numerous options to rent different kinds of boats for any period. Make sure to bring a good map of the area, or mobile internet. There are specific maps available, with all the mooring locations.

Other ways to get around are by car, bus or bicycle. The train only has a few stops between Stavoren and Leeuwarden, but it could also be useful.

See
There are many cute villages that can be visited, including Hindeloopen, IJlst, Lemmer, Sloten, Stavoren and Workum. Most of these villages have unique historic centres. Lemmer is home to the D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station, the largest steam-powered pumping station in the world that is still in operation. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Eat & sleep
This is a major area for domestic tourism and an increasingly popular destination for amateur sailors from Germany and the UK. As a result, all mid-sized and larger villages around the lakes have restaurants, cafés and lodging options, as do many of the smaller towns. Catering to large crowds of visitors in high-season, you'll be able to find anything from haute cuisine to simple snacks and a range of cosy outdoor terraces, excellent for an afternoon coffee break.

If you're looking to stay multiple days in the area, you have several options when it comes to sleeping. If you have (or rent) a larger boat, staying on it is the obvious solution and provides great freedom in terms of where to go. If you're looking for hotels or B&Bs, it's a good option to pick a base and make day-trips over the lakes from there, which, given the size of the area is very well possible and perhaps most convenient. Note that prices rise significantly during Dutch holidays and especially for regional events like the Sneekweek.

Go next
Leeuwarden is the capital of Friesland and a nice historic town to visit. Heerenveen borders the area at its eastern edge, while the Noordoostpolder is at its southern border.

title: Frisian Lakes


text:
Fritch

Fritch is a city in the High Plains region of Texas.

Get in
The town is located 30 miles north-northeast of Amarillo on TX Highway 136. It is also 10 miles west of Borger on that same highway.

Do
Camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, boating and water sports are all popular outdoor activities in and around the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area.

Buy
Other than a few shops serving locals, there is not a lot of shopping in town.

Eat
Several restaurants line Broadway (TX 136) through town.

Drink
The town itself is dry but there are packaged liquor stores and some bars on the outskirts of the city. Follow the signs!

Sleep
Options in Fritch are few, though Lake Meredith offers camp sites, like Sanford-Yake Campground, which could make for an exceptional experience under the big sky. More lodging options are available in neighboring Borger or down the road in Amarillo.

title: Fritch


text:
Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an autonomous region of Italy, the country's most northeasterly region, on the borders with Austria and Slovenia.

Other destinations

 * Cansiglio Forest
 * Dolomiti Friulane Natural Regional Park
 * Prealpi Giulie Natural Regional Park
 * Tarvisio Forest
 * Numerous natural regional reserves
 * Lagoons of Marano and Grado
 * Summer and winter holiday resorts in the Julian Alps: Chiusaforte-Sella Nevea-Canin, Tarvisio, Pontebba-Passo di Pramollo, Malborghetto-Valbruna, in the Carnic Alps: Ravascletto-Zoncolan, Forni Avoltri, Sauris, in the furlan Dolomites: Forni di Sopra, Claut, and in the Carnic Prealps: Aviano-Piancavallo.
 * Adriatic sea resorts
 * Vineyards in the Collio, in the Colli Orientali and in the Carso.

Understand
If one were to describe Italy's regions as a family, Friuli-Venezia Giulia would be the multicultural oddball that few seem to notice or understand. Sitting in the northeastern section of Italy, the region of 1.1 million inhabitants rarely pops up in discussions about Italy, a real shame given the unique character of its places, sights, and people. Any amount of time spent here will introduce you to a unique mix of Italian, Germanic, and Slavic cultures.

Talk
The predominant language is Italian, but there are noteworthy Friulian, Slovenian, and even small German minorities in the region. Surprisingly, people in this region tend to speak better English than in the rest of Italy.

By plane

 * The regional and international Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport is 20 km away from Gorizia, 33 from Trieste, 40 from Udine and 80 from Pordenone.
 * Treviso Airport offers many low cost flights. It can be reached by coach, car, or train from most areas in the region
 * The international Marco Polo Airport of Venice . Much further away than Treviso Airport, but offers a wider range of destinations.
 * Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia is a good option if visiting the eastern part of the region.

By train

 * From other Italian regions: Trenitalia high-speed and intercity trains and Italo high-speed trains connect Udine and Trieste to other Italian cities such as Milan, Rome and Naples. An Intercity Night sleeper train between Rome and Trieste is also available. Additionally, regional trains connect to Venice once an hour.
 * From Austria: The Austrian railway operator ÖBB offers daytime RailJet trains and NightJet sleeper trains to and from Vienna. The regionally-owned Ferrovie Udine-Cividale (FUC) also operates trains between Villach and Udine. Alternatively, a EuroCity train is also available from Vienna to Trieste, passing through Graz and Ljubljana. The train takes 9 hours in total, so it's definitely not the fastest option to travel between the two cities, but it could make for an interesting journey.
 * From Slovenia: two Trenitalia regional trains per day operate between Trieste Centrale and Ljubljana (one of which starts and terminates in Udine as well). The Slovenian Railways also operate a few services between the border station of Villa Opicina, in Trieste, (which can be accessed by bus) and Ljubljana. Alternatively, arrive in Nova Gorica and walk across the border to Gorizia. Bus number 1 can be used to go to the city centre or the Gorizia Centrale railway station.

By car

 * A4 Turin-Trieste
 * A23 Tarvisio-Udine-Palmanova
 * A28 Portogruaro-Pordenone-Conegliano Veneto

By train
Regional trains are operated by Trenitalia and connect between most important towns and cities, making them a very convenient way to get around. The trains are generally fairly clean and most of them have power sockets and air conditioning. Frequencies vary between lines, however there is generally one train per hour on the most important ones, with some trains running every half hour at peak times between Trieste and Udine. Bikes can also be carried on the trains, after paying the appropriate supplement, a useful way to get to the Alpe Adria cycleway.

Aside from the Trenitalia trains there are also two lines operated by Ferrovie Udine-Cividale (FUC), which primarily runs trains between Udine and the town of Cividale. They also operate the Micotra - a regional train from Udine to Villach, in Austria. If you're intending to visit Cividale by train remember that tickets can't be bought on normal Trenitalia ticket machines - instead, there is a special FUC ticket machine at the Udine railway station, or you can buy tickets at the tobacconist inside the station itself. Tickets, however, can (and must) be validated on the standard validators present at stations.

By bus
Urban and interurban buses are run by TPL FVG and connect almost all towns and villages, making them useful to travel to places not connected by rail or inside some of the bigger cities, although the schedules may not be very frequent depending on the line. Tickets for the urban buses cost, while a day ticket valid for the entire network costs. Prices for the interurban buses vary depending on the route.

By boat
TPL FVG also operates ferries connecting between various seaside towns (such as Grado and Lignano) during the summer, alongside the Trieste-Muggia ferry active all year. Ticket prices can be found on TPL's boat services page. It is also possible to carry one bike per passenger on the ferries, after paying for the appropriate ticket.

See

 * Adriatic Sea resorts — Lignano Sabbiadoro, Grado, Marina Iulia di Monfalcone and the Riviera di Barcolana (Duino-Aurisina, Sistiana, Trieste).
 * Alpine lakes— Vajont, Barcis, Tramonti, Cornino, Verzegnis, Sauris, Cavazzo, Doberdo, Fusine, Predil.
 * Castles — Miramare, Duino, Muggia, Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, Cervignano del Friuli, Gemona del Friuli, Spilimbergo, Valvasone, and so on... so many.
 * Caves — Sgonico Grotta Gigante, Villanova di Lusevera, Pradis di Clauzetto.

Do
Climbing, walking, mountaineering, paragliding, hang-gliding, canyoning, rafting, horse riding, golf, mountain biking and cycling, spelunking, swimming, sailing, surf, wind-surf, kitesurf. On the snow: downhill, off-track and cross-country skiing, freeride, snowboard, snow parks, ice-climbing, outings with snow-shoes and sleddogs.

 * Alpine ski resorts: Ampezzo, Cimolais, Chiusaforte-Sella Nevea-Canin, Claut, Forni di Sopra, Forni Avoltri, Lauco, Malborghetto-Valbruna, Paluzza-Timau, Paularo, Aviano-Piancavallo, Pontebba-Passo Pramollo, Ravascletto-Zoncolan, Sauris, Tarvisio, Verzegnis-Sella Chianzutan.

Itineraries
The "Road of Wine and Cherries", the "Road of Ham and Castles", the "Road of Montasio Cheese".

Eat
The regional cuisine was born from the union of three great culinary traditions, the Austrian, the Venetian and the Slav, plus a sturdy and tasty popular Friulan cuisine.
 * Celebrated hams: San Daniele, smoked Sauris, Cormons and Carso, friulan smoked speck of Sauris.
 * Ancient cheeses: Montasio friulano, Asino, Latteria, Malga, Pecorino, smoked Ricotta, Salato friulano, Tabor, Liptauer, Zepek.

Iota or Jota, porcina or porzina, game, goose products, klotznudl, knodel, bobici, kaiserfleisch, sbarbôt, bisna or bizna, cevapcici, San Daniele and Carnia smoked trout, mlinzi, gnocchi, pistum, baccalà, frico, patate in tecia, paparôt, white and green asparaguses, cjalzons, boreto or brodo or brodetto, different soups, granzevola alla triestina, marinated sardines, muset, brovada, riso e fasoi, risotti, sauc, crafus, linguâl, pestât, pestadice, salame friulano, pancetta friulana, peta or petuccia or pitina, goulash or gulash, palatschinken, cren, radicchio canarino, rosa di Gorizia, rusclin, polenta friulana, filon, dobos, cotto di Trieste and di Gorizia, toc in braide, cueste, lujagne, savors, lidric cul poc, pindulis, sassaka friulana, sculta fumât, strudel, kipfel, krapfen, struki or strucchi, crostui, esse biscuits, cuguluf, colaz, gubana friulana, pinza, putizza, presnitz, sacher, pevarins, pickles, honeys, marmelades, olive oil tergeste.

Drink

 * White wines — Ramandolo, Picolit, Friulano, Verduzzo Friulano, Prosecco Friulano.
 * Red wines — Refosco del Peduncolo Rosso, Schiopettino, Terrano.
 * Beers — "Castello di Udine", "Agribeer Zahre", "Befed", "Praforte".
 * Ciders — "Klotzen", "Most".
 * Spirits — Grappa Friulana, pear brandy, Slivovitz Friulana, plum brandy.
 * Coffee — Illy Trieste.
 * Mineral waters: "Pradis", "Goccia di Carnia", "Dolomia", "Paradiso Pocenia".

Stay safe
This is one of Italy's safest regions, with Trieste being arguably Italy's safest city and Udine being not far behind. A few beggars might be seen near railway stations and international borders, but otherwise nothing shocking should happen to tourists.

Go next
In Italy, the Veneto and the Trentino-Alto Adige regions. Austria and Slovenia.

title: Friuli-Venezia Giulia


text:
Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge is a town in the English Riviera and South Devon region of Devon in south west England.

Understand
Around the Kingsbridge Estuary lies a number of villages and small settlements such as Salcombe and Frogmore

Several of the creeks of the estuary have independent names, including Blanksmill, Frogmore, Southpool, Batson and Bowcombe Creek.

Get in
Arrive by bus from Dartmouth, or drive or cycle along the A379.

The nearest airport is Exeter Airport.

Get around
You can walk around.

See

 * In the village of Frogmore, you should try to visit the bridge over the creek head at sunset. The creek lies on an east-west axis and the colours and reflections on the water can make for some rather stunning images.
 * In the village of Frogmore, you should try to visit the bridge over the creek head at sunset. The creek lies on an east-west axis and the colours and reflections on the water can make for some rather stunning images.

Do
Launch a boat at the public hard at the head of the creek.

Events

 * There is a Regatta during the summer in Frogmore - around the first or second weekend in August. A variety of boat based races are followed by the race across the creek - through the tidal mud. Amusing to watch or take part in! Take part in the race across the creek at the regatta.

Drink

 * Salcombe Brewery is in Ledstone two miles north of Kingsbridge and offers tours.

Sleep
There are a few B&Bs in the village, one or two with very nice views of the creek that you can wake up to.
 * Seaflowers in Frogmore re-opens in Feb 2024.
 * Seaflowers in Frogmore re-opens in Feb 2024.

Connect
As of July 2022, Kingsbridge and Salcombe have 4G from EE, Three and (in patches) from Vodafone, but a poor signal from O2. You'll be lucky to get any signal in coastal villages such as East Prawle. 5G has not reached this corner of Devon.

Go next

 * Dartmouth
 * Plymouth

title: Kingsbridge


text:
Frombork

Frombork is a small fishing village in Warmia-Masuria in Poland. It was part of Prussia, and later Germany, and was known by its German name Frauenburg from the Middle Ages until 1945.

By plane
The nearest useful international airport is in Gdańsk. Kaliningrad could also be a consideration for those with a Russian visa.

By car
From Gdańsk, take route E77 to Elbląg and than head north along the south coast of the Vistula Bay by road 503.

By train
The town's station last saw a train in 2006. However Braniewo, 10 km away near the Kaliningrad border, and Elbląg are on the functioning rail network.

By bus
Local buses running between Elbląg (7-11 zł) and Braniewo (5-8 zł) pass through Frombork.

(PKS)

Get around
The town of Frombork is extremely small so no transport is needed. You can get anywhere on foot.

See

 * Vistula Lagoon
 * Vistula Lagoon
 * Vistula Lagoon
 * Vistula Lagoon
 * Vistula Lagoon

Sleep
There is a hotel, though perhaps more characterful (and less expensive) are the many guesthouses scattered throughout the town.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:

 * Pomeranian metropol Gdańsk with a beautiful old town and the biggest Gothic brick church worldwide
 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
 * sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
 * sea resort Puck

Vistula Bay:

 * medieval town of Elbląg
 * sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs

Kashubian Coast:

 * Słowinski National Park with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Rowy
 * sea resort Łeba
 * sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Władysławowo

On the Hel Peninsula:

 * sea resort Chałupy
 * sea resort Jastarnia
 * sea resort Jurata
 * sea resort Hel

On the Vistula Peninsula:

 * sea resort Krynica Morska

title: Frombork


text:
From Istanbul to Cairo

From Istanbul to Cairo is a route in the Middle East. Countries visited are Turkey, Syria, Jordan, possibly Israel (and the disputed territory of the West Bank), and Egypt. You will have set foot on all three continents of the Old World upon completing it.

Understand
Istanbul–Cairo is a classic overland route. It is a route that has been traveled for centuries, particularly during the Ottoman Empire. Historically it overlapped with the Hajj, with many people covering all or part of the route as part of their pilgrimage to Mecca. The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta passed through in the 14th century.

With the advance of train travel, it became feasible, and indeed quite popular, for Western tourists in the 1930s, many taking the Taurus Express run by the same company operating the Orient Express, la Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, following the route (or most of it, due to gaps in the rail network).

Backpackers (re)discovered it in the 1970s and 1980s, with hippies searching for spiritual peace who departed to Jerusalem from Istanbul instead of going to India via Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. After the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, onward travel from Jerusalem to Cairo became a possibility. For visa reasons (see below) the route is almost always traveled Istanbul to Cairo, few choose to go the opposite direction. The guide book series Lonely Planet made the route even more popular by publishing their "Istanbul to Cairo on a shoestring".

See also the tips at Travel in developing countries; advice there applies to most of this route.

Abraham Path is a hiking trail commemorating the life and journey of Abraham the Patriarch. The trail's course between Urfa in Turkey and the Negev in Israel partially overlaps with this route.

Prepare
It is essential to learn some basic rules of Middle Eastern etiquette before you arrive. Like don't use your left hand, because it is considered dirty (traditionally the left hand is used to clean yourself with water after using the toilet), and do not put your feet up on furniture used as a foot stool. Always wear long trousers, not shorts, and t-shirts instead of muscle shirts. At the very least, knees and shoulders should be covered. Long, flowing ankle-length skirts and loose-fitting men's t-shirts are recommended clothing for women. A headscarf is not necessary, but useful to have when visiting Orthodox churches and mosques. Learning basic survival-level Arabic is very helpful.

As the area is volatile and subject to sudden political changes, it is essential to listen closely to the news before and during your trip. Read the travel warnings issued by your government carefully and heed them.

Visa
Most travelers from Western countries can get visas for Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Israel online, at the airport or on the border if not already granted visa-free access in the first place. Syria requires travelers to apply beforehand at the embassy of their country of residence. Travelers from a country which does not have diplomatic relationship with Syria can reportedly get the visa at the Syrian border too, but there seems to be no certain rule about it.

One reliable alternative for securing a Syrian visa is to apply at the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul. Processing time has been reported to be less than 8 hours, so it is possible to apply in the morning and return later in the afternoon to retrieve your passport.

Any proof of a past or future visit to Israel will result in being denied entry to Syria, even with a valid visa. Thus people intending to visit Israel on their trip travel from Turkey to Egypt, not the other way around. It is possible to keep a visit to Israel out of your passport if you enter and leave Israel through the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing and ask the Israeli officials to stamp a piece of paper instead of your passport, but this method is not very reliable.

Tickets
It is difficult or not practical to order bus or train tickets online as most ticketing in the Middle East is still done by hand, although you can book airline tickets online nowadays. Travel agents in Istanbul's Sultanahmet area can be of help for some parts of the trip and it can be worthwhile to email a trustworthy agent for help and pay for your tickets with credit card. This is frequently done for flights within Turkey or originating in Turkey, bus tickets departing Istanbul on not-so-frequent routes and for train tickets to Syria.

Get in
Most people will fly into Istanbul. Istanbul is a popular destination within the European network of budget flights. Some travelers arrive by train, bus and ferry from Greece or Bulgaria. There is a weekly bus to and from Germany via Italy and Greece.

Istanbul is rightly a famous destination the world over. Even only covering its major attractions can take a week or more.

There are numerous crossings on the Turkish-Syrian border, but many are restricted or closed as of 2023 due to the ongoing Syrian civil war. Before the war, the most frequently used crossing was Cilvegözü/Bab al-Hawa east of Reyhanlı en route between Antakya and Aleppo.

On the way to Antakya, you can extend your journey as much as you like over a good portion of the map of Turkey. The most direct approaches are:
 * By bus: an Antakya-based bus company, Has Turizm, has three services daily from Istanbul arriving around morning and afternoon, taking more than 16 hours overnight end-to-end.
 * By car: it's a straightforward drive overwhelmingly along wide and smooth motorways via, taking about 12–13 hours including short pit stops.
 * By train: the easiest approach is by taking the YHT high-speed trains to and then transferring to the Toros Express (inherited its name from the luxury Taurus Express of old), which terminates in  where you should change to a bus for the rest of the route, but this last leg may not be possible the same night as the Toros arrives at Adana about 22:00. You should catch the 08:10 train from Istanbul at the latest, and then you have a two-hour layover at Konya. The tickets can be booked at the Turkish State Railways (TCDD Taşımacılık) website.

All three linked cities have enough attractions worth stopping by for.

Antakya, ancient Antioch, deserves your attention as it has two archaeological museums, both with great mosaic collections, and the first church of Christianity. Spare at least a full day for the city.

Before the war, there were direct buses from Antakya to Aleppo through the Cilvegözü/Bab al-Hawa border crossing. Some travellers are known to have done this stage in steps by a combination of local minibuses and hitchhiking, but this wasn't really advisable since pedestrians weren't allowed to walk across the border as the no man's land between the Turkish and Syrian posts are up to 5 km wide, and you can't expect assistance from either country in case anything goes wrong.

The trains between Turkey and Syria were also indefinitely suspended at the onset of the Syrian civil war.

Bypassing Syria
Bypassing Syria overland is surprisingly difficult. There are ferries from nearby İskenderun, the main harbour of Hatay to Israel and Egypt, but these are for trucks and don't accept foot passengers (not even the drivers of the trucks, who are transferred by air). There are also ferries to Cyprus, but this route should be considered a last resort as it entails a crossing of the Green Line from unrecognized Northern Cyprus into the Republic of Cyprus-controlled part of the island, which may be difficult bordering on impossible if you aren't armed with an EU/EEA passport, and then scoring a ride on occasional cruise or freighter ships to Israel. The regular ferries to Lebanon, which require a lot of backtracking west to Taşucu, are of little help either, since Lebanon is bordered by only two countries: you can't cross to Syria for obvious reasons, and the border with Israel has been closed for decades for political reasons so once in Lebanon you're stranded there. Heading the other way round, across Iraq, is as dangerous as the route through Syria. It might be possible to enter Iran from Turkey, then the ferry from Khorramshahr to Kuwait, then overland to Jordan, then to Egypt; however, this may be difficult for US, UK, and Canada citizens as they must be on a tour to get an Iranian visa.

This is supposed to be an overland route, but flights are absolutely easier and safer options to bypass Syria for the time being (2023). Adana has the nearest international airport, but it is served by a daily flight only to Beirut, Lebanon out of regional airports. Antalya Airport far to the west has better connections, including a frequent service to the major Israeli airport of Ben Gurion. Istanbul is of course well-connected to the region (and elsewhere globally) but that means you are skipping more than half of the journey by overflying it.

Aleppo is (or was, before the war) the largest Syrian city. It had many historical sights.

You could take the buses south from here. The rail line in the same direction was being repaired in 2021, but it's uncertain when it could be reopened to passenger traffic.

Southwards, the route passes near the ancient sites of the Dead Cities and Apamea.

Hama is a traditional town with historic buildings and conservative locals. It's famous for its ancient water wheels along the Orontes River; they are reported to be unharmed by the war.

The third largest city of Syria had several historical sites but got extensively battered during the war. Reconstruction began in the early 2020s, and the train services to Damascus might return some day.

Side trips from here could bring you to the archetypal Crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers and further on the ancient Mediterranean port of Tartous in the west, and the ruins of Palmyra, much of which were sadly blown up by the ISIL in the 2010s, in the east.

The capital of Syria, and its second largest city, was known for the Roman temples, churches, mosques, and bazaars having witnessed its long history.

Here you could take an interesting side trip to the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

Buses and trains south to Amman were suspended during the war, and it's unknown when the services can resume.

Mafraq is the first major Jordanian town en route from Syria. It has ruins from the pre-Islamic Nabataeans.

A side trip west brings you to the Romans ruins in Jerash, Irbid, Pella and Umm Qais, and the spectacular castle in Ajlun.

Amman is the eternally busy, recklessly changing, and massively sprawling Jordanian capital, but not without its historical charms.

The routes diverge here: if you want to avoid an Israeli stamp on your passport at all costs, head south towards Aqaba for ferries across the Red Sea. Otherwise, continue onto the west towards the Israeli border.

The shortest route to Jerusalem via the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crosses the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. If you want to avoid this stretch for any reason, head northwest to Nazareth in Israel proper. The westerly route to Jerusalem is time-consuming as it requires a lot of transfers: you need a shared taxi to the border, then another across the border, yet another via Jericho to Ramallah, from where you can take the final one into Jerusalem. The route via Nazareth is simpler if longer and infrequently-served: there is a direct bus to Nazareth a few times weekly, and there you can take daily ones onward to Jerusalem.

With an access to your own transportation, you can have an interesting side trip to the ruins in the eastern desert: Qasr Amra and the Desert castles, all early Islamic and many are suggested to be used for recreational purposes.

Madaba is just off the main highway south, accessible by buses from Amman. The local highlights are the ancient mosaics and a number of early Christian churches.

The eastern bank of the Dead Sea, both the lowest point and the most hypersaline expanse of water in the world, is a side trip west.

Minibuses depart for Kerak.

Kerak is home to an impressive castle, once a Crusader stronghold, and an associated museum.

Dana Nature Reserve south offers pretty good hiking options along the Great Rift Valley, which extends from Lebanon under the entire length of the Red Sea to Mozambique.

Minibuses run south to Ma'an, the turn-off for Petra.

Petra is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the Middle East. It is off the main highway south if you are driving but is well worth to stray away from it a little. Buses connect with Amman in the north and Aqaba in the south via the fast Desert Highway. Relatively infrequent buses also arrive from Madaba, via the slower but more scenic King's Highway.

On the way south, consider taking a side trip to Wadi Rum, a barren, desolate, and spectacularly scenic desert valley.

Aqaba is Jordan's only window to the sea. It has a historic castle and a simple museum but the main draws are the beaches and scuba diving.

If you intend to return back to Europe overland by backtracking your steps, you may want to bypass Israel in order to avoid an Israeli entry stamp on your passport (and subsequent denial of entry when you are back at the Syrian border). A way of doing this is to take direct ferries from the port of Aqaba to Nuweiba on Sinai's eastern coast, in Egypt.

For the Israeli town of Eilat, take taxis to the border, cross it on foot, and take the local buses on the other side.

Jericho is the most touristy city under Palestinian authority and has plenty of Biblical and Islamic sites. It's on the route from Amman westwards to Jerusalem.

Shared taxis leave for Ramallah.

Ramallah is the de facto capital of Palestinian administration, and has museums associated with this political position to show for it.

From here, you can take shared taxis to Jerusalem.

You can visit the Biblical birthplace of Jesus by shared taxis from any of Jericho, Ramallah, or Jerusalem.

Nazareth was the hometown of Joseph and Mary, and hence also Jesus the Nazarene. Today, it's the largest Arab-majority town in Israel proper. On this itinerary, it's practical to visit if you take the northwestern route out of Amman.

If you've come this way, Haifa, Israel's main Mediterranean harbour, is just an hour away by frequent buses to the west. Comparatively less frequent buses also connect to the historic city of Acre in the same direction.

Two direct daily buses run south to Jerusalem.

If any city in the world can lay claim to "holiness", it's probably this one. Take your time to explore this ancient city, much contested for throughout the history.

The bus is useful within Jerusalem on all days except Sabbath. Buses head for Beer Sheva, and the bus ride all the way to Eliat is relaxing and inexpensive. Trains via Beer Sheva go no further south than Dimona, less than one-fifth of the trip to Eilat.

Unlike most of its regional counterparts, Beer Sheva is a modern town founded at the turn of the 20th century. It's therefore often ignored by the overseas travellers; however, it's a good base to explore some major attractions to its east: Hebron, claimed to be the oldest city still inhabited in the world and with a major significance for Abrahamic religions, Masada, an ancient Jewish castle rising magnificently over the Judaean Desert, and the Israeli side of the Dead Sea.

Buses leave hourly for Eilat.

Mitzpe Ramon is a relatively insignificant town on the way, but it might be a good spot to break the journey — its remote desert setting in the Negev endows it plenty of options for stargazing, not to mention a wealth of stark desert landscapes.

Eilat, on the Red Sea, is Israel's primary beach resort. Local buses go as far as the Egyptian border which you can cross on foot to find the shared taxis to Taba.

Taba is on the Red Sea, across the border from Eilat and Aqaba. It has a medieval castle perched upon an islet, and the purpose-built resort town of Taba Heights is about 20 km south.

Buses on an erratic schedule head south for Nuweiba. If they fail you and your visa situation permits it, just return to Aqaba to take much more regularly timetabled ferries to Nuweiba.

Nuweiba is a beach resort. As such, don't expect much history here, but various options for water sports and treks into the desert are available.

Buses will take you south to Dahab. You can also embark on a 7-hour trip direct to Cairo in the west, should you choose to cut short the rest of the itinerary and skip the areas below.

Dahab is Sinai's relaxed backpacker hangout. Occasional buses may take you further south to Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai's primary beach resort. Buses a few times weekly continue west to Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai is one of the highlights of Sinai. It's considered holy by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and there is a Greek Orthodox monastery near the summit.

Daily buses run west to Cairo.

You are finally in the Egyptian capital. You'll probably want to spend some time here to take in its museums, ancient neighbourhoods, and last but not least the pyramids in its outskirts.

Stay safe
As the area is volatile and subject to sudden political changes, it is essential to listen closely to the news before and during your trip. Read the travel warnings issued by your government carefully and heed them.

Less dangerous but far more annoying are the various touts.

Go next
Once in Cairo, the entirety of Africa lies ahead of you.
 * Alexandria, the great learning centre of the ancient Mediterranean, is easily accessible by buses, trains and highways.
 * Southwards, Luxor, Aswan, and other striking Ancient Egyptian sites gloriously stand on the banks of the Nile as they have done for centuries. Consider taking a traditional felucca along the river for at least part of the route.
 * Alexandria to Cape Town by train and bus and Cairo to Nairobi overland describe overland routes further into Africa.

title: From Istanbul to Cairo


text:
Frondarola

Frondarola is a village in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo of Italy.

Get in
The village is about 6 km from the communal city of Teramo.

Get around
There is bus service a few times/day to and from Teramo. Best to have a car.

See
Visit the church in the town square.

Do
Hike across the top of the hills to, which has the private chapel of the Aceti family. Take in the beautiful view of the Gran Sasso.

Buy
Not a lot to buy in this town.

Eat
You will need to walk down the hill about 1.2 km to Fabiocchi or drive towards Teramo or Montorio al Vomano if you want some chow.

 * Fabiocchi Agriturismo - excellent food at a good price.

Drink

 * Miky - Loc Frondarola, 1 64040 Frondarola (TE) tel. +39 0861/328371   The only bar in town.
 * Bar Novanta - located about 3 km away in nearby Valle San Giovanni

Sleep

 * Nearby at Casale in Valle San Giovanni
 * Check for places to stay at Abruzzo Villas

Go next

 * Valle San Giovanni
 * Valle Soprana

title: Frondarola


text:
Frontier Country

Frontier Country is a region in central Oklahoma that consists of the 12 central counties of Oklahoma. It includes Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Hughes, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne, Pottawatomie, and Seminole counties.

The central region got its name from the pioneering spirit of its settlers and the enduring resilience of its natives. From boomtowns, land runs, Western and Native American history, Frontier Country encompasses the grandeur of Oklahoma and the Old West.

Today Frontier Country is the hub of Route 66 sights, Chisholm Trail crossings, Western to contemporary art, agritourism activities, and family-friendly events and attractions.

Cities

 * - Historic Route 66 town
 * - Historic Route 66 town
 * - Bed and Breakfast Capital of Oklahoma
 * - Home of the University of Oklahoma.
 * - Home of Woodie Guthrie
 * - Historic Chisholm Trail town
 * - Home to championship golf courses and distinguished museums
 * - Home to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum
 * - Home of Oklahoma State University.
 * - Historic Route 66 town and Grape & Wine Capitol of Oklahoma
 * - Home of the University of Oklahoma.
 * - Home of Woodie Guthrie
 * - Historic Chisholm Trail town
 * - Home to championship golf courses and distinguished museums
 * - Home to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum
 * - Home of Oklahoma State University.
 * - Historic Route 66 town and Grape & Wine Capitol of Oklahoma
 * - Home to championship golf courses and distinguished museums
 * - Home to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum
 * - Home of Oklahoma State University.
 * - Historic Route 66 town and Grape & Wine Capitol of Oklahoma

Greater OKC

 * - The state capital of Oklahoma.
 * - Historic Route 66 town
 * - Where Route 66 and the Chisholm Trail intersect.
 * - Where Route 66 and the Chisholm Trail intersect.
 * - Where Route 66 and the Chisholm Trail intersect.

See

 * ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City
 * Edward L. Gaylord - Boone Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman
 * Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman
 * Harn Homestead Museum in Oklahoma City
 * International Photography Hall of Fame & Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City
 * National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots in Oklahoma City
 * Oklahoma City Museum of Art in Oklahoma City
 * Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City
 * Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Red Earth Museum in Oklahoma City
 * Stockyards City in Oklahoma City
 * Fort Reno in El Reno
 * Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole
 * Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee
 * National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame Museum in Guthrie
 * Theatre and other performing arts in Oklahoma City
 * Fairgrounds or outdoor arenas like Heart of Oklahoma Shawnee Expo Center in Shawnee and Lazy E Arena in Guthrie
 * Fairgrounds or outdoor arenas like Heart of Oklahoma Shawnee Expo Center in Shawnee and Lazy E Arena in Guthrie

Do
Oklahoma City has a wide range of activities.

Frontier Country Wineries
There are several wineries offering tours and tastings:

title: Frontier Country