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Gracias

Gracias is a city in the Honduran department of Lempira.

Understand
The word gracias means "thanks" in Spanish. It is said that upon arriving at the site of the city of Gracias, the Spanish explorers, tired after having trekked through the mountainous terrain, said "Gracias a Dios hemos llegado a tierra plana," meaning "Thank God we have arrived at flat land."

From the airport in San Pedro Sula
Take a taxi to the main bus station.

From San Pedro Sula
Buses leave from the main bus station (La metropolitan). There are direct buses to Gracias (not that fast and luxury) or take a fast bus to Santa Rosa de Copan and from there whatever bus to Gracias. There are buses at least every 1/2 hour. The last bus from Santa Rosa to Gracias leaves at 18:00.

From Copán Ruinas
Take a bus to La Entrada de Copan, then a bus to Santa Rosa (preferably a fast bus) and next to Gracias. Takes about 4 hr altogether.

From Tegucigalpa
Take a direct bus to La Esperanza (Buses Carolina)

From La Esperanza
Take a bus to Gracias and if not available a bus to San Juan. From San Juan there are buses to Gracias. If there are no buses anymore then hitchhike. Whoever travels that way will take passengers. Expect to pay a small fee. It is safe and beautiful

Get around
Most of the town of Gracias is accessible on foot. If you have a lot of stuff to carry or you don't want to walk, there are red mototaxis everywhere that you can hail from the street.

See
The museum with botanical garden and the San Sebastian Church are located at the Plaza San Sebastian. The entrance fee to the museum and botanical garden is L30.

You can see the fort "El Castillo San Cristobal" on the west side of town on a small hill. Although the main entrance on the south side there is a small entrance at the end of the stairs leading to the Hotel Guancascos. No entrance fee.

The San Marcos Church is next to the fully renovated Central Parc.

The La Merced church is one block north and one block east from the “parque central”. The market is 2 blocks west of Central Park.

You will pass the “sweets, spicy and pickles’ shop” if you walk from Central Park to the Plaza San Sebastian. Ask for Lorenas her shop. Unfortunately churches are often closed with only the San Marcos is used for mass on a regular base.

Do
Mostly, Gracias is nice for walking around and experiencing small-town life in western Honduras. It's a very old place with an interesting history. It's also a jumping off point for visiting Celaque National Park, home of the highest peak of Honduras. A few kilometers outside of town are the 'aguas termales', or hot springs, that are nice after a long hike or day of traveling. The swimmingpool is set next to a nice artificial lagoon and fish pond.

Public hot springs in Arcilaca - a set of pools with really nice hot water, built in a natural environment. There are actually two different sets of pools, about 100 m from each other on the same road. According to locals, Presidente has the warmer pools of the two. You can get there in a mototaxi (tuktuk), for about L50 (lempiras) per person. The mototaxis drives you there in about 20 min. You can negotiate a price with them if you want the taxi to wait for you.

If you like to walk to the springs take one of the maps in the better hotel lobbies. It is a really pleasant one hour walk. You can often find a pick up car or a mototaxi to take you back again.

There are changing facilities and toilets available.

There is a comedor and the entrance fee is L50 per person.

Termas del Rio - another hotsprings site. It has a set of big pools with really nice hot water built in a natural environment. You can get there by taking the bus to Santa Rosa, La Iguala or lepaera, and get off at the Termas del Rio entrance. (about 15 min, on the main road) Walk down the private road for about 5 min.

If you have your own car, drive in the direction of Santa Rosa for about 7 km and be aware of the sign and entrance on your left hand side. (You have to cross the big bridge.) There are changing facilities and toilets, sport facilities (table tennis, volleyball, football, etc), and a restaurant. Entrance fee: L60.

How to choose where to go?

Both settings are gorgeous and good temperature pools. The advances of the Thermal Baths are: bigger pools, sport facilities (table tennis, volleyball, football). More tranquil and relaxing, they sell beer but there is not a drinking environment. Cleaner and better facilities in every way. Private run, good staff and the owner is often there himself The price makes up for the quality. If it is a Friday night, Saturday, Sunday or a bank holiday, go to the Termas del Rio! Any other day the Arcilacapools are great.

Buy
Lorenas "sweets,spicy and pickels shop"

Eat
There are several restaurants in town, with varying quality of food. Hotel Guancascos has great, if simple, food.

Other safe places to eat are La Meson de Don Juan in the hotel Posada de Don Juan, and Colinas San Cristobal Restaurant.

Another special place to go for food is El Rinconcito Graciano, a small very personal typical food eatery.

Of course there are lost of comedores and cafeterias all over town.

Drink
There is a cute little bar in town called El Candil. (Ask for Bayron´s place.)

Also the Hotel Posada Don Juan and the Hotel Guancascos have full bar services.

Sleep
There are several hotels in town. The most comfortable, at around US$24 per night, is Hotel Guancasco, run by an expatriate Dutchwoman named Frony.

Most popular hotels:
 * Posada de Don Juan (504) 6561020. A luxury hotel with A/C and swimming pool.
 * Hotel Guancascos (504) 6561219. Comortable rooms and English spoken, tourist information.
 * Hotel Erick - Basic, cheap and clean.
 * Hotelito Josue (sp?) - Variety of rooms, inc. single with shared bath, double with shared bath, single and double with private bath, some with TV. Cold water shower, kitchen use, quite clean, narrow garden courtyard.  Really friendly staff.  Prices range from under L150/person to L250 for double.

Go next
The only way to get out of Gracias is by bus or private car. The easiest way to find the bus 'station' is to ask anyone in town. There are buses to San Pedro Sula, Santa Rosa de Copán, and La Esperanza (in Intibucá).

title: Gracias


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Gradiska

Gradiška is a bordertown in Bosanska Krajina, BiH, situated directly on the border with Croatia.

Actually today Gradiška are three towns, very close to each other: Nova Gradiška ("new Gradiška"), in Croatia, on the highway, Stara Gradiška ("old Gradiška"), (also in Croatia, just on the border) and Bosanska Gradiška ("Bosnian Gradiška") on the Bosnian side of the border. This page is about Bosanska Gradiška, but maybe someday there's travelling information too about the other Gradiškas in the region

Get in
From Banja Luka, approx 48 km, one hour, by bus. The bus continues to Šipovo.

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

title: Gradiska


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Grado

Grado is a seaside town in province Gorizia of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy.

By train
The Cervignano train station is 16 km from Grado. You can get there by taxi or the APT bus, which arrives at the bus station in Grado's center. Here you can also find buses to/from Udine, Trieste, Monfalcone, Gorizia and the Ronchi dei Legionari Airport.

By plane
From Trieste's Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Ronchi dei Legionari airport, 18 km away, take a taxi or the APT bus to the Grado bus station.

By car
From highway A4 Venezia-Trieste and highway A23 Tarvisio-Udine, at 28 km, take the Palmanova exit and continue towards Cervignano, Aquileia and Grado. You will arrive at Grado's main intersection. At the bridge to Schiusa Island on your left, go a few hundred meters.

By boat
During the summer, TPL FVG operates motor boat vessels connecting Grado with Trieste or Lignano. Information about the service can be found on the boat services page on TPL FVG's website.

See
In Grado, there are frequent finds of inscriptions, sarcophagi, marble sculpture and small bronzes that once furnished its villas.

 * Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie
 * Basilica di Sant'Eufemia, Battistero e Lapidario
 * Piazza Biagio Marin
 * Santuario Mariano di Barbana
 * Parco Termale Aquatico

Go next

 * Aquileia
 * Monfalcone
 * Cervignano del Friuli
 * Duino-Aurisina
 * Sagrado Redipuglia
 * Palmanova
 * Lignano Sabbiadoro
 * Marano Lagunare
 * Gradisca d'Isonzo
 * Gorizia
 * Cormons
 * Latisana

title: Grado


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Grafenwöhr

Grafenwöhr is a city in Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany.

Understand
Grafenwöhr was founded in the 9th century on an island between the river Creussen and Thumbach. During its early days, the town was reigned by the landgraves of Leuchtenberg. The name, Grafenwöhr, means Counts' Island. It is widely known for the United States Army military installation and training area, called Grafenwöhr Training Area (GTA), located directly south and west of the town.

By plane

 * Nuremberg less than 100 km; By road via autobahn A3, A9 and Bundesstraße 470 or by subway U2 to Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof and train from there to Weiden (Oberpfalz) which is about 25 km away from Grafenwöhr - transfer from there to Grafenwöhr by taxi; transfer time by road is about 1 hour
 * Munich airport By road via autobahn A93/A9 or by bus 635 from the airport to Freising and train from Freising to Weiden (Oberpfalz) which is about 25 km away from Grafenwöhr - transfer from there to Grafenwöhr by taxi; transfer time by both road and public transportation is about 2 to 2,5 hours

By train
Weiden (Oberpfalz) and its train station is located about 25 km away from Grafenwöhr and accessible by car; Weiden i. d. OPf. is connected to the German rail network and has direct connections to cities like Regensburg, Nuremberg or Munich

Pressath and its train station is located about 7 km away from Grafenwöhr and accessible by car; the train station has direct train connections to Weiden i. d. OPf. and Bayreuth

By car
Grafenwöhr is accessible via the German autobahn road network. The national highway B470 is easily accessible from Grafenwöhr and leads to the autobahn A9 in western and to the autobahn A93 in eastern direction:
 * A93/A9 to Munich or Regensburg
 * A93/A6 to Pilsen (CZ)/Prague (CZ)
 * A9 to Nuremberg and Berlin/Dresden (A4)

Get around
Renting a car is absolutely advisable for everyone who wants to get around.

See
The main attraction is Grafenwöhr Training Area and the historical buildings (including the military museum) inside the city centre. As a part of the training area, the Netzaberg Housing Area is a unique initiative to support a Gated community for family housing which consists of 835 build-to-lease housing units with an integrated military-construction funded village center, including an elementary and middle school, chapel, child development center, youth services center, shoppette (AAFES), and sports fields.

Eat
Local specialties like Obazda, hog roast (German: Schweinebraten) and others specialties are offered in various places throughout the city of Grafenwöhr.

Connect
Wireless LAN is offered in many places throughout the city. Above mentioned Hotel Restaurant Böhm offers free WiFi in its hotel and restaurant.

title: Grafenwöhr


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Wikivoyage:Graffiti wall/SubPage Test

 * (This page is an experiment.)

title: Wikivoyage:Graffiti wall/SubPage Test


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Grafton

There is more than one place called Grafton:

Australia

 * Grafton (New South Wales) - A town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.

Canada

 * Grafton (Canada) - A town in Ontario. See Cobourg.
 * Grafton (New Brunswick) - A town in New Brunswick.

England

 * Grafton (Cheshire) - A town in Cheshire.
 * Grafton (Herefordshire) - A town in Herefordshire.
 * Grafton (Shropshire) - A town in Shropshire.
 * Grafton (Wiltshire) - A town in Wiltshire.

New Zealand

 * Grafton (New Zealand) - An inner suburb of Auckland.

United States of America

 * Grafton (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Grafton (Iowa) - A town in Iowa.
 * Grafton (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Grafton (Nebraska) - A town in Nebraska.
 * Grafton (New Hampshire) - A town in New Hampshire.
 * Grafton (New York) - A town in New York (state).
 * Grafton (North Dakota) - A town in North Dakota.
 * Grafton (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.
 * Grafton (Vermont) - A town in Vermont.
 * Grafton (West Virginia) - A town in West Virginia.
 * Grafton (Wisconsin) - A town in Wisconsin.

title: Grafton


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Grafton (New South Wales)

Grafton is a city in northern New South Wales, Australia. One of Australia's most beautiful provincial cities, Grafton is renowned for its jacaranda trees, graceful old buildings, sporting and cultural facilities, and its location on the banks of the Clarence River.

Understand
The city was founded in 1855, and in 2021 had a population of 19,000.

Get in
Grafton is 630 km north of Sydney and 320 km south of Brisbane.

Clarence Valley Airport is 12 km SE of the city, but as of May 2023 has no scheduled flights, after Rex airlines cancelled their routes to Sydney and Taree in mid-2022. The nearest airports with commercial service are at Coffs Harbour, 87 km to the south, or Ballina, a 140-km trek to the north, and car hire is available from both (advance booking recommended).

A variety of bus services stop in Grafton on their trips between Sydney and Brisbane.

Most major car rental services can be found in the city. 4WDs are recommended if travelling to remote National Parks and beaches, but most can be accessed by 2WD vehicles and campervans.

XPT trains stop daily in Grafton from Sydney and Brisbane. The trains are comfortable and clean, but slow and lack modern amenities like wifi or at-seat charging, but all services have a full buffet car service, and fares are generally much cheaper than flying. Three trains daily run to Sydney taking about 10 hours, serving Coffs Harbour, Wauchope for Port Macquarie, and Newcastle en-route, along with various smaller towns. One daily service runs north to Brisbane, but is a sleeper service from Sydney that passes through Grafton at around 1AM, arriving into Brisbane at 5AM, making it very inconvenient. The train station is in South Grafton, across the river from the CBD.

Get around
Busways provides local bus services.

See
Lying on two sides of the Clarence River, the town is connected by a single, unique bridge. Completed in 1932, the bridge is a dual-level railway (bottom) and road (top) bridge plus a centre bascule section (essentially a drawbridge).

Buy
Grafton Shoppingworld provides some specialty shops, as does the nearby main streets.

South Grafton also has its own local shops.

Go next

 * Byron Bay
 * Casino
 * Coffs Harbour
 * Yamba

title: Grafton (New South Wales)


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Grafton (North Dakota)

Grafton is a town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. It has a population of 4,284 people in 2010 census. Its elevation is 826 feet.

Get in

 * By car: exit 176 from I-29, then west 10 miles on ND-17.
 * By air: Hutson Field Airport

title: Grafton (North Dakota)


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Grafton (West Virginia)

Grafton (West Virginia) is a city in north central West Virginia. It is the county seat of Taylor County. It is believed to be the location where the first Civil War fatality occurred, when Union private Thornsbury Bailey Brown was shot on May 22, 1861. What put Grafton on the map was the railroad.

But what Grafton is probably best known for is that Mothers Day was founded here in 1908.

See

Sleep
Try a campsite, cabin, or room at the lodge at Tygart Lake State Park.

title: Grafton (West Virginia)


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Grafton (Wisconsin)

Grafton is a village in Southeast Wisconsin.

Get in
Grafton is located north of Milwaukee off of I-43, west on Highway 60. It is east of Jackson, Wisconsin.

title: Grafton (Wisconsin)


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Graham

Graham is a small town (pop. 8,903 in 2010) in rural north Texas and is the county seat of Young County. Graham sits about 90 miles west of Fort Worth. It resides in the heart of what many of the locals call "Lake Country" due to its proximity to several lakes including Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Edleman, and Lake Graham.

Understand
Graham is a small town where most of the citizens have a traditional and generally conservative outlook on life. This is a good thing in the sense that if you are a friendly person who is willing to openly converse in a jovial manner, you will have no problem meeting like-minded friendly people and your stay in Graham will be a happy and memorable one.

Graham, not unlike many small communities in Texas, is known for its friendly citizens and a certain "down home" Texas-Americana feel. Outsiders are often surprised (and oddly enough, sometimes offended) at the amount of hellos, howdys, and hat tips a person may receive for merely crossing paths with a local. If it gets weird, and indeed it might, just roll with it, return the gesture, and be friendly.

Climate
Graham lies on the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle and at the southern end of the infamous Tornado Alley. It is wise to pay attention to weather reports during the spring storm season, which runs generally from March through early June.

By car
Coming into town from the east and the north is US Hwy 380, which is the biggest highway running through Graham. Entering Graham from the west are two Farm-to-Market roads, FM61 and FM209, and also State Hwy 67, from Breckenridge. Hwy 16 runs up and through town from the south. Graham is no where near any major interstate, so a trusty map or a reliable GPS is a must if you've never traveled the area.

By plane
There is a small municipal airport on the eastern side of town.

Get around
The only place truly accommodating to walkers is the downtown square, which Graham boasts as the biggest in the USA. There are a couple of small eateries on the square, but most of the restaurants in town can be best reached by car. There are no taxi services or public transportation of any kind so knowing a few locals, and riding around with them, is always your best bet.

Do

 * High school football in Texas is huge. If you're in town during football season on a Friday night while there's a home football game, you should head to Newton Field and watch the Steers battle it out!
 * Lakes, because after all, you're in the Lake Country! Lake Graham and Lake Edleman are the closest to town but the lake in the area that draws the most visitors by far is Possum Kingdom Lake.  "PK," as it's called in the area, resides about 20-30 miles SSE of Graham and has everything you'd want when it comes to lake activities.  There are many excellent restaurants along its shores, golf courses, and marinas.

Buy
Graham has several antique stores that some visitors might find appealing.

Eat
When compared to larger communities, Graham's options as far as food and drink may seem limited. It's almost imperative to find and meet up with locals. Most are very friendly and accommodating and the backyard Texas BBQ is always much better than anything you can find in restaurants inside the city limits.

Drink
Since 2017, Graham has been selling beer and wine again. There are liquor stores outside of town about 15-30 miles to the south (Hwy 16), the north (in Newcastle), and to the east (in Bryson).

Cell
Cell phone signal can be sketchy at times. However, the Graham area now supports cell technologies such as LTE. Approaching town is another story. It is not uncommon for one to completely lose all usable cell signal in the surrounding areas outside of town.

Internet
Residences and businesses in Graham have access to high-speed Internet, but, the only public access to said Internet connection is probably at the Library of Graham. The library is on Cherry Street.

Go next

 * Possum Kingdom State Park . This park, 30-45 minutes due south of Graham, is on the banks of Possum Kingdom Lake. It has a lot to offer in lakeside activities like fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, and biking.
 * Wichita Falls, a much larger community, can be reached leaving Graham northbound on Hwy 114. Your trip from Graham will take about an hour.  They offer a very popular shopping mall, a state-of-the-art concert hall, several golfing options, and many restaurants and bars.  Wichita Falls, or simply "Wichita," as the locals call it, is also home to Sheppard Air Force base, one of the largest bases of its kind in the USA.

title: Graham


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Grahamstown

Grahamstown, also known as Makhanda, is a town of 140,000 people (2022) in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape. This charming and picturesque small city is well worth a visit. It has maintained its old-time demeanour, and has many examples of buildings in the Victorian, Colonial and Gothic Revivalist styles. It is known as The City of Saints because it has more than 40 churches, and as Africa's Festival Capital because six national events are celebrated here each year.

Understand

Frontier Country is a vibrant mix of all the best of Africa - where many intense battles were fought and many famous warriors are remembered. True country hospitality reigns in this area with its world class game lodges, hotels and guest houses. The delightful towns of Alicedale and Riebeeck East are also situated in the area and are fast gaining local and international popularity for their lingering history and the many prestigious game reserves that surround them.

The town was named after Colonel John Graham, its founder in 1812, after the Fourth Frontier War, between the British and Xhosa. In 2018, it was renamed "Makhanda" (prophet) in memory of Xhosa warrior and prophet Makhanda ka Nxele.

By plane
There are two airports near Grahamstown. The closest is the Port Elizabeth airport which is 114 km from Grahamstown. The East London airport is 123 km away. There are regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other South African destinations to the airports in Port Elizabeth and East London.

By road
Grahamstown lies just off the N2 highway about 110 km (70 mi) northeast of Port Elizabeth and 130 km (80 mi) southwest o East London. From Port Alfred in the south, follow the R67 north through Bathurst. From the north, a number of different routes converge on Grahamstown. Grahamstown is easily accessible by motorways from Cape Town (887 km), Durban (671 km), and East London (152 km). You could also drive in from Johannesburg (950 km). The road conditions are fairly good if you are coming from any of these cities.

By rail
The station is on Ayliff street (right in town). However there is no longer a train between Grahamstown and Alicedale, inland to the west.

From Alicedale there are regular trains south to Port Elizabeth and north to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.

For several years there has been talk of reviving the disused rail link between Grahamstown and Port Alfred, but this project is still very far from completion.

By bus
Several companies, including Greyhound and Intercape, run long distance buses between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, which stop off at Grahamstown along the way. If you choose to travel like this, remember to take some toilet roll as the bus may run out pretty quickly. Minibus taxis from Raglan Street go to Port Elizaberth R40 3 hours, and East London R60 4 hours.

In Grahamstown

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Alicedale — This charming Victorian-styled town, situated 65 km outside of Grahamstown, used to be the core railway junction in South Africa before the mid 1990s. Whilst in Alicedale, do not miss out on a trip to the Mohair Museum, a round of golf at the Gary Player-designed 18-hole golf course and lunch at the 4-star Bushman Sands Hotel. A visit to the Bushman Caves, unscathed rock art and safari experiences in game reserves in the area are also recommended. A visit to Alicedale includes a Cultural Xhosa Village, a rural township experience, the possibility of a donkey cart ride, olive groves, light lunches at the beautifully refurbished historical Railway Station, untouched Bushman Cave and Rock Art. Not to forget the superb Golf Course at Bushman Sands and Leisure Centre where the ladies can pamper themselves in luxury and comfort. Also not to be missed is the Weaving Museum, which is part of the oldest Mohair Factory in South Africa. Abafazi Crafts and Designs is a delightful outlet for beautiful local bead and basket work. An internationally renowned Interior Decor and Designer furniture outlet is also worth a visit. Tel: +27 42 231-1247

Fort Brown — Located next to the Great Fish River between Kwandwe Game Reserve and the Fish River Nature Reserve, Fort Brown sprung up around a British Fortification of the same name.

Frasers Camp — Located near an old lookout tower and near the other settlement of The Coombs, this little settlement is located among grassy hills and is an excellent base from which to explore the Fish River and Kap River valleys.

Riebeek-East — This town lies in the vicinity of the archaeological sites showing cultural activity that predates many claims world-wide, contributing to its status as the cradle of human kind. This typical “platteland dorp” was built around the magnificent Dutch Reformed Church and is surrounded by farms and game reserves.

Salem — This historic village, on the road to Kendon-on-Sea, was founded by early British settlers. The village boasts two Methodist Churches which were erected in 1832 and 1848 which overlook the village green where many a game of cricket has been played over hundreds of years. The village is famous for an event that took place in the Frontier Wars where a resident, Richard Gush, chose to successfully parley with an amaXhosa force that was preparing to attack the village rather than fight.

Seven Fountains — This village, off the N2 about 30 km from Grahamstown possesses a splendid Methodist Church. Founded by Irish settlers in 1820 they named their little settlement after the number of springs in the area.

Sidbury — A small village set out by Richard Daniel in the early 1830s along the lines of an English country Village with Daniel’s house, Sidbury Park, being set a little way from the village. Sidbury boasts two splendid churches, with a number of war graves in the church graveyards.

Do
The Grahamstown area is outstanding for outdoor activities such as fishing, golf, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and skydiving. For the nature lover there are plenty of world class game lodges, private game reserves and a wealth of plant and bird life to discover. Annual events include the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the biggest festival of its kind in Africa, and third biggest in the world, during June/July, the annual National SciFest in March, the Freedom Festival in April, The Eastern Cape Eisteddfod in May and the National Schools festival in July.

Game reserves
Most of the private game reserves in the area are home to Africa’s Big 5 namely the elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. The reserves are all free from malaria and are situated between 20 and 60 km outside Grahamstown. There are many accommodation options in the area that cater for everyone’s needs, from luxury accommodation, to self-catering chalets and perfectly neat camping terrains. You can choose one that compliments your ideal African experience. The area also boasts more than five ecosystems, thus enabling the support of many forms of plant, animal and bird life. Go on a sunset game drive, an escorted bush walk or a night drive and let the spectacular valleys, amazing rivers and abundant wildlife inspire you.

Fishing
Within a 20 km radius of the city there are over 400 acres of water containing small- and large-mouth bass, barbel, carp, mullet, yellowtail and trout.

Birdwatching
Situated in the middle of a region where four geographical zones meet, Grahamstown is a bird-watchers paradise.

Golf
The Grahamstown area is a golfer’s paradise, with the Grahamstown Golf Course, and the Gary Player designed Bushman Sands Golf Course in close proximity.

Connect

 * Local telephone directory: 1023
 * International telephone directory: 10903

Important numbers
 * Ambulance: +27 46 622-5664 (10177)
 * Fire Station: +27 46 603-6000
 * Police: +27 46 603-9111 (10111)
 * Hospital: +27 46 622-2215 (10177)

Go next

 * Addo
 * Baviaans
 * Jeffreys Bay
 * St Francis
 * Karoo Heartland
 * *Sunshine Coast
 * Tsitsikamma

title: Grahamstown


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Graignamanagh

Graignamanagh (pronounced Greg-na-mana) is a village on the River Barrow, which forms the eastern boundary of County Kilkenny in southeast Ireland. Gráig na Manach means "village of the monks" and refers to Duiske Abbey which is the place's main attraction. That in turn is named for An Dubhuisce, the Douskey or black river, the stream which here flows into the Barrow. Graignamanagh, often anglicised as Graiguenamanagh, had a population of 1475 in 2016.

The east bank of the Barrow is in County Carlow, with the village of Tinnahinch. It's part of Graignamanagh for all practical purposes and is so described on this page.

Get in
Michael Kilbride Bus 881 runs twice M-Sa from Kilkenny, taking an hour via Gowran (for racecourse), Goresbridge and Borris.

The closest railway station is Thomastown 15 km west, with trains on the Dublin Heuston - Kilkenny - Waterford line. There's no onward public transport from Thomastown, but bike-on-train would work.

By road from Dublin, follow M9 to junction 6 near Carlow, then R448 south to Leighlinbridge, forking onto R705 south. Or you could stay on M9 to junction 9 near Kilkenny, loop onto the Bennettsbridge road to pick up R700 to Thomastown, finally R703 east.

From Rosslare and Wexford take N25 to New Ross, then R700 north onto R705.

You can also get here by boat, as the Barrow Navigation links the Grand Canal at Robertstown in County Kildare south to Athy, Carlow, Bagenalstown, Graignamanagh and St Mullins. Here it joins the tidal river down to New Ross, Waterford and out to sea. Check Waterways Ireland for current status of locks, moorings and so on. There are restrictions on how far rented boats may be taken from base.

Get around
The town is small and you'll soon exhaust its delights. You need wheels to explore the countryside around.

See

 * Main St is colourful and too narrow for cars to pass, so it's controlled by traffic lights. It leads down to the Quays and a handsome stone bridge over the river.
 * was built in 1615 to guard the river crossing: the first bridge from 1540 was here, about 200 m downstream from the present R703 road and bridge. The castle - which looks more like a fortified storehouse and guardroom - burnt out in 1700 and was abandoned. You can't go in as it's unsafe, and stands within the grounds of the lock-keeper's cottage. The canal locks take boats past the weir.
 * or St Fiacre's is the ruin of a 12th century church, with a Romanesque doorway and 9th century High Cross. The interior was adapted in the 19th century into a handball court - you need a high smooth wall to whack the ball against, and an old church interior does nicely. Meanwhile St Fiacre (600-670) had taken himself off to France, to become the patron saint of gardeners and taxi-drivers, and to give his name to the fiacre carriage.
 * is the south terminus of the Barrow Navigation, joining the tidal river. There are the ruins of a monastery founded by St Moling in the 7th century, a "healing well", and a Norman motte and bailey.
 * is the south terminus of the Barrow Navigation, joining the tidal river. There are the ruins of a monastery founded by St Moling in the 7th century, a "healing well", and a Norman motte and bailey.

Do

 * Angling: the river has trout, salmon, pike, perch, rudd, bream, eels, roach, twait shad and stone loach plus (in season) shop trolleys, old bikes and unspeakables. Mick Doyle's pub stocks fishing tackle.
 * Pure Adventure on the Quay organise kayaking and canoeing on the river.
 * or Cnoc Bhréanail at 515 m / 1690 ft is the highest mountain in County Kilkenny, an easy climb. You can hike all the way from town by the trail starting from the bridge. By car take R705 south, and 200 m after the roundabout turn right into a narrow road to Inistioge then immediately left into a very narrow lane. This leads past the campsite, then after 1 km through a farmer's yard, then becomes unpaved. Persevere, and another 2 km brings you to the car park. An obvious path continues to the summit, with a cairn, an old cross and viewpoint.
 * South Leinster Way is a long-distance hiking trail from Kildavin in County Carlow to Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary. The local section is from Borris in Carlow along the east bank of the river to Tinnahinch. Then cross to the west bank and head for Brandon Hill as above. Divert to the summit if you wish, but the main path stays on its flanks then zigzags down forestry tracks to Inistioge. Further sections cross the county south and west to Glenpipe, Mullinavat, Templeorum, Piltown and finally Carrick-on-Suir.
 * Barrow Navigation: Graignamanagh is a scenic stretch of this canalised river, see Get in. You may not take a rented boat into tidal waters below St Mullins, so you can't reach New Ross, Inistioge or Kilkenny city.
 * Barrow Way is the former towpath of the Navigation: the horses retired in 1920 when freight barges became motorised. The 8 km from Tinnahinch to St Mullins is a pleasant trail along the east bank, Carlow side.
 * The Regatta is held on the Barrow in early August. Dates for 2021 are TBA.
 * Town of Books Festival is held over three days in August. Every shop in town morphs into a book shop, and there's music and other live entertainment. It doesn't look likely to happen in 2021.

Buy

 * Aldi north on Upper Main St is open M-F 09:00-22:00, Sa Su 09:00-21:00.
 * There's an ATM outside Bank of Ireland on Upper Main St.

Eat

 * Waterside Restaurant within the guesthouse gets great reviews, see Sleep.
 * Duiske Inn on Main St has good bar food and is open M-W 10:00-16:00, Th-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 11:00-20:00.
 * Devil's Menu off Mill Rd in Tinnahinch is demonstration cookery - the chef juggles up meals for groups before your wondering eyes. By appointment only.

Drink

 * Cosy Inn on Upper Main Street has live music at weekends and TV sport.
 * O'Driscoll's on Mill Rd Tinnahinch has a pleasant beer garden and is open M-Th 11:00-23:30, F Sa 11:00-00:30, Su 12:00-23:00.
 * O'Driscoll's on Mill Rd Tinnahinch has a pleasant beer garden and is open M-Th 11:00-23:30, F Sa 11:00-00:30, Su 12:00-23:00.

Sleep

 * Killvarra is a B&B on Barrow Lane, B&B double €90.
 * Mount Brandon have self-catering cottages in Tinnahinch.
 * Mount Brandon have self-catering cottages in Tinnahinch.

Connect
As of March 2021, you'll manage a mobile call with Vodafone but there's no signal from Eir or Three. 4G has not reached this area, let alone 5G.

Go next

 * Kilkenny is the lively small city at the heart of this county.
 * Ferns in County Wexford is a tiny village that was once the seat of the kings of Leinster. It has a cluster of medieval ruins.
 * Waterford is Ireland's oldest city, with Viking, Norman and Georgian heritage.

title: Graignamanagh


text:
Gramado

Gramado is in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Southern Brazil. Although practically unknown abroad, Gramado is an extremely popular tourist destination for Brazilians due to its cool weather, European architecture, family-friendly activities and ecotourism options at the neighbor municipality of Canela.

Understand
Gramado is a municipality and a small tourist town, southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the mountainous region of Serra Gaúcha. Most of the population of Gramado is of German or Italian descent. Gramado is one of the cities on the scenic route known as Rota Romântica (Romantic Route). Along with the neighboring city of Canela, Gramado is part of the Região das Hortênsias (Hydrangeas Region).

Gramado hosts the Gramado Film Festival, a major South American film festival and Gramado's most important event. Gramado is also known for hydrangea blossoms in late spring. Another key event in Gramado is Natal Luz (in English, literally "Christmas of Lights"), an annual Christmas festival with a wide variety of attractions, including open-air Christmas parades, musical concerts, theater performances and a beautiful scenic Christmas decoration that lights up the entire city.

Climate
Thanks to its altitude of 850 meters (2,790 ft) and its southern location, Gramado has a mountainous temperate climate, with very cold winters and mild summers. Average temperatures in winter usually reach a low of 7.5 °C (45.5 ºF) and high of 17 °C (62.6 ºF). In summer, average temperatures vary between 13 °C (55 ºF) and 25 °C (77 ºF). However, it is not uncommon to have temperatures above 32º C (89,6 ºF). The average annual rainfall in the city is 1,996 mm (78.6 in). Rainfall occur uniformly throughout the year and cold fronts do not warn you before they arrive, so take an umbrella to protect yourself from the rain. In winter, Gramado can receive heavy frost, fog and occasional snow.

By plane
Gramado is served by two airports: Hugo Cantergiani Airport in Caxias do Sul and Salgado Filho International Airport  in Porto Alegre. Since 2021, Azul Conecta has been operating daily flights between Porto Alegre to the small Canela Airport, in the neighbor city of Canela, which is also mainly used by private planes and air taxi operators.

Hugo Cantergiani Airport is a small airport serving Caxias do Sul and, it's some 60 km (37 mi) away from Gramado. CXJ has flights connecting only two destinations: Viracopos Airport, in Campinas, operated by Azul, and São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport , in Guarulhos, operated by Gol. Because of that, CXJ tends to be more relaxed on baggage overweight. In general, flights to CXJ are cheaper than those flying to POA. Infrastructure for visitors is minimal.

Salgado Filho International Airport is the busiest airport in Rio Grande do Sul and southern Brazil. It's located 95.6 km (59.4 mi) southwest of Gramado. POA has a modern infrastructure, with a food court, stores, banks, etc. POA is connected to several Brazilian and South American cities. As POA has more commercial flights than CXJ and it is well served by bus to Gramado (some services also calling Porto Alegre International Airport), many Brazilian travelers simply fly to Porto Alegre and take a comfortable executive bus to Gramado.

By bus
Gramado is served by Citral, which has the franchise to explore intercity bus services in Gramado and Canela area. Most Citral buses on the route Gramado-Porto Alegre also call at POA airport (buy your ticket at arrival floor, on the bus ticket booth to the right of the Citral travel agency).

Gramado Bus Station is located on Avenida Borges de Medeiros and is close to many of the city's attractions. Taxis wait for passengers on the bus platform side, whereas Uber-like services wait near the pedestrian access.

By car
The main access route between Porto Alegre and Gramado is via the BR-116 and RS-373 highways. An alternative route that also connects Porto Alegre and Gramado are the RS-020 and RS-115 highways. This route has tolls on some stretches.

Carpooling offers on the Porto Alegre-Gramado route are frequent, and the most popular carpooling platform in the region is BlaBlaCar.

By car
Driving your own vehicle is the most effective way to visit attractions outside the city center, or going to the Parque do Caracol or the neighboring city of Canela. There are several car rental agencies around the city.

By bus
Public buses are operated by Gramado Turismo (Portuguese only). They are cheap, but meant for locals, not for visitors, and are hardly useful to visit tourist attractions. Information about public bus routes online is almost non-existent, although you may try to seek local for help if you are on a tight budget and has thus to seriously consider taking a public bus.

An alternative is to use the hop-on hop-off tourist bus service, provided by BusTour, which runs circular routes between Gramado and Canela, passes through several tourist spots, including the Parque do Caracol. As of Sep 2016, a day ticket costs R$ 49, and it can be conveniently purchased at your hotel, at the bus stop, or directly from the bus driver. The disadvantages of the hop-on hop-off bus are that it is rather unfrequent (30 to 55 minutes intervals) and it only runs during daytime.

On foot
The city center of Gramado, which contains many of the city's attractions, shopping and gastronomy, can be easily and it's better explored on foot. It's recommended to stay in a hotel in this area if you don't have your own vehicle.

See
The area of main touristic interest is along Av. Borges de Medeiros, where sit the St. Peter church, the Festivals Palace, Covered Street, several restaurants, shops and squares.

Stay safe
As a relatively developed tourist city, Gramado is a safer city by the standards of most Brazilian cities. There are no cases of violent crimes against tourists and it is not dangerous to walk the streets alone at night. However, be careful anyway, use common sense and don't carry around with valuables or jewelry exposed in public, as this can attract the attention of pickpockets.

Go next

 * Canela - Go to great waterfall in Parque do Caracol (Snail Ecological Park) and the Parque da Ferradura (Horseshoe Ecological Park). The tourist-oriented city center is also quite enjoyable.
 * Nova Petrópolis - Small city populated by German descendants. Not as picturesque as Gramado, but more authentic

title: Gramado


text:
Grampians National Park

Grampians National Park is in the western Wimmera region in Victoria state, Australia. The Grampians ranges are renowned for their hiking trails, wildlife and wildflowers. Their Aboriginal name is Gariwerd.

Understand
The Grampians are a series of uplifted, tilted and eroded ranges. They form the western extremity of the Great Dividing Range. Even from a distance they look spectacular as they rise out of the surrounding plains. The only town and the main access point to the Grampians is Hall’s Gap.

Dunkeld is a beautiful village set at the southern entrance to the Grampians in the shadow of Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt, the highest mountain in the southern Grampians. It is also a gateway to enter the Grampians from an alternative direction.

 * Grampians National Park Visitor Centre, Grampians Tourist Rd, (southern end of Halls Gap), +61 3 5356 4381. Every day except Christmas Day 9AM-5PM. Has very good displays. Free entry.

By car
There are a number of routes into and through the Grampians. If travelling on the Western Highway from the Ballarat/Melbourne direction to Halls Gap, turn off at Stawell. Halls Gap is 260 km from Melbourne. The paved Grampians Tourist Road from Halls Gap to Dunkeld at the southern end of the ranges is a scenic drive through the ranges.

By bus
A bus runs from Ballarat to Stawell and connects with another bus to Halls Gap.

See

 * Kangaroos come to feed in the park right across the road from the Halls Gap supermarket in the late afternoon.
 * When you're visiting Halls Gap, look up, there are usually a few koalas in the trees for the keen sighted - and if you're lucky they'll be in a low branch for easy viewing!
 * Emus also seen particularly in the areas around Halls Gap
 * Spectacular views across the plains and overlooking Halls Gap from lookouts such as Rieds Lookout Boroka Lookout and the Balconies Lookout
 * More than 70% of Victoria's Aboriginal art is said to be in this area with a number of sites open to the public including Gulgurn Manja (Flat Rock) and Ngamadjidj (Cave of Ghosts)

Hear
In the evening, hundreds of corellas, a type of white and pink cockatoo, fly around Halls Gap in large flocks and roost in the trees. The iconic laughing kookaburra can also be heard here. The noise is quite remarkable.

Do

 * Hiking. There are more than 160 km of trails offering everything from short easy strolls to challenging overnight hikes.
 * Pinnacle. Take a hike through exciting canyons to the viewing platform on the pinnacle. Marked footpath from Halls Gap or from Wonderland Car Park.
 * Rock climbing and abseiling the Grampians are also a popular destination for rock climbers of all skill levels.
 * Rock climbing and abseiling the Grampians are also a popular destination for rock climbers of all skill levels.

Buy
There is a supermarket at Halls Gap.

Eat
The Black Panther cafe offers great meals with value for money. It's better than a sandwich chop and less fancy than a restaurant. Fantastic pizzas.

The Halls Gap bakery offers great pies as well as staples like bread and cakes.

Sleep
There are 13 campgrounds throughout the park. All have toilets, fire places and picnic tables and most have water. Pay fees through a self-service permit system at the campgrounds.

Bush camping is permitted in many, but not all, areas of the park away from the designated campgrounds.

Go next

 * Ararat (Victoria)
 * Cavendish (Victoria) and Hamilton (Victoria)

title: Grampians National Park


text:
Granada (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Granada :

Spain

 * Granada - A city in the Andalucia region of southern Spain.
 * Granada (province) - A province in the Andalucia region of southern Spain.

Central America

 * Granada (Nicaragua) - A colonial town in the southwest of Nicaragua.

Colombia

 * Granada (Antioquia) - A town in Antioquia, a department of Colombia.

title: Granada (disambiguation)


text:
Granada (Nicaragua)

Granada is the oldest colonial city in Nicaragua and the all-time-rival of Leon. It is on the northwest side of the Lago Cocibolca. Its colored colonial buildings, interesting history and relative safety make it an important tourism destination. It is the city in Nicaragua with the largest presence of expats and one of the most developed for tourism compared to other cities in Nicaragua. Both these things will be immediately apparent to the visitor.

Understand
Granada, nicknamed La Gran Sultana after her Muslim-influenced namesake in Spain, was founded in 1524 and is the oldest cities of Nicaragua and the oldest European settlement in the Americas mainland that lasted (the only older cities are Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and Panama, which moved afterwards). A rich town for most of the colonial period, Granada has always been and continues to be a conservative city. As a (sort of) "Caribbean port", connected to the ocean by the lake and the Rio San Juan, Granada was attacked by pirates several times in its early history. However the attack that left the biggest mark on the city was carried out by an American in 1856, when the city was burned down.

The town recovered however and became the dominating force culturally and politically for the next three decades until the liberal general Jose Santos Zelaya took control of the country. You can still see a lot of the wealth and power Granada once had in its colonial houses and churches. And there is still a monument for some former president or other who was born here at almost every corner downtown.

Granada still is very much a conservative town and the ruling Sandinistas are not as well liked here as they are in León, which contributes to their ongoing rivalry. But nowadays, Granada is also notable for winning awards in American magazines as supposedly one of the best places on earth to live, and many retired Gringos have made Granada their second home. Many colonial houses and even some small islets just out of town in Lake Nicaragua are still for sale, so ask the locals if you want to move here long term and have the necessary cash on hand.

Although the Gringo influence here is stronger than in most other places in Nicaragua, Granada has lost nothing of its charm and continues to attract tourists, locals and expats alike.

By plane
Fly to Managua International Airport and from there make your way by bus (every half hour from Mercado Huembes or the UCA station) or taxi (around US$35 from the airport depending on your bargaining skills). As an alternative, you can take an air conditioned shuttle for US$15 from the airport to Granada. In most cases, the shuttle will deliver you to any point in Granada. There is a tourist information counter as soon as you clear immigration. Ask the representative and s/he'll point you to a reputable shuttle service. The trip by taxi or shuttle is about 40 minutes. Another option may be to fly to the Liberia Airport over the border in Costa Rica, but it would involve about 5 hours of travel and a border crossing. Rental cars are not allowed to cross the border, but agencies will arrange for car swaps and pickups on the other side of the border. Managua is by far your best option.

The small Las Lajas Airport a few miles from Granada on the highway to Masaya does not have any commercial flights as of Oct 2020.

The airport on Ometepe receives domestic flights (from Managua, and from San Juan de Nicaragua (Greytown)  via San Carlos  twice a week (Su and Th) as of Oct 2020 on La Costeña Airlines (US$58 one-way).  There is a boat from there to Granada that takes roughly three hours.

By train
The train was shut down during the era of Violeta Chamorro (1990-1996). So, no, there's no possibility to take any train to get there. Nevertheless, you can have the chance to visit the old train station, which is used as a technical school sponsored by the Spanish Cooperation.

By car
Yes you can get there by rental car, which is often really expensive to hire, since imported cars are expensive too and the risk of theft is high. Most of the principal highways are in excellent condition, however other obstacles (cows, horses, people, people on horses) can surprise you - especially at night, so be alert. Secondary roads range from paved to gravel. The roads from the airport are excellent on the most direct route.

From Costa Rica, take the Panamerican Highway, which leads from San José through Liberia, the border crossing at Peñas Blancas, the first bigger town in Nicaragua is Rivas, after Nandaime take a right onto the Granada-Nandaime road. Look for Granada-related signs.

By bus
Buses from Managua to Granada leave from the UCA Terminal (C$37 (córdobas) and from Mercado Huembes as of May 2024. If you have oversized baggage you might be asked to pay an extra C$25) and Mercado Huembes on a very frequent basis The trip takes about 2 hours. There is no scheduled public transport that does the León-Granada run directly, so you'll have to change buses in Managua. If you take the chicken bus from Leon your last stop in Managua will be the Israel Lewites Terminal from where you will have to go to either the UCA Terminal or Mercado Huembes. Minibuses from Leon to Managua depart from the same location in Leon but terminate at the UCA Terminal so they might be a more convenient way to reach Granada as they lessen the need to change terminals in Managua. Granada can also be reached by first-class buses from neighboring Costa Rica and Honduras.

From Costa Rica
There are two main options, either take the ordinario buses which cost half the price (US$10) and fuzz your way through, experience a lot of interesting sights and the heat or hop on one of the (often agonizingly) air conditioned coaches, which are comfortable, take you there in about 8-10 hours (crossing the border might take a while, and you will have to exit the bus twice for passports and customs) and cost US$20. The best options going from Costa Rica to Nicaragua are Central Line, TransNica and Ticabus. Back from Granada to Costa Rica you might as well take the Tica Bus or NICABUS. Just ask any taxi driver in whatever city you are in to take you to the Nica or TICABUS-station.

From Honduras
From Tegucigalpa, you can also get the TICA bus, which leaves daily around 09:00 for Managua, for around US$20. Then take another bus (at a different station), or taxi, to Granada.

By boat
There's a boat running twice a week from San Carlos via Ometepe to Granada and back. It leaves San Carlos at Tuesday and Friday at 14:00. The trip to Ometepe takes about three hours. San Carlos-Granada is roughly 12 hours one-way. There is a ferry running between Granada and Ometepe, but as of July 2016 it was canceled until further notice, as the lake levels are too low. In general the ferry may be canceled due to low lake levels as well as storms, so enquire locally if possible.

Get around
Granada is a small city; everything can comfortably be reached by foot. For some outlying points (e.g., the Asese peninsula) taxis, coches and bikes come in handy.

By taxi
Local taxis work on set prices: C$10 by day, and at night after 9PM C$20 per person, wherever you go within the town's borders.

By bus
Buses (old stylish US or Canadian school buses) go just about everywhere at about every time, you see them and if you slightly look like anybody wanting to go anywhere, be sure they'll load you on their bus. Another option are the mini buses which have a bit more set time, they're more comfortable and also faster but cost a bit more. The buses leave either west of the Central Market building (50 m into Calle Yo Yo) or near the petrol station UNO. Just ask around, people are very friendly and tell you where you need to go. Also, many people know at least partially the timetables.

By coche
Horse-drawn carriages, known as coches, are a wonderful way to see the extent of the city limits. From the cemetery in the southwest, to the converted Rail Station in the north, to the water front in the east. US$30 for an hour and a half tour. They can also be hired just like taxis.

By boat
Granada's islets are not to be missed, and the way to see them is by boat. Boat tours leave from Puerto Asese, about 5-10 minutes from downtown by taxi. Try to book them as a group as it gets cheaper for each individual. Also a boat that is almost full might make special deals for a single traveler or a small group

By bike
Most hotels and hostels rent bikes and if yours doesn't, some are willing to rent to people staying elsewhere. You should pay roughly US$10 a day. As the city is rather flat and traffic is manageable it is a good way to get around, although the heat might get uncomfortable. Robberies and assaults at machete - point have happened along parts of península de Asese.

See

There are six main churches : the Cathedral, La Merced, Guadalupe, Xalteva, San Francisco and María Auxiliadora, which all have interesting historical backgrounds and are in very different states.

 * Fuerte La Polvora is an 18th-century fort (built in 1748) that's open for tours. A few historical exhibits are available on the main level, you can climb the towers for views of the quiet city streets, or wander through the lovely courtyard.
 * Lake Cocibolca (also known as Lake Nicaragua and, locally, as Lago de Granada), is the 10th largest fresh-water lake on earth and is inhabited by Bull Sharks, informally named the Nicaragua Shark, and sawfish. The beach area is not the safest area in town at night and comes with a rather unpleasant smell during the day. However, during the day this is a nice place to catch a breeze, and there are many Nicaraguan families that come here to pass the time. Vendors pass selling all kinds of food. Tours of the islands are available from Puerto Asese, near the pleasant Asese restaurant (known for its boneless fish).

A bit further along the shore is the Centro Turistico, a park like area complete with bars and restaurants. It's a bit cleaner then the beach right down from the city.

 * The local market is definitely worth a glimpse, it's chaotic little market stands where you can get almost everything. The market is open everyday except holidays around and in the old Market hall, you can't miss it.
 * The Central Park with the Cathedral and the Colonial houses surrounding it. The lively center of town with a lot of handicrafts or snacks to buy, or just sit down at a bench and watch the city and its people. Next to it is the Parque Independencia with a monument to the independence movement of 1811 and the famous "Puerta de los Leones".
 * The streets with their charming colored Colonial houses are always worth a wander themselves.
 * Take a boat tour of the Isletas. Boats leave from the marina at Puerto Asese. Your guide will tell you how all the islands are owned by millionaires. You will even visit an old fort that is on the island. Not to mention you will see adorable monkeys that live in the tree.

Do

 * Mombacho Beach Club. The heat in Nicaragua is hard to stand, so you'll love refreshing yourself in the 60-foot pool. On top of that, it's located in a gorgeous courtyard, with a bar and free WiFi. Enjoy a range of massages from aromatherapy to Shiatsu to ChocoTherapy, or just have a manicure, pedicure or facial.  Entry to pool US$5. Spa treatments  $9-28.
 * Rent a bike from Mapache on Calle Cisne, 2nd left off Calle La Calzada. You can bike the entire city in one day.
 * Go up the church tower at the Iglesia La Merced (US$1) and watch the sun go down over the bustling city.
 * Take a Canopy Tour, where you will go flying on cables through the rainforest trees on the side of Mombacho Volacano. (US$25)
 * Try interesting drinks at local market stands (such as cacao de leche, linseed drink or red beet drink, beware: often painfully sugary!).
 * Take a bus to Masaya and visit the local and giant hand craftmarket (good advice: better see the new than the old market, same stuff, half the price).
 * Get a very inexpensive table or seated massage at Seeing Hands Blind Massage, located in Computadoras de Granada, Calle 14 de Septiembre, 1/2c. south of the Firehall (Bomberos).and the other location they have is on Calle La Calzada before Guadulpe Church.
 * Visit the Mombacho volcano (that's the one next to Granada). There's a paved road all the way to the top and a tropical rain forest inside the crater. Allow several hours to walk inside the crater. There's a great view of Lake Nicaragua from the top.
 * You can also go to the Masaya Volcano reserve and watch over the wide land, see the Managua lake and maybe get some stinky smoke in your lungs and be happy about the beautiful nature surrounding the Volcano.
 * The Choo-Choo train There's that weird train that goes all around town, designed for kids, but hey, it's great fun: it plays the latest reggaeton-tunes over and over again and it only costs C$5. Hop on whenever you find it.
 * Casa de los Tres Mundos (Casa de los Leones),The Foundation "Casa de los Tres Mundos" is an institution created to initiate, support and promote cultural projects in Nicaragua and Central America. Besides these artistic, musical and educational activities, which emphasize support for the poorer segments of Nicaraguan society, the foundation finances and coordinates an integrative rural development project in Malacatoya.
 * Horse and carriages circle the city center.
 * Live music at Restaurant Imagine 1st left off Calle la Calzada, going towards the lake on Calle la Calzada from the Cathedral turn left first block (right after Cafe de Arte). One of the only places playing live classic rock (unplugged version) in the city. Live music starts at around 9PM almost every day of the week. Check the sign posted on the door daily to see who is playing. Very relaxed atmosphere and great food although a little bit pricey. No cover charge.

Learn
There are several Spanish language schools in Granada:

Casa Nica Spanish School is a cooperative of women that has been teaching Spanish since 1998. They tailor Spanish classes according to students' skill level and interests, and you also get to meet people at afternoon activities. They can also provide home-stay accommodations and connect you with their favorite local organizations if you want to volunteer.

One On One Tutoring Spanish School, One on One Tutoring Spanish school by Roger Ramirez On Calzada Street # 450 near to Guadalupe Church is the only Spanish school in Nicaragua that uses a unique teaching system where each student has four different instructors per day of class (the same four instructors for as long as the student stays at the school) if you decide to take 1-4 hours a day for five days or more. Having four instructors makes the course much more intensive and much less boring for the student. Open every day including holidays. +505 7678 9305

The local Red Cross school is also a good option to go to, because you can buy 1-on-1 Spanish lessons from them and so support them. For more options, look around for flyers.

Work
Volunteer opportunities abound. La Esperanza Granada is an organization that sends volunteers into local schools to help out, or supports women's working groups, built a community center, etc., for the impoverished outskirts of Granada. Volunteering is completely free of charge, minimum commitment is generally eight weeks but shorter stays are possible. Another volunteer option is Educación Plus de Nicaragua, a local NGO that educates and feeds children in the marginalized outskirts of Granada.

Buy
Granada is known around the world for its high-quality rocking chairs which can be seen all around town. The main vendors a bit out of town on the road to Masatepe.

If you want to go cheaper, there's the option to buy local and famous Nicaraguan pottery, which you can buy in town, but the better option is to go to San Juan de Oriente where there's a more varied selection and the experience of meeting the artisans.

Also very typical are the hammocks, there are several hammock stores and factories in Masaya, but you can find them made in Granada on Calle Xalteva, a half bloc west of the central park at Tio Antonio https://tioantonio.org/en/home/.

You can buy heaps of mangos at the market for about C$1 each.

Eat
There are many street vendors selling quesillos, tamales, revueltas, carne asada, and other local specialties such as gallo pinto (rice & beans), fried plantains, nacatamales, bajo (yucca, plantain, beef mix). Very inexpensive. The local specialty is Vigoron: cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and fried pork rind (or roast pork) on mashed yucca for C$40 from the kiosks in the parque central. Great value and taste (provided you are not a vegetarian).

Groceries
Granadans do most of their grocery shopping in the huge chaotic central market (along Calle El Comercio, aka Calle Atravesada, a few blocks south of downtown) or in a similarly chaotic Palí supermarket (same area).

Besides Palí, the city has two other supermarkets, cleaner, less crowded, and more upscale: La Union and La Colonia, which are next to each other in Calle La Inmaculada about a kilometer northwest of the central square. La Colonia is the more upscale of the two, with a better selection of products such as wine, ice cream, or exotic (to non-Nicaraguans) fruit. There is also a good bakery a block or two west of La Colonia (on the same, southern, side of the street). In 2018, La Colonia started selling their own baked bread - try their baguettes!

Drink
Great drinks can be purchased from local vendors at the corner in Parque Central, such as flaxseed drink, hibiscus (jamaica) iced-tea, or red beet drink or anything else, completely overloaded with sugar. Nice alternative: The local Cacao drink, milk and powdered chocolate beans, almost like chocolate milk, available in most cafes. Also Raspados made with crushed ice and raspberry syrup are very delicious and are usually sold by vendors around the Central Park.

And then of course, the local coffee! You have the biggest range: organic, shade grown, fair trade.... Here are a few bars worth mentioning:
 * Chichería París at the top of the Calle Real, across from La Pólvora fortress. Chicha and natural drinks.
 * Chichería París at the top of the Calle Real, across from La Pólvora fortress. Chicha and natural drinks.

Connect
Internet -- up to C$20/hour.

Stay safe
Nicaragua is rated the safest country in Central America. Granada, the sixth largest city, is very safe but using common sense and always walking with someone else at night here and everywhere else in the country is recommended.

Robberies are known to have occurred along the Peninsula de Asese. If you plan a tour keep your wits about you and maybe leave the camera in the hotel.

In Granada, the moneychangers are licensed and provide a terrific alternative to the banks.

Cope
Social workers in Granada strongly advise to not give money or food to begging children. In Granada the homeless situation is moderate. Orphanages and charity organizations take care of homeless children, and poor people have access to charity kitchens. The kids that beg and sell items to tourists do this to make easy money, and are being exploited by adults. Anything you give to these children keeps them from the place they belong: in school.

Occasionally inclement weather will create an outage, as you'd expect anywhere.

Urban tap water is fine.

Insect repellent is widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets. Use as required. Nicaragua does have dengue. This is especially a concern during the wet season. In the early morning, and at dusk cover up or spray on as a precaution against insects.

Go next

 * Masaya
 * Isla de Ometepe
 * Managua

title: Granada (Nicaragua)


text:
Granada (province)

Granada is a province in Andalusia in Spain. The coast of Granada province, the Costa Tropical, attracts hordes of Spanish and foreign beach-seekers. The city of Granada's Moorish architecture and famous Alhambra palace bring in tourists from all over the world. In the winter the mountains of the Sierra Nevada play host to Europe's most southerly ski resort. Hiking and eco-tourism also attract visitors to areas such as the Alpujarras and Lecrin Valley.

Cities

 * — one of the Nazari's Alhambra Palace and many traditional festivals
 * — a lovely old spa village, perched above a river gorge, with an impressive monumental quarter and with hot springs not far away
 * — a seaside resort for Northern Europeans and North Americans with ancient ruins
 * — a mountain town with beautiful scenery and layers of history
 * — long known for its production of sugar, Holy Week here starts Palm Sunday and is big business
 * — village part of Las Alpujarras
 * — village part of Las Alpujarras in the heart of the National Park of the Sierra Nevada

Other destinations

 * — the highest mountains in Spain, with the most southern ski resort in Europe
 * — traditional Moorish villages scattered throughout the mountains South of Granada city; well worth visiting for the scenery and slow, laid back way of life

By plane
Federico García Lorca Granada Airport is 17 km from the city.

By train
Granada station is in a very central position within the city.

By road
Granada is reached from Seville, Malaga, Almería and Murcia on the A92, from Madrid on the A4, diverting to the A44 in Bailén, from Jaén on the aforementioned A44, and from Spain on the N432, although some people prefer to make a detour to use just highway and take the A4 to Bailén and then the A44.

Get around
Roads in Granada province tend to be fairly quiet between towns, but can be congested and frustrating in and around towns. Car Hire is available in Granada (Airport) and on the coast, for example in Motril. Buses are mainly operated by Alsina-Graells, who have a good web site showing schedules and fares. Other operators work out of Granada bus station, offering routes across Andalucia and beyond (e.g. to Romania).

Trekking (on horseback) in the Sierra Nevada is offered by various operators (mainly based in the Alpujarra).

See
The Alhambra in Granada is the most popular visitor site in Granada province. The highlight is the Nasrid palaces. Tickets are frequently sold out for weeks ahead, though some are reserved for those who turn up early in the morning. However, access to the rest of the complex is easier, and the gardens of the Generalife are worth a stroll. There are two hotels within the Alhambra grounds, including one of the more expensive Paradors.

Granada town is very pleasant to stroll in. The cathedral is enormous. Behind it is the Capilla Real, holding the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella; the Corral de Carbon is a Moorish building nearby; the Albaicin is the old Moorish quarter, with lots of twisty little lanes, and several lookout points across the valley to the Alhambra. At the bottom, near the Plaza Nueva, are lots of Moroccan and touristy shops. Getting the bus to the top of the hill and wandering down works quite well

Federico Garcia Lorca is associated with Granada. A park and a museum are dedicated to him.

As in most of the rest of Spain, Easter Week (semana santa) is the biggest fiesta.

You may want to participate in a botellon in Granada. This is basically a street drinking party, mainly populated by students from the university. Dates are variable. The City Council seems inclined to limit them.

The coast to the west of Motril is given over to tourists, with Salobrena and Almunecar as the main resorts. The coast to the east of Motril is given over to plastic greenhouses (invernaderos) which extend all the way to Almeria.

Inland lies the Alpujarra, a valley running about 50 km east-west along the southern edge of the Sierra Nevada. It contains about 80 settled places, most of them tiny villages, usually containing a jumble of white-painted houses around a plaza. The Alpujarra was the last place from which the Moors were expelled by the Christians. Little visible trace of them remains. Occasionally it is obvious that the church is a converted mosque (e.g. in Jubar).

The most popular visitor destinations in the Alpujarra are the 'white villages' of Pampaneira, Bubion, and Capiliera, possibly with an extension to Trevelez, where the high, dry air lends itself to the curing of ham. Fans of Gerald Brennan's book 'South From Granada' may want to go further again to Yegen.

At the spring equinox, Orgiva hosts the Dragon Festival, which is a week long bash of travellers, competing sound trucks, live music, theatre and insomnia.

To see the Sierra Nevada, most of the operators offering walking and riding tours are in the Alpujarra.

Granada province is also host to some lovely coast (Salobrena, Almunecar are only 40 minutes from Granada city, or east of there are some great beaches, from coves and hideaway nudist beaches to resorts and fishing villages like La Rabita, Castel del Ferro and Torre Nueva.

The Poniente Granadino region is the western part of the Province of Granada. The region is rich in areas of archaeological interest and is encircled by the Sierra of Cordoba to the north, the Axarquia of Malaga to the South and to the west, the Valleys of Archidona and Antequera.

Do

 * Great skiing (November to April) in the Sierra Nevada half an hour by regular buses from Granada.
 * Climb the Mulhacén, the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula, or hike any one of a number of easier routes in the Alpujarras.
 * Flamenco Show: Get involved in the musical tradition of Andalucia and enjoy a great night.
 * Experience the nightlife of Granada at one of the great, local bars. The bar mojitoo, located on "Calle Navas", has a fantastic atmosphere with great drinks and a friendly bartender named Fran.
 * Go to one of the many popular night clubs (discotecas) of Granada, including: Mae West, El Camborio, Granada 10, Forum.

Eat
Granada province (and town) is one of the few places in Spain where you will habitually and automatically receive a free, freshly cooked and generous helping of tapas (food) with your beer or wine. This may be anything from a small homemade burger on bread, to cheese in oil and garlic, tortilla, prawns or calamari or other fish or seafood, or the ubiquitous carne con tomate (meat in sauce). Rather than go out for a meal you are well advised to go on a pub crawl as you will have more variety for less (no!) cost.

Granada is one of the cities in Spain with the highest concentration of catering establishments. Tapas are also world famous, and in Granada they are offered free with every drink. There are areas of the city that you have to visit for "tapas": La Chana, El Zaidín and the Plaza de Toros. Typical of the area are the piononos, a small cake filled with cream that comes from the nearby city of Santa Fe, and broad beans with ham.

In La Alpujarra you can order the Alpujarra dish: a hearty plate of fried eggs, poor potatoes, fried peppers, blood sausage and chorizo.

Drink
Have a botellon with Alia by the river

title: Granada (province)