text:
Amersfoort

Amersfoort is a medieval city to the east of Amsterdam and Utrecht. It is at the edge of their commuting area. The city centre (the medieval city) is full of historic buildings and streets, and there is accessible forest into the west and south. The city of Amersfoort (municipality) has about 148,000 inhabitants, the urban region about 285,000.

Amersfoort is located in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands, bordering on the province of Gelderland.

Geography and history
Amersfoort takes its name from a ford (voorde) in the Eem river, which was once called the 'Emer' or 'Amer', at the edge of higher ground, the Utrecht ridge. The ford is on the shortest route across low marshy ground, from the ridge to the nearest higher ground on the east. As a result, Amersfoort was, and still is, on the main road from the western Netherlands to northern Germany, and the later Amsterdam - Berlin railway followed this route. The low-lying area between the Utrecht and Veluwe ridges is called the Valley of Gelderland, Gelderse Vallei, and it is now a zone of intensive farming.

The first written record of the settlement was in 1028. In the 12th century the Bishopric of Utrecht fortified it (because of its strategic location), and in 1259 granted it city rights. The first city wall of stone was built in the late 13th century.

Around 1380 a new wall was built: some of the city gates still survive. The city was a late medieval pilgrimage centre, and in 1444 began the construction of a cathedral. Most of it was destroyed in an explosion in 1787, but the tower survives, one of the highest church towers in the Netherlands. The 98 meter late-medieval eye-catcher is called Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren. Because of its visibility, it was the starting point for the accurate triangulation of the country, and it is still the true origin of the Dutch national grid (coordinates 463.000, 155.000).

Amersfoort's medieval industries were cloth and beer: in the 18th century it prospered due to the locally-grown tobacco. The railway began the modern expansion. Growth has accelerated, with suburban expansion mainly to the north. During its medieval heyday Amersfoort was a popular place of pilgrimage and an important city in the brewing industry. The oldest of Amersfoort's bars, In Den Grooten Slock, still stands today. The historic brewery, De Drie Ringen, brews excellent beers and is open to the public (from F-Su 13:00-17:00).

The central location allowed Amersfoort to become a major railway hub in the late 19th century. This also increased its strategic importance and up until 1980 it was one of the biggest garrison towns of the Netherlands. The military presence is still visible in the army bases (the Bernhardkazerne is still active and housing the Cavalry museum), nearby training grounds, and former airforce base Soesterberg.

By bicycle
You can cycle from Amsterdam to Amersfoort in about 4 hours. Utrecht to Amersfoort takes about 90 minutes. The long-distance cycle route LF9, from Breda in the south, to the German border at Nieuweschans, at passes through Amersfoort. (There is also a route variant which passes outside the city).

By train
Amersfoort station is a rail junction. One line comes from Amsterdam via Hilversum, another from Utrecht. Beyond Amersfoort, they split. The main line to the east goes to Apeldoorn, Deventer, and on to Enschede. The line north-east to Zwolle is the main line to the north of the country, to Leeuwarden and Groningen. Trains arrive and depart at similar times on both sides of the platform, so you need to be careful which train you board. There are two suburban stations, Schothorst and Vathorst. The main station is served: The Berlin - Amsterdam international trains also stop at Amersfoort, 6 trains per day, and one more from Hannover (with a connection from Berlin).
 * from Amsterdam Centraal: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 33 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Amsterdam Zuid: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 35 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Utrecht: 4 Intercity trains per hour, in 14 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Deventer: 2 or 3 Intercity trains per hour, in 36 minutes
 * from Zwolle: 2 Intercity trains per hour, in 35 minutes, and 2 slower trains
 * from Ede-Wageningen station, connecting with trains from Arnhem, every 30 minutes, journey takes 33 minutes.
 * NS train route planner

By bus
Amersfoort is served by regional bus lines, some with limited services. The main bus lines run every 30 minutes: line 80 from Wageningen, and three with parallel rail routes: the 70 from Hilversum, the 101 from Harderwijk and the 102 from Apeldoorn.
 * Public transport route planner

By car
Amersfoort is next to a major intersection between the A1 motorway from Amsterdam to Hengelo and onwards to Germany, and the A28 motorway from Utrecht to Groningen. Nearby at Barneveld, the A30 provides a fast connection towards Arnhem.

Public transport
Amersfoort does have a city bus network with 10 lines, operated by Syntus Utrecht. Services are not as frequent as you would expect, in a city this size. The city centre is small enough to walk everywhere, the station is 10 minutes walk from the centre. Outside the centre, the best way to get around is to cycle. Car access to the city centre is restricted.

Carparking
Amersfoort city centre is easily accessible and offers multiple parking facilities, including eight parking garages in and around the city centre. The Parking Route Information System (PRIS) can guide you to any of our parking garages.
 * Parking Services in Amersfoort city center

Rent a bike or scooter
At the Central Train Station and various other locations in and around the city centre you can rent (electric) bicycles which you may then park for free at one of the many cycle racks in the city centre. In combination with the Eemlijn Fietsboot this can be a perfect day out. Alternatively, you can rent a scooter from the Tourist Bureau Amersfoort, where they also have information on scooter routes.
 * Tourist Bureau Amersfoort

See
The roughly circular historic centre is the main attraction of Amersfoort. The Eem river runs diagonally through the old city, south-east to northwest, from the Monnickendam to the Koppelpoort. It is crossed at right angles by the Langestraat, part of the old highway from Utrecht to Zwolle, and still the main street. The station is on the west side, and the Town Hall is at the western edge of the old city, on the road to the station. Most of the office buildings in the centre are located on or near this road. Apart from the Langestraat, most of the shopping streets are on the west side of the centre also. Specific sights include:

Popular attractions

 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.
 * Sailing on a launch. Take an idyllic trip through the river Eem or to the lake Eemmeer or charter a launch and explore the waterways. You will find the launch at the jetty on the Grote Koppel in front of number 5. See www.aanhetroer.nl.

 * Forestpool. This open-air swimming pool is open from May until September. Enjoy a swim in the forest along with the play islands, slides and diving board. Do not miss the spectacular Canopy Trail while you are there. See www.bosbadamersfoort.nl.

 * Sk8Park. The Sk8Park Vathorst in Amersfoort is the largest skate park in Europe. You can try inline skating, skate boarding and ride a BMX bike. Address: Valutaboulevard, opposite IKEA.

Nature and parks
In 2007 an international jury proclaimed Amersfoort to be one of the greenest cities of Europe. You will find many green areas in the city to enjoy.

You will also find the historic park surrounding the urban centre. Or you may like to visit one of the estates, such as Landgoed Schothorst, which is surrounded by beautiful parks landscaped in the English style.

Living history
Actors re-enact professions and people from the rich history of Amersfoort, letting you experience times gone by.

 * Burgerweeshuis: The Burgerweeshuis is a former orphanage dating from the 17th century and comes to life in July and August. Address: Zuidersingel 25 (next to the Mariënhof)
 * Mannenzaal: The Mannenzaal is a nursing home dating back to the 16th century. During the months of July and August actors take you back in time. Address: Westsingel 47 (opposite the Museum Flehite)
 * Historic Sundays: on Sundays in June, July, August and September you can encounter living history in the city centre.

Cycling around Amersfoort
There are several signposted cycle routes around Amersfoort. Shorter circular routes are signposted in one direction, taking several hours: follow the route signs (usually hexagonal). The Eemland Route starts in Amersfoort. The Nieuwe Vuursche Route passes the western edge of the city. The much longer Eneco Veluwe Route passes the eastern edge, and the nearby village of Hoevelaken. The route is 265 km long, not counting three short-cuts and two diversions. Another long route, Rondje Utrecht, a circle around the Province of Utrecht, passes the city centre.

The LF9 is a long cross-country route, signposted in both directions. It starts in Breda, near the Belgian border, and follows approximately the 0 metre contour. In principle, everything west of this line would disappear under sea water, if there were no artificial barriers. It runs through Utrecht, and after Amersfoort follows the old coastline to Zwolle, and goes through Groningen to the German border (325 km).

However, you don't need to follow a route: most of the surrounding region is suitable for cycling. The most interesting routes are east and north-east to the Veluwe forests about 20 km away, east and south to the forest at the edge of the city, north along the river Eem and toward the former coastline, and south-east along the Gelderse Vallei toward Wageningen.

Markets
On Saturdays there is an all-day market on the centre square De Hof. Every Friday the Lieve Vrouwekerkhof hosts the weekly flower market.

On that same square there is a second-hand fair on the first and third Saturday of every month from April until October. From October till April the second-hand fair is held on every first Saturday of every month on the Lieve Vrouwekerkhof. In December and January there is no second-hand fair.

Shopping
Amersfoort is a real shopping city. You will find a variety of shops, ranging from large chain stores to boutiques, trendy little shops, delicacies and art galleries. Whatever you may need, Amersfoort has it. There is the Sint Jorisplein, a modern shopping area in the centre of town or you may choose to visit the many characteristic shopping streets such as the Krommestraat or the Langestraat. Outside the city centre you have the shopping area Eemplein, the busy but nice Leusderweg or Emiclaer, the shopping area for northern Amersfoort.

Every Thursday the shops in the city centre are open in the evening, closing at 21:00. Stores are generally open on Monday afternoon from 13:00 till 17:30. The rest of the week on Tuesday till Friday from 10:00 closing on 17:30 and on Saturdays from 10:00 till 17:00.

Eat
Amersfoort hosts dozens of restaurants, many located in the main shopping areas. Many styles of food are represented, including stylish haute-cuisine, down-to-earth bistros, and 'foreign' cuisine such as American, Greek, Italian, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, and Thai food.

Some examples include:

The following restaurants are recognized by the 'Lekker!' organisation as some of the finest restaurants in the Netherlands:

Drink
There are plenty of bars around in the old City centre. The most important clusters of bars can be found on the two main squares (Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerkhof and Hof). Two of the better pubs there are Lobbes and Blauwe Engel. The Boothill Saloon (in Krankeledenstraat, near Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerkhof) and the Irish Pub Long John (also Krankenledenstraat) are also great places to go out.

Prices are, as in most Dutch pubs, somewhat high. In Long John a pint of Guinness might, for instance, set you back €4.50, although the other pubs are slightly cheaper.

Sleep
Amersfoort has a fairly large number of chain hotels, popular with business travellers as well as tourists. Prices vary strongly, based on availability. Below mentioned rates are starting prices, which may be significantly higher in high season, especially for hotels in the city centre.

Go next
You can travel on from Amersfoort in several directions, see 'Get in' for main train routes. There are many other destinations in the vicinity.

The most useful routes are bus line 101 through several villages to the town of Harderwijk, line 80 to Rhenen and Wageningen and the 102 across the forested Veluwe to Apeldoorn. It connects with line 104, the only way to reach the smaller villages in the northern Veluwe.

title: Amersfoort


text:
Amersham

Amersham is in Buckinghamshire, England. Home to 17,000 inhabitants, it is the heart of "Metro-land", where London suburbs meet the Chiltern Hills, a place where some of the best walks in the British countryside are located. Metro-land takes its name from the Metropolitan line of the London Underground, which facilitated the area's development.

Understand

A dual centred locale, Amersham is split between the historic Old Amersham (at the bottom of the hill), and the current commercial centre (and residental suburbs) of Amersham-on-the-hill at the top.

Amersham is not an obvious tourist destination, as the town does not seem to have much to see or do in it at first glance. However there are some great parks, such as Hervines Park round the back of the Dr Challoners Grammar School which has a wood and also there is a park behind the gym/swimming pool building. Old Amersham is home to a fantastic church and traditional clothes stores as well as old-fashioned streets. It is also home to the great Amersham Museum, a must-see for visitors to the area.

History
Old Amersham is a former medieval market town, although settlement pre-dates the Norman conquest. It has held a market since the original 11th century charter, which was revised in the early 1600s to allow for a fair to be held in September. The 16th century also saw seven Lollard dissenters burned at the stake in the town. A memorial was built in 1931.

Amersham was a transit point for goods travelling between London and the north during the 1800s.

Amersham-on-the-hill was Amersham Common, until the arrival of the railway in the 1890s, with the commercial center of the town shifting to it by the mid 20th century. Dr Challoners Grammar School, originally a 16th foundation relocating from Old Amersham in 1905.

Since the 1960s Amersham has rapidly been growing into a charming little town on the outskirts of London.

By road
Amersham is well connected to the local road network, and can be reached by leaving the Motorway network at the nearby towns of Beaconsfield (M40), Chorleywood (M25) and Hemel Hempstead (M1).

By bus

 * Local buses connect with High Wycombe, Watford and Hemel Hempstead.

By bicycle

 * National Cycle Route 57 (Farmington, Gloucestershire near Northleach to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire) runs through Chesham 3 miles N of Amersham.
 * There is a good network of Regional Cycle Routes (e.g. 3 and 30) and Local Cycle Routes around the town connecting the town to National Cycle Route 6 (London to Lake District) 9 miles SW of Amersham.

Get around
The town is small enough to get around on foot.

See

 * Old Amersham's High Street with 16-19th century buildings and market square - see Buy.
 * The Countryside, nearby woods include the woods behind 51 Copperkins Lane, the end of Deep Acres and Penn Woods
 * Old Amersham's High Street with 16-19th century buildings and market square - see Buy.
 * The Countryside, nearby woods include the woods behind 51 Copperkins Lane, the end of Deep Acres and Penn Woods
 * Old Amersham's High Street with 16-19th century buildings and market square - see Buy.
 * The Countryside, nearby woods include the woods behind 51 Copperkins Lane, the end of Deep Acres and Penn Woods

Do

 * Go walking, cycling or riding in the countryside
 * A touring fairground visits the old Amersham High Street in mid to late September. This is a modern continuation of a charter fair.
 * A touring fairground visits the old Amersham High Street in mid to late September. This is a modern continuation of a charter fair.
 * A touring fairground visits the old Amersham High Street in mid to late September. This is a modern continuation of a charter fair.
 * A touring fairground visits the old Amersham High Street in mid to late September. This is a modern continuation of a charter fair.

Eat

 * Chalfont Oriental, which, despite its name, is in Amersham.
 * Chalfont Oriental, which, despite its name, is in Amersham.
 * Chalfont Oriental, which, despite its name, is in Amersham.

In nearby Little Chalfont there are two excellent Chinese takeaways/restaurants- Chalfont Dynasty, and Meng House.

Sleep

 * Many other hotels hidden away in Amersham
 * Many other hotels hidden away in Amersham

Go next
Nearby towns and large villages of interest include;
 * Beaconsfield (pronounced beck-ons-fee-eld)
 * Chesham
 * Little Chalfont
 * Chorleywood
 * Chalfont St. Giles and Chalfont St.Peter
 * Rickmansworth
 * High Wycombe
 * Great Missenden
 * Wendover
 * Watford

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

title: Amersham


text:
Ames

Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.

Understand
Named after Massachusetts congressman and transcontinental railroad supporter Oakes Ames, the city was founded as a stop along one of the primary rail links to the first transcontinental railroad. The railroad is still a daily part of life in Ames, with nearly 70 Union Pacific long-haul freight trains passing through town each day.

By car
Traveling from the north (e.g., Minneapolis, 2.5-hr drive) or from the south (Des Moines, 30 minutes), take I-35 to exit 113 and drive west along 13th Street into town. Or take US 30 (exit 111) west to South Duff or University Boulevard and go north into town. Traveling from the east (Chicago, 5.5 hours) or from the west (Omaha, 2 hours), take I-80 to I-35, and then I-35 north and as above. US 30 also reaches Ames direct from Omaha and Chicago.

By bus
Burlington Trailways and Jefferson Lines both serve the, +1 515 232-2404, at 129 Hayward Avenue, a block south of the Iowa State University campus in the Campustown neighborhood. Jefferson Lines directly connects Ames to destinations north and south along I-35, while Trailways directly links Ames to Des Moines and destinations east along US 30.

By plane
There is no commercial aviation to Ames; the nearest major airport is located in Des Moines. Shuttle service is available to/from Ames; Executive Express offers a relatively frequent scheduled service. If flying via charter or general aviation, one can use the on the southern edge of town, south of Airport Rd; from there automobile is the best bet into town – a Hertz rental car location is available at the airport.

Get around
Lincoln Way is the main east-west thoroughfare of the city, passing just south of Downtown (the historic center of town, north of the train tracks between Grand and Duff Avenues) and continuing west to Campustown (the neighborhood immediately south of the ISU campus) along the southern edge of the central campus of ISU. Similarly, 13th Street runs from I-35 across the northern edges of the downtown area and the university campus. Main north-south roads include Duff Avenue (south of Lincoln Way) and Grand Avenue (north of Lincoln Way) which together carry U.S. Hwy 69 through Ames, University Boulevard and North/South Dakota Avenues.

The city-university partnership CyRide provides bus service in Ames. Service hours can be limited (particularly during weekends and school breaks), but the system does a decent job covering the city and is very reliable. Fare is $1.25 ($0.60 for children/seniors).

Ames is very bicycle friendly, with a moderately extensive paved trail system for walking and biking. Apart from ISU itself, there are generally three main pedestrian-friendly concentrations of shops and restaurants: Downtown along Main St between Clark and Duff Avenues, Campustown along Welch Ave south of Lincoln Way, and the much newer Somerset neighborhood directly north of the ISU campus along Stange Ave north of 24th St. Not quite so pedestrian friendly is the two miles of big box stores and strip malls along Duff Avenue between US 30 on the south and Lincoln Way on the north.

See

 * The Downtown district, along Main Street between Grand and Duff Avenues (just north of Lincoln Way and the train tracks), is the historic center of town and makes for a pleasant stroll. The district has most of Ames' civic functions, such as the city hall, the library, and the main post office. Main Street is lined with charming old brick buildings holding small shops and restaurants and often hosts events such as a local farmers' market. At the east end of Downtown on Duff Avenue, in the shadow of Ames' power plant, is, a pleasant square that regularly holds concerts in the summer months.

Iowa State University
Occupying nearly 500 acres in the middle of town is the scenic main campus of the Iowa State University, with its many lovely green spaces and a large collection of public art scattered throughout. Architecture varies, from gorgeous classically-designed buildings in the middle of the campus to more modern brutalist-style buildings around the edges. A large lawn occupies the very center of the campus, with a small lake at the southern end.

 * The main library on campus,, is notable for holding a set of murals painted by Grant Wood (creator of the famous American Gothic painting). Located down a quiet side hall and an adjacent study room, the murals depict agrarian life and the home and agricultural-based education ISU is noted for.
 * The main library on campus,, is notable for holding a set of murals painted by Grant Wood (creator of the famous American Gothic painting). Located down a quiet side hall and an adjacent study room, the murals depict agrarian life and the home and agricultural-based education ISU is noted for.
 * The main library on campus,, is notable for holding a set of murals painted by Grant Wood (creator of the famous American Gothic painting). Located down a quiet side hall and an adjacent study room, the murals depict agrarian life and the home and agricultural-based education ISU is noted for.
 * The main library on campus,, is notable for holding a set of murals painted by Grant Wood (creator of the famous American Gothic painting). Located down a quiet side hall and an adjacent study room, the murals depict agrarian life and the home and agricultural-based education ISU is noted for.
 * The main library on campus,, is notable for holding a set of murals painted by Grant Wood (creator of the famous American Gothic painting). Located down a quiet side hall and an adjacent study room, the murals depict agrarian life and the home and agricultural-based education ISU is noted for.

Do

 * ISU Cyclones, +1-888-478-2925. ISU's football and basketball teams are the biggest draws, but ISU is also a national power in wrestling and the university fields teams in several other sports in the Big 12 Conference, at the NCAA Division I level. The sports complex is just southeast of the main campus; the football team plays at on University Blvd just south of Lincoln Way, while the basketball, wrestling, volleyball, and gymnastic teams play at, at Lincoln Way & University Blvd.
 * Next to the stadium complex are Iowa State's two performing art centers, the and the, both of which play host to a variety of concerts and plays.

Buy
ISU Cyclones' licensed paraphernalia (sweaters and such) are available from several retailers around town, but perhaps most notably at the in the Memorial Union on campus facing Lincoln Way. Other specialty shopping can be found along Main Street in Downtown, which is lined with a number of small boutiques and stores.

Most of the big-box chain stores in town are along Duff Avenue on the south side of town, between Lincoln Way and U.S. Highway 30. There's also a Wal-Mart and some strip malls along North Grand Avenue on the north side of town, as well as Ames' only indoor mall, the small between 24th and 30th Streets.

Eat
Dining-wise, Ames is mostly a pizza-and-beer kind of town, perhaps reflecting the tastes of the local student population. However, there are some standouts:

Drink
Alcohol purchases end at 2AM.

Sleep
Most lodging in Ames is of the chain variety and is generally located either along I-35 or US Hwy 30. A collection of motels is located at the southeast corner of town off the Dayton Ave/US Hwy 30 interchange. There's also a couple of motels off the 13th St/I-35 interchange (exit 113) on the east side of town and south of the University Blvd/US 30 interchange on the south side of town.

Connect
Free wi-fi is available for guests on the ISU campus, although it requires you to register with the server when you open your internet browser.

Go next

 * Story City is about a 15 minute drive north on I-35 or US Hwy 69 and has an antique carousel.
 * Boone, about 20 miles to the west on US Hwy 30, is home to a scenic railroad. South of Boone is Ledges State Park, a scenic area with cliffs and bluffs along the Des Moines River.
 * Des Moines, the capitol and largest city of Iowa, is 30 miles to the south on I-35 and has a number of attractions.

title: Ames


text:
Amesbury

There is more than one place called Amesbury:

Canada

 * Amesbury (Alberta) — A town in Alberta.

United Kingdom

 * Amesbury (England) — A town in England near Stonehenge.

United States of America

 * Amesbury (Massachusetts) — A town in Massachusetts.

title: Amesbury


text:
Amesbury (Massachusetts)

Amesbury is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 17,000 (2020).

Merrimac is a town with a population of 7,000 (2020).

Understand
Formerly a farming and mill town, modern Amesbury is for the most part residential. It is one of two northernmost towns in Massachusetts, the other being neighboring Salisbury.

Get in
There are daily buses from Haverhill and from Salisbury via Newburyport. Buses stops at, which is just a few hundred meters from Main street.

title: Amesbury (Massachusetts)


text:
Amharic phrasebook

 * "Ethiopian Language" redirects here. For other languages of this multilingual country see Ethiopia

Amharic (አማርኛ) is the lingua franca and first official language of Ethiopia. It is spoken natively by the Amhara people in northern and central Ethiopia, and as a second language by most other Ethiopians.

Consonants
ህ h as in hat

ል l as in lamp

ሕ h as in hat

ም m as in mat

ሥ s as in six

ረ r as in rabbit

ስ s as in six

ሽ sh as in ash

ቅ k pronounced at the back of the throat

ብ b as in bat

ት t as in track

ች ch as in chat

ኅ h as in hat

ን n as in night

ኝ ny as in canyon

ክ k as in dock

ኽ h as in hat

ው w as in whale

ዕ i pronounced at the back of throat

ዝ z as in zebra

ዥ zh as in pleasure

ይ y as in yoke

ድ d as in dog

ጅ j as in jaguar

ግ g as in goat

ጥ t pronounced by stressing

ጭ ch pronounced by stressing

ጵ p pronounced by stressing

ጽ sound between t and s

ፅ sound between t and s

ፈ f as in fat

ፕ p as in pencil

ቭ v as in vase

Vowels
ኧ e as in commander

ኡ u as in Uzbek

ኢ i as in inject

አ a as in father

ኤ e as in beg

እ i pronounced at the back of throat

ኦ o as in orange

As in Japanese, Arabic or Hebrew, Amharic vowels are not written separately; vowels are marks attached to consonants. See this Amharic letter table.

Basics

 * Hello. (formal) : Tena yistilign. (ጤና ይስጥልኝ)
 * Hello. (informal) : Selam. (ሰላም)
 * Hello. (informal between friends) : Hi. (ሃይ)
 * How are you? (respectful to elder) : Dehina newot? (ደህና ነዎት?)
 * How are you (informal, to a man) : Endemin-neh? (እንደምን ነህ?)
 * How are you (informal, to a woman) : Endemin-nesh? (እንደምን ነሽ?)
 * Fine, thank you. : Dehna Negn. (ደህና ነኝ)
 * What is your name? (to a man): Simeh man naw? (ስምህ ማን ነው?)
 * What is your name? (to a woman): Simish man naw? (ስምሽ ማን ነው?)
 * My name is ______ . :  Sime ______ yibalal. (ስሜ  _____ ይባላል)
 * Pleased to meet you. : siletewaweqin dess bilognal . (ስለተዋወቅን ደስ ብሎኛል)
 * Please. : Ebakih. (to a man) (እባክህ)
 * Please. : Ebakish. (to a woman) (እባክሽ)
 * Thank you (very much). : (Betam) ahmesugenalew. ((በጣም) አመሰግናለሁ )
 * You're welcome. : Minem Aydelem. (meaning 'no problem' 'ምንም አይደለም)
 * Yes. : awo. (አዎ )
 * No. : aye; aydelem. (አይ አይደለም)
 * OK. : ishi (እሺ )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Yiqirta. (ይቅርታ )
 * Excuse me. Do you have a minute : Yiqirta, anda gazay (ይቅርታ፣ አንድ ጊዜ)
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Yiqirta. (ይቅርታ )
 * I'm sorry. : Yiqirta. (ይቅርታ )
 * Goodbye : Dehna hun. (to a man) (ደህና ሁን)
 * Goodbye : Dehna hugni. (to a woman) (ደህና ሁኚ)
 * Goodbye (informal) : Ciao. (Taken from Italian) (ቻው)
 * I can't speak Amharic [well]. : [ ]. ( [ ])
 * Do you speak English? : Englizegna tichilaleh? (to a man) (እንግሊዘኛ ትችላለህ?)
 * Do you speak English? : Englizegna tichiyalesh? (to a woman) (እንግሊዘኛ ትችያለሽ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Englizegna yemichel sew ale? (እንግሊዘኛ የሚችል ሰው አለ ?)
 * Help! : ! ( !)
 * Look out! : ! ( !)
 * Good morning. : Dehna aderk (to a young man) (ደህና አደርክ?): Dehna aderu (Elderly man/ more formal) (ደህና አደሩ?)
 * Good morning. : Dehna adersh (to a woman) (ደህና አደርሽ?):Dehna aderu (Elderly woman/ more formal) (ደህና አደሩ?)
 * Good morning. : Dehna aderachu ( more than one person) (ደህና አደራቹ?)
 * Good evening. : Dehna ameshachu ( more than one person) (ደህና አመሻቹ?)
 * Good night. : Dehna eder. (pronounced Denadur)(to a man) (ደህና እደር)
 * Good night. : Dehna ederee. (pronounced Denaduree)(to a woman) (ደህና እደሪ)
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. : Algebagnem. (አልገባኝም)
 * Where is the toilet? : Metatebiya bet yet new? (መታጠቢያ ቤት የት ነው?)

Numbers

 * 0 : ዜሮ (Zeh-Roh)
 * 1 : አንድ (And)
 * 2 : ሁለት (Hoo-luht)
 * 3 : ሶስት (Sohst)
 * 4 : አራት (Uh-Raat)
 * 5 : አምስት (Uhm-mist)
 * 6 : ስድስት (Sid-dist)
 * 7 : ሰባት (Sih-baht)
 * 8 : ስምንት (Sih-mehnt)
 * 9 : ዘጠኝ (Zat-ayn)
 * 10 : አስር (Ah-sir)
 * 11 : Asra-and (አስራ አንድ)
 * 12 : Asra-hoolet (አስራ ሁለት)
 * 20 : Haya (ሀያ)
 * 21 : Haya-and (ሀያ አንድ)
 * 30 : Selasa (ሰላሳ)
 * 40 : Arba (አርባ)
 * 50 : Hamsa (ሀምሳ)
 * 60 : Silsa (ስልሳ)
 * 70 : Seba (ሰባ)
 * 80 : Semanya (ሰማንያ)
 * 90 : ZeTena (ዘጠና)
 * 100 : Meto (መቶ)
 * 200 : Hoolet-meto (ሁለት መቶ)
 * 300 : Sost-meto (ሶስት መቶ)
 * 1000 : Shee (ሺህ)
 * 2000 : Hoolet-shee (ሁለት ሺህ)

Clock time

 * 7am : 1 se'at ke tewatu(o'clock in the morning) (1 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 8am : 2 se'at ke tewatu (2 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 9am : 3 se'at ke tewatu (3 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 10am : 4 se'at ke tewatu (4 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 11am : 5 se'at ke tewatu (5 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 12am : 6 se'at ke tewatu (6 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 1pm : 7 se'at ke tewatu (7 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 2pm : 8 se'at ke tewatu (8 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 3pm : 9 se'at ke tewatu (9 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 4pm : 10 se'at ke tewatu (10 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 5pm : 11 se'at ke tewatu (11 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 6pm : 12 se'at ke tewatu (12 አንድ ሰዓት ከጠዋቱ)
 * 7pm : 1 se'at ke'mishitu (o'clock in the evening) (1 አንድ ሰዓት ከምሽቱ)
 * 8pm : 2 se'at ke'mishtu (2 አንድ ሰዓት ከምሽቱ)
 * 9pm : 3 se'at ke'mishtu (3 አንድ ሰዓት ከምሽቱ)
 * 10pm : 4 se'at ke'mishtu (4 አንድ ሰዓት ከምሽቱ)
 * 11pm : 5 se'at ke'mishtu = 11pm
 * 12am : 6 se'at ke'lelitu (o'clock in the night) (6 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 1am : 7 se'at ke'lelitu (7 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 2am : 8 se'at ke'lelitu (8 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 3am : 9 se'at ke'lelitu (9 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 4am : 10 se'at ke'lelitu (10 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 5am : 11 se'at ke'lelitu (11 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)
 * 6am : 12 se'at ke'lelitu (12 ስድስት ሰዓት ከለሊቱ)

Days

 * Sunday : Ehood (እሁድ)
 * Monday : Segno (ሰኞ)
 * Tuesday : Maksegno (ማክሰኞ)
 * Wednesday : Erob (እሮብ)
 * Thursday : Hamoos (ሐሙስ)
 * Friday : Arb (አርብ)
 * Saturday : Qdame (ቅዳሜ)

Months

 * January : Tir (ጥር)
 * February : Yekatit (የካቲት)
 * March : Megabit (መጋቢት)
 * April : Miyaziya (ሚያዚያ)
 * May : Ginbot (ግንቦት)
 * June : Senay (ሰኔ)
 * July : Hamle (ሐምሌ)
 * August : Nehasie (ነሐሴ)
 * September : Meskerem (መስከረም)
 * October : Tikimt (ጥቅምት)
 * November : Hidar (ህዳር)
 * December : Tahisas (ታኅሣሥ)

Colors

 * Black : Tiqoor (ጥቁር)
 * White : NeCH (ነጭ)
 * Red : Qey (ቀይ)
 * Blue : Semayawi (ሰማያዊ)
 * Green : Arengwade (አረንጓዴ)
 * Yellow : BiCHa (ቢጫ)
 * Brown : Buna'aynet/Buna'ma (ቡና ዓይነት/ቡናማ)
 * Purple : WeynTej (ወይንጠጅ)
 * Pink : Rose (ሮዝ)
 * Orange : Bertukan (ብርቱካን)
 * Baby blue : Wuhama semayawi (ውሃማ ሰማያዊ)
 * Dark blue : DemaQ semayawi (ደማቅ ሰማያዊ)

Directions (አቅጣጫ)

 * Right : Qegn (ቀኝ)
 * Left : G'ra (ግራ)
 * Straight ahead : QeTita menged (ቀጥታ መንገድ)
 * Opposite : TeQarani/Feet'lefeet (ተቃራኒ/ፊት ለፊት)
 * Adjacent : ATegeb/Gon (አጠገብ/ጎን)
 * Turn left : wede g'ra...
 * Turn right : wede Qegn...
 * For the last 2 phrases
 * to a man : taTef (ታጠፍ)
 * to a woman : taTefi (ታጠፊ)
 * to more than one person or to an elderly : taTefu (ታጠፉ)

Money

 * How much? : Sint new? (ስንት ነው)
 * fifty cents : hamsa santim (ሀምሳ ሳንቲም)
 * money: genzeb (ገንዘብ)

Eating

 * Bread (Ethiopian) : dabo (ዳቦ)
 * Curry : wet (ወጥ)
 * Meat (red): siga (ስጋ)
 * Chicken : doro (ዶሮ)
 * Vegetable : ataklt (አታክልት)
 * Spicy :qmemama kemem (ቅመማማ ቅመም)
 * Mild : aletcha (አልጫ)
 * Coffee shop : bunna bet (ቡና ቤት)
 * I am a vegetarian : Siga albuelam (literally, "I don't eat meat") (ስጋ አልበላም)
 * coffee with milk : Buna b'Wetet (ቡና በወተት)

title: Amharic phrasebook


text:
Amherst

There are several places called Amherst, including:

Canada

 * Amherst on the Nova Scotia / New Brunswick border in Canada
 * Amherst Island near Kingston (Ontario)

United States of America

 * Amherst (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts
 * Amherst (New Hampshire) - A town in New Hampshire
 * Amherst (New York) - A town in New York State
 * Amherst (Ohio) - A city in Ohio
 * Amherst (Virginia) - A town in Virginia

title: Amherst


text:
Amherst (Massachusetts)

Amherst is a town in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Amherst is home to about 35,000 residents as well as the campuses of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. A usually pleasant mix of students, academics, and retirees makes it a quintessential New England college town.

Amherst is at the center of a vibrant academic consortium comprising UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and two more colleges in neighboring towns: Smith College in Northampton and Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley. Because of this the area is frequently referred to as the "Five College Area."

When to visit
The most popular time to visit Amherst is during autumn, because of the spectacular fall foliage display throughout the area. This usually peaks in mid-October. Views of the foliage can be seen from the surrounding mountains, the hiking trails, and throughout the college campuses. During this time tourists also come to take part in agricultural activities such as apple picking, farmers' markets, and hay rides. The town is usually bustling with college students during the season, making the town congested and sometimes crowded. Although, the students add to the youthful atmosphere of the town and make it lively and energetic.

By car
Route 9 is the main road in and out of town, and it can get pretty busy when the colleges are in session. Extended construction has just been completed on the art deco Route 9 Calvin Coolidge Bridge over the Connecticut River between Northampton and Hadley, markedly easing the congestion as one approaches Amherst.

Route 116 is the picturesque central artery through Amherst. UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the main shopping district are all situated along 116.

I-91 is the main north-south artery through the Pioneer Valley area, providing access to Route 9 for drivers approaching from Northern New England or Connecticut and New York City.

Please look out for drunk drivers during the nights after college students are finishing their parties!

By bus

 * Peter Pan, 79 South Pleasant Street, . Buses can take you to Springfield, Hartford, New York City, or further.
 * Megabus. Service from New York City, Hartford, Montpelier, and Burlington. Buses arrive and depart at the Hampshire Mall Shopping Center in the parking lot between the Cinemark and the rear of Target; from the mall you can catch the PVTA Blue 43 bus route to get into town. Fares from $1 and up.
 * Megabus. Service from New York City, Hartford, Montpelier, and Burlington. Buses arrive and depart at the Hampshire Mall Shopping Center in the parking lot between the Cinemark and the rear of Target; from the mall you can catch the PVTA Blue 43 bus route to get into town. Fares from $1 and up.

By plane
The two airports you'll want to look at are nearby Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (One hour by car) and Logan Airport  in Boston (2 hours or more away depending on traffic).

 * Valley Transporter, Phone: +1 413-253-1350. Offers convenient (though expensive) shuttle service from Bradley Airport to Amherst and the surrounding area.
 * Seemo Shuttle, . Offers a shuttle service to Bradley ($40), Boston Logan, JFK and LaGuardia in New York.

By train
Due to the rerouting of Amtrak Vermonter service, Amherst is no longer served by train. Nearest train stop is in Northampton, 6 mi (10 km) to the west. Northampton Station is on PVTA B43 route, which leads to Amherst.

If you intend to take a train service more frequent than Vermonter, Amtrak/CTrail Hartford Line can be your choice during weekdays, transferring at Springfield Union Station for PVTA R29.

Colleges

 * Amherst College Enjoy a walk around one of the most stunning (and highest-ranked) colleges in New England.
 * University of Massachusetts The flagship of the University of Massachusetts system, by far the largest academic institution in the region.
 * Hampshire College Is the youngest liberal arts college in Amherst.
 * Mt. Holyoke in nearby South Hadley is a highly ranked women's college.
 * Smith College in Northampton is another highly respected women's college.

Do
Because of the large population of college students, there are frequent concerts, and other activities that cater to the college crowd.

Buy
Amherst centre has a variety of boutique and book stores.

Eat
There is an interesting selection of locations for eating out in Amherst, from the traditional college-town fare (pizza, wings, subs) that one would expect from a town with 3 colleges, to some unique and interesting local restaurants. Many are situated in the downtown area, around the intersections of North Pleasant Street (Route 116) and Main Street.

Take-out
There are a variety of take-out restaurants that specialize in college-town fare.

Bars

 * The "college bars", North Pleasant Street. They're pretty much identical: Charlie's, McMurphy's, Delano's. Cheap pitchers or pints of your favorite light American lager. You may want to target one of these bars if you misplaced your valid ID and have to "borrow" someone else's.
 * The Spoke, North Pleasant St. The best dive in town. Not quite chi-chi like ABC or Moan and Dove, but not quite childish like above-mentioned "college bars." Sit down for a $1.50 draft, play some pool (free on Tuesdays), and sometimes they even make free sandwiches.
 * The "college bars", North Pleasant Street. They're pretty much identical: Charlie's, McMurphy's, Delano's. Cheap pitchers or pints of your favorite light American lager. You may want to target one of these bars if you misplaced your valid ID and have to "borrow" someone else's.
 * The Spoke, North Pleasant St. The best dive in town. Not quite chi-chi like ABC or Moan and Dove, but not quite childish like above-mentioned "college bars." Sit down for a $1.50 draft, play some pool (free on Tuesdays), and sometimes they even make free sandwiches.

Sleep
Accommodations are sometimes tough to get and are damn near impossible during high demand times like graduation, parents' weekend at the colleges, or football Saturdays. Book ahead of time if you know you're going to be in the area. Also look to Hadley or  South Deerfield for some closer lodging or stay in Holyoke, or Springfield and make the 45 minute drive.

By far the cheapest and best way to see and stay in Amherst, though, is by couch surfing. Being a college town, there are a lot of very receptive, very low-key locals (read: students living off campus) who would love to host friendly travelers. Of course, staying with a total stranger can be daunting, even unsafe, so make sure to contact your host prior to arrival, have a backup plan, and use resources like www.couchsurfing.com which allow users to review and rate couch surfers and hosts.

Go next

 * Hike Seven Sisters in the Mt Holyoke Mountain Range 380 Amherst St, South Hadley, MA. A beautiful scenic hike that gives you a complete 180-degree view of the connecticut river and the many farmlands in the area. Located at the westernmost end is the summit house a great place to rest and have a picnic. There is also an area off route 47 where you can drive up or park and hike up the road for anyone who has kids or issues hiking you can still get to the top and enjoy the view!
 * The nearby Mt Holyoke Range State Park is a great place for hiking and fall foliage.
 * The New England Peace Pagoda, the first Nipponzan-Myōhōji Peace Pagoda to be built in the US, completed in 1986, is in the neighboring town of Leverett, to the north.
 * Puffers Pond- State St. Located along mill river puffers pond used to be home to the Norwottuck natives a tribe who had settled along the river banks along with other Native American tribes who used the river and the area surrounding it for hunting and fishing for sometime before settlers came. This historical landmark is now used by the town for swimming and fishing. There are beautiful trails surrounding the pond and make for a great day of site seeing and taking in some fresh air. At the end of one of the paths is a mill river park, an open field with a plays cape and swimming pool. Off to the left are tennis courts and basketball courts a little something for everyone.

title: Amherst (Massachusetts)


text:
Amherst (New Hampshire)

Amherst is a town in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire.

Understand
Amherst came about due to land given to soldiers in 1728 who had participated in King Philip's War. This was first named "Narragansett Number 3" in 1733 and then later changed to "Souhegan Number 3." Settlers there formed a Congregational church and hired their first minister In 1741. The town was named for Lord General Jeffrey Amherst, he initiated the practice of giving smallpox blankets to Native Americans and commanded British forces in North America during the French and Indian War. Today, Amherst houses a population of a little over 10,000 people in an area of 35 square miles.

Get in
Amherst is in Hillsborough County, about 10 miles west of downtown Nashua and only about 25 minutes drive from downtown Manchester.

By plane
Manchester Airport- One Airport Road, Manchester, +1 603-624-6556

By car
Regal Limousine Service-3 Howe Dr, Suite 1

Velocity Travel +1 603 672-5550

Connect
Town Hall- 2 Main Street Ph: +1 603 673-6041 Fax: +1 603 673-6794

Police- 175 Amherst Street Ph: +1 603 673-4900

Fire Department- 177 Amherst Street Ph: +1 603 673-1545

Emergency Medical- 175 Amherst Street Ph: +1 603 673-7030

Public Works- 22 Dodge Road Ph: +1 603 673-2317

In an Emergency dial 911

Learn
Colleges-

New Hampshire College (about 17 miles; Manchester, NH; Full-time enrollment: 3,251)

University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about 20 miles; Lowell, MA; enrollment: 8,373)

Fitchburg State College (about 22 miles; Fitchburg, MA; enrollment: 3,660)

Mount Wachusett Community College (about 28 miles; Gardner, MA; enrollment: 2,023)

Northern Essex Community College (about 28 miles; Haverhill, MA; enrollment: 3,388)

Merrimack College (about 28 miles; North Andover, MA; enrollment: 2,384)

Middlesex Community College (about 30 miles; Bedford, MA; enrollment: 4,501)

title: Amherst (New Hampshire)


text:
Amherst (Nova Scotia)

Amherst is a city of 9,400 people (2016) in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Amherst is the county seat and largest population centre in the Cumberland region.

History
The Micmac name for the area was Nemcheboogwek, meaning 'going up rising ground', in reference to the higher land to the east of the Tantramar Marshes. The Acadians who settled here as early as 1672 called the village Les Planches. The village was renamed "Amherst" in honour of Lord Amherst, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War."

The town was settled in 1764 by immigrants from Yorkshire following the expulsion of the Acadians. The original settlement was 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of the present town on the shore of the Bay of Fundy. These settlers were joined by United Empire Loyalists who fled the American colonies during the American Revolution. A mill was built on the current townsite, and the residents moved there to be closer to work.

During the 19th century, Amherst became an important regional centre for shipbuilding and other services to outlying communities. An indication of the town's importance in Canadian history is seen with its four Fathers of Confederation: Edward B. Chandler, Robert B. Dickey, Jonathan McCully, and Sir Charles Tupper.

During the late 19th century, local industrialists and entrepreneurs constructed many fine Victorian and Edwardian homes along Victoria Street East, leading toward the farming hamlet of East Amherst.

Amherst experienced unprecedented industrialization in the late 1870s after the Intercolonial Railway of Canada constructed its main line from Halifax to Quebec through the town in 1872. The location of the railway line away from the Bay of Fundy coast further consolidated the town at its present location as industry and commercial activity centred around this important transportation link. The economic boom created by the arrival of the Intercolonial Railway lasted through World War I and numerous foundries, factories and mills opened.

In 1908, the manufacturing output of Amherst's industries was not exceeded by any centre in the Maritime Provinces. Many of the fine old buildings along Victoria Street are considered industrial artifacts because they were constructed during a period of tremendous industry growth. Local contractors employed local craftsmen, who used local materials. Notice the emphasis on sandstone and brick, both locally produced and delightful detail which reflects the skilled craftsmanship prevalent in the 19th century.

The town's industrial economy began a slow decline during the 1910s. A prisoner-of-war and enemy alien camp was set up at Malleable Iron Foundry in Amherst from April 1915 to September 1919, and Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky was incarcerated there for one month after he was arrested in Halifax in April 1917. Trotsky was transferred to the isolated Kapuskasing Internment Camp in northern Ontario until his release and expulsion after Soviet Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending their involvement in the war.

The eventual closure of companies such as Robb Engineering & Manufacturing (purchased by Canada Car and Foundry and then closed) and Amherst Pianos, among others led to a resignation of lost dreams as the town was overtaken by other newer manufacturing centres in central Canada during the 20th century.

By car
Amherst is just off the Highway 104 (Trans-Canada Highway), a few km south of the provincial border with New Brunswick. The city is accessed through the following highway exits: LaPlanche St (if coming from the west), Victoria St or Albion St. Highway 104 becomes Route 2 in New Brunswick.

You can also enter Amherst from the Highway 6 (Sunrise Trail) to the east, which links to Victoria Street.

By train

 * VIA Rail Canada operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Travel time to Amherst from Montreal is 18.5 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 14.75 hours, from Moncton is 1 hour, and from Halifax is 3 hours. Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.
 * VIA Rail Canada operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Travel time to Amherst from Montreal is 18.5 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 14.75 hours, from Moncton is 1 hour, and from Halifax is 3 hours. Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By bus

 * Operates the following routes to Amherst:
 * Between Halifax and Moncton including stops in Dartmouth, Halifax Airport, Truro, Amherst, Sackville, and Moncton Airport. Travel time to Amherst from Halifax is 2.5 hours, from Truro is 1.25 hours, and from Moncton is 45 minutes.
 * Between Amherst and Charlottetown including a stop in Borden. Travel time to Amherst from Charlottetown is 1.75 hours and from Borden is 45 minutes.
 * Travel to Amherst from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Antigonish, North Sydney, and Sydney with a transfer in Truro.
 * From Bathurt, Campbellton, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, and Saint John with a transfer in Moncton.
 * From Summerside with a transfer in Borden.
 * From Summerside with a transfer in Borden.

Get around
The main streets in Amherst are Albion St, Church St and Victoria St. Church St intersects with Victoria St and Albion St, and both Victoria and Albion St intersect with Highway 104, so you can usually find your way around if you know these three streets. Albion St, where most of the restaurants and shops are, represents up-town. Church St and Victoria St (downtown) have most of the artisan shops, diners and history.

Buy

 * The local Walmart is on Robert Angus and the John Black Rd (which are the same street).
 * The local Walmart is on Robert Angus and the John Black Rd (which are the same street).
 * The local Walmart is on Robert Angus and the John Black Rd (which are the same street).
 * The local Walmart is on Robert Angus and the John Black Rd (which are the same street).

title: Amherst (Nova Scotia)


text:
Amherst (Ohio)

Amherst is a city of 12,000 people (2018) in the Greater Cleveland area, near the Lake Erie shore. It has been called the Sandstone Center of the World. Its quarries were an important source of grindstones. There were nine sandstone quarries in the area operating at the peak of production. Many early buildings are constructed of native sandstone.

Understand
Amherst is 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Lake Erie.

Climate
Amherst had a humid continental climate typical of much of the Central United States, with very warm to hot, humid summers and cold winters with moderate snow.

Get in and around
By far the most common mode of transportation to and within Amherst is by car. However the downtown area is walkable. State Route 2 runs west to east through the northern portion of Amherst providing access from downtown Cleveland (25 minutes), its suburbs and Sandusky, Ohio. There are two exit/entrance ramps in the city (Oak Point Road and State Route 58).

The Ohio Turnpike also runs west to east along the City's southern border and there is one (exit/entrance) ramp just south of the city in Amherst Township at State Route 58.

Parts of the city are served by the Lorain County Transit system.

Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) is the nearest international airport; it is approximately 35 minutes east of the city.

Go next
Cedar Point is nearby on 2 West.

title: Amherst (Ohio)


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Amherst (Virginia)

Amherst is a town in Central Virginia.

Get in
Amherst is accessible by three major roads. Route 29 runs north and south through Amherst County. Route 60 runs east and west through the county. Finally Route 130 runs east and west and is at the southern end of Amherst County. Amherst Town is at the intersection of Routes 29 and 60.

Get around
Driving is the major form of travel used by both visitors and residents. Mass transportation does serve sections of the southern end of the county. Biking and walking is possible, however the shoulders on the roads are generally small. Hiking is a popular option as thousands pass through Amherst County while hiking the Applachian Trail that runs north and south in the eastern section of the county.

Do
The Appalachian Trail which is in the eastern part of Amherst County, provides over 50 miles of maintained trails and shelters. The AT can be easily accessed for day and multiple day hikes via route 130 at the 'Foot Bridge' which crosses the James River into Bedford County and also route 60 at Long Mountain Wayside.

Eat

 * The Briar Patch on Business 29 in Amherst is a nice bar/restaurant serving American fare for lunch and dinner.
 * El Mariachi is in the Ambriar Shopping Center and features a Tex-Mex menu.

There are several fast food eating options either on Business 29 or less than a 1/4 of mile off business 29 McDonalds, Subway, and Hardee's.

 * La Carreta is a local favorite and serves a Tex-Mex menu
 * Country Cooking is a budget option for a 'sit down' meal and the eatery has a full salad bar.
 * Pizza Wings and Things as the name suggests you can get pizza and other things located just south of route 130 and 29 intersection.
 * Pizza Wings and Things as the name suggests you can get pizza and other things located just south of route 130 and 29 intersection.

There are many fast food options on route 29 in Madison Heights. Such as McDonald's, Arby's, Hardee's, KFC, and Dairy Queen. There is also a Pizza Hut across from Walmart.

title: Amherst (Virginia)


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Amidon

Amidon is a town in the southwestern area of North Dakota. It had a population of 23 people in 2019.

Understand
Amidon has the distinction of being the smallest county seat in the US. It was founded in 1910 and named in honor of Charles Amidon, a US District Judge in Fargo, ND.

Get in

 * By car: from I-94 exit 42, approx. 35 miles south on US Hy 85.

title: Amidon


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Amiens

Amiens is the capital of the northern French region of Hauts-de-France. As well as its own attractions, the city makes a practical base from which to explore the area of the First World War's Western Front located nearby.

Get in
north of Paris. On the intersection of the A16 Abbeville - Beauvais and the A29 Rouen - Saint-Quentin (Aisne) and Reims. Providing direct access from the port of Le Havre and Calais, and an indirect but closer route from Dieppe.

Get around
There are many signs (direction, tourism, car parks). However, the city center is pedestrianized, it is advised to park a little farther, or in the numerous underground parking lots of the city center.

Amiens has a decent bus system (€1.40 for a ticket which is valid one hour) and a community bicycle system but bicycles are not in useful areas.

Do

 * Football: Amiens SC play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier in France. Their home ground Stade de la Licorne (capacity 12,100) is 3 km west of city centre.
 * Football: Amiens SC play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier in France. Their home ground Stade de la Licorne (capacity 12,100) is 3 km west of city centre.
 * Football: Amiens SC play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier in France. Their home ground Stade de la Licorne (capacity 12,100) is 3 km west of city centre.

Buy
There are a couple of tourist gift shops on the south side of the Place Notre Dame. The main shopping area is around Rue des Trois Cailloux.
 * Macarons d'Amiens, small, round-shaped biscuit-type macaroons made from almond paste, fruit and honey.

Eat
Quai Belu on the north bank of the Somme has a good selection of restaurants, and some pleasant street seating. Quality food as catering for the locals but there is enough tourist trade that most have English menus available.

Drink
The area between the cathedral and the river Somme around Rue des Bondés is a popular area for drinking with indoor and outside seating. There are also a few possibilities around the Place Gambetta and near the rail station.

Go next

 * Albert and the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme
 * Saint-Quentin (Aisne)
 * Abbeville
 * Rouen
 * Beauvais

title: Amiens


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Amityville

Amityville is a village in the south west part of Babylon in Suffolk County, on Long Island in New York.

Understand
Set on the Atlantic Coast, Amityville has been a popular tourist place since the early 1900s. The famous British composer Benjamin Britten lived here from 1939 to 1942. However, it is perhaps best known as the setting for the novel, and subsequent films, The Amityville Horror, which was based on the 1974 murders that occurred in the town; though the scene itself tries hard not to be a tourist attraction for that reason alone.

The population was about 9,500 at the 2020 census.

History
Huntington settlers first visited the Amityville area in 1653 as a source of salt hay. Chief Wyandanch granted the first deed to land in Amityville in 1658. The area was originally called Huntington West Neck South (it is on the Great South Bay and Suffolk County, New York border in the southwest corner of what once called Huntington South but is now the Town of Babylon. According to village lore, the name was changed in 1846 when residents met to find a better name for its new post office. The meeting turned into bedlam and one participant was to exclaim, ``What this meeting needs is some amity." Another version says the name was first suggested by mill owner Samuel Ireland to name the town for his boat the Amity. The place name is strictly speaking an incident name, marking an amicable agreement on the choice of a place name.

In the early 1900s Amityville was a popular tourist destination with large hotels on the bay and large homes.

Annie Oakley was said to be a frequent guest of vaudevillian Fred Stone. Will Rogers had a home across Clocks Boulevard from Stone. Gangster Al Capone also had a house in the community.

Get in
There are many different ways to get to Amityville, Long Island. The most common route is taking Southern State Parkway. Amityville is Located at Exit 32 north and South. Both exits will bring you to Amityville from NYC. It takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes to get there from NYC. The main road in Amityville Long Island is Route 110 and this road has access to all of the major highways and businesses in Amityville. This also runs through other towns in Long Island.

Get around
One of the options to getting around Amityville is using MTA buses and trains. Long Island Bus provides convenient service throughout Nassau County, western Suffolk County in which Amityville resides, and into eastern Queens. They have 53 routes serve 48 Long Island Rail Road stations plus colleges, museums, parks, theaters, and beaches throughout the area. Long Island and Amityville Commuters definitely use MTA as a mode of travel. Another easy way to get around in Amityville Long Island is to use taxis. Most people in Amityville Drive because of the distance between destinations but overall a lot of people use taxis on a regular basis.

See
Amityville has amusement parks, historic sites and state and local parks and playgrounds. Amityville also has its own beach that has been very popular in the past.

Do
Crazy Donkey- A popular night club that any celebrities go to and perform or just go to have a good time.

Dave and Busters- Dave and Busters is a very popular gaming place and restaurant around the U.S.A. but it is very popular in Amityville and has been there for years.

Fun Zone- An indoor amusement park and arcade that many people enjoy going to have a good time.

Adventure Land- An amusement park that has been very popular in Amityville and is a popular attraction to tourist.

Tanner Park-A famous park in a town right outside of Amityville which has basketball courts, football fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, a beach, skateboard park, playgrounds and many other things. Tanner Park is definitely a place you would want to visit if you came to Amitville

Amityville is also the home of the Amityville Warriors Basketball team.

Eat
Amityville has many popular places to dine at. Broadway (Route 110) has many food places tourist go to. There are also various diners.

Sleep
There are no hotels in Amityville, however there are many hotels nearby.

Stay safe
Overall, Amityville is a very safe community – especially south of the Long Island Rail Road. Generally speaking, the portions of the village north of Sunrise Highway can be very dangerous during the nighttime hours, the area south of Sunrise Highway and north of the Long Island Rail Road is generally safe, and anything south of the Long Island Rail Road is very safe.

title: Amityville


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Amizmiz

Amizmiz (أمزميز AMZ-meez) is a small town in Morocco approximately 55 kilometers south of Marrakech. It lies at the foot of the High Atlas mountain range.

Its population consists mainly of Berbers of Chleuh origin who speak the Tashelhiyt dialect. Its weekly souk every Tuesday is well known in the area.

Get in
Nearly everyone who goes to Amizmiz gets there via Marrakech. Within Marrakech, you'll need to take a "petit taxi" to the "Bab Er-Rob" taxi station that is just outside of town; make sure you ask them to put the car meter on otherwise you will end up paying more than you should. Once you arrive at the taxi station, start asking for "Amizmiz" (which is pronounced AMZ-meez), and someone will eventually direct you to a grand taxi (an old Mercedes Benz) that is waiting to get filled up, at which point you'll depart; normally two people sit in the front seat and four cram in the back. The normal fare is 15 dirhams per person. For those who are not as eager to sit squished for an hour's ride in the heat, feel free to pay for two places (hence 30 dirhams) and ask for the front passenger area to yourself. You can also find a bus that takes longer (because of more frequent stops) which costs only 10 dirhams. The bus (#L45) can be picked up at the "Sidi Mimoun" bus stop area near Djemaa el Fna (on the road called "Rue Mouahidine").

Get around
Once you arrive at Amizmiz, you'll be able to get everywhere by foot. They do have some local taxis now that can take you from the main part of town up to the administrative section of town where the high school is. However, there is little reason for the normal tourist to see that part of Amizmiz.

For those of you who desire a little more adventure, and you are healthy and have good footwear, then you can venture up the mountainous hills or follow the road towards Toulkine. On this road is a forest rangers cabin with a very helpful and hospitable ranger who if asked will show you around the very old traditional style cabin as well as fill you in on the local scenery and geography. He is a Berber so some French or Arabic would come in very handy. Allow 2 to 4 hours for this trek from Amizmiz dependent on your fitness.

Do

 * Weekly Market: Without doubt, if you can manage to get to Amizmiz on a Tuesday, you'll have the chance to see the weekly market ("souk" in Arabic). Here you'll a wide variety of people selling their goods: Berbers from the mountain villages and also local vendors as well.  Nothing has a set price (except fresh food and produce), so be prepared to argue over prices.
 * Berber Villages: Up into the hills, there are numerous small Berber villages that are worth visiting if you have the chance. Many of these still do not have running water or electricity, and you may see small children hauling huge plastic containers of water to their homes on donkeys.  The people are incredibly hospitable and generous.  There are different outfits that will help you get to some of these villages.  Berber Travel Adventures offers day trips or more extended hikes into the mountains. You'll be able to stay in Berber homes and experience Berber village life.
 * Regraga: A local small business development project, Explore Amizmiz facilitates opportunities to witness and participate in the day to day goings-on of Regraga, a neighborhood on the upper side of town. One can have a look into the work of the many local potters, stay with a Moroccan family, take cooking lessons, and explore the surrounding natural area.

Buy
The best time and place to do some shopping is at the weekly market (see above). There are a wide variety of handmade items for sale, many made by local Berbers in the villages surrounding Amizmiz.

Eat
There are a number of small cafés that also serve food, from sandwiches to small tajines with meat and vegetables. These are generally cheap, filling, and tasty.

Drink
For the thirsty traveler, the best bet is to stop by one of the many hanoots (small general stores) spread all around Amizmiz. They will sell bottled water and cold sodas for a few dirhams.

You can also find quite a few cafés in the center of town near the taxis. You'll be able to pick up some hot tea, water, or soda.

Sleep
You can also look into excursions to local villages where you can stay in Berber homes overnight.

Go next
As with your arrival to Amizmiz, it is also always the case that you will have to return to Marrakech on your way out of Amizmiz. While there are roads heading east and west out of town, the only regular transportation on them is to local nearby villages. Your quickest bet is getting a taxi back to Marrakech.

title: Amizmiz


text:
Amman

Amman (Arabic: عمان ʻammān) is the capital and largest city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with a population of about 4 million as of 2020. Amman forms a great base for exploring the country and does, despite popular belief, hold a few items of interest to the traveler. The city is generally well-appointed for the traveller, reasonably well-organized, and the people are very friendly.

Although not seen as much when in the air over Amman, the city holds many surprises for the visitor. Anything can be found in Amman if one asks. Visit Amman's Roman Amphitheatre or stay in a luxurious hotel. Shopping malls are abundant in Jordan. With new construction in Abdali, in a few years the high-end traveller could eat in the most high-end restaurant, stay in a five star hotel or shop in massive malls, all a few metres from one another. Much less is being done to cater to the budget traveller, although urban beautification in the city centre (old town) is cleaning it up and making it more pedestrian-friendly.

Amman is experiencing a massive (some would say: reckless) change from a quiet sleepy village to a bustling metropolis, some of whose neighbourhoods seem hell-bent on wanting to imitate Dubai. Amman's roads have a reputation of being very steep and narrow in some of the underdeveloped parts of the city but now the city has state of the art highways and paved avenues. The steep terrain and heavy traffic remains challenging for pedestrians and for the rare cyclist. New resorts and hotels dot the city and there are many things for the traveller to see and do. Use Amman as a staging point for travels to nearby cities and settlements in Jordan.

Understand
A city built of white stone, Amman's growth has skyrocketed since it was made the capital of Trans-Jordan in the early 1920s, but especially after the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel when hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees settled there. Another wave arrived after the second Iraq war, with Iraqi refugees forming the majority of newcomers.

Its history, however, goes back many millennia. The settlement mentioned in the Bible as Rabbath Ammon was the capital of the Ammonites, which later fell to the Assyrians. It was dominated briefly by the Nabataeans before it became a great Roman trade center and was renamed Philadelphia. After the Islamic conquests, Amman became part of the Islamic Empire, until the Ottomans were forced out by the Allies, with the help of the Hashemites, who formed a monarchy that continues to rule until the present.

Today, West Amman is a lively, modern city. The eastern part of the city, where the majority of Amman's residents live, is predominantly the residential area of the working class and is much older than the west. While possessing few sites, Amman makes a comfortable base from which to explore the northwestern parts of the country.

Amman is a very diverse city. Palestinian, Iraqi, Circassian, Armenian, and many other ethnic groups reside in Amman. Amman never stops growing.

Despite the common assertion that most Jordanians understand English, that knowledge is quite limited. Charmingly, the most commonly known English phrase seems to be "Welcome to Jordan". The only non-Arabic language used in signposting is English, and you will find "Tourist Police" near the major monuments. It never hurts to know a few useful phrases and come prepared with a translation book, or to have the names and addresses of places you are going written in Arabic for use with a taxi driver.

Remember if you're travelling during the holy month of Ramadan, it is almost impossible to buy food from sunrise to sundown even for tourists. Big shopping malls like City Mall don't let food stores like McDonald's, Sunset and Starbucks sell food during these hours.

Get in
for comprehensive and complete visa details when entering Jordan in Aqaba or Amman, and possibilities to waive your visa fee.

By plane

Early arrival: If you have an early arrival flight and don't want to pay a full-day hotel for just 4 or 5 hr staying there, you can wait in the baggage claim hall at the airport. There are some 50 seats or so available—not too comfortable but acceptable.

Getting there and away:
 * By bus – The Sariyah Airport Express bus leaves from a marked bus stop on Level 1 (Arrivals) and costs 3.30 JD. It runs from the airport around the clock every hour on the hour, with additional half-hourly departures 08:30–17:30. It is necessary to purchase the ticket from a kiosk outside the airport exit—the kiosk is easily identified after exit but often only takes cash and frequently does not have enough change for larger bills. Note that during night time there is no service to the airport. Additionally, this service may be run by a minibus with extremely limited seating and space for baggage. For most travellers staying in inner Amman, this is a cost effective option to bring you into the city, where you can then call an Uber or Careem for 1–3 JD to your hotel. Beware that taxis tend to crowd the bus stops, especially at the final stop, the North Bus Station. These taxis will generally overcharge and very aggressively attempt to sell to you on arrival, including boarding the bus to tell you they are the official taxi service. They are not!
 * The route is: QAIA – 7th Circle (after 20-30 min) – Six Circle – Fifth Circle – Fourth Circle – Housing Bank Complex – Tabarbour North Bus Station (after 45-60 min).
 * From the 4th Circle, where the bus will turn north, it is possible to catch a taxi (1-1.5 JD) from the bus stop to your hotel, but beware of taxis drivers trying to rip off the newly arrived traveler. Or just walk the last 1-2 km.

 * By ride hailing – Uber and Careem operate in the city, and while the fare is usually around 15 JD, rides have to be caught upstairs at the departures level. It can be quite expensive and unpredictable to catch an Uber from the city back to the airport. A ride at certain times of day, such as rush hour in the morning, may cost upwards of 25 JD. Furthermore, a driver may accept the fare, take some time to arrive, and then decline the fare upon arrival after realizing that the destination is the airport. Repeatedly searching for a driver could cause a significant delay to your arrival at the airport for your flight.
 * By taxi – Taxi transportation from the airport to Amman should cost around 20 JD. Airport taxi fares are fixed. The fare is only fixed from airport to city: the taxi driver might try to secure a ride from you from the city back to the airport, often with a massive inflated price. It is not hard to get a ride from city to airport for 20 JD. If the driver is trying to charge more, make your stand and say no.

Very occasionally, regional or charter flights use, centrally located in east Amman a few kilometers beyond the railway station. You may also want to consider arriving and departing Aqaba airport and then continue with an intercity bus—in summer there might be cheap flights there. Also, you may be entitled to a free visa.

By bus

From:
 * West Bank and Israel – For information on coming in via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing, see Jordan.
 * Damascus, Syria – Bus services are cancelled indefinitely due to the ongoing Syrian civil war.
 * Baghdad, Iraq – JETT runs several buses per week.
 * Jeddah or Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – As of December 2019 there are no bus services.

By train
Scheduled services within Jordan and to Damascus have been suspended by Hedjaz Jordan Railway, and they are unlikely to resume. Train excursions run occasionally, as do local services to Zarqa. Neither operate more often than once per week, if at all. Amman's tiny, charming railway station (Mahatta) with its museum is worth a look even if you do not (or cannot) take a train.

By taxi
A taxi from the Palestinian border crossing bridge can cost 25 JD and takes one hour, depending on which of the three border crossing points you use.

On foot
Some areas of Amman are not easily navigated on foot. Be aware when walking through areas of Amman that are not familiar to you because the walkable route might be inconvenient. Unlike other cities frequented by tourists, tools such as Google Maps may not provide an easily traversable route even when used in walking mode. In this case, a walk that appears to be only a few minutes on Google Maps my take half an hour or longer due to unforeseen obstacles. For example, in some areas of Amman you may encounter roads that quickly become highways/expressways, roads up very steep hills, roads that lack a functional sidewalk, roads that have sidewalks but not functional pedestrian crossings at busy intersections, parts of sidewalks that are heavily obstructed by vegetation, and crossings that require the use of an overpass that is far away. It is not impossible to walk in Amman, but some areas of the city are designed primarily for vehicle traffic and it is better to arrange for a ride.

By taxi
Yellow and grey taxis are readily available and can be easily found anywhere in Amman. Hail them in the street as Jordanians do. Taxis for Amman will have a green logo on the driver and passenger doors. The grey ones have an advertisement on top of the car. Resist hailing cabs with another color logo; these cabs are based in other cities and it is illegal for them to pick up fares in Amman. White taxis are shared, and the driver can pick up other fares along the way, which can lead to confusion.

Taxis in Amman are required by law to use meters and most drivers will reset the meter as soon as a fare is picked up. Most trips within Amman should be under 2 JD, and even a ride from one end of town to the other should not cost more than 5 JD. Taxis are not required to use meters after midnight and drivers often expect double the normal fare for late night trips.

Beware of drivers offering to give you a short ride "for free" as a "Welcome to Jordan", especially if you're walking between the Citadel and the Roman Theater; they will then offer to wait for you to take you to your next stop, and will use the "free" ride as an excuse not to start the meter. They will then charge you exorbitantly when you arrive at your next stop. Also, be wary of the private cars posing as taxis around the bus stands and stations. They will offer their services asking you to pay as much as you want but later on insist on pocketing more money from you. In case you get one, insist paying the standard price which should not be more than 2–3 JD, anything more is a rip-off.

The base rate for the taxi meter is 250 fils, however, some taxis may use old meters which charge 150 fils, it is legitimate for the driver to ask you for 10 extra piasters (100 fils) on top of the quoted meter fare. Make sure though that you note the initial fare as soon as the driver turns the meter on in order not to have the driver ask you for "the 10 piasters" when he has a new meter. Drivers are not normally tipped, instead the fare is simply rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 piasters. Many drivers do not carry much change, so exact change should be given when possible.

If a driver is pretending he has no change, it is likely that he just wants to keep it, so that you'll have to pay more. If you mind this, ask the driver to find a nearby shop and get change or get the change yourself from a shop or (if you don't mind being rude) look into their money box to find the change yourself.

The going, negotiated rate for a taxi from Amman to the airport is 20 JD or more, although some drivers can be talked down to 15 JD or even 10 JD (which would be close to the metered rate). All taxis are allowed to take passengers to the airport; only special Airport Taxis may take passengers from the airport into town.

If you are visiting the Citadel, call it al'Aqal. The driver may try to convince you that the Roman theater is nicer so that he can drop you off there at the bottom of the hill. It's best to be dropped off at the Citadel and walk down the hill to the Roman theater.

Uber and Careem operate in Amman in the same way as anywhere elsewhere. It is best to select the Uber option as opposed to taxi, and card payment as opposed to cash to avoid being asked for more money by the driver. Ubers and Careem are quite cheap, and in most of the core of the city will cost just 1–4 JD depending on distance and demand. Consider tipping if you can, especially since both apps tend to price on distance—given the difficult streets in Amman, it can often mean much longer actual routes than it may seem on a map.

By car rental
There are several car rental companies located in Jordan some will even give you a driver for free if you book a car rental with them. Some of these are Hertz, Sixt Rental Cars, and National.

By bus
Big, municipal buses serve many parts of Amman. They are used by low-income workers, working-class youth and foreign workers, but are perfectly safe. As of January 2011, the fare was 380 fils. Pay the exact fare (or overpay); bus drivers have no change! You can also load a bus fare cash card with a few JD and swipe the card past a reader as you enter the bus, but places to buy and recharge the card are rare. Most buses are numbered; some display their destination in Arabic only. Bus no. 26 conveniently travels between the old town (Balad) and the 7th Circle along Zahran Street. No. 27 goes from the old town towards the posh Abdoun neighbourhood. No. 43 passes near Shmeisani (as does no. 46) and continues along Mecca Street towards Mecca Mall. Many bus stops are marked by bus shelters, but buses also drop passengers at unmarked spots wherever it is safe to stop. Private minibuses shadow the municipal buses. They do not display route numbers, but a conductor usually shouts out their destination.

By bicycle
Bike tours are a good way to see the local scenery and meet local cyclists. There are a couple of bicycling tour firms in Amman.

See

Although the capital of a diverse kingdom, Amman is not what one would call "packed" with things to see, making it a great gateway to explorations further afield. Even so, the city does hold a few items of historical and cultural interest (allow maximum 2 days to see them).

Around the city

Day trips can be done to the Desert Castles Amra, Kharaneh and Azraq in the east, about 30-50 km from Amman around the nearby city of Azraq.

Do

 * See the sunset from the view point near the Citadel. But pay also your attention to the time of the muezzin call. If you listen to it from the view point, where the whole city lies before you, you get the unforgettable acoustic impression.
 * Due to accelerated growth the past several decades, the styles of living differs considerably as one travels from east to west throughout Amman. Visitors desiring a more exotic and traditional experience should explore "Old Amman", the central downtown, or, which features many souqs, shops, and street vendors. Also known as the Souq with traditional sights and smells of the spice market, and shop for authentic souvenirs. Take a walk through the narrow alleyways and corners and negotiate (haggle) the price with friendly vendors. A maze of streets with everything from a fruit market to spices, souvenirs, clothes, hardware. Drink a cool glass of Sugar Cane juice, watch the talented young men make artistic sand designs inside the glass bottles, go and smoke a shisha (hubbly bubbly) in any of the numerous street cafes. Enjoy some tasty falafel in the famous Hashem cafe, enjoy a mansaf dish at Jerusalem restaurant or a nice slice of tasty Kanafe from Habibeh sweets. Busy crowded streets with the real taste of Jordan.
 * Abdali, a section of downtown Amman, is being transformed into a modern center for tourists and natives. The plan includes a broad pedestrian boulevard where visitors can shop, eat, or do numerous other activities. New office buildings and residential hi-rises have been built, and more are on the way. The massive, modern Abdali Mall draws Amman's young and monied.
 * The cultural scene in Amman has seen some increased activities, notably cultural centers and clubs such as Makan House, Al Balad Theater, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, Remall, and Zara gallery. Around the 1st of September the Jordan Short Film Festival takes place.

Learn
There are many universities one can study in. Irbid, Madaba, and Aqaba also hold many educational institutes for foreigners. Jordan's universities are world-renowned and respected for their hospitality and methods of instruction.

Buy
All ATMs charge a relatively high fee for withdrawing money. In Jordan you can withdraw money from your credit card in various currency exchange places. A reliable and low-priced currency exchange service is Alawneh Exchange. They have multiple locations in the city, including downtown. They charge a low percentage fee for withdrawing money from your credit card. Many locals use that agency. You need to show your passport.

If it's shopping you're after, then the pedestrian offers a wide selection of international brand names to choose from. Furthermore, there are the, Jordan's biggest shopping mall, the older and huge aimed at women (walking distance from City Mall), the  (also aimed at women), the , and , for those seeking indulgence and the odd US$500 to spare—all designer names.

Amman has numerous antique dealers littered throughout the city. Those in the western parts of the city will most likely be served by those with a competent grasp of the English language, but you run the risk of the items being a bit overpriced.

Some interesting, original souvenir items that one may consider taking home are:
 * a keffiyeh, the traditional checkered headpiece of Jordanian men
 * an antique brass tea/coffee pot, distinctly Middle Eastern with its artistic etching and curved spout
 * olive wood carvings of various objects or figures can be purchase nearly everywhere
 * hand-crafted Jordanian daggers
 * hand-made Bedouin-style embroidered clothing
 * spices.

Also Rainbow Street is populated with small antique stores, clothing, restaurants, sheesha tea shops and the well-known Falafel al-Quds, reputedly the "best" falafel in the Middle East (some Saudis even financed the opening of one in Saudi Arabia). Further down the street you will find a small park that overlooks the city. Further still on a side street, during the warmer months, is a side-walk flea market. At the end of this street and down some stairs you will find Wild Jordan.

Eat
Amman features many different styles of restaurants, from traditional Middle Eastern fare to more familiar Western fast food and franchises. Prices range from ultra-cheap to moderate, depending on one's taste buds. For those on a budget, Arabic food is very affordable and can be obtained everywhere.

Arabic food generally consists of several general basic groups. Meat dishes will generally consist of lamb or chicken; beef is more rare and pork is never offered. Shwarma, which is cooked lamb meat with a special sauce rolled in piece of flat bread, is a local favorite. Rice and flat bread are typical sides to any meal. Jordan's specialty, mansaf, is a delicious lamb and rice meal, typically eaten with your hands. Arabs serve plenty of cucumbers and tomatoes, many times accompanied by a white yoghurt sauce. Another favorite is chick pea-based foods such as falafel, hummus, and fuul.

One of Amman's most famous local foods restaurant is Hashem in the downtown. This restaurant is one of the favourites of the Royal family and you will see a lot of photographs of the Royal family of Jordan dining in this literal hole-in-the-wall. See the listing below.

In an alley off King Faisal St. is Habibah, which serves traditional east Mediterranean sweets such as baklava, but is most famous for serving a traditional dessert known as knafeh nabelseyyeh in reference to its origin from the Palestinian city of Nablus. 800 fils for a "half quarter kilo", which is enough for one person (Oct 2018). The original store is easy to spot with the long queue spilling onto the street: if you're just there for the food rather than the vibe, try the new extension that opened 100 m further up on King Hussein St.

Do not forget the good surprises coming from the countless shawarma outlets and other very cheap places.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Mid-range

 * Books@Cafe - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see. (updated May 2022)
 * Books@Cafe - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see. (updated May 2022)
 * Books@Cafe - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see. (updated May 2022)

Drink
For the coffee lover, Amman's Starbucks locations (Swefieh, Abdoun, Taj Mall, City Mall, Mecca Mall, Abdali Mall) offer various mugs, tumblers, and to-go cups with distinctive Jordanian and Middle Eastern flair.

Those who crave gourmet coffee have a number of choices along Rainbow St. off of First Circle in Jabal Amman with other shops sprinkled throughout the city.

Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor), can be purchased in liquor stores across the city. Most are distinguishable by an advertisement for Amstel or some like beverage outside. There are also bars up and down Rainbow St. in Jabal Amman and throughout Abdoun. Drinking age is 18 but some bars and cafes might card you and admit 21+ customers only.

Jordan's national beer is aptly called Petra Beer, and there are many liquor shops and kiosks around Amman where you can find it. There are two types: 'black' and 'red', which have 8% and 10% alcohol percentage respectively. The red is usually slightly more expensive than the black, but you should expect to pay 2-2.5 JD for a 500 ml can at a shop. You will often find that bars prefer Amstel and other international brands and do not have Petra beer available.

The local spirit is arak, an aniseed or licorice flavoured spirit similar to the Greek ouzo. At 50% alcohol by volume, it is usually served with water and ice, causing the clear liquid to become milky white.

For night clubs and bars visit the cosmopolitan West Amman where many Western and American franchises operate here. The nightlife in Amman is not as vibrant as other Middle Eastern cities like Beirut or Tel Aviv, however, there are a few clubs and bars in Amman.

The main places people who live in Amman spend time during the evenings are hookah shops.

Sleep
Amman has the full range of accommodation options from very basic 1-star accommodation to luxurious 5-star facilities.

Stay safe
Compared with other capital cities, Amman is a very safe place to visit. Jordanian police and the military maintain a tight grip on law and order. Personal safety is high in Amman - it is safe to walk anywhere in the city at any time of day or night. Serious crime is extremely rare. In 2005, some major hotels were targeted by bombers (connected with the conflict in Iraq). Security measures at all major hotels were increased as a result.

LGBTQ travellers: While laws criminalising homosexuality have long been repealed in Jordan, before even most of the West, Jordanian society at large remains broadly more socially conservative and LGBTQ acceptance is still rather low. No openly or officially gay bars or clubs exist in Amman as of 2023, and LGBTQ travellers are encouraged to exercise discretion.

Embassies
Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/jordan

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Go next
The bus stop at the 7th circle is less than 100 m south of the circle. This stop serves the airport, Madaba (0.75 JD), Kerak and others. The small yellow "airport express" labeled bus is easily recognized and the driver will also stop on other places if you wave at him. To reach the 7th circle from downtown take bus 41 or any headed to Wadi As-Seir and ask to be dropped of at Dawaar As-Saabe'a (7th circle). Many buses going by the 7th circle also take a turn at the 4th circle coming from Trababour Bus Station.

The Trababour Bus Station serves all destinations to the north and to the western border. To get there from downtown, take Serviis (a sedan car that works like a bus) #6 from Raghadan Tourist Service Station (Raghadan Al Seyaha) which is located right next to the Colosseum. The Trababour Bus Station is the last stop on the Serviis' route.

Many budget hotels like Palace or Farah organize day tours for about 16-18 JD which seems a sensible price, but they do not include entrance fees which could be important. These tours are open to people who don't sleep at the hotel. Classical tours are Jerash, Ajlun, Um Qais, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism site, Dead Sea, and Castles.

Cities:
 * Madaba — Just 45 min away and known as the 'City of Mosaics' for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at St. George Church. 0.75 JD by bus from the 7th circle.
 * Jerash (and Ajlun (Ajloun) Castle) — An ancient Roman City. Besides Petra and Wadi Rum, the most famous site in Jordan. 1 h, 0.75 JD from Trababour Bus Station. Get off right before the Hippodrome, 1 km before the bus station, and enter down the side road through the museum. A private taxi from Amman can be hired for 8-10 JD one-way. Expect to pay as much as 40 JD for a return trip and taxi driver staying on site while you look around. Ajlun Castle is only a short side trip from Jerash, either by bus from the junction south of the Hippodrome or by Taxi.
 * Umm Qais — A town north, close to the ruins of the ancient Gadara. Best reached by (rental) car or taxi.
 * Dead Sea — Mt. Nebo (1 JD) and Jesus' Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas) on the Jordan River are essentially on the way, so consider them as well if you have your own car or taxi. The Dead Sea Amman City Resort is about 20 JD with free showers and swimming pools, but no lockers, towels or mud. Taxi services for travel to the Dead Sea can be purchased for the day 20 JD if you hail a cab from downtown, down town hotels charge 35 JD for the same service. There are a handful of bus lines that also run from Amman on a daily basis. Bus from Mujaharin bus station to Rame costs 1 JD. A taxi from Rame to Amman Tourist Beach 4 JD or less. JETT offers a daily shuttle from Amman (7th circle) to the Dead Sea and back for 7 JD oneway.
 * Petra — The most famous site in Jordan. JETT buses, both ordinary and all-inclusive guided tour, connect via the fast (but boring) Desert Highway. It leaves at 6:30 from the JETT bus office at Abdali and in 3.5 hr you'll get to the bus station not even 5 minutes from the entrance of Petra. At 17:00 the JETT bus takes off again to go back to Amman. The price is 8-10 JD one way. Time tables of the JETT Bus: http://www.jett.com.jo/SubPage.aspx?PageId=230 Also, from the South Bus Station Petra can be reached by tourist buses: they tend to leave when they are full, from 08:30 onwards (3½ hr, 4-5 JD). Another option, go via Ma'an (7 JD) into Wadi Musa (0.5 JD) (town of Petra). Furthermore, for 75 JD or less (depending on how much you haggle) you may be able to get a private taxi from Amman to Petra and back, including the driver waiting around for 6 hr.

Countries:
 * West Bank and Israel — For information on travelling directly from Amman using the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, see Jordan.

 * Syria — There were two operators (one of them called Challenge) each providing two daily services to Damascus (Sumariya-Terminal) from Amman for SYP500 (SYP50 student discount). The tour takes at least 4 to 5 hr, depending on border formalities. However, considering the current situation in Syria, it is not recommended you head into this direction.

title: Amman