text:
Kazbegi

Stepantsminda (Georgian: სტეფანწმინდა; formerly Kazbegi, Georgian: ყაზბეგი) is a town in the north of Georgia, popular for the trekking opportunities in the visually spectacular surrounding mountains, its views of the mighty Mount Kazbeg, and for the beautiful view from the town of the Holy Trinity Church outlined against Mount Kazbeg itself.

Understand
The town of Kazbegi—officially named Stepantsminda (სტეფანწმინდა: st'eh-pahn-ts'meen-dah), but better known under the old name of Kazbegi) -- is a mountain town on the Georgian Military Highway. The town is 10 km south of the border with Russia, which is open again for some nationalities. On the western side of the river, the town is known as Gergeti (გერგეტი: gehr-geh-t'ee), but for all intents and purposes of a visitor, it is one town.

This pretty town is getting the increased attention it deserves, so there are increasing numbers of guest houses, restaurants and tourist facilities, but prices are inflated compared with the rest of the country.

By marshrutka
Marshrutkas leave more or less hourly from Didube bus station in Tbilisi, mostly before 16:00. For sure there are two at 12:30 and 14:30. 10 lari, 2¾ hr.

To find the marshrutkas, go down from the Didube metro station, turn right, cross the underway, cross the first parking lot (full of marshrutkas), and the marshrutkas to Kazbegi are in the second parking lot.

Kazbeki shared taxis (15 lari), which park along the side road, start from a different place than the marshrutkas, which go from inside the (building/bus) complex at Didube. Don't get fooled (by a touty taxi driver) into believing that the bus already left. However, it might be 1-2 hr until the next one leave, so you might want to pay the extra 5 lari, provided that the shared taxi is not also waiting for another hour for more passengers.

Marshrutkas stop half-way for around 10-15 min where travellers can use the bathroom (1 lari) and buy snacks from street vendors.

By taxi
If you have a bunch of people in your party, you can almost always find a driver hanging around the marshrutka who is going there anyway, and hitch a ride for a fare lower than the total your group would pay on the marshrutka.

Also, many drivers will take you in a small group (8 people) with 2 stops on route at the Ananuri Church of the Mother of God and Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument for 15 lari—5 more than the standard rate and well worth it for the comfort.

Get around
The town is small enough to get around on foot. However, it is on a somewhat steep hillside. Many of the streets are unpaved. If you have heavy luggage and your hotel/lodging is up the hill (away from the river), you may want to take a taxi. The Bolt app works in town.

Gergeti Trinity Church is a bit farther away (see below).

See

Further afield:
 * Jvari_Overpass_Travertine_Gruzia_2019_2.jpg
 * Jvari_Overpass_Travertine_Gruzia_2019_2.jpg

Do

 * Gergeti Glacier (3,000 m) – Hike further into the mountains via a path starting behind the ridge to the start of this glacier.
 * Mount Kazbeg (5,033 m) – Climb it with a guide.
 * Juta valley – Hike this wonderful nearby valley.
 * Mountain biking – Rent a bicycle and head towards the castle by the Russian border, and visit the small valleys south of the town.

On foot
Hiking is the best option, since you enjoy the view. This can be done throughout the year. It takes between 1 and 2 hr one way, and the difficulty depends on the path. Although the easiest way is very easy, keep in mind that there is more than 400 m to climb. All four paths are easy to follow.
 * By following the road: after the bridge, turn left, and follow the road until the end, about 6 km further. Duration: about 2 hr.
 * By the (relatively) easy trail: after the bridge, turn left, and follow the road for about one kilometer, almost at the end of the small village. You will see a sign for cars to turn right; don't turn right, but go until the end of your street, about 100 m. Then, turn right, walk 10 meters, turn left, and walk about 500 m. Then you will meet the road again; turn left, follow the road for about 2 km, until the trees suddenly disappear (and you have a wonderful view on Mount Kazbeg). You will see a path on the left; this is quite steep, though not difficult. In winter, avoid this part (keep going on the road). After 5 minutes on this path, you will reach the "summit", and see the church. Just go to the end. There are green/blue signs at each crossroads, so the path is very easy to find. Duration: 1hr 45min.
 * By the steep path. After the sign for cars to turn right, don't turn right, but go until the end of your street, about 100 m. Then turn left, and walk up! This path is very steep, and cannot be used in winter. Duration: 1 hr.
 * There is a fourth path to the left of the "(relatively) easy trail" along the river. It seems counterintuitive as there is no incline to start with, but you can navigate around the mountain, slowly making progress uphill, following a beautiful stream and the helpful arrows painted onto the rocks. Looking up you'll see the other 2 non-road paths and feel like you have done it wrong, but upon finishing you'll have a terrific view of the church from a distance with the mountain backdrop and you'll be easily able to join the other 2 paths and feel smug that you didn't have to navigate too many steep hills compared to everybody else.

Anyone planning on hiking will likely benefit from reading this blog post and this post.

By taxi
Many taxis (mostly in the main square) offer a return trip to Gergeti Trinity Church from Kazbegi for 40 lari. This is almost a scam, since this is 6 km from the city, and it is much nicer to climb yourself (see above).

But if you are unable to walk that distance, or in a hurry, why not. Try to bargain as much as possible!

Money
There is now a new ATM in town at the bank branch of 'Liberty Bank'. Its 200 m from the main square, next to the Mini-Markets. The bank also exchanges money and opens around M-F 10:00 - 17:30 also open Saturdays but a bit shorter.

The money changers right on the main square have horrible rates.

Shopping
There are some small shops just of the main square, in the direction of the 'center' (big sign on the side of the square).

Eat
There are few restaurants in the town. It is easier and cheaper to get the food at your guesthouse. Hotel Stepantsminda has a restaurant and the hotel next door as well.

Sleep
Plenty of homestays, with older ladies swarming any arriving mashrutka. Expect to pay 15 lari/person/night for a bed, 30 lari to include dinner and breakfast.

Most of the cheaper guesthouses and hostels are on the other side of the river. Walk a few 100 m north, cross the bridge to the left and then take another left after 300 m.

Stay safe

Stepantsminda Medical Centre is tucked behind a couple inactive-looking buildings on the main main (opposite Mountain Freaks Agency). You can get essential medical services here, but very little English is spoken. There is open Wi-Fi so you might use a translator app to describe your symptoms.

Connect
Wifi is generally available and good.

Go next

 * Sno Valley – Visit the villages Sno and Juta. To get there take a jeep from Stepantsminda. It's a long and pretty scary way but really worth it. However, Sno can also be reached on foot from the highway to Stepantsminda, about 4 km.
 * Tbilisi – Marshrutkas depart from the main square. Several departures in the morning. In the afternoon, departures at 13:30, 15:30 and 17:00 (last one). Price: 15 lari per person and 5 lari per luggage in the back (Update: July 2023)

 * Russia – Be sure that your citizenship or visa allows you to cross the border before attempting.

title: Kazbegi


text:
Kazeroon

Kazeroon is in Fars province, Iran.

See

 * Shapur statue
 * Parishan Lake

Do
Ashora and Tasoa carnival has been one of the most celebrated and unique carnivals in Iran. The date of this carnival is in the ninth and tenth of Moharam Month. In these two days people go out and show the killing of Hussein, son of Ali. The theater starts from morning til noon. Almost all people in the city walk on the street together. They morn for this historical event

Go next

 * The nearby ruins of The ancient city of Bishapur, include bas-relief depictions from the Sassanid era. A statue of Shapur I (AD 241–272) can be found in a large cave at the site.
 * The ruins of the Qal'eh-ye Gabri (Castle of the Gabrs, or Zoroastrians) are located on a mound S.E. of Kazerun

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

title: Kazeroon


text:
Kazimierz Dolny

Kazimierz Dolny (Yiddish: קאזמיר Kuzmir) is a town of 2,500 people (2019) in eastern Poland, on the right (eastern) bank of the Vistula river in Puławy County, Lublin Voivodship.

Get in
Minibuses from cities like Warsaw, Lublin, and Puławy operate daily. Additionally, visitors may take a train to Puławy (approximately 8 km away) and take either a taxi (50 złoty) or a bus/minibus (3-4) to Kazimierz.

Get around
It is easy to walk around the town itself, as it is relatively small and compact. There is a taxi stand operating on the main square (rynek). For a little more excitement, there are 4x4 jeeps offering tours of the surrounding woods, limestone quarry, and ravines during the summer for approximately 50 złoty per person. A short walk from the square to the river leads to a place where one can rent bicycles and scooters for an hour or a day.

See
On the main square is a rather large church. Walking further up the hill leads to the ruins of a castle and guard tower (joint ticket for 5 zł), where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the town and the Wisła. Further up on the hill and to the right are the "Three Crosses," a memorial for when a plague decimated the town's population (2 zł entrance fee).

Walking approximately 2.5 km down the path along the Wisła will bring you to a very large limestone quarry and boats that cross the river to take tourists to Janowiec.

Do
Sometime during the week and on Sundays there is a morning market in the main square.

During the summer Kazimierz holds many known festivals in Poland including: one of the larger Folk Festivals (June); Klezmr Music Festival (mid-July); and a large, international-flavored film festival in early-to-mid-August.

At and around the main square you can find multiple tourist buses offering tours to the Jewish cemetery, the biggest gorge and more. You will have around 20 minutes of free time at the cemetery and the gorge. For 10 zł to 15 zł (tour of around 1 hour) they are great value since you don't have to walk all the way. The tours will leave when they have around 6 people to join the tour.

Buy
Kazimierz is known as an artists' town, and accordingly there are a number of galleries showcasing and selling local art. Additionally, on market days there are many hand-made baskets and other trinkets that can be bought.

Eat
There are a number of restaurants in Kazimierz, ranging from the low-end to expensive.

Uphill from the Rynek is a 7-15 zł kebab restaurant, while on the Rynek, Pub Mars serves basic spaghettis and pizzas.

Approximately 200 m from the square off of Lubelska Street (heading towards the Wisła) is a traditional Jewish restaurant called 'U Fryzjera' (The Barbershop), which has live Klezmer music every Saturday night.

On Lubelska between the Rynek and the river is Zielona Tawerna (Green Tavern), where the Presidents of Poland and the Czech Republic ate in summer 2007.

Drink
The majority of bars are concentrated in the main square and include Rynkowa, Galeria, U Radka, Rozmaitosci, and Pub Mars. Rynkowa shows Polish national soccer matches on a large pull-down screen, while Mars serves food, and U Radka houses a number of original works of art and always plays Rolling Stone's-style music. Prices are almost exactly the same throughout the city, as a sort of price-fixing agreement appears to be in place. Half liter beers are generally 7 zł, although expect to pay more in restaurants.

There are no night clubs in the town, the closest one being in Król Kazimierz a few kilometers away. Otherwise, one must go about 9 km to Puławy for dancing/nightlife.

Go next

 * Lublin — the biggest city and capital of the region, it has a well-preserved old town with typical Polish and unusual Renaissance architecture, the so-called Lublin Renaissance. There are minibuses from Kazimierz Dolny.
 * Nałęczów — spa near Kazimierz Dolny.
 * Puławy - the closest city and transport hub. Close to the city center is a beautiful palace and equally beautiful surrounding park. The city also lies on the banks of the Vistula river.

title: Kazimierz Dolny


text:
Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National park (Assamese: কাজিৰঙা Kājiraṅā) in Upper Assam is famous throughout India as the home of the rhinoceros. As the region's principal tourist attraction, the park draws over 170,000 visitors every year. It has been very effective in protecting species at risk such as the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (of the 3600 left worldwide, 2400 are in Kaziranga park).

Understand
Kaziranga (kah-zih-rawng-ah) is one of the oldest national parks in India and is the largest habitat for Indian single-horned rhino (rhinoceros unicornis). Kaziranga is also a.

Its success in conservation has had a price. Forest guards, heavily armed and largely immune to prosecution, killed 50 people from 2013-2015. There are no fences or signs marking the edge of the park; alleged poachers and anyone wandering within the park at night risks being shot on sight or with very little warning. Local villagers and tribal peoples have often been maimed or killed. Many villagers have been dispossessed of homes and land to allow park expansion.

History
Kaziranga National Park was said to be first recognised around 1940, but was established in 1974. It has been substantially expanded over the years, resulting in neighbouring villages being demolished for land reclamation, leading to controversy.

The park was devastated by the July 2019 flooding, which had killed over 140 large mammals, which included at least 12 rhinos.

Flora and fauna
Kaziranga hosts a rich and diverse population of almost 42 species of fish, 9 species of amphibians, 27 species of reptiles, more than 491 species of birds and 35 species of mammals. Among the larger mammals, there are almost 86 tigers (2000 census), 1048 elephants (2002 census), 2048 rhinos (2009 census), 1431 buffalo (2001 census) and 486 swamp deer. Kaziranga also houses more than 546 species of flora. Kaziranga is said to have about 86 tigers, which is the highest density of tigers in the world (1 every 5 km², 2000 census)

Visitors seldom see tigers due to the dense, tall grass. The rhinoceros is the real star of the park. Kaziranga also has one of the very last populations of truly wild Asian water buffalo, but even here there are many feral descendants of domesticated water buffalo, and hybridization occurs. The park is also the last haven for greater adjutant storks, with fewer than one hundred nesting pairs.

Climate
The climate is typically tropical. It varies from very hot and humid in the summer (April to June) to cold nights and warm days in thewinter (from November to January). Kaziranga gets flooded by the water of the Brahmaputra River almost every year during the monsoon. The rainy season prevails from June to August. When it rains, Kaziranga becomes inaccessible. The best time to visit Kaziranga is in September - October or February/March.

Get in
By bus - Guwahati (217 km, ₹200), Jorhat (96 km, ₹70), Nagaon, Dibrugarh, Tezpur (75 km, ₹50) or Tinsukia. Get down at Kohora Town on Guwahati-Jorhat route. If visiting Kaziranga after a trip to Arunachal Pradesh, Tezpur is the best destination from which to catch a bus here. If entering the state of Assam via Guwahati, take a bus from there to Kaziranga National Park. Bus fare varies between private service and Government service.

By air- Nearest airport is in Jorhat town, which is 96 km away from Kaziranga. Jorhat is connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati by regular flights.

By rail- The nearest railway station to Kaziranga is Furkating, which is 80 km away. Furkating is connected by trains from Delhi and Kolkata.

By motorcycle- Another way to reach Kaziranga from Guwahati and Kohima is by riding a motorcycle in a group, which is conducted as guided motorcycle tours in the state of Assam and adjoining states. Tours are operated by various adventure tourism firms. These adventure motorbike tours covers the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, giving a traveller to visit to not only popular places but also rural parts of the region to experience first-hand of tribal cultures and traditions.

Fees and permits
₹500 (₹100) entry fee

Terrain vehicle ride: Based on which part of the National Park one wants to visit, the terrain vehicle fare may vary. Central Range: ₹1800, Western Range: ₹1900, Eastern Range : ₹1800, Kalapahar Range: ₹2200 as of Feb 2016. It is recommended to visit the Western and the Central Ranges both by Terrain vehicle and elephant. If you prefer birds and have a good camera, the Eastern Range is preferred. The costs will vary depending on your hotel. The price will be the for Indians and foreigners.

Elephant ride: ₹1950 (₹950) Central Range. You can see rhinos very up and close while on an elephant ride. There are two batches (015-06:15, 06:15-07:15) for the elephant ride. It is advisable to make the trip in the second slot during winter months as fog and a late sunrise does not allow one to see anything during the first slot.

There are extra charges for carrying a nicer camera (still or video) inside the park. The charges are different for Indian and foreign tourists. The charges are also different for amateurs and professionals depending on the level of equipment you bring in.

Your hotel should be able to book everything for you if you advise them before 19:00 the day before.

Get around
The only ways of getting around inside Kaziranga National Park is in a Terrain vehicle or by elephant safari.

See
Watch wildlife either from on top of an elephant or from a Terrain vehicle. All of the plain lands are infested by tall elephant grass, so it is more convenient to watch wildlife from an elephant's back. Rhinos, wild buffalo, hog deer, etc can be easily seen from an elephant back's view. Most of the animals are habituated with human presence and don't feel shy. Carrying a good pair of binoculars is a must whether watching from a Terrain vehicle or while riding an elephant.

Do

 * Stay at one of the local lodges, such as Nature hunt Eco Camp, Wild Grass Resort or Diphlu River Lodge. An evening of music and great food rounds off the day so nicely.
 * Take an elephant ride into the grassland for up-close encounters with the famous one-horned rhinocerous. Elephant rides take place very early in the morning and last about an hour.
 * Take a terrain vehicle tour of the park to see other wildlife such as storks, fish-eagles, and barasingha (swamp deer).

Buy
Different forest products are sold near Mihimukh entrance of Kaziranga NP. In Kohora, there are many shops, selling different kinds of forest products and local handicrafts.

Eat
There are few restaurants in the area. All of he tourist lodges have their own facilities for food. Most of the time the food is a little expensive. There is an office cum resting place for Network Buses and there is food available for non-passengers too. There are only a few rice hotels at Kohora near National Highway.

Drink
There are several wine shops at Kohora though the liquor is not cheap. Getting chilled bottles is not possible every time because there are acute power shortages in the area.

Sleep
In Kohora (on Guwahati-Jorhat route) there is a huge campus of Assam Tourism Department just opposite to Kohora bus stop (when coming from Guwahati/Tezpur side). Here you can find a number of economical and deluxe accommodations (₹400-2000 per night per room) in a number of tourist lodges. It is very convenient to stay here as the office of "Kaziranga Development and Jeep safari association" is also located here hence you can directly book all your safaris without going through any agents in between.

Tourist lodges inside Assam Tourism Complex:
 * Bonani (Bon Habi) -, ,
 * Aranya-
 * Kohora forest IB-
 * Bagori -

Director of Tourism can be also contacted: Guwahati : , Email: astdcorpn@sancharnet.in

Lodging
Some other commercial private resorts are:

Camping
Camping is possible near Laudubi.

Stay safe
Hiking in Kaziranga is prohibited to stop man-animal conflicts, so going on a terrain vehicle or elephant-back tour are the only options. There is malaria in the region, but night-flying mosquitos are not active during the winter months which are the ideal time for visiting. Most local cases of malaria occur in the summer, when the park is closed.

Go next
If you head to Kohora across from the main entrance to Kaziranga, you can reserve a bus there or just wait for a bus heading to your location as it passes by. Buses pass frequently.

Hills of Karby Anglong district is a nice place for an outing. Drive down to Sibsagar, in Upper Assam, to visit the famed "Rong Ghor", an amphitheatre built by Ahom kings for their entertainment.

title: Kaziranga National Park


text:
Kazungula

Kazungula is a small border town on the northern banks of the mighty river Zambezi in Zambia. It marks Zambia's border with three other countries: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and is a unique place where four national borders meet. Since 2021 there is a newly constructed bridge between Zambia and Botswana, but not Zimbabwe, although it is possible to access it by land east of the town.

The town used to support the huge road transit point for the former ferry terminal. Where trucks used to have to wait for up to two weeks before being able to cross the river.

Understand
It is not possible to take a picture of the bridge and the bordering countries from the Botswanan side but it is possible from the Zambian if you go to the old ferry port.

Go next
Kasane

title: Kazungula


text:
Käsmu

Käsmu is a small coastal village in North Estonia inside Lahemaa National Park.

Understand
Käsmu was used by, and was home to many smugglers of salt and fish in the past century. It is steeped in maritime history and known in Estonia as the "Captain's Village".

By bus
To travel between the villages of Lahemaa National Park and from the highway, or from Tallinn or Rakvere, not so frequent buses are available. See Estonia, which also covers connections with interchange, especially Paetus.ee. It makes sense to first take a bus to Rakvere and then on to Käsmu.

Get around
Käsmu and its beaches are small enough to be covered by foot.

Do
The beach is the biggest attraction of the village. There are also camp trails in the woods.

Every July there is a popular folk music festival in the village.

Go next

 * Check out the various sights nearby, within Lahemaa National Park as well as North Estonia.
 * Võsu – A small coastal borough inside of Lahemaa National Park.
 * Rakvere – Estonia's fifth largest city, east of Tallinn, famous for its Punk and Rock festivals and spirit.

title: Käsmu


text:
Kävlinge

Kävlinge is a town in Scania.

Understand

 * Tack ni svenska vakttorn, med plutonium tvingar vi dansken på knä!
 * Här - Danmark utskitet av kalk och vatten. Där - Sverige, hugget i granit.
 * Danskdjävlar. Danskdjävlar!

 * "Thank you Swedish guard towers, with plutonium we force the Dane to his knees!"
 * "Here - Denmark, shit out from limestone and water. There - Sweden, sculpted in granite!"
 * "Danish bastards. Danish bastards"! — The Kingdom, Lars von Trier's breakthrough TV series. Uttered by Swedish doctor Stig Helmer standing in Copenhagen, as an ode to the Barsebäck nuclear plant, visible across the strait.

Get in
Kävlinge has its own railway station on the line (Copenhangen- ) Malmö - Helsingborg - Ångelholm. Kävlinge is served by the "Pågatåg" trains of the local public transport authority (Skånetrafiken) with at least two departures an hour each way during the day. At peak times there are four departures an hour including the "Öresundståg" train service which offers a direct connection to Copenhagen. Tickets can be purchased on the platform from the ticket machine but note that only bank credit/debit cards or the Skånetrafiken "Jojo" card are accepted as payment methods. Cash is not accepted and you cannot pay on the train. If travelling to Kävlinge from a larger area tickets can be bought from a Skånetrafiken office.

Kävlinge is also served by an infrequent bus service from Lund (Bus number 123). From Kävlinge bus 122 goes to Löddeköpinge.

Kävlinge is by the national roads 108 and 104.

See
Hög passage grave

Sleep
Kävlinge's location close to Lund could mean that you end up staying in Lund but there are some possibilities in Kävlinge too.

title: Kävlinge


text:
Kétou

Kétou is a medium-sized town in Benin. It is the seat of a very old Yoruba kingdom and therefore has a particularly strong cultural heritage. Kétou is very much off the beaten-track, making for an interesting visit.

Get in
Kétou is 2½ hours and 140 km from Cotonou. There are regular taxis leaving from the Dantokpa taxi station in Cotonou. The overall quality of the vehicles is very poor, so do not expect to travel comfortably. If leaving from Porto-Novo, go to the Ouando taxi station where taxis leave more frequently than from Cotonou. Prices are 2500 CFA from Cotonou and 2000 CFA from Porto-Novo (2010). These prices will change directly with the price of gasoline.

Get around
Kétou is not a very big town. You can easily get around by foot although there are moto-taxis everywhere. Drivers wear uniforms as in other parts of Benin, and you will easily find them at designated taxi stands. It should never cost more than 150 CFA for a single ride through town.

See
Although the tourist sector in Ketou is very under-developed, there are various interesting sites in town. Kétou is a very old and important kingdom in Yoruba tradition and therefore has a strong cultural heritage. Some of the local attractions include:
 * The Royal Palace, which is at the far end of town in the direction of Bohicon. The current king speaks French and is very open to visitors. Please show the utmost respect for him and ask before taking any pictures. Note that you should not shake his hand and that you must remove your shoes before entering the palace.
 * Akaba Idenan (The Sacred Door). This site is one of few remaining examples of traditional military fortifications in the region. A visit to the site will provide you with interesting insight into local history. The door was at one point the only entrance to town, and is therefore protected by large fortification ditches and high walls. The site is also the center of the Orisha/Voodoo cult of Kétou. A number of shrines and traditional Yoruba statues can be found within the compound. As this is a very sacred site, it is best to see the king before visiting. He will take a small fee (500-1000 CFA) and will provide you with a guide. You may encounter some hassle from locals when visiting. You do not need to give them money but do deal with them tactfully, without getting angry. This always makes matters worse, wherever you may be in Benin.
 * Aitan Ola (The Sacred Garbage Pile). This is certainly a unique site, well worth a visit. It is a major Orisha shrine, established in the early days of Kétou's history. The mound of garbage actually stands above a sacred charm, said to offer protection to the kingdom in time of war. When it was first buried, locals were given strict instructions to cover the charm with anything they could find - hence the garbage. The site is located nearby the Royal Palace and also offers the opportunity to discover some of the more traditional and 'authentic' parts of Kétou.

Do
Kétou doesn't offer much in terms of entertainment. Like in most rural communities, the biggest attraction in Kétou is its people. The town is not used to seeing foreign travellers so you can expect a cheerful, albeit guarded, welcome. It is important to be open and friendly if you wish to engage with the people you meet. As with everywhere else in Benin, it is strongly advised that you not hand out gifts or money to people you have just met, as this only serves to cause hassle for future visitors. Some suggestions on things to do:
 * Attend a cultural event. Unfortunately, these don't follow any particular calendar, so it is very much hit or miss. If you are lucky and are willing to spend the night, you could attend a Guelede mask dance, which is a UNESCO World Heritage dance. If you are a woman, or even a man, please take extreme caution when travelling to Kétou during the month of August. During this time, Kétou celebrates its most powerful Orisha, the Oro divinity. These celebrations are extremely sacred and completely forbidden to women. It is strongly advised that you avoid Kétou at this time, especially if you do not know anyone there. Please ask around if you intend on travelling to Ketou around that time (this also applies to other towns in the region, which also celebrate the Oro).
 * Visit the main 'Assena' market. This is the main market in the region and attracts people from far and away. It is quite vibrant and is a good way of getting a taste of local life.
 * Visit one of the surrounding villages. If you are interested in seeing a village split between two countries, Ilara, 17 km east of Kétou, is certainly a place to visit. Right on the border with Nigeria, it can be interesting to walk around and try to figure out which country you are in. Another option, only 6 km from Kétou, is the small village of Ofia. This village is said to be the home of the Guelede dance and a visit to the king will leave you with some fascinating stories about local history.

Eat and drink
No visit to Ketou would be complete without a taste of the local food speciality - Lafou. This cassava and corn flour paste is the staple meal in Kétou and most local families eat it every day. You will find it at any stall or restaurant that sells food. Some recommended places for eating are:
 * Ave Maria, between the school and the customs agents, is a small but well stocked restaurant owned by a woman who couldn't be more welcoming to foreigners. She serves chicken, rice and wagasi (a Beninese cheese). She has a big smile and even bigger heart. This should be the first if not the only stop you make in Kétou. Her children will tease you and want to play and you won't be able to resist. She has cold drinks and will do special orders of salad if you give her a day or two.
 * Maquis La Detente, on the way out of town in the direction of Cotonou. This restaurant has a good selection of fried fish as well as the occasional salad. It is also a bar.
 * Auberge Yokpodugbe, off the road that leads to the village of Ofia. This is a friendly, colourful and cheap restaurant where you can find excellent jollof rice and a variety of fish.
 * L'Auberge de la Cite has a good menu that offers some western dishes. If you plan on eating there, it is a good idea to give them advance notice so they can prepare.

Go next

 * For travel to Pobe, Porto-Novo and Cotonou, go to the main taxi station in town. The best time to travel is early in the morning when taxis leave more frequently. If leaving later, it is best to go to the 'Calvaire' about 2 km north of town on the road to Cotonou, where you can board taxis already on their way.
 * If you are heading towards Bohicon or Abomey, leave from the station directly behind the Royal Palace. Note that vehicles leave quite infrequently from here, so the wait can be quite long.
 * For travel closer to Ketou, it is best to hire a moto-taxi that will take you to your destination and back.

title: Kétou


text:
Kópavogur

Kópavogur is a city in Southwest Iceland, with a population of 40,000 (2020).

Get in
Kópavogur is a part of Reykjavík metropolitan area, located south of Reykjavík. They share municipal borders, so its not hard to get there. It is the country's second largest municipality by population.

Get around
Kópavogur is central in the capital area and there are roads, bus routes and pedestrian and bicycle paths that link Kópavogur with the rest of the Reykjavík area.

Kópavogur is largely made up of residential areas, but has commercial areas and much industrial activity as well.

See
Kópavogur is one of the youngest towns in Iceland so there is not much there of historical significance. It was a suburb of Reykjavík with the first houses built during World War II. Explosive growth in business and housing building doubled the town in size since 1990, giving it large shopping centres and an office/commercial building that is the tallest building in Iceland, the. The things to see are primarily in the older part of the town, particularly the Kársnes peninsula with trees in the gardens and treelined streets and the picturesque church on top of the Borgarholt.

Do

 * Football: Breiðablik play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground Kópavogsvöllur (capacity 3000) is 500 m south of town centre across the river. The playing season is April-Sept.
 * Handknattleiksfélag Kópavogs (HK) also play in the top tier at Kórinn indoor stadium (capacity 5500) 5 km southeast of town.
 * Football: Breiðablik play soccer in Besta deild karla, the top tier. Their home ground Kópavogsvöllur (capacity 3000) is 500 m south of town centre across the river. The playing season is April-Sept.
 * Handknattleiksfélag Kópavogs (HK) also play in the top tier at Kórinn indoor stadium (capacity 5500) 5 km southeast of town.

title: Kópavogur


text:
Kórnik

Kórnik (pronounced: Koornick) is a city in Greater Poland, located 18 km south east of Poznań, on the train line and road heading to Kalisz, Katowice, between Wronskie Lake and Kornickie Lake.

Get in
Kórnik is accessible first of all by buses, the transport company of the Commune of Kórnik (Kombus) serves several bus lines from Poznań – the best solution is to take line #501 from bus station Rondo Rataje, where you can get from the centre using trams: #3, #4, #6, #11, #12, #13. Line #501 run approximately twice an hour in peak hours, and once an hour in between-peak period. Another solution are lines: #502 (peak hours only), or 560 and 561 heading to the town of Zaniemysl. More timetables and fares:

Another option is to use PKS buses – at least 40 daily leave from the coach station. Timetable:

If you really like trains you can use one going from Poznań to Kórnik – there are many of them, but the station in Kórnik is situated 3 km from the centre (however – you can use Kórnik local buses to get from the station to the centre: #502, #590, #591, #592, #594.

Getting to Kórnik by car is also easy: using express road number 11 the journey shouldn't take more than 20-25 min. Parking place: on the main square (a cheaper option) or nearby the Castle, next to the snack bars and souvenir stands (definitely more expensive, but closer).

Get around
Kórnik and its closest vicinities are also served by Kombus buses, but for most tourists they're useless, as both main Kórnik attractions (the Castle and parish church) are located appr. 200m from each other. However, buses can be useful for those planning to spend some time on one of the surrounding lakes.

Eat
Kórnik itself:

Surroundings:

Go next
From Kórnik you can go back to Poznań with a stop in Rogalin (where you can visit a classicistic palace of the Raczynski Family and Poland's oldest oak trees), to Zaniemysl with marvellous lakes, to Zerkow-Czeszewo Landscape Park (covering the natural Warta river, or simply further south-east to Gołuchów or Kalisz – Greater Poland's second biggest city. Just next to Kórnik, in Bnin (2 km) you can see the birthplace of Wisława Szymborska (a Literature Nobel Prize Winner in 1990s) and some nice XIX-century tenement houses and a Town Hall.

An interesting thing for nature-lovers can be a beaver's trail starting in a village Czmoniec, leading alongside Warta river, where beavers’ habits are presented on 9 boards and – with some luck – you can watch these nice rodents.

title: Kórnik


text:
Kökar

Kökar is a municipality in the archipelago of Åland. Kökar has a very suitable location for seafaring and the islands are full of prehistoric remnants. The Nordic pilgrimage route St. Olav Waterway (part of the Nidaros Path) goes through Kökar.

The nature here is unique. Most of the forests consist of leaved trees instead of pines, making the landscape very unusual in Finland. There are some rare plants living here, including the European yew.

Understand
Kökar is the southernmost municipality of Åland (and Finland), and having just some 224 permanent residents in 2021, it is the second least populated municipality in Finland. Most of the population live in the villages Finnö, Hamnö, Hellsö, Karlby, Österbygge, and Överboda on the main island. The village Kyrkogårdsö is located on island Kyrkögårdsö some 10 km north. The Otterböte site was already used by seal hunters 3000 years ago!

The name Kökar was first mentioned in a 13th-century Danish seafaring manuscript as Thiyckækarl, probably referring to a fat man. In the 15th century Franciscan monks arrived in Kökar and built a monastery on the small island Hamnö, making Kökar a cultural and spiritual centre. The exact date for this is not known, but a document from 1472 mentions Conuentu Tiokkarlensis. Even though the monastery came to its end in 1539, the church of Kökar has been on Hamnö since then.

Bogskär, the southernmost strips of dry land in Finland belong to Kökar and are 50 km south of the main island.

Nowadays Kökar is a living community, having a school for grades 1 to 9, library, bank, gym, and a health care station. The services are concentrated in the main village called Karlby. The private sector is dominated by tourism, shipping and farming.

Get in
The main connection to Kökar is the Ålandstrafiken ferries from Långnäs on Åland's mainland (a few times daily, via Sottunga) or from Galtby in Korpo (once to thrice a day in season, more or less daily off season). Galtby has a road connection to the Finnish mainland. The Ålandstrafiken ferries are free for pedestrians while quite costly for cars (€6/21/34/164 for bike/motorcycle/car/car+caravan in season). If you are travelling with a car you must book the ferry in advance.

The ferry trip to Kökar takes 2 hours and 45 minutes from Långnäs and 2 hours 30 minutes from Galtby. All ferries arrive to the Harparnäs ferry harbour. There is a summer café and dry toilets at the harbour.

By bus
Kökar is fairly easy to reach as there are several daily coaches from Turku bus station to Galtby ferry harbour (about €16), but the coaches often do not match the ferries. See Matkahuolto for details. The trip Turku–Galtby takes about 2 hours. For morning departures and evening arrivals you may have to stay the night in Korpo, possibly with a taxi ride to your accommodation.

On mainland Åland the bus line 5 from Mariehamn goes to the Långnäs harbour.

By boat
There are guest harbours at Hellsö village (Havspaviljongen), Brudhäll in the main village and Sandvik, with camping, cottages or hotel (see Sleep below for services not specific to boaters).

Get around
There is no public transport in Kökar but it's easy and very popular option to rent a bike. Kollektivtrafik from and to the ferry harbour operates Monday–Friday by timetable. It is free of charge on the main road and €2 outside it. The kollektivtrafik must be booked in advance.

 * Kökar taxi and kollektivtrafik:

During the season there are daily guided tours to Kallskär by Hotel Brudhäll.

Kyrkogårdsö is on the route of some of the ferries between Kökar and Sottunga but only by request, and if there is someone going there with a car. Otherwise pedestrians must use a passenger boat (passbåt) from Sottunga harbour. During the season the passenger boat operates by a timetable and must be invoked no later than 15 minutes before the ferry arrives to Sottunga and it leaves Sottunga harbour when all the passengers are on board. In the corresponding Ålandstrafiken's timetable ''avg. från X means 'the ferry leaves from X', ank. Sottunga means 'the ferry arrives to Sottunga', and passbåtens anlöp till Sottunga färjhamn'' is the deadline for invoking the passenger boat. Off-season the passenger boat operates only by request which must be done at least one day in advance. The passenger boat is free of charge. .

See

Kökar is one of the few islands in Åland with noticeable contours, showing picturesque cliffs to the east, now set a bit back from the coast. There is a very attractive little church on a separate island that is easily reached on foot from the ferry port by turning east. There are the ruins of an old monastery beside it. As is common in Åland, the bell tower is near to but separate from the main church building.

 * Källskär Kannan.jpg
 * Källskär Kannan.jpg
 * Källskär Kannan.jpg

Buy

There are small grocery stores in Sandvik guest marina and at Havspaviljongen as well.

Eat

 * Svartbröd, blackbread, as the name implies the bread is almost black. It is round and quite flat but its most characteristic feature is the taste. The blackbread from Kökar is sweeter than the blackbread from the other parts of Åland. Only a few people still know how to bake the Kökar-blackbread, so you have to ask around where you can buy the bread.
 * Skärgårdsbröd Kökar is a local bakery. It runs a café in Karlby.

Drink

 * Peders Aplagård Österbygge is an apple farm. They make different products out of apples like cider, cake, juice and jelly. You can buy directly from the farm or from the food shops on the island. Try Koppskärs dricka - their malty juniper berry lemonade.

Connect

 * Kökar municipality
 * Visit Åland, Åland official tourist gateway

Go next

 * The rest of Åland
 * The Archipelago Sea to the east, perhaps along the Archipelago Trail

title: Kökar


text:
Königslutter

Königslutter is a city in Niedersachsen.

Understand
The city Königslutter developed from the village of Lutter, 1150 was the first witness, but certainly much older. Built around 1200, the Duke of Brunswick, just east of the town, a water castle in whose protection Königslutter evolved with the market town, which was awarded its town charter in 1400. The flourishing of the city has resulted mainly in the brewing activities Königslutter. 73 breweries were entitled to the Duckstein beer, a delicious wheat beer to brew, which was even exported to the Netherlands. The best Duckstein beer arrived at the royal courts. Was very much appreciated the Duckstein beer at the court of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Until 1924, besides Königslutter were still the independent villages of Upper Lutter Lutter and pen, which were incorporated in the same year in the city. Another significant enhancement learned Königslutter 1974, were incorporated as 17 districts, so that the population rose to over 16,000.

Connect
For further questions ask the author, who was a local in Elm Lappwald for three decades.

Go next

 * Brunswick
 * Wolfsburg
 * Helmstedt
 * Schöningen

title: Königslutter


text:
Königstein

Königstein is a town of 2,100 people (2019) in the Saxon Switzerland near Dresden in Germany. It is home to the Königsstein Fortress, one of the largest mountain fortresses in Europe.

Get in
Königstein Fortress can be reached by Dresden by the train line S1 (in the direction of Schöna). The station is Königstein. From the station you can trek up to the castle or take a toy train and bus for €5.60.

Königstein can also be reached by boat on the river Elbe from Dresden by Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt.

Do
The fortress is a getaway for the whole day and a good spot for picnics. You can walk up the old (and steep) pathway into the fortress or take an elevator to the top.

 * The Schifferfastnacht festival takes place at the end of winter. There is a parade through the streets, during which traditional Elbe ship models are carried through the city and a chapel serenades long-established shipowning families. The Fleckelmann uses his gossip to distribute blows of order to disobedient and alcoholic husbands and quarrelsome wives. The sutlers give plenty of thumbs' breadth when moving.
 * The Schonrsteinfeger "Abratzky" does a city tour every Thursday in summer for a small donation from Sebastian Abratzky.

Hiking
There are several well-described hikes:
 * Walk from the city centre to the fortress via the stairway with (entry at the church) you walk uphill for about 45 minutes to the entrance of the fortress.
 * Lilienstein: Sunrise with a view towards Bad Schandau. A short but strenuous hiking tour that leads to the most striking table mountain in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The secluded location of Table Mountain in the Elbe loop opens up views in all directions. Walking time: around 3½ to 4 hours (possibly a little longer depending on your stay on the rock). Route: First take the ferry across and then it goes steeply up to the Elbe loop plateau. Then the stairway up to the actual rock plateau becomes really interesting. In the ascent, the detour to the particularly steep one is worthwhile.

Eat

 * Restauration Festung Königstein, Fortress 1. Tel .: +49 35021 64444 . Experience gastronomy with its own bakery and much more.
 * Kaffeehaus & Backshop Zimmerman, Dresdner Str. 3. Tel .: +49 35021 68490. Huge selection of cakes, pastries, tarts and of course stollen.
 * Gaststätte & Pension Amtshof, Pirnaer Strasse 30. Tel .: +49 35021 68511. W-M 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00. Tuesdays are closed. Price: in the accompanying guesthouse: double room from €55 (including breakfast).
 * Landgasthof-Müller, Halbestadt 17. Tel .: +49 35022 92929. Cozy restaurant with a beautiful view of the Elbe. Panorama terrace, sunbathing lawn and beer garden available. Price: the inn also has 4 rooms, overnight stays from €38 possible.

Drink
Any of the great beers brewed in Saxony.

Sleep
The town website provides a list of accommodation.

Go next

 * Bad Schandau
 * Rathen and Bastei

title: Königstein


text:
Königswinter

Königswinter is a town at the Rhine in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state between Bonn and Bad Honnef at the Siebengebirge near the Middle Rhine Valley.

By train
The nearest bigger railway stations to Königswinter are in Bonn, Cologne and Siegburg, but Königswinter also has its own railway station. It can be reached from Cologne by a regional train going to Koblenz. But make sure that your train is travelling on the right side of the Rhine, not via Bonn on the left, and that your train stops in Königswinter.

By Regional-Bahn or Tram
From these stations you have to travel by Regionalbahn, Regional-Express or tram (Stadtbahn). Long distance trains might pass Königswinter without stopping. From Siegburg or Bonn you take the tram 66. Be careful that you do not use the train that is just going up to Ramersdorf.

You need a train going to Königswinter or Bad Honnef. From Cologne you can either take a Regional-Express or S-Bahn to Siegburg or Bonn or get Tram (Stadtbahn) that is directly going to Königswinter. Mostly, these are trains from Cologne to Koblenz but only those on the Rhine's right side. You must look for trains passing Deutz, (the airport of Cologne), Troisdorf and Bonn-Beuel. Trains travelling to Koblenz via Bonn Hbf and Remagen won't bring you here.

By boat
By boat, you can reach Königswinter with the tourist boats on the Rhine and by ferry from Bonn Mehlem, but this is not useful only if you live in Bonn.

By car
You can reach Königswinter directly from one of the biggest German motorways, the A3. Just take the exit "Siebengebirge" and follow the signs over the "Margarethenhöhe". If you are coming from Cologne, you might also use the A 59 to Bonn and Neuwied. This motorway is also the way for you if you are coming from Bonn.

Just cross the Rhine and enter the motorway. Then, you will have to take the exit "Königswinter". After you enter the town, signs lead you to parking places.

Get around
Königswinter consists on the one hand of the "main city" directly in the rhine valley and the suburb of "Dollendorf" and on the other hand of many many bigger and smaller villages in the Siebengebirge, such as Ittenbach, Oberpleis, Stieldorf, Heisterbach or Thomasberg to mention the main one's.

Outside

 * Bad Honnef
 * Unkel is a town several minutes by Regional-Bahn from Königswinter. The town is noted for its charm, river boat cruises, and as being home to two German chancellors after World War II.
 * Siebengebirge many nice places in the forests and many wonderful views on the Rhine valley.
 * Heisterbach historic ruin of a church inside the forest.

Do
Next to visiting the City of Königswinter you might go walking in the "Siebengebirge". In here you'll find much more (and sometimes even nicer) places, than the Drachenfels. A good point to start going through the forests is the "Margarethenhöhe". This can be reached by the bus 520 from Königswinter or by car. You'll find parking places here, but you have to pay for then and - especially in the summer and on weekends - have to search them. From here you can go to the Ölberg, the region's highest mountain, with a nice view on the landscape. (about half an hour) You can also walk to the Löwenburg, an old castle from the middle ages - or what you can still see of it, as it's a ruin. (about 1-1½ hour) Or you can go to the Milchhäuschen, a small restaurant in the forest (about an hour) and further to the Drachenfels (another hour). If you take the bus 521 you can visit Oberdollendorf with small old houses and wine restaurants and you can go to Heisterbach, a ruin of a church inside the forest.

Buy
Essentially all of the shops are located just east of the Rhine River, on the town's main street. Since there isn't a wide variety of shops, most shops are geared toward locals, however, since Königswinter is a noteworthy town in the Siebengebirge region postcards and other souvenirs are available for purchase.

Eat
You will find small fast food stores which offer french fries, sausages, etc. as well as very good restaurants. Most of them can be found in the main street, at the Rhine and on the way to the Drachenfels.

Go next

 * Bonn is a half hour Stadt-Bahn ride from Königswinter.
 * Cologne is easy to get to by train from Königswinter's train station.
 * Bad Honnef
 * Middle Rhine Valley
 * Unkel
 * Linz am Rhein
 * Koblenz is easily accessible from Königswinter, however, the ride is a bit long by train.
 * Eifel

title: Königswinter


text:
Køge

Køge is a harbour city on Zealand with a population of 34,792 (2008).

Understand
Køge has some nice old squares (the central marketsquare is the largest townsquare in Denmark outside Copenhagen), pedestrian streets with cafes and small stores. The old harbour still has some atmosphere and a newer area with a marina and more modern restaurants.

By train
Køge is on the E S-train line. It is about 40 minutes from Copenhagen

By car
Køge is situated at an important motorway crossing where the motorway going south from Copenhagen splits into E20 which leads to Odense and E47 E55 which leads to Gedser and Rødby.

Get around
Both the old city and the harbour is just a few minutes walk from the train station.

Landmarks

Do

 * Football: HB Køge play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Køge Stadion 1 km north of town centre; its capacity has been trimmed to 1000.

Drink
The small brewery Bryghuset Braunstein is located on the harbour and their beer is served at many local pubs and restaurants.

Go next

 * Stevns Cliff has spectacular views and attractions.

title: Køge


text:
Kütahya

Kütahya is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, with a population in 2022 of 578,640. It's industrial but has a well-preserved old quarter, and is renowned for its decorated tiles.

Kütahya is also the name of the province. Of the other towns, the one most worth visiting (usually as a day-trip from the city) is Çavdarhisar for the Roman ruins of Aizanoi.

Understand
Kütahya is at an elevation of 970 m, so it's routinely below freezing in winter, and summers are dry with temperatures approaching 35°C. It's in a valley hemmed in by mountains, so it's on a trade route, and industrial smog gets trapped above it.

In antiquity this was Kotyaion (Κοτύαιον), the city of Kotys - she was a war goddess whose riotous, licentious worship would outdo any modern resort nightclub. The region was called Phrygia, which the Romans took over and divided. They assigned Kotyaion to Phrygia Salutaris, the healthy bit, since presumably they couldn't put it in Phrygia Pacatiana, the peaceful bit. It was on the edge of several empires and was captured by many - including by the proto-Mughals under Timur. One of the longer-lasting reigns was the Germiyanid kingdom of the 14th / 15th centuries, in turn overthrown by their northern neighbours the Ottomans. In 1514 the Ottomans captured Tabriz in Persia and copied a trick of Timur in bringing its artisans, especially tile-makers, to embellish their home cities. Many were Armenian Christians, who established workships here and in Iznik. These towns already made Çini - china-style ceramics - but now the artistry and production boomed.

The Armenians fled in the pogroms of 1915 / 16 and the tile-making trade collapsed, taking 50 years to recover. Kütahya made a living from industry based on agriculture, and from standard bathroom tiles, but it was bypassed by better transport routes to the north. Travellers and freight between Istanbul and Ankara now ply the motorways, and the railway junction city of Eskişehir grew as Kütahya waned. It's a provincial place with few international visitors, though the establishment in 1992 of Dumlupınar University has given it more buzz.

(Saat Kulesi) is the city's central landmark, on the east side of Zafer Meydanı, Victory Square. Locals refer to the spot as Vazo, the Vase, for the tiled monument on the traffic roundabout - this is 3 m high but less easy to spot if you're new to town.

The provincial governership (Valilik) is in a kitsch, faux Ottoman-arched building west side of the square, while the town council (Belediye) occupy a modern building east side. All the main streets converge here. Atatürk Bulvarı heads north to the bus station and becomes the main highway to Eskişehir. Abdurrahman Kara Ağa Bulvarı (commonly İstasyon Cd, Station Street) leads northeast to the railway station. Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Republic Street, starts southwest but turns into the pedestrianised Lise Cd, towards Old Town, Great Mosque and the castle. Adnan Menderes Bulvarı runs west and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bulvarı runs east.

By bus
Buses from Istanbul run every hour or two and take six hours, for a fare in 2022 of about 300 TL. They may run via Gebze, Izmit and Adapazari or via Bursa.

Buses from Antalya take 7 hours. Buses run every couple of hours from Ankara (4 hr 15 min) but usually you take the YHT train to Eskişehir. From Eskişehir it's a frequent bus, taking an hour.

Buses from Izmir take 5 hours via Turgutlu, Salihli (for Sardis), Kula, Gediz and Çavdarhisar. They continue via İnegöl to Bursa.

Operators on these routes are Metroturizm, Pamukkale, Flix Bus and Kütahyalılar.

The is 4 km northeast on D230 towards Eskişehir. It's a modern building with a few small shops (including for the inevitable tiles), cafe, toilets and left luggage. It's usually fairly clean. The old city centre otogar has been demolished.

Frequent minibuses take 15 min to the centre. Your inter-city bus ticket should be good for this transfer, check when buying.

By train
Izmir Mavi runs daily from Ankara at 19:00 via Eskişehir at 22:15 to reach Kütahya at 23:30. It trundles on south overnight via Tavansanli, Balıkesir, Soma, Akhisar and Manisa to arrive at Izmir Basmane at 09:30. The northbound train leaves Izmir at 18:00 to reach Kütahya at 04:00, Eskişehir at 05:30 and Ankara at 08:30.

Ege Ekspresi runs daily from Izmir at 06:30, taking 9½ hours via Manisa, Akhisar, Soma, Balıkesir and Tavsanli; the southbound train to Izmir leaves Kütahya around 09:30.

Pamukkale Ekspresi runs daily from Eskişehir around 10:30 to reach Kütahya at 12:00 and continues south via Afyonkarahisar and Sandikli to Denizli, arriving near 19:00. The northbound train leaves Denizli before 08:00 to reach Kütahya around 14:30 and Eskişehir around 16:00.

Three regional trains also run daily from Eskişehir, taking 70 min to Kütahya, and one continues to Afyon.

, elegantly tiled, is 1 km east of city centre, at the end of Abdurrahman Kara Ağa Blvd, across the main highway D650.

By road
From either Istanbul or Ankara head towards Eskişehir, then pick up D230 / D650 south. This winds through the canyons but is a good divided highway. D650 continues south from Kütahya all the way to Antalya.

From Izmir take E96 / D300 east towards Uşak and branch off onto D595 / D240.

Get around
Walk, the sights are all central, and you're unlikely to use either the dolmuşes (various colours) or yellow city buses.

See

 * is the best preserved part of old town, a cobbled alley lined by tastefully restored Ottoman-era mansions.
 * (Yeşil Cami) was built in 1905. It's the interior that's green, with rich tilework.
 * Analıca Mosque 200 m northeast of Grand Mosque is 13th century.
 * Kurşunlu Mosque 200 m northwest of Grand Mosque was built in 1377 and restored in 2018.
 * Analıca Mosque 200 m northeast of Grand Mosque is 13th century.
 * Kurşunlu Mosque 200 m northwest of Grand Mosque was built in 1377 and restored in 2018.
 * Analıca Mosque 200 m northeast of Grand Mosque is 13th century.
 * Kurşunlu Mosque 200 m northwest of Grand Mosque was built in 1377 and restored in 2018.
 *  Aizanoi 60 km southwest is usually done as a day trip from Kütahya, as there are few amenities in the adjacent village of Çavdarhisar.
 *  Aizanoi 60 km southwest is usually done as a day trip from Kütahya, as there are few amenities in the adjacent village of Çavdarhisar.
 *  Aizanoi 60 km southwest is usually done as a day trip from Kütahya, as there are few amenities in the adjacent village of Çavdarhisar.
 *  Aizanoi 60 km southwest is usually done as a day trip from Kütahya, as there are few amenities in the adjacent village of Çavdarhisar.
 *  Aizanoi 60 km southwest is usually done as a day trip from Kütahya, as there are few amenities in the adjacent village of Çavdarhisar.

Do

 * Hot springs and hamams: this is a geothermal area.
 * Football: Kütahyaspor play soccer in TFF Third League, Turkey's fourth tier. Their home ground is Dumlupınar Stadium (capacity 11,500), 500 m southeast of town centre.

Buy

 * Supermarkets: Migros is the most central, just north of "the vase" behind Hilton Garden Inn. It's open daily 09:00-22:00.
 * Banks and ATMs also cluster in this area.
 * Tiles (çini) are the big thing here. They come in three grades. Turist işi is the basic stuff in souvenir shops. If you're looking for something that the cat will knock off the table or the kids crack in cookery experiments, go for these, and haggle. Fabrika işi is quality work prepared by apprentices under the supervision of a çinici, a master maker, and his / her own personal work is özel iş. There are shops just north of the Vazo at the beginning of Atatürk Blv, and south towards old town. Çiniciler Çarşısı ("Tile Bazaar") is on the retail park 5 km out on the Eskişehir highway. Think about the weight in your home-bound luggage, and the average baggage-handler's limited appreciation of the grades of traditional tiles. All the produce is modern, and if it's touted as antique, with any luck it's fake. If you're unlucky, you'll be in big trouble for trying to export a genuine antiquity.

Eat

 * M&N fish restaurant is next door at Lise Cd 3.
 * Others south and west of the Vase are Osmanli Kebap, Mis Gözleme and Santral Iskembe Salonu.
 * North around Atatürk Blvd is the main strip, with Amir Tantuni, Nora Bistro within the Hilton, Star Gözleme, Pita Kitchen, Fesleğen (below), MPlus Cafe and Hatay Döner.
 * North around Atatürk Blvd is the main strip, with Amir Tantuni, Nora Bistro within the Hilton, Star Gözleme, Pita Kitchen, Fesleğen (below), MPlus Cafe and Hatay Döner.

Drink

 * North along Atatürk Blvd are Adıyamanlı Çiğ Köfteci Erkan Usta, the Hilton bar, Kokoreç11 Bozüyüklü Alihan Usta, and Tombiş.
 * No 1 Pub is a block west of the clocktower on Akabe Sk.

Sleep

 * Çinili Otel 2 is a very basic place next to Gülpalas.
 * Nehir Termal is a spa hotel, west edge of town on Şair Ali Pesendi Cd. It wasn't open in 2022.
 * Nehir Termal is a spa hotel, west edge of town on Şair Ali Pesendi Cd. It wasn't open in 2022.
 * Nehir Termal is a spa hotel, west edge of town on Şair Ali Pesendi Cd. It wasn't open in 2022.
 * Nehir Termal is a spa hotel, west edge of town on Şair Ali Pesendi Cd. It wasn't open in 2022.
 * Nehir Termal is a spa hotel, west edge of town on Şair Ali Pesendi Cd. It wasn't open in 2022.

Connect
Kütahya and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of July 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Aizanoi 60 km southwest is worth a day-trip. The highlight is the Temple of Zeus.
 * Afyonkarahisar is another traditional city, with historic houses and hilltop castle.
 * Eskişehir is a university city and transport hub with a small preserved old quarter.

title: Kütahya


text:
Kėdainiai

Kėdainiai is a city in the Aukštaitija region of Lithuania, with a population of 23,447 in 2023. It's almost dead centre of the country, and a monument a few km west of town marks the exact geographical centre. Much of it is modern and industrial, with the huge Lifosa chemical works nearby, but the reason to visit is the attractive 17th century Old Town.

Understand
If you're a bulk purchaser of sulphuric acid or phosphate-based fertiliser then you've come to the right place. Lifosa chemical complex 3 km southeast makes exactly what you seek, and employs almost a thousand in the town. The tourist draw is Old Town, but the reason it's there is because of trade and industry, equally grubby in bygone centuries. For example the town attracted many Scottish business folk and settlers in the 17th century, and had a large Jewish population (skilled, amongst other trades, in dye-stuffs for fabrics) encouraged to settle in "The Pale" in Tsarist times. This means that Kėdainiai has a multicultural history, and one of the best-preserved Old Towns in Lithuania outside of Vilnius. It's also easy to reach, within an hour's travel from Kaunas.

Get in
Kaunas has the closest airport. It's north of that city and less than an hour to drive, but by public transport you have to double back via the centre. There are more flights to Vilnius.

By road take A8 / E67 north from Kaunas, branching off onto Route 144. E67 continues to Panevėžys and Riga.

Kautra buses run twice an hour from Kaunas, taking an hour to Kėdainiai and continuing north either to Šiauliai or Panevėžys. From Vilnius travel via Kaunas. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

is south side of town. It's clean and functional enough, with a pizzeria and supermarket adjacent.

Four trains run daily from Vilnius, taking 90 min via Jonava and continuing to Šiauliai and Klaipėda, another 3 hours. For schedules, fares and tickets see LTG Link.

One direct train runs from Kaunas, taking an hour and continuing to Šiauliai, otherwise travel via Vilnius.

is 2 km north of town on Route 195, S Dariaus ir S Girėno gatvė. It's small but even the toilets are kept clean. Boss Kebab outside is open daily to 20:00. While you're here, see the minaret just across the tracks.

Get around
Kėdbusas is the local bus line, plying from the bus station to all outlying districts. Buy tickets on boarding from the driver, or from a kiosk and validate on boarding. You don't need the bus for the compact Old Town, best strolled on foot.

The main taxi firms in town are Taksi Kėdainiai (+370 690 44555) and Taksi Komfort (+370 615 52225).

See

 * (Šv Juozapo bažnyčia) on Radvilų gatvė is the most attractive church in town, a wooden structure originally part of a Jesuit mission house. It had spells of disuse or misuse, as a barracks under the Tsars and an equipment store under the Soviets, but is again a Jesuit church.
 * Didžioji gatvė is the heart of Old Town, running from Transfiguration Church west past the museum to Great (or New) Market Square. Once you get past the modern supermarket it's lined with traditional architecture.
 * (Šv Jurgio bažnyčia) on Šėtos gatvė is a Gothic basilica built in the 15th century but rebuilt in 1840. It was originally Lutheran but handed over to the Roman Catholics in 1627. Mass is held at 10:00 and 12:00.
 * (Didžiosios Rinkos aikštė) is at the foot of Didžioji gatvė.
 * Evangelical Reformed Church (Evangelikų reformatų bažnyčia), built in 1631, is just west of Great Market Square on Senoji gatvė. Its chief feature is the tombs of the Radziwiłł noble family. Opening hours are erratic.
 * (Didžiosios Rinkos aikštė) is at the foot of Didžioji gatvė.
 * Evangelical Reformed Church (Evangelikų reformatų bažnyčia), built in 1631, is just west of Great Market Square on Senoji gatvė. Its chief feature is the tombs of the Radziwiłł noble family. Opening hours are erratic.
 * Evangelical Reformed Church (Evangelikų reformatų bažnyčia), built in 1631, is just west of Great Market Square on Senoji gatvė. Its chief feature is the tombs of the Radziwiłł noble family. Opening hours are erratic.
 * Kėdainiai minaret is west side of the railway station - you can amble to it across the tracks from the platform. It's 25 m tall in Ottoman style, free-standing and entirely decorative, with no associated mosque or even a single worshipper. It was built by General Eduard Totleben (1818-84) to commemorate his days as military engineer in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877/78, which broke Ottomans control of Bulgaria. One plaque on its wall is in Ottoman Turkish, the other quotes the Koran in Arabic, sura Al-Baqara, verse 255 the "Throne Verse".
 * is the claim of a monument on the lane to Ruoščiai off Route 144. It's set in flat open fields of the North European Plain that could be anywhere from France to Russia, so it's good to have this reassurance that you are in fact in Lithuania.
 * is a derelict 19th century mansion off Route 2008 four km north of town. It has a grand exterior, but the interior is utterly trashed and the whole thing may collapse at any moment.
 * Šateniai (Polish: Szetejnie) is a tiny village 13 km north of Kėdainiai on Route 2008 east of the river - no access from Route 195 on the west bank. It was the early home of Polish writer Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004), awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980. His mansion has burned down, with only the granary surviving, which has been turned into a cultural centre. You need prior arrangements to view the exhibition of his work. It's set in a wooded park with sculptures.
 * Šateniai (Polish: Szetejnie) is a tiny village 13 km north of Kėdainiai on Route 2008 east of the river - no access from Route 195 on the west bank. It was the early home of Polish writer Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004), awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980. His mansion has burned down, with only the granary surviving, which has been turned into a cultural centre. You need prior arrangements to view the exhibition of his work. It's set in a wooded park with sculptures.

Do

 * Football: FK Nevėžis play soccer in 1 Lyga, Lithuania's second tier. Their home ground Kėdainiai Stadium (capacity 3000) is 2 km northeast of town centre. The playing season is April-November.
 * Agurkų šventė in mid-July is the "cucumber festival" - this region grows lots.
 * Ledų šventė first weekend in August is an "ice cream festival" - a promotional event by local producer Vikeda, with concerts, and a helicopter scattering tokens for free ice cream upon the town.

Buy

 * Maxima supermarket by the bus station is open daily 08:00-22:00.
 * Lidl is nearby at J Basanavičiaus g 87B, open daily 07:00-22:00.
 * Norfa and another Maxima are by Transfiguration Church at the entrance to Old Town.

Eat
Restaurants line Didžioji g in Old Town, serving trad Lithuanian fare. They include Greitas maistas, Paulvikta pizza, Novus Rex, Gray's House, Ursule and Beneto Karčema.

Drink

 * Old Town cafes serve alcohol, there isn't a free-standing bar.

Connect
As of Jan 2024, Kėdainiai has 5G from Bite, and 4G from Tele2 and Telia.

Go next

 * Kaunas south is mostly modern but has an interesting old quarter.
 * Panevėžys north is modern and industrial, but has a museum and several old churches.

title: Kėdainiai


text:
Kędzierzyn-Koźle

Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a town in the Opole Voivodeship in southern Poland. The town actually consists of two historical towns that got merged, being Kędzierzyn (Kandrzin in German) and Koźle (Cosel in German).

By plane
The nearest airports are in Wrocław and Katowice.

By train
From Gliwice or Opole. The from 1845 is by size one of the biggest in the Opole Voivodeship.

By bus
There are frequent regional buses from Opole.

Koźle

Go next

 * Opole
 * Gliwice
 * Prudnik

title: Kędzierzyn-Koźle


text:
Kętrzyn

Ketrzyn (until 1946 Rastembork; German: Rastenburg) is a town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship, in Poland. It is well known as a location of Adolf Hilter's war headquarters in the woods nearby.

title: Kętrzyn


text:
Kınık

Kınık is a town in Lycia, the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The reason to visit is the ancient Lycian sites of Xanthos and Letoon, both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Kınık had a population of 6120 in 2022.

Understand
Leto was yet another woman got pregnant by Zeus; his wife Hera always blamed his philandering on the other women and sent a python to chase her. Hera then caused Leto to be stuck in a painful protracted labour but eventually twins were born, Apollo and Artemis. Job done, Leto thereafter faded away into the pantheon, occasionally helping out her offspring's endeavours or turning pesky people into frogs but mostly just basking in religious devotion as a mother-goddess. Her cult was especially strong on the island of Delos, but began in Lycia before the fourth century BC.

Her shrine here, near the modern town of Kınık, may reflect the area's unusual fertility. This is a coastal plain on an otherwise rugged coastline and may once have been an inlet of the Med. It's nowadays packed with greenhouses growing tomatoes and other fruit and veg: look down from any hilltop upon a glistening sea of plastic greenhouse covers.

Get in
The village is 1 km west of the coast highway D400, which wends and winds from Marmaris and Fethiye to Kalkan 19 km south, and runs on east to Antalya and far beyond. See Kalkan for bus routes: by long-distance bus (eg from Istanbul) you'll probably have to double back from there, but a local bus or dolmuş might drop you at the highway junction or closer.

Muttaş Bus 5-15 runs every 30 min from Fethiye to Kumlouva and Karadere, stopping in Kınık by the street to Xanthos; get off at Kumluova for Letoon.

Get around
Xanthos is 1 km north of town, and Letoon is 4 km south. The Lycian Way, with its distinctive yellow-black signs, links them all.

Do
Lycian Way is a waymarked hiking trail along the coast of Lycia, from Fethiye to the hills above Antalya. The local section eastbound is from the village of Gavurağılı to the ruins of Pydnai / Pydnee, then to Karadere. From there it traverses Letoon, Kınık and Xanthos, then heads east across D400 to Çavdır.

Buy
Small stores along Atatürk Blv in Kınık are open daily to 22:00.

Eat
Several cafes along Atatürk Blv, the main street through Kınık.

Drink
Cafes might serve beer, otherwise head to the fleshpots of Patara and Kalkan.

Sleep

 * Not much accommodation here, try Patara or Kalkan on the coast 30 km south.

 * Çavdır 15 km east has several self-catering villas.
 * Çavdır 15 km east has several self-catering villas.
 * Çavdır 15 km east has several self-catering villas.

Connect
Kınık and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of May 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Patara 10 km south has a long sandy beach and Lycian and Roman ruins.
 * Kalkan is a resort on the coast, with a village atmosphere as package tourists don't come here.
 * Fethiye is a big resort to the north, on the package-tour circuit.

title: Kınık


text:
Kłodzko

Kłodzko is a city of 27,000 in 2019 in Lower Silesia, in Poland. For its historical monuments it is sometimes referred to as "Little Prague". It was established as a settlement in the 10th century, and is one of the oldest towns in Poland, having been granted city rights in 1233. Culturally and traditionally a part of Bohemia, administratively it has been a part of Silesia since 1763.

By train
If travelling by train, the is the most convenient train station in Kłodzko. It is close to the centre. The station building is on plac Jedności. There are direct connections to Kłodzko from a few cities in Lower Silesia:
 * From Wrocław the train brings you to Kłodzko in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, with a ticket that costs about 20 zł.
 * From Wałbrzych in 1 hour 25 minutes for 13.50 zł.
 * From Ząbkowice Śląskie in a bit more than one hour for 10 zł.
 * From Bystrzyca Kłodzka in 15-20 minutes for 6.50 zł.

You can check the schedule on the website of PKP.

Sleep

Go next

 * Nowa Ruda
 * Duszniki Zdrój
 * Radków
 * Kudowa-Zdrój
 * Międzylesie
 * Lądek-Zdrój

title: Kłodzko


text:
Keansburg

Keansburg (Gem of the Bayshore) is a working class resort town in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on the east coast of the United States of America. This article also covers the neighboring village of Hazlet.

Understand
The town has been a popular tourist spot since the beginning of the 20th century, through to the 1960s, when Hurricane Donna wiped out much of the waterfront area. Weary New York City residents would ferry over and spend the weekend, or summer vacation to escape the city heat. The boardwalk and town enjoyed its popularity for many years and is now part of American culture. In 2010, the borough population was 10,105.

The town was badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and has never fully recovered. Try to imagine Keansburg in its glory days to make the most out of a visit.

Get in
NY Waterway offers ferry service from NYC to Belford, NJ and other destinations on the Jersey shore. The Belford station is a five minute drive to downtown Keansburg or the boardwalk area. http://www.nywaterway.com/FerryRoutesSchedules.aspx

Hazlet is at exit 117 off the Garden State Parkway, not to be confused with exit 117A. Two major highways, NJ35 and NJ36, run through the township.

Do

 * Hazlet Multiplex Cinemas: 2821 Highway 35 Hazlet
 * Veteran's Park: Green Acre Drive, off Middle Road in Hazlet
 * Hazlet Multiplex Cinemas: 2821 Highway 35 Hazlet
 * Veteran's Park: Green Acre Drive, off Middle Road in Hazlet
 * Hazlet Multiplex Cinemas: 2821 Highway 35 Hazlet
 * Veteran's Park: Green Acre Drive, off Middle Road in Hazlet
 * Hazlet Multiplex Cinemas: 2821 Highway 35 Hazlet
 * Veteran's Park: Green Acre Drive, off Middle Road in Hazlet

Buy

Eat
The majority of restaurants are take-out or dine in with plastic utensils. A few worth mentioning include:

 * Barb's Big Burrito which offers great Mexican food, the burrito is tough to beat.
 * Anthony's Pizza Villa, located by the roller-coaster. Has quite possibly one of the best slices of pizza on the east coast outside of NYC.
 * Dixie Lee Bakery, Located on Main Street. One of the best bakeries at the shore. Famous for their Black & Whites cookies. Be sure to try the coconut & crumb buns, but arrive early since they often run out.

Drink
Keansburg has many pubs and taverns. Several can be found along the boardwalk area, including:

 * TJK Stadium Seasonal bar open all year round.  They make a decent burger at this tiki style open air bar.  Formally known as the "Stockhouse".
 * Cabana Club on the boardwalk and Beachway.  This bar has been renamed a few times through various owners.  They have fresh seafood and two bars though the inside one is usually closed.  Formally known as the "Miami Club" and the "Alibi"
 * Jackie Keelen's Bar on the Henry Hudson Trail in the old train station building. The nicest bar in town has 26 beers on tap but no food.
 * Applejack Bar & Grille at the corner of Centre and Carr Ave.  This place is known as the rudest bar in town but they also have the best food.  Formally known as the "Deluxe Bar"
 *  The Marina Inn Bar at the foot of Laurel Ave where the creek meets the  bay.  Some of the patrons here look like extras from a pirate movie.  Also known as the "Maplewood Inn".
 * Ted's Tavern Located on Hwy 36 in West Keansburg.  This bar features a fairly friendly crowd on the edge of town.
 * Bachstadt's Tavern near Ideal Beach, off of Port Monmouth Rd.  This is the oldest of old man bars and one of the few to still sell "set-ups" (Buy the bottle and drink it there)
 * Bachstadt's Tavern near Ideal Beach, off of Port Monmouth Rd.  This is the oldest of old man bars and one of the few to still sell "set-ups" (Buy the bottle and drink it there)

Note:
 * 1) Some places in town tend to be local hangouts but most people won't bother you, if you mind your own business. Sometimes, its best to keep your loudmouth friend at home.
 * 2) Walking around away from the boardwalk area at night is not advised. Most of the crime in the area is youth based vandalism. Moderate precautions will be more than enough to keep you safe.

Sleep
There are no major hotels in Keansburg, so you should check out the nearby area including:

 * Holiday Inn in Hazlet
 * The Howard Johnson's in Middletown
 * Wellsley Inn in Hazlet

Marine boat and docking facilities:

title: Keansburg


text:
Kearney (Missouri)

Kearney is in Clay County, in the Kansas City Area of Missouri. It is the birthplace of the infamous Jesse James.

See
Every year, Kearney holds the Jesse James Festival, honoring the man that made their town what it is today.
 * James Farm County Park, 21216 Jesse James Farm Rd. Notably Jesse James' birthplace and grave site, along with a museum. Adults: $9, ages 8-15: $5.50 (Jan 2024)

title: Kearney (Missouri)


text:
Kearney (Nebraska)

Kearney is a city of 34,000 people (2020) in South Central Nebraska.

Understand

Kearney is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The westward push of the railroad as the Civil War ended gave birth to the community.

By car
Interstate 80, the main artery through the state, passes just to the south of the city. Exits 272 and 275 provide entrance into the city. US Highway 30 passes through the center of the city and is part of the Lincoln Highway. Within the city, the road is referred to as 24th Street in the western part of town and 25th Street in the eastern part of town.

By bus
There is only one bus stop in Kearney, located on the southern tip of the city.

Get around
The town in laid out in a grid pattern. Numbered streets go east–west, increasing the further north they go. North–south streets are labeled as avenues. Avenues west of Central Ave are numbered and avenues east of Central Ave are lettered. Both increase the further away they are from Central Avenue.

The Bricks (the name for the old town center), is located along Central Ave near Railroad St. The railroad travels through the center of the town. Most of the new commercial development is along the main north-south street, 2nd Ave, near the interstate, as well as the northernmost section of 2nd Ave.

Taxi services
While there is not a public transportation network in Kearney, there are a handful of private taxis offering their services. Taxis do not drive around without riders so hailing one will not be an option.

See

Do

Sandhill crane migration
Between late March and early April, hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes stop along the central Platte River between North Platte and Grand Island on their way north into Canada for the summer. This leaves Kearney at the center of one of the largest bird migrations in the world. The shallow waters of the Platte and the meadows surrounding it provide a perfect resting spot for the birds. But sandhill cranes aren't the only birds making use of this location; ducks, eagles, geese, and even the endangered Whooping Crane all make stops along the Platte River at the same time. There are several viewing sites around the city, allowing for an unobstructed view of the cranes as they go about their business. In addition to the locations listed above, temporary roadside viewing stations are set up along the southern side of the Platte river. Check the VisitKearney.org website to see the locations of these viewing stations as they change every year.

Buy
Major retail chains, such as Target and Walmart, are present in the city. The Hilltop Mall, located near W 48th St and 2nd Ave, has several clothing shops and sporting goods stores. At least half a dozen grocery stores are present in town. The downtown region has several beauty salons.

Eat
Various fast food outlets are found near the Interstate including a McDonalds, Burger King, Runza, Red Lobster, Old Chicago and a Perkins family restaurant.

Drink
Drinking is the unofficial pastime of Kearney. There are bars and drinking spots all over the city.

Sleep
The area around Exit 272 has the vast majority of the hotels in Kearney. Major companies like Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn have locations available.

Stay safe
Kearney is a safe city. Most of the trouble in the town is caused by public intoxication, which is rare. Avoid approaching people who are obviously intoxicated. When driving late at night, be wary of drunk drivers. While the situation has greatly improved over the last few years, drunk driving is still a serious issue. Being found drunk driving will result in prison time of at least 7 days and a fine of $500.

Keep your car locked and valuables out of sight when not in it.

On the university campus, there are emergency stations are at several points, lit with a blue light. Simply press a button and the Kearney police will be sent to your location.

Go next
Kearney is located in the Tri-Cities region of Nebraska. The cities of Grand Island and Hastings are within 50 miles to the east.

title: Kearney (Nebraska)


text:
Kearny

There's more than one place called Kearney or Kearny:

Canada

 * Kearney (Ontario) - in Ontario

United Kingdom

 * Kearney (Northern Ireland) Kearney - in County Down, Northern Ireland

United States of America

 * Kearney (Missouri) - in Missouri
 * Kearney (Nebraska) - in Nebraska
 * Kearny (Arizona) - in Arizona
 * Kearny (Kansas) - in Kansas
 * Kearny (New Jersey) - in New Jersey
 * Kearny Mesa - see San Diego/Kearny Mesa

see also:
 * Fort Kearny - in Nebraska

title: Kearny


text:
Keşan

Keşan is a city in Eastern Thrace in the northwest of Turkey. It's at a major crossroads, with highways west to the border crossing with Greece at Ipsala, north to the city of Edirne, south down the Gallipoli peninsula, and east to Istanbul. In 2018 Keşan town had a population of 63,965. Another 20,000 live in the small villages and beach resorts on the Gulf of Saros to the south, and these are also described here.

Understand
This area is fertile, and the town has long made a living from agriculture, in between spells of getting wrecked by warring empires. In the second century BC it was Kission, a stopover on the Via Egnatia between Rome and Byzantium. The Bulgarians took it several times as Byzantium weakened, but it was Ottoman from the 1360s. The Russians, Bulgarians and Greeks had periods of occupation in the 19th / 20th centuries, but from 1922 it was assigned to Turkey.

Small resorts grew up on the coast during the 20th century - they were within a weekend trip from Istanbul, but never attracted mass tourism. East-west traffic through Keşan ebbed and flowed with Greek-Turkish relations, while the north-south traffic was greatly reduced in March 2022 when O-6 and the Çanakkale bridge were completed. Local businesses are still adjusting to this.

Get in
Keşan is 20 km from the border with Greece, and is the first large Turkish town you encounter eastbound. To Istanbul is another 210 km east along a modern divided two-lane highway, reckon 3 hours.

Buses run hourly from Istanbul's main Europe-side terminal Esenler Otogar, taking 3-4 hours to Keşan depending on the traffic and route: they may also call at Silivri and Tekirdağ. A single fare in 2022 is 200 TL. Bus companies on the route are Truva Turizm, Metro (from Istanbul Bayrampaşa), and the locally-based Keşan Birlik.

From Keşan most of the buses continue south down the peninsula to Gelibolu and across the bridge to Çanakkale. Along with the bridge came a new motorway O-6, bypassing well to the east of Keşan, so some operators no longer serve the town.

Buses also run west down the coast to Enez, and a couple go north to Uzunköprü and Edirne: one operator is Isparta.

In normal times long-distance buses continue west from Keşan to İpsala and Greece. In 2022 these remain suspended; there may be a dolmuş then you could try attracting a lift as walking across the bridge that forms the border isn't allowed. See below for facilities at İpsala village in case you get stuck.

is on Highway D550 at the north edge of town, 2 km from the centre and 1 km from the junction with the east-west Highway D110. There's a couple of cafes and an ATM. Your ticket may include a connecting minibus to town, enquire when booking, otherwise look for a dolmuş or taxi. Until 2020 some of the village dolmuşes continued to use the old bus station in town centre, but then it was demolished and they took the hint.

Get around
You need your own wheels. The occasional countryside dolmuş will be scheduled to bring villagers into Keşan in the morning for necessities then bring them home.

See

 * Keşan town square is entirely modern, a bland plaza resembling an airport parking lot surrounded by low-rise office blocks.
 * South of town are low hills, some pine-clad or farmed, others gouged out by quarries. Roads wind through the hills to the coast of Saros Bay, Saros Körfezi, which has many small resort villages.
 * , 10 km south of Keşan, used to be the Greek village of Grabuna, and has some well-preserved stone buildings. On Bocuk Gecesi ("witches night") in mid-January, the villagers parade on a Halloween-type ghost walk with torches and costumes; see the organizers' official social media account for the exact dates of the next event.
 * is a small beach resort reached by taking the turn-off east just before the road enters Gökçetepe. This lane eventually meanders east to join the main highway down the Gallipoli peninsula.
 * is a larger beach resort: the old village is 3 km inland with nothing to see. On the coast east is the stump of a Genoese castle, besieged by modern holiday bungalows. The main attraction is just west, Gökçetepe Nature Park (Gökçetepe Tabiat Parkı, entrance fee), ranged along a shingle beach between an attractive cove and pine-clad mountains. There are food outlets, a campsite and self-catering cabins. The park gets very crowded on summer weekends. The sea here is refreshingly clear and cold.
 * is a cove and marina usually reached via Mecidiye, but it's also linked by dirt road along the coast to Gökçetepe Nature Park. Scuba-diving trips sail from here, see Do.
 * is a large resort village, though it's 3 km inland. The headland south is riven by big ugly quarries.
 * (which means "plums") is the largest resort. It's backed by a salt lake helpfully called "Salt Lake" - Tuzla Gölü - Turkey has lots. There's a sandy beach, hotels and camping. Danişment Forest Camp on the coast 2 km west is basic and grubby.
 * means "highland" so that's another common name. There's a resort village with a marina.
 * is a small straggly beach resort next to a salt lake called - oh go on, guess. "Vakıf" corresponds to Arabic waqf, a plot of land endowed for religious charitable purposes.
 * is a beach resort with marina. 1 km east across the creek is Gülçavuş village.
 * is the last resort area before the river and lagoons on the border with Greece. The town straggles for 10 km. There's no border crossing here, you have to head north to Ipsala.
 * comprises three islands near the head of the bay: Big Island (Büyükada, 1 km long), Small (Küçükada) and Little (Minikada). They're just scrub, with nothing to see, and potentially dangerous to visit since they had long been used as shooting targets by the navy.
 * Samothrace is the properly big island poking up in the distance west. It's part of Greece and you reach it by ferry from Alexandroupolis.
 * You might be able to make out Gökçeada island south of Samothrace. It's Turkish and you reach it by ferry from Kabatepe near Eceabat.
 * but only if you get stuck at the border: it's the nearest settlement on the Turkish side. The main highway continues to the crossing with Greece, with the usual money-exchanges and filling stations. The village straggles along a minor road branching north: local buses and dolmuş from Keşan come this far. Mevlana Otel is at the junction, with a string of pansyon and cafes on Enez Cd towards the village. Yöre Restaurant at the junction might be the place to pick up a lift. Not much to see here: in town square Alaca Mustafa Paşa Mosque may be 15th century, but the clock tower is modern.

Do

 * Scuba diving: Dive shacks and schools at Ibrice Limani are Argos, Ibrice Dive Centre, YDM Dalış, Saroz, and Decodiving.

Buy

 * There are several supermarkets on the main highways, serving self-catering trippers and second-home owners stocking up for their weekend at the beach. There's a cluster at the highway interchange including 5M Migros. On D550 south at the mid-town exit, Carrefour is open M-F 10:00-20:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. There's another Migros at Bendis open-air shopping complex on the road to Enez just past the interchange with D550, so is more convenient for the traffic heading south.
 * The villages just have small convenience stores, if that.

Eat

 * Keşan town centre has lots of little places. Kaymaz gets decent reviews and is open M-Sa 07:30-22:00.
 * Nothing in Çamlıca village, but there's little cluster north at Bahçeköy, where the coast road branches off the main highway.
 * Mecidiye has Güler Balık fish restaurant, good food but pricey, open daily 11:00-00:00.
 * Erikli has several. Saros Balık restaurant is reliable.
 * Yayla has Beyaz Ahtapot, good reviews, open 09:00-00:00.
 * The other beach resorts all have cafe-restaurants, nothing special.

Drink

 * Keşan has a cluster of bars in town centre, trad male-oriented places, dark and shuttered in 2021.
 * The beach resorts have bars at Erikli, Altunhan, Vakif and Sultaniçe.

Sleep

 * In Keşan town centre close to the Saros are Çetin Otel, Prestige Hotel, Urek Hotel and Bay Hostel.
 * Keşan bypass D550 one km west of the centre has Bendis Otel, Çınar İstanbul and Hotel Ağadayı Tesisleri. Further north at the interchange with D110 are the Linda and Mira hotels.
 * Erikli has a beach strip including Saros Çetin Apart Otel, self-catering flats and campsites.
 * Erikli has a beach strip including Saros Çetin Apart Otel, self-catering flats and campsites.

Connect
As of Jan 2021, Keşan town and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers. The villages around Saros Bay have patchy service, but you might manage a call with Vodafone.

Go next

 * Enez is on the Aegean coast 60 km southwest, with long sandy beaches and a Byzantine citadel.
 * Edirne is a fascinating historic city - being so far west, most travellers pass it by.
 * Uzunköprü on the way to Edirne has a remarkable 15th century stone bridge of 170+ arches.
 * Gelibolu in the middle of the peninsula has ferries to Asia-side Turkey as well as a bridge whisking you away in the same direction.
 * Eceabat is surrounded by memorials of the Gallipoli landings of 1915.

title: Keşan


text:
Kežmarok

Kežmarok (German Käsmark, Hungarian Késmárk) is a historical town in the Spiš of Eastern Slovakia. Like towns in the area it formerly had a large Carpathian German population. The town's notable sites of interest include a castle, a spectacular wooden church in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a pedestrianised historical town centre.

History
Settlement at Kežmarok dates back to the Upper Stone Age. In the 13th century the region contained a community of Saxons, a Slovak fishing village, a Hungarian border post and a Carpathian German settlement. Its Latin name was first mentioned in 1251 as Villa (Saxonum apud Ecclesiam) Sancte Elisabeth. In 1269 Kežmarok received its town charter. It also had the right to organize a cheese market (hence the German name Kesmark ("Käsemarkt" - "cheese market"). In 1433 the town was severely damaged by a Hussite raid. After 1440, the count of Spiš had a seat in Kežmarok. In the 15th century (and then once more in 1655), Kežmarok became a free royal town.

The town was a stronghold of the noble Thököly family. The Hungarian magnate and warrior Imre Thököly was born in the town in 1657. He died in exile in Turkey in 1705 but in the 20th century his body was returned to Kežmarok and he is buried in a noble mausoleum in the town's Lutheran church.

The town's other monuments include a castle, many Renaissance merchant houses, and a museum of ancient books. In pride of place is the Protestant church built in 1688 entirely of wood. The church also contains an organ of 1719 with wooden pipes. The church has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Kežmarok had a large ethnic German minority until the end of World War II (see Carpathian Germans). It also had a large and active Jewish community. During World War II, under the auspices of the First Slovak Republic, nearly 3,000 of the town's Jews were deported to German death camps. The town's pre-war Jewish cemetery has now been restored.

Get in
By bus or train from Poprad. For those with motor transport, the town is 10 minutes from the E50 highway, (turn off between Spišský Štvrtok and Poprad).

Get around
The town's sites of interest can easily be visited on foot. Allow at least a half-day.

See

The only stone part of the church is its sacristy, which was built in 1593 as a pub outside the city walls. In the 17th century, the Roman Catholic Hungarian kingdom persecuted Protestantism. The number of churches was limited to one in each free royal town, Kežmarok being one of them. The construction material had to be the cheapest possible (wood at that time) and a church had to be completed in 365 days. Furthermore, the site of a new Protestant church had to be chosen by a royal commission. In Kežmarok, a royal commission deliberately chose an ancient pub as a place of worship, in order to humiliate the local Protestant community. The pub was later incorporated into the building.

The oldest parts of the present building are an epitaph from 1688 and a Renaissance baptistery from 1690. They are the only remaining parts of the first church. The second wooden church, erected in the Baroque style in 1717, completely replaced the first building. It has the shape of an equal-armed Greek cross. The space can accommodate over 1500 worshippers. It is wonderfully painted throughout - even the apparently 'marble'columns are of wood.

 * Old grammar school and historic library - adjacent to the wooden church.
 * The historical city centre and market place.
 * Kežmarok Castle.jpg
 * The city museum features several historical exhibitions and includes part of the castle.

Go next
Levoča, Poprad, Tatra Mountains, and other attractions of Spiš.

title: Kežmarok


text:
Kecskemét

Kecskemét is a town in central Hungary and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun county, half way between Budapest and Szeged, almost equal distance from the two big rivers of the country, Danube and Tisza. The city is well known for its secessionist architecture, museums, and for being the birthplace of composer Zoltan Kodály.

Get in
Kecskemét is pretty much equidistant from the capital metropolis Budapest (in the northwest) and the southern university city of Szeged (in the southeast), about 90 km from both cities.

By plane
Budapest Ferihegy Airport is 58 minutes by train from the  Ferihegy train station near Terminal 1 (from Terminal 2, you can catch a bus (12 min, Ft 350) to the train station). The trains from Budapest usually stop at Ferihegy at twelve minutes past the hour and reach Kecskemét at ten minutes past the next hour. A ticket for this train is ~ Ft 1600.

By car
The M5 freeway connects Kecskemét to Budapest and Szeged.

Get around
The main train and bus stations are about 10 minutes east of downtown, where most of the attractions are and can easily be reached by foot. If you need to take the bus, Kunság Volán runs the local bus company.

Museums

 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)
 * Clocks Collection (Hanga Óragyűjtemény)

Do

 * Football: Kecskeméti TE play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Széktói Stadion (capacity 6300) is just west of the railway station and shared with the town rugby team.
 * Spring Festival (Tavaszi Fesztivál) held every March, usually coinciding with Budapest's annual Spring Festival. Features local art, theater, as well as plenty of music from Kodály.
 * Football: Kecskeméti TE play soccer in NB 1, the top tier. Their home ground Széktói Stadion (capacity 6300) is just west of the railway station and shared with the town rugby team.
 * Spring Festival (Tavaszi Fesztivál) held every March, usually coinciding with Budapest's annual Spring Festival. Features local art, theater, as well as plenty of music from Kodály.
 * Spring Festival (Tavaszi Fesztivál) held every March, usually coinciding with Budapest's annual Spring Festival. Features local art, theater, as well as plenty of music from Kodály.
 * Spring Festival (Tavaszi Fesztivál) held every March, usually coinciding with Budapest's annual Spring Festival. Features local art, theater, as well as plenty of music from Kodály.

Buy
Besides buying pálinka or postcards, the town is wanting in any souvenirs specifics to Kecskemét. There are several places to buy folk crafts, especially during the Spring Festival in late March.

Eat
Have some fruit. The town is in the centre of a fruit growing region.

Drink
Kecskemét is the home of palinka (Hungarian fruit vodka).

Sleep
Kecskemét kiadó szállás Private houses and hotel

Go next

 * Cegléd
 * Nagykőrös
 * Bugac — a small village near the steppelands (puszta) of the Kiskunság National Park, and the site of the annual Kurultáj, a celebration of the Hungarians' nomadic and warrior forebears

title: Kecskemét