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Menorca

Menorca (Minorca) is the second largest of the Balearic Islands, located to the northeast of Mallorca and is the least overrun and most tranquil of the Balearics. With a population of around 92,000, the island is dominated by tourists, particularly during the summer tourist season of May - October. Due to its unspoilt beauty, it allows the more adventurous the opportunity to discover new charms and experiences. Despite its smaller size among other Spanish islands, being just around 48 km (30 miles) long and around 16 km (10 miles) wide, the number of beaches that Menorca has equals the number of beaches that can be found in Mallorca and Ibiza combined.

Regions
The island is split into eight administrative divisions: Maó, Es Castell, Sant Lluis, Alaior, Es Mercadal, Es Migjorn Gran, Ferreries and Ciutadella. Each division is responsible for the beaches and resorts within it.

Understand
The harbour at Maó, the island capital, is the second largest natural deep water port in the world - the largest being Pearl Harbour. The whole island is a European Biological Reserve and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve aiming to preserve environmental areas. More than 75% of the territory is protected. You can watch some of the last turtles of the Mediterranean, birds and protected species.

The main tourist area is along the south coast and includes the resorts of Santo Tomas, Son Bou, Cala en Porter, Binibeca, Punta Prima and S'Algar. Menorca is a relatively quiet island, which means more wholesome, family fun holidays. If you prefer a more vibrant night scene, head to nearby Ibiza or Mallorca for a bustling city atmosphere.

An identifying sign of Menorca is its fascination with horses. All things centre around horses and the people love them. Menorca has its own race of black horses. In all the festivities the horses and their "caixers" (riders) are the centrepieces. The "Cami de Cavalls" is a pathway surrounding the island for horse riding and it was used in the past for defense of the coast by horse, literally translating to horse path.

If you do take time to explore the interior you will discover a wealth of interesting and historic landmarks from El Toro (the highest point on the island) to the most significant prehistoric sites at Trepucó and Torre d’en Galmés.

To this day no one is certain of the significance of these prehistoric monuments in the form of Taules, T-shaped stone formations thought to be spiritual sanctuaries; Talayots which are stone towers that local people believe were once used as look-out points. There is little evidence to support these theories about Menorca’s prehistoric past nor the original function of these breathtaking creations. Taules are named after the Menorquí word for table. (Menorquí is the local dialect of Catalan which is widely spoken on the Island). Menorca is by far the richest place in Europe for sites of prehistoric settlements, mostly dating from the Talaiotic Period, which was the period of civilisation between 2000 and 1000 BC. The term Talayot is believed to originate from the Arabic atalaya meaning “watch tower”.

History
Since prehistoric times, the Island has been controlled by the Romans, Moors, Catalans, Spanish, French and English. All these nations have left their mark on the Island and monuments to visit from Sanisera, the archaeological site close the port of Sanitja on the north coast of the island to the ruins of the 5th century Bascilica on the beach at Son Bou.

During the 18th century, Menorca was a bone of contention among the British, French and Spanish powers. This was due to the Port of Maó, the finest natural harbour in the Mediterranean, and one of the best in the world, which could protect the largest fleets of the time in their entirety. The Utrecht Treaty, signed in 1713, gave place to the first British presence on Menorca, which lasted until 1755. The first British Governor was John Campbell (Argyll) nominated by the Queen Anne. Richard Kane, from County Antrim in Ireland, the second British Governor, is still fondly remembered for his effective support of agriculture on the island; he introduced the cultivation of the apple, promoted cattle breeding and built roads and reservoirs which are still in use today. The Scottish Col. Patrick Mackellar (Argyll) was the chief engineer of Menorca and responsible for the main constructions of the British legacy. The main contribution of Mackellar was the design and construction of Georgestown (Es Castell) near to Sant Felip fortress at the entry of Mahon harbour.

There were two later periods of British presence on Menorca, from 1763 till 1781 and 1798 to 1808. The British left more than their earthworks and ramparts behind. This included things as varied as the growth of Maó, which enthusiastically accepted the opportunities for trade and the abolition of the Inquisition, the traditional woodworking and boat building techniques and designs and Menorca's most popular drink, gin.

Talk
The locals speak a form of Catalan language called "Menorquí", which is itself a sub-dialect of the regional "Balear". It is a language not easily understood by Spanish speakers, but most inhabitants also speak Spanish. Most also speak English to a reasonable standard, especially in the tourist areas and resorts.

By plane
There are regular flights available to Menorca Airport (sometimes known as Mahon Airport) from mainland Spain and the sister islands of Ibiza and Mallorca through Iberia and their subsidiary Air Nostrum. Flights from Spain are also available from Barcelona with Vueling. If travelling from the UK, various airlines offer regular scheduled services during the summer tourist season. Airlines Jet2, TUI Airways, and EasyJet all fly from various regional and main UK airports direct to Menorca. British Airways offer services from London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports.

To get to your resort, Menorca's airport is served by buses to Maó (€1.50, 15 min) every half hour from around 06:00 to 22:00 and then hourly to midnight. The bus stops at the bus station, the Estacio Maritima and a couple of other intermediate points. Buses are then available to various resorts and towns across the island from the bus station.

Taxis are available directly in front of the airport terminal and there is a range of car hire options to get to your resort. There are also various services (bookable online) that allow direct coach transfers to resorts across the island.

By taxi
Taxis are a popular form of transport for those not looking to move as much. They can be somewhat expensive if using them a lot, so be careful! A taxi can be booked using Radio Taxis, which is an English speaking service. Call +34 971 367 111 and state your current location and destination.

Companies
There are numerous agents and companies, both international and local, specialising in car hire in Menorca - both at the airport and in resorts - although it may be important to organise it from home before you arrive to avoid disappointment during peak periods. Scooter hire is also possible at some of these agencies. Car Hire companies include the International Firms, that usually cost a little more but have dedicated desks and a separate pickup facility directly at the airport, which means there's no shuttle bus and you can just drive away. Companies based at the airport are: Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Enterprise. There are other firms dedicated to Menorca, which will often be cheaper than the main firms, but have no dedicated desk at the airport and require a shuttle bus to their offsite destinations.

A word of warning on Car Hire: If possible, do not get a ' full to empty ' fuel policy; there is no way that you will use a full tank of fuel on the tiny island of Menorca. Instead, opt for a 'full to full ' policy wherever possible. It does mean you'll have to use a petrol station before your return, but you'll save the over-the-top cost of a full tank of fuel from the rental agency.

Roads
The roads on Menorca are very simple: there is one main road, the ME-1. It connects Ciutadella and Mahon and every other major road on the island branches off it.

By bus
If you're planning to travel around by bus, then there are three main public bus companies in Menorca: TMSA, Torres, and Autos Fornells.

 * Transportes Menorca (TMSA), who run buses throughout the island, including to Ciutadella, but operate mainly around the east coast (including Maó and the Airport), as well as to many of the southern resorts. Their buses leave from the Bus Station in Maó and from Placa de Menorca in Ciutadella.
 * Torres run buses from Ciutadella to locations and resorts on the west coast. Their buses leave from the main plaza (Placa des Pins) in Ciutadella.
 * Autos Fornells run buses from the major towns to the northern resorts, including Fornells.

The main bus route which serves Maó, Alaior, Es Mercadal, Ferreries and Ciutadella runs along the centre of the island. Most buses leave hourly and are very inexpensive, at around €4 to €5 to travel between Ciutadella and Maó.

You can always find the latest timetables for every route on each operators' website.

On foot
The Cami de Cavalls footpath encompasses the entire island, and is a popular walking route along the coastline. It is a fully signposted long distance Spanish walking route around the edge of the island, and is a part of Spain's network of paths, the Gran Recorrido (GR) Network. If you're planning to visit a nearby beach or resort, it's often quicker to use the Cami de Cavalls due to the island's road structure; you can walk directly to your destination instead of travelling all the way inland only to head back down to the coast again.

See
El Toro, east of Es Mercadal, is the highest point on the island. Visit for a fantastic panoramic view of the island.

In Maó, the Xoriguer Gin Distillery makes gin that is distinctively aromatic and very tasty. You can sample and purchase on-site gin and the many other types of liquor that the Xoriguer Distillery manufactures. The Museu de Menorca is in a 15th-century former Franciscan monastery. It exhibits the earliest history of the island, the Roman and Byzantine eras and Muslim Menorca, and includes paintings from more recent times. La Mola Fortress is a magnificent, mid-19th-century Spanish fortress set over Maó harbour.

In Ciutadella de Menorca, enjoy the Plaça d'Alfons III, a plaza lined with restaurants and cafés that are worth more than a passing glance. Outside of the town, you will find Líthica, a sandstone quarry you can explore. It has wonderful gardens, a sandstone maze, and brilliant views of the quarry and the surrounding greenland. Naveta des Tudons is an ancient megalithic chamber tomb and the final resting place for 100 skeletons buried up to 750 BC. The exterior is open to visits.

Nine Prehistoric Sites of Talayotic Menorca were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. These are remains of settlements from about 1600-100 BCE. The sites are known for monuments of large stone blocks, possibly erected for astronomical observations (like Stonehenge).

Beaches
Resorts, particularly on the north side of the island, are generally built on cliffs and so have either very small beaches or very full beaches. As a result, it's best to rent a car (see 'Get around') and get out to explore some of the great beaches, or else you will be fighting for space. Moreover, the larger family resorts have beaches that, again, do fill up quickly, so go and explore some of the more obscure beaches listed below.

Menorca has its share of beautiful coastline that deserves recognition. Non-resort Menorcan beaches are generally not crowded, so finding a nice relaxing spot of your own is not hard to achieve, provided you have access to a car or scooter.

Es Grau is a great, long beach north of Maó with shallow water ideal for families that is very close to a nature reserve that has some great walks. Punta Prima Beach, southeast of Maó, is a relatively small beach with some great facilities in Punta Prima.

Cala Macarella, west of Cala Galdana, is undoubtedly one of the best beaches on Menorca, with crystal clear blue waters, a brilliant natural cove and a small cafe/bar. Cala en Turqueta also west of Cala Galdana, is a brilliant beach with great soft sand and the same turquoise water (where it gets its name from) as Macarella.

At Son Bou, the longest beach on Menorca means there's plenty of space for everyone if you don't mind walking a few minutes from the crowd. Pale sand and loads of room make this beach great for kids: sunbeds and pedalos are available at the resort end of the beach. Brilliant for families.

Cruises
Glass-bottomed catamaran cruises from Maó offer a chance to view the underwater marine life.

Scuba
There is a scuba centre at Son Bou.

Buy
Avarcas, the traditional Menorcan sandal, is available in shops and markets throughout the island. They are now a fashion icon and can be found around the world, but were originally designed as a shoe for farmers. Only the original Avarca manufacturers are allowed to sell shoes with the label "Avarca de Menorca". This is only given by the local Balearic Government as a guarantee that the avarcas accomplish minimum quality standards and that they have been really manufactured on the island.

You can find companies that manufacture Avarca de Menorca in Ferreries, Es Mercadal and:

Eat
Menorca is packed with good restaurants whose menus especially feature fish and seafood. Menorca also has a great variety of bars and cafes, with some open for 24 hours a day.

Drink
Nightlife in Menorca is low key compared to nearby Mallorca or Ibiza. For a drink with a waterside view, head to the waterfront which is where the majority of bars are situated.

Menorcan Gin

On Menorca there were a great many junipers, (there still are), and in the harbour lay the British fleet. The twain met and Ginet was the result, a spirit far removed from the Spanish and Mediterranean traditions and with notable difference from the English Gin.

It is a kind of cross between London Gin and the Mediterranean spirit, invented in Menorca. It was very successful and was drunk throughout the British Fleet and it surprised more than one distinguished visitor to declare "the best of the sprits found in Europe today" was historian Vargas Ponce's opinion on visiting Menorca in 1781.

The major difference between London Gin and Menorcan Ginet, is that Menorcan Ginet is based on a spirit distilled from the grape, as is usual in the Mediterranean, and not on a cereal based spirit. The juniper now comes from the mainland, but the distilling continues to be done in old copper stills. The spirit rests in oak barrels cured in gin so that the end product does not take the colour of the wood.

Gin is found all over Menorca, drunk neat or in a mix. One such mix, named Pomada, is created by adding bitter lemon. It's the drink of choice during the many fiestas which take place throughout the summer on the island.

You can find information about how to visit the distillery shop in the Maó article.

Go next

 * Mallorca
 * Ibiza
 * Balearic Islands
 * Barcelona

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Minot

Minot is a city in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota with an estimated 48,000 in 2017. Known as the Magic City, it's a significant rail hub (for freight, anyway). However, its location deep within North America and off the Interstate System generally means you don't see Minot if you don't plan on it.

Understand
The Souris River goes through the middle of town, carving a valley in the middle of flat prairie. The town arose in 1880s as a stop along the Great Northern railway. During Prohibition the city became a nexus for alcohol smuggling. After World War II the city settled down into quiet suburbanation. Today Minot is best known for the US Air Force base north of town. You can drive to Canada in just over an hour.

Minot is a rather unusual city, though possessing levels of services similar to much larger cities, it struggles between small-town and cosmopolitan attitudes. Civic growth is not greatly helped by the climate. T-shirts available at the airport have this motto: "Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!"

Climate
While North Dakota is typically associated with a cold climate, the weather actually has its extremes, and Minot reaches temperatures of 90s F (sometimes even 100s) in the summer months.

By car
Minot's location towards the center of the continent places it well off the beaten path for travelers. Most commonly, visitors are passing by. Often they are taking the scenic route west through Montana (or coming from that direction). Also, many Canadian tour buses bound for points east (Minneapolis, Chicago, etc.) will cross into the US through Portal, and stop in Minot for fuel and a quick bite.

The major routes through the city are US 2 (east-west), US 83 (north-south), and US 52 (northwest-southeast). US 2 intersects with Interstate 29 in Grand Forks, US 83 intersects with Interstate 94 in Bismarck, and US 52 intersects with Interstate 94 in Jamestown. Successors to 83 and 52 also intersect with the Trans-Canada Highway.

By train

 * Route stopping at Minot:
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. Westbound trains pass through about 9AM while eastbound trains pass through about 9PM, but delays are quite common on this route.
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. Westbound trains pass through about 9AM while eastbound trains pass through about 9PM, but delays are quite common on this route.

Get around
Unless you've brought a bicycle and happen to be in good shape, you aren't getting anywhere in Minot without a car. Some public transit is available at certain times, but for visitors it's more trouble than it's worth.

Car rental
Avis (+1 701 838-7665), Hertz (+1 701 852-0104), and National (+1 701 852-5115) are at the airport. There is a Rent-a-Wreck (838-0098) at a Sinclair gas station three (hilly) blocks south of the Amtrak station. There is an Enterprise location (+1 701 838-3800) on the south end of town. Enterprise and Rent-a-Wreck will pick you up; Avis, Hertz, and National are oriented primarily towards airline travelers.

Taxi
Taxi service is also available. Central Cab. +1 701-852-8000

By public transit
Minot City Transit provides service. There is no bus stop at the Amtrak station. Also, there is no common transfer stop between routes. Buses run every hour between 9AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday. Two trips run between 6:55AM to 8:30AM on school days and again between 2:55PM and 4:30PM

Fare is $1.25. Children under 6 pay no fare. Monthly passes for adults are $34.00. Monthly passes for senior citizens and disabled are $26.00.

Buy
Shopping opportunities are ample in Minot. Downtown Minot, northeast of the intersection of Burdick Expressway and Broadway, has small shops and restaurants, particularly along Main Street and Central Avenue. Souvenirs are available at the airport.

Eat
Food is pretty cheap in Minot. You're looking at $10 tops per person in most cases, maybe $20 at some of the nicer sit-down restaurants. If you really want to pull out on the stops, it is theoretically possible to spend $50 a plate at a handful of places in town... if you care to.

You will not need a reservation for any restaurant in town. Some restaurants do have private rooms that can be reserved, which are generally for business or political meetings.

Budget
National and global fast food chains are present in Minot.

Drink

Sleep
Accommodations are easy to find in Minot -- except during the State Fair and Høstfest. Be sure to reserve your rooms well in advance if you're planning to stay during late July and early October.

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay safe
There is little crime in Minot. Most residents do lock their doors, but in wintertime many people leave their cars running in parking lots as they run their errands.

Probably the most significant danger comes from city traffic. Pedestrians should yield to oncoming traffic -- most people will not stop to let you by, even at crosswalks. Also, drunk and exhibition driving is a risk late on weekends. Stay alert on the roads at those times.

Connect
The telephone area code for Minot is 701.

Minot has excellent telecommunications infrastructure; the telephone system is modern, internet access is ubiquitous, and cellular coverage within the city is excellent. Analog and digital PCS, CDMA and GSM networks are available. Coverage in the city and along the roads is excellent. Coverage gaps deep in rural territory are quickly being filled. Local telephone provider SRT is a partner with Sprint and Verizon Wireless, among others. Alltel Wireless also maintains infrastructure in the area; while its native service is based on CDMA technology, it offers a parallel GSM network that some carriers such as T-Mobile US use for roaming. AT&T Wireless now offers limited coverage in the city but not in the surrounding rural areas.

Minot has a web cafe, Broadway Bean & Bagel, on South Broadway. Public Internet access is also available at the Public Library (next to the Amtrak station) and Minot State University (North Broadway). Free WiFi access is available in pockets downtown and around MSU.

Go next

 * Rugby (70 miles E) is the geographical center of North America. From Minot, take US 2 east and drive for about one hour.
 * The International Peace Garden (120 miles NE) is on the Canadian border near Dunseith. From Minot, take US 2 to Rugby and turn north on ND 3, park is on left at border crossing.
 * Lake Sakakawea (40 miles S) provides ample water recreational opportunities. From Minot, take US 83 south and drive about half an hour, US 83 crosses the lake. The cities of Garrison and New Town have boater services.
 * 4 Bears Casino near New Town (60 miles SW) has a wide variety of entertainment. From Minot, take US 83 south about 15 minutes, then turn west at ND 23 and drive about 40 minutes.

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

title: Minot


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Minsk

Minsk (Belarusian: Мінск, Russian: Минск) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Belarus. Its population is about two million people in 2021.

For many years after the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, Minsk and Belarus, in general, had a reputation of a Soviet experience park. In the late 2010s, this stereotype started losing its relevance: Minsk offers reliable and affordable public transport, plentiful hotels, convenient banking, and shopping and dining that international tourists will find familiar. The quality and number of sightseeing opportunities have improved remarkably too. Still, the Soviet past — Stalinist architecture and socialist street art, old-style canteens and department stores — exists alongside the renovated churches, fancy restaurants, hipster joints and tourist sightseeing traps. This makes Minsk an attractive destination for those who look for new experiences.

History
Minsk is one of the oldest Belarusian cities. Its age is counted from 1067, when it was mentioned in a medieval chronicle for the first time. In the 13th century, Minsk peacefully joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. By the middle of the 16th century, it was an important economic and cultural centre in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It suffered badly during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667) and the Great Northern War (1700–1721). Minsk was annexed by Russia in 1793. It enjoyed a speedy development throughout the 19th century as one of the provincial centres of the Russian Empire. By the end of the 19th century, the city had over 90,000 inhabitants, with Jews constituting more than half of its population. Other substantial ethnic groups were Russians, Poles and Belarusians. Ethnic Belarusians dominated in rural areas on the country.

In the early years of the 20th century, Minsk was a major centre for the worker's movement. The 1st Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, the forerunner to the Soviet Communists, was held there in 1898. It was also one of the major centres of the Belarusian national revival, alongside Vilnius. The First World War devastated Minsk. By 1915, it was a battle-front city.

The first attempt at an independent Belarusian state, the Belarusian Democratic Republic, was made in Minsk in March 1918. In 1919, Minsk became the capital city of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, BSSR, one of the founders of the Soviet Union (1922-1991). Minsk was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941-1944. Before the Second World War, Minsk had a population of 300,000, but this had fallen to around 50,000 by 1944. After the war, Minsk was almost completely rebuilt. The historical centre was replaced in the 1940s and 1950s by Stalinist architecture, which favoured grand buildings, broad avenues and wide squares. Many magnificent and precious buildings, including churches and synagogues, were lost in the post-war decades of disregard to the pre-Socialist past.

Minsk is increasingly more confident in being the capital city of a country in the very centre of Europe. It is becoming better connected and more open, both economically and culturally. In return, it makes Minsk more attractive to all kinds of visitors, not only those who are after the quirkiest experiences.

Climate
Average temperatures are maximum 24°C, minimum 12°C in summer and maximum 3°C, minimum -7°C in winter. The best time to visit Minsk is from May to September when it is full of greenery. Summers are often hot and dry. Winters are freezing cold, but snow does not stay on the ground for long.

By plane
In addition to visa-free entry for Russians and many other citizens, passengers from 74 countries do not need a visa if flying to Minsk National Airport under certain conditions. For more information, see Belarus.

Flight connections
The only Belarusian airline, Belavia, is based at the Minsk National Airport which had become an increasingly popular transit hub for travel between Ukraine, Russia, Caucasus, Central Asia and formerly also Europe. Also, a number of Russian airlines and few other airlines fly to Minsk daily or near daily. For transfer instructions, see the Airport website (links in the left-hand menu). Due to sanctions, there are no direct flights to or from the European Union - the sole remaining practical connection is via Istanbul.

Bus
The airport is served by buses №300Э and private minivans №1400-ТК and №1430-ТК running 24/7 every 15 to 45 minutes (see timetable ) from the central coach terminals (Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны; also may be spelt Avtovokzal Tsentralnyi, from its Russian name). The bus stop is outside the arrivals sectors 5/6. The timetable is on display at the stop. Free wifi is available on all buses and minivans, however, you will have to be able to receive an SMS with the password.

Before boarding bus №300Э, purchase a ticket from a self-service kiosk at the bus stop (most international cards are accepted) or from the driver (Belarusian cash, cards are accepted on some buses). For minivans №1400-ТК and №1430-ТК, take any available seat and wait for the driver to collect cash payments just before departure. Cost of one-way travel is 2.9-4.00 rubles depending on the final destination (December 2019). Stowing luggage is free on minivans (limited space is available) and 0.40 rubles - on bus №300Э.

On the bus №300Э or minivan №1400-ТК routes, the first stop is in about 30 minutes at the Uručča, Уручча metro station. Change here to continue your journey by Minsk Metro (underground). Alternatively, continue to the final stop, Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны, located next to the main train station, Minsk Pasažyrski, Мінск Пасажырскі and metro station, Plošča Lienina, Плошча Леніна.

The minibus №1430-ТК runs less frequently (see schedule ) and takes a different route. It stops at the Mahilioŭskaja, Магілёўская metro station which is more convenient for those going to the Šabany, Шабаны, Aŭtazavod, Аўтазавод, Čyžoǔka, Чыжоўка and Sierabranka, Серабранка districts, and the stations along the Aŭtazavodskaja metro line. Tickets can only be purchased from the driver - 3 rubles to the Mahilioŭskaja, Магілёўская metro station, 4 rubles - to the central coach terminals (December 2019). Luggage is free, but there is only limited space available. On the way back to the airport, either depart from the central coach terminals (Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны) or from the Uručča, Уручча metro station. From the Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, all buses and minivans for the airport depart every 15 minutes (less frequently during off-peak hours) from the platform 2 (August 2019). If departing from the Uručča, leave the metro station along the train arriving from the city centre; in the subway, turn right and right again at the very end to leave the subway. Tickets for bus №300Э can be purchased from the kiosk nearest to the exit from the subway or from the driver. The electronic screen at the stop shows the waiting time for buses №300Э. For minivans №1400-ТК, tickets can be purchased from the driver.

Taxi

 * Minsk Airport Official Taxi Transfer Office.jpg

Many taxi drivers offer their services in the Arrivals and just outside it. Their prices tend to be steep, but negotiable; always agree on the price in advance.

Car
To reach the airport by car, leave the city by Praspiekt [Avenue] Niezaliežnasci | Праспект Незалежнасці and follow the highway.

By train

The fastest train from Vilnius takes about 2½ hours and costs about US$10-15 one way. An overnight trip from Warsaw is about 10 hours departing from Zachodnia, Centralna and Wschodnia stations. There are also trains from Prague and other European cities. There are multiple trains from/to Moscow, including several overnight sleepers. Only Belarusian or Russian citizens can cross the Belarus-Russia land border by train or coach; holders of other passports must take a plane. For train times, prices and booking tickets for trips from or within Belarus use the Belarusian Railway website.

By car
Driving in, while possible, requires knowledge of the border system. This is a border of European Union, so border controls are very strict. Crossing it can take 2 hours. They may check your bags. Without knowledge of Russian, Belarusian or Polish, this can be very hard. There may be a very long line of cars at a border crossing. However, if you have passport, visa and car registration papers prepared, act honest and helpful and arrives as a tourist in a personal car the border crossing can go very smoothly and be over within 45 minutes. There are may toll roads in Belarus, please be prepared to get on-board electronic unit and pay right from the start, so not to face heavy fines later on. Please check out information on toll roads at Beltoll's site.

Get around
The central area of Minsk is easily manageable on foot. Public transportation comprises buses, trams, trolleybuses, railway city lines and the Minsk metro (underground). Minsk public transport is cheap and reliable. For navigation, Google Maps does a good job.

Tickets
Single trip tickets and margetic cards for uploading carnets and period passes can be purchased from metro ticket offices, Minsktrans (state public transport company for Minsk) offices in front of most metro station exits and from Minsktrans kiosks at many bus stops. There are a large number of carnet and pass combinations depending on the length of the intended stay and plans for travel. The metro-only magnetic card costs 1 ruble (refundable) plus cost of travel; the Minsktrans magnetic card costs 2.88 rubles (refundable) and is valid for metro, bus, trolleybus, tram and railway city lines (September 2019). For details, see the Minsk metro fairs guide in Belarusian and Russian.

A single trip ticket for bus, tram or trolleybus is paper-based and costs 0.60 rubles if purchased from a ticket office or kiosk, 0.65 rubles if purchased from the driver (September 2019). Tickets have to be validated straight away. In metro, a single journey is 0.65 rubles (September 2019) paid by tokens bought at a window or self-service kiosk inside the station. Visa and MasterCard bank cards can be used for contactless pay-as-you-go payments. Magnetic cards with carnets or period passes have to be scanned upon boarding buses, trolleybuses and trams; if successful, the scanner displays Аплочана (Belarusian for paid). There is no need to scan cards at the end of the journey. Validators for paper tickets and scanners for cards are separate machines. In metro, scan a card at the gate to your right and enter the station.

By bus
There are a few express buses (their route number is followed by Э - for Belarusian Экспрэс) in Minsk. They are not covered by the majority of available period passes, but can be added for a small payment.

Privately-run minivans (their route numbers consist of four digits followed by letters, e.g. 1097-TK, displayed in the front and side windows of vehicles) often serve longer routes than city buses, trolleybuses and trams do. They are of good quality, safe and very quick. Minivans stop on request at regular bus or trolleybus stops and cost 1.00-1.50 rubles depending on the route. Period passes and carnets from Minsktrans are not valid on minivans. To catch one, stand at the edge of a bus stop and make a sign to the driver of the approaching vehicle; then take a seat and pass the money to the driver (via other passengers if necessary); change will be passed to you if applicable in the same manner. Ask to stop when approaching your stop.

By metro
Minsk metro consists of two underground lines crossing at the very city centre, stations Kastryčnickaja and Kupalaǔskaja. On the metro map, the Maskoŭskaja line is in blue, it is often referred as the first line. It is the oldest line of the Minsk Metro. Its earliest stations, Instytut Kuĺtury to Uschod, each uniquely decorated, are listed objects reflecting the Soviet architectural tradition. The Aŭtazavodskaja line is in red, it is often referred to as the second line. Each station on maps has been assigned a number making navigation for tourists much easier, however, locals may not even be aware of that; they always call the stations by their proper names. Trains run every two to fifteen minutes depending on the time of the day. The first train in the morning departs the initial station at about 05:30, the last one at night at 0:40. If you travel with even a slightly large bag, you are likely to be stopped by the police present at all stations for scanning your luggage. In such situations, the police are polite and efficient most of the time. Travelling in metro while drunk is prohibited. Station staff and police will question anyone appearing unstable. Standard questions include the intended destination, address and whether one will be able to get there safely. Keep calm and polite; use taxi if in doubt.

By taxi
Taxis App-based taxi services - Yandex and Next Taxi - are inexpensive and abundant most of the time; they are convenient if you don't speak Russian or Belarusian. Most locals also use telephones to call for a taxi which are then likely to arrive in just a few minutes. Stopping a taxi on the street is common. The driver must use a fare meter which may be a phone-based. If unsure, check how the fare will be determined beforehand. Drivers waiting for customers at the airport and train stations tend to ask for hugely inflated fares; always negotiate.

Bike sharing
There are many bike sharing stations, even automated ones. If you see a lonely orange bike or electric scooter with QR code, just scan it and explore the city.

Churches
The largest religious community in Minsk - as in the whole country - is the Belarusian Orthodox Church, part of the Russian Orthodox Church. A significant proportion of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and various Protestant communities. Other religions have a much smaller presence. Over the centuries, other religions like Greek Catholics (Uniates) and Muslims (Belarusian Tatars, also known as Polish–Lithuanian or Lipka Tatars) have left a strong imprint on the city too. According to the 1897 census, 52% of Minsk's population were Jews; there were over 100 synagogues in Minsk then. During the Soviet era, many religious buildings were closed, demolished or used for other purposes. Since Belarus regained its independence in 1991, some religious buildings were returned to their communities; many others remain in use by state institutions.

Orthodox

Roman Catholic

Do

 * Football: several Minsk teams play soccer in the Premier League, the country's top tier. The national team play at Dinamo Stadium, capacity 22,000, about 500 m south of city centre. That's also the home of top-tier club FC Minsk; other big club fixtures also occasionally use it. Other clubs in the city are Dinamo Minsk, Energetik-BGU (formerly Zvezda), and Isloch. The playing season is Mar-Nov.
 * Ice hockey: HC Dinamo Minsk play in KHL, the predominantly Russian league that also has teams from Beijing and Astana.
 * Ice hockey: HC Dinamo Minsk play in KHL, the predominantly Russian league that also has teams from Beijing and Astana.

Buy
Traditionally, tourists bring from Belarus linen goods, embroidery, souvenirs made of straw and leather, glass, ceramics and other artisanal items. Belarusian vodka has an excellent reputation; it can be purchased from airport duty-free shops. Zubroǔka (a Polish equivalent of Żubrówka) is a popular spirit originally created in Belarusian Brest. Sugar-coated cranberries, flat crisps (čypsy, чыпсы), zefir (a soft baked confectionery of apple puree and sugar), chocolate-glazed cheesecake desserts (hlazuravany syrok, глазураваны сырок) and rye bread are treated as Belarusian specialities; they are loved by locals and are widely available, also from airport shops.

Shopping malls mainly feature foreign brands. Local department stores – GUM, TSUM, Na Nemige, Univermag Belaruś etc. – stock a wider variety of the goods produced locally.

Eat
Due to the common history, traditional Belarusian cuisine is similar to that of the rest of Eastern Europe but particularly Polish and Lithuanian. Soups, dumplings, baked potato, mushroom and meat dishes, pickled vegetables and salads are often on the menu. Beer and naliŭki (berries, fruits and various spices liquors) are traditional here. Minsk has a good selection of Belarusian traditional restaurants. Among others, Georgian and Central Asian restaurants have a good reputation.

While meat has always been an integral part of traditional Belarusian meals, vegetarians and vegans are increasingly well served in Minsk. Belarus is a landlocked country; seawater fish is expensive.

Most, if not all venues in Minsk accept bank cards even for small amounts. Tipping up to 10% for table service is common, but not compulsory. Many cafes and bars have tip cups; leaving tips there is not compulsory either.

Mid-range

Vegan
Vegan food is still a novelty in Belarus, however there are a handful of reliable cafes in Minsk already.

Cafes
Getting decent coffee in Minsk is not difficult. In addition to local and international coffee and bakery chains (Paul, Thierry, Golden Coffee), there are plenty of independent coffee shops and stalls around the city, in shopping malls and museums. Many convenience stores and supermarkets offer coffee too. Most coffee shops close by 23:00.

Bars
Nowadays, beer and vodka are the most common traditional alcoholic drinks in Belarus. Samahonka (moonshine) is occasionally served in trendy bars, as well as in all venues with decent Belarusian cuisine. Some places may have naliŭki - liquors infused with local berries, fruits or spices like horseradish. Zubroǔka (Żubrówka in Poland) is native to Belarus too. Good wines are expensive in Belarus, but due to geopolitical reasons, the country is a good place to explore Georgian and Moldovan wines, as well as Armenian cognacs. Most, if not all venues in Minsk accept bank cards even for small amounts. Many cafes and bars without table service have tip cups; leaving tips there is not compulsory.

Casinos

 * Casino Royal
 * Carat Casino

Sleep
Until 2019, a major advantage of staying in hotels while visiting Belarus was a registration with the local police organised by hotels for their customers. This registration is still mandatory, but can be done online without hotels. Read more in the Belarus article.

Budget
Many hostels are just apartment flats with bunk beds in all the rooms. Finding them and checking in many require a phone call and coordination and most apartments only have 1 or 2 bathrooms to be shared by all of the guests.

Stay safe
Minsk is a safe and clean city. If you are in need of assistance, there is a strong police presence in the downtown area. Emergency medical help can be accessed 24/7, either in designated hospitals or by phone.

All Minsk Metro stations are equipped with security scanners and police are always present there. Passengers with large bags and, particularly, backpacks, are routinely asked to submit their belongings for scanning. The procedure is quick and the police are usually polite. Both the police and Metro staff keep an eye on not letting drunk passengers in, particularly in the evening. Even if you are tipsy, be prepared to answer about your destination station and address. Alternatively, use a taxi, buses, trolleybuses and trams.

The Belarusian law prohibits taking photographs of the government buildings. Locals tell stories of tourists approached by officials after attempting to photograph the monumental KGB headquarters on Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci.

Attending political and any protests may not be safe for tourists. Even bystanders may be detained by uniformed and plain cloth police. The judge is likely to accept the police story.

Belarus is safe for LGBT travellers  most of the time. Belarusian law neither recognises nor bans same-sex relationships; it has some provision for transgender people. Homophobic and transphobic abuse is not recognised as a specific hate crime; any such incidents would be treated as generic hooliganism. This has its impact on society: most people would not mind having LGBT people around but would regard any explicit signs of affection disturbing. This may also lead to violence. In the past, there were reports of vigilante groups using dating apps; the police challenged those crimes. Taking reasonable precautions should be enough to stay safe.

The Belarusian law prohibits the distribution of pornography. While it is not used to routinely police people's belongings and video-streaming habits, there were odd cases of prosecuting Belarusian citizens for posting explicit content on social media and even in password-protected profiles.

The enforcement of road safety for pedestrians and drivers by the traffic police is often ruthless, so observing traffic lights and crossings are well-engraved in Belarusians' behaviour. As a rule, drivers always give the way to pedestrians crossing the road in the designated places.

Stay healthy
There is a pharmacy in the basement level at the Central Railway Station. The pharmacy staff do not speak English so it's preferred to have a Russian or Belarusian speaker with you, or have something written in Cyrillic.

Cope
Timetable of Catholic Masses in Minsk; Roman Catholic parishes in Minsk (scroll down)

Languages
Language may be a barrier for tourists to a certain extent. Virtually all Belarusians speak or understand both Belarusian and Russian; the latter remains the default means of communication. Increasingly more young people speak English and many of them will be eager to practice it. The older generation is unlikely to understand English. It is wise for visitors to learn some key phrases in Russian or Belarusian. Also, being familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet used both by Belarusian and Russian is essential for travelling without a guide. Many street signs and notices in public transport in Minsk are transliterated into the Latin alphabet. A confusion may arise as names of landmarks, objects etc. may be transliterated either from Belarusian (as the current official practice requires, however it is not strictly enforced) or Russian; to add to the confusion, the old practice of translating geographical names still has a place. As the result, Плошча Перамогі (Площадь Победы in Russian) may be referred to in publications as Plošča Pieramohi (or Pieramohi Square, transliteration from Belarusian), Pobedy Square (transliteration from Russian) or Victory Square (direct translation). There is no an easy way to completely avoid this confusion, but be aware of the possibility that the same place can have a different name depending on the primary language of the speaker. There is more coverage of this issue in the Belarusian phrasebook and links from there.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * Georgia
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Most Belarusian trains are cheap, comfortable and reliable. Some destinations are served by high-speed services, but slow overnight sleepers are widely available as well. Minibuses (maršrutka in Belarusian, маршрутка) is the most common local and intercity transportation used by Belarusians. They are not always less comfortable, but quick and cheap. You can also rent a car.

 * Brest is a regional capital on the border with Poland and is rich with history from both the Soviet times and before. You can see a Brest Hero Fortress, perhaps the most impressive Soviet monument ever built. You can get there by train (~20 daily trains running from Minsk) at US$5–20. It takes 3-4 hr by train.
 * Homieĺ
 * Hrodna is a border town in north-west Belarus, the last capital of Rzecz Pospolita, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 17-18th centuries.
 * Lake Narač is the largest lake in Belarus, located about 160 km north of Minsk.
 * Zaslaǔje

title: Minsk


text:
Minsk Region

Minsk Voblasć (Belarusian: Мінская вобласць) is a region in the central part of Belarus.

Cities and towns

 * — the centre of the region and the capital of the country. A city of fascinating Stalinist and late-Soviet architecture that also preserves a few monuments from the 17th-18th century.
 * — the second largest city of the region with numerous buildings from the 19th century.
 * — a popular Catholic pilgrimage destination, home of the National Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Budslau.
 * — a small town with a magnificent Catholic church from the 18th century, a neo-gothic church, and a wooden synagogue.

 * — a gateway to the lakes of Narachansky National Park.
 * — an industrial city that used to be the centre of a separate oblast until their number was reduced from 12 to 6 in 1960.
 * — a historical town with a castle and a huge park from the 18th century.

 * — once home to weavers of expensive silk sashes, the town now boasts a museum dedicated to this 18th-century craft.
 * — a town that is home to several nice monuments in the classical style from the early 19th century.
 * — a town with some fine churches and interesting old cemeteries.
 * — an ancient picturesque town that preserves two original churches (late 16th and late 18th centuries) and the remains of old fortifications.
 * — a town with several big and famous factories.

Other destinations

 * (Хатынь) — memorial complex on the spot of the village savagely burnt during World War II
 * — a natural woodland reserve with lots of lakes in the northern part of the region
 * (Сноў) — a country estate from the early 19th century

title: Minsk Region


text:
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site in South Dakota.

Understand
At the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site you will find remnants of the Cold War, including an underground launch control center and a missile silo. Minuteman missiles still hold the destructive power to destroy civilization as we know it, but the same destructive force is intended as a deterrent to keep the peace. Minuteman Missile is a reminder that the threat of nuclear war still haunts the world.

A Minuteman Missile can strike a target over 6,000 miles (10,000 km) away in less then half an hour. Because it moves at speeds of over 15,000 miles an hour (21,400 km/h), a Minuteman could cross the United States from east to west in just over 10 minutes. By comparison, to drive the same distance would take a few days, and by airplane, a few hours.

Climate
Weather in South Dakota can be quite variable throughout the year. During the summer months temperatures can reach up to. Thunderstorms may also be experienced during the spring, summer and fall months. Winds may be high during any time of the year. During the winter months temperatures can be quite cold while blizzards are not uncommon.

Get in
The park headquarters is open all year daily from 8AM-4:30PM Mountain Time. The office is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holidays. Free tickets for tours of the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility can be picked up at the visitor's center and are offered daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours are approximately a half-hour long. Space is limited to around 6 persons at a time.

Tours of the Delta-09 Launch Facility are self-guided. An interpreter is some times on site in the morning while in the afternoon cell-phone-guided tours are available.

Get more information by calling the Minuteman Missile headquarters office at +1-605-433-5552 between 8AM and 4:30PM, daily.

For group reservations, including schools or special programs call the headquarters.

Fees and permits
There are no fees to visit the site.

Get around
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site headquarters is located off Interstate 90, exit 131, beside the Conoco gas station. The contact station is the starting point for all ranger led tours. The contact station also includes exhibits and a park orientation video which places the Minuteman in historic context. The visitor contact station is open from 8AM-4:30PM, daily, throughout the year with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

See
The tours are approximately a half-hour in length and are limited to six people. For more information call the Minuteman Missile NHS Office at +1-605-433-5552 between 8AM and 4:30PM, daily. Spaces on these tours are very limited so plan your trip early!

For group reservations or special programs also call the Minuteman Missile Visitor's Center.

Sleep
There are no accommodations on-site, but the historic site is surrounded by the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. As with nearly all U.S. National Grasslands, you are free to pitch a tent pretty much anywhere you like, as long as you get a little ways away from the road, and make sure not to go down any roads marked private.

The nearest lodgings are in Wall.


text:
Miquelon

Miquelon is an island and village in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Understand
Although it is much larger than Saint-Pierre, it is much less populated. The residents are primarily of Basque and Acadian heritage.

Geologically, Miquelon is three islands, connected by isthmuses formed from drifting sand:

 * at the north, location of the village of Miquelon (pop. 600).
 * proper (Grande Miquelon).  The name comes from the Basque version of Michael, which was the name of several fishermen who settled here.
 * (Petite Miquelon), which has no permanent inhabitants but is a popular vacation spot. The name is a corruption of the French l'île à l'Anglais or Englishman's Island.

title: Miquelon


text:
Mir

Mir is a town in the Kareličy region of Grodno Oblast in Belarus. Prior to the 2nd World War it was known as an international centre of Jewish learning (Mir yeshiva).

Get in
The place has no railway station, so you will have to look for a bus from Minsk. There are several buses a day, from Minsk main autobus station. There is a bus from Nesvizh to Mir (costs 1.92 rubles) in the afternoon. The buses stop at.

Get around
Mir is a rather small town and it will take you about 10-15 minutes to walk to the Mir Castle from the middle of the town where the bus stop is located. The bus stop is in Market Square - where the local market, a bank and a hotel can be found.

Buy
Not far from the castle - at the parking lot - there are several souvenir kiosks with hand-made pottery and wood products. The vendors show prices on a calculator.

Eat
Within a walking distance from the castle there is a Mirum Cafe with good cuisine and modern design. Beside the red St. Nicolas Church there is another restaurant, but the interior is rather shabby. Inside Mir Castle on the ground floor, there is a cafe called Mir Castle that serves national cuisine.

Sleep
There are at least two hotel staying options in Mir. One of them is in the basement of the castle - a three-star hotel complex that includes a superb restaurant.

A more budget option that would fit an individual traveler is located in the center of Mir, near the bus station. Since this is a province hotel that is state-owned it has no web-site.

Go next

 * Nesvizh, around 27 km away, is home to another UNESCO World Heritage site. It is possible to do both sites in one day. There is a bus from Nesvizh at 14:26 which arrives at Mir at 15:05. Vice versa the connection leaves at 13:52. Otherwise consider a taxi between Mir and Nesvizh

title: Mir


text:
Miraflor Nature Reserve

Miraflor Nature Reserve is a community of organic farms about 30 km northeast of Estelí in the Northern Highlands of Nicaragua.

Get in
To get to Miraflor, you may take the bus from Esteli to Yali at the Cotran Norte Bus Terminal. Buses leave at 06:00, 12:00, and 15:40 for C$20.

Fees and permits
Entry is free.

Get around
Buses between Yali and Esteli pass through the park, ask locals for times. Hitchhiking and horseback riding are also options.

Go next
Buses leave at 07:15, 11:30 and 16:15 from Miraflor toward Estelí. The trip is about 1:15 hr.

title: Miraflor Nature Reserve


text:
Miragoàne

Miragoane, the third largest port in Haiti, is a city of considerable poverty and strife. Several ships from New York, USA, and Miami, FL, USA transport cargo to Miragoane during fairly regular port calls.

The city was reportedly used as a rest stop by pirates long ago and was later used by Reynolds aluminum to support a plant for refining bauxite from the indigenous soil. Reynolds moved out in the 1990s, leaving behind the power plant it had built for the town. Slowly, the luxury of electricity vanished due to lack of fuel and maintenance (read "government support").

Since then, the majority of what small amounts of cash are in circulation were derived from stevedoring operations and distribution of the cargo from ships. Food was what small amounts of cargo the people could afford supplemented by fish from the bay and, possibly, some locally grown vegetables and goats.

Removed somewhat from the anarchy of Port-au-Prince, Miragoane enjoyed relative peace until perhaps 2005. The road to Port-au-Prince is an open haven for thugs who are no better than the "highwaymen" of old. The Port Captain of Miragoane, Captain Guy (pronounced "Ghee" with a hard G), was murdered on this road in December 2005.

title: Miragoàne


text:
Miramar

There is more than one place called Miramar:

Argentina

 * Miramar (Buenos Aires) - a city in Buenos Aires (province).
 * Miramar (Córdoba) - a city in Cordoba province.

Costa Rica

 * Miramar (Guanacaste) - a city in Guanacaste province.
 * Miramar (Puntarenas) - a city in South Costa Rica.

Cuba

 * Miramar (Cuba) - a town in Granma province.

India

 * Miramar Beach - Beach and locality in Panjim town, Goa state.

Mexico

 * Miramar (Baja California) - a town in the state of Baja California.
 * Miramar (Chiapas) - a town in the state of Chiapas.
 * Miramar (Colima) - a town in the state of Colima.
 * Miramar (Guerrero) - a town in the state of Guerrero.
 * Miramar (Oaxaca) - a town in the state of Oaxaca,
 * Miramar (Sonora) - a town in the state of Sonora.
 * Miramar (Tabasco) - a town in the state of Tabasco.
 * Miramar (Tamaulipas) - a town in the state of Tamaulipas.
 * Miramar (Yucatán) - a town in the state of Yucatán.

New Zealand

 * Miramar (New Zealand) - a suburb of Wellington.

Puerto Rico

 * Miramar (Puerto Rico) - a suburb of San Juan.

Spain

 * Miramar (Valencia)

United States of America

 * Miramar (Florida) - a city located in Florida.

title: Miramar


text:
Miramichi

Miramichi is a town of 17,500 people (2016) in the Miramichi River Valley, and the largest town in northern New Brunswick.

Understand
Miramichi is a sprawling municipality formed by the merger of the towns of Newcastle and Chatham with three villages. The two town centres are across and down the river from each other, about 13 km (15 minutes by car) apart.

Miramichi bills itself as "Canada's Irish Capital", and is home to an annual Irish festival. It is one of the most Irish cities in Canada.

The Miramichi area’s economy is primarily focused on mining, fishing and forestry. Other sectors include: tourism, customer contact centres, manufacturing, and the provincial and federal government. The service sector is the city's largest employer.

History
Long prior to European settlement, the Miramichi region was home to members of the Mi'kmaq First Nation. Following the European discovery of the Americas, the Miramichi became part of the French colony of Acadia. By about 1740 French villages were well established on Miramichi Bay at Bay du Vin and Neguac.

The French and Indian War erupted in 1754. During the war many Acadian homes were destroyed by the British, and their residents were deported. Some Acadians, however, remained and escaped British attempts at deportation. They eventually established (or re-established) a host of small Acadian communities along the northern and eastern coasts of present-day New Brunswick.

The remaining Miramichi settlement was burned to the ground by the British in 1760. The French North American colonies were ceded to the British in the 1763 Treaty of Paris. Scottish settlers obtained a large grant encompassing much of the Miramichi region in 1765. Following the American Revolution some Loyalist families moved to Miramichi, and competition for the best lands escalated tensions between the early Scottish and new Loyalist settlers.

The Irish began arriving in Miramichi in numbers after 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic War, and with a few exceptions ceased coming to the area before the great Irish famine of 1847. Most arrived form the ports of Belfast and Cork each of which had strong commercial ties with Miramichi. Like the Scots they came on timber ships. By the 1870s the Irish were well established in Miramichi and by this decade less than 20% of them were recent immigrants. They represented 40% of the population of the region, spread fairly evenly over the entire Miramichi watershed.

The thin, acid soils of the Miramichi were not conducive to agriculture; thus, the lumber industry and Atlantic salmon fishery were the mainstays. A shipbuilding industry was established in 1773, largely to facilitate overseas lumber exports, including masts for the British navy, and to provide winter employment for the men.

As the shipbuilding, masting and lumber industries waned, pulp and paper production eventually replaced lumber exports as the mainstay of the area's economy. In the mid 20th century, an air force base, CFB Chatham, became the cornerstone of Chatham's economy. The discovery of base metal deposits and the development of Heath Steele Mines, 60 km to the northwest, allowed Newcastle's economy to diversify and strengthen through the 1960s. The mine and air force base had both closed by 1999 as the mine's ore body was depleted. The forest industry is the dominant player in the city's economy today.

By car
Miramichi is 140-150 km northwest of Moncton via Highways 11 or 126, 80 km south of Bathurst on Highway 8, and 172 km north of Fredericton on Highway 8.

By bus

 * Operates a route between Campbellton and Moncton including stops in Dalhousie, Bathurst, Miramichi, and Moncton Airport. Travel time to Miramichi from Bathurst is 50 minutes, from Campbellton is 2 hours, and from Moncton is 2 hours.
 * Travel to Miramichi from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Edmundston (10.5 hours), Fredericton (6.75 hours), Halifax (6 hours), and Saint John (7 hours) with a transfer in Moncton.
 * From Charlottetown (5 hours) with transfers in Amherst and Moncton.
 * From Antigonish (7 hours), North Sydney (9.75 hours), Sydney (10.5 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By plane
The nearest major airport is at Moncton.

Buy
Miramichi offers two downtown districts, a number of malls including Northumberland Square, Bridgeview Plaza, Chatham Shopping Centre, Douglastown Plaza, Miramichi Mall, and box stores along Douglastown Boulevard.

 * Historic Chatham Business District focused on the Water Street area.
 * Newcastle Business District — visit the Farmers Market every Friday.

title: Miramichi


text:
Miramichi River Valley

The Miramichi River area includes much of central New Brunswick running from the northeast Acadian Coast to the capital, Fredericton, in the southwest. Unlike much of the surrounding area, the Miramichi passes through Anglophone towns settled by Irish and Scottish who brought with them history, culture, and a love of festivals.

Cities

 * — "Canada's Irish Capital", and home to an annual Irish festival
 * — the Salmon Capital of the Miramichi, and home to many fishing lodges
 * — home of the Atlantic Salmon Museum, and close to the Priceville Footbridge (the longest suspension footbridge in New Brunswick), and Nelson Hollow Bridge (the oldest covered bridge in the province)

Understand
The vast forests of the Miramichi River Valley have been managed primarily to support the pulp and paper industry via timber leases to forestry companies. The Miramichi River valley supports some farming, mostly located on the better topsoils within the floodplain. Crop farming is rare, with potatoes, turnips, oats, and wheat being most common. The Miramichi River is famous for Atlantic Salmon fly-fishing (rod and reel), and the estuary once supported an extensive fishery for salmon, shad, gaspereau and smelt.

The Miramichi River valley is home to about 45,000 people, mainly of mixed Irish, Scottish, English, French and Mi'kmaq descent. Traditionally, the shores of the estuarine portion of the Miramichi River valley were predominantly Acadian fishing communities, whereas Chatham was an Irish community and Newcastle and many towns upriver were Scottish communities. Over the past 100 years or more, Acadians have been migrating into the amalgamated city of Miramichi and surrounding areas. The "English speaking" community (of Irish, Scottish or English descent) and the "French speaking" community (of Acadian descent) have witnessed much intermarriage between the two groups in the last 80 years and relations are generally good.

History
The Miramichi River valley was controlled by the Mi'kmaq Nation at the time of European discovery. As part of Acadia under French colonial control, the region saw little French settlement. Following the siege of Fortress Louisbourg in 1758, British forces entered the lower Miramichi River valley and destroyed and scattered the small Acadian settlements. The Miramichi River valley became a refuge for Acadians fleeing the Great Upheaval in the Annapolis Valley, Tantramar Marshes and Price Edward Island following the Seven Years' War, however these families were soon forced to move to more isolated coastal areas to the northeast.

The Highland Clearances and Britain's Industrial Revolution led to a Scottish migration into the Miramichi River valley, some of them demobilized veterans of the American Revolutionary War, and others directly coming from the Scottish Highlands. Acadians began to drift back into the area as early as 1769, settling the shorelands along the lower bay. Large numbers of Irish arrived in the Miramichi River valley, both before and after the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849).

Sawmills were a typical Miramichi industry from colonial times, but pulp mills were established at both Newcastle and Chatham in the late 19th century. During the 1870s and 1880s, railways were built to the Miramichi River valley.

Get in
Highway 8 runs from Miramichi to Fredericton.

By car
Miramichi is 140-150 km northwest of Moncton via Highways 11 or 126, and 80 km south of Bathurst on Highway 8, and 172 km north of Fredericton on Highway 8.

By plane
The nearest major airport is at Moncton.

Get around
Highway 8 runs through the valley from Miramichi to Fredericton. There is no bus service through the valley, but Miramichi Transit connects Newcastle to Douglastown and Chatham.

See
The main centre, Miramichi, offers a number of attractions. It has no one centre as it is an amalgam of two towns and three villages

The former town of Newcastle, further up the Miramichi river on the north bank, features the Old Manse Library, once the home of the British press magnate, Lord Beaverbrook. A number of his books are now in the town library.

The other town and former rival of Newcastle, Chatham, is 8 km downstream and on the south bank. It has a more Irish character than Newcastle. It is dominated by St. Michael's Basilica, on a hill overlooking the town. It is worth a visit. This neo-Gothic structure is surprisingly large, before 1949, the largest church in Canada, east of Quebec city.

Do
Salmon and bass fishing season begins April 15. There are many outfitters offering fishing packages. The Miramichi Striper Cup takes place in late May. It is a “catch and release” bass fishing tournament that attracts over 2,000 participants to the Miramichi River each year.

Miramichi River Tubing Co. in Doyles Brook, Miramichi, offers 1½-2½ hour and 3-4 hour tubing trips on the Main Southwest Miramichi River. The trip is a mix of lazy river and, at times, rapids rush. Vickers River Tubing near Blackville also does tubing trips.

Eat
The salmon, of course. Wild "fiddleheads", the curled heads of ostrich ferns which grow on the riverbanks and in the floodplain after the spring thaw, are a delicacy in New Brunswick. Do not eat them raw. When eaten raw in large quantities, some varieties of fiddlehead ferns have been known to cause illness.

title: Miramichi River Valley


text:
Miranda do Douro

Miranda do Douro (Mirandese:Miranda de l Douro) is a town of 7,500 people (2011) in the Trás-os-Montes region and in the Terras de Miranda of northeastern Portugal. Miranda is a small, but an important historic city on the banks of the Douro river.

Understand

Miranda do Douro (mee-RUHN-duh doo DOH-roo, /mi.ˈɾɐ̃.dɐ du ˈdo.ɾu/)

Get in
From Bragança or Mirandela.

The main roads serving Miranda are IC5, EN221, and EN218.

Talk
In the city and surrounding vicinity, most people speak Mirandese, an Asturo-Leonese language and Portuguese. Some residents even speak Castilian due to its proximity to Castile and Leon.

See

 * Douro valley

Do
Festevities/Pauliteiros folk dancers.

title: Miranda do Douro


text:
Mirande

Mirande is a town in Gers, France.

Understand
Mirande is in the beautiful Gers region and is a lively fortified bastide town, built during the 13th century and was once a must-know town in the south of Gers. Traditional in its ways, Mirande provides the visitor with a truly local French experience.

History
At the end of the 11th century, the Southwest of France was little populated. Outside the large towns like Toulouse, Auch, or Albi, the rural population was quite dispersed. In the countryside, peasants lived with the insecurity created by uncontrolled semi-nomadic people who lived in the thick forest. In this world, bastides made life a bit better, marking a movement of urbanism in the Southwest of France between 1222 with the founding of Cordes and 1373 with the founding of Labastide d'Anjou.

See
A small town it has a main square surrounded by attractive medieval arcades and an original 15th century Gothic cathedral that stands proud looking over the town.

During the month of July you can enjoy the vibrancy of Mirande’s International Country Music Festival. Mirande is also well known for other celebrations; traditional feasts, dances, concerts and plays that take place in the central square.

Do
Take a stroll around its small network of streets, visit the regular markets filled with local produce from this agricultural area and enjoy a coffee at one of its delightful cafes.

Visit the museum of Fine Arts and China.

Buy
Small selection of shops, but not a shopping mecca! Regular markets.

title: Mirande


text:
Miri

Miri is a city in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in the state (with a population of about 235,000 in 2010, and 290,000 in its district). It is on its northern coast near the border with Brunei. Known by its nickname "Oil Town", Miri is the birthplace of the Malaysian petroleum industry, as the city was founded in 1910 when the first oil well was drilled by Royal Dutch Shell. Petroleum has continued to drive the city's economy and development ever since.

Miri is the main tourist gateway to various national parks, which makes it a favourite ecotourism destination and can be arguably called the "Resort City".

Understand
The Sarawak Shell Berhad and Petronas Carigali are headquartered here. As a result, Miri has a cosmopolitan whiff as it hosts expatriates from all over the world, who work in these multinational oil and gas giants.

Visitors stop for transit here to change planes before heading onward to Gunung Mulu National Park or the famous Kelabit Highlands.

Miri boasts a diverse population, which consists of Chinese, Malay, Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and many other ethnic groups. International students from a foreign university campus based here and expatriates from international corporations add much spice to Miri as well.

Visitor information
The people are quite helpful when it comes to directions or any help needed. A visitor's information centre is available downtown for any further enquiries:

Talk
The main language the Sarawak dialect of Malay, which is similar to standard Malay but with local slangs. Nevertheless, all locals are able to speak and understand standard Malay if required. Most locals also have a rudimentary grasp of English, while upper class locals and service staff in the main hotels and tourist attractions usually speak English well.

Hokchiu/Foochow is the main dialect spoken by the ethnic Chinese community, though many are able to speak Mandarin as well.

By plane

 * From Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines flies four times daily between Kuala Lumpur and Miri, with two stopping over at Kuching. AirAsia also flies direct non-stop three times daily.
 * From Johor Bahru: AirAsia flies on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
 * From Kuching: Malaysia Airlines flies three flights daily and AirAsia has one flight daily.
 * From Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia Airline and AirAsia each have two flights daily. MASWings also puts on a Fokker flight on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
 * From Singapore: Scoot flies three times a week, on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
 * MASWings operates a web of flights to remote destinations in the interior, most notably Gunung Mulu National Park and Bario in the Kelabit Highlands. MASWings also links Miri with Limbang, Lawas and Labuan which will enable you to by-pass expensive Brunei. Go to their website to book flights on-line and check schedules.
 * MASWings operates a web of flights to remote destinations in the interior, most notably Gunung Mulu National Park and Bario in the Kelabit Highlands. MASWings also links Miri with Limbang, Lawas and Labuan which will enable you to by-pass expensive Brunei. Go to their website to book flights on-line and check schedules.

By bus
, also called Pujut bus terminal, is about 4 km north from the city centre. There are frequent city bus service (from 5AM to 9PM, takes 20-30 min) to nearby Boulevard Shopping Mall. The bus stop is at the pedestrian overpass and about 5 minutes walk from bus terminal. The taxi will cost RM20-30.

 * From other Sarawak cities: Numerous bus companies such as Biaramas, Suria Bus Express and Borneo Highway Express link Miri with other Sarawak cities such as Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu. Most express buses depart from the Express Bus Terminal. From Bintulu the bus journey takes approximately 4 hours and cost RM 27. From Sibu it takes about 7 hours and costs RM 50 (2019).
 * From Brunei: As of early 2019, there are two direct services between Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri. PHLS Express operates a dedicated BSB-Miri service, leaving BSB at 7AM and 1PM. In Miri buses leave from the long-distance bus station at 8:15AM and 3:45PM. Fare is B$22 or RM50 and purchased at the Banting Jaya counter (RM65 online via Easybook) ; B$12 or RM25 for children 3–10 (2019); tickets can be bought at the bus station or online. The bus will also stop in Seria, Tutong, or Kuala Belait if you buy a ticket to or from one of those towns. There is no longer local bus service between Miri and Kuala Belait in Brunei. The only bus connection between two cities is the above-mentioned express service.
 * To/From Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: Bintang Jaya Express operates between Miri and Kota Kinabalu (KK).  The route originates from Pontianak in Indonesia to Kuching, Miri, Limbang, Lawas ending in KK Wawasan Bus Terminal.  Bus departs Miri at 8AM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The journey takes approximately 10 hours without changing buses.  From KK the bus departs at 7.30AM on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.
 * To/From Niah Caves: Bas Suria departs from the Miri Express Bus Terminal to Batu Niah town regularly. The journey takes over an hour. From Batu Niah, you can either take a speedboat or walk to the Niah National Park headquarters at Pengkalan Batu.

Get around
Local bus services are available in front of Wisma Pelita Tunku. Available route are Permyjaya, Tudan, Senadin, Taman Tunku, Hospital, RTM (Pujut Corner to Pujut 5) and Sungai Rait+Bakam. The fare is RM1 under RM1 Flat Rate Bus Fare Programme.

24-hour taxi service is also available and can be reached at. Fare surcharge applies after midnight.

A car can be hired for a day for as low as RM 80 + RM 30 (delivery charges). Remember to purchase some Miri City Council-designed parking tickets, which cost RM 0.5 each. Parking space is free of charge during 11:45AM until 2:15PM on Friday, after 5PM, and weekends.

Do

 * Canada Hill, Go for an extreme hike on the jungle treks of Canada Hill. Every evening a group of trekkers or anyone else would go there for hike. It's a test of endurance but yet a healthy activity since you will be burning a lot of calories for that. However, slopes can get slippery during the rainy season, so always be careful and be prepared.

Lambir Hills National Park
is some 30 km south of Miri. Enjoy the wonders of nature and take a hike in the park. There are plenty of impressive tall trees, interesting bird songs, and several big and small picturesque waterfalls where you can swim as well. If you have keen eyes you may also spot frogs, lizards, and other wildlife. The park is popular at weekends when people from Miri travel there for a day visit. For longer stays, visitors can book one of several chalets. At the park headquarters there's a shop with snacks, drinks, and simple MYR5 hot meals.

There are several hiking trails for visitors to explore. These range from short and fairly flat walks to the long, challenging, and steep trek to the summit of Bukit Lambir, the tallest point in the park. If heading towards the peak, bring plenty of water, and turn back if it starts to rain, because the streams can flood dangerously.

Cost to enter the park is RM 20/person (RM 7 for children 7–18, free for 6 and under; prices updated 2019). Bring your passport or a photocopy—you need it to enter the park. The trails are open 8AM–4PM, but arrive as close to 8AM as you can to beat the midday heat for a short hike or to have enough time for a long hike—you have to be back at headquarters by 4PM.

Getting to the park takes 30 minutes by car or an hour by bus—buses en route to Bintulu may drop you at the park entrance gate however may charge full fare RM 25. It's also easy enough to take a taxi or a Grab to the park, but getting back can be tricky, as you won't find any taxis hanging around to pick you up. So either arrange a specific time for the taxi to come back and get you, or plan to take a bus back. The buses run once an hour, more or less; you can wait at the bus stop at the side of the road and flag one down to get back to Miri for RM 10. Alternatively you can take the bus the other direction to head to Bintulu or Niah National Park.

Bring more water than you think you'll need. It's humid!

Buy
There are three major shopping malls to shop around in Miri City, During the weekends Bruneians and Sarawakians from Bintulu, Bekenu, Niah would come down for shopping.

 * Bintang Plaza
 * Miri Heritage Centre, a place where you get a memorable souvenir of a local made handicrafts.
 * Bintang Plaza
 * Miri Heritage Centre, a place where you get a memorable souvenir of a local made handicrafts.

Eat
For a fabulous gastronomical experience, Miri is the place to try out all sorts of food. Depending on your budget, there is a variety of eateries around.

 * Chinese Hawker Center - Located in the hub of the city center next to the Chinese wet market. You can get the best local food here day and night. For breakfast, the milk tea is the best, particularly at some stalls. The curry rice, fried rice noodles, dried noodles and laksa (spicy rice noodles) are dishes that you should not miss. Moreover, at night, the porridge and dried noodles with steamed chicken are the must-eat.
 * Chinese Hawker Center - Located in the hub of the city center next to the Chinese wet market. You can get the best local food here day and night. For breakfast, the milk tea is the best, particularly at some stalls. The curry rice, fried rice noodles, dried noodles and laksa (spicy rice noodles) are dishes that you should not miss. Moreover, at night, the porridge and dried noodles with steamed chicken are the must-eat.

Chen Kee Hainan Chicken Rice- Miri famous Chinese dishes, traditional steamed Chicken rice, located at krokop 10, Tokyo Restaurant. It's delicious, Fresh, Cheap.

 * Siamese Secrets - Serves Western, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and local cuisines. Portions are huge.
 * Double Star - Serves Chinese, Western, Local and fusion cuisines.
 * Cafe Miri - Serves Western food and is undoubtedly Miri's most famous place for quality Western food.
 * 2020 Cafe - This restaurant is always packed on Sunday mornings. Famous for their dim sum. Be sure to get there extra early to secure a seat.
 * Ming Cafe - Good Indian, Malaysian, Chinese and sea food. Serves Tiger Beer which is quite expensive at local prices but served cold in an ice cold glass. Good service. Try Laksa in Ming Cafe which is very delicious and is comparable to the Laksa in Kuching. Also highly recommended is the Roti!
 * Naga Liar - Serves a local Malaysian delicacy, Nasi Lemak together other local favourites as well
 * Fratini's - Serves Italian food and is located near the Boulevard Shopping Complex.
 * Pete's Deli - A cozy Australian-styled deli with authentic Western food. Their oxtail stew, lamb shank and pies are bestsellers. Located opposite SMK Chung Hua.
 * Marina Bay Seafood Restaurant - A new restaurant with intricate architecture and an amazing view of the sea. Pick your seafood fresh from the tanks. Open for lunch and dinner. Located at the Marina Bay, next to a gigantic, iconic seahorse statue.
 * Sun City - Good selection of food and drink, indoor and outdoor seating, nice furnishings and great outdoor feel but fully covered with canvas with huge fans.
 * Sunny Meido Cafe - The first Japanese theme maid café in Sarawak.
 * Piato Bistro - Serves Western cuisines.
 * Kent's Garden - A bistro area for great ambience to dine and drink. Located at Lutong Baru.
 * Piato Bistro - Serves Western cuisines.
 * Kent's Garden - A bistro area for great ambience to dine and drink. Located at Lutong Baru.

Drink
Tourists are encouraged to try the Sarawakian authentic rice wine known as 'tuak'. 'Tuak' is usually served during festive seasons, especially during Gawai (the Harvest Festival celebrated by the Ibans). Apart from that, if one is looking for a place for drinks and some entertainment, there are few places to go.

Laundry
Laundromats are scattered around downtown.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Sarawak

 * Bintulu and nearby Niah National Park
 * Gunung Mulu National Park
 * Kuching

Brunei

 * Bandar Seri Begawan

title: Miri


text:
Mirik

A hill station in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal, Mirik has become a tourist destination for its climate, natural beauty and accessibility. The centre of all attraction is the Sumendu lake made by surrounded by a garden on one side and pine trees on the other, linked together by an arching footbridge called Indreni Pull (Rainbow Bridge). A 3½-km-long road encircles the lake and is used for walks with the view of Kangchenjunga on the far horizon. Boating on the quaint shikaras and pony riding are available.

The name Mirik comes from the Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire".

Get in
Mirik is 52 km northwest of Siliguri city and 49 km (30 mi) south-southwest of Darjeeling town. Bagdogra 52 km south of Mirik is the nearest airport and New Jalpaiguri adjacent to Siliguri is the nearest railway station.

A few buses ply from Mirik to Siliguri and Darjeeling. Shared taxis operate from Mirik to Siliguri. One can hire a taxi at a cost of ₹800-1200. Shared taxis also operate from Darjeeling Motor Stand to Krishnanagar, Mirik (just beside the Mirik Lake) and the fare is the same. It is operated by Mirik Tour & Travels. Shared taxis are available for internal transportation within Mirik to travel from Mirik Lake to Mirik Bazar at ₹5 per head.

See

 * Bokar Monastery - It is located on the way to Rameetay Dara and is famous as a Buddhist meditation centre.
 * Bunkulung (Jayanti Nagar) - Ecotourism is being promoted here and homestay facilities are available here. Rangbhang Homestay, Mirik Busty also promotes eco-tourism.
 * Debisthan - A temple of a Hindu goddess located on a hillock near the Sumendu lake.
 * Mirik Church - It is located near Don Bosco School.One of the most beautiful and one of the bigger catholic church of Darjeeling district.
 * Orange Orchards - Mirik is famous for its high-quality oranges. These are grown in Mirik Busty, Murmah and Soureni Busty.
 * Orchids - Mirik has one of the best climate for a typical orchid called Cymbidium orchids, which fetches one of the highest prices in the world flower markets. One such Cymbidium orchid garden is Darjeeling Gardens Pvt. Ltd. located in Rato Mate in Mirik.
 * Pasupati Nagar - This border market with Nepal is a commercial center for trade in clothes, electronic and household goods.
 * Rai Dhap - Source of drinking water for Mirik and a picnic spot.
 * Rameetay Dara - A viewpoint near the town from where one can see the surrounding mountains and the vast plains below.
 * Sumendu Lake - It is the heart of Mirik. There is an 80 ft (24 m) long footbridge over the lake. One can boat in the lake or take a horse ride around the lake.
 * Sunrise Point - Scenic views of the sun rising in the east and its reflection on Kanchanjunga in the north. The plains of North Bengal can also be seen from here.
 * Swiss Cottage (also known as Motel) - an exotic lodging at the highest altitude of Mirik, far from the crowds of the town.
 * Tea Gardens - A number of tea gardens producing the famous Darjeeling tea are located in and around Mirik.
 * Tingling View Point - A panoramic view of the tea gardens can been seen from here.
 * Tingling View Point - A panoramic view of the tea gardens can been seen from here.

Sleep
The majority of the hotels and restaurants are in the Krishnanagar area of Mirik. DGHC, (a government agency), operates a motel on a hilltop near the helipad at Allay and a tourist lodge located very near the lake. There are other good hotels in Krishnanagar such as Jagjeet, Sadbhavna, Ratnagiri, Mhelung, The Park Hotel, Viraz, Parijat and Blue Lagoon. There are some hotels in Mirik Bazar such as Boudi Hotel and Hotel Payal. There are many lodges and private guest houses such as Nigha, Ashirvad and Buddha. There is a beautiful Forest Rest House in Mirik that can be booked from the District Forest Office, Kurseong. There is also a PWD (Public Works Department) Inspection Bungalow near the lake that can be booked from the Siliguri PWD office.

title: Mirik


text:
Mirissa

Mirissa is a beach and resort town in southern Sri Lanka, near the city of Matara.

Understand
Mirissa is a busy, growing town with a nice beach and two surfing points: one for advanced surfers, and one for intermediate ones.

By bus
From Colombo:

Take an AC highway bus heading to Matara from Fort in Colombo which costs Rs 510 (2-2½ hr). From Matara bus terminal there are regular busses to Weligama or Galle stopping in Mirissa (20-30 min). There are two bus stops: if you have booked an accommodation on the beach you can get off at the first one (rights after the road comes close to the shore and you see the bay); if you stay around the harbour you can take the stop 1 km up the road.

From Udawalawe National Park: There is one daily direct bus from Udawalawa town to Mirissa, leaving at 12:30. Ask your safari driver to drop you off at the bus stop after your safari.

If you miss that bus, you have to take another bus to Matara and transfer there to any bus towards Galle (see above).

By train
You can take the train from Colombo Fort to Weligama (7 km from Mirissa) and then go by tuk tuk to Mirissa. A 2nd class train ticket costs Rs 220. The train schedule is available here. Trips take between 2½ and 3½ hours (depending on the train).

Get around
Mirissa is a bustling town, you can basically get everywhere on foot or if you are travelling to another beach, by the local bus service which is very regular and inexpensive. The local tuk tuk owners are renowned for attempting to overcharge you. Scooters are becoming more common to rent at most guesthouses. Finding a bicycle to rent is difficult, and the quality is often very poor.

See

 * Buddhist temple.
 * Fisherman harbour.
 * Beach.

Do

 * Surfing.
 * Bodyboarding.
 * Swimming.
 * Snorkelling at Turtle Bay. A sheltered spot suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Very damaged coral but plenty of fish and the odd turtle.
 * Yoga at Shady Lane with free drinking water refills.

Whale watching
Blue whales have been spotted at Mirissa which has made it a tourist attraction. If you do decide to go whale watching please make it very clear to your guide/boat driver that you do not want to scare the whales by getting too close. Some of the guides are quite aggressive and it may cause the whales to go elsewhere. Even though the water is usually calm, the boats turn and accelerate quickly when the driver sees a whale, so bring your seasickness pills! If no whales are spotted, the operator generally offers a free ticket on the next outing.

Prices for a three-hour tour including breakfast (Jan 2020) are about US$50 per person if booked online, or about Rs 6000-7500 if booked through your guest house or one of the operators. Since the whales are very close to the shore in winter, and further away at other seasons, the prices might be different (and the tour longer) at those times.

Buy
The ATM at Peoples Bank allows a maximum withdrawal of Rs 100,000 with no charge. For added safety, go during bank opening hours.

Eat
Many different restaurants on the beach. Cheaper but still very tasty options are the Roti shops more inland.

Drink
There are bars around the beach that have long happy hours when a large Lion beer is priced as low as Rs 250.

Sleep
There is a wide range of accommodation available. You can find budget places starting from Rs 1,000 in off season and Rs 1,500 in season.

Splurge

Go next

 * Matara
 * Ahangama
 * Galle

title: Mirissa


text:
Mirpur

Mirpur is a city of 125,000 people (2017) in Pakistan. Mirpur is known for its grand buildings and large bungalows, primarily funded through its expatriate community. Most of the surrounding area remains agricultural.

Understand
Also known as New Mirpur City, Mirpur has gone through military and hydrologic transitions over the years.

Prior to the Kashmir War of 1947, many Hindu refugees had settled in and around Mirpur, but then on November 25th of that year, the Pakistani Army arrived and killed or drove them out, ultimately to be resettled in Jammu or parts of India.

In 1960, the Mangla Dam project came, and old Mirpur city was submerged in the resulting reservoir while nearby Mangla was razed for construction of dam structures. During March and April, when the lake level subsides a little, portions of the old city, including a Hindu mandir from the pre-Independence time when ethnic groups coexisted peacefully, come into view.

A large percentage of Pakistanis who emigrated to the UK originated from Mirpur, the city is often referred to as ‘Little England’ and many British products are available in the city.

New Mirpur was well planned, and modern buildings and ample roads serve each part of city. The affluence from emigration is reflected by the structure and grandiose of the residential houses. There are telltale signs of inward investment by the expatriate community living in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and the Middle East. There are good hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other urban facilities.

By plane
The nearest airport is the Islamabad International Airport, which is approximately by road from Mirpur city. Sialkot International Airport is 110 km away

By bus
Buses to Mirpur are available from different parts of the country and also Islamabad Airport.

By car
Mirpur is 230 km north of Lahore.

By buses
Mirpur has the busiest bus network in Azad Kashmir, running from early hours of the morning to late night. Daily routes includes Bhimber District, Dina, Gujrat, Jhelum, Kharian & Kotli District.

The new coaches in Mirpur travel to larger cities of Pakistan including Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi & Sialkot.

By auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaws are very popular mode of transport for routes within the city. Many of the new rickshaws in the city use compressed natural gas (CNG).

By taxis
Also by car hire.

See

 * Basharat Shaheed Monument
 * Ragu Nath Temple
 * Shivala Temple

Do
In April, the Saif Ul Malook Festival takes place in the city center celebrating the spiritual teacher of a local Sufi saint (Mian Muhammad Bakhsh). Pahari Mushahira is another festival, literary in nature, where poetry reading takes place. During the summer, the Rathoa Mela festival takes place near the dam to celebrate culture and tolerance.

Buy
Mirpur is also known as the shopping capital of Azad Kashmir, Mirpur has a large and diverse shopping area, centred around Chowk Shaheeda & Mian Mohammed Road. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls & markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands.

Eat

Also there is Dera Restaurant inside the Crown Plaza mall if you want kind of a more formal Pakistani eating experience.

Sleep
There are various guest houses, rest houses, motels and hotels at most of the tourist spots which can be booked in advance from their offices in Muzaffarabad. (Tel: 058810-32625).

Stay safe
The earthquake in September 2019 caused significant damage to infrastructure in the region, but the recovery since means that in 2022, visits are safe.

title: Mirpur


text:
Mirpur Khas

Mirpur Khas, literary the "land of most royal Mirs", is an ancient and historical city of Sindh. It used to serve as gateway to the Great Thar Desert and is today counted amongst the largest cities of Sindh. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much to see for its visitors, except for the ancestral graves of Talpur Mirs on the outskirts of the city.

Understand
The early history of Mirpur Khas dates back to the 4th-century CE Buddhist settlement known as Kao Jo Daro. Much later, armies of Muhammad Bin Qasim settled in the area when Sindh was conquered by Muhammad Bin Qasim, and shortly following that, the city of Mirpur Khas was founded by Mir Ali Murad Talpur in 1806. The city remained the capital of Talpur Mirs of Mirpurkhas until 1843 when Sindh was annexed to British India under the East India Company. Later Sindh was made part of Bombay Presidency. Soon after the 1947 partition, the population of Mirpur Khas swelled as it became the first city to welcome refugees from across the Indian side of the new border to Pakistan and acted as a primary railway junction for the first trains to roll across Rajasthan to Sindh.

Get in
Mirpur Khas lies 80 km east of Hyderabad can be reached both by trains and by car or bus. Buses from all major cities of Sindh can be easily available for Mirpur Khas. A ticket on air-condition bus and van from Karachi cost about Rs 300 and journey may take around 3 hours.

Non-air-conditioned trains Saman Sarkar Express travel between Mirpur Khas and Hyderabad while Marvi Passenger between Mirpur Khas and border town of Khokhropar. The train passes through famous Thar Desert.

Get around
One can go to different parts of the city by self-driven cars, private taxis as well rickshaws both shared motorcycle type rickshaws as well typical rickshaws. Within Mirpur Khas, rickshaws of both types provide cheap and quick transportation for going from one place to another or for city tour and are perfectly fine. Taxis are generally private cars and operated by taxi companies and can be easily hailed only from the taxi stands as distinguishing between a taxi and a private car may be difficult. You can ask at a hotels to arrange a taxi as well. These taxis are usually air-conditioned, modern and clean fleet which makes them the most comfortable, luxurious way to navigate around the city of Mirpur Khas especially in the blistering hot weather of Summer.

A rickshaw can be hired for Rs 1,000 to visit the Chittori, and archaeological site, both on the outskirts of the city.

See

Buy
Mirpur Khas is known for its mango production and farming of different varieties, with the most famous being the "Sindhri" — literally the mango from Sindh.

Mirpur Khas has a few shopping areas and bazaars, the most popular, traditional and oldest of which is Shahi Bazaar.

Eat
There are many simple restaurants scattered throughout the city, all serving Pakistani food. There are also some restaurants worth going to on Station Rd and Hyderabad Rd, most of them serve barbecue at night.

Go next

 * Thatta
 * Umerkot
 * Hyderabad
 * Mothparja

title: Mirpur Khas


text:
Miryang

Miryang (밀양시) is a city in South Gyeongsang (Gyeongsangnam-do), in South Korea.

Understand
Miryang is a pleasant country town north of Busan surrounded my mountains and valleys. The area is a popular summer destination for Busan residents looking to escape the coastal heat and humidity.

It is known as a popular location for the Korean film industry, and is the setting for the award winning film 'Secret Sunshine' which won the Cannes 2007 prize for 'Best Actress' (The town's name Miryang actually means 'Secret Sunshine').

By train
is on the Seoul-Busan express KTX line. Seoul Station to Miryang is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Busan Station to Miryang is 35 minutes.

If you are leaving from Haeundae, Busan, then it is more convenient to use a slower (although infrequent) direct train from Haeundae train station (next to Haeundae subway) to Miryang that takes one hour.

The train station is far from the city center, so a taxi or local bus is required to get there.

By bus
Miryang has an  with connections to major South Korean cities. An express bus to/from Busan leaves every hour during the day and takes one hour to Seobu bus station in Busan. The fare is ₩5,000. The bus station is still fairly far from the city center, so a taxi or local bus is required to get there.

By plane
Busan's Gimhae International Airport is the nearest airport. Take the monorail to Busan's Seobu bus station to take a bus into Miryang. Otherwise from Incheon International Airport there is a high speed KTX directly to Miryang (Busan line). You can also take the A'rex train to Seoul Station for more frequent KTX services.

Get around
Neither the train station nor the bus station are within walking distance of the city center. A taxi or local bus would be the best way to get there.

title: Miryang