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Ein Gedi

Ein Gedi (Hebrew:עין גדי) is an oasis in the Judaean Desert, near the Dead Sea, between Masada and the caves of Qumran. The name refers to Kibbutz Ein Gedi and to the nearby nature reserve.

Understand
The Ein Gedi National Park is the second largest oasis in Israel. It is one of few places in the Israeli deserts where streams are running all year long. The park is found in the Dead Sea Valley, which is an effect of the Great Rift Valley. Visitors can follow trails past waterfalls, springs, caves, canyons and an early Bronze Age temple.

Four springs flow through and water the reserve all year: the David, the Arugot, the Shulamit, and the Ein Gedi springs.

Kibbutz Ein Gedi is just south of the park. Almost the entire outdoor area of the Kibbutz is one big botanical garden with more than 900 species from the entire world. The garden, which covers about 100 dunam (10 hectares), is the only botanical garden in the world that contains a settlement inside it.

Several landscape features in the area are named after characters from the Biblical stories of King David, including the David stream, as well as the nearby Mount Yishay (Jesse – King David's father) and Mount Tzruya (Zeruiah – his sister). These names were chosen because the Biblical story tells that David took refuge in the Judaean Desert when he was forced to flee from his predecessor, King Saul. However, there is no indication in the Bible that he hid in this exact region.

Climate
Ein Gedi has a desert climate, with dry, hot summers and mild winters with a bit of precipitation. The most pleasant months to visit are between November and April.

Some evenings could have strong, unpleasant winds blowing from around 17:00 to 23:00. Winter nights can get slightly cold.

When heavy rain falls in the Jerusalem-Hebron mountains uphill from Ein Gedi, the area can be hit by flash floods. If the forecast is bad then entry to the reserve will be forbidden, and some roads in the area may be blocked as well. Conversely, on extremely hot days it is recommended to only take the trails going along the streams, and not those climbing up the nearby mountains.

By car
The kibbutz and the nearby reserve are located on route 90 that drives along the Israeli coast of the Dead Sea.

From the north the route can be accessed by driving southwards on route 90, that begins in Qiryat Shemona and passes by Beth Shean.

From Jerusalem and the coastal plain it can be accessed by driving eastwards on route 1, the road that goes from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Pass by Jerusalem following the road signs to the Dead Sea. In the Lido junction, turn right and you're on route 90, driving along the Dead Sea, and should take about half an hour to reach Ein Gedi. Alternately, from central Israel, you can drive southwards towards Beer Sheva on route 40 (or on the toll-road Route 6, which then connects to route 40), then take a left either on route 31 (going through Arad and connecting to route 90 in Zohar junction) or on route 25 (through Dimona to the Arava junction, on the southern end of the Judaean desert); either way, turn left (north) on route 90.

From the south, reach the Arava road (also part of route 90) and drive northwards. After you pass the Arava junction, Ein Gedi is about 45 minutes ahead.

By bus

 * From Jerusalem central bus station: lines 486, 487, 444; get off at Field School
 * From Tel Aviv: line 421, going only once a day (and not on Saturdays) each way and very crowded during high season, departing from the bus terminal near the central train station (not the central bus station)
 * From the Arava junction: line 444 arriving from Eilat

Lower David Stream
The most popular hike in this reserve, the David Stream Trail is very short and easy, but you'll gladly spend 1½ hours there, stopping by all the beautiful ponds. The hike begins at the nature reserve's entry gate that's just below the Ein Gedi Field School, and is clearly signed from route 90. The hike passes by several ponds until it reaches the largest one, below a tall waterfall (1). It's big and beautiful, but also dangerous – large stones are occasionally brought down by the waterfall, and they can land even in the middle of the pond, far from the bottom of the fall. For that reason, it may be better to bathe in the other ponds earlier on the trail.

The popularity of this hike sometimes makes it very crowded, so you might not be able to find a quiet place.

It's possible to walk in the running water for some of the hike, so sandals are recommended. However, it's also not a problem to avoid entering the water.

Dry canyon and the "Window" dry fall
The upper David Stream is slightly more challenging than the lower, but is still fit for a family hike (if the kids aren't the complaining type). It's a dry canyon with no running water, but has some small basins that hold water during winter. There are two ways to reach the canyon, and both will have you climbing the tall cliffs of the Judaean Desert; don't do it in exceptionally hot days, and never in mid-day. The two ways are:
 * 1) From Mount Yishay – Named after the father of the Biblical King David, this is the peak that rises north of the David Stream. To reach it, enter the Field School (there are signs from Route 90), then look for the backdoor in the fence (only open during daytime), beginning your climb following a black-marked hiking trail . Then, again, you'll have two options:
 * 2) Branch-off left when you encounter a red trail  to reach the top of the dry canyon; it will take about one hour from the Field School to there.
 * 3) Or go all the way to the top to enjoy the view (a nice spot for watching the sunrise). To get there, keep walking the black trail  until you reach a T with a green trail . Take a right on the green to climb to the top, take in the view, then climb back down the green trail  all the way into the canyon itself.
 * 4) From the lower David Stream – The easier way, follow the trail of the lower David Stream described above until you reach the waterfall (1). Take the trail climbing southwards, following the signs to Ein Shulamit Spring and the Chalcolithic Temple ruins (3) until you reach them. From the temple, ascend north by the green trail  until it crosses the canyon, then take the trail that walks inside the canyon itself. Hiking from the running waterfall (1) to that point should take about 40 minutes.

The dry canyon offers a fun trail between boulders and water basins that'll take you about 30 minutes. Be sure to follow it to its very end, where you'll encounter the Window (2) – the end of the creek where it suddenly opens in a dry waterfall, offering a magnificent view of the green, flowing part of the stream below you, with the Dead Sea beyond and the Jordanian Edom Mountains in the horizon.

Arugot Stream
A beautiful hike in an ever-flowing stream that's longer than the Lower David Stream and usually less crowded. Fit for a family hike, though it takes about 4 hours to walk it all (round trip), and probably more since you'll want to spend some time in the ponds.

Use the map and follow the roadsigns to reach the entrance. A red trail leads from there all along the stream. In two places, a blue trail branches off, and a third one continues the red trail. The blue ones are very recommended: they are parallel to the red, but most of the trails go through water (possibly up to knee-deep), so sandals (or better: water-tight hiking shoes) are recommended here. You'll also reach some very nice ponds, the largest ones at the Hidden Waterfall (6) and the Upper Ponds (7).

Park rangers make sure to take all hikers out in time. Exactly two hours before the reserve is closed (that is, on 14:00, or 15:00 during DST) they'll make sure there's no one left at the Upper Ponds, and one hour later they tell everyone to leave the Hidden Waterfall. That's done because this oasis is one of the only source of water for wildlife in the region, and the animals won't come near the water as long as there are people around. Therefore, if you wish to make the entire trail all the way to the Upper Ponds (which is highly recommended), you should begin no later than 10:00-11:00 in the morning.

To keep the area clean (and so preserve the flora and fauna), it's forbidden to take out food within the confines of the reserve, except at the Hidden Waterfall (6) and the Upper Ponds (7). Fire is also forbidden, even in gas stoves, for fear of wild fires.

One-day complete tour
If you want to get a little bit of everything, follow the path described below for a medium-difficulty full-day hike.

Go through the David Stream nature reserve gate (and keep your ticket, you'll need it again later), walk up to the waterfall with the ponds (1), climb up to the Chalcolithic Temple (3), go down through the Ein Gedi Spring (4) – it has a small, built pond that's about knee deep – and reach the bottom near the Ancient Synagogue (5), which you can visit with the same ticket without any additional payment. Follow the side-road south until you reach the entry to the Arugot Stream (where you'll have to show your ticket), and walk along inside it as far as you can reach, before the park rangers say it's time to head back outside. If you enter the Arugot Stream less than 3–4 hours before closure, you'll probably won't have enough time to get to the Upper Ponds (7), since they're closed two hours before the reserve is closed. Therefore, it's advisable to rise early and keep track of the time while you walk, to make sure you'll have enough time to enjoy the ponds along the path and still manage to reach the end.

Two-day complete tour
If you'd like to get some challenge, enjoy sleeping in the wild and want to see everything the place has to offer without having to rush it, you can definitely hike for two full days in the reserve. Also, this trail doesn't take you through any of the main gates of the reserve, so you won't be required to pay. The park rangers are usually nice to backpackers and won't require any payment if you encounter them inside the reserve, but even if they do ask, the sum isn't really big.

Better to get up early, before it gets hot, and climb up from the Field School to the top of Mount Yishay (maybe even watch the sunrise from there), then go down into the dry canyon and walk up to the "Window" fall (2). Go on from there to the ruins of the Chalcolithic Temple (3), and if you have enough time – make a round trip to the ponds below (1). From the temple ruins, take the black trail up the Ein Gedi Ascent to the desert plateau, where you'll spend the night near the Ein Gedi Lookout. Do note that it's forbidden to stay within the streams themselves during the night, because you'll disturb the wild animals that come here for the only water source in the area; the reserve is heavily patrolled by park rangers. Also, don't count on making a fire, since there's virtually no wood on the plateau, and naturally it's forbidden to take any out of the streams themselves. If you wish to cook, better to use a gas stove.

Rise up next morning to watch a beautiful sunrise from the Ein Gedi Lookout, then go down the Bnei HaMoshavim Ascent (black-marked ) into the Arugot Stream, not far from the Hidden Waterfall (6). It's highly recommended to walk west up to the Upper Ponds (7), spend some time there, and then head back and exit by the reserve gate. If the time isn't too late, you can also pay a visit to the Ancient Synagogue (5) later.

Eat and drink

Also the Beit Sarah Guest House and the Country Hotel, listed in the Sleep section below, have restaurants.

Camping
Camping is allowed for free on the Ein-Gedi coast (approx. 500 m south of the kibbutz), toilets and showers are on site for a small fee. The ground is a bit stony so any kind of mattress is useful.

Budget
More budget options can be found south, see the Dead Sea region article.

Stay safe

 * Sink Holes form underground on the Dead Sea coast. Do not walk anywhere east of route 90 unless there are roads that lead there, or if there are signs indicating that the beach is accessible; otherwise you might find the ground dropping under your feet.
 * When hiking in the nature reserve or the surrounding area, mind the safety guidelines for the Judaean Desert.
 * Most prominently, flash floods are a common danger in the area. Check the weather forecast or consult the Ein Gedi Field School.
 * Make sure to carry enough drinking water, as it's uncertain whether the stream water at the park is good for drinking or not. There aren't any water taps inside the reserve, only at the entry gates.
 * Remember that the entire area is a nature reserve, so some regulations apply. Also, it's forbidden to eat inside this reserve, except at the Hidden Waterfall (6) and Upper Ponds (7) at the Arugot stream.

Go next

 * Masada – About 20 minutes drive south of Ein Gedi, a former roman castle and stronghold on top of a mountain.
 * Dead Sea – One of the most famous things to see/do in Israel and Jordan, with a listing of additional sights around Ein Gedi.
 * Hiking in the Judaean Desert – Go out to other nearby hiking trails; particularly the Mishmar and Ze'elim streams are very close by.

Popular cities reachable from Ein Gedi are:
 * Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to Israel.
 * Mitzpe Ramon – A small town overlooking the Makhtesh Ramon, the largest erosional crater on earth, with various hikes and sights around the area.
 * Eilat – Holiday town in the far south with border crossings to Jordan and Egypt.

title: Ein Gedi


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Eisenach

Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is famous both as the birthplace of the Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as the city where Martin Luther lived as a child. It was while he was staying at Wartburg Castle that he translated the New Testament into German.

Get in
Eisenach is well connected by Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains, from RB regional trains to IC and ICE trains. There are trains to the Frankfurt International Airport's Fernbahnhof, every two hours.

Get around
The town is walkable, and it is a brisk 30-minute hike to the Wartburg Castle up a hill. All other attractions, such as the Bachhaus, Lutherhaus and the churches, are within 10 minutes from the station.

See

 * Rathaus
 * Reuter-Wagner-Museum
 * Kartaus Garden and Wandelhalle
 * Rathaus
 * Reuter-Wagner-Museum
 * Kartaus Garden and Wandelhalle
 * Kartaus Garden and Wandelhalle

Sleep
Keep in mind that Eisenach charges a "tourism tax" of per night per person, which is usually charged on top of the going rate per room.

Go next
On Deutsche Bahn, the other two main attractions of Thuringia: Erfurt and Weimar are within easy reach, with frequent and direct trains.

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

title: Eisenach


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Eisenstadt

Eisenstadt  is the state capital of Burgenland in Austria. It consists of 4 districts: Kleinhöflein im Burgenland, Eisenstadt-Oberberg, Eisenstadt-Unterberg and St. Georgen am Leithagebirge. Kleinhöflein is the most western part of Eisenstadt, St. Georgen am Leithagebirge the most eastern one. Both are known for their vintners and the many Heurigen. Eisenstadt-Oberberg is popular for the Bergkirche or Haydnkirche, which houses the Haydnmausoleum while Eisenstadt-Unterberg is characterized by the former Jewish district.

Understand

 * Visitor information website

By plane
Vienna International Airport and Bratislava Airport are reachable within an hour by car.

By car
When staying in Vienna, it's pretty common to go on a day trip to Eisenstadt. It's 50 minutes away from Vienna in good traffic. Avoid the A2 (Südautobahn) during the rush hour (15:00-18:00).

Via the A2 (Südautobahn), it's a two-hours-drive from Styria's capital Graz.

By train
Trains go from various stations in Vienna via Wulkaprodersdorf hourly on workdays. The schedules can differ on weekends and national holidays, but all stations are marked properly when it comes to that.

Get around
Eisenstadt is a quite small city. Therefore you can walk around and get to see all sights, though. Taxis are available in each part of the city, their main station is at the Domkirche St. Martin in the inner city. Bikes can be rented at different places. The city uses the System nextbike: At first you have to register yourself, afterwards you can check if a bike's available and get it.

Religion

 * - housing Haydn's mausoleum and a calvary
 * - late Gothic former military church, began in 1460.
 * - built in 1629, it contains the crypt of the princely family Esterházy

Castles and palaces

 * - Eisenstadt's landmark and former residence of the princely family Esterházy
 * - the former Esterházy hunting lodge

Buildings

 * - a museum dedicated to Joseph Haydn, who lived in the building between 1766 and 1778.
 * - a museum dedicated to Joseph Haydn, who lived in the building between 1766 and 1778.

Museums

 * - housing a private synagogue
 * - housing a private synagogue
 * - housing a private synagogue
 * - housing a private synagogue

Do

Apart from these centres, it's worth spending some time in the castle's park. There are huge meadows where you can sit and have a picnic. There are some statuaries, obelisks and hidden ponds that can be discovered by a long walk.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * The Steinbruch in St.Margarethen is a popular event location in summer. Famous operas are staged every year, for example Aida or Tosca. Every 5 years the passion plays take place. It's about 5 km from Eisenstadt. You can get there by car or bus easily.
 * The Seefestspiele in Mörbisch are quite similar to the ones in St.Margarethen. Apart from the fact that different operettas are staged and various concerts take place as well.
 * The Familypark Neusiedler See is Austria's second biggest amusement park next to the Prater in Vienna. You have to pay €19.50 once (children under 3 are free) and can use each attraction. Even though it's especially designed for children, adults can also have lots of fun there.
 * Sopron, a half hour drive away. One of the nicest town of Hungary.

title: Eisenstadt


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Ek Balam

Ek Balam is an archaeological site in the state of Yucatan in Mexico.

Understand
Ek Balam, also spelled Ek' Balam or Ek' B'alam, is an important archaeological site of the late classic Maya culture. Ek' B'alam means Black Jaguar or Star Jaguar in the Yucatec Maya language, but inscriptions indicate that the original name of the site was probably Talol. Rare and original stucco sculptures are protected by modern thatched roofs on the remains of the Acropolis. Such stucco sculptures generally do not survive because they are just plaster and weather rapidly. As Chichen Itza became more powerful, eclipsing Ek Balam, the Maya themselves buried the Acropolis at Ek Balam, preserving the stucco sculptures and many painted hieroglyphic inscriptions. This gives us an illustration of what many other Maya sites must once have looked like.

There is no museum on site. The small visitors' center charges for entry and has restrooms. Hotels and restaurants can be found in any nearby town, including Mérida and Valladolid. This site is becoming more popular with tourists, but is much less visited than the much larger Chichen Itza.

An hour and a half is plenty of time to see the site, unless you are an archaeologist. Ek Balam can easily be combined with visits to other sites.

Contact: Centro INAH Yucatán +52 1 999 9 44 00 33, or direccion.yuc@inah.gob.mx

History
The oldest structures at Ek Balam date from the period 600 to 450 BC. Most of the significant structures were built between 250 and 1200 AD. The North Plaza is the largest and oldest part of the site and is formed by buildings 1 - 3. The biggest building at the site is the Acropolis.

At its peak, the city probably covered an area of 12 square kilometers with today's archaeological site representing the core city center, which was occupied by the ruling elite.

Landscape
Ek Balam is a compact, easily walkable Maya city center surrounded by lush, but somewhat dry, jungle. The land is so flat that the only way to get any kind of view is to climb the Acropolis (the tops of the other buildings are barely higher than the trees), where you'll get wide open view of forest as far as the eye can see. This is also a good vantage point to look down on the other buildings of the archaeological site.

Flora and fauna
There are a lot of trees within the site (nice for the shade). Iguanas are commonly seen on the ruins, and there are a lot of birds around too (in particular, beautiful turquoise-browed motmots are common). Squirrels can sometimes be seen at the forest edges.

Climate
Hot, humid, often with blazing sun. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.

Get in
Ek Balam is easily reached from major highways in the state of Yucatan. It is close to Mérida, Valladolid, and Chichen Itzá. The usual blue and white tourist signs indicate the direction on the highway (these signs are few and far between).

There are no buses that go to Ek Balam: you must take a car, taxi, or collectivo taxi. Collectivos are vans that take multiple people to the same place, and are cheaper than taking a private taxi for just your group. You can find them in Valladolid.

Collectivos to Ek Balam from Valladolid: There are typically collectivo drivers congregating on the corner of Calle 44 and 37. If not, head north on Calle 44 past 37 and after a few dozen metres you should see the collective parking on your right. Trips to Ek Balam ruins are M$70 per person and collectivos will leave when there are 4 passengers. You can hire a whole collective to Ek Balam for M$280, if you don't wish to wait for more passengers (Dec 2023).

Fees and permits
Admission fee is M$90 to the state government and M$441 to the federal government. The state government fee can be paid with credit card, but the federal fee is only possible to pay in cash. (Dec 2023).

Guided tours are possible for M$600 (Spanish) and M$800 (English), and lasts a bit less than an hour (Dec 2023)

The area is open daily 08:00-17:00. The ticket office closes at 16:00.

Get around
Ek Balam is an especially compact Maya site, and you can easily walk everywhere in minutes. The only thing a bit farther away is X'canche Cenote (see below).

See
There are more than 45 structures at Ek Balam. including:

 * 1)  The city's Defensive Walls, which end at deep sink holes.
 * 2)  The Entrance Arch stands over the road (sacbe) that leads into the city
 * 3)  The Oval Palace contained burial relics and its alignment suggests it is connected to cosmological ceremonies.
 * 4) Structure 17 or The Twins atop of which there are two mirroring temples on either side.
 * 5)  Chapel
 * 6)  A carved stela which depicts a ruler of Ek Balam, possibly Ukit Kan Leʼk Tokʼ.
 * 7)  Structure 12
 * 8)  Structure 10 is a platform whose base dates to the Late Classic but was built upon by later generations.
 * 9)  Structure 7
 * 10) The Ballcourt was completed in 841 AD.
 * 11) Structure 2 on the west corner of the Acropolis is one of the large platforms that make up the main plaza and contains a temple in one corner.
 * 12) Steam Bath
 * 13) Structure 3 on the east corner of the Acropolis is an unexcavated platform that borders the main plaza.
 * 14) Structure 1 or the Acropolis on the north side of the site is the largest structure at Ekʼ Balam and is believed to contain the tomb of  Ukit Kan Leʼk Tokʼ, an important ruler in Ekʼ Balam.  (Excavated since 1998).
 * 15) El Trono (the throne) is the temple in which Ukit Kan Leʼk Tokʼ was buried. The doorway is in the shape of a monster-like mouth, possibly depicting a jaguar.

Do
See the cenote nearby, Cenote Xcanche. There is a 2km path from near the main entrance that leads to it, and there are often people with rickshaws who will taxi you to it for a small fee. Cenotes are freshwater sinkholes dozens of feet deep, and were considered sacred to the Mayans. Ek Balam's cenote has stairs leading down to the water, a boardwalk around the edge of the water, a rope swing from the boardwalk and a kayak. It's great for swimming on a hot day or just watching the catfish that live in the water.

As of April 2018, the cenote charges an entrance fee of M$50, which is included in the price of renting a bicycle (M$120) or hiring a rickshaw ($150 per person round trip). Swimwear is required for swimming, and you must take a shower before entering the water. A changing room, showers, bring-your-own-padlock lockers, and bathrooms are provided. Life vests can be rented within the cenote for M$20 - strongly recommended for anyone who's not a confident swimmer, since the water is up to 30m (100ft) deep, and since it's freshwater you won't float as well as you do in the ocean. There is a 3:30pm closing time posted at the ticket booth, and 4:00 at the cenote itself, but you may be okay arriving a bit later if you don't plan to walk. However, you are expected to be on your way out by 5pm, and you may be asked to get out of the water five or ten minutes before that.

Eat
The village of Ek Balam about 2km (1 mile) from the site. The village has at least one restaurant (Italian).

Very close to the site there is a small cafe dispensing cold drinks. By the ticket office itself there may be an ice cream and drinks stand, but not much else to eat. There is also a palapa restaurant along the road near the Cenote Xcanche. They serve good Yucatan regional dishes (try the sopa de lima).

Stay safe
Climbing the Acropolis is scarier than it looks, and if you have an intense fear of heights, you may regret it once you get to the top. For others, it may seem like no big deal. The stairs are pretty steep, so be careful, especially on your way down. This could be dangerous if you're prone to serious vertigo.

The area around the site seems quite safe.

Vendors near the site may direct you to park next to their shop and may pressure you to pay them to watch your car. If you do not desire their services, you may safely turn them down.

Go next

 * Uxmal
 * Valladolid, a small city, is about 15 minutes south of Ek Balam.

title: Ek Balam


text:
Ekerö

Ekerö [ˈeːkərˈøː] is a freshwater archipelago in lake Mälaren, which forms a municipality in Stockholm County. Ekerö is also the only Swedish municipality with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Viking age settlement Birka, and Drottningholm Palace, which is the residence of the Royal family.

Understand
During the Ice Age, Nordic bedrock was pushed down, and since the ice melted around 8000 BC it slowly ascends, in Stockholm at the rate of 0.5 centimetres per year (see Nordic countries). The islands of Ekerö rose above sea level about 1000 BC. Around AD 1000, Birka and Adelsö were important centres of commerce, and the water was still part of the brackish Baltic Sea. In the 13th century, as the straits around Stockholm have become narrow enough to make Mälaren a freshwater lake, Stockholm became the natural point of transfer between domestic and international ship transport. The main island Lovön became royal property in the 16th century, housing the Drottningholm Palace, and a number of royal manors. Ekerö and Stenhamra were villages, and grew to suburbs of Stockholm in the 1970s. Though the proximity to Stockholm, farms and forests still dominate the islands.

Get in
SL buses from the metro station at Brommaplan (Västerort).

Strömma runs boats from Stockholm City Hall (Kungsholmen) to Drottningholm and Birka.

Get around
Most islands are connected by road bridges, with an extensive suburban bus network serving the area. Adelsö is connected to the road network by a free-of-charge ferry, which is used by bus 312. The flat landscape makes Ekerö good for bicycles when weather allows.

Björkö can be reached only by boat, and other islands (Kungshatt, etc.) are reached only by private vessels.

See
While the natural sceneries are pleasant in themselves, Ekerö has an impressive cultural heritage, with Sweden's first city, and the residence of the Royal family.

Birka (Björkö)
— For the real Viking buff, there's Birka, the site of a former city of about 1,000 inhabitants situated on Björkö, an island in Lake Mälaren. The city had its heyday during the Viking Age, from AD 700 to AD 1100. As the Vikings were Scandinavians who travelled overseas for commerce, colonization, raiding or mercenary adventures, the citizens of Birka were by definition not Vikings. However, it was probably Sweden's first city, and Vikings and other travellers brought foreign artifacts and ideas, such as Christianity.

Since most buildings were made of wood, traces of the settlement are hard to spot, and the most prominent "old" structure is a stone cross from the 19th century; a 1,000-year memorial of the advent of Christianity. The small museum (+46 8 56051445, closed during winter) is really only worth the ride if you are genuinely interested in the subject. Parts of the settlement have been reconstructed.

Boats to Björkö are operated by Strömma Kanalbolaget. Birka can also be reached by taking the green line of the underground (T-Bana) to Brommaplan and from there suburban bus 312 to Rastaholm. Once at Rastaholm, walk down the road to your left for 800 m and you'll find yourself at an inn and a jetty. From here, boats depart for Birka at 10:15, 11:00 or 11:30 depending on the season (see timetable), taking 15-30 minutes to reach Birka.

During the summer, there are several staged events (fairs, archaeology expos etc) at Birka.

Adelsö

 * , the neighbour of Björkö, contains more archaeological sites than Björkö does, with continuity to the Middle Ages. Hovgården on Adelsö is also a part of the Birka World Heritage Site.

Do

 * Outdoor bathing and hiking throughout the area. Rod fishing in Mälaren is unrestricted, see Right to access.
 * Golf: Drottningholm Golf Club, Mälarö GK, and Troxhammar GK
 * Golf: Drottningholm Golf Club, Mälarö GK, and Troxhammar GK

Buy

 * Several farmers' markets.
 * Several art studios across Ekerö.
 * Several art studios across Ekerö.

title: Ekerö


text:
Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni (also known as the East Rand) is the eastern part of the Gauteng province. It is part of the Johannesburg metropolitan area, and includes suburbs such as Modderfontein, Greenstone, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Benoni, Germiston, Springs, Boksburg and Brakpan. This article also covers Thembisa (formerly Tembisa (Dindela)), a large township north of Kempton Park.

Understand
The name Ekurhuleni means place of peace in XiTsonga. Ekurhuleni is one of the five districts of Gauteng province and one of the eight metropolitan municipalities of South Africa.

Thembisa was established in 1957 when black people were resettled from Alexandra and other areas in Edenvale, Kempton Park, Midrand and Germiston.

By plane
O.R. Tambo International Airport (previously known as Johannesburg International Airport) is the major airport of South Africa and has flights from many destinations on all continents.

By car
Ekurhuleni is connected to the main motorways in South Africa via the M2, N3, N17, R21, R24 and R59 highways. As Ekurhuleni is part of the Johannesburg Conurbation, Transport routes in Ekurhuleni share the same metropolitan route numbering system as Johannesburg.

By train
Ekurhuleni is the largest rail hub in South Africa for cargo trains, with huge marshalling yards. Regional passenger services are provided by Metrorail but they are mainly aimed at commuters. These trains also have reputation for being overcrowded, slow and unsafe. Most other larger cities and towns within the region are served by regional rail.

Long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains from Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth also calls in Germiston.

By bus
Ekurhuleni is one of 13 cities and towns in South Africa to implement the bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Phase 1 of the project runs from Tembisa to Vosloorus via Kempton Park and the OR Tambo International Airport. New routes have been integrated from Katlehong to Rhodesfield, from Vosloorus to Rhodesfield, and from Reiger Park to Rhodesfield.

Do

 * Since 2016 Ekurhuleni has hosted the Ekurhuleni International Film Festival.

Eat

Slo tjhile Tembisa

Sleep
There is a cluster of hotels around O.R. Tambo International Airport.

==Connect

Stay safe
Ekhurhulani has least crime most of the time you can ask your butler or security to know more about crime but sometimes it's good to keep a lookout

title: Ekurhuleni


text:
El Aaiún

El Aaiun (Laayoune, Arabic العيون) is the biggest city in Western Sahara, located in the northern part of the country. It has a population just over 210,000. It is the claimed capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, but the city is controlled by Morocco.

By bus
Bus services connect El Aaiún to major transport hubs in southern Morocco, particularly Inezgane; CTM offers direct connections from, Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir.

By car
Road N1 from southern Morocco to El Aaiún is in good condition, checkposts are frequent.

Get around
El Aaiún's central sights can easily be explored on foot. Public transport is virtually non-existent with the exception of petit taxis that go anywhere in town (about 5-6 dirhams for a short hop, sometimes it is helpful to guide the driver using your smartphone map). Grand taxi services connect to El Aaiún port, El Aaiún plage and places further afield.

See
The main roads are lined by shops selling non-descript Moroccan goods, the bird park seems to be permanently closed and the adjoining tourism office is very well staffed but doesn't seem to have any ideas on how to spend your time. You can view old Spanish outposts and some of the last remnants of their empire in El Aaiún. A small handful of Spanish expatriates still live there.

The lagoon is pretty beautiful, with lots of birds. When entering the town from the north, about after the checkpoint, the road goes down a hill. Just before going up again, turn right onto the parking lot. The beach is very popular with locals. It is a few miles away (follow road signs to "Laayoune Plage"), the road to it goes through one of the few places where one actually sees dunes in Western Sahara. Especially at sunset, the area is the meeting point for the local youth, with football being played at the beach and rallies/burnouts in the dunes.

Do
Desert and deserted beaches are aplenty.

Eat
Moroccan standard fare at most places, and nothing particularly noteworthy. Wonderfully beefy camel meat available at butchers around town, dates of excellent quality in the markets. Barbecue, fruit and bread are popular.

Drink
About the only place serving alcohol to the public is Hotel Al Massira, which is a large hotel on Boulevard de la Mecque. They serve local beer, a limited selection of Moroccan wine, and a few spirits.

Sleep
With the UN still having a pretty large presence here, there are lots of hotels but they are all pretty expensive compared to the rest of Morocco.

Much cheaper hotels, also preferred by Moroccans, can be found along the road due south, south of the airport (about US$15-20 for a single room per night).

Hotel Parador on Rue Okba Ibn Nafia seems to have reopened after being used as an army base for years. Hotel Larkaoune is mainly occupied by UN troops, the atmosphere is gloomy, the service personnel try to avoid being helpful as far as possible.

Hotel Rimal Sahara, across from the bus station, has rooms for 150 Dh per night (120 dirham if you negotiate) as of 2023.

Go next
It is easy to see all the sights and sounds of El Aaiún one day. However, with the Sahara all around and the ocean nearby, it is easy to link a trip here with some other cities:

 * Smara – Travelling deeper into the Sahara one finds this growing village. It features remains of a fortress, and is the only regional town not founded by the Spanish.
 * Tarfaya – Only a couple hours north via bus lies the small port village of Tarfaya, Morocco.

title: El Aaiún


text:
Elafonisos

Elafonisos is an island in the Peloponnese region and Laconia Greece. The island is a tiny spot between (north) the famous island chain of Kythira (Kythira and Antikythira complex and south of Neapolis in Lakonia region of Peloponnese.

Get in

The best way to get here is by car from Athens. Then take the ferry from Pounda, it takes 7-10 min to get to the island.

See
The beach "Simos" which is one of the best beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, always clean and packed with strangers.

title: Elafonisos


text:
El Alamein

El Alamein (العلمين) is city on the north coast of Egypt, famous as the site of major battles between British and German forces during the Second World War (see World War II in Africa).

This article also includes the adjacent areas of New Alamein, Marina el Alamein and Leukaspis. Marina-el-Alamein is a sea resort from the 1980s just north of El Alamein, and next to it is the archeological site Leukaspis (also known as Antiphrae).

Winston Churchill once described El Alamein as having the best climate in the world and during the late 2010s the Egyptian government decided to make good use of El Alamein's touristic potential with the mega-project New Alamein. Resorts, skyscrapers and new residential areas are being built along the coast as part of that city since 2018.

Understand
El-Alamein is famous for the two Second World War battles fought here in 1942. The first battle took place on 27 July, when the German-Italian Panzerarmee Afrika commanded by Erwin Rommel coming from Tobruk, Libya, managed to break through the lines of the British Commonwealth troops and advance to Height 26 west of El-Alamein.

A few months later they tried to advance further, leading to the second battle that was fought between 23 October and 4 November. There the Axis tank army was beaten by the British 8th army commanded by Bernard Montgomery. In total, around 80,000 soldiers were wounded or killed in the two battles.

From 1943 to 1947, German and Italian POWs, under the command of the British, collected the fallen from the battlefields and buried them in cemeteries in town. The temporary graves for the Axis soldiers were on Height 33. In 1955, works commenced on the German and Italian memorials, and they were finished in 1959. Today El Alamein is a city of about 10,000 inhabitants, known for its oil fields and for war tourism.

Marina el Alamein
Marina el-Alamein, (مارينا العلمين, Mārīnā al-ʿAlamain), also known as Porto Marina or just Marina, is a yacht port just northeast of El Alamein. It's mostly a holiday resort for the domestic elite, designed by the Egyptian Amer group and built in the mid-1980s by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation. There are hotels, restaurants, apartment buildings and the marina making up this districts are placed around a lagoon, 4-6 m deep, connected to the Mediterranean.

Leukaspis
Just east of the Marina, and 5 km northeast of El Alamein is Leukaspis (Greek:Λεύκασπις), also known as Antiphrai (Greek: Ἀντίφραι). Leukaspis was a port city during Classical antiquity, and today it is an archaeological site with Greek and Roman ruins. It's one of the best preserved sites right on the Mediterranean coast.

It's disputed which name was used for the port city back in the day, and therefore it's sometimes referred to as the archaeological site at Marina el-Alamein. Greek geographer Strapo, working before and after Christ, described places along the coast and both the descriptions of Leukaspis and Antiphrai would fit the current site.

It was rediscovered the 1920s, when excavations brought catacombs and old cisterns to light. It was almost destroyed in 1986 during the construction of the Marina resort, but since then Leukaspis has been taken care of as an archaeological site, being excavated and conserved by the Polish-Egyptian Archaeological Mission led by Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski.

New Alamein
New Alamein City (العلمين الجديدة al-ʿAlamain al-Ǧadīda) is a new city in construction since 2018, when President Abd al-Fattah as-Sisi laid the first stone. This megaproject is about developing a center for tourism, education and administration. Most of the city is between the Commonwealth and German military cemeteries, and the northern part if immediately west of Marina el-Alamein.

There are high apartment buildings along the coast, behind them a lagoon with canals. There are plans for a presidential palace, a building for ministries, three universities, 15 skyscrapers, and 30,000 hotel rooms, about a third of which have been built. Some buildings that are already finished include the El Masa mosque, a huge mall, restaurants, and three movie theaters.

By plane
El Alamein has an airport but as of late 2022 there are no scheduled flights. The closes airport is the El Alamein International Airport serving Alexandria (85 km from El Alamein) mainly with flights from the Middle East. In addition you can fly in via Cairo which has much better connectivity.

By train
There are several daily air-conditioned trains from Alexandria and Marsa Matruh as well as an overnight train from Cairo.

There are plans for a 540 km long high speed railway connecting New Alamein with the New Administrative Capital (Egypt).

By bus
You can get in by bus from Alexandria and the West Delta as well as from Marsa Matruh - there are hourly buses from each.

By car
El Alamein is on the Alexandria-Marsa Matruh motorway. Alternatively you can travel from Cairo via eḍ-Ḍabʿa and along the Wadi El-Natrun Road.

By taxi
Getting in from Alexandria and Marsa Matruh by taxi is possible but relatively expensive. However, this can be a flexible way to visit all the memorials in one sitting.

By boat
has 500 berths for yachts with a maximum length of 40 m and a maximum depth of 7 m.

Get around
Taxi is the best way to get to the memorials and cemeteries from central El Alamein.

Leukaspis can only be explored on foot and is not suitable for mobility impaired people.

Second World War sites
The Commonwealth War Cemetery at El Alamein is open during daylight hours, and staffed Saturday to Thursday 0730 to 1430. There are also German and Italian cemeteries, and a very substantial war museum.

The memorials are open from 8:00 to 17:00 in the summer. In the winter and during Ramadan the opening times are shortened to 9:00-16:00. In this guide, they are listed from east to west. The Allied memorials are just south of the Alexandria-Matruh highway, north of El Alamein and south of the Marina.

The Axis memorials are in the area of New Alamein, about 10 km to the west of the former.

Leukaspis
East of Marina El-Alamein is the Greek-Roman archaeological site of, also known as Antiphrai. There's an entrance fee of 20 EGP for foreigners (10 EGP for foreign students).

The remains of a former port city stretches along the coast for about 1,600 m (one mile), though it's not right at the coast but about 600 m inland. Leukaspis is composed of a settlement part with a main square (agora) and remains of dwelling houses, a basilica from the 4th century, and a cemetery with mausoleums and tombs with superstructures.

New El-Alamein
Under construction since 2018, all buildings and everything else in this city (or part of El Alamein) are new.

Do
Water sports in Mārīnā el-ʿAlamein is another draw to the region. Activities include water skiing, windsurfing and water scooter riding as well as slower activities like swimming and gondola tours. You can also play golf.

Given this is an upscale resort, there are interestingly no private beaches owned by hotels, but all beaches are open to everyone.

Buy
Mārīnā el-ʿAlamein is your best bet for shopping with small stores here and there. Also, there are some malls in New Alamein:

Eat
The memorials don't have restaurants or cafés, nor does the Leukaspis site - eat before or after visiting them. There are plenty of restaurants in the hotels of Marina el Alemein, some next to the coastal highway and still some in New Alamein.

In addition, global fast food chains are present.

Sleep
The entire coast near El Alamein is covered by fancifully-laid-out villa complexes; eleven kilometres of it is the Porto Marina, which is regarded as an elite resort by Egyptian standards but reasonably affordable to Western travellers.

In Marina el-Alamein

Further out

Go next

 * – A monastery and archaeological site, this was one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations during the Late Antiquity. It's an.

 * – A village with the Greek-Roman temple of Taposiris magna.

 * – 25 Kilometer west of El Alamein is a WWII military memorial dedicated to the most successful pilots of the Afrika Korps.

 * – The second largest city in Egypt, a little over 100 km east.

 * – Capital of the Matrouh Governorate near the Libyan border, with beaches and a Rommel Museum.

 * - Oasis in the Western Desert with sights from the Greek and Roman eras, and possibilities to explore the Sahara.

title: El Alamein


text:
Elazığ

Elazığ (pronounced ay-LAH-zuh) is a city in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia, at an altitude of 1067 m and with a population of 387,072 in 2022. Although the railway and main eastern highway pass through, it's almost an island, as huge modern reservoir lakes surround it.

Understand
The ancient fortress and hilltop town of Harput was part of the Kingdom of Urartu, and had a majority Armenian population until the 20th century. The smaller settlement of Mezre developed in the valley, and in the 19th century was renamed Mamuret-ül-Aziz, which morphed into Elaziz then Elazığ. This became a barracks town and military base, outgrowing Harput. There were massacres of the Armenians in the 1890s, then systematic genocide in 1915. Harput was abandoned for 40 years, until re-occupied and prettified from the 1950s.

By train
Vangölü Ekspresi runs twice a week from Ankara, taking 19½ hours via Kayseri, Sivas and Malatya and arriving towards 07:00. There are couchettes but no sleeping car or buffet. The train continues to Tatvan (7 hours), with dolmuş and ferry connections to Van. For times and tickets see Turkish Railways.

You could also take the YHT high speed train from Ankara to Sivas (2 hr 30 min), joining Vangölü Ekspresi shortly after 23:00. From April to July a weekly tourist train runs between Ankara and Tatvan, with extended stops at Elazığ and Palu.

Fırat Ekspresi between Elazığ and Adana remains suspended in 2024.

the railway station is 1 km south of town centre.

By bus
Flixbus runs 3 times a day from Ankara and takes 11-12 hours via Kırıkkale, Kayseri and Malatya, for a fare in 2024 of 1000 TL; these buses continue to Tatvan.

One bus a day by Metro Turizm is direct from Istanbul. Other services are available by changing at Malatya.

is on the main highway 3 km southeast of town centre. A new bus terminal is under construction, with no word on when it might open.

By road
From Ankara follow D260 to Kayseri then D300 via Malatya. This highway continues east to Tatvan, Van and the border with Iran.

A scenic alternative from Malatya is to turn north through Battalgazi and cross the Karakaya Dam lake by ferry, which sails three times a day and takes 20 min. From the opposite bank you can return to D300 or wind north via Baskil.

Get around
Frequent dolmuşes run between town centre and Harput.

See

 * on Billur Sk is 20th century, built in Ottoman style.
 * was an ancient Armenian town, abandoned after the genocide of 1915, while the present town of Elazığ developed in the valley 7 km southwest. It was partly restored from the 1950s. Harput Castle sits on an outcrop and is free to enter M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa Su 08:00-17:30.
 * was an ancient Armenian town, abandoned after the genocide of 1915, while the present town of Elazığ developed in the valley 7 km southwest. It was partly restored from the 1950s. Harput Castle sits on an outcrop and is free to enter M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa Su 08:00-17:30.

Do

 * Football: Elazığspor play soccer in TFF 3rd League, Turkey's fourth tier. Their home ground Atatürk Stadium (capacity 18,400) was rebuilt 2019-23; it's 2 km west of town centre.
 * Elazığ Kültürpark is a large recreation area 2 km west of town centre towards the football stadium.

Buy

 * Half-a-dozen small stores are in town centre, typically open daily 09:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Town centre places include Bos, Amcanın Yeri, Saray and Samanlar.
 * Harput has Antik Han Cafe, Ensar and Çara.

Drink

 * Eskibağlar is a pretty winery 35 km south of Elazığ, overlooking Lake Hazar. It produces red out of the local Öküzgözü and Boğazkere cultivars, and offers accommodation on site.

Sleep

 * Turistik Otel is east side of Gunay Hotel on Hürriyet Cd.
 * Turistik Otel is east side of Gunay Hotel on Hürriyet Cd.

Connect
Elazığ and its approach highways have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Feb 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Keban 47 km northwest is by the barrage dam that created Lake Keban.
 * Kemaliye (locally known as Eğin) 145 km northwest is a fine old town, with adventure sports in its "Dark Canyon".
 * Lake Hazar 30 km south is an inland beach resort, with Gezin and Sivrice its service villages.
 * Ergani 100 km south is a large town with archaeological sites.
 * Malatya 100 km west is modern, but on its doorstep is the old town of Battalgazi.
 * Tunceli 80 km north via a ferry has rafting and mountain trekking.

title: Elazığ


text:
Elba

Elba is an island in Tuscany. It lies 10 km (6.2 mi) from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, and is the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia. Elba is famous as the site of Napoleon's first exile, in 1814–15.

Understand
The island is part of the province of Livorno and is divided into seven municipalities, with a total population of about 32,000 inhabitants (2019) which increases considerably during the summer. The municipalities are Portoferraio (which is also the island's principal town), Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, and Rio.

Thanks to its rich cultural heritage, cuisine and nature, the island has become an important international tourist destination.

History
The island was first inhabited by Ligures Ilvates. The island was then settled by the Etruscans, who started mining iron at Elba, and later (after 480 BC) by the Romans, who christened the island with the name of Ilva.

In the early medieval period, Elba was invaded by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards, and then it became a possession of the Republic of Pisa. The island was retained for two centuries by the Appiani family, Lords of Piombino, when they sold Pisa to the house of Visconti of Milan in 1399.

In 1546, part of the island was handed over to Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who fortified Portoferraio and renamed it "Cosmopoli", while the rest of the island was returned to the Appiani in 1577. In 1596, Philip II of Spain captured Porto Longone and had two fortresses built there.

The British landed on the Island of Elba in 1796, after the occupation of Livorno by the French Republican troops, to protect the 4,000 French royalists who had found asylum in Portoferraio two years earlier. In 1801, the Peace of Luneville gave Elba to the Kingdom of Etruria, and it was transferred to France in 1802 by the Peace of Amiens.

The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to Elba, after his forced abdication in May 1814; see Napoleonic Wars. He was allowed to keep a personal guard of 600 men and was nominally sovereign of Elba, although the nearby sea was patrolled by the French and British navies. During the months that he stayed on the island, Napoleon carried out a series of economic and social reforms to improve the quality of life. After staying on for almost ten months he escaped to France on 26 February 1815. At the Congress of Vienna, Elba was restored to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1860, it became part of the new unified Kingdom of Italy.

Climate
The climate of the island is predominantly Mediterranean, except for Mount Capanne, where winters tend to be moderately cold. Precipitation is concentrated in autumn and comprises a normal rainfall. The island lies in the rain shadow of the large and mountainous island of Corsica, so precipitation totals are somewhat reduced from the mainland (most of the island receives less than 750 mm (30 inches) annually). Snowfall in winter is rare in the lowlands and melts quickly.

By ferry
It's recommended to go by ferry from Piombino, which also allows to take your car or camping vehicle with you.

The ferry operator Toremar (part of the Moby Group) is usually a lot cheaper than Moby. You can compare and book ferry tickets to Elba directly online.

Get around
Mass transit does exist, but only from Portoferraio (short-distance and long-distance) and from Marina di Campo (short-distance only). Buses, which are quite cheap, run a fairly comprehensive route, so you can reach the main towns and villages around the island and bus stops can be found every few hundred meters along the coastal routes. Hitchhiking is possible, as there are many who take their cars by ferry when visiting the island.

You can also rent cars, scooters, and boats at Rent Chiappi in the marina of Portoferraio. Price for a FIAT Panda is between €37 and €45 per day, all included.

See
Napoleon was banished to the island and both of his homes (summer & winter) are available to tour. You can hike, bicycle, swim, or walk around the plaza at night with the locals. It is incredibly beautiful, with small towns (for example Portoferraio, Capoliveri, Porto Azzurro, Marciana Alta, Marciana Marina, Marina di Campo, Rio Marina, and Rio nell'Elba) set on hilltops and castles. There are flowers galore and the interior of the island is full of old, little viewed churches.

Do
Napoleon's homes, bike, go to any one of 10 -12 beaches, drink some local wine, hike, visit as many old castles and churches as you can. Takes about 3 days to see the island and that still leaves many areas untouched. In summer, Elba becomes a day-tripper's nightmare with people from the mainland.

Buy
Shopping isn't what you might expect but the island is for experiencing local ambiance, including some local wines. Local limoncino (lemon liqueur) is also worth tasting.

There are some shops in Portoferraio (the island's capital) but a very good place for shopping, relaxing and walking in the evenings is Marciana Marina. There are nice shops there where you can get designer sunglasses, Ralph Lauren clothes, etc. It's like a more preppy version of St. Tropez.

Eat
Seafood is fresh, and the bread is what you were dreaming about. Get the Italian version of steak and try the bread and tomato salad.

Drink
Some local wines, and the local water tastes great.

Sleep
Elba is a touristic island and there are lot of accommodations available, from cheap camp-grounds to luxury resorts.

There is a fair number of camp-grounds all over the island but you can easily reach some of them by bus. Aquaviva or Viticcio are less than 30mn away from Portoferrario.

 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.
 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.
 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.
 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.
 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.
 * You can usually sleep on the beaches, but beware of the occasional strong winds.

title: Elba


text:
Elbląg

Elbląg (German: Elbing) is a river port city in northern Poland in the Warmia-Masuria region with over 120,000 inhabitants. In the Middle Ages it was an important Hanseatic seaport serving the Vistula River bay on the early medieval Baltic Sea trade routes.

Understand
The city and its port lie on the Elbląg River, which flows into the Vistula Lagoon about 10 km to the north, thus giving the city access to the Baltic Sea via the Strait of Baltiysk.

Elbląg's Old Town area was almost completely destroyed in World War II. The Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture in this area is largely the result of post-war re-creation. The area is pretty enough but doesn't truly reflect the nature of the city. For that you have to wander north a kilometer or two to find the communist new town, which has a charm of its own.

By train
There are direct regional trains from Gdańsk and Gdynia. Some slower long distance TLK trains also calls here, while a change in nearby Malbork is required for high-speed EIP and EIC trains. Additionally, the seasonal train between Kaliningrad and Gdańsk also calls here.

By bus
Elbląg can be reached from other large cities of Poland by bus.

By plane
The nearest international airports are in Gdańsk, Kaliningrad, Warsaw and Bydgoszcz.

By car
The E7 road from Gdańsk to Warsaw runs past Elbląg an hour out of Gdansk.

Get around
There is tram network in Elbląg but it isn't very big and the main attractions are very near each other so walking is good enough.

New town
The cathedral is a beast that's arguably more worth seeing than the one in the old town.

Do

 * Take a tram to Bazantarnia forest, walks take you along the river or through beautiful old trees, with hills and ravines. (tram no 2, to Marymoncka wsiad. from train station and Plac Słowiański, between new and old town) tickets available from kiosks, stamp on entry.
 * Visit Światowid, a truly socialist building, still going strong as a cultural hot spot, cinema, theatre, gallery, restaurant. Next door to...
 * Multikino, modern multi-screen cinema among modern shops with bar and cafe.
 * Massive open air swimming pool ul. Kościuszki (one of the biggest in Europe)
 * Ski  (at Góra Chrobrego) cheap bus 1 zł (some days) from carpark outside cemetery on ul. Kościuszki. 2 routes 400 and 450 m and 2 button lifts 130/450 m. More routes and lifts planned for 2011/12 season. 2 zł a go for the lift weekends (10 for 18 zł), 1.50 zł in the week. 20 zł returned deposit on electronic pass card. Small covered bar at bottom.
 * Museum and library (Old Town) (13th century) set in Teutonic castle grounds (fragments remain). Quite hidden museum at the back of ul. św. Ducha. Containing archeology from the foundations of the destroyed old town (still uncovered in the Old Town). Other exhibits include Saxon finds from the nearby early settlement of Truso (a reconstructed Saxon house is also situated in the gardens and can be viewed only by asking the cashier after buying a ticket for the rest of the museum). Art and Photography exhibitions are set in the other buildings. Opening hours: closed Mondays and public holidays; open Tu-Sa 08:00-16:00, Su 10:00-16:00; June–September: Th Sa Su 10:00-18:00.

 * Aero Club, ul. Lotnicza 8, +48 55 233 44 10
 * Galeria el, ul. Kuśnierska 6 (Old Town).
 * Nowa Holandia. (Warsaw bound E7 motorway, from Elbląg join motorway at North/West end of city). Nature and theme park set in large grounds behind Elblag service station, restaurant at front, bars, sleigh rides, bonfires, canoeing, 45-seater boat trips, city farm, walks and playground. 8 zł per person for a sleigh ride, tea and sausage cooked in the fire. Bus nr 6 a short walk and you're there.

Buy
Jewellery with amber.

Hand-picked wild mushrooms, fresh milk, honey, smoked sausage and fresh produce at the market Saturdays and Tuesdays morning.

Vodka and mead.

Cakes and breads.

Sweets made in Elbląg - flagship store of Wolność company: ul. ks. Osinskiego 4A.

Eat
The Old Town has menus in four languages and offers supposedly traditional food in supposedly traditional buildings (mains 20-40 zł). The New Town has communist-style canteens in concrete blocks (two courses and a beer 20 zł).

Drink
Beer from the Elbląg's brewery - Specjal

Go next

 * Malbork - The Malbork Castle Museum - A well preserved medieval Gothic castle and a museum. Inscribed in 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
 * Gdańsk
 * Sztutowo - with the Stutthof concentration camp.
 * Frombork - old coastal town, working place of Nicolaus Copernicus. Buses leave roughly hourly from the bus station near to the train station (7 zł).
 * Kaliningrad, via the border at Braniewo

The countryside around Elbląg is picturesque and well worth exploring by bicycle. You can rent bicycles from a shop next to the train station and behind the bus station, or bring your own on the trains that come from Gdansk. Maps of bike routes are available in most bookstores, but be careful- these routes aren't clearly marked and it's easy to lose your way. But the area is small and the locals are ready to help!

title: Elbląg


text:
El Bolsón

El Bolsón is a city in Rio Negro.

Understand
El Bolsón is a town situated in the southwest of Río Negro Province, Argentina, at the foot of the Piltriquitron Mountain. Due to a series of valleys through the mountains of Chile to the Pacific Ocean, El Bolsón has an unusually mild climate for its southern location.

El Bolsón area's first non-indigenous inhabitants were German immigrants that arrived to the valley from Chile as an offshoot of the colonization of Llanquihue. In the 1970s hippies from Buenos Aires migrated to El Bolsón. This is a popular destination for Argentinian students and some international hippies and hippie wannabes. It is a relaxed, nice place with lots of budget accommodation options, a reasonably-sized handicrafts market, a number of micro-brew beers (you be the judge about the range of quality), and tons of often free live music etc. All in all, a good place to be.

Get in
There are buses from Buenos Aires via Bariloche. You can also get there from Trelew.

Get around
El Bolsón is a small place and is easily walkable. There was a bus service in 2010 to get from the downtown to nearby trailheads.

See
The markets in the city centre are worthwhile. The hiking in the area is really fantastic and the views from the city are lovely.

Do
Hiking in the area is popular. The Club Andino Piltriquitron can provide information. You should register with them if you plan on doing any multi-day trips and they can store your luggage for a small fee. There are a number of refugios which you can visit during your hike. Some of these cabins have hot showers, bathrooms, unlimited yerba mate, meals etc. There is a range in how rustic these cabins are. You can camp around them and use facilities, or, if you don't have your camping gear (but do have a sleeping bag), you can sleep in the upstairs for a small fee. Many of these refugios sell homemade beer, wine, and food- much of which is grown or raised on-site. The more popular cabins can get very busy (so best to arrive early if you don't have a tent), but the wonderful staff do their best to accommodate. Warning: some of the trails can be treacherous at times, so good footwear is advised. The scenery is spectacular.

Buy
Hairdressers. There is only 1 in town as for as is noticeable. By the service station on the main road. I guess hippies don't cut their hair much :)

Sleep
There are many hostels, though none are located on the main strip (50-60 pesos in dorm). They get booked up in the high season so if you're picky you should book in advance. Hostel La Casita Naranja at Dr. Armando Miklos 3557 is one option, with an option for an add-on breakfast and chance to mingle with fellow backpackers.

Cheaper camping is available in sites across the river.

Connect
Due to the high concentration of backpackers, WiFi can be found everywhere, though not necessarily free.

Go next

 * Lago Puelo

title: El Bolsón


text:
Elbow Cay

Elbow Cay is in the Bahamas.

Understand
Located several miles east of Great Abaco Island, this six-mile stretch of land is less than an hour-long ferry ride from Great Abaco’s Marsh Harbor. Elbow Cay offers visitors a quiet retreat from mainstream tourist destinations in the Bahamas. The small island is rich with local culture and history authentic to British loyalist traditions. Elbow Cay offers a variety of activities and places for visitors to explore.

Hope Town, a small and quaint town, is the main town on the island where visitors can find any of their vacation needs.

Get in
Visitors usually fly into Marsh Harbor International Airport via a number of major airlines. From there, taxi services run to Albury’s Ferry Dock, 242-367-0290, where visitors can take the hour-long ferry ride to the island. A number of yachters also moor or dock in Hope Town harbor during their stay.

Get around
The narrow streets of Hope Town can only be traversed by foot or bicycle giving it a truly authentic island feel. Golf carts are often rented to get around the rest of the island’s small roads.

Do
Fishing- Stemming from the Island’s long history in the fishing trade, the sport is still very much alive in the waters surrounding Elbow Cay. Charter fishing endeavors sail year around, seeking out species ranging from Grouper to Wahoo and other pelagic fish. The knowledgeable captains in the area can undoubtedly take visitors on an unforgettable fishing experience.

Spearfishing- A long-standing tradition in Elbow Cay, visitors can take to the pristine waters with Hawaiian slings in hand and enjoy fishing in its purest form. The reefs surrounding the island create an ideal habitat for spearfishing species such as Snapper and Spiny Lobster. The Bahamas only allow spearfishing with slings only and always check rules and regulations before jumping in the water.

Surfing- The Island hosts some of the most remote reef breaks in the Bahamas with good swell consistency year around. There are several easily accessible spots throughout the island and rental surfboards available.

Sleep
Visitors often rent houses or small cottages around the island or in Hope Town. The rental properties have a secluded feel and often overlook small beaches around the island. In addition, there are several smaller resorts located around the island that have much to offer.

title: Elbow Cay


text:
Elburg

Elburg is a historic city in the Dutch province of Gelderland. Between 1292 and 1296 Elburg was rebuilt in the form it is seen today, with a moat and a city wall, together with the straight pattern of the street plan. This rapid rebuilding was expensive, indicating that Elburg was reasonably affluent in medieval times.

Old Elburg
Elburg is a municipality and town by the Veluwemeer and Drontermeer. Elburg once was a small town living of fishing and trade located on the edge of the Zuiderzee. It is assumed that the city got its city rights between 1220 and 1271. On the fifth of September 1310 these city rights were revoked as Count Otto II of Guelders, who gave the city rights, did not have the right permissions to have done so, as he did not request the royal permission. The rights were restored and expanded upon by Count Reinald I in December 1312, giving Elburg the same set of rights as Doesburg had at the time. Several years later, in 1341, the city rights were expanded again, making Elburg equal to Zutphen. Elburg used to consist of one long main road stretching to the north, where fishermen and traders put up shop.

New Elburg
On the second of October 1392 William of Gulik, Count of Guelders, ordered: "Wij willen dat sy onze stat versetten sullen op een andere stede." (We (William) order that you must move our city (Elburg) to another location). For as far as we know, there is no particular reason to move the city of Elburg. Some argue that a threat or destruction by the Zuiderzee might have been a reason to move the city, though no proof supporting that theory has been found.

This moving of Elburg could be done due to the wealth that the city had gathered as a Hanzestad. Arent tho Boecop, steward of Elburg, got a start of the new city, which had a grid-based plan, as well as a connection to the old Elburg. Part of the old city was implemented in the new city. Parts of the old main street became the Ellestraat. After the new Elburg was constructed, the church was still outside of the city, which led for a relocation of the church in 1397. The church, which was a catholic church, was built in a hurry, as only fifty years after its opening, it was scheduled for a renovation. The tower, which once had a pointed rood, burnt down after getting struck by lightning in 1693, which makes that today only the base of it stands.

During the moving of the city Elburg, not only was the city relocated, the city also was fortified as well. The city got its square moat and walls with gates. These fortifications stand to this day.

By train
The nearest train station to Elburg is 't Harde, from which you'll have to take a bus to get to Elburg, as walking will take you 90 minutes. Going by bike from 't Harde is an option as well, making your journey from 't Harde to Elburg 20 minutes long.

By bus
The most central bus stop is Elburg Centrum, at which the lines 100, 200, 514, 685 and 686 stop. Line 100 connects to Nunspeet and Zwolle, while line 200 connects only to Zwolle. Line 514 connects with the nearby train station 't Harde. Lines 685 and 686 connect to the nearer towns.

By car
When travelling by car, Elburg can best be reached via the A6 or A28. When travelling via the A6, use exit 11 (Lelystad Noord) and drive away from Lelystad using the N307. When navigating around Dronten, use the second roundabout to turn onto the N305, followed by a turn left onto the N307 at the next larger interchange. Following this road will take you straight to Elburg.

When travelling via the A28, use exit 16 ('t Harde) located between Zwolle and Harderwijk. Once you leave the highway, you will see that the route to Elburg, which is just six more kilometers away, is indicated on signs.

By boat
Elburg is located where the Veluwemeer and Drontermeer meet. It has a harbor where you can dock your ship.

Get around
The fortified city of Elburg, which is probably what you have come to visit Elburg for, can be naviaged on foot easily.

Go next
From Elburg, you'll find that Flevoland is just a hop away, with Biddinghuizen being the closest town, and Dronten being the closest city. In Gelderland, the closest locations are Harderwijk, Zwolle, Apeldoorn and Amersfoort. Crossing the A28 means that you'll find yourself in the Veluwe forest, though the Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom are at the other end of the forest, a good 30 km away.

title: Elburg


text:
Elšani

Elšani is a picturesque village located just by Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. Roughly 10 kilometers south of the City of Ohrid, the village is on the western slopes of Galičica Mountain within the lush Galičica National Park. Here, a visitor can find rich forests and vegetation within the National Park, beautiful views along the quaint beaches of Lake Ohrid and the mountains of Albania, and historic architecture accompanied by unique Macedonian culture and food.

Understand
While Elšani doesn't have a great amount of history, it still does provide a bounty of sites to visit and shouldn't be overlooked by visitors to Albania and North Macedonia. In addition, it has a variety of year-round activities, from mountain hiking to glimpsing the vibrant culture to swimming in the clear waters of Lake Ohrid.

Location
Elšani is a small village only over half a kilometer from the shores of Lake Ohrid and roughly 6 kilometers (20 minute drive) south from the city of Ohrid, the seat of the Ohrid Municipality which the village sits in. Tucked in the southeast corner of the country, which is vibrant with mountains and nature, it is also about 10 kilometers (40 minute drive) north from the border of Albania.

History
The history of Elšani dates back to the early 1200s, when the first written records were found under the Byzantine Empire. It remained a fairly quiet village throughout its history. It came under rule by the Ottoman Empire in 1395, and perhaps the town's most signature location, the Church of St. Elijah, was built in 1408. It switched sovereignty often, being flipped between Serbia after the Balkans' independence from the Ottomans, after which it was occupied by Bulgaria during World War I and came under the rule of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (better known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) until World War II. It was then occupied by Italy in 1941 until Bulgarian occupation in 1943. After its rocky history which unfortunately saw some loss of the area's culture and people, it came under rule of Yugoslavia once again, this time under the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, and a range of modern-day infrastructure including cell service, electricity, roads, and running water were all introduced, progressing the area massively. This has extended to this day, and the 21st century has seen major tourism boosts in the village.

Demographics and economics
As of 2019, the year-round population of Elšani is only around 590, but it can reach 1,000 during the summer due to many Macedonians coming to their holiday homes. All of Elšani's inhabitants are ethnic Macedonians that speak Macedonian. As with many other areas in the Balkans, Orthodox Christianity is the village's main religion, with the oldest church – the Cathedral Church of Saint Elijah – dating back to 1408. There are also two other chapels.

Most of the economy is based on tourism, with many of the inhabitants working in the dozens of hotels scattering the area. Many also work in animal husbandry, gardening, or the traditional production of brandy (rakija) and wine. Some others commute to Ohrid.

By plane
Ohrid's St. Paul the Apostle Airport is the nearest airport. It has flights to many locations around Europe and is no more than a 30-minute drive (around 21.5 kilometers) away, via the A2 highway that leads into the A3 and R1208, the latter of which then turns into the P1301 that leads into Elšani. You can also rent a car or catch a taxi from the airport. No public transportation to the village is available.

By car
The exclusive way of entering by car is via the P501/P1301 highway, from which a road close to Lagadin diverges. From here, it's only a 4-minute drive or 40-minute walk up the hill along a fairly peaceful road. To the north, the highway travels along the coast and into the center of Ohrid, where you can access the area through multiple roads. The A2 highway travels in the western half of the country until it finally leads into Tetovo and eventually the nation's capital, Skopje. The A2 is also just off of Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport. After entering Ohrid, the A2 then travels southwest roughly parallel to the smaller R1208 road just on Lake Ohrid's coast. From here, both roads lead into eastern Albania. The E-65 highway also leads from farther north into the country from Skopje until Ohrid, where you can either find yourself driving deeper into the country from areas such as Bitola; along the shores of the nearby Lake Prespa; or farther south to the Macedonia region of northern Greece. As for travel from the south, along with the previously mentioned E-65, the P501/P1301 travel directly along Lake Ohrid, where you can find yourself in Albania. From here, you can drive from anywhere in the nation, most notably the capital, Tirana.

By car hire or taxi
As for taxis, Ohrid's airport they're available based on the times of flight arrivals. A fare from the airport to Peštani, just next to Elšani, or the area nearby costs 922 Macedonian denars (€15).

By ferry
Of course, with such a large and significant lake at the foot of the town, boats and ferries are abundant. The ferry route from St. Naum, a town at the border with Albania, to the Port of Ohrid, stops at 4 other towns along the coast. The closest ones to Elšani are just at of Dolno Konjsko farther north or at the Bay of Bones Museum farther south; a 50 minute and 1 and a half a hour but beautiful walk, respectively. At Ohrid, you can also find a ferry from Kalishta in Albania on the northwest coast of the lake. These ferries allow you to quickly visit many small but rich places along the lake full of culture, with Elšani being no exception.

Get around
Walking is the best way since it is a smaller place. A walk from one side of town to another should take no more than 15 minutes, and there's no need to take a car around especially with the bounty of beautiful cultural sites and natural scenery to marvel at.

See

 * St. Elijah - an old church made in 1408.
 * Lake Ohrid
 * Galičica National Park

Do
Elšani is a base for mountain walks and rock climbing in the Galičica National Park. On the other hand, the wide network of paths, narrow village streets and local low traffic roads are ideal for use as walking, jogging or cycling trails by all levels of ability and age groups. Elšani is also great for fishing, swimming, and other beach activities since it is on Ohrid Lake.

Sleep
Accommodation can be found in 30 family homes with nearly 200 beds in total, all through the year and at different locations, down by the lake or up in the mountain. Also by the lakeside is the Elešec Camping Site, which is well structured, but operating during the summer period only. There are several village shops to provide food, drinks and other most needed things for a pleasant stay between the green heights of Mount Galičica and the blue waters of Lake Ohrid.

title: Elšani


text:
El Cajon

El Cajon is a city in San Diego County in Southern California. The city is nicknamed "The Big Box".

By train
The local San Diego Trolley light rail system serves El Cajon with two lines: the Orange Line, which travels through La Mesa and Lemon Grove to Downtown San Diego, and the Green Line which heads past SDSU and through Mission Valley to San Diego's Old Town and Downtown.

El Cajon has two stations, which are served by both lines:

Do

title: El Cajon


text:
El Calafate

El Calafate is a town of 29,000 people (2020) in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

Understand
El Calafate has grown due to the tourist influx into Patagonia. It is set on the glacial blue Lago Argentina and is full of eager trekkers.

Climate
El Calafate's climate is cool and dry. Summers are mild and windy while winters are cold and slightly wetter. Temperatures can even drop to below freezing in the middle of summer while the strong winds, characteristic of the climate in Patagonia makes the temperatures feel colder than it should be. Snowfall occurs from May to September.

By plane

Destinations:

 * Aerolineas Argentinas has daily flights from Buenos Aires (both airports) and seasonal flights from Córdoba, Rosario, San Carlos de Bariloche, Ushuaia. On-line booking and e-tickets are available. LADE flies from many many towns throughout Argentina. During peak season, flights are usually fully booked with tourist groups. Make sure you book your flight well in advance.
 * There are also charter flights from Puerto Natales operated by DAP. These flights from the tiny airport of Puerto Natales can be very scenic and let you cross the Andes in about 90 minutes with no road travel hassle (which however in right doses is something not to be missed in Patagonia).

Getting there and away:

Right after disembarking, there are remises and transfer offices at your right side.
 * By bus – "VES" operates a bus service to any hotel in the town from the counter marked "BUS".
 * By taxi – If you prefer a private trip, there are also taxis to the city.

By bus
Buses run regularly from Chile (Puerto Natales) to Calafate and beyond (El Chalten, etc). They are comfortable, air-conditioned, and travel on paved roadways.

A quite remarkable trip is the bus connection between El Calafate and Bariloche along Ruta 40. It is mainly operated for the benefit of tourists by the Agency Chaltentravel (directly only the Calafate-Perito Moreno stage), since people of Calafate and Bariloche have very small ties between each other, which does not sound strange after you have made the journey and seen the state of the road.

Views, if the weather is good, are in places stunning, especially between Calafate and Perito Moreno city, less between Perito Moreno and Bariloche. You must however be prepared for a long (more than 10 hr daily for 2½ days) and rough trip in a small van. If you are not the kind of person who enjoys slow changes in the landscape and the beauty of lonely places, do not attempt this trip or you will regret it. Of course, if you really like this sort of thing, you will never forget the trip.

The bus trip will let you pass (and most likely stay and enjoy) through El Chalten and give an opportunity to stay in Perito Moreno from where you can organise a (long) ride to visit the "Cueva de las Manos pintadas".

Make sure you book your bus ticket out of this town, when you get there, or you can get stuck there for a couple of days.

By car
Arriving by car from Chile (Puerto Natales) is a fairly straightforward process. The road (Ruta 40) is paved the entire way—avoid any instructions by Google Maps, etc. to send you down rougher, unpaved roads.

With a rental car you will have to clear immigration and customs both going and returning, and the rental car company will need to know your plans to go to Argentina to provide you with the correct paperwork and insurance.

By rental car
Many agencies have car rental options. The international brands Hertz and Avis have offices in town, on the main road.

See

 * Onelli Bay – A perfect site and one of the most romantics areas here. You could bring a lunch box, a bottle of champagne, and enjoy a relaxing moment in the lake, or just add a piece of pure crystal ice in your drink. Around 70 km away and probably only accessible by boat.
 * Wildlife – Just walking a few blocks away from main street, like in El Cañadón, or at Laguna Nimez, and you can see all kinds of patagonic birds feet away from you. Wildlife and views, especially at dusk, make Laguna Nimez a must-see. It is perfect if you have just arrived in town, settled your next day's excursion and are eager to go see some real Patagonia.
 * Onelli Bay – A perfect site and one of the most romantics areas here. You could bring a lunch box, a bottle of champagne, and enjoy a relaxing moment in the lake, or just add a piece of pure crystal ice in your drink. Around 70 km away and probably only accessible by boat.
 * Wildlife – Just walking a few blocks away from main street, like in El Cañadón, or at Laguna Nimez, and you can see all kinds of patagonic birds feet away from you. Wildlife and views, especially at dusk, make Laguna Nimez a must-see. It is perfect if you have just arrived in town, settled your next day's excursion and are eager to go see some real Patagonia.

Do

 * There are three very expensive bus companies (90 minutes each way), leaving around 08:00 or so and one company (Cal Tur) also at 13:45. The return time is around 16:00. The bus will drop you off at the port for boat trips and take the rest onward to the glacier before coming back upon return. Try to sit on the left side of the bus for the best views of the glacier and surrounding landscape.
 * More conveniently, a taxi round trip. If there are at least three of you, it is easy maths.
 * The hideously expensive (by any standard) restaurant onsite should be avoided. Be a cheapskate and take a picnic and flask and keep smiling. Numerous places to sit and eat overlooking the glacier.
 * Boat excursion – Take a boat and see many of the glaciers and places in the Los Glaciares National Park. The colors and shapes of the icebergs floating in the lake are really awesome and inspiring, making a boat ride in a sunny day a fantastic day out. Boat trips can be booked near the restaurant—each trip lasts around 1½ hr.
 * Boat excursion – Take a boat and see many of the glaciers and places in the Los Glaciares National Park. The colors and shapes of the icebergs floating in the lake are really awesome and inspiring, making a boat ride in a sunny day a fantastic day out. Boat trips can be booked near the restaurant—each trip lasts around 1½ hr.

Buy
Food is expensive mainly due to the remote location of the city. There are several supermarkets in town, including a big chain ("Anonima") at the Eastern end of the main street, with fair prices. It remains open at least until 21:00 (except on Sunday).

Buy your food for your tours in advance, because on ruta 40 and in the glacier national park there are almost no places to buy food.

Handicraft and souvenirs can be bought in large scale at the main street.

There are plenty of ATMs in the main street. Of course, they are not all working, not all open, and not all have cash. But you will for sure find one that will deliver cash to you!

What
Patagonic Lamb (Spanish: cordero patagónico) is the main dish.

Typical barbecue (asado) is very good.

Where
Don't miss:

Go next

 * Nearby El Chalten provides excellent hiking possibilities.
 * Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park are 3½ hr driving from El Calafate and can be reached by car or bus. If going by rental car, in order to cross the border to Chile, you have to ask the car rental company to arrange the necessary paperwork and insurance.

title: El Calafate


text:
El Castaño

El Castaño is a small fishing village on the Southern Pacific Coast of Chiapas, Mexico, in the La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve. It is on the estuary of the Rio San Nicolas. This village is home to approximately 50 people and tourism is operated by a community-based cooperative Grupo Turistico Costa Verde.

Get in
El Castaño is 23 km from the city of Mapastepec, Chiapas, by a dirt road that passes through the small communities of Ibarra and Roberto Barrios. Direct public transportation to El Castaño does not exist but transportation can be arranged through Grupo Turistico Costa Verde. You can also get there by a 50-minute, 25-km boat ride through the estuary from Acapetahua.

See
In the heart of the La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, El Castaño is a place to relax and enjoy the natural wonders of the coastal mangroves of Chiapas. The La Encrucijada mangrove is a highly dynamic ecosystem, where land meets sea, freshwater meets salt water, and where land and water dwelling creatures share the same place. Being such a unique ecosystem, this area is habitat to several threatened and endangered bird and mammal species including agami heron, jaibaru, rufus kingfisher, green parrots, jaguar, and spider monkeys and is a stopover for migratory birds. This is also home to crocodiles, caimans and green and black iguanas. These animals can be seen from a kayak on one of our aquatic trails.

Do
Guided canoe tours of the La Encrucijada Biosphere with chances to view crocodiles, caymans, rare birds including Agami herons, pigmy kingfishers, pelicans, parrots, and green iguanas.

Night crocodile spotting tours—observe crocodiles in their natural habitat

Sunset beach trips to the San Nicholas Sand bar where the estuary meets the Pacific Ocean. Have a beer by the bonfire and watch the sunset over the Pacific

Photography tours on the water.

Sport fishing with an experienced guide Locally built Environmental Interpretation center

Kayak, paddleboat and canoe rentals

Hammocks and cool breezes for relaxing

Eat
Two local restaurants serve fresh fish, shrimp, and crab served in traditional style.

title: El Castaño


text:
El Castillo

El Castillo is a town in Rio San Juan department of Nicaragua. Since 1995, the fortress has been on a "tentative list" of important Nicaraguan cultural sites with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a preliminary to nomination for consideration as a World Heritage Site.

Understand
El Castillo de la Imaculada Concepcion, located on the San Juan river of Nicaragua, was built in the 1670s to protect Lake Nicaragua and its ports, mainly Granada. Construction began shortly after the pirate Gallardino attacked the port of Granada. The local heroine is Rafaela Herrera, the recently deceased fortress commandant's daughter, that directed the defence that repelled an English invading fleet in 1762. In 1780, a young Horatio Nelson (yes, that Nelson) tried to conquer the fort and initially succeeded but had to leave after 7 months due to almost all of his soldiers (probably including himself) getting yellow fever (not a concern in this area any more). Shortly thereafter the Spanish took the empty fort back.

By boat
You can get in from San Carlos at the south-east corner of the Lago Nicaragua (also known as Cocibolca) by boat (C$75 pp = US$4).

Boats leave San Carlos at 06:30, 08:00, 10:30 (high season), 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30. For the first boat, book the day before, as it might be full already if you are too late. You can buy tickets at the muelle municipal half a block from the market, which also serves as San Carlos' bus terminal.

From San Juan del Norte the boat to San Carlos (once weekly 6 or 12 hours, depending on type of service and season) also passes El Castillo and stops upon request.

Get around
El Castillo is walkable and doesn't have any cars. The locals aren't used to cycling (though it is not explicitly prohibited) and there are none for rent.

See

 * Rapids of the Rio San Juan (called raudales) that made El Castillo a strategic place to build a fortress. Raudal del Toro (across from Boca de Sábalo), Raudal del Castillo (across from the fortress) and Raudal del Diablo are the most popular.
 * Just a few kilometers downriver from El Castillo you can see Costa Rica on the Rio San Juan's right or southern bank; (the river itself in a political oddity belongs to Nicaragua entirely). They are constructing a new road right next to the river which has been controversial because of its (very visible) impact on the environment.
 * Just a few kilometers downriver from El Castillo you can see Costa Rica on the Rio San Juan's right or southern bank; (the river itself in a political oddity belongs to Nicaragua entirely). They are constructing a new road right next to the river which has been controversial because of its (very visible) impact on the environment.

Do
Reading a book in the library which is right inside the castillo. Listen to the sounds of the village and the water running down the river while reading a good book.

You can rent kayaks for various lengths of time or also do a guided tour on kayak. Some adventurous travellers have done the whole trip from here to the Caribbean at San Juan de Nicaragua (San Juan del Norte) in just over a week. Ask whether you can return your kayaks there or not.

Buy
There is not that much to buy in town and nothing that you couldn't get in San Carlos. As of 2012 there was no ATM in town.

Eat
River shrimp (Camarones del Rio) are very popular and quite cheap. However, they are not available year-round, as the government protects them (usually from February to April).

Drink
Drink the natural fruit drinks at Border's Coffee. The owner (a Nicaraguan) is very proud to say that they are made without water or sugar, and they are very delicious.

Sleep
Several hotels in the area are somewhere along the river or in the town of Sabalos close by. Some have their own pier. If you know where you are going to stay in advance just tell the captain of the boat and they will drop you off right at the doorstep.

Go next

 * San Juan Del Norte
 * There are various small villages along the river some of them having hotels and some hotels just between villages. The biggest of those villages is Boca de Sabalos named for a fish that is common around that place.
 * El Castillo is a convenient starting point for all your jungle adventures in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve and downriver

title: El Castillo