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Ruda Śląska

Ruda Śląska is an industrial city in the Silesian Voivodeship of southwest Poland, with a population of 135,008 in 2021. It's part of the Upper Silesian metropolis, centered around Katowice.

Understand
"Ruda" means mineral ores, and from medieval times iron and coal were mined in dozens of villages set in the forests of Upper Silesia. Better mining and metal-working techniques in the 18th century caused the villages to expand and merge with each other, but in Ruda Śląska this never quite happened, so it's a straggle of ten towns with no centre. Silesia in that era was part of Prussia then Germany, so for example the town now called Nowy Bytom was known as Friedenshütte. When Poland regained independence in 1921, some Silesian cities voted to remain German but most including Ruda Śląska joined Poland; the remainder joined after 1945.

Traditional smokestack industries are in decline here as elsewhere in Europe, but they remain active in Ruda Śląska. This incurs an environmental and a human cost: a mining explosion in 2006 killed 23 and another in 2009 killed 18.

Get in
Ruda Śląska borders Katowice, so long distance public transport is via that city. Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport is 36 km north of Ruda Śląska, take the airport bus into central Katowice and change.

Trains from Katowice run every 20 minutes and take 17 min via Chorzów, Świętochłowice and Ruda Chebzie; they continue west to Zabrze and Gliwice, another 12 min. These trains may start from Częstochowa or Dąbrowa Górnicza.

is a simple unstaffed platform halt in the north of town. It has a ticket machine and that's all. Access to platforms is by a smelly passageway with steps and no ramp or elevator.

may be a more congenial place to get off. The station itself is just a halt, but the former station hall has been refurbished with cafes and a library. There's disabled access and trams outside run to Ruda Południowa in the centre of Ruda Śląska and on to Zabrze and Gliwice.

Long-distance buses don't serve Ruda Śląska. By road:

 * from Kraków follow A4 / E40 west 80 km.
 * from Wrocław follow A4 / E40 southeast 160 km.
 * from the Czech Republic follow A1 past Ostrava into Poland, turning east on A4 / E40 near Gliwice.

Get around
ZTM Metropolia run almost all buses and trams across the 40-some cities of Upper Silesian Metropolis, which straddles the Czech border. They have a unified ticket system: see Katowice for ticket options and where to buy them.

Bus 130 runs from Katowice every 30 min to Ruda Śląska and its southern district of Halemba.

Bus 118 runs from Ruda Chebzie every 20 min to Ruda Śląska then north to Bytom.

See

 * Church of St Joseph is at Piastowska 25, 400 m north of the railway station. It's neo-Romanesque, built 1902-04.
 * on Plac Jana Pawła II is a sturdy neo-Romanesque building of 1912.
 * City Hall (Ratusz) is north side of Plac Jana Pawła II. Neither hall nor draughty square have any architectural merit, but a brass plaque commemorates the non-visit of Lech Wałęsa - Ruda Śląska is the largest conurbation in Poland never to have been visited by him. They may have been hoping that this would bring tourists flocking, to see what was so wrong with the place.
 * is redbrick neogothic, built in 1883. It's along E Kokota.
 * is redbrick neogothic, built in 1883. It's along E Kokota.

Do

 * Silesian Impresario Theatre is a performance venue at Piotra Niedurnego 69, 100 m north of City Hall.
 * Aquadrom is a water park at Kłodnicka 95 in Halemba district.
 * Aquadrom is a water park at Kłodnicka 95 in Halemba district.
 * Aquadrom is a water park at Kłodnicka 95 in Halemba district.

Buy

 * Ruda Śląska Plaza is the main mall, containing Cinema City and Carrefour supermarket. It's open M-Sa 08:00-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00.
 * Lots of convenience and discount stores near the Plaza, Biedronka is the commonest chain.

Eat

 * Eating places are clustered around Plac Jana Pawła II. They include Mąka & Oliwa, Smakosz, Luvu, Memo Kebab, At Mark's and Żółty Smok.

Drink

 * Wirek district to the southwest has Duet micro-brewery, Esencja Smaku and Pod Łososiem sports bar.
 * Wirek district to the southwest has Duet micro-brewery, Esencja Smaku and Pod Łososiem sports bar.

Connect
As of April 2024, Ruda Śląska and its approach roads have 5G from all Polish carriers.

Go next

 * Katowice at the centre of the metropolis is grubby and industrial but with lots of 19th / 20th century heritage.
 * In Chorzów the main sights are in the Culture Park along the boundary with Katowice.
 * Częstochowa is a pilgrimage site for Jasna Góra monastery, with the icon of the Black Madonna.

title: Ruda Śląska


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Rudersdal

Rudersdal municipality are split into three sections:
 * Northern Suburbs - Southern parts within Greater Copenhagen; Holte, Søllerød, Nærum.
 * Øresund Coast - Eastern parts along the coast; Vedbæk, Trørød.
 * Central Nordsjælland - Northern parts around Birkerød.

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

title: Rudersdal


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Rudolph

Rudolph is a village of approximately 400 in Wood County Wisconsin. It is best known as the site for the "Grotto Shrine", a Catholic shrine built on the grounds of the local Catholic church, St Phillips. Largely conceived and built by one man, Father Wagner, over 40 years, the shrine includes a man made cave (the Wonder Cave) and numerous monuments and gardens.

Get in
Rudolph is located approximately 7 miles from Wisconsin Rapids on Highway 34.

Get around
No car rental agencies are located in Rudolph, nor does it have any public transportation. Walking down Main Street is the best way to see this village.

See

 * The Grotto Shrine is the chief draw to visitors but the local Cheese Factory, Dairy State Cheese Factory is also worth a visit. The factory includes an observation room on the second floor overlooking the cheese making process as well as large windows in the showroom looking out into the factory. The selection of locally produced cheese is huge.

Do

 * A visit to the Grotto Shrine and the Wonder Cave is a must for any visitor. While primarily open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the gardens and monuments can be visited any time of the year. The Wonder Cave and the gift shop are only open during the regular season. The gardens, monuments, the log Chapel as well the picnic area draw close to 30,000 visitors a year.
 * Rudolph holds their annual Rudolph Country Christmas on the second Saturday of December. This is an all day event that ends with a lighted Christmas parade. Other events usually include live animals, a live nativity, Belgian horse wagon rides, live reindeer and Santa, music, food and holiday crafts.

Buy

 * Dairy State Cheese Factory sells a large selection of locally produced cheeses. Don't forget to buy some fresh Cheese Curds. Large windows allow for viewing the cheese producing process. Also be forewarned, they take only checks or cash, no credit cards.
 * Fischer's Antiques, Main Street is an interesting shop from which to purchase local antiques.
 * The gift shop at the Grotto Shrine offers post cards, gifts, books etc.
 * Pete's Market sells a selection of locally produced meats and sausages.

Eat

 * Dairy State Cheese Company offers a small ice cream parlor on the premises. The ice cream, produced in Wisconsin, is tasty and reasonably priced.

Drink

 * Ricky's Bar & Bowl and Skmo's Place are two local watering holes. Both are located on Main Street.

Sleep
No motels or hotels are available in Rudolph but there are several good choices in Wisconsin Rapids, seven miles away. The Mead Inn and the AmericInn are two of the better choices.

title: Rudolph


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Rudolstadt

Rudolstadt is a city in the German federal state of Thuringia.

Get in
Regional trains are leaving hourly from the ICE stops in Jena or Saalfeld.

Do
Most time of the year quite sleepy, during the first weekend of July the city is home to the biggest folk- and world music festival of Germany, attracting some thousand spectators.

Located very close to the train station is the theatre of Rudolstadt:

title: Rudolstadt


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Rufina

Rufina is a city east of Florence in the Florence province. Despite its location on the opposite side of the city, it is often considered to be part of the Chianti region which lies to the west.

See

 * Villa di Poggio Reale is a 16th-century residence which now hosts events and conferences.

title: Rufina


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Rugby

For the sport, see Rugby football.

There's more than one place called Rugby:

United Kingdom

 * Rugby (England)

United States of America

 * Rugby (North Dakota)
 * Rugby (Tennessee)

Australia

 * Rugby in the Southern Highlands of the state of New South Wales

title: Rugby


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Rugby (England)

Rugby is a market town of 78,000 people (2021) in the Borough of Rugby in Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England, part of the United Kingdom. The town is credited with being the birthplace of rugby football, and is a must visit for the avid rugby fan. Rugby is also a birthplace of the jet engine.

Understand
Rugby School is one of England's oldest and most prestigious public schools, and was the setting of Thomas Hughes's semi-autobiographical masterpiece Tom Brown's Schooldays. A substantial part of the 2004 dramatisation of the novel, starring Stephen Fry, was filmed on location at Rugby School.

In the 19th century, Rugby became famous for its once hugely important railway junction which was the setting for Charles Dickens's story Mugby Junction.

The town also inspired Thomas Hughes, (author of Tom Brown's Schooldays) to set up a colony in America, for the younger sons of the English gentry, who couldn't inherit under the laws of primogeniture. He named the town Rugby. The town of Rugby, Tennessee, still exists today.

Rugby has always been a centre for the surrounding farming communities, and a weekly cattle market continued to be held in the town until 2008, but it was the coming of the London & Birmingham Railway in 1838 which caused a significant expansion of the town. In 1840 a junction with the Midland Counties Railway from Leicester was completed and in consequence major railway yards and other heavy engineering industries developed in the town.

The now demolished Rugby Radio Station would have been the radio station that would broadcast a firing message for Britain's nuclear submarine Polaris, should it have been necessary, according to declassified information. The radio station was key in linking London to New York.

The decline of heavy engineering and the downgrading of the railway facilities led to a decline in the town. However, efforts have been made to exploit the central location of the town to attract new businesses and distribution centres to the area.

 * Rugby Local Council website

Get in
Rugby has major rail and road networks close by, a large reason for attracting industry, such as Rugby Cement to the region.

By train

Rugby railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre (the Clock Tower), with the entrance to Rugby School about 400 yards further on. Upon exiting the station, the town center can be accessed by walking up the hill the station is located on. On the large roundabout at the top, turn right on to Clifton Road (Lawrence Sheriff school will be on your right), the town center can be accessed by walking onwards.

Situated on the West Coast main line there are express services to and from London Euston approximately hourly operated by Avanti West Coast. The typical journey time is 51 minutes. There are direct services to Liverpool, Holyhead, Manchester and Glasgow, in the weekday peak hours. Advanced booking of tickets and travel outside of peak periods (6-10AM, 4-8PM) is strongly recommended to avoid the highest fares. Booking is strongly advised.

London Midland operate train services also, note that these are slower than Avanti West Coast services and stop frequently. Although London Midland trains are comfortable, Avanti West Coast are preferable and it is often cheaper to buy "Avanti West Coast Only tickets". Services by London Midland include services terminating at Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street, Crewe and London Euston. See for live departure boards.

By road
Rugby's central location in England has resulted in an excellent road network.

Rugby is close to the junction of the M1 and M6 motorways, with Junction 18 of the M1 being five miles to the east and Junction 1 of the M6 three miles north of the town. The M45, a short spur off the M1 terminates near the village of Dunchurch, three miles south of Rugby.

The A14 trunk road linking the Midlands with East Anglia and the East Coast starts at Catthorpe, which is four miles northeast of the town.

Two major Roman roads pass close to the town. The Fosse Way which was built to link Exeter with Lincoln passes six miles to the west, and the Watling Street linking London with North Wales comes within four miles to the east of the town. The Watling Street (A5) still carries considerable heavy traffic, whereas the Fosse Way (B4455) has become a local road, although popular during the holiday season with motorists travelling to the West Country wishing to take a more scenic and less congested route.

By air
Rugby is accessible to many airports, easily, by public transport or roads.

From airports in London, it is easiest to travel to Rugby by making your way to London Euston train station (via tube, taxi, Heathrow Express or otherwise) and travel by train to Rugby. Avanti West Coast and London Midland services to Rugby are frequent. See above.

, situated midway between Coventry and Birmingham is 25 miles from Rugby. Flights operate daily to most major European cities and also to Newark, New Jersey, and Dubai. There is an hourly service to Birmingham International railway station from early morning to late evening, journey time 25 min.

It can be accessed by using the free shuttle rail from the airport to Birmingham International train station and catching a train from there. London Midland and Avanti West Coast services to Rugby are frequent. See above.

is only 10 miles from Rugby, but there is no direct link by public transport and is not as heavily serviced as other airports. Thomsonfly operate seasonal schedules to various European holiday resorts as well as Jersey. Wizz Air fly to Katowice 3 times a week.

Get around
There is a comprehensive network of buses, mainly operated by Stagecoach linking Rugby town centre with the outlying suburbs and with many of the nearby villages. Tickets can be purchased from the driver and change is given.

Buses link the railway station with the town centre every 12 minutes.

There are also regular bus services to the neighbouring towns of Leamington Spa, Banbury, Northampton, Leicester and Coventry which afford an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding countryside of "Leafy Warwickshire" in a leisurely manner.

Taxis are readily available in masses by the town center (outside St. Andrews Church, by an entrance to the Clock Towers) and Rugby train station.

Do

Outside the town center, near Tesco, there is a retail park called Junction 1 (not to be confused with Elliots Retail Park), which houses tenpin bowling and a cinema named Cineworld.

See what's on:

Walk along the canal.

Take a guided blue plaque tour around Rugby, MP3 files available here:

Buy
Rugby is filled with lots of shops of every taste in the town centre.

Eat
All major British supermarkets; Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons and Sainsbury's have a presence in Rugby. ASDA is the most easily accessible, in the town center opposite Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, but has a limited selection of food. Sainsbury's has the best quality food but is expensive, Tesco's is somewhat midrange. All major fast food restaurants available.

Drink
There are many pubs in Rugby, in the 1960s, Rugby town centre, was recorded as having the second-highest number of pubs per square mile in England.

Connect
As of May 2024, Rugby and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, and 5G from O2 and Three.

Go next
Stanford Hall is a 17th-century stately home situated seven miles away, just over the border with Leicestershire. It is closely associated with the early days of flight, and the River Avon flows through the grounds.

London easily accessible by rail from Rugby.

Coventry easily accessible by rail from Rugby.

Birmingham easily accessible by taking the train to Birmingham New Street from Rugby.

title: Rugby (England)


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Rugby (North Dakota)

Rugby is a city in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota, with a population of about 2900 people. It is located about halfway between Minot and Devils Lake.

By car
US Highway 2 runs along the south side of town. West about 60 miles is Minot. East about the same distance is Devils Lake. US 2 crosses Interstate 29 in Grand Forks.

North Dakota Highway 3 runs North to Dunseith and the International Peace Garden. Brandon, on Trans-Canada 1, is about 2 and a half hours from Rugby.

By train

 * Route stopping at Rugby:
 * 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. Eastbound trains arrive daily about 7AM. Westbound trains arrive about 11PM.
 * 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. Eastbound trains arrive daily about 7AM. Westbound trains arrive about 11PM.

Get around
If you come into town by train, you'll have to walk or hitch around town. There isn't any public transport, taxi service, or car rental. Not that this can be a bad thing if, say, you had a rail pass and wanted to spend a day in small-town North Dakota.

However, the more timid may want to take the train to Minot, rent a car, and circle back.

See
The Geographical Center of North America cairn, at the intersection of US 2 and ND 3. The actual center of the continent is some 6 miles west of nearby Balta, but you really have to be a stickler to get there.

Buy
Rugby has a number of small shops, mostly located downtown, which is around the train station, and about 2 miles north of Highway 2.

title: Rugby (North Dakota)


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Ruhengeri

Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) is a city in Northern Province of Rwanda's Musanze district. It is the port of call for tourists heading up the hills to Kinigi and Parc National des Volcans.

Get in
There are several bus companies that serve Kigali-Musanze direction every half hour for Frw 4,000 (April 2024). The journey takes 2 hours.

Buy your ticket at the main bus station in Nyabugogo – each bus company has their own little office, look for the signs that say "Kigali-Musanze." Don't buy your ticket in advance – go to the bus station and expect to leave in roughly 30 minutes. If you book your ticket right before you leave, you may get a bad seat or have to stand.

Recommended bus companies: Virunga Express ; Kigali Bus Service, Ritco.

From Gisenyi buses go every 30 minutes, bound for Kigali, reaching Musanze after 1 hr 20 min, cost FRw 1200 (Feb 2017).

Get around
Musanze is a small town, you can walk from one end to the other along the main road in 30-40 minutes.

The best way to get around is walking or moto-taxi. Prices are negotiable with the moto drivers, but a typical ride across town is FRw 300-400 (Sep 2018.)

See
Volcanoes National Park offers several attractions. Tickets must be booked in advance through tour companies or the Rwanda Tourism Board (ORTPN). The majority of revenue from tourism goes towards maintaining the park and conserving the wildlife. The remainder goes to the government and (around 10%) to local projects in the area to help local people benefit from the large revenue stream generated by the park.
 * Musanze Gorilla naming monument.jpgla visits - there are a limited amount of permits per day, and they often sell out months in advance. Tourists spend an hour with the gorillas. US$750 per person for foreign visitors.
 * Golden monkey visits.
 * Climbing of Karisimbi volcano - this is a two-day trek with overnight camping at an altitude of 3,800 m.
 * Climbing of Bisoke volcano - 4-7 hours round trip. US$75 per person for foreign visitors.
 * Visiting the tomb of Dian Fossey.

Visit Lakes Burera and Ruhondo.

Visit the lava caves and tunnels.

In town: there are various lively markets to stroll about. In the north-west part of town is the 2016 built cathedral, a big church that seats approximately 2000 people, and an amphitheater for approximately 4000 people. Near the southwest end of town, you can climb a hill overlooking the town and enjoying the panoramic view on the volcanoes.

Buy
Musanze main markets and supermarkets are open almost 24 hours.

There are several ATMs in town, including a KCB ATM that (sometimes) dispenses US dollars ($100 bills only).

Eat
There are a number of restaurants around Musanze town, including:

Drink
There are so many Bar and coffee shops in Musanze as it is tourist city

Sleep

Connect
In the city center and its vicinity you can find telecommunication shops where you can buy 3G and 4G SIM cards. You may have a free wifi in hotels and restaurants.

Go next
There is one daily bus to Kampala, departing between 16:00 & 17:30 & arriving in Kampala sometime after 03;00. The company is Trinity & the bus costs Frw 12,000. Jaguar has two buses to Kampala, leaving at 16:00 and 16:30. From Musanze to Goma in Republic Democratic of Congo is only 2 hours driving.

title: Ruhengeri


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Ruhnu

Ruhnu is a small island in Estonia, isolated from the rest of the country in the Gulf of Riga. The island is called Runö in Swedish.

Understand
Prior to 1944, the island was populated by ethnic Swedes for centuries, and traditional Swedish law was used. Ruhnu now has fewer than 100 permanent inhabitants, mostly ethnic Estonians who like to keep to themselves.

By boat
A ferry runs from Munalaid in the mainland to Ruhnu. The trip takes about 4½ hours. Bookings can be made via phone and internet.

On foot
You can reach pretty much everything by walking.

By plane
If arriving by airplane, there is a free shuttle bus to the village. Tell the bus driver the name of the place of the family where you are staying, he will take you there. The same for getting to airport—ask your host to call the bus, it will pick you up.

Do
The island is popular with hikers and swimmers; the best beach for swimming is Limo beach, with its "singing" sands.

Buy
There are a few small shops on the island. Write down their opening times, because they may not be open all day. As in mainland Estonia, the official currency is the euro. Credit and debit cards are usually accepted.

Go next

 * Saaremaa – The largest Estonian and wild seaside character island with castles and fortresses, one perfectly preserved, a beach, a spa and famous mills. Saaremaa is even sometimes called Sparemaa. Furthermore, the island is surrounded by a myriad of tiny islands including Abruka with its nudist camps.
 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches.
 * Kihnu – The southernmost group of islands, Khinu, is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Cosy and warm yet exotic – folk costumes are worn here every day and the handicraft of older generations remains highly valued.

title: Ruhnu


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Ruhr

The Ruhr (German: Ruhrgebiet) is a region in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Once the uncontested heart of Germany's economy, the region was formed during the 19th and 20th century by the coal and steel industries and is going through a structural transformation, which makes it one of the most dynamic regions in Europe. Its borders are defined by the Ruhr River in the south, the Lippe in the north, the Rhine in the west and the city of Hamm in the east. That makes the region about 100 km from west to east and about 40 km from north to south. A "city of cities" as the marketing campaign would have it, the Ruhr area is one of Europe's most densely populated areas with both a strong regional identity and strong identities of many component cities and neighborhoods. About 5.3 million people live in the Ruhr, the third-most-populous metropolitan region in Western Europe after greater London and Ile de France (Paris) - ahead of greater Berlin. The Ruhr area lies in the center of the so called "Blue Banana", an area of high population density and industrial activity extending from northern Italy to the Netherlands and beyond the North Sea to England.

Cities
The city of Düsseldorf is very close to the Ruhr but is not part of the Ruhr area.
 * - the region's cultural hub.
 * - the most populous city in the region, famous for beer, industry, its football team and Europe's most attended and Germany's largest stadium.
 * - the world's largest inland harbour
 * - hosts the UNESCO World Heritage former industrial complex of Zollverein.
 * - Has a number of parks.
 * - home to an open-air museum dedicated to early industry
 * - with an impressive railway station building
 * - famous for the CentrO multi-functional centre incorporating shopping, culture and tourist attractions
 * – birthplace of coal mining in the Ruhr
 * - medieval and industrial heritage
 * - medieval and industrial heritage

Understand
If one were to count the Ruhr Area as a single "metro area" (which most residents would scoff at, given the strong identities of individual cities) it would be bigger than Berlin and its surrounding suburbs and thus the biggest "metro area" in Germany by population and among the top ten in the European Union, depending on which boundaries are drawn for this and other agglomerations.

The Ruhr area used to be mostly rural until the 19th century, when the region's rich coal deposits were suddenly in great demand. Steam engines needed coal but also enabled better mining; railroads expanded the export market for coal and were also coal-fired, but above all the demand for steel rose above anything ever seen before and companies like Krupp built an empire on coal and steel. Enormous immigration inflated the population fifty-fold and the favourable geographic conditions, including the location close to four rivers, caused towns to rapidly grow to accommodate the bustling heavy industry and its workforce. This led to a development of a contiguous urban area with barely noticeable borders between the cities and an efficient - if sometimes overcrowded - transportation network.

"No enemy bomber can reach the Ruhr. If one reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Hermann Göring. You may call me Meyer."

- Boast by Hermann Göring, and thus his popular nickname "Meyer".

Because of its strategic importance, the Ruhr area was extensively bombed during the Second World War. After the war, the region rebounded in the 1950s and 60s, driving the German "economic miracle" with GDP growth rates of 9% a year. With the economic crises of the 1970s came a downturn, however, as the coal mines and steel works, by then uneconomical, started to close. The Ruhr began a slow process of reorientation towards more high-tech industries, while also cleaning up its polluted environment.

While there is still significant steel production in the Ruhr and new industries have partially replaced coal mining, Ruhr still has higher-than-average unemployment. Thanks to the overall economic strength, the region does not come off as impoverished, and can surprise with the abundance of greenery and cultural potential. It has also retained its many Sportvereine, hosting some of the most successful German teams in association football in particular. The last coal mines were shut down in late 2018 with an emotional rendition of the Steigerlied (originally from the Ore Mountains but long since associated with mining in general and still sung before major soccer games - even in one voice by fans of regional rivals) and everybody of political relevance in the area past and present in attendance - many shedding tears.

The Ruhr area has a reputation of business not pleasure, a place where "Currywurst" is as sophisticated as cuisine gets and soccer chants are the highest form of culture. But award of the 2010 "European capital of culture" title to Essen which was branded as Ruhr2010 in cooperation with the entire region has righted those prejudices and put the Ruhr on the map as an area that has far more to offer than a rough proletarian charm and down-to earth honesty. There are several world heritage sites in the area and Ruhr native Herbert Grönemeyer (one of Germany's most famous recording artists) is noted for songs about deep philosophical themes as well as anthems to Currywurst or his native Bochum.

Climate
The main rule about the central European climate is that you cannot predict the weather. Sometimes summers can be cold and wet, while April (most years very rainy) is warm and sunny. But in general the best chance for sun will be from May to August and in October. July and August can become very hot with temperatures up to 35 °C. In wintertime, from December to February, the average temperature is around the freezing point. Winter is not generally recommended for travelling to the Ruhr area, but on the other hand in December, Germany's famous Christmas markets take place. The Christmas markets in Dortmund and Münster are definitely worth a visit.

Talk
The pronounced Ruhr dialect of the 20th century is by now hardly spoken, though you will still hear whether people are from there or not if you have a trained ear. A particular blue collar accent popularized by TV (a lot of TV is produced in nearby Cologne) is spoken by some, but by no means all - not even all blue collar - inhabitants of the Ruhr area.

Do not expect everyone to understand English, although most people have had English lessons at school. You will have fewer problems if you are able to communicate in German. In some neighbourhoods, you will find immigrant populations using their own languages, including especially Turkish, Polish, Serbo-Croatian and Russian. However, the long history of immigration means that even people who have a very "Polish" or "Turkish" surname may speak nothing but German, given their ancestors came to the area decades or even more than a century ago.

Nonetheless, the Ruhr area still attracts immigrants from the Middle East (mostly Turkey and Syria, with smaller but active Afghan and Iraqi populations), Eastern Europe (according to statistics, the Ruhr area has one of the largest Slav communities in the world), and Southern Europe (Overwhelmingly from Italy and Spain). University towns of course attract international students, whose German ranges from near-native to barely existent and who usually speak at least one other living European language, sometimes several.

By plane
As this region is rather densely populated, there should be more than one airport within reasonable proximity to choose from. Airports that serve this area, both within and outside it include the following:

Dortmund Airport is the region's international airport, with scheduled service to several European cities and sizeable holiday charter traffic. Shuttle buses connect the airport to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof and the local railway station in Holzwickede, where you can change to trains heading towards other cities in the Ruhr region.

Düsseldorf Airport is one of Germany's largest, with flights to all major European airports and some intercontinental services. It is immediately south of the Ruhr area and has its own train station on the high-speed line towards it. High-speed and regional trains depart from there towards all the major cities in the Ruhr. Travel times to most of them are below one hour. The airport is also well connected to the local highway system.

Germany's largest airport by passenger traffic, Frankfurt Airport also has very frequent direct high-speed train service to major cities in the Ruhr, taking between one and a half and two hours. There are also direct long-distance buses offering similar travel times by not stopping along the way, but the departure frequency is low. Frankfurt has a large network of connections all over Europe, and to all other continents except Antarctica.

Cologne-Bonn Airport is also a major airport in terms of domestic and European traffic, also served by a dedicated on-site train station but with direct train connections to Ruhr less frequent. That said, by changing at Cologne's train station one may almost seamlessly get to the Ruhr in 1½ hours or less. Direct bus services are also offered.

Some low-fare carriers, in particular Ryanair, use the Niederrhein Airport Weeze east of the Ruhr. There is shuttle transportation offered from the airport to Duisburg and Essen, but no direct train connection.

Other nearby regional airports are Münster-Osnabrück Airport and Paderborn-Lippstadt. Travelling from there requires taking a bus to the respective city's main train station and taking a direct train from there to any of the major cities in the Ruhr, which in total should take around 2 hours.

By train
The cities of Duisburg, Mülheim (not all trains stop here), Essen, Bochum, Dortmund and Hamm are at the main south-north route and therefore many long-distance trains stop there. From there, there is a non-straight-tight, but sufficient network of commuter trains and urban rail in other cities at the Ruhr.

For visitors coming from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, there are several Thalys trains per day going through the Ruhr region.

By bus
Flixbus has all but cornered the domestic market and also runs several international routes.

By car
Highways lead to the Ruhr from all directions. In the north-south direction, the A1 (Hamburg-Cologne) leads through the eastern Ruhr area. The A3 (Arnhem-Cologne-Frankfurt) opens to the west part and Oberhausen and Duisburg. In east-west direction, the A2 (Oberhausen-Hannover) runs through the northern part of the Ruhr. The central and southern area around Duisburg, Essen and Dortmund is accessible from the A40 (Ruhrschnellweg). East of Dortmund, the A40 changes its name to A44. Directly from the north, crossing the Münsterland, the A31 leads to the center of the region, from the south the A45 (Sauerland line) leads the Ruhr. There are many other highways which run through the different regions of the Ruhr.

Get around
In general inside the big cities public transport is well developed and faster than going by car. But outside and between cities the car can be a better choice - outside rush hour, that is.

Public transport
Since most cities have their separate transport association, coordination is not always the best. But they are all linked together including trains like S-Bahn and Regionals-Express by Verkehrsverbund Rhein Ruhr (VRR) and Tarifraum Münsterland/Ruhr-Lippe (VRL) at the eastern limits. Look for tariffs and timetables there. Within a city use bus, tram or underground. Many lines cross city limits several times during their route, this is common and should not be considered alarming. Since most cities in the region blend into one another, traveling across cities is possible but slow. However riding a bus or tram can give you views and insights you will get nowhere else. If you are short on time, use the S-Bahn or Regional-Express. These are trains, and you will have to get to the nearest station. They all have the same pricing system so that the tickets are valid for all vehicles within the VRR and VRL respectively. For change from VRR to VRL and vice versa special conditions apply. Refer to the internet sites or contact one of the information offices of the organisations.

Generally, single tickets are quite expensive, usually cheaper are day tickets, group tickets, family tickets or for longer stays, tickets with a monthly pass. There are 5 fare levels. As a rule of thumb: if you travel 3-4 bus stops or 1.5 km (different rules for each city) you need level K, for travelling within one city or two adjacent suburbs you need level A, for a ride to the next neighbour city fare level B is needed, if you transit to a neighbour city of a neighbour city use level C, and level D is for rides to any location within the area of VRR.

You can obtain tickets from the customer offices of the local transport association, from the ticket-machines at the subway stations, from ticket machines within the trams, from bus drivers and from designated kiosks. The surface of the ticket machines can be switched to several languages, English is always among them. '''If there is a ticket machine at a station, it is usually not possible to buy a ticket on the vehicle. Even if you just enter the platforms of a subway station without holding a valid (stamped) ticket, you may be fined'''. Tickets are rarely checked on platforms.

Since tickets are not stamped when bought, you have to do it by yourself before entering a vehicle. The orange stamp boxes are located at the entrance of the platforms of subway and trains and within trams and busses.

If you depart from a station without being able to buy tickets and there is no ticket machine on board the train, you need to ask the conductor or, if there is none, the driver what to do.

Regional transport
Regional trains may be used with tickets of VRR within the VRR-area.

By taxi
Going by taxi is quite expensive. Calculate a price of about €1.60/km plus a onetime charge from the approach. As taxis have to drive on the same roads regular cars do, they are not even faster than public transport during rush hour.

By car
As some things aren't really close to each other, you might wish to take a car. You can do so, the road network is consistently good if sometimes congested. Finding where you have to go can be difficult as the huge number of places and roads taking you there can be confusing - a navigation device comes highly recommended. Avoid the rush hour, which is more extended to the early morning and late afternoon than elsewhere in Germany. All highways are very prone to traffic jams. This is particularly true for the A1 around Dortmund, the A3 between Düsseldorf and Oberhausen, the A40 along the entire length between Duisburg and Dortmund, the A42 between Oberhausen and Herne and the A43 between Bochum and Recklinghausen.

You will find parking garages in most major cities, but take note of the opening hours as most close for the night.

By bicycle
The Ruhr has not historically been a good spot for cyclists. In the northern part, the situation is perhaps a little better because of the spirit of the Münsterland region nearby than in the southern part, which is quite hilly. But there are exceptions and political efforts to make the whole area more bike-friendly. The Ruhr Regional Association is buying disused industrial railway lines and converts them to cycle paths. If your destination is close to such trails, cycling is a great opportunity in good weather. Even the core of the Ruhr is 50 km long and the sights are spread over the entire area, in contrast to classical capitals. A list of routes can be found at item. Cycling is making a comeback, however, and there are many programs to upgrade and expand cycling infrastructure, including the bike-share system Metropolrad Ruhr (whose rental spots are usually found next to railway and light rail stations).

The first "bicycle highway" in Germany, the Radschnellweg Ruhr or RS1 is planned to offer an east-west link for cyclists throughout the Ruhr area from Duisburg to Hamm, mostly avoiding major roads and traffic lights (some 115 km in total). Parts of the route are already in service.

Industrial Heritage Trail
The most interesting sites of the industrial heritage of the Ruhr region are combined under the keyword Industrial Heritage Trail. Among the most prominent sites on the trail are the Zollverein pit and cokery in Essen (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Gasometer in Oberhausen and Zeche Zollern pit in Dortmund. A number of objects relate to the importance of riverine transportation, like the entire Innenhafen of Duisburg or the Henrichenburg ship lift in Waltrop. There are also preserved industrialist residences, for example the Hochenhof in Hagen

Workers' settlements
The booming population of the Ruhr area needed to be housed, and thus the local industrialists built numerous workers' settlements throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of them have been preserved. The oldest one is Eisenheim in Oberhausen, which is pretty basic and reminiscent of the sombre beginnings of the industrial revolution. Other, however, paint a different picture, forming elegant garden cities and surprising with unique architecture. Among them are Margarethenhöhe in Essen, Dahlhauser Heide in Bochum and Teutoburgia in Herne.

Pit heaps
Extensive mining operations brought large masses of waste rock above ground, which needed to be stored away. This led to the creation of pit heaps, called Halde in German, close to main mining shafts, which formed a landscape typical of all of the mining regions of Europe. Today, most pit heaps have been recultivated and have the appearance of green hills rather than grim spoil tips.

Some of the more interesting ones are Halde Haniel and Halde Beckstraße in Bottrop, Hoheward and Hoppenbruch in Herten as well as Großes Holz in Kamen.

Museums of industry, technology and trade
There are a number of major and comprehensive museums themed on the Ruhr's industrial heritage, technology, transport and trades; namely the German Mining Museum and Railway Museum in Bochum, the Museum of Industrial Heritage (including a former zinc factory and steel mill) in Oberhausen, the DASA Museum of working environments in Dortmund, the Museum of Inland Navigation in Duisburg and the Aquarius Water Museum in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

Open-air museums

 * The open-air museum of handicraft and technology in Hagen presents the earlier stages of industry in the Ruhr.
 * The Muttental a nice valley within a forest near Witten (Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis) – Here is where hard coal was first discovered in the 16th century and the history of mining on the Ruhr began. You can find equipments and sights from the early era of mining along the 9-km Muttental Mining Trail.
 * Duisburg: Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord (LaPaDu) - the disused steel plant Meiderich has been transformed into a landscape park, highlight is the accessible furnace

Art museums
Each of the Ruhr's cities has one or several art museums, galleries or exhibition halls. Most of them focus on modern and contemporary art. The Ruhr Kunst Museen network includes 20 sites in 15 cities, most notably the Folkwang Museum in Essen and the Museum am Ostwall in Dortmund.

Zoos, gardens and parks
Many of the region's large parks are redeveloped former industrial sites, many being parts of the Industrial Heritage Trail, like Nordosternpark in Gelsenkirchen or Maximilanpark in Hamm. They were developed to host a garden exhibition, as was the earlier Westfalenpark in Dortmund. Besides those, noteworthy are botanical gardens in Dortmund, Essen and Bochum, the latter featuring a splendid Chinese Garden. Pretty much all of the large cities also have zoos.

Theatre and musicals
The municipal theatre in Bochum has an excellent reputation.

A lot of private theatres in all cities offer excellent shows. Ask at the tourist offices of the cities for addresses and shows.

The musical Starlight Express in Bochum has been show in its purpose built venue since the 1980s, and is curiously more successful than any production of the same musical in the Anglosphere.

Visit Colosseum Theatre in Essen. It is a former production hall with a wonderful industrial ambiente.

The play and concert festival Ruhr Triennale offers a wide range of events spread all over the region.

Another example for the re-use of a former industrial building is the Jahrhunderhalle (Hall of the Century) in Bochum - one of the most extraordinary stages worldwide.

Festivals
Every year at the first weekend of summer schoolout starts Bochum Total. For 4 days the city turns into a stage for rock music.

Sport
In May the Ruhr Marathon takes place with about 20,000 athletes and 100,000 viewers.

Football/soccer is the most popular sport in the region. Every town has several pitches and in the summer there are few grassy areas not used for playing. The Ruhr also has several professional football teams, creating at times an intense rivalry. The most intense is between supporters of Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. As a rule of thumb you should avoid wearing football jersies in blue and white in Dortmund and yellow and black in Gelsenkirchen. The rivalry between these two teams rarely turns into violence, but the atmosphere can get a bit hostile, especially if you don't understand the people. Both Dortmund and Schalke have been very competitive on the national and European level but other teams (mentioned below) also have a storied history that is taken very seriously by the fans. Some people have argued that there are more people in the soccer stadiums on Saturdays than in church on Sunday, and though nobody has counted, it may well be true judging from the quasi-religious fervor for soccer in this area.

Bochum, Oberhausen, Essen and Duisburg also have professional teams, but these are considered non-contenders by supporters of the two big teams. Matchdays are between Friday and Sunday and can lead to heavy traffic at the roads and public transport. You should behave like the locals and avoid the playing cities on match day unless you have tickets for the match.

Other team spectator sports play second or even third fiddle, but there are regular games in the (professional) team Handball, Ice-Hockey and Basketball leagues as well as several semi-pro and amateur leagues of other sports including American Football.

Excellent conditions for cycling are offered by the Ruhrtalradweg with a length of about 230 km through rural regions, the Emscher Radweg goes for 225 km besides the river Emscher and Rhein-Herne-Canal through industrial panorama. For short trips, Lake Kemnade and Lake Baldeney (not at the weekend), as well as the Ore-Route (Erzbahntrasse - without any crossing) from Bochum Westpark to river Emscher with connection to Emscher-Route and Kray-Wanner-Route (5 street-crossings) from Colliery Zollverein towards the city of Wanne-Eickel with connection to Ore-Route. Both routes offer an excellent view on industry surroundings, settlements and suburbs.

Inline skating you can do very well around Lake Kemnade (910 km) at the southern limits of Bochum and Lake Baldeney (16 km) at the southern limits of Essen. But avoid visiting these locations at the weekend - it will be too crowded.

For jogging, the routes above are very suitable but also there are Nordsternpark at Gelsenkirchen, Gyserberg-Park at Herne and Rombergpark at Dortmund (for all of them entry is free).

Shopping
Characteristic for the Ruhr are lots of kiosks in the suburbs: small shops for nearly everything. Open mainly from afternoon till late night, they act also as a communication spot for the neighbourhood.

The city centres of Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund offer excellent shopping conditions.

Popular shopping centres are Centro at Oberhausen,  Rhein-Ruhr-Zentrum at Mülheim, Limbecker Platz in Essen and   Ruhr Park in Bochum. But the centres of the major cities are good places to go shopping as well.

Souvenirs
Buy a pit lamp.

Restaurants
The traditional Ruhr cuisine has died out. Today it is mainly an international cuisine with influences from Westphalia and Rhineland as well as from Mediterranean cuisine. Since a high percentage of the population has an immigrant background and Germans like to taste foreign food you will find a lot of foreign restaurants. Most of all Italian, Greek or Chinese restaurants, but there are also Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Egyptian, Arabic, Mongolian, Russian, Indian and Japanese restaurants. All those who like pancakes should visit a 'Pfannkuchenhaus'. There is a wide variation of covering: you can get them sweet or with bacon, meat or vegetables.

Seasonal dishes
During all months containing the letter 'r' (that would be September-April in German) blue mussels are offered.

During May fresh asparagus (Spargel) is available. White asparagus is the widely preferred variety in Germany, and while green asparagus is increasingly available, restaurants usually serve the white variety. As most asparagus comes from Germany or is imported from elsewhere in Europe and the harvest is labor intensive and difficult to mechanize, prices are high with €5 for a kilogram or even half a kilo entirely normal depending on climate and time during the season. Traditionally the last day of asparagus season is 24 June, as the plants have to get enough rest time to regenerate for the next season.

Fast food
Takeaway bars can be found everywhere. The most common fast food is Pizza, Döner as well as chips and fried sausage.

The typical German 'Currywurst', a fried sausage with ketchup and curry powder, is available everywhere. But insiders say the best one you will get in Bochum made by 'Dönninghaus'. Currywurst as a traditional workers' food, while invented in Berlin, has strong cultural ties in the area, and comparing it unfavorably to that in Berlin is certainly a no-no.

Cafes
Cafes and ice cream parlours are very common. On warm days many of them offer some tables at the pavement where you can see and be seen.

Drink
The traditional drink is Pils, simply called beer. Not so long ago, the region had the highest density of brewing houses in Germany. The decline of heavy industry followed a decline of breweries. Local breweries include Fiege from Bochum, Stauder from Essen and König Pilsener from Duisburg. An excellent beer from a smaller brewing house with smooth taste is 'Borbecker Dampfbier', but it is not available everywhere; the same applies to 'Rüttenscheider' which you will only get in Rüttenscheid (a suburb of Essen). Of course you can also get non-local beers in most bars and restaurants.

Lots of cocktail bars have opened in the region, especially in the cities of the bigger towns. Many restaurants also offer a huge varieties of wines. German white wine has become popular, but grape varieties from all over the world are also common.

Stay safe
Besides a few notable exceptions, the cities in the Ruhr area are among the safest in Germany. Since the Ruhr area has fewer tourists, it is not in the focus of pickpockets, but it is still a good idea to take the usual precautions. Never leave your camera unattended or flash around a fat wallet. Since many citizens have roots elsewhere, strangers are widely accepted and the chance of encountering racism or other prejudices is low. Because of unemployment and the demise of the once excellent German social system, beggars and bottle collectors are becoming rather common problems, but they are usually harmless.

Go next

 * Bonn
 * Cologne
 * Düsseldorf

title: Ruhr


text:
Ruidoso

Ruidoso is a town in southeastern New Mexico. Its attractions include pleasant mountain recreation and world-caliber horse racing. During the summer population triples as New Mexicans and Texans arrive to enjoy the horse races, gambling, and cool mountain air.

Get in
Ruidoso is on US 70 between Alamogordo and Roswell; the latter has daily air service to Dallas/Fort Worth and four weekly flights to Los Angeles via American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines. The nearest airports with major commercial air service are in Albuquerque and El Paso, each about 150 miles away.

Go next

 * Alpine skiing is available at the nearby Ski Apache downhill area, on the Apache Reservation, +1 575 464-3600, . Drive west from Ruidoso on NM 532 to the site.
 * Cloudcroft, south of town via NM 244, is another resort town in the Sacramento Mountains with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.
 * The National Solar Observatory has a major facility at the mountain-top "town" (really just the observatory and related services) of Sunspot, south of Cloudcroft via NM 6563. Visitors are usually welcome during daylight hours; the facility shares a visitor center   with adjacent Apache Point Observatory.

title: Ruidoso


text:
Ruili

Ruili (瑞丽 Ruìlì) is a city in Yunnan, South-West China, on the border with Myanmar. It is a major border crossing between China and Myanmar, with the town of Muse across the border. During World War II, this was the border point on the Burma Road.

Get in
Dehong Mangshi Airport (LUM), with connections to Kunming, is the closest airport.

See

 * One Tree Forest
 * Chinese-Burma Friendship Street
 * Border Trade Street
 * Touring and Gem Washing Field
 * Wanding Ecological Park
 * Hansa Temple
 * Jiele Big Golden Pagoda

Buy
This town is located at the Chinese-Burmese border. There is much trade in imported goods, notably jade and fabrics. Wooden furniture (sourced from Burmese logs) is also widely available. Cheap souvenirs can also be bought from travelling Burmese merchants in the city, or from the sizeable number of other foreigners present in the city such as Pakistanis and Indians.

Be prepared to bargain hard. Be cautious about fake jade; see Shopping in China.

Sleep
There are many hotels in Ruili. However, hotels in the city are surprisingly expensive, compared even to provincial capitals. There seem to be no places below ¥300.
 * Jing Cheng hotel - reputed to be the best hotel in the city. It is housed in the city's tallest tower. The city's only 4-star hotel but in reality feels more like a 2- or 3-star hotel. Breakfast provided is very limited to local cuisine.

Go next

 * Mu-se - in Shan State, Myanmar

title: Ruili


text:
Ruka

Ruka is a ski resort and village near Kuusamo in the Oulu province of northern Finland.

Rukatunturi's highest point is 492 m. The longest run in the mountain is 1,300 m. In winter Ruka is the place to be for people who love winter sports. In summer time Ruka welcomes people to enjoy the beautiful nature, for example as a base for hiking the Karhunkierros trail or shorter hikes in the Ruka area.

Understand

Ruka is part of the Kuusamo municipality, with the centre Kuusamo and the airport some 23 km to the south.

Ruka got its first dauntless downhill skiers already in the 1930s, but it took until 1954 before the first prepared slope, the modern day Front Slope, was opened. The first ski lift was opened three years later, and a hotel-restaurant Kaltiomaja opened in 1962. Since then the resort has been steadily growing and the modern, pedestrian friendly centre was completed in 2010. The resort has been owned and developed by the Finnish company Aho Group since 1974.

Ruka offers the longest skiing season out of any resort in Finland, over 200 days a year. The First Snow Track (Ensilumenlatu) is opened in early October and the slopes stay open until early May. The resort is mostly a winter sports centre, but since the 2000s Ruka has been developed and marketed as a summer destination as well.

Ruka is the second most popular ski resort in Finland (after Levi) having 23,000 beds, 35 slopes, 125 kilometres of cross-country ski tracks, some 30 restaurants, and 549,000 registered nights a year (in 2018–2019).

Get in
The simplest way to get to Ruka is to fly to Kuusamo and take the airport bus to Ruka. If you travel by train from southern Finland, the nearest train stations are in Oulu, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi; also Kajaani may be an option. From there, take a bus to Kuusamo. You can bring your car on some of the trains. Driving from southern Finland will take around 10 hours.

Get around
The new Ruka Pedestrian Village was finished in November 2010. You can now walk to the slopes from the hotels without any road crossings. Also Talvijärvi is close to the slopes. Some accommodations are some 5 km away, more suitable for those coming for cross-country skiing or other activities.

By bus
There are two coach connections a day on weekdays between Kuusamo and Ruka. There is also a dial-a-ride service available from Kuusamo to Ruka. It can be ordered using Matkahuolto Trip Planner and Tickets mobile app. The passenger can pick up the ride up to five days, can check availability at any time, and secure the ride as well as the seat just by ordering transportation. The app always shows the final binding price before confirming the order.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: Taksini is available from App Store and Google Play. Other apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi.

See

Although the highest hills here are often referred to as fells, there are no true fells here. However, the adjacent peaks of Ruka massif are by far the tallest hills around. The views from Valtavaara are well-known. Also the views from Juhannuskallio and from Konttainen are very nice. You can also enjoy the views from Ruka. In Juhannuskallio there are also caves, the biggest one known as Pirunkirkko ("Devil's church").
 * Fells

Do

In winter the ski resort offers are the main things to do in Ruka. There is also a large cross-country skiing route network (90 km). In summer the beautiful nature provides a lot to do, e.g. visiting Valtavaara-Pyhävaara Nature Reserve.
 * Observe and photograph Aurora borealis during long winter nights.
 * Downhill snowsports and cross country skiing
 * Summer sled track in summer - accessed with the same lift as the pistes
 * Hiking: Karhunkierros (173358369).jpg
 * Summer sled track in summer - accessed with the same lift as the pistes
 * Hiking: Karhunkierros (173358369).jpg
 * Summer sled track in summer - accessed with the same lift as the pistes
 * Hiking: Karhunkierros (173358369).jpg
 * Hiking: Karhunkierros (173358369).jpg

Programme services

Eat

Sleep

There are many commercial lodgings: hotel rooms, apartments and cabins. In the Valtavaara Nature reserve and along the Karhunkierros trail there are lean-to shelters and campfire sites where you can camp overnight for free (and also open wilderness huts farther along Karhunkierros).

Connect
Postal code: 93830 Rukatunturi or 93825 Rukatunturi, the latter a special code used by most businesses in the village.

Go next

 * 20–25 km from Ruka you can find two national parks: Oulanka and Riisitunturi.

title: Ruka


text:
Rùm

Rùm is the largest of the four Small Isles off the west coast of Scotland. (The spelling Rhum was a foible of the former owner, Sir George Bullough.) It has a permanent population of about thirty, centred around the harbour at Kinloch on the east coast.

Understand
Rùm has been inhabited since the eighth millennium BC, but only just: it's very hilly, wet, difficult to farm, and thinly populated. Centuries of fights and feuds over its possession have been out of proportion to its value. The introduction of potatoes and barley, and a briefly lucrative kelp industry, boosted its population to 400 early in the 19th century. But the islanders were then evicted to create a sheep farm, later turned into a sporting estate, and the grandiose Kinloch Castle was built in 1900. It was hopelessly expensive to maintain — keeping alligators being just one extravagance among many — and fell into disuse. The owner Sir George Bullough (a textile magnate) died in 1939; his trustees struggled on but eventually sold up to the Nature Conservancy Council in 1957. The estate then passed to Scottish Natural Heritage when that was formed in 1992.

The Isle of Rùm Community Trust now owns the area around Kinloch Village, to give residents greater control over the development of the island and its resources. Those residents number two dozen, outnumbered 10:1 by the mountain goats, and all of Rùm beyond Kinloch is uninhabited. This area is still owned by Scottish Natural Heritage, and managed as a National Nature Reserve. It offers great landscapes and walking, and its wildlife includes red deer and white-tailed sea eagles.

There's nothing so grand as a "Visitor Centre" here, but the Reserve Office and the Isle of Rùm Community Trust (+44 1687 462026) can provide information about the island, as well as outdoor activities and facilities.

Get in
First get to Mallaig by train, bus or car. You'll need an overnight stop before taking the Calmac ferry onward next morning.

The ferry sails to different Small Isles on different days. April-Oct it calls at Rùm and returns to Mallaig on M W F Sa and Su. Day trips from Mallaig to Rùm are possible on M (2 hours ashore), W & F (4 hours), and Sa (10 hours). Until end of March 2025 the return fare from Mallaig is £10.30 adult, £5.30 child.

Nov-March the ferry calls on M Tu Th and Sa. Day trips are possible on Tuesday and Thursday with 2 hours ashore.

Sightseeing trips from Arisaig frequently visit Rùm from May to September.

All routes are for foot passengers only; dogs and bikes are welcome but you can't bring a vehicle.

is on the south shore of Loch Scresort, the sea inlet by the village and castle. It's just a slipway, with no waiting room, toilets or the like.

With your own boat, this loch is the only sheltered anchorage. There are no moorings available. Dinghies can be landed at the old pier and also at the ferry terminal, but not when ferries are in or expected.

Get around
Walk. It's a mile from the ferry pier to the village. Beyond up the hill are only rough tracks, stout footwear essential.

For cycling, it will need to be a mountain bike or very sturdy touring bike. Tracks lead across the island to Kilmory (5 miles) and Harris (6 miles) where the Bullough mausoleum stands.

See

 * is in NatWest-cod-Grecian style, in an impressive setting overlooking the shore 10 km from Kinloch by a hill track. It inters Sir George, his wife Monica, and his father John. This is the second version, completed in 1900; the first attempt was Doric but Sir George felt it looked like a public toilet and had it pulled down.
 * Bird life: Rùm is one of the world's largest breeding colonies for Manx Shearwater, with 100,000 pairs nesting in burrows on the Rum Cuillin. Watch out also for White-tailed eagles and Golden eagles.
 * Otters: there's a hide on the coast 200 yards east of the ferry pier, open 24 hours. Otters are found right around the shore but prefer spots with a freshwater stream, so they can preen and wash the salt off between fishing forays.
 * Waterfalls cascade from the island's sea cliffs: you get a better view from a boat. They look best after prolonged wet weather; there's seldom any difficulty in arranging this.
 * is the wreck of a trawler that went aground in 2011 when the skipper fell asleep at the wheel. The crew were all saved.
 * is the wreck of a trawler that went aground in 2011 when the skipper fell asleep at the wheel. The crew were all saved.

Do

 * Rùm Cuillin is the group of hills at the south end of the island. The highest point is Askival at 812 m / 2664 ft, so it's a Corbett. Parts of the walk are steep and rocky, some scrambling involved. From Kinloch and back, the full ridge traverse is 20 km. It takes 12 hours so it can be done in a day, or with an overnight stop at Dibidil bothy.

Eat

 * General Store serves coffee, snacks and soup.

Drink
There are no pubs or bars on Rùm. The General Store sells a range of alcoholic drinks. It is open late some evenings, and has some outside seating, so it acts in place of a bar.

Sleep

 * is a bothy on the south coast of the island 5 miles from Kinloch, a former shepherd's cottage maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association.
 * is a bothy on the north coast, likewise a former shepherd's cottage maintained by MBA.
 * Wild camping is permitted on the island, but you may not light fires, and must follow the Outdoor Access Code. Check with the Reserve Office or community ranger before setting out, they can advise on areas to avoid during sensitive periods for wildlife.
 * is a bothy on the north coast, likewise a former shepherd's cottage maintained by MBA.
 * Wild camping is permitted on the island, but you may not light fires, and must follow the Outdoor Access Code. Check with the Reserve Office or community ranger before setting out, they can advise on areas to avoid during sensitive periods for wildlife.

Connect

 * As of July 2024 there is 4G from all UK providers in Kinloch village thanks to Hebnet, a community initiative that relays mainland networks from one island to another. Don't plan on getting a signal anywhere else on Rùm.
 * The Village Hall has Wifi, and charging for laptops and mobile phones, for a donation. There is also a community computer available.
 * The BT payphone in the red phone box in the village remains in working order.

Go next

 * In summer day trips are possible from Rùm to Canna on W (3 hours ashore) and Sa (6 hours).
 * Ferry transfers to Canna, Eigg and Muck are possible on other days without returning to the mainland.
 * Eventually you have to circle back to Mallaig.

title: Rùm


text:
Rumbek

Rumbek is in Bahr el Ghazal.

Get in
The small Rumbek Airport is served mostly by charter flights. Golden Wings Aviation offers flights from Khartoum and Juba several times a week.

The A43 road between Juba and Wau passes by here, most of it is unpaved.

Stay safe
See the warning on the South Sudan article for information on the security situation.

title: Rumbek


text:
Rumford

There's more than one place called Rumford:

United Kingdom

 * Rumford - in Scotland

United States of America

 * Rumford (Maine) - a town in Oxford County, Maine

 * Rumford - now known as Concord (New Hampshire)

 * Rumford - a subdivision of the city of East Providence, in Providence County, Rhode Island

title: Rumford


text:
Rumford (Maine)

Rumford is a city in the River Valley area of the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine.

Get in
Rumford is located on Route 2 between Bethel and Farmington. It is also along the Scenic Route 17 between Jay and Rangeley. Visitors from the south can find Rumford at the Western end of Route 108.

title: Rumford (Maine)


text:
Runcorn

The industrial inland port of Runcorn is a treasure trove of architectural styles, from medieval ruins to 1970s utopia. Its impressive bridges across the River Mersey mark the gateway north to cosmopolitan Liverpool and south to leafy Cheshire. Very much off the tourist trail, this town of 62,000 people (2021) nonetheless has some surprising hidden gems for curious urban explorers.

Understand
Runcorn was founded in 915 AD as a Mercian fortress to guard against Viking invasion at a narrowing of the River Mersey. The earliest written reference to the town is in the medieval Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it is spelled "Rumcofan", literally meaning 'a wide cove or bay'. To this day, there is a friendly rivalry with the townsfolk of Widnes to the Viking north.

Runcorn was a small, poor village until the industrial revolution in the 18th century when the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to the town made it an industrial hub.

Although an ancient settlement, it was designated a 'new town' in the 1960s and greatly expanded eastwards, swallowing neighbouring settlements. Idealistic planners created a brand new town centre with 'Shopping City', an Amercian style mall, at its heart. So Runcorn effectively has two town centres; the 'Old Town' and 'The City'.

By plane
The town is well placed between the North West's two main international airports; Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport. Both are easily accessible via the road and railway networks. Use Runcorn station for services to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Runcorn East station for Manchester Airport.

By train
Runcorn has two railway stations:

By car
Runcorn is well connected to the motorway network. To the south is the M56 motorway to Manchester, Chester and North Wales. The M6 lies to the east and the M62 is to the north in the neighbouring town of Widnes.

The two road bridges across the Mersey for Liverpool are tolled. There are no toll booths but you must pay the toll to Merseyflow online by midnight the following day or face a £40 penalty.

By bus
There are good bus connections with neighbouring cities and towns, including Liverpool, Chester, Widnes, Frodsham and Warrington.

There are two main bus interchanges. One is in the Old Town near the railway station and the other at Shopping City.

By boat
The town has two canals. The Manchester Ship Canal is not open to non-commercial traffic, but the Bridgewater Canal is open to public use and is popular with pleasure boaters. The Bridgewater Canal terminates in Runcorn Old Town but there are plans to reopen the flight of locks to connect the Bridgewater Canal with the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Weaver Navigation, creating a second Cheshire ring.

There are two canal boat docks in Runcorn. Waterloo Junction is the main dock in Runcorn Old Town. The second dock is privately owned and is located further west. It can be accessed from Halton Road. Bridgewater Motor Boat Club is based in Runcorn and can give advice on moorings in the town.

By bus
When Runcorn New Town was built, a system of dedicated busways was constructed, completely separate from the road network. This makes getting around by bus fast and easy.

There are two main bus interchanges. One is in the Old Town near the railway station and the other at Shopping City.

By car
Getting around Runcorn by car is easy using the high-speed dual carriageway system which surrounds the town in a figure of 8. Each area of the town has its own junction. The network is so well designed that traffic congestion is unheard of.

By foot or bicycle
Runcorn is spread out but walking and cycling in Runcorn can be a real pleasure. Because Runcorn is a planned New Town, it was designed so that pedestrians and vehicles are kept totally separate.

The Bridgewater Canal forms a lovely walk from east to west. In fact, you can walk all the way from Runcorn railway station to Runcorn East station just following the canal towpath, though it is a fair distance. Town Park in the east forms a pedestrian link between all the communities in that area. It links to Runcorn Shopping City by raised walkways meaning you never have to cross a busy road.

Wigg Island is a popular cycle route. The route is not open to cars and you can cycle all the way to neighbouring Warrington following the Manchester Ship Canal. Many people cycle a loop starting from Wigg Island, to Warrington, across the River Mersey, follow the Mersey back along Spike Island in Widnes, cross the Silver Jubilee Bridge and back to Wigg Island.

See

Runcorn is often used as a filming location for TV programmes so you may recognise some settings such as the old Waterloo Pub - now a Buddhist temple - from Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Learn
There are two public libraries; one at the Shopping City and one in the Old Town.

Cafes, bakeries and lunchtime meals
These eateries are not open in the evenings but are ideal for a quick bite at lunchtime.

Restaurants and gastropubs
Most evening meal restaurants are in the Old Town but there are good pub restaurants isolated in various parts of the town which are worth seeking out.

Fast food
Big name fast food outlets are concentrated around Runcorn Shopping City, many of which are drive throughs. Smaller independent take aways, burger joints and fish & chip shops can be found in the Old Town.

Drink
The main area for nightlife is in the Old Town where the bars and pubs are busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, but there are pubs dotted across Runcorn where you can get a quiet drink. If you like historic surroundings then be sure to check out the pubs in Halton Village.

Mid-range
These are mostly situated on the outskirts of Runcorn so best only if you're driving or happy to get a bus or taxi into the town.

Stay safe
Runcorn is generally safe during the day. As in most town centres, the Old Town can attract drunken behaviour at night, particularly at weekends which sometimes leads to violence. Some areas have high levels of poverty and bad reputations for crime, including parts of Halton Lodge, Halton Brook, Palacefields and Murdishaw.

The local police force is Cheshire Constabulary and Runcorn Police Station is adjacent to the Shopping City. Call 101 for non-emergencies and 999 for emergencies.

Connect
As of Oct 2022, Runcorn and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Three, and 5G from EE and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Daresbury is a small village on the outskirts of Runcorn to the east and is well worth a visit if you're in the area. It is the birthplace of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. All Saints' Church hosts a visitor centre dedicated to his life and works.

 * Liverpool - This port city is home to a thriving shopping, night life and cultural scene. Home to the Beatles and two famous football clubs. Easily accessible by bus or by train from Runcorn station.

 * Chester - A beautiful historical city on the River Dee, which is famous for its Roman ruins and city walls. It is also the gateway to North Wales and the delights of Llandudno and Snowdonia National Park. It is a short journey by train from Runcorn or Runcorn East.

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Rundu

With around 63,000 inhabitants (2011), Rundu is the second largest city in Namibia and the main city of the Kavango region in northeastern Namibia. The city sits on a hill on the south bank of the Okavango, the border river to Angola to the north of the river. The surrounding area is characterized by tropical woodlands and river savannas.

Understand
The city of Rundu is the economic and cultural centre of Kavango, and compared to other Namibian cities, much more authentically African. The city has a lively market life with numerous market halls and street markets, which offer fish and other food from fishermen and farmers, as well as African handicrafts from the Kavango wood carvers.

The Kavango region is the poorest region in Namibia but the city is located at a strategic crossroad and has, since peace and stability returned to Angola, lots of potential to develop to a bustling border town.

As a frontier-town, Rundu is a commercial city which attracts cross-border business. The economy of greater Rundu is both urban and rural with a prevalence of service economy, in particular trading. The majority (82%) of the business operations fall into the non-formal sector with 80% trading as "sole proprietors". Rundu is a safe place for travelers and the ideal one night stop over before venturing into the wild Kavango and Caprivi bush lands.

By plane
Rundu Airport receives direct scheduled flights from Windhoek. However, the airport is used more by local charter airlines.

By bus
There are Intercape Mainliner bus connections on the route between Windhoek and Victoria Falls.

By car
Rundu is mostly used as a stopover from Namibia to the remote Caprivi Strip. It is around 2 hours by car from Grootfontein: 250 km on the B8 national road, a well-developed trunk road.

See
The Kavango River at Rundu Beach.

Do
You can go kayaking on the Kavango River. For example a good start is from Tambuti Lodge at Rundu Beach. Canoes and kayaks are safe and less polluting than motorboats and ideal to explore the peace of the riverbeds, go bird-watching and spot a hungry snake or crocodile on the shore (the latter do not attack boats).

Various operators offer activities such as river tours, safaris and sightseeing flights. You can also fish tiger tetra in the Okavango. Bookings can be made on site at short notice.

After that you can have a cool drink at Tambuti Bar overlooking the river and mingle with the locals.

Buy
There are four service stations in Rundu to fill up your vehicle, a shopping mall and supermarkets in the centre of town.

There are also nice woodcarvings on sale along side the main road going towards Rundu (from Mile 30 to Mile 10). Other carvings are at Mbangura and the Rundu Open Markets.

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Runnemede

Runnemede is a borough in New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 8,468

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Running

Running while traveling can help you build or maintain physical fitness, and prepare for competition. Some people complete marathons or other races all over the world, either as part of visit to a place they wanted to visit, or as the main reason for going there. Companies such as Marathon Tours and Travel operates tours that take traveling marathoners around the globe.

Marathons, endurance races and shorter distance runs are held in many cities and some rural areas at all tines of the year.

Guided running tours
Guided running tours are a fairly new category of adventure travel. Experienced local running guides take clients on great routes and allow them to maintain a running routine while travelling on business or pleasure. They are known as "running tours", "city running" or "sightrunning". Generally, we can distinguish two kinds of running tours. Scheduled tours are such events that take place with fixed time, itinerary and meeting points; more than one participant usually takes part. Most popular are the customized, private or personalized tours which only realize once a traveling runner books them. Some providers operate both kinds, especially the established or bigger ones; some specialize only on customized tours.

Internationally, there are nearly 200 running tour organizations. Most of them operate independently. On RunningTours.Net you can find almost 100 independent and well-rated running tour organisations around the world. The organisations on this network website mostly started 5 to 10 years ago and have the best quality/price rating.

Global Running Tours successor, Go Running Tours networks dozens of sightrunning providers on four continents. With roots in Barcelona's Running Tours Barcelona and Copenhagen's Running Copenhagen, it was quickly joined by  Running Tours Prague based in Prague and others. It focuses on bringing quality standards into the field of activities with quite a few requirements (insurance, top customer rating etc.) for a provider to fulfill before they are invited onto the board. In The Netherlands, you can find running tour organisations in a.o. Amsterdam, Nijmegen, on the National Parc the Veluwe, Rotterdam with Rotterdam Sight running Tours and in Maastricht Maastricht Running Tours.

Destinations
Here are some of the best places in the world for travellers to run - that is, routes that lend themselves to both sightseeing and a good jog:

 * Vancouver - a gentle 8-km loop around Stanley Park will take you around downtown Vancouver's coastal rain forest, totem poles and the best views of the Coastal Mountains rising out of the sea. For some extra distance, continue down the sea wall around False Creek and into Granville Island. FitCity Tours & Travel offers a guided tour from the West End, into Stanley Park and around Coal Harbour. Lead by local guides these tours are a great way to learn a bit about the city and get some tips about where to go for dinner or what other cool things you should check out while you are in town.

 * Singapore - the pedestrian-friendly pathways will take you past most of Singapore's most famous landmarks including the Merlion, Clarke Quay and the Singapore River.

 * United States - the Boston, New York and Chicago marathons are three of the largest in the country. Not surprisingly, Honolulu is a top marathon destination of choice as well, due to Hawaii's travel appeal.

 * Ottawa - enjoys a lovely greenbelt that traces over the city. Of particular interest is the river valley and Rideau Canal where a 10km loop will take you past such national landmarks as the Supreme Court, the Parliament Buildings, the landmark hotel Chateau Laurier, down the Rideau Canal, loop back across the canal on the heritage Pretoria Lift bridge, past the National Gallery of Canada and over the Ottawa River into Hull, Quebec, where you'll run along the river past the Museum of Civilization and finally cross back into Ottawa past the War Museum.

 * Prague - there are few great places for running, like Stromovka park, Letná or along the bank of the river Vltava. If you would like to see more of the city or run longer distance Running Prague provides guided running tours through city.

 * Lidingö, Sweden - Lidingöloppet is a leg of the Swedish Classic Circuit, held each September.

 * Mexico City, Mexico - hosts an annual marathon (Maratón Internacional de la Ciudad de México) in late August or early September. Visitors to the city can join their fellow runners any morning in the forests of Chalpultepec Park or through the expansive tree nursery of Viveros de Coyoacan National Park.

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Rupea

Rupea is a town in Brasov. It was settled and founded by Saxon Germans in the 12th century.

Get in
Rupea is on the mainroad E60 that links Brasov to Sighisoara, 70 km from Brasov and 50 km from Sighisoara.

See

 * The German Church, built in the 14th century.
 * The German Church, built in the 14th century.

Go next

 * The village Viscri, 11 km away. It is an old traditional village with a fortified church.
 * Visit famous Sighisoara, the only inhabited fortress in Europe.
 * The ruins of Saschiz, 20 km before Sighisoara.

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Rural Montgomery County

Rural Montgomery County, Maryland, is a fairly oddball choice for a trip, as people generally don't think to visit the countryside so close to the metropolis just southeast. It gets a fair amount of visitor traffic nonetheless, simply because it is so easy for residents of the close-in Montgomery County D.C. suburbs to get to. In particular, Sugarloaf Mountain is a very popular destination. But if you look a bit further and feel like wandering along quiet country roads, there are other gems to explore, be they farms where you can go picking, petting zoos, wineries, or even Maryland fried chicken.

Towns
Damascus, Poolesville, Clarksburg, and Darnestown are the main small towns in the region.

Get in
I-270 is the principal highway running through Rural Montgomery County, and I-70 runs east-west just to the north. The former is a quick way to get here from either D.C. or Frederick; the latter from Baltimore or Pennsylvania via Gettysburg.

Washington Dulles International Airport is not at all far away, although the rarely-bridged Potomac River does make it harder to get to. The fun way to get here from there would be via White's Ferry off of US-15 in Virginia by Leesburg.

Amtrak doesn't have any stops here between Rockville and Harpers Ferry, but the MARC Train Brunswick Line does have stops at, , and. You will need to take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft afterwards.

Do

Sleep

Surprisingly enough, there is not one place in this fair part of the county to lay one's head. You'll have to backtrack to Germantown or onwards to Frederick.

Connect
There are two public libraries out in these parts, with public WiFi and terminal use.

Go next

 * White's Ferry across the Potomac towards Leesburg, VA was a fun outing until the ferry stopped running. If you are in the mood, Leesburg has great shopping at the Leesburg Corner Outlets.
 * Historic, beautiful Harpers Ferry in West Virginia is a relatively easy drive through western Frederick County.
 * Decided the country isn't for you? No worries, you hardly left the city, and it takes no time to get back to the built up Montgomery County suburbs, or for that matter D.C. via I-270 or even Baltimore via I-70. If you want somewhere in between, the small, laid back city of Frederick is close by and a nice place for a dinner or some antiques shopping.
 * Past Frederick, and generally no more than an hour's drive from Rural Montgomery County is Antietam National Battlefield—a must for Civil War buffs (or really anyone with a passing interest in American History).

title: Rural Montgomery County


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Rurrenabaque

Rurrenabaque (or simply Rurre) is a small town (population 15,000) in the Beni Department on the banks of the Río Beni in the Bolivian Amazon Basin.

Understand
Trips to the jungle in the nearby Madidi National Park and pampas are the main attraction of Rurrenabaque.

By bus
There are two bus terminals. The new one (terminal nuevo) is out of town (a 25-min walk; or take a motorbike for Bs. 7) and serves bigger destinations (reachable by buses) like La Paz and Riberalta. The old terminal (terminal antigua) is inside the town (easily reachable on foot) and is for smaller destinations (only shared taxis) like Reyes, Yucumo, San Borja, San Ignacio de Moxos, even Trinidad. Coming from Trinidad or San Ignacio de Moxos, it is best to interchange in Yucumo. When taking a motobike or tuk-tuk to the new terminal, please tell them you mean the new terminal (not the old).

There are daily buses to and from La Paz. The journey takes 14-16 hr in the dry season and cost Bs. 80. The fastest and most convenient buses to La Paz leave at 21:00 and arrive before lunch. You can break the trip in Coroico, which is only 10-12 hr away, by getting off at Yolosita and continuing by shared minivan. On a part of the road from La Paz to Coroico, a highway was opened at the end of 2006, and the old 'death road' is now only for bikers. The new road only avoids a part of the 'death road' or Yungas Road. From Coroico (Yolosita) to Caranavi is another 2-3 hr on the death road, with the roadside canyon just a few hundred feet deep instead of a few hundred metres.

By plane
A tarmac strip outside town is the main airport. In case it's flooded companies use the landing strip at Reyes, about 45 min away. There are daily connections to La Paz, but cancellations are common, especially in the rainy season. To get to the town center from the airport, take a mototaxi (or tuk-tuk - very good with backpack). It's quite a long walk on foot.

The airline Amazonas (operates numerous daily flights) has ticket office in Rurrenabaque town center.

A stunning flight (take off from very high in El Alto, fly over the mountains, and see them change to the tropics) from La Paz with Amaszonas (http://www.amaszonas.com/, +591 3 8922472) takes 30 min and costs 670 Bs. Santa Cruz s/n, is slightly pricier with Bs. 664, but has several flights daily.

Get around
The town is small, you can do mostly on foot, but mototaxis and tuk-tuks are available to reach more remote places (i.e. new bus station and airport - out of town) or when you are loaded.

To get to San Buenaventura across the Río Beni take one of the water taxis at Calle Santa Cruz for Bs. 1.50.

There are two offices on Avaroa offering jeep services to nearby towns and even La Paz (US$25 and only 12 hr).

Do
If you're in Rurrenabaque, you're most likely for a jungle or pampa tour. Still, there are some other nice activities that will take your time, as well as some events.

Tours
There are about 20 tour companies offering jungle and pampas trips, the main attractions around Rurrenabaque. Reference price for a person/day may be Bs. 600. Nevertheless, it's possible to bargain, either in a travel agency in La Paz or directly in Rurrenabaque. The best time to visit is in the dry (and high) season when most wildlife is attracted to the river for water, the walking trails are less muddy and there are fewer mosquitoes.

Choosing who to go with is not easy as most offers sounds more or less the same, and much is up to the guide, cooker and boat driver that happens to work during your tour. A piece of good advice is to choose one of the community based options such as San Miguel del Bala, Berraco del Madidi, Chalalán, and Mapajo, all in the rain forest. As you stay in one of these community based eco-lodges you are sure to do true eco-tourism and at the same time help the indigenous people to survive economically and culturally, and to protect the natural resources where they live.

Tourists say it's possible to contact an eco-lodge and organize a tour with them directly, skipping an agency.

Jungle Tours
It's possible to stay between one and 30 days in the jungle. Mostly tours have lodging facilities along the Beni and Tuichi Rivers, but you can also go for a trekking and camp in the jungle. Good guides can tell you about the properties of the different plants and trees and let you taste some of the fruits. To spot wildlife you have to be lucky, most of the animals prefer to stay hidden in the dense forest. A night walk to reveal the nocturnal life is the best chance to see some. Tour prices usually don't include park entrance (Bs. 80) and a fee to stay in a community (Bs. 50). For a perfect combination of culture and nature stay in one of the community based eco-lodges, such as Berraco del Madidi (Quechua-Tacanas), San Miguel del Bala (Tacanas), Chalalán (Quechua-Tacanas; oldest, more pricey but high quality) or Mapajo (Tsiman-Mosetén).

If you're interested in seeing conservation work first hand, check out Serere Sanctuary (3 hours by boat down the Beni river), a private reserve operated by Madidi Travel. The team behind it was instrumental in establishing Madidi National Park in the 1990s. They're now using Serere as a strategic point for establishing legally protected zones to the north to save the rainforest from the same fate faced by Madidi 20 years ago. Madidi Travel opened the 4000 hectare park in 2003, to allow visitors to appreciate the restored biodiversity, while generating income for their conservation work to continue. Before the reserve was opened an extensive rehabilitation project was carried out involving: reforestation and the recovering of lakes from invasion plants, the creation of infrastructure to support sustainable tourism, agroforestry, and reintroduction of rescued animals. Now the group works with the neighboring indigenous community to ensure the continued protection of Serere, and community lands, from on-going threats such as logging and hunting. As a result of their conservation efforts, abundant fauna (monkeys being the most popular) can be found in Serere, including endangered species such as jaguars, black caymans, anacondas, and many varieties of birds. Touristic operations at Serere are maintained at a small scale, there are eight lodges which house an average of 15 – 20 tourists, and guides handle a maximum of six tourists to minimize their impact. Madidi Travel also accepts volunteers for short or long term stays, to assist within a variety of aspects of their operations, or specific projects. Tours are 400 Bs. person/day; 5 days option is recommended.

Pampas tours
For watching wildlife opt for a pampas tour. Among animals you might see are six different species of crocodilian (more species than any other region in the world is home to), including the giant black caiman. There are turtles, all three species of anaconda, pink dolphins, capybaras, monkeys, giant ant-eaters, porcupines, toucans, blue and yellow macaws, and even jaguars. A number of native guides in the Pampas region are known for their snake-wrangling skills, and will catch poisonous snakes barehanded while on an excursion. Bird watchers are attracted equally to the Pampas and the Jungle, whereas entomologists tend to prefer the jungle tours, which offer a better selection of insect life, most notably butterflies.

One of the unique experiences to be had in the Pampas region is swimming with pink river dolphins. The dolphins are very sociable, and will often approach the sound of a motorboat, eager to interact with the people. Because the water is darkly stained and impenetrable by sight, many people experience anxiety when touched by the dolphins, because they can't be seen underwater. For most, however, it is a thrilling experience. The dolphins greatly enjoy interacting with humans, and will each behave according to its own unique personality. Some are very gentle, and others enjoy the reactions they elicit by gently nipping a toe, or forcefully splashing the water directly behind a person.

The pampas tours have become very popular and touristy during the high season and have the potential to cause damage to the wild life in the small river Rio Yacuma. The tours are usually done by motor boats that can cause fatal injuries to pink river dolphins. Competent and ethical guides will know which sections of the river be extra careful in. Also, you should make sure that your guide is not showing you pre-trapped animals kept in inhumane living conditions, or letting anybody wearing sunscreen or repellent touch the animals.

Other activities

 * Climb up to La Cruz, the cross southeast of town for a rewarding view of Rurrenabaque and Río Beni.

Buy
There are at least 2 ATMs accepting foreign cards: Banco Unio and Banco Fie, both on Comercio. But like everywhere, don't count too much on the machines because they sometimes run out of money or only give out small amounts. Prodem (commercio s/n) gives cash advances on Visa and Mastercard credit cards with 5% commission.

There are several places to change dollars. Moskkito also change euros and claim they have the best rates in town.

Eat

 * In the Mercado Municipal (Avaroa) there are several comedors and jugerias for cheap food and fruit juices.
 * Restaurant Tacuara, Avaroa y Santa Cruz, has good deal dishes. The menu includes pizza, pasta, meat dishes and fast-food. It serves big portions of lasagne and it's also a good place for breakfast.
 * Restaurant Camila's, Santa Cruz s/n, serves pastas, pizzas, Mexican food meat dishes and fastfood, mainly to foreigners.
 * Restaurant La Cabaña, Santa Cruz s/n, has tasty meat and fish dishes with sunset views over the Río Beni.
 * Sala de fiesta, Cl. Beni (San Buenaventura), for cheap lunches. It's popular with the locals, television and loud music is included in the price
 * Café Pachamama, cosy restaurant run by a British/Israeli couple just past the main square. Pachamamas serves tasty sandwiches, salads, tortillas etc., and has an excellent cocktail list and happy hour (19:00-21:00). The DVD rooms are good quality and there are over 500 DVDs to choose from. Upstairs is a pool room, with a balcony over looking the road complete with hammocks. They have a book exchange and a music `exchange` - just bring in your iPod and ask. Easily the best café in town.
 * Butterfly Restaurant, Gourmet national and international food in the jungle, complete menu and bar, healthy and freshest ingredients, bilingual and friendly attention, now attending in the swimming pool Butterfly Mirador.
 * Café Pirana, just up the road from Camila's, has good coffee, great fresh croissants that taste almost French, and a nice space for relaxing. Only open during the day.
 * Restaurant Stephani and Juliano at Hotel Swimming pool Ambaibo. Fantastic Tunisian food! Cook creates French, Italian and Arab cuisine. Main courses round Bs. 50-70

Drink

 * Junglebar Moskkito, In a new location on Calle vaca diez, with bar, food, three pool tables, two dart boards and a large cd collection. Happy hour from 19:00-21:00. But it's only happy hour for some drinks and still is average prices. It is open every day from 15:00, 45" TV set connected to cable TV for all sports and others at request. Accepts credit cards, travelers' checks, US dollars, euros, pounds. Rather expensive.
 * Butterfly Pub, calle Comercio. Five stars service and great deal like happy hour every night from 19:00-20:00, complete bar menu, bilingual and friendly attention.

Sleep

 * Hostal Oriental, on the main plaza. Rates (Bs. 100 single, Bs. 150 double in Apr 2012) include breakfast, rooms are comfortable and very clean, showers hot, and there's a nice central area to relax on a hammock while you wait to see if your plane will ever actually leave town. Free WiFi, also in the rooms.
 * Hostal Touristico Santa Ana, Avaroa s/n. Clean rooms, friendly service and some lofty courtyard. There is also a pleasant hammocking area. Bathrooms (some with hot showers) are shared.
 * Hostal Touristico Santa Ana, Avaroa s/n. Clean rooms, friendly service and some lofty courtyard. There is also a pleasant hammocking area. Bathrooms (some with hot showers) are shared.

Cope
There are a number of laundry services in Rurrenabaque, none of which are particularly recommended. (Lavanderia Number One has previously been recommended as being friendly, but they are known to have miscoloured their customers' clothes.)

There are around 10 establishments offering internet facilities in the town, all of which charge Bs. 8 for a fairly slow connection (chat clients and Skype can be used however).

Stay safe
Be aware of the guides - there have been many incidents of theft and physical abuse on the pampas and jungle tours. Some of them are professional thieves and liars. Do not lend or give anyone money - there will be no way of getting it back. They usually invent a story about ill family members that need medication or something similar to make the Gringos feel guilty. Single girls beware of "nice" guides - they spend one night with you and find a way of squeezing out the money.

Go next
Be careful about buses leaving in the evening. The road between Coroico and Caranavi is closed due to roadworks every day between 07:00 and 17:00 and bus sometimes does not make it through before 07:00 and has to wait in middle of nowhere till 17:00. The more expensive (US$50-80) way to exit Rurrenabaque is by flying. The flight to La Paz takes 40-50 min. Atmospheric conditions often lead to the delay of flights, including smoke from forest burning, low cloud cover and heavy rain which saturates the grass runway. Services are more reliable out of the rainy season.
 * La Paz – Buses go there on a daily basis, usually leaving around 10:00. It is wise to purchase tickets at least a day in advance. The price is approximately Bs. 80 and the journey to La Paz, stopping at Caranavi and Corico can take over a day depending on weather conditions. It is advisable to take food and water supplies, although meal stops do take place.
 * Riberalta – An interesting city in the North. Two big rivers join there. The ground (dust) is of red color and makes an impression. One can explore the city or visit surroundings (i.e. rubber boom city or native community at a lake). Inquire about departure times at the bus terminal; they vary wildly.
 * Guayaramerín – At Mamore river and the border with Brazil. When the road's in good condition the should take about 4 hr.
 * San Ignacio de Moxos – It has a nice church and well-known local traditions, which can be traced back to Jesuit missions.
 * Trinidad – A pleasant town, which has a couple of attractions itself, and can serve as a gateway to more places in Beni. More—you can take a multi-day boat ride via Mamore river starting from near Trinidad and up to Guayaramerín at the border with Brazil.

title: Rurrenabaque