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El Quseir

El Quseir (spellings vary: Kosseir, Al Qusair, Quseir, Qusseir, Qosseir; Arabic: القصير el oSēr ) is a fishing town 100 km north of Marsa Alam on the Red Sea Coast of eastern Egypt.

Understand
El Quesir is one of the few cities on the Red Sea with some sort of history. It was a crucial harbour for goods from the far east (silk, spices) which got transported with caravans to the Nile. On the way back the caravans brought pilgrims and wheat to ship them to the Arabian peninsula.

The city of around 18,000 people is surrounded by coral reefed beaches, and hotels. We probably live in the early stages of this coast becoming another Sharm. It still retains its charm with the locals, and the hotels are impeccable.

Climate
The climate is sunny and very dry. Rainfall is almost non-existent. Summer days are very hot and summer nights are quite hot. Winters are warm with cool nights. It has one of the warmest night temperatures of any city or resort in Egypt.

Get in
There are Buses from the Upper Egypt Bus Company twice a day. From Hurghada and other neighbouring cities you can get the old Peugeot Taxis (shared between 7 passengers) for about LE20. and from Marsa Alam airport.

Get around
It is a pretty small town where you can walk everywhere within half an hour. There are some microbuses as well.

See
The city is an old harbour for pilgrims, goods from far east and trade to the Nile valley.

Do
The underwater life is very attractive and diverse, with visibility on a calm day about 20 m. The diving and snorkelling is excellent, with a good number of PADI-registered dive centres in the hotels.

Buy
Around the fortress you can find the normal Egyptian souvenirs.

Eat

 * There is a good and cheap 'Koshery place at the corniche, north of the old police station.
 * Right in front of the Koshary place is a nice and good priced seafood restaurant.

Drink
Tea is the drink to have. It's pretty hard to find any restaurant or shop to buy alcoholic drinks.

Go next

 * Safaga, Hurghada – The Upper Egypt Travel runs two buses a day in this direction (north), 5AM and 10PM. Next to the Upper Egypt Travel Bus Station is the local station where you can find shared Peugeot taxis for LE10 to Safaga and LE20 to Hurghada. The taxi driver might try to convince you to take the special tourist taxi for LE100 to Hurghada.
 * Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam, and the high-end resorts, beaches and dive spots along Marsa Alam

title: El Quseir


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El Remate

El Remate is a small, relaxed little village on the east side of Lago Petén Itza. Some travelers looking for peace and quiet opt to stay here rather than Flores as a base for exploring the lake and the region. It's also the closest jumping off point to Tikal.

Get in
Minibuses run from Santa Elena semi-frequently throughout the day (Q20). A taxi from the Santa Elena airport will run US$20. Hotels will arrange shared minibuses to Tikal for Q100 rtn.

Get around
Central El Remate is small and walkable, but if you're staying a ways along the north road on the lake, you may want to find a bicycle to rent. Microbuses mosey along randomly, and you may be able to hop on to one of those, but don't count on it. Some hotels have their own buses and will take guests where they need to go. Otherwise, expect to do a lot of walking.

Eat
Several local food shacks are scattered along the main road. Most lodges have restaurants, and often include breakfast and even dinner in the price of accommodation.

Drink
Outside of a quiet beer at your lodge, don't expect much nightlife in or near El Remate.

Internet
A couple places near the main junction offer internet. La Casa de Don David, on the corner, can get you online for $4/hr.

Go next

 * Tikal – likely one of the reasons you're here in the first place, these spectacular Mayan ruins are a 45-minute drive away. Inquire at your hotel about tours, or simply ask them to have a microbus pick you up around 06:00, which will take you there for around Q70 roundtrip, returning about noon.

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

title: El Remate


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El Reno

El Reno is a city of 20,000 people (2019) in the Frontier Country region of Central Oklahoma. El Reno is one of few cities in Oklahoma to have a streetcar in operation in the downtown area.

The city was begun shortly after the 1889 land rush. The city was named for the nearby Fort Reno.

The city is also known for its Fried Onion Burger Festival, a tribute to a popular hamburger version where onions were supplemented into the patty to make the sandwich go further back in the Great Depression.

Get in
It lies about 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Oklahoma City.

Get around

 * Heritage Express Trolley. Runs from Heritage park through downtown Wednesday though Sunday.

Stay safe
El Reno was the site of the infamous 2013 "El Reno" tornado that had a width of 2.6 miles and killed 8 people, including three storm chasers caught up in the subvortex while in their car. All visitors to the six-state region called Tornado Alley should be familiar with tornado safety – including not chasing tornadoes in cars.

title: El Reno


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El Rey National Park

El Rey National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional El Rey) is a 44,000-hectare park in the central to eastern part of the Salta Province of Argentina. It protects the landscape of the so-called Yungas or cloud forests and is quite easily accessible.

History
The park was created in 1948 on the site of the old Finca El Rey, founded in 1767 as a fortress by the Spaniards.

Landscape
The national park is located in a slightly mountainous area in the border area between the Yungas and the Chaco plains and is therefore somewhat drier and less jungle-like than the parks further west. The lowest vegetation zone is therefore also occupied by the Chaco dry forest, which merges into the cloud forest at an altitude of 800 m, followed by mountain forests at an altitude of 1400 m.

Flora and fauna
Each vegetation zone has its own fauna and flora. In the Chaco dry forest, for example, thorn bushes and low trees such as algarrobo and quebracho predominate, while the cloud forest is home to dense vegetation and several species of orchids. In the mountain forests one finds firs, alders and some native species. The fauna is also rich in species with numerous bird, small animal and insect species as well as some large carnivores such as the puma.

Climate
The climate is subtropical, not too humid with 500 to 700 mm of precipitation per year, whereby the main part falls in the summer half-year. In summer it is muggy, in winter it is often pleasantly warm and sunny, but cold snaps with frost do occur.

Get in
Public transport does not serve the park, but it is easily accessible by car.

From Salta, take the RN 34 to Lumbreras (about 100 km), then turn onto the RP 5 and RP 20 to the park entrance, 80 km from Lumbreras. The visitor center is 11 km into the park, which is also where the campsites are located.

Fees and permits
Entry to the park is free.

Get around
There are several driveways and footpaths.

Do
From the visitor center there are several paths and trails that can be hiked and partly explored by bike, some can also be mastered by car.

The path to the bird-rich Laguna Los Patitos (1 hour), to the Río Popayán with another campsite (10 km, possible by car), Pozo Verde (12 km, with forest nature trail), Cascada Los Lobitos (4 km, in the car possible) and Chorro de los Loros (higher level of difficulty, only on foot, 10 km).

Lodging
There are no towns with hotels near the park. The next town, Las Lajitas, is 90 km to the east.

Camping
There is a free campsite at the visitor center. It is comparatively well equipped, has drinking water, sanitary facilities, and fireplaces.

title: El Rey National Park


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El Rocio

El Rocio is a village in Huelva Province in Andalucia.

This village has three unusual characteristics: its annual pilgrimage or rosario that takes place at Pentecost; its stunning position at the very edge of a large expanse of water (which is puny in the hottest part of summer) where there are many species of waterfowl together with marsh mares and cattle wading through the shallow water; and its streets covered in sand (replenished nightly). El Rocío has the aspect of a wild-west town, where the hoof-prints of horses seem more in keeping than the tyre marks.

The village is on the edge of Doñana National Park and makes an excellent base for accommodation.

Get in
A regular Damas bus runs to Sevilla from Matalascanas on the coast. Change at Almonte for Huelva.

Do
Unless you are seriously interested in the rosario, avoid El Rocio around Pentecost. In the improbable event of finding anywhere to stay, the cost rises to astronomical figures.

Twice-daily guided tours of Doñana National Park depart from a ranger station near the town centre. A small wetland reserve with a hiking trail and hides is located 10 minutes' walk south along the lake edge.

Eat
El Toruño restaurant is related to the hotel below but in a separate building.

Sleep
El Toruño - a 4* hotel right by the lake with fabulous views at the back.

Go next
Four hour tours from the El Acebuche park centre off the road to Matalascañas through the Doñana National Park in 4x4 minibuses.

title: El Rocio


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El Salvador

El Salvador has many natural riches, such as beautiful and secluded beaches on the Pacific coast of Central America, majestic forests in the mountains and striking volcanoes. The countryside of El Salvador is breathtaking, with volcanoes and mountains offering "green" adventurers exactly what they are looking for. Many environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promote eco-tourism.

Cities

 * is the capital and largest city of El Salvador, approximately in the center of the country in a valley near the base of the San Salvador volcano. The city has a long history, with origins dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Pipil tribes.
 * is El Salvador's surfing beach
 * is a small city in Eastern El Salvador
 * , San Miguel department is the third largest city in El Salvador and center of agriculture and production. It is less cosmopolitan than the capital San Salvador in the West but the surrounding areas of San Miguel are very beautiful with many beaches around the city.
 * , Santa Ana is the second largest city of El Salvador and a very important one in terms of agriculture and coffee production (coffee plantations, called fincas, cover much of the surrounding land outside of town and up the hills).
 * claims to be the country's second largest city, though it's really just a rather ordinary suburb of San Salvador
 * is an important tourist destination partly due to its well-conserved colonial architecture and cobblestone roads that provide a sense of Spanish colonial living.

Other destinations

 * (highest mountain in El Salvador) and its rural life.
 * (also known as Cerro Verde)
 * beaches - Playa Las Flores, Playa El Esteron, Intipuca Beach and El Cuco
 * beaches - Playa Las Flores, Playa El Esteron, Intipuca Beach and El Cuco

Understand
The country sits between Guatemala, to the northwest, and Honduras, to the northeast.

Although El Salvador only covers an area of about 21,040 km2 (the smallest country in Central America), it is the most densely populated. El Salvador is home to more than 6,500,000 people. It is divided into 14 sections called departamentos. It has 25 volcanoes, 14 lakes, and four large cities and is divided in to East, Central and West with the capital San Salvador in the central region, Santa Ana in the west, and San Miguel, the largest city in the east.

Pre-Columbian to early independence
The civilization of El Salvador dates from the pre-Columbian time, around 1500 B.C., according to evidence provided by the ancient structures of Tazumal in Chalchuapa.

The Spanish Admiral Andrés Niño led an expedition to Central America and disembarked on the Island Meanguera, located in the Gulf of Fonseca, on May 31st, 1522. This was the first Salvadoran territory visited by the Spaniards. In June 1524, Spanish Captain Pedro de Alvarado began a predatory war against the native tribes of Cuzcatlán. During 17 days of bloody battles many natives and Spaniards died. Pedro de Alvarado was defeated and, with an injury to his left hip, abandoned the fight and fled to Guatemala, appointing his brother, Gonzalo de Alvarado, to continue with the conquest of Cuzcatlán. Later, his cousin Diego de Alvarado established the Villa of San Salvador in April 1525. King Carlos I of Spain (who also ruled in what is now Germany as Karl V) granted San Salvador the title of City in the year 1546. During the following years, El Salvador developed under Spanish rule.

Towards the end of 1810, the criollos (European descendant people born in the Spanish colonies) who had long been excluded from most real power in the colonies, wanted to overthrow the tiny elite of peninsulares (people born in mainland Spain) and the colonial administration. The moment to fight for independence from Spain arrived at dawn on November 5th, 1811, when the Salvadoran priest, Jose Matías Delgado, sounded the bells of the Iglesia La Merced in San Salvador, making a call for insurrection. As with most former Spanish colonies, independence was made likelier by the fact that Spain was occupied by Napoleonic troops and the colonial administration was unsure whether they should be loyal to the former king or the new king of Napoleon's choosing. After many internal fights and setbacks that made independence seem unlikely, the Acta de Independencia (Act of Independence) of Central America was signed in Guatemala on September 15th, 1821. Like the other four Central American states that gained independence that day, El Salvador joined the short lived United Provinces of Central America, the closest those five countries have ever come to a meaningful form of political unity since.

While independence brought more political participation (at least in theory) to the (white) land-holding elites and urban middle class, the indigenous population didn't benefit at all and in fact continued to be disenfranchised and dispossessed even more. By 1900 over 90% of the land was in the hand of just 0.01% of the population, a situation that would prove to threaten the country's political stability for much of the time to come.

20th and 21st centuries
The fraudulent elections of January 1932 were the detonating factor of the social outbreak. Several voting sites were suspended in populations in which the Communist Party had a strong presence. A new insurrection began. After two frustrated assaults on the Cuartel de Caballería (Cavalry Quarters) were conducted by the rebel forces, the government ordered martial law. Strict censorship of the press was implemented. In the following days thousands of farmers and workers, carrying machetes and some few "Mauser" rifles attacked police stations, municipal offices, telegraph stations, warehouses, and wealthy landowners' properties. This insurrection was crushed. On January 31st, Manuel Antonio Castañeda sentenced Farabundo Martí to death. He was shot and killed on February 1st, 1932. Another sad consequence of the uprising and its suppression was "la Matanza", a mass slaughter of indigenous people (many of them sympathetic towards Martí but many of them not) simply for being indigenous, looking indigenous, wearing clothes deemed to be indigenous or speaking indigenous languages. While not all indigenous people were actually killed, it dealt a huge blow to indigenous culture and even today less than 1% of Salvadorans self-identify as indigenous, the lowest number in all of Central America. While this is in part due to fear of being discriminated against or stereotyped when identifying as indigenous, there are some people of indigenous descent that have lost all ties to the culture of their ancestors and don't self identify as indigenous because of that.

Over the next decades, many coups d'états followed, including the one that overthrew General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez.

Relations with Honduras deteriorated in the late 1960s. There was a border clash in 1967, and a four-day so-called guerra de futbol (Soccer War), as it was named by the international mass media, broke out in July 1969 after a FIFA world cup qualification match between the two countries. The war ended with a cease-fire prompted by pressure from the United States and the Organization of American States. The Salvadoran forces that had invaded Honduras were withdrawn. They were just a few kilometers outside Tegucigalpa, Honduras' capital.

A movement of organized leftist guerrillas sprang up in 1974 and 1975, amid increasing political violence. In 1980, three of the leftist organizations united to coordinate a fight against the government. This movement was called FMLN (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional. English: Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front). In March of the same year Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated while he was celebrating Mass. It is widely believed that the order for his execution came from Major Roberto D'Abuisson, the founder and leader of ARENA, a right-wing party. D'Abuisson is best known for his suspected involvement in death squad murders. He died of cancer in 1992. On January 16th, 1992, the government of El Salvador and the FMLN signed Los Acuerdos de Paz (Peace Accords) in Chapultepec, Mexico, putting an end to one of the most painful chapters in the history of El Salvador. The 12 years of armed conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 people and caused the exodus of hundreds of thousands more who fled to the United States, Canada, and other countries to escape the violence.

The FMLN has become a legal political party and won 30-40% of the vote in elections from 1997 to 2015, but won less than a quarter of the vote in 2018. Apart from economic woes a big problem the country still faces is also somewhat of a legacy of the war as some people who left El Salvador ended up in American jails and upon release were deported to El Salvador bringing with them US-style gang culture. As many of these people were very young when they left El Salvador more or less their only source of identity was gang culture, and thus combating these extremely violent groups has proven to be extremely difficult.

Today, El Salvador is stable and with a growing economy, leaving behind its painful history.

Climate
El Salvador has a tropical climate with a rainy season from May to October and a dry season the rest of the year. Temperatures vary with altitude, and are usually stable throughout the year. The Pacific coast tends to have warm temperatures, while the mountainous areas are cooler. As a country that is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea – El Salvador is vulnerable to hurricanes.

Visitor information

 * Travel El Salvador

Talk
Spanish is the official language, though many people also speak English. In some small towns in the west, about 500 elders speak Pipil, also called Nahuat or Nawat and related to the Nahuatl language of Mexico.

Visas
Immigration requires that visitors entering El Salvador have their passport and one of the following documents: visa or tourist card.

For citizens that do not need visa, you may need to pay USD 12 (by cash, card, or bitcoin) right after disembarking at the airport.

Passports of certain countries might need to obtain a visa before entering El Salvador. Some countries pay a fee for the issuance of the visa. Check Visa policy of El Salvador (Wikipedia).

As of August 2022, all tourists must show onward flight ticket, accommodation bookings for every single night accounted for in El Salvador. Some visa-free nationals have been requested to display US visa even when it is not necessary on paper. As of June 2023, onward ticket or accommodation bookings were NOT requested from US citizen at airport.

By plane
Visitors traveling by plane usually arrive at  near the town of San Jusan Talpa, located 50 km or a 45 minutes' drive south of the capital city.

A US$32 departure tax must be paid upon departure. Depending on the airline, the full amount or part of the tax may already be included in the price of your ticket.

Airlines that fly into El Salvador include:
 * Avianca El Salvador has been the national airline of El Salvador since its merger with Taca. They have a monopoly and high ticket prices, especially for travel within Central America. Shop around for deals. In addition to within Central America, they also fly to North America (Canada, Mexico, USA); South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, etc); and the Caribbean from San Salvador. Additional bases for Avianca Holdings are in Bogota, San Jose, CR; Quito and Lima.
 * Volaris El Salvador Subsidiary brand of Volaris (Mexico) to rival Avianca as the 'budget' carrier from San Salvador, as a hub, to Guatemala City and to several cities in Mexico, and the United States.
 * Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City).
 * Arajet (Santo Domingo)
 * American Airlines (Miami and Dallas)
 * Copa (Panama City)
 * Delta (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York JFK)
 * Frontier (Atlanta, Orlando)
 * Iberia (Madrid)
 * Spirit Airlines (from Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Orlando)
 * United (Houston, Newark, and Washington-Dulles)
 * Volaris and Volaris Costa Rica (Cancun,Mexico City, New York JFK and San José de Costa Rica). Volaris Costa Rica is a subsidiary of Volaris (Mexico) to offer direct flights from San Jose, Costa Rica (as a hub), as a Costa Rican flag carrier, to the U.S., Central America and Mexico.

By car
The Pan-American highway (CA-1) serves as the main highway through El Salvador and is a safe route for entering the country and travelling between San Miguel in the East and San Salvador in the West.

Small roads are often in poor condition and can be dangerous to drive on. During the rainy season, the condition of roads deteriorates considerably.

It is best to avoid driving at night. Driving on rural roads can be risky at all times; carjackings and violent attacks are possible. When driving, doors should be kept locked and windows closed.

It is also advisable to avoid stopping at accident scenes, as they may be staged.

By bus
The following bus companies offer luxury (and safer) bus travel between El Salvador and other Central American destinations:

By train
All rail transport in El Salvador was suspended in October 2002.

In 2006 a pilot scheme for reviving the rail network commenced and in 2007 a service between San Salvador and Apopa was restarted with two return trips each morning and evening aimed at commuter traffic. Whilst this will be of little use to travellers, it may be a sign of a future reopening of more of the extensive rail network.

By bus
Numerous buses traverse the highways of the country. Domestic bus services are typically very cheap (not more than $2-3 for even the longest rides) and difficult to understand except they are consistently numbered. Single and double digit numbers designate local, in-town routes while buses numbered in the triple digits travel between cities and towns. The buses themselves are often very well painted and adorned with all kinds of posters and trinkets, ranging from the religious to the pop-culture. As chaotic as it may seem they do run consistently and frequently. Longer bus rides may include a stop in some town where plenty of mujeres, and sometimes their children, too, will board hawking mangos, nuts, water, and even sometimes fried chicken in a box. There is no central agency that coordinates bus routes and schedules except to see HorarioDeBuses.com to get an idea as to which bus to take get there and from where. The site also includes a map showing where the bus stations are at. It is best to just ask the cobrador or anyone at the bus station where the bus is going and when. Most are very friendly and helpful, but do watch out for scams on the buses

Microbuses are an inexpensive way to get around, but they are often very crowded, and it is very easy to be robbed.

By car
If driving, rental car agencies include Alamo and Hertz. Buses and taxis also provide good ways of getting around. Distances between sights make walking an unpopular option, as does the street layout in the city; San Salvador is not a square city, but has long avenues that are straight and streets that aren't. That said, in some areas walking is a great option, such as in Zona Rosa.

El Salvador now has a well developed GPS navigation system called QFind that can help you move around either in urban or rural areas. This is a fully functional system with thousands of points of interest and turn by turn routing to your destination.

Small roads are often in poor condition and can be dangerous to drive on. During the rainy season, the condition of roads deteriorates considerably. It is best to avoid driving at night. Driving on rural roads can be risky at all times; carjackings and violent attacks are possible. When driving, doors should be kept locked and windows closed. It is also advisable to avoid stopping at accident scenes, as they may be staged.

Option for luxury transportation is Linea Ejecutiva, they bring private transfer. If you want, you can contact the Bureau of Conventions of El Salvador to visit the country.

See

A well-maintained and practically deserted national park is found in the west at Bosque El Imposible. Additionally, there is Montecristo Cloud Forest, and a quaint fishing village with incredible local hospitality and remote coconut islands in La Isla de Méndez. Isla de Olomega in the department of San Miguel is an excellent eco-tourism destination, as are the beautiful Isla El Cajete in Sonsonate, Isla San Sebastian, Conchagua, Conchaguita, Isla Conejo, Isla Teopan, and Isla Meanguera.

One should also visit the colonial towns of Apaneca, Juayua, Panchimalco, and Suchitoto as well as the Mayan sites of San Andrés, Joya de Cerén (the Pompeii of Central America and an UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Tazumal, whose main pyramid rises some 33 m (75 feet) into the air. The on-site museum showcases artifacts from the Pipil culture (the builders of Tazumal), and paintings that illustrate life in pre-Hispanic El Salvador. Souvenir hunters will find some of the best artisans in San Juan el Espino and in La Palma (the artisan capital of El Salvador).

The capital, San Salvador, is a cosmopolitan city with good restaurants highlighting the country’s fresh seafood, and plenty of shopping, entertainment and nightlife.

San Miguel in the East offers tourists a more authentic way to see El Salvador by getting off the beaten track to see its countryside, coastline and lakes

Do

 * Surfing El Salvador is gaining a reputation for having some of the best surfing in the world. Tourists from all over Central America are discovering the surfing meccas of La Libertad (near San Salvador), El Sunzal, El Zonte (Bitcoin Beach) and El Cuco (near San Miguel ), transforming El Salvador into the fastest growing surf tourism hot-spot in Central America.
 * Stand-up paddleboarding at the famous Intipuca Beach
 * Water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, parasailing, jet skiing in Playa El Esteron, one of the most beautiful beaches in El Salvador
 * Windsurfing, swimming, jet skiing at Coatepeque Lake near Santa Ana
 * Volcano hiking: on volcanoes such as Santa Ana, Chaparrastique, Izalco, El Boqueron, and El Impossible which are among the most famous ones
 * Nature hikes and lake tours to Isla de Olomega on Lake Olomega
 * Waterfalls and hot springs

Money
El Salvador's official currencies are the U.S. dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" (ISO currency code: USD) and Bitcoin. Carry only $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills. Most stores, supermarkets and department stores won't accept $50 or $100 bills. If you need to exchange to lower denominations, you can go to any bank.

If you have money from other Central American countries on you the banks of those countries are usually your best bet, as they almost always exchange their own currency for dollars at pretty decent rates. You can also get dollars in many ATMs in countries such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Large bills ($50 & $100) are almost unspendable. Get change wherever you can – gas stations are always a good bet. A good idea is to visit a bank and ask for small bills and nothing larger than a $20.

Banco Hipotecario offers free ATM withdrawals using Visa.

Bitcoin
Bitcoin has been accepted as a legal tender in El Salvador since September 2021.

Most Salvadorans use the Chivo Wallet (Salvadoran: cool) created by the government.

Bitcoin ATMs ("cajeros") are available across the country, and especially at the airport. Most Bitcoin ATMs are provided by Chivo. You can see the map of Chivo ATMs on the official website. Foreigners will not be able to install Chivo app, but we can pay to Chivo users if they show us the Lightning or Bitcoin QR.

In practice, as of August 2022, Bitcoin's adoption is not widespread. It is accepted in most shops in beach towns in La Libertad (mainly El Tunco and El Zonte, also known as "Bitcoin Beach"). Outside La Libertad and San Salvador, Bitcoin is rarely accepted.

Some places that accept Bitcoin include:

 * Immigration card to be paid at the customs cashier right after disembarking.
 * McDonald's, Starbucks, and Wendy's accept Lightning, but not L1 (aka normal Bitcoin on-chain transfers).
 * KFC only accept Chivo and will not accept either L1 or Lightning.

Since foreigners are not able to signup for Chivo, you will likely need to use a hot wallet with Lightning Network support for quick payments. One can use BlueWallet app to make payment through Lightning Network, and FixedFloat to move Bitcoins into Lightning.

Costs
Expect to pay $30-60 for a room in a hotel, $3-5 for a simple meal, $0.25-0.35 to ride a San Salvador city bus, $1/hour to use the Internet, and $0.25 for a bag of sliced mangos. Take note of the prices that street vendors sell their products because at times some of them will take advantage of people that look or sound foreign by raising their prices dramatically (for example, most fruits and vegetables will cost $0.25-0.50, but if they believe that you are from the first world (white and have a funny accent), they will charge you $1).

Shopping
El Salvador has the largest malls in the region (MetroCentro - MetroSur), especially in San Salvador, with many upmarket international stores. Goods can also be purchased from markets, including national and international supermarkets.

San Salvador has a number of large modern shopping malls stocking the latest in international fashion, accessories and cuisine. These are generally found in the city's upscale suburbs such as Escalón, Santa Elena, and their surroundings. These malls include:

 * Multiplaza
 * La Gran Vía
 * Galerías
 * Plaza Merliot

For those shoppers interested in purchasing fairly traded crafts and organically grown produce, a local alternative market is held every other Saturday in the San José park in the San Luis area just west of the National University.

El Salvador has an electronics and luxury tax, meaning that electronic devices and high-end products have prices increased from 30-75 percent depending on the demand. (A $300 electronic product will cost $450-500.)

Eat

The restaurant scene in El Salvador is influenced by many different cultures. Food options include Italian, Korean, Japanese, French, Chilean, American, Peruvian, Mexican, Spanish, Middle Eastern, German, Chinese, Argentinian and others. You can also easily find American fast food chains such as Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Subway, Quiznos, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's, and Domino's, in the largest cities in the country such as San Salvador, Merliot/Santa Tecla, and Santa Ana. Other franchises include Tony Romas', Bennigans and others. Some of the best restaurants are located in Zona Rosa.

The typical Salvadoran diet includes lots of rice and beans, seafood (particularly among those who live on the coast), and the most common Salvadoran dish, the famous Pupusa, a round corn tortilla filled with cheese and other elements, usually chicharon (shredded pork meat). It's widely agreed that the best pupusas in the country can be bought in Olocuilta, which you can get to along the highway on the way to the Comalapa airport. You will find more than 50 pupusa stands there, competing for business.

Also Salvadorans eat fried sliced plantains (platanos) usually with beans, sour cream, cheese and sometimes eggs, yuca con chicharron, pastelitos de carne, panes con pavo (turkey sandwiches), hand made tortillas among other very delicious Salvadoran foods.

If you are staying on the coast, make sure you try the cóctel de conchas. It is a mix of black clams, lime juice, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and chiles in a spicy black sauce. You can find them for about $3/bowl, using freshly harvested clams. A wide range of other seafood dishes can also be found.

Many large modern supermarkets are scattered throughout the capital and in large towns, such as La Despensa de Don Juan and Super Selectos, which sell local produce and a large variety of international products. Like anywhere else in the world, these are a cheaper alternative to eating out every night.

Typical beverages and fruits
Try the most delicious Horchata (made from rice and "morro" seeds) and Cebada (a smooth and sweet pink barley refreshment). If you prefer (at your own risk) to drink natural juices, such as: guava, jocote, arrayan, chirimoya, granadilla de "moco" and marañon. Furthermore, you should try to savour the local fruit, as: jocotes, marañon japones, green mango (with salt, lime, alhuaiste (ground pumpkin seed), manzana pedorra (orig.from Los Planes de Renderos), "nance", "red or yellow almendras" salvadorenias, "hicaco", "paterna" (also try the cooked paterna seed with lime and hot pepper, and don't miss the suave and liquory aroma of "carao".

Clubs
In San Salvador, The trendiest night spot to visit is called La Zona Rosa. Although it doesn't cover a large area, it is home to many exclusive, upscale bars and nightclubs, and the best restaurants in town. A famous spot to go is a mall named Multiplaza, where it has several clubs and bars. There's also Paseo del Carmen.

In San Miguel the famous Av. Roosevelt that hosts one of the biggest festivals in Central America in November is where you will find numerous bars and clubs for sexy nightlife.

Sleep
San Miguel has high end hotels on Av. Roosevelt by the Metrocentro mall and budget hotels near the bus terminal

Work
Finding employment in El Salvador is difficult for both Salvadorans and extranjeros (foreigners) alike, although bilingual schools are constantly looking for English speakers, as well as other foreign language teachers. Bilingual schools offer competitive salaries for foreign teachers. For current vacancies see the schools websites (above). Most foreigners find themselves volunteering with one of a number of local community organizations or NGOs. The Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad is often looking to hire bilingual project managers and liaisons, and offers both Spanish classes and numerous volunteer and cultural opportunities.

The growth of the call center sector has raised the bar in the need for a bi-lingual workforce.

Stay safe
El Salvador has a bad reputation due to the civil war of the 1980s. Crime has historically been an issue and most of it is attributed to street gangs. Since 2019, there has been a change in combatting crime and gang activity making El Salvador have one of the lowest crime rates in the Americas. The government is combatting the gangs with a tactic called "Super Mano Dura" which means "Super Strong Hand" and this has had an effect with homicide rates have steadily declined from 103 per 100,000 in 2015 down to 2.3 per 100,000 in 2023. This tactic includes a “State of Exception” which allows constitutional rights to be suspended for anyone suspected of gang activity with harsh prison conditions so take care regarding this.

You should use common sense and avoid entering into a zone that does not appear safe, just like you do in any country of the world. Avoid carrying fancy items such as jewelry, expensive cameras, and watches if you are walking on the public streets. Women should avoid traveling alone as they may catch the occasional cat-calling and perhaps get felt up on tightly packed buses. As a foreigner the kind of response you might get from the police is "hit or miss." If you have been pick-pocketed or otherwise robbed without harm to your person, a visit to the police station will almost certainly be an exercise in frustration. Police officers have also been known to harass or to be inappropriate to female travelers.

It is a good idea for anyone visiting El Salvador to keep only necessary forms of identification, such as a driver's license, when exploring the city or tourist locales. If you must keep your passport on you at all times, a traveller's pouch would allow you to have it safely with you. Police officers routinely ask tourists to present their passports; most can be convinced that a copy of the passport and another form of identification is sufficient. Others will insist on accompanying back to your hotel to retrieve your actual document. Most tourists prefer to stay within the safe areas of El Salvador such as La Zona Rosa where there is relatively no crime. In case you are not staying at one of the country's 5-star hotels, remember to ask if the city or town you are visiting has a high level of gang activity.

In 1996 San Salvador was considered the second most dangerous city in the Western Hemisphere, according to statistics. Since the end of the civil war in 1992 crime did not decrease until 2019. San Salvador was considered the most dangerous city in the world in 1992. Today, El Salvador has made tremendous progress combatting crime with a hard-line approach to the gang crisis. The current homicide rate sits at one of the lowest in the Americas at 2.4 per 100,000. At one point it had some of the highest homicide rates in the world, and it was an epicenter of the gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras. Still some precaution should be observed and common-sense should prevail like anywhere in the world and specifically Latin America.

Stay healthy
If you are not accustomed to food sold by street vendors, you might want to stay away from food sold on the streets until you acclimatize. If you want to try a pupusa, you should try to find a restaurant to taste this popular dish rather than buying them from street vendors. Street food that you see cooked can sometimes be safer than restaurant food that you do not see cooked.

'Agua en bolsa' (water in a plastic bag) is very commonly sold in the streets and corner stores of El Salvador. Don't drink tap water.

Pharmacies are easily found all over the country. Be sure to have a first-aid kit if you travel to the countryside and to archaeological sites. Mosquito repellent comes in handy.

For COVID-19 updates, see the government's COVID-19 page.

Respect
Salvadorans are known for their great hospitality. They are among the nicest people in the world. They are friendly, industrious people always willing to help anyone. That is what has earned El Salvador the nickname of "the country with a smile". When speaking with people you don't know, it is customary to address them in a formal manner, using señor, señora and/or usted.

Connect
The international country code for El Salvador is 503.

title: El Salvador


text:
El Segundo

El Segundo is one of the oldest cities in the Los Angeles area. El Segundo lies along the Pacific Ocean, just south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Many large aerospace companies have facilities in El Segundo. It can be used as a base for exploring LA if you want to stay near the airport.

Understand
It is generally accepted that the city is named after the second (el segundo in Spanish) Standard Oil refinery on the West Coast, built in 1911.

El Segundo is two cities in one. The coastal portion is a residential suburb with a charming Main Street which looks frozen in time. Locals both affectionately and derisively call it "Mayberry By The Sea", referring to the sleepy fictional town which was the setting for the American television show The Andy Griffith Show in the early 1960s.

The "inland portion" of El Segundo is a thriving business district. Aerospace companies with facilities in El Segundo include Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the Aerospace Corporation, which is headquartered there. It is also home to the Los Angeles Air Force Base and the Space and Missile Systems Center and Toy Manufacturer Mattel.

El Segundo is home to the blue butterfly, now an endangered species. These butterflies, which once used to reside in the sand dunes of El Segundo over an area of 4.5 square miles, have now been pushed into three small areas of what is left of those dunes.

Get in
El Segundo is immediately south of LAX and most hotels offer free shuttle transfers to and from the airport. The east-west Century Freeway (I-105) runs along the northern edge of El Segundo, exiting onto the Imperial Highway and terminating at the ocean. I-405 runs north-south just east of El Segundo with a couple of convenient exits at Rosecrans Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard. CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway, passes north-south through the heart of El Segundo as Sepulveda Boulevard.

The Metro Green Line runs along the eastern edge of El Segundo, with both Mariposa/Nash and El Segundo/Nash stations within city limits.

Get around
Most travel is by car. Walking along the busy streets can be unpleasant, due to the exhaust.

Go next

 * Los Angeles - The nation's second most populous city offers various entertainment options, fine museums, restaurants, and shopping. Also see the popular Venice Beach.
 * Playa del Rey - Located north of El Segundo and adjacent to LAX, Playa del Rey is home to extensive beaches and a variety of dining options.
 * Manhattan Beach - El Segundo's neighbor to the South is home to a state beach as well as several upscale restaurants and shopping opportunities.
 * Inglewood - A slightly rough city to the east of El Segundo, Inglewood has numerous lodging options for those wishing to stay close to the airport.

title: El Segundo


text:
Elsinore

Elsinore or Helsingør (Danish: Helsingør) is a city of just under 50,000 residents, in the north eastern corner of the island of Zealand in Denmark. It is the closest city to Sweden, with frequent ferry connections to its twin city across the strait; Helsingborg. It is known for the impressive Kronborg castle (world heritage site), the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet, and for its historic city centre.

History
Until the Middle Ages, Elsinore was nothing but a small trading post. But endowed by the proximity to Sweden, a mere 5 km (3 miles) across one of Europe's most strategically important straits, Øresund, Elsinore since grew into one of Denmark's most important cities. During the 15th century, when Denmark controlled the lands of Southern Sweden, King Eric of Pomarania build two fortifications; Krogen in Elsinore, which would later develop into the famous Kronborg castle, and Kernen (Kärnan) across the strait in Helsingborg to guard the entrance to the strait, and subsequently introduced the oft hated Øresund tolls for all passing foreign ships. These ships had to pay the tolls at the docks of Elsinore, and hence used the city for provisioning as well. The history of the toll lasted until 1857, even though Denmark lost the southern Swedish provinces in 1658. With the loss of the toll, Elsinore plummeted into poverty, but Denmark's subsequent industrialization had a positive impact on the city, for example the city developed an important ship building industry in line with its maritime heritage, the ever growing ferry traffic to Sweden also had a positive impact, with many Swedes day tripping to Elsinore for shopping, above all for alcohol taxed much less in Denmark than across the strait. While the ferry traffic has faded somewhat since the building of the Øresund bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö, it still brings life to the city,

Read
While any Danish student can recite the history of the Øresund tolls (even while being held upside down and blindfolded while being tickled by a feather and forced to listen to loud death metal), internationally Elsinore is above all known for its part in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, one of the most celebrated plays in the English language. Elsinore's prominent place in European history in the age when the play was written (ca. 1600), is by some claimed to be the reason Shakespeare chose Elsinore and Kronborg as the setting, rather than the Danish capital.

By train
The coastal railway (Danish: Kystbanen) runs along the Øresund coast from Copenhagen and various places in southern Sweden (though it will often be faster to take a train to Helsingborg and catch a ferry across the strait from places in Sweden). The trains are operated by DSB, the journey takes 45 minutes from Copenhagen central station with trains every 10–20 minutes during the day and every hour during night time. Single tickets are very expensive (108 kr in 2019), so consider using a City Pass Large (covering the entire length of the railway from Copenhagen to Elsinore). If you are considering visiting the Louisiana art museum, it's both feasible and much more economical to lump them together into a single day trip.

The Lille Nord (Little North) railway leaves once or twice an hour for Fredensborg and Hillerød, the sites of North Zealand's two other great palaces. Journey times are 25 and 33 minutes respectively; there is an S-Train back to Copenhagen from Hillerød if you plan on seeing the palaces as a day trip. Finally, Hornbækbanen runs along the coast north-west from the city to Gilleleje on the northern tip of Zealand, for access to the region's excellent beaches.

The train station in Elsinore, which has direct access to the ferry terminal, is something of an attraction itself. It hails back from 1891, and is built in the same style as the Rosenborg Palace in central Copenhagen. It was thoroughly renovated in the early 1990s and subsequently listed. When arriving it's worth taking a bit of extra time to drink in the atmosphere of the richly ornamented and decorated foyer.

By boat
Frequent ferries are connecting [Helsingborg] in [Sweden] to Elsinore (Helsingør). Two companies operate on this route: Forsea (previously Scandlines) and Sundbusserne. The crossing time is approximately 20 minutes. Reservations generally aren't possible, and they're not needed.

By car
The motorway E47/E55 from Copenhagen ends in Elsinore, it's a 50-km (30-mile) drive, taking around 40 minutes outside of rush hours. Route 6 takes you to Hillerød, in about 30 minutes.

Get around
While the city is quite expansive, most sights of interest - besides the technical museum - lie within the compact city centre, so walking is really the best way to get around. Though the city does have a network of local bus lines, and two of the small local railways has several halts within the city. Most attractions are well signposted.

See
While most of the Hamlet hungry crowds head straight for the castle, the old city centre north-west of the station surrounding the church, is well worth a visit. The enormous wealth that flowed through the city in the old days, is highly visible with many grand, often colorful, old houses flanking the narrow streets, a few of them have preserved the old cobblestone pavement. The lively harbour can also be worth a look if you need to kill some time.

Kronborg Castle
It was built by King Eric of Pomerania in the 1420s, at the narrowest point of the Øresund strait, and called Krogen ("the hook" in English). Kronborg attained its current name when it was rebuilt by King Frederik II into a grand renaissance palace, unrivaled anywhere in Europe. All but the exterior walls were destroyed in a fire during the 17th century; it was rebuilt in 10 years, but the interiors never attained their former glory. 20 years later, another disaster struck the castle when Swedish troops bombarded and conquered Kronborg, taking with them many priceless treasures as spoils of war, many of them now on display in various Swedish museums. Following the Swedish conquest, demonstrating its reputation as impregnable was all but a myth, the Danish king ordered the defenses strengthened, with a new advanced line of defense and ramparts around the castle, to keep the myth alive. Subsequently the castle was used as a prison, until the army took and used the castle as barracks until the 1920s. It was opened to the public in 1935 following nearly 10 years of renovations. In 2000 Kronborg was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, citing Kronborg as "an outstanding example of the Renaissance castle, and one which played a highly significant role in the history of northern Europe."

Within the castle there is access to the royal chambers, the casemates with the statue of Holger Danske, the chapel and an exhibition about Shakespeare.

Culture Harbour Kronborg
The city administration is spending huge amounts of money trying to create a cultural powerhouse at the disbanded shipyard directly adjacent to the castle; this includes extensive renovations to the ramparts bringing them closer to the original layout, new public spaces, broad-walks and new museums and cultural venues designed by some of the country's top architects, including the superstar Bjarke Ingel's new Maritime Museum in the old dry dock. It all looks very exciting and innovative, but will also entail large scale construction obscuring the site, and Kronborg in general, for the next couple of years. You can check up on the current status of the works at the project's website.

Other attractions

Do
One of the best experiences of the city is the grand Shakespeare at Hamlet's Castle-theater-festival at Kronborg held every August, which involves multiple theater-troupes - both Danish and international - performing a variety of Shakespeare's plays, usually including Hamlet.

You can use the warm summers to hang out on the Beaches; Snekkersten Strand south of town, Grønnehave Strand in town - just north of the castle, or pretty much the whole stretch of coast going north. Just west of town is the Teglstrup Hegn forest, which is especially lovely in early spring when the Anemone flowers are in bloom.

Fishing
The waters around Elsinore are extremely popular with anglers, all year round they can be spotted on the piers and bulwarks of the city, but during May–July when the garfish (Danish:Hornfisk) season is in swing, it's more like a bonanza! The rest of the year it is mainly herring and good size cod that end their life on the evening table. Fishing equipment can be rented at Helsingør Bådudlejning listed below. The harbour also hosts a large collection of fishing tour boats and charters, and the harbour has been kind enough to provide a list on their website (It's in Danish only, but phone numbers are pretty self-explanatory). In the summer it is often possible to just show up at the harbour and find one, but it's not the norm, and you may be out of luck some days. Carrying a fishing license is compulsory for all fishing found around Elsinore and nearly all fishing in Denmark. It can be bought at all post offices or at the tourist information for 30 kr per day or 90/124 kr for a week/year.

Buy
There are around 250 stores. The old city core, also referred to as the Pedestrian Zone, is home to many fabulous and cozy stores where you can find almost anything for anyone. There are several bakeries/conditories, banks, beauty salons, bookstores, a butcher's shop, electronics and appliance stores, footwear and accessories stores, fresh produce shops, home decor stores, jewellery stores, quite a few liquor stores, a post office, as well as plenty of boutiques catering to those shopping for women's, men's and children's apparel.

Eat
For a regional centre and a large tourist destination the culinary landscape of Elsinore is surprisingly bland, and to make matters worse a couple of the city's best restaurants went bust during the 2008 financial crisis. That being said there are still some atmospheric eateries in the old part of town, and day-trippers are well catered for when it comes to grabbing a bite at lunch in the many cafés, so skim the drink section as well for a selection of those. You are also well catered for with cheap shawarma and pizza joints, well, cheap for Denmark anyways.

Drink
If you want to meet the Swedes over some drinks, but are afraid to step through the time-pocket back into the 1920s prohibition era that still reigns across the sound, Helsingør is the place to do it. Well, exaggeration promotes understanding, but still Swedes have been plowing the dedicated alcohol shops and bars in town since the dawn of man, to escape the high prices stamped on the daemon drink over in Sweden, and enjoy the more liberal attitude towards drinking in Denmark. It's not as bad (or good depending on your point of view) as it used to be, but it still ensures that Helsingør is a fairly lively place to be during the weekend nights. Mind you, many locals still prefer the train ride to Copenhagen for a night out, and trains run all night.

There is a notorious group of trouble makers from the public housing blocks in the "suburbs", so all the clubs apply a general dress code to root them out, avoid street wear (i.e. hip hop outfits - Karl Kani etc.) and trainers if you plan on taking peek at the nightlife here.

Sleep
As mentioned above, it is perfectly feasible to visit Elsinore on a day trip from Copenhagen, but if you have ample time its a good base to explore North Zealand and Northern Scania with its hostel and camping site, or if you just want to escape the big city bustle of Copenhagen. Visitors may also prefer staying in Helsingborg on the Swedish side of the strait, as it has several larger chain hotels and is only 20 minutes away by ferry.

Splurge

Go next

 * Helsingborg — it's common for day trippers to take the ferry across the sound to Sweden, for shopping, sightseeing or just the "exotic" feeling of visiting another country
 * Humlebæk — three stops south on the train, combining a visit on Kronborg with the fantastic Louisiana art museum in a daytrip, or other destinations on the Øresund Coast
 * North Coast — miles of good beaches for summer relaxation and Denmark's best shot at Rivera life, a small railway will take you all the way to the north tip
 * Klampenborg — a good way to end a day trip is spending the evening at the Bakken amusement park under the colourful lanterns out in the forest
 * Hillerød and Fredensborg — architecture, History or Royalist buffs can visit the two other royal palaces of Northern Zealand easily with the railway to Hillerød
 * Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park — the newly appointed national park is at your footsteps, but best if you put your feet on the pedals or speeder

title: Elsinore


text:
Elsthorpe

Elsthorpe is a locality in southern Hawke's Bay on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It has a population of about 200.

Get in
Due to the remote location of Elsthorpe, the only way to reach it is by road.

Directions: Drive south from Hastings and Havelock North. Head down Waimarama Road. Go straight ahead at the second intersection where the road to Waimarama splits to the left (after bridge). You should then be on Kahuranaki Road. Stick to the main road and you can't miss it after about 30 km (20 min drive).

Get around
Elsthorpe is small enough to walk around in a few minutes.

Eat

 * Pack a picnic.

Sleep

 * A clearly sign posted area is available at the end of the beach road for overnight stops for fully self contained motorhomes only.

title: Elsthorpe


text:
El Tajin

El Tajin (El Tajín) is in the state of Veracruz in Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

El Tajin, Totonac for 'thunder' or 'lightning', is a group of sacred buildings where ceremonies and religious sporting events were held. First begun around AD 100, it was occupied and developed mainly around AD 600 to 900, and later abandoned. El Tajin was rediscovered by the Spanish in 1785.

Get in
The 10 km² site is near the small cities of Poza Rica and Papantla on the Atlantic coast of Mexico, directly east of Mexico City. There is a direct road and the site can be reached by car or by frequent buses. Note: Near the entrance at the end of the road, there are unauthorized persons directing people to turn right at the fork and park on the grass. These people are not actually sanctioned and have no right to charge money; rather, they are a kind of self-organized group of local citizens (not quite outright frauds), but will still ask for foreigners for M$50 as the parking fee. The going rate is M$20 'donation', so don't get overcharged.

See
There are a large number of remaining edifices to be seen, some include multilingual information stands. Voladores (flyers), who ascend a tall pole and spin slowly to the ground while attached to ropes while meditating, can be seen outside the complex.

Also the region is quite humid and parts of the site have lots of greenery and mosquitoes are rife, so consider having insect repellents. The distance from ticket office to the furthest building ('edifice' Gran Xicalcoliuhqui) is about 800 m so keep in mind the amount of walking you will do.

Buy
Cheesy souvenir stands surround the complex, along with a few restaurants. There are no hotels but the site is near Poza Rica, Papantla, or the small beach resort of Tecolutla. The site is popular with tourists and can be crowded on some weekends.

Costs
There is a small charge for entering the grounds. Voladores performances are free but it's always good to aid the performers with a donation.

title: El Tajin


text:
El Tunco

Playa El Tunco is in the La Libertad department of Western El Salvador.

Understand
Playa El Tunco is a little surf village in El Salvador. It's 8km from Puerto La Libertad, 35km from the airport and 35km from the capital San Salvador. Only a few years ago this place was unknown and quiet. It is now the most visited town of El Salvador by backpackers and surfers all year long and by Salvadorians on the weekends for the nightlife. There are now around 20 hostels, bars, restaurants and everything needed to practice surfing. Playa El Tunco is actually the gateway to the surf spot El Sunzal, and is a few kilometers away from El Zonte and Punta Roca, two other famous surf spots.

In terms of the waves, it's a great place to learn to surf. The only problem is that it gets crowded in the water, even when the surf isn't good. It pretty much empties out in midday when the wind picks up a bit and the sun gets too hot. But you won't last long in that midday sun. You'll be completely sunburned in no time.

The beaches in El Tunco are rock beaches- not sand- though the waves are great. Therefore, sunbathers won't find it the most comfortable destination. There are, however, sand beaches a short taxi ride away.

Get in
From La Libertad; bus 80 (15 minutes) From San Salvador; bus 102 (1 hour) From the airport; a taxi will cost around $35 (40 minutes) Direct shuttles are run from Antigua Guatemala and Copan Honduras.
 * From León; 10 person direct mini-shuttle with a/c ($25pp, 10 hours). $7pp fee at the Nicaragua-Honduras border not included.

Get around
Bus 80 to La Libertad Bus 192 to El Zonte

See
The sunset in El Tunco is spectacular, with its big rock formation in front.

Do
3 surfspots just in front of the town, El Sunzal, La Bocana & Bocanita. A nice waterfall can be visited in the neartown of Tamanique. Nightlife on the weekends with live music in several bars.

Buy/Rent
In terms of groceries, there are a few small corner stores in El Tunco. There's a proper grocery store in La Libertad. It's just a 20-minute bus ride from El Tunco and the bus ride is less than a dollar (since all buses in El Salvador are subsidized).

You'll get a better deal on renting a surfboard if you go down to the beach ($5 instead of $10 per day, as of September 2012).

Eat
El Tunco has several restaurants with different kinds of food at reasonable prices. Fish & seafood, pupusas, sandwiches, tacos, pizza predominate. Nothing is extraordinary, so follow your nose, the crowds, any recommendations, and don't come here looking for a transformative gastronomic experience. The following are recommended:

Drink
Few bars of different style, party oriented or chill.

Sleep
Around 20 guesthouses can be found in El Tunco, from $7 per person to $40. They're all only a few minutes walk from the beach. It is also possible to rent townhouse style with Kitchens for about 150US per month/pp right on the beach (El Tunco). If you plan to do an extended stay, ask the hostel owners if you can pay in advance and get a discount.

Go next

 * To Sonsonate; Bus 259 ($1.50pp, 2 hours). Catch it from the main road across from the Playa El Tunco cutoff

title: El Tunco


text:
Eluru

Eluru is the capital of West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. It is a small colorful City with an area of 14.5sqkm. It is 6th biggest city in Andhra Pradesh with a population of 3.5 lakh.

By plane
There are now flights to Vijayawada from Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. Vijayawada is less than an hour bus ride away.

One can also use a flight (National or International) to Hyderabad airport and take a train (6 to 7 hour travel) to Eluru. For other international connections, Chennai can also be used which is an 10-hour train ride from Eluru City.

By train
There are plenty of long-distance trains available at the Vijayawada Station to get to any part of the country and Eluru also has a railway station which has a halt from every train passing through it.

Local (suburban) train travel is available between Eluru Rajahmundry and Vijayawada.

By bus

 * APS RTC buses travel to longer distances with in the state as well outside the state, for example to Hyderabad and Bangalore.
 * Private buses -- many private buses travel across the region covering both center city, suburban and rural areas.
 * Parking in the city is improving. It may be easy to park two wheelers, but finding parking for Cars bit harder. Generally parking is provided by the city government as well as the business owners.

On foot
Almost all the locations in the city can be accessed by foot, all the roads are pedestrian friendly as most of them contains footpaths.

Buses
There are two functional bus stations in the city. Eluru New bus station and Eluru Old bus station. Buses ply from these stations based on destinations. Frequent intermediate buses are available in-between them.

By Car (Local)
All the roads in Eluru had a minimum width of 3.7 metres which makes travel ease with cars and other four wheelers. Taxi services are also available in the city.

Commuter Rail
Using the local trains, Eluru city region can be accessed with the following train stops. The circular trains are to be introduced in the near future.
 * Vatluru (Eluru Western Suburban)
 * Eluru Main (1 Town)
 * Powerpet (Downtown area)
 * Denduluru (Eluru East Suburban)
 * Bhimadole (Elurur Rural)

Auto
Auto-rikshaw is one of the major transportation mode available in the city. Over 10,000 autos are registered within the city and its suburban areas

 * Motorbike/Bicycle Motorbiking or cycling in downtown and busy areas can often be quicker than taking the auto-rickshaw or a taxi.

See

 * Abhaya Buddha Statue, 1 Town. 74 feet statue of Abhaya Budhha in a pond.
 * Brundhavan Gardens, Pathebad. Recreational park with walking track.
 * R.R.Pet Park, R.R.Pet. Children park.
 * Janmabhoomi Park, N.R.Pet. Recreational park on the banks of Tammileru river.
 * Kolleru Lake. Largest fresh water lake, present at a distance of 10km from the city.
 * Holy Land, Sanivarapupeta. Only two of its type in India, present at a distance of 7km from bus station and railway station.
 * DwarakaTirumala. Also known as Chinna Tirupathi, is located ata distance of 40km from the city, is home from Lord Venkateswara.
 * Guntupalli Buddhist Monuments. Located at a distance of 40km from the city. caves carved in ancient period by Buddists are located here.
 * Indian Institute Of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi. Located at a distance of 10km from the city.

Do
It is well known for its Traffic Congestion. One should have a look at shopping fest of R.R.Pet Market, 1 Town Fish Market, Jute Mill Industry and 1 Town Market areas on Sunday.

Buy

 * Central Plaza, R.R.Pet. Only shopping mall in Eluru.

 * CMR Shopping Mall,

 * Trinath Fashions, R.R.Pet.
 * Chandana Brothers, 1 Town.
 * R9000, R.R.Pet.
 * Main Bazar, 1 Town.
 * Sunday Market, R.R, Pet. Opened only on Sundays on R.R.Pet Main Road.

Eat

 * Appalaraju Military Hotel near Old bus stand Very delicious food.
 * Akarsh Pride, R.R. Pet.
 * Biryani House, R.R. Pet.
 * Hotel Athidi International, R.R. Pet.
 * Adithya Central, 1 Town. One of the star hotels in Eluru.
 * Ravi Sweets, R.R.Pet.
 * Sweet Magic, R.R.Pet
 * Ibaco Ice Cream Parlour, R.R.Pet.
 * Adithya Central, 1 Town. One of the star hotels in Eluru.
 * Ravi Sweets, R.R.Pet.
 * Sweet Magic, R.R.Pet
 * Ibaco Ice Cream Parlour, R.R.Pet.

Drink

 * Friends Fruit Juice (R.R.Pet)
 * Friends Fruit Juice (R.R.Pet)
 * Friends Fruit Juice (R.R.Pet)

Sleep

 * , R.R.Pet.
 * , R.R.Pet.
 * , R.R.Pet.
 * , R.R.Pet.

 * , Jute Mill Center.
 * Hotel Usha Valentine, R.R. Pet.
 * Haritha Resort Gudivakalanka, Gudivadalanaka. Kolleru lake resort hotel.

Go next

 * Palakollu
 * Amaravathi
 * Dwarakatirumala
 * Guntur City
 * Hyderabad
 * Nagarjuna Sagar
 * Visakhapatnam

title: Eluru


text:
El Valle

El Valle de Antón is a town in Cocle province, Central Panama. Because of its small size, and relative isolation from Panama City, El Valle is a stunning example of the cultural, environmental and culinary bounty of Old Panama.

Understand
El Valle is a charming seven square mile village surrounded by a volcanic caldera that had existed for millennia as a deep lake. Then several thousands years ago the crater sprung a leak and when the lake emptied some of the richest volcanic soil in the world remained on the valley floor. This soil, called tierra negra or black earth, is so esteemed by local horticulturists that it’s sold in bags throughout the republic and you can see its effect on many of the sprouting fence posts lining local roads. El Valle’s cool 2,000 foot elevation has made it a coveted retreat for established Panamanian families since the early 20th century. The locals have been climbing the same hills and swimming the same streams for over 11,000 years which makes El Valle the oldest continually human occupied volcanic site in the world. The first real road, tracing the meanderings of the builder’s horse as it headed up the mountain, was built with donated funds and labor from the community in 1927 and repaved in 1997.

The flat terrain of the valley’s floor makes the bicycle the favored mode of transportation and during rush hour many, often loaded down with several family members, are seen quietly gliding down the main street. There’s no fast food in the village but a variety of smaller restaurants, four mini supers that stock fresh meat and dry staples, the farmers market for produce, an ice cream parlor, a sports bar and even a weekend pizza purveyor. This interior village exemplifies pre-canal Panama still somewhat insulated from today’s urban cities with their hurried pace, westernized foodways and consumerism.

Both the village environment and the nearby, often cloud shrouded, Cerro Gaital National Monument offer an excellent opportunity to view some of Panama’s 10,000 plant, 1500 tree, 1000 bird, 220 mammal, or 354 amphibian and reptile species. They might not all call El Valle home but a significant number do and the local zoo, although somewhat disheartening in it’s housing practices, also has several of the harder to find species. You can ride a bike, horse or even walk to waterfalls, square trees, mud baths, a zoo, a museum, the forest canopy tour, pre-Columbian petroglyphs, or farmers market. Tours of the local organic farm, guided birding and fauna surveys are also available. An orchid conservatory and the amphibian rescue station are also two world class eco sites in town.

Get in
There are frequent buses to and from Albrook, the Panama City hub, allowing you to connect to Costa Rica or the Caribbean side. There are several bus stops on the main road where you can catch a bus to the Pan-American Highway, Coronado, the future location of a Western style shopping corridor, or the town of Penonome up the coast. Bus service begins around 04:00 in the morning and ends around 20:00 in the evening. Panamas amazingly hospitable, although sometimes sardine like, cheap and easy to use bus system works especially well in the interior just flag the driver for pick up.

If you are driving its less than an hour drive from the Pan American highway, through a rural paved road.

Get around
Several local taxis are available, as are the ubiquitous van and coaster buses. Rarely will you see a red devil in the village and in most cases attractions are easily accessible by foot. You can also rent bicycles or a horse from a number of local purveyors. A few English speaking expat guides are available inquire at the Anton Valley Hotel.

See
Some of the local attractions are El Nispero, a local private zoo, a large waterfall called "El Macho", and a grove of square trees, a museum, mud baths, an etched hieroglyphic rock, lots of birds, bugs, butterflies, animals and attractive locals. On the weekends the local markets offers lots of unrecognizable fruits and produce along with the usual tchotchkes for the folks back home. Don't miss the little Kuna lady in rear and to the left of the market during the weekends she's got lots of nice molas and crafts.
 * Cerro Ñielol Natural Monument
 * Museo Padre José Noto - area history museum. Off route 71 across from Bruschetta restaurant.

Do
El Valle is a very quiet village with few of the venues available in a more urbane local. A few neighborhood bars, with 50-cent beers, are located along the downtown main and they can become very noisy during the weekends especially around the many holidays. Not a place for those of you who would party.

A lot of New Age types have settled in the area for its reputed spiritual aura and you get get massaged, pulsed, yogaed or spa treated. Bring a thick book. Most activities are diurnal so when the sun goes down the town goes to sleep but you should include the orchid conservatory, the amphibian rescue center and the local cooking school in your itinerary they're all stellar especially in an Eco context.

Eat
Most other restaurants are local Panamanian. Edible pizza and one or two other choices offering local cuisine is cooked and served by untrained locals so be prepared for long waits. Best bet is to stay with braised items or be sure to ask if the beef's imported since that raised here in Panama is of an entirely different breed yielding very healthy but tough meat. The local places are cheap but you might find one that's acceptable and stick with it during you stay. Once or twice a month one of the local artist co-op has a vegetarian offering which for that date is the best food in town. Search the on-line sites for vacation rentals and house swaps and you can find lodgings with a kitchen if you'd like. Otherwise stick with the chicken and fish broiled or fried. A decent sandwich can be obtained from the local bakery but there's no ethnic, Chinese, Mexican, Thai and the like, available for miles.
 * Bruschetta - Good Italian fare and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
 * La Divina Commedia - Italian cuisine. Calle El Hato (aka Calle Central). Phone: +507 6591-9026.
 * Restaurante Don Quijote El Valle De Antón - Spanish food. Also on Calle Central.
 * Casa De Lourdes - very foo-foo place, fine dining. On the north side of town off Calle del IPT - EL Hato; +507 387-5120.

Sleep
In general accommodation run the gamut in El Valle. The cheapest options start around $15 available at Swami's Camping to $150 at Los Madarinos. Ask for directions to the hotels or attractions at the tourist info center at the open air market in town. But no matter what the price accommodations are all pretty spartan. Rooms are certainly comfortable at all but the most inexpensive hoteliers so consult the travel sites for credible inputs or explore some of the vacation rental/home exchange sites on the web.

Go next

 * Panama City

title: El Valle


text:
Elvas

Elvas is a city of 23,000 people (2011) in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Elvas is among the finest examples of intensive usage of the trace italienne (star fort) in military architecture. The "Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications" is a.

Understand

Elvas (EHL-vuhsh, /ˈɛɫ.vɐʃ/) lies on a hill 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of the Guadiana river. The 6-km-long Amoreira Aqueduct supplies the city with pure water; it was begun early in the 15th century and completed in 1622. For some distance it includes four tiers of superimposed arches, with a total height of 40 m (130 ft).

It was wrested from the Moors by Afonso I of Portugal in 1166 but was temporarily recaptured before its final occupation by the Portuguese in 1226. In 1570 it became an episcopal see, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elvas, until 1818. The late Gothic Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, which has many traces of Moorish influence in its architecture, dates from the reign of Manuel I of Portugal (1495–1521).

It was defended by seven bastions and the two forts of Santa Luzia and the Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort. From 1642 it was the chief frontier fortress south of the Tagus, which withstood sieges by the Spanish in 1659, 1711 and 1801. Elvas was the site of the Battle of the Lines of Elvas in 1659, during which the garrison and citizens of the city assisted in the rout of a Spanish Army. The Napoleonic French under Marshal Junot occupied it from March to August 1808 during the Peninsular War. The fortress of Campo Maior, 15 km (9.3 mi) to the northeast, is known for its Napoleonic era siege by the French and relief by the British in 1811, an exploit commemorated in a ballad by Sir Walter Scott.

Get in
Though Elvas might seem a good jumping off or landing point for cross border travel to the Extremadura region of Spain, it isn't. Cross border transport is woefully inadequate. The only public transport available is a single daily train, consisting of a one coach railcar.

By plane
The nearest regional airport is near Badajoz across the Spanish border. Be aware that there is essentially  no public transport between Elvas and Badajoz . You will almost certainly find it more convenient to fly in to Lisbon and either hire a car or catch an intercity bus.

By train
Elvas train station is 3 km outside the city centre. There is one daily train connection from Lisbon by changing at Entroncamento with a total journey time of 4½ hours (€15.60). The train continues to Badajoz, Spain. This single train a day is the only public transport link between Badajoz and Elvas. Onward connections with Renfe services to/from other destinations in Spain are not guaranteed, and through-ticketing is not possible. The train leaves Elvas for Badajoz at 13:00 Portuguese time, and returns at 16:24 (Spanish time). The journey time is 15 minutes. Remember that Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal. The Renfe trenhotel sleeper service between Madrid and Lisbon was cancelled permanently during the Covid pandemic.

By car
It's 200 km from Lisbon by high quality but tolled autoestrada. From Elvas onwards the road continues to Spain as a high quality toll-free autovía, serving Badajoz and ultimately running all the way to Madrid. As both Portugal and Spain are within both the EU and Schengen area, there are no border formalities.

Get around
All sights inside the city walls can be easily reached on foot.

See
Elvas is very close to Badajoz, Spain and has been fortified at different times. That makes it worth while to wander round looking at the work of different periods.

Go next

 * Badajoz, Spain
 * Campo Maior
 * Castelo de Vide
 * Estremoz
 * Évora
 * Marvão
 * Portalegre
 * Vila Viçosa

title: Elvas


text:
Elviria

Elviria is on Costa del Sol, southern Spain. It is in the municipal area of Ojén, Marbella. Elviria is a lively low density residential area with amenities. As the centre of Marbella East it has shopping facilities, restaurants and bars.

Understand
The area is covered with vegetation, mostly native pine trees and cork oaks. Elviria is a villa area with some low rise luxury apartment complexes between the villas.

Elviria hills (La Mairena and El Soto de Marbella) offer views towards the Sierra Nevada, the Mediterranean Sea, the Rock of Gibraltar and the African coast. The village is surrounded by a UNESCO biosphere reserve called La Sierra de las Nieves.

Get in
It is a ten-minute drive from the centre of Marbella, is close to the many amenities of the bustling town of Marbella.

You probably would need your own car or taxi to get to Elviria. Malaga Airport is about 35 km away. The nearest railway station is in Fuengirola, and the nearest intercity bus station somewhat nearer, in Marbella.

See
The Elviria Mountain area has been declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Sanctuary due to its beautiful and versatile Mediterranean forest of oaks, pine, agaves and holm trees. Built in the hills overlooking Marbella and close to the Sierra Blanca and Alpujarra mountain.

Do
Golf at some of the best golf resorts on the Costa del Sol.

title: Elviria


text:
Ely

There is more than one place called Ely:

United Kingdom

 * Ely (England)
 * Ely railway station has National Rail code ELY

United States of America

 * Ely (Minnesota), a city
 * Ely (Nevada), a city and county seat
 * is code for Ely airport
 * Ely (Iowa), a city
 * Ely, Missouri, an unincorporated community
 * Ely, New Jersey, an unincorporated community
 * Ely, Virginia, an unincorporated community
 * Ely Township, Michigan
 * Norton, Yolo County, California, formerly Ely
 * Elyria (Amtrak station), an Ohio rail station, which has Amtrak station code ELY

title: Ely


text:
Ely (England)

Ely is a small, historical cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England. Ely's character as a tiny, isolated city remains largely untouched, and the "Ship of the Fens" dominates the surrounding landscape in much the same way it has done for most of the past millennium.

Understand
Built on a chalk hill, the city is thought to be named after the eels in the nearby River Ouse. The hill was once an inaccessible island in the middle of the Fens. It was also the last stronghold of Anglo-Saxon resistance, under Hereward the Wake who hid in the original cathedral until the Normans crossed the Fens in 1071.

The surrounding landscape has been transformed from watery marshland to fertile farmland, and nearby Cambridge is continuing to growth, but Ely remains apart.

 * Ely local information

By train
Ely has direct trains to London King's Cross, Stansted Airport, Ipswich, Norwich, Kings Lynn, Peterborough, and via Peterborough to Birmingham and Liverpool. You can also connect at Peterborough for fast trains to Scotland.

If you want to get to London, then it is quicker to go to London King's Cross (70 minutes) with the train running non-stop after Cambridge, although tickets to London Liverpool Street station are a bit cheaper. The latter journey will take about 90 minutes via Bishop's Stortford (transferring at Cambridge).

Trains depart Ely to both Liverpool Lime Street and London Liverpool Street Station. Be careful as they are 200 miles apart!

By car
Ely is situated on the A10, some 16 miles north of Cambridge, where it is possible to join the M11 for fast access to/from London (72 miles). Nearby roads may be flooded in the winter (typically the A1123 at Earith, and A1101 at Welney). Many of the smaller roads across the Fens have uneven surfaces and unguarded ditches, which lead to a number of fatalities each year.

By bicycle
For the more adventurous it is possible to cycle into Ely from Cambridge. The 16 mile journey follows the river and for an average person takes around an hour and a half, with the majority of the route being a designated cycle path.

Get around
Ely's small city centre can easily be traversed on foot. Local villages are served by buses running from Market Street, check the boards or tourist information centre for departures.

See

 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.
 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.
 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.
 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.
 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.
 * Further south: see Cambridge for Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.

Budget

 * Tesco 24 hours from Monday 8AM to Saturday midnight, Sunday 10AM-4PM - next to the train station.
 * The Minster Tavern The Gallery. Nothing remarkable, but it's possibly the cheapest pub food in town and have "and beer" nights where you can enjoy a curry, grill or Sunday roast with a free pint depending on the day. Snacks from £2.
 * The Business Market Square, Thursday and Saturdays only. All sorts of sausage, burger, chicken, bacon, egg and cheese combinations. £2-4.
 * Streetcafe Coronation Parade (High Street), 7AM to 7PM daily. Very wide menu, ranging from full English breakfasts to Salads, Fish and Chips and some wonderful desserts. Expect to pay around £2.90 for a sandwich and a coke, up to £8.10 for a full English breakfast with toast and your beverage thrown in (Breakfast "C"). Very good food.
 * Ely Market  Market Place and Dolphin Lane, every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 8:30AM-4PM.  Wide range of street food from curries, samosas, curry goat, burritos, dim sum, Thai noodles, artisan roast coffee, chimney cakes and even traditional English.  Ely Farmers' Market (every second and fourth Saturday) also has a good range of vegan food.
 * Ely Market  Market Place and Dolphin Lane, every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 8:30AM-4PM.  Wide range of street food from curries, samosas, curry goat, burritos, dim sum, Thai noodles, artisan roast coffee, chimney cakes and even traditional English.  Ely Farmers' Market (every second and fourth Saturday) also has a good range of vegan food.

Drink

 * The Town House, On Market Street opposite the Hereward, the clientele and atmosphere of the pub is very variable depending on the day of the week. During the week, in particularly in summer it is a nice place to enjoy a drink outside. On Fridays, Saturdays and occasionally Sundays the pub is so busy it operates a one-in, one-out policy so expect a queue after 10:30PM, but in a group it can be worth it for a fun night. Great during events such as the World Cup with a BBQ outdoors and the beer festival in July is a must in terms of pub beer festivals.

Sleep
Various Bed & Breakfast establishments can be found in the city. A web search should turn up a vacancy. Most are within walking distance from the train station.

Go next

 * North to Kings Lynn on the A10.
 * East to Bury St Edmunds on the A142.
 * South to Cambridge on the A10.
 * West to Huntingdon on the A142.

title: Ely (England)


text:
Ely (Minnesota)

Ely is a city of 3,400 people (2019) in Northeastern Minnesota. Ely is best known as a popular entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the International Wolf Center, and the North American Bear Center.

History
The first Europeans to explore the area were fur traders who made their way into the wilderness in search of furs. But it was the Lake Vermillion gold rush that brought the first groups of pioneers to the area in 1865. Although hardly any gold was ever found, it was discovered that the area did contain large deposits of iron ore. Many immigrants arriving in America came to the area later to be known as the Minnesota Iron Range, looking for work.

When the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway was extended to Ely in 1888, mining operations begsn with the opening of the Chandler Mine. Ore was shipped by rail to docks on Lake Superior in Two Harbors and Duluth. From there it was shipped by lake freighter for processing in Ashtabula and other points in Ohio.

The name "Ely” was chosen in honor of mining executive Samuel B. Ely, a big promoter of Vermilion Range ore who lived in Michigan. (He was not known to have visited the namesake town.)

Eventually eleven mines opened near Ely. In 1967, the Pioneer mine closed. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and its offices now house the Ely Arts & Heritage Center.

The first mines were open pit operations, but when the abundant ore was mined out, deep shafts were made to start mining underground. With the need for wooden support beams to keep the tunnels from collapsing, along with the need for lumber to meet the needs of the ever-expanding growth in the area, the logging and milling industry grew. Logging continues in the region, though on a limited scale and only for paper pulp—the major operations virtually disappeared by 1920 when the area's tree reserves were depleted.

Get in
Plan to spend some time getting to Ely. They don't call it the "End of the Road" for nothing! If you take a commercial flight to Minnesota, plan to rent a car to get to Ely. It's about four hours from the Twin Cities, or two hours from Duluth. Ely is 100 miles (160 km) north of Duluth, 117 miles southeast of International Falls, and 244 miles (393 km) north of Minneapolis – Saint Paul.

State Highway 1 (MN 1), State Highway 169 (MN 169) and County Road 21 (Central Avenue) are the main routes in Ely.

Get around
Primary highways are wide and well-maintained summer and winter, but secondary county roads in the vicinity of Ely are often narrow, hilly, and have a gravel or dirt surface. The scenic Echo Trail (County Road 116) heading north of town is beautiful, but especially rugged.

Do
In the winter: Dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and a variety of other winter activities, since the lakes have frozen over and are covered with snow. One place to book winter trips is through Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge

 * International Wolf Center, along the Fernberg Road just north of Ely. Here, learn about wolves and even see them up close. This is also one of the places where you might want to watch the safety video about the Boundary Waters, so why not pop into the Wolf Center and learn something!
 * Canoeing This is why most people venture all the way up to Ely in summer. One of the options is of course to bring your own canoe and gear. But, if you don't own this type of outdoor gear, there are plenty of commercial canoe outfitters in Ely. Also, the Girl Scouts' Northern Lakes Canoe Base is a perfect way for Girl Scout troops or individual girls to go on canoeing trips, and is great for girls ages 11 and up and their mothers/troop leaders as well. The Boy Scouts have a similar program at the Northern Tier Boy Scouts High Adventure Base. And fishing is a possibility too (remember to get a permit). In the summer: Besides canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada.
 * When you go out into the Boundary Waters, winter or summer, make sure that you have an up-to-date map and compass with you, and someone who knows how to use them. Be prepared for all types of weather, but pack as light as possible. No need to bring a fresh shirt for every day you are out there. A lighter load will make those portages enjoyable. Still, though, bring enough food. You will be surprised how much more you eat out there since you are constantly doing things. Also be aware that there may be a fire ban in the summer due to extreme dry weather. If this is the case, use a camp stove and bring enough fuel. But mostly, enjoy yourself out there, relax, and enjoy some of the best things that nature has to offer!
 * In town, there are homely, casual amusements and a relaxed atmosphere -- a bowling place, mini golf, karaoke club, and several parks.
 * In town, there are homely, casual amusements and a relaxed atmosphere -- a bowling place, mini golf, karaoke club, and several parks.

Buy
The main street of Ely is lined with outfitters, outdoor clothing stores, and restaurants.

For all of your outdoor needs, there is Piragis. To save some money, check out their outlet shop, a block away on Sheridan Street. There also is Wintergreen, which also offers outdoor supplies. Steger Mukluks will keep your toes warm. And there are probably two dozen other outfitters and equipment suppliers where you can get good quality and a good selection of most any outdoor stuff you want.

There are many fun gift shops as well. Some feature woodsy and down-home items, some have lovely artistic decor items, or furniture, or quirky widgets. There's plenty of fun shopping.

Along the main street you also find two dry cleaners. There is a hemp store and an army surplus store. Good food at a variety of restaurants and eateries.

Ely is a small town, it's fun just to walk around the town and explore these places for yourself.

Go next

 * Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

title: Ely (Minnesota)


text:
Ely (Nevada)

Ely is in eastern Nevada near the Utah border at the intersection of US Highways 50, 93, and 6.

By car
U.S. Routes 6, 50 and 93 converge on Ely. To the north is Highway 93, which connects to Interstate 80 at Wells, I-84 at Twin Falls and I-90 at Missoula. Highway 50 heads west from Ely, eventually making its way to Fallon and Carson City on the other end of Nevada. This highway has an alternate route between Fallon and Fernley for easy access from I-80. Highway 6 travels southwest of Ely and connects to Tonopah and the Sierra Nevada region of California. Southeast of Ely there is a concurrency of all three highways; Route 93 quickly branches off south toward Las Vegas, while Highways 6 and 50 share the road all the way to Delta in Central Utah, not far from Interstate 15.

The leg from the west of Route 50 is called the "Loneliest Road in America" because of the remote areas it goes through.

By train
There is no local train service.

By plane
The nearest large commercial airports are in Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Do
Ely has several small casinos that offer slot machines if you want to try your luck, and the Hotel Nevada has live gaming with blackjack and poker tables. At the east end of the city there are a few legalized brothels that will give visitors free tours. Photographers will want to take a stroll downtown for shots of a pretty little park, old buildings and signage, and the magnificent neon prospector on the Hotel Nevada's Nevada Club. Surrounding the city are mountain ranges that offer the adventure of driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle over beautiful mountains, up canyons, and remove valleys. Mountain climbers can find many peaks over 11,000 feet in elevation.

Go next
Ely is at the crossroads to several destinations throughout the western United States. Idaho is accessible via US 93 north, while US 50 and US 6 lead to points in California, Utah and Colorado. The section of US Highway 50 heading west out of Ely is known as "The Loneliest Road in America." Central Nevada is filled with desert valleys between sets of mountain ridges. As Highway 50 crosses each of these gently curved valleys in a perfectly straight course, you can often see 20 or 30 miles of completely empty road ahead of you. You just must make sure that you have a car in good working condition as there are basically no services for more than 50 miles at most times and summer temperatures can easily reach, and winter temperatures getting well below.

Las Vegas is approximately four hours away on US 93 southbound, but one can take a shortcut via Nevada State Highway 318, which begins at an intersection with US 6 about 30 miles outside Ely. Taking this route shortens the trip to Vegas by about 60 miles (100 km), but the road is extremely desolate with nearly nonexistent cell phone coverage and no services to speak of apart from the small town of Lund. Don't try it unless you trust your car and you have emergency supplies.

title: Ely (Nevada)


text:
Elyria

There is more than one place called Elyria:

United States of America

 * Elyria (Kansas) - A town in Kansas.
 * Elyria (Nebraska) - A town in Nebraska.
 * Elyria (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.

title: Elyria


text:
Elyria (Ohio)

Elyria is a city in Northeast Ohio. It is the county seat of Lorain County. Elyria sits at the forks of the Black River southwest of Cleveland. The city is home to Lorain County Community College.

Understand
The city's name is derived from the surname of its founder, Heman Ely, and Illyria, the historical name used by ancient Greeks and Romans to refer to the western Balkans.

In 2010, the city had a population of 55,000.

History
The village of Elyria was founded in 1817 by Heman Ely, who built a log house, dam, gristmill and sawmill on the village's site along the Black River. Ely began to build more houses to accommodate European-American settlers migrating there. By the time Ely died in 1852, Elyria had five churches, three grocery stores, three flour mills, a newspaper, and a population of more than 1,500.

In the first half of the 20th century, the town developed some manufacturing, and a range of retail businesses.

In 1967, at the peak of Elyria's population, Midway Mall was opened. It changed the local economy by attracting local businesses from the town center or causing so much competition they went out of business. Industrial restructuring meant that good jobs left the area, and poverty increased. Three major car plant closings in the area lead to economic stagnation and joblessness in the 1970s and 1980s that affected numerous communities. The region was nicknamed "the Rustbelt," suggesting the decline of its former industries.

In the 1990s, Elyria experienced a minor revival with construction of some new roads and housing. It serves as a residential, suburban "bedroom community" for Cleveland, to the east, where new businesses and industries are developing with an increase in new jobs. Hard times and new ideas hit Elyria as the 2000s and 2010s rolled on, as industries such as Bendix, Riddell, and 3M took their business elsewhere, outside the city.

By car
OH-2, OH-57, OH-113, OH-301, US-20, I-80/Ohio Turnpike, and I-90.

By plane

 * Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, , 5300 Riverside Drive, (take OH-237 N, OH-17 W, I-480 W, OH-10 W, and OH-57 N to get to Elyria).
 * Richards Airport (9OH4). Private use. Permission required prior to landing,, 2301 W River Rd N.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Most Amtrak routes serving Cleveland arrive and depart in the 1AM-5AM time frame. Routes stopping at Elyria:
 * Capitol Limited operates daily between Chicago and Washington, D.C. including stops in South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Alliance, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Rockville.
 * Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer).  The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City.  Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham.

See

Go next

 * Amherst
 * Cleveland

title: Elyria (Ohio)