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Yosemite West

Yosemite West is a small community in Mariposa County, California, is accessed via roads in Yosemite National Park. It is bordered on the west by Sierra National Forest. On the south, east, and north, Yosemite West is bordered by Yosemite National Park. There is a paved access road from Wawona Road to enter Yosemite West. It is marked by a signpost shown below. The elevation of this community, as reported by the USGS, is 5866 feet (1788 m). The GPS coordinates are N 37° 38.938’ W 119° 43.310’. Although appearing to be very near to the community of El Portal this community is part of Henness Ridge, towering nearly 3,000 feet (900 m) above the southern banks of the Merced River and the California from Mariposa.

Understand
Yosemite West is a small community in the southern area of Yosemite National Park just off Wawona Road, a continuation of California  north of Fresno. It is situated one mile (1.6 km) south of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road and Glacier Point Road at an altitude of 5,100–6,300 ft (1,550–1,900 m). Just outside the western boundary line of the National Park, Yosemite West is not subject to strict Park limitations on development. There are permanent residents in Yosemite West, and homes, apartments, condos and Bed & Breakfast establishments that are available as rentals for National Park visitors.

Yosemite Valley is a 20-25 minute drive from Yosemite West. Similarly, it is a 20-minute drive to great attractions like Glacier Point and Wawona golf course. Visitors and residents have easy access to all the Park's roads.

History
As early as 1912 logging in the Chinquapin area was started and logs were hauled to Merced Falls. The Yosemite Valley Railroad was built to remove the lumber harvested from the vast supply of Sugar Pines found along the Merced River canyon. Author Hank Johnston’s book, "Whistles Blow No More", describes the activities of the Yosemite Lumber Company in this area. In fact, the remains of the longest Incline rail system ever built are located at what is known as Camp One, just a short distance away from the Yosemite West development. The incline rose to a height of 3,100 feet (950 m) above the Merced River. The Camp One incline was used to lower logs to the Merced River at El Portal from the logging area. One of the stops on the Yosemite Valley Railroad line was the lumber mill built by the Yosemite Lumber Company where the wood was planned, finished, dried and stored. The lumber company is gone now and as a result of natural reforestation, trees surround most homes. The old train grades were redeveloped creating paved roads and underground utilities which give Yosemite West a pleasant rural atmosphere unfettered by power lines.

Flora and fauna
Yosemite West has species of pine, cedar, dogwood, manzanita and elderberry. You can find mule deer, grey squirrels, coyote and the occasional black bear passing through the area. Bird life includes Stellar Jays, orioles, and crows. In the early spring, the dogwoods awaken with dramatic bloom of their flowers. As seasons progress, the flora changes dramatically. The California Black Oak and quaking aspens add to the golden color of this fall season.

By car
Warning: There is no fueling station in Yosemite West! In winter conditions, usually November through March, be sure to carry snow chains as they may be required.

Yosemite West is only accessible from inside Yosemite National Park. There is no other access.

Yosemite West is south of Chinquapin, the junction of Wawona Road and Glacier Point Road. Although there was a gas station at one time at Chinquapin, it was removed in the 1990s.
 * [[Image:California 41.svg|30px]] From Fresno, Los Angeles and other points south, take State Route 41 north past Coarsegold, Oakhurst and Fish Camp. beyond Fish Camp is the Park entrance. Gas stations are available in Coarsegold and Oakhurst and they are good places to fill up as the station at Wawona (in the park)can be much more expensive.  Wawona is  north of south entrance. Continue through Wawona on Hwy 41 (Wawona Road) about, until you come to the Yosemite West sign.
 * [[Image:California 140.svg|30px]] From Mariposa, Merced, and other points west, take State Route 140 east. Just before entering Yosemite National Park, you will come to two one-lane bridges that were built to bypass the Ferguson Rock slide area that covered Hwy 140 a few years ago. Expect delays during the busiest times of the year. Once in the park, proceed towards Yosemite Valley. Follow all signs indicating “41 – Wawona – Glacier Point.” After passing Bridalveil Falls, proceed uphill through the long Wawona Tunnel and then  more to the “Yosemite West – Private Development” sign, on your right. This can be seen right after passing the Glacier Point Road turnoff at Chinquapin.
 * [[Image:California 120.svg|30px]] From San Francisco/Bay Area or Reno and points north, take State Route 120. On this route you will pass through the town of Oakdale. Follow all the signs to Yosemite Valley, then follow all signs indicating “41 – Wawona – Glacier Point.” After passing Bridalveil Falls, proceed uphill through the long Wawona Tunnel and then  more to the “Yosemite West – Private Development” sign, on your right. This can be seen right after passing the Glacier Point Road turnoff at Chinquapin.
 * [[Image:California 120.svg|30px]] From Lee Vining and Mammoth and points east take State Route 120 west. This road, also known as Tioga Pass, is closed during winter snow conditions. Follow all the signs to Yosemite Valley, then follow all signs indicating “41 – Wawona – Glacier Point.” After passing Bridalveil Falls, proceed uphill through the long Wawona Tunnel and then  more to the “Yosemite West – Private Development” sign, on your right. This can be seen right after passing the Glacier Point Road turnoff at Chinquapin.

Fees and permits
To get to Yosemite West you must enter at one of the Yosemite National Park gates. Park entrance fees are $20 for private vehicles and $10 for individuals on foot, bike and motorcycle. All entrance fees are valid for seven days. The Yosemite Annual Pass is available for $40, allowing park entry for one year. The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass can be purchased for $80, allowing free entry to all park and recreation lands controlled by the US Department of the Interior for one year. Senior Pass for those over 62, are also available.

By car
A car can take you to most major attractions in Yosemite National Park. However some roads are seasonal with closures occurring in winter and early spring.

Chinquapin Ranger Station
Chinquapin (also, Chincapin and Chinkapin) is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It was 8.5 miles (14 km) north-northwest of Wawona. Also, it is adjacent to the community of Yosemite West. Chinquapin is the midway point between Yosemite Valley and Wawona, a community inside the park.

Chinquapin was built as a junction of the Old Glacier Point Road, which was built in 1882. It was a bridle trail to Glacier Point (the current Glacier Point Road, which starts immediately north of the old road was built in 1940). On a 1896 U.S. Cavalry map it is marked as "Chinquapin Station". It was named Chinquapin after Chinquapin Creek, which is immediately northwest of Chinquapin. Chinquapin Creek is today called Indian Creek.

Hiking
Several hiking trails start in Yosemite West. Some of the trails follow old railroad beds from the days of the Yosemite Lumber Company which logged this area in the early 20th century. The trailhead on the east side of Hwy 41 near the turnoff to Yosemite West has a parking area and the trails lead to Deer Camp and Empire Meadow. The Alder Creek Trail branches off from the Deer Camp Trail and leads to the Alder Creek Falls.

On Azalea Road, in Yosemite West, you can follow the trail to the Henness Ridge Fire Lookout which was built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lower branch of the trail is the Eleven Mile Trail and can be followed down to Eleven Mile Meadow, a former way-station for the stage coach lines that brought travelers to Yosemite in the past.

There are many more hiking trails nearby. Off Hwy 41 just east of the Henness Road junction is the trail head for Deer Camp Road with connections to the Alder Creek trail and Wawona. It also connects to northern trails to Glacier Point and beyond.

Skiing
With the close proximity of Badger Pass Ski Area, Yosemite West is in a unique position to access down hill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing during the winter months. Equipment rentals are available at Badger Pass. The cross-country skiing is very unique with of trails in the snow, including many groomed trails like the trail to Glacier Point. During the winter, the visitor center at Glacier Point is converted to an overnight hut for those that venture to this designation. The facility has a bunk area that sleeps up to 20 skiers in one big room.

Badger Pass is a very family-oriented facility. For the very young, there is the tubing hill supervised by Badger Pass staff. A parent can ride along if they wish, to add to the experience. There are also group and private skiing lessons for all ages.

For those that just want to watch, Badger Pass has a cafeteria, lounge and a large seating area on the extended deck. The deck offers a panorama view of the downhill and snowboarding slopes. The flat area in front of the deck is used by skiers and snowboarders as an equipment staging area to prep for the slopes or meet with others.

Eat
Yosemite West has a service that delivers pizza, calzones, ribs, salads and sodas to residences in the area. In addition, you have easy access to other Park restaurants and grocery stores in the Valley and Wawona (roughly 30-min drive each way).

Many of the cabins have well equipped kitchens and outdoor BBQs. Depending on your itinerary, you may find it convenient to come prepared with some meals to avoid driving all around Yosemite for food.

Go next

 * Oakhurst. As you exit Yosemite National Park to the south, Oakhurst is the closest city of any size.  It is  south on SR 41, about 25 minutes.

title: Yosemite West


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Yoshino

Yoshino (吉野) is a town in Nara Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
Together with many other individual sites, 8 ancient temples and shrines built in the mountain area of Yoshino are listed as a part of UNESCO World Heritage under the name of Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

Mount Yoshino (alt. 455m) has been described for many centuries as one of Japan's most beautiful cherry blossom spots.

Tourist information site
The local tourist associations have a Japanese-only guide site.

By plane
There are no direct services from either of Osaka's airports to Yoshino.

From Osaka-Kansai, there are 13 buses a day to Yamato-Yagi station in Kashihara, taking 1hr 20mins and ¥1950 (¥3700 return, valid for 14 days); you will then have to take a train to Kashihara-jingū-mae, and change again there for a train to Yoshino. Three morning buses to the airport and three evening buses to Kashihara stop at Takada-shi station, from where there are direct trains to Yoshino. If going through Yamato-Yagi is too much for you, the alternative is to take a JR Haruka or Airport Rapid to Tennōji and change there to a Kintetsu train from Abenobashi.

If coming from Osaka-Itami, the most convenient way is to take the bus to Abenobashi and change there to the train.

By train
The main way to reach Yoshino is by Kintetsu. Direct trains run from Osaka Abenobashi, which is next to Tennōji Station on the JR and Subway lines; from there, Limited Expresses usually run hourly (taking 1hr 20mins and ¥1480) and Expresses half-hourly (taking 1hr 35mins and ¥970). If you want to use a Deluxe Seat on the Sakura Liner, or the Blue Symphony Sightseeing Limited Express (which runs twice a day, usually every day except Wednesday, and offers local specialities on board), this will cost ¥1690.

From Kyoto, you can take a Limited Express to Kashihara-jingū-mae and change there to a train to Yoshino; this will take at least 1hr 45mins and cost ¥2550. (There are no direct trains from Kyoto because the rail gauge is different beyond Kashihara-jingū-mae.) You can go the whole way on Express trains for only ¥1230, but this will take at least 2hrs 10mins. All these trains stop at Yamato-Saidaiji station in Nara, and Yamato-Yagi station in Kashihara; Yoshino is 1hr 10mins and ¥520 away from the latter. Going through Kyoto is the easiest way from Tokyo.

From Nagoya, the best way is to take a Kintetsu Limited Express to Yamato-Yagi, then any train to Kashihara-jingū-mae, then a train to Yoshino; allow at least 2hrs 50mins and ¥4000 (or ¥4290 if you take Limited Expresses all the way). Taking the Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto is unlikely to be worth doing, unless you have a Japan Rail Pass.

The most convenient station for Yoshino on the JR network is Yoshinoguchi on the Wakayama Line. While this is served by a small number of direct trains between Gojō and Osaka (primarily Tennōji), the main service consists of Local trains between Nara and Wakayama (via Sakurai); during the day, taking JR services from Osaka to Yoshinoguchi will involve getting a Rapid train from Namba or Tennōji to Takada and changing there to a train towards Gojō or Wakayama. Getting from Yoshinoguchi to Yoshino takes 35 minutes and costs ¥380 (or 30 minutes and ¥890 if you take a Limited Express).

Travel on Kintetsu trains to Osaka, Kyoto and Nara is covered by the Kintetsu Rail Pass (2-day), which is available to Temporary Visitors for ¥2500 (¥1250 for children aged 6-11); the main Kintetsu Rail Pass and Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus (both 5-day) cover the entire Kintetsu network. These also allow discounts on admission fees for some local attractions. Note that these passes do not cover the extra fare for Limited Expresses.

See

 * Kinbu-senji (金峯山寺)
 * Nyoirinji (如意輪寺)
 * Sakura-motobō (桜本坊)
 * Yoshino Mimakuri Jinja (吉野水分神社)
 * Kinbu Jinja (金峯神社)
 * Yoshimizu Jinja (吉水神社)

Eat
Yoshino seems to be famous for sweets made from arrowroot (葛, くず). These sweets come in a few varieties, some looking no different from mochi, while others are more like transparent jelly. Many places offer shime saba (cured mackerel) sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.

During the sakura blossoming season, the streets are lined with stands selling the typical Japanese street food: takoyaki, frankfurters, okonomiyaki. Many places offer oden, konnyaku in particular.

Go next

 * Shimoichi
 * Higashiyoshino
 * Uda
 * Asuka
 * Takatori
 * Tenkawa
 * Sakurai
 * Oyodo
 * Kawakami

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

title: Yoshino


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Yoshinogari

Yoshinogari (吉野ヶ里町) is a town of 16,000 people (2017) in Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Understand

 * The town government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

By plane
The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

By car
Expressways: Nagasaki Expressway (Higashi-Sefuri Interchange)

National Highways: Route 34 and Route 385

Prefectural Roads: Saga Prefectural Route 31, and Route 46

Go next

 * Kanzaki
 * Saga
 * Kamimine
 * Miyaki
 * Tosu
 * Kiyama
 * Ogori
 * Kawasoe
 * Higahiyoka

title: Yoshinogari


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Yoshkar-Ola

Yoshkar-Ola (Russian: Йошка́р-Ола́ yahsh-KAHR ah-LAH) is the capital of Mari El in the Volga Region of the Russian Federation. The city was founded in 1584 during the reign of Ivan IV The Terrible as a fortification post with the purpose of controlling the newly annexed Kazan Khanate. In 2018, its population was about 270,000 people.

By plane
The city is just a few hours' drive from Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan, cities with international air connections.

By car
Yoshkar-Ola sits on the northward extension of one of the main highways of the Russian Federation leading from Moscow to the industrial areas of Tatarstan, the Southern Urals, and Siberia. Samara (560 km), Nizhny Novgorod (350 km).

Public transportation
Yoshkar-Ola transport structure is represented by extensive trolleybus system (rather old in outlook and yet bringing back nostalgy of the soviet epoch), buses, and minibuses (marshrutkas) and a few taxi agencies, so-called "gipsy" taxis, which are privately owned and potentially dangerous and thus not recommended.

The cost of travel in the trolleybus and the bus is ₽13, the payment is made by the conductor. Marshrutka costs ₽15, pay the driver at the entrance. The average cost of a cab ride in the city is ₽110-150.

See
The city is home to a few cultural legacy sites, ranging between wooden mansions dating back to the 18th century and soviet neoclassicism style municipal buildings of the 1920-1960.

The city center has been renovated, and has several landmarks, including the Kremlin, and Nogotkov-Obolensky square (in honor of the city founder) distinguished by such a curiosity as the religiously designed Mari automatic clock.

Do
The city can boast of a certain level of cultural activity exemplified by theatre performances based on classical and modern works (both in Mari and Russian languages).

Buy
Mari style embroidery, wooden items such as "mari matryoshka" are a local speciality.

Eat
There are a few worthy European style cafes and restaurants in the city centre, local mari food is represented at Podkogolnaya cafe, 166 Volkova st. Traditional plates are: - sokta, - lashko, - podkogylyo, - kazh, - komanmelna, - tuara, - podkinde, - salmaginde, - puro, - eran

Go next

 * Kazan - Capital of Tatarstan
 * Nizhny Novgorod
 * Cheboksary - only two hours away

title: Yoshkar-Ola


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Wikivoyage:Joke articles/You

You are the destination of choice of airborne bacteria, viruses, fungi and assorted parasites. With a selection of orifices for access, the thrills of grappling with an angry immune system and vast opportunities for breeding if successful, You can be the journey of a lifetime.

By air

Airborne visitors, especially those heading to the Lungs, prefer to enter via Your Nose. However, the continual flow of air in and out of the nose can make entry difficult, so the suggested method is to hang around the tip, then plunge forward during an inhalation, and grab tightly onto a nosehair before the exhalation starts. (Try not to irritate the nosehairs too much, or You will sneeze and you'll have to start all over again.) Repeat this a few times and you'll reach the safety of the Olfactory Mucosa, from where you can proceed upward into the Sinuses or down into the Lungs.

If this seems too hard, don't despair: some travellers suggest that You may be a Mouth-breather, which makes entry that much easier: instead of aiming for the nostrils and battling with nose hairs, you can just aim straight for the gaping maw underneath. The downside is that getting to the Sinuses is a little harder (you'll need to do a quick, sharp U-turn at the Pharynx). If, like most visitors, you're heading to the Lungs, keep an eye out for Epiglottis Intersection: you want to make sure you go down Trachea Trail, not Esophagus Avenue, or you'll end up in the Stomach instead. In either case, try not to tickle the throat too much on your way down, or you may end up violently expelled by a cough.

Alternately, some travellers may be introduced into You by hitching a flight on Mosquito Airlines.

By food
This is a risky proposition, as the traveller risks being crushed by molars at the entry point and/or immediate deportation upon arrival in the Stomach region. It may be wise to avoid suspicion and detection by wearing a heavy coat of sugar or powdered cheese. This is particularly true for travellers coming from the US.

By other

 * It may be possible to enter through the border at Colon.

By blood
The bloodstream is by far the most common method of getting around the body, as the network of arteries (from the heart) and veins (to the heart) circulates throughout the entire body, allowing fast access to every nook and cranny. The main danger is the presence of white blood cells (see ), a famously xenophobic lot, which have been known to attack innocent tourists without warning.

By spinal fluid
For the hardcore traveler, the spinal fluid provides an exciting alternative that pumps out at the massive bandwidth only the Backbone can provide. Access is difficult, as the Backbone is encased in a solid layer of bone, but it's worth the trouble, since once inside you've got a ticket straight into the mysteries of the Brain.

The main danger of going spinal is Spinal Taps. If you hear the amplifiers getting cranked up to 11, get out as fast as possible, or risk spontaneous human combustion!

See

 * Follicle Forest National Preserve offers a vast expanse which makes some of the best louse-hunting grounds to be found anywhere on You. Some visitors may become aware of the gradual deforestation which sometimes takes place here.
 * Fudge Factory, just up the road from Colon. Tours and samples available.
 * Mammary Mountains National Park - This majestic range has peaks which vary in size, but almost always come in (more or less) matching pairs.
 * Nostril Caverns - Filled with amazing yellowish stalagmite and stalactites of all shapes. Also check out the nearby Sinus Caves.
 * Plumber's Canyon
 * Royal Navel Center, in the middle of the Beergut Highlands. These days the old naval center is only near water once a day or so, and is no longer affiliated with the Mother land.
 * Theater of the Mind - You never know what you might see once the lights go out.

Do

 * Cochlea Music Pavilion has music, speeches and occasional loud concerts where you can "rock out with your cochlea out".
 * Fallopian Tubes Water Park - This women's only theme park has some of the world's most amazing tube slides. Call in advance, as some tubes may be closed off for accident prevention.

Buy
Lung transplantation is very expensive, although it can substantially improve quality of life. Two-thirds of the costs are incurred after transplantation.

Eat

 * Apples are popular. Local varieties include Adam's Apple and the Apple of your Eye.
 * Cheese - The cheese producing region of You is found far to the south around the Toe Fjords, hence the name toe cheese. The region is also known for its homegrown jam.

Sleep
A variety of comfortable resting places can be found throughout Your body.

Stay safe
White blood cells (leukocytes) patrol Your bloodstream, engulfing and digesting hapless tourists who cannot produce correct identification on demand. Be sure to alter your protein signature to blend in with the locals if you see any approaching.

Go next
After You have been taken care of, there are still several billion other sacks of protoplasm left to explore. Some options include:

 * Me — Not a good place to go to, at all. Seriously. Trust me on this one.
 * Somebody Else — So much better than Me. Just go there.  Now.
 * How You get in.

title: Wikivoyage:Joke articles/You


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Youghal

Youghal (pronouced "yawl") is a harbour town at the east edge of County Cork in Ireland. It preserves many remnants of its medieval and early modern heyday, when it was a walled city and major port. In 2022 it had a population of about 8,600.

Understand
In 830 AD an earthquake struck Munster. The River Blackwater had flowed further east to the sea at Whiting Bay near Ardmore, but in the upheaval it broke through the shingle bank now called Ferrypoint and carved a direct channel. The river was navigable up to Cappoquin and Lismore, so this new estuary was soon colonised, and called Eochaill meaning yew woods. It was hemmed in by a slope, a good defensible position, so in Norman times it grew into a long narrow walled city. The Desmond kings of Munster resisted Anglo-Norman rule and destroyed Youghal in 1579, but were defeated by the Tudors, who awarded the lands to their loyal Protestant followers. One major beneficiary was Sir Walter Raleigh, who gained a great swathe of territory along the river valley, and was mayor of Youghal 1588-89.

For the next 200 years Youghal was a more important port than Cork, trading with England, the continent and North America. In 1649/50 Oliver Cromwell and his army over-wintered here, before capturing Kilkenny and Clonmel then hurrying back to England to see off the young King Charles II. The river meanwhile shifted a little way east, creating a strip of land beyond the city's seaward wall, and this developed into the present Market Square and harbour. 19th century shipping outgrew the channel and harbour, and trade shifted to Cork. Youghal continued as a manufacturing centre and seaside resort, but these businesses withered in the 20th century and the railway was axed in the 1970s. This blighted Youghal but the upside for visitors is that much of its old town landscape has been preserved.

The Youghal Visitor Centre in Market Square by the harbour, open daily 9AM-3:30PM.

Get in
See Cork for long-distance routes by air, sea, bus and rail.

Expressway Bus 40 takes 50 min from Cork via Midleton (for Jameson Distillery) to Youghal. It continues east to Dungarvan, Waterford, Wexford and Rosslare, for ferries to Wales and the Continent. It runs M-Sa hourly and every couple of hours on Sunday. There isn't a main bus station, buses stop along the main streets, which are one-way.

By car from Dublin take M7 and M8 to Fermoy then N72 to Tallow, then R638 into Youghal. N25 is the coast road between Cork and Waterford.

For centuries a little ferry puttered across the channel to Ferrypoint on the Waterford side. It was axed in the 1950s; there's occasionally talk of trying to restart it.

Get around
Youghal is a small town and easy to walk around. You need wheels to explore the coat, such as Knockadoon Head.

The former railway track between Midleton and Youghal is being converted into a Greenway. It might be completed by summer 2022.

See

 * or Priory of Our Lady of Graces is the ruin of a Dominican monastery founded in 1268.
 * Watergate, opposite the Visitor Centre, was the riverside gate in the city walls leading to the harbour, which has the town hall and is now Market Square. It became known as Cromwell's Arch when he left Ireland by this route in 1650.
 * on Main St was built in the 15th century to guard the riverbank, but the river changed course in the 17th. It's now a private residence.
 * Almhouses next to the castle were built in the 17th century by Robert Boyle for army widows.
 * Red House nearby is an elegant Dutch Renaissance building from 1706.
 * Myrtle Grove next to the collegiate church was the home of Sir Walter Raleigh. You can't go in. The legend goes that he first smoked tobacco here and was doused by an alarmed servant. A similar legend attaches to his various other properties so he must have been a serial dousee.
 * Town walls are best preserved south from the collegiate church. Follow them to Drew's Tower, where the coffin hole in the wall held a paupers' re-usable coffin. There's a sally port and an entrance to college gardens. Continue past Half Moon Tower and Montmorenci Tower. The Jail Steps lead down east to Banshee Tower, crossing Ashe St to the Clock Tower.
 * St Mary's Parish Church is Roman Catholic, on Ashe St. The interior is attractive.
 * is squat, just a harbour light. It was built in Scottish granite and lit in 1852; the first lighthouse here was built in 1202. The keeper's cottage may be available for self-catering lets.
 * is sandy and 5 km long. It starts by the lighthouse: there's an amusement arcade on Upper Strand. The beach passes the outflow of Ballyvergan marsh, then the hamlet of Redbarns (where there's a pub) to the River Dissour estuary.
 * is a headland south of Youghal which together with Capel Island is a nature reserve. Boat trips sometimes come this way, but you may only land on the island by permit.
 * is sandy and 5 km long. It starts by the lighthouse: there's an amusement arcade on Upper Strand. The beach passes the outflow of Ballyvergan marsh, then the hamlet of Redbarns (where there's a pub) to the River Dissour estuary.
 * is a headland south of Youghal which together with Capel Island is a nature reserve. Boat trips sometimes come this way, but you may only land on the island by permit.

Do

 * Regal Cinema is on Friar St.
 * Mall Arts Centre on The Mall just south of the harbour has various live events.
 * Blackwater Cruises sail up the river.
 * Aura Leisure Centre on the beach has a gym and swimming pool. It's next to Claycastle Pitch and Putt.
 * Youghal Golf Club is south of town centre. The Old Course is 5640 m, par 70 and the New Course (blue tees) is 5976 m, par 71.
 * Go to the dogs at Youghal Greyhound Stadium, near the amusement arcade on Upper Strand. Racing is M W from 6:30PM, with trials other nights. Adult admission €10.
 * Ironman Triathlon is on hiatus in 2024, but plans to return in 2025. The event offers 40 qualifying slots for the world championships in Hawaii.

Buy
Aldi is in town centre, Tesco and Lidl are north edge of town.

Eat

 * Priory Coffee on 56 North Main St do drinks, light bites and deli, open daily 8AM-6PM. They also have outlets in Cork city, Mallow, Fermoy and Riverstick.
 * Aherne's gets great reviews for their seafood, see Sleep.
 * Others along the main strip include Old Imperial Hotel, Roma Grill, Luigi's, Doyle's Chip Shop and Ho Inn.
 * Clancy's is an Irish restaurant on Front Strand.

Drink

 * The Nook Bar aka Treacey's at 20 North Main Street is Youghal's oldest pub. They often have live music.
 * Others along the main street are Anchor Bar, Bertie's, The Quays, JDS Bar and Hennessey's.
 * No brewery or distillery in town, but Jameson whiskey is distilled at Midleton, on the bus route to Cork.
 * No brewery or distillery in town, but Jameson whiskey is distilled at Midleton, on the bus route to Cork.

Sleep

 * See Lismore for Ballyvolane House, way out in the countryside towards Fermoy.
 * See Lismore for Ballyvolane House, way out in the countryside towards Fermoy.
 * See Lismore for Ballyvolane House, way out in the countryside towards Fermoy.
 * See Lismore for Ballyvolane House, way out in the countryside towards Fermoy.
 * See Lismore for Ballyvolane House, way out in the countryside towards Fermoy.

Connect
As of March 2023, Youghal and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Three, and 5G from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Cork is the lively historic city to the west.
 * East across the river is County Waterford, see the mansions and gardens of Lismore.

title: Youghal


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Youngstown (Ohio)

Youngstown is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Northeast Ohio and is the county seat of Mahoning County. For Youngstown, it was all about coal and steel, until deindustrialization occurred in the second half of the 20th century.

By car
Youngstown is served by the following interstate highways:
 * I-76 serving Akron and Youngstown and connecting to beyond Pennsylvania to the east.
 * I-80 is the Ohio Turnpike (a toll road) that runs across the northern part of the state, serving Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown (where I-80 and I-76 criss cross).
 * I-680 provides access to downtown areas and outer suburbs.

Get around
There is also a taxi station next door to the Greyhound / WRTA station in West Federal Street.

Do

Golf

 * The Youngstown Region was ranked #4 in the country for golf by Golf Digest.
 * Mill Creek Golf Course - West Golf Drive - Youngstown
 * Pine Lakes Golf Club - 6233 Liberty Street - Hubbard
 * Reserve Run Golf Course - 625 E. Western Reserve Rd. - Youngstown
 * Kennsington Golf Club - 4171 Westford Place - Youngstown

title: Youngstown (Ohio)


text:
Yountville

Yountville is a small town in Napa Valley, California named for its founder Georg Calvert Yount. It is now home to many world class restaurants and wineries as well as fantastic boutique shopping.

By car
From San Francisco:
 * Highway 101 North over the Golden Gate Bridge, to Highway 37;
 * Highway 37 East towards Vallejo/Napa, to Highway 121;
 * Highway 121 North towards Napa to Highway 29 North to Yountville.

By bus
The regional VINE Transit bus system provides services from Napa as well as Vallejo and El Cerrito, with connections to ferries and local rail from San Francisco. There are also several dedicated bus services included in hotel packages.

Get around
A free door-to-door bus service, nicknamed Yountville Trolley is provided by the town of Yountville. While mainly catering for the many retirees in the Veterans Home, the service is open for visitors too.

title: Yountville


text:
Ypacarai

Ypacarai is a small town around 40km from Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. Buses pass through it on the way to San Bernardino and other destinations to the east. It is very small, but quite pleasant. A nice place to stop for an hour if you have the time.

Get in
Buses from Asuncion or Aregua to destinations east of Ypacarai lake will stop here - Ypacarai is on the large, well paved main road.

Get around
On foot. Everything is walking distance.

See

 * The plaza. Nice, green space to sit in the shade.
 * The unusually shaped church. Concrete construction. Large, more conventional hall in the rear.

Do
Look around, have lunch and move on.

Buy
Limited number of craft stores; minimarkets and pharmacies.

Eat
Several hamburguesa/lomito places and street stalls.

Drink
Small bars with tables and chairs outside.

Sleep
The only hotel in town appears to be very much closed. Aregua or San Bernardino are much better options for sleeping.

Go next
Buses pass through going to Asuncion and San Bernardino, and many other towns to the east and north of the lake.

title: Ypacarai


text:
Ypres

Ypres (Dutch: Ieper, both pronounced "eeper") is a friendly town of 35,000 inhabitants in Flanders endowed with wonderful architecture and a troubled past. Ypres is best known as the site of three major battles of the First World War, the most famous being the Battle of Passchendaele from July—November 1917. The many memorials and cemeteries of the fallen in and around Ypres draw thousands of visitors each year. The belfry of Ypres is a.

Town name and languages
The official Dutch name for the city is Ieper - this is the version of the name you will see most commonly in and around the Flemish-speaking town. Most native English speakers, however, will know the town by its French name Ypres, as popularised in media and history texts during and immediately after the First World War.

History
The town of Ypres formed the centre of the so-called "Ypres Salient" during most of the First World War—an area of Allied (British and Belgian)-held land surrounded on three sides by the German front line that formed the northernmost section of the Western Front. Holding Ypres was vital for the Allies in their bid to prevent the Germans from gaining control of all the Channel ports, vital for the transport and supply of the British Expeditionary Force. As a result, the city became the focus of several major battles to break in and out of the Salient and was subjected to fairly continuous bombardment by German artillery for most of the war. By 1918, little remained of the town but shattered ruins surrounded by muddy shell-pocked fields.

After the First World War, most of central Ypres was rebuilt with German reparations (war debt) money. This was a lengthy process: the famous Cloth Hall was not completed until the 1960s.

By train
Ypres has its own. From there, you can easily walk to the city center. But the station is poorly served, causing slow connections to most other towns a bit further away.

By bus
Ypres has bus lines towards neighbouring towns.

By car
Ypres is easily reachable by car - highway to Kortrijk, then follow directions for Ieper (A19).

From the ports of Calais or Dunkirk, take the A16 East, turning off at junction 28 (A25 towards Lille). Get off at Junction 13 and follow the signs for Ypres (Ieper).

Ypres isn't big, so it's perfectly traversable by car. You can park at the main square, in front of the cloth hall for a small fee (except during the weekly or other market), or freely near to the train station. A car also allows you to visit places further on such as the various cemeteries.

By bicycle
Although it's a nice region to cycle, the distances are often too far when you have a specific destination outside the city centre.

Get around
Ypres city centre is best approached on foot.

For visiting the war graves and memorials, one could use a car or cycle. Take the guided "Battle field tour" - bus, or buy an audio tour on the internet - same sites, but a lot cheaper if you have your own transport

See
The attractions of Ypres are divided between the town center and several villages in the surrounding countryside - most of the battlefields and cemeteries are in the latter. For these, a car, bike or an arranged tour would be best.

Landmarks and memorials

 * This memorial contains huge panels inside and out into which are carved the names of the 54,896 officers and men of the British Empire forces who died in the Ypres Salient area and who have no known graves. The names recorded on the gate's panels are those of men who died in the area between the outbreak of the war in 1914 and 15 August 1917. The names of a further 34,984 of the missing - those who died between 16 August 1917 and the end of the war, are recorded on carved panels at Tyne Cot Cemetery, on the slopes just below Passchendaele.
 * The first Cloth Hall was built around 1200 as a center of Flemish wealth, and completely destroyed by German artillery shelling in 1916. The Cloth Hall was rebuilt in 1962 as the symbol of a resurgent city. Contains the In Flanders Fields Museum (see below).
 * The first Cloth Hall was built around 1200 as a center of Flemish wealth, and completely destroyed by German artillery shelling in 1916. The Cloth Hall was rebuilt in 1962 as the symbol of a resurgent city. Contains the In Flanders Fields Museum (see below).

Do

 * Wonderful countryside with many routes for walking and cycling.

Buy

 * Lovely shops and cafes selling Belgian chocolates and beer.
 * Things from the World War I period in dedicated shops, for example near the Menin Gate.

Eat
The marketplace has several restaurants, pubs and places to sit outside during the summer.

Tuesdays usually host a music night outside, organised by "'t Klein Stadhuis" next to the cloth halls and the city hall.

Sleep
The region around Ypres has many small B&Bs, and in the city centre, there are also several hotels.

Stay safe
Ypres is generally very safe. Pickpockets are rare, and violence is very rare. Do watch out in the streets where there's busy traffic.

Go next

 * Kortrijk is the closest city reachable by rail. Kortrijk is a nice provincial city offering history or shopping and has important rail connections to Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Lille.
 * When you travel by car, it's also easy to reach the other towns that were an importance in World War I, such as Nieuwpoort, Diksmuide, Poperinge and Menin.
 * The Belgian coast isn't far away, with sand beaches and picturesque towns a bit further from the beach. Those towns include Veurne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort.

title: Ypres


text:
Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti (ĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē, often mispronounced yĭp′·sĭ·lăn′·tē) commonly shortened to Ypsi (ĭp′·sĭ), is a city in Michigan, six miles east of Ann Arbor. "Ypsilanti" commonly refers to either or both of the City of Ypsilanti and the Charter Township of Ypsilanti, which lies mostly south of the city, with small portions to both the east and west of the city, and may also include neighboring parts of other townships. The geographic grid center of Ypsilanti is the intersection of the Huron River and Michigan Avenue, the latter of which connects downtown Detroit, Michigan with Chicago, Illinois, and through Ypsilanti is partially concurrent with US-12BR and M-17.

Originally a trading post established in 1809 by Gabriel Godfroy, a French-Canadian fur trader from Montreal, a permanent settlement was established on the east side of the Huron River in 1823 by Major Thomas Woodruff. It was incorporated into the Territory of Michigan as the village Woodruff's Grove. A separate community a short distance away on the west side of the river was established in 1825 under the name "Ypsilanti", after Demetrius Ypsilanti, a hero in the Greek War of Independence. Woodruff's Grove changed its name to Ypsilanti in 1829, the year its namesake effectively won the Greek war, and the two communities eventually merged.

Understand
Ypsilanti is Ann Arbor's smaller, poorer, uglier, and infinitely cooler sibling. Surrounded by pretentious neighbors, Ypsi residents tend to see their city as more relaxed and less yuppified. Ypsilanti was the birthplace of Iggy Pop and home of the Ypsilanti Water Tower, dubbed the most phallic building in the world. It's been said that Ypsi is the Brooklyn to Ann Arbor's Manhattan, and many artists have relocated to Ypsi after being priced out of Ann Arbor. This has resulted in a thriving art scene, most visible at the Shadow Art Fair each summer.

Although Eastern Michigan University's enrollment of 23,000 students is more than the permanent population of the city (less than 20,000), and the school is the city's largest employer, with roughly 1,700 faculty and staff members, Ypsilanti is not culturally dominated by the university in the way Ann Arbor is by the University of Michigan.

Ypsilanti has long played an important role in the automobile industry. From 1920-1922, Apex Motors produced the "ACE" car. It was in Ypsilanti that Preston Tucker, whose family owned the Ypsilanti Machine Tool Company, designed and built the prototypes for his Tucker '48. In 1945, Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph W. Frazer bought the nearby Willow Run B-24 Liberator bomber plant from Ford Motor Company, and started to make Kaiser and Frazer model cars in 1947. The last Kaiser car made in Ypsilanti rolled off the assembly line in 1953, when the company merged with Willys-Overland and moved production to Toledo, Ohio. General Motors purchased the Kaiser Frazer plant, and converted it into its Hydramatic Division (now the Powertrain division), beginning production in November 1953, eventually ending production at the facility in 2010.

Ypsilanti is also the location of the last Hudson automobile dealership. Today, the dealership is the site of the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, with a collection including an original Fabulous Hudson Hornet race car.

Climate
Ypsilanti has a fairly typical Midwestern climate, with four distinct seasons.

Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures occasionally reaching above 90 degrees but averaging in the low- to mid-80s °F (26-30 °C). The hottest months are June through early September. Summer often brings severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes to the area. Tornado sirens are sounded when a warning is issued, and they can be heard throughout the city; however, surrounding areas often lack such warning devices.

September, October, April, and May tend to bring mild temperatures, although snow may come as early as October or as late as April.

Winter lows average in the teens, but temperatures do periodically plunge into the single digits, and even below zero from time to time. If visiting in the winter, be prepared to dress for cold weather and snow. Although a local ordinance mandates that residents and business owners must clear snow from their sidewalks in a timely manner, this is not always enforced, particularly in residential areas, so if you'll be walking, be prepared to trudge through snow; boots are a must.

Read
Like many cities, Ypsilanti once had a large psychiatric hospital, now closed. Ypsilanti State Hospital was the setting for a classic work of psychology, The Three Christs of Ypsilanti, by psychologist Milton Rokeach (1964). The book describes his experimental case study with three men from the hospital. In a study which would not be permitted today for ethical reasons, Rokeach brought together three patients with schizophrenia, each of whom held the delusion that he was the one and only Jesus Christ, in an age before widespread availability of antipsychotic drugs. Rokeach was interested in what would happen to their delusions by coming across others who also believed they were Christ, to test how rigid delusions really are. Rokeach met with them daily as a group, giving them various assignments and experiments, and even moving them in together. However, despite all efforts he was not able to change the fundamental nature of their delusions, demonstrating how rigid and resistant to change delusions are and how people who experience them are able to find all kinds of rationales for their delusions, and alter these rationales to fit new and disconfirming experiences. The work also illustrates other classic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as problems with language. Despite this, the experience did lead to some small changes in their beliefs and ways of relating to each other. The work doesn't require the reader to have any knowledge of psychology and is still in print. It gives an insight into the experience of living with schizophrenia, psychosis and grandiose delusions, as well as conditions in American inpatient psychiatric hospitals of the 1950s and 1960s (also portrayed in Ken Kesey's classic 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

By car
The simplest way to arrive an Ypsilanti is by car. Ypsilanti is bounded by I-94 (between Detroit and Jackson) on the south, and by US-23 (between Flint and Toledo, Ohio) on the west. From Toledo and other points south, take US-23 north; from Detroit, the airport, and points east, take I-94 west; from Chicago and points west, take I-94 east; from the north, take US-23 south.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, about 20 minutes away, from which it will probably be necessary to rent a car or have a friend pick you up. A taxi will cost you in the neighborhood of $45 one-way; alternatively, several shuttle services offer pre-booked trips for $30-35 one-way and $55-60 round-trip, with the cost per person decreasing as the size of the group increases. There are quite a lot of airport shuttle services, but the following will give you a place to start:

Ann Arbor Airport, (intersection of State Street and Ellsworth Road), is a small 24-hour airport that handles business, corporate, public and private flights, air ambulance service, flight instruction and charter services.

By train
There has been no railway service to Ypsilanti since 1984, however Amtrak serves nearby Ann Arbor via its thrice-daily Wolverine service between Chicago and Pontiac via Detroit. The railway station in Ann Arbor is in downtown and there are frequent buses connecting to Ypsilanti.

By bus
Several intercity bus lines run from Ann Arbor, from which it is a short taxi ride or local bus trip to Ypsilanti.

By foot or bicycle
Washtenaw County's Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail, intended to eventually reach from Livingston County to Wayne County, along the Huron River, runs from northwestern Ann Arbor through Ypsilanti to Wayne County. In Ann Arbor, it passes near the Amtrak station.

Get around
Ypsilanti is a small enough city that it's easy to get around on foot or on a bicycle -- bicycle racks are plentiful in the downtown, Depot Town, and campus areas -- at least when the weather is good. Free parking is plentiful throughout the city, though in some areas (downtown and campus) free parking may leave you a few blocks away from your destination.

See

Parks
Many of Ypsilanti's parks are on the Huron River, which flows through the center of Ypsilanti into Ford Lake, a man-made lake covering 1.5 square miles in Ypsilanti Township.

Ford Lake Park North Hydro Park North Bay Park Loonfeather Point Park Lakeside Park Huron River Park

Events
Most events in Ypsilanti center around either Eastern Michigan University, particularly in the fall and winter, or the Depot Town district and neighboring parks (Riverside Park and Frog Island Park), particularly in the summer.

Ethnic
Ypsilanti has a number of American-style Chinese restaurants, all offering delivery. None are terrible, but none merit any special notice.

Bars and pubs
Many of Ypsilanti's restaurants serve alcohol, and even have bar areas. Among those worth noting are Sidetrack, Aubree's, Red Rock, the Wurst Bar, and the Tower Inn.

Hotels
The Harmony House Motel is the only hotel in the city itself (near the eastern edge). Your Motel is near the Harmony House, but just outside the city. The Regent Hotel, Comfort Inn, and Days Inn are clustered together west of Ypsilanti, just off US-23. The Marriott at Eagle Crest is just outside the city to the south, just off I-94.

Bed and breakfasts
Ypsilanti is home to two bed and breakfasts, both immediately south of downtown.

Internet
Free Wi-Fi access is plentiful at local cafes. A county government project  attempting to bring free or low-cost Wi-Fi to all of Washtenaw County has been stalled for several years with no coverage in Ypsilanti; however, a free community network called Wireless Ypsi is available throughout most of the downtown and Depot Town areas.

Radio stations
Ypsilanti is home to a single public radio station.

Newspapers
Ypsilanti has no professional daily newspaper. Local newspapers are the Ypsilanti Courier, a weekly newspaper, and the Eastern Echo, the student-run newspaper of Eastern Michigan University.

title: Ypsilanti


text:
Yreka

Yreka (pronounced wye-ree-kuh) is a city of 7,500 people (2019) in Siskiyou County in the Shasta Cascades region of California. Yreka is home to the College of the Siskiyous, Klamath National Forest Interpretive Museum and the Siskiyou County Museum.

Get in
There are a few ways to get into Yreka. The easiest and most common is via Interstate 5. There are three exits from Interstate 5 into Yreka, 773, 775 and 776. If you are looking for fast food take exit 773. There is a McDonald's, Burger King, Carl's Junior, Subway and a Taco Bell. Exits 775 and 776 do not have fast food nearby. Exit 773 also has a Shell gas station. Exit 775 has a few different gas stations including Chevron and another Shell. 775 also has a 24hr Denny's nearby. If you are trying to get to Old Town Yreka 775 would be the exit to take. 776 has a Casa Ramos near it which is a sit down Mexican restaurant. It also has a USA Gas station that usually has the cheapest gas in town.

Other ways into Yreka include Highway 3 which enters from the south and the east, Old Highway 99 which enters from the south, Highway 263 which enters from the north, and Oberlin road which parallels Highway 3 as it enters from the east.

Get around
Yreka is a very small town. Walking is almost always an option as well as a bicycle. There isn't much traffic in Yreka so a car is effective as well. The bus system in Yreka mainly runs to more rural areas around Yreka, but also runs within Yreka some. Taxi services come and go within Yreka, sometimes there is a taxi service and sometimes there isn't.

See
The most impressive sights in Yreka are the mountains around it. Mt. Shasta can easily be seen from many places in Yreka.

Do
There is one movie theater with two screens.

Buy
The easiest place to find things in Yreka is at Walmart. It is at the south end of town.

Drink
As far as night life goes, there isn't much of it in Yreka. There are a few bars: The Rex Club and Jolley's Club.

Sleep
There are several motels in Yreka. There are almost always vacancies with several of the motels. One thing that does fill up the motels is that every few years Siskiyou Summit on I-5 gets shut down due to stormy conditions and severe snow. When this happens traffic is stopped at Yreka. There is not another safe way to go north from Yreka so the motels will fill up pretty quickly. Many people will sit on I-5 hoping to wait out the storm. It is important to exit I-5 and find a motel as soon as possible because they WILL fill up. Sometimes conventions are held in Yreka which will also affect availability. Prices for motels are fairly competitive in Yreka.

title: Yreka


text:
Ystad

Ystad is a small but charming city in Scania, or Skåne, part of southern Sweden. It is on the south coast of Scania and has good beaches west and east of the town. Its harbour is a meeting place of ship, train and bus connections. It has a new marina and makes a great base for exploring the area, as well as Skåne.

Understand
The area was first settled in the 12th century, and the town has an attractive medieval centre, and its coastal position, facing Germany across the Baltic, means that it was closely associated with the Hanseatic League, which it joined in the 14th century. Until the 19th century, Ystad was one of Sweden's most important ports, but when the railway Södra Stambana was hauled to Malmö instead of Ystad, Ystad quickly lost its significance. On the other hand, this development meant that during a period when often old buildings from city centers were destroyed in the way of new ones, Ystad did not grow and this development did not gain momentum in the city. Therefore, there is still a large number of very old building stock in the center of Ystad, dating back to the Middle Ages. Ystad's cityscape with half-timbered houses and pleasant pedestrian streets is valued so that, for example, in 2017 the city was among the 20 candidates in the public vote for the most beautiful city in Sweden on the Arkitekturupproret blog.

Ystad hosts a number of festivals and has a decent art museum, plus a number of other museums and attractions. It is known internationally as the setting for many of the novels of Henning Mankell, featuring fictional Ystad police inspector Kurt Wallander (see Nordic Noir). There are regular Wallander tours in several languages, and even free showings of films in the main square (Stortorget).

The area around Ystad has a lot of farms, and many of them grow rapeseed. These flower around early May and last for a couple of weeks. Passers by will see a sea of bright yellow. There have been so many instances of tourists wandering into fields to take selfies with the magnificent vistas that farmers have put up signs and fences to discourage this practice. But you can still get grand views as you drive or bike by. There is a coastal biking trail along the south coast of Sweden ("Sydkustleden" - translation "the south coast trail") that passes through Ystad and you can see these fields from it. If you are biking east from Ystad, a better option would be to first hit the beach. There, a small unpaved gravel trail, runs along the top line of the beach and then later into woods. This continues for a few miles before it then swerves north a bit and merges into the Sydkustleden.

As in most small towns, as an English speaking traveler, you may encounter some friction when you find restaurant menus or other signs that are available only in Swedish. Google Lens can help to some degree. Obviously, an ever-helpful Swede who can translate would be best, but sometimes, even their knowledge can be stretched. Having them read out aloud into Google Translate ("Translate by Speech"), can sometimes get you past this.

By plane
Malmö (Sturup) airport is a 30 minutes drive away. Copenhagen (Kastrup) airport is a one hour drive.

By train
From elsewhere in Sweden, travel to Malmö and take a local train ("pågatåg") from there operated by Skånetrafiken. From Copenhagen you will need to change trains in Malmö. Copenhagen also has rail connections from further south in Europe, even Cologne and Brussels.

By ferry
Ystad has ferry connections from Rønne, Bornholm by Bornholmslinjen. From Świnoujście, Poland Polferries and Unity Line operate ferries.

Get around
Walk. Everything is easily accessible on foot. There's also a little tourist street 'train'. Many locals bike, and there are bike paths all over town.

Do

 * Walk through the old part of the city and enjoy the old half-timbered houses. In the evening eat and drink on the main square or shopping streets, and enjoy the comings and goings of the volunteer fire brigade in their antique vehicles.
 * Follow the Wallander trails - if you are a fan of the books or films there are many, many references as Mankell based his material on actual places and situations. If this is to be believed there seems to have been a murder or gruesome incident on almost every corner of the town. In reality the police are hardly ever seen, except when parking up to collect a burger order from the stall on St Knuts Torg, near to the excellent Tourist Information office within the Art Museum.
 * During summer, enjoy a walk by the beach (east of the town). Stop by and grab a beer or ice cream at "Fritidsbaren" and get a good view of the ocean.
 * North of the town is a beautiful lake and forest area. Several national parks are found within a short drive.
 * Every other year, Ystad hosts a tattoo, a must-see if you are interested in music. See the website for more information.
 * Ystad is the perfect base for exploring south Scania; there's a wealth of places to visit, something for everyone, and the Tourist Information in town is very helpful.
 * Bike along the Sydkustleden which runs along the south coast of Sweden, through many small towns and through the Swedish countryside. This trail runs pretty close to the coast in most places. Its not uncommon for Swedish bikers to not wear helmets, as they have a lot of (perhaps justified) faith in Swedish drivers. So you may have to explicitly ask for helmets if you are renting.

Buy

 * Handicraft

Eat
Several good eateries in town, including Japanese, Chinese and Thai.

Drink
See Möllers Bryggeri above, with its own brewery.

Go next

 * Simrishamn
 * Trelleborg
 * Lund - An old university town
 * Malmö - The largest city in Scania and the gateway to Copenhagen and Denmark.

title: Ystad


text:
Yuanyang

Yuanyang is in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan, China.

Understand
It is important to understand that Yuanyang, in fact, refers to three things. There is Yuanyang County, Yuanyang New City (Nansha), and Yuanyang Old Town (Xinjiezhen). Yuanyang New City is the Yuanyang you will see on most maps and the capital of Yuanyang County, while Yuanyang Old Town is the traditional heart of the county and definitely the location you will be heading if you are a tourist. To make things complicated, if you are in Nansha, then you are in Yuanyang, and Yuangyang Old Town is Xinjiezhen (or simply Xinjie), and if you are in Xinjiezhen, then you are in Yuanyang, and Yuangyang New City is Nansha. Make sure you clarify which Yuanyang you are going to when you hop on a bus. For the sake of continuity, in this article "Yuanyang" will refer to Yuanyang Old Town and "Nansha" will refer to Yuanyang New City.

Get in
Note: The night bus arrives at around 2:00. You can either continue sleeping on the bus or find a cheap room at the bus station (from ¥40). Departure from Kunming South bus station. To get to the South Bus Station, take bus 154 close to the main train station. A taxi from the center will cost you around ¥50-60. The Metro takes 20 minutes and costs ¥4.
 * From Kunming - three buses every day, at 10:00, 12:00 and 18:00 (sleeping), ticket ¥140, about 7 hours.
 * !!TIP!! Over Gejiu - several buses everyday, get to Gejiu about ¥80, 4-5h, than ¥20 to Yuanyang (Nansha bus station), 1hour. Buses to Gejiu departure from Kunming East bus station.
 * From Jinghong - an interesting, two day trip through mountains and minority areas. Get the bus from Jinhong to Luchun (12 hours) and stay the night. Spend the morning in Luchun, taste the local Yi food and check out the tea terraces, then get the bus at midday to Xinjie (3-4 hours).

See

 * Terrace fields - lot of small buses at Nansha bus station. Most popular areas: Yishu village (依树村; yishucun, 24km), Bada village (坝达村; badacun, 16km), Habo village (哈播村, habocun, 80km), Longshu dam (龙树坝; longshuba, 5km), Xinjie city (新街镇; xinjie zhen). Gates have been put up and you will be charged ¥60 to visit certain areas. In January 2012 it was possible for some travellers to go there without paying the fee (so really just buy a ticket if you really have to). You can take bus, randomly get out and just walk, camp.

Go next

 * Kunming - Buses leave from Xinjie at 09:00, sleeper buses at 16:00 and 17:30.
 * Gejiu
 * Honghe
 * Jianshui - The most comfortable (and probably fastest) route is to get a shared taxi to Nansha (1 hour - ¥15), then a bus to Gejiu (1 hour), then a bus to Jianshui (1 hour).

title: Yuanyang


text:
Yuba City

Yuba City is in Sutter County, California in the Sacramento Valley.

Do

 * Hike the Sutter Buttes, the world's smallest mountain range.  The Sutter Buttes are quite scenic and are full of unusual volcanic and geologic features.   Since the publicly owned areas are surrounded by privately held ranches, access is limited to hikes guided by the Middle Mountain Foundation.

title: Yuba City


text:
Yuba County

Yuba County is in the Sacramento Valley region of California.

Go next

 * - Named for the Marysville Buttes that are actually found in neighboring Sutter County, Yuba County's northwestern neighbor is a rural destination featuring rolling hills, rivers, and large agricultural areas. The town of Chico is a college town that is home to many excellent restaurants, massive Bidwell Park, and the National Yo-Yo Museum.  The town of Oroville boasts a downtown area that dates back to the Gold Rush, and is now home to America's tallest dam (tours available), behind which sits a reservoir that is enjoyed by boaters and hikers.  Further afield, 410 ft tall Feather Falls rewards hikers willing to traverse the 8 mi loop trail.
 * - Located northeast of Yuba County, the forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities. The Feather River Scenic Byway is a popular way to see the county's beauty, with the east-west route following California's first designated wild and scenic river past nearly one hundred waterfalls, historic bridges and tunnels, spring wildflowers, vivid fall colors, and the "Stairway of Power" consisting of seven hydroelectric powerhouses installed along the river.
 * - Located in the mountains and forests adjacent to the Nevada border, Yuba County's northeastern neighbor was a booming mining area during the Gold Rush, but today is home to only about 3,000 people. Historically the county was the site of several massive gold discoveries, including the 106 pound Monumental Nugget in 1869; a replica of the huge nugget can be seen in the Kentucky Mine Museum in Sierra City.
 * - Located east of Yuba County, Nevada County rises from the Sierra foothills to the Nevada border. The county retains many examples of its Gold Rush past, ranging from California's oldest operating theater in Nevada City to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, an establishment that has hosted four Presidents since its opening in 1851.  Even before the Gold Rush, the county gained fame for the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846, and today the lake named for that doomed expedition is a popular recreation spot.
 * - Yuba County's southeastern neighbor stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Named after the Spanish word meaning "sand or gravel deposits containing gold", the county was a hotbed of activity during the Gold Rush.  Today visitors can enjoy mountain activities such as hiking and skiing, and will also be impressed by the historic courthouse in Auburn.
 * - Yuba County's southwestern neighbor, tiny Sutter County lies between the Sacramento and Feather rivers, with nearly 90% of the county's land used for grazing and agriculture. The county is home to the eroded volcanic lava domes of the Sutter Buttes, which occupy a circular area roughly ten miles across and are sometimes referred to as the world's smallest mountain range.

title: Yuba County


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Yuba Lake State Park

Yuba Lake State Park is in Central Utah.

Understand
At an elevation of 5,100 feet (1,555 m), Yuba State Park is 25 miles south of Nephi, just off Interstate 15. The reservoir, when full, is 22 miles (35 km) long and reaches a maximum depth of 80 feet (24 m). Yuba Reservoir is the largest of many water impoundments on the Sevier River with a capacity of 250,000 acre feet of water.

Flora and fauna
The reservoir is a year-round fishery for walleye, perch, catfish, rainbow trout and northern pike.

Fees and permits

 * Day-use fee: $8

Do
The sprawling waters of Yuba State Park provide a variety of recreation opportunities for visitors. Warm water and sandy beaches, along with nearby off-highway vehicle riding areas, lure visitors during summer months. One of the few state parks with boat-in camping, Yuba is very popular with water recreationers. Two boat ramps, one at Yuba State Park and one at Painted Rocks, provide access for all types of watercraft. Other activities include camping, hiking, picnicking, rock hounding, bird watching, interpretive and junior ranger programs, mountain biking, and waterfowl hunting in season.

title: Yuba Lake State Park


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Yubari

Yubari (夕張) is a city in Sorachi, Hokkaido.

Understand
Yubari is a coal mining town famous for melons, a film festival and staggering rates of depopulation. When the mines closed in 1980s, the town shrank from a peak of 120,000 down to about 6,000 and still dropping, a 95% collapse unmatched even in Japan. With a median age of 65, also the highest in Japan, a turnaround is unlikely anytime soon.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
The Yubari branch line closed in 2019, leaving the town with no train service. The closest station is the misleadingly named Shin-Yubari (新夕張), 16 km away, which has services from Sapporo every two hours or so, with connecting buses to town.

Alternatively, take a direct Hokkaido Chuo Bus from Sapporo.

Do

 * Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival

Buy

Yubari is famous for the Yubari Melon, the very best of which are sold in the department stores of Tokyo for north of ¥10,000 each. In season (May to August), you can buy less perfect specimens for about ¥1000 per melon.

Even outside season, you will not be able to miss one of Japan's most bizarre mascots, the Melon Kuma bear, whose melon-helmeted raging maw adorns all sorts of souvenirs ranging from keychains to underpants.

Sleep
The only hotel in the city, Hotel Mount Racey (Reisui), announced "temporarily" closure in March 2020 due to COVID-19. It has not reopened since.

Go next

 * Shimukappu
 * Mukawa
 * Atsuma
 * Minami-Furano
 * Furano
 * Ashibetsu
 * Iwamizawa
 * Kuriyama
 * Yuni

title: Yubari


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Yubeng

Yubeng (雨崩) is a village in Northwestern Yunnan. Yubeng Village is a base for hiking and climbing in the Meili Snow Mountain Range.

Understand
The village has 2 halves, Upper and Lower Yubeng, separated by a gorge; it takes about 20 minutes to walk from one to the other. From Upper Yubeng, trekkers have access to the Base Camp, and Ice Lake hikes (8 hours round trip). From Lower Yubeng, you can find the paths to the Sacred Waterfall (6 hours), and if you are a hardcore hiker, Holy Lake, which from a higher vantage point, has an unobstructed view of the Kawa Karpo Peak (6,740 meters), and most of the rest of the mountain range.

Legend has it that for centuries Yubeng Village was unknown to the outside world. One day, an old man arrived in Xidang Village near Lancang River (the Mekong River) and tried to buy highland barley from the villagers there. No one knew where he came from, so some of the villagers followed him when he left, but on the way over the mountain the old man disappeared.

Later, the old man came back to Xidang to buy food again. The villagers objected and told him “we aren’t going to sell you barley or wheat, but just some millet.” When they loaded the food for the old man, one of the villagers made small holes on the bags. After he started his journey back home, the old man was followed again. He didn’t realize that the holes in the bags had spilled the millet along the way. However, when he reached a huge rock, he disappeared. So the villagers pried up the rock and Yubeng Village was discovered.

Get in
You will need to start your trip from either Deqin or Fei Lai Si. There are 4 buses available between Shangri-la and Deqin (¥40-65), departing from morning to 14:30. Buy your ticket the day before if possible from the North Bus Station. The bus ride takes 3–6 hours, depending on the conditions of the road, and if the new tunnel is functioning. Fei Lai Si is a short drive away from Deqin (approximately 20 minutes), and you can easily get a Didi or a taxi, and sometimes the bus to Deqin will continue to Fei Lai Si for an extra ¥5.

The next step is to get to Xidang. There is a public bus from Deqin to Xidang every day at 15:00, costing ¥30.

From Fei Lai Si, starting at about 07:45, minivans will be available on the road outside the Meili Shan scenic spot to take you there. The minivans will charge ¥140-150 per vehicle, so it's best to look for a van that's almost full, to avoid paying a higher price. You can also make friends with the other hikers in your car, as you will likely see them again during your hike! On the way to Xidang, you will need to stop and pay the entrance fee to Yubeng (¥55) (August 2020). There is also a public bus leaving to Xidang Hot Spring at 08:00 from the viewing platform gate in Fei Lai Si, for ¥20 per person.

From Xidang you can either begin your hike to Yubeng or choose to take a jeep into the village, which might be a good option if you're short on time and want to get to the other hikes available in the village. The jeep costs ¥200 per person (August 2020), and takes 1–2 hours to take you in. For ¥150, you can get ride to the top of ridge (yakou) and walk downhill into the Village. They run throughout the day, and are also available to take you out of the village when you leave.

If you decide to hike, and the views are certainly worth it, it will take 4–8 hours depending on your ability. It is 12 km up hill and 6 km down hill. There are multiple shaded rest stops along the hike, and one convenience store selling drinks and food, approximately 6 km into the hike. There will be times when you are hiking along the road, but you will hear the jeeps coming before they see you. To gauge your progress along the trail, read the number painted on nearby the utility poles. It is 105 poles up to the hill crest and 50 poles down to the village. Just before entering the village, you will need to pay a ¥5 health fee (August 2020).

You will be hiking in high altitude, so if needed, oxygen can be purchased in Deqin and Fei Lai Si for about ¥25 per bottle (August, 2020). You will also need a hat/sunscreen and a hiking stick is recommended (available for purchase for ¥20 in Fei Lai Si) (August, 2020). Hats and warm clothes can also be purchased in Fei Lai Si, but expect to pay a higher cost.

You may still be able to ride donkeys or horses part of the way, but in August 2020, there were no donkeys or horses on the trail, probably due to the popularity of the jeeps. You can, however, still hire donkeys and horses for the hikes out of Yubeng.

Another option, if you want to have the real Tibetan pilgrim experience, is to stay the night at Xidang Hot Spring. There is one hostel there which sells food and another small cafe towards the entrance. Dorms are around ¥50. The added benefit of this is that you can start the walk as soon as you wake up in the morning, forfeiting the journey from Fei Lai Si to Xidang Hot Spring which can take around 2 hours. Be warned there is no English spoken at the Hot Spring hostel - however if you manage to get a bed you'll undoubtedly be spending the night with real Tibetan monks and pilgrims, as opposed to Chinese tourists in Fei Lai Si.

Get around
Mostly by foot, although there are still donkeys and horses available for hikes around Yubeng.

See
Trekking into and out of Yubeng cost a day each. Each sight in Yubeng (of which there are 3: Holy Waterfall, Ice Lake and Holy Lake) takes a day. Therefore, a typical trek at Yubeng takes 3–5 days round trip from Fei Lai Si. Budget an additional day on each end to get to and from Shangri-la where the nearest airport exists.

Do
Trekking around Yubeng is sheer joy, even for the experienced mountain trekkers. The landscape is dramatic and diverse: alpine forest, holy waterfalls, glacial lakes, pasture and quaint Tibetan villages. Yubeng is one of the most popular destinations in Three Parallel Rivers.

Buy
Caterpillar fungus, matsutake and snow lotus when it's in season.

Eat
There are multiple restaurants available in the village, most of them attached to guesthouses. The price is relatively expensive due to the transport cost, but not outrageous.

Drink
Barley Wine (青稞酒) is brewed locally in the valley. It is an acquired taste, so for your first time, try a small cup before ordering a jug.

Sleep
A dorm bed usually costs ¥20-35 while a typical double room is ¥100-250. One might prefer to stay in the upper village with a room facing the snow mountains or in the more quiet lower village. Most hotels are able to accept foreigners. As of August 2020, there are multiple new hotels being built in the village, as the new access road opens it up to more tourists. You do not need to book in advance, but try to arrive in the village as early as possible, so you get a better choice of lodgings.

Go next
You can either leave Yubeng the same way you came in (hiking or jeep), or you can choose to hike out via Ninong. If you return to Xidang, there is a public bus back to Deqin every morning at 08:00, or you can hire a car back. Just like arriving at Xidang, the more people in the car, the lower the cost individually.

The trail starts from both Upper Yubeng and Lower Yubeng (merging later). It's 17 km long, but entirely downhill, and takes 3–5 hours. As of August 2020, a road connecting Lower Yubeng to Ninong exists, and is in the process of getting concreted. You'll find most of the local Tibetan people following this road as well, which is on the right side of the river bank. Follow the road until it turns into a dirt path down to, and along, the river. After about 10.5 km from the beginning of the trail, you'll come a cross a restaurant selling drinks and food. There is also a toilet available for the cost of ¥1. Continue your hike, and after another kilometre, you'll cross the Yubeng River and continue the rest of your hike (approximately another 5.5 km) along a cliff face. The path is well-worn, but essentially along a cliff edge at this point, so travelers with vertigo or a fear of heights should reconsider. As of August 2020, this path is also in the process of getting laid with concrete slabs. Eventually you will reach a parking area at the bottom of the hike before Ninong village, and minivans are available to take you back to Deqin, Shangri-La, or Fai Lai Si. You can expect to pay about ¥150 per minivan. You may need your hostel to arrange a car to be waiting for you in the off-season, or you can save the WeChat or number of the driver who originally took you to Yidang, and negotiate a price with him to have him waiting for you after the hike.

The hike between Yubeng and Ninong does involve some slippery rocks and a few steep sections, but after the hike into Yubeng, it should be relatively easy. If you have a decent set of hiking boots and ideally a hiking stick, you will be fine. Be careful along the last section of the hike along the cliff face in the afternoon, as it can get a little windy, and you will also be sharing the path with motorcycles.

title: Yubeng


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Yucatán

Yucatán is a state in the north western part of the Yucatán Peninsula, with its coastline facing the Gulf of Mexico. To the east is the state of Quintana Roo, home of Cancun and Cozumel; Campeche is to the south.

Yucatán is where the Chicxulub Crater is located; geologists say that this crater dates back approx 65 million years from the Earth's collision with a meteorite, and it is implicated with the extinction of the dinosaurs. Around 1000 AD, Yucatán was one of the centers of the Maya civilization. While their big cities and temples have fallen to ruins long before the arrival of the Spaniards the Maya people still make up much of the state's population. The Spanish came to conquer in the 1500s, and their descendants stayed and contributed to the historic heritage of Yucatán. In the late 1800s Henequen cactus was the "green gold" of Yucatan and was responsible for much of the wealth of Yucatan. Henequen made Yucatan into one of Mexico’s richest States. Today, one can still visit some of the henequen producing haciendas that reflect this wealth.

Cities

 * — the state capital and largest city, and the cultural center of southern Mexico
 * — fishing and beach community famous for the flamingos in the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve
 * - home of three beautiful cenotes
 * — a small city with a rich ancient Maya and Spanish Colonial past
 * — 4,000 year old Mayan community with a checkered past
 * — Colonial town built over an existing Maya community, near several Maya archaeological sites
 * — a pueblito, origin of the "Huevos Motuleños"
 * — a port city on Gulf of Mexico with seafood and beaches.
 * — historic port and colonial fortress, a Pueblo Mágico
 * — Spanish Colonial era architecture dominates this small city.

Archaeological sites
Yucatán is home to hundreds of archaeological sites, including several very famous Mayan ruins.

 * – Yucatan's largest and most famous ancient Maya ruins
 * – Maya ruins just north of Valladolid
 * – Maya site famed for its masks of the rain god, Chaac
 * – the last great Maya city, built by Chichen Itza's heirs
 * – beautiful Maya site south of Merida. A bit south Uxmal are a collection of smaller but impressive Maya ruins: Kabah, Labnah, and Sayil.

Natural sites

 * - Breeding ground for pink flamingos. Near site of Las Coloradas, famous pink lagoons.
 * – home of three beautiful cenotes
 * – an underground cave system, two hours south of Merida, known for 1,000 year old cave drawings
 * - Atoll in Gulf of Mexico, 125 km off the Yucatan coast, five islands (one of which is inhabited and allows camping), this is a Mexico national park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and a Ramsar wetland. It is known for huge frigate bird populations, sport fishing, and scuba diving (reef sites as well as the 1857 shipwreck of the British steamer Tweed)

Itineraries

 * Ruta Puuc – itinerary of several Maya sites exemplifying Puuc architecture
 * Cenotes of the Yucatán – itinerary that visits some of the region's most beautiful underground pools and rivers

Understand
Yucatan is a place of peace and friendly people, a place to explore the Maya culture, enjoy beautiful sandy beaches, underground rivers and cenotes (sinkholes or caves originating from limestone erosion in a Karst area), delight in sightseeing many ancient Maya archaeological sites or enjoy a great meal. Bird lovers will find Yucatan a great place for bird-watching, those that enjoy romantic places will find many in the Colonial cities of this lovely state; where people gather early at night in parks and plazas to enjoy a free concert or to dance some salsa.

Talk
Spanish is the official language. Knowing at least a few simple phrases of basic Spanish is helpful, but locals are very forgiving of visitors who are not fluent as long as you make an effort to be polite. In much of Yucatan some Maya is spoken. Except in a few small villages, almost everyone will have at least a working knowledge of basic Spanish. The younger people are now learning English and will try to practice on you. A translation dictionary may not be as helpful as in other areas. English, at least simple English, is widely understood with merchants and guides at major tourist destinations and in more upscale hotels.

By plane
The major airport in Yucatan State is the Merida (Rejon) International Airport. Another point of access to the State might be through Cancún International Airport, in Cancun, Quintana Roo State, to the east of Yucatan State.

By train
The Tren Maya] is a modern intercity railway connecting cities, airports, and major tourism destinations throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

As of December 2023 the first section is complete, running from Cancún International Airport to Palenque. Stations in the state of Yucatán are Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Izamal, Merida (Teya-Merida), and Uman. Ticket prices range from M$1100 to M$1800 and can be purchased at ticket counters in the train stations or online through the official Tren Maya website.

By boat
The main option for approaching the Yucatan Peninsula by boat would be cruise ships serving locations of Yucatan State, or the State of Quintana Roo. Most cruise ships drop anchor to the east in Cancun or Cozumel, Quintana Roo State. Some cruise ships anchor at Progresso, in Yucatan State. Progresso has one of the longest causeways in the world.

By road
Yucatan has extensive well built highways, rural, state and federal roads that are safe for tourists to drive on. However, some of the more interesting paths are simply sand. If you have rented a vehicle, be cautious not to damage it or get stuck in beach sands. When driving the "libre" roads, keep an eye out for speed bumps. They are numerous, mostly at the beginning, end, and maybe middle of every village you pass through. It is not uncommon to find drains and water lines on top of the pavement, with a pavement patch on top of the pipe. Bus companies offer inexpensive first-class routes.

Get around
Renting a car is highly recommended. Main roads are in good condition and state maps are easily available at any "tourist information kiosk." There is a good coach and bus network in the state. First class coaches are normally available between tourist-destinations (e.g. Merida and Valladolid) and these are fast and comfortable. However, to explore smaller towns and villages and to get out of the cities, local buses and collectivos are often the only public transport available, and can be slow, hot and uncomfortable. Tren Maya trains cross the state with several stations near major cities and archaeological sites. There is limited air service to outlying communities from Merida.

The fastest route across the region (Cancun-Valladolid-Chichen Itza-Merida) is the divided four-lane toll road, the cuota (Highway 180). The toll between Cancun and Chichen Itza is approximately US$30 each way. The road is well-maintained but does not have nighttime lighting; occasional bicyclists and pedestrians create some road hazards, but fewer than on most other Mexican roads. There are few services available along the road, very few gas stations, few vendors or services, etc. so plan accordingly. Restrooms are available at some toll booth areas.

 * "Yucatan Today" has lot of info and tips online. Pick up a copy of their monthly periodical when in Yucatan for maps, information, and lots of articles.

See
Museums. Many cities and towns in Yucatan offer visitors the joy of a good museum exhibit. Chichen Itza has a small exhibit at the main entrance of the site, within the Cultur complex; but don't miss the Merle Greene Gallery and museum at Hacienda Chichen, where you will find an exquisite private collection of Dr. Greene's original rubbings display with utmost care and elegance.

Itineraries

 * Cenotes of the Yucatán - Cenotes are freshwater underground sink-holes. There are several thousand cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, many open to the public for swimming and bathing. A route between Merida and Puerto Morelos is a relaxing day-trip drive with the opportunity to stop at several cenotes.
 * Ruta Puuc – itinerary of several Maya sites exemplifying Puuc architecture

Do

 * Merida by night. Each night the City Hall sponsors many cultural events and regional dances through out the Historic District in downtown; most events are free and scheduled to start after 19:00 Carnival at Merida has evolved from a Maya/Catholic indigenous celebration to what they describe as The party of the year, every year in Yucatan. Lodging reservations suggested.
 * Swimming in cenotes. These natural underground lake and cave formations, found throughout the peninsula, are especially concentrated in the state of Yucatán. The highest concentration is to be found in what was once an ancient meteor crater. Many that can be toured are located along La Ruta de los Cenotes, an official network of secondary roads that is promoted by regional governments and tourist authorities.
 * Mayan sacred ceremonies. The Mayan Priests and Elder Healers' civil association: Kuch Kaab Yeetel J-Men Maya'ob A.C. offers a variety of sacred Mayan rituals and mystical ceremonies throughout the year at their Sacred Mayan Ceremonial Center within the Maya Jungle Reserve at Hacienda Chichen.
 * Birdwatching. Yucatan is a great place to visit for those that enjoy birdwatching. Places to visit are: Celestun, Rio Lagartos, El Cuyo, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal.
 * Buy souvenirs. The "guayabera" shirts for men and the "huipil" blouses and dresses for women are attractive and great for the climate and can be purchased all over.
 * Yucatan is well known for its exquisite and embroider "huipiles," silver "filigrana" jewelry, traditional "hammocks,", fine replicas of ancient Maya ceramic vessels and masks. One of the most sensational fine arts boutique is found in Valladolid's main square, Yalat it specializes in Mexican fine arts and unique Maya art-crafts; the store itself is a joy to visit. Merida also offers some good shopping, try its traditional main market or the open-market on many streets all week long.
 * Yucatan makes excellent summer hats of the "Panama" or "Jipijapa" style. Even the highest quality fine mesh hand woven hats are fairly reasonably priced compared to what similar hats go for in most other countries.

Eat
Yucatan cuisine is well known throughout Mexico. Try the traditional "Pollo Pibil" (tender chicken) and "Sopa de Lima" (chicken soup with lime juice). "Poc chuc" is a tender slow cooked pork dish. Chilmole is turkey in a dark spicy sauce. Venison is no longer as common in Yucatan as it was a generation ago, but still sometimes appears on menus and is usually of good quality.

If you are lucky enough to be discovering Yucatan by automobile or even bus, a travel cooler of decent size comes in very handy in this climate. You will have opportunities to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables along the road. Pass up any that have already been peeled. Honey is usually sold along the road in used whiskey bottles. It should be considered safe and will be quite tasty.

Drink
Some consider the water in Merida safe to drink (including people who don't drink the tap water elsewhere in Yucatan), but bottled water is available most places and is the safest choice, especially in the countryside the water can have microbes that can cause digestive problems.

Yucatan has some decent bottled beers. "Montejo" is a light pilsner; "Leon" is a Munich style dark. Some places you may see "Michelada" offered, which is cold beer with lime juice and spices. Especially for liquors you are not used to, be sure to drink in moderation. Yucatan makes several brands of rum. Tequila is popular at tourist heavy places, it is not really a big Yucatan thing; most comes from other parts of Mexico. There's Absinthe. Yucatan also has unusual local products such as "X'tabentun" made with anis and honey, and "Crema de nance", a tasty distinctive liquor made from a local fruit.

Fresh fruit juice is very popular in Yucatan and freshly squeezed orange juice can be found in most markets. Dairy products, including cheese, should be avoided, unless you are positive they have been made with pasteurized milk.

Sleep
The lodging in the Yucatan varies widely.

On the cheap range are places where you bring your own hammock (good quality inexpensive hammocks can be easily purchased at markets in Merida or larger towns). Sleeping in your own hammock is common for budget accommodation, often in rather primitive lodging with three walls, a ceiling and an open air front. Only a wash bowl and stool will be provided. Even some higher priced hotels in the cities have a floor of rooms that only accommodate hammocks. Other more conventional sleeping choices are also available.

In the moderate range, unless there is a big event in town it is usually pretty easy to find decent hotels or pensions with basic but clean rooms with the simple luxuries of bed, air conditioning and private bath, often only a short distance from historic sights or beaches which support high end hotels charging tens of times as much.

Larger cities and most popular attractions have luxury hotels with amenities and attentive staff who understand English and other major languages.

For a different type of Yucatan experience consider the numerous haciendas that are scattered throughout the State, offering outstanding amenities at reasonable cost. This will help you understand the rich history of Yucatan.

Stay safe
Yucatan should be considered a safe place to visit. It is common for locals to approach you to practice their English, although most are quite reserved and shy. Always keep your vehicle locked and valuables out of sight. In the larger cities, parking is somewhat limited and it may be best to find secured parking. Never photograph military installations, Police, Federales or children without permission. The biggest danger to visitors may be on the roads. If not on toll roads, you are likely to encounter large buses, trucks, pedestrians, animals and such. Driving after dark can be dangerous and risky. In the tourist areas you may encounter some "machismo". It is best dealt with by pretending not to notice or humbleness.

Go next

 * To the south of Yucatan is the state of Campeche, with more Maya ruins and the charming namesake capital city Campeche.
 * East of Yucatan is the state of Quintana Roo, home to the popular tourist destination of Cancún, the ancient ruins of Tulum and Coba, beautiful beaches, and other attractions.

title: Yucatán