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Villach

Villach is a town in the Carinthia province of Austria. It has about 62,000 inhabitants (2018). Villach is the second-largest city of Carinthia and a railway gateway to most parts of Austria as well as the Italian border.

Understand
Its carnival is broadcast on public television throughout Austria.

It's quite old, with roots back in Roman times (when the city was called Santicum). The city was heavily bombed in World War II, destroying many parts of the city.

By train
Villach is a railway hub for Austria, so trains converge from most other big cities including Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck and Bregenz. There are also direct connections to Munich, Zurich, Venice, Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. Several sleeper trains stop en route to destinations such as Florence, Milan, Munich, Rome, Stuttgart, and Zurich. However, Villach is a mid-point for these journeys, so departure times are after midnight.

Optima Express runs a car-train between Villach and Edirne in western Turkey two or three times a week April-November, taking 33 hours. Departure days vary. This train enables motorists to take their own cars to Turkey while avoiding the tricky, tiring roads through the Balkans, and it's also open for passengers without cars. It's one of the cheaper ways to retrace the old Orient Express in the modern day.

By car
If you are coming from north, take the A10 Tauernautobahn. If you are coming from east (Graz,Vienna) take the A2 Südautobahn. If you are planning to go from Slovenia, take the A11 Karawankenautobahn. If you are arriving from Italy also take the A2 Südautobahn. The motorway around Villach has two exits at Faakersee which takes you to the centre of the city and Ossiachersee which takes you to the north of the city.

By plane
If you are travelling by plane,  is the nearest airport, with regular flights from destinations including Alicante, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London Stansted, Munich, and Rotterdam. The drive is approximately 40 km along the A2 Südautobahn. By train, the S-Bahn line S1 runs hourly between Villach's main station and Klagenfurt Annabichl station, a 5-10 minute walk to the airport terminal. The ride is just under one hour. The airport in Ljubljana is further away (about 100km) but serves a larger number of airlines and destinations.

Get around
It's a quite small town, so it is easy to get around on foot. Taxis can be found near the railway station and in the centre of the city near Hauptplatz. Federal buses go to the surrounding area from the local Busbahnhof (busterminal, a few minutes away from the railway station). Local busline no.10 (operated by a company called Kowatsch) goes around the historic city centre. Getting around by car can be tiring since parking space is rare during weekdays and traffic jams at business hours are very common. During weekdays parking fees are charged in most areas around the centre of the city.

Buy
If you want to go shopping stick to the Hauptplatz and the centre area of the city. A bit outside of Villach (along Mariagailerstrasse) you will find an area with many shopping malls. These malls are far apart, so it's better to go by car or bus there. Buses to Mariagailerstrasse go from the local Busbahnhof (a bus terminal) which is located a few minutes away from the central railway station. In 2007 a huge shopping centre (atrio) was opened. It has about 80 shops!

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Drink
If you want to go out in the evening go for Hauptplatz and the numerous small avenues that start there. You'll find various small pubs and cafes such as

Stay safe
Villach, like most Austrian cities, is safe to wander around. There will be occasional drunk people during festivities, but police visibility is evident. It is advisable to take precautionary measures when traveling, similarly to traveling to other European cities.

Sleep
Villach has a large variety of both low and high-budget hotels. Some addresses are:

Connect
Local area code is 4242.
 * Cafeteria nikolai Nikolaigasse 16 (about 10 min away from central square),, an internet cafe which serves food and drinks.
 * Villach town government website

Go next

 * If you want to get out, try, a beautiful lake a few kilometres outside of Villach. Faaker See is one of the warmest lakes in Austria with water temperatures around 27 °C during summer. Faaker See can be reached by bus or train. Trains go to Faak am See (the ride takes about 20 min) from the main station (during weekdays there is a train every two hours), a lido is 10 min away from the local train station.

 * located in the south of mountain Dobratsch, an area with huge stone rocks, which are parts of Dobratsch itself after an earthquake back in the 14th century caused half of the mountain to fall into the surrounding area.
 * is a mountain and small ski resort located half an hour from Villach. The skiing is nothing special but Gerlitzen offers some of the best vistas in Austria. On clear days almost the whole of Carinthia can be seen from this mountain top. You can either drive up (take care in winter) or take the cable car. From the parking space/cable car station it's an hour's walk to the summit. The cable car station at the mountain's base at can be reached by bus or train, including S-Bahn line S2 from the Villach main station.
 * are the scenic remains of a castle built in the 12th century. Has great views. Today it is used as location for musical events.
 * The Soca/Isonzo valley in Slovenia is about an hour's drive from Villach over the Predil mountain pass via Italy. Its deep limestone gorges offer a spectacular scenery and its emerald-coloured rivers are famed for some of the best kayaking and white water rafting in Europe. Since the Soca valley is actually easier to reach from Villach and Klagenfurt than Ljubljana (Slovenia's capital) it's well worth a day trip if you're hanging around Carinthia for longer. Head for the town Bovec, the touristic centre of the Soca valley.
 * , on the border of Salzburg and Tyrol, is the largest of Austria. A magnificent roundtrip is to first take the Gross-Glockner Hochalpenstraße (pass) that brings you as well along the highest mountain of the country. From here towards the Zillertal and over the Gerloss-pass to the waterfall. Then back to Carinthia. As a daytrip only with your own transportation.

title: Villach


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Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva is a charming old colonial city in the Boyacá region of Colombia. Calm and quiet on weekdays, it gets flooded by tourists from Bogotá on the weekends. Villa de Leyva is one of the few towns in Colombia that conserved all its colonial architecture. It is 150 km north from Bogotá and has a nice dry and warm weather, although it gets windy and cold in the evening.

History
Villa de Leyva was founded on June 12th 1572, by Captain Hernan Suárez de Villalobos, as instructed by the first president of the New Kingdom of Granada Sr. Andres Díaz Venero de Leyva. Initially Villa de Leyva was established close to the Indian Astronomic Observatory in a place called Zaquencipá Valley, and then twelve years later was moved to its actual location. During the colonisation, Villa de Leyva was a principal producer of oil olive and some cereals, especially wheat and barley. It was chosen as a favorite place for Spanish families and especially as place to rest for viceroys.

Villa de Leyva was home of the Captain Antonio Ricaurte, a hero in the San Mateo battle during the war of independence. The General and President of the New Republic Antonio Nariño spent his last days in this town. In 1812 there was the meeting of the first congress of the United Provinces. In 1830 the construction of the road to connect Villa de Leyva with Tunja which passed by Arcabuco began. The construction of this road started the development of this beautiful village. In 1954 Villa de Leyva was declared a National Monument.

The architecture of Villa de Leyva has a Spanish style. You can see in the construction of most of the houses in the village, their wonderful balconies, arcs and main doors (it is possible to appreciate this in the old buildings such as Casa del Primer Congreso, Casa de Don Antonio Narioño, Casa de La Real Fabrica de Licores, Claustro de San Agustín). Villa de Leyva is a place of inspiration to poets and writers. They can find peace in its stone paved streets or just contemplating the majestic main square, unique in Latin-America.

Villa de Leyva is at 2.143 meters above sea level, with a lovely temperature of 18 °C and a population of 12,000 inhabitants. Its size is 128 km². Villa de Leyva’s borders are: Arcabuco and Gachantiva in the north, Sachica and Chíquiza to the south, Chíquiza and San Pedro de Iguaque to the east and Santa Sofia, Sutamarchan and Gachantiva to the west.

The Iguaque’s Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna is an ecological reserve (6,700 hectares). It is home to a great variety of native species and is a part of the National Parks Unit. The reserve goes from 2,800 to 3,800 meters above sea level, and it is possible to see different kinds of ecosystems like the Andean high jungle, and the Stunted Jungle which reaches the majestic Moor called Paramo. Apart from these reasons, The Iguaque Sanctuary is also a very important reserve of water for the entire region. Also, it has eight glacier lakes, one of which contains the origins of the Bachue legend.

A variety of fossils have been found around Villa de Leyva. These have been deemed important because of their sizes and their very relevant contributions made to paleontological investigations. Found in 1945, The Plesiosaurus is more than 115 million years old, and is part of the National Geological Museum’s collection. It is also the finding place of The Ichthyosaurus, a marine reptile that lived between 110 and 115 million years ago, which is 8 m long and without a tail, and is very similar to another similar specimen found in Australia. These discoveries show that Villa de Leyva was immersed by the sea before the Andes Mountains were formed.

In agreement with the Muisca’s mythology, the Iguaque lake legend says that a beautiful woman called Bachue, walked out from the lake with a boy of three years of age (Iguaque). They were the origin of the most important Indian tribe in Colombia called the Muisca. Anthropologic research says that the Muisca civilization was a very clever tribe, especially for their knowledge of agriculture, pottery and astronomy. The evidence of this is possible to see in the ‘Infiernito’ (the little hell) well known as the Muisca Astronomic Observatory.

Get in

 * From Tunja: minibuses leave every fifteen minutes. (1 hour, COP$11000, 39 km, as of Mar 2023)
 * From Bogotá: minibuses leave hourly in the morning and mid-afternoon. Los Libertadores bus line has luxury buses that leave twice a day (4:40AM and 2:40PM). The travel time is about 4 hours and it costs COP$24,000 (180 km).
 * From Chiquinquira: Vans leave hourly. Approximately a one-hour trip.

To reach the main plaza, take a right when you exit the terminal and head on that street (Cra.9) for a couple blocks.

 * To combine a trip to the Salt Cathedral on the way to Villa de Leyva, take a bus to Zipaquira and then take a taxi to the Cathedral. Then take a taxi to Plaza de la Riena for a minibus to Chiquinquira.  The minibus is operated by Transportes Reina Agencia and the departure location is at Carrera 36, 8-532.

Get around
Villa de Leyva is small enough to be covered on foot.

See
There are a handful of museums in town. Not all of them are impressive.

Do

 * Climb up to the mirador named "Sagrado Corazón". It's east of the town on the hillside. To find the path, first head towards the mountain on Calle 12 until you reach the white gateway. Go around it and cross the football pitch. Start climbing through the forest and follow the white arrows. The climb to the top is steep with some portions on rocks and lasts around one hour.
 * Taxis offer trips to some of the surrounding attractions.
 * Tourism agencies offer day trips to the surrounding attractions, bike and horses rentals as well as extreme sports activities (canyoning, paragliding, speleology, rappeling). Most are on Carrera 9 between the terminal and the main plaza:

Buy

 * Supermarkets SCOOMEXAOC and Don Manuel are located on Cra 9 between Calle 9 and 10.

Eat

Gallina criolla is a typical local dish.

Drink
Villa de Leyva has potable tap water, feel free to drink it!

Sleep
Prices rise on weekends and holidays.

Go next

Around Villa de Leyva are several attraction which can be visited as a day trip :

Go next

 * Tunja
 * The city of Boyacá

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

title: Villa de Leyva


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Villafranca Tirrena

Villafranca Tirrena is in the province of Messina on the island of Sicily, Italy. It is 22 km across the Straits of Messina to the region of Calabria. The municipality of Villafranca Tirrena contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Serro, Divieto, Castelluccio, Castello, and Calvaruso. As of 2013, it had a population of 8,650 and an area of 14.3 km². The main economical resources of the city are: commerce, small industries, agriculture, that includes the cultivation of lemons, oranges, mandarin oranges, olives and wine production, tourism.

Understand

 * Villafranca Tirrena is a town in the province of Messina, on the Thyrrenian sea, known with the name of Briosa and Bauso during the ancien times. Already mentioned in the Aragonese period, it was a fief of the Cottone family during the 16th century and it was the site of a busy trading station along the Palermo-Messina road. Architectonic masterpieces of the town are the baronial castle (Castello di Bauso), built in 1590 by Stefano Cottone, the Church of San Nicolò, with a beautiful painted 16th-century cross and a marble statue of madonna and child from the Calamecca's workshop, and the Sanctuary of Jesus Ecce Homo, with a valuable wooden statue of Hecce Homo by Gianfranco Pitorno, also known with the name of frate Umile from Petralia.

Get in
Villafranca Tirrena is about 12 km northwest of Messina and about 180 km east of Palermo. It borders the following municipalities: Messina, Saponara, Rometta, Saponara, Venetico, Spadafora. It can be reached via highways (autostrade) from Messina from the south and Palermo from the north.

By train
Villafranca is Sicily's link to the main Italian train network. Long distance trains from Rome and Naples cross the Straits of Messina by ferry and continue on to Palermo and Catania. Regular regional trains also run to Villafranca, Milazzo, Cefalu, Taormina and Syracuse.

By bus
Long-distance buses stop in Messina, linking Rome and Naples to Catania and Palermo. Regular local buses also run to Villafranca, Milazzo (for the Aeolian Islands) and Taormina.

Talk
Natives of Sicily speak Sicilian, an ancient Romance language that is a separate language from Italian.

Most Sicilians are proficient in Italian, and modern schools teach English to students. In small villages, some of the older residents may not speak Italian (they will usually understand though).

Even though Italian is the national language, Sicilian is still very alive in Sicily. They may say "Comu ti senti?" ("How are you feeling?") The normal question is "Come stai?" ("How are you?")

See

 * Museo della Medicina Museo Badessa This museum is dedicated to the memory of the Doctor Ottavio Badessa. Born in 1898 in Bauso, nowadays called Villafranca Tirrena, he was graduated in Medicine in Naples and attended the Maternity Hospital of the “Università di Messina” and for thirty years he was being country doctor of Villafranca Tirrena. Every object exposed comes from the private collection of his son, the Doctor Paolo Badessa, Anaesthesia and Intensive care Head Physician at the hospitals of Solleftea (Sweden), Niscemi (Caltanissetta) and Patti (Messina). At the museum there are exposed many medical instruments, perfectly functioning, of every kind and speciality, collected with passion during more than 40 years in many Western countries. In memory of his father's work, the collection was given at the town of Villafranca Tirrena in order to be shown in a museum built for the benefit of citizens, visitors and enthusiasts. The museum is in Via Rovere 1, Villafranca Tirrena.
 * Museo della Medicina Museo Badessa This museum is dedicated to the memory of the Doctor Ottavio Badessa. Born in 1898 in Bauso, nowadays called Villafranca Tirrena, he was graduated in Medicine in Naples and attended the Maternity Hospital of the “Università di Messina” and for thirty years he was being country doctor of Villafranca Tirrena. Every object exposed comes from the private collection of his son, the Doctor Paolo Badessa, Anaesthesia and Intensive care Head Physician at the hospitals of Solleftea (Sweden), Niscemi (Caltanissetta) and Patti (Messina). At the museum there are exposed many medical instruments, perfectly functioning, of every kind and speciality, collected with passion during more than 40 years in many Western countries. In memory of his father's work, the collection was given at the town of Villafranca Tirrena in order to be shown in a museum built for the benefit of citizens, visitors and enthusiasts. The museum is in Via Rovere 1, Villafranca Tirrena.

Do

 * Many manifestations and events are organized during the summer in Villafranca.
 * Purchase a granite, or other delicious ice cream. Villafranca is proud of some specialities, like cannoli alla ricotta (known worldwide) and many typical tavola calda.
 * Villafranca is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Taormina, and ninety minutes from Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna. Plenty of agencies offer day trips to Mount Etna. You are not allowed to walk right to the top unless you have a guide (and possibly not even then, depending on the state of the eruptive activity), but the lava flows are impressive. It is over 3000 m high, so wear warm clothes - it can be cold even in summer, and the top is often covered in cloud.
 * Trekking in Sicily - The Trekking is going to expand. The Parks and the Nature Reserve are not very well organized but for this reason you'll have the opportunity to enjoy and discover the Sicilian Mountains and Nature. There are some wonderful trekkings that you can do to enjoy the beauty of the main Sicilian sites like Nebrodi mountains, Madonie mountains Etna volcano etc.

Eat
Making the most of its island coasts, Sicily has one of the world's best cuisines to offer. Much of the island's food is made with creatures of the sea. Unlike in the northern parts of Italy, cream and butter are hardly used for typical dishes in Sicily. Instead, the natives usually substitute tomatoes, lard (rarely) or olive oil. The cuisine is very exotic and has many spices and unique flavors to offer. Sicilians cultivate a uniquely Sicilian type of olive tree, which they affectionately call the "saracena". The food is typically Mediterranean but there are strong hints of Arabic and Spanish flavour (Sicily was conquered by many peoples during its long history). Sicilians like spices and have particular affinity for almond, jasmine, rosemary, mint and basil.

 * Villafranca has plenty of restaurants. The Spada - Swordfish is recommended. Traditional and creative takes on focaccia alla messinese and other Sicilian street food.
 * For visitors there for just a day, look for family pastry store that offer "cassata siciliana" ... a genuine treat
 * Fast food: Like in most of Sicily, you can get a freshly made cold panini in a “salumeria”, where you choose whenever you want to put in (prosciutto cotto/crudo and cheese is probably the most popular), for €1-3. Don’t forget that most of them are closed 13:00-16:00 and on Sunday. You can also have a tavola calda which mean “hot bite”, most of them made with cheese and meat, fried and baked. You will normally pay €1.50 for one piece. There is also the Sicilian speciality of arancino, which are deep fried rice balls with various fillings, meat or eggplant, that sell for €1.50 at most places. They make a good lunch snack. Finally, you will find, especially during the evening, big kiosks that sell hot, tasty and fat panini with even meat inside. Most people add fries into the sandwich. Usually, it’s about €2.50-3 and they are very popular among teenagers. Because its quite cheap, there is normally confusion at these kiosks.
 * Sample the Greek-influenced cuisine, especially eggplant (aubergine) and olive oil-based dishes.

Drink
Sicilians are not big alcohol drinkers (Sicily has the lowest rate of alcoholism in all of Italy) although the island is home to more vineyards than any other Italian region and has one of Italy's most progressive wine industries. Noted mainly in the past for strong bulk wines and often sweet Moscato and Marsala, the island has switched its emphasis toward lighter, fruitier white and red wines.

Sicily is divided into three main producing wine districts:

 * Best known wines from Messina: Mamertino; Faro; Malvasia.
 * Sicilians enjoy a fruity lemon liqueur called Limoncello during the long, hot and dry summers.

Go next

 * Visit Torre Faro, the former electricity pylon over Messina Strait. It is a 224 metres tall lattice tower, which is today an observation tower with an observation platform on 200 metres. You have to walk 1250 steps up and down, but the great view on the huge structure and the good view over Messina Strait is it surely worth.
 * Within a day, you can easily reach Piazza Armerina, Capo d'Orlando, Catania, Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, Ragusa.
 * Visit Mount Etna - an eerie volcanic landscape, with solidifed "rivers" of lava. The top is 3,323 m high, so be prepared for the cold, even in summer.
 * Messina - busy city & link to the mainland
 * Naxos - First Greek colony in Sicily. Today Giardini Naxos, near Taormina.
 * Gole dell'Alcantara - a deep impressive gorge carved by the Alcantara river on the edge of Etna
 * Milazzo - gateway to the Aeolian Islands
 * The Aeolian Islands - beautiful group of volcanic islands (World Heritage)

title: Villafranca Tirrena


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Village at Blue Mountain

Village at Blue Mountain is a city in the Blue Mountain part of Grey County just outside Collingwood (Ontario). It is a resort by IntraWest with hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.

Understand
Blue Mountain is a major destination for skiers from southern Ontario. On average, Blue Mountain sells more than 750,000 lift tickets per year, making it the third-busiest ski resort in Canada, after Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia and Mont Tremblant in Quebec. It is one of the largest resorts in Ontario and has 42 runs, 16 chairlifts and 3 freestyle terrains. The local area forms the incorporated town of the Blue Mountains. The resort is owned by Alterra Mountain Company.

By car
Blue Mountain Village is 90 minutes north-west of Toronto, off of Highway 26 on Blue Mountain Road, 11 km (7 miles) west of Collingwood and 11 km (7 miles) east of Thornbury.

By plane

 * Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the closest major airport.
 * Collingwood Regional Airport (CNY3), +1 705-445-2663, is the nearest private airport.

By bus

 * Colltrans operates local buses to Collingwood with a connection to Wasaga Beach. Monthly bus passes are for sale the 1st of each month at Activity Central in Grand Central Lodge. Single rides are $2 cash.

Get around

 * Blue Mountain has a shuttle bus service, providing guests foot access to the entire mountain, and easy access to the various Base Lodges and chairlifts.
 * Bob and Dolly gives free tours of the village in the wagon.

Winter activities

 * Skiing - Blue Mountain has 42 trails covering over 364 acres of skiable terrain
 * Snowboarding
 * Hike N'Tube
 * Sleigh rides
 * Snowshoe
 * Millpond skating

Summer activities

 * Golf
 * Mountain biking

Year-round activities

 * Tennis
 * Rock climbing
 * Ridge runner
 * Caving
 * Low and high ropes courses

title: Village at Blue Mountain


text:
Villa Gesell

Villa Gesell] is a beach city in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina.

Understand
Once an "Argentinian hippie" resort, now a popular and noisy youth place. Nevertheless, it has kept some charm.

Get in
Trenes Argentinos runs a daily train from the town of General Guido, the train is timed to connect with trains operating between Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires. The station is located in nearby town of Pinamar.

See
There´s a choral festival in January, which takes place in the Pinar, the pine woods.

Eat

 * You can eat at Carlitos, the King of the Pancakes (be sure to go to the "Real Carlitos", which is called "El Amanecer de Carlitos y sus hijos"; a legal fight ended with the original Carlitos losing his original name). A great variety of pancakes, from honey and white cheese to salted pancakes, like the rochefort and avocado pancake. And don't forget the dulce de leche pancakes.
 * You also can eat at the Pasteleria Holandesa, a charming old Dutch restaurant lost in the sand streets, where you can take a hearty breakfast which includes fruit salad and a fried egg.

Sleep

 * Residencial Viya, Avenida 5 number 582, (02255) 462757. A very nice and quite cheap place, near the beach and the downtown. The owners are very friendly and kind.

Go next

 * Mar del Plata "The Miami of Argentina" full of beaches, restaurants, night clubs, and during the summer high season, people.

title: Villa Gesell


text:
Villahermosa

Villahermosa is the capital city of the state of Tabasco. This city is both a modern city and one of the oldest in Mexico, with a rich history dating back to the early 1500s.

Understand
Villahermosa is an important city because of its cultural history, natural resources, commercial development, and modern industrialization. It became rich because oil has been found in the area. The search for oil resulted also in the finding of artifacts of the Olmec culture.

Its natural resources like cacao, sugarcane, bananas, tobacco, rice, and hardwoods has made Villahermosa attractive to domestic investors. The city has become a hub for oil and gas operations in Southern Mexico and is referred to as the “Energy City of Mexico.”

By plane

 * Aeromexico/Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City)
 * Viva Aerobus (Cancún, Guadalajara, Mérida, Mexico City, Monterrey)
 * Volaris (Mexico City )
 * Volaris (Mexico City )

By car
The city lies at the intersection of highways 180, 186 and 195.

By bus
Inter-city bus service is available to surrounding cities including Ciudad del Carmen.

By bus
There are two main streets in Villahermosa, Av. Gregorio Mendez and Av. 27 de Febrero, these are the two main routes for public transportation. Mini-buses and especially combis (refurbished small VW vans) are widely used by locals at a price of M$9.5. Stops are fixed as well as routes. Feel free to ask (in Spanish) the driver if they are going close to your destination. You will see destinations written on the windshields.

By taxi
People also rely on a network of collective taxis. As a tourist, you should ask the driver if they are going by your destination. Prices vary by distance but a 10-15 minute ride should be around M$30 in a yellow taxi and M$45 in a white taxi.

Taxis are collective but in no way have pre-established routes. You tell the driver where you want to go and if the taxi is empty the driver should take you. If during the way to your destination someone else happens to go somewhere close to where you are going that person will hop in the taxi and continue. It is advisable then to always try and sit in the front seat. About prices, anywhere in the city is M$30 in a yellow taxi, M$45 in a white taxi. It doesn't matter where in the city you are going. Many taxis will stop even if they have a passenger, and ask you where you are going. If you are headed in the same direction or near the same direction as the original passenger, the driver will take you as well. You do not get a discount if the driver has a passenger, the price is the same.

Buy

You can find big malls located at Paseo Usumacinta and Periferico Carlos Pellicer Camara (Plaza Villahermosa), at Periferico and Sandino (Plaza Altabrisa), and another one at Avenida Ruiz Cortinez and Periferico Carlos Pellicer Camara (near Cinepolis).

Also there are many stores which sell small souvenirs from the Olmec culture.

If you go directly into the city center, west of Avenida Jose Maria Pino Suarez and north of the city's palacio, you will find a rather big pedestrian-only shopping area with lots of stores, restaurants and a few hotels. This area is called Zona Luz - Centro Historico y Commercial.

Eat
The area features a distinctive cuisine, particularly featuring seafood, and the prices are typically affordable.

Aguas frescas are refreshing in the hot weather and you should try the well-known Horchata la Catedral, on Paseo Tabasco across from the Cathedral, for Esquimos or Horchata.

Budget
A lot of cheap, good Mexican restaurants can be found downtown at the Avenida Pino Suarez. Also, if you are in the ADO central bus station and want to eat well-prepared food, next to it a small restaurant called Los Comales can be found.

Drink
VH, Buddah Khan, Bfore, Underground

Sleep
If you are, by any chance, near the bus stop and you need a bed for the night, think twice if you want to go to the Hotel Palomino Palace nearby. It is really expensive, loud and the rooms are not very clean. Take rather a taxi into the center.

Budget
Interestingly, those budget hotels are located in the center. There are more hotels located downtown. If you don't like those ones listed here, you can find surely one which is not too expensive.

Connect
You can find a lot of internet cafes in the city. If you need it, there is one located close to the ADO bus station under the Hotel Palomino Palace.

Go next

 * Campeche - Campeche, part of UNESCO world heritage, has a refurbished city center. But still, around you can find the typical Mexican city parts.
 * Palenque - It is famous for Mayan ruins.
 * Guatemala - Located not too far away, another country is waiting to be explored.

title: Villahermosa


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Villa la Angostura

Villa la Angostura is a city in Neuquén.

Understand
Villa La Angostura is a place in the southwest of Neuquen, Argentina

See
The landscape is really beautiful. The village is on the Nahuel Huapi, one of the biggest lakes in the Province. Also it is on the slope of the mountains not very high (1,800-1,900 m). At the other side, crossing the lake there is a nice city: Bariloche.

There is a summer landscape and a winter landscape, covered by snow. There is a port where you can see "Quetrihue peninsula" which means "Where “arrayanes” grow.

There is a footpath of 12 km. that ends in Los Arrayanes National Park. There is an amazing forest of huge “arrayanes”. These special trees are natives species and they are very high and very old (300 years) When you walk through the footpath you can see other species as notros, cohiues, ñires and lengas. This forest is very famous and unique in the whole world. In the middle of the forest there is a lagoon called "Patagua" where ducks and birds live. Inside the park there is a little house called "Walt Disney house", because that place inspired his movie “Bambi”

Eat

 * La casita de la Oma. You can have your afternoon tea here.
 * Hub Bar. Here you can have dinner, or stay for a drink as well.

Connect
You will find WiFi in most cafés, restaurants and accommodations.

title: Villa la Angostura


text:
Villa Las Estrellas

Villa Las Estrellas is a Chilean civilian settlement on King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. It consists of some dozen prefabs but is a vital service hub for all the bases on the island. It has an airport, and its waters (though lacking harbour facilities and shelter) are usually ice-free, so it's also a transit point for people and supplies further afield. This page therefore covers the entire island.

Understand
King George Island (named for Britain's King George III) is known by Argentina as Isla 25 de Mayo, by Chile as Isla Rey Jorge and by Russia as Vaterloo (Ватерло́о). The island is 95 km long but the town, airfield and bases are concentrated on its western Fildes Peninsula, which is ice-free. As well as making it easier to construct facilities, the peninsula's unusual habitat is of scientific interest, as there's tundra vegetation, and fossils and other rocks can be seen which are inaccessible under ice elsewhere.

The town's description as "civilian" is contentious, as it implies that everything else nearby is military, which is forbidden under the Antarctic Treaty. So too is the term "Chilean": that country owns, staffs and manages various assets here, and applies its own laws to them, but under Treaty may not be said to govern a territory. The same is true for the several other nations stationed on King George, and Argentina's "civilian" Esperanza Base on the mainland is in a similar situation. Children have been born in both settlements, and it's possible to see cynical reasons for this, as somehow advancing a territorial claim. But it is of genuine scientific value to observe how ordinary civilians get by in such a harsh, remote place: the plumbing, the child-rearing, the same old diet, the interpersonal tensions, it's all good practice for Mars. In 2018 Bellingshausen base was the scene of this continent's first known attempted murder. In the Antarctica-based TV detective series that has yet to be made (all monochrome ice and rock scenery to noir effect), the problem of confused national jurisdictions will be a recurring plot theme.

By 2018 the school was in poor repair and it closed, so families no longer live here, and the settlement dwindled to become more like other polar research bases. Then came Covid, and most staff were re-patriated because of the impracticality of long supply lines. There are proposals to re-establish the school and other civilian amenities but they may not be affordable, and as of Antarctic summer 2022 / 23 nothing has happened. Travellers may therefore find many facilities closed.

Get in
By air: there is no routine scheduled service, but (subject to weather and demand) Aerovias DAP fly day-trips and overnight excursions from Punta Arenas at the south tip of mainland Chile. The aircraft is a King Air 300: it's pressurised and has in-flight catering but no toilet, and on these trips is limited to 5-6 passengers. Flying time is 3 hr 30 min each way, day trippers spend five hours on King George Island before flying back; overnight trippers stay in set-up tents. Prices for 2020 are US$5500 pp day-trip, $6500 overnight, which includes accommodation in Punta Arenas either side of the trip.

Several companies fly visitors here to transfer to cruise ships.

Get around
The town is flanked to the south by Profesor Julio Escudero base and to the north by Bellingshausen base; the Orthodox church is 200 m away on the hillside. A dirt track connects town and airport, and stretches along the shore south 2 km to Chang Cheng base. North it stretches 8 km to Artigas base then strikes inland for one km before petering out in the icy wastes. Bases further out are reached by sea. Never venture anywhere on the island by any mode of transport without taking advice on whether your intentions are sensible, and letting folk know when you've arrived / returned safe.

See

 * Statue of Admiral Bellingshausen was unveiled at the Russian base in 2020, 200 years after he sighted the Antarctic mainland. He was probably the first person to do so and live to tell the tale. Earlier explorers had only sighted the islands, leaving it undecided whether a continent lay further south or just sea-ice.
 * rock formation is an example of the ice-freeze patches found even in the east of the island. Chinstrap penguins appreciate this and boat trips may visit to see them.
 * Statue of Admiral Bellingshausen was unveiled at the Russian base in 2020, 200 years after he sighted the Antarctic mainland. He was probably the first person to do so and live to tell the tale. Earlier explorers had only sighted the islands, leaving it undecided whether a continent lay further south or just sea-ice.
 * rock formation is an example of the ice-freeze patches found even in the east of the island. Chinstrap penguins appreciate this and boat trips may visit to see them.

Do

 * Send a postcard stamped with a genuine Antarctic postmark. The village has a Chilean postal office, which franks the mail before sending out. In 2022 it remains closed.
 * Tune in: local FM Radio Sovereignty on 90.5 MHz provides music and information to all the bases, plus community radio which includes home-sourced entertainment. The town's 2.5 meter dish picks up Televisión Nacional and Universidad Católica Television from Santiago.
 * Run a marathon: the Antarctic Marathon has several times been held on the island. The event has now moved to the mainland, but there's nothing to stop you running it yourself here: two complete there-and-backs of the dirt tracks will tally the full distance. The record time is 3 hr 34 min 12 sec and the oldest finisher was 84.

Work
See Antarctica for how to get hired - this isn't the sort of place where summer-break students can drop off the bus and look for "Help wanted" signs along Main Street. Bases on the island are:
 * is part of Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva base (Chile). It's flanked by Professor Julio Escudero (Chile) and Bellingshausen (Russia).
 * (meaning "Great Wall", China) is 2 km south of town.
 * (Uruguay) is 8 km north of town.
 * (South Korea) is 10 km east by boat on the Barton Peninsula.
 * (formerly Jubany, Argentina) is another 10 km by sea further east, under the stout stump of "Three Brothers" mountain. In 2013 the base hosted Antarctica's first rock concert, headlined by Metallica. Actually they were the only act to show up.
 * is a three-pronged fjord inlet another 25 km east, with the world's most southerly lighthouse. Here are Machu Picchu (Peru), Henryk Arctowski (Poland, and named for the explorer who coined the concept of the "wind-chill factor") and Comandante Ferraz (Brazil) - this base was destroyed by fire in 2012 but re-opened in 2020. Captain Pieter J Lenie or "Copacabana" is a US summer station near Arctowski.
 * is on Nelson Island across the narrow channel from town. It's privately run by a Czech explorer and not sponsored by that government.

Buy

 * Terka Kraken is a supermarket at Great Wall base, open M Tu 09:30-18:00, W F 11:30-19:00. It remains closed in Dec 2022.
 * Locals sometimes sell souvenirs eg handicrafts. It's just private one-to-one sales, there's no souvenir shop.

Eat
You must bring your own provisions. The town has only enough for its own needs.

Drink
Never drink alcohol until you are safe indoors.

Sleep
Hostería Estrella Polar (Hostel Polestar) has remained closed since January 2020. Tourists either stay on their ship, or camp in pre-arranged tents, while the bases have their own bunkhouses not available to tourists. And this is not a place for wild camping.

Connect

 * Civilian mobiles: Chilean telecoms company Entel PCS has a mobile phone antenna on-site.
 * Telephones: Telephones for the base and their airfield operate via satellite telephone and, for the inhabitants of the sector, there is a coin-operated pay phone and prepaid cards.
 * Radio: FM Radio "Sovereignty" broadcast on the frequency of 90.5 MHz works during the day, providing music and information to all the bases in the sector. Certain cultural and entertainment programs made by staff and their families are also disseminated.
 * Television: The town has a fixed dish of 2.5 meters in diameter, which allows reception of live signals from the main television channels in the country, broadcasting from Santiago. Residents can also receive two broadcast stations. These are Televisión Nacional and Universidad Católica Television.

Go next

 * You can't travel independently, so you'll go wherever your tour party or expedition is heading. King George as one of the most northerly Antarctic islands is often the first or last stop on an Antarctic cruise: these may venture further south along the Antarctic Peninsula, and northbound may swing by some of the Subantarctic Islands and Falklands on the way back to South America.
 * Churches in Antarctica mostly lie in this region.

title: Villa Las Estrellas


text:
Villanueva de Sigena

Villanueva de Sigena is a village of about 400 people (2018) in Aragon. The Monastery of Santa María de Sigena is about 5 km south of the village.

Understand
Villanueva de Sigena or Villanueva de Sijena is a small village in Los Monegros, in the province of Huesca, autonomous community of Aragon (Spain), near the Alcanadre river.

Villanueva de Sigena is the birthplace of the physician and heterodox theologian, Michael Servetus (1511-1553). Servetus was the discoverer of pulmonary circulation. A museum and interpretation centre is maintained by the Michael Servetus Institute at the old house were Servetus was born, after a major restoration in 2002.

Get in
It is possible to travel to Villanueva by bus or car.

Get around
The town is small enough to be fully accessible by foot.

There are several free parking spaces around the town.

See

 * Michael Servetus Institute
 * Michael Servetus Institute

title: Villanueva de Sigena


text:
Villa O'Higgins

Villa O'Higgins is a town of 600 people (2012) in Chilean Patagonia. It is at the southern-most end of the Carretera Austral, on the edge of Lake O'Higgins and Campo Hielo del Sur.

Understand
Villa O'Higgins is a fantastic base to undertake various tourist activities in its natural environment, such as trekking, sport fishing, horseback riding, expeditions, photography, observation of vegetation, animals and birds.

The main attractions are its mountains and glaciers which are crossed by multiple trails that run through the generous geography of rivers, lakes and Patagonian forests.

There are no large tourist centers, but to stay there are inns, equipped cabins and several family lodgings with very good service. To eat, in addition to the lodgings themselves there are restaurants.

By car
Villa O'Higgins can be accessed by road via the Carretera Austral or by boat from Candelario Mansilla, Chile, where the Chilean border post is for those coming from El Chaltén, Argentina (there is no auto access over this border crossing; see note in the Get Out section).

The village is at the southern end of the Carretera Austral (CH-7). It is about 1200 km to the next big city, Puerto Montt, at the northern end. The closest town is Cochrane, approximately 230 km north. At Puerto Yungay 100 km north you have to use a ferry that runs a maximum of three times a day (see timetable Puerto Yungay).

By bus
During the main season there are regular bus connections to Cochrane twice a week (Wednesday, Saturday). There are also buses to Caleta Tortel especially for tourists. This connection is therefore a little more expensive.

By plane
There is a small aerodrome with limited flights to and from Coyhaique.

By boat
The port of Bahia Bahamondas is 7 km south on Lake O'Higgins. There is a shuttle bus connection at peak times. The excursion boat from the operator "Robinson Crusoe" to the O'Higgins Glacier also stops at the border post Candelario Machilla on the south bank of the lake. A narrow hiking trail can be used to arrive or depart from here via Lago Desierto to El Chaltén in Argentina. In the summer (Dec-Feb) a regular boat service takes passengers from Villa O'Higgins across the O'Higgins/San Martín Lake to Candelario Mancilla, from where it is possible to cross the border into Argentina via a footpath (no road). In bad weather, the service can be suspended for many days.

The ferry runs three to four times a week and costs 44,000 pesos for the connection between Candelario Machilla and the village. The ship starts in town in the morning and stops at the border post at around 10:00 before heading to the glacier. At around 17:30, it comes back from Machilla to Villa O'Higgins.

There are also other providers with whom this ship connection is cheaper, but they do not (see above) regularly. Current information must be obtained on site.

By bike
The Carretera Austral is very popular with cyclists. For the journey to and from Villa O'Higgins, most of them use the ferry combination across Lake Desierto and the excursion boat across Lake O'Higgins (see above).

Cyclists coming from the south also have the option of arriving at the border crossing on the Río Mayer (northeast of Villa O'Higgins). On this route you save the cost of the two ferries (Lago Desierto and O'Higgins), but seen from El Chaltén you have to take about 500-km detour via the Ruta Nacional 40 and Tres Lagos. This is why this alternative route is used by very few people.

Get around
Villa O'Higgins is a small town and it is easy for the visitor to get to know the entire town in a short while. There are many hikes and treks out of Villa O'Higgins, including to the surrounding glaciers.

See
The Museo de la Patagonia Padre Antonio Ronchi next to the church presents the gradual settlement of the rough environment by the pioneers. The majority of the small exhibition is only available in Spanish, some also in English. Entry is free. Opening times can be inquired at the tourist information office opposite.

Hiking
From a short hike to a four-day tour, there are many options in the area, on mostly quiet hiking trails.

The short hike up to the viewing platforms east of the settlement provides a good overview.

 * Sendero Altavista: The hike begins on the west side of the bridge over the Río Mayer a few kilometers south of the settlement. It leads you to the shores of Lake Ciervo and offers several viewpoints at the top. There is a good chance of seeing the impressive Andean condor in the air.
 * Glaciar Mosco: You can hike along the Rio Mosco river in a 1½-day tour to the end of the path on the glacier of the same name. There is a free, uncultivated Refugio Rio Mosco along the way. There are also nice viewpoints on the way there, so that you don't have to hike to the end of the path.
 * Sendero Cerro Submarino: A more challenging hike to the Submarino Glacier on Cerro Submarino Mountain. The starting point is south of the settlement on the Rio Mosco. You cross the river over a bridge and you need about a day for the poorly or unmarked path southeast. There are no official refugios or camping facilities.
 * Glaciar Tigre: At 20 km north of the settlement and Lake Cisnes on the Carretera Austral, the starting point of the hike to Glaciar Tigre is very remote. It leads you to the foot of the glacier of the same name. A free campsite (without service) is also along the way. The best thing to do is to get the latest information (maps, arrival) at the tourist information office.
 * O'Higgins Glacier: Instead of taking the excursion boat to the glacier, it can also be easily reached with a four-day hike. This starts from the border post Candelario Mancilla on the other side of the lake (see arrival). From there it goes east along the lake to the glacier. Overnight stays are only possible in tents on the free campsites (without service). Hiking maps are available from the tourist information office or, for example, from the Mosco hostel.

Fishing
The clear lakes and rivers in the area are great for fishing. It is best to find out about any authorizations and options on site beforehand.

Buy
Shop-a-holics will find Villa O'Higgins a disappointment; you can buy food and basic supplies, but the village is remote so prices are high and many things are unavailable. There are no ATMs. You may be able to purchase limited camping and trekking supplies at Hielo Sur, but you should ensure that you have everything you need before leaving Cochrane or El Chaltén. White gas is only rarely available in Villa O'Higgins. Cigarettes are hard to get in the town.

Eat
There are few restaurants in this tiny town. If you are staying more than a night you may want to ensure that your accommodations include kitchen access. There are several minimarkets and meat and bread shops in town. Ask the locals and they will tell you who sells what. If the stores are closed someone can usually tell you where the owner is. Food is relatively expensive and produce can be hard to come by.
 * San Gabriel restaurant, Lago O'Higgins Street.
 * Entre Patagones restaurant, at the very northern end of the village, east on the Carretera Austral.

Drink
There is a limited selection of wine, beer and spirits in the town's several minimarkets. The bar scene is non-existent in Villa O'Higgins.

Sleep
There are only a few places to stay in town. There is also lodging along the last section of road between the town of Villa O'Higgins and Lago O'Higgins.

Connect
Villa O'Higgins is remote and accordingly there is limited contact with the outside world. Few houses or businesses have phone lines and those that do have very poor and spotty service. There is a locutorio (call shop) in town, but since the phone service is satellite-based it can be spotty. The library has free internet access (with a time limit). There are public Wi-Fi hotspots around the town but they're extremely unreliable, often down more often than up, and slow (as of December 2014).

Go next
Crossing the border to El Chaltén, Argentina is a great experience for the adventurous. The border crossing cannot be made by car, but you can cross by a combination of boat rides and hiking, horseback riding or cycling. From Villa O'Higgins you can cross Lago O'Higgins to Candelario Mansilla several times a week from November to March with Hielo Sur. In Candelario Mansilla you can hire guides and horses to cross the border to Argentina, though depending on the border guards that are on duty, you may have to swap to Argentine horses at the border.

The Chilean border post is just outside of Candelario Mansilla. You get your passport stamped there and proceed toward the Argentine border. At the Argentine border the path becomes narrow and muddy. Cyclists should use caution as the path is very technical at times and includes sudden single-log bridges and drops. You may choose to send your pack/bags on horseback and cycle without a load as it may be necessary to carry your bike at times. The path proceeds down to Lago del Desierto and the Argentine border post, where you can get your entrance stamp. If you are lucky, you'll get a nice view of Mt. Fitz Roy.

To get to El Chaltén from Lago del Desierto you can either take a boat across the lake (generally twice daily) or trek around the lake. There is a simple refugio at the border post with several rooms (though there may be a fee) in case you get stranded there by weather or a late arrival, and if you are nice the Gendarmaría will let you camp by the lake. It is not uncommon to have a delay that causes you to spend the night at some point during the crossing, so you should ensure that you have adequate food with you for the night. From the opposite side of the lake, there are occasional buses to El Chaltén, generally synchronized with the arrival of the boat.

title: Villa O'Higgins


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Villarrica

Villarrica is a town of 50,000 people (2012) in Araucanía. The wooden houses and the surnames of numerous families reflect the German and Dutch roots of the Villarrica area, which from 1850 received a large stream of European immigration.

The area has several national parks and some volcanoes.

Understand
Tourism, grain and dairy farming, and forestry are the main economic activities of the community.

The climate is mild and humid with the greatest rainfall experienced between May and July (autumn and winter). The dry season is between December and February (summer).

Get in
Overnight buses from Santiago leave daily. Rural buses leave from the Temuco Terminal.

Or you can fly to Temuco and drive an hour to get to Villarrica.

To drive to Villarrica, you must take Route 5 South and access through the indicated detour.

Get around
Plenty of local micros to get around, but a rental car is the way to go if you want to take full advantage of the area. You can also book organized tours with the adventure tourism agencies like Politur in Villarrica to get to the summit of Volcano Villarrica, Huerquehue National Park, hot springs, rafting, riding tours, canopy and more.

See

 * Volcano Villarrica
 * caves
 * hot springs
 * museum
 * the Mapuche center
 * local artesania
 * araucaria trees
 * woodpeckers
 * Villarrica Lake

Do

 * Soak in steaming hot springs, best are Los Pozones or termas geometricas. Thanks to the numerous volcanos, hot springs nearby include Coñaripe (48 °C), San Luis (43 °C), Huife (49 °C), Palguín (57 °C) and Liquiñe (87 °C).
 * Ride horses through pristine forests.
 * Ride bikes to nearby towns or on pastoral roads.
 * Sunbathe and swim on Lake Villarrica's beaches. In the summer, water sports and sunbathing are popular activities in the warm temperatures experienced at the low altitudes ranging from 200 to 500 m above sea level.
 * Fishing and rafting are popular activities in the various rivers in the area, which include the Toltén, Voipir, Trancura, Llancahue and Lincura. Popular waterfalls include León, La China, Palguín, Ojos del Caburga.
 * Fishing and rafting are popular activities in the various rivers in the area, which include the Toltén, Voipir, Trancura, Llancahue and Lincura. Popular waterfalls include León, La China, Palguín, Ojos del Caburga.

Buy

 * Delicate wood carved artesania
 * woven wool blankets

Eat

 * Hosteria de la Colina - delicious food, from steak to homemade pasta to creative soups and salads, followed by Glen's homemade ice cream.
 * Mesa del Mar - great fish
 * Cafe bar 2001 - restaurant-cafe, sandwiches, cakes and more.
 * El rey del marisco - seafood.
 * Sweet - Pastry and sandwiches.

Drink

 * Traveller's Resto- good place to sit and enjoy a beer, dinners - for younger ones.

Sleep

 * Hosteria de la Colina, Las Colinas 115- Ex-pat owners Glen and Bev make a stay here impossible to forget. Superb views, excellent food, spacious terrace and full bar and game room, spotless rooms and comfy beds.

Go next

 * K-Zona about 5 km (3 miles) outside Villarrica in direction to Pucon. Don't go there before 14:00.  Travellers' bar with good music.

title: Villarrica


text:
Villars-sur-Ollon

Villars sur Ollon is a village in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud. It is part of the municipality of Ollon.

Villars is a ski resort close to Montreux and Saint-Maurice, which offers a reasonable range of pistes at a moderate altitude. Accommodation is largely of the chalet variety, although there are also some hotels, many of which are four- and five-star. The village has hosted the Snowbombing electronic dance music and snowboarding spring festival.

Villars is recognised by the Swiss tourist board under their 'Family Friendly' scheme having excellent facilities for children. Villars is served by the Chemin de fer Bex-Villars-Bretaye railway.

Understand
It is a traditional Swiss mountain village which has retained much of its old charm. If you are looking for a flashy ski resort with lots of bars and night life, Villars probably won't suit you. Have a look at the Villars website for more info.

However, if you prefer a resort which is predominantly visited by locals or are looking for a more traditional resort, then you are likely to have a good time in Villars. Plus, there are a few very nice restaurants and bars to visit as well! Remember to swot up on your French as most menus are in French and you'll get a much better reception if you make an effort when in the shops, rather than expect people to speak English, which most don't very well.

By train
The metre gauge BVB (Bex-Villars-Bretaye railway) operated by TPC connects the village from Bex in the valley. Trains run roughly hourly and take 40 minutes. Bex is easily accessible by train from either Saint-Maurice or Montreux.

By bus
Villars-sur-Ollon has hourly bus connections from Aigle (35 min). During the summer months there is also a bus from Les Diablerets (35 min), but there are only three courses a day.

By car
The easiest way to access Villars by car is from the south. Exit the motorway A9 either at Aigle or at Bex-Monthey and follow the signs. It is also possible to drive from les Diablerets via the Col de la Croix pass.

See

 * Mountains: Grand Muverens, Mirroir d'Argentine, Petit Muverens.

Do

Whilst in Villars you could also go bowling, ice skating or to the cinema, but expect the films to be in French!

Eat
There are many other restaurants in Villars many of which are in hotels; Alpe Fleurie, for example, has a lovely restaurant. It's advisable to have a wander around and go into these places to see what they have to offer.

Drink
If you fancy some apres ski, you won't go far wrong heading for Le Sporting in the town centre, where you can sit outside with a hot chocolate and a warm blanket or go inside for a more intimate experience, as the bar area is quite small. Le Sporting also has a lovely restaurant at the back, if you fancy a nice night out. The views from the restaurant, across the mountains, are spectacular.

The nightlife is also great, there are a couple of bars around town, at the bowling alley, the sporting, Charlie's bar, and the late night club were all the locals and tourists gather, the Gringo.

title: Villars-sur-Ollon


text:
Villa Unión

Villa Unión is a town in La Rioja, northwestern Argentina. The town is strategically located in the heart of the Bermejo Valley, 1,153 meters above sea level, at the foothills of the Andes mountains. Beautifully set amidst the intensely red mountain ranges of Sierra de Famatina and Sierra de Maíz, surrounded by local, traditional wineries and the Bermejo River passing, often brutally in the rainy season, through the town.

The weather is hot and rainy during the summer, January and February being the wettest months, while it's dry and cold during winter. As the soil can't easily get rid of the heavy rainfall, the area commonly floods during the rainy season. The area represents a typical climate of the mountain desert, with a soaring difference in temperatures between day and night. Villa Unión is affected by a climate phenomenon called the "Zonda wind"--a dry wind often carrying dust, which comes from the polar maritime air, warmed by descent from the crest, which is some 6,000 m (18,999 ft) above sea level. It may exceed a velocity of 40 km/h (25 mph) and may lead to changes in air pressure, commonly causing people headache.

Nearby towns from Villa Unión are Los Palacios, Banda Florida, Villa Castelli, Vinchina, Guandacol, Aicuña and Patquía. Nearest major cities from Villa Unión are San Juan, La Rioja, Chilecito, Catamarca and Córdoba.

History
The area which is now Department of Coronel Felipe Varela, was inhabited by the Diaguita - Chapayane Indians who lived in the village of Guandacol. The Spaniards came to the Bermejo Valley around 1634, but their occupation was resisted by the Indians of Guandacol until 1636, when the Indians were punished for their resistance by Don Geronimo Luis de Cabrera, who banished them from their lands and send them to the hills of the Famatina mountain range. Many died in their journey to the new land, and the few who survived settled in a new location. The old land of the Guandacol Indians was reclaimed in 1649 by General Pedro Nicolás Brizuela, and was the land officially given back to them on January 25, 1650.

At the beginning of the 17th century, there was a settlement of white people that can be considered as the first inhabitants of Hornillos, present day Villa Unión. They lived in peace with the local indigenous population, which were living in the region after being exiled from their lands.

In about 1750, three families from Western Chile came to the region and settled in Guandacol, but for unknown reasons left and settled down in Los Hornillos, which today is Villa Unión. Los Hornillos takes its name from the kilns that the locals used on the banks of the Bermejo River to bake homemade bread.

Los Hornillos becomes Villa Unión: On December 1, 1869, the province was divided into twelve departments, which specified the limits of Departamento Guandacol, making Villa Guandacol the main town of the department and Los Hornillos was a district within the new department. On September 9 of 1881, the name of Departamento Guandacol is changed into Departamento General Lavalle and the main settlement was now Los Hornillos, whose name was changed into Villa Unión.

The name Villa Unión takes its significance from the three Chilean families who were expelled from Guandacol and moved to Los Hornillos in 1880, where the local residents did not only give them protection, but also gave them ownership of land so that they could settle down. Therefore, Villa Unión represents the cohesion and commitment among the families of these two peoples - "The Village of Union".

The town used to be centralized around the area where now is Hospital Zonal Dr. Eduardo Salomón Neira, due to the 1854 earthquake which left the town in ruins and the locals were forced to move their settlement a little north. The village of Villa Unión consisted of three major streets, arranged in a North - South manner. The main street today is Avenida Nicolás Davila.

Get in
The nearest airport is the Capitán Vicente Almandos Amonacide Airport in La Rioja, 3 kilometers from the city center of the city of La Rioja. Three weekly flights are offered between Buenos Aires and La Rioja by Aerolineas Argentinas.

The international route from Villa Unión to Copiapó in Chile is under construction and will soon be opened, with a paved road and a tunnel, allowing crossing of the Andes the whole year round on good roads, which is believed to improve life in the little town of Villa Unión in the coming years, for its new strategic position for international trade.

Buses:

From La Rioja:
 * 07:00 Facundo
 * 12:00 Facundo
 * 13:00 Arce
 * 19:00 El Zonda
 * 20:00 20 de Mayo

From Chilecito:
 * 12:30 Invanlor

From San Juan:
 * 18:00 G-Team - Daily door-to-door service. Arrival in Villa Unión at 21:00.
 * 22:00 Transportes Fernández (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday)

Get around
Villa Unión is a very small town and can be seen on foot. However, if you decide to go and see nearby sites of Banda Florida or Anchumbil, it might be useful to catch a taxi, which can be found on the northern side of the Plaza.

Taxi drivers also take tourists to attractions further away from Villa Unión, such as Laguna Brava, Talampaya or Valle de la Luna, which is convenient and often cheaper than a tour, if you travel two or more together.

See
Locally:
 * The Viewpoint northeast of city center
 * Miguel Angel Gaitán a mummified child in the cemetery, believed to deliver miracles
 * The Dam as tempting as it is in the heat, swimming here is not allowed
 * Banda Florida west of town. Beautiful rock formations, ancient petroglyphs in the rocks
 * Anchumbil east of town. Similar to Banda Florida.

Nearby:
 * Laguna Brava A beautiful lake in the high altitudes, with flamingos and more fauna.
 * Guandacol
 * El Chiflón
 * Ischigualasto National Park also called "Valle de la Luna"
 * Ischigualasto National Park also called "Valle de la Luna"

Tours

 * Rolling Travel http://www.talampaya.com/
 * In charge of the tours within Talampaya National Park
 * Offer tours to Laguna Brava, Corona del Inca, Vinchina, Talampaya National Park, Ischigualasto National Park, amongst others.

 * Taxi drivers found on the northern side of the Plaza
 * If you are three or more, taxi can be a convenient choice for all the further-afield attractions.

Buy
All around town, you'll see stores offering Productos regionales. Those include as an example:
 * Vino Patero
 * Dried fruit
 * Special liquors
 * Mineral stones

Drink

 * Podium Disco, Honorario Guerrero. plenty of drinks at the bar here (albeit pricey), plus some entertainment.

Sleep

 * Hotel Noryanepat, Joaquín V. Gonzales, +54 3825 47-0133. Basic accommodation here.
 * Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.
 * Hotel Noryanepat, Joaquín V. Gonzales, +54 3825 47-0133. Basic accommodation here.
 * Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.
 * Hotel Noryanepat, Joaquín V. Gonzales, +54 3825 47-0133. Basic accommodation here.
 * Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.
 * Hotel Noryanepat, Joaquín V. Gonzales, +54 3825 47-0133. Basic accommodation here.
 * Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.
 * Cabañas Los Cantaros del Rio, Ruta Nac. 76 Bº San José, +54 9 3825 40-4503. This one also is not too exciting, but it has a pool.

Connect
Villa Unión Tourist Information Centre Plaza Principal

Local Guides:
 * Franco Barrera, Tel. 03825/15457370
 * Nadia Barrera, Tel. 03825/15410015
 * Lic. William Miller, Tel. 03825/15558024
 * Lic. Guillermo Muñoz, Tel. 03825/15667875
 * Francisco Narváez, Tel. 03825/15551171
 * Olga Neira, Tel. 03825/15674561
 * Rodolfo Olivera, Tel. 03825/1545773
 * Lic. Raúl Vega, Tel. 03825/15415600

Go next
To La Rioja, Patquia, El Chiflón and Pagancillo:
 * 04:00 20 de Mayo, El Zonda
 * 15:00 Facundo
 * 19:00 Facundo
 * 21:15 Arce

To Chilecito:
 * 15:00 Invanlor

To San Juan, San José de Jáchal and Guandacol:
 * 05:30 G-Team - Daily door-to-door service. Arrival in San Juan at 08:30.
 * 18:00 Transportes Fernández (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

To Vinchina and Villa Casteli:
 * In the morning, smaller vans departing from the plaza.

title: Villa Unión


text:
Villaviciosa

Villaviciosa is a town of 14,000 people (2018) in the autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. Villaviciosa is important for the production of cider. The town also produces milk and relies on tourism, with natural landscapes and beaches.

See
There are vestiges of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Castreño and Roman sites.

Do
Villaviciosa has 23 km of coastline and 7 beaches: from east to west, Misiegu, Rodiles, El Puntal, Tazones, Merón, Spain and La Ñora. Many of these cliffs have footprints left by the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The Apple Festival celebrates the region's apples and ciders.

Eat
Fish and shellfish are the basis of a gastronomic culture, but beef and wild boar (arcea) raised in the nearby valleys.

For dessert, try the Villaviciosa cake, the apple jam and, the rice pudding.

Drink
Cider (sidra) is the region's preferred drink.

title: Villaviciosa


text:
Villavieja

Villavieja is a village in the Huila department of Colombia whose main interest is its proximity to the Tatacoa Desert.

Get in
Minibuses or shared Jeeps leave the transport terminal of Neiva. The trip lasts 1 hour and costs COP$8,000 (May 2019).

Get around
Getting around the city should not be a problem as it's small enough to be covered on foot. The tricky part is getting around the desert as there is no public transportation and it can get expensive. You can either:
 * Get a local on the main square to drive you by car or moto for a prohibitive price of at least COP$20,000 one way, which is almost as much as what you'd pay for a tour.
 * Go on a tour: prices start at COP$50,000. The guide will drive you to all the main attractions of the desert for 3-4 hours. There will most likely be someone waiting for you at the arrival of your bus. Always negotiate.
 * Go walking: Distances are small enough if you're not carrying a big backpack but the heat can make this tiring. Avoid midday heat and carry a lot of water. Town to the observatory is 6 km on paved road and from there to Los Hoyos is another 6 km.

Buy

 * Prices in the desert are a bit higher than in Villavieja but still very reasonable: water COP$500, soft drink COP$1,500, beer COP$2,000, meal COP$5,000

In the desert

 * Observatorio
 * Los Hoyos

title: Villavieja


text:
Villazón and La Quiaca

The two border towns Villazón in Bolivia and La Quiaca in Argentina are a pair spreading across the two countries. Most visitors just hurry across the border and on to their next destination, but it's worth stopping for at least a few hours or even a night, for an experience of the real culture of the region and a change from the touristy towns in the Quebrada de Humahuaca and near the Salar de Uyuni.

Get in
Villazón and La Quiaca are located at an altitude of more than 3,400 m. If coming directly from a low-altitude location such as Buenos Aires, there is a genuine risk of altitude sickness. If you have time, you may want to stop for a night or two at an intermediate altitude in a place like Humahuaca on the way.

By train
The in Villazón is about a 30-minute walk from the border uphill (only slight gradient but in heat and rare atmosphere, it can be a struggle) or by taxi from the border. You can take a train to Tupiza, Uyuni and further on. Trains leave 4 times per week and pass beautiful mountain scenery on the way. The train to Oruro takes 16 hours and in Ejectivo class (best) costs Bs. 233 (bolivars) per person. There is a 1-hour time difference between La Quiaca and Villazón (Villazón is an hour behind).

In Feb 2018, the route between Uyuni and Villazon was closed due to flooding. It was expected to reopen in October 2018.

The more comfortable and faster Expreso del Sur leave Wednesday and Saturday, the more basic Wara Wara del Sur, Monday and Thursday. Prices vary according to departure day and class.
 * Tupiza – 4 hr
 * Oruro – 16 hr, Bs. 85-100
 * Uyuni – 7 hr, Bs. 65/152 or 9 hr, Bs. 50/100

Train tickets for Salon class have to be bought the day before the train leaves (but they are kind of flexible about this rule) and for Ejecutivo they may be bought the same day. Trains leave at 15:30.

Villazón

 * Tupiza – Between 04:30-21:00, hourly (or when full) vans/servis run between Tupiza and Villazón, Bs. 20. There is also a 20 people minibus leaving Tupiza at 10:00 for Bs. 15.
 * La Paz – 24 hr, Bs. 80-100.
 * There are bus connections to Tarija and Potosí.

There are two terminals in use:

La Quiaca

 * Buenos Aires ("Retiro") – 25 hr
 * Jujuy – 5 hr
 * Salta – 8 hr, AR$430 (as of May 2018). Flechabus takes 6.5 hr, departs at 07:15 and arrives 13:30. The trip is pleasant with great scenery.
 * Tucuman – 10 hr, AR$150
 * Tucuman – 10 hr, AR$150

Bus companies with good reputation include Flecha and Balut. The Balut office accepts credit cards. Avoid Panamericano as they charge a hidden gringo tax, sell overpriced service to Salta that changes bus lines in Jujuy, and the bathrooms on their buses do not work.

By car
La Quiaca can be reached from Buenos Aires by Highway 9 or Highway 34. Both highways have some four-lane sections, but most of them are busy two-lane highways. The distance is 1,830 km. From Potosí in Bolivia you can get in along Highway 14 (paved). The town is also the northern end of Ruta 40, stretching the length of the country to Punta Loyola in the far south.

La Quiaca
Taxis are available.

Villazón
Taxis are available, and they line up just north of the bus station.

The border
Villazón is separated from La Quiaca by an with Bolivian immigration on one side and the Argentinian on the other. The border procedures are fairly easy for most western tourists. Don't forget to go to both countries' passport control when you cross the border—it's easy to miss one by mistake, and if you fail to get stamped in you could be in for an unpleasant situation when you try to leave the country.

Crossing from Bolivia into Argentina is straightforward and does not take long.

Crossing from Argentina to Bolivia can be painfully long – you may get through in just a few minutes, but it could take several hours. There is no shelter where you queue, and remember that at high altitudes, the weather conditions are harsh and can change rapidly, so it is advisable to get in as early as you can in the morning! (Sometimes foreigners get shuffled through but don't count on it.)

See
There's not much to see in this pair of small border towns. They seem to be thriving on international trade, though, and growing with construction around the center of town. At the border crossing there is an army of Bolivian people taking heavy loads of goods across the border. It is possibly easier to have the army of couriers take the goods by foot than to get the goods through customs by truck.

Money
There are plenty of money exchange offices only on the Bolivian side in Villazón. There is one bank (Macro) on the Argentinian side, which however only exchanges money for its own customers.

Shopping
On the Villazón side, right near the border, there are lots of shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and all kinds of stuff.

Eat
There are hearty and cheap menus available upstairs at the municipal market, from about Bs. 8. Around the bus terminal in Villazón, there is an abundance of reasonably priced eateries. For better food you have to head to La Quiaca, where there are a bunch of restaurants on Belgrano, near the bus terminal. Also in La Quiaca, there are lots of stands selling juice and some street food on Lamadrid. Watch out for restaurants refusing to give prices, they charge a lot more if you don't agree a price beforehand.

 * La Coyote near the bus station down towards the center is very basic looking but the prices are good.

La Quiaca

 * Hotel de Turismo is reasonable. The standard is as good as it gets in town, close to shops as the town of La Quiaca is not too big.

Villazón
There is an abundance of cheap hostels between the bus terminal and the railway station, so accommodation will not be a problem.

 * Hostal Plaza is a decent, reasonably clean hotel with hot water. It's on the main square, and costs about Bs. 150 per night for a twin. Bs. 135 for a double.

Cope
There is no access to Wi-Fi in Villazón. There are several Internet cafes that charge about Bs. 3 an hour; you just can't use your own computer.

There are two ATMs that take foreign cards in Villazón, both on Calle Independencia - one on the Northwest Corner of the square - Banco Union (it charges 5% on withdrawals) and one that is quite hidden, about 5 m further up.

If you need to print some last-minute documents for a Bolivian visa, never fear—photocopy places can be found in La Quiaca, including one that does color photocopies and prints from USB drives, across from the bank at the intersection of Lamadrid and Pellegrini. There are also a couple of photo and photocopy places in Villazón on Avenida República Argentina, a couple blocks north of the border.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia

Go next
If you're passing through these towns, you probably already have a good idea of where you're going next. But here are some nearby destinations:

In Argentina

 * Humahuaca
 * Salta
 * Tilcara
 * Ruta 40 (National Route 40) stretching the length of Argentina from north to south starts here.

In Bolivia

 * Tupiza
 * Uyuni

Villazón

title: Villazón and La Quiaca


text:
Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small beach resort and residential town (population 5,000 in 2017) on the French Riviera. The deep water harbour is home to Mediterranean cruise boats, whose tenders routinely disgorge several thousand passengers on organised trips to nearby Eze Village and Monaco. It sports excellent restaurants and a coarse sandy beach much favoured over Nice's stony bay. Convenient harbour car parking attracts visitors from Monaco and along the Riviera. The Citadelle st Elme dates back to antiquity and the town offers easy access to the millionaires peninsula of St Jean Cap Ferrat.

Get in
The route by car from the Basse Corniche down to the old town and waterfront is very tricky in the high season due to the narrow streets and heavy traffic, coaches etc. When you arrive you will also find it difficult and expensive to park. The best way to get to Villefranche is by taking a TER train. They run along the coastal towns between Nice and Monaco, making several stops along the way. Tickets are very cheap (for an adult from Nice to Villefranche is €2.10) and can be purchased and then used at any time, unlike the more strict TGV in France. Trains run everyday and arrive in Villefranche approximately every 20 minutes, depending on the time of day. The station is in the centre and an easy walk to the old town.

Get around
The town is best seen on foot. It is a relatively easy bicycle ride from Nice--there and on to Cap Ferrat and back to Nice should only take 5 hours max.Stick to the lower road

Do
The Beach Villefranche is a great day trip from Nice because of its proximity, size and beach. It's still not a fine sand, but much better than the smooth stones that make up Nice's beaches. Additionally, because the town is quite small, there are next to no tourists clogging up the quaint, waterfront town. With this said the beach is very busy in the high season and very narrow so space is limited.

Buy
The town is full of small shops, mostly catering for the tourist trade but also plenty offering the usual services for the permanent population. The tourist shops are very expensive. There is a food market on Saturday mornings and an antiques market on Sundays.

Eat
Villefranche has no shortage of good restaurants though very few if you are on a tight budget. the ones on the waterfront are the best known and pricey but you can find more reasonable ones back into the town.

Self-catering

If you're staying self catering in Villefranche it's worth being prepared. There are two small supermarkets in the Old Town and one on the main road and they are about double UK prices and quite poorly stocked. There are two good boulangeries and a couple of vegetable shops. There is a butcher shop at Place de la Paix, where you will also find a small collection of local shops including boulangerie, fruit shop, pharmacy, and cafe/newspaper shop. These are local shops, they are not glamourised for tourists but have their own innate charm. There is a small fish stand on the quay in the morning and one that appears sporadically up near the boulangerie at Place de la Paix. It is very tough to try and find high quality produce of the kind you would expect to get in the inland provencal towns as there is basically no traiteur. If you have no car you are rather at the mercy of the shops mentioned above and so life will be expensive.

title: Villefranche-sur-Mer


text:
Villers-la-Ville

Villers-la-Ville is a historic town in the Walloon province of Walloon Brabant in Belgium. Tourists mainly come here to visit the notable abbey ruins and have a walk in the surrounding forests.

By bus
The Walloon regional bus line operator is TEC. It may be hard to find a connection to Villers-la-Ville by bus and it may be more convenient to go by train.

By train
The is located about one kilometer south of the abbey. There is no direct train connection to Villers-la-Ville from Brussels. The journey from the main station (Central/Centrale) of Brussels takes 1h05m with a change in Ottignies. From Charleroi-Sud, the main station of Charleroi, the train covers the distance in 30 minutes.

By car
Villers-la-Ville is not very near to any motorway. Coming from Louvain-la-Neuve the town can be reached by the N25 national road in the direction of Nivelles and to get off at the N275 which heads south to Villers-la-Ville, passing the popular abbey.

Go next

 * Gembloux

title: Villers-la-Ville


text:
Villisca

Villisca is a city in Southwest Iowa.

Get in
US Highway 71 runs north-south along the west side of town. US Highway 34 runs east-west about 3 miles north of town.

Sleep
There are campsites with electrical outlets at Hacklebarney Woods County Park, which is near the junction of US Highways 34 and 71.

title: Villisca