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Pontevedra

Pontevedra is a city in Galicia, Spain, beautifully picturesque and unsurpassed in its province for its historical importance. The old city centre is well preserved and contains numerous historic buildings and monuments. Pontevedra is proud of its cultural and natural heritage. It is known internationally for its urbanism and pedestrianization.

Geography
A city of 83,000 people (2018), Pontevedra is the capital of the Rias Baixas region and of the province of the same name, one of the four that make up Galicia, an autonomous community within Spain. The Rías Bajas (Rías Baixas) coastal region has an abundance of natural beauty (mountains, green hills, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and seashores).

Pontevedra is built on a hill, although most of the city is flat with some streets sloping down toward the Lérez River. The majority of the city occupies the south bank of the river, although it has spread out in all directions.

Climate
The climate is mild and rainy year round, with the humidity that one would expect of a coastal area receiving significant precipitation. While summer is the "high season" for tourists, pleasant weather occurs throughout the year.

History
Archeological evidence shows that the town existed as far back as Roman times. The city took its name from the nearby bridge, "Pontus Veteri" (Old Bridge). From the Middle Ages through the end of the 16th century, the city was one of the main ports and most populous cities in Galicia, though it afterwards declined first due to the disappearance the Castillian Crown, then later because of successive wars. During the 19th century the Spanish provinces were created and Pontevedra was designed as a provincial capital, bringing new institutions, industries, and population to the city.

Until the Spanish Civil War, Pontevedra was a social and cultural centre, but after the war, as power was centralised in Madrid, industry migrated to Vigo because Franco's government gave this city a free-trade zone and a Development Pole.

Today Pontevedra is undergoing a cultural renaissance, and its population is increasing due to its quality of life and the several international prizes the city has been awarded.

Talk
Galician (Galego) and Spanish are commonly spoken, but signage is increasingly in the local language. Galician shares characteristics of Portuguese, as well as Spanish, and anyone conversant in the Romance languages shouldn't have a hard time understanding written Galician.

By train
RENFE Trains run daily from Madrid and Barcelona. You can find the train station on Rúa da Estación, Tel: +34 986 851 313.

By bus
Bus service is common from many destinations in Spain, Portugal, and beyond. The bus station is on Rúa da Estación, Tel: +34 986 852 408.

By plane
The international airport Lavacolla Airport (Santiago de Compostela) is only about 30–40 minutes from Pontevedra via the Atlantico highway (AP-9) and the bigger Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto, Portugal) is about 1 hour and 40 minutes away. Flights connect to those cities from Madrid, and other cities in Spain and Europe (London, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt...).

By car
Distances to Pontevedra: Madrid 600 km, Lugo 150 km, Ourense 100 km, Santiago de Compostela 56 km.

Get around
The city is ideally sized for walking, and nearly all of the items of historical or artistic interest are within easy walking distance of the city center, right in front of the Pilgrim's Virgin Church. Local buses are available and reasonably priced, and taxis are plentiful. Fares are typically small because distances are not large.

Car Rentals (unnecessary in the city, but may be useful to tour the countryside):
 * Avis (c/Peregrina, 49) - Tel.: +34 986 852025 - Fax: +34 986 855992
 * Europcar (railway station or c/Calvo Sotelo) - Tel: +34 986 853150 - Fax: +34 986 864198
 * Enterprise (bus station or c/Calvo Sotelo) - Tel: +34 986 842815

See
The old city, which is at the top of modern Pontevedra, contains several worthwhile sites.
 * The Sanctuary of the Apparitions (in Rúa Sor Lucía) - a place of pilgrimage and Catholic worship in the historical centre of the city, where lived Sister Lucia, the little shepherdess and seer of Fátima, and where the same nun reported several apparitions of Our Lady and Child Jesus.
 * The Church of the Pilgrim Virgin (Igrexa da Peregrina): This very ornate old chapel's bells chime the hours. According to tradition, the Virgin Peregrina guided pilgrims who disembarked in Baiona on their way to Compostela. It was built at the end of the 18th century and has a scallop shell base. It features two styles:  Baroque and Neoclassical. In the centre of the church, there is an impressive altarpiece with the image of the Virgen Peregrina. The font with holy water is an enormous shell brought from the Pacific Ocean.
 * The Basilica of Santa María a Maior: Gothic and Renaissance style. There are impressive and interesting sculptures on the façade around the portal.
 * Church of Santo Domingo: These medieval ruins date from the 1300s and form part of the Provincial Museum of Pontevedra.
 * San Francisco gothic church.
 * San Bartolomé baroque church.
 * Santa Clara gothic church.
 * Herrería Square: Where everyone goes to stroll in the evenings.  When the weather is cold, nothing beats stopping at a street vendor for a still-hot packet of fresh roasted chestnuts.
 * A Alameda and Palmeiras Park: This public park is beautiful at sundown, when you can see the sun setting over the sea.  It contains a monument to the region's seafarers.  There was a small zoo there.
 * A lot of old buildings with coats of arms like Casa de las Campanas.
 * The farmers' market by the river-ria: stop and get some "queixo galego" (local cheese) and "pan galego" (traditional local bread).
 * Several picturesque bridges: The Ponte do Burgo and the Roman bridge of Pontesampaio.  The latter is where French invaders were stopped in their efforts to conquer Galicia.  Local legend says a woman noticed the French troops advancing, and, after sounding the alarm, faced them off wielding only a sickle until the Spanish army arrived to defeat the French. The modern Tirantes bridge and the Corrientes bridge.
 * A lot of picturesque squares like Leña square, Verdura square, Mugartegui square, Teucro square, San José square and many others.
 * Benedictine Monastery of San Salvador de Lérez - (Tel: 986-841-471): Located in the Parish of San Salvador de Lérez, it is commonly known as San Benitiño.  It was built in the 10th century by the monks of the Order of Saint Benedict and restored in the 16th and 17th centuries.  A neoclassic templum with a Baroque facade from the 17th century, one wing of the 16th century cloister is joined to the south wall.  During the 16th century, the cloister was a school of philosophy and humanities.  The most interesting part is the chapel of Saint Benedict, which dates from 1700, where one can see the image of Christ. There is a popular tradition of walking kneeling below the altar of Christ.
 * Sculptures Island park.
 * Marismas do Alba natural park.
 * Several interesting sculptures in the city centre: Ravachol parrot, The fiel Contraste, Valle Inclán, A Tertulia monument.
 * Pontevedra maritime promenade by the ria.
 * Pazo of Lourizán.

Arts and culture

 * Museo Provincial de Pontevedra - various locations - Tel: +34 986 851-455 (closed Mondays). This museum is considered to be one of the finest historical and archeological museums in Spain. It is composed of a set of buildings located around the centric Plaza da Ferrería, among them two Baroque houses.  Also included are the  Gothic bases of the ruins of Santo Domingo Church and the Edificio Sarmiento, an old convent.
 * CITA: Centro de Interpretación Torres Arzobispales Museum.
 * Illa das Esculturas (Island of Sculptures) - near where the River Lérez empties into the ocean - Tel: +34 986 846-611

This open air public park by the river is ideal for a stroll or some physical activity, and it is the only one of its kind in Spain, showcasing sculptures by Francisco Leiro, Giovanni Anselmo, Fernando Casás, Dan Gram and Ian Hamilton, among others. Spread over 70,000 m2, the works of art are integrated into the landscape, which features native wild flora and fauna.

For cycling you can use the other path of the river to go via Monteporreiro. For longer cycling routes the Monte da Fracha near Marcón is a good option if you are not unfit.

If the weather is rainy and you want to exercise, try the Gimnasio Municipal in Campolongo, where a gym and swimming pool are available.

Beaches
Placeres and Pontesampaio offer a variety of recreational opportunities, although there are cleaner and better beaches for sunbathing and swimming next to the city and all along the Ría de Pontevedra for example Mogor, Aguete or Lapamán on the south bank of the Ría and Lourido, Chancelas, Areas, Paxariñas, Canelas, Montalvo, Pragueira or the outstanding A Lanzada on the north bank of the Ria.

Festivals

 * Festa da Romería de San Benitiño de Lérez: The date varies from year to year, but this summertime celebration takes place on the outskirts of Pontevedra. St Benedict is one of the most venerated saints in Galicia, and this devotion dates back to the late Middle Age. Lérez is an old Benedictine monastery, a sanctuary located on the Lerez riverbank where a small image of the saint is venerated.
 * Carnival: Since 1876, Pontevedra's citizens celebrate the reign and death of King Urco. Nowadays, Carnival takes places in the streets, and features street bands and fancy dresses (costumes).
 * Festa da Virxe do O: December 18th is the festival of this patron saint of the city.
 * Festa da Peregrina: On the weekend of the second Sunday in August, this festival starts with a floral tribute to the "Virxe da Peregrina" (Virgin of the Pilgrim), whose shrine stands in the center of the old town.  It includes fireworks (weather permitting), bullfights, a marathon, a regatta, bands, and artistic displays.  This also coincides with the Honey Festival (held in Verdura Square).
 * Autumn Festival: For one weekend in mid November, Plaza da Perdura is the venue for this cultural and commercial festival, bringing people to Pontevedra's historic centre to celebrate typical autumn produce like mushrooms, nuts, and legumes.  Also on hand are several magostos (traditional chestnut festivals), folk games, and musical performances. Nearby restaurants offer typical autumn dishes to celebrate the festival.
 * Feira Franca (Medieval Fair): Held the first weekend in September, it celebrates the open market held in Pontevedra starting in 1467, a privilege granted by King Enrique IV, and used to last a month (15 days before the Festival of San Bartolomé and 15 days afterwards).  This celebration commemorates Pontevedra's era of greatest influence and prosperity, from the middle of the 15th century through the end of the 16th century.  Food, recreation, and history all abound, and include music, drama, and historic costumes.
 * Festa do Caldo Galego: On the second Sunday in March, this local dish is celebrated with its own festival.  The stew is served in clay dishes, and the celebration includes a Caldo Galego contest.  In an effort to preserve traditional recipes, including varieties which use squash, onions, rice, and chestnuts, each contestant much submit the list of ingredients.  Entrants are divided into two categories:  meat-based and vegetarian.
 * Festa dos Maios (Mayfest): On the first Sunday in May, this festival celebrates Galicia's Celtic roots.  This includes a contest for the best "maio" (a conical construction covered with branches and flowers, around which a group of children dance in a ring and sing while beating sticks to mark time. The child with the best voice sings under the "maio."
 * Festa da Anguia: In late June, the Parrish of Pontesampaio hosts this celebration of various dishes prepared using eels.
 * Festa do Demo: In late August is the Festival of the Devil, celebrating the symbolic struggle of good against evil.  The "devil" chases the children with his pitchfork, then they get to play traditional games in the town square.
 * Festa de Santiaguiño do Burgo: In late July, this festival ostensibly venerates the Apostle James, but includes food and sporting events in addition to its religious component.  It includes the “Santiago Peregrino” marathon and fireworks.  It is also held in conjunction with the traditional "Homage to Senior Citizens" celebration.
 * Festa de San Sebastián: Honoring another patrón saint of the city, this occurs on January 20th.

Buy
You can buy typical sweets and drinks in many delicatessen shops like Juncal Alimentación in Peregrina street. If you want to buy an original gift, visit the Sargadelos shop at Oliva street and see the modernist ceramics of this old and legendary factory. Also in the Old and New Districts you can find many jewellery shops where to buy typical jewels made of silver and gold, many of them of Celtic inspiration.

If you want to buy clothes, move to the New District and visit the stores that are all over these district in streets like Benito Corbal, Michelena, Peregrina, Oliva, Sagasta, Fray Juan de Navarrete... Here you can find Zara, Bershka, H&M, Sfera, Mango, Benetton, Lacoste, Levi's, Sephora, Rituals, Desigual... and other famous brands. Maybe the most original brand you could find is Rei Zentolo at Peregrina Square, a Galician brand with original and really funny T-shirts and other clothes.

There are three shopping centers in the city. The first one, A Barca, is located next to A Barca bridge and it has fashion shops, fast food restaurants and one big hypermarket, Carrefour. The second one, Carrefour Planet, is in San Blas- Salcedo, in the city outskirts and it has some shops and another big hypermarket, Carrefour. The third one, Vialia, is next to the railway station an in it there are some shops and multiplex cinemas.

Eat
As in Galicia in general you can eat decently in Pontevedra. Find pulperías in the back streets and sample the octopus. It's delicious and generally cheaper than elsewhere in Spain. Polbo á feira is a dish of boiled octopus served on a bed of boiled potatoes, sprayed with olive oil, spicy paprika and sea salt. Many restaurants offer fixed-price menus for lunch.

Galician gastronomy includes a wide variety of foods. Galician stew (caldo gallego) can be made with sausage (chorizo), ham, beef, or chicken, and contains chickpeas (garbanzos), potatoes, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables. "Lacón con grelos" is very common all over the region: pork cooked with turnip, potatoes and chorizo. Both are typical winter dishes. Although fabada, made from fabas (large white beans), smoked morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo, and manteca (lard) is usually considered Asturian food, some excellent versions can also be found in Galicia.

Being so close to the sea, Galician cooking has plenty of seafood, including recipes for hake (merluza), turbot, sole, grouper and sea bass, squid, octopus, mussels, and velvet swimming crabs. And the list goes on: clams and oysters, spiny lobsters, European lobsters, triple-grooved shrimp, and scallops.

“Empanadas” are also popular: a flaky pastry stuffed with any of a variety of fillings, including ham, chicken, cod (bacalao), octopus, mussels, cockles (berberechos), chorizo, potatoes and other vegetables, cheese, and olives.

Some typical desserts are: Santiago Tart (almond-based) and “filloas”, thin pancakes made from wheat. One of the best ways to end a walking tour is to stop in a pastelería and pick up a treat or two.
 * Mare e monte, av. Eduardo Pondal
 * Il Piccolo, rua Virgen del Camino
 * La Ultramar, rua Padre Amoedo
 * Román, av. Augusto García Sánchez
 * Santa Clara, rua Santa Clara
 * Eirado da Leña, Leña square
 * Icewolf, rua Dona Tareixa
 * Loaira, plaza da Leña
 * Creperies: Crepeo, Cre-Cotte...
 * Creperies: Crepeo, Cre-Cotte...

Drink
Galician wines have become much better known than they used to be. In the back street pubs it is often served in a bowl, and you can pick the size bowl you want. In the squares of the old town, such as the Praza da Verdura, bars offer drinks and tapas al fresco before lunch and for pre-after dinner. In winter many joints at the old town and cafes at the city centre offer chocolate (hot) with churros.

Sleep
Accommodation is easy to find. If you arrive to any of the bus or train stations, you will see hotels on your way to the town and in the town centre.

Connect

 * Police Telephone: +34 986 833 080
 * Ambulance Telephone: +34 986 850 823

Stay safe
Pontevedra is generally a very safe city. However, as with nearly everywhere in Europe, be aware of pickpockets, who may work in groups to jostle or bump you while a confederate lifts your wallet. Carrying a photocopy of your passport and only the amount of money necessary for the day's purchases is always sound advice.

Go next

 * Take a bus along the south side of the Ria de Pontevedra as far as Combarro. You will need to ask somebody to tell you when to get off.
 * You can visit the many beaches in both sides of the ría de Pontevedra, suchs as Portocelo, Mogor, Aguete and Lapamán on the way to the towns Marín and Bueu, and also the beaches Areas, Montalvo or A Lanzada on the way to the fishing village of O Grove and the Island of A Toxa. Rent a car or take the buses from the bus station.
 * Santiago de Compostela is nearly a half-hour journey by train, an hour by bus.

title: Pontevedra


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Pontiac

There is more than one place called Pontiac:

Canada

 * Pontiac (Quebec) — A town in Quebec.
 * Pontiac (Regional County Municipality) — A supra-municipal organization, in the administrative region of Outaouais, in Quebec

United States of America

 * Pontiac (Illinois) — A town in Illinois.
 * Pontiac (Indiana) — A town in Indiana.
 * Pontiac (Michigan) — A city in Michigan.
 * Pontiac (Rhode Island) — A town in Rhode Island

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

title: Pontiac


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Pontiac (Illinois)

Pontiac is a small city of about 12000 people on old Route 66 in Central Illinois.

Get in and around
Most visitors to Pontiac arrive by motorcar as part of a Route 66 tour, originating in Chicago and heading westward. The portion of US 66 which crosses Illinois from the windy city to St. Louis has been entirely bypassed by Interstate 55; either road leads to Pontiac.

title: Pontiac (Illinois)


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Pontiac (Michigan)

Pontiac is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, and a satellite city of Detroit.

By train

 * Route serving Jackson:
 * Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago including stops along the way in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Niles, and New Buffalo. There are many train connections in Chicago.
 * Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago including stops along the way in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Niles, and New Buffalo. There are many train connections in Chicago.

title: Pontiac (Michigan)


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Pontianak

Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, and bisected by the Equator. The city is mostly populated by ethnic Chinese, Dayaks and Malays, as well as significant numbers of minorities such as Bugis and Javanese.

History
The word pontianak — probably from bunting anak, "pregnant with child" — means the undead vampire of a woman who died during childbirth. Disguised as a beautiful woman, the pontianak goes around murdering unwary men in cold blood without showing any remorse, harming pregnant women and eating babies, but she can be controlled by plunging a nail into a hole in the back of her neck. The modern Indonesian name for this type of ghost is kuntilanak, while it is referred to by the original word pontianak in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

According to legend, when Abdurrahman Alqadrie's group arrived in the uninhabited area of Pontianak, it was haunted by pontianaks/kuntilanaks, which deterred many of his companions with their scary voices at night. To sweep these ghosts away, Alqadrie ordered his men to fire their cannons to the forest which was believed to be their base. Afterwards, no more pontianak voices were ever heard.

In 1771, Abdurrahman Alqadrie cut down the forest which was at the crossing between the Kapuas and Landak rivers, then settled there. He was awarded the title Sultan. Under his leadership, he succeeded in attracting many traders, most of them ethnic Malays, and some Dayaks from the upstream parts of the Kapuas River.

In the early part of the 19th century, the Dutch occupied Pontianak and the rest of West Kalimantan's cities as part of its colonial campaign. Pontianak was occupied to become a trading post in order to gain rich natural resources, mainly rubber and wood, from the upstream reaches of the Kapuas River. Resistance by Malays and Dayaks continued sporadically and this forced the Dutch colonial armed forces to frequently request reinforcements from Batavia/Jakarta.

Due to war and widespread poverty in China at the end of the 19th century, many Chinese migrated to Indonesia, and some settled in Pontianak due to its strategic location for trading. This later added Chinese culture to the history of Pontianak. Chinese in Pontianak are mainly of Teochew, Hakka, and Cantonese descent.

The Dutch occupation ended in 1941 during World War II, when Japanese Imperial forces overran Dutch bases from the north. These bases were not able to deploy sufficient numbers of soldiers in order to defend the strategic island of Java. During the Japanese occupation, tens of thousands of civilians and intellectuals were massacred, mainly those who refused to recognize the emperor of Japan.

When the Japanese retreated, the Dutch under the Allied Forces umbrella re-entered West Kalimantan. Their colonial government over Pontianak ended a few years later after a series of diplomatic missions and local resistance which also freed the other Indonesian territories at the same time.

People
You may find that Pontianakians of each ethnicity tend to live in ethnic enclaves. For example, areas along Jalan Gajahmada are overwhelmingly Chinese whereas Sungai Jawi in the suburbs is settled mostly by ethnic Malays. Intermarriage is not common, especially between ethnic Chinese and the indigenous people (Dayaks, Malays, Javanese, Madurese, etc.) But that's not to say that people of different ethnicities do not get along. Visit a restaurant somewhere in the middle of Pontianak and you might find both Chinese and Dayaks chatting hilariously with each other.

The locals of Pontianakians are mostly easygoing, at least compared to those of other metropolitan cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya. Their tone of speaking may not as soft as the Jogjanese, but if you try to blend yourself with them you will almost definitely be reciprocated.

Talk
Nearly all Pontians, regardless of ethnicity, speak Indonesian, although it is slightly mixed with a Malay accent close to that of neighbouring Malaysia. Most ethnic Chinese people at the southern bank of the Kapuas River speak Teochew, and those at the northern bank speak mostly Hakka (called Khek by locals). Mandarin is spoken mostly by those aged 30 years old or above, but don't be surprised if they mix it with Hakka or Teochew dialect as it is not very commonly spoken in town. English is mostly spoken by the young locals, but is usually not mastered beyond some basic knowledge despite many English courses, so it would make your trip much smoother if you learn some basic Indonesian before you go. Hiring an English-speaking guide could smooth your travel a lot.

By bus
Bus trip to Pontianak can be arranged from Kuching in neighboring Malaysia. A trip from Kuching to Pontianak or vice versa will last at least 8 hours which will pass the border area of Entikong. Some of the bus providers serving this route are Damri, SJS and Biaramas Express (www.mybus.com.my). The fares for the trip ranges from RM45 to RM75. Click Pontianak to Kuching for travel itinerary on this route. A bus trip to Brunei is also available. There is also a bus available from Pangkalan Bun. It takes around 14 hours and costs ~450,000 (2018/01).

By plane

To get to or from the airport, DAMRI runs hourly bus service to the city centre for IDR35,000. The easiest spot to catch the bus in the city is at the DAMRI office at Jl. Pahlawan 232, Pontianak (phone +62 561 744859). For taxis, coupons at a fixed price of Rp70,000 are sold.

There are Damri Bus from Supadio Airport to Singkawang and Sambas for Rp 100,000/person.

By boat
There is a fortnightly service by the Pelni ship KM Lawit from Jakarta to Pontianak. The same ferry then continues to Semarang, Java. Travel time from Jakarta is approximately 44 hours, with only economic class sleeping arrangements. Other passengers are local people, perfectly friendly and including many families. Cost is around IDR260,000. This remains the cheapest means of inter-island transportation.

By car
Pontianak can be reached by car from Kuching in 6-8 hours, although the road is not in very good shape. See Pontianak to Kuching for a detailed itinerary.

Get around
The most convenient way to explore Pontianak is either by taxi or rented car. The entire Pontianak is integrated by road link, parts of which are not well maintained. There are also plenty of cheap (Rp2,000) public buses but sometimes it can be kind of adventure to use them since the buses are not well marked, drivers and most of the locals do not speak English and the orientation is difficult. Also there are boats crossing the river and this is in general the most convenient and the cheapest (Rp1,000) way to get in to the other side.

Do

 * Sungai Kapuas (Kapuas River) divides Pontianak into two different sides. Get a boat ride along the river about five or six o'clock local time and you will see amazing views along this river. The locals who live along this river taking a bath in this river during these hours throughout the year. A unique tradition that should not be missed.

 * During the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, there is a Meriam Karbit festival that is well worth visiting.
 * Gawai Dayak is a festival that celebrates Malay culture and runs in June, but they also do smaller events in May & July. Similar to festivals in Sarawak.

Buy
Equatorial souvenirs from the Equatorial Obelisk souvenir shop, as well as, cheap textile and many craftwork items as everywhere in Indonesia.

Eat
Pontianak is quite popular among domestic tourists due to its wide range of food with strong cultural touch, most notably the Chinese. There are plenty of eating options for culinary adventurers, from street hawker food to local restaurant culinary to internationally franchised fast food.

 * Street hawker food, where you can taste the local delicacy such as Beef Rice Noodle & Beehoon (fried, with soup, dried), Seafood Noodle (with soup & dried), Nasi Goreng (fried rice with chicken, beef), Nasi Uduk, Kwe Kia Theng (Teochew phrase, rice noodle in soya sauce soup with pork and intestines (optional), Bakso (fish or beef ball soup), Sate (chicken or beef satay), Kari Peng (Teochew phrase meaning curry rice), Koi Peng (Teochew phrase literary "chicken rice", but content also include pork, cucumber, etc. also known as "Nasi Campur" or mixed rice), Martabak, Kue Terang Bulan, Otak-otak, Pempek, Tui Jiu He (Teochew phrase literary "beaten cuttlefish", dried cuttlefish are beaten until tender and flossy, woodfired until cooked, then served with belacan sauce, best to have it with friends and beer), Sio Bi (also known as Siomay, made of pork served in soya sauce with the options of chilli and mustard), Siomay Bandung (fish cake, beancurd, potato, vegetable, egg served in peanut sauce, with the option of chilli and tomato), He Mue/Bubur Ikan (fish porridge), and many more. These street hawkers are usually found from dusk until 10PM - midnight, depending or business, but some operated from dawn to dusk or midnight. They are usually clustered around busy commercial streets such as the CBD: Jalan (Jl.) Gajahmada, Jl. Hijas, Jl. Setia Budi, Jl. Agus Salim, Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Patimura, Jl. Nusa Indah 1, Jl. Tanjung Pura, Jl Siam or around the suburban such as Jawi (Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Hassanudin, Jl. Wahid Hasyim), Kotabaru (Jl. St. Abdurrahman), Purnama, Siantan, Sungai Raya Dalam and Sungai Raya. The pricee per meal ranges from Rp5,000 to about Rp25,000.

Drink
Try a local Pontianak drink made from aloe vera called es lidah buaya.

Sleep
If you arrive by Pelni ferry late at night then it's better option to sleep aboard until morning as there is usually a long layover at Pontianak.

Stay safe
Pickpockets and motorcycle thefts are quite common in town. Exercise necessary caution even when being in a shopping mall. Most commonly stolen are items left on motorcycles, such as helmets. Make sure you lock things in the bike or take them with you. Most shopping mall parking lots have CCTVs and security, but the occasional helmet theft can still occur.

Phone call
Most national GSM and CDMA operators have their signal towers spread throughout the entirety of Pontianak, meaning that there should not be too many problems communicating around the town and the tariffs are also reasonable, at least for tourists coming from the West. Shops selling SIM cards and their top-ups are also in abundance, even in the outskirts of town, just like in other cities in Indonesia. Fixed line phones are also available everywhere. There are also few phone stalls (Warung Telkom) offering you phone call with a reasonable fare.

Internet access
Internet cafe businesses are flourishing, but you'll only find a few without distracting gamers like you might find in typical East Asian internet cafes. Don't worry about the billing (that's how the locals say). An hour of internet access will cost you Rp3,000-6,000. But don't expect a speed-of-light one out of it, 4G is available throughout the city with providers such as 3, Telkom and etc. Speeds are pretty good but can vary depending on location.

Consulates

 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia

Go next
Pontianak is the gateway for travellers wishing to travel deeper inland. Singkawang, another one of the most Chinese-influenced town is reachable by taxi. Kuching, which lies in the Malaysian part of the island, offers some modernity you wouldn't find in the Indonesian part.

If you want to explore the rest of Kalimantan there is a bus heading East to Pangkalan Bun which leaves the Interstate Bus Station at 07:00, costing around Rp 450,000 as of 2018. It is however a long journey, expect arrival in the late evening in Pangkalan Bun.

title: Pontianak


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Pontianak to Kuching

Traveling from Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province in Indonesia to Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, or vice-versa, in a day can be easily done by driving, or by catching buses. Of course, the level of comfort, and the price, will depend on which mode you choose.

Understand
Getting from Pontianak to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, can be seen as one leg of the "Extended Borneo Overland Trail" which can be covered continuously between Tawau at the southeastern tip of Sabah, and Pontianak at the western end of Borneo. Sabah and Sarawak are both part of Malaysian Borneo, while West Kalimantan is an Indonesian province, but the trail also requires you to pass through the expensive sultanate of Brunei which lies between the two states of Malaysian Borneo.

The stretch covered by this leg can be both challenging and fascinating: challenging because it involves travelling through some of the more remote corners of West Kalimantan and Sarawak where the roads may not be at their best and fascinating because you will get to see the contrasts between the Indonesian and Malaysian sides of Borneo.

This itinerary shows you the way to get from Pontianak to Kuching and does not leave you much time for any diversions.

Prepare
There isn't really that much to prepare for as the route goes through many small towns where you will be able to get food and drinks -- and accommodation if you get stranded -- without any problems, although the accommodation in the Indonesian side (except in Pontianak where 3-4 stars hotels and international chain restaurants such as Pizza Hut and KFC are available) of the travel tends to be very basic. If you are driving, just make sure that your car is in good condition as there are many stretches where you'll have to wait for a while before you can thumb a lift to the nearest mechanic.

As the route brings you across state and international borders, make sure you satisfy the necessary immigration requirements.

Get in

 * This is the start of the itinerary and you can get here by sea from Jakarta and Semarang in Java and Ketapang in Kalimantan, or by air from Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Solo and Surabaya on the island of Java, as well as from Batam, and three small towns also in West Kalimantan: Ketapang, Putussibau and Sintang.

 * You can reach Sarawak's capital by various means. See Kuching's Get in section for details.

Go
The only direct route between Pontianak and Kuching is overland.

By plane
As of mid-2023, no direct flights exist between these two cities. Since both airports only have domestic flights, flying between these cities will require a domestic flight, an international flight, and another domestic flight.

By car
Even with your own car, the journey from Pontianak to Kuching by road is taxing, taking between eight and ten hours. The road condition is partly sealed, with much of it in extremely poor condition, requiring you to slow down to a crawl or complete stop to navigate potholes.

The journey is described in stages from Pontianak to Kuching. If you are traveling the other direction, reverse the directions:

 * Pontianak to Sei. (Sungai) Pinyuh (50 km): The drive out of Pontianak is quite straightforward. Road conditions are fair and the road heading north from the city is a two-lane road, passing the busy coastal town of Jungkat.

 * Sei. (Sungai) Pinyuh to Ngabang (127 km): At Sei. Pinyuh, the road is split in two directions with a round-about in the middle of town. Turning left will lead to the north shore towns of Mempawah, Singkawang, Pemangkat, Sambas and Bengkayang. (Border checkpoints with Sarawak in Sambas and Bengkayang are planned by Indonesian government.) Turning right will lead to the hinterland (and Sarawak) towns of Ngabang, Sosok, Tayan, Sanggau, Sekadau, Nanga Pinoh, Sintang and Putussibau. The road from Sei. Pinyuh to Ngabang is a two-lane road, and drivers are cautioned to drive carefully as parts of the roads are damaged by heavy traffic and poor maintenance by the local authorities.

 * Ngabang to Sosok (38 km): Ngabang is a major stopping point for food and accommodation before the border checkpoint.

 * Sosok to Balai Karangan (80 km): Sosok has the potential to become an important transit town in West Kalimantan as it lies in the intersections of roads leading to border checkpoints to the north, Sanggau, Sekadau, Nanga Pinoh, Sintang and Putussibau to the east, Sei. Pinyuh, Pontianak, Singkawang to the west, Tayan to the south (a road linking Tayan to Pontianak is under construction, and once completed it will cut short the travel distance between Pontianak and Sosok by at least 2 hours. Another road is being scheduled linking Tayan to Sandai and Ketapang in the southern hinterland and south coast of West Kalimantan).

 * Balai Karangan to Entikong Border Checkpoint (19 km): Balai Karangan is the last town in the Indonesian side before the checkpoint. The Indonesian side of the border checkpoint is called Entikong, while the Malaysian side is called Tebedu.

 * Entikong and Tebedu Checkpoints: Once in the Entikong checkpoint area, there are two clearances needed. Travelers are required to get out of their vehicle and clear immigration by lining up for immigration stamps. After clearing immigration, passengers can return to the vehicle while drivers are required to report vehicles exiting the country to the local police station at the border. Once paperwork is done, the vehicle can be driven out of the country towards Sarawak's border which is 50 m away. Once in the Tebedu checkpoint area, all travelers are again required to get out of their vehicles and line up for immigration stamps. Drivers will report vehicles entering Malaysia and pay for a one-month vehicle entry permit. Customs will then check for baggage and vehicles. Note that foreign vehicles are prohibited from having tinted windows when entering Malaysia.

 * Tebedu Checkpoints to Serian (50 km): From the Tebedu checkpoints to Serian is about 40 minutes of mixed roads between two-lane roads and dual carriageways. Serian is a transit town for most Indonesians who wish to come to Kuching and vice versa.

 * Serian to Kuching (56 km): From Serian to Kuching is about 30 minutes of 56-km-long dual carriageways. It is a good, paved road (which can be considered a highway). Before reaching Kuching, there are several suburban towns along the way, such as Tarat, Tapah and Siburan. After Mile 15, the dual-lane roads will shrink at a signalized intersection (near Sedap Food Industries factory). On the left is a road leading to Mambong, while on the right is a road leading to Kota Samarahan. The road to Kuching is just straight ahead. The road is undeniably busy as it is a bottleneck between two highways. The split to the dual carriageway begins again at Padawan town (just around 10 km from the Mambong junction). Then you will pass several satellite towns, such as Penrissen, Kota Sentosa (locally known as Pasar Batu 7), Batu 4 and Batu 3. After going through a busy road at Kota Sentosa, there will be two junctions to Kuching International Airport. Straight ahead is a road leading to Kuching.

Note that, Kuching city lacks vital signboards, especially the ones leading to Petra Jaya, Santubong, and other suburban areas. Google Maps work well in Kuching.

By van
Kuching to Tebedu costs RM15 direct

By bus
There are several bus companies operating between Pontianak and Kuching. Several bus companies' offices, including Indonesian company Setia Jaya Sakti (SJS) at Jl. Sisingamangaraja No.155-159. The reputable company DAMRI is on Jl Pahlawan near the junction with Jl Tanjung Pura, just south of city center. Also you may check for info at Biaramas (another major Malaysian company).

A comfortable Super Executive class seat (20-25 seats per bus) is Rp260,000.

Buses depart from their company offices. DAMRI services depart from the ALBN terminal a few kilometers east of the city center, with a shuttle departing from its city center office 1 hour prior.

Journey time is approximately 7 hours, including rest stops and border crossing. There are buses in the morning (DAMRI's departs 06:00 from its office) and in the evening (departures around 21:00, reaching the border at 04:00-06:00 after one or two rest stops). The journey onwards to Kuching is another 2 hours.

Buses from Kuching regional bus terminal to Pontianak similarly leave on two schedules, Economy class leaves at 07:00 and 13:00 Malaysian Standard Time, while Super Executive class leaves at 11:00 Malaysian Standard Time.

title: Pontianak to Kuching


text:
Pontresina

Pontresina is a village in Graubünden. The village is close to the ski resorts around St. Moritz and very busy during the winter season.

Get in
Trains go at least hourly from St. Moritz, which can be reached from Chur. Travelling from Italy, there are a number of trains a day from Tirano to the

title: Pontresina


text:
Pontrhydfendigaid

Pontrhydfendigaid is a village in Ceredigion.

Understand
Pontrhydfendigaid is perhaps best known as the nearest place to Strata Florida Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian foundation. The abbey today consists mainly of ruins, with a fine Romanesque entrance paramount. However it is very important to Welsh history as the burial place of several princes.

Get in
Pontrhydfendigaid is on the B4343 between Devil's Bridge and Tregaron.

Do
The village is very pleasantly situated for walking in the Mid Wales hills or exploring the river Teifi.

Go next

 * Devil's Bridge

title: Pontrhydfendigaid


text:
Pontypridd

Pontypridd is a town in Rhondda Cynon Taff, or Glamorgan. It sits at the confluence of the Taff and Rhondda rivers. The name Pontypridd was adopted in 1856 at the behest of Mr Charles Bassett who was the founder member of the Pontypridd Market Company. Up until that time the town had been known as Newbridge.

Understand
The name Pontypridd is from "Pont-y-tŷ-pridd" the Welsh for "bridge by the earthen house", a reference to a succession of wooden bridges that formerly spanned the River Taff at this point and a mud brick dwelling at the crossing. The Maltster’s Arms Hotel now stands on what is believed to be the site of the original earthen house. The current bridge (not the Victoria Road Bridge) is now referred to as the Old Bridge and is the symbol of Pontypridd. William Edwards, builder and minister of Groes Wen Chapel, constructed it in 1756. He took a contract to build a bridge that would provide vehicle access across the Taff and would last for seven years. Success was not easy and his first two attempts in 1746 and 1751 both ended in failure. His third design however, initiated a major engineering advance with the introduction of six large round openings, three each side, that effectively reduced the overall weight of the structure, giving the bridge great strength. The bridge was a success and at the time of its construction (1756) its 43-metre span probably made it the largest single span bridge in Europe and possibly the world. Although no modern traffic flows across the Old Bridge it is still available to pedestrians and is in good condition. Mr Edwards greatly exceeded his seven-year warranty. The twin valleys of Rhondda Fach (small) and Rhondda Fawr (big) commence at Pontypridd and extend some sixteen miles (each) to the northwest of the town. The valleys are steep and narrow never more than a mile wide and were the powerhouse of the South Wales coal industry during the 19th and 20th century. Their cultural and industrial character are the essence of everything the region is known for and stands for. Today the mines are gone and rivers run clean, although their banks still yield quantities of small coal. The slag heaps and local hills have been grassed and planted with new forests. These are now the domain of tourists, hikers and hill walkers who enjoy valley views and the friendship readily available in the local pubs. Tourism is now a serious business. To the north of Pontypridd the upper valleys of the river Taff reach into another historic industrial heartland, that of Merthyr, Hirwaun and Dowlais. Here the ironmasters of the 19th century produced Pig iron at the great Cyfartha iron works and shipped it via the Glamorganshire canal to the Chain and Tinplate works of Pontypridd, Treforest and the port of Cardiff. Pontypridd being at the junction of these industrial valleys became a major transportation centre for road, rail and water traffic to the ports of Cardiff, and Barry becoming prosperous and growing quickly during this period.

Because of its location Pontypridd was the great meeting place. Valleys converged here, so particularly on Saturdays did the people of the valleys. The market company founded by Charles Bassett became an institution on Saturdays and Wednesdays filling the town with people. These markets still function today however the volume of customers is greatly diminished as the motorcar and modern road systems now allow many potential customers to bypass the town on the way to Cardiff and beyond.

Pontypridd’s location is still a valuable resource. The town is ideally placed to provide a cost effective centre for tourists who wish to explore the industrial heritage of the area, the nearby Brecon Beacons National Park, the beautiful vale of Glamorgan and it’s coastal features or the Castle and museums of Cardiff and St Fagans.

By car
Pontypridd is easily accessible by car from Cardiff. Take the A470 north off from the M4.

By train
Train services run from Cardiff Queens street and Cardiff Central stations. Journey time is about 20 minutes from either station.

Get around
Pontypridd is easily explored by foot.

Do

 * Rugby Union: Pontypridd RFC play in the Welsh Premiership, the amateur game's top tier. They play at Sardis Road in town centre.
 * Take a walk on the high side to the Pontypridd Common. This is easily located – look for the obelisk of the 1st world war memorial, which is clearly visible from everywhere in town. The common provides an excellent view of the town and valley and has an intriguing set of Celtic standing stones with the large "Rocking Stone" at its centre. A gravestone marking Philip Thomas's place of burial today stands in Glyntaff Cemetery. However, a gravestone intended for him also stands on Pontypridd Common. The story behind the stone that overlooks his workplace on the common has become part of the folklore history of Pontypridd.
 * Escape from the valley and walk the hills around the town. Map sheet 154 of the Ordnance Survey One inch Map series will be very useful if you wish to do this. Go east and walk the lanes and fields to the 1,254 ft top of Mynedd Eglwysilan or Mynedd Meio at 1054 ft. The hills here are treeless and on clear days provide views to the Bristol Channel some 17 miles to the south.
 * Drive northwest on A4058 and A4061 for about 10 miles over the top of Mynedd Rhigos at the northern end of the Rhondda valley. You will be rewarded with some of the best scenic views of south Wales, an unrivalled panorama of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. The road was built by Welsh miners, who were out of work because of industrial disputes in the 1930s. It reaches a height of 1600 ft at Craig-y-Llyn where a viewing point and car park are provided. From here a great sweep of escarpment towers over the Llyn Fawr Reservoir and Llyn Fach.

Buy
John Hughes is an artist who specialises in producing ceramic figurines of famous and infamous people and other Celtic subjects. His most popular items are ceramic caricatures of Welsh rugby players. His studio and shop are a short way south of Pontypridd in an old Public house on” Broadway”. His figurines have become collector’s items and are known as “Groggs” Buy your “Groggs” from The Grogg Shop on the Broadway.

Eat
Numerous fish & chips, Indian, and other restaurants are found throughout the town. Inside the town markets; accessed from “Market Square” is a section known locally as “The Farmers Market” where locally produced Welsh specialties can be obtained such as Faggots and peas, Laverbread, and Caerphilly cheese.

Sleep
A wide range of accommodation is available in the area. Here are a few examples:

Go next
Pontypridd is a good location from which to access much that Glamorgan and South Wales has to offer the visitor. Go south and Cardiff the national capital is just 10 miles away, go north just 15 miles and you are in the Brecon Beacons National Park. To the northwest is the industrial heartland of the Welsh valleys and to the southwest the rolling farmlands of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Easy daily excursions my be made to many South Wales attractions such as :-

The gardens are reached via the A470 going south to junction 32 on the M4 motorway take the motorway eastbound to junction 30 ( Cardiff Gate) then follow the signs to Lisvane and Cefn Onn park.
 * Dyffryn House and Gardens at St. Nicholas, north of Barry.
 * Blaengarw House and it’s oriental gardens just north of Bridgend. This is a fine example of a Victorian country house set in extensive gardens with the river Garw forming the eastern boundary.
 * In May a visit to Cefn-onn gardens should not be missed, These extensive gardens have one of the best displays of Azaleas and Rhododendrons to found anywhere. Just outside the gardens is “The Old Cottage” pub, which will serve you, lunch on their large front lawn together with some nice cool ale.

The other main feature of the castle is the fully restored and reroofed Great Hall, built around 1317 by Hugh le Despenser. The castle is open daily at 9:30AM with the exception of Sundays during November to March when it opens at 11AM. Entrance fee approx $5.
 * Dan-yr-ogof show caves at Craig-yr-nos on A4067 just 1 mile north of Pencae. A visit to this complex of caverns is introduced by a sound show presentation artistically describing how and when and by whom the caves were discovered.
 * Only 4 miles south of Pontypridd you can visit the largest castle in Wales at Caerphilly. Surrounded by a large moat the castle has an inner defensive area overlooking the outer walls. Entry is via the renovated Gatehouse, which now houses an exhibition about the castle’s history. From here you cross a bridge over the moat to the outer wall of the castle itself. On the southeast corner stands the famous leaning tower beside the large cleft created by Cromwell’s men when they tried to blow it up.

 * The Seaside towns of Lavernock, Penarth, Barry and Porthcawl
 * Ride or Walk the “Taff trail”
 * The Museum of Welsh life – St Fagans
 * The Big Pit and Ironworks at Blaenarvon

If you wish to go further afield why not visit
 * The Wye Valley and Tintern Abbey

title: Pontypridd


text:
Ponza

Ponza is the largest island in the Pontine Group off the coast of Italy south of Rome and north of Naples.

Understand
Allegedly named after Pontius Pilate (although this is now disputed) Ponza was first colonized by the Etruscans. In Roman times it was used as a place to deport, and usually put to death, those who fell foul of Rome's authorities. In the Middle Ages it could not be protected against raids by Saracens and pirates and was abandoned. It was re-occupied in the 18th Century. The island is a popular tourist spot for Italian holidaymakers in the summer, although some of the popular beaches have been closed because of falling rocks that have in the past killed sunbathers.

In the Italian Fascist era Ponza served as a penal colony. Ironically, Mussolini was himself held on Ponza for a few weeks after his arrest in 1943.

Ponza is a popular location for filmmakers. Perhaps the most famous was Federico Fellini who filmed Satyricon in 1969.

Get in
From Rome, Ponza can be reached by train or car to Formia followed by a two-hour ferry. There are frequent trains from Rome's Termini station. There are also ferries from Anzio www.LazioMar.it From Naples there are also ferries and hydrofoils, but only in the summer.

Get around

 * There is a bus that runs every 10-30 minutes. It departs from Via Banchina Nuova, 15.

See

 * Porto di Ponza. A beautiful port, hard to miss since this will most likely be your point of arrival.
 * Archaeological remains. Ponza has numerous Etruscan, Roman and other remains. Most famous is probably the Roman Gallery which is a Roman tunnel that connects the town of Ponza to the beach of Chiaia di Luna. Another Roman Tunnel that connects Giancos to Santa Maria collapsed a few years ago, following nearby construction work that used explosives, but has now been restored.
 * Chiaia di Luna Beach. However, the beach is closed due to the danger of falling rocks that have killed some tourists in the past.
 * Cala Feola
 * Cala Fonte

Eat and drink

 * Ristorante Punta Incenso, da Anna

Stay safe
The cliffs can be dangerous. Stay away from the edge.

Go next
The island of Ventotene can be reached by ferry throughout the year. Ischia is served by ferry and hydrofoil in the summer months.

title: Ponza


text:
Poole

Poole is a coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Poole is a tourist resort, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour, history, the Lighthouse arts centre and Blue Flag beaches.

Understand
The town has cross-Channel freight and passenger ferry services, which connect with the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, as well as the French port town of Saint-Malo, Brittany.

In 2016, it was home to 15,000 people.

Visitor information

 * Poole Tourism website

By train
is about 2½ hr from London Waterloo with 2 trains per hour for most of the day. There are regular, quick and convenient trains on the South West Trains service, but rail fares are generally expensive, so be careful.

By coach
There are coaches between Poole bus station and London Victoria about once an hour, via Bournemouth.

By road
From the east, take the M27 until it becomes the A31. Continue past Ringwood, and follow the signs for Poole. From the west, come in on the A35.

By bus
There are regular buses on the More and Yellow Buses services. However, more buses tend to go further, with links to Southampton, Dorchester and Salisbury.

By boat
Daily ferry services from Poole Harbour run to Cherbourg in France as well as Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

Do

 * Kite flying. From the quay, when facing the water turn left and walk for about half a mile until you reach a park. This is known as Baiter Park and is very close to Poole Park. On a good day, the kites will probably be visible from afar.
 * In the summer, there are fireworks displays alternately in Bournemouth and Poole.
 * Every Tuesday evening from April to September, motorbike enthusiasts converge on Poole. Apparently there are sometimes as many as 1000 cycles and, of course, the pubs on the Quay do good business from them. A good opportunity to swap tales or see what everyone else is riding. All parking on the quay is reserved for motorbikes but there is a charge of £1 and a prize for the best bike.
 * Tower Park, indoor waterpark, movie theatre, various restaurants, bingo, and more.
 * Folk on the Quay is a folk festival, held in late June.
 * Folk on the Quay is a folk festival, held in late June.

Eat
Most restaurants are along the quay, but there are a number of great eateries further into the Old Town.

Drink
There are lots of pubs along the quay and a little inland.

Sleep
There are many hotels and guesthouses in Poole, especially in the town centre. There are also camping sites in neighbouring towns such as Swanage and Merley. There is a Youth Hostel in Swanage.

Connect
As of June 2022, Poole has 4G from O2, and 5G from EE, Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Bournemouth is nearby and has other places to visit, such as the oceanarium.
 * MonkeyWorld, near Wareham, is about 30 minutes away by car.
 * The New Forest is about an hour away by car and very popular in the summer.

title: Poole


text:
Poompuhar

Poompuhar is a city in Tamil Nadu.

Get in
Poompuhar is in the Sirkazhi Taluk of the Nagapattinam District. And the place Poompuhar is also known as Kaveripoompattinam.

By plane
The nearest airports to this heritage site are Pondicherry and Trichy. However they are domestic airports so for international connectivity Chennai Airport should be the best one.

By train
The nearest Railway line is Nagapattinam itself and that has a decent frequency of trains connecting various states

By road
Take the NH67 and can reach nagapattinam with the help of a autorickshaw or a taxi you can reach poompuhar

title: Poompuhar


text:
Pop

Pop (Pap) is a city in the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan. The original name of the city was Bob, "gate" in Arabic. Eventually it got to Bop and then to Pop. It was one of the Silk Road cities. Now it is a small, calm city, where travelers might go to see the real life of Uzbek people.

Get in
There is just one way to the Ferghana Valley and the district of Pop is the first one on that route. The taxis from Tashkent that go to the valley can take you to Pop easily.

From the capital of the region - Namangan - there are taxis and minibuses that go to Pop.

Get around
It is a small city so you can easily see it on foot. You can stop a taxi if you want to go somewhere further.

Buy
You can buy things from local bazaar.

title: Pop


text:
Popayán

Popayán (pronounced: Po - pa - 'yan) is a colonial-era city in southwestern Colombia. It is the capital of the Cauca department.

Understand
The city was founded in 1537 by Sebastian de Belalcazar. Because of its beautiful colonial houses, it is known as the "white city". Popayan has played a major role in Colombia's history dating back to the early days of the Spanish conquest and into the 20th century. A number of Colombian presidents were born in Popayan including, most recently, Guillermo Leon Valencia from 1962 to 1966. Other well-known citizens include Francisco Jose de Caldas (1768-1816) and Camilo Torres (1766-1816). Popayán has one of Colombia's oldest universities: the Universidad del Cauca, founded in 1827. The university is well known throughout the country for its Law School, Medical School, and its Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering programs. Nowadays around 220,000 people live in the city.

By plane
Popayan's airport does not have heavy traffic but you can reach the city by air. There are about four daily flights from Bogota to Popayan and vice versa. The airport is open between 6AM and 6PM. There are no flights between Cali and Popayan. The airport in the neighbouring city of Cali (100-minute car ride) serves many domestic and international destinations.

By bus
There are numerous bus companies available. One of the most reliable bus operators is Expreso Bolivariano. Avoid Expreso Puerto Tejada and Expreso Palmira. There is significant guerrilla activity in the countryside near Popayan and it can be risky to travel by land during periods of disturbance if you are not a local. There are daily buses from the border town of Ipiales.
 * from Cali: COP$25,000, 3 hours (Oct 2023)
 * from Armenia: COP$40,000, 7 hours (several a day)
 * from Medellin: COP$60,000, 11 hours (7PM, 8PM, 1AM)
 * from San Agustín: COP$40,000, 5 hours (six a day)
 * from Tierradentro: COP$30,000, 4 hours (5AM, 8AM, 10:30AM, 1PM, 3PM)
 * from Pasto: COP$50,000, roughly 6-7 hours (Oct 2023)
 * from Ipiales: COP$25,000 - 40,000, 7-8 hours (better during the day) - Many buses leave in the early morning.

Get around
Popayan is a small city and it is an easy 10-15 minute walk between the bus station and the centre. The historical centre is fairly compact and best explored on foot. Taxis are plentiful and can bring you at the bus terminal for around COP$3,000.

See
Since Popayan was a seat of power during Spanish colonial times, there are numerous architectural gems in the city. Some of the most impressive are, naturally, churches. Do not miss:

As for government buildings the Gobernacion and the Universidad del Cauca have excellent colonial premises. Also you can see other older religious traditions like of the Amo Jesus Nazareno of Puelenje is a Catholic image, that is worshiped in the temple of Puelenje, district of Popayan, Colombia. Patron Saint of this place. It is a polychrome wood sculpture of Jesus Christ of the eighteenth century made in the Quito school. Is Baroque. The image also scrolls the Holy Wednesday. In the processions of Holy Week in Popayán that are inscribed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.This religious festival is celebrated by the natives of Puelenje for 15 days, where there are fireworks, processions, religious ceremonies and cultural events as the Chirimia.

Do
The city is world-renowned for its Easter celebrations, or the Semana Santa. In fact, the celebrations are the second largest in the world (after Seville, Spain) and are a major sight! Every night during Semana Santa, there are processions in the streets and tens of thousands of people line the sidewalks to watch as floats pass by with religious motifs. The floats are carried on the shoulders of human volunteers. It's a great honour to be selected for the Semana Santa processions but the floats can weigh up to 500 kg and so dislocated shoulders are frequent. It's a major cultural event that is witnessed by people from all over the country.

Buy
You can buy some handicrafts. They are specially made by Guambiano Indians.

Eat

In 2005, Popayan became the first city to be designated a City of Gastronomy as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities initiative. For cheap and genuine food, try the market near Plaza Bolivar, north of the Puente del Humilladero. Meals from COP$5,000.

 * Carantanta: A kind of chip typical from the Cauca departement made from corn, It can be eaten with a soup.
 * Pipian: A sauce made from peanuts. Can be served with tamales or very small "empanadas", which are potato doughnuts.
 * Champús: Drink made from crushed maize, in addition to panela, lulo, pineapple, cinnamon, cloves and leaves of the orange tree.
 * Manjar Blanco or Payanés: a typical sweet cream made from milk, sugar and rice.
 * Manjarillo: dulce de leche with panela (unrefined whole cane sugar).
 * Dulce cortado de leche: another variation of dulce de leche with cloves and cinnamon.
 * Breva Calada: dessert made of figs cooked with panela served on top of white cheese. Usually made for Christmas.
 * Helado de Paila: Ice cream made in a large shallow and heavy copper bowl.
 * Envuelto: Corn cake wrapped in a plantain leef. Can be eaten with cheese.
 * Rosquilla: the Popayan version of the donut.

Vegetarian option:

Stay safe
Popayán is in Cauca, which was considered one of the most dangerous departments in Colombia in 2011. In 2011 several car bombs rocked central Popayán, with the authorities blaming local armed and mafia groups for the actions. stay alert for information regarding drug traffickers, guerrillas and paramilitaries, as this city and its surroundings sees the presence of countless armed groups.

Drink
Aguardiente caucano is a drink based on Anis and it has some degrees of alcohol. It's the favorite drink in informal parties.

Sleep

 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.
 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.
 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.
 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.
 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.
 * There is a lot of budget accommodation in Carrera 6, just across the Puente del Humilladero, north of the Rio Molino.

Go next

 * Coconuco, one hour from Popayan, this small town offers the Hirviendos hot springs. HostelTrail (see Sleep) also runs the most popular trip in Popayan which is a downhill cycling trip to Aguas Hirviendos.  The tour leaves at 10PM from HostelTrail and returns at around 3-4PM in the afternoon.
 * Puracé National Natural Park, a national park two hours from Popayan, where it is possible to trek to the top of the Purace volcano or look for Andean wildlife. The bus leaves for the park at 5am from the main station.
 * Salvajina
 * Silvia, about one hour from Popayan, in the land of the Guambiano Indians. There is a spectacular market there on Tuesdays.
 * San Agustin, a small town with dozens of pre-Colombian statues, waterfalls and beautiful views can be reached in about 5 hours (COP$40,000).

title: Popayán


text:
Popenguine

Popenguine is a village in the Cap Vert-Thies region of Senegal. It is known for its natural reserve, pristine sandy beach, and religious significance.

Understand
This small village on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean is located just 70 km south of Dakar on the Petit Cote. Popenguine is a member of Global Ecovillage Network of Senegal (GENSEN). It is the weekend getaway for the President of Senegal, as the second presidential residence is located between Popenguine and the village of Ndayane.

The Natural Reserve of Popenguine is located to the south and was created in 1986 thanks in large part to the local women's group, RFPPN. It is the first and only reserve managed by the Park Service in partnership with the local women’s group. The woman’s group had the foresight to ensure the protection of the natural habitat before it could be destroyed by the locals in their search for wood for cooking. Through their efforts, the women were able to protect 1500 ha (2493 acres) of the park in which a variety of plants, birds, and other animal species have been able to thrive. Due to their hard work, the Reserve is now the major draw for tourists.

Popenguine is also known for the sighting of the Black Madonna in the reserve. Due to this appearance, an annual pilgrimage to Popenguine takes place in which all the Christians in Senegal and nearby countries visit. The pilgrimage usually takes place around May/June for any tourists who are interested in witnessing this event.

Over the years, Popenguine has become a very cosmopolitan village. Popenguine is home to a famous Senegalese film director, a local artist (Gade Diouf - Artist's Website), a Ghanaian author, and Ex-patriots from a variety of countries. Due to the uniqueness of the village, it has come to have all the amenities of a big city while still maintaining the charm and peacefulness of a small village.

Popenguine is one of the few tourist villages in which the tourists are not constantly harassed by the locals. You will rarely hear the locals asking you to give them money, water, or food. You will also rarely hear them call you "toubab" (white man). They will actually take the time to greet you and ask for your name. Senegal is the nation of Teranga (hospitality), and the citizens of Popenguine will ensure that tourist will leave believing it to be so.

The dominant ethnic group in this region is Sereer. The most prevalent languages heard in the village are Wolof, Sereer Safin, and French. There are a few locals who speak English as well.

Climate
The travel seasons in Popenguine and most of Senegal is between the drier months of November through May. This time of year is characterized relatively with little rainfall, low humidity and mild temperatures. Temperatures range in the mid to high seventies during this time. During this period, the migratory birds of Europe come to Senegal for nesting giving the tourist the perfect opportunity for bird observation. The months of June through October see increased rainfall rising temperatures peaking around August through October.

Get in
Traveling to Popenguine can be handled in many different ways. Please see below for the different modes of transportation the tourist can take to get to Popenguine.

Personal Taxi – Airport to Popenguine:
 * Jean Baptiste Tine, +221 77 563 4272, CFA 25,000 (4 people max.)
 * Birane Faye, +221 77 640 7109, CFA25,000 (4 people max.)
 * Youssou, +221 503 4597, CFA25,000 (4 people max.)

Sept-place from Gare Routiere in Dakar to Sindia:
 * Station wagon that transports up to 7 people, for tourists on a budget. You would take the sept-place that is headed towards Mbour, and tell the driver that you will be getting off at Sindia. You can buy out all the seats or just buy your seat and wait for the car to fill up. CFA 1,400/passenger, CFA500 max. for luggage.

Ndiaga Ndiaye from Gare Routiere in Dakar to Sindia:
 * Big white Mercedes buses for those on a tight budget. You would take a Ndiaga Ndiaye that is headed towards Mbour, and tell the apprenti (the boy at the back of the bus) that you will be getting off at Sindia. CFA 500-700/person.

Bush taxi from Sindia to Popenguine:
 * Once at Sindia, you take a taxi brousse (bush taxi) into Popenguine. There are 2 types of taxis. A small one in which the max. # of people is 6, and a big truck in which the # of people in the car varies from 16 to 22 people. Like the sept-place, you can buy up the entire taxi or just pay for your own seat and wait for the car to fill up with other passengers. If you decide to rent out the entire taxi, then the driver will take you directly to your destination. If you don’t, then the driver will drop you off at the center of the village. Small taxi: CFA300/passenger. Large taxi: CFA200/passenger

Get around
Within Popenguine: Popenguine is a pretty small village, so one can get around the village by walking or renting out a horse or donkey drawn cart.

Travel between villages around Popenguine: One can get from one village to another by taking a bush taxi, a horse-drawn cart, or a pirogue (boat). One can also be adventurous and hike their way to other villages.

See
Popenguine is a centrally located village which can meet any tourists demand. For beach and ocean enthusiasts, there is a pristine, sandy beach just by your doorstep where you can spend your day. You can also rent out a pirogue (boat) from Popenguine and visit the other coastal villages and towns. For the nature enthusiasts, there are 2 national parks, a private park, and a classified forest within a 10km radius of Popenguine. For the cultural tourists, there is a chance to visit traditional Seerer villages and partake in their traditional pas-times; such as, making and drinking Senegalese tea and other activities. The tourists can also learn about the significance of a Catholic presence in a traditionally Muslim village. Below is a detailed list of activities that tourists can partake in:

 * Learn how to play West African instruments such as Balafon, Gembeh (African drum), Tama (African drum) African Guitar. Also learn the West African dance. Contact: Hubert and ask for Sanusie Abdulaye. +221 77 525 1983. The price and duration of course is negotiable.
 * Learn about the history and activities of the local women’s group who ensured the protection of the natural reserve of Popenguine. Visit the Ker Cupaam Campement to hear the story from the women themselves. For further information on park entrance fees, guide fees to all parks, and other activities within the parks, go to the community owned campement, Ker Cupaam, located by the entrance of the Natural Reserve of Popenguine or email/call the Eco Guides:
 * 1) Ousmane Badji: +221 77 782 4735, Email: oussoubadji@yahoo.fr
 * 2) Ndeye Ndella Ndiaye: +221 77 264 8964
 * Learn how to play West African instruments such as Balafon, Gembeh (African drum), Tama (African drum) African Guitar. Also learn the West African dance. Contact: Hubert and ask for Sanusie Abdulaye. +221 77 525 1983. The price and duration of course is negotiable.
 * Learn about the history and activities of the local women’s group who ensured the protection of the natural reserve of Popenguine. Visit the Ker Cupaam Campement to hear the story from the women themselves. For further information on park entrance fees, guide fees to all parks, and other activities within the parks, go to the community owned campement, Ker Cupaam, located by the entrance of the Natural Reserve of Popenguine or email/call the Eco Guides:
 * 1) Ousmane Badji: +221 77 782 4735, Email: oussoubadji@yahoo.fr
 * 2) Ndeye Ndella Ndiaye: +221 77 264 8964
 * 1) Ndeye Ndella Ndiaye: +221 77 264 8964

Buy
One can buy souvenirs from the artisanal shops located in the village, from the artisanal stands located in or around the lodges, or from women on the beach. The types of artisanal goods a tourist would find in Popenguine are hand-made bead necklaces, baskets (long grass fiber woven with strips of palm fronds), Senegalese clothing, wooden crafts. Bargaining is acceptable in this culture.

 * Tourist's Choice -- Complexe Doorwaar. Managed by Hubert +221 77 525 1983. This charming artisanal shop is located just across from the Balafon Cafe. The majority of tourists purchase their products from here because of the professionalism, friendliness, and hassle-free service they receive from Hubert. You can bargain with him, but the majority of the time he provides the tourist with a reasonable price. He is also a great point of reference to get more information about the village. Types of products and services provided:
 * Tailoring - He can make anything as long as you can explain or draw out your design for him
 * Wooden crafts
 * Products made from recycled products
 * Rent homes by the beach for a few days
 * Horse and buggy ride across the village

Eat
Popenguine has many different types of restaurants to meet the needs of any type of tourists. One can find a wide variety of foreign dishes such as French and Italian as well as local Senegalese dishes; such as yassa poulet (chicken over rice covered in a tasty onion sauce), and ceeb u jen (rice and fish). Ceeb u jen is the national plate of Senegal. The best restaurant to order Ceeb u jen is at Ker Cupaam, otherwise the ceeb shacks in the village are the next best option. As Popenguine is right by the ocean, you can be sure that seafood will be prevalent in the menu, and it would be a wise choice to select it. For the vegetarians, the restaurants under the "Splurge" section offer vegetarian plates. As for the other restaurants, they do not have vegetarian plates offered on their menu, but they are very hospitable and will make a vegetarian plate for you if you demand it.

Budget

 * Chez Bineta
 * Ceeb u Jenn Shacks

There are many cheap rice and fish shacks found around the village. It's a great way to try out the local dishes without having to splurge. A plate usually costs about CFA500.

Sleep
Tourists have a wide variety of choice in their lodging in Popenguine. Tourists have a choice between a community owned lodge, 3 privately owned lodges, or a hotel. As the tourists has many choices of lodging, it is relatively easy to find lodging. Just to be sure though, it would be wise to book your stay at least 2-3 weeks in advance. The only time that you would need to book your stay at least 2 months in advance is if you are planning on coming to Popenguine during the annual Christian pilgrimage (Pentecote) which is held in late May.

The list below has been sorted first by village, and then by the way each lodge promotes ecotourism. Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.

 * Houses for rent:
 * Omar Thiao +221 77 554 7126
 * Djiby Thio +221 77 657 84 06
 * Babacar Diouf +221 77 647 1906
 * Papis +221 77 653 5156
 * Cupam Immobilier +221 33 954 9321/ +221 77 923 1360, cupamimmo@rocketmail.com
 * Omar Thiao +221 77 554 7126
 * Djiby Thio +221 77 657 84 06
 * Babacar Diouf +221 77 647 1906
 * Papis +221 77 653 5156
 * Cupam Immobilier +221 33 954 9321/ +221 77 923 1360, cupamimmo@rocketmail.com

Stay safe
Popenguine is a relatively safe and secure place because it's a pretty small village in which everyone knows each other. However, crime against tourists in towns such as Mbour, and Saly is common. Use common sense everywhere in Senegal: keep a close eye on your belongings, watch your pockets in crowded places, women should not walk around alone after dark, try not to wear any outwardly expensive items of clothing or jewelry. There are many different scams to get money from tourists, so be wary. Overall, though, the Senegalese are an incredibly friendly and hospitable people and you will meet many people who are genuinely interested in just talking to you and making sure you are having an enjoyable time in Senegal.

In case of emergency, there is a police station and a hospital located in Popenguine.

Respect
The Senegalese are a very friendly and hospitable group of people. In order to continue receiving their hospital, please follow the actions listed below.

 * Always greet and ask how their day is going (and if you would like to learn basic Wolof greetings, please visit the PC Wiki page; the link is on the bottom of this page)
 * Never use your left hand to shake hands or give something to someone. By doing so, you would be showing a lack of respect towards the locals.
 * Never tell a Senegalese that he/she is lying even if they are
 * Always ask for permission before taking pictures of the locals

As a tourist, you will be asked by many people to give out money, and even if you want to, Please do not give out money! By giving the locals money, you would be making the locals dependent on foreign aid instead of them working for themselves for their own livelihood. The reason the locals in Senegal always ask tourists for money is because the tourists had done so in the past. In order to break the cycle, tourists should stop giving out money.

If you really want to donate something to the community, please go to the local schools and give school supplies to the principal who will then distribute the supplies appropriately.

Go next
Day trip options include Saly, Toubab Dialaw, or Mbour which have plenty of activities for tourists:
 * Saly is a large beach resort town about 15 km south of Popenguine. There the tourist can find many water, beach, and land activities to keep them entertained.
 * Toubab Dialaw is a coastal village 7 km north of Popenguine. It has a beautiful beach and lagoon to keep the beach and nature enthusiast happy
 * Mbour is a large coastal town about 20 km south of Popenguine. Mbour has a large traditional market in which the tourists can purchase anything from food to cloth. Mbour also has an artisanal village in which the tourists can purchase his/her souvenirs. (Bargaining is a must here. As a good rule of thumb, don't pay more than 1/2 of the initial price given to you by the vendor.)

title: Popenguine


text:
Poperinge

Poperinge is a charming town in the southwest corner of the province of West Flanders, close to the French border. The town of 20,000 inhabitants (2018) is mostly known for its World War I heritage sites and captivating beer culture with many hop fields in the surrounding area. In the last years Poperinge also has developed itself as a regional hub for cycling and hiking. The municipality consists besides Poperinge of six other communities: Haringe, Krombeke, Proven, Reningelst, Roesbrugge and Watou.

Understand
During World War I the battleground was only a few kilometres to sometimes just a few hundred metres away from Poperinge. The town was never captured by the Germans, however, and functioned as a posting station for the Allied army forces going to or from the Ypres Salient. English soldiers that recalled the town for its amusement and prostitutes, named the town affectionately as "Pops". The many cemeteries in the region are a somber reminder of the thousands of soldiers that died in the surrounding countryside.

By train
The is located quite centrally in the town.
 * From Lille Flandres station changing at Kortrijk. The train ride from Kortrijk takes 40 minutes.
 * Direct connections from Brussels and Ghent. Poperinge is 2 hours away from Brussels and 1 hr 13 minutes from Ghent.
 * Poperinge is a train ride of 7 minutes away from Ypres.

By bus
The Flemish national bus company, De Lijn, has lines to Poperinge from Ieper, Veurne and Diksmuide. For more information regarding different timetables (unfortunately only available in Dutch): https://www.delijn.be.

By car
When coming from England you will most likely arrive in the ports of Calais or Dunkirk. Followingly take the A16 eastwards, turn off at junction 28 (A25 towards Lille). Get off at Junction 13 and follow the signs for Poperinge / Ypres (Ieper).

When coming from inland Belgium (not the West Flanders province), take the E17 towards Kortrijk. At the Kortrijk-West interjunction take road A19 which leads to Ypres, when reaching Ypres, drive straight ahead.

Get around
Buses of De Lijn may be way of seeing the countryside around Poperinge, but please keep in mind that some buses only run once every few hours, which can make sightseeing quite challenging. The Belbus is a service which needs to be booked at least 2 hours before travelling.

The most convenient way to get around is by car, or when the weather allows so, by bicycle or on foot. Most WWI sights in the area are well signed, but it may be helpful to have a map (on paper or digital) with you.

World War I sites

Do

 * Popfietsroute (Pop cycling route) — 38 km or 55 km, across traces behind the battlefront.
 * Fleternafietsroute (Fleterna cycling route) — 43 km, covers the area between Poperinge and Vleteren.
 * Frontierenfietsroute (Front Line cycling route) — 41 km, looping through the border area northwest of Poperinge on both sides of the Belgian-French border.
 * Hoppelandfietsroute (Hop Country cycling route) — 43 km, through the hop growing area.
 * Dode IJzer Wandelroute (Dode IJzer walking route) — 7.8 km, crossing the border area and the banks of the Dode IJzer river.
 * Galgebossenwandelroute (Galgebossen walking route) — discovering the Galgebossen forests on the border of the villages of Poperinge, Elverdinge and Vlamertinge.
 * Galgebossenwandelroute (Galgebossen walking route) — discovering the Galgebossen forests on the border of the villages of Poperinge, Elverdinge and Vlamertinge.

Drink
The Grote Markt village square is the best place to find a bar to have a drink.

Stay safe
Poperinge is generally very safe. Pickpockets and violence are very rare.

Go next

 * Ypres — another town with impressive World War I history is only 12 km away.
 * Go north to In De Vrede, where they sell Westvleteren (allegedly the best beer in the world!)

title: Poperinge


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Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff is a city in Southeast Missouri, just east of the Ozarks.

Understand
Poplar Bluff is within an area of Missouri with a rich and diverse background. Confederate forces freely roamed this area during the American Civil War, leading to a multitude of stories and points of interest. There are several historic homes and building that have been preserved in this town as well as a certified Sear's house on Main Street. This area is very much about history and the continuation of its heritage. It is also fiercely striving to become The Crepe Myrtle Capital of Missouri.

Get in
Poplar Bluff is on a main highway, US 67. It runs the length of the town, running north to south.

Get around
Driving is the major mode of transport. Some Mark Twain National Forest Areas offer horse trails, hiking, and bike paths. There is also a Municiapal Airport that offers charter flights.

See

 * Poplar Bluff's permanent attraction is the rivers and forests surrounding it.
 * It also has two golf courses and several museums including the Margaret Harwell Art Museum (located within a historic residence on Main Street) and Mo-Ark Regional Railroad Museum.

Do
The Current and Black Rivers offer water recreation, camping, hiking, and several annual events. Wappapello Lake also hosts a major speed boat competition every year.

Buy
Shopping is still rather limited at this stage. There are a few shopping centers and a Historic Downtown Area that offers small boutiques offering varying items from musical equipment to office supplies to furniture and gifts. Poplar Bluff is an expanding town and may develop more diverse shopping opportunities as it progresses.

Eat
Poplar Bluff has several national chain franchises as well as locally owned, mom and pop style diners (Hayden's BBQ).

Drink
Poplar Bluff offers several bars, a dance club, and adult entertainment clubs located outside city limits.

Sleep
There are national chain hotels and motels along with a few privately owned inns. There are also cabins to be rented along the rivers and lakes.

title: Poplar Bluff


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Popoyo

Popoyo is a Pacific coast beach town in the department of Rivas, Nicaragua. It is known as the best, most consistent wave in Nicaragua. The wave breaks from 2 to 20 feet and at all tides. The surf zone in Popoyo gets offshore winds 300 days per year. There are areas for waves of all skill levels, from beginner to expert.

By car
Popoyo is 100 kilometers south of Managua and will take 2 to 2-1/2 hours to drive. 2 hours if you go via Masaya, and 2-1/2 if you use highway 1 (Panamerican highway). Either way, drive south until you get to Paso Real de Ochomogo, then turn west on highway NIC-62 (towards Popoyo). The road ends when you're at the beach.

Go next

 * Granada
 * Isla de Ometepe
 * San Juan del Sur

title: Popoyo


text:
Poppi

Poppi is a commube of 6,400 people (2010) in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. It is home to the 12th-century Poppi Castle.

By train
There are regional trains from Arezzo.

See

 * Abbazia di San Fedele
 * Antica Farmacia
 * Castello dei Conti Guidi
 * Chiesa di SS. Assunta e Bartolomeo
 * Eremo di Camaldoli
 * Monastero di Camaldoli
 * Hermitage of Camaldoli, the ancestral seat of the Camaldolese monastic order
 * Oratorio della Madonna del Morbo
 * Pieve di Santa Maria
 * Propositura dei SS. Marco e Lorenzo
 * Museo Ornitologico Forestale "C. Siemoni". Description: The Ornithological Forestry Museum “C. Siemoni” This museum was set up to provide information about the Forestry Heritage of the Appennino Tosco-Romagnolo. It is dedicated to Carlo Siemoni who was commissioned by Leopoldo II in the 19th century to rejuvenate the Forest. Of particular importance are the photographs of the Riserva Integrale di Sasso Fratino and the species exhibited which refer specifically to the local fauna. Fax: +39 0575 559155. Address: Loc. Badia Prataglia.
 * Pieve di Santa Maria
 * Propositura dei SS. Marco e Lorenzo
 * Museo Ornitologico Forestale "C. Siemoni". Description: The Ornithological Forestry Museum “C. Siemoni” This museum was set up to provide information about the Forestry Heritage of the Appennino Tosco-Romagnolo. It is dedicated to Carlo Siemoni who was commissioned by Leopoldo II in the 19th century to rejuvenate the Forest. Of particular importance are the photographs of the Riserva Integrale di Sasso Fratino and the species exhibited which refer specifically to the local fauna. Fax: +39 0575 559155. Address: Loc. Badia Prataglia.

Do
Cooking classes at the Tuscookany cooking school, Casa Ombuto, Larniano 21.

title: Poppi


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Poprad

Poprad is a major tourist and economic centre in the Prešov region of Eastern Slovakia.

Districts

 * Staré Mesto
 * Matejovce
 * Spišská Sobota
 * Veľká
 * Stráže pod Tatrami
 * Kvetnica

Understand
Poprad is in the middle of Podtatranská kotlina ("Basin under Tatras"). Its area is 63 km². It is the 10th biggest town in Slovakia and the largest town of the Spiš region. Poprad is an important economic, tourist and cultural center of the Spiš region. The river Poprad flows through the town with its small tributary Velický Potok. Poprad is called “gateway to High Tatras“.

The town has about 53,000 inhabitants. The majority of inhabitants are Slovak but the dominant positions among the ethnic minorities are held by Romas and Czechs.

Climate
Poprad has a mild climate and its weather is influenced by the High and Low Tatras. Winter is usually long and cold with snow. Summer is short and warm.

History
The territory belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary since the 10th century and was probably inhabited by Slavic settlers. It was colonized in the 13th century by German settlers and became the largely German town Deutschendorf meaning 'Germans' village'. From 1412 to 1770, as one of the Szepes towns, Poprad was pawned by the Kingdom of Hungary to the Kingdom of Poland, resulting in a strong Polish influence on the city's further development.

The first written reference to Poprad dates from 1256. It was for 690 years (until 1946) just one of several neighbouring settlements, which make up the modern city. The other parts of the municipality are Matejovce (first reference 1251), Spišská Sobota (1256), Veľká (1268), and Stráže pod Tatrami (1276). The most significant of these original towns was Georgenberg (or Szepesszombat, now: Spišská Sobota), which preserved its dominant position in the area until the late 19th century.

By train
Direct trains serve Poprad from Prague, Žilina, Košice and Bratislava. Trains can be caught from Bratislava main train station (Bratislava Hlavna Stanica) approximately every 1 to 1½ hr. The approximate fare for this 5-hour trip is €12. Local electric trains (tram like) reach to the nearby mountain resorts of Vysoké Tatry - Smokovec, Tatranska Lomnica and Stbrske Pleso.

See cp.sk (available in English) for train and bus connections.

A really cheap way of getting to Poprad from Prague is with RegioJet trains. You can choose either the night connection, which arrives in Poprad early morning, or the train during the day. Tickets for normal seats are €10 and in sleeping car €13.5. Onboard it is possible to buy very cheap food and beverages, including beer (under €1) which will be brought to you. RegioJet also has good connections to Bratislava.

The station has luggage lockers, so it is possible to do day trips elsewhere before catching a night train.

By bus
From some towns in Czech Republic, Poland or Slovakia it can be easier to catch a bus than a train.

 * Bratislava: regular bus connections by many bus companies.
 * Košice: regular bus connections by many bus companies.
 * Banská Bystrica
 * Žilina: regular bus connections by many bus companies, at least once every hour during the day, it takes around 2 hr, tickets cost around €7.
 * Zakopane: the bus company Strama goes from Zakopane to Poprad with a few stops in Vysoké Tatry, a ticket costs €5.50 one way . This service is irregular, especially in winter. In front of the station in Zakopane, there is a bus stop with a sign that lists the times the bus leaves for Poprad; it's in Polish, but it's not hard to figure out. If the service is not running, look for the drivers that stop in front of the bus station. Tell the driver you want to go to Poprad. Your best bet is to get enough people who want to go to make it worth the driver's while. Some locals may also be going, so ask if you can join them to form a group. The driver will drop you off at Łysa Polana (Łysa is pronounced Wee-Sa in Polish), the border town between Poland and Slovakia. Wait for another bus to take you to Poprad (not long).
 * Kraków twice daily with Flixbus.

On foot
Walking from the city center to any other district will not take more than 20 minutes.

By taxi
Taxis are an inexpensive and easy way to get around town. Shops and hotels will call a taxi for you, and there are taxi stands in central locations and near shopping malls, etc. A trip anywhere in town will cost €5-7.

See
Historical buildings – Classic and Baroque houses, Renaissance houses, Burgher's habitation and church of St. John the Baptist (Ján Krstiteľ) in Stráže, church of St. Ján Evanjelista in Veľká, Renaissance bell tower from 17th century and church of St. Štefan in Matejovce, ruin of Poprad castle from 15th century in Zámčisko nad Kvetnicou.

Do
Poprad offers a lot of pleasure activities for its tourists and citizens.

Poprad has good conditions for sports such as swimming, football, basketball, tennis, and skating, bowling or extreme sports. If you like cycling, Poprad and Svit are connected with bike paths. It is also very popular with roller skaters.

In the winter there is skiing or snowboarding to High Tatras, Svit – Lopušná Dolina, Kubašok – Spiššké Bystré or Poprad – Kvetnica.

 * If sports are not for you there is shopping from clothes to souvenirs.
 * Young people should visit the International Festival of Mountain Films and the music festival Okey Leto.

Eat
In Poprad you can find restaurants which cook traditional Slovak Slovenská Reštaurácia, Italian Cafe Razy Reštaurácia, or Country food Country Reštaurácia. If you like a pizza you can visit Pizzeria Utopia, Pizzeria U Jozefa, Pizzeria Palermo or Pizzeria Albano. On the square of St. Egídius, you can visit the sweetshops - Domenico, Izairi Bidaet, J a R, Jusipi Hajdar or Ramida.

Tipping customs are similar to those in Europe and America though tips are slightly smaller; five percent is usually sufficient in restaurants.

Credit cards are quite commonly used in restaurants in Poprad but always ask if it's important to know before hand.

Drink
If you want a good drink and fun you should visit Gamma Ray Pub, Surprise Club, CafeRazy or Subway. Subway is perfect for cocktails and karaoke.

Cafés
Domenico is a café where you can find many cakes and coffee types. Also, they have good juices and teas.

Sleep
You can lodge at a range of facilities, from cheap boarding houses to expensive hotels.

Boarding houses are Penzión Elizabet, Penzión Sabato, Penzión Tatry, Penzión  Átrium or Penzión Fortuna.

For those on a tight budget, Penzión Fantazia, or Hostel Slavia (behind Penzión Fantazia) are a good bet. Both are about 15 min walk from the bus station.

Hotels are Hotel Európa, Hotel Garni, Hotel Gerlach, Hotel Satel or Hotel Poprad.

Go next
There are many attractive places of cultural and historical interest, or of natural beauty to visit within half an hour of Poprad, including Levoča, Spiš Castle, Kežmarok, Vysoké Tatry, the Tatra Mountains and the Slovak Paradise National Park.

title: Poprad


text:
Porbandar

Porbandar is a city in Saurashtra in India. It is the historical birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and the mythical birthplace of Sudama, the childhood friend of the Hindu god Krishna.

Understand
Porbandar is the birthplace of Sudama & Gandhi Ji. The majority of the people here belong to Kharwa community which mainly deals with fishing as their profession.

Get in
Porbandar is between Dwarka and Somnath.

By bus
Buses to Porbandar are available from everywhere in Gujarat.

By train
Porbandar is well connected with Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surat, Agra, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Gaya, Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Jaipur, Kolkata (Calcutta), Lucknow etc. by direct trains. Although, for going to south India, it is advised to go via Ahmedabad. porbandar is situated at one end of national highway No 8. distance between Ahmedabad is 425. Ahmedabad - Rajkot 225 and Rajkot Porbandar via Gondal dhoraji kutiyana is 200 km.

Porbandar is connected by broad gauge and is in western railway. There are daily trains between Rajkot, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Veraval Somnath.

See

 * Kirti Mandir (Birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi)
 * Shri Hari Mandir (Sandipani Ashram) almost 7 km towards Junagadh.
 * Sudama Mandir (Sudamapuri) in the city
 * Ram Krishna Mission
 * Chowpati Beach
 * RangBai Tample Beach
 * Tara Mandir: Tara is Gujarati for stars. Tara Mandir houses a planetarium which is among the first two planetariums started in India by Jawaharlal Nehru.
 * Sandipani Vidyaniketan
 * Ram Dhoon Mandir
 * Rokadia Hanuman temple
 * Rana Bapu's Mahal

Buy

 * Khajli from Anand Hotel near Rupali Baug.

Eat
Sukan's Khajli in Ahmedabad is a leading brand which provides as well as supplies Khajli in and out of India.
 * Khajli is the famous Porbandar food item

Go next

 * Junagadh

title: Porbandar