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Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation occupies a large portion of northeastern Arizona, as well as part of northwestern New Mexico and southern Utah. Its capital is at Window Rock, Arizona.

New Mexico

 * (Tʼiistsʼóóz Ńdeeshgizh)
 * (Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock"), near Farmington

Arizona

 * (Tségháhoodzání) – Navajo Nation capital
 * (Chʼínílį́)
 * (Tó Dínéeshzheeʼ)
 * (Tó Naneesdizí) – the largest Navajo settlement

Other destinations

 * – a gorgeous canyon dotted with the ruins of ancient buildings
 * – where four states meet at a point, a popular photo opportunity and the best-known attraction in the Navajo Nation (though far from the most beautiful)
 * (Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, "valley of the rocks") – park known for famous buttes, mesas, and spires that were shows in many Western films
 * – where four states meet at a point, a popular photo opportunity and the best-known attraction in the Navajo Nation (though far from the most beautiful)
 * (Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, "valley of the rocks") – park known for famous buttes, mesas, and spires that were shows in many Western films
 * (Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, "valley of the rocks") – park known for famous buttes, mesas, and spires that were shows in many Western films

Understand
Covering 27,000 sq mi (70,000 sq km), the Navajo Nation is the single largest Native American reservation in the United States.

Note that the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time throughout its territory—even in Arizona, which otherwise does not use daylight saving time. This means that time in the Navajo Nation will be one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona, but only from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Get in

The best way to enter the reservation is by car. Visitors do not have to clear customs or immigration upon entry and exit from the Navajo Nation. No visa is required for entry, and permits are only required for restricted activities such as backcountry camping and commercial photography.

The reservation is far from major airports, and commuter air service into Farmington and Gallup on the New Mexico side is marginal and leaves you a long way from most of the reservation. Rail service is similarly marginal and distant, although the Amtrak line between Albuquerque and Flagstaff passes through Gallup and along the southern side of the reservation.

Window Rock, administrative center of Navajo Nation, is relatively close to Interstate 40 near the New Mexico-Arizona state line. It and the other major settlements on the reservation (Ganado, Chinle, Kayenta) are reachable by good roads.

By bus
The Navajo Transit System has service from Flagstaff, Farmington, and Gallup to cities in the Navajo Nation.

Get around
Given the vast space of the reservation, the best way to get around quickly is by car.

Public transportation is provided by the Navajo Transit System; fares are $2.00.

Talk

 * See also: Navajo phrasebook

Navajo is the native language of the Navajo, but most people are fluent in English.

See

 * Monument Valley – buttes, spires and mesas form a landscape which has been the backdrop of many films about the Old West.
 * Window Rock- the natural stone arch here is of great spiritual importance to the Navajo people
 * Canyon de Chelly National Monument – historical settlement of the Anasazi
 * Four Corners – Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet at one point. Nothing special visually, but where else can you have a limb in four states at one time?
 * Shiprock, southeast of Four Corners near Farmington, is another fantastic bit of desert scenery.

Navajo weavings
The characteristic folk art of the Navajo is the Navajo rug (or blanket). Each region of the reservation has its own characteristic style of weavings, with a few patterns that can be found reservation-wide. As with other folk art, quality and prices vary wildly; small items for the tourist trade can be had for as little as $20 or so, while a gigantic, museum-quality (but brand-new rather than antique) rug from the prestigious "Two Grey Hills" region sold for $60,000 at a Santa Fe Indian Market a few years ago. The key thing to remember is that the value of a particular weaving is the value you place on it. If you see a piece you like, haggle over price if you wish; if you don't get the price you want, look for another one.

Beware of non-authentic imports from Mexico and overseas carried by unscrupulous "dealers" that have tried to capitalize on the market for Navajo work. Many of the "tourist traps" of the region, particularly those just off the reservation, are plagued with these, but most sources on the reservation itself are entirely aboveboard. Some reliable sources of rugs:
 * There are several other trading posts on the reservation that still are "working" posts, in the sense that they function not just as distribution points for goods bound into the reservation, but also places where weavers and other artisans can trade their rugs for goods or put them up for sale on a commission basis. Selections tend to be small, but the quality is usually very good (the trading-post operators don't bother with junk) and prices are better than in the galleries of off-reservation art centers like Santa Fe. Many of the reputable posts are off the beaten path -- sometimes far off it. Three worth visiting are at Two Grey Hills and Crystal in New Mexico, and the extremely remote Shonto in Arizona.
 * For the less adventurous, most of the towns on the reservation have galleries with good reputations for authenticity, although you'll pay more for a given rug there than at the posts. Selections tend to be broader than at the posts. Reputable galleries are in Ganado, Kayenta, Monument Valley and Teec Nos Pos in Arizona, and Bluff in Utah, among others.
 * Possibly the most entertaining way of getting a rug, and one that can offer excellent value for dollar along with a fascinating cultural experience, is at a rug auction. If you're in the area on the second or third Friday of every month, Crownpoint, a tiny town between Farmington and Grants, hosts the Crownpoint Rug Auction. The Crownpoint Rug Auction gives buyers the unique opportunity to purchase Navajo rugs directly from the weavers themselves, at prices well below retail. Before the actual auction, you can hold rugs in your hands and appreciate them up close. Some sell for $50 or less, and some sell for thousands of dollars. Value for dollar is particularly good during the spring. Weavers come from all over Navajo Nation to sell rugs at Crownpoint. Even if you don't buy anything, you are in for a treat. No two rugs are alike!
 * Possibly the most entertaining way of getting a rug, and one that can offer excellent value for dollar along with a fascinating cultural experience, is at a rug auction. If you're in the area on the second or third Friday of every month, Crownpoint, a tiny town between Farmington and Grants, hosts the Crownpoint Rug Auction. The Crownpoint Rug Auction gives buyers the unique opportunity to purchase Navajo rugs directly from the weavers themselves, at prices well below retail. Before the actual auction, you can hold rugs in your hands and appreciate them up close. Some sell for $50 or less, and some sell for thousands of dollars. Value for dollar is particularly good during the spring. Weavers come from all over Navajo Nation to sell rugs at Crownpoint. Even if you don't buy anything, you are in for a treat. No two rugs are alike!

Pottery and jewelry
Most reservation centers that sell weavings also sell pottery and jewelry made in Navajo Nation. Navajo silver work, including concho belts, tends to be of a very high quality. The pottery is quite different from that of the Pueblo Indians to the east, but good Navajo pottery is still an art form and well worth collecting. Two warnings are necessary, however. First, you don't have to get very far out of Navajo Nation to encounter bogus "trading posts" in which the goods are not Navajo at all, but rather cheap imports. This is particularly a problem with jewelry. Second, removal of "prehistoric" pottery from Navajo Nation is strongly discouraged and likely illegal; it is certainly illegal to obtain such work from excavations of archaeological sites, whether acknowledged or not. Settle for the modern stuff; it still qualifies as entirely authentic Navajo arts and crafts.

Eat
One of the characteristic food items of the Navajo Nation is "frybread." This is a flat bread about the diameter of a common tortilla, but quite different from a tortilla in that the process of preparing it (via frying rather than baking) causes it to become crisp and develop bubbles and pockets, so that it more closely resembles the sopaipilla of northern New Mexico. Frybread is eaten alone, with powdered sugar or honey as a dessert, or piled high with lettuce, tomato, cheese, ground beef, chile and beans; the latter form is commonly called a "Navajo taco," although it has little to do with a conventional taco beyond the fact that it shares many of the same ingredients. Navajo tacos and other frybread dishes can be found at restaurants, and roadside stands, throughout the reservation, many of which also feature distinctive mutton dishes.

Drink
Alcohol is prohibited. If you simply must have a beer, Flagstaff (Arizona), Farmington (New Mexico), and  Gallup (New Mexico) are just outside the borders of the reservation. Don't expect to be welcomed with open arms at bars in the latter two, as bars there have serious problems connected with alcoholism on the reservation. The presence of Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff makes night life in town somewhat more convivial.

Lodging

 * Kayenta has several motels and motor lodges, of which the Best Western Wetherill Inn is notable for the attached gift shop/gallery with a surprisingly good and reasonably-priced selection of Navajo rugs. On US 163, phone (928) 697-3231; rooms from $55.
 * Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge, in Monument Valley, Utah, is in a beautiful location, also offers Navajo rugs on-site, and has a good reputation. Try it and write a review here.

Respect
This is a Native American reservation. What may be seen as appropriate in the rest of the United States won't necessarily apply here.

Backcountry hiking, camping, and commercial photography in tribal parks require the purchase of a permit. Drones (quadcopters) and aircraft are prohibited.

The Navajo place a huge emphasis on personal privacy. Do not take pictures of people without their permission, and be careful of what you photograph.

Since this reservation, which observes daylight savings time, is unique and has its own government, these tips in order to follow in this land in Arizona definitely include:
 * Learn about Navajo culture and history. The Navajo people have a unique worldview and a set of values that are very different from those of mainstream American culture. Taking the time to learn about Navajo culture and history is essential to understanding and respecting the Navajo way of life. There are many resources available to help visitors learn about Navajo culture, including books, articles, websites, and museums.
 * Respect the land. The Navajo people have a deep reverence for the land, which they consider to be sacred. When visiting the Navajo Nation, be mindful of your impact on the environment. This means packing out all trash, leaving no trace of your visit, and being respectful of wildlife. Avoid disturbing plants, animals, or rocks, and do not climb on sacred sites.
 * Obey Navajo law. The Navajo Nation has its own government and laws, which are distinct from US law. Visitors to the Navajo Nation are subject to Navajo law, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules before you visit. You can find information about Navajo law on the Navajo Nation website.
 * Be respectful of Navajo people. When interacting with Navajo people, be polite and respectful. Avoid making assumptions about their culture or beliefs. If you have any questions, ask politely. Navajo people are generally very welcoming to visitors, but they appreciate it when people take the time to learn about their culture and respect their traditions.
 * Be supportive of Navajo businesses and communities. When you visit the Navajo Nation, make an effort to support local businesses and communities. This helps to ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared widely and that Navajo culture is preserved. There are many ways to support local businesses, including eating at locally owned restaurants, shopping at local stores, and booking tours with local companies.

Go next

 * The Hopi Indian Reservation is embedded in the western part of Navajo Nation. The Hopi are ethnically distinct from the Navajo; continuing land disputes between the two tribes led to the creation of a curious "reservation within a reservation" now occupied by the Hopi.  Hopi pottery is particularly fine, and the collector of folk art may want to make a side trip to Polacca or one of the other Hopi settlements.  Photography, sketching, etc., may be restricted; inquire locally. Note also that the Hopi Reservation follows Arizona's non-observance of DST, meaning that during the DST period, Hopi territory will be an hour behind Navajo territory.
 * Several United States National Park System units are in or near the Navajo Nation, including Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Navajo National Monument in Arizona, Hovenweep National Monument on both sides of the Colorado/Utah state line, Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico. The Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument are also fairly close.

title: Navajo Nation


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Navarre

Navarre (Spanish: Navarra, Basque: Nafarroa) is a region in Northern Spain. Navarre is one of the historic Basque districts, with its Basque features conspicuous in the north, while virtually absent on the southern fringes. Despite its relatively small size, Navarre features stark contrasts in geography, from the Pyrenees mountain range that dominates the territory to the plains of the Ebro river valley in the south. It is bordered by France, the Basque Country, Aragon, and La Rioja.

Regions

 * (Pamplona metropolitan area) — The most populous area of Navarre (half of the people of Navarra live here), with Pamplona, Barañáin and Burlada. It is an urban area and is right in the centre of the region.
 * Mountains: Pirineos de Navarra (Pyrenees of Navarre) and Montaña (Mountain zone) — The north part of Navarra where there is a lot of mountains, like Mesa de los Tres Reyes (2.424 m) and "Pico de Ory" (2.104 m). This is the "Basque" and "green" Navarra where in many villages and small towns Basque is spoken and there is continental weather. It is bordered by France and Basque Country.
 * (Estella Land) — The historic part of Navarre with many medieval monuments and towns. The way to Santiago is here. The most important towns are Estella, Puente La Reina and Viana.
 * (Centre Area) — A transition area between mountain zone and south zone, with important historic towns like Olite (which was the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre, with a wonderful Palace-Castle), Tafalla, Ujue, Andosilla and San Martín de Unx.
 * (South of Navarre) – The south part of Navarre, the only area that was occupied by the Muslims, who founded Tudela, the capital of this zone and the second city of Navarre. It is one of the most important areas of agriculture in Navarre and Spain. There is also a desert called the Bardenas Reales, a pale yellow landscape of canyons, mesas and plateaux.

Comarca de Pamplona

 * — made famous by Ernest Hemmingway in The Sun Also Rises. It is a city with beautiful parks, historical buildings, medieval city walls and a river running through it. It is the first main city on the route of St. James (Camino de Santiago). It hosts the festival of San Fermin, with the running of the bulls (el encierro). The festival is celebrated every year for a week beginning on July 7.
 * Barañáin
 * Burlada

Tierra Estella

 * — named after the bridge on the Way of St. James
 * — named after the bridge on the Way of St. James

Ribera

 * — the second largest city in Navarre with a population not higher than 40,000 people. Tudela is 94 km (60 miles) from Pamplona, it's linked by a good highway and there are good connections by bus and train. It's used to be a big centre of vegetables production although industry has been developed in the city. It has a beautiful cathedral from the Romanic and Gothic period.

Ribera de Navarra

 * – a badlands/semi-desert in the south-eastern part of Navarre

Understand
Navarre is in the transition between Green Spain and semi-arid interior areas, causing a vast difference of landscapes between various parts of the region. The transition also renders a highly variable climate, with cooler spells and heat waves mixing in summer. Winters are mild for the latitude. The famous Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier, known for his work in Asia, was a native of Navarre.

Talk
Spanish and Basque (Español and Euskera) are official languages in Navarra. Spanish is more widespread, and everybody can speak Spanish in this land, but Basque is also spoken as a native language by a wide part of the population, especially in the north of Navarra and Pamplona.

By plane
Pamplona has an airport that connects it with Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat by regular flights. There are also connections with some other cities like Lisbon. There are good, regular bus connections with its two closest international airports in Bilbao (, Spain) and Biarritz (, France).

By train
Pamplona has quite good railway system. It has several trains every day to Madrid (3 hr), Barcelona (4 hr), Zaragoza (2 hr) and so on.

See

 * Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Navarre

Itineraries

 * Way of St. James (El Camino de Santiago)
 * The French Way and the Ebro Way of St. James of the passes through the region.

Events
The best-known event in Navarre is the San Fermín festival in July held in Pamplona.

Eat
Navarra has a very good reputation for its food and restaurants sharing it mostly with the Basque cook. These are some of the most typical products of Navarre:
 * Sparragus eaten with mayonnaise.
 * Alcachofas vegetable typical from Tudela.
 * Piquillo peppers in the village of Lodosa, really tasty!
 * Txistorra/Chistorra is a kind of red sausage (made with pork), delicious.

Drink
Patxaran is the most typical alcoholic drink of Navarra. It's distilled from blackthorns and it has an intense red colour. It has approximately 30% alcohol.

Wines are also very famous in this region producing wines with Rioja label, and also with their own certification label (D.O. Navarra).

Go next

 * North: across the Pyrenees to Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in France
 * East: to Aragon and Catalonia
 * South: to central Spain and the capital Madrid
 * West: to the Basque Country, Bilbao and San Sebastian

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

title: Navarre


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Navarre (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Navarre:

Spain

 * Navarre — A region in Northern Spain.

United States of America

 * Navarre (Florida) — A town in Florida.
 * Navarre (Ohio) — A town in Ohio.

title: Navarre (disambiguation)


text:
Navarre (Florida)

Navarre is a beach community in the Florida Panhandle, located between Pensacola, Milton, and Destin. It has won numerous awards for its beaches, and provides easy access to areas for boating, swimming, hiking, fishing, and camping.

Understand
Native Americans inhabited the East Bay River area until 1693 when the Spanish explorers reached the shoreline. They named the city "El Robledal" or "The Oak Grove" and mapped the area during the 1693 expedition. Local government was set up by 1700, and the Axelson family established a homestead by 1850. The family became prosperous toward the end of the Civil War due to their pro-Union stance, and the peninsula was used by Union troops to raid nearby Confederate stronghold Gulf Breeze. The town came to be known as Eagan (after Pensacola postmaster John Eagan) and was home to forty families.

Following World War I, US Army Colonel Guy Wyman bought the land upon which Navarre now stands, but sold it during the Great Depression and became an engineer, although the name his adopted child Noelle assigned to the area stuck.

The town was small until 1970, when it had merely 1,500 inhabitants, before growing to 40,000 by 2020. It is inhabited by U.S. military personnel (due to the nearby two naval air stations and two air force installations) and civilians who come for the beaches and protected areas. Jaws 2 was filmed in the city.

It is part of the Pensacola metropolitan area and the Fort Walton Beach-Navarre Urbanized Area.

By plane
While Navarre does not have a commercially served airport, it is easily accessed by (around a 45-minute drive away), and the smaller, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (which is around a hour drive away). Both are considered regional hubs and are relatively well served, Pensacola Airport having 19 destinations and Fort Walton Beach-Destin Airport being a focus city for Allegiant (however, many of the flights into Fort Walton Beach are only seasonal).

By car
Navarre can be reached by car by several routes. If coming from Pensacola, Naval Air Station Pensacola, or Gulf Breeze, you may use eastbound US Highway 98 on the Fairpoint Peninsula, Santa Rosa County Road 399 beginning in Midway, or Florida Road 399 on Santa Rosa Island (a scenic route going through Pensacola Beach, Opal Beach, and Navarre Beach). Florida State Road 399 has a toll at Pensacola Beach. If coming from Interstate 10 or Milton, you would primarily take Florida Road 87 southbound. If coming from Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach, Eglin Air Force Base, or Hurlburt Field, you would primarily take US Highway 98 westbound.

Navarre and Navarre Beach must be primarily traversed with the use of private car. Taxis are available by telephone call or prior reservation online. Ubers and Lyft rideshares are limitedly available; and due to their limited availability, their cost is often times at a premium.

Navarre Beach can be accessed by the Navarre Beach Causeway. The Causeway begins at the intersection of US Highway 98 and Florida State Road 399 in Navarre's Downtown area.

Get around
Navarre Beach does not yet offer public transit. The best option is to bring or rent a private car; however, Navarre is serviced by most car-sharing services, and also by taxis, but they are more expensive than those that you might find in urban, large cities.

See
Navarre Beach, with its distinctive emerald green water, earning it the nickname of the Emerald Coast. This is the narrow strip of land in the sea across the causeway. Navarre's enormous stretch of beach is spectacular, with some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. See the 'Do' section and 'Beaches' sub-section for the most prominent beach access points.

Beaches
Navarre is famous for its sugar white sand beach and emerald green water. There are over a dozen public beaches with parking boardwalks across the dunes. There are also three beach access areas, with bathrooms, parking, and pavilions for picnics and events, in the Navarre Beach Marine Park (see above section), which is located immediately to your left after crossing the Navarre Beach Causeway.

The main beach access points are:

Golf
Golfers will enjoy the area championship courses, Hidden Creek is the only one fully included within the Navarre city limits.

Zoology
The Navarre area is home to a number of regionally and nationally famous zoos, aquariums, and birdwatching sites.

Equestrian sports
Though there are no trail riding providers in the area, there are a number of regionally renowned horseback riding teachers and facilities that call the area home.

Boating
The Navarre area is home or has access to a great number of areas, marinas, portages, and rentals for boating.

Boat ramps

Buy
Navarre is home to a number of souvenir shops and markets, all in addition to having two Walmart stores (one being a neighborhood store, the other a superstore; and there's also another superstore about 20 minutes west of Navarre), a Winn-Dixie supermarket, and a Publix supermarket.

Eat
Navarre is home to a wide variety of independent restaurants, as well as the majority of the regional and national fast foods chains (specifically: McDonald's, Domino's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Culvers, Taco Bells, Jersey Mikes', Hungry Howie's, Subway, Firehouse Subs, KFC, and Whataburger). The majority are in downtown, and are less than a five-minute drive from the gulf-side beaches. There are few chain, sit-down restaurants, mainly including the regional chain of Shrimp Basket. Nearly all restaurants are primarily casual, with the notable exception of the Beach House Bar and Grill. (See 'Splurge' sub-section below).

Stay safe
Beaches are a popular draw for visitors, but it is important to stay safe throughout your stay.

Lifeguards are the best way to stay safe on the beach. They primarily operate on the gulf side inside the Marine Park section of the gulf beach. Their operating times vary by season. Navarre Beach Lifeguards are operated by Navarre Beach Fire Rescue, one of the two fire departments in Navarre. If an emergency happens on the beach where there are no lifeguards, call 911 for help.

Rip tides are powerful currents that occur when water trapped near the shoreline escapes back into the ocean through a break in an underwater sandbar. They can drag even powerful swimmers out to sea for a very long distance. To escape a rip tide, do not panic! If you are near a lifeguard station, you can wave your arms and shout for help. Wait until the rip tide is no longer carrying you out further from land, then swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current. Then, you can swim back towards shore. To avoid rip tides, don't swim between the shoreline and underwater sand bars, don't swim during low tide, and pay attention to the color-coded flags.

At all lifeguard stations, color-coded flags are flown that tell how safe the water is for swimming. If no flags are flying, then there are no lifeguards on that section of the beach.

Sunburn and dehydration are the most common ailments at the beach. Although it's tempting to skip the sunscreen, even if you have tanned skin, it's a bad idea in Florida summer. The white sand that draws visitors here also reflects the UV rays from the sun, and unprotected skin will burn quickly. Bring plenty of fresh water or hydrating beverages to the beach and a fresh bottle of high-SPF, water-resistant sunscreen, which you will need to re-apply every 40 to 80 minutes all day long. (If you won't be in the water, then normal sunscreen will stay on your skin for up to two hours.) Sunglasses, hats, shady umbrellas, and UV-protective clothing can also protect your vacation from sunburn.

Being at the Gulf coast, Navarre can get hit by hurricanes during the North Atlantic hurricane season (summer and fall).

Go next

 * Milton, known as the Kayak Capital of Florida, Milton is home of Coldwater Creek and the Blackwater River, beautiful kayaking/canoeing rivers. In addition, Milton is home to several adventure outfitters, who provide zip-line, backpacking, and tubing services for the forests and rivers of central and north Santa Rosa County.
 * Ft. Pickens, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, is a nature preserve and a civil war-era fort and museum. Activities include fishing, camping, historical research, and tours.  A 7-day pass is $8, and covers a private vehicle and all passengers.  It's located on the far west end of Santa Rosa Island, about 45 minutes west on Highway 98, then take the CR-399 bridge south at Gulf Breeze, then follow CR-399 right.
 * Panama City Beach is an area more targeted to the younger crowd. It is a popular spring break destination. Head east on Highway 98 about an hour.
 * Gulf Breeze is a smaller town to the west of Navarre, and provides bridge access to Pensacola Beach

title: Navarre (Florida)


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Navassa Island

Navassa Island is an uninhabited island in the Caribbean that is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior of the United States of America as a National Wildlife Refuge. The island is also claimed by Haiti. It lies about one-quarter of the way from Haiti to Jamaica.

Understand

Located at 18° 25' N, 75° 02' W, 160 km south of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the island has a land area of 5.2 km² consisting is mostly exposed coral and limestone rock. It is flat to undulating with a unnamed raised plateau on the southwest side. At 77 m high this is the highest point. It is ringed by vertical white cliffs that are typically 9 to 15 m high and has a 8 km coastline. The island has marine, tropical climate and has enough grassland to support goat herds as well as dense stands of fig-like trees and scattered cactus.

History
This uninhabited island was claimed by the U.S. in 1857 for its guano, and mining took place between 1865 and 1898. In the 19th and early 20th century guano (a product originating from bird feces on limestone that is used as fertilizer and a basis for explosives) was so important that the US passed the Guano Islands Act allowing any US citizen to claim any island, not previously claimed by another nation, for the US if Guano deposits were to be found there. Navassa Island is just one of many islands and islets that entered US possession due to this curious piece of legislation, that is still in force. A 46 m tall lighthouse was built in 1917, on the southern side of the island. The Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light in September 1996. After the lighthouse was shut down administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge.

The island is considered an unincorporated territory of the US that is administered from Washington, DC, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. There has also been a private claim advanced against the island.

Get in
Access to Navassa is hazardous.

By plane
There is no airstrip on the island.

By boat
There are no harbors and an offshore anchorage is the only option.

Fees and permits
Navassa Island is closed to the public. Visitors need permission from the Fish and Wildlife Office before entering the territory.

Get around
As there is no human settlement or infrastructure of any kind, you are probably best advised to walk.

Buy
There is no economic activity on Navassa Island.

Sleep
Although the island is uninhabited, transient Haitian fishermen and others have been known to camp on the island.

Stay safe
The laws of the U.S. apply, although whether they can be and are enforced depends on the people that are on the island during your visit.

Stay healthy
There is no water on the island, be sure to bring enough with you.

Go next

 * Haiti, if you want civilization and human activity

title: Navassa Island


text:
Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai (Marathi: नवी मुंबई Navī Mumbaī), formerly New Bombay, is a planned city near Mumbai, India. It was founded in 1971, as a satellite township to take the pressure off the core city. Although it has been only partially successful in this sense, this has been changing with many IT and ITES industries setting up shop here.

This article also covers Panvel, a suburb of Navi Mumbai.

Get in
Navi Mumbai has a robust infrastructure, is well connected to other parts of the state and country and is relatively less polluted compared to nearby Mumbai.

By plane
The city does not have an airport yet, though a new international airport will be built in Navi Mumbai. It is expected to be operational in 2023 at the latest.

The closest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. Once you get off, you can take a train, bus or cab to get here.

By train
Suburban trains really are the best transport option for Navi Mumbai, considering the city's high traffic and pollution. The railway stations are quite neater than those in Mumbai. They are one of the very few stations in India which boast of beautiful infrastructure. There are three suburban railway lines running through the city, the Harbour Line, the Trans-Harbour Line and the Nerul–Uran Line.

The Harbour Line connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai. The most important stations on the Harbour Line include:

The Trans-Harbour Line connects Thane to Navi Mumbai. The Central Railways run 12-car coaches between Thane–Panvel, Thane–Nerul routes. There are also fast trains running on these routes.

There are 5 suburban trains daily between CBD Belapur and Andheri (2 in the morning and 3 in the evening).

By car
Navi Mumbai is well connected with Mumbai. There are two entry points from Mumbai, via Chembur/Mankhurd and via the Airoli exit on the Eastern Express Highway. It will cost you ₹30 in toll. From Thane, you can enter the city via the Thane-Belapur road, and in fact the Airoli exit joins the Thane-Belapur road. This road has numerous entry points into the city, so you need to confirm which one to take.

The Thane-Belapur road also links up to the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.

By bus
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus services run buses inside Navi Mumbai. NMMT has extended A/C bus service to Bandra & Borivali and is a very convenient way to travel to Mumbai as it has pressed latest Volvo buses in service. BEST has also started its A/C king Long buses from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai but the fares are higher and buses are not as comfortable as NMMT Volvo buses.

By taxi
Mumbai's taxis are allowed into Navi Mumbai. Hired cars are also a good way of getting into the city. If you are travelling from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai most taxis will expect the passengers to pay the toll on the bridges connecting the cities, in addition to the metered fare.

Here is an advice - Most taxi/rickshaw meters are doctored, at least in Navi Mumbai. So, better go by branded cab services - Mega Cab (022-42424242), Meru Cab (022-44224422), Gold Cab etc. You would get them at 30-60 minutes notice, they are sparkling clean, air-conditioned, punctual, honest, GPS-equipped-monitored and thus far secure at anytime. You get an SMS saying driver name, mobile number and car number 30 min before scheduled departure. 03-box cars only - Indigo Marina and Maruti Esteem only. Call center 24 hours, and not much difference in the day or night charges. Charge ₹15 per km point-to-point, with just ₹2 extra for first km in the night time. In fact, domestic airport has a dedicated areas in the common taxi stand for Mega and Meru cabs. e.g. You would shell out ₹450-600 from airport to Navi Mumbai depending upon where you go, whereas other cabs may fleece you to the tune of 1000-1600 easily while giving poor service.

By auto-rickshaw
Mumbai's auto-rickshaws are not allowed into Navi Mumbai. However, you can catch one right up to the toll gate at Airoli, walk across and catch one on the Navi Mumbai side. Similarly you can catch one to Mankhurd and then change over to a taxi to get to Vashi.

But sometime if you are lucky, you can get auto rickshaw between Makhurd and Vashi.

By auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaw is a popular mode of travel within the city. You will see 'rickshaw stands' at several busy corners of residential and commercial areas. The minimum fare is ₹23 and most rickshaw drivers abide by the meter reading. But in case of doubt, please request a meter card to confirm if you are being charged the correct amount.

If you wish to travel to any of the nodes of the city (say from Vashi to Nerul), most rickshaw drivers will ask for half or full return fare upfront. It is not mandatory to pay them the return fare and is entirely the discretion of the passenger whether or not he/she wishes to pay the fare. The rule of the land: if you do not wish to pay the return fare (or what the driver asks), you should not board the vehicle. Boarding the vehicle indicates your consent to pay the stipulated fare. Lastly, always let the driver specify the markup on the fare. Do not ask him if he wants a markup to go to any of the nodes!

Travel within any of the nodes is always by meter and without a markup. So please do not accept any other price quoted by the driver.

By metro
The Navi Mumbai Metro is the upcoming metro system that will serve Navi Mumbai.

By car
By car, you can go through the Vashi–Mankhurd Bridge built over the sea, just by paying the over-valued toll tax. To welcome you in Navi Mumbai, there is a beautiful toll plaza at the end of the bridge to welcome you which acts as the entrance gate of Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai's main arterial road - called the 'Palm Beach Road' will help link you to the various nodes of Navi Mumbai viz Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Kharghar and Panvel. It also links Navi Mumbai to Mhape and Thane. Palm Beach Road is a beautiful 4-lane highway with smooth tar roads and several exits to the nodes of the city.

See

 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.
 * Sagar Vihar, Vashi, A bridge connects Sagar Vihar to mini seashore Juhu Chowpatty. Very nice location for morning & evening joggers. Hawkers spoil the scene a bit, but overall a nice location to get stress free.

Buy
The shopping market throughout Sector-17 is a good place to buy a variety of things at reasonable rates. There are many branded clothing outlets like Puma, Woodland, and Reebok. There are also many fast-food giants who have opened there like McDonald's, and Subway.

Eat
The food caters to all kinds of palates which includes Pan Indian (South, North, Central and Western Indian), of course Pizza Hut, Smokin Joes, Dominos and McDonalds, Chinese and other oriental and lots more. Some Indian food you could try includes Dosas, Idlis, Bhel, Sev Puri, Samosas, Ragda patties, Pulavs, Rajma Chawal and more. Indian food is really what food should be. There are more varieties of Indian food than probably any other cuisine in the world. After all that hot stuff you can try out the Indian slush called the ice gola in Kalakhatta flavor, which beats Pepsi and Coke hollow. You'll get those two in manned fountains at the food counters.

Stay safe
As the population and prosperity of the city rose through the years, it began to attract more criminal activity. One of the main reasons for the spurt in crime is continuous political meddling in police investigations and the grossly under-staffed police force.

There are very few police chowkies throughout Navi Mumbai with virtually non-existent beat chowkies and traffic police. Criminal activities in Navi Mumbai include chain snatching, pickpocketing and cellphone snatching. These crimes are mainly confined to sparsely populated areas. Navi Mumbai has witnessed several vehicle thefts and burglaries involving unoccupied houses. Murder and armed robbery take place in significant numbers. Riots and community feuds take place, especially in the Ghansoli area. There have been several instances where mobs of frustrated native villagers have beaten innocent law abiding residents. Nerul is especially plagued by robbery. The number of accidents on the Palm Beach Road caused by are growing at an alarming pace due to non existent traffic police or security cameras. The absence of street lights on the highway between Belapur and Kharghar poses a continued danger to motorists.

Shops and housing colonies often hire private security guards, as the police force is often overstretched. Businesses are expected to shut shop by 10PM. The Mumbai underworld has begun to take notice of the city, targeting the increasingly thriving businesses of cable operators, builders and real estate developers for extortion. On the whole, crime in Navi Mumbai is much less than in Mumbai.

Go next

 * Karnala Bird Sanctuary
 * Mumbai is a short train ride away from Navi Mumbai, and many people travel to Mumbai for the day.
 * The beautiful hill station of Lonavla is less than an hour's drive from Navi Mumbai.

title: Navi Mumbai


text:
Naxos

Naxos (Greek: Νάξος) is the largest in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea and was the centre of ancient Cycladic culture.

The most fertile of the Cyclades islands, Naxos earns much of its income from agriculture. It has a mountainous interior with a great variety of lush green valleys and villages, easily reachable by a well-maintained road system.

The two municipalities of Naxos and Drymalia comprise the island. The largest town and capital is Chora (or Hora) or simply 'Naxos' or 'Naxos Town', with most of the shops and restaurants frequented by visitors.

A number of beach communities extend south along the coast from Chora. The island has stunning Mediterranean beaches with white granite sand.

Understand
The port at Chora is too small for cruise ships and too close to the more famous Santorini, saving the island from hordes of tourists. The majority of non-Greek tourists stay in the few beach towns close to Chora, so it is very easy to lose them in the rural centre, or further along the coast. Many wealthy Athenians own houses in the old villages of Halki and Filoti and use the island as escape from the heat of Athenian summers.

Climate
The climate of Naxos varies depending on region. The west side is sheltered and flat, getting up to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer. Sea breezes help to prevent it feeling too stuffy directly on the coast. In the centre, the mountains and valleys keep the air temperature cooler. The mountains are high enough that it is rare to have a completely cloudless day, again helping to keep it cool. The rain caused by the mountains keeps the land green and fresh, unlike its rather brown Cycladic cousins. Rain storms are infrequent in the summer, but very heavy, turning marble paths and streets into ice rinks.

Talk
English and German are very common in Hora; French and Italian are also spoken by many. Elderly people often only speak Greek, especially in rural central areas. In the villages, expect to have to order in Greek or by pointing.

By boat
Naxos is a central hub in the sea transport system, and has multiple connections from and to all directions. Naxos is about 5 1/2 hours by regular ferries from Piraeus, 3:25 or 3:55 by fast ferries from Piraeus, and about 2 hours by regular ferry from Santorini.

From the Greek mainland, ferries and highspeed catamaran services run daily all year from Piraeus, and in high season from Rafina and Lavrio. NEL Lines also operates a highspeed link from Lavrio in Attica. This is a pleasant port to travel from if you have the option, as it is relatively near the airport and doesn't have the stress and chaos of Piraeus. There is also the High Speed (Hellenic Seaways) which leaves from Rafina, closer to Athens airport than Piraeus and a pleasant place to have lunch if you have time before you board your ferry. The High Speed takes just under 4 hours and is around in high season.

The length of the trip does not require a cabin. Blue Star Lines is the most common carrier between Piraeus and Naxos. The ferry takes about 6 hours and the high-speed takes half that time and costs twice as much. Usually there are several departures at 7:30AM every day and then a high-speed and ferry at around 5PM and in the summer a ferry that leaves Piraeus at around 10PM. The Hellas Flying Dolphin High-speeds are catamarans and take about 4 hours to get to Naxos from Piraeus.

Various shipping companies sail for Naxos including:
 * Aegean Speed Lines
 * Blue Star Ferries
 * Golden Star Ferries
 * Hellenic Seaways
 * Minoan Lines
 * Sea Jets
 * Small Cyclades Lines

For online ticket purchases there are also web sites like Ferry Scanner, Ferry Hopper and Direct Ferries. They also have smartphone apps.

Central agencies

Central agencies are the agencies able to offer tickets on behalf of the ferry companies they represent. Sometimes they are offices of the ferry company themselves while in non central locations they are normally companies under license from the ferry company. It is not possible to buy tickets for a particular company in person unless from a central agency. The following are the central agencies in Naxos together with the company or companies that they represent. All can be found in the Chora (main town):

 * Aegean Speed Lines: Naxos Tours : Tel.: (+30) 22850-22095, (+30) 22850-24000
 * Blue Star Ferries: Zas Travel . Tel: (+30) 22850-23330
 * Golden Star Ferries: Naxos Tours : Tel.: (+30) 22850-22095, (+30) 22850-24000
 * Hellenic Seaways: Zas Travel . Tel: (+30) 22850-23330
 * Minoan Lines: Naxos Tours : Tel.: (+30) 22850-22095, (+30) 22850-24000
 * Sea Jets: Naxos Passenger Tours : Tel: (+30) 22850-24371
 * Small Cyclades Lines: Zas Travel . Tel: (+30) 22850-23330

next update on may ɜ

Sailing
A welcoming port together with a lack of cruise ships make Naxos a popular stopping point on an Aegean sailing cruise.

By plane
If you're starting from Athens airport, it's much quicker than the ferry, due to the transfer to Piraeus.

Olympic Air operates a daily service from Athens on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (as of 2013). Flights take ~30 minutes, and planes are comfortable.

Sky Express also operate flights to and from Athens throughout the year.

Walking
In Chora, many areas are pedestrianised, making it easy to amble from beach to cafe to shop. Outside Chora, there are many footpaths, but they are not always easy to follow. Footpaths up Zas are easy and clearly marked. Walking on the roads is fine, with caution, as cars are infrequent, but drivers tend to go fast. In rural areas, locals will almost always offer a lift, especially if you can speak a little Greek.

Cycling
Naxos has started to develop a cycling culture, with more cycling-minded people visiting. Cycle hire is possible. Simpler mountain bikes can be rented from many "rent a car" or "rent a motorbike" shops. Fancier mountain bikes and especially road bikes can be rented from two specialty shops in Chora. If you bring your own bicycle and need repairs/parts/accessories, there is a bike repair shop near the harbour:, in the "grota" area; they also rent road bikes. If you plan on doing serious cycling with a rental bike, consider bringing at least your own shoes with cleats. If you plan on bringing your own bike, know that Blue Star ferries transport your bike as luggage without extra charge.

Bike theft is not as prevalent as in big cities, but it is now recommended that you look after your bike or use at least a simple lock in town—though you may still see unlocked older bikes.

Drivers are getting more used to cyclists, but they generally still speed and drive recklessly, so beware. Mountain roads in summer offer a great ride, but stay hydrated and know your limits. In July and August, take advantage of early morning / early evening hours. Some of the best known road cycling routes are the climb to Apeirantho and the "circle of the island" passing by Apollona. Easier and flatter cycling routes are around Chora towards Agia Anna, Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Alyko.

Bus
There are 10 local bus lines serving Naxos, information: https://naxosbuses.com/bus-lines/

Every village has a bus service, but there may only be 3 buses a day. Find information at the bus kiosk, or ask at the at the north end of the seafront in Chora, near the ferry building. Tickets can be bought from the machine outside the bus offices, or from a kiosk in the villages, they cost €2 (Apr 2019). You must have a ticket before you board. Expect the morning bus to be standing-room only, full of little old ladies going shopping.

Cars, scooter and quad bikes
The roads are very well maintained, with extensive repairs and upgrades carried out within the last 10 years.

The mountain roads are windy, with steep drops, and frequent shrines, normally above a burnt out car that hasn't been recovered. Tourists are a pain on the roads, because they are not used to Greek-style driving and don't give way, causing long tail backs. Expect to meet a truck hurtling around a blind bend. They take no prisoners!

A better option is a quad bike. They are more stable and safer than scooters, are narrow enough that even if you meet a truck, you don't get run off, and have the advantage of being able to see the amazing scenery as you drive through. They're also much easier to park in busy villages with narrow streets.

Every village has a petrol station. The owner normally puts the petrol in for you. Petrol stations are a social gathering point in more remote areas, so don't expect to get away without stopping to chat. When going to the eastern side of the island (Moutsouna, Panermos), take care to note that the last petrol station is near Filoti, in the center of the island, quite a distance off.

Chora (Naxos city)

Apiranthos village
The village of Apiranthos stands out among its peers for its marble-paved alleys, arched passages, and four museums dedicated, respectively, to archaeology, folk tradition, geology, and natural history.

Other Places

Beaches
Naxos is well known for its wonderful beaches, some with advantageous winds for prime windsurfing and kitesurfing. Most of the island's west coast is one long sandy beach with crystal clear azure water. The most popular sandy stretches are Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Maragas, Plaka, Orkos, and Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, and Alyko.

Heading north will bring you to the beaches of Kalantos, Panormos, Psili Ammos, Lionas, and Apollonas, below the village of the same name.

Other beaches are Amitis, Kalados, Aliko, and Pyrgaki.

Naxos beaches, like those on many Greek islands, offer clothing options. Generally, nude sunbathing is more frequently encountered in southern beach communities that have sand dunes blocking the view from the access road, such as in Plaka. At the end of Plaka beach nearest to Agia Anna, there is a group of rocks and small coves, and this area is excellent for naturists. It is hidden from the road by trees, yet is an easy (300 m) walk along a flat beach from the bus stop at Paradiso taverna.

To avoid the crowds, head further south to the crystal clear waters of Mikri Vigla. The locals swim on either side of the causeway to the Portara. The west side is a sheltered shallow bay, with steps and seating built into the causeway. The east side is much deeper, and if the sea is calm you can hold your breath and dive down to ancient columns that have fallen in from the temple. Beware of sea urchins!

The tiny harbours of Lionas and Moutsouna on the east coast are very picturesque and quiet even in the summer months. Both have tavernas and a beach. A newly asphalted road from Moutsouna down to Panermos is also well worth exploring, as it passes by several secluded bays.

Archaeology
Ancient ruins include the Portara gateway, visible from the harbour, and two rather modest half-finished Kouros statues uncovered in a quarry near Melanes (Kouronohori) as well as a larger version near Apollonas on the northern coast. Special attention has been given to the sites of Dimitra's Temple at Sangri, and Dionysus' temple below Glinado village, where the Ministry of Culture organizes full moon concerts in July and August.

The villages in the centre of the island are older than those around the coast, with Bronze Age origins. They are perched high in the mountainous regions with steep narrow streets to make them defensible against pirates. Halki village is a good example of Greek neo-classical architecture, with its cluster of red roofs. The ancient fishing village of Moutsana was the port from which emery and marble were shipped from the islands.

Landscape
Head 10 km inland and the island changes from the flat brown swampy landscape of Hora to lush green mountain valleys. Ancient olive and lemon groves surround the small villages, with narrow gorges with terrapin-inhabited streams. The area is still agricultural, with this being the main source of income to the island. Above the groves rise two chains of mountains. The central chain is a moonscape of exposed and weather gneiss, with the village Ano Potamia perched in the middle. Descending from these hills brings you into the secluded valley of Halki, Damarionas and Filoti. Above Filoti rises Mt. Zas (Mt Zeus)—at 1004m, it is the highest mountain in the Cyclades. Its marble slopes rise steeply to an impressive point. The ascent from the north, via Aghios Marina (a rest point with a beautiful view) is easier, with frequent fountains. The ascent from the north is much steeper and more rocky. From the top, it is possible to see Turkey on a very clear day.

Activities
For those who love adventure, the island offers many opportunities for active sports.

The island offers several hiking trails, you can find overviews on the official Naxos website.

Bluefindivers Naxos Diving Center, located at Agios Prokopios beach, offers beautiful and safe diving/snorkelling trips around the island.

Excellent conditions are formed among meadows of seaweed (Posidonia Oceanica), sand banks, reefs and vertical cuts along with shipwrecks, not only for marine life but also for the divers/snorkellers who explore them.

Naxos Surf Club do great value taster sessions for sailing-cats, wind surf and kite surfing, in English, Greek and German.

 * Aqua Fun Water Park. 3 adult water slides, 3 children slides, kids pool, adults pool, volleyball court.
 * Scuba diving with Blue Fin Divers
 * Learn sailing on the yacht Annabella during its daily cruises to the Small Cyclades or Paros island
 * Naxos Horse Riding Club. Beginners and advanced programs. Dual activities in low season.
 * Go-karting at Heart Rock Kartodrome. On the way to Galanados, 3 km from Chora. 10:00 to 00:00.
 * George Fragiskos Yacht Charter. Tours to Rina Cave, Kalandos Bay, Koufonissia Islands, Delos, Rinia Islands, Small Cyclades, Paros island
 * Flisvos Sport Club at St George Beach. Windsurfing, watersports, yacht/catamaran sailing, beach sports, mountain bikes.
 * Trekking with Naxos Tours. Full and half day tours.

Buy
Every village has at least a small supermarket, so self-catering is easy. Hora, Halki and Glinado have decent sized supermarkets.

Only fish and chicken (both frozen) are easily available ready packaged. For red meat, a trip to a butchers is necessary, and an interesting experience for sheltered Northern Europeans. This can be quite entertaining—expect a baby goat tied up outside as advertisement, and to have to point out which bit of cow you'd like to be chopped off (unless you speak Greek!)

For really fresh eggs and chicken, try hailing the chicken truck. It drives around the island full of crates of live chickens, announcing its presence with loud speakers—it is quite a sight!

Bakeries can be found in most villages, and always worth stopping for, although they often shut at lunch time. Savoury cheese and spinach, spanokopita, baklava, loukoumi (Greek Turkish delight) and amazing sticky syrupy chocolate cake are all worth trying.

 * Anna's organic Shop and Garden Café. The first shop on the island of Naxos to offer exclusively biological products. Anna John offers delicious, healthy food, and detailed advice in matters of food and nutrition. It's a very nice place to have breakfast or a snack.
 * Vallindras Distillery. Visit the distillery in Halki and buy their produce. The lemon liqueur might be more appreciated than ouzo or retsina, and is certainly more authentically Naxos.
 * Vallindras Distillery. Visit the distillery in Halki and buy their produce. The lemon liqueur might be more appreciated than ouzo or retsina, and is certainly more authentically Naxos.

Eat
Due to its fertile valleys, Naxos has the richest variety of produce of the Cyclades islands (Naxos is famous in Greece for its potatoes), as well as cattle and poultry. Most restaurants serve fresh and wholesome food, but only a few stand out for excellent dishes, especially in local cuisine.

Greek specialties like moussaka, souvlaki and a wonderfully mild feta are available in restaurants. The local olive oils are superior to the 'light virgin' oil commonly available elsewhere, in that the local process leaves much more olive flavor.

Many meals start with meze in the early evening, with main courses not arriving until much later. Meze is similar to Spanish tapas, with lots of small dishes including hummus, tatziki, olives and small fish.

There are also supermarkets on the outskirts of Hora which offer food and drink at everyday prices. As many rooms come complete with cooking facilities, this offers an excellent way to keep expenses down.

Hora

 * Η ΑΞΙΩΤΙΣΣΑ (Axiotissa), popularly known as The Yellow House, on the road from Hora to Pyrgaki at the height of Kastraki. Its menu blends Naxian specialties with the cuisine of Asia Minor. Reservations recommended.
 * Meze2 on the waterfront serves particularly good fish dishes. Their meze is great too.
 * Στης Ειρινι (Ιrini's) features Naxian home cooking such as dakos (wheat rusk topped with tomato and fresh Myzithra cheese) or the spicy Shrimp Saganaki. One of the best restaurants on the waterfront, with excellent views. The slow-cooked beef is delicious.
 * ΦΑΡΟΣ Αλυκού (Faros Aliko beach), famous restaurant with authentic Greek mama's recipes on the road from Hora to Pyrgaki at the height of Aliko beach next to a unique cedar forest.
 * ΦΑΡΟΣ Αλυκού (Faros Aliko beach), famous restaurant with authentic Greek mama's recipes on the road from Hora to Pyrgaki at the height of Aliko beach next to a unique cedar forest.

Apiranthos

 * ΛΕΥΤΕΡΗΣ (Lefteris) in the quaint, historic village of Apiranthos. Known for its homemade Galaktoboureko and Pasta Flora sweets.

Ano Potamia

 * The taverna in Ano Potamia has large terraces, good quality traditional taverna fare (souvlaki, rabbit, goat, meatballs), but the best part is its stunning location, perched on high ground looking over valleys and mountains.

Drink
Naxos is famous for producing its own liquor called kitron, made from an exotic fruit which can be compared perhaps to lemons, though kitron's taste is pleasantly sweet and citric. Its production process can be viewed at the old Valindras distillery in the village of Halki, where different varieties can also be tasted. Kitron is also produced by Promponas.

More common with the locals is a drink called raki which in winter is served hot with honey (Rakomelo). Raki is a brandy made from pomace (the pieces of grapes (including the stems and seeds) that were pressed for wine making and is similar to Italian grappa. One of the places that continuously serves Rakomelo is Cafe Naxos, located in the narrow alleys in the port's old town. Enjoy it with your "parea" (company of friends) by the cosy fireplace or outside in summer.

Naxos On the Rocks Bar is located in the heart of Chora between the seafront (paralia), and the really old town. Have a seat in the early evening for an aperitif or a before-dinner-cocktail and watch people passing by while the sun fades away.

Sleep
As on most islands, a phalanx of touts greets each arriving ferry waving placards advertising rooms for rent and (usually) offering free transport. In the months of July and August you should book in advance; but otherwise, these immediately available rooms are often the best value. Bargaining is usually possible. Be sure and establish the location of the accommodations first—as distance can add to expense.

Stay safe
Naxos is generally a safe island.

Be aware of rental scams, especially with agencies working only with motorbikes and ATVs. Using these types of vehicles is very common on Naxos and there are a lot of rental agencies. Some of them are ready to cheat. They will offer faulty motorbikes or ATVs for a lower price, but in case of accident they will demand that the customer pay for the whole cost of damage. They are offering only basic insurance but will present it like full insurance. Also, there is a big possibility of serious injuries.

It is possible to recognize these rental agencies by observing them aggressively attracting tourists and offering lower prices than others. Employees in front of these type of agencies will be loud and ready to promise everything until the contract is signed. It is necessary to check the vehicle before making any decision. Their vehicles are in most of the cases dusty, dirty and look old.

Go next
Ferries are available to Aegiali (Amorgos), Anafi, Astypalea, Donoussa, Folegandros, Heraklion, Ios, Iraklia, Katapola (Amorgos), Kea, Kimolos, Koufonissi, Kythnos, Lavrio, Milos, Mykonos, Paros, Piraeus, Rafina, Schinoussa, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Thira (Santorini), Thirasia, and Tinos.

Word of advice: It is not an uncommon story on Naxos that someone who initially planned to stay for only a few days missed their original ferry out, and liked the island so much that they ended up staying there forever. They are living proof of Ariadne's legend, who was left behind here by Theseus after they escaped from Crete, and remained to become the wife of Dionysus.

title: Naxos


text:
Nayarit

Nayarit, a state on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, is a popular travel and vacation destination. There are large international resort hotels in the southernmost part of Nayarit (a spillover from adjacent Puerto Vallarta), but most of the coastal communities are smaller, less known destinations that have historically attracted backpackers, surfers, and the "off the beaten path" crowd.

Regions

 * Riviera Nayarit — a coastal strip more than 160 km (100 miles) long, beginning at the Ameca River (just minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport), and extending up north to the colonial town of San Blas.

Cities

 * — the state capital, nestled in a green valley

 * — a beach town popular with expats
 * — a beach town known for its unhurried lifestyle
 * — quaint colonial town that is one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos
 * — small town in southeast Nayarit, Ixtlan del Rio is an archaeological site (also known as "Los Toriles") and is the only pre-Hispanic site in Nayarit open to the public
 * — it attracts Mexican and foreign tourists, particularly retirees and RV dwellers

 * — the service community for the nearby resort of Rincón de Guayabitos
 * — relaxed scene and lack of condos and package tourists
 * — offers Playa San Pancho and jungle hikes
 * — small, laid-back town increasingly popular with tourists, long popular for surfing

Other destinations

 * — Pacific island, 34 km off the coast of Nayarit, protected natural habitat
 * — archipelago of four islands, 100 km off the coast of Nayarit, a former penal colony now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
 * — Bahia Banderas islands off the coast of Punta Mita, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
 * — historical island settlement
 * — a private beachfront village surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean

Understand
The beaches of San Blas and the so-called "Riviera Nayarit" are popular with tourists. All of Nayarit's popular tourist destinations cluster along the western areas of the Pacific Coast. Besides tourism, the economy of the state is based mainly on agriculture and fishing.

Most of the state is rough backcountry dominated by mountains and canyons. These areas are definitely unpopular with tourists and are the home of two indigenous groups: the Huichol and the Cora, who refer to themselves as the Nayarit.

The best time of year to travel to Nayarit is January to May. That's the dry season so your plans aren't likely to get rained out. It's also warm, but not so hot that you'll want to stay indoors with the air conditioner blasting. Surfers come to Nayarit all year round, but the water is warmer from April through October. Travelers who want a chance to do a whale watching trip should come between January and March, which is when the whales migrate to and from the breeding areas in the Sea of Cortez.

Get in
The easiest way to get to Nayarit is by plane to Puerto Vallarta for coastal destinations or to Tepic  or Guadalajara  for inland destinations, then use buses, taxis, or rental cars to get where you want to go.

By bus
There's different kinds of buses you can use to get into Nayarit and to get around. Local or long-distance.

Long distance buses typically depart from bus stations (but may make unscheduled stops on demand to pick up and drop off passengers). Travellers in southern Nayarit (such as Punta Mita or Nuevo Vallarta) will use the Puerto Vallarta bus station (Carretera Tepic-Vallarta km 9, Colonia Mojoneras, located close to the PVR airport). From there, buses are available to Tepic, Guadalajara, or other cities throughout the region.

Local bus service is based in Puerto Vallarta, but the local buses also serve Nuevo Vallarta and areas as far north as Sayulita. When using local buses, be aware that every bus requires you to pay a fare: there is no such thing as a transfer ticket in this area. The bus to Wal-Mart is usually M$10, the bus to Nuevo Vallarta is M$25, and the bus to Sayulita is M$35 (2022 fares). All bus routes from Puerto Vallarta to anywhere in Nayarit will require 2 buses.

To get anywhere in Nayarit by local bus from Puerto Vallarta, take a northbound bus with a "WalMart" sign in the windshield. Get off the bus at Wal-Mart and take an appropriate bus to where you want to go. There is a guy with a clipboard there who can help you. Don't try to do this too late in the evening: The last bus to Nuevo Vallarta leaves Wal-Mart at 9pm.

 * To Nuevo Vallarta, look for the bus with "Nuevo Vallarta" for the southern part of Nuevo or "Riu" for the northern part
 * To Bucerias or Punta Mita, look for the bus with "Punta Mita" in the windshield
 * To Sayulita, look for the green and white bus with "Sayulita" in the windshield

Get around
Most foreign visitors to Nayarit come for the many Pacific coast beaches in the southern half of the state. This area is very easy to drive in and rental cars can be arranged at the Puerto Vallarta airport. Rental cars give you excellent flexibility and its easier to carry baggage if you're traveling with a family.

Small buses and combis are the preferred way to get around between the beach communities of southwestern Nayarit. See Puerto Vallarta for information about how to use the local buses to get to Nayarit beaches from Puerto Vallarta. The buses can be used to jump around the different beaches, maybe for a day or even just a few hours. Locals can show you where the combis stop.

Longer distance bus routes are served via major bus stations. The most important bus station in Nayarit is in Tepic. From there, you can catch buses to inland destinations and cities in nearby states, such as Mazatlan or Guadalajara.

Local taxis are generally white Nissans and they frequently wait near larger hotels. Talk to the driver to determine the fare to your destination. Many drivers can be hired by the hour or for a full day. Rates must be negotiated but are often quite reasonable, often around M$300 per hour (US$15).

Nature
Nayarit has a number of significant nature reserves and remote areas where development is sparse. Thousands of square kilometers in the central and eastern parts of the state are mountainous, heavily forested, and are part of the Sierra Madre Oriental range. Four of Mexico's six species of feline (including jaguars and ocelots) live in the mountains. Birdwatching is a productive pasttime in Nayarit with more than 300 species known to either nest or migrate through Nayarit. Coastal areas include a number of ecological reserves and are home to a variety of marine mammals, including migratory routes of whales. (Whale watching tours are available in Punta Mita and San Blas and smaller operators can sometimes be found in other coastal destinations. Coastal wetlands include vast mangrove swamps where crocodiles and venomous snakes are common. Areas of particular note include:

 * The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California — a UNESCO World Heritage site, shared with four other Mexican states

 * Islas Marietas National Park — a famously scenic national park that is a habitat for several maritime bird species, including boobies, pelicans, gulls and more

Archaeology
Nayarit has never been at the top of any archaeologist's bucket list of "must see" ancient sites, but the state is home to two Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, the Huichol and the Cora. Both are related to the Aztec (Mexica) peoples who dominated Central Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest, and both groups speak languages that are part of the same language family as Nahuatl (commonly spoken among descendants of the Aztec).

There are no major archaeological sites in Nayarit, but Huichol handcrafts are highly prized and are commonly sold in galleries and artesanal shops in coastal towns as far south as Puerto Vallarta. Two towns may be of interest to historical travelers with an interest in indigenous cultures:

 * Mexcaltitán — unusual island village that some historians regard as being the original homeland of the Mexica people

 * Ixtlán del Rio — home to an unusual small archaeological site famous for its "shaft tombs" and many sculptures dating from about 300 BC

Surfing
The Pacific coast of Nayarit is dotted with small-town beaches with a handful of locally owned beachfront bars and small cheap hotels that cater to regional travelers. Good surfing is found at myriad beaches in Nayarit, many with high quality break points and reef breaks that give a surfer tremendous variety of conditions to choose from. Some beaches are known for more challenging conditions, some as being more suitable for beginners, and some with both easy and challenging locations within a couple kilometers of each other. Just about any style of surfing can be found in Nayarit, including paddle surfing, short board surfing, longboard surfing, and big wave body surfing. Surfing lessons are available at most of the well-known surfing beaches and are often taught by recognized experts from around the world.

 * Punta Mita is well known for its breaks with seven breaks around the peninsula. These provide surfers of all skill levels with many kinds of conditions from which to choose.

 * San Blas (Mexico) has several well-known surfing beaches, including one that may be the world's longest rideable wave

 * Chacala has a gentle beach, but just a short boat ride away is La Caleta with a deep water peak and exceptional walls

Eat
Nayarit is a coastal state, and like coastal areas everywhere, fresh seafood is a cornerstone of local culinary traditions. Local fishermen harvest shark, dog fish, sea bass, sierra, shrimp, and oysters. Regional specialties of Nayarit include tamales de camarón (shrimp tamales), enchiladas de ostiones (oyster enchiladas), sopa de camaron (shrimp soup), and barbecued fish. In the coastal areas, locals often use manglar (mangrove) as a fuel for cooking fires and the smoke from these fires lends a distinctive flavor to foods cooked over open fires or coals.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are grown throughout the state, particularly in some of the highland communities. Nayarit produce includes coconuts, corn, wheat, and beans. They are known for their bananas (14 varieties are grown in the state), mangoes, and sugar cane.

In Mexcaltitán, pescado sarandeado is a grilled fish dish made with fresh-caught bream, marinated in a blend of lime juice, soy sauce, and chile and is served on a platter with onions, tomatoes and cucumbers with tortillas and salsa.

Moles are popular everywhere in Mexico and in Nayarit a regionally known varieant is pipián de pepitas de calabaza, made with pipian chiles and pumpkin seeds, the light brown mole is typically served over chicken.

Cacada is a sweet treat made with shredded coconut mixed with a variety of fruits like pineapple, strawberry or lemon.

During sugar cane harvest season in Tepic you can find cañas asada, roasted raw sugar cane with s delicious flavor of lightly burnt sugar.

Drink
Most visitors to Nayarit are coming for the idyllic small beach towns where the most popular drink is beer. The iconic beer of this part of the Pacific Coast of Mexico is Pacifico. Surfers and backpackers embraced the brand over 50 years ago and it remains the beer of surfers, budget travelers, and travelers who enjoy trying beers in their native environment.

These days, travelers often expect a wide range of beers in different styles produced in small batches by artisinal craft brewers who emphasize quality and variety over predictability or slick marketing. Craft beers are found in cities and towns throughout Mexico, and there are some places where the beer connoisseur can find something beyond "pale fizzy lager" (as Britain's CAMRA describes mainstream lagers).

 * Cerveceria Artesanal San Pancho (San Francisco - best beer bar on the Riviera Nayarit, several house beers are brewed on site including a blonde ale, an IPA, and a stout with various seasonal beers
 * Cerveceria Chapultepec (Nuevo Vallarta) - part of a beer concept chain with a party atmosphere and a variety of beers that includes its own house brand of craft beers

Tequila based drinks (especially margaritas) are extremely popular everywhere and some bars offer a selection of artesanal tequilas. Voodoo Monkey Tiki Bar in Bucerias is a fun place with a wide range of cocktails (obviously including fruity rum-based drinks with paper parasols and fruit on a plastic sword)

Nayarit offers some unique non-alcoholic drinks as well, though some share their heritage with Jalisco and other nearby states. Tejuino is probably the most widespread of these. It is a corn-based drink made with masa (corn meal), sweetened with piloncillo (crude brown sugar). It is sometimes fermented a couple days giving it a very low alcohol level (similar to "near beer").

Coffee drinkers will also find local coffees grown in the highlands and roasted and served in local communities. In the town of Compostela, look for Café Moloto El Chilai.

Stay safe
Nayarit is generally peaceful and tourists have few problems in the popular coastal areas, however, things become dicey north of Tepic with rural roads leading into Sinaloa, where significant cartel violence has occurred over the past two decades.

Go next

 * Mazatlan
 * Costalegre
 * San Sebastián del Oeste

title: Nayarit


text:
Nayoro

Nayoro (名寄) is a small city in Kamikawa, Hokkaido.

Tourist information site

 * The local tourist association has an unexpectedly multilingual guide site.

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

By train
JR Soya main Line from Asahikawa to Sapporo.

By bus
Highway bus from Sapporo with 4 round trips every day. There are other bus services from Asahikawa, Okoppe and Horokanai.

By car
National Route 40 passes through the city on its way from Asahikawa to Wakkanai.

By train
JR Sōya Main Line runs through the city. The local train to the south from Nayoro Station makes 5 round trips per day, and to the north 3 round trips per day.
 * Station from north,

By bus
Meishi Bus (名士バス) runs in the city.

Go next

 * Shibetsu
 * Bifuka
 * Horokanai
 * Shimokawa
 * Okoppe
 * Esashi
 * Horonobe
 * Toyotomi
 * Wakkanai

title: Nayoro


text:
Naypyidaw

Naypyidaw, also spelled Nay Pyi Taw, officially replaced Yangon as the capital of Myanmar in 2005. It is officially known by the acronym NPT.

Understand
Naypyidaw is unique and a little bizarre. It's a large and fully laid out city but with insufficient inhabitants and buildings for its size, so you can experience the unprecedented Asian scenario of never getting stuck in traffic. Whether this weird situation will remain when Myanmar's economy begins to boom is another matter since the lack of gridlock is certainly not down to superb road planning and cutting edge traffic control. What helps are the eight-lane boulevards and Parisian-sized roundabouts.

Naypyidaw was a rather secretive construction project by the ruling military junta in the early 2000s and, in November 2005, was suddenly proclaimed Myanmar's new capital. Government workers were given two months notice that they would have to move from Yangon with the re-location of all government offices and ministries. Most embassies and international organisations, like the UN, have not relocated since educational and health infrastructure is not yet in place.

By car
The tolled Yangon–Mandalay Expressway connects Yangon to NPT. It's long with a service complex containing a fuel station and a large, expensive (by local standards) restaurant just past the halfway point if you're coming from Yangon.

By rail
There are several trains daily from Yangon and they take around nine hours. The station is considerably further from the city centre and from the hotels than the bus station, and the bus journey from Yangon is considerably faster (5 hr).

By plane
To handle increased traffic to the capital, the existing airport at Ela was upgraded to handle larger planes. It lies 16 km (10 mi) southeast of Kyatpyae.

Bangkok Airways flies directly from Bangkok each evening enabling connections to/from major international cities. The plane from Bangkok is an ATR turbo prop, not usually a jet, so it can get rather full and bags can get delayed. Bangkok Airways code shares with other airlines, like Emirates. However, Bangkok Airways does not always honour Emirates frequent flyer benefits (such as extra luggage allowances).

In reality, mainly foreign visitors (usually international development workers) or rich locals fly to Naypyidaw while locals travel by bus (5 hr).

The airport is modern, clean and efficient. It's also mostly empty of people with most of the gates not in use.

By bus
From Yangon buses travel the wide new toll highway for about five hours, including mandatory rest stop, to the capital, which unusually just springs out of nowhere at a nondescript intersection. The bus should eventually arrive at the Myoma Bus Station in the north of the city.

 * From Yangon - 6300 kyat, 5 hr (Feb 2017)
 * From Bago - 8,000 kyat, 8 hr

By motorbike taxi
This is a common form of transport in Naypyidaw, but it can be risky.

By tuk-tuk
Similar to those in Bangkok although called a "thaw lar gyi" in Myanmar.

By taxi
Taxi drivers hang around the shopping centres and bus station and you need to negotiate with them. For foreigners the asking costs can be high at US$5 for even relatively short journeys. Distances between locations are large so finding a taxi needs some effort (best to ask the hotel to help).

An example fare from Feb 2017: 7000 kyat for a 20-minute journey from the Golden Lake Hotel to the Myoma Bus Station. Arranged in advance at the hotel.

Buy
Naypyitaw Myoma Market is the commercial centre of Naypyidaw. Other shopping areas include Thapye Chaung Market and Junction Centre Naypyidaw. In the "hotel zone" are two medium-sized shopping malls: Junction and Capital, each of which have reasonable supermarkets and restaurants. Junction also has a cinema. There's another shopping mall complex further north with a much larger supermarket and an exchange bureau. You can change money (only US dollars, not euros) at the travel agent in the Junction Centre but they sometimes run out of cash. Phone charge scratchcards are available in the Junction Centre. Foreign credit or debit cards are sometimes accepted in shops, however there are plenty of ATMs.

Drink
Myanmar beer is very drinkable and there are several different types. Locally produced whisky is very cheap, 5,000 kyat a litre, even for the best local brands. Wine is also available including local red and white wine. International wines are available, usually around 8,500-15,000 kyat. The Junction and Capital supermarkets have sections selling wine, beer and whisky.

Sleep
The hotel zone has a handful of villa-style hotels that dot the hills on the outskirts of the city. There are 12 hotels in or near Naypyidaw. Eight of these are within the Naypyidaw Hotel Zone. There are also some very large hotels in Naypyidaw. The distances are quite far between anywhere you want to go and the hotels.

title: Naypyidaw


text:
Nazaré

Nazaré is a lovely village in the Oeste region of Portugal. It became a world famous surf spot and entered the Guinness Book of Records due to its gigantic waves. It is usually crowded in summer.

Understand

Nazaré (nuh-zuh-REH, /nɐ.zɐ.ˈɾɛ/) is named for the biblical city of Nazareth.

By car
Nazaré municipality is on the A8 motorway from Lisbon and Leiria. To reach the town proper, use the connecting roads N8-5 or IC9. N242 also serves the town from Leiria, Marinha Grande, São Martinho do Porto, and Alfeizarão.

Get around
Walk through the village, use the tramway to the top of the hill and enjoy the fabulous view over Praia da Nazaré. If you can, watch the international surfing championships on the lighthouse's slope.

See

Do
It's a holiday village all year around (though some accommodations and restaurants are closed in the winter season). Take pictures of Nazaré beach from O Sítio; ask local ladies (who traditionally wear seven skirts) if you can take a photo with them.
 * Use the beach.
 * See a bullfight in the Praca do Touros (O Sitio).
 * Walk the white streets of the city.
 * Visit the market.

Buy
Buy the traditional Nazaré dolls and make a decorative use with them (or even for private collection). Buy also a replica of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Nazaré.

Eat
There are lots and lots of small cheap restaurants, where they are grilling fish (sardines, etc.), chickens outside. Normally it pays off to frequent the smaller streets. On the waterfront and major squares you will find it much more expensive. Lots of nice cafés on the Praça Sousa Oliveira. Not cheap but with a good view of the bustling life.

Sleep
Arriving at the bus station one will normally be "hijacked" by a group of women who offer private rooms. It's quite cheap, normally central and the easiest way to get a place to sleep (follow the woman of your choice to see the quarters, but beware – they're very fast).

There are hotels and pensions to be booked in advance but it's more (much more) expensive and you won't be able to experience the charm of living in a private home, where the family has moved out (or into one little room) so they can rent the other rooms out.

Go next

 * Fátima – Place of the worldwide famous Marian apparitions at Sanctuary of Our Lady.
 * Alcobaça – Well known for its monastery and monastic pastry.
 * Batalha – Well known for its monastery.
 * Caldas da Rainha – Charming, unassuming city to experience authentic daily Portuguese life
 * Coimbra – Easily reached with a bus (leave in the morning - return in the afternoon/evening) if you want a day without sunbathing on the beach.
 * Leiria – Home to a restored medieval castle.
 * Óbidos – A visit to this town could be made en route to Lisboa. (Get off at the Obidos train station, deposit your luggage and walk up to the city.) A tour of the town walls gets you some fine views. But it´s a sleepy town and they know what to charge for a meal.
 * Peniche– Beaches and water sports, with access to the Berlengas archipelago.
 * Tomar– Many interesting sights, including Convent of Christ, a.

title: Nazaré


text:
Nazareth

Nazareth (Arabic الناصرة an-Nāṣirah, Hebrew נצרת Nasarat) is a city in northern Israel. It is the largest Arab city in Israel proper, having a population of 60,000, a harmonious mix of Muslims (70%) and Christians (about 30%).

Understand
Nazareth is best known as the home of Joseph and Mary and hence also Jesus, although the New Testament states that he was born in Bethlehem. A number of Christian holy places in Nazareth are associated with the Annunciation, the childhood and the early ministry of Jesus. In addition to the imposing Basilica of the Annunciation, these sites include the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel (built over the freshwater spring known as "Mary’s Well"), the Greek Catholic "Synagogue Church" (assumed site of the synagogue where the young Jesus was taught, and where he later read from Isaiah), and the Franciscan Church of St. Joseph (built over a cave identified since the 17th century as the "workshop" of Joseph).

As the place where Jesus grew up, studied and lived most of his life (and regarded by most historians to be his likely historical birthplace), Nazareth has for 2,000 years been closely identified with Christianity and has attracted hundreds of millions of pilgrims from around the world. Nazareth is also Israel’s largest Arab city and as such serves as a major cultural center. Over the past decade the historical Old City has been extensively renovated, preserving and restoring the architectural beauty and unique character of its narrow lanes and alleys. The combination of these three elements – history, culture and architecture – assures the Old City of Nazareth a place among the most beautiful historical destinations in the world.

Nazareth is bordered by the predominantly Jewish city of Nof HaGalil.

By bus
The supposedly is not much of help, there are no English sign posts or any central information. Most buses go through here and along Paulus ha-Shishi Street. There is another central stop north, right next to Mary's Well.

From Tel Aviv, routes 823 or 826 from the New Central Bus Station go directly to Nazareth (does not operate on Sabbath or Jewish holidays). The journey takes about 2 hours.

From Haifa, the 331 or 332 bus (from station Merkaz Hashmona or HaMifrats) takes about an hour, and operate daily including the Sabbath and holidays.

From Jerusalem, there are two direct buses per day (excluding Sabbath and Jewish holidays), route number 955. Or take a bus to Afula and switch to a bus to Nazareth. Take care when coming from Afula, as Superbus 354 and 356 avoid the Nazareth city centre and head to Nazareth Illit. Ask the driver to drop you at the stop closest to the city centre. Bus 355 appears to go through the centre, but only runs a few times per day.

From Akko, take bus 353 or 343 (hourly).

From Tiberias, take bus 431 (hourly).

There is also a bus from/to Amman operated by Nazarene four times per week, departing Nazareth at 08:30, and costing ₪80. The same bus leaves Amman again at 14:00. Call +972 4 601 0458 to make sure it's operating and if there are free spots.

From the West Bank
From Jenin (also applicable to Nablus and Ramallah): Take a shared taxi (sherut/serviis) or hitchhike to the border, and cross on foot. From the Israeli side of the border, taxis to Nazareth cost ₪150 and to Afula ₪40-50. Alternatively, you can take bus 52 from the roundabout after the border into Afula (₪7.40). And a bus from Afula to Nazareth is ₪10.90.

By car
Nazareth is 102 km from Tel Aviv and 131km from Jerusalem.

By hiking
Nazareth is on a sort of plateau overlooking the Jezreel Valley, and it can be fun to hike up the edge of this plateau via. Take the bus to Gazit Junction ("Tzomet Gazit"). From Afula you can take bus routes 30, 541, and 542 (25 min ride). From Tiberias you can take the 541 (35 min ride) or 30 (65 min). The climb up Mt Tabor takes an hour, and there you can see the (by its sheer size) impressive and beautiful Church of Transfiguration, as well as its surroundings and gardens. (Open 08:00-17:00, free entrance, entrance only from the carpark side.) The nearby monastery has a giant outdoor bell, but it might be closed - check with the tourist information. Afterwards hike down the mountain and back up into Nazareth (3-4 h). There are trail markers, but better have a map and/or GPS. Note that on rainy days and for 1-2 days afterwards, the track up and down the mount is quite slippery, and hiking here is not recommended.

By train
While there is no train service to Nazareth itself, nearby Afula (8 km south) is well-served by trains from Haifa. There are buses every 30 minutes between the two cities.

Get around
Prepare for some of the area's worst driving. Traffic is typically on the heavy side, roads are not well-signed nor well-maintained, and parking is rather haphazard. Beware of sharp switchbacks and small, winding roads with no exit—these are cramped, crazy streets. Driving in this town is doable, but for the brave of heart. GPS is a must, but not entirely trustworthy.

Central Nazareth can be easily covered on foot. There is also public transport, which also operates on Saturdays, however the buses tend to get stuck in the traffic.

Do

 * Walking Tour of the Old City (duration 3 hours). The route begins at the Mary’s Well Square (ample parking nearby). Visit the well area (el-Sabil). Opposite is the ancient bath house, also well worth a visit (entrance fee payable), including the pleasant souvenir shop Cactus and a guided tour followed by hot and cold drinks. The remains discovered beneath the shop are believed to date back to the early Roman era – the time of Jesus. From here continue to the nearby square to visit the famous Greek Orthodox St. Gabriel’s Church. This is the site at which, according to Greek Orthodox belief, Mary received the Annunciation from the Angel Gabriel. On exiting the church, walk along the Pilgrim’s Path towards the Municipality and the Mascobia building – an impressive project built in 1904 as a hospice for Russian pilgrims. Further along the Pilgrim’s Path, on Street 6098 (most of Nazareth’s streets are known by numbers rather than names), you reach Bishop’s Square. On the right is the Greek Orthodox Bishopric, a white building in the Greek style, faced on the opposite side by picturesque houses reminiscent of Venetian palazzos, which have been preserved and renovated. The house on the left is Authors’ House, an art institute. Continue along Street 6098 to an alley named Sebat Qa’war until you reach Folklore House (Beit al-Sebat), the home of Tanous Qa’war, Nazareth’s first mayor in 1875. From Folklore House turn left to Street 6132 going towards the vegetable market, then left again to Street 6089. Here you can visit Casa Palestina, a beautiful building that from 1810 was used to store barley, where the owners will tell you the history of the place. There is a cafי bar here, where you can take a break with Arabic coffee or a cold beer, as well as enjoying a free exhibition of handicrafts. Leaving Casa Palestina, pass through a vault leading to the Saraya building, the center of Ottoman rule from 1735 onwards. This attractive building is undergoing preservation work in preparation for conversion to a municipal museum. Returning to the direction of the vegetable market and the courtyard of the White Mosque with its pencil-shaped minaret, walk along Street 6133 into the well-preserved and restored market. Stroll through lanes and alleys leading off to the right and left and investigate the shops with their great variety of goods. Among these alleys you will find the Synagogue Church. Eventually you will emerge opposite the Basilica of the Annunciation, an essential highlight of any tour of the city.
 * Hike to Mt. Tabor, on top of which you will find the Church of Transfiguration, one the most famous Christian sites, and take a bus back.
 * Hike the Jesus Trail (4 days, Nazareth to Capernaum)
 * Hike up Mount Precipice. Believed to be the place where people tried to push Jesus off, not accepting him as the messiah. It has some impressive viewpoints for the Jezreel Valley and Nazareth. There is also a large theater on the spot where Pope Benedict XVI gave a mass in 2009. Nowadays, this theater seems to be abandoned.
 * Hike up Mount Precipice. Believed to be the place where people tried to push Jesus off, not accepting him as the messiah. It has some impressive viewpoints for the Jezreel Valley and Nazareth. There is also a large theater on the spot where Pope Benedict XVI gave a mass in 2009. Nowadays, this theater seems to be abandoned.

Buy
A souq (Arab market) extends up the hill from the Church of the Annunciation.

Eat
The city’s many restaurants provide a full gastronomic experience in all types of Arab cuisine. Any visit to Nazareth must allow time to enjoy to the full the renowned and delicious local tradition of welcoming diners. Note, Nazareth's kenafeh is by far not as good as in Nablus.

Drink
Right behind Mary's Well is a restaurant/bar called Al Bayat "The House". You can find pretty much any kind of alcoholic drink you like there and an extensive menu of international fusion cuisine. Locals like the outdoor patio for a local Palestinian beer called Taybeh, "Tasty" with complimentary pretzels and peanuts. Local musicians also play some nights.

Go next

 * Jezreel Valley south, Sea of Galilee east and Golan Heights northeast.
 * Tiberias – A large Israeli town northeast and great starting point for Galilee and Golan.
 * Jenin – Its name means The spring of gardens. Read above on how to accomplish the trip there.
 * Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh. If you are on a tight schedule and planning to go to Ramallah, you might want to skip the latter for this more exciting Palestinian city.
 * Haifa – The second-holiest city in the Bahai faith, including its great garden down the northern slope of the city.

title: Nazareth


text:
Nazareth (disambiguation)

There are several places called Nazareth.

 * Adama — city in Ethiopia, sometimes called Nazareth
 * Nazareth — city in Israel
 * Nazareth (Pennsylvania) — city in the United States of America

title: Nazareth (disambiguation)


text:
Nazareth (Pennsylvania)

Nazareth is a town in Northampton County in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. It is comprised of four townships (Bushkill, Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth, and the Borough of Nazareth) and was established in 1740. In the Lehigh Valley, Nazareth borders Bethlehem to its southwest. The town lies in the center of the highly populated Northeast megalopolis region of the U.S., 10 mi west of the Skylands and New Jersey state line, 75 mi north of Philadelphia, and 84 mi west of New York City.

By plane

By car
From Interstate 80
 * Route 33 South to Route 512 East
 * Route 611 South to Route 512 West to 33 South

From Interstate 78
 * Routh 33 North to Route 248

From Route 22
 * Route 191 North

From the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 476)
 * Route 22 East to Route 191 North

By bus
Greyhound to Bethlehem. Take cab or car from there.

By limo

 * A&A Limousine Service, or
 * J&J Transportation, or
 * Your Way Taxi & Limo,

See

 * Whitefield House. This home presented through the Moravian Historical Society provides outstanding educational opportunities for those interested in history, religion, art, and natural history. Many of the items on exhibit are one of a kind or extremely rare. Among these treasures are scenes from the nativity and passion of Christ, by John Valentine Haidt.
 * Pennsylvania Longrifle Heritage Museum. Relive the history of the Henry's 18th and 19th century gunsmiths through this museum courtesy of the Jacobsburg Historical Society.
 * Andretti Households. As small as it is, Nazareth is the home of Michael, Mario and Marco Andretti, famous racing champions.

For more things to see and experience near Nazareth, check the listings on the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.

Do

 * Herbs to your Success is a "wellness spa" where you can relax in an oxygen spa, a body wrap, a jelly foot soak, and more. Located at 64 S Main St; +1 610-502-4516.
 * Herbs to your Success is a "wellness spa" where you can relax in an oxygen spa, a body wrap, a jelly foot soak, and more. Located at 64 S Main St; +1 610-502-4516.

For more things to do near Nazareth, check the listings on the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.

Buy
There are a couple of small shopping spots in the town of Nazareth. If you are looking for something bigger and better, you can shop in the streets of downtown Bethlehem, located 15 minutes away, which has many trendy boutiques. Nazareth is also only 10 minutes away from the Palmer Park Mall and 15 minutes from the Lehigh Valley Mall.

For more places to shop near Nazareth, check out the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.

Eat
Many pizzerias are located in Nazareth, including the Pizza Joe's and Sicily's Pizza. Beck's Land and Sea is a wonderful seafood restaurant located in Bushkill Township. There are also a few cafe's in the town of Nazareth, which are great for a mid-day quick lunch.

For places to eat near Nazareth, check the listings on the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.

Drink
There is great night life in Easton, which is only 10 minutes from Nazareth.

Sleep
One place to stay the night while in Nazareth that really gives you the feel of the history of the town is the Classic Victorian Estate Inn, which is a turn of the century Colonial Revival home. (35 N. New Street, Nazareth, +1 610-759-8276) If you would like to stay in a more standard hotel, you can stay at the Hampton Inn Easton, which is located on Easton Nazareth Hwy, less than 5 minutes from Nazareth.

For more places to stay near Nazareth, check out the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.

Borough offices
Nazareth Borough, 134 S. Main Street, +1 610-759-0202 (phone), +1 610-759-1073 (fax), Email: nazboro@rcn.com

Tourist information

 * Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton,

Phones
In Easton, like all Lehigh Valley locations, you must dial an area code when you place a call. Area codes in the Lehigh Valley are 610 and 484.

Other Lehigh Valley locations

 * Allentown, 15 mi
 * Bangor, 12 mi
 * Bethlehem, 9 mi
 * Easton, 7 mi
 * Emmaus, 24 mi
 * Fogelsville, 23 mi
 * Hellertown, 15 mi
 * Phillipsburg, NJ, 10 mi
 * Slatington, 18 mi
 * Whitehall Township, 15 mi

Regional cities and locations

 * Atlantic City, 136.8 mi
 * Harrisburg, 94.7 mi
 * New York City, 84.3 mi
 * Philadelphia, 74.8 mi
 * The Poconos, 41.3 mi

title: Nazareth (Pennsylvania)