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Old Saybrook

Old Saybrook is a city of 10,000 people (2020) in Connecticut at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Families and tourists enjoy Old Saybrook's beaches, the high quality of restaurants, and the peaceful and serene atmosphere. Many people travel from all over in their high class boats which they dock at the marina next to the ocean. Old Saybrook is where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound.

Get in
Old Saybrook is on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River, 45 miles from Hartford, 101 miles from New York, and 105 miles from Boston.

By plane

 * Groton-New London Airport, 155 Tower Ave., Groton, . It takes about 30 minutes by car to get from the airport to Old Saybrook.

By train

 * Amtrak, 455 Boston Post Road, . The station is open 5:15AM-10PM, Ticket sales end at 9:30PM.
 * Shore Line East, 455 Boston Post Road (Same Building),.

By bus

 * Estuary Transit District, 455 Boston Post Rd.,.
 * The buses are called 9 Town Transit Service. Buses that run along the shoreline provide regular service along route 1 from Madison to Old Saybrook and all points in between. Its stops include Madison center, Hammonassett State Park, Clinton Crossings, Tangers Outlets, YMCA, Walmart, and the Old Saybrook Train Station.
 * The Riverside Shuttle provides regular service along route 154 from Old Saybrook to Essex, Deep River, and Chester. Regular stops will include the Old Saybrook Train station, Essex Square, Adam's Market, and the Center of Chester.

By car
Old Saybrook is located off Interstate 95 at Exit 68. Old Saybrook is about 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes from Providence and 2 hours and 15 minutes from New York.

Get around

 * Old Saybrook is part of the 9 Transit Service which serves the Estuary Transit District. It has regular service M-Sa and can be called for personalized service..

See

 * Fort Saybrook Monument Park, Saybrook Point. 18 acres of beautiful woods owned by the Town of Old Saybrook. Storyboards "walk you around" and tell the story. Free.

Do
Whether one desires to take a relaxing stroll on the beach, tour the ocean with a serene boat ride, take a look at fascinating antiques and even go shopping, Old Saybrook is perfect for an entertaining and memorable experience.

Buy

 * Essex-Saybrook Antiques Village, on Rt. 154; 345 Middlesex turnpike, +1 860-388-0689. Opened daily from 11AM-5PM. Enjoy this 120-dealer group shop featuring a complete collection of antiques & collectibles.
 * Van's Elegant Antiques, 998 Middlesex Turnpike, +1 860-388-1934
 * Van's Elegant Antiques, 998 Middlesex Turnpike, +1 860-388-1934
 * Van's Elegant Antiques, 998 Middlesex Turnpike, +1 860-388-1934

Eat
Old Saybrook offers many different selections of restaurants and types of food. One can enjoy eating on the water or in town. Old Saybrook provides outstanding fresh seafood, Italian, and more.

Drink
Bars are very popular in this area. If you want to enjoy a cocktail with a friend or just sit and relax with a tasty drink, here are some places recommended in Old Saybrook.

Connect

 * Old Saybrook Town Hall 302 Main Street. Phone: +1 860-395-3123. Hours: M – F 8:30AM – 4:30PM

title: Old Saybrook


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Old South and New South

This itinerary is intended as a tour to take you through the Atlanta of yesterday and today, and even tomorrow.

Understand
This tour will begin and end at the Five Points Station, taking you through the following areas of Atlanta:
 * Downtown
 * Midtown

Prepare

 * Consider buying a Breeze Card for MARTA. The price for a new card includes a $5 fee, which includes 2 rides. The total number of rides taken in this tour will be 4, and each ride is $2.50. A day pass for $8 may be a good deal, if you want to take extra rides.

Go
MARTA trains will be the easiest way to take this tour, as parking is limited and expensive in some areas, and the downtown traffic may cause extra headache.

Begins: Five Points Station
Prior to entering the Five Points Station, walk around the adjacent Underground Atlanta. First, walk on the outdoor upper level, which is street level. Look to the left and you will see the Downtown Atlanta skyline and the neon Coca-Cola sign. Nearby is the tower where the Peach Drop is held every New Years Eve. At the end of the upper level, take the stairs down to the lower level. In the wide open area near Johnny Rockets is where the World of Coke used to be, until the new one was built by Centennial Park, where you will go later.

Now that you are at the lower level, enter the doors and you will be below current street level and at the original street level, hence the name Underground. The lower level also looks like a brick street with numerous shops on both sides. You'll also see statues and monuments that give information about the history. There is also an old railroad adjacent to the shopping center. Continue onward and you will be able to enter Five Points Station from there.

Next Stop: King Historic District
From Five Points, take the MARTA East-West line eastbound to King Memorial Station (E2). From there, go north and you will be in the King Historic District. First, stop by the Visitor's Center for maps and information. Within the King District is the King Center, a museum and information center dedicated to the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as civil rights history. In addition, there is the birth home of Dr. King, as well as Ebenezer Baptist Church (the church he used to attend), and his memorial.

Centennial Park and CNN Center
From King Memorial Station, take the MARTA East-West Line back westbound through Five Points Station and remain on board until you reach GWCC/CNN Center Station (W1). Exit the station and you will be in front of the CNN Center; walk around the corner and through Centennial Park, an important part of Atlanta's history with the 1996 Olympics. The park also has a memorial for the victims of the tragic bombing during the Olympics. If it is the summertime, you will likely see children playing in the Fountain of Rings, which has become a popular scene in Atlanta. If it is winter time, there is an ice ring in the center of the park. You may walk through the park to the other side via the grassy area, but the pathway along the man-made river is more recommended. Once at the other end of the park, there is the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke. Depending on the crowd, how much time you have, and how much you are willing to spend, you may choose to tour one of the two attractions or both. The Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest aquarium. The World of Coke gives you the history of the popular beverage, and lets you try samples from around the world.

Midtown
From Centennial Park, walk up Andrew Young International Blvd. for a few blocks, and when you reach Peachtree Street you can catch the MARTA North-South Line from Peachtree Center Station (N1). If you do not want to walk that far, you can walk back to the Dome/Phillips Arena/GWCC/CNN Station and catch the East-West Line back to Five Points Station, then transfer to the North-South Line. Take the North-South Line northbound to Midtown Station (N4). Upon exiting through the North Gate you will be on 10th Street. Turn right and walk to the corner of 10th and Peachtree, and to your right is the Margaret Mitchell House. Inside is a museum, which closes at 5PM Afterwards, a recommended walk is either south down Peachtree Street to the Fox Theater, or north up Peachtree to 14th Street. You will notice many new high-rise apartments and upscale retail stores along the new Midtown Mile. You can also walk north on Crescent Avenue from Midtown Station. Crescent Avenue is a trendy nightlife scene for native locals as well as new-comers from all over the country and even world to party on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night.

What you may notice most about Midtown is that it sharply contrasts the rural areas of Georgia, and even other parts of Atlanta with its post-modern skyscrapers and diverse crowd.

Returning
If you are ready to head back, you can catch the MARTA North-South Line from the Arts Center Station (N5), if you walked north, or the North Avenue Station (N3), if you walked south.

Remember, the MARTA trains stop running around midnight, so you decide to enjoy the nightlife until late, you will need to catch a taxi. Otherwise, take the North-South line back to Five Points Station.

Straying
If you want to stray from the route, you can take the North-South Line further north to Buckhead Station (N7), another popular nightlife spot and upscale shopping.

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

title: Old South and New South


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Oldtown

There's more than one place called Oldtown:

Ireland

 * Oldtown - a village in Fingal, County Dublin

United States of America

 * Oldtown - a small city (pop.~200) in Bonner County, Idaho
 * Oldtown - a small city in Allegany County, Maryland

title: Oldtown


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Olean

Olean is a city in the Southern Tier of New York and largest city in Cattaraugus County.

Understand
Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County and serves as its financial, business, transportation and entertainment center. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.

The city is surrounded by the town of Olean and is in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 14,000 in 2020.

By car
Olean is located along Interstate 86 at exits 25 and 26. Known as the Southern Tier Expressway west of I-81 in Binghamton, Interstate 86 connects to Interstate 90 in the west near Erie and Interstate 81 in Binghamton to the east.

New York State Route 16 runs through Olean as Union Street, the main north / south thoroughfare. New York 16 connects to Pennsylvania Route 646 to the south and to New York State Route 5 in Buffalo to the north.

By plane
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bradford Regional Airport in Bradford, Pennsylvania, which is served with daily commuter flights from Pittsburgh via Southern Airways Express: four on weekdays, two on Saturdays, and three on Sundays.

Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport, at 5420 Hatch Hill Rd. in the nearby town of Ischua, is open for private planes.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the nearest major airport.

By bus

 * Coach USA buses arrive and depart from the parking lot of the Olean Center Mall at 400 North Union Street.
 * Service from Buffalo via Buffalo Niagara International Airport, East Aurora, Franklinville, and various points in between.
 * Service from Jamestown via Randolph, Little Valley, and Salamanca.

 * Fullington Trailways buses arrive and depart from the Sunoco gas station at 301 South Union Street.
 * Service from DuBois via St. Marys and Bradford.
 * Service from Buffalo via Springville, Ellicottville, Salamanca, and various points in between.

Get around
As a smaller city a car is a benefit for travelling. However, there are options available for those who are unable to drive.

The city's core between War Veterans Memorial Park and Oak Hill Park, including the Union-State St downtown area, is walkable enough to get around.

By public transportation
The Olean Area Transit System (OATS) provides public transit in Cattaraugus County. The system provides 6 routes serving Olean and the surrounding area.

Historic buildings
For a city of its size, Olean has a number of historic properties and districts.

Buy
The majority of Olean's retail businesses are located on North Union Street.

Eat

Connect
Olean is primarily served by area code 716. However due to Olean's proximity to the 716/585 line, some Olean exchanges use the 585 area code.The area code must be dialed for every number.

Hospitals
Olean General Hospital, is a member of the Upper Allegheny Health System. The campus includes 186 patient rooms, together with comprehensive patient, administrative and physician services and accommodations to meet the diagnostic, treatment, administrative and educational needs of its patients and medical staff.

Newspapers and print media
The Olean Times Herald is a daily newspaper serving the western Twin Tiers region, based in Olean. The afternoon newspaper, one of the few remaining afternoon papers in the nation, is published by Bradford Publishing seven days each week.

title: Olean


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Olinda

Olinda is a city in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It hosts one of Brazil's most famous carnivals and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its 16th and 17th century buildings. Many bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting.

Understand
Olinda was founded in 1537 by the Portuguese Duarte Coelho Pereira. It owed its rapid rise to the sugarcane plantations around its area. From the 16th century onward, religious missions built many churches and convents. The city was, however, pillaged and burnt down by the Dutch in 1631. One of the few surviving buildings is the Church of São João. The Portuguese returned in 1654. Most of the buildings at Olinda date from the 18th century.

By plane
The nearest airport is Recife's Guararapes Airport'. A taxi to/from the airport will cost some R$ 40.

By bus
Olinda is approximately 7 km north of the center of Recife, with plenty of local buses running in between. The main bus stop in Olinda is Praça do Carmo, which is easy to miss.

By taxi
Taxis from the center of Recife to Olinda take about 20 minutes.

Get around
The historic center is compact and can be explored on foot.

See
Olinda's beautiful scenery and architecture make for a pleasant sightseeing all around. Colonial architecture, belvederes and the blue sea paint a relaxed environment that is second to none among Brazilian traditional cities.

Others

 * Belvedere Alto da Sé, located at the yard of Church of Alto da Se. To the east, one can see the Atlantic Ocean; to the west, the urban scenery.
 * Mercado da Ribeira is an 18th-century building which now houses art galleries and souvenir shops.
 * Rua do Amparo - restaurants, museums, hotels and art studios.
 * Serenades - groups of singers and musicians play old traditional songs through the city streets on Friday evenings.

Do
Outside of Carnaval season, Olinda boasts a lively culture, featuring mostly forró and maracatú in the clubs and town squares, as well as year-round, Saturday night serenades.

Carnaval
Quite different from those of Rio and Salvador this is a lively street party, where blocos parade accompanied by frevo and maracatu music. There is a certain activity during the weeks before (and some after), but the party itself explodes on the official dates, from Friday evening until Wednesday morning. Its most famous representative are the giant dolls carried on the shoulders of the people. The parties are non-stop, 24 hours, but the bulk of the crowd fills the streets daytime. When looking for accommodation, bear in mind that the most central streets get very noisy.

Beaches
The beach in Olinda proper is polluted. Local buses can take you north to Pau Amarelo and Maria Farinha.

Buy

 * Local crafts and artwork. Be wary of making your purchases in or near Alto da Sé, as prices there tend to be inflated due to the constant flow of tourists. The Mercado da Ribeira houses a variety of shops.
 * Musical instruments, such as those used in maracatu and forró.

Eat

 * Sargação, near Praça do Carmo near the beachfront, serves sandwiches and burgers until the late night hours.
 * Alto da Sé hosts a variety of food vendors, with a lively environment in the early evening.
 * Mourisco, Praça João Alfredo, offers self service at a reasonable price.

Drink
Olinda's prefeitura (mayor's office) publishes a monthly nightlife guide, available in tourist offices and hotels.
 * Mercado Eufrasio Barbosa often hosts cultural presentations and live music shows.
 * Xinxim da Bahiana (Avenida Sigismundo Gonçalves, near Praça do Carmo) hosts live bands and DJs throughout the week. Especially interesting are forró on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
 * Every other Saturday, the neighborhood of Amparo (adjacent to the Historic Center), hosts a street party featuring the local rhythm of samba de coco.
 * Casa da Rabeca do Brasil (Rua Curupira, 125), in Cidade Tabajara(outside of town, accessible by bus or taxi), hosts a forró party every Saturday night.
 * Maracatu nations often hold open rehearsals throughout the year.

Sleep
Olinda has a wide range of options when it comes to lodging. Reservations could be wise in January and February. During carnival prices triple (literally!) and you will have to pay for the five nights from Friday to Wednesday no matter what. Private rooms (R$ 500-1000/5 nights) and apartments/houses (R$ 800 and up) are mostly cheaper, but standards vary greatly, and they are hard to book ahead. If you arrive on Thursday, there is still time.

Cope
See list of foreign consulates in the page for the neighboring city of Recife.

Go next

 * Visit Recife, 7 km away, worth a visit.
 * Take a local bus to Igarassu and visit the oldest church in Brazil.
 * Take a bus through Igarassu to Ilha de Itamaracá. There are beautiful beaches, as well as the Centro Cultural de Lia, a cultural center that specializes in the local rhythm called ciranda. If in Itamaracá, do not miss the famous Coroa do Avião (a small, beautiful, sandy island), the IBAMA Centro Peixe Boi (a center for the preservation of the manatee) and the Forte Orange (a 17th-century Dutch fortress).
 * Local buses also make the trip to beaches north of Olinda, including Pau Amarelo and Maria Farinha.

title: Olinda


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Olive Branch

Olive Branch is a city in the Mississippi Hills. It is a suburb of Memphis, just to the south of the Tennessee state line.

Understand
Olive Branch is home to the Mid-South Ice House, the only permanent indoor ice rink in Metro Memphis. The rink opened in 2011, replacing an earlier ice rink (the ice Chalet in the infamous Mall of Memphis) that opened in 1981 and closed in 2003.

Get in
Various roads link Olive Branch with Memphis. A highway with two designations (Interstate 22 and US Route 78) connects Olive Branch to Interstate 240 near Memphis International Airport, and continues on to reach downtown Memphis.

See

 * The small Historic Downtown
 * City Park
 * City Park

Do
The Mid-South Ice House is home to the Figure Skating Club of Memphis.

title: Olive Branch


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Olivença

There's more than one place called Olivenca, Olivença, or Olivenza:

Brazil

 * Olivença - a municipality in the state of Alagoas
 * São Paulo de Olivença - a municipality in the state of Amazonas (Brazil)

Portugal / Spain

 * Olivenza (Olivença) - a town administered as part of Badajoz, in Extremadura, Spain, but also claimed by Portugal

title: Olivença


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Oliver

Oliver is a town of about 4900 people (2016) in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. It sits along the Okanagan River by Tuc-el-nuit Lake between Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls. Tourism British Columbia has named it "the Wine Capital of Canada".

Understand
Local industries include grape and fruit production, agri-tourism, wine production, ranching, golfing and recreation, retail and service trades. Some of the largest employers include Osoyoos Indian Band, School District #53, Interior Health and Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative

It was named after John Oliver (1856–1927), Premier of British Columbia. "Honest John" and his government brought irrigation water and settlement lots to the area with the South Okanagan Lands Project.

History
The First Nations (Indigenoys people) of the South Okanagan settled near the river, creeks and valley lakes. The first encroachment from the outside world came circa 1811, when fur traders came to the area with the establishment of Fort Okanagan (now in the US) and first explored the area for trade.

In the 1880s, free gold-bearing quartz was found at Camp McKinney (east of Oliver) which became a busy gold mine, attracting miners, con men, and outlaws. In Fairview (just west of and above Oliver), miners found gold and fueled the growth of a boomtown but it lasted just a few years and no remnants of the town survive today, other than a heritage marker.

Established in 1918, Oliver was a settlement for unemployed veterans of the First World War. A gravity-fed canal was constructed to provide irrigation to the semi-arid area.

In 1919, the South Okanagan Lands Project (SOLP) began work on the Intake Dam at the base of McIntyre Bluff. Over the next 8 years the of the concrete-lined main canal were dug southward to the boundary. SOLP designed it to enable farmers to put nearly a foot of water per month on every acre of bottom land in the southern Valley. To get the canal from the east side of the valley to the benches on the west, the “big siphon” was constructed — a 1,940-foot-long (590 m) pipe of 6½-foot-diameter. (Its original wood stave have been replaced by concrete.) It runs directly beneath the centre of Oliver. The offices of the land project and the building that housed the BC Provincial Police built circa 1924 stand today in Oliver as preserved heritage sites.

In 1923 the Kettle Valley Railway (CPR) constructed Oliver station and rails to transport fruit north to Penticton.

By air
Oliver has a small airport with no scheduled flights. For scheduled flights, the closest airport is in Penticton, though for greater options, use Kelowna's airport.

By car
Highway 97 (a major highway through the Okanagan region) passes directly through the town.

Get around
Oliver is a relatively small town; most, if not all, of everything is within walking distance.

The KVR trail (also referred to as the Hike & Bike path) makes its way to Osoyoos and up to OK Falls and Penticton; it is a scenic route along the Okanagan River. Most of the route is paved and well maintained, and even the unpaved (gravel) parts are well looked after with few holes and obstructions. This path is definitely faster, safer and more fun to travel on than the highway, if you plan to bike or walk to any of Oliver's neighbouring cities.

Wineries
Make sure to visit some of the many world-class wineries while in Oliver. Oliver is home to the Golden Mile, and some of the valley's best grapes are grown here.

Across the valley from the Golden Mile is the Black Sage bench, which is home to some of the valley's most acclaimed wineries. It is renowned for its easterly position, heat, and long summer sun exposure, allowing for the production of high-quality red wines. Not all wineries in the area focus on "big red" wines, however. The Black Sage region of the South Okanagan is definitely a worthwhile area to tour during a stay in Oliver.

See "Drink" section for some winery options.

Buy
Oliver is home to many unique specialty shops, the likes of which span subjects as diverse as crafts, aesthetics, and jewellery.

Produce
There are numerous fruit stands lining Highway 97, especially south of the downtown Oliver area.

Drink
There is a bar in the Ghallager Lake area (a bit outside of town, north toward Okanagan Falls). There is a provincial liquor store on Main Street. The drinking age in BC is 19.

Wineries and vineyards
The Okanagan Valley is known for it's winemaking, and Oliver has more wineries than anywhere else in the Okanagan Valley.

Go next
Take Highway 97 to Osoyoos (south) or Penticton (north) to open a wide possibility of other cities in the Okanagan region. Penticton is a 30-minute drive and Osoyoos is about 15-20 minutes.

Go skiing at Mount Baldy, about 35 minutes drive east.

title: Oliver


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Olkhon

Olkhon (Russian: Ольхо́н ahl'-KHOHN) is by far the largest island in Lake Baikal, and one of the real jewels of Siberia. With its amazingly diverse landscape and a vibrant culture that even the Soviets couldn't quite suppress, this island practically begs for a spot on your Siberian itinerary.

Cities

 * Khuzhir. The island's main village with a population of about 1500 people.

There are also several smaller villages: Listed from north to south: Usuri, Pescanaja, Chalgaj, Charancy, Khuzir (main village), Mal. Khuzhir (little Khuzir), Jalga.

Other destinations
It is possible to visit the amazing north cape of the island, Cape Choboi, by 4 wheel drive — as well as the Taschkiney valley and Shara-Nuur lake and other destinations by day trips. This can be arranged in Khuznir, by either one of the tour operators, or at Nikita's guesthouse.

Understand
The island has an area of 730 sq. km (282 sq. miles) and is inhabited by around 1,500 Buryats. It is a center of local shamanism and features many holy sites.

Talk
The islands small population mainly consists of Buryats, a northern Mongol population group, and one of the largest minorities in Russia. Buryat is an independent language but closely related to Mongolian (and like in Mongolia, Cyrillic script is used for orthography), but as everywhere in Russia — despite the independent minded, and somewhat secluded population — Soviet centralism prevailed, and Russian is universally spoken.

 * Buryat phrasebook
 * Russian phrasebook

Get in
As Olkhon is an island, it is usually necessary to take a ferry from the pier in Sakhyurta, more commonly known as the MRS. as of summer 2012, the ferry ride is free for pedestrians and cost ₽100 of tax to randomly picked cars (that also go on the ferry). During the winter, though, the ice gets too thick for the ferry to run, and instead, buses resort to taking an ice road across the narrow channel. In April and October while the ice is forming and melting, the island is completely cut off from the outside world.

Minibuses and normal buses ply the 250-kilometre (160-mile) route from Irkutsk (five to eight hours) for around ₽500-600. You might have to pay a bit extra for big luggage. Normally the two major hostels in Irkutsk arrange minibuses to Khuzhir almost every day in season, and it is worth noting that in the early season, this is your probably your best bet, since buses do not begin to run until late May or June, even though the ferry starts running in early May.

Getting by car or hitchhiking from Irkutsk to Olkhon is also possible. the road is named P418 and goes north for about 120 km and then makes a sharp right turn at the village of Bayandai. from there it is about 60 km until a left turn at Tirgan. After that it's about 60 km more to the ferry station. keep notice that about 50 km of the road is an unpaved road.

You may also cruise the Baikal on ferries between Listvyanka and Olkhon in summer, taking 4 hours in each direction for around ₽4500. However, it is necessary to arrange your own transportation to Khuzhir unless you join the tours offered by the ferry operator.

Get around
The island has a 65-70 km main road that goes along the north part by the direction of north-east. Other than this road there are many roads leading to the forest and stepper grounds. You can rent bicycles and go on tours by boat, and of course you can walk around and sleep in tents, which you can also rent.

See

Beach
There is a popular beach just past the Shamans Rock, north to the main village, and many more along the north coast of the island. Some of these have warmer waters due to their shape and so they make a great place to camp and swim. On the far north eastern side of the island there are dramatic cliffs and the famous "Choboi Cape" from which it is possible to spot some seales. 15 km south of Khuzher towards the forest there is Sahara lake, which is a salty lake also good for camping. it is also possible to rent a kayak from guesthouses in Khuzher.

Sauna
Because there are no water pipes, showers aren't available in many private households. If you're lucky, your guest house has a water pump supplying the sinks, toilets and showers with running water. As an alternative there is the Russian banja (a steam sauna room) that can be arranged by talking to your guest house.

Mountainbiking
Mountainbikes are available for rent from many stores in town for a small fee and with or without deposit. There are many dirt roads through the forests to the eastern side of the island that are very picturesque. Don't forget to bring enough water on hot summer days!

ATV
ATVs or quads can be rented, but are very expensive and billed on an hourly basis.

Eat
In Khuzher, There are several little "restaurants", more like bistros. it is also possible to buy groceries (including raw meat and fish) for preparing camping food or BBQ. There are something in the range of five little supermarkets. The biggest one is at northern end of the middle of wide dusty main street, after the odd looking soviet war memorial. It looks closed all of the time, but isn't. in the season they all seem to close around 8PM-9PM

Buy
On the main road of Khuzher, and also next to ferry station, there are several souvenir shops that sell Buryat orientated ornaments. Buddhist artifacts, dolls, clothes and also music CD's and instruments. Some shops also sell postcards, statues and many more.

Drink
Beer, Vodka and other alcoholic beverages can be bought at the supermarket. There is also somewhat of a bar in Khuzher.

Sleep
Many people come to Olkhon island for the camping spots. it is common to see some tents even in the main village. the operator of the village church in Khuzher, Sergey, often gives campers a place near the church without any request. In session many backpackers are seen around the church, volunteering to build a floor for backpackers just near by.

On coming by bus, there will probably be a lot of "babushkas" (Russian grandmothers) waiting at the bus stop. You can rent a room at their houses and sometimes you also get dinner and breakfast (₽250 per person in 2007, including meals).

Go next
For Irkutsk, some of the shops in Khuzher operate a bus service that goes daily. it is also possible to get out by car or hitchhike on the some way in. For the island located northeast of Olkhon, there is a boat going weekly for ₽2300 from the north port of Olkhon.

title: Olkhon


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Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo (called by locals "Ollanta") is a small town of cobblestone streets and buildings built on foundations of Inca stonework, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas near Cusco in the Southern Sierra region of Peru. This is where the Incas retreated after the Spanish took Cusco. Much of the town is laid out in the same way as it was in Inca times, and it is surrounded by spectacular green mountains dotted with Inca ruins. A few small canals, reminiscent of the Inca fountains at the ruins nearby, run through the town.

By bus
There are frequent buses to and from Urubamba for S/1.50 (soles); further connection can be made to Cusco there (S/3-6). At 15:50, 16:40 and 17:20, there are direct buses leaving from Av Grau 525 in Cusco (S/5) and there are also direct minibuses (S/10) and shared taxis (S/15) all day from nearby Pavitos in Cusco. In taxi or minibus the trip takes 1½-2 hours.

By rail
Two types of trains arrive at the station. The first is locals only that is heavily monitored to ensure no tourists ride it. There are hefty fines if caught on the locals' train. The second is the tourist train which runs from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. If you are doing the Inca Trail, you will want to get on the train to Aguas Calientes and get off when the train stops mid-route.

There are three types of tourist trains. Ordered by descending price, they are the Hiram Bingham, Vistadome, and Backpacker trains. Go to Peru Rail's website for the current prices and schedule.

If you purchase a ticket from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, you cannot get off at Ollantaytambo for a few hours and then use the same ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. If you want to spend time in Ollantaytambo, it is more cost effective to take a bus to Urubamba from Cusco and then a connecting bus to Ollantaytambo (or a direct minivan).

After trekking to Machu Picchu
Many guide services include a train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or all the way to Cusco as a part of the guided services. In the former situation, trekkers are expected to pay for their own bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco and are informed of this in advance. Taking the bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco as opposed to the trains full route saves a half hour to an hour. Inquire with your tour operator in advance as to which tickets they purchase. Tickets purchased by the guide services to Ollantaytambo can be changed at the station the day of or the day before depending upon seat availability. Change fees can range from US$0-20 depending upon the class of train that is being changed to. Arrive at least 45 minutes early as there may be a line, for the earliest trains (05:30) the ticket office opens at 05:00.

Travellers and trekkers can make excellent use of the obligatory return trip to Cusco by staying the night in Aguas Calientes or the more attractive Ollantaytambo after visiting Machu Picchu and visiting the Ollantaytambo ruins, the salt mines near Maras/Urubamba, the Incan agricultural lab of Moray, or the ruins above Pisac the next day (all sites are along the route back to Cusco in that order, with Pisac on one longer route and Maras and Moray diversions from the shorter Chinchero route). Choose two sites and allow a half day for each site for relaxed viewing, transit, and meals. The last buses from Pisac to Cusco leave around 20:00. Be aware of your belongings on buses after dark. Or, stay in Pisac and backtrack to any of the sites the next day. Inquire at Ulrike's cafe in Pisac for lodging recommendations (open until 21:00).

Get around
Walking or cycling is the best idea. Three wheeled moto-taxis and regular taxis are available at the train station but are not necessary. The walk from the train station to the main plaza is approximately a quarter mile (400 m). It can be broken up by various restaurants that line the way even after the busiest sections. It is a 2-minute walk from the main plaza to the ruins.

See

The main square in Ollantaytambo is usually swarming with hikers and porters, but a few blocks away is a vibrant community still living in pre-Columbian dwellings. If you have one, request the guide to take you into one of these houses, where alpaca fetuses hang on the walls (to bring fertility), ancestors' skulls watch over the goings-on from niches in the Incan stonework, and dozens of guinea pigs scoot underfoot (the entrée at some future feast).

Do
Look for houses with red plastic bags hanging outside on posts. These houses are where locals go to drink chicha, a local brew made out of corn. It is a great way to experience the local flavor, provided that you speak enough Spanish to communicate with the other chicha drinkers. It is advisable that you look for a place that serves things other than chicha, as some people find the taste unpleasant. However this is an acquired taste and can be overcome easily. Chicha, unlike masato made in the rainforest is not made by mixing with saliva as erroneously stated in the entry that this is correcting. Careful with the chicha, however - it is sometimes made under unhygienic conditions and it could make you quite sick.

 * Visit the Old Town unique in all of Peru, this part of Ollantaytambo was built by the Incas over five hundred years ago is inhabited to date. Entering an Inca cancha or courtyard is like travelling back in time.

Buy
There are several shops, mainly Inca souvenir types. A for tourists sits at the entrance to the ruins, small shops up the hill from the plaza may carry the same items and be more willing to negotiate.

On the way from the ruins to the plaza, look out for the after the bridge on your right hand side. Emphasis is on fairly-traded weavings from the Patacancha valley made with 100% natural fibers and dyes, as well as a select range of books, alpaca yarn and other locally produced artisanal items. The project is non-profit and proceeds from the store are invested into community development projects in the Patacancha Valley.

Eat
There are several restaurants in Ollantaytambo:

Drink

Go next

 * Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
 * Cusco

title: Ollantaytambo


text:
Olney

Olney, along with its smaller neighbors Sandy Spring and Brookeville, lies in the northeast of Montgomery County, Maryland. All three are quiet, wealthy towns and exurbs of Washington, D.C., home to a good-sized Quaker population, and with a more rural, slow-paced character than other suburbs of D.C.

Understand
This area's first European settlement was a Quaker community in Sandy Spring in the early eighteenth century. Nearly one century later, a Quaker couple of the names Thomas and Deborah Brooke founded both the town of Brookeville and the village of Olney (named after the hometown Ms. Brooke's favorite English poet, William Cowper). During the first half of the nineteenth century, Sandy Spring in particular was an important stop on the Underground Railroad, as the Quakers (the Society of Friends) were devoted abolitionists and early proponents of racial equality in America. Long a sleepy agricultural area, Olney in the second half of the twentieth century outgrew its neighbors by a large margin, becoming an home for affluent D.C. commuters.

By car
Car is the only way to travel in this area, and MD-97 (Georgia Ave) is the principal north-south route cutting through both Olney and Brookeville, and coming up from Washington, D.C. via Wheaton/Aspen Hill. The most prominent east-west route is MD-108 (Olney-Latonsville Rd/Ashton Rd), which connects with I-95 via MD-32 (Patuxent Fwy).

By bus
A few bus routes will get you here from D.C., but you will likely need someone to pick you up by car once you get there.

The Z2 Metrobus runs straight from the Silver Spring Metro Red Line station to the intersection of MD-97 and MD-108, traveling mainly along New Hampshire Ave. The Y2, Y7, Y8 Metrobus routes travel to the same intersection, and also just beyond to Montgomer General Hospital, but do so from the Glenmont station (last stop on the Metro Red Line), traveling along Georgia Ave.

Sleep
Oddly enough, there are no hotels in the area, the closest being in Rockville or Bethesda, each about a 20-minute drive away.

title: Olney


text:
Olomouc

Olomouc (Olomóc or Holomóc in the local dialect, Olmütz in German) has the second largest and second oldest historic preservation zone in the Czech Republic (after Prague). Olomouc lies astride the Morava River and is surrounded by the fertile Haná plain. It was the capital of Moravia until 1641 and is the sixth-largest city in the country, with approximately 100,000 inhabitants (2022).

Understand
The first written mention of a settlement at Olomouc is almost 1,000 years ago when the Kosmas Chronicle described a fortified castle watching over the important Morava river ford on the road between Kraków and Prague. Between 16th and 19th centuries, Olomouc served as a strategically important fortress. The city today is the seat of the regional government, the Moravian archbishopric and the oldest university in Moravia, Palacky University (Universita Palackého).

Legend claims that the city was founded by Julius Caesar. It's almost certain that Caesar never visited in person, but it is known that the city began as a Roman military camp with the name Julii Mons (Julius' Hill). This name was gradually corrupted to its present form, Olomouc, which is pronounced 'Olo-mowts'. The Roman influence is a proud heritage of the city, and manifests itself in numerous areas.

Olomouc is doubtless the undiscovered gem of the Czech Republic. It is home to countless beautiful buildings, great culture (home of the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra), and hundreds of unique restaurants, bars, and pubs. Olomouc is totally off the radar of most tourists, feeling quietly normal and relaxed even on a nice day in July.

As the home to Palacky University, Olomouc is the country’s largest student city by percentage of population. Palacky University (named after František Palacký, the most influential figure of the Czech National Revival in the 19th century) is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the country and only Charles University in Prague has a longer history. During the academic year, the population of the city is increased by roughly 20,000 students, giving the city a vibrant feeling of life and energy. This is important to remember if you want to enjoy the thriving nightlife of the city: many bars and clubs depend on the student population and close for the summer vacations.

Olomouc has been the seat of a Catholic archbishop for almost 1,000 years, and thus has some of the most beautifully decorated churches in Central Europe ,though they do not appear in many travel guides.

Tourist information

 * Olomouc Tourism website

By plane
Although Olomouc has an airport, it is only used by the local flying club. The nearest airports with commercial flights are Brno and Ostrava, although there are more flights to Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Katowice and Kraków. Of these, Prague, Vienna and Krakow are big airports with even intercontinental flights, whereas the others largely serve budget and charter airlines.

By train
Long distance trains stop at (Olomouc Main station).

From Prague there are multiple options: Czech Railways operate hourly fast (R), express (Ex) and EuroCity (EC) trains which take 2½ hr, and faster SC Pendolino trains which take 2 hours and require a compulsory seat reservation. The route is also served by the private companies RegioJet and Leo Express, who each operate trains every 2 hours also requiring compulsory reservations. Train fares for this route vary from 199 Kč to 289 Kč in standard class.

Coming from Brno, trains on the most direct route via Prostějov take 1½ hr and leave every two hours. Beware that aside from these, there are also trains that run from Brno to Olomouc via Břeclav which take 2 hours longer and should not be used for this route. From Ostrava the ride takes 1h. Beware of some fast trains (category R) from Ostrava to Olomouc, which take a longer route through the Jeseníky mountains for over 3 hours.

From Warsaw there are three daytime connections, which take 6 hours and one night train which takes 9 hours. From Krakow there is one daytime connection which takes 5 hours, and one night train which takes 6 hours. Other connections require at least two changes. From Vienna there are several train connections; with changes either in Přerov or in Ceská Třebova, and it will take you about 3 hours.

By bus
Student Agency operates buses between Prague and Olomouc, but they are much slower than trains, because their route leads all the way down to Brno before turning up towards Prague.

By car
Major roads lead to Olomouc; D35 from Hradec Králové (and further from Prague and Germany), D35 in the other direction from Ostrava and Poland, highway 55 from Zlín and northern Slovakia as well as D46 from Brno (and further from Vienna, Bratislava and Hungary).

Get around
Olomouc city centre is best explored on foot. Its historic centre is charming and it offers many opportunities for pleasant walks.

Public transportation is cheap and easy to use. There are ticket machines at every major bus and tram stop and tickets are also available from newspaper kiosks. A single trip ticket costs 14 Kč (as of Jun 2019) and is valid for 40 minutes on workdays and 60 minutes on other days. See a city line map and online timetable.

Integrated Transport System of Olomouc Region (IDSOK) provides an extensive network of local trains (category Os and Sp) and buses in the whole region. Olomouc region is divided into zones, and the ticket price depends on number of passed zones. Zone 71 (Olomouc city) has a special tariff, described above.

Taxis gather in the carpark at the front of the train station, and the ride from there to the centre should be between 100-150 Kč. The free-call number is.

See
Olomouc is an exploring sightseer's paradise. A good place to begin is the main square (Horní náměstí or 'Upper Square'), with its huge Town Hall and the Holy Trinity Column (the largest column in Europe), which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. It is the second largest historical square in the Czech Republic. Don't miss the astronomical clock on the Town Hall. It is said to once have rivalled the beauty of Prague's, but was seriously damaged in the World War II and then rebuilt and repainted at the beginning of the Communist regime to reflect worker's values.

Upper square
The (Horní náměstí) is the main square of Olomouc, a beautiful place full of history where you can find some of the most important monuments:
 * The baroque
 * The renaissance Olomouc Town Hall occupies the centre of the main square (Horní náměstí). Its halls and chapel are accessible on guided tours and it's possible to climb the tower each day at 11:00 and 15:00. The ground floor of the town hall houses a gallery, restaurant and the tourist information office. Ask in the office if you are interested in the guided tour and climbing the tower. On the north face is one of only two astronomical clocks in the country. On the west side, there is the Hygieia fountain from 1945, one of the many fountains in the city.
 * The
 * The baroque Caesar's Fountain is the largest fountain in Olomouc. It depicts the legendary founder of the city, Gaius Julius Caesar, riding a horse. It is one of the six great baroque Roman-themed fountains you can find in the city.
 * The baroque Hercules' Fountain depicts Hercules fighting Hydra. Another from the series of the six great baroque Roman-themed fountains you can find in the city.
 * The modern Arion's Fountain depicts the legend of a poet thrown overboard and saved by a dolphin. It was specially designed to allow easy access to the water and is a favourite among children.
 * The bronze model of the city.

Museums and galleries

 * Commercial Art Galleries Czech and Moravian artists produce a lot of very unusual ceramic and pottery pieces and small works of art, which make great original souvenirs or gifts, and there are several shops and galleries in Olomouc filled with them. Some of the best are situated on which heads off the square from the Caesar fountain. Next to Cafe Caesar in the town hall building is the . It almost always exhibits contemporary art from local Olomouc or Czech artists. The  (also a café), on the corner of the square near the Arion fountain (turtle fountain) is a similar exhibition space focused on contemporary art. In the beautiful  right next to St Michael’s Church there is another small gallery worth visiting if only for the chance to wander through the entrance hall of this historic house. On the top floor of the local art museum there is a small exhibit about Villa Primavesi, its history and role in the Art Nouveau movement.
 * Commercial Art Galleries Czech and Moravian artists produce a lot of very unusual ceramic and pottery pieces and small works of art, which make great original souvenirs or gifts, and there are several shops and galleries in Olomouc filled with them. Some of the best are situated on which heads off the square from the Caesar fountain. Next to Cafe Caesar in the town hall building is the . It almost always exhibits contemporary art from local Olomouc or Czech artists. The  (also a café), on the corner of the square near the Arion fountain (turtle fountain) is a similar exhibition space focused on contemporary art. In the beautiful  right next to St Michael’s Church there is another small gallery worth visiting if only for the chance to wander through the entrance hall of this historic house. On the top floor of the local art museum there is a small exhibit about Villa Primavesi, its history and role in the Art Nouveau movement.
 * Commercial Art Galleries Czech and Moravian artists produce a lot of very unusual ceramic and pottery pieces and small works of art, which make great original souvenirs or gifts, and there are several shops and galleries in Olomouc filled with them. Some of the best are situated on which heads off the square from the Caesar fountain. Next to Cafe Caesar in the town hall building is the . It almost always exhibits contemporary art from local Olomouc or Czech artists. The  (also a café), on the corner of the square near the Arion fountain (turtle fountain) is a similar exhibition space focused on contemporary art. In the beautiful  right next to St Michael’s Church there is another small gallery worth visiting if only for the chance to wander through the entrance hall of this historic house. On the top floor of the local art museum there is a small exhibit about Villa Primavesi, its history and role in the Art Nouveau movement.

Fountains

 * Baroque Fountains. The city’s impeccable series of six stone baroque fountains are all within easy walking distance of the Main Square. They are based on Roman themes, and depict Neptune, (both on Dolní náměstí), Mercury (near the Galerie Moritz mall), Triton (on Náměstí republiky), Hercules, and the legendary founder of Olomouc, Julius Caesar (both on Horní náměstí, the main square). There are also two more baroque fountains that were damaged and lost their central statues, Saturn fountain in the Hradisko monastery and Dolphin fountain near the Virgin Mary church. The missing statue of a child with a dolphin on the latter fountain was replaced with a lion's head.
 * Modern fountains. There are also several remarkable modern fountains in Olomouc. The Arion fountain in the main square depicts the legend of a poet thrown overboard and saved by a dolphin. It was specially designed to allow easy access to the water and is a favourite among children. Hygieia fountain can be found nearby in the west wall of the Town Hall. Bronze Living Water fountain can be found next to the Chapel of St. Sarkander. There are also two fountains located near the Main Railway Station, one of which ‘dances’ along to recorded classical music.

Parks and gardens
The are behind the Flora exhibition complex; near where the footbridge goes over the main road to connect the two parks together. The main tropical greenhouse also holds large aquariums and terrariums with a range of alligators, snakes, piranhas, and large furry spiders.
 * is a lovely park that runs between the massive Fortress walls and the Mill channel, providing a great place to stroll and relax, also nice views of the University and St. Michael's Church.
 * is a lovely park that runs between the massive Fortress walls and the Mill channel, providing a great place to stroll and relax, also nice views of the University and St. Michael's Church.

Others

 * The University is spread throughout the city, but the most interesting parts to visitors are between the main square and St. Wenceslas’ Cathedral. The fine arts faculty has  and views over the city walls from above. Also notable is the  on 17th. November Ave, which used to be the headquarters of the Communist party.
 * City Walls A series of defensive fortifications and moats once completely enclosed Olomouc. The best preserved parts are visible from the Bezruč gardens, below St. Michaels church. The water barracks that today house the Russian and Irish pubs and the 24-hr espresso bar were also part of the system. There were also sixteen outlying forts, some of which still exist. Most still belong to the military and are off limits to the public, but one is home to ‘Exit discotheque’, and another is within the grounds of the botanic gardens. Enter just across the mill channel from Bezruč gardens, via the footbridge guarded by the four statues of Hercules.

Do

 * Football: SK Sigma Olomouc pay soccer in First League, the top tier. Their home ground Andrův stadion (capacity 12,500) is 500 m north of town centre.
 * Letní Kino (summer cinema) is only open in the warmer months and shows films four nights a week, beginning as soon as it gets dark enough. The entrance is from Pekarska Ul. You can’t see the cinema from the street but it’s the same entrance as the mini-golf and you will walk past a large outdoor beer garden before finding the entrance to the cinema. The cinema is an amphitheatre that can hold 3000 people. You can see it quite well on the town model in the main square.
 * Football: SK Sigma Olomouc pay soccer in First League, the top tier. Their home ground Andrův stadion (capacity 12,500) is 500 m north of town centre.
 * Letní Kino (summer cinema) is only open in the warmer months and shows films four nights a week, beginning as soon as it gets dark enough. The entrance is from Pekarska Ul. You can’t see the cinema from the street but it’s the same entrance as the mini-golf and you will walk past a large outdoor beer garden before finding the entrance to the cinema. The cinema is an amphitheatre that can hold 3000 people. You can see it quite well on the town model in the main square.

Events

 * Flora Olomouc In Spring, you should not miss the Flora Fairgrounds and nearby parks full of flowers. The information about exhibitions is available at the Flora Fairgrounds website (in Czech only).
 * Academia Film is an international festival of documentary films in April. Most venues are close to the fine arts faculty of the university, with some being shown outdoors on a screen in the main square.
 * Dvořak's Olomouc is a series of concerts of classical music taking place during May and June. The Moravian Philharmonic and visiting orchestras perform on the square and in the churches.
 * The Festival of Songs in June gathers choirs from as far as Singapore and the United States to perform and compete. The choirs often burst spontaneously into song as they walk together around the streets and squares and it's a delightful time to be in Olomouc.
 * Olomouc City Festival in June is ten days of concerts, theatre, sculpture and ceramics demonstrations, a whipped cream battle, and at least two lamplight processions.
 * International Organ Music Festival is organised by the Moravian Philhamonic Orchestra and takes place in various venues around the city, including on the largest pipe-organ in central Europe-in St Moritz church in September.
 * Festival of Film Animation A four-day festival of film animation and modern art is held annually in December in several locations in Olomouc.
 * Traditional Christmas Markets take over the main square from the beginning of December. There are free concerts every day, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and other warming foods and traditional crafts ranging from blacksmith-work to the finest beeswax and honey products.

Traditional cuisine
The traditional cuisine of Olomouc and the surrounding Haná region is an excellent example of Czech cuisine. In addition to more common Czech dishes, it includes some unique local specialties. One of the best known culinary products of the area is the local cheese Olomoucké tvarůžky (also called Olomoucké syrečky). This is a traditional (since the 15th century) Czech ripened soft cheese with very low fat content, pungent taste and strong odor. The cheese is named after the city of Olomouc, but is produced in Loštice, a small city about 30 km away. The cheese is widely available on restaurant menus in the Haná region, where it can be used as a filling in a local variety of Cordon Bleu, or it can be served fried. The dishes containing this cheese can usually be recognized by the word Loštické in their names. Because of the strong odor, do not be surprised when you find some mint sweets (Hašlerka) on your plate.

Garlic soup (česnečka) is available all around the country. The garlic soup of the Haná region (Hanácká česnečka) is one of the best varieties and is usually very strong. If olomoucké tvarůžky are added, the soup is called Loštická česnečka. Because of the combined might of garlic and the strong ripened cheese, it is not recommended if you plan to kiss someone that evening. On the other hand, garlic is very healthy and you should get some česnečka if you have a cold or sore throat.

Hanácký koláč is the typical sweet cake of the region.

Restaurants
There are dozens of excellent restaurants in the city, and most have English menus. Local favorites include Cafe Caesar, which is in the renaissance Town Hall Building on the main square. Hanacka Hospoda is a more traditional Moravian restaurants, is located in the nearby lower square. On Marianska Ul. is the Svatovaclavsky Pivovar which is a non-smoking microbrewery with indoor and outdoor seating and a comprehensive menu of local specialties.

Mineral water
Hanácká kyselka is a well known natural mineral water of the region. It is healthy and has a refreshing taste. It is a good choice if you do not want to drink alcohol.

Wine
Wine is the lifeblood of Moravia. Look into any ‘vinárna’ (wine bar) or ‘vinný sklep’ (wine cellar) and you’ll see an array of characters partaking of the nectar of the vines. Most vineyards are in South Moravia but that has no effect on the drinking abilities of northern Moravians. You can buy good Moravian wine for a picnic from a vinný sklep in plastic bottles that you either bring yourself or you can find there.

If anyone has told you that Moravian wine is inferior to French or Italian wine, don’t believe them. The taste and aroma of Moravian wines vary from their Western European cousins because they are made from totally different varieties of grapes. Svatovavrinecké is a strong, drier red wine, Modrý Portugal is a medium dry and Frankovka is a sweeter red wine. Good white wines are Muller Thurgau and Veltlínské Zelené.

Beer
The best beer in Olomouc is available from one of the microbreweries making their own beer on the premises.

Sleep
You can find really cheap accommodation in the student dorms in the outer suburb of Neredin, between the airport and the cemetery. There are always a few vacant rooms. Unfortunately there is not much information in English about the dorms, but the tourist information office should be able to help.

Budget

Connect
As of July 2024, Olomouc and its approach roads have 5G from all Czech carriers.

Go next
Olomouc is an ideal base for daytrips into the Moravian countryside. Within an hour’s travel by car, bus, train or bicycle there are castles, cave complexes, natural reserves and well-preserved historic towns, including some on the UNESCO world–heritage list.

An enjoyable way of exploring the Olomouc region is by bike. You can rent a bike at the main railway station for 150 Kč/day and follow one of many well marked bicycle tracks. Especially good times to visit are Spring, when there are carpets of white flowers everywhere; and Autumn when the birch, linden, ash, oak and maple trees begin to change. Maps of cycling trails are available from tourist information, news stands and bookstores.

Closest to Olomouc and suitable even as half-day trips are Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill), the Litovelské Pomoraví protected natural reserve and the swimming holes at Poděbrady and Výkleky.

 * Svatý Kopeček is the hill that rises up to the east of Olomouc. If you arrive by train from Prague, you’ll have a good view of the building near its peak, which is the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Surrounded by forest behind the basilica is the Olomouc Zoo, which is well respected for its work with more than 50 endangered species, included Rothschild’s Giraffes.
 * The Litovelské Pomoraví nature park stretches from Olomouc to the town of Litovel, 18 km away along the Morava River. The walking and cycling trails across the flat flood plains and through the forests are popular with locals and suitable for outings with young children. Near U Tri Mostu (8 km from Olomouc) is a clearing with the horseriding ranch and outdoor restaurant Lovecká Chata.
 * Poděbrady is a former gravel quarry that has been flooded with fresh water to form Olomouc’s most convenient natural swimming area. Just on the edge of the Litovelské Pomoraví, it’s connected to the city by walking and cycle trails or town bus #18 which stops on the nearby roadside.
 * Swimming at Výkleky A prettier place to go swimming though is the old rock quarry at Výkleky, 18 km east of Olomouc. The cycling route is a little complicated, but buses to Lipník stop at Velký Ujezd, a 20-minute walk from Výkleky.

The castles, caves and historic towns are further afield and will require a vehicle or the use of public transport.

 * Bouzov castle (38 km west of Olomouc) has stood on its hilltop for almost 700years, but its current appearance is from a reconstruction around the turn of the 20th century. It’s a popular location for filming fairytales, and makes a good daytrip from Olomouc, especially when combined with the nearby Javořicko caves.
 * The Javořicko caves were uncovered in the 1930s and almost 800m is accessible to the public along concrete paths and steel staircases. No special clothing or equipment is necessary-perhaps just a light jacket.
 * Helfštýn castle (35 km east of Olomouc) is one of the largest castle ruins in central Europe and hosts a wide range of cultural events during the summer, including Hefaiston; the International Blacksmiths’ Seminar and Festival.
 * Kroměříž (35 km south of Olomouc along the Morava River) is on the UNESCO world heritage protection list because of its remarkable baroque chateau and formal flower gardens. The chateau was a location for the Academy award winning Miloš Forman film Amadeus and houses some of the Czech Republic’s most valuable artworks.
 * Litomyšl (80 km from Olomouc) is one of the Czech Republic’s prettiest small towns and is UNESCO-listed for its renaissance chateau. The chateau is covered with amazingly intricate sgraffito plaster decorations and has one of only five baroque theatres left in the world. Buses from Olomouc to Hradec Králové stop at Litomyšl or you can take the train to Česká Třebova and switch to a local bus from there.

title: Olomouc


text:
Olsztyn

Olsztyn (German: Allenstein) is a historic town and capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship in northern Poland. The city is home to 175,000 inhabitants and boasts a beautiful Gothic city centre. Some charming Masurian lakes are very close and the city has basically grown around them.

By plane
There is an international airport in the near town of Szczytno, but more flights go from Warsaw: Warsaw Chopin Airport: For those travelling from Warsaw serviced by Polski Express. See also: Routes/Timetable

By train
The Polish State Railways have train connections from Warsaw and Gdańsk as well as Białystok. There are also direct trains to/from Kraków during the summer.

By car
You can easily get there by car from Warsaw, Gdańsk and Białystok.

By bus
Many international connections (see Poland::By bus).

Events

 * International Theatre Festival DEMOLUDY  is held every October and became one of the biggest festivals presenting contemporary theatre and drama from former communist countries.

Sleep

 * Rest4All, Wyzwolenia 8/5. Spacious rooms, shared kitchen, wifi, even some balconies. +48 723 536 919. $24.

 * Przystań Hotel&Spa, Żeglarska 4. Offers quite the lake views from the restaurant/bar and also from the indoor pool and even some rooms. Sauna, gym, hot tub, spa treatments, etc. +48 89 651 90 00. $103.

title: Olsztyn


text:
Olsztyn (Silesian Voivodeship)

Olsztyn is a historic town in southern Poland, approximately 8km southeast of Częstochowa in the Polish Jura mountains. The town is famous for its beautiful castle ruins.

Go next

 * Częstochowa

title: Olsztyn (Silesian Voivodeship)


text:
Oltenia

Oltenia is a region of Romania. It consists of the counties of Dolj, Gorj, Vâlcea, Olt and Mehedinţi.

Cities

 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort
 * — small town amidst mountains, known for its spa resort

Museums

 * In addition to Cula Cârțianu, in Oltenia exist numerous other captivating cule that were constructed by influential boyars of the region.
 * In addition to Cula Cârțianu, in Oltenia exist numerous other captivating cule that were constructed by influential boyars of the region.

title: Oltenia


text:
Oltrepò Pavese

Though frequently called the Tuscany of the North of Italy, the Oltrepò Pavese in Lombardy is fairly unknown abroad. Tourists pass the area closely when traveling to the real Tuscany, to Umbria or further south. This is a pity as the Oltrepò really offers something worthwhile for almost every tourist, especially food and wine lovers.

Understand
The area offer several attractions: smooth hills, medieval villages and castles, panoramic views, authentic Italian food and local wines. The Oltrepò happens to be the largest wine producing area of Lombardy and one of the largest in Italy, especially of the Pinot Nero. The landscape is scattered with vineyards that are freely accessible for hikers or even mountain biking. The Oltrepò Pavese is part of the province of Pavia, in the southern part of Lombardy. Oltrepò literally means “on the other side of the Po”. The Po river runs through the large plain in the North of Italy, the Pianura Padana, where the risotto rice is produced. In the south of Pavia province the terrain quickly gains height. The Oltrepò is situated at the foothills of the Ligurian Alps and Apennines. The Oltrepò Pavese offer peace and quiet, tranquility and the silence (while strolling in the vineyards for example) is often overwhelming. Life still has a slow pace here, as the locals are living the life in more or less the same way their ancestors did: growing wine is a labor that follows the seasons, year after year, generation after generation. Most of the wine farmer families have been living here since the Middle Ages.

Hardly any tourist business has developed here, which means, fortunately, that as the one of the few visitors from abroad, you are encountered with amazement and hospitality everywhere. People are enthusiastic to serve you their local traditional food and wine at all of the little family restaurants that populate the area. The food that is served is the food that Italians want to eat out, it has to have “mama” quality! Prices are ridiculously low.

Eat
Regional dishes are simple but very effective. Using the seasonal ingredients like mushrooms and tartufi and the local meats of rabbit, wild boar and the likes, delicious dishes are prepared. One thing not to be missed is the typical Sunday “pranzo”or lunch in which all of the servings of the Italian menu (antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, dolci) pass by, sometimes even twice. The Varzi salame is a protected product, like the Parmesan cheese.

Drink
Particular to the area are the local sparkling wines, the “vivace”, “frizzante” and also “spumante” wines. Reds and whites sparkle without being just sweet. The most famous local wine, the Bonarda is fruity but not sweet, in contrast to the Lambrusco e.g. A local, more classical wine is the Buttafuoco, the production of which is restricted to a small area in the North of the Oltrepò. A typical sweet red wine of the area is the Sangue di Giuda. The regional champagne-like spumantes have made it to the Italian DOCG category.

title: Oltrepò Pavese


text:
Olvera

Olvera is the northeastern-most town in the Cadiz Province in the Andalucia region of Spain. It is home to about 8,100 people (2018).

Understand
The city, built on a 643-m-high mountain, is visible from afar and because of its unique silhouette motif on many Andalusian postcards. Originating from the Roman Hippa Nova and later the Moorish Wubira, the Moorish castle was taken in 1327 by the troops of the Christian King Alfonso XI. In the 16th century, several people of the city were instrumental in the conquest of Peru and Pánama. Today the city is a local centre for agriculture and is enjoying increasing tourist attention.

By plane
The closest airport is Jerez de la Frontera, approx 1 hr 15 min by car. There are several daily flights from Madrid and Barcelona (Iberia, Spanair, Vueling). Ryanair flies daily from London Stansted and Frankfurt Hahn. Other operators fly scheduled, charter, or seasonal flights.

The nearest major airports are in Sevilla (1 hour 30 min by car) and Malaga (1 hr 50 min by car), Granada (2-3 hr) and Cordoba (at least 2 hr). Gibraltar is about 2 hours distance.

By train
The Antigua Estación de Ferrocaril is near the bus station. However, the station is closed and there is no connection to the Spanish rail network. The nearest train station is in the town of Setenil, on the Ronda-Bobadilla railway line. Almarjen (25 minutes away) is on the Algeciras to Bobadilla route. Ronda is about 40 minutes away.

By bus
There should be a bus connection from Los Amarillos SL, Tel. +34 952187061, via Setenil to Ronda. At 09:00 a bus from Automoviles Casado SA leaves for Málaga. At 13:45 the bus leaves Malaga bus station back to Olvera.

By car
Olvera is on the A384 from Jerez to Campillos.

See
Two outstanding structures at the highest point of the city contribute significantly to the striking silhouette of the city: the magnificent church Iglesia Arcipestral de Nuestra Senora de la Encarnación, which was built from Italian marble at the end of the 18th century, and the Moorish castle.

In the cityscape, a large stone statue of Christ stands out, which reminds one of the landmark of Rio de Janeiro. Outside the city, on the road to Torre Alháquime, the monastery of Santuario Nuestra Senora de los Remedios from the 18th century offers a regionally significant spiritual focus.

Nearby, town can be seen, famous for its dwellings built into rock overhangs.

Do

 * Corpus Christi when the streets are strewn with reeds and mint, the walls bedecked with sunflowers and palm fronds and the estaciones are small wells of delight along the route.
 * Semana Santa (Easter or Holy Week) is local and authentic and emotive.
 * Feria in August. A coming together of the clans for a week long, all night and day party.
 * Romeria picnic out by the sanctuary.
 * Bird watching (Peñon de Zaframagon.)
 * Hang gliding at the nearby Algodonales piste.
 * Fishing and boating at the Zahara lake.

Buy
Olive Oil and olive oil soap.

Eat

 * El Estacion del Via Verde for modern cuisine.

Drink

 * Frenazo's (disco environment)
 * Juanito Gomez knows about the Spanish and the region's wines - always good for a conversation. Bobadillo white is slightly sweet for some palettes.

Sleep

 * El Estacion del Via Verde.
 * Hotel Fuente del Pino, immediately left at the exit of the A382. Tel .: +34 956130232. Great swimming pool in lovely gardens.
 * Hotel Sierra y Cal, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios 2. Tel .: +34 956130303. Has hotel style pool.

Go next
The Via Verde walk is a "must". Hire a bike from the old station hotel for a great ride at a cheap rate.

title: Olvera


text:
Olympia

There is more than one place called Olympia:

Greece

 * Olympia (Greece) - An ancient site in Peloponnese.

United States of America

 * Olympia (Washington) - The capital of the state of Washington

title: Olympia


text:
Olympia (Greece)

Olympia (Greek: Ολυμπία Olympía) is a town and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Peloponnese, Greece. This was the site of the original Olympic Games from 776 BCE. The games, held every four years in honor of the Greek god Zeus, lasted through the entire Classical Age until the late 4th century CE. The central sanctuary or Altis included temples, altars, shrines, and public buildings for both religious and profane purposes. (See the official site of the Greek Ministry of Culture for description of the site and practical information)

The flame for each modern Olympic Games is still lit in the town, by a reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror, and carried by torch to the place where the games are to be held.

Understand
Olympia is in mountainous territory that originated from seismic events like earthquakes and volcanoes that are prevalent in the region of Greece. Furthermore, the region also has a lot of thunderstorms. It is thought that these natural events are the source of many of the Greek myths pertaining to Gods battling amongst themselves. The myths say that the Olympian gods overthrew the Titan gods and settled on Mount Olympus. Zeus, who was the leader of the Olympian gods, wielded thunderbolts as his weapon.

The region is very fertile, and today, grows a wide range of crops, including citrus, grapes, and olives. The mountainous terrain, interspersed with views of the Ionic sea as one drives through the area, has breathtaking views.

The site of Olympia itself, was considered a sacred area, and the ancient games were a sacred event, rather than a sport. Women were excluded from participating in or viewing the games - the only exception being the priestess of Demeter Chamyne, who participated in the ceremony that started the games. The Olympic games, held in ancient and classical times, are today considered to be a mechanism to unify the peoples of Greece in peace, but at the same time, would inculcate in the youth, the physical training that would make them capable of defending their lands against attacking forces.

The seismic activity that are the source of the myths are also the biggest reason for the poor condition of the ruins. Major earthquakes, over the centuries, have broken down the buildings. Conquerors have looted. Christianity has waged war against paganism. Bronze (which was a valuable alloy) artifacts have been melted down and re-purposed. Today, while there are significant archealogical finds that have been uncovered, that tell us about how the games came to be, how they were run, and the structures that existed on the site, there are excavations that still continue the research, and much that will forever be lost in time. We know, for instance, from coins recovered from where spectators would be, that spectators grouped themselves by region / tribe / economic grouping. Since coins can be linked to historical times, we have a view into which city-states participated and when. But there are many structures on the site which lie in ruins, and the colors, and ornamentation, and sometimes even the outline of the structure are something that acheaologists can only make educated guesses about.

By car
The city is very close to the Pyrgos intersection on the National road 9, a single carriageway that runs along the Western coast of Peloponnese.

By public transportation
Trains or KTEL buses from Patras via Pyrgos take around two hours. One can also travel to Olympia from the port of Kyllini using KTEL buses.

Get around
The village around Olympia is very small and consists of a handful of stores and hotels supporting the tourism industry. A vehicle is not needed to cover the village. The Olympic site is a 20 minute walk away from the village. There are no personal vehicles permitted within the site - one has to walk. Note that this is an open air site, and therefore, you will have to deal with the weather appropriately in order to enjoy your visit. Prepare for the hot sun and tourist crowds in the summer months. You will not be able to shelter from rain and see the site, so on rainy days, come prepared.

See
See the official site of the Greek Ministry of Culture for a well-referenced description of major sites and access information.

Drink

 * Kalypso Nightclub. Closes at midnight. Popular with a young tourist crowd.

title: Olympia (Greece)


text:
Olympia (Washington)

Olympia is in the South Sound region of Washington.

Olympia is the capital of Washington State, and the Thurston County seat. The city reflects a diverse economic base and culture. Olympia's art and music scene is unusually large and active for a town of its size, and its identity as a city remains distinct despite strong influences from Seattle, Tacoma and Everett to the north and from Portland/Vancouver to the south. Olympia is somewhat of a breeding ground for Pacific Northwest alternative culture having spawned or influenced many of the region's better-known personalities.

The city's downtown core has been designated as a National Historic District.

The natural beauty of Olympia is of particular note. From downtown, one can see the Olympic Mountains to the northwest set behind Puget Sound's Budd Bay - and towering Mt. Rainier to the southeast set next to the state capitol building and Capitol Lake.

Understand
It has a population of almost 56,000 (2020) and is also home to the Evergreen State College, one of six public four-year schools in Washington.

 * Experience Olympia website

By plane

 * Fly in through SeaTac Airport.
 * Olympia Regional Airport (private, charter)

By car
Olympia is located along Interstate 5 (I-5), approximately 65 mi south of Seattle (65 min), 100 mi (2 hr) north of Portland and  east from Grays Harbor.

 * From I-5.svg Olympia is accessed from exits #99 ("93rd Ave SW") through #109 ("Martin Way E") along I-5. Downtown can be accessed from Exit #105 ("State Capitol City Center/Port of Olympia") from both directions. The off ramp comes into town as 14th Ave SE towards the state capitol. From the northbound lanes the off ramp from Exit #105 further splits to #105A which goes into 14th Ave SE or #105B which goes into Plum Ave SE on the east side of the downtown core. Or exit off at Pacific Ave at Exit #107 which comes into downtown as State Ave NE.
 * US 101.svg to WA-8.svg From I-5 US-Hwy 101 is at Exit #103. If going west, the same highway becomes WA-8.svg after going past the US-Hwy 101 turnoff towards Shelton and Port Angeles.
 * From Kitsap Peninsula Go south on WA-3.svg and follow signs for "WA-3.svg South Belfair" Continue south along WA-3 through Belfair and Shelton where it ends into US-Hwy 101 south of Shelton. Merges into a freeway continuing east into Olympia as US-Hwy 101 or west to Aberdeen as SR 8.

By bus

 * 1 The One is a direct and frequent cross-town route from Capitol Way Mall (in the west side) to Lacey Transit Center via downtown.
 * 13 Frequent local route from the Labor & Industries (L&I) office in Tumwater to the downtown Olympia Transit Center (Bay 'D') along Capitol Way/Capitol Blvd. Transfer to Rural Transit (see below) at Tumwater Square along Cleveland Ave SE & Emerson. (Rt #609 from Tumwater no longer operates)
 * 62a & 62b frequent local route from Lacey to the downtown Transit Center (Bay 'H') via Martin Way.
 * 64 local route from Bay 'I' to the Amtrak Station in Lacey via College St. Makes multiple stops to pick up and drop off people on request.
 * 620 Express buses from downtown Olympia Transit Center to Lakewood (SR-512/I-5 P&R and Lakewood Sounder Station) via Martin Way P&R in Lacey. Transfer to Sound Transit Seattle Tacoma International Airport via via Downtown Tacoma/Tacoma Dome and Federal Way (574); downtown Seattle via Downtown Tacoma/Tacoma Dome (592,594,Sounder); and Lakewood Mall (3,4,574). Pierce Transit operates local connections to Lakewood, Tacoma, Spanaway, and other areas of Pierce County and the Sound Transit bus routes up into Seattle from Pierce County.
 * 13 Frequent local route from the Labor & Industries (L&I) office in Tumwater to the downtown Olympia Transit Center (Bay 'D') along Capitol Way/Capitol Blvd. Transfer to Rural Transit (see below) at Tumwater Square along Cleveland Ave SE & Emerson. (Rt #609 from Tumwater no longer operates)
 * 62a & 62b frequent local route from Lacey to the downtown Transit Center (Bay 'H') via Martin Way.
 * 64 local route from Bay 'I' to the Amtrak Station in Lacey via College St. Makes multiple stops to pick up and drop off people on request.
 * 620 Express buses from downtown Olympia Transit Center to Lakewood (SR-512/I-5 P&R and Lakewood Sounder Station) via Martin Way P&R in Lacey. Transfer to Sound Transit Seattle Tacoma International Airport via via Downtown Tacoma/Tacoma Dome and Federal Way (574); downtown Seattle via Downtown Tacoma/Tacoma Dome (592,594,Sounder); and Lakewood Mall (3,4,574). Pierce Transit operates local connections to Lakewood, Tacoma, Spanaway, and other areas of Pierce County and the Sound Transit bus routes up into Seattle from Pierce County.

 * Rt #2 Goes from Tumwater Square along Old Hwy 99 SE to Tenino and east towards Rainier along Sussex Ave E
 * Rt #3 Goes from Tumwater Square along I-5 and Case Rd Sw to Grand Mound P&R (Exit #88 from I-5) and then west on US Hwy 12 to Rochester and the Chehalis Tribal Center on the Chehalis Indian Reservation.
 * Rt #4 goes from Centralia to Grand Mount P&R, to Tenino (Tenino Library), Bucoda and back to Centralia from Bucoda.
 * Rt #4 goes from Centralia to Grand Mount P&R, to Tenino (Tenino Library), Bucoda and back to Centralia from Bucoda.

By train

 * Intercity Transit bus route 64 bus travels between the train station and downtown Olympia. See Lacey for details about intercity train services stopping at the station, which are operated by

Get around

 * Olympia's numbered streets run East-West, and the city is broken into four quadrants with the center point in downtown. Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. These indicators come after any address.
 * Capitol Way is the main north - south street in the downtown area. Fourth Avenue is the main connector that runs through downtown east - west.
 * The city's downtown district lies in the middle of what residents refer to as the Westside and the Eastside. Most residents of the city will claim these two areas are distinctively different.

See

 * Olympia has a thriving music community, with frequent local performances by rock, jazz, blues, folk, and other bands. Local noncommercial community radio station KAOS at 89.3 FM (which also streams live at ) features tremendous variety of independent artists, often live in their performance studio. The station is on the campus of The Evergreen State College.
 * Olympia has a thriving music community, with frequent local performances by rock, jazz, blues, folk, and other bands. Local noncommercial community radio station KAOS at 89.3 FM (which also streams live at ) features tremendous variety of independent artists, often live in their performance studio. The station is on the campus of The Evergreen State College.
 * Olympia has a thriving music community, with frequent local performances by rock, jazz, blues, folk, and other bands. Local noncommercial community radio station KAOS at 89.3 FM (which also streams live at ) features tremendous variety of independent artists, often live in their performance studio. The station is on the campus of The Evergreen State College.

Stay safe
Over the last few years there have been multiple marches by armed far right militias in both downtown and West Olympia. Be alert.

Connect

 * The Olympia Timberland Library, 313 8th Ave. SE, offers free wireless Internet.

Go next

 * Seattle
 * Tacoma
 * Olympic National Park The diverse heart of the Olympic Peninsula offers jagged mountains, rugged coast and lush rainforests.
 * Mount Rainier National Park Beautiful Mt. Rainer is crowned with waterfalls, meadows and glaciers.
 * Mt. St. Helens This volcano, famous for its 1980 eruption lies an hour and 45 minutes from Olympia.

title: Olympia (Washington)