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Lund (British Columbia)

Lund is a village of about 240 people (2016) near the northern end of British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. It's quiet, out of the way and has a beautiful setting with the snow-capped peaks of Vancouver Island across Georgia Street on one side and the green rise of the Coast Mountains on the other. Not surprisingly then, it's a great place to relax or if you're looking for some time in the great outdoors.

History
Lund was named by brothers Frederick and Charles Thulin, who came from Tryserum near Valdemarsvik, Sweden. When they settled at the harbour in December 1889, they named it after Lund, Sweden, because it was Swedish and fairly easy for non-Scandinavians to pronounce. When they arrived, there were native homes around the harbour The Thulins built a store and in 1892 a post office was added, followed by the first licensed hotel north of Vancouver two years later. Logging and fishing were the source of income in the early years. Transportation was by water. A second hotel, called the Malaspina, was built by the Thulins. When the original hotel was destroyed by a forest fire in 1918, the newer hotel, which continues to operate in the village, was renamed the Lund Hotel. A paved road leading south to Vancouver was completed in 1954 and coastal steamer service ended two years later. The original wharf built by the Thulins was damaged by a storm in 1954 and replaced by a government wharf.

By car
The main way in (and out) of town is Highway 101 (Sunshine Coast Highway). Powell River is 22 km (14 mi) south by road, from where BC Ferries offers service to Comox on Vancouver Island to the west across the Strait of Georgia.

Road access to Vancouver to the south involves two ferry crossings of fjords along the Sunshine Coast. From Vancouver, it will take about 5-6 hours, depending on the wait time at the ferries.

By plane
The nearest scheduled flights are available in Powell River.

By boat

If you have a boat, moorage is available.

Get around
The townsite is small and can be covered by foot. A car or boat will be needed to get to some outlying attractions, restaurants, etc.

Do

 * Hike

Go next
Lund is quite literally the end of the road or the very beginning depending which direction you want to go. Lund is mile zero for Highway 101 that runs through the United States to Chile. Your options for getting out are to retrace your path to Vancouver or go to Powell River and take the ferry to Comox on Vancouver Island.

Foot passengers can travel by water taxi to Savary Island and the Desolation Sound. You can leave the car in Lund by the dock for $7 per day (the first 2 hours are free) next to the dock. Some free parking is available, about 500 m up the hill from the dock.

title: Lund (British Columbia)


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Lundazi

Lundazi began as a British Overseas Military Administration (BOMA) in Zambia. In other words, it was a colonial headquarters. Today, it is the District Capital -- or "county seat" -- for Lundazi District, which is the central portion of Eastern Zambia. It has government offices, a bank, a gas station, many small shops, a daily market, and a bus station.

Get in
Minibuses bring visitors north from Chipata (for about US$5) and south from Chama (for about $5). The roads along these routes are very bad; expect the trip from Chipata to Lundazi to take between 4 and 5 hours!

As of 2005 it was possible to make the bus journey between Lundazi and Lusaka in one day. The roads have improved and so have communications. To get to Lundazi from Lusaka requires an early start (the bus leaves around 2AM) and a booked ticket.

Get around
Lundazi is small enough that most people walk or bicycle. In fact, you can walk from one end of town to the other in under 30 minutes. Leisurely.

See
The Castle Hotel - a Norman-style brick castle in the Zambian countryside (see below). The golf course that once was found is no more however.

Do
Well, you can visit one or all of the few dams around Lundazi, mostly within walking distance, if you are a fishing fan, then you can do some fishing in these dams. If you pack a picnic, then you can spend all day there. Very beautiful.

Buy
If you are going to meet Zambian friends in Lusaka after visiting Lundazi some Chama rice can be a good gift (sometimes at least). From the Wildlife Conservation Society in town you can buy "It's Wild!" brand honey, peanut butter and rice, which are purchased from farmers under a scheme to discourage poaching in the Game Management Areas.

Eat
The Castle Hotel features braais (BBQs) on most weekends. They also serve simple meals (e.g., rice and chicken) every night of the week for about $3.

There are many small eateries in town including Rejoice (run as an income-generating activity for people living with HIV/AIDS), Amama's, Masopela and Masopela 2, which offer traditional meals for about $1.

Drink
There are several small bars in town, including The Castle Hotel, Ester's Nest, Hunter's and Masopela.

Mosi, Zambia's national brewer, has a beer vendor in town: a refrigerated cargo container. You can only purchase beers by the crate (30 units) at this location.

Sleep
The Castle Hotel is among the most unusual resthouses in the country. Shaped like a traditional Norman Castle, the hotel was built in 1949-52 under the direction of District Officer Errol Button, whose daughter named it Rumpelstiltskin (as recorded by a plaque in the wall). The Castle began life as a Government resthouse but is now a privately owned hotel.

The story has it that DO Button was given a certain sum of money to build a District Resthouse, as were all the DOs in what was Northern Rhodesia. All the others built a blockwork and corrugated iron roof rectangular building except for Button. He elected to construct the replica of a small Norman castle in one of the poorest areas of Africa. He rapidly ran through the money allocated, and so, in the dry season when no one was growing any crops, he would round everyone up and check whether they had paid their tax or not, which everyone had to pay. Being a very poor country, no one had paid, so he would sentence them to 6 months hard labour, 3 months to pay off their tax arrears and then 3 months paid work, so they walked away with some money and he got the Rest House built.

Built overlooking a small lagoon (visitors can try to spot the resident hippo), the Castle Hotel offers two dozen simple rooms for guests, at about US$25 per night. Guests may choose from among a variety of different rooms, but the most popular is the large room in the turret, overlooking the lagoon and the bar.

A more mundane option is The Tigone Motel -- Tumbuka for "Let's Sleep" -- the Council Guesthouse close to the bus station, which costs about US$10 for a twin room including breakfast. There are several other good resthouses for about the same price, and other more basic accommodation from about US$2 per night.

There is no campsite as such, but guesthouses will probably be willing to help you find somewhere to pitch your tent.

Go next
Lundazi is very near the Malawian border. If you have your own vehicle then you can take the dirt road east, cross the border near Mzuzu, and get all the way to Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi in a single day. A public bus travels this route once a week.

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

title: Lundazi


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Lundy

Lundy is an island 3 miles (4.8 km) long and ½ mile (0.8 km) wide off the coast of North Devon in the south west of the United Kingdom, where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Understand

The island is owned by the National Trust and run by the Landmark Trust, a UK charity organisation. All profit from visitors is reinvested into the upkeep of the island.

The island is a large granite formation with very high cliffs. There is an abundance of wildlife on the land and in the surrounding sea. Many rare birds visit or live on the island including Puffins, after which the island is named. There is lots to see even for non-bird watchers, including amazing scenery and many historic buildings. The island only has 20 residents, all employees of the Landmark trust, but has a castle, a church, three lighthouses (two operational, one decommissioned), a farm, a tavern, a small shop and many other buildings.

Visitor information

 * Lundy Island on the Landmark Trust site

Get in
The main way of getting to Lundy is by boat - from the end of March until the end of October, you can visit Lundy for the day (or longer) by travelling on the MS Oldenburg from or.

The journey takes just over 2 hours and allows you to take in the views of the Devon coast along the way. The ship's departure time from Lundy will be posted on the Marisco Tavern notice-board at least 24 hours before the sailing. Some sailings return you to a different port from that which you departed. Refer to the sailing timetable for specific dates. When the coach/transport link is required between the ports of Ilfracombe and Bideford, the Landmark Trust will co-ordinate this service if you let them know on your return journey aboard MS Oldenburg.

Tickets for a day return ferry crossing cost £40 for adults; £37 for concessions; and £21 for under 16s. Returns for those staying more than a day cost £70 for adults; and £36 for children.

It is also possible to charter a vessel or make your own way there with your own boat, although you will be charged a small landing fee.

If travelling to Lundy outside of the main tourist season (over the winter months) - the island is reachable by helicopter from. Tickets for the helicopter cost £125 for adults, and £67 for under 16s.

Get around
This is a small island and the only way of exploring it is on foot - if looking to hike around the island, Ordnance Survey sell a 1:25,000 map of the area (which includes some of nearby Devon), the OS Explorer Map 139. No vehicles are allowed on Lundy, except a few which are used by the farmer and the Landmark Trust.

See
The island is steeped in history and has some very interesting places to visit regardless of your archaeological interests. One of the best things about Lundy is that it is totally un-commercial and there are no signs and the only fences or barriers are there to keep the farm animals in. The only sign of a 'tourism market' is the village shop selling puffin toys.

Do
Being an island without roads or other 'modern' amenities - exploring the island on foot is one of the main attractions to Lundy. The island is host to many different species of animals and plants - including puffins, seals, and goats. Lundy also has its own breed of horse, the Lundy pony - bred from a mix of other UK breeds, and now known as a tough horse due to the island's terrain.

A walk around the whole island would likely take a few hours at least - especially if time is taken to properly explore all the sites on the island. On your walk, remember to take things such as water, sun cream (if sunny), and proper footwear.

It is also possible to kayak to (and around) Lundy. Experienced kayakers with their own kayak should find this an enjoyable challenge, starting from either the coast along Ilfracombe or Lee Bay; or from Hartland Point. For those who are less experienced, contact a kayaking company such as Sea Kayak Devon for advice and to see if they can offer any help.

Eat
Full cooking facilities and utensils are available if you want to cook in the accommodation, but the island also has a popular pub serving alcohol and food.

Drink
The Marisco Tavern, although operating as the island's only restaurant, is also a 'traditional' pub, where beers, liquors, and wines are served. The pub also encourages musicians to play if on the island, so occasionally live music can be heard there too.

Alternatively, alcohol could be brought to Lundy in your luggage, but be careful, as alcohol and cliffs, such as those found on the island, generally don't mix too well.

Stay safe
Lundy Island is an extremely safe place to live and visit, with basically no crime at all on the island. Being on the edge of the Atlantic ocean with little shelter, Lundy's weather can be extreme during the winter months. Storms can include Force 10-11 winds (up to 70 mph or 115 km/h) winds. During the summer months, Lundy can often be much warmer than the mainland. Bring good walking shoes, waterproof clothing, and most importantly, your sense of adventure!

Cope
Lundy generates its own electricity and collects its own water. There are no televisions, radios or telephones in the accommodation. It is the perfect antidote for a hectic work life. The island is a perfect place to wind down and relax and it is very easy to forget about life on the mainland. It doesn't matter whether you choose to explore every hidden corner of the island or stay in your warm cottage and enjoy the view and the serenity.

Go next
Go back to Bideford or Ilfracombe via the MS Oldenburg. If you got here with your own boat, you could sail north towards South Wales, for places such as Pembrokeshire Coast National Park or Swansea. If your boat is big enough, Ireland could be another destination, such as Waterford or Cork.

title: Lundy


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Lunenburg

Lunenburg is a small fishing town in Nova Scotia that was established in 1753. Its Old Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO considers the site the best example of planned British colonial settlement in North America, as it retains its original layout and appearance of the 1800s, including local wooden vernacular architecture.

Understand
The Mi'kmaq lived in a territory from the present site of Lunenburg to Mahone Bay. As many as 300 inhabited the site in the warm summer months. French colonists, who became known as Acadians, settled in the area around the 1620s.

The town was founded in 1753 as one of the first British attempts to settle Protestants in Nova Scotia. Its economy has been based on the offshore fishery, and today Lunenburg is the site of Canada's largest secondary fish-processing plant. The town flourished in the late 1800s, and much of the historic architecture dates from that period.

Tourist information

 * Lunenburg tourism information

By car
From Halifax, get on Highway 102 North (Bayers Rd.), then take Exit 1A toward Highway 3/Highway 333/Peggy's Cove/South Shore/Yarmouth. Merge onto Highway 103 West, then get off at Exit 11 (Highway 324.) Turn left on the 324 (Cornwall Rd.) for Lunenburg. For a longer, more scenic drive, take the Lighthouse Route (Highway 3), which goes along the coast and directly through Lunenburg.

From Yarmouth, take Highway 103 E to Exit 11.

By bus

 * Its route between Halifax and Lunenburg includes stops in Chester and Bridgewater. Travel time to Lunenberg from Halifax is 1 hr 45 min and from Chester is 50 minutes.

Get around
There is no public transportation in Lunenburg, but it is small enough to be explored on foot. Trot in Time, outside the Fisheries Museum, gives tours of the town in horse-drawn buggies from May to October. Lunenburg Town Walking Tours run by local historian, Eric Croft, provide a look at the town's history as you walk through it.

title: Lunenburg


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Lunenburg (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Lunenburg:

Canada

 * Lunenburg - a small fishing town in Nova Scotia

 * Lunenburg County (Nova Scotia) - in Nova Scotia

Germany

 * Lüneburg (also known as Lunenburg or Lueneburg) - a city in Lower Saxony

United States of America

 * Lunenburg County (Virginia) - in Virginia

title: Lunenburg (disambiguation)


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Lunigiana

Lunigiana is a historical territory in what are now the regions of Tuscany and Liguria. The territory is in the provinces of Liguria and Massa Carrara. It takes its name from Luni, a Roman town, perhaps pre-dated by an Etruscan settlement, which became the principal urban center on the northern Tuscan coast. Luni, founded by the Romans in 177 BC, was a flourishing city and harbour. Today, it includes a site of significant Roman ruins and a modern museum.

Cities

 * — known for the extraction of Carrara marble since ancient times
 * — has the remains of the elliptical Roman amphitheatre (1st century AD) and the Archaeological Museum
 * — a coastal town by the Tyrrhenian Sea known for its 15th-century Malaspina castle
 * — the northernmost town in Tuscany

title: Lunigiana


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Luodong

Luodong, also spelled Lotung, (羅東; Luódōng) is a city in Yilan County.

Get in
Luodung is accessible by train, bus (Capital star, Kamalan, or Guoguang) or car (National Freeway 5). Navigation is easy as all street signs are in both Chinese characters and either Romanization or English.

Get around
There is a free city bus. The buses run every 30 minutes or so. Route maps are in Chinese only. Taxis are available at the train station, and the bus station near Jungshan Park. Bus drivers and taxi drivers at this time (2009) do not speak English.

Temples
Many temples dot the city of Luodung. Each one is dedicated to a particular god. Gung An temple is one of the biggest. There is also a smaller one dedicated to Sun Wu Kung (the monkey god). The smaller temples are often the most intriguing. While the larger temples have many of the same gods, the smaller temeples are dedicated to lesser known deities, such as the god of agriculture, or even the "Brother Pig" - god of thugs and seedy night life.

Do
There isn't much to do in Luodung. But it is a fantastic jumping off point to see the rest of Yilan County.

title: Luodong


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Luosto

Luosto is a ski resort in Sodankylä, Finnish Lapland, by Pyhä-Luosto National Park. It specialises in husky, reindeer, snowmobile and Santa excursions. It also has an amethyst mine open to tourists.

By plane
Flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi takes little over an hour. The SkiBus is running directly from Rovaniemi Airport to Luosto and it serves certain flights by Finnair and Norwegian. The SkiBus waits delayed flight for one hour. If your flight is delayed more than that contact Kutilan Liikenne Oy and inform about the situation. A SkiBus ticket costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student.

There are no regular connections to Luosto from Kittilä Airport.

Alternatively, if travelling from the UK, some direct charters operate to assist in the "Search for Santa" during the peak Christmas season. For more information on these flights you can contact Canterbury Travel

By train
Travelling to Rovaniemi from southern Finland (10–12 hours) is easy, also with a car-carrier train. From the railway station to Luosto here are bus connections (SkiBus) which leave immediately following the arrival of the train. VR does not offer train+bus combo to Luosto to a same ticket.

By bus
Luosto has its own SkiBus, which transports holidaymakers to the area from Rovaniemi year round. During high season the bus drives four times a day and during lower season once a day. Pyhä-Luosto SkiBus has connection to certain Finnair and Norwegian flights and the timetable may chance accordingly if the flight is delayed. A SkiBus ticket from Rovaniemi costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student. Use "Luosto" as your destination and check Matkahuolto for details.

Regular long-haul coaches between Rovaniemi and Sodankylä do not visit Luosto. The nearest bus stop by the road E75 is 14 kilometers away from resort but this is possible option if you are travelling with a bike. Nearest stop by the road E75 is called "Torvinen (Sodankylä)". Check Matkahuolto for details

By car
Luosto is 14 km away from the road E75. Turn to the road 962 in the village Torvinen. If you are approaching from south the Luosto fell is well visible on the right before you arrive the crossroads. There are good signs by the road.

Do

Luosto offers activities from ice climbing and snow sculpting to reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris. The main attractions are downhill skiing and reindeer, husky, Santa and snowmobile activities.

The national park is a stone's throw away. It is worth seeing both summer and winter.

Events

 * Luosto Fell Rhytms (Luoston tunturirytmit) in August/September.
 * Luosto Classic unfortunately bankrupted in 2018.

Sleep
There is a wide choice of cabin accommodation in Luosto.

title: Luosto


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Luoyang

Luoyang (洛阳 Luòyáng) is an ancient city in the West Henan province of China. Tourists come here primarily to see the Longmen Caves, the White Horse Temple and Guanlin Temple, which are close to the town, rather than the town itself. Ruined remains of the ancient cities called "Luoyang" are scattered in and around the Old Town area, and some can be visited.

Understand
Luoyang is in the heartland of Chinese civilisation. It was the capital of several dynasties in Chinese history, most notably the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. It was the eastern terminus of the historic Silk Road, and the junction of the three ancient canals that made up the original Grand Canal.

The city is on the northern side of the Luo River. The train station is north of the town centre, and Jinguyuan Lu (金谷园路) goes from the station to Wangcheng Square. To the east is the Old Town and to the west the Wangcheng Park.

In 2022, it was home to more than 7 million people, with 2.25 million in the urban area.

Climate
Luoyang belongs to the warm temperate zone with four distinct seasons. Summer is hot and rain is concentrated, autumn is sunny and sunny, winter is dry and cold, rain and snow are rare.

History
It is named because it is located in the Yang of Luoshui. In history, 13 dynasties have built their capitals here. It is the earliest, longest and most dynasties city in China. There are five major capital ruins. The historical names of Luoyang include: 鄩, Luoyi, Chengzhou, Luoyang, Dongdu, Tokio, Zhongjing, Shendu, Jingluo, Luojing, Xijing.

By train
There are two train stations in Luoyang: Luoyang Station (northern end of Jinguyuan Road) and Luoyang Longmen (south of Luoyang).

By bus
Luoyang has two major bus stations. The main bus station is across the plaza Luoyang train station, at the corner of Jinguyuan Road and Daonan Road.

Get around
Transportation inside the city of Luoyang is very convenient. There are two kinds of city buses which cost ¥1 or ¥1.5 per ride. The buses offer beautiful scenery all around the city. This is the convenient and affordable way to travel in Luoyang.

The taxi start price is ¥5 (includes 3 km), + ¥1.5 per additional kilometer. Effective 1 March 2022, the basic fare is RMB 8.00 and RMB 1.70 per vehicle per kilometre. The fuel surcharge of RMB 1.00 per trip is cancelled.

By subway
By 2023, Luoyang Subway has opened two lines in operation. Line 1 passes the scenic spots in the old town. Line 2 connects the new town with the old town.

Luolong District

 * Guanlin Temple.jpg

 * China Luoyang.png
 * China Luoyang.png
 * China Luoyang.png
 * China Luoyang.png

Laocheng District

 * Longmen_Grottoes_of_Luoyang.jpg
 * Longmen_Grottoes_of_Luoyang.jpg

Outlying areas

 * Điện Linh Quan, núi Lão Quân.jpg Laojun mountain(老君山)，Luanchuan County (栾川县). Covers an area of 26.66 square kilometers; Laojun Mountain was formed in the continental orogeny 1.9 billion years ago, which records the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the North China ancient land block for 1.9 billion years, such as fragmentation, dispersion, accretion, aggregation, collision and orogeny. As of April 15, 2021, Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot has been developed and built into eight scenic spots, 138 scenic spots.
 * Điện Linh Quan, núi Lão Quân.jpg Laojun mountain(老君山)，Luanchuan County (栾川县). Covers an area of 26.66 square kilometers; Laojun Mountain was formed in the continental orogeny 1.9 billion years ago, which records the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the North China ancient land block for 1.9 billion years, such as fragmentation, dispersion, accretion, aggregation, collision and orogeny. As of April 15, 2021, Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot has been developed and built into eight scenic spots, 138 scenic spots.
 * Điện Linh Quan, núi Lão Quân.jpg Laojun mountain(老君山)，Luanchuan County (栾川县). Covers an area of 26.66 square kilometers; Laojun Mountain was formed in the continental orogeny 1.9 billion years ago, which records the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the North China ancient land block for 1.9 billion years, such as fragmentation, dispersion, accretion, aggregation, collision and orogeny. As of April 15, 2021, Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot has been developed and built into eight scenic spots, 138 scenic spots.
 * Điện Linh Quan, núi Lão Quân.jpg Laojun mountain(老君山)，Luanchuan County (栾川县). Covers an area of 26.66 square kilometers; Laojun Mountain was formed in the continental orogeny 1.9 billion years ago, which records the tectonic evolution of the southern margin of the North China ancient land block for 1.9 billion years, such as fragmentation, dispersion, accretion, aggregation, collision and orogeny. As of April 15, 2021, Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot has been developed and built into eight scenic spots, 138 scenic spots.

Eat

 * Mu_dan_yan_cai(牡丹燕菜).jpg
 * Ba_bao_fan(八宝饭).jpg

Drink
In Luoyang you can find a huge selection of restaurants, but there are not so many bars and clubs. If you want to drink baijiu (strong liquor based on rice) you should go to a restaurant, because clubs do not carry it.

Go next
Beijing is 3½-4 hours away by high-speed rail or 7-11 hours by sleeper train, Shanghai is 8-10 hours away by high-speed sleeper train, and Xi'an is 1½-2 hours away by high-speed train or 4-5 hours away by slow train. It is possible (although gruelling) to arrive from Beijing or Shanghai by overnight train, visit the Longmen grottoes and possibly one or two other sights, then continue to Xi'an in the space of 1 night and a day.

title: Luoyang


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Lupeni

Lupeni is a city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania.

Understand
Lupeni is in Hunedoara County, 20 km SW of Petroșani. Lupeni is located at an altitude of 700 m at the foothills of Vâlcan Mountains in the Petrosani Depression. It is crossed by Western Jiu River.

The settlement was founded in 1770 by the establishing in these places of people who came from the Valea Lupului village. These people were called lupeni. Lupeni was declared a city in 1960. During the communist era, one of the major protests against the regime took place here. On 2 August 1977, the miners protested against economic and political abuse they endured for years. The revolt was quickly and brutally ended by the communist authorities, many of the participants being imprisoned and persecuted.

Lupeni is the starting point for any tourist who wants to get on the ski slopes of Straja.

By car
Lupeni is on road DN 66A, a ramification of the national road DN 66(E79) Petroșani - Târgu Jiu.

By train
Arrive in one of the railway stations in the Jiu Valley and go from there by car.

Sleep
These all take on the form of mountain chalets in the Straja ski village basically.

Phone
Lupeni area code is 254 for Romtelecom and 354 for RDS. If you are calling from Romania you must dial 0254(0354) and if you are calling from abroad you must dial +40254(+40354).

Go next

 * Petrosani
 * Deva
 * Hunedoara
 * Hateg
 * Retezat National Park

title: Lupeni


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Luquillo

Luquillo (Loo-KEE-oh) is a city on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.

Get in
Fly in to San Juan, get a car rental and drive route 3 east to Luquillo.

See

 * El Yunque Tropical Rainforest
 * Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve
 * Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Sleep

Beautiful beach front/ocean front apartment. Fully furnished. Located in the town of Luquillo, Puerto Rico. 4 miles from the base of the Caribbean Tropical Forest (El Yunque). 4 miles from the Rio Mar Westin Hotel. Adjacent to the Blue Flag Luquillo Public Beach. 30 miles from downtown San Juan. 301.455.5501

Go next

 * Ceiba
 * Culebra
 * Fajardo
 * Río Grande
 * Vieques

title: Luquillo


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Luray

Luray is in Page County, Virginia, United States of America. It is a small historic town with scenic views of the Shenandoah Mountains.

By car

 * Interstate 66 West, US 29 South & US 211 West from Washington, DC, Fairfax or Manassas, VA
 * Interstate 81 North & US 211 East from Harrisonburg, VA
 * Interstate 81 South & US 211 East from Winchester, VA
 * US 340 South from Front Royal, VA

In the Luray Caverns plaza

 * The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum is a small exhibition of antique automobiles, carriages, sleighs, and other automotive memorabilia. Located at the exit is an automotive-oriented gift shop.
 * The Shenandoah Heritage Village is a 7-acre replica of a historic farming community in the Shenandoah Valley, consisting of small farm cottages, gardens, and a vineyard.
 * Toy Town Junction is a small exhibition of old toy displays, which include dolls, trains, and other nostalgic childhood toys.
 * Toy Town Junction is a small exhibition of old toy displays, which include dolls, trains, and other nostalgic childhood toys.

title: Luray


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Lurë National Park

Lurë-Dejës Mt National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar Lurë-Mali i Dejës) is a national park in Northeastern Albania (41° 47′ N, 20° 11′ E), spanning an expanded area of 202.42 km2. The park is described as an important bird and plant area, because it supports significant bird and plant species.

History
Lurë-Dejës Mt National Park is on the slopes of the Lurë Mountains, and was established in 1966 by a decision of the Council of Ministers of Albania. Since 2018, the national park was merged with former Zall-Gjocaj National Park to cover a total expanded area of 20,242 ha. The town of Peshkopi is about 25 km east of the National Park, and the villages of Fushë-Lurë and Sina e Epërme are within the expanded boundaries.

In 2014, the Albanian government launched a rehabilitation campaign including reforestation, roadwork, and the putting of new signs. After the fall of communism, the area suffered massive deforestation from illegal logging and forest fires that severely affected ecosystems.

Landscape
The National Park is home to many rare species of wildlife and natural beauty. The glacial complex of the lakes is one of the most beautiful pearls of Albania and comprise a prime attraction for visitors to Lurë National Park. The twelve glacial lakes of Lurë that were formed during the Würm glacial period have a general surface area of 100 ha. They are located in the northeastern part of the nation in the Dibra district at an elevation between 1,200 and 1,500 m (3,937 and 4,921 ft). In summer, the Lake of Flowers becomes an astonishing display of big white water lilies, leaving the impression of a big garden created by the hand of a mastermind. The waters are home to the smooth newt and the great crested newt. In winter, the lakes freeze becoming part of the cross-country skiing trails through the park.

The five principal lakes are:
 * Great Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Madh), 32 hectares;
 * Lake of the Pines, 13 hectares;
 * Black Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Zi), 8 hectares;
 * Lake of Flowers (Alb.: Liqeni i Luleve), 4 hectares
 * Cow's Lake (Alb.: Liqeni i Lopeve)

Flora and fauna
The most common type of tree in the park is the beech which is found at altitudes between 900 and 1,000 m (2,953 and 3,281 ft) to 1,900 and 2,000 m (6,234 and 6,562 ft). European black pines are abundant between 1,600 and 1,700 m (5,249 and 5,577 ft) elevation, and red pines are found on rocky slopes between 1,700 and 2,000 m (5,577 and 6,562 ft) elevation. These forests are home to the rare European brown bear, Eurasian lynx, Eurasian wolf, European pine marten, roe deer and Western capercaillie.

The southern part of the park has a meadow of multi-color flowers and coniferous trees called the Field of Mares which offers scenic views. The park offers variety of possibilities for eco-tourism, winter sports, equitation, horse riding, and other activities.

Get in
From Tirana, follow SH1 highway northbound towards Shkodra and turn right on the Trumpet Interchange at Milot along A1. Exit the A1 at Rreshen along SH30. Then turn left onto SH34 road. The latter has been paved until Perlat. Afterwards, a difficult path follows. Ask locals for directions as they are very courteous.

Fees and permits
There are no fees to be paid. National Park contact: Bekim Qosja,, Address: Bulevardi Elez Isufi, Peshkopi. Park is administered by AZM Diber local authority part of AKZM national agency.

Get around
A 4x4 vehicle is a must on this difficult terrain.

See

 * Lura Lakes. There are 14 glacial lakes surrounded by pine trees dating back thousands of years. Visit the Flowers Lake where a legend says that when the sun goes out, the flowers deep underneath the water and vice versa. The years of political transition have left their mark on the park as the area has suffered from considerable illegal logging.
 * Alpine lock-in towers made from stone as testimony of the bloodfeud tradition
 * Visit Albanian independence signatory Dom Nikoll Kacorri's museum house
 * Church of St Mary (Kisha e Shen Merise). The church has been reconstructed and features modest iconography.

Do

 * Camp in the area to taste the region's natural beauty such as flowing streams in the picturesque meadows.
 * Hike to Kurora e Neshtes peak at 2051 m and Bruci Lake overlooking surrounding mountain peaks and some towns as far as Durres

Buy

 * Medicinal flowers

Eat

 * Organic diary products
 * Cold water trout

Drink

 * Local flower honey
 * Fresh water from numerous water sources

Sleep
Lura has two hotels, Hotel Lura and Hotel Turizmi, and several guesthouses.

Go next

 * Liqenet e Balgjajt (Balgjajt Lakes) near Bulqize
 * Oroshi Mt Protected Area
 * Korab-Koritnik Natural Park

title: Lurë National Park


text:
Lurgan

Lurgan is a town historically in County Armagh in Northern Ireland - those counties have been abolished as units of government so it's now part of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District. In Irish An Lorgain means "the shin", indicating a long low ridge, which affords drier ground for travel and settlement. The town stands near the shore of Lough Neagh, 18 miles southwest of Belfast and is industrial. In 2011 its population was about 25,000.

Understand

 * A fair Town, consisting of 42 Houses, all of which are inhabited with English Families, and the streets all paved clean through also to water Mills, and a Wind Mill, all for corn
 * - William Brownlow, who laid out the town from 1610

The transport route from Belfast to Dublin swings southwest to avoid the Mourne Mountains, so the strip through Moira, Lurgan and Portadown became built-up and industrial from the 17th century. Lurgan was laid out by Brownlow as a "Plantation" settlement from 1610, with characteristic wide streets, and a market and linen trade. The settlers were Protestants, but employment also drew in Catholics moving off the land, especially during the famine years, so Lurgan became an "interface area". It also became part of the commuter-belt for Belfast when the railway arrived. In the late 20th century Lurgan was roiled by "The Troubles", driven as much by collapse of the textile trade as by sectarian differences. A nearby New Town of Craigavon never entirely got built but several of its modern features (such as bicycle paths) infiltrated Lurgan, and Ulster's first motorway arrived.

Get in
Trains run every 30 min from Bangor via Belfast (several stations) and Lisburn to Lurgan (50 min from Belfast) and Portadown.

The Dublin-Belfast Enterprise train doesn't stop here, change at Portadown. is north of town centre along William St.

Goldline Express 251 runs hourly from Belfast Europa station to Lurgan (30 min), Portadown and Armagh. One or two per day continue across the border to Monaghan and Cavan Town.

Goldline Express 261 runs from Belfast Europa station to Lurgan, Dungannon and Enniskillen. It's every two hours M-Sa with only two on Sunday.

Ulsterbus 551 runs hourly from Belfast via Lisburn and Moira to Lurgan, 65 min; it continues to Craigavon and Sprucefield Shopping Centre but doesn't reach Portadown.

By road follow M1 and exit at junction 10.

Get around
Lurgan has a good network of bitumen cycle paths which are in most cases separate to the road network, and link Lurgan to the National Cycle network. These paths also link Lurgan to Lough Neagh, Craigavon Lake and Rushmere Shopping Centre.

Ulsterbus 46 / 47 shuttles between Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown every 15 min.

See

 * Market Street is very wide, typical for a Plantation-era main street. It's mostly undistinguished low-rise but spare a glance for the Italianate Town Hall, and Shankill Parish Church (Church of Ireland) at the top of the vista.
 * in Lough Neagh became a peninsula when the water level was lowered in 1846. Much of the area is a National Nature Reserve. There are sometimes boat trips along the lough from the marina nearby at Kinnego.
 * is another nature reserve, with RSPB bird hides.
 * is another nature reserve, with RSPB bird hides.

Do

 * Lurgan Park a block east of High St was originally the grounds of Brownlow House. There's a lake with wildfowl, and the park paths are firm going for walkers, runners and cyclists.
 * Lurgan Golf Club is north end of the park. White tees 6311 yards, par 70, round £30.
 * Football: Glenavon FC play soccer in the NIFL (Danske Bank) Premiership, the game's top tier in Northern Ireland. Their stadium is Mourneview Park (capacity 4160) by the hospital south side of town.
 * is the improbable facility one mile north of Lurgan. It's a Dendex surface, all 100 yards of it, so it's really just for kiddy-wink beginners.

Buy

 * Tesco in town centre is open M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 1-6PM. There's an ATM; they don't have fuel.

Eat

 * Central eating places include Spanish Nook (Mexican really), Palomo Bistro, Wee Paddy's Bistro and Palm Tree; plus fast-food takeaways.
 * Cafes on main drag include Love Coffee, Truffles and Icons.

Drink

 * Long-established bars are "The Burn" ie Ashburn Hotel (see Sleep), Fa' Joes wine bar and Cellar Bar on Market Street, and The Courthouse and others on "golden mile" from Queen Street to the Lough Road.
 * Ruby Blue Spirits is a microdistillery and gastropub in Moira, midway between Lurgan and Lisburn. They distill potato vodka and fruit liqueurs; tours are available.

Connect
Lurgan has good mobile and 4G coverage from all UK carriers. As of Aug 2020, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Armagh has long been the ecclesiastic capital of Ireland, with two cathedrals, and a prehistoric "fort" that was clearly a religious centre.
 * Hillsborough is the grand castle, gardens and symbol of power a few miles outside Lisburn.

title: Lurgan


text:
Lusaka

Lusaka, in Lusaka Province, is the capital of Zambia. It is a cosmopolitan city that is home to about 2.7 million people (2020), approximately one in six Zambians. Lusaka is the centre of commerce and government in Zambia, and has several cultural facilities.

By plane

 * If you walk out of the airport terminal cross the car park to the petrol station you can pay from only K100 for a ride in to Lusaka city center. If you take a taxi outside the terminal you pay a lot more.
 * If you walk out of the airport terminal cross the car park to the petrol station you can pay from only K100 for a ride in to Lusaka city center. If you take a taxi outside the terminal you pay a lot more.

Lusaka is reasonably well-served by flights from Johannesburg, Dubai, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Istanbul, Emirates connects Lusaka with Dubai. Turkish Airlines connects Lusaka with Istanbul. South African Airways fly to Lusaka from Johannesburg with multiple flights per day. Kenya Airways flies from Nairobi. and Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa. (In Johannesburg the airlines have no control over baggage in transit and the airport's baggage concessionnaire is exempt from responsibility by contract, so lost and especially pilfered baggage can be an issue.)

Various other African airlines also serve Lusaka.

All Zambian airlines have been refused permission to operate services to the EU since 2009. This decision, by the EU Air Safety Committee, followed an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit of Zambia, which discovered significant shortcomings in the ability of the Zambian civil aviation authorities to ensure the safe operation of airlines licensed by them. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends against flying with any Zambian-based airline if a reasonable alternative exists.

International airlines that have flights to Lusaka include:
 * Proflight Zambia flies from Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg & Lilongwe, as well as domestic destinations
 * Malawi Airlines flies from Lilongwe.
 * Kenya Airways flies from Nairobi & Harare
 * South African Airways flies from Johannesburg.
 * Ethiopian Airlines flies from Addis Ababa.
 * Emirates flies from Dubai.
 * RwandAir flies from Kigali and Johannesburg.
 * Airlink Airlines flies from Johannesburg.
 * Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul.
 * Qatar airways is looking to fly three times a week from Doha.
 * Domestic flights: there are two airlines, Mahogany Air and Proflight Zambia. and for charters Ngwazi Air Charters.

By train
There are two trains per week to Lusaka from Livingstone. The Zambezi offers business class and sleeper compartments and is recommended for tourists. The other train is the Kafue, heavily subsidized by the government and therefore dirt-cheap but lacking most amenities. There are no differences in travel time between the two trains. Both trains connect with cities north such as Ndola and Kitwe, which are in the Copperbelt region. Timetables can be found on the website of the national carrier ZRL. By rail from Lusaka to Kitwe is 290 km and takes 15 hours. from Lusaka to kapiri Mposhi is 160 km. from Kapiri Mposhi to Mbeya is 1020 km and takes 20 hours.

It is also possible to buy train tickets for the TAZARA railway from Kapiri Mposhi to Tanzania at Tazara House opp the market corner of cairo road and Independence Avenue Lusaka or at the TAZARA Railway office in Ndola. students are eligible for a 50% discount. the Kapiri Mposhi Tazara train station is 162 km north of Lusaka. the Tazara railway is a good low cost way to get from Zambia to Tanzania. the 2nd class sleeper fare from Kapiri Mposhi to Mbeya Tanzania is K152. The 2nd class sleeper fare from Kapiri Mposhi to the Tanzania border at Tunduma 900 km is K131. the 2nd class sleeper fare all the way from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar Es saalam 1860 km is K272. The train departs Kapiri Moshi two times a week on Tuesday at 16:00 and Friday at 14:00 and you get to the Tanzania border the next day at around 11:00.

The small is centrally located.

By car
Since it is the commercial centre and governmental seat of Zambia, all the arterial roads lead to Lusaka. Buses run between Livingstone and Kitwe. Operators of this route regularly change, so ask locally before you travel. Mazhandu is the most reliable option.

By bus
For buses within Zambia Power Tools, Juldan Motors, UBZ are widely considered to be the best, most reliable lines by locals and expatriates. Buses leave from Inter-City terminal, near downtown Lusaka. they always run true to schedule, have a large fleet of buses with extras to be called into service in case of a break down, make stops at well-lit areas with decent bathrooms, tag your bags for you, and have courteous bus attendants. There are many buses a day between Lusaka and Livingstone, including the overnight bus. Several buses are "business class" with wider seats and greater legroom. the first bus departs about 06:00 and the last bus departs 19:30. It is 482 km from Lusaka to Livingstone and the trip takes around 7 hours.

International coach services are available to/from Johannesburg South Africa Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Mozambique to Lusaka.

Get around
Minibuses are ubiquitous, cheap, and, if already full, fast. Single rides generally cost (about US$0.50). Most routes head to/from the 4 major bus stations in the city centre (referred to collectively as "town"), although there are a small number of alternative routes or short-cut routes, especially during the rush hours. A rider can get just about anywhere in the city with one connection in town. Going in to town is quite straightforward. Going away from town it's best to ask the driver where he's going. Routes and destinations are not posted on the vehicles themselves, but if a bus is taking on passengers the conductor will likely be shouting the destination through the window. Minibuses do run into the evenings, but become decreasingly frequent at the evening wears on.

For the uninitiated, then, a taxi might be a better option, at least initially. Taxis come in two colours - sky blue, and a light grey, and are usually Toyota Corollas. There are no meters in Zambia's taxis, so prices are somewhat negotiable but always on the high side for Africa. Be sure to set a price before getting in the cab, US$2 for a short ride is a fair tourist price. (Ask at a hotel lobby how much your trip should cost. If the cab driver states a higher price, mention that you're happy to ride a mini-bus.  Watch the price drop. )

Take down a taxi driver's mobile number, most will be happy to do an all day deal, wait for you while you explore, pick you up early or late and take you to and from the airport.

Ride-hailing app Yango is available.

Walking is an option as distances are not that large, and there are a fair number of street names to help orient yourself. However walking at night does have its hazards - manhole covers are not Lusaka's strong point and there are many uncovered drains that could swallow you whole, hence a torch is a good idea - and drivers seem allergic to moving over for pedestrians walking on the road - so best to stick to the dirt paths at the side of the roads (these are more common than pavements or sidewalks).

Do

 * Explore the city with its diverse suburbs and informal settlements. Take a map and explore the city's markets, its second class shopping area and many other nooks. The only precautions recommended would be to leave your valuables at your hotel and take only the cash needed for the day as would apply in any major city.
 * Parray's Game Ranch is 21 km from the town centre. Available are game drives, swimming and a playground. There you can see Zebra, Kudu and other herbivores
 * Chaminuka Lodge Located near the airport, amazing lodge and facilities. The privately owned park is home to a range of antelopes, a family of elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions and hyenas.

Buy
FNB, Ecobank, Stanbic Bank, and Access Bank-Atlasmara Bank have 24-hour Visa and Mastercard ATMs around Lusaka.

 * Dutch Reformed Church Market. Held on the last Saturday of each month and has been going for several years. There you can buy an assortment of curios, books, food and art. A special feature is the large number of goods available from other countries such as Congo and Zimbabwe. You can have a light Indian or Chinese meal while children have their faces painted. Look for stand selling products made from recycled glass bottles and handicrafts made by people with disabilities.
 * Lusaka City Market is probably the nicest market in town if you are looking for an 'African' market experience - its just east of the main downtown area. The 'Town Centre' market is pretty grim and has lots of traffic clogging up the streets.
 * MP3 CDs. Lusaka, strategically located next to several countries with a strong musical heritage (Congo, Zimbabwe) is a great place for adding to your African music collection. In the indoor bit of Lusaka City Market there are several places that will burn MP3s or transfer gigabytes of music to your flashdisk or phone for about K10,000.
 * Dutch Reformed Church Market. Held on the last Saturday of each month and has been going for several years. There you can buy an assortment of curios, books, food and art. A special feature is the large number of goods available from other countries such as Congo and Zimbabwe. You can have a light Indian or Chinese meal while children have their faces painted. Look for stand selling products made from recycled glass bottles and handicrafts made by people with disabilities.
 * Lusaka City Market is probably the nicest market in town if you are looking for an 'African' market experience - its just east of the main downtown area. The 'Town Centre' market is pretty grim and has lots of traffic clogging up the streets.
 * MP3 CDs. Lusaka, strategically located next to several countries with a strong musical heritage (Congo, Zimbabwe) is a great place for adding to your African music collection. In the indoor bit of Lusaka City Market there are several places that will burn MP3s or transfer gigabytes of music to your flashdisk or phone for about K10,000.
 * MP3 CDs. Lusaka, strategically located next to several countries with a strong musical heritage (Congo, Zimbabwe) is a great place for adding to your African music collection. In the indoor bit of Lusaka City Market there are several places that will burn MP3s or transfer gigabytes of music to your flashdisk or phone for about K10,000.

 * EastPark Mall. One of the best malls in Lusaka. It has many top names for fashion and grocery shopping. Great bars and restaurants along with banks, ATMs and money changing outlet. Plenty of secure parking. It's an all weather friendly place with lots going on - a real one stop shop mall.

Eat
Whilst not a gourmet destination there is some good eating to be had in Lusaka. The gradual shopping mall-isation of the city sadly means that uninspiring South African chain restaurants are multiplying - but there is still a good selection of independent places scattered around. Lusaka seems to specialise in Indian cuisine. Chindo Road is the closest thing that Lusaka has to a restaurant strip.

South Asian

 * Dil offers some of the best Indian food anywhere and is reasonably priced (though not dirt-cheap). It's in the Ibex Hill area of town, about 15 minutes drive from the city centre, provided there's no traffic. Well worth the drive but a taxi fare each way will cost more than a meal.

East Asian

 * Dong Fang Good local Chinese fare in Long Acres, near Ndeke Hotel.

Upmarket
 * Savanna at the Intercontinental Hotel. Does standard international hotel food in a nice setting by the pool. Both a-la carte and all you can eat buffet 365 days a year. Expect to pay around K100,000 for a meal.
 * Taj Pamodzi This upmarket hotel has 2 restaurants for evening meals - one offering buffets that vary according to the day and another a grill bar. Indian ownership reflected in the food served. Check out crocodile kebabs on the grill or some of the excellent vegetarian options. Expect to pay $15 or more for a meal.
 * Portico's Lusaka's newest hot spot serving homemade Italian dishes. Located at Showgrounds by the polo ground. Groovy decor and new, expanded outdoor area.

Other

 * Debonair's Pizza delivers for about US$5.
 * Rhapsody's A cornerstone at Arcades mall, serves a good variety of beef, chicken, pork, pasta and salad dishes. Also a popular night hangout.
 * Kilimanjaro Nice cafe at Manda Hill serving yummy sandwiches, crepes, and the best coffee frappucino.
 * Cedars Lebanese Restaurant New place, off Church Road. Definitely worth a look.
 * Cedars Lebanese Restaurant New place, off Church Road. Definitely worth a look.

Drink
Lusaka has many Western-styled bars (e.g., Brown's, mainly used by tourists, and ex-pats). Zambians love to drink; there are, therefore, a number of bars frequented by locals, as well. Unfortunately, these change often. Rhapsody's open late
 * Chez Ntemba* has several branches, plays Rumba and African rhythms until the last person leaves
 * Majestic Casino has an excellent bar, casino complete with blackjack and roulette tables and slot machines
 * Johnny's Chinese is centrally located
 * The Polo Grill has outdoor seating overlooking the Lusaka Polo Club also has a small casino
 * Northmead Shopping Centre has an array of clubs and bars including some open 24 hours a day the infamous alpha bar should be tested by all travellers.

Budget, backpacker and camping
Rooms under K1000, Dorm beds Under K250, and camping from K150 pp a night.
 * Lusaka Backpackers It is off Bwimjimfumo Road, two-thirds of the way down Mulombwa Close on the right-hand side. dorm beds, private rooms. This place used to be called Chachacha backpackers. Dorm bed US$10, room $20/24/27. Use caution if booking safaris through them and try to get your itinerary in writing so there is no confusion.
 * Lusaka Backpackers It is off Bwimjimfumo Road, two-thirds of the way down Mulombwa Close on the right-hand side. dorm beds, private rooms. This place used to be called Chachacha backpackers. Dorm bed US$10, room $20/24/27. Use caution if booking safaris through them and try to get your itinerary in writing so there is no confusion.

Mid-range
There are a number of mid-range accommodation options, as well. Of particular note are the 'executive lodge' type places - these are aimed at Zambian businessmen and civil servants on their travels and usually comprise a bedroom, breakfast, a pleasant bar and off-street parking - and are usually modern and clean and less than half the price of the top-end hotels.
 * The Abundant Life is an impeccably clean hostel run by a local church. No alcohol allowed on the premises. Staff is extremely friendly. They offer en suite rooms and genuine suites, too, for about US$30. Abundant Life is also a church, and they offer worship services on-site. Don't be surprised (or afraid) if you wake to the sound of the congregation speaking in tongues!

Splurge

 * The Intercontinental Hotel is a close second. Restaurant service can be slow.
 * The Southern Sun (ex. Holiday Inn, ex Ridgeway Hotel) is casual and comfortable, but expensive (US$200 per night).
 * The Protea Lusaka Hotel is near Arcades and is the newest hotel in Lusaka and will run you about US$150/night for a singe room with a king sized bed. The price includes a breakfast buffet and free wifi accessible from most areas of the hotel. The hotel and restaurant bar area is usually pretty quiet unless there is a conference being held at the hotel. If there is a conference the a la carte restaurant menu is not available, but there is a lunch buffet for about US$25. However, the best part of the hotel is its location in the Arcades, which houses a few of the city's better restaurants. Be wary of a room on the first floor as there is a nightclub in the casino below the hotel, which is noisy on Wednesday and Friday nights.
 * The Intercontinental Hotel is a close second. Restaurant service can be slow.
 * The Southern Sun (ex. Holiday Inn, ex Ridgeway Hotel) is casual and comfortable, but expensive (US$200 per night).
 * The Protea Lusaka Hotel is near Arcades and is the newest hotel in Lusaka and will run you about US$150/night for a singe room with a king sized bed. The price includes a breakfast buffet and free wifi accessible from most areas of the hotel. The hotel and restaurant bar area is usually pretty quiet unless there is a conference being held at the hotel. If there is a conference the a la carte restaurant menu is not available, but there is a lunch buffet for about US$25. However, the best part of the hotel is its location in the Arcades, which houses a few of the city's better restaurants. Be wary of a room on the first floor as there is a nightclub in the casino below the hotel, which is noisy on Wednesday and Friday nights.
 * The Protea Lusaka Hotel is near Arcades and is the newest hotel in Lusaka and will run you about US$150/night for a singe room with a king sized bed. The price includes a breakfast buffet and free wifi accessible from most areas of the hotel. The hotel and restaurant bar area is usually pretty quiet unless there is a conference being held at the hotel. If there is a conference the a la carte restaurant menu is not available, but there is a lunch buffet for about US$25. However, the best part of the hotel is its location in the Arcades, which houses a few of the city's better restaurants. Be wary of a room on the first floor as there is a nightclub in the casino below the hotel, which is noisy on Wednesday and Friday nights.

Stay safe
Lusaka seems to have obtained a bad reputation for being a city plagued by crime, but in reality, this is exaggerated — other African cities such as Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lagos are much more risky. However, travellers should appreciate that walking around the city at night is foolish and that you will become a target for pickpockets if you make your valuables visible. HIV/AIDS is endemic here, so if you have sex while visiting Lusaka, make sure to use a condom and take other appropriate precautions.

Embassies, consulates and high commissions

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Of course, there are game parks (like South Luangwa National Park), scattered throughout Zambia, and many Lusakans visit them on the weekends. Heading to Livingstone for a few days is also a popular choice.

 * Siavonga is on Lake Kariba about 2½ hours away from Lusaka
 * Protea Lodge Just outside Lusaka, it provides a great place to stay, game drives, a swimming pool, and lions.

title: Lusaka


text:
Lushan

Lushan is a city in Jiangxi.

Lushan (庐山) is a mountain area with the touristy township Guling at an altitude of about 1000 metres and the surrounding mountains up to Dahanyang peak at about 1500 metres, in Jiangxi province. After a long Buddhist history, it was built up by British colonialists as a summer hill station, and still bears evidence of their architecture (both real and obviously contrived). It still makes for a refreshing escape from the summer heat, and offers many scenic hiking opportunities and some historic buildings, particularly of interest for fans of Communist Party history. It is very popular with the better heeled Chinese tourist, but well off the beaten path for independent foreign travellers and accordingly you should expect some communication difficulties. It is hoped it was enjoyed by Chairman Mao, as his visage in cane chair features in front of the many picturesque spots, with more than a little assistance from Photoshop. This mountain area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and UNESCO Global Geopark.

By cable car
There is a cable car going straight to Lushan.

It costs ¥120 go and back per people but takes only 20 minutes (and avoid illness of the road).

To arrive to the cable car station there is the bus 57 from Jiujiang (九江) train station（cost ¥3).

Lushan train station is really close to the cable car.

By bus
Direct buses to Lushan from Nanchang can be found in front of the Nanchang train station; the trip is about 2½ hours and costs around ¥55. Regular shuttle vans from Jiujiang Bus Station (1km or so north of Jiujiang station) take about 1½ hours and cost ¥15. The bus will stop at the entrance gate where all passengers proceed to pay the entrance fee and pass through the entrance gate before getting back on the bus.

From Lushan, it is possible to take a bus back to the Lushan train station (¥20), with about five buses per day, the last one departing at 16:00. Alternatively, buses to Nanchang are ¥55 and will bring you to a gas station in Nanchang; you will need to take a taxi to reach either train station. These buses run five times a day, with two in the morning, one at 10:20, one at 15:00 and the last one at 16:00. Finally, buses to Jiujiang arrive at the bus station and you should take a taxi to the train station for further travel.

By train
The most convenient train station is Jiujiang (九江), NOT Lushan station. From here it will be easy to find people to share a taxi up to the park entrance (approx ¥80 for a taxi) or buses to Lushan (about 1 hour, ¥15) leave every 30-60 minutes from around 08:00 to 16:00 from the intercity bus station about 1km north, on Xunnan Avenue, behind the train station. If you do get to Lushan Railway Station in error, it is possible to transfer to Jiujiang Intercity bus station by minivan. Check in front.

Now there is an alternative entry point which is more complicated, requires some navigation, some breaking of rules and maybe some simple Chinese written place names in advance (for the foreigner without Chinese), but which will save the entry fee for the mountain which is about ¥130 + ¥50 and offer a special experience. Take a bus from Jiujiang Intercity Bus Station to Haihui. This bus travels south east on a concrete highway which swings south west. After about 27 km on your right hand side looms the fantastic peaks of Lushan, named Five Old Men. The bus driver must know that you want to get off to walk to the 3 Step Waterfall, which is in the precinct of Haihui. It means you will dropped on the side of the road, so take the side turning toward the mountains, past a village, past a dam, and on up the concrete road. When the first park entry check point is spotted, go back a bit and walk up the track beside the creek, and then along a water pipe (balance required over the gullies) until you are well passed this pay point. Continue back on the road until the road arrives at a small village and the footpath bridges the creek at a weir and continues upstream on the other side. There will be increasing numbers of coach delivered tourists around. About 300 metres up this track is another paypoint, about ¥50, which can be bypassed by a very silent and strenuous climb over the huge rocks in the creek bed. You can go back and progress up the other side of the creek until you have to get into the creek bed and deal with the huge rocks. Either that or pay the ¥50. The stone path now climbs through the valley, up, ever up through a spectacular gorge to the Three Step Waterfall, where suddenly it's like Disneyland in the mountains with duck shaped watercraft in the bottom pond to the waterfall, kiosks and masses of people, who have descended by foot to this spectacular spot from the top cable car station high above. Continue up the path, until you see the paypoint for visitors to the mountain proper, fee approx ¥130. Go back about 100 metres down to a right turn junction in the path in a SE direction. This stone path contours around to underneath the top fall of the Three Step Waterfall. There is an old path that actually goes under the waterfall; take it. Climb over the man made impediments of barbed wire and stakes, and continue on a narrow path of indeterminate age, but which is now closed to all but you. This path is in derelict condition, and safety barriers are largely missing, so your party should be comfortable with overgrown passage and exposure to great heights. However it's a great walk with marvellous views and environment and definitely secluded from the masses. This overgrown path, sometimes hard to recognise, follows over the heads of the "Five Old Men" the 4000' plus summits originally visible from the road, now far below. After a couple of hours this path joins the main park system, where one finds one's way finally to a road and therefore transport to the centre of Guling. In the writers experience there was a cab waiting, for the 15-minute drive past the colonial era villas. The whole journey is well worth the effort (for those of you on this wavelength).

Get around
Bus passes are available (¥70 for a 7-day pass, no single-ride or single-day options) for 2 lines of park buses. You need your ID to get the pass and this is checked sometime. It is not transferable.

Lushan and the surrounding mountains are crisscrossed with footpaths, many of which seem to be composed entirely of steep stairs. If you're not in the mood (or shape) for climbing, taxis can be found pretty easily, but expect to negotiate prices on busy days.

See
Pick up a map at the bookstore on Guling Jie for a guide to various old "villa"-style buildings in town, and various natural sites around town of waterfalls, peaks, etc. A very pleasant walk is to follow Dalin Jie down past Ruting Lake for a stroll around the botanical gardens. From there follow the cliff along a man-made path that picks up many spectacular views and passes many items of natural interest. In due course this path arrives at the Sante rollerway, a contraption of dual rails and a 2-person car that descends through the forest. It's a worthwhile ride, as it is time for a rest and the opportunity to be grateful that the primitive braking system works. The cliffside walk continues until far below it reaches a suspension bridge and a chairlift back up to the mountain. There might also be a taxi at the bottom, or you can walk up the narrow concrete road to the main road at the top and hail a bus back to Guling. Allow about 4 hours for this whole excursion.

Eat
There are many dining opportunities in Guling, from the main restaurants overlooking the view, to the smaller restaurants in the side streets. Menu design, prices, and much of the selection are standardized, but there can be significant variation in the number of options and restaurants will often offer discounted specials. Some restaurants have a wall of pictures, otherwise non Chinese speakers will have to improvise. Major tourist stops often have snacks available, and occasionally a restaurant, but these may close during non-peak times.

Drink
Lu Shan Cloud and Mist Tea（庐山云雾茶）: Lu Shan, named for its abundant rainfall and enveloping mist, may give rise to a unique tea known as Lu Shan Cloud and Mist Tea. This tea is likely to carry a refreshing aroma and distinctive flavor influenced by the special local climate.

Lu Shan Mineral Spring Water（庐山矿泉水）: Lu Shan is endowed with numerous natural mineral springs, and the local mineral spring water is likely esteemed for its purity. Visitors to Lu Shan often have the opportunity to savor this crisp and refreshing mineral spring water.

Lu Shan Famous Spring Tea（庐山名泉茶）: Lu Shan is renowned for its numerous famous springs, and local beverages like Famous Spring Tea may be crafted using water from these renowned springs. Teas produced with this water may offer a unique and delightful taste.

Sleep
Other hotels have vastly different rates on offer other than the published rate at reception. As ever, it is handy to have a Chinese person negotiate the rate while the foreigner stays out of sight, however if this can't be arranged a guide is that a twin room in a hotel should be not much more than ¥150, and maybe a bit less. Good luck.

Go next
Going North connect through Jiujiang (九江) and going south connect through Nanchang (南昌). Buses to both can be found leaving from the bus stations on Hexi Lu (河西路), to get there head east on Guling Jie until you see a tunnel on your right. Go through the tunnel and buses to Jiujiang will be right in front of you and buses to Nanchang will be on your right.

The high-speed rail options at Jiujiang make it relatively easy to visit Wuyuan, Huangshan, and Jingdezhen.

title: Lushan


text:
Lushoto

Lushoto is a city in the Usambara Mountains of Northeast Tanzania.

Get in
To get to Lushoto from Dar es Salaam, you can take any bus to Moshi/Arusha and get off at Mombo (4½ hr). Then take a dala or coaster up to Lushoto (1 hour, TSh 2500) Or there are a few buses that go straight to Lushoto from Dar. Ibariki Tanzania bus is TSh 12,000. Mbaruku is TSh 10,000. There are a few others, but those are the two main ones.

To come from Moshi/Arusha, you can take any bus to Dar and get off at Mombo or take Fasaha or Chakito straight to Lushoto. It’s TSh 13,500 from Moshi, TSh 14,500 from Arusha.

Get around
Get the new Tanga/Lushoto tourist guide from

See
The hike up to Irente View Point can be done with or without guides. Guides can be found at the tourist center behind the bank. The hike is 1½-2 hours to the point. There is a picnic lunch available at Irente Farm that is well worth the hike. Lunch includes fresh rye bread, seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheese slices and a herb and goat cheese spread, butter, jam, and juice, all made there at the farm. Lunch costs TSh 6,000 and does not need to be ordered in advance.

With their wide vistas, cool climate, winding paths and picturesque villages, the Usambaras are one of Tanzania’s highlights. The mountains are home to an exceptional assortment of plants and birds and representing one of the highest degrees of biodiversity on the continent.

Do
Hiking: three-day hike from Lushoto to Lukozi (Papaa Moze) Rangwi (Rangwi sisters) up to Mtae (local guesthouses) or Mambo View Point eco lodge (mid range). Guides available in Lushoto or cheaper in Mambo or Mtae.

Eat
Excellent fried chicken (TSh 2,500 with rice, beans and spinach) or fried fish (TSh 3,000) at the little hoteli next to the internet place across the street from the bank.

Drink

 * New Friends, behind the bank for a reasonably priced local bar.
 * Lawns Hotel, on the road into Lushoto for a fully stoked pub atmosphere. They also have satellite television for sporting events

Sleep
Feb. 2024: Dbl.: 30'000; food TSh 5,000.
 * Lawns TSh 12,500, food about TSh 4,000.
 * Tumaini TSh 14,000,
 * Community Based Rural Tourism Project, +255 (0)27 26 40183, +255 (0)713 666 017, cbrtlushoto@yahoo.com www.mviwata.org
 * Community Based Rural Tourism Project, +255 (0)27 26 40183, +255 (0)713 666 017, cbrtlushoto@yahoo.com www.mviwata.org

Connect
Guides and tours:

 * Sed Tours & Adventures Safaris, +255 (0)784 689 848, anna@sedadventures.com
 * Friends of Usambara Society, +255 (0)715 420 310, +255 (0)784 420 310, Usambaras2000@hotmail.com
 * Tayodea Tour Care, +255 (0)784 861 969, +255 (0)713 771 087, Youthhall2000@yahoo.com
 * Community Care & Friendship Association, +255 (0)784 861 969, cocafatz@yahoo.com
 * Mambo View Point, +255 (0)785 272 150, info@mamboviewpoint.org

title: Lushoto


text:
Lusk

Lusk is a city in Wyoming.

title: Lusk


text:
Luster

Luster is a district in Sogn og Fjordane county. Luster sits right at the intersection of central alpine mountains, great glaciers and the iconic fjords. Luster is also the name of one of the villages. The great Luster fjord, a major branch of Sognefjord, is surrounded by Jostedalsbreen, Breheimen and Jotunheimen.

Skjolden is known for Ludwig Wittgenstein's lodge and Urnes is a UNESCO world heritage site. Luster offers all of Norway's grand nature as well as some of the finest cultural heritage.

Understand
Luster is at the inner (eastern) end of the 204 km (127 mi) long Sognefjord. Parts of Jotunheimen (Norway's high alpine summits) and Jostedalsbreen (Norway's great glacier) are within Luster municipality. Luster's grand nature is created at the intersection of Norway's largest fjord, largest glacier and tallest mountains. Numerous rivers transport "thick" (opaque) glacial meltwater to lakes and to the fjord, giving fjords and lakes a milky turquoise appearance. Luster is also home to numerous pretty waterfalls. Luster fjord (Lustrafjorden), easily recognized by its emerald-turquoise color, is a major arm of the great Sognefjord, and is more than 600 meters deep at Urnes. The area is sparsely populated, and is primarily glaciers and barren uninhabited mountains.

Some 5,000 inhabitants share more than 2,500 km2, making it a sparsely populated area, built up areas and farm land is limited to narrow shores and narrow valleys. About 15 % of the area is glacier or permanent snow. There are no towns in the area, only small villages and settlements.

Villages

 * Skjolden
 * Dale
 * Gaupne
 * Hafslo
 * Solvorn - once an important trading place, now peaceful village with a fine hotel.

Get in
Luster is in western Norway so overland transport from East Norway runs through mountain passes.

By plane
There is a small airport in Sogndal. The nearest airport with international flights is Bergen airport, while the drive from Oslo airport (Gardermoen) is only slightly longer.

By bus
Seven times daily from Sogndal. Buses twice daily from Lom, July-August only.

By car
Luster is on route 55 between Lom and Sogndal. Route 55 is a national tourist route that includes the Sognefjell mountain pass - Norway's highest public road and closed during winter.

Road 55 connects to the private Tindevegen at Turtagrø, road to Årdal through high mountains.

By ferry
Lustrabaatane is a ferry connecting Solvorn to Ornes (Urnes) respectively on the west and east shore of the fjord. The ferry is running 9 times a day in summer, 4 times in winter and it costs 34 kr per person and 93 kr for vehicles less than. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.

The last ferry of the day is often very crowded, and it is possible that vehicles are left behind. If you just want to visit the church in Urnes from the western (Solvorn) side, do not take your car, but cross as a foot passenger instead — you won’t need a car in Urnes if you can manage to walk up the small hill the church stands on.

Culture

Due to its fame, the stave church in Urnes tends to be quite crowded. You can only access the church through a guided tour, which will give you very good information but also very limited flexibility in discovering the details of the building for yourself (or taking pictures). Plan accordingly.

Do

 * Other hiking:
 * Molden for spectacular views at 1118 m above sea level up and down the Lustrafjord.
 * Solvornnipa for full day hike
 * Other cycling ideas
 * Skjolden-Urnes road
 * Veitastrond
 * Solvornnipa for full day hike
 * Other cycling ideas
 * Skjolden-Urnes road
 * Veitastrond

Go next

 * Route 55 to Lom is a scenic road and named one of 18 national tourist routes of Norway. It is the highest mountain pass in Norway at 1434 m (4705 ft). Closed during the winter (Nov-May). Private road from route 55 at Turtagrø to Årdal.
 * Route 55 to Sogndal.

title: Luster


text:
Luton

Luton is a large town in Bedfordshire, some north of London. It's a multicultural town with a population of about 200,000. It used to have a straw and hat-making trade, hence "The Hatters" nickname of Luton football club; a couple of factories remain along the Old Bedford Road. Luton later produced Vauxhall cars and Whitbread beers, but little of these remain. Most people only come here for London Luton Airport, a major hub for budget & charter flights. The airport is described below but the focus of this page is the town itself.

Luton's Tourist Information Centre has helpfully been placed 5 mi from town, in Dunstable, so little good it will do you.

By plane

 * For public transport to central London see Luton Airport. It's a choice between a train (shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway then train to London St Pancras), or a bus from the airport to London Victoria.

 * Local buses: Arriva Bus A runs every 15 mins between the airport and Luton town railway station (15 mins) and Dunstable (30 mins). Bus 100 runs every 30 mins to Hitchin and Stevenage.

From other London airports
From the other London airports, it may be quicker to use the inter-airport transfer bus then come into Luton on the town bus, rather than travel into central London then out again.

National Express runs from Heathrow Airport (all terminals) to Luton Airport every 30 mins; non-stop Bus 707 takes 50 mins, Bus 787 via Hemel Hempstead takes 70 mins. Fares are demand priced, £18-30 single.

Some of these buses start from Gatwick Airport, but the direct trains (Brighton-Bedford) are much quicker for the same fare. National Express Bus 777 runs between Stansted Airport and Luton Airport every hour or so via Hitchin and Stevenage, journey time 90 min, single fare £16.

By train
Luton has three railway stations, one in the town centre, one close to the airport and one towards the north of the town.

The typical off-peak service from this station is as follows:
 * 4 trains per hour (tph) to Bedford (operated by Thameslink)
 * 2 tph to Brighton via Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London and Gatwick Airport (Thameslink)
 * 2 tph to Gatwick Airport via Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans and London (Thameslink)
 * 2 tph to Rainham via Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London, Greenwich and Dartford (Thameslink)
 * 1 tph to London St Pancras (East Midlands Trains)
 * 1 tph to Corby via Kettering (East Midlands Trains)

Thameslink trains serve several stations in Central London, including St Pancras International and Blackfriars

The station is on the East Midland Line and is served by Thameslink and East Midland trains. From the station, you can travel north to Bedford, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham. Passengers can also travel south to St Albans, London St. Pancras International, Rainham, Gatwick Airport and Brighton. The typical off-peak service from this station is as follows:

 * 2 tph to Brighton via London and Gatwick Airport (Thameslink)
 * 2 tph to Gatwick Airport via London (Thameslink)
 * 2 tph to Rainham via London, Greenwich and Dartford (Thameslink)
 * 1 tph to London St Pancras (East Midlands Trains)
 * 2 tph to Luton only (Thameslink)
 * 4 tph to Bedford via Luton (all stations) (Thameslink)
 * 1 tph to Nottingham via Bedford, Kettering, Leicester and Loughborough (East Midlands Trains)

By car
Luton is easily accessible by car about 5 minutes from the M1 junctions 10 and 11, travelling from the south/London and the north respectively. The A505 provides a link via Hitchin to the A1(M), and the Cambridge/Hertfordshire area.

See

 * Some surprisingly pleasant countryside is to be found around Luton. To the north of the town (in the village of Streatley) is a wooded hill named the Clappers, which is a good place for a walk. To the west of the town are Dunstable Downs, the eastern edge of the Chilterns and a popular place for walking, gliding and kite-flying.
 * Some surprisingly pleasant countryside is to be found around Luton. To the north of the town (in the village of Streatley) is a wooded hill named the Clappers, which is a good place for a walk. To the west of the town are Dunstable Downs, the eastern edge of the Chilterns and a popular place for walking, gliding and kite-flying.
 * Some surprisingly pleasant countryside is to be found around Luton. To the north of the town (in the village of Streatley) is a wooded hill named the Clappers, which is a good place for a walk. To the west of the town are Dunstable Downs, the eastern edge of the Chilterns and a popular place for walking, gliding and kite-flying.

Do

 * Football:
 * There is a large South Asian community with several mosques and interesting temples such as Guru Nanak Gurdwara, as well as a jewellery market and curry houses.

Events

 * Luton Carnival, one of the largest summer carnivals in Europe.

Buy
Standard shop brands such as Marks & Spencer, Primark, Wilkinson, TK Maxx

More interesting shopping is to be found in nearby towns: St Albans, Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City.

Eat
For a quick bite, walk through the Arndale (large shopping centre) and grab some ethnic specialities in the market, such as an Indian samosa or savoury African pancake.

There are also franchises like Costa, Gregg's, and McDonald's. Aroma, the Asian restaurant in the Galaxy, offers an incredible (though pricey) buffet; for cheaper prices, go for lunch.

Stay safe
Generally, if you keep your wits about you, you should not run in to any great trouble. Do avoid travelling on your own between midnight and 4am, as drunk people are often looking for fights. If a drunk makes a gesture towards you it is best to ignore them and keep walking. If you have been on a night out it is safest to get a licensed taxi, of which there are plenty.

It is not advised to wear a Watford FC shirt in town, especially in evenings or on Saturdays. Despite lacking the great success and history of the Hatters, Watford are considered rivals of Luton Town FC, and Watford shirts are by no means inconspicuous (their team colour is bright yellow). Wearing a Watford shirt is unlikely to attract more than verbal abuse but could turn ugly if you are not careful. It is similarly not advised to wear a Millwall FC shirt in Luton.

Go next
Luton is very well-placed for travelling to many other interesting places.
 * London is a 30-40 minute train journey away.
 * Whipsnade Zoo, just outside Dunstable.

title: Luton


text:
Lutsen

Lutsen is a ski-resort town on Minnesota's North Shore.

Get in
Minnesota State Highway 61 is the route into town.

Do

 * Lutsen Mountains
 * Winter: Ski
 * Summer:

title: Lutsen


text:
Luverne

Luverne is a town in Southern Minnesota.

Understand
Luverne is the county seat of Rock County Minnesota. The county holds the distinction of being one of four counties in the state of Minnesota without a natural lake. It is one of four towns profiled in the 2007 Ken Burns documentary The War. It is the main setting for the second season of the TV show Fargo.

By bus

 * Greyhound, Jefferson Bus Lines

By car

 * Interstate 90, east and west. U.S. Highway 75, north and south. Rock County Highway 4, east and west.

By plane

 * Quentin Aanenson Airfield - LYV

Get around
By personal automobile, bicycle or walking.

See

 * Rock County Historical Museum, Luverne MN.jpg

Do

 * Palace Theater Luverne.jpg
 * Palace Theater Luverne.jpg
 * Palace Theater Luverne.jpg
 * Palace Theater Luverne.jpg
 * Palace Theater Luverne.jpg

Cope

 * The Laundry Room, 310 W Main St, +1 507 227-3017
 * Luverne Power Fitness, 205 E Main St, +1 507 449-7348
 * Computer Clinic, 117 N Kniss Ave, +1 507 449-6143

title: Luverne