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Paramaribo

Paramaribo, often called Par'bo, is the lively capital and only city of the sparsely inhabited country of Suriname. Home to about 240,000 people (2012), or over half of the country's population, this laid-back South American gem lies 15 km from the Atlantic Ocean. It's the country's main harbour, governmental seat and centre for business and learning. Many visitors to Suriname come by here, spending some time to take in the city's pretty UNESCO World Heritage listed colonial centre. Paramaribo leads by example in Surinam's efforts to expand its tourist economy, with a strong focus on eco-friendly travel.

To get a feel of this friendly city, take a pick from the large stacks of fruits at its bustling central market and wander around town to admire its colonial heritage. Then, head to the Waterkant (or water side) to join the locals for Djogo (local beer) and salty fish while gazing at the boats on the Suriname river.

Understand
The name Paramaribo is probably a corruption of the name of an Indian village called Parmirbo (or Parmurbo or Parmarbo). The Dutch settled a trading post in 1631 which fell into English hands when the Dutch abandoned it. The British built a fort called Fort Willoughby. In 1667 the area was conquered by a Zeeland expedition. They called the fort Zeelandia and re-named Paramaribo to New Middelburg, a name that never caught on. Paramaribo grew after the abolition of slavery in 1863 as it attracted many former slaves to the city.

These days 48% of the population of Paramaribo is Christian, 14% Hindu, Muslim 9%, 4% have a different religion, 4% have no religion and 21% did not answer this question in the last census.

In two-thirds of the households, Dutch is the most spoken language and in most other households it is spoken as a second language. Other commonly spoken languages are Sranantongo, Sarnami Hindustani and Javanese. About 2% use English as their first language; however English is widely spoken by many inhabitants.

Climate
Paramaribo has a tropical rainy climate, hot and humid. It has two rainy seasons per year. The long rainy season runs from late April to mid-August. The short rainy season runs from mid-December to mid-February. Usually it does not rain all day but there are heavy tropical showers mainly in the afternoon. The temperature is about 30°C but in the dry period from mid-August to mid-December it can rise to 35-40°C. Humidity is year-round about 80% and can exacerbate temperature extremes. It feels clammy and sticky.

By plane
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has three weekly direct flights from Amsterdam. Surinam Airways (Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij) also has three weekly direct flights from Amsterdam. If you are coming from Europe, another alternative is to fly with Air France from Paris to Cayenne (in French Guiana) and travel from there, either by plane or overland.

From Guyana, daily flights to a small local airstrip. Be aware that one cannot purchase tourist cards there, they have to be purchased at the Embassy in Georgetown upfront (usually before buying the ticket.

From the United States, airline service is available from Miami and New York (JFK) via Caribbean Airlines, which stops in Trinidad and Tobago en route to Suriname. It's also possible to fly with Surinam Airways to and from Miami with a stop in Aruba.

From Brazil, there is a twice a week flight by Suriname Airways from Belém to Paramaribo and vice versa. The flight takes an hour and a half and only drinks are served.

You can change money inside the airport terminal while you wait for your baggage.

From the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, near the town of Zanderij, into Paramaribo there is a bus running. It takes about an hour. There are also taxis available. The situation outside the airport is a bit chaotic, with many taxi drivers hustling for clients.

In January 2009, a one-way taxi fare to the city centre was SR$100 while the bus would cost SRD45. A transit minibus will take you to any hotel in Paramaribo for SRD40 (€10) however it can happen that the driver waits until all seats are occupied.

By bus
From Georgetown, Guyana, take minibus #63a to Molson Creek in eastern Guyana just across the river from Suriname. The trip takes at least 3 hr and costs c. USD10. From there, you will go through customs on the Guyanese side. Then take the 11:00 daily ferry across the river to the South Drain. The actual ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. (Contact Canawaima ferry, for more information). From there you can get a minibus into Paramaribo. Again the trip takes at least 3 hr and costs c. USD15.

From Georgetown, there are also private companies and minibuses that will cover the cost of the minibus to the river, the ferry, and the cost of the minibus on the other side.

From Albina shared taxis and minibuses are plentiful, leaving when full €10-15. Buses depart from the bus station every 2 hours a few times a day SRD8.5. The journey takes around 3 hours, prices February 2017.

By boat
Boat taxis can take you over the Suriname River to the Commewijne district. You can find boat taxis in downtown Paramaribo at the platte brug (between Central Market and Waterkant) to Meerzorg across the Suriname River, or at Leonsberg, North Paramaribo, to take you to New Amsterdam. You can take your bike on these boats.

Get around
The old colonial centre mostly lies directly behind the Waterkant and most of the main sights, including the fort, the palm garden, colonial officers' houses and the central market are easily explored on foot.

By car
There are several car hire services based in Paramaribo. Because of its neighbours and the historical accident of the first imported vehicles being from Britain, Suriname drives on the left with steering wheels on the right. (Alternative explanations are that the Netherlands, at the time of its colonisation of Surinam, still drove on the natural left-hand side of the road or that Surinam's first colonial settlement was English.

By bus
In Suriname, the buses are private. The drivers, however, follow collectively determined routes. The buses are somewhere between private taxis and public transportation and leave the bus station only when they are totally full, meaning there are not specific schedules. If you do see a bus, take note that the buses are hand painted.

A central bus station can found in the Knuffelgracht near the Waterkant.

By bike
Renting a bike is a good alternative to get around and also to explore the outskirts of town. Keep in mind that you have no shelter from the sun and that you can be surprised by torrential rain. Most drivers take notice of you but if there is little traffic then people often drive too fast.

See

 * The Jewish community in Paramaribo is reputed to be the oldest continuing Jewish community in the Americas and the current wooden Neve Shalom (Hebrew: בית הכנסת נווה שלום; literally "Oasis of Peace" or "Valley of Peace") synagogue dates from 1835 and replaced the building constructed in 1719 by Ashkenazi Jews. The original Jewish settlers were descendants of Jews fleeing persecution by the Spanish Inquisition in Holland, Portugal and Italy and came here via Brazil. Just one of the unique features of this Synagogue is its floor of sand rather than boards or tiles. This floor is supposed to be both a reminder of the 40 years in the desert that the Hebrews were forced to endure after their exodus from Egypt, and the times that marranos had to muffle their prayers and footsteps with sand so as not to be discovered by the Inquisition and put to death. There are several beautiful Torahs that are hundreds of years old and the carved woodwork exhibits fine craftsmanship.

Do

 * Stroll through the historic centre with its old wooden houses.
 * Walk to the Keizerstraat where a mosque and a synagogue are built adjacent to each other. Not far from this place are also a Catholic church and a Hindu temple.

 * Visit Waterkant, share a djogo (1 litre) Parbo, the national beer, and enjoy the sunset.
 * Visit the flea market on Sunday and the daily lively Central Market.
 * Visit the flower expo at the Letitia Vriesdelaan which is scheduled every other Sunday. They sell different type of orchids, cacti, and other plants.
 * In the north of Paramaribo is the Blauwgrond quarter. On this former plantation live Javanese people. Sit down at a warung (Javanese for small restaurant or shop) and try one of the lovely dishes.
 * Bike or take a taxi to Weg naar Zee (Road to the Sea) which is a Hindustani open air cremation site north of the Kwattaweg. You're permitted to attend a ceremony. Nearby is a pilgrimage sanctuary.

Events

 * Carnival (Feb) - Colourful carnival parades.
 * Avondvierdaagse (Apr) - Walking and dancing four days long in the streets of Paramaribo. The event starts at 17:00. The route varies and holds a different surprise every day. It meanders through the various neighbourhoods, each with its own characteristics.
 * Suripop (National Song Contest) - This festival for Surinamese songwriters is held every two (even) years.
 * Divali - This Hindu festival of light is a national day in Suriname since 2010
 * Jaran Kepang - Jaran Kepang is a traditional Javanese dance accompanied by gamelan music. This spectacular folk-dance is very popular in Suriname.
 * Winti Pré - This Creole worship is a dance ritual for gods and ghosts.
 * Jaarbeurs (Nov) - This annual trading fair lasts a week and is held on the KKF-Beursterrein (Professor W.J. Kernkampweg) 17:00-23:00.
 * Bodo (End of the Javanese fasting period) - Bodo is the Javanese name of the Eid al-Fitr (Sugar Feast) festival in Suriname.
 * Owru Jari (New Year celebration) - Three days of festival to celebrate the old and new years with lots of fireworks.

Buy
Paramaribo is packed with small shops, boutiques and markets stalls, selling anything from Western brand clothing (plus at least as many fake versions) to cheap daily amenities, great hammocks, illegal DVD copies and Chinese jewellery. It remains a fairly cheap place for foreign visitors, which makes shopping for souvenirs a fun way to spend an afternoon.

The Centrale Markt, on the far east side of the Waterkant, is in many ways the beating heart of the city. A colourful range of street stalls and sellers mark the entrance of the covered market area, supposedly the largest one of its kind in the Caribbean. It's a two story market tucked away in a massive warehouse, with stalls selling anything from fresh vegetables and meats (on the ground floor) to t-shirts and hair extensions (on the second floor). A visit to town is hardly complete without a quick visit to this bustling place and if you're not interested in any of their goods, you might be in one of the many tasty snacks for sale. Open for business daily except Sunday, from early morning until 15:00, but coming early is advised. The Flower Market around the Kleine Waterstraat is another colourful experience, and set nicely against a colonial background.

The Maagdenstraat is your best bet when you're interested in Chinese jewellery. Most of the jewellers are specialized in labour-intensive handmade jewels. You can also have your own jewels cleaned, returning the glow they used to have, or have them repaired. These services are typically cheap, but make sure to agree on a price beforehand. On the corner of Maagdenstraat and Steenbakkerijstraat, Ready Tex is a highly popular place for souvenir shopping, with a broad collection including postcards and T-shirts as well as Suriname ceramics and art works. The Domineestraat is another main shopping street, with a number of quality clothing shops, some mobile phone shops and several book stores. You might be approached by souvenir sellers at the Waterkant, with a small selection of necklaces or leather works. Use your negotiation skills to settle for a reasonable price.

For a more modern experience, follow Paramaribo's middle and upper class to the

Learn
Paramaribo has its own university, which offers a few courses in English. Many of the country's ambitious young people head abroad however, to study at different universities or pursue different fields of study at universities in the Netherlands, in the United States or neighbouring South-American countries.

Eat
Paramaribo's many restaurants reflect its diverse culture and strong Chinese, Javanese and Hindustan influences. Small food stalls serve inexpensive traditional snacks at the markets and along the Waterkant. If you're looking for Javanese style food, consider driving out to the Blauwgrond area of town. This Javanese part of the city is known for its many small restaurants, typically unpolished places with simple plastic outdoor furniture but great food.

However, for the travel weary visitor there's a Kentucky Fried Chicken around and a few places that cater to the much less spiced Dutch taste. Food is typically cheap by western standards, with full 3 course meals anywhere between SRD25 and SRD60 and simple mains around SRD20. If you follow the locals to smaller places you'll be able to eat for SRD10. Most of the small restaurants are quite casual in style. For a somewhat more formal experience, the upmarket hotels in town usually have their own restaurants, serving both traditional and international cuisine for obviously higher prices.

Drink
On the Waterkant, between the street and the river, are a number of pavilions with simple, but atmospheric, terraces. There's no service and you have to get your drinks yourself. Music is everywhere and while adults pour out a djogo in cups, children play between the tables and teens hang out near the quay wall. There's always something happening on the Waterkant. Just next to the pavilions are 3 more upscale restaurants (JiJi, De Waag and Brotik - see the "Eat" section above) with good bars, followed by a 24/7 bar that also has a nice terrace that overlooks the river.

Sleep
As Paramaribo's tourist economy develops, hotels and guesthouses are popping up while older ones get restyled. There's plenty of choice now to fit your budget, from €15 single rooms in a basic guesthouse to €100 and more for a stay in one of the upmarket resorts. If you're travelling with a family or group, apartments are a good option and often cheaper while more convenient than multiple rooms. VAT and service charges are typically included in hotel prices and almost all of them can arrange tours to other towns or the country's tight jungle backlands. Note that many hotels charge their prices in either US dollars or euros. Usually they will accept Surinamese dollars, but check in advance.

Connect
The country code for international calls to Suriname is 597. There are no trunk or area codes.

Many hotels and Bed and Breakfasts offer their guests a Wi-Fi connection - mostly for free. The number of internet cafés in the city is declining due to the usage of smart phones and tablets.

Embassies

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇬🇾 Guyana
 * 🇭🇹 Haiti
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * the Netherlands
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * the United States
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Go next
As nice as Paramaribo is, it would be an absolute pity to leave Suriname without at least one or two trips to its other destinations, jungle villages, remote resorts or sandy beaches. Getting around on your own can be challenging, especially when heading into the dense Amazon rain forest. Fortunately, tour operators seem to be available at every corner in Paramaribo, ready to make any arrangement you might dream of. Look around and negotiate, as there are fine trips to be found for every budget. Whether you're looking for a helicopter trip to a protected sea turtle nesting beach, a week-long boat trip down the Maroni river or just a day trip to the Jodensavanna - Paramaribo's tour operators will make it happen.

 * Albina (East Coast) - a small town on the Maroni river. Directly across the river lies the French-Guianian town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. It's a good starting point for boat trips down the Maroni river, and a transport hub for Galibi.
 * Awarradam (Surinamese Rainforest) - In upper Suriname, on an island in the Gran Rio River, is a beautiful and comfortable resort, built by the government. This is a great place to contact Marroon people and to experience the jungle.
 * Galibi (East Coast) - large groups of protected leatherback sea turtles visit the beaches close to this small town to lay their eggs. In fact, the Galibi Natural Reserve is one of the most important nesting areas for this species in the Western Atlantic region.
 * Nieuw Nickerie (West Coast) - Travel by bus or rental car to the most western part of Suriname to visit Bigi Pan natural resort and see the rice culture in the Nickerie province.
 * Palumeu (Surinamese Rainforest) - More inland then Awarradam is Palumeu, a village of native Indians on the shore of the Tapanahoni River. Stay a few days in the government resort, visit the village and explore the direct environment.

Organized tours
For more advice or arrangements to head out of town, ask local tour operators. There's a wide range of companies offering all kinds of services. A small selection is listed below, but make sure to shop around and bargain for the tour you'd like.

title: Paramaribo


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Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, which includes the erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, is in the Western Ghat mountain ranges. This tiger reserve is on the border of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the southern part of India.

Understand
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is 89 km from Palakkad and 44 km from Pollachi, adjacent to Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Although Parambikulam belongs to the state of Kerala, it is accessible only via Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats mountain range along with Anamalai Hills and Prambikulam is under consideration for selection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History
The park was established in 1973. It was declared a tiger reserve with an area of 643.66 km² in 2009. This consists of a 390.89 km² core area and a 252.77 km² buffer area.

Landscape
The park is thickly forested with bamboo and other such tropical wet and evergreen trees. The terrain is hilly, owing to it being a part of the western ghats. The reserve supports diverse habitat types, including evergreen forests, semi evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous and shola forests. Other unique habitats like montane grasslands and marshy grasslands locally known as ‘vayals’ are also found here. Considerable extent of man-made Teak plantations and presence of three dams of deep freshwater ecosystem created under Parambikulam Aliyar Project added to the diversity of Parambikulam.

Flora and fauna
Parambikulam has a rich treasure of 1438 species of flowering plants falling under 704 genera and 136 families. It includes 81 species of Orchids both terrestrial and epiphytic. The natural forests of the Reserve are a rich treasure of medicinal plants. About 50 endangered medicinal plants are found in the Karianshola (MPCA) alone, in addition to the common species. About 17 of them are already listed in the Red Data Book of IUCN which emphasizes the importance of their conservation. There are about 285 rare endemic and endangered species of flora found in the Sanctuary. Haplothismia exannulata, a monotypic genus of Burmanniaceae rediscovered here after 1951. Coscinium fenestratum, Utleria salicifolia, the IUCN 'redlisted' medicinal plants endemic to Anamalais are also found here, apart from Syzygium palghatense, Pteroceras monsooniae and Medinilla anamalaina, which are endemic to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary includes 36 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibians, 268 species of birds, 61 species of reptiles, 47 species of fish, 124 species of butterflies and more than a thousand species of insects. The animals consist of lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, elephant, tiger, pantThe common species found here are Asian Elephant, Gaur, Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Common Langur, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Sloth Bear, Panther Wild Dog etc. The common birds found are Drongos, Bee-eaters, Treepies, Mynas, Woodpeckers, Kingfishers and Birds of prey. Reptiles like Pythons, King Cobras, Pit Vipers, Lizards and Tortoises are also found. The rare species include Tiger, Lion-tailed Macaque, Mouse Deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Great Pied Hornbill, Peninsular Bay Owl, King Cobra, Cane Turtle, etc. Besides Tomopterna parambikulamana, an endemic frog of Parambikulam and Garra surendranathanii, an endemic sucker fish of Parambikulam are worth mentioning.

Climate
The area falls under intense monsoon showers, both south-west and north-east monsoon. The average annual rainfall is 1600 mm. The reserve experiences wet tropical climate with temperature varies from 15°C to 32°C. The reserve has altitude ranging from 300 to 1438 m above sea level.

Get in
Pollachi, Palakkad and Coimbatore are the nearest towns. From Palakkad and Coimbatore, you must go via Pollachi and Topslip to enter Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

By plane
Coimbatore airport is the nearest international airport to Parambikulam - approximately 100 km (via Pollachi and Topslip). International flights to Singapore, Sharjah are available by Scoot, Air Arabia and Srilankan Airlines. Domestic airlines fly to Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and other Indian cities.

By bus
There are only three bus trips to/ from Parambikulam on a daily basis. Two TNSTC buses start from Pollachi, and one KSRTC bus start from Palakkad. TNSTC bus starts from Pollachi at approximately 6:15AM and 3:15PM. KSRTC bus start from Palakkad at approximately 8AM. KSRTC bus touches Kozhinjampara and Pollachi enroute. The KSRTC bus starts the return journey from Parambikulam at approximately 12:30PM, while the TNSTC buses start their return journey at approximately 8:45AM and 5:45PM. These timings are tentative, and it is best to confirm these timings from the bus stations before one finalises the journey. Those who are travelling by bus and plan to go for a vehicle safari inside the tiger reserve should alight at Anappady and visit the Information Centre at Anappady to purchase tickets.

By train
Coimbatore Junction (85 km) and Palakkad Junction (100 km) are the nearest railway stations.

Get around
For the day visitor, there are park-managed vehicles that takes a visitor on a park safari. Private vehicles are allowed inside the reserve only if they have a prior booking for an overnight stay. Toilet facilities are available at three locations - near Parambikulam check-post, near the Information Centre at Anappady, and at Parambikulam town.

By car
As there are only 2 buses per day, hiring taxis will be the viable option, if you want to cover both Topslip and Parambikulam on the same day. Though there are lot of tourist taxis from Pollachi, it may not be easy to get one during peak seasons or when film shootings happen around the town. It is therefore advisable to book your cab in advance and ask your tour guide or cab driver to pick you from Coimbatore Railway station, Airport, Bus terminus or Pollachi Bus Terminus.

 * Grass Hills Tours & Travels. Phone: +91 94878 79445, 94878 79446, 96008 18582, 90379 03515. Email: [mailto:contact@grasshillstravels.com contact@grasshillstravels.com]

Palakkadtaxi.com +91 9946556202

Talk
Malayalam and Tamil are spoken but basic English is understood.

Fees and permits
The visiting time is from 7AM to 6PM. Entry fee for light vehicles is ₹50 and for heavy vehicles is ₹170. A 3-hour van safari will cost ₹150 per head. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the park unless you have booked your accommodation in Parambikulam in-advance. Van Safari is possible only when there are 20 people. If not you must buy the tickets for 20 people (₹3000) and share it.

Do
Community based ecotourism programmes provides a major share of employment to the tribals living in the Tiger Reserve. There are multiple eco-tourism packages. These activities are operated within the Buffer Zone of the tiger reserve with the help of local tribal guides.

 * Trekking (from ₹600 to ₹6000 for a group of 5 for various trails)
 * Bamboo rafting
 * Camping
 * Safari
 * Purchase of souvenirs (wood crafted materials, key-chains made from recycled plastic, t-shirts, caps, jackets, organic pepper, paper bags etc.)
 * Tree saplings can be purchased from a nursery located at Parambikulam town.

The packages inside the tiger reserve are managed by the forest department with significant participation from the local community. The forest department has not authorized any private tour operators or travel agents to take bookings or conduct tours on behalf of the forest department.

Eat
Vengoli Café, located inside the reserve, provides eating options. While the name sounds exotic, the menu here is limited. The café provides idli and dosa for breakfast, meals for lunch, and chappathi for dinner. Some Kerala favourite snacks such as pazhampori are available in addition to the usual packaged snacks such as biscuits. This restaurant is near the information centre at Anappadi.

Sleep
Multiple options are available for stay inside the reserve, managed by the forest department. The website of the tiger reserve provides these details.

Tree Top houses that must be booked well in advance (₹2500 to ₹4000 for 2 persons).

Stay safe
Do not tease wild animals and stay away from them. Beware of lone elephants and never attempt to tease them or take pictures as they may turn violent in no time.

Do not try to do any activity after 6PM here.

Usage of alcohol and tobacco products is not allowed inside the tiger reserve.

Campfires are not allowed inside the reserve.

Bringing a binocular would be helpful to have a closer look at the fauna of the sanctuary.

Umbrella, rain jacket and rain pants will be of help if there are rains.

Wear shoes (especially hiking shoes) if you are planning for a trek.

It is advisable to wear light-colored clothing that have colors that align with the forest environment - light brown, light green, etc. Avoid contrasting colors (such as red, white) when you are visiting a forest.

Connect
BSNL is the only network that works here and rest simply do not work. None of your datacards like Tataphoton, Reliance or netconnect will work. There are some payphones available in the tea shops and your accommodation.

Go next

 * Coimbatore
 * Palakkad
 * Pollachi
 * Topslip

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

title: Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary


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Paramus

Paramus is a major shopping town in New Jersey. Many people from all over the New York metropolitan area (especially people from New York City and Westchester County) come here to shop at the many stores along New Jersey state routes 4 and 17, and at the Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus Park Mall, Bergen Town Center, Fashion Center, and (by extension, because it's in Hackensack) The Shops at Riverside malls. This is because New Jersey has a lower sales tax than New York overall and because New Jersey does not tax clothing. Paramus is in Bergen County, New Jersey, which continues its traditional blue laws on Sundays. Nearly every shopping destination is closed on Sunday. Restaurants are allowed to open.

Get in
There are many ways to get in to Paramus. Many from New York City take the George Washington Bridge straight onto New Jersey state route 4. Overall, Paramus is extremely accessible due to a large network of major highways surrounding it, including U.S. Interstates 80 and 95, the Garden State Parkway, and New Jersey state routes 4, 17, and 208.

Get around
Car or bus. Everything is within about, maybe even a bit less, but a car is necessary.

See

 * New Jersey Children's Museum, +1 201-262-5151: 30 neat exhibits including a kid-sized grocery, the World of Animal Senses, a fire truck, New Jersey's largest kaleidoscope, and a medieval castle where children dress up as knights, princesses, fairies and kings.
 * Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, +1 201-261-0012: Founded in 1957 by an early conservationist, the museum showcases the natural world. It includes wildlife art and big game collections.

Buy
Paramus has the highest per-year retail sales in the United States, at more than $5 billion. There are three major malls: the Westfield Garden State Plaza, the Paramus Park Mall, and the Bergen Town Center. Many major department stores have locations at more than one of these malls. IKEA has a major store in Paramus across from the Westfield Garden State Plaza. If you're planning to shop on a Sunday, your options will be very limited, as the blue laws prohibit almost all sale of non-food items.
 * Paramus Park Mall — some stores: JC Penny, Macy's, Swarovski, Brighton Collectibles

Eat
The malls are eating meccas. The Westfield Garden State Plaza has many dining choices, including Grand Lux Cafe (a more upscale and larger offshoot of The Cheesecake Factory), Legal Sea Foods, Napa Valley Grille, Ruby Tuesday, Joe's American Bar & Grill, Papa Razzi, California Pizza Kitchen, On The Border, and Chili's.

The Shops at Riverside, has a Rosa Mexicano, PF Changs, Maggiano's Little Italy, the Cheesecake Factory, Houston's, Thai Kitchen, and Morton's Steakhouse. On a Friday or Saturday night, the wait at each restaurant is at least one hour long.

The Paramus Park Mall has a food court.

title: Paramus


text:
Paranaguá

Paranaguá is a port city in Paraná. The city preserves many of the oldest colonial remnants in Paraná. It also serves as a convenient departure point for Ilha do Mel.

Understand
Paranaguá means "big round sea" in the Tupi-Guarani language, a reference to the wide bay that affords the city optimal conditions to function as an important port. The city was founded somewhere around 1550 on the island of Cotinga, and later expanded onto the mainland.

By train

 * Serra Verde Express. On most days the scenic train from Curitiba stops only at Morretes but on Sundays it comes all the way to Paranaguá. The trains departs from Curitiba at 08:15 and arrives in Paranaguá at 13:15. R$39.

By boat
Paranagua is linked by passenger launch to Guaraqueçaba, Ilha do Mel, and Ilha do Superagui.

Do

 * ParanaHoe - kayaks and stand up paddle for rent. They also organize some tours (check their Instagram page)

Buy
Popular items to pick up here include handicrafts and black pottery casserole dishes made as in colonial times for slow cooking the local stews.

Eat
Sea food can be had fresh daily. As in much of Brasil the best/economical places to eat are the "por quilo" or all you can eat restaurants; these are sprinkled throughout the downtown area.

Drink
For the interested, there are many artesanal cachacas (sugar cane liquor) coming to market in Paranaguá.

Sleep
Several reasonable places downtown including a hostel right on the waterfront next to the passenger boat ticket office.
 * Hotel Camboa - Rua João Estevão, S/N. - Centro.
 * Hotel San Rafael - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Hotel Palácio- Rua Correia de Freitas- Centro.
 * Hotel Lider - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Hotel Monte Líbano - Rua Julia da Costa - Centro.
 * Ibis Hotel- Av. Cel. José Lobo, 136

Go next

 * Guaraqueçaba is home to a reserve for the Atlantic Forest which has been destroyed along most of the southern half of Brasil's coast. It is easier to get to Guaraquecaba from Paranaguá by boat than to drive there from Curitiba.
 * Ilha do Mel
 * Marumbi
 * Morretes
 * Pontal do Paraná - This town, on the coast opposite Ilha do Mel, has modern beach resort facilities.

title: Paranaguá


text:
Paraná

Paraná is a state in southern Brazil. It's an incredibly culturally rich and diverse state, blending characteristics of the Portuguese, indigenous and African cultures present in most of Brazil, with those of varied immigrant groups such as German, Polish, Syrian-Lebanese and Japanese. However, for very comprehensible reasons, the most visited attraction of the state — as well as of the whole country — are the awe-inspiring Iguaçu Falls.

Cities

 * – the capital, known worldwide for its innovative urban planning and famous Botanic Gardens
 * — this center of the ceramics industry has many historic monuments
 * — it hosts the Cascavel de Ouro racing event, the Coopavel Rural Show, the Livestock Show, and motorsport events
 * – main gateway to the Iguaçu Falls and cultural mix with Argentina and Paraguay
 * — a wealthy center of a coffee-producing region
 * – modern but charming city with a rich Japanese and Syrian–Lebanese heritage
 * — home to Vila Velha State Park and the National Dark Draft Beer Party
 * — the center of Brazil's Ukrainian community

Other destinations

 * — the world-famous waterfall, and, which has many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, among them the giant otter and the giant anteater. The clouds of spray produced by the waterfall are conducive to the growth of lush vegetation
 * — this island's attractions are its beaches, diving, the fortress and the lighthouse
 * — near Guaraqueçaba
 * — this park near Ponta Grossa features many massive sandstone formations which resemble castles, towers, animals, and other objects.

Understand
Paraná has what is left of the araucaria forest, one of the most important subtropical forests in the world. At the border with Argentina is the National Park of Iguaçu, considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 40 km from there, at the border with Paraguay, the largest dam in the world was built, the Hidroelétrica de Itaipu (Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam).

Before the arrival of European settlers, indigenous populations inhabited the region for thousands of years. They included the Carijó in the lands closer to the sea, from the Tupi group, and the Caingangues in the interior, who belonged to the Jê group. In the 1940s, the northern part of the state was settled as a result of the expansion of the São Paulo coffee industry.

The main economic activities are agriculture, industry (agribusiness, automotive, and paper) and plant extraction (wood and yerba mate). In agriculture, the state stands out in the production of soybeans, maize, wheat, sugarcane, cassava, beans, tomato, orange and yerba mate.

Get in

 * Afonso Pena International Airport in Curitiba
 * Foz do Iguaçu International Airport in in Foz do Iguaçu

See

 * The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves — a UNESCO World Heritage site

title: Paraná


text:
Paraná Plateau

Parana Plateau is a region of Paraguay.

Cities

 * – An important border town, just across the river from the Iguaçu Falls in neighbouring Brazil.
 * – The home of Chipa. Head here to enjoy numerous varieties of this delicacy.
 * – A laid-back beach town across Posada in Argentina. Not much to see, but great to take a break with bars and place at the water.
 * – The "Latin American Capital of Electric Power" is home to Itaipú Dam, which produced the second most energy of any in the world as of 2020.
 * – An interesting German town.
 * – A Japanese village and colony, also partly funded by the Japanese government.
 * (Col El Tirol / Colonia Tirol) – A colony of former Germans. The most interesting "exhibit" here though seems to be an elder guy that lives in a forest and place distinctly constructed by himself. Pay him a visit and find a local and quite alternative curiosity. Camping there might be possible, if you ask.
 * – Home to the Jesuit ruins which is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Paraguay.

Understand
This region encompasses the forested highlands in Paraguay's east, along the Paraná River.

Get in
Guaraní International Airport

See
Some important sight of the region are the Itaipú Dam and the Salto del Monday near and in Ciudad del Este, but also the Iguaçu Falls just across the border in Brazil.

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis

title: Paraná Plateau


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Paraparaumu

Paraparaumu, Paraparaumu Beach and the adjoining village of Raumati are on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Understand
Raumati is a friendly beachside village that offers a refreshing view of Kapiti Island. Right on the beachfront is the hub with the swimming pool and restaurant with the best views of the coast line.

By car
It's a 40- to 90-min drive from the nearest cities of Palmerston North and Wellington.

By train
Tranz Metro suburban trains run regularly (generally 1 or 2 every hour) from Wellington on the Kapiti Line, which terminates one stop further on at Waikanae. It takes 54 minutes from Wellington to Paraparaumu. The Northern Explorer has long-distance trains three times per week that start from Auckland.

By bus
InterCity operates several daily scheduled bus services throughout this region and most backpacker buses stop here.

Get around
Mana Coach Service provides a bus service between Paraparaumu and Paraparaumu Beach to Coastlands and the railway station to get you where you need to go. There is an hourly bus from Raumati to Paraparaumu, which takes 10 minutes. There is also a local taxi service available.

Do
For a bit of exercise try your luck at the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club or some bowling practice at one of the local greens.

Kapiti Island
DOC permits are required to visit Kapiti Island. These are included in the price of ferry tickets, and you are not allowed to visit in your own boat. Biosecurity measures include bag inspections before departure.

Buy
The village is a good place to buy local. The Saturday market is a special community experience. Drop in to have your breakfast and have a look. It's a great place to meet local people, local growers and local producers.

The Raumati shopping strip houses women's fashion, a cycle store for those who are into something with speed, a renowned butcher and bakery and those stores which will cater for your small needs.

Eat
There are many cafes and restaurants both in town and near the beach, making this a great stop to refuel. When ordering fish and chips down at the beach, ask them to point you to Fish and Chip Hill where locals soak up the sun, picnic and at times feed the many seagulls that hang around.

Raumati is home to a small selection of restaurants ranging from Italian to Thai and cafes only a short stroll from the beach.

Sleep
With many motels and hotels this town is not short of a place to stay and accommodation rates suit those wanting a quick stop over or a relaxing weekend on the coast.

Go next

 * Paekakariki – a small town to the south
 * Waikanae – another small town very close by to the north

title: Paraparaumu


text:
Parasnath Hills

Parasnath Hills are a range of hills in northern Jharkhand. The highest peak is 1350 metres.

Understand
This range is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Jains. They call it Sammed Sikharji. The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill. According to some, nine Tirthakaras attained salvation on this hill. For each of them there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill. Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. However, although the place has been inhabited from ancient times, the temples may be of more recent origin.

About 50,000 Jain pilgrims visit Sammed Shikharji every year.

The Santhals call it Marang Buru, the hill of the deity. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Baisakh (mid April).

Get in
Best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is pleasant.

By road
Parasnath Hill is on Grand Trunk Road NH 2.The nearby place for reaching Parasnath is Ranchi 190 km, Bokaro 40 km, Jhumri Tileya 80 km Dhanbad 60 km and Hazaribagh 80 km

By rail
Parashnath station on the Howrah-Delhi grand chord line is the base for a visit to Parashnath. The adjacent town is called Isri or Isri Bazar. It has got some Jain dharmashalas. There is a Dak Bungalow at Dumri about a mile from the station. There is small station at Nimiaghat from where also Parasnath Hill is accessible, but the said route is not the popular one, people only travel by this route once a year. Best is to take 36 seat bus/rental car from Isri Bazar for Madhuban and the metalled trek route of 9 km to Shikharji (Parashnath).

Almost all the major trains running on The Grand Chord line (Delhi to Kolkata) stop at Parasnath station. These include New Delhi - Kolkata Rajdhani Express, Puri - New Delhi Purushottam Express, Mumbai- Howrah Mail, Ahmedabad-Asansol Parasnath Express. In view of the tourist volume, Parasnath station has been built as a model station by Indian Railways.
 * Parasnath - one passenger train in the evening is available for Dhanbad.

Get around
The summit of Parasnath Hill can be reached either from the southern or the northern side. There are two recognized routes to Parasnath Hill.

The southern approach is from Isri Bazaar, to the top, is motorable for about 2 km, the rest being a climb of 8 km.

The northern approach is a 13 km route from Madhuban village on the Dumri-Giridih road. Madhuban is about 40 km from Giridih and about 10 km from Parasnath rail station/ Isri Bazaar/ Dumri, all on Grand Trunk Road (NH 2). Buses ply along this route from Dumri to Giridih and stop at Madhuban village. Hired cars or taxis are available at Isri Bazar, just outside the rail station. There are a number of Jain temples at Madhuban.

After 3.5 km from Madhuban there is a stream called Gandharva nala and further up there is another stream Sita nala. The Jains hold the portion from Gandharva nala up to the summit as very sacred. It is easier to reach Parasnath from its northern side.

Ponies and dandis for the climb can be arranged at short notice. Jeeps and such power-driven vehicles can be hired to carry visitors for a considerable distance up the hill. Thereafter they have to walk.

Area landmarks

Note: The attached map is slightly erroneous. Dumri is wrongly shown, so is the road from Dumri. Dumri is where the Forest Rest House is marked.

See
Parashnath Hill Top Partly up the hill At Hill Base (Madhuban)
 * Jain temples - Samosharan temple and Bhomiyaji Asthan
 * Jain temples - Samosharan temple and Bhomiyaji Asthan

Note: Enlarge (+) the attached map to view a particular area in more detail.

Do

 * Engage in religious activities.
 * Climb the hill. There is a road going up for some distance.
 * Panoramic views of the surrounding areas as one goes higher up the hill - Chandraprabhuji, Pushpnandanji, Goutamswamiji and Chaprakund.
 * Madhuban is a popular picnic spot. BUT IT IS A SACRED PLACE FOR JAINS ALL OVER THE WORLD, HENCE THERE IS RESTRICTION FOR NON VEG AND ALCOHOL

Eat
There are small eateries, where vegetarian food is available.

Drink
Alcohol is prohibited in this area.

At Madhuban
The Jains have provided rest houses at the foot of the hill at Madhuban. The food is strictly vegetarian at these places. Non-vegetarian food, even if brought from outside, is not allowed.

Go next

 * Giridih - about 46 km from Isri
 * Dhanbad - about 50 km from Isri
 * Topchanchi - about 15 km from Isri. See Dhanbad for details
 * Bodhgaya - about 150 km from Isri
 * Kolkata - about 320 km from Isri

title: Parasnath Hills


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Paraty

Paraty (also spelled Parati) is a coastal historic town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was first settled by the Portuguese in 1667. Its old churches, cobbled streets and nearby forests, waterfalls, islands and emerald-green sea attract lots of tourists interested in mixing cultural tourism and more natural settings. The culture and nature of the region are, together with Ilha Grande, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Paraty grew in the 18th century as a strategically important port for exporting the gold mined in Minas Gerais. When shipments in nearby Rio began to attract the attention and ambition of pirates and privateers from rival European powers, the Crown began using Paraty as their safe port for getting their gold to Lisbon. Together with Ouro Preto, the town was part of the Estrada Real (Caminho Real or Caminho do Ouro, Gold Road), a route used to export gold in colonial times. It was also an obligatory sleep-over stop for travelers between Rio and São Paulo until the late 1800s, when the inner road was opened. This caused Paraty to be forgotten, stalled in time, away from "progress" and disfiguration and helped it preserve its old city as it was in the past. In the 1970s, it was rediscovered as a popular tourist destination.

It is home to about 37,000 people.

By plane
Paraty can be reached by air from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo only by chartered helicopter or small commercial and private aircraft due to its small airstrip.

With a scheduled flight, it's most convenient to arrive in Rio. There are further flight connections to São Paulo. From both cities, you can take an intercity bus or shared ride with Blablacar to Paraty.

As of May 2021, there are not yet commercial flights to the nearby airport of Angra dos Reis.

By boat
Another possibility of transport is to arrive by sea by way of a sailboat or cruise ship from Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande. Fast boat transfers from Safari Transfers from Angra dos Reis are also available.

By car
Paraty is connected by road to Rio de Janeiro (236 km) or São Paulo (330 km), via road BR-101.

By bus
Air-conditioned buses go back and forth from Rio to Paraty and Paraty to Rio. Buses to and from Rio depart about nine times a day. The trip takes about four hours. The trip to and from São Paulo takes about six hours. From São Paulo try Reunidas Paulista; from Rio de Janeiro, Costa Verde Transportes.

Get around
The historic town is compact and can be covered on foot; cars, save for taxis picking up or dropping passengers, are not allowed into the historic city center. The rough boulders of the old city streets would quickly destroy the shocks of most cars anyway.

Buses to the beautiful village and beaches at Trindade (30 km south of Paraty) and outlying beaches leave from the Bus Station. Buy tickets onboard approximately R$3 to Trindade.

Historic Center
Something of a time capsule, the historic center looks much as it did back in the 1800s. Once a month, at high tide when the moon is full, seawater rises from its normal levels and comes in through special openings in the seawalls that separate the city from the bay, to wash the Historic Center streets — a marvel of ancient city planning. The streets are only flooded for a short time, until the tide recedes. The water is usually only 15-25 cm (6-10 in) deep and a few merchants near the seawall put out small bridges to span the flooded streets for the benefit of pedestrians.

Waterfalls
Around the waterfall, many trails for shorter or longer hikes can be found, checkout OpenStreetMap.

Do

 * A boat trip through the bay. You can even find your own private beach on one of more than 300 islands. Small boats are available for charter near the river mouth. Negotiate a price before leaving.
 * Diving
 * Snorkeling in the bay. When you rent a small boat (and hire the driver for the afternoon) you can ask about getting a mask and snorkel. They'll also supply you with fish food. You just jump off in the middle of the bay and float around feeding fish.
 * Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding in the bay to islands, beaches and mangrove.
 * Trekking the Caminho do Ouro/ Gold Trail. Access from the Paraty-Cunha road. Lots of trails through the Atlantic Rainforest to tropical beaches, like Praia do Sono.
 * There is the distillery Alambique Engenho D'Ouro. Provided is a great deal of knowledge in the art of producing and savoring excellent cachaças and liqueurs. Just go by bus for 30 minutes to Penha. From there you can walk to the distillery.
 * There is the distillery Alambique Engenho D'Ouro. Provided is a great deal of knowledge in the art of producing and savoring excellent cachaças and liqueurs. Just go by bus for 30 minutes to Penha. From there you can walk to the distillery.

Beaches

Buy
Paraty is one of the famous producers of cachaça, a strong spirit distilled from sugarcane juice. In fact, in the early 20th century, cachaça was known as parati. Dozens of excellent brands are available, and there are shops with shelves of cachaça filled from top to bottom. The town is also home to many artists inspired by the scenic surroundings, and there are quite a few gallery and handicraft shops. Miniatures of the colorful boats that dot Paraty's harbor are commonly found souvenirs.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Drink
Dance with the locals at bar/clubs in the main square, Lado B da Praça or Dinho's Bar, or in Paraty 33.

Sleep
The Historic Center suits visitors wanting to be where the action is, and it has plenty of charming hotels and pousadas. It can however be busy and noisy particularly at night so its worth considering staying outside and walking or cycling in. Cheaper options can be found at the newer neighborhoods, outside the tourist area. There are over 200 pousadas in the area. Watch out for the busy periods of FLIP (see Do above) in July, Carnaval and New Year's.

Outside the historical center

On the beach

If you need additional options of budget accommodations (Bed and Breakfast): http://www.pousada.com.br

Connect
There are plenty of internet cafes just outside the historical center. You can't avoid seeing one while walking a few blocks along the main street.

Go next
Hostels and private rooms are available ...:

in the south(-west):

 * Paraty Mirim – 18 km. You find idyllic beaches, waterfalls and an indigenous village. Surrounded by forest, it's like living in the nature. There is a direct bus from Paraty.
 * Trindade – 25 km. Popular beach in an old village. You can do surfing, hiking, swimming in natural pools, visiting waterfalls or just relaxing on one of the many beaches. Buses depart once per hour at around 45 after the hour.
 * Ubatuba – 70 km. Beautiful beaches are the main attraction of this place, as well as its well-preserved nature. You can do mountain biking and trekking. One of the best places in Brazil to practice surf, nautical sports, diving and birdwatching.

 * Ilhabela – 155 km. The island is considered one of the natural paradises of the São Paulo coast. (Ilhabela means literally "beautiful island" in Portuguese). It is known for its forest-covered mountains, its amazing beaches and its savage trails.

in the east:

 * Ilha Grande – 120 km. It's noted for its scenic beauty, unspoilt tropical beaches, luxuriant vegetation and rugged landscape. You will enjoy hiking. Lopes Mendes beach in Ilha Grande was once voted one of the top 10 most beautiful in the world by Vogue Magazine.

 * Angra dos Reis – 100 km. It is comprised by many islands and beaches filled with natural beauty, legends and social events. You can rent a boat to see the mansions of the rich and famous, erected on private islands.

in the north-west:

 * Cunha – 50 km. The city is visited for ceramics, a pleasant climate and gastronomy. People come to enjoy the local state park (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar)
 * Aparecida - 100 km. It's the most popular religious pilgrimage site in Latin America. Pilgrims come to visit the Basilica containing the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida. Other attractions are a theme park, aquarium and museums. From Aparecida to Santo Antônio do Pinhal.

title: Paraty


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Parauapebas

Parauapebas is a city in Pará. This is true frontier country: There was virtually nothing in this region until the world's largest iron ore mine, at neighbouring Serra dos Carajás was set into production in the early 1980s. The city still has an air of pioneers and adventurers.

Get in

 * Marabá, some 200 km off is the regional bus hub, for transport onwards to Belém (about 12 hours), Imperatriz (about 10 hours) or Brasília. Road travel times may increase significantly during rainy season.
 * There is a train all the way to São Luís thrice a week, along the railway that exports the ore of the region. 16 hours ride!

title: Parauapebas


text:
Paravur

 * Not to be confused with North Paravur, which is approximately 175 km to the north.

Paravur is in Quilon/Kollam district, Kerala, Southern Travancore, India. It is a municipal town connected to Thiruvananthapuram and Quilon by trains and bus.The population is around 44,000 (2011). Famous for calm, clean back waters and coir related small scale industries. The place is also connected via waterway with the other major towns in Kerala. Paravur was once a major commerce hub that has withered after the waterways lost importance. It has a forgotten look about it in places.

The place is serene. Get a bike, wander around, hit the mile long seafront and walk up to the lagoon. The beach is sandwiched between the lake and the sea. So you can walk around in the lake, it's about a foot deep and has clear white sand.

By road
From Thiruvananthapuram — Take the road off of Varkala, Paripally, or Chatanoor. Paravur is a municipality town and has excellent bus service.

By train
The train from Bangalore seems to stop at this station. There are also local trains shuttling between Thiruvananthapuram and Quilon that stop here.

See

 * Temple festivals
 * Beaches
 * Fly fishing: You will find a lot of local anglers hitting the lake and the lagoon. Excellent place to fish.
 * Boating
 * Laze around
 * Laze around

title: Paravur


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Paray-le-Monial

Paray-le-Monial is a little town in the south of Burgundy in France. It is the sister city of Bad Dürkheim, Germany and Wells, England.

See

 * The basilica is the major attraction in Paray-le-Monial. It was established in the 11th century and is nowadays quite popular with pilgrims.
 * The 18th-century cloister.

Do

 * Club 4 is the only real club in town.

Sleep

 * Hotel 3 Pigeons
 * Hotel Terminus which is in a short walking distance of the station. It has a wonderful garden to sit in in summer.

Stay safe
The town is not very dangerous and there is hardly any crime. You can walk through the town at night at any time. Especially when it's pilgrim-season you should be careful as there are many tourists in town around that time.

title: Paray-le-Monial


text:
Pará (Brazil)

Pará, the second largest state in Brazil by area. It is located in the north of Brazil, and encompasses the mouth of the Amazon River.

Cities

 * — the capital and terminus for a trip down the Amazon
 * — a coastal city on the island of Maiandeua
 * — home to one of the most beautiful freshwater beaches in the world, leading to it being popularly known as the Brazilian Caribbean
 * — Henry Ford moved his rubber cultivation project here after he failed in Fordlândia
 * — an agricultural town on the way to Salinópolis
 * — a regional center for education and trade
 * — a historic city where Henry Ford once tried to cultivate rubber
 * — a small city near the end of navigable part of the Tapajós river
 * — famous for some nearby ancient rock paintings
 * — the main city of southeast Pará
 * — this city was founded in the 1980s to support the world's largest iron ore mine, and still has an air of pioneers and adventurers
 * (also known as Salinas) — a beach resort some 300 km from Belém
 * — a small city located where the Tapajós river pours into the Amazon River

Other destinations

 * — claimed to be the world's largest fresh water island (larger than Switzerland), it has a distinct birdlife and also huge water buffalo farms
 * — an island with 17 km of beaches with freshwater tides just outside Belém, which draw vacationers primarily in the dry season
 * — 8,600 km² of very biodiverse habitat with a wide range of animals and plants (a bit smaller than Cyprus)
 * — 8,600 km² of very biodiverse habitat with a wide range of animals and plants (a bit smaller than Cyprus)

Understand
While the east is densely populated, the west is a barely developed rainforest wilderness that is being pushed back further and further by deforestation. It is home to about 40 indigenous groups.

Climate
It has a tropical climate in which there is no dry season — all months have mean precipitation values of at least 60 millimetres (2.4 in).

Get in

 * Val de Cans International Airport in Belém
 * Santarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport

See
The Port of Belém has restaurants, art galleries, a small brewery, ice-cream shops, artisan stands, regional food kiosks, coffee houses, and a touristic harbour.

Fans on industrial-urban planning may be interested in visiting Fordlândia, a prefabricated industrial town built by Henry Ford to be inhabited by 10,000 people.

Do
Every October, Belém receives tens of thousands of tourists for the year's most important religious celebration: the procession of the Círio de Nazaré.

Enjoy the beaches in Salinópolis, Alter do Chão or Ilha do Mosqueiro.

Buy
In Belém look for the Marajó-style ceramics, based on the vanished Marajoara culture, which developed on an island in the Amazon River.

Eat
Among all the Brazilian states Pará has by far the heaviest influence of indigenous cooking. Many of these dishes will taste strange to an average European, but all are quite worth a try
 * Tucupí: A yellow gravy boiled from manioc, quite bitter, goes in many dishes.
 * Maniçoba: A distant cousin of the all-Brazilian Feijoada, easily shortlisted for worst-ever-looking-food. Mostly pork and manioc, served with rice.
 * Pato no Tucupí: duck with jambú (vegetable) cooked in tucupí.
 * Tacacá: soup with tucupí, dried shrimps and jambú.
 * Açaí: soup-like dessert made from the Açaí fruit.
 * Brazil Nuts: A nut native to the region.

title: Pará (Brazil)


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Pardubice

Pardubice is a city in East Bohemia. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument reservation. The city is well known for its sport events, which include the Velká pardubická steeplechase in horse racing, the Golden Helmet of Pardubice in motorcycle racing, and the Czech Open international chess and games festival.

Understand
This city of 92,000 people (2023) is known as the centre of industry, with an oil refinery and an electronic equipment plant.

By train

The easiest way to get to Pardubice is by train. It lays on railway between Prague - Brno - Vienna and Prague - Ostrava. There is at least one train to and from Prague every hour. There are three train companies serving this route: Czech Railways (České dráhy), RegioJet and Leo Express. Travel to Prague takes about one hour (104 km). Tickets cost about €4-7.

An overnight train from Rijeka stops here in the summer months; it runs via Ljubljana, Csorna, Bratislava, Břeclav and Brno, continuing to Prague. It's run by Regiojet, booking essential.

By plane

 * The only airport terminal has common airport facilities such as WiFi, luggage wrapping, small duty free shop and some vending machines. Europcar provides can renting. There is no exchange office at the airport, but a single ATM.
 * The only airport terminal has common airport facilities such as WiFi, luggage wrapping, small duty free shop and some vending machines. Europcar provides can renting. There is no exchange office at the airport, but a single ATM.

 * From the airport to the city and the train station, use bus number 90, which leaves 30 and 60 minutes after arrival of every flight. In the opposite direction, the bus leaves the train station 90, 120 and 150 minutes before any plane departure. You can buy tickets from the ticket machine or the bus driver. Ticket machine accepts contactless credit cards and coins, while the bus driver accepts 100 Kč bills and coins. The price of the ticket is 15 Kč if bought from the ticket machine and 20 Kč if bought from the driver. You can also park for free at the airport for an unlimited amount of time.

By car
Pardubice does not have highway access, the best possibility is to go to Hradec Králové via the D11 highway, which is 20 km from Pardubice, and then to Pardubice.

Get around
Public transportation system, consisting mainly of busses and trolley-busses.

There are also pedestrian/bike paths on some roads.

Most of the city is able to be safely walked as well, but it may take awhile.

Do

 * Football: FK Pardubice play soccer in Fortuna or First League, the top tier. Their CFIG Arena (capacity 4600) is on the riverbank 1 km north of town centre.

Buy
The city is well known for its gingerbread production (Czech: Pardubický perník).

Drink
Pardubice Brewery is a renowned Czech regional brewery established in 1871 in the town of Pardubice with a proud tradition of brewing beer since the middle ages.

title: Pardubice


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Parga

Parga (Population: 11,866 (2011)) is a small town on the Ionian coast of mainland Greece, just between the cities of Igoumenitsa and Preveza, in the region of Epirus.

Understand
The main draws to Parga are the historical castle which overlooks the town (from a headland to the west of the town) and the beaches. Near the town centre is Krioneri beach, to the west of the town (beyond the castle) is Valtos beach, and 4km to the west of the town is Lichnos beach. Despite its scenic beauty, tourism is rather new here and the number of foreign tourists is small. People in Parga are friendly and the town still feels genuinely Greek. The majority of tourists frequenting Parga are Greeks, although it is gradually becoming more popular among foreign tourists, especially during peak holiday times (namely, July and August).

Get in
There are basically only two ways of getting to Parga, by car or bus, and by boat. There are several daily bus connections from both Preveza and Igoumenitsa, as well as boats from Corfu. Charter tourists arrive with buses from the airport close to Preveza.

Get around
Parga is a very small town, so there is really no need for transportation to get around, except from the boats leaving every now and then to the nearby beaches Lichnos and Valtos. It is possible to walk, though the trip can be very warm during the day. To get to the surrounding areas, there is a car and scooter rental in town.

Buy

 * Parga honey is a local speciality - it is sold by various merchants on the road just in front of Krioneri beach in the town centre.
 * There are many interest curios shops on the narrow alley leading from the town centre up the hill towards the Greek Fortress.

Eat
There are other restaurants, including a Chinese, on the beachside.

Go next

 * Buses leave to both Preveza and Igoumenitsa several times a day. Please note that these are local buses, not driving directly between the towns. The trip may indeed take a few hours.
 * There are many travel bureaus around the town, where boat trips to Corfu and Paxos and Antipaxos (Paxos' smaller neighbour to the south) can be booked.
 * Many tour companies offer trips to Meteora, 2½ hr away by road, deep in the heart of the Greek mainland. Thanks to the construction of a motorway from EU funding, it is now possible to complete the trip in a day and it is no longer necessary to make a night-stop.

title: Parga


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Paricutin

Paricutin is a notorious volcano in the state of Michoacan in Mexico. It is the youngest volcano on earth. Two small villages nearby were destroyed in the volcano's first (and only) eruption. There are still a few services in the area for visitors, especially in the two new villages that were built by the displaced villagers. Paricutín has been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Understand
In 1943, a farmer named Dionisio Pulido was plowing his field when he noticed a rumbling nearby and the ground opened up and started spewing lava. Over the next years, the new volcano continued erupting until it had achieved a height of 424 m above the surrounding land. In the process, it engulfed a nearby town, whose church can still be seen partly standing amid the boulders of the lava field.

This was the first time scientists would get to witness a volcano go through its entire lifecycle from a new volcano through its 9-year growth period to its eventual decline into dormancy. Paricutin is the youngest volcano in Mexico and is described as a cinder cone (or a scoria cone).

Paricutin is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, an area of high geologic activity with more than 1,400 volcanic vents and frequent earthquakes. It encompasses a wide swath of territory through Central Mexico, including the Valley of Mexico, with Mexico City as the country's largest population center.

Get in
It's possible to access the mountain and/or the destroyed villages from several points to the northeast, southeast, and south of the mountain, but the best access point is the village of Angahuan. The town is easiest to reach by taxi or car from Uruapan.

By car
Angahuan is 37 km from Uruapan via federal highway MEX 37. The drive will take about 45 minutes via a modern, well maintained road.

Get around
The volcano has become popular with tourists who are curious to see a marvel of natural forces, but tourist infrastructure has not yet been developed. As a result, you should expect to walk long distances to reach the mountain and the buried town. Good hiking boots are a necessity on the rough volcanic rocks. Horses can be hired in town and are a preferred option for those with more cash than ambition.

Do
Guided tours can be taken by inquiring with the people in town. There are two routes to the top of the volcano: one goes the long way around and is the route used by those riding horse. If you get up at dawn, you should be back by mid-afternoon. There is also a direct route that goes straight from the lodge to the volcano. Be careful, the routes are only moderately marked and it is easy to get lost in the lava fields.

Eat
Food can be obtained at the lodge in Paricutin in a small restaurant. There are also several small restaurants and stores selling water and snacks in Paricutin and in Angahuan.

Sleep
There is a lodge where visitors to the volcano can stay overnight for a small fee. Some of the tour guides may also offer a room in their house overnight for a reasonable fee. If you want more lodging choices, another option is to stay in Uruapan and drive to Angahuan for a day-trip visit.

Stay safe
You will be hiking through lava fields with rocks and cinders. Good hiking boots with comfortable socks are essential. Long pants are recommended as you are likely to be covered in ash by the end of the day. Sunblock and a hat are recommended. Be sure to carry plenty of drinking water as there are no water sources once you leave the nearby towns or base camps.

Go next

 * Uruapan
 * Patzcuaro

title: Paricutin


text:
Parintins

Parintins is a city in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, near the border of Pará.

Understand
The city is famous for the Boi Bumbá festival that celebrates Amazonian culture.

Get in
Parintins is located on a fluvial island surrounded by several rivers in the Amazon rainforest. The only way to get to Parintins is by boat or plane.

By boat

 * Fast motor launches leave Manaus in the early morning. 10 hours, R$ 120-150, two different comanies on alternating days.
 * Several large riverboats a day from Manaus, about 30 hours.
 * Two boats a day to Santarém, 14 hours, R$ 50. These are en-route from Manaus, often with delays.

See

 * Square of Sagrado Caracao of Jesus

Do

 * The Parintins Festival is one of Brazil's most famous and exciting festivals. Visitors arrive at the island of Parintins to witness the dispute played by the two "bumbás", groups of people, representing the two "bulls": "Caprichoso" and "Garantido", from the Parintins Cult.

Sleep
Dozens of pousadas, starting at 20 reais a night.

title: Parintins