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Mayapur

Mayapur (Bengali: মায়াপুর Māẏāpur) is a small town in the Nadia district of West Bengal and the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which is known informally around the world as the Hare Krishnas.

Understand

Mayapur (MAEH-ah-poor) is on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River. It's approximately north of Kolkata and across the Bhagirathi from the city of Nabadwip, the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His followers believed he was an incarnation of Krishna, and he was the one who started the Hare Krishna movement; he was the first to teach widespread mass chanting and singing of the Hare Krishna mantra. Although the movement began in the 15th century, it was not until the 1960s and 70s when the movement spread worldwide under the leadership of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON in Mayapur.

By plane
Mayapur is not served by any airport and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is the nearest option. You have to take other modes of transport to get in Mayapur from Kolkata.

By train
Mayapur is not served by any railway station and the nearest options are Krishnanagar and Nabadwip.

From Krisnanagar, you can catch a rickshaw to go to the bus terminal and catch a bus to Mayapur. Or, you can get into a three-wheeler to go to Mayapur Ghat in Swarup Ganj (where Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to live), get on a boat to cross over the Jalangi river to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur.

Nabadwip has two stations, Nabadwip Dham and Bishnupriya Halt, among which Nabadwip Dham is the busiest one. Once you reach Nabadwip Dham station, you have to take a rickshaw to Nabadwip Ferry Ghat and then get on a boat to cross over the Bhagirathi to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur.

However, it is a better option to get down at Bishnupriya Halt railway station, which is nearer to Nabadwip Ferry Ghat.

By bus
ISKCON Kolkata operates AC and non-AC buses from Kolkata to Mayapur thrice a week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Get around
Public transport is virtually nonexistent in Mayapur. However, rickshaws are generally an option and you might walk around the town if you can't find one.

Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir

It is the head temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. However, the temple is still under construction and when completed it will be the world's largest Hindu temple and one of the tallest temples.

On the left side of the main temple room is a statue of ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada in his Vyasasana. On the right side, on the main altar are the presiding deities: the beautiful larger than life size Sri Sri Radha Madhava, surrounded by Their Ashta-sakhis (eight principal gopi friends) — Sri Lalita, Sri Champakalata, Sri Chitra, Sri Tungavidya, Sri Vishaka, Sri Indulekha, Sri Rangadevi and Sri Sudevi, along with Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Giri-Govardhana. The small Radha Madhava Deities in the altar are carried in a procession during Ratha-yatra and other festivals like Jhulana-yatra (swing festival) or boat festival. These Deities are also taken out in a procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura-purnima.

In the centre of the temple is the God Nrisimhadeva, considered by his followers as merciful. This rare form of Nrisimhadeva is known as “Sthanu-Nrisimha” and this is the only place where this particular form of Nrisimhadeva is known to be worshipped. With bent knees and in great anger with reddish eyes, He is pictured as ready to spring out of the pillar to attack the demons and protect His devotees. The Deity was installed here in 1986 after the temple was attacked by dacoits. The third altar (past Lord Nrisimhadeva), adjacent to the main temple hall is the Sri Sri Pancha-tattva temple. The most attractive and magnificent larger-than-life deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with His associates Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acharya, Sri Gadhadhara Pandita and Sri Srivasa Thakura were installed in 2004, which was a remarkable event in the history of ISKCON. The small Pancha-tattva deities were installed earlier, in 1996.

When you walk in through the “main gate”, on the immediate left is the straw hut where Srila Prabhupada stayed from 1972 to 1976 while the first main building (the Lotus Building) was built. A 24 hour kirtana takes place here following Srila Prabhupada’s instruction that there be continuous chanting of the holy name in the dhama. On the left side are Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara, large neem wood Deities who traveled throughout India on Pada-yatra. These Deities also come out in procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika (Damodara) month till Gaura-purnima.

On the second floor of the Lotus building are two rooms (Room 18) that were used by Srila Prabhupada as his personal quarters in 1976-77. These rooms have been maintained as when Prabhupada was present. The first room was Srila Prabhupada’s darsana room and in the next room, Srila Prabhupada’s personal Deity of Sri Mayapur-chandra and the imprint of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet are there. In the darsana room, a larger than life size murti of Srila Prabhupada is present and behind this murti is a display of his personal belongings and books. On his right is a display of his books that have been translated into many languages.

Do

 * Chaitanya Lila exhibition: This is in the main temple. It is open from 10AM to 1PM and 4PM to 6PM
 * Chant. Chanting is traditional in this centre for Krishna Consciousness.

Sleep
Chaitanya Bhaban, Gada Bhaban, Gouranga Kutri are the economic accommodation options.

Go next

 * Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary — maintained by West Bengal Forest Department, one will find lots of deer in this 5 km² forest.
 * Krishnanagar — an old city with historical importance. One can see a beautiful Cathedral charch, an old palace of Maharaja Krishnachadra and the house of famous Gopal Bhar. One must visit the Ghurni Putulpatti which is an arcade for selling clay sculpture. and this place is known for making one of the best clay models in the country.
 * Nabadwip — an old city, lies on the western side of the river Bhagirathi. It is the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the advent of Vaishnavism in Bengal. Many scholars, Sadhakas and Tantrics were born here. Nabadwip was referred to as the "Oxford of Bengal".
 * Palashi — famous for historical Battle of Plassey between Nawab Siraj-ud Daula and British East India Company.

title: Mayapur


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Maybee

Maybee is a village in Monroe County.

Understand
This village was named after Abram Maybee, who built a grist-mill and a saw-mill there in the early 1870s. The reason for its large growth was the large amount of timber in the area, seen by developers as a potential for making charcoal, and several kilns. After that development, immigrants from the Palatinate states of Germany settled there to till the land for better drainage. One can see many of the immigrants' sturdy brick homes, built between 1870 and 1900, along Maybee's farm roads. The Canadian Southern Railroad came through Maybee to build a station, stabilizing the surrounding economy. It was eventually incorporated in 1899.

Connect
Area code: 734

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

title: Maybee


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Mayfield

There is more than one place called Mayfield:

Australia

 * Mayfield (New South Wales)
 * Mayfield (Tasmania)

Ireland

 * Mayfield (Ireland) - a town in Cork.

New Zealand

 * Mayfield (New Zealand)

United Kingdom

 * Mayfield (England) - a town in East Sussex in England
 * Mayfield (Edinburgh) - a district in Edinburgh, Scotland
 * Mayfield (Midlothian) - a town in Scotland

United States of America

 * Mayfield (Kansas)
 * Mayfield (Kentucky)
 * Mayfield (New York)
 * Mayfield (North Dakota)
 * Mayfield (Ohio)
 * Mayfield (Pennsylvania)
 * Mayfield (Utah)

title: Mayfield


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Mayfield (Utah)

Mayfield is in Central Utah. Mads Sorenson, Carl Olsen and Simon Hansen, scouted the site on a logging foray in 1870. The next spring they cut meadow hay, built cabins and began water division. Other families joined them by 1873 when they formed a United Order Cooperative Society on the north bank of the creek.

Named Mayfield because of the beauty Mother Nature so lavishly displayed in the month of May, it was called Twelve Mile for the distance from the Manti temple site, but by 1874 was named Mayfield. Early in spring of 1875, 21 families moved from Ephraim and settled on the south side of the creek. They called this new settlement "New London." The two settlements combined under the name of Mayfield when the first LDS Ward was organized July 4, 1877.

Get in
The town of Mayfield is approximately 2 hours south of Salt Lake City. To get to Mayfield, Take I-15 Exit 225 at Nephi. Go East on Highway 132 until it intersects with Highway 89. Follow Highway 89 south until you reach the junction with Highway 137 south of Sterling. Follow Highway 132 south until you reach Mayfield.

To get to Mayfield from the South take I-70 Exit 56 at Salina and follow Highway 89 north until you reach the junction with Highway 137 on the south end of Gunnison. Follow Highway 132 east until you reach Mayfield.

Do

 * The Arapeen ATV Trail System - 350-mile Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System.
 * Palisade State Park – Golf, Fish, Swim, Canoe, Camp.

Eat
Restaurants can be found in nearby Sterling, Gunnison, Manti, and Ephraim.

Sleep
If you like primitive camping Mayfield Canyon east of town is a great place to camp. Lodging can be found in nearby Sterling, Gunnison, Manti, and Ephraim.

title: Mayfield (Utah)


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Mayflower (Arkansas)

Mayflower is in the Central region of Arkansas.

Get in
Mayflower is on Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Conway.

title: Mayflower (Arkansas)


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Mayflower Bocawina National Park

Mayflower Bocawina National Park is in Stann Creek, Belize.

Understand
This park, near Hopkins and Silk Creek, has some partially excavated Mayan ruins, a very small museum featuring information on the dig and local fauna and flora. There are several hiking trails.

The trail to Antelope falls is initially flat, and passes a large ruin that is mostly jungle-covered. As it nears the creek it becomes very steep. There are ropes in place at a few spots. The trail is subject to extreme erosion, but easy to see.

Established in 2001, the park includes areas of Belize's first protected area, the Silk Grass Forest Reserve. Mayflower National Park is co-managed by local stakeholders, Friends of Mayflower, the Conservation Division of Belize Forestry Department and assisted by the Archaeology Department.

The idea of making the area into a national park began with the Stann Creek Tour Guide Association. The district was desperate for destinations, besides the barrier reef and the dozens of small cayes off shore. The association formed a steering committee, with members from other local stakeholder groups (Silk Grass Women's Group, the Maya Cultural Group) and other interested supporters.

The United Nations Development Programme/Global Environmental Fund gave the first financial assistance. These funds were used to host community meetings and form a basic development plan. The Steering Committee, and the district's Women's Development Officer trained 169 stakeholders in preparation for management. Funding for the 20 days training came from Belize's Basic Needs Trust Fund. Subject matter included Small Business Skills, Hospitality Management Skills, Handicraft Training and Conservation of Protected Areas.

Their mission was and is to "protect the bio-diversity of the area and to assist with the alleviation of the poverty in the stakeholder base."

Since National Park declaration, Mayflower Bocawina National Park has completed projects funded by UNDP/GEF, Ford Motor Company Foundation, Jaguar Fund, PACT (Protected Areas Conservation Trust) and BNTF.

Climate
The access road is 5½ miles (9 km) down the Southern Highway. The gravel Mayflower Road leads 4¼ miles (6.5 km) directly into the Park Plaza area. You may hike in, and almost anyone passing will pick you up.

Fees and permits
Entrance fee is US$5 per person, per day.

See
Things to do at the park include wandering the Maya mounds, located in the area close to the Visitors Centre. Birding in the plaza area, some of the best in Central America! Hiking the three accessible trails. The three trails radiate out from the plaza area and are easy, hard to not for the unfit! All trails end in beautiful waterfalls and pools for swimming.

Wardens are stationed in the area to register guests and advise them on trail conditions. Never leave the trails. Wildlife often seen are Black Howler Monkeys, Gibnut, and smaller cats in the late afternoon. Butterflies and moths are easy to spot.

Guests may camp in the Plaza area, with Warden's permission. $10 camp fee, no fires. Water from Silk Grass Creek (which runs through the Plaza area) is potable. There are small reptiles living in the creek.

Lodging
Mama Noots Backabush Nature Resort is located within the boundaries of the Mayflower Bocawina National Park.

title: Mayflower Bocawina National Park


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Mayiladuthurai

Mayiladuthurai is a town in Tamil Nadu.

Go next

 * Thanjavur
 * Kumbakonam
 * Vaitheeswaran Koil
 * Sirkazhi
 * Chidambaram
 * Thiruvarur
 * Tharangambadi
 * Karaikal
 * Nagore
 * Velankanni

title: Mayiladuthurai


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Mayne Island

Mayne Island is in the Southern Gulf Islands. The island is approximately 21 km² and has a permanent population of about 1100 people. There is evidence of human habitation up to 5000 years ago, however, Captain George Vancouver is the first non-native to alight on the island, having camped there in 1794 (his crew left a coin and a knife found over a century later by early settlers). The first permanent homesteads were built in the 1860s. The island is named after Royal Navy lieutenant Richard Charles Mayne.

The majority of services are in the Miners Bay area. Here you will find a gas station, liquor store, post office, ATM, and two grocery stores. Other major locations on the island are Village Bay, location of the ferry terminal, as well as Georgina Point and Bennett Bay, both part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

The Mayne Island Community Chamber of Commerce provides a tourist map and guide that identifies key attractions, activities and shopping.

Understand
The historic village at Miners Bay remains the commercial centre of the island, with the annual Fall Fair still being held at the old Agricultural Hall like so many years before.

Nearby Active Pass still throbs with a steady stream of marine traffic, a bustling contrast to the island's quiet interior byways. Village Bay, with its BC Ferries terminal, has several late 19th-century to 1930s buildings. Active Pass is named after the American survey ship USCS Active, the first steam vessel to navigate the pass.

History
Mayne Island was inhabited by members of the Tsartlip First Nation prior to European colonization. Several middens are present on the island, along with period articles — most notably including a 2-tonne (2.2 short tons) stone bowl which was stolen in 1982 and again, in 2007.

In 1794 Captain George Vancouver camped on Georgina Point where his crew left a coin and a knife found over a century later by early settlers.

In 1857 Captain George Richards of the Royal Navy surveyed the area as captain of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Plumper, naming the island after his Lieutenant Richard Charles Mayne, son of the first commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police. His journals concerning his explorations of British Columbia are important sources for early British Columbia history, as are those of his colleague in many of those explorations, Royal Engineer Lieutenant Henry Spencer Palmer.

During the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858-1860 and after, Vancouver Island miners gathered on Mayne Island before rowing across Georgia Strait to the mainland of BC in search of their fortunes. The earliest homesteaders registered land claims in the Miners Bay area in 1859.

During the late 19th century, Mayne Island was the commercial and social centre of the Gulf Islands. The port at Miners Bay was always busy due to the steady stream of marine traffic travelling through Active Pass, the narrow, curving strait separating Mayne from Galiano Island to the north, which is the main ferry route between the Mainland and Vancouver Island today.

The Japanese-Canadian community on Mayne Island played a historical role in the island's economics and society from the turn of the 20th century until World War II. The community had close ties to the European-Canadian population throughout the Gulf Islands and was involved in major economic initiatives such as greenhouse farming. In 1941 the Japanese Canadians living on Mayne Island were interned by the government and resettled in New Denver for the duration of World War II. Many of the families would never return to the island after the loss of land and their community. Today, the Japanese Memorial Gardens, near Dinner Bay, are dedicated to the memory and legacy of the Mayne Island's Japanese-Canadian community.

By plane
Floatplane service is also available to and from Mayne Island. Several companies provide regular scheduled service in and out of Miners Bay.
 * Flights to Mayne Island from Vancouver International Airport.

By bicycle
If you plan to cycle, you should bring your own bicycle as the nearest place to rent one is a long distance from the ferry terminal. Cyclists should travel single file as the narrow and hilly roads on Mayne Island can create blind curves.

On foot
Mayne Island is small enough that it is possible to travel a fair distance on the Island on foot. You should be reasonably fit and prepared for long walks. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the ferry terminal to the village of Miners Bay.

Do

 * St. John Point Regional Park. This 26-hectare waterfront regional park property is a place where local residents and visitors can connect with nature, experience the forest and coastal area, and refresh themselves through the beauty and tranquility of the site.
 * St. John Point Regional Park. This 26-hectare waterfront regional park property is a place where local residents and visitors can connect with nature, experience the forest and coastal area, and refresh themselves through the beauty and tranquility of the site.
 * St. John Point Regional Park. This 26-hectare waterfront regional park property is a place where local residents and visitors can connect with nature, experience the forest and coastal area, and refresh themselves through the beauty and tranquility of the site.
 * St. John Point Regional Park. This 26-hectare waterfront regional park property is a place where local residents and visitors can connect with nature, experience the forest and coastal area, and refresh themselves through the beauty and tranquility of the site.
 * St. John Point Regional Park. This 26-hectare waterfront regional park property is a place where local residents and visitors can connect with nature, experience the forest and coastal area, and refresh themselves through the beauty and tranquility of the site.

Buy
Mayne Island is the home to many artists and artisans who produce pottery, jewellery, cards, paintings, prints, weaving and tapestry.

Eat
Wild blackberries are abundant on Mayne Island in late summer through early September, and make a tasty snack (particularly if you're travelling around the Island on foot or bicycle).

title: Mayne Island


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Maynooth

Maynooth is the principal community in Hastings Highlands township in eastern Ontario. The township has about 4,100 residents (2016).

Understand
Maynooth, named for the eponymous town in Ireland, was long a way point for visitors en route to Algonquin Provincial Park. The Maynooth railway station, built in 1907 by the Central Ontario Railway, was acquired by Canadian Northern Railway which later became part of the Canadian National Railway. This section of railway was abandoned in 1984; there are proposals to re-purpose the historic station as an interpretive centre.

Get in
Maynooth is on Ontario Highway 62, north of Belleville, Madoc and Bancroft.

Maynooth is 30 minutes from the Highway 60 entrance to Algonquin Park.

Get around
Maynooth is extremely small and everything there is within easy walking distance.

Do
Maynooth is a good place to base visits to Algonquin Provincial Park with beautiful canoeing, kayaking, camping and hiking.

Drink
The local hostel owners have set up a pub for guests and non-guests.

Go next

 * Bancroft - a cottage country town south on Highway 62.
 * Belleville - to the south, on the Bay of Quinte.
 * Haliburton Highlands - a vast rural area, with many lakes and forests providing more outdoor adventure for campers and cottagers.
 * Peterborough - less than two hours away to the south, on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
 * Renfrew and Pembroke - about an hour and a half away, east toward the Ottawa River.

title: Maynooth


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Maynooth (Ireland)

Maynooth is a town in County Kildare, 30 km west of Dublin. Maigh Nuad means the plain of Nuadha, the mythical king who lost his arm in battle, was fitted with a silver one, then grew back his own. The town is best known for its religious seminary, and with a population in 2016 of 14,585, it's the most interesting of the strip of towns along the northern boundary of the county. These all stand astride the historic Dublin-Galway road, nowadays M4, and are part of the Dublin commuter belt.

Celbridge with a population of 20,288 is the largest, with 18th century Castletown House nearby.

Leixlip (population 15,504) is mostly residential and runs into Lucan within the Dublin city limits.

Understand
"Maynooth" to generations of Catholics has signified St Patrick's College, established in 1795 as Ireland's national seminary for RC priests. Remarkably, it was funded by the British government, who with good reason were more scared of anti-clerical revolutionary France than they were of Rome. A bid by Peel in 1845 to triple the funding convulsed British politics, but he carried the day. From 1896 the college became a Pontifical university, conferring its own degrees in canon law, philosophy and theology. Secular faculties also developed, which in 1997 were hived off to create Maynooth University, academically separate but sharing the Old Campus, and growing around a New Campus just north. Maynooth was already expanding rapidly as a commuter town but this transformed it into a university town, with some 14,000 students and 500 academic staff. Students for the priesthood have dwindled to some 250 but St Patrick's seminary keeps going as those elsewhere in Ireland have folded and transferred into Maynooth.

By plane
Fly into Dublin Airport and take the frequent Hopper bus (below) direct to Maynooth.

Weston Airport between Leixlip and Lucan has no commercial flights, but extensive aviation facilities and it handles private and business flights.

By train
Commuter trains from Dublin Connolly run twice an hour from 5:30AM to 11:30PM and take 40 min to Maynooth, with 9 stops including Drumcondra and Leixlip; a single ticket might be €5. Six trains a day are intercity services which continue to Mullingar, Longford, Dromod, Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle, Ballymote and Sligo. Connolly station also has trains from Belfast via Drogheda, from Rosslare via Wexford and Wicklow, and the other Dublin commuter lines. For trains from Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Mayo you need to travel via Dublin Heuston, a 5-km cross-town transfer. See Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.

Maynooth is 200 m south of town centre. The ticket office is open M-Sa 6AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM and there are machines; no toilets.

By bus
Dublin Bus C3 / C4 runs every 30 min from Ringsend, the Quays and Heuston Station in Dublin via Chapelizod, Lucan and Leixlip / Celbridge, taking 50 min to Maynooth. The last bus leaves Heuston around 11:30PM but then Bus C5 / C6 runs every 30 min hourly through the night.

Airport Hopper 767 runs every 30 min 5AM-10PM from the airport via Lucan and Leixlip to Maynooth, taking 50 min.

Aircoach 706 runs every hour or two from Dublin Airport via Dublin Aston Quay to Maynooth, and continues west to Athlone, Ballinasloe and Galway.

Expressway Bus 22 / 23 runs six times a day from Dublin Busáras, taking 50 min via Dublin Airport and Lucan. These continue to Mullingar and Longford whence Bus 23 runs to Dromod, Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle and Sligo, while Bus 22 heads west to Ballina. Bus X20 from Dublin via Maynooth to Galway was axed in 2021.

Bus Éireann 115 runs every 30 min from Dublin Connolly and Heuston stations to Lucan, Maynooth and Kilcock; alternate services continue to Enfield, Kinnegad and Mullingar. GoAhead Commuter Bus 120 runs every 30 min from Dublin Connolly and Heuston stations to Celbridge, 40 min. It doesn't come into Maynooth but continues to Straffan, Clane, Prosperous, Carbury and Edenderry.

JJ Kavanagh Bus 139 runs every couple of hours M-Sa from Naas to Sallins, Clane and Maynooth, and continues to Leixlip, Castaheaney, Blanchardstown and Corduff at the northwest edge of Dublin city.

Buses stop on Maynooth Main St and elsewhere, there isn't a bus station.

By road
By road from Dublin follow M4 to Exit 7. Cyclists can follow the towpath of the Royal Canal, see below.

Get around
Maynooth town is compact and walkable. Bus 67 runs near Castletown House in Celbridge, while Bus 66 flanks the Royal Canal to Leixlip.

See

 * St Patrick's College aka Maynooth College or Old Campus faces the castle. It was established in 1795 as a seminary for RC priests, as described above. Since 1997 it shares the Old Campus with the secular Maynooth University. You can stroll the campus exteriors but the only interior that is routinely accessible is the beautiful College Chapel, Tu Th 10:30AM-12:30PM in term time. College tours may also take in the Great Hall, St Mary's Oratory and Stoyte House.
 * National Science Museum has a branch within Old Campus, with a collection of scientic instruments. It's open Jun-Aug: W 2-4PM, Su 2-6PM.
 * Celbridge Abbey in that town's centre is a 17th-century mansion, converted in 1951 into a facility for people with learning difficulties and run by a religious brotherhood. You can stroll the gardens M-F 9AM-16:00.
 * Tea Lane Graveyard 500 m west of Celbridge town centre is an atmospheric graveyard with a ruined medieval church and 1860s chapel. It's open M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 11AM-1PM. The lane was Church Road until 19th century millworkers were brought over from England, to drink copious volumes of tea and carpet the lane with their discarded tea-leaves.
 * Celbridge Abbey in that town's centre is a 17th-century mansion, converted in 1951 into a facility for people with learning difficulties and run by a religious brotherhood. You can stroll the gardens M-F 9AM-16:00.
 * Tea Lane Graveyard 500 m west of Celbridge town centre is an atmospheric graveyard with a ruined medieval church and 1860s chapel. It's open M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 11AM-1PM. The lane was Church Road until 19th century millworkers were brought over from England, to drink copious volumes of tea and carpet the lane with their discarded tea-leaves.
 * was built in 1743 at the north end of the Castletown Estate. It's nowadays severed from the estate by M4, so you flash past it between Exits 5 and 6. It was primarily a Folly, a work creation project, but also served as a granary. It's a strange conical tower with an exterior stairway spiralling up: it would make one helluva helter-skelter but there's no public access. The Bottle Tower in Rathfarnham, Dublin is modelled on it. Another that you can ascend is in Samarra 125 km north of Baghdad, but this is inconvenient to reach from Maynooth.
 * was likewise a work creation project of 1740, designed by Cassels. It closed off the vista from Castletown House and its confection of arches, mock gatehouse, pineapples and eagles is generally abbreviated as "The Obelisk". See it free from the public lane, you can't go "inside" even if it had one.
 * is only worth a look if you're passing. In 1793 the Royal Canal was being excavated when the workers broke in upon a warm spring, bubbling up through a fault line from the Hadean depths. The landowner developed it into a spa and it had a brief vogue. Its waters tumble into the River Rye, but they're a drop in the ocean compared to the ruinous drainage of funds in constructing the canal across the river valley. The spa became derelict, vandalised and trash-strewn: it's been cleaned up several times only to fill up again like an unattended skip.
 * 5 km south of Maynooth has a truncated Round Tower, the main remnant of an early medieval monastery. The adjacent C of I church was built in 1831 and fell derelict in the 1870s.
 * Straffan village is also near the K golf club, see below. Its other amusements make a sorry catalogue: the butterfly farm has closed down, Castledillon is just a few stone scraps, and the monastic site was described as "not worth the services of chaplains" as early as 1294 and hasn't visibly improved since.
 * Straffan village is also near the K golf club, see below. Its other amusements make a sorry catalogue: the butterfly farm has closed down, Castledillon is just a few stone scraps, and the monastic site was described as "not worth the services of chaplains" as early as 1294 and hasn't visibly improved since.
 * Straffan village is also near the K golf club, see below. Its other amusements make a sorry catalogue: the butterfly farm has closed down, Castledillon is just a few stone scraps, and the monastic site was described as "not worth the services of chaplains" as early as 1294 and hasn't visibly improved since.

Do

 * Campus tours walk around the old and new college campuses.
 * The Royal Canal stretches 146 km from the Liffey in Dublin to the Shannon near Longford. It's navigable throughout and has a good towpath, so you could cycle from Dublin via the north suburbs and Leixlip to Maynooth. It continues west across the county to Kilcock and Enfield, then onward across Meath and Westmeath. Check Waterways Ireland for current status of locks, moorings, towpaths and other facilities.
 * Golf: the big name is The K Club or Royal Kildare, 2 km southwest of Straffan. It has an upscale resort and spa hotel, and two championship golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer. There are several more courses around Maynooth, Leixlip and the leafy edges of Dublin.

Buy

 * Carton Retail Park east side of town is the main shopping area, with Tesco Extra open daily 7AM-11PM.
 * West end of Main St near the University is Manor Mills shopping centre, with Aldi and Dunne's Stores.
 * SuperValu is on Straffan Rd next to Glenroyal Hotel.

Eat

 * Main Street in Maynooth also has Stone Haven, Red Torch Ginger, Bistro 53, Picaderos, and a slew of fast-food outlets.
 * Main Street in Maynooth also has Stone Haven, Red Torch Ginger, Bistro 53, Picaderos, and a slew of fast-food outlets.
 * Main Street in Maynooth also has Stone Haven, Red Torch Ginger, Bistro 53, Picaderos, and a slew of fast-food outlets.

Drink

 * Along Main Street find The Roost, The Duke & Coachman, O'Neills, McMahon's, Brady's Clockhouse and Oak Alley.
 * Rye River Brewing Company is in Celbridge, no tours.

Sleep

 * Maynooth Campus has student accommodation in various locations which out-of-term is used for conference groups but is also available to individual travellers.
 * B&Bs are dotted around the area but didn't open in 2021.
 * Leixlip has mid-price business-type accommodation handy for the M4, such as Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip House, and Leixlip Manor. There's plenty more south of the river in Lucan the western burb of Dublin.
 * Leixlip has mid-price business-type accommodation handy for the M4, such as Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip House, and Leixlip Manor. There's plenty more south of the river in Lucan the western burb of Dublin.
 * Leixlip has mid-price business-type accommodation handy for the M4, such as Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip House, and Leixlip Manor. There's plenty more south of the river in Lucan the western burb of Dublin.

Connect
As of July 2021, Maynooth and its surrounds have 4G from Three, and 5G from Eir and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Kildare has a fine cathedral and is near the National Stud and Japanese Gardens.
 * Trim has a well-preserved Norman castle and is near the Hill of Tara.
 * Dublin: just about everyone else in town will be heading there of a weekday morning, so it would be churlish not to explore it.

title: Maynooth (Ireland)


text:
Mayon

Mayon is an active stratovolcano with a nearly perfect cone in the province of Albay in the Philippines. It is in the Mayon Volcano Natural Park, one of the first national parks of the country.

Understand
At a height of, Mayon Volcano (Bulkang Mayon), also known as Mount Mayon, is a prominent natural landmark of Bicol region and Albay province. It is near the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao, and the towns of Daraga, Guinobatan, Camalig, Bacacay, Santo Domingo, and Malilipot.

Mayon was a sacred site to the Bicolano people during the pre-colonial period because it was considered the home of the ancient cheif deity Gugurang. It is part of a belt of volcanoes that dot the Bicol peninsula.

Local legend states Mayon came out from the burial site of a beautiful lady named Daragang Magayon, which lends its name to the volcano and the town of Daraga.

The national park surrounding the volcano, Mayon Volcano Natural Park has been part of the Albay Biosphere Reserve, and is a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History

Mayon is a very active volcano; it last erupted in 2018. Its first recorded eruption dates back to the 17th century.

Its deadliest eruption happened in 1814; it destroyed the town of Cagsawa, killed over 1,400, and released ash which is believed to have contributed to the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816, precipitated by the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in the Dutch East Indies (present Indonesia).

1999 to 2001 was marked by a spate of eruptive activity, with the 2000 and 2001 eruptions causing damage to villages and agricultural land. The 2006 eruption was destructive and the second deadliest for Mayon. The eruption happened when a passing typhoon, named Durian (or in the Philippines, "Reming"), brought rain that turned lava flows into lahar, killing over 1,300 people; the exact number of deaths is rather debatable due to many being buried under the mud. There are memorial crosses placed around barangays devastated by the mudflows.

Landscape
Mayon's foothills are covered with rainforest and patches of dried-up lava, and gives way to barren landscape at the peak and crater.

Climate
Mayon's climate is tropical, with no dry season, and it rains at any time. It is colder and windier at the barren peak.

The best time to visit is between February and March, which has more tolerable temperatures and less rainfall, but the peak season rather falls at the rainier months of June and July.

Get in
Mayon can be easily reached from the small city of Tabaco or at the capital Legazpi. The town of Camalig is the closest to the volcano.

Get around
There are two trails, all from the eastern side of the volcano. Both are difficult, and unless you are fit or have prior trekking experience, should not be attempted.

 * Lidong Trail - The traditional climbing route to Mayon, it starts at barangay Lidong, a village at the border of Legazpi and Santo Domingo. The trailhead is near a golf course, and there are three campsites.
 * New Lidong Trail - A newer trail, it is a gentler climb, and takes more than 2 hours. There are only two camps, and involves crossing a river.

See

 * Ligñon Hill (LEENG-yawn), a peak with a nature park at its summit offering panoramic views of the city and Mayon Volcano, and adventure activities like ziplining.
 * Mayon Green Lava, Mi-isi, Daraga. a perfect place to view Mayon Volcano with plenty of flowers abound
 * Mayon Black Lava Wall, Mabinit, Legazpi. Lava rocks resulted during 2006 eruptions and features a helipad.
 * Cagsawa Ruins, Busay, Daraga. See the church's bell tower of the then town of Cagsawa washed out during the 1814 eruption.
 * Mayon Skyline (formerly, Mayon Resthouse), Buang, Tabaco. A view deck with a cool atmosphere.
 * Sumlang Lake, Sumlang, Camalig
 * Camalig by-pass road, Sua, Camalig

Do

 * Watch Mount Mayon Volcano up close at Mayon Skyline located at Buang, Tabaco City.

Camping

 * Your Brother's Tribal Village

Stay safe
See Volcanoes and Philippines.

title: Mayon


text:
Mayotte

Mayotte is an archipelago among the East African Islands, lying in the Indian Ocean channel between Madagascar and Mozambique. It's a French overseas department with a population of 299,348 in 2022. Most live on the large island of Grande-Terre, which somewhat resembles a sea horse, used on Mayotte's coat of arms. A 2 km channel separates it from Petite-Terre, also urbanised; the other islets are tiny with only a handful of residents.

Understand
The first known human habitation was in the 7th century CE, and early settlement was from the East African mainland and from Madagascar. Mayotte lay on the Arab trade routes, adopted Islam, and from 1500 became a sultanate. From time to time it fought with its neighbours, and in the 1830s Andriantsoly in exile from Madagascar grabbed power here as Sultan. Madagascar was backed by the British so he needed an equivalent Great Power ally, and in 1841 he sold the whole place to France. He got 5000 francs, which he mostly drank, until in 1847 an assassin nailed him slightly ahead of the bottle. Subsequently all of Comoros, Réunion and Mayotte became a French protectorate. Attempts to develop Mayotte for sugar plantations, as in the Caribbean, were stymied by the rugged terrain and long transport routes.

Modern France looked to divest itself of colonies, and in 1974 held a referendum on independence for Comoros. This was overwhelmingly in favour except in Mayotte, which voted 63% to remain French. It was therefore hived off, against Comoros protests. Subsequent referendums have only strengthened Mayotte's stance, and it became an overseas department in 2011. It's therefore eligible for EU funding and other social provision, not least its white-collar jobs. French secular law and ethos is potentially in conflict with sharia and other aspects of Islam, but religion is a relaxed affair here, with no groundswell of jihad or anti-western terrorism. Comoros continues to play diplomatic badminton, raising protests which France swats away, and the debate doesn't affect travellers. Indeed the people of Comoros have similarly voted with their feet - many of Mayotte's population are illegal immigrants from there.

Less than half of the population understand French and very few speak French fluently, see § Talk. You're more likely to be understood by younger folk.

The climate is tropical marine. It's wet Nov-May during northeastern monsoon, and dry May to November, so April to October is the best time to visit. The temperature variation is only a few degrees so it's the rain and mud that decides you. Cyclones are possible but uncommon in the wet season, as the main belt is further north and west.

The landscape is rugged, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks.

Tourist information

 * Mayotte

Cities

 * Grande-Terre:

 * is the capital.
 * is on the east coast.
 * is on the southeast coast.
 * is the main settlement on the west coast.
 * is in the northwest.
 * is on the north coast.
 * is also on the north coast.

 * Petite-Terre:

 * was the capital of Mayotte until 1977.
 * occupies the south side of the island.

Other destinations

 * the islet between Grande- and Petite-Terre is a nature reserve.
 * , also known as Zamburu or Saddle Island, is the third largest of the archipelago. It's hilly, inhabited by some 20 fisherfolk, and has no visitor facilities.

Get in
Mayotte like other French overseas territories is not part of the Schengen area. Western visitors don't need a visa for Mayotte, but your passport must have 3 months of validity beyond your departure date.

By plane
There are no direct flights from Europe or the Middle East. From Paris ORY or CDG fly Air France via Saint-Denis on Réunion, and from Amsterdam fly KLM / Kenya Airways via Nairobi.

Air Austral fly twice a day from Saint-Denis, taking 70 min to Mayotte, so the journey time from Paris is about 18 hours.

Kenya Airways fly four days a week from Nairobi, taking 2 hr 30 min to Mayotte. Journey time from Amsterdam on connecting days is 16 hours.

Ewa Air is a Mayotte-based airline, with flights from Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Antsiranana (aka Diego-Suárez) and Mahajanga on Madagascar. They also fly from Anjouan and Moroni on Comoros.

is at the south tip of Petite-Terre. Reckon an hour by taxi and ferry to reach the capital. In 2022 a taxi from the airport to the ferry pier costs €5.60 M-Sa daytime, €8.20 Sunday or at night.

By boat
SGTM ferry sails four days a week from Mutsamudu on Anjouan, Comoros. It takes 3 hours to Dzaoudzi and in 2022 an adult single fare is €185. The ferry pier is the same as for La Barge to Grande-Terre. From Moroni on Grand Comoros change ferries at Mutsamudu.

Cruise ships occasionally visit Mayotte.

Get around
La Barge is the car ferry between Mamoudzou (Gare Maritime) on Grande-Terre and Dzaoudzi (Issoufali) on Petite-Terre. It sails every 30 min 06:00-20:00 and hourly through the night, taking 15 min. Single fare in 2022 is €0.75 per foot passenger, €15 per car. A second ferry on a parallel route is for trucks.

Europcar are the rental company here, with desks at the airport and at Mamoudzou Gare Maritime.

"Bush taxis" (taxi brousse) connect the main settlements. Consider hiring one to show you round the sights for a few hours, rather than navigate the roads yourself.

Talk
French is the official language and is spoken by roughly 63% of the population, especially younger people. More commonly-spoken are Mahorian (a dialect of Swahili) and Malagasy.

See the French version of this page for basic local vocabulary.

See
Mayotte lacks "sights", with no great architecture or natural wonders.

Do

 * What's on? Mayotte Hebdo is the island newspaper.
 * Hike to the summit of Mt Choungui, the distinctive volcanic cone in the south. At 593 m it's the second-highest peak, but commands better views than the highest Benara (660 m and central).
 * Lemurs are the signature beast of Madagascar, but the maki or common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) has been introduced to Mayotte. They may be spotted in any quiet forest location.
 * Scuba diving: Mayotte is fringed by a reef, with only a dozen navigable cuts, enclosing a huge doughnut lagoon. There are five or six dive shacks around the coast, offering courses, kit hire and dives.
 * Marine life: Aug to Sept humpback whales give birth in the lagoon, so boat trips can view them with their calves. Sea turtles roost on the southern beaches year-round.
 * Sports: Complexe de Kawani in Mamoudzou is the national multi-use sports venue, hosting Mayotte's football team and other events.

Buy

 * Currency is the euro (€).
 * Local produce (bananas, manioc, fish) is inexpensive, imported items (dairy products, manufactured goods) are expensive.

Eat
The best of a limited choice is in Mamoudzou.

Drink
Tap-water is safe to drink in 93% of the country according to WHO, but not safe according to CDC the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mamoudzou has a couple of free-standing bars, otherwise drink in the cafes.

It's odd that a sugar-producing island doesn't have a rum distillery.

Sleep
Facilities are poor, with just a couple of hotels in the capital and a couple more on Petite-Terre near the airport. Mayotte lacks beach resort hotels, so it's in the classic trap of few hotels > few tourists > few hotels.

Many folk live in semi-legal shanty towns, which make up in nasty dogs what they lack in mains water, sanitation and electricity. Take great care about airbnb offers.

Work
If you have fluent French and eligibility to work in France, then you might be able to take up a temporary specialist post on Mayotte such as technical support. But the islands have more qualified young people than they can employ, so there are no long-term vacancies.

In the semi-skilled sectors such as catering and construction, Mayotte has a big problem with illegal immigrants from Comoros, who continue to make hazardous crossings on overcrowded fishing boats. About a third of the population are "undocumented" and they will grab any casual post they can. Every few weeks the police come along and bust them. But there's nowhere to deport them or jail them, so they're sternly told to return to Comoros then set free.

Stay safe
Your chief hazard is always traffic, especially on muddy ill-lit streets.

Mayotte has no active volcanoes, but earth tremors have increased since 2018, and a new volcano is taking shape beneath the ocean. Activity has also increased at Karthala the Comoros volcano, but it's not expected to erupt.

Stay healthy

 * Check your health cover – travel insurance valid for France and the EU won't automatically extend to Mayotte. There is a hospital in Mamoudzou, but a serious event such as a heart attack might necessitate a medevac to Europe.
 * Mayotte is low risk for malaria. Take normal precautions against mosquito bites (such as wearing long-sleeved shirts), but anti-malarial medicine is not recommended. Seek medical attention promptly if you develop a fever.

Respect
90% of the population are Muslim, following a fairly relaxed form of Islam. They observe Ramadan (which follows a lunar calendar, so it's 11 to 12 days earlier each year) so eating places may be closed daytime, simply for lack of custom.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Mayotte has 4G from Only, Orange, SFR and (in patches) Maore. 5G has not reached these islands.

If you have an EU or UK based mobile, check whether your provider regards Mayotte as part of the EU roaming area.

Go next

 * Comoros, Réunion and Madagascar can be reached direct from Mayotte.

title: Mayotte


text:
Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is a skiing resort in Austria. It's also the main base for skiing on the slopes of the Ziller Valley.

Understand
The city brochure found in the tourist office is unexpectedly useful and comprehensive—surely grab a copy for your stay. It includes timetables for all trains and buses running from and around the city (including the skibus lines around the Ziller Valley) and lists most businesses you may ever need in the city. It largely duplicates content from the Mayrhofen official site. Russians are the most frequent visitors, followed by those from the UK and Benelux.

When to go
Most agents (and therefore hotels themselves) sell lodging in weekly packs, Saturday afternoon to next Saturday morning.

This results in higher prices for some services (e.g. private instructors) for Su-Tu, and lowest prices for F-Sa.

Arrival day
To get the most of your time at the resort, use your arrival day to prepare everything you need for getting onto the slopes from the early morning of the next day. Plan to arrive at your hotel no later than check-in time, and go for preparations immediately.

Here are the average open hours for Saturday of different businesses you will likely need:
 * 14:00: check-in time at your hotel
 * 08:00-18:00 (Su 09:00): business hours for most skiing schools. Allow at least 15 minutes to settle all details.
 * 08:00-18:00: business hours for most ski rental shops. Allow at least half an hour for fitting, plus queuing time.
 * 08:30-16:30: business hours for the skipass sales counter.

Other hours for a typical day

 * breakfast at hotel: 07:00-10:30
 * skiing schools, group courses: 09:45–12:15 / 13:00-15:30pm (start time is for a meeting point up after ski lifts)
 * dinner at hotel (typical half-board): 19:00-22:00

What things cost

 * skipass 5 of 7 days: €180 ; 6 days €205
 * ski equipment rental: €50-60 per week per person
 * ski school (group courses, 2.5 hours per day): €102 / €111 for 3 / 4 days
 * ski school (private instructor, 4 hours per day): €180 / €165 / €160 per day for Su-Tu, W-Th, F-Sa
 * ski rental + 5 days' group course package: €169
 * average lunch (soup + average main): €20
 * double room in an average 3-star hotel: €110-140 in Jan-Feb

By train
Mayrhofen train station only sells tickets for the narrow-gauge railway, so make sure you purchase return tickets before you travel at Austrian Railways (ÖBB).

From Vienna
Trains to Mayrhofen depart from Vienna Westbahnhof, not from Wien-Mitte

Getting in from Vienna to Mayrhofen by train is really comfortable compared to rented car, especially if you book your seats in a carriage with compartments, and is a good option if travelling with children. The journey takes 6 hours and you'll need to make a connection, but the connection in Jenbach is quite comfortable: there are lifts and no stairs to overcome; the train to Mayrhofen departs roughly every 30 min so you won't have to wait long. There is also a restaurant coach on board which is quite comfortable for children.

From Munich
Direct trains from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Jenbach. Once in Jenbach go to the Zillerteilbahn platform (ZL), from where the train departs to Mayrhofen every 30 min. The journey takes about 1 hr 30 min and costs around €7. You can buy the ticket directly on the train from the ticket man. The Zillerteilbahn becomes very busy with skiers towards the end; if you have luggage, store it so as to make room for everyone.

From Milan
Trains from Milan to Jenbach also are available. Once there, complete the journey to Mayrhofen as above.

By car
You won't need tyre chains to drive to Mayrhofen from any major city.

Get around
Any point of Mayrhofen can be easily reached on foot by an able-bodied person; it takes maximum of 1 hour to walk from one end to the other.

There's no need to have a car for skiing on other slopes of the Ziller Valley; ski buses take you everywhere, and for free most of the time. They also don't mind boarding a parent with a toddler and a pushchair, you don't even need to ask nicely most of the time.

Winter sports

 * {| class="wikitable"

!Name||Tel.||Altitude|| / / || /  / There are two ski lifts in Mayrhofen itself: Penken and Ahorn. Besides them there are about dozen ski lifts in nearby villages, all of them easily reachable from Mayrhofen thanks to free ski buses. Those include Hintertux glacier.
 * Ahorn|| +43-5285-62277 ||630-1970 m||6 Lifts: 1 / 2 / 3|| 18 km Pistes: 9 / 3 / 6
 * Penken/Rastkogel/Eggalm|| +43 528562277 ||630-2500 m||38 Lifts: 9 / 15 / 14|| 124 km Pistes: 31 / 66 / 27
 * }
 * Penken/Rastkogel/Eggalm|| +43 528562277 ||630-2500 m||38 Lifts: 9 / 15 / 14|| 124 km Pistes: 31 / 66 / 27
 * }

Skipasses can also be purchased with a discount at Ascent Travel, which can be found in the lobby of Sporthotel Strass.

Unlike some other ski resorts, helmets are not mandatory to enter pistes, but as always the common sense thing is to wear it whenever on piste.

Basics of skiing resort
Grab a copy of pistenplan at the Skipass sales office or at tourist information; keep it with you while skiing. There are some maps on the slopes, but too few for an inexperienced skier.

Ski cellars. Most hotels have a special room called a ski cellar for storing guests equipment. This is also a place to dry your boots overnight, which is absolutely recommended, as otherwise your next day will be uncomfortable skiing in wet boots. The topmost rack is most effective, since the lower racks can be "rained on" from above by snow melting off others' boots.

Skiing schools
There are about 10 skiing schools in Mayrhofen. To give you idea of their services, prices and conditions, below are two most widely sold and prominently located schools. Be careful with "the only school with certified instructors speaking your language here" touting: in most cases, it only applies to private instructors who are much more expensive than group lessons.

With children
Skiing schools accept children for training from 3 years old.

Ski rental
There are more than 10 shops offering equipment rental, and the competition is quite tough so expect their services and quality to be quite similar to each other.

No cash deposit is required in exchange for the equipment you rent.

If you choose to learn with a skiing school, the easiest option is to rent equipment directly from them. After the declared "special discount for school clients" it's a maximum of 10% more expensive than from a dedicated rental shop.

In any case, most shops (and schools) offer a good choice of equipment levels, from very beginners to quite advanced.

You take the full set of equipment for the duration of your rental and return it to the shop only on the last day. During that period, you either store it in your hotel or leave it at one of the ski depots (i.e. paid storages) at the base station or near the ski lift station. The only exception is SkiZone rentals, who offer free nightly storage of equipment you rented from them.

With young children
Young children will find walking around the village terribly boring, and this is best avoided as much as possible. Leaving kindergarten aside (see Cope section), there are several things to do in Mayrhofen:
 * Sledding on a small children's slope just near the exit from Penken lift. Rent them for €3 per day from a depot, or buy rounded sled in any shop down in the city. You'll need a second Skipass for this activity; a half-day pass is usually sufficient.
 * Spend time in the swimming pool and wellness complex.
 * Make sure you stay at a hotel with its own playground, as there aren't many public ones in the village.

Healthy alternatives to après-ski
Activities:
 * swim and take sauna at the wellness complex
 * skate on the rink near the wellness complex

Places:

Penken

 * #7: has 2 or 3 points of misleading navigation and two nearly horizontal pieces. This is easy to overcome if you gain enough speed before them. Worth it for a long wide-and-safe sector for a good speed.
 * #8: very comfortable for safe and speedy skiing, from beginning to end. Perfect for those bored by #2 and #20 and find #7 too difficult to navigate.

Hintertux

 * #2: although it's marked as red, it's quite comfortable for intermediate skiers. To have enough control, having even snow here is more important than for many other pistes, otherwise you'll bump on snowdrifts too often; head here in the early morning.
 * #15: mostly oriented towards beginners; very simple and short
 * #17: has two sections which are safe for speedy riding.

Buy
There are five or six equipment stores in the city. They will help to cover a missing piece in your kit, but don't expect to find many serious brands or professional-level equipment.

Beyond skiing equipment, there is some choice of perfumes and toys, but prices are generally higher than in Innsbruck or Vienna.

There are also several discount stores selling high-street brands.

Food specialities
Wine:

There are 2 or 3 pharmacies where you can buy baby food and nappies.

Splurge
There are only four hotels rated as four- or five-stars in the village:

Mobile
There are four or five shops selling mobile contracts, but all are quite far away from the main street. Consult the tourist office brochure for exact addresses and directions.

Internet
Internet access is rare and expensive in the city; there are only one or two cafes offering free Wi-Fi, while most hotels charge something like €5 per hour.

Cope
Weather conditions on the ski slopes are very close to what is in the Mayrhofen itself; it's only significantly colder (and more wind) on the Hintertux glacier: expect the temperature there to be 5°C colder.

Go next

 * In the Lower Inn Valley:
 * Schwaz
 * Innsbruck
 * Wörgl

 * In the Tuxer Valley:
 * Hintertux

title: Mayrhofen


text:
Mays Landing

Mays Landing (also referred to as Hamilton Township) is a small town in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Population as of the 2000 census was 2321 residents. It is a lovely town and the perfect place to live or to spend the day. It has charm in its historic section with fine restaurants, local shops, marinas and a great view of the river from Gaskill park. The historic village of Mays Landing also has the distinction of being the County Seat of Atlantic County since 1837.

By car
Atlantic City Expressway, Exit 12 connects to U.S. 40 which runs through to Mays Landing.

See
Locals will recommend a quaint cove nearby where one can sit in the sun on a little beach by Lake Lenape.

Do
Boating, camping, and exploring the vast areas of the surrounding Atlantic County Park System are some of the local area activities. There is a roller skating rink, Area sports fields for Football, Baseball, Hockey, etc..

Buy

 * Hamilton Mall, 4403 Black Horse Pike, 609 646 8326. Anchored by such department stores as Macy’s, this mall also offers over one hundred forty specialty stores and shops, a variety of restaurants, and a food court. Located close to the mall are large retail outlets such as Target and Best Buy.

Eat
Area Restaurants include the Olive Garden, Chilis, and Applebees to name a few of the more mainstream restaurants that can be found in addition to more local eateries such as Gyros and More, Cavallino-Nero, Crabby's Inc, etc.

title: Mays Landing


text:
Maysville

Maysville, in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region, is an old historic town located on the banks of the Ohio River.

Get in
Amtrak serves Maysville via its thrice-weekly Cardinal train, running between Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., New York. Westbound trains arrive around midnight while eastbound ones arrive early morning around 5 AM. However, note that delays are quite common. is located at the intersection of West Front Street and Rosemary Clooney Street, west of downtown.

title: Maysville


text:
Mayumba

Mayumba is a city in Gabon.

Get in
Bush taxis will take you to Mayumba from Tchibanga and points north. There are usually bush taxis from Tchibanga at 6am. You may have to transfer to another bush taxi along the route.

Get around
Mayumba is small and you can walk most places in town and also to the beach.

See
Great, totally un-touristy beaches! During certain times of the year, you can see sea turtles laying eggs and hatching, including the leather-back turtle. Walk along the beach with a flashlight at night and see literally hundreds of the giant creatures. Check dates for the laying season.

Sleep
There are a few rustic guest houses in town. Your bush taxi driver should be able to point you in the right direction for the nearest "case de passage."

title: Mayumba


text:
Maywood

There is more than one place called Maywood:

United States of America

 * Maywood (New Jersey) - A town in New Jersey.
 * Maywood (California) - A town in the Gateway Cities of Los Angeles County in California.

title: Maywood


text:
Mazara del Vallo

Mazara del Vallo  is a medium-sized city in South-Western Sicily, most famous for being one of the leading fishing harbour of Italy and the centre where the Dancing Satyr is hosted. It is part of the province of Trapani.

Talk
The inhabitants usually speak both Italian and Sicilian. However, most of them (especially the oldest ones) are definitely not proficient in English. There is also a large Arab community, originally from Northern Africa.

By car
Mazara del Vallo is connected to Palermo, and its airport, by the A29 highway (also known as Palermo-Mazara del Vallo). This highway, as many other in Sicily, is free.

By train
Mazara del Vallo is linked by train, among the others, to two cities with an airport, Trapani (50 minutes) and Palermo (about 2 hr 45 min). It is frequently linked during the day to many interesting destination, such as Marsala (20 minutes) and Castelvetrano-Selinunte (25 minutes). Prices are fairly cheap.

By bus
Buses from Palermo are operated every hour until 21:00 or 22:00 by private company Autoservizi Salemi, and take about 2 hours. Bus connections from other cities, such as Agrigento, Sciacca and Trapani are less frequent.

By plane
Trapani-Birgi airport is 45 km away. Airport must be reached with local taxi (cost €20 per person), since there is no bus service.

By sailing boat
Mazara's marina is run by a private association, called www.adina.it Adina. It's often used by sailing boat for wintering (for its price and see/wind protection).

By bus
Mazara has a particularly poor urban bus service, and bus stops are often even very hard to find. However, Mazara is also relatively easy to be visited without any kind of transportation, because of the dimensions of its downtown.

By car
Mazara is a small but very active city. It is thus very easy to find oneself stuck in the traffic, especially in the downtown during the late afternoon and the 12:00-14:00 period.

By boat
During the summer period, a daily ferry boat link to the minor island of Pantelleria, powered by Tirrenia, is available.

See

 * The Dancing Satyr, a bronze statue discovered by a fishing boat, and almost immediately became the emblem of the city.
 * The Norman Arc, that is the only remains of the old Castle, built during the flourishing occupation of Mazara by the Normans led by King Roger I of Sicily.
 * The Casbah, the old city centre built up during the Arab period.
 * Several churches, among others San Nicolò Regale and San Vito a Mare.

Do
During the summer period, the heart of Mazara moves from the downtown (Corso Umberto I, Piazza Mokarta, Piazza della Repubblica) to the Tonnarella beach, on the western side of the city.

Eat
As a relevant fishing centre, Mazara is also well known for its seafood-based cuisine. Fish is even commonly cheaper than other places in Italy.

Drink
The mazaresi, as well as the majority of Sicilians, have a good taste for wines: there are several local wine cellars and a number of wineshops in the city. However, in Mazara del Vallo is also located one of the few breweries of Sicily, Naxos.

Sleep
This is the list of the hotels in Mazara del Vallo:
 * Complesso Kempinski *****L
 * Ruggero II Hotel ****
 * D'Angelo Palace Hotel ***
 * Hopps Hotel ***
 * Greta Hotel ***
 * Hotel Mediterraneo *
 * B&B Isolabella

Go next

 * Marsala (20 minutes by train) is the most populated city in the province. It is home for the marsala wine, a historical city founded by the Romans, and a very active place.
 * Trapani (45 minutes by train) is the capital city of the province. From Trapani, it is possible to reach Erice, a relevant touristic place and home for several world science meetings.
 * Castelvetrano (25 minutes by train) is home of the Greek ruins of Selinunte, a must for the place.
 * Pantelleria is a pretty beautiful minor island in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, with a very active nightlife during the warmer months of the year.

title: Mazara del Vallo


text:
Mazar-e Sharif

Mazar-e Sharif (مزار شریف), or Mazar-i-Sharif, or just Mazar, is a city in Afghanistan and the capital of Balkh Province.

Understand
With a population of more than 485,000 (2020), Mazar-e Sharif is the 4th largest city in Afghanistan. It was founded in the 12th century after a local mullah dreamt of the secret site where Ali bin Talib, the Prophet's cousin and the fourth caliph of Islam, had been buried (outside of Afghanistan most Muslims believe that Ali is buried in Najaf, Iraq). A shrine, which was rebuilt as the Blue Mosque, was constructed on the site and the city of Mazar grew around it.

Historically this region was known as Bactria, its capital was Balkh and Mazar was a smaller town nearby. However Balkh was abandoned due to disease in the mid-19th century and Mazar assumed the role of capital of the region, a position it has maintained ever since. Being at a crossroads of trade, the Mazar region is more ethnically diverse than other areas of Afghanistan, and after Kabul it is considered the most open and liberal of all Afghan cities.

By road

 * From Kabul can take as little as 5 hours, via the Salang Pass. The road has been improved and is possible with a normal car. Mercedes buses leave Kabul around 04:00 to 05:00, arriving in Mazar around 13:00 to 15:00, and cost 400 Afg.
 * It is also possible from Sheberghan, Kunduz and neighbouring Uzbekistan.
 * The back road from Herat via Maimana is a very rough 3-day journey requiring a 4wd vehicle with back country preparation, and is no longer considered safe.

By plane
The Ariana flights between Kabul and Mazar have been suspended due to low demand.
 * Kam Air flies on Sundays and Thursdays to/from Kabul (leaving Kabul at 09:00, returning at 14:30) and have ceased direct flights to Herat. Kam Air also flies intermittently to Mashhad, Iran.
 * Kam Air flies on Sundays and Thursdays to/from Kabul (leaving Kabul at 09:00, returning at 14:30) and have ceased direct flights to Herat. Kam Air also flies intermittently to Mashhad, Iran.

Get around

 * Taxis are plentiful and should cost 30 Afg or less around town. Negotiate a price before setting off.

See

In the way of sights Mazar has little to offer the visitor other than the Blue Mosque - although some of the modern monuments built atop traffic circles are worth a photo. Mazar is surrounded by beautiful Mountains on two sides and is home to some Ancient Greek relics.

Do

 * The mosque is open for daily prayers.

Buy

Hand-woven carpets are common in the bazaar, both Turkoman rugs and Afghan rugs that are typically cheaper and coarser.

Eat

 * Between the Farhat Hotel and the Blue Mosque there are food stalls on both sides of the road. Bagels with green vegetables, tomato and french fries are especially good. Fruit shakes, soft drinks and tea are also available. Stalls close around sun set.

Alcohol

 * Alcoholic drinks are available at the Indian hotel (Delhi Darbar), for non-Afghans only.

Freshly made fruit slushies. Banana shakes with almonds and dates are delicious, and the persimmon version looks equally alluring. Several stands are set up near the Aamo Hotel, as well as other spots around the shrine.

Budget
Local hotels offer multi-bed rooms from US$10-20 with a shared bathroom and toilet. Cheaper rooms have the worst toilet facilities.

By plane

 * Kam Air flies to Kabul on Thursdays at 14:00 and to Herat on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:00. All flights costs 2500 Afg. Their office is one block north of the shrine on jad-e Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi, or a travel agent east of the Aamo Hotel books tickets for the same price.
 * Ariana also has an office next door to Kam Air, but all of their Mazar flights have been suspended due to low demand.

By car
Shared taxis head to the Uzbekistan border - taking 30 minutes on a good tarred road through the desert. To drive your own vehicle will require completing some paperwork with the Uzbek embassy in Kabul.

Internet

 * Dunya Internet Cafe on the first floor of Aamo Hotel (on the south side of the shrine), has a reasonable connection and costs 50 Afg per hour.

Stay safe
Aside from the inherent risks faced by coming to Afghanistan in such a time of turmoil, Mazar remains relatively peaceful and safe for travelers. Things can change very quickly: avoid walking at night if possible, always remain friendly and upbeat, and keep aware of your surroundings. Treat police with kindness and smiles even if they aren't showing you the same respect - unfriendly passport checks are not unheard of.

Go next
Balkh is nearby and has interesting sights. It was the capital of Bactria from several hundred BCE, and the region's most important city until it was devastated by an epidemic in the 19th century and Mazar became the leading city.

title: Mazar-e Sharif


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Mazatlan

Mazatlán is a city in Sinaloa state, Mexico, known for its fine beaches. It is a popular vacation and retirement destination for Canadians and Americans. While many of Mexico's original Pacific coast resorts are showing their age, Mazatlán still has some spring in its step, along with a big carnival, lively arts scene and a beautiful historical center to boot.

Understand
Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word for "place of deer". The area was colonized by the Spanish in 1531. During the mid-19th century, a large group of immigrants arrived from Germany. Over time, Mazatlán developed into a commercial seaport, importing equipment for the nearby gold and silver mines, and it served as the capital of Sinaloa from 1859 to 1873. The German settlers influenced the local music, banda, with some genres being an alteration of Bavarian folk music. The settlers established the Pacifico Brewery in 1900.

In the latter half of the 20th century, Mazatlán became a tourist destination. The hotels along Olas Altas flourished during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and Mazatlán was well regarded by Hollywood stars such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, John Huston and others of their generation as a sport fishing mecca. In the 1970s, tourism in the historical center declined as newer venues catering to foreign tourists opened on the expanses of beach to the north of the city. As the 21st century began, the historical center was rediscovered, spurring a renaissance of restoration and entrepreneurial endeavors, and many once-fine buildings that had fallen into ruin were restored to their former glory as family homes and boutique businesses.

Today, Mazatlán is a socially and economically diverse city, with more than 500,000 people (2017) of all races. It has several distinct inner city districts, as well as outlying suburbs that are mainly inhabited by working-class Mexicans. There are two primary areas of interest to visitors: the Golden Zone (Zona Dorada) where the resort-seeking tourists go and the historical center (Centro Historico) with several lovely plazas and many renovated 18th-century commercial buildings and private residences. The city is more affordable than many of Mexico's other Pacific resorts and still maintains an authentic character. Many Americans and Canadians retire in Mazatlan.

Mazatlán has a tropical savanna climate bordering a hot semi-arid climate, with a marked and rather long dry season from November to June and an average annual temperature of 25 C. During the summer months, with the humidity factor, temperatures usually feel well above what the thermometer shows. Winter can be a little cool and may not make for the best beach days, particularly during a cold snap.

By car
Mazatlán is approximately an 18-hour drive from Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. There are many considerations when bringing a car into Mexico.

By bus
Mexico has an extremely well developed bus route system and one can easily find a bus to wherever one needs to go. Mazatlán is about 12 hours away from Mexico City (~US$90 one way), 6 hours from Guadalajara (~US$40 one way), 15 hours from Nogales (~US$50 one way), and only about 2 hours from Culiacán. For whatever reason, the bus companies crank up the air-conditioning, so bring a sweater!

By boat
Baja Ferries runs a ferry between Mazatlan and Pichilinque, La Paz in Baja California Sur. The trip takes 12 hours or more and leaves Mazatlan almost daily (check for weekend departures). Also, Mazatlán has a busy port which accommodates a number of cruise ships that sail up and down the western coast of the Americas. From the port, it's a five-minute taxi ride to the southernmost hotels or fifteen minutes to the more modern (and more expensive) places to the north.

The Mexican Navy operates an every-other-Friday ferry between Mazatlan and Islas Marias, a former offshore penal colony that has been turned into a tourist destination with a Pueblo Magico, a UNESCO Biosphere Reservation, nature watching and sky watching opportunities and an eerie prison tour. If you're looking an off-beat weekend adventure, Islas Marias is one-of-a-kind. Reservations and details are on the official Islas Marias website.

Get around
In-town transportation is mainly motorized, except for the Centro Histórico, which is a very nice walking district.

By taxi
Besides normal taxis, the tourist areas (Zona Dorada and Centro Historico) always have many small white open-topped taxis called pulmonías that look like bumper cars, many of them old Volkswagens. These are unique to Mazatlan. Although you'll never have to wait long for one (they're always whizzing back and forth) ask the price before you get in and then bargain. The correct price will usually be about 30% less than the original quote. Don't overdo the haggling, though. It'll cost you less than US$4 to go between downtown and the tourist district. You may want to give the driver a little tip as appreciation for a safe and enjoyable journey.

Uber is in Mazatlán and is about half the price of a pulmonía.

By bus
There are two different types of public transport buses that run in Mazatlán. The larger green ones run along the main tourist strip right along the water and either turn off at Rafael Buelna Anvenue or continue on along the Malecon to downtown. These are the equivalent of coach buses, they are very well air-conditioned and in great shape. They cost around M$9 (pesos) per trip. The city is also served by regular local buses which are cheaper and only cost M$5-6. Be sure to check the windshield of the bus as the bus route is typically written on it. These buses serve the entire city well but can be confusing without a thorough knowledge of the system. The buses that go along the Malecon between downtown and the tourist district are the "Sabalo-Centro" buses.

Aquatics

 * The miles of beach have plenty to keep most people occupied. Jet skiing, waterskiing, and parascending are all available, but always haggle on price.
 * Surfing. Mazatlán has several prime locations where you can try out your surfing skills. The most popular spot is a beach called  to the north of the city. The waves easily reach heights of 2.5-3 m (8-10 ft) and there is almost always a vendor from whom you can rent surfboards. This is a remote beach that is usually fairly empty. Not only is the surf great, but the lack of annoying vendors makes it even better. Another surfing location is right next to Valentino's (this is the largest landmark in the city). There are several places to rent surfboards right on the beach, but the waves are not nearly as good as Playa Bruja.
 * Take a boat cruise. Visit the islands, go whale watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or simply get obliterated drunk on a party cruise. There should be something that strikes your fancy. Cruises can be booked almost almost anywhere: online, at your hotel, bumping into random touts in the tourist zone, etc.
 * Sport fishing. Mazatlán is a far more affordable game fishing destination than world-renown Los Cabos, despite being quite close geographically. Popular year-round species include marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark.
 * Surfing. Mazatlán has several prime locations where you can try out your surfing skills. The most popular spot is a beach called  to the north of the city. The waves easily reach heights of 2.5-3 m (8-10 ft) and there is almost always a vendor from whom you can rent surfboards. This is a remote beach that is usually fairly empty. Not only is the surf great, but the lack of annoying vendors makes it even better. Another surfing location is right next to Valentino's (this is the largest landmark in the city). There are several places to rent surfboards right on the beach, but the waves are not nearly as good as Playa Bruja.
 * Take a boat cruise. Visit the islands, go whale watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or simply get obliterated drunk on a party cruise. There should be something that strikes your fancy. Cruises can be booked almost almost anywhere: online, at your hotel, bumping into random touts in the tourist zone, etc.
 * Sport fishing. Mazatlán is a far more affordable game fishing destination than world-renown Los Cabos, despite being quite close geographically. Popular year-round species include marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark.
 * Take a boat cruise. Visit the islands, go whale watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing, or simply get obliterated drunk on a party cruise. There should be something that strikes your fancy. Cruises can be booked almost almost anywhere: online, at your hotel, bumping into random touts in the tourist zone, etc.
 * Sport fishing. Mazatlán is a far more affordable game fishing destination than world-renown Los Cabos, despite being quite close geographically. Popular year-round species include marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, swordfish, bonito, tuna and shark.

Festivals

 * Attend a festival:
 * During the week of Semana Santa (Easter week), Mazatlán is flooded with Mexican tourists from all around the country who are escaping the heat to come to the beach. The miles of beach are literally jam-packed for the entire week. The atmosphere is wild, and you can have a lot of fun, but be very careful.
 * During the week of Semana Santa (Easter week), Mazatlán is flooded with Mexican tourists from all around the country who are escaping the heat to come to the beach. The miles of beach are literally jam-packed for the entire week. The atmosphere is wild, and you can have a lot of fun, but be very careful.

Buy
There are three main shopping zones in Mazatlán:
 * Centro Histórico. Most of the shops and vendors down here are trying to make a living selling their wares. You can get fantastic product, at far cheaper prices than if you go to the "Golden District" or to the Mall. It's also a great district to walk through, giving you more to do than just spend money all day.
 * Golden Zone. The name says it all. High class, high prices.
 * La Gran Plaza Mall. You'll find the Mall largely empty but for a few middle class kids milling around looking for somewhere to spend their money. High prices in almost all the stores, bland food, and absolutely no culture or feeling like you're anywhere but somewhere to waste money.  The one bright spot?  A really big video-game parlor that is great for kids big and small.
 * Golden Zone. The name says it all. High class, high prices.
 * La Gran Plaza Mall. You'll find the Mall largely empty but for a few middle class kids milling around looking for somewhere to spend their money. High prices in almost all the stores, bland food, and absolutely no culture or feeling like you're anywhere but somewhere to waste money.  The one bright spot?  A really big video-game parlor that is great for kids big and small.

Eat

 * Coconuts - Try it with lime, salt, chili powder, various hot sauces.

There's a restaurant to suit everyone's taste and budget. Mazatlecos are keen on seafood, especially prawns (camarones) and steak.

Mid-range

 * La Mona Pizza has three locations that are always filled with locals (a good sign). And they have salads that tourists can safely eat. M$150-300 mains.
 * La Mona Pizza has three locations that are always filled with locals (a good sign). And they have salads that tourists can safely eat. M$150-300 mains.
 * La Mona Pizza has three locations that are always filled with locals (a good sign). And they have salads that tourists can safely eat. M$150-300 mains.
 * La Mona Pizza has three locations that are always filled with locals (a good sign). And they have salads that tourists can safely eat. M$150-300 mains.

Drink
Mazatlán is known as a party city and has an exceptionally good nightlife. Some popular destinations include Joe's Oyster Bar and the bars around. The city gets crazy around American Spring Break when all city is flooded with American students looking for fun. There are plenty of bars to choose from, depending upon taste, budget and comfort. Tourists occupy the seafront bars whereas locals head inland where the atmosphere can be excellent.

You must try Pacífico, a beautiful locally brewed beer. Sold everywhere for M$15-20. M$10 for a can if you buy it at a deposito.

Sleep
Mazatlán is well known for offering the best value of any of Mexico's major resorts. Affordably priced lodging and food can be found easily. Outside of January and February (when the city can be a little cold), it is one of the most attractive seaside destinations in Mexico.

Stay safe
Mazatlán has the problems that all large Mexican cities do. It's wise to walk in groups or with someone else in any city after dark. Some places in the Centro Histórico and Golden Zone are well lit and occasionally busy at night. Don't let this deceive you into believing it is safe to walk around after dark. Don't be afraid to walk around the Cathedral, Malecon or Plaza Machado during the day. In most areas of the city there's almost no activity at night, and it would be unsafe to be anywhere after dark. Incidents of chain-snatching and robbery at knife point have been reported as occurring directly in front of Valentinos Disco in the Golden Zone even when it is very busy and several hundred people are standing outside. Avoid having any jewelry whatsoever, or wearing nice clothes so you are not targeted by the thugs in this large city. Outside of Mazatlán and its vicinity, the state of Sinaloa is heavily impacted by the drug trade; small towns and rural areas are not particularly safe for travel.

Lifeguard stand are on all main beaches, although lifeguards are rarely present. You'll usually know if jellyfish are in the water by looking at the flags (white) on the beach. You may want to bring a small container of vinegar to apply in case of a sting from jellyfish. They will also warn you of other dangerous conditions (red flags), so be sure to look for them and heed their warnings.

Connect
Mazatlan has mobile coverage from AT&T/Unefon, Telcel, and Movistar. Telcel provides 5G coverage although it's surprisingly spotty given the enormous telecommunications towers perched atop the Cerro de la Nevería and visible from almost everywhere in the city.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * La Paz via ferry or airplane – a tranquil yet hip city on the Baja California peninsula with some stunning beaches
 * Copper Canyon – a stunning system of canyons through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range
 * Durango – the drive there on highway 40D is one of the most spectacular in Mexico, and the highway itself is an engineering marvel through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain mountains that traverses 68 tunnels and 115 bridges (including the famous Baluarte Bridge). Not much to see in the city.
 * Nayarit – explore the beaches of the Nayarit Riviera

title: Mazatlan


text:
Mazunte

Mazunte is a small beach village on the Pacific Coast in Oaxaca.

Understand
Mazunte is a quiet town next to a small but wonderful beach. Mazunte is a common stop on the Pacific Coast Backpacker Trail. The town remains fairly typical and only has a small collection of hostels, hotels and restaurants to service tourists. Most accommodation in town is quite basic, however there are a couple of luxury places available in the hills. There are a number of restaurants near the beach serving good quality (albeit expensive) food. Mazunte has a number of small but worthy attractions including the National Mexican Turtle Centre and Natural Cosmetics Centre. The main beach is not known for surfing however skim boarding and snorkelling are common activities on the beach.

By plane
There are regular flights to Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airports. From either airport, you can get a bus, taxi or colectivo to Mazunte.

By bus or van
There are regular buses to Pochutla (the closest interstate bus station near Mazunte, about 15-30 min away) from Oaxaca City and Mexico City.

From Oaxaca City, you can get a bus to Pochutla (8 hours approximately) or a van (6½ hours, M$170 (pesos)). From Mexico City, there are two bus options that leave from Tasqueña station. The first option is to take a bus to Oaxaca City and then swap to a second bus that goes to Pochutla. This option takes about 10 hours in total. The second option is a direct route via the coast that goes through the Guerrero state (passing by Acapulco) and makes a stop in Puerto Escondido, and finally arrives in Pochutlato Pochutla. This option takes about 14 hours and is operated by Estrella Blanca buses. Once you make it to Pochutla, there are a number of options to make the trip to Mazunte from Pochutla including special taxi (~M$60), colectivo (trucks with blue tarp roofing over back, M$15 pp) or bus (camioneta, M$10pp).

If you are coming from Puerto Escondido, you can take a bus directly to Mazunte for M$40. The bus goes from the front of the Super Che supermarket, not at the bus station, although there is a more expensive bus there. Ask the driver to drop you off at Las Cruces de San Antonio. From here you can take taxi or colectivo.

By colectivo
Colectivos are available to Mazunte from Puerto Escondido (40 minutes) and from Huatulco (1 hour).

Get around

Mazunte is a very small, rustic village and very easy to navigate. Everything is easily reachable by foot. The main road is Paseo del Mazunte, bordered by a few restaurants, the church and the soccer field. It has four sideroads that all head to the beach. The most western sideroad, Calle del Rinconcito, leads to Playa El Rinconcito. It has a sideroad, Camino a Mermejita, a dirtroad that winds up the hill to private homes, a few hill top palapas, a cemetery, Punta Cometa and the neighboring beach, Playa Mermejita.

Eat
Beach front palapas all have similar menus with similar prices. A good bet is to head to the one with the most people taking in the slow pace of life in Mazunte. Particularly recommended are the tlayudas, typical Oaxacan fare that cost M$25-50 and are big enough for two people. Also, try an agua fresca M$5-10, you may have to wait a while but the combination of watermelon, lemon, and water on a hot day is well worth it. Tacos are in abundance and price M$20-30 at most restaurants and less from vendors passing on the beach.

If it is just too hard to get off the beach, there are plenty of vendors that come along with homemade tamales and deep fried tacos. If you have a sensitive stomach practice caution in your choices. The boho residents also sell homemade bread and cookies and these treats are highly recommended.

If you are looking to do some cooking, there is a big vegetable shop at the edge of town on the main road just after the turtle conservation center.

Drink
Night life is quite calm. There are some restaurants spread through town and a few places at Playa El Rinconcito sometimes have live music. It's the only part of town that can be a bit noisy some nights.

Estrella Fugaz and Siddhartha, both at Playa El Rinconcito, have an espresso machine for good coffee drinks, liquados, beers, liquors, juices and sometimes live music.

Monthly rentals
It is quite common to rent rooms or entire houses on a monthly basis with prices often between M$1,000-2,000 per month. Condition of the place, access to shower, toilet and kitchen vary greatly. Do mind that during the high season (around Christmas and New Year's) most are reluctant to rent on a monthly basis. More than a few people reported being kicked out just before the high season as the landlord expects to make more money during the high season. As paper contracts are not common, ensure your agreement is as clear as possible on every detail and don't assume locals being kind when making the agreement to keep being nice when they believe they can make more money during the high season.

Budget
The best bet on a small budget is to find a place to drop your luggage and wander the small village looking for a place that suits your fancy. Rooms are cheap and there are deals to be had, as most places sharply lower their rates in the off season (mid January to October). Most residents have rooms and palapas set aside for travelers, although they are very, very basic. On the plus side, you are free to share the households wood cookfire and will probably return home with many interesting stories. Another option is to accept a hammock or bed at one of the alternative community spots - there are a few mostly backed around a lagoon of sorts in the middle of the beach.

Stay safe

The sea off the Mazunte coast is notoriously dangerous, and great care should be taken when swimming. There is a lifeguard station but it's not always manned. Undercurrents can pull unsuspecting swimmers out to sea even when the surface of the water appears calm. Drownings are not uncommon.

Mazunte is known to be safer and more calm than neighboring Zipolite but walking at night on the dark beach might still be a bad idea as muggings and rapes have happened in the past.

Connect
There are at least two internet cafés in Mazunte. Some restaurants and posadas have wifi. Connection speed is < 1MB so it can get quite slow when congested.

Cope
There is an ATM in one shop on the main road of Mazunte. If it doesn't deliver, use the ATM in Puerto Angel or an ATM or bank office in Pochutla. Cash is king. Hardly any place accepts credit cards.

Go next
If heading south, you can go to either San Augustinillo, a small village with a nice beach only five minutes walk away or Zipolite, a town famous for its nudist beach and heavy surf. If heading north, be sure to stop at Puerto Escondido, the surfing mecca of Mexico.

title: Mazunte


text:
Mbabane

Mbabane is the capital city of Eswatini (Swaziland). It houses Sibebe Rock, one of the biggest mountains in Africa. It sits on the banks of the Mbabane River and its tributary the Polinjane River in the Mdzimba Mountains, and was home to 95,000 people in 2010.

Get in

You can easily travel to Mbabane from South Africa and Mozambique. Several minibuses travel between Maputo and Manzini/Mbabane. Regular bus service is provided between Johannesburg and Durban.

If you drive your own car, you will find good tarred roads and several petrol stations/shops on the main roads.

Minibus taxis to South Africa leave from the taxi stop near Swazi Plaza. There are minibus taxis from Mbabane to Mbombela in South Africa.

Get around
The city center is walkable, with shopping malls and other administrative buildings.

See
The town doesn't offer that much. There are no big attractions. The city centre consist of two small malls, a taxi and bus stop, a hotel and at some days open markets.

Do
There is a Swazi cultural village close by and a game reserve. There are several factories around Mbabane which sell traditional hand-made Swazi candles.

Eat
Traditional Swazi foods such as bhatata sweet potatoes, and traditional emasi (sour milk) are some nice food to enjoy.

Drink
Would be best to visit during the traditional ceremony when the traditional brew emaganu is being celebrated. At this time, emaganu (marula) brew is drank across the country.

Embassies

 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan

title: Mbabane


text:
Mbaiki

Mbaiki is the main city in the southern part of the Central African Republic.

Get in
Between Bangui and Mbaiki is the best road available in the Central African Republic. You have to pay a minor fee to use it, but you can consider yourself lucky to have a real piece of tarmac. There are plenty of potholes and do not use at night. It is about 120 kilometers. If you go by car, you can, but you need a fourwheel drive.

Get around
Before reaching you pass the village of Pissa, where you can take a rest. Better however continue to halfway Pissa - Mbaiki, because there are the beautiful falls of Mbeko. You can reach them after a nice walk in the rainforest.

Sleep

 * Motel MBM.

Go next
South of Mbaiki you can visit pygmy villages. Bangui - Pissa = 80 km tarmac Pissa - Mbaiki = 30 km tarmac Mbaiki - Pygmee = 30 km dirt

title: Mbaiki


text:
Mbarara

Mbarara is a city in Western Uganda.

Get in
From the bus park Global Coaches and Swift Safaris have buses to Kampala. from the same bus park there are Bismarkan coaches going to Kabale USh 15,000. From out side the post office the Post bus goes to Kampala at 9:30AM. and to Kabale at 12:30PM. there are also 14 seat vans going from the bus park to Kasese for USh 20,000.

Mbarara also has minibuses commonly known as taxis, that carry 14 passengers from different locations such as Kasese, Kabale, Ntungamo, Masaka and Kampala.

Get around
There are also motorcycles commonly known as boda-boda in Mbarara that can move to different parts of the city at a small fee ranging from UGX 1000 to UGX 3000

There are also small cars commonly known as special cars that can be hired by one or group of people to be taken to any part of the country at passengers terms

Do

 * Swimming: Swimming pools in Mbarara area are at Lakeview Resort Hotels 3 km outside town, off Mbarara-Bushenyi Road, Hotel Triangle, Big  Fun Entertainment
 * Clubs and bars such as Signature Premium, Ice Lounge, Soho Terrace,
 * Tourism: Mbarara has many tourist attractions which include Mbarara River Rwizi Falls, Igongo Cultural Centre, Nkokonjeru Tombs among others
 * Shopping: There are many shopping centers around Mbarara Town and these Include Super Markets, Bata shop, Boutiques among others

Banks & ATMs
Most of the banks have Visa ATM Card Access centers.

Sleep
There are many cheap hotels and small restaurants on Bananuka Road.

Go next

 * Kampala
 * Kabale
 * Fort Portal

title: Mbarara