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Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is a spectacular series of rock formations on the north coast of Northern Ireland. The main site stretches for 2-3 miles, with some 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the sea. The area is owned by the National Trust and is Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site: it's impressive but very touristy, with a million visitors each year. It's mobbed on fine weekends, try to visit off-peak.

Understand
Some 60 million years ago, a great rift developed in the earth's surface that sundered Europe from America and formed the North Atlantic. Lava gushed up from fissures: it was fluid and spread out into vast fiery lakes, rather than heaping up into volcanoes. The lava cooled into a deep layer of basalt, the Thulian Plateau. The Atlantic widened and fractured the plateau into what is now the Scottish Hebrides, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and maritime Canada. It's still widening and the lava continues to well up from time to time, most obviously in Iceland.

Basalt layers are found worldwide, they form the dark maria or "seas" of the moon, are common on Mars, and are seen elsewhere in the solar system. The shape they take on cooling depends on conditions: here a thick lava flow cooled slowly, contracting slightly. This created a network of vertical fractures in a hexagonal pattern like mud in a dried-up lake-bed: it's the most energy-efficient way to dissipate the contraction stress. Horizontal cracks were wider spaced so as the basalt and other material eroded, this exposed tall black columns of about 0.5 m diameter, with a stepped appearance as upper segments washed off.

These formations were discovered by tourists in the 18th century, but local people had long wondered at them, and their fishermen told of similar formations across the North Channel in the Hebrides. Such a cascade of steps was surely not natural, but no mortal man could have wrought such things. Fortunately they knew just the fellow, one of the superheroes that inhabited the Ireland of legend. In the green corner, step forward Fionn mac Cumhaill or Finn McCool. In the blue corner for Scotland, step forward Bennandonner, the towering Bluto to McCool's Popeye, loud boos and jeers from the Ulster audience. It's a real grudge match because these two have a lot of previous. Like the time McCool scooped up a clod of earth to hurl at Bennandonner, but it fell short and created the Isle of Man, while the clod-hole filled with water as Lough Neagh.

Still the North Channel lies between them, with swift cold currents, too far to swim and McCool is too large for any boat yet built. So he creates a causeway across the sea, and storms ashore in Scotland to confront his foe. But then he sees Bennandonner up close for the first time. Big? Huge?? Humongous — McCool realises he's made a serious mistake, and legs it back to Ireland. Benandonner pursues him across the causeway, a tad slower, so McCool makes it home and has a few minutes to consider his defence. Bennandonner pounds on the door and Mrs Oonagh McCool answers — "You'll be waking the baby!... my man Finn, oh but he's gone to the fields... do come in and wait, he wouldn't want to miss you, but keep quiet and don't wake the baby!" Bennandonner clocks the size of this baby — it's Finn himself playing cute in frills and a vast cradle. Baby that size, perhaps Bennandonner won't wait around to meet the father. So he scarpers back to Scotland and tears up the causeway behind him.

Visitor information

 * Giant's Causeway guide

Get in
Day trips run from Belfast and even from Dublin - if you don't have your own transport and have limited time, these are a good option. They're sure to take in the other big-name attractions of Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge and Dark Hedges; maybe a glimpse of the Antrim Glens.

By public transport you usually travel via Bushmills 3 miles south. That will mean a train from Belfast to Coleraine then Bus 402 / 172 along the coast. Stay on the bus at Bushmills and another five minutes brings you to Giant's Causeway. The bus continues east to Dunseverick (for crumbly castle), Ballintoy (for Carrick-a-Rede Bridge) and Ballycastle (for ferries to Rathlin Island).

Alternatively, express bus 221 goes directly from Belfast's Europa Buscentre to the Giant's Causeway and back again. It takes about an hour and a half and runs twice a day in each direction (departing Belfast in the morning and returning in the late afternoon), leaving plenty of time in between to explore the site. Tickets and timetables at TransLink.

By car reckon 80 min from Belfast via M2 / A26 to Ballymena then A44 towards Ballycastle, branching west on the coast road A2.

Get around
The area is maintained by the National Trust and is free to enter all year 24 hours, but you pay heavily for parking in a congested car park. You can avoid this by using other transport over the last couple of miles, and the high charges are meant to encourage you to do so. The options are:
 * - Bus 402 / 172 along the coast between Coleraine, Portrush, Bushmills, Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle, as above.
 * - Park at Bushmills free, and take the heritage railway, or the shuttle bus from the P&R. Don't attempt to park on the roads near the Causeway entrance, they're narrow and double-yellow-lined; offenders are likely to get towed.
 * - Park at Causeway railway station for £8, but only if you're riding the railway, see below. It makes more sense to ride it the other way round, parking free at Bushmills.
 * - Hike along the cliff tops from Portballintrae a mile west or Dunseverick Castle 3 miles east.

Parking at the Causeway is only available with a ticket to the Visitor Centre: adult £13, child £6.50, NT members free. Pre-booking is advised at busy times. The centre has toilets and an exhibition: it's of interest, but not remotely worth what they're charging. You don't have to enter it to access the site.

, built in 2012, is next to the car park. It's open daily Apr-Sep: 10AM-5PM, Oct-Mar: 10AM-4PM.

From the centre it's half a mile or so to the start of the area of interest, along the tarmac lane which descends to become the low-level path. A shuttle bus plies along it, £1 each way, NT free. This path gives the best view of the site but it dead-ends at Port Neostan - its continuation east has been closed because of erosion. The other path from the centre is along the cliff tops and extends for miles, great views out to sea but only oblique or more distant views of the rock formations. There's a steep link between these paths (the Shepherd's Steps) in the middle.

See

 * Causeway School east side of the car park was an art school then a museum. It's now offices for the National Trust.
 * Throughout the area, watch for bird life. Resident species include fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank, guillemot and razorbill.
 * is the cove everybody misses, as you branch west instead of following the beaten trail. Right of the jetty, east side of the cove, is the large Portcoon Cave. You need low tide to scramble along the beach and into it, and torches to get any distance inside.
 * or Bay of the Cow is the first inlet you reach on the low-level path north of the Visitor Centre. On the shore find The Camel, a hump-backed blade of rock formed as a "dyke" by lava cooling within a crack in now-vanished rocks.
 * Great Stookan is the promontory closing that bay to the east, and the headland above is Weir Snout. The Granny is a rock part way up, said to resemble a stooped old woman climbing the hill - many visitors have difficulty spotting it, or seeing any resemblance. The inlet beyond is Port Ganny, bounded to the east by the centrepiece of the causeway.
 * is the one in all the tourist publicity, the great stairway, more suitable for a dance routine in top hat and tails than for clumping quarrelsome giants. The Wishing Chair is a throne-like cluster of columns gazing down amidst this vista, where what you wish is that your backside wasn't so wet and cold. The chair hexagon retains dampness, so take a plastic shopping bag to tuck under your butt, easily hidden from your partner's photo. The headland above is called Aird Snout and a steep path leads down, the Shepherd's Steps. In 2021 this path is closed by a rock fall.
 * Port Noffer is the next small bay east. On the shore, The Boot is a large rock, from which it's calculated that Finn McCool stood 16 m tall. But suppose it's just the baby's boot?
 * are unbroken 15 m columns set into the cliffs above Port Noffer.
 * Port Reostan is the next little cove east, backed by the cliffs of The Amphitheatre. The low-level path ends here, so if you want to explore further east, you need to backtrack and join the clifftop path. One offshore rock has a column that makes it resemble a submarine with a conning tower.
 * bounds that bay east, with The Chimney Tops the cliff formation above - erosion has separated these columns from the main rockface.
 * Spanish Bay is the next, where the Armada galleas Girona was wrecked on 26 Oct 1588, with the loss of almost all 1300 aboard. After the Armada scattered and fled around Scotland, Girona was patched up in Donegal and attempted to head for Scotland instead of running for home along the Irish Atlantic coast, but a storm drove her onto the rocks here. In 1967 the wreck was located, and a huge hoard of gold recovered; diving on the wreck is forbidden. Set into the hillside, the Spanish Organ is similar to the Organ Pipes.
 * Port na Callan, Port na Tober and Port na Plaiskin are the last three inlets at the east limit of the park area.

Do

 * Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway trundles for two miles through the sandhills between village and Causeway. See Bushmills for details, as it's best to park free at that end of the line.
 * Sandy beaches are just west of the park towards Portballintrae.

Buy

 * There's a gift shop within the Visitor Centre, but you've already paid them plenty just to go in the centre.
 * There's no ATM here, the nearest is in Bushmills.

Eat

 * Bushmills and Ballycastle have lots more eating places.
 * Bushmills and Ballycastle have lots more eating places.

Drink

 * Save the Bushmills whiskey for evening. Those cliffs are high and the rocks are wet and slippery enough even with a steady gait.

Sleep

 * Finn McCool's Hostel and the Causeway Hotel are by the main car park, see Bushmills.
 * Bushmills village 3 miles south has lots more accommodation.
 * Portrush west and Ballycastle east have plenty more.

Connect
As of March 2021, the area has 4G from all UK carriers. This continues south to Bushmills but there are dead spots on the road east to Ballycastle. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Bushmills has the well-known whiskey distillery.
 * Carrick-a-Rede Bridge is a few miles east along the coast towards Ballycastle. Although it's called a "rope bridge" it's nowadays a sturdy metal hawser structure, open all year.
 * Ballycastle is a pleasant beach resort, with ferries to Rathlin Island.
 * The Antrim Glens are reached along the coast east between Ballycastle, Cushendall and Larne.
 * West along the coast are the resorts of Portrush and Portstewart.
 * Fingal's Cave on the island of Staffa is the Scottish end of the Causeway. You reach it by boat trip from Mull.
 * Iceland was covered in lava as part of the Thulian Plateau, with further flows right up to the present day. It has lots of basalt formations, and a dozen of them are spectacular.

title: Giant's Causeway


text:
Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois is a 10-minute drive from Carbondale. This state park is a National Natural Landmark.

The park offers horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling, camping, hiking, and many other outdoor adventure opportunities. The camping ranges from class A campsites including electricity, water, showers and the like to class C campsites which are a little more for the adventuresome type. The area is known for its huge sandstone bluffs which are a site to behold.

History
The park's lodge and original six cabins were constructed by the 696th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1934 to 1935. The CCC used locally quarried sandstone and locally harvested lumber to build the lodge. In 1936, the lodge and cabins were dedicated by Illinois Governor Henry Horner. The CCC later added a dining room and kitchen as well as six additional cabins to the complex. They were also responsible for building the lodge's furniture; the quality of the wooden furniture led Pere Marquette State Park to commission the 696th Company to furnish their lodge as well.

In 1985, the lodge and cabins were added to the National Register of Historic Places; the original cabins were demolished and replaced by replica cabins in the same year, and several new cabins were constructed. The new cabins are used to lodge visitors to the park, while the lodge houses a restaurant and gift shop.

Do
Some of the park's most popular hiking trails include Giant City Nature Trail, Red Cedar Trail, and Trillium Trail. The park is served by the River to River Trail.

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

title: Giant City State Park


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Giant Mountains National Park

The Giant Mountains, known as the Karkonosze (pronounced [ˈkr̩konoʃɛ]) in Polish, Krkonoše in Czech, and Riesengebirge in German, are part of the Sudetes mountain range in Central Europe and form the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. They offer beautiful scenery and winter resorts. The Giant Mountains include two national parks, Krkonošský narodní park (Giant Mountains National park) in Czech Republic and Karkonosze National Park in Poland. This article is about the first one.

Cities
There are four main towns in Giant Mountains National Park, from west, these areː Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou Špindlerův Mlýn, and Pec pod Sněžkou.

 * – A town in the western part of Giant Mountains in the valley of the Mumlava River, is a centre of winter sports and resorts. There is also a cinema and some music clubs. A dominant feature of this town is a huge ski jump. The crest hike is usually started from this town.
 * – Features probably the worst skiing areal of these four, but it is a good base for trekking in the area. The town is especially popular during New Year's eve, during which many Czech people come here to celebrate.
 * – Also features a ski areal and is known as the most expensive among these town, popular for among rich for its luxurious hotels.
 * – Probably the most useful of these towns. It has the biggest (and probably the best) skiing areal among these, it features a lot of accommodation options and is located directly below Czech tallest mountain Sněžka, which makes it a good base for climbing up this mountain. If you do now want to climb it, the cable way up there also starts here.

Understand
The national park is quite large, about 40 km in west/east direction and 20 km in south/north direction. It covers the whole Czech part of Giant Mountains, which are the tallest mountains of the Czech Republic. The mountains are quite scenic, even though they do not resemble the typical mountains such as Alps, they are much more similar to what you would expect to see in Scotland or Scandinavia. That means that you won't find any tall rocks or step cliffs here. Giant Mountains are a popular tourist destination for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and can sometimes can overcrowded as such. The best time to visit for hiking is probably June because of good weather and smaller crowds, while other summer months are fine as well. For skiing, the best time to come is probably December or January.

The highest mountain Sněžka can be translated as "Snowhead" and is located directly on the Polish-Czech border. At 1,603 m high, it is the highest mountain of the Czech Republic. There is a restaurant and a chapel on the Polish side. The peak can be reached via a modern gondola from the Czech side or a more antiquated chairlift from the Polish side. Hiking trails to peak approach from both sides of the mountain as well. The Elbe River starts near the border - it is one of the longest rivers in Central Europe and flows from the Czech Republic, (Bohemia) all the way through Germany to Hamburg.

There is a popular myth about the protector of the Giant Mountains, a giant or mountain spirit known as Krakonoš in Czech, Liczyrzepa in Polish, or Ruebezahl in German. You will find wonderful images of him everywhere!

History
Until 1945, the region was German-speaking on both sides of the border, you find remnants of this interesting history in the area's buildings, food and legends. The numerous mountain huts were often build by German settlers of this area. During communist era (1945–1989) this area was discovered as a skiing destination, which continued into modern times. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destination in Czech Republic, especially among domestic tourists, both in summer and winter.

Landscape
The upper border of the forest is located very low (1,200 m asl) in Giant Mountains, which is the thing that makes it interesting. Higher parts of the mountains have a Scandinavian look, with just low bushes or no vegetation at all. There are many valleys, called důl which were carved by glaciers in the last Ice Age. Most scenic of these valleys is Obří Důl, through which leads the main trail up to the Czech Republic tallest mountain, Sněžka.

Flora and fauna
Some areas of the national park are closed because of Western capercaillie during their mating season. While this might sound interesting, they look like a turkey and it is unlikely to encounter them, as they are rare. The icon of the national park is Gentiana flower, which is common here. Above 1,200 m elevation, trees turn into creeping pines bushes.

Climate
The mountain have Scandinavian look, but they also often have Scandinavian weather, especially in the upper parts. Snow starts to fall in late September is gone by May. Avalanches are common in spring. Even in summer, it is better to have a good jacket when going up to the mountains. Average July temperature on the Sněžka mountain is just 8.3 °C, with night dipping below zero.

By bus
There are direct buses from Prague to all four mentioned towns. All of these buses departure from Černý Most station in Prague, which is inconveniently located at the eastern end of yellow metro line B. Ticket should cost around 200 Kč, with some discounts for students, children and elderly. Buses run at seemingly random times during the day, but usually there is some around noon. The ride takes about 3 hr. Use IDOS to find the timetable. You can also directly buy your ticket there.

By train
Both Harrachov and Rokytnice nad Jizerou train stations are a bit far from the town, so if taking a train, be prepared for some walking.

Harrachov has a train station with hourly connections to Liberec, Tanvald and Szklarska Poręba in Poland. From Tanvald, there is a connecting express train to Prague. There are also two daily direct express trains from Prague to Harrachov, at 07ː25 and 13ː25. It costs 200–300 Kč and takes three hours to get to Harrachov from Prague. The last part of the journey, between Tanvald and Harrachov is quite scenic. The railway has been renovated on the Polish side, so you can now use it when going from Wroclaw or Jelenia Góra.

There are infrequent local trains from Rokytnice nad Jizerou to Martinice v Krkokonoších, from where you would have to change train several times to get somewhere more useful. Trains to Rokytnice nad Jizerou run only on weekend. There are no trains going to Pec pod Sněžkou and Špindlerův Mlýn, but you could take a train to nearby Trutnov or Vrchlabí, and take a bus only for the last leg. Use IDOS to find a connection.

By car
You can easily use a car to get to any mentioned towns, but if you are planning to stay at some mountain hut, ask the hut staff about getting a permission for you car. Upper parts of the hills are generally off limits for cars. If coming from Poland, be prepared for some scenic serpentines.

Fees and permits
There are no fees imposed on the Giant Mountains national park. Some areas are off-limits in mating season, and it is forbidden to walk off the marked trails in the national park area. Cars are forbidden at most places, except main roads.

When going to the neighbouring Karkonosze National Park in Poland, be careful, as there are some fees there. This is however no problem if you walk only the crest trail, which dips into the Polish national park quite often.

Get around
Local buses connect larger mountain towns. For schedules, consult the IDOS timetable. During summer season, there are special tourist bus lines, transporting bikes.

Most useful is the longest route (No. 1, red color), connecting Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Jilemnice, Benecko, Vrchlabí, Janské Lázně, Pec pod Sněžkou and Pomezní boudy. This bus operates twice a day, morning and afternoon. Therefore you can plan a one-way trip by foot and return by bus (or vice-versa). If you planning a day trip, be definitely check the bus schedule, as last buses tend to depart in late afternoon, and after that, you would get stranded.

There are several cable cars usable if you prefer it to hiking.

See
Two large pieces of World War II fortification, which was never used. The first one is open to everyone and free, while the other provide guided tours. You can find small pieces of World War II fortifications anywhere in Giant Mountains: Hikers usually begin or end their hike at a near these fortresses. The bus goes to Trutnov, which has direct trains to Prague every two hours.

Winter

 * Skiing – Giant Mountains present a good skiing destination, probably the best in Czech Republic. There is usually enough snow, but it is often a pain to ski in the afternoon, as the snow begins to be worn out. The evening skiing is however pleasant, as they create artificial snow before it takes place and there are not so many people on the slopes. Giant Mountains are especially popular as a place where it is possible to learn to ski, so will see a lot of Czech, German and Dutch children on the slopes. Ski schools are omnipresent and cheap compared to Alps. Skiing passes are however the same price as in Alps, while the size and quality of the areals is lower. The main skiing areas are Pec pod Sněžkou, Špindlerův Mlýn, Harrachov and Rokytnice nad Jizerou, with their quality in this order. There are some others, if you prefer smaller crowds to size, such as Jablonec nad Jizerou, Vysoké nad Jizerou, Velká Úpa or Malá Úpa
 * Cross-country skiing – This is also popular in Giant Mountains and there are many marked trails for cross-country skiing. Parents sometimes leave the children on the slopes to ski and venture into the mountains to do some cross-country skiing. It however involves a lot of steep ascents, which might not be to everyone taste. You can start from any place which also have a skiing areal. For navigation, use the OsmAnd or Mapy.cz in winter mode.
 * Renting a snowmobile – It is fun to rent a snowmobile a ride it around mountains, even though this is forbidden at many places, especially ski slopes. Ask at you mountain hut about renting these. You need car driving license to drive it.

Summer
In the summer, you can para-glide, cycle, and there is a boathouse on the Elbe dam—you can fish here and play tennis and squash.

Hiking
There are numerous marked hiking paths and it is always possible to find a new mountain hut. The best place for hiking is it mountain ridge offering great views. The most popular hike is the ridge hike or crest trail, mentioned below.

Krkonoše ridge hike (30-50 km, 2-3 days): Direct buses from Praha-Černý, most to Harrachov and Pec pod Sněžkou. It's possible to buy online, price ~200 Kč). From/to Žacléř, one needs to change buses in Trutnov.
 * 2 days version generally starts in Harrachov and ends in Pec pod Sněžkou
 * 3 days version starts in Harrachov and ends in Žacléř
 * 1st day: Harrachov - Mumlavský vodopád - Labská louka, Pramen Labe - Labská bouda - Sněžné Jámy (here starts the true ridge walk of Krkonoše following the red sign)
 * 1st night - Labská bouda (little too soon); bivouac place Přístřešek Pod Smělcem (probably the most ideal location), a small hut with 6 places, can be occupied, however, its possible to bivouac outside easily (camping is not allowed!); huts at the south side of the main ridge (such as Dvořákova bouda/Martinova bouda).
 * 2nd day - Špindlerova Bouda - Obří sedlo - Sněžka (the highest mountain of Czech Republic) - Malá Úpa (Pomezní boudy)
 * 2nd night - Pomezní boudy, Malá Úpa; Přístřešek NS Jelení (bivouac, close from Sněžka); Přístřešek Cestník (bivouac, not ideal location)
 * 3rd day - Malá Úpa (Pomezní boudy) - Horní Albeřice - Žacléř/Svoboda nad Úpou.

For navigation, use OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Some parts of this hike could be done as day trip, for example from Žacléř to Pec pod Sněžkou via Sněžka mountain.

Buy
There is at least one supermarket in every mentioned town. Even these supermarkets have slightly inflated prices compared to bigger cities.

Eat
If there is "bouda" (it means mountain hut) in the name of the place, you can also find accommodation there. Giant Mountains even have their own speciality—"Krkonošské kyselo", a bit sour soup made from bread, mushrooms and potatoes, very tasty.

Sleep
Finding a place to sleep should not be a problem in Giant Mountains, as mountain huts (bouda) are omnipresent. It is however better to book a space in one ahead, as some might be sold out in summer. All the mountain huts serve food.

Camping
Typical camping is not a usual way to sleep in Giant Mountains, and as such, there is only one big camp in the whole area.

Backcountry
Giant Mountains national park is not very welcoming to people who would like to save as much as possible on accommodation. The mountain huts network is very dense, so there are no tourist shelters usable for sleeping on the crest trail. Wild camping is forbidden, and this is enforced, unlike in other parts of Czech Republic.

Talk
Giant Mountains were historically inhabited by Germans and are still more popular among German tourists than tourists from any other country (except Czechia, of course). As such, most people working in tourist services will speak some German. German might be even more useful than English, which is sometimes taught only as a third language in this region. Some mountain huts even have a website only in Czech and German, with no English option. However, finding someone who speaks English should be no problem, same as in the rest of the Czech Republic.

Stay safe
Watch the sun, especially in autumn when it goes down quite soon. You do not want to be at the crest trail when it gets dark, as it is also very cold and it might be difficult to find a lodging on the last minute (there are no emergency huts as are in some other national parks). The weather is dangerous is general—snow usually starts to fall at the at end of September and avalanches are common in the begging of spring. Also storms might present a problem, as there are no trees on the mountain ridge—check weather forecast before you go there. Do not venture in the mountains alone and always tell someone (eg. staff at you mountain hut) where are you going and when are you planning to return.

Go next

 * Jizerské Hory – a neighbouring national park, less crowded.
 * Karkonosze National Park – another neighbouring national park. The same mountains, even though the Polish side is a bit different - there are glacier lakes, which are not present on the Czech side.

title: Giant Mountains National Park


text:
Giao Xuân

Giao Xuan is a small town (population approximately 10,000) in Vietnam’s Nam Dinh Province. It is approximately 150 km south-east of Hanoi.

Activity by not-for-profit NGOs such as MCD and VPV have helped to strengthen Giao Xuan's capacity for eco-tourism. This is to give the local population an alternative income to relieve the strain on the local natural resources which have suffered from destructive fishing and aqua-culture. Because of this Giao Xuan is very tourist friendly but is still far from a common tourist destination making it the perfect place to experience un-touched rural Vietnam and get away from the crowds and over-eager street vendors.

Get in
The best way to get into Giao Xuan is a bus from Hanoi. This will cost about 40,000-50,000 đồng and will take a few hours. There are buses between Hanoi and Giao Xuan every day, and which one to take depends on where in Hanoi you are travelling from and what time you want to leave and arrive.

Get around
The easiest and most enjoyable way to get around town is to rent and ride a bicycle (30,000 đồng a day). You can also rent a motorbike to drive yourself (50,000 đồng a day) or you can hire a motorbike driver (100,000 đồng a day).

See and do
There are many worthwhile things to see and do in Giao Xuan and the surrounding area. Most of these relate to getting a closer look at rural Vietnamese life and to better understand the culture.

One such activity is visiting the Nuoc Mam house where you can see the famous fish sauce being created. It is also possible to visit the rice wine house where you can view the process of creating the potent drink. Another worthwhile experience is to view jellyfish being processed ready for eating or exporting.

There are also many beautiful churches and pagodas in the area which are very much worth seeing as well as cultural performances offered by the local people.

Giao Xuan is also in the buffer area of the Xuan Thuy National Park. This is of particular interest to bird-watching enthusiasts as it is an important station for migrating birds and is vital to many endangered species. During the migratory bird seasons, you will be able to see rare species of birds like Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris Pygmeus), Nordmann's Greenshank (Tringa Guttifer), Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus Cinereus) and Asiatic Dowitcher (Limnodromus Semipalmatus). However, it is not only bird-watchers who the park appeals to and any traveller can enjoy the peace, tranquillity and bio-diversity the park offers. Tours are available through the park by foot and by boat.

Eat
There are markets and street restaurants in the town but the home stay host families provide very good food for their guests at reasonable prices (breakfast: 10,000-20,000 đồng/serving, lunch 35,000-50,000 đồng/serving and dinner 35,000-50,000 đồng/serving). The food is absolutely delicious traditional Vietnamese cuisine and comes in very large servings. The host families are very understanding of dietary requirements and will prepare their meals accordingly.

Drink
All the host families have clean drinking water available for their guests for free. However, the drink of choice at meal times is home-brewed rice wine. This is consumed at breakfast, lunch and dinner and can really pack a punch. Though the rice wine is enjoyable be sure you know your limits and refuse firmly once you have had enough or you may not be able to handle the next serving come breakfast time! Although the host families are very proud of their home-brew and are pleased to offer it to visitors they are aware that their guests do not want to be forced into drinking too much and will not be upset by a refusal to drink anymore. However, they are more accustomed to the drink and so may not be aware of the drinking limits of outsiders. Other local people you meet are also often generous with offering their own home brew to visitors and the same rules apply.

Sleep
By far the best way to experience Giao Xuan is by staying at one of the home stays offered by the local families. These charge about 50,000 đồng per person per night. Do not expect luxury from these home stays but do expect comfort, the chance to really experience the Vietnamese way of life and the feeling of being part of the family. The houses are in the very quaint traditional Vietnamese style and are very comfortable to stay in. Staying at this type of accommodation is also beneficial to the local community as the money stays within the community and is not taken by large tour companies. This helps to provide an alternative income to local people and so helps to sustain the Xuan Thuy National Park which suffers from the local peoples' use of its resources. Staying at a home stay really is the best way to truly experience the Vietnamese way of life and to understand the unique culture.

title: Giao Xuân


text:
Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos is a town in the Messina Province of Sicily. It lies on the east coast midway between Messina to the north and Catania to the south. Just above it is the mountain town of Taormina.

Understand
From the 8th century BC, Greeks began colonising southern Italy, Sicily, and the Adriatic, creating the Hellenistic civilisation known as "Magna Graecia". Their very first colony on Sicily appeared here in 735 BC, with settlers from the island of Naxos. Other colonies on Sicily grew large, but the town here never did, and in 403 BC it was smashed for having sided with Athens against victorious Syracuse.

In the 16th century AD, the coast here was fortified against pirate raids - the ruins of these forts remain. Giardini Naxos remained a quiet fishing village until Mediterranean tourism became popular from the 1970s. Nowadays it's a straggly, ribbon-developed resort along the SS114 highway, between coast and mountains. The better-known Taormina looks down on it (in every sense) from its hilltop; the coast and headland just north of Giardini Naxos are actually within the Taormina town boundary.

The TIC or

By plane
The nearest airport is Catania airport, Catania Fontanarossa, 40 km south. Take the Interbus from the airport towards Taormina. Get off at Recanati for south & central parts of town, and at Taormina-Giardini railway station for the north end. Buses run roughly hourly 07:00-20:00, taking 80 min, fare €8.20 (€7.50 if bought online). Use this same bus line from downtown Catania.

By car
The Catania - Messina motorway A18 passes town, exit at "Giardini-Naxos" onto the main street SS 114.

By train
Taormina-Giardini railway station is at the north-east end of the town's seafront. There are trains roughly hourly from Messina to the north and Catania to the south, both taking just under an hour.

Get around
The city is small enough to explore on foot, but those who need to get somewhere quick should phone a taxi or rent a car. You need the bus to get up to Taormina.

See

 * However from Giardini Naxos it's actually easier to visit the headland just north, than it is from Taormina, which it's part of. Isola Bella is the tiny island which you can paddle to along the tombolo spit. It's now a nature reserve: they charge €4 to get in but there's nothing to see, the small museum is closed, and the island's beach is sharp volcanic shingle.

 * A little further north along the coast is Mazzarò, with a collection of hotels and restaurants. The cable-car runs from here up to Taormina.

Do

 * Rent a kayak in some of the beach clubs

Go next

 * Taormina is the obvious destination for those staying in Giardini-Naxos, tantalizingly placed on the side of a hill to the north. It is in walking distance, but those unsuited for climbing many sets of stairs would do better to take the bus (€1, €2.50 return) which departs from the Recanati bus station. Another bus runs from Taormina further up the hill to Castelmola, which is also worth a visit. Down the hill is the beautiful Isolabella, a small island which juts out from the coast and is usually bridged by a strip of beach, depending on the tide.
 * Riposto - harbor town down of the coast, there is a fish market where Sicilian caricatures hawk seafood freshly caught just off the shore. Check the prices, the seafront stands tend to be more expensive than the vendors who are hidden along the sides. The market is close to the main square, faced by a large church.
 * Mount Etna - Plenty of agencies offer day trips there, or with your own car you could reach either the Sapienza or Provenzana base stations. To walk to the summit, you must have a guide, warm clothing and stout footwear, clear weather, and a volcano that isn't erupting (which it does quite often).
 * Catania is the regional transport hub, so you'll probably have to pass through it; it's worth a day to explore.
 * The main attractions further south are Syracuse, Ragusa and Modica
 * To reach the north coast, the quickest way is to blat along the autostrada A18. A more attractive route SS185 winds through the hills, with views back over Etna, and through the picturesque medieval town of Novara di Sicilia overlooking ancient Tyndaris and Abacaenum. From the coast either turn west for Palermo, or go a little way north to Milazzo the port for the Aeolian Islands, or turn east to the ferry port of Messina.

title: Giardini Naxos


text:
Gibb River Road

The Gibb River Road is an unpaved track in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Understand
Created in the 1960s as a cattle road, the Gibb River Road is a 650-km, almost completely unsealed, track, cutting right through the Kimberley region of Western Australia, linking the Great Northern Highway on the east to Derby on the west.

The "road" is a shortcut of several hundred kilometres between points linked by the Great Northern Highway, which makes a large detour in the south.

Driving the road is not an extreme adventure, but nevertheless requires caution and preparation, as it goes through very remote areas. Drivers will be rewarded with magnificent scenery of the surrounding wilderness, as well as a sense of isolation and solitude.

Prepare
Of absolute necessity is a 4WD vehicle. If you plan to rent it, check the policy of the company from whom you rent it. Some companies require that you obtain prior permission with them to go on the Gibb River Road. Caravan is out of the question, and only very robust trailers may cope with the crossing. An experienced driver with a very robust 2WD may attempt the crossing, though it is definitely not recommended.

The road goes through river beds and floodplains, it is simply not passable during the wet season (December to March), and even during the dry season check the conditions beforehand (for instance in Kununurra).

There is only one very small store at Mount Barnett, 350 km. after the eastern starting point on the road, so bring supplies with you. The whole crossing takes 3 to 5 days at a leisurely pace, but bring extra food and water in case you get stranded.

There are 3 fuel supplies along the road: Mt Barnett, Imintji Roadhouse (diesel only) and Drysdale Station (58 km north of Gibb River Road on Kalumburu Road). Fuel prices are very high along the road, and as distances are great, so start the drive with a full tank, and be mindful of your fuel consumption.

There is little choice of roofed accommodation around the road. Apart of the large El Questro Station, a cattle station turned into a luxury facility at the eastern side of the road, there are a few lodges with available rooms for tourists to choose from. Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge, Drysdale River, Charnley River Station, Mount Elizabeth , Home Valley and Ellenbrae Station, all offer accommodation, but are sometimes a bit way off the road. If you plan to stay in one of those places, book ahead.

In any case, you can just pitch your tent alongside the road, but be careful as some parts are private property (though the private zones are clearly indicated).

Get in
The Gibb River Road crosses remote areas, and is itself not very easy to access.

Getting close to the road is however feasible. On the eastern side, AirNorth links Kununurra (60 km from the eastern start point of the road) with Darwin. From either Derby or Kununurra, you can catch the 22-seater 4WD Gibb River Bus.

If you want to drive the road by yourself, you can also rent 4WD in Kununurra, but if you want to make a one-way drive, you will probably have to go as far as Broome (220 km to the east of Derby) to return the vehicle (and including a hefty one-way surplus), check with the rental company beforehand.

Kununurra is small, so the majority of 4WD rent a car companies simply do not have a branch there.

If you want to use a national rental company, you will have to drive from Darwin to Broome, the total distance reaching a good.

Along the way
There are a few short hikes through shadowy gorges that allow for some relaxing swims; just be careful and ask around as some might be inhabited by crocs, and unless you can be absolutely sure the place is safe, do not swim.

Attractions along the road include Windjana Gorge National Park, Tunnel Creek National Park, Adcock Gorge, Manning Gorge, Galvans Gorge, Lennard Gorge, Bell Gorge, and Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges. Accommodation is offered by several cattle stations in the area including Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge, Mount Barnett Station, Mount Elizabeth Station, Drysdale River Station, the El Questro Station, Ellenbrae and Charnley River Station.

Stay safe
Crossing the Gibb River Road has become popular with tourists, but it still remains a trip that requires some caution. Do not get over alarmed, the crossing is done everyday (when the road is open, that is...), and simple precautions should avoid big trouble.

 * Do not attempt the crossing in the wet season, or when signs advise you not to. If you get stranded, it will probably cost you a fortune and be horribly time consuming to get back to civilization.

 * Although graders sometimes reduce the bumps, the track can easily become very badly corrugated, and parts are sandy or muddy in case of recent rain. Be very careful with your 4WD and do not over or under speed (corrugation is also very uncomfortable at low speeds). Read carefully Driving in Australia, and familiarise yourself with the vehicle before entering the road.

 * Bring extra food and extra water, just in case you do run into trouble.

 * The area is prone to bushfires at the end of the dry season. Take care while camping.

 * It is not a bad idea to warn the police post in Kununurra that you will take the road, with your estimated time of arrival on the other side in Derby. In that case, do not forget to confirm to the Derby police station that you have crossed the road.

Go next
From one way or another, you will finish your trip on the Gibb back on the Great Northern Highway.

title: Gibb River Road


text:
Gibbstown

Gibbstown is a small town of about 4,000 people in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Once a sleepy town surrounded by farmlands. Many Italian immigrants Enjoyed the climate and felt at home here. Streets are still named after some of the farms: Cuccinotta Drive, Pieta Place, Giammarina Avenue, Marino Drive, Croce Drive...

Get in

 * Best to arrive by car. Not far from the Commodore Barry bridge, Route 295, Exit # 17.

See

 * The houses where some immigrants from the Valle San Giovanni and nearby towns in Italy came to live while they worked at the local Dupont Chemical plant.

Eat

 * Nino Gervasi's ristorante on Broad Street for delicious veal picante with rosemary potatoes and an antipasto made with home-made ingredients.

title: Gibbstown


text:
Gibraltar

Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock or Gib, is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Spain to the north; Morocco is a short distance across the strait to the south. Gibraltar has a population of 34,000 as of 2020.

Understand
Gibraltar is a unique place for the curious: a British community on the Iberian Peninsula, separated by a narrow gap of sea from Africa. The historic military legacy has created a veritable labyrinth inside "the Rock", with many secret internal roads and tunnels worth exploring. It is also worth climbing the Rock for its views and famous monkeys; the only extant population of wild non-human primates in Europe.

History
In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world. In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name, Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq), which eventually became Gibraltar.

Strategically important for international shipping, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht and was formally declared a British colony in 1830. Despite it having been British longer than it was Spanish, Spain still claims sovereignty over the territory; however, Gibraltarians consider themselves British with no apparent interest in rejoining Spain: a referendum held in 2002 showed 99% of the population wished to remain British.

The topmost part of the Rock is still used as a British military installation, and is off-limits to the public.

GibraltarPass
The GibraltarPass combines most of Gibraltar's attractions and more under a one-day digital visitors' pass. Buy it online and receive a digital pass on your mobile phone. It costs £49 for over-12s and £44 for kids aged 5-11, and is valid for one calendar day (05:00-23:59); consecutive second and third day passes are available with a 10% and 15% discount, respectively. Among other things, it covers travel on either the Gibraltar Cable Car or a guided minibus tour of the Rock, plus entry to attractions such as the Gibraltar Nature Reserve (for the macaques), St Michael Cave, SkyWalk, Great Siege Tunnels, WW2 Tunnels, Moorish Castle, and Alameda Gardens. The pass also includes transport on Citibus routes 5 and 10 from the border to the city centre and cable car, as well as a wide variety of freebies and discounts at over 100 activity providers, shops and restaurants in the territory.

Talk
Gibraltar's official language is English, although most local people also speak Spanish.

Most locals also converse in Llanito, which is essentially a mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English, unique to Gibraltar. Many businesses such as cafes and restaurants employ monolingual Spanish workers from across the border. In restaurants, it may not be that different from dining in Spain, in terms of language.

Entry requirements
The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020, and its transition period ended on 1 January 2021. There are plans for Gibraltar to join the Schengen Area, however this is not official yet. Although entering Gibraltar from Spain will technically invalidate a single-entry Schengen visa, in practice passports are only given a cursory check but not stamped at the land border with Spain, and people who enter and leave via the land border are usually readmitted to Spain without any problems.

If you do not need a visa to visit the United Kingdom, you may also visit Gibraltar without a visa. Additionally, you can visit Gibraltar without a visa if you are a permanent resident of the UK, if you hold a valid UK residence permit issued for at least 12 months, or if you hold a valid UK multiple-entry visa that was issued for at least 6 months. If you need a visa for Gibraltar, you can apply for one at a British diplomatic mission, but keep in mind that Gibraltar visas are separate from visas from the UK.

By plane

The most popular alternative airport for Gibraltar is  in Spain, 120 km to the east, which offers a wide range of destinations. Málaga can be reached by bus, but there are only a few services available per day and the trip is approximately 3 hours. is normally the second choice, despite being closer to Gibraltar.

By car
Queues at the border may make it less time-consuming to park cars in the neighbouring Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción and walk across. While there are charges for parking in La Línea immediately next to the border, there is free parking throughout town and next to the stadium if you are willing to walk an extra 1 km. Parking on the Spanish side of the border also has the advantage of avoiding Gibraltar's complex one way system with very narrow and badly signposted streets, and limited parking. The land border is open 24 hours a day. A tunnel which opened at the end of March 2023 now bypasses the crossing of the airport runway.

Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border with Spain have been subjected to long delays and searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain has closed the border during disputes or incidents involving the Gibraltar authorities.

Despite being an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, traffic in Gibraltar is on the right side of the road, the same with the rest of continental Europe.

By bus
At La Línea, Spain across the border, there are regular buses to and from Seville, Malaga, Cádiz, Granada and hourly to Algeciras (the latter one direct or with stops on the way). The station in La Línea is a five-minute walk from the border with Gibraltar.

The bus station in Algeciras is opposite the railway station and to get there from the harbour, turn left, walk along the main street for about 100 m and then turn right. Continue about 200 m along this street to the small building with railways. There is a small sign for the bus stop. This bus can get you to La Línea for €2.35 (January 2013), and it goes every 30 minutes during the day. Some buses run non-stop while others make intermediate calls. In La Línea you will arrive at the bus station about 500 m from the border with Gibraltar. In the summer it can take up to 2 hours to cross the border with a car.

Current info for Malaga bus station: Estación de Autobuses de Málaga

Tour buses and coaches can be available at all Andalucian major cities, holiday resorts and some mainland hotels.

By boat

There is an irregular (no more than 2 departures per month) passenger service from Tangier Med port in Morocco operated by FRS, 1:30 h, €37.50 (as of Jan 2023).

Gibraltar receives a large number of visits from cruise ships, and the strait of Gibraltar is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Over 200 cruise ships call each year on the Port of Gibraltar with a passenger total approaching 350,000. The cruise port is at the western end of Waterport Road, about 1.3 km from Casemates Square and Main St. A port call is one of the easiest ways to get in to visit Gibraltar, especially given the occasional delays at the land border crossing with Spain.

By train
There is no train station in Gibraltar. The nearest is in San Roque-La Línea, which is outside of La Línea proper and about 15 km from the Spain-Gibraltar border. Buses and taxis are available for the last leg from the train station to Gibraltar.

On foot
Gibraltar is less than 7 km² in size, so much of it can be seen on foot. Some of the roads (especially up to the Upper Rock) are very steep. Taxis will take the strain out of the climbs, and all the taxi drivers seem to know all the Barbary macaques by name. Buses can be a cheap option to expedite things.

By bus
Though Gibraltar's area is small, it is long and thin, so distances can be a bit further than expected. There are two bus companies: privately-owned Citibus which operates routes 5 and 10; and government-owned Gibraltar Bus Company which operates the rest.

Buses can be paid for in pounds or euros (pay cash onboard, Gibraltar Bus requires exact change, Citibus does not.). Bus fares are the same regardless of distance; the euro price is considerably more expensive than the prevailing exchange rate (Oct 2019). The day ticket on Citibus is valid with either bus company, but the day ticket for Gibraltar Bus is only valid with that company. The return ticket on Citibus is valid for 2 trips on the same day on that company's bus.

Bus route 2 goes by the cable car station. It is the only bus that visits Europa Point, the southernmost point in Gibraltar, and the one with the view of Africa. Buses 5 and 10 go to the airport and frontier.

Bus times are available online: Gibraltar Bus Company, Citibus.

By car
There are a few roads in Gibraltar, mostly centred along its west coast.

Though the UK drives on the left, Gibraltar drives on the right due to its land border with Spain.

See

The tourist office is in John Mackintosh Square; located half way along Main Street.

The main attractions to see in Gibraltar (most are included in the GibraltarPass]):

Do

 * Victoria Stadium next to the airport is the multi-purpose arena, capacity 5,000, that hosts most big spectator events. This includes home games of Gibraltar's national football team, all the club football teams, and the rugby union team.
 * Jewish Gibraltar Tours explore the rich history of this unique Jewish community over 300 years old. Visit the synagogues and other important community establishments combined with some of the attractions on the top of the Rock.
 * Jewish Gibraltar Tours explore the rich history of this unique Jewish community over 300 years old. Visit the synagogues and other important community establishments combined with some of the attractions on the top of the Rock.

Money
The currency of Gibraltar is the Gibraltar pound (GIP), and is equivalent in value to the British pound sterling. British pounds are accepted everywhere in Gibraltar, in addition to the local version.

Gibraltar pounds aren't accepted outside of Gibraltar, not even in the UK. If you are travelling to the UK you will be able to exchange them there at a bank for a service fee. If you are travelling on to elsewhere, then you may not be able to exchange them at all. It is best to change any leftover Gibraltar pounds before leaving; all Gibraltar banks will change Gibraltar pounds to British pounds free-of-charge, You should ask shops to give your change in UK notes if you aren't going to spend them there.

Gibraltar coins feature designs of local significance, but are otherwise identical in denomination, colour and size to sterling coins, and tend to circulate in the UK without question. They come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence, 1, 2 and 5 Gibraltar pounds.

Gibraltar banknotes depict landmarks found throughout the territory, and are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Gibraltar pounds.

Most shops in Gibraltar will also accept euros and U.S. dollars, with the risk of getting a poor rate of exchange. Government offices and post offices do not accept foreign currency.

Credit and debit cards are sometimes not accepted in some shops and, especially, restaurants.

Eat and drink
If you like to sit outside and watch the world go by, go to Casemates Square where a number of pubs and restaurants serve fairly similar meals.

Irish Town, the road which runs parallel to Main Street, has a number of pubs.

Queensway Quay is home to The Waterfront, which serves a good quality, if somewhat eclectic menu which ranges from steak to high quality local fish and Indian food. Casa Pepe's, on the other side of the marina is worth a splurge.

If you fancy dining waterside the marinas are worth trying, and includes the most southerly pub in Europe. Good food, draught Bass and many others on tap. Happy hour daily at 18:00. Full Sunday lunch available.

Marina Bay is home to several restaurants. Bianca's and Charlie's Tavern at Marina Bay are worth a visit, the former being very well known for its busy ambience. Gibraltar's first Mexican restaurant has opened in Marina Bay.

Ocean Village, Gibraltar's newest marina, is an extension to Marina Bay. It is home to several pubs and restaurants, including a Chinese and an Indian.

Eating kosher
There are a number of kosher restaurants, bakeries and minimarkets in Gibraltar.

Sleep

Presumably due to Gibraltar's very limited space accommodation is expensive. Due to this, many opt for staying across the border in La Línea, Spain and walking across the border, although there are budget options:

Work
Gibraltar has a favourable corporate tax regime, and many online gambling websites choose to make Gibraltar their base of operations and employ thousands of people in an ever-thriving jobs market.

Phone
Gibraltar's international telephone code is +350. All landline numbers in Gibraltar have 8 digits.

The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar.

Internet
Free wireless is available in the following places:
 * Fresh - a cafe/bar just down through the archway when leaving the main square towards the bus stops.
 * The Gibraltar Arms - about half way down the main street.
 * The Lord Nelson - just by the tunnel exiting the main square.
 * The Cannon Bar - behind the Catholic Cathedral.
 * The Clipper - on Irish Town near Tuckey's lane.
 * Corks Wine Bar - on Irish Town near the Clipper.
 * The Horseshoe - on Main Street near the Gibraltar Museum & King Street.

Stay safe
Gibraltar has a low crime rate and an efficient police force to ensure it stays that way. The Royal Gibraltar Police is the civilian police responsible for everyday policing. In some places, particularly around the airport, you may also see the Gibraltar Defence Police. They are part of the British military and are chiefly tasked to protect military installations.

Dial 199 for police assistance, and 190 for fire and ambulance services. Alternatively 112 may be dialed from mobile phones for all emergencies.

However, there have been reports of people being attacked on the Spanish side of the border while returning to Gibraltar on foot late at night. It might be sensible to take a taxi after dark if you have been drinking in the bars in Spain, especially if you are by yourself.

Barbary macaques
The Barbary macaques are wild animals and do bite. It is not advisable to feed them, despite encouragement from irresponsible taxi drivers. In addition, there are kiosks irresponsibly selling 'monkey food', further encouraging this: it is illegal, can incur hefty fines and is bad for their health. Never try to pick up a baby macaque: its mother will not be happy and then neither will you. If you are bitten by a macaque, you will require hospital treatment. Whilst the macaques are rabies-free, they can infect you with hepatitis, and they are most aggressive on the top of the rock, as the most successful animals claim the uppermost reaches of the rock, with their less successful brethren being forced down the rock in their social pecking order.

Medical treatment
Gibraltar is part of the European Health Insurance Scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern hospital. If you are from a participating country, your EHIC card will entitle you to full free emergency medical treatment.

Consulates

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇸 Iceland
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇲🇹 Malta
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Respect
People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. Even though the vast majority of Gibraltarians speak Spanish (with a local dialect), they are easily offended if referred to as Spanish because they regard themselves as Gibraltarians and are very proud of their identity. In fact, Gibraltarians have voted overwhelmingly to remain British in several referenda.

Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' due to its connotations of being a deposited population or ruled by a foreign country and lacking in self-government, none of which apply to Gibraltar either now or historically. Additionally, the term 'colony' wasn't used in reference to Gibraltar until the 1830s, at which time there were other places that were colonies and Gibraltar was grouped with them under the term colonies, despite the circumstances being different.

Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity directed by Gibraltarians towards Spanish individuals in general; the thousands of Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. The 2006 Cordoba Agreement opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain.

Go next
You could cross the border to Cadiz in Southern Spain, or cities such as Algeciras or Jerez de la Frontera. Or you could go south, across the Mediterranean, and visit Morocco, with places such as Tangier and Casablanca.

title: Gibraltar


text:
Gießen

Gießen is a city in North Hesse. The city has about 88,000 inhabitants (2018) including 44,000 students, so its infrastructure, shopping and cultural offerings are pretty well adapted to students.

Understand
In the late 1970s when many municipalities throughout Germany were merged into bigger units the Hessian Social Democrats (SPD) had the idea of merging Gießen and Wetzlar into a new city which, similar to Wuppertal, was to be given a new "fusion name" for the river which flows through both: "Lahn". This however proved extremely unpopular with people in both cities (bumper stickers would read "Wenn ich Lahn seh' krieg ich Zahnweh" - "When I see 'Lahn' I get a toothache") and even the SPD chancellor Helmut Schmidt commented negatively on the merger which led to it being undone after only 31 months. This however catalyzed an anti-SPD sentiment in Hesse which had been dominated by the SPD up to that point and all mayors of Lahn (the first died in office) were members of the Christian Democratic Union which would only lead its first government in Hesse in 1987.

Go next

 * Wetzlar
 * Marburg

title: Gießen


text:
Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a picturesque village in Overijssel in the Netherlands. It is known as Venice of the North because of its extensive network of canals and 176 bridges. While Amsterdam and Bruges also claim this title, Giethoorn does not just have the canals, but they are still actively used as the main mode of transport.

Understand
Giethoorn was founded around 1230 by the Flagellants. Flagellants were fugitives from the Mediterranean that practitioned an extreme form of mortification of their own flesh by whipping it with various instruments. The Flagellants made it the first village built on peatland in the Netherlands. Around the 16th century the villagers started digging the first canals to transport peat. A lot of farmers built their farms at these canals. Most farms are built on small islands that can only be reached by bridges. Over the centuries, the villagers dug so much peat that lakes were created in the surrounding region.

The village is small and has only 2,620 inhabitants. There are no roads in the centre, all transport is done by water over one of the many canals (but nowadays there is a cycling path). Venice has gondolas, Giethoorn has punters, traditional flatbottom boats that are used for transport over the canals. Giethorn has a long shape and is separated in three tiny settlements: Noordeinde, Middenbuurt and Zuideinde. The Dorpsgracht is the central canal that connects these separate settlements. The farms and houses are separated from each other by small canals. The bultrugboerderij is a common type of farm in Giethoorn. It seems to have a large bump because the barn is larger than the house in front.

The village became nationally famous in 1958 when Dutch film maker Bert Haanstra shot his famous comedy Fanfare here. In the 2010s there has been a strong increase in visitors from China. Bus signs and time tables have been translated in Mandarin Chinese.

Get in
First you have to go to Steenwijk by train. If you come from Amsterdam, this usually means that you have to get onto the Intercity to Lelystad Centrum and then switch onto the Intercity to Leeuwarden (get off at Steenwijk). Then switch onto bus 70 to Giethoorn. Bus 249 is an alternative that is only available in high season. This bus also operates on weekends.

If you're coming by car, keep in mind that you cannot drive in the centre of Giethoorn. From Amsterdam, follow the signs to Almere, Lelystad and Emmeloord. Take exit 15 of the A6, drive onto the N331 in the direction of Marknesse. Take the exit in the direction Blokzijl/Steenwijk and continue your route along the N333. Follow the signs to Giethoorn.

Get around
You get around by boat. Hire a punter and navigate the canals. Anyone can do this, it is not difficult.

Bus 70 connects the centre of Giethoorn with the surrounding area.

Cycling

 * Giethoorn Weerribben Cycle Route (46) - Thatched cottages, narrow bridges and wetlands.
 * Giethoorn Wieden Cycle Route (35 km) - Thatched cottages, lakes and wetlands.

See
There are many small museums in Giethoorn.

Connect
Free Wi-Fi in restaurant Fanfare, but a beverage is required.

Go next
There are some other highlights in the surrounding area. The villages Vollenhove en Blokzijl can be explored or you can visit the town of Steenwijk. Weerribben-Wieden National Park also makes an excellent onward destination.

title: Giethoorn


text:
Gifhorn

Gifhorn is a town in Lower Saxony, in northern Germany in the south of Lüneburg Heath.

Understand
Gifhorn is a town with a population of 43,000 in 2019 in Lower Saxony that lies between Celle, Wolfsburg and Brunswick.

Get in
Gifhorn is well sign posted from the Autobahn (A2/A391 Brunswick (Germany) Braunschweig) or from Celle.

The rail station is a stop along the Braunschweig-Uelzen and Berlin-Hannover lines.

Get around
Your won't necessarily need a car. The town's centre is relatively small and can easily be navigated by foot.

Go next

 * Otter Centre in Hankensbüttel
 * The Lüneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide) — is an extensive region of heath and farmland which has become a popular holiday and excursion destination (100 km / 62 mi).
 * Celle — admire the rows of timber-framed houses and the Baroque-Renaissance Celle Castle
 * Wolfsburg — home of the Volkswagen (22 km / 14 mi).
 * Brunswick (Braunschweig) — the Lion City and centre of scientific research (27 km / 17 mi).

title: Gifhorn


text:
Gifu

Gifu (岐阜市 Gifu-shi) is the capital of Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local Convention and Visitors Bureau has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By train
Gifu is a station on the JR Tokaido Main Line and JR Takayama Line. Frequent services on the Tokaido Line run to Gifu from Nagoya Station (18-25 min, ¥450). From Tokyo it takes approximately 2¼-2½ hrs via the Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi service, changing at Nagoya (¥11,000). The Nozomi is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass; Hikari services from Tokyo will slightly increase the travel time. From Kyoto and Osaka, it takes slightly over an hour to reach Gifu via Nozomi, changing in Nagoya (¥6,100).

The Nagoya to Gifu journey is actually one in which travel by JR line is faster and cheaper — the private Meitetsu Railway runs from Nagoya into Meitetsu-Gifu Station (30 min, ¥540). The Meitetsu Station in Gifu is about 400 m NE of the JR station.

Limited Express trains on the JR Takayama Line run from JR Gifu to Gero Onsen (80 min, ¥3,300) and Hida-Takayama (2 hr 15 min, ¥4,800).

There is also Limited Express service via Maibara to Kanazawa (2½ hours, ¥6700) and Toyama (3 hr 15 min, ¥7800). In addition there is a more scenic route to Toyama via the Takayama line which takes around 3 hr 55 min.

Gifu-Hashima is a local stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen in the city of Hashima, about 12 km southwest of Gifu. It is possible to reach Gifu from here using the Meitetsu Takehana Line, which runs out of nearby Shin-Hashima Station — through trains to Meitetsu-Gifu run from the late afternoon and take 30 minutes at a cost of ¥420. Many trains terminate at Kasamatsu from where you can transfer to reach Gifu. Most travelers coming from the west, however, opt to travel to Nagoya or Maibara and change there for train service to Gifu.

By bus
There are scheduled buses (5 times/day) connecting Osaka Namba OCAT to Shin-Gifu Bus Center. The trip takes less than 3 hours under normal traffic condition. JR Bus has one night bus from Osaka and Kyoto to Gifu Station. Odakyu Bus operates the Gifu Papillon, a night bus, from Tokyo (Shinjuku Station) to Gifu. Within the prefecture, there are buses from Gujo and Takayama. Gifu's close proximity to Nagoya means that very few highway buses actually stop here. Travelers considering coming by bus will have a lot more options by going to Nagoya and then taking a 20-minute train ride to Gifu Station.

Get around
Gifu City is serviced by the Meitetsu-run Gifu Bus as well as JR Buses. JR passes are accepted on JR buses. Gifu Park, where the castle and other popular sites are located, is about a 45 minute walk from Gifu Station, so most travelers opt to take a bus. Buses to the area run about every 10 minutes.

There are three rent-a-cycle stations in downtown Gifu (JR Gifu Station, Gifu City Hall South Branch, and Gifu Park). Rental bikes for ¥100 per day.

Do

Ukai (cormorant fishing) occurs every year between May 11th and October 15th on the Nagara River. Gifu City is the only place where this tradition has continued uninterrupted for 1300 years. Silent film actor Charlie Chaplin requested to stop in Gifu for the event on 2 separate visits to Japan, describing it as "Japan's highest art form". You, too, can watch this spectacular event by boarding a viewing boat or watching from the banks of the river. Most of the action is upriver from Nagara-bashi. Tour boats begin embarking from about 18:00 (for those serving dinner aboard) until 18:30 or 19:00 (a bit later during the peak of summer). The night-fishing show begins after dark, around 20:00 or later during the summer months, and finishes by 21:00, in time to get back to a train station and return to Nagoya for those on a day trip.

Buy
The traditional industries of Gifu City are Japanese umbrellas (wagasa) and lanterns, both of which are made of hand-made paper.

Drink

 * B's Cafe, Yanagase Shopping Mall. A cool bar frequented by young Japanese and a few foreigners.  The management and bar staff are very friendly, it plays good music and it has 'funky environs'.  It often holds launch parties for up and coming Japanese music.  Drinks are reasonable, at ¥500, and on the first Thursday of every month there's no cover charge.  Secondroom, just below offers a place to chill out with the owner, Bryan.
 * Bier Hall, near Gifu Meitetsu station. The main gaijin hangout in Gifu City, and popular with Japanese too. Notable for the incredibly friendly owner, who speaks a little English, and has an astonishing memory for faces. On your second visit she will greet you like a regular! Also of note is the book exchange corner - if you've finished the paperback you bought to read on the plane, feel free to swap it for a different title. Gifu knit club meet here during the winter, so don't be alarmed if you come in on a Tuesday evening and see lots of people with pointy sticks.
 * Bar Leon is kitty-corner from the northeast corner of Yanagase on Kanda-machi street. This place is the second most popular foreigner's hangout in Gifu, and would likely be the favorite place if it was nearer to Gifu Station. It has character, ambiance and a wide variety of Japanese and foreign clientele. Don't let the name fool you: Besides alcohol, a wide variety of live music, and dancing, this place has delicious food (1/2 price on Mondays) like the whole chicken, roasted with a Brazilian 12 chicken rotisserie in the Latin American style, and served with a unique spicy, milky-cheesy sauce on the side.
 * Scrum is a small bar located above Bier Hall (go up some stairs to the left of Bier Hall). The theme, not surprisingly, given the name, is rugby, more specifically the New Zealand All Blacks- who the very friendly owner is obviously a huge fan of. At Scrum you'll find a good selection of imported beers, a pool table, and plenty of posters of NZ rugby players.
 * Scrum is a small bar located above Bier Hall (go up some stairs to the left of Bier Hall). The theme, not surprisingly, given the name, is rugby, more specifically the New Zealand All Blacks- who the very friendly owner is obviously a huge fan of. At Scrum you'll find a good selection of imported beers, a pool table, and plenty of posters of NZ rugby players.

Sleep
There are numerous business hotels near JR Gifu Station. Stingy backpackers may wish to note that whilst Gifu does have one manga cafe, it offers a single tatami with a table covering half of it as its flat booth, making it not really one suitable for sleeping within.

Go next

 * The hot springs of Gero Onsen and the hidden valleys of Takayama are within striking distance of Gifu, as is the historical battle site of Sekigahara.
 * The town of Hida, 2 hours 20 minutes away by train or car, has some interesting museums and a youth hostel.
 * Mino
 * Seki
 * Ogaki
 * Gujo
 * Hikone
 * Inuyama
 * Nagoya

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title: Gifu


text:
Gifu (prefecture)

Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県 Gifu-ken) is a region in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu, with around 2 million inhabitants.

Understand
The self-proclaimed "Heart of Japan", the prefecture was once two separate provinces; Hida Province in the north and Mino Province in the south. The defining feature of Hida Province is the northern stretch of the Japan Alps, making it a prime destination for three popular Japanese pastimes: hiking, skiing and hot springs. The elevation of the western mountains combined with its shared weather patterns with the coastal Hokuriku Region means the area gets a lot of snow in the wintertime. While snow can make things difficult for residents, it is quite appealing to those in Kansai and the Tokai region where snow is rare.

The former Mino Province in the southern part of the prefecture is home to many former castles and historic sites. The Nakasendo trail cuts through the entire region from on its way from Nagano to Shiga, leaving many preserved buildings and historic sites scattered around the former post towns.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Gifu is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — the eponymous capital of the prefecture
 * — famous for its festivals and the historical district around the Seto River
 * — hosts an annual Japanese paper lantern festival and contest in early October
 * — One of the best preserved post-towns on the Nakasendo
 * — known for its traditional iron smithery, including an annual sword-making demonstration and sales of high-quality domestic-use knives
 * — the castle town and major transport hub of the beautiful northern Hida (飛騨) region, with an excellent museum and some well-preserved houses from the Edo period.
 * — a string of tiny hot spring villages nestled deep in the mountains
 * — known for its traditional iron smithery, including an annual sword-making demonstration and sales of high-quality domestic-use knives
 * — the castle town and major transport hub of the beautiful northern Hida (飛騨) region, with an excellent museum and some well-preserved houses from the Edo period.
 * — a string of tiny hot spring villages nestled deep in the mountains
 * — the castle town and major transport hub of the beautiful northern Hida (飛騨) region, with an excellent museum and some well-preserved houses from the Edo period.
 * — a string of tiny hot spring villages nestled deep in the mountains

Other attractions

 * — one of the most famous hot spring towns in Japan
 * — site of an epic battle that ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate
 * — famed for its traditional gasshō-zukuri houses
 * — small town with a park which houses Site of Reversible Destiny with its sloped surfaces and utterly bizarre design intended to disorient visitors
 * Ibigawa
 * Motosu
 * Kakamigahara
 * Kaizu
 * Hashima
 * Kakamigahara
 * Kaizu
 * Hashima

By plane
The Meitetsu Line connects Gifu to Chubu Centrair International Airport up to 2 times per hour. The one-hour ride costs ¥1,310.

By train
The JR Tokaido Main Line runs through Gifu on its way from Nagoya to Kyoto and Osaka. The Tokaido Shinkansen also makes a solitary stop at Hashima in the southern part of the prefecture.

From Tokyo Station, the best way to reach central Gifu is to take a Tokaido Shinkansen train (Nozomi or Hikari) to Nagoya, then change to a Tokaido Line local train for the run to Gifu. (2 1/4 hours, ¥11,190 via Nozomi, ¥10,990 via Hikari).

The same connection can be made coming from Kyoto, Osaka, and other stations on the shinkansen to the west.

Four shinkansen trains generally stop every hour, two in each direction, at the Gifu-Hashima station: the slow Kodama train which makes all stops on the shinkansen route between Osaka and Tokyo, and a Hikari which makes all stops between Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, then runs directly to Tokyo.

There is no charge to use the Hikari or Kodama trains with the Japan Rail Pass.

By car
The central Chūō Expressway, which largely follows the alignment of the Tokaido Line, passes through southern Gifu.

By train
The JR Takayama Main Line (高山本線 Takayama-honsen) runs from Gifu across the length of the province (from south to north), meandering through the scenic Hida Valley through Gero Onsen to Takayama, and beyond to Inotani in neighboring Toyama prefecture.

See

 * Pay homage to Oda Nobunaga's treasured Gifu Castle (Gifu)
 * Stroll the historic streets and try Hida beef in Takayama
 * Relive history by retracing the steps of the armies that fought in the Battle of Sekigahara (Sekigahara)
 * Traverse the Nakasendo Post Town of Magome and walk part the popular route to Tsumago or onward through Gifu Prefecture (Magome)
 * Hike to Yoro Falls (Yoro)
 * Wander about the old enclave of preserved farmhouses that are now World Heritage Sites (Shirakawa-go)
 * Explore the historic ruins of Iwamura Castle and the remains of the castle town below (Ena)
 * Learn about the history and development of Seki swords (Seki)
 * Reflect on the journey of the Saigoku Kannon Temple Pilgrimage at Kegonji, the final temple (Ibigawa)
 * Touch the days of yore with a walk through the old udatsu town (Mino)

Do

 * Watch traditional cormorant fishing in the Nagaragawa River (Gifu)
 * Make your own Mino-washi paper (Mino)
 * Try to make your own food replicas in the town most famous for producing them (Gujo)

Eat
Gifu's best-known speciality is hōba miso (ほうば味噌), a version of the ubiquitous Japanese bean paste grilled on a hōba leaf and served as a dip or for eating with rice as is. Sounds pretty simple, but the taste is exquisite.

Gifu is located about as far from the sea as physically possible in Japan, so this is one place where seafood is not prized. Instead, Gifu is known for Hida beef, thickly marbled with fat and very expensive. Products grown in the surrounding mountains are also famous, particularly persimmons, chestnuts and mushrooms. A popular souvenir is kurikinton (栗きんとん), a candy made by steaming and mashing chestnuts with sugar and reconstituting the mass into a chestnut shape.

Drink
There are a number of excellent small sake breweries in Gifu. Look out for the tiny Niki Shuzō (二木酒造) brewery's brands, including Tamanoi (玉の井) and Himuro (氷室).

Go next
At the center of Honshu island, Gifu has many adjacent prefectures.
 * Aichi
 * Mie
 * Shiga
 * Fukui
 * Ishikawa
 * Toyama
 * Nagano

title: Gifu (prefecture)


text:
Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor is a town on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Gig Harbor, the southern gateway to the Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Peninsula, lies just across the dramatic Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. This tucked-away town sits on a scenic inlet framing a postcard-perfect view of Mount Rainier. Gig Harbor's strong Scandinavian and Croatian heritage has always influenced its nautical lifestyle and fishing-village character. Today specialty shops, creative boutiques, art galleries and waterfront restaurants add to its appeal and make it a wonderful get-away.

By car

 * WA-16.svg from I-5.svg: A car is really quite requisite to see the Gig Harbor area as a whole. Gig Harbor is easy to get to by car from the rest of the Puget Sound area. From Interstate 5 take the Washington State Hwy 16 west across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The first four exits after the bridge are all Gig Harbor exits.

By boat
The Shoreline Restaurant at the head of the bay and the Tides Tavern toward the entrance offer floats for patrons.

By bus
The major bus stations in Gig Harbor for Pierce Transit (Rt #100 & 101) and Sound Transit Rt #595 are at the and the, near downtown at Kimbell Dr, off of the Pioneer Way Exit from Hwy 16. The Kitsap Transit Bus only serve the Purdy P&R while the Olympic Bus Lines pick up and drop off at The Inn at Gig Harbor:
 * 595 goes up to downtown Seattle via Tacoma Community College, Tacoma Dome during the morning rush hours and returning to Gig Harbor in the afternoons, no weekend service.
 * 590,594 goes from downtown Seattle to downtown Tacoma via the Tacoma Dome Station at all hours during the week and weekends. Take the #1 or 2 bus from Downtown Tacoma to Tacoma Community College (TCC) and transfer to #100 bus to Gig Harbor. Transfer to Greyhound and Amtrak at the Tacoma Dome Station or in downtown Seattle.
 * 100 Goes from Tacoma Community College (S 19th & Mildred) to Gig Harbor, and provides local service through Gig Harbor (between Point Fossdick Dr & 45th to Purdy P&R).
 * 590,594 goes from downtown Seattle to downtown Tacoma via the Tacoma Dome Station at all hours during the week and weekends. Take the #1 or 2 bus from Downtown Tacoma to Tacoma Community College (TCC) and transfer to #100 bus to Gig Harbor. Transfer to Greyhound and Amtrak at the Tacoma Dome Station or in downtown Seattle.
 * 100 Goes from Tacoma Community College (S 19th & Mildred) to Gig Harbor, and provides local service through Gig Harbor (between Point Fossdick Dr & 45th to Purdy P&R).
 * 100 Goes from Tacoma Community College (S 19th & Mildred) to Gig Harbor, and provides local service through Gig Harbor (between Point Fossdick Dr & 45th to Purdy P&R).
 * 100 Goes from Tacoma Community College (S 19th & Mildred) to Gig Harbor, and provides local service through Gig Harbor (between Point Fossdick Dr & 45th to Purdy P&R).

By plane
The  (for general aviation only) is  south of downtown Gig Harbor and  from downtown Tacoma. The nearest airport for commercial passenger flights is in Sea-Tac. The Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter operates a regularly scheduled shuttle connection to Gig Harbor from Sea-Tac (see listing under By bus in the above).

Get around
The town name suggests that this is a harbor town. Boaters can moor in the harbor, a part of Puget Sound, and explore the many shops, cafes, and galleries downtown.

Those coming in on four wheels can struggle to find parking in downtown, but once they do, exploring the town by foot is well worth it.

By bus

 * Bus route 100 - Local service between retail centers at 45th St Ct NW & Point Fossdick Dr NW, Kimball Dr P&R, downtown and Purdy P&R. There's no bus service to most places west of Hwy 16 and Key Peninsula (KPN & KPS). During the summers, there is a local trolley bus numbered #101 along the same route as the #100.
 * Bus route 100 - Local service between retail centers at 45th St Ct NW & Point Fossdick Dr NW, Kimball Dr P&R, downtown and Purdy P&R. There's no bus service to most places west of Hwy 16 and Key Peninsula (KPN & KPS). During the summers, there is a local trolley bus numbered #101 along the same route as the #100.

See
Besides Gig Harbors maritime town center around the harbor, there are many things to see in the nearby area.

Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore Gig Harbor and the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns like Gig Harbor that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water such as the Tides Tavern. With kayak rentals available nearby Gig Harbor is a popular place to spend a few hours exploring or set off or restock on a major expedition.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. Many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Giant Pacific Octopus are common, along with friendly wolf eels. Colorful sponges, sea cucumbers, sea stars, soft corals, anemones and fish can be seen on nearly every dive. The state has offers a guide to parks with launch sites.

Conservation areas

 * Well-known to regional scuba divers, Z's Reef Marine Preserve is a designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island just south of Gig Harbor. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolfeel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction.  Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.
 * Well-known to regional scuba divers, Z's Reef Marine Preserve is a designated conservation area on the shores of Fox Island just south of Gig Harbor. A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats congregate at the site and in such quantities that are unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant fishes include copper rockfish, brown rockfish, and quillback rockfish. Other common fishes include lingcod, kelp greenling, painted greenling, wolfeel, and striped seaperch. Pregnant rockfishes are observed at the site during the spring indicating that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction.  Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting organisms such as giant barnacles, red sea cucumbers, shrimp, and red rock crabs. Seastars are common including sunflower seastar and gumboot chitons are also frequently observed.

Shellfishing
Shellfish are prized resources of the Puget Sound, the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, geoduck, mussels and oysters) and with Kitsap Peninisulas dozens of Public Clam and Oyster Beaches and miles of coastline it is a popular place for individuals to find these elusive and sought after shellfish. Maps of public shellfishing areas and health warnings and updates can be found online at the state's Fish and Wildlife website as with all fishing in Puget Sound permits are required and can be purchased online or in some sporting goods stores.

Buy
Gig Harbor has many locally owned and operated shops in its downtown area, ranging from dress shops to music stores and jewelry studios. There are quite a few art galleries and other stores that sell art of various types. There are other major stores, banks, clinics and small locally owned stores around the Hwy 16/NW Olympic Dr junction:

Sleep
There are several lodging choices in Gig Harbor from hotels, to bed-and-breakfasts, to motels, to vacation rentals.

Camping

Additional camping and moorage options are available at nearby Kopachuck and Joemma Beach State Parks.

By car
Tacoma lies to the south across the Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge and Olalla and Port Orchard lie to the north.

By boat
Gig Harbor is 6.8 nautical miles to Cedrona Cove on Fox Island. It is also a launch to visit Eagle Island on Balch Passage north of Anderson Island which is 12.5 nautical miles. Penrose Point State Park is 13.8 nautical miles due south after passing underneath the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle 24 nautical miles away.

title: Gig Harbor


text:
Giglio

Giglio is an island off the coast of Grosseto, Tuscany.

Understand
This small island hit the news headlines in January 2012 when the Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock just off the island's shore and then capsized. 32 people lost their lives. For a few years after the disaster, the wreckage was a local attraction and money spinner. Since then however, the remains of the ship have been salvaged and removed from the island, much to the dismay of the residents.

See
Giglio is encircled by gorgeous beaches.
 * Etruscan shipwreck
 * Etruscan shipwreck

Drink
Ansonaco (called Ansonica elsewhere in Italy) and Sangiovese are the local varieties of wine that are a must try.

title: Giglio