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Community of Madrid

The Community of Madrid (Spanish: Comunidad de Madrid) is a region which includes the capital city of Spain. It has 6.5 million inhabitants.

Cities
In general, the municipalities to the south and east of the capital have more working-class populations, whereas those to the north and west are more affluent.

 * — capital city and largest city of Spain with busy nightlife and great art museums and monuments.

World Heritage Sites

 * — the city where Cervantes, the writer of Don Quixote, was baptized and almost certainly born. Its university and historical centre have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.
 * — highlights include the Palacio Real, the summer home for the Bourbons, and the lavishly designed Casa del Labrador near the Tagus River.
 * — a mountainous retreat home to Spain's largest monastery, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and to the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen).

Historical towns

 * — surrounded by the Lozoya river, it is a unique, preserved walled enclosure.
 * — typical Spanish town which retains its character from the 1700s.
 * — in Las Vegas region with rich historical monuments and excellent gourmet products, such as olive oil, cheese, wine or garlic.
 * — in the southwest, is a town with a well preserved architecture and famous for the quality of its wine.
 * — founded in the early years of 18th century, it was planned to serve as an industrial town following the ideas of the Enlightenment period.
 * — below the Sierra de Guadarrama area, apart from its natural richness, it also hosts the iconic Monastery of El Paular.

Metropolitan cities

 * is the second largest city in the region. It hosts the CA2M museum, which houses the contemporary art collection of the Community of Madrid.
 * is one of the five major cities surrounding Madrid in its southern part. Known for its significant football culture.
 * — the closest of these five cities to the center of Madrid. It borders the districts of Carabanchel to the north and Villaverde to the east. It is connected to Getafe to its south and Alcorcon to its west.
 * is one of the five major cities surrounding Madrid in its southern part. Though it is rough-around-the-edges, it has a reasonably impressive food scene.
 * is one of the five major cities surrounding Madrid in its southern part.

Other localities

 * — an upper-class satellite city with excellent modern cultural, shopping and leisure facilities
 * — bullfighting, stock-breeding, meadows and beef are its main features
 * Alcobendas—Once a modest industrial town in Madrid's north, Alcobendas has undergone tremendous transformations since the 1980s and has now become the leading commercial and transportation node for the northern suburbs of Madrid.
 * — bullfighting, stock-breeding, meadows and beef are its main features
 * Alcobendas—Once a modest industrial town in Madrid's north, Alcobendas has undergone tremendous transformations since the 1980s and has now become the leading commercial and transportation node for the northern suburbs of Madrid.
 * Alcobendas—Once a modest industrial town in Madrid's north, Alcobendas has undergone tremendous transformations since the 1980s and has now become the leading commercial and transportation node for the northern suburbs of Madrid.

Other destinations

 * National Park with rugged peaks, valleys, rivers and wildlife like the Spanish ibex.

By plane
The community is served by Madrid–Barajas Airport. Any town within the metropolitan area can be reached by taxi from the airport. A ride to some towns which are close to the airport (for example Alcobendas/San Sebastián de los Reyes) costs less than to the centre of Madrid.

By train
You can reach Atocha or Chamartín station in Madrid Capital by Renfe trains from anywhere in Spain. From either of those stations you can transfer to Cercanías commuter trains.

By bus
After reaching one of the capital's long-distance stations by bus, you can transfer to the frequent green buses serving most towns of the community.

By train
An extensive network of commuter railways serves the Community of Madrid. Besides the Metro which dips into several municipalities that border the capital, you can use the Cercanías network to reach the more remote towns like Alcalá de Henares and El Escorial. The T-zone Tourist Pass (from €17 for one day up to €70.80 for 7 days) covers all the Metro, Cercanías and bus lines and stations of the whole community. If you are under 26 years of age, a monthly transport pass, also covering all the zones, is available for €20 with an application made in advance and a copy of your passport/EU ID.

By bus
Blue buses of the EMT serve routes within the capital, while green ones serve the other municipalities from the capital's major stations (Avenida de América, Moncloa, Principe Pío, Plaza de Castilla, Estación Sur/Mendez Alvaro). Some locations in the Community of Madrid are more conveniently reachable by bus than by train. If you don't have a transport pass, single tickets are available from the driver on all buses.

See

 * El Escorial is a monastery and palace of gargantuan size built for Philipp II who wanted to get away from it all. You can see the surprisingly austere room from where Phillip ruled an empire reaching from the Philippines to the Americas. It's also the site of the Spanish royal mausoleum where most kings of Spain since Charles I/V and all queens who reigned in their own right or gave birth to kings are interred. To get there, take Cercanías to the eponymous station and then a bus or hike up the mountain to the monastery
 * Valle de los Caídos is a gargantuan work built during the Franco era by forced labor of political prisoners. Its official purpose is as a memorial and final resting place of the fallen of the Spanish Civil War, however, the design makes it clear that Franco's side is the one being honored here. A giant cross sits atop a church built inside the mountain with fascist architecture reminiscent of the Nazi Party Rallying Grounds in Nuremberg. In October 2019, the Spanish government exhumed the remains of Franco and Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera and transferred them to the Franco family crypt in Madrid. This might decrease the attraction of this site for fascists making pilgrimage to it. There's a public bus from El Escorial, but from its dropoff point it's a 6-km hike. Taxi drivers will gladly take visitors all the way to the entrance and back and even wait there for a while; negotiate a fare at or below €50 per cab for this instead of taking the metered rate.
 * Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Madrid
 * Cuenca Alta del Río Manzanares
 * Sierra del Rincón

Stay safe
The Community of Madrid is one of the safest regions in Spain and Europe, though you should never lower your guards entirely, as pickpockets do happen.

The city of Madrid is safe for the most part, but be careful when venturing into some neighborhoods (Carabanchel, Puente de Valleca, Ciudad Lineal).

Several towns and cities in the region's south tend to have higher-than-usual crime rates. These include Mostoles (mostly the outskirts), Parla (where car break-ins and muggings are not uncommon), and Rivas-Vaciamadrid (a new satellite suburb that's mostly quiet but can get dodgy at night).

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title: Community of Madrid


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Como

Como is a city at the southern end of Lake Como in Lombardy, Northwest Italy. It has a population of 84,000 (2015). The border with Switzerland is at the northwestern end of the city.

Understand
Como has always been an area of intense activity, as it has been a crossing point between Central Europe and the Mediterranean over the centuries. Built by the Romans at the end of the Piedmont road, it was an important communication point between Rome and its northern territories. Until the end of the 1980s, Como was famed for its silk.

Como was the birthplace of the Roman scientists Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, as well as Alessandro Volta, 18th-century inventor of the battery and the man who gave his name to the unit of electrical force – the volt.

Como sits at the southern end of the western branch of Lake Como, in a small basin surrounded by wooded moraine hills. It borders directly with Switzerland, in particular with the Canton of Ticino, the district of Mendrisio and the municipality of Chiasso with which it constitutes a unique urban area, and is about 40 km from Milan.

Climate
The Como winter is relatively affected by the mitigating influence of the lake water mass. The minimum temperatures in November, December, January, February and, sometimes, March can normally drop below freezing and are usually accompanied by high humidity. On the other hand, the fog that characterizes nearby Brianza and the Po valley is completely absent, already partially present beyond the hills south of the so-called "convalle", or rather the city centre. Snow is quite frequent, although discontinuous depending on the winter, with average annual snow values that rise from the valley (about 20/30 cm per year) towards the peripheral districts (about 40/50 cm per year). Summer is relatively hot, although the period of maximum alcohol content is rather short (no later than two consecutive weeks). On some occasions it can reach 35/36 ° C. The rainfall is quite high, with an average of around 1,500 mm per year and higher in the northernmost districts. The area has a marked tendency to thunderstorms.

History
The classical authors, starting with Pliny the Elder who reports the words of Origines, a lost work by Cato the Censor, attribute the foundation of Como to the Orobi lineage. Archaeological evidence attest to the flourishing of a civilization, called the culture of Golasecca, in the first millennium BC, especially from the mid-7th century BC until the Gallic invasions of the 4th century BC. It was the centre of a vast, culturally uniform territory, extending from Bergamo to Ticino. In these centuries Como, which was located further south, where the hamlet of Prestino is today, developed a civilization that is called Comense or della Ca 'morta. Como was a commercial and cultural intermediary between the Villanovan civilization and the Celtic civilizations across the Alps (Culture of Hallstatt). In Roman times Como was one of the two terminals of the via Novaria-Comum, a Roman road that connected the municipia of Novaria (Novara) and Comum (Como) passing through Sibrium (Castel Seprio). Via Regina also passed through Como, a Roman road that connected the river port of Cremona (modern Cremona) with Clavenna (Chiavenna) passing through Mediolanum (Milan).

Starting from the 4th century BC the town of Como became depopulated and its necropolis exhausted. With the arrival of the Gauls, Como lost its importance and entered a period of decline. In 77 BC 3 000 settlers were settled in the village on the initiative of Gaius Scipio, perhaps soldiers destined to prevent the incursions of the barbarians. During the first century AD, the town's growth was helped by the donations of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, both from Como, who built a library, a spa area, and two villas on the lake that no longer exist.

During the early Middle Ages Como was first invaded by the Goths and then by the Lombards; in 951 the emperor Otto I came to Italy and Gualdone, bishop of Como, was among his supporters. During the municipal period, Como was disputed between the rival families of the Rusca (or Rusconi) and the Vitani. Following the ten-year war (1118-1127) between Como and Milan, on 27 August 1127 Como was besieged by the Milanese forces, the walls and houses destroyed, the inhabitants dispersed. With the help of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, in 1158, the city was rebuilt and the defence walls enlarged. Beginning in 1447, Como experienced a brief period of independence with its "Republic of Sant'Abbondio", which however lasted only until 1450, when the city submitted to the Duke of Milan. Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), its most illustrious citizen, invented the battery.

Economy
The Como economy is closely linked to industrial activities, which are made up of various companies operating above all in the textile, engineering, construction, furniture production and publishing sectors, not to mention the dense network of commercial activities. Agricultural activity, especially the cultivation of cereals and fruit, and livestock farming, are also still very important for the city. Furthermore, in the Como area, three areas of growth and new opportunities emerge: boating, cultural industries and horticulture. As far as craftsmanship is concerned, silver processing is widespread and valuable, aimed at the production of traditional-style objects and that of wrought iron applied to public buildings.

By car

 * The E35 motorway (toll is €1.60 for the A9 stretch, €1.10 for the A4 section, about 1.50 for the E35 section west of Milan) runs past Como from Milan, and goes on to Switzerland. There are many exits to Como; avoid Como South, choose the next ones (signed Como Nord and Monte Olimpino) for the city, and the last exit (signed ultima uscita per l'Italia) before Switzerland for Cernobbio, Bellagio and towns on the western lake shore.

 * To reach Como coming from most of Italy, it is necessary to pass through the great motorway junction of Milan. At viale Certosa follow the directions for Como / Varese / Autostrada dei Laghi and then take the A9 Lainate-Como-Chiasso.

 * From Switzerland, Como can be reached via the A2 Basel - Chiasso motorway.

By train
Como has good train connections with Italy and Switzerland (which is just next to the town). It has two main stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Lago - both used to get into the town. Tickets can be bought at ticket machines in stations - be prepared to use these instead of going to a ticket office, as not many can be found open. Trains are run by different companies, including SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) and Trenitalia (owned by the Italian state).

By plane
Como has no airport of its own, but nearby Milan has several, including Malpensa and Linate. Connections between Milan and Como are easy to make: bus shuttles run between both airports and the centre of Milan (for up to around €10 per person) - from where trains can be caught from one of Milan's train stations to one of Como's train stations.

 * Milan Malpensa Airport . 40–60 minutes drive via the autostrada toll road costing €1.60. Can negotiate with private coach firms outside airport. For the train, go to the ticket office for the Malpensa Express on the lower level of Terminal 1 and buy a ticket for Malpensa–Saronno–Como, which costs about €10. You will get two tickets, for Malpensa–Saronno and Saronno–Como. Take the Malpensa Express (which departs every 30 minutes on average during the day) for a trip of about 20 minutes to Saronno, then take the Trenord train to Como (39-minute trip). The final station is Como Nord Lago, right by the lakefront. The entire train trip will usually take between 1 hour 17 minutes and 1 hour 40 minutes. Trenord timetable.
 * Milan Linate Airport . One-hour drive on toll road costing about €2.70.

One airport in the other direction is in Zurich, Switzerland - from where trains run from Zurich main train station to Como San Giovanni.

Get around
Many small towns and villages surround Lake Como and it is recommended that you try to explore as many as you can whilst in the Lake Como area, spending the mornings on the west side with the afternoons on the east side of the lake, that way you will always stay in the sun.

Roads in the area outside Como are narrow, and parking in some of the nearby villages and towns can be limited, so public transport can be better when visiting these places, especially when a bus ticket can only cost around €4 per person.

The centre of Como, however, is rather compact and can be covered easily on foot. Bikes (and electric scooters) are popular with locals, and can be a quick way to get around - the town's tourism website explains how bikes can be hired.

By bus
The local public transport network comprises several lines. Some are mostly within city limits (Urbani) and some are Extraurbani (crossing city limits). Bus lines starting with 'C' are the extraurbani ones, which are the ones to catch to go to the nearby lakeside towns. They are provided by ASF Autolinee.

Tickets can be bought at the next to Como Lago station, in tabacchi in the town centre, or on the bus (but at a higher price).

The urbani lines run from the centre of Como to Cernobbio, the Swiss border, the villages to the south of Como, and from the top of the funicular into Brunate.

The extraurbani lines run from Como town centre up along both sides of Lake Como - some others go to the eastern (Italian) end of Lake Lugano, across towards Lecco, and down to the south of Como - the C10 goes along the west of the lake up to Colico via Menaggio, and the C30 goes up the east to Bellagio.

When boarding a bus (if tickets have already been bought), the driver 'validates' the ticket by tearing the perforated end of the ticket off and putting it in a small box at the front. Como buses do not have route plans on board, and the driver does not announce stops (you could ask nicely though). Follow the route with a map to be sure, and check town 'welcome' signs out of the window while travelling.

Bus stops all have a QR code which can be scanned to show the next buses leaving from the stop.

Ferrovie Nord Milano also provides other bus lines connecting Como to Varese.

By boat
Being on the edge of a large lake, taking a boat/ferry can be an easy way of getting around. The Gestione Navigazione Laghi is the company which runs boat services on the lake, and Como has its own boat port.

By taxi
A taxi service is provided by the Comune di Como, local phone numbers are 031-2772, and 031-261515.

Do

 * Football:
 * The rest of Lake Como: you can see some of the lake from Como, so why not explore the rest of it? Take a bus or boat, or drive or cycle to the other small villages and towns along the lake.
 * Football:
 * The rest of Lake Como: you can see some of the lake from Como, so why not explore the rest of it? Take a bus or boat, or drive or cycle to the other small villages and towns along the lake.
 * Football:
 * The rest of Lake Como: you can see some of the lake from Como, so why not explore the rest of it? Take a bus or boat, or drive or cycle to the other small villages and towns along the lake.
 * Football:
 * The rest of Lake Como: you can see some of the lake from Como, so why not explore the rest of it? Take a bus or boat, or drive or cycle to the other small villages and towns along the lake.
 * The rest of Lake Como: you can see some of the lake from Como, so why not explore the rest of it? Take a bus or boat, or drive or cycle to the other small villages and towns along the lake.

Events and parties
Como offers many events. The Como City of Music Festival is held in the most beautiful places of the city. Il Parolario, is an event linked to the Book Fair which includes the participation of some prominent names in literature and journalism. The Musical Autumn is dedicated to classical music, while the Como Città dei Balocchi event is a Christmas event aimed above all at children. Not to be missed is also the Palio del Baraldello: a historical re-enactment event. Also highly anticipated are: the Sant'Abbondio Zootechnical Competition Exhibition, and the Lake Como Festival, a season of classical and contemporary chamber music, which offers great names belonging to the scenario, and which takes place in the villas and in the most evocative places of Lake Como.

Buy
The lakeside villages are more limited with regard to clothes shopping but they do have some designer shops and shoes shops are plentiful. You will also find lots of shops with handmade crafts, and there are great for gourmet food, wine and olive oil. Menaggio and Bellagio are probably the best for shopping.

However, there are a couple of large undercover shopping centres. Foxtown is a large discounted designer outlet just over the border in Switzerland and takes approximately 20 minutes to get there from Como. There is also the Iperal shopping centre, located at the northern tip of the lake near Colico. This has an amazing supermarket as well as many other shops, sports, shoes, clothes, make-up, and electrical stores. Como has a few outlets, one of which is Bennet, located at the roundabout where the road is sign-posted to Menaggio which takes you up the westside of the lake. This is not as large as the Iperal near Colico, but it still has a good sized supermarket. On the first level you will find the Bennet supermarket along with a Geox shoe shop, Swatch shop, cafes and a few clothes shops.

Petrol is considerably cheaper in nearby Switzerland, while diesel is about the same price, so remember to top-up the car in the cheapest place.

Keep the receipt of anything purchased in Switzerland as the Italian customs may ask to see it, and if a large value item, you will need to pay the difference in the two Value Added Tax rates (approximately 13 percent).

Eat
You will be spoiled for choice when eating out on Lake Como. From small pizzerias to top-end expensive restaurants, you can be sure to find a place that suits your budget and taste. Fish predominates in the restaurants on Lake Como, as you might expect. You will also find polenta – a golden-yellow Italian cornmeal made from ground maize. Meat dishes are also on the menus; often pork, beef, chicken, rabbit or venison. The Como cuisine has developed over the centuries on the basis of the food resources of the area, therefore mainly linked to lake fishing and alpine pastoralism. Much used is freshwater fish, which provides the basis for some typical dishes such as boiled rice or risotto with perch, whitefish in "carpione", fried bleak and above all the famous missultin. Polenta has a place of honor in Como cuisine, typical are: polenta uncia and tocch; which are often accompanied with meats. The potato gnocchi, the salami called brianzetta, the Californian beef and the poor ultadell dish are excellent; among the cheeses the semuda cow's milk cheese stands out, together with zincarlin. Among the desserts, on the other hand, they deserve to be mentioned: the miascia cake, of ancient origins and the matalocch. Courses based on freshwater fish dominate, the basis for some typical dishes such as risotto with perch, whitefish in "carpione", fried and marinated in vinegar with the addition of onion and wild thyme, fried bleak, small fried lake fish, and the famous misultin. The latter are nothing more than the agony of Lake Como, which before being cooked are deprived of the entrails, salted, dried in the open air, then grilled and eaten with polenta, a must in the Como tables. Another second course typical of the place is whitefish or whitefish, which is a very light fish with almost no thorns that is cooked on the grill, with butter and sage. In Como there is no shortage of cheeses, typical products of the alpine area that frames its lake. Among the best known are semuda, lariano and goat zola. A piece of zincarlin can never be missing on the table, it is one of the most typical cheeses of Como, produced from curd or ricotta, always with the addition of aromatic herbs and pepper. Among the cured meats, try the liver mortadella in a nice sandwich, finally, try the intense taste of Tocch, the concia polenta mixed with melted butter and cheese to be accompanied with a good glass of "Nostranei", the typical red of the area. Those with a sweet tooth cannot miss the typical sweets of Como cuisine: let yourself be tempted by the cutizza, the typical Como pancake, and the miascia, a delicacy of "revenge", the ingredients are stale bread.

Most places to eat are open daily. Some close one day a week, but this varies. Times may be susceptible to change depending on the season.

Prices can range from €5 for a good pizza, to €25 for a three course meal in a restaurant, to a top-notch restaurant where the price can escalate to over €50 per person; it depends on whether you are eating somewhere with good food but without all the frills!

 * The most luxurious restaurants in the Como Lake area are the Gatto Nero in Cernobbio, Navedano in Como, and Villa d'Este in Cernobbio.
 * If you are looking for a special place, try the "Locanda" on the Comacina island.
 * Eat where the Italians eat, so avoid the overpriced and often poor-quality tourist traps! Full meals for €10 or less per person is normal (starter, main course, dessert, wine, coffee all included). Restaurants in the historic centre tend to be more expensive, approaching €20. Walk behind Hotel ****** and find a popular pizza-restaurant. Restaurants facing the lake are more expensive. Water from the tap is clean and free, so no need to pay for expensive bottled water.
 * Cheap pub-type restaurants are at Camerlata (5 minutes by car or 10 minutes by bus) – €5 to €10 but no view.
 * In Camerlata the eating house and brewpub Il Birrificio serves fine beer and meals at a reasonable price.
 * Drive to the "Iper" shopping centre in Grandate (10–15 minutes from Como center) for a self-service, freshly cooked meal at its restaurant called Risto. You can expect to spend no more than €10.
 * Wine is very cheap so buy it in the supermarkets (about €5 for a 3/4 liter bottle - decent quality), not in restaurants

Some places reachable by foot from the central area and frequented by the locals are the following.

Drink
There's a multitude of bars and cafes along the shoreline of Lake Como. If you want to get away from the busy tourist spots, you can find quaint little bars hidden away up the many narrow streets or you can retreat further into the village. You normally pay for your drink at the till first, and then present your receipt to the bar staff and they prepare your drink. In many of the bars/cafès you are charged extra if you want to sit down with your coffee rather than stand at the counter.

In summer most people go sunbaking on the lakeshore and then meet in town during aperitivo, which means buffet food for every drink purchased in a bar: depending on the owner it could be chips, pasta, pizza, fruit salad and skewers.

If you are just thirsty and looking for water, in the walled town and nearby areas there are drinking fountains just round every corner. The water is lightly chlorinated and thus safe to drink, but decent to good tasting. The one in Piazza Cavour (on the far side from the lake) is called "Drago Verde" (Green Dragon) because of its decorative shape.

Connect
There are two good wi-fi spots: the Como bar on Volta street (eight minute walk southeast from the water taxi) and the sushi bar on Bergovico street (well hidden, but worth it, it is about a fifteen minute walk south from the water taxi).

Good internet connection is at the hotel Barchelleta Excelsior.

Go next

 * Isola Comacina — a small island with ruins of several byzantine churches. It was once a town that allied with Milan against Como. The town was destroyed by Como's army in 1169.
 * Ossuccio
 * Bellagio – take a day trip by ferry across the lake to visit the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni
 * Tremezzina – a town directly to the west across the lake, home to Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta
 * Varenna – a village on the eastern lakeshore to the north, home to Villa Monastero
 * Varese just half an hour by car, an hillside and cozy city with a stunning "Sacro Monte", a devotional complex listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003
 * Milan the capital of the Lombardy region, is a short distance away by train from Como S. Giovanni (40 minutes), bus or car (from 40 minutes depending on traffic).
 * Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) and Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) are near to Lake Como and similarly spectacular.
 * Como is right on the border with Switzerland. Remember your passport.
 * Brianza the area between Como and Milan, full of little lakes and 16th, 17th-, and 18th-century villas
 * Brunate; climbing to high altitude via the funicular you can easily reach this village from which you can see an incredible view of the lake and nearby Switzerland.

title: Como


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Comoros

The Comoros (Arabic: جزر القمر Juzur al-Qumur) is an island nation off the coast of East Africa, in the Indian Ocean between northern Mozambique and northern Madagascar.

Islands
Mayotte is claimed by Comoros, but administered by France.

Cities

 * — the country's capital, on Grande Comore
 * — second largest city and former capital of Anjouan
 * — the capital of Moheli
 * — second largest town of Moheli, on the southern coast
 * — the capital of Anjouan

Other destinations

 * — an active volcano and the highest peak in Comoros, famous for its crater.

All of the islands have many beautiful beach destinations, being Moheli the one that offers the best nature and water sports opportunities.

Understand
One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources.

Comoros is also the smallest nation in the Arab World by population.

The name Comoros originates from qamar, Arabic for moon.

The economy of the Comoros is agrarian and based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. Due to the low level of education of the workforce, unemployment is high. The country's main exports are vanilla, cloves and ylang-ylang. An important sector of the Comorian economy is remittances from emigrants; More Comorians live outside the country than inside, mainly in Mayotte, Réunion and in Metropolitan France, especially Marseille. Representing 25% of GDP, remittances from Comorian emigrants constitute an important source of flows for the country's economy.

Climate
Located just south of the equator, the Comoros Islands have a tropical maritime climate, characterized by two seasons according to rainfall. The best season to visit the Comoros is between May and November, during the dry season when the climate is cool and relatively dry, while from December to April is hot and humid. The maximum temperature may vary between 31ºC in December and 27ºC in August, while the average minimum vary between 23ºC in February and 19ºC in July.

Landscape
Volcanic islands whose interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills, with the highest point, Le Karthala (on Grand Comore), at 2,361 m.

History
The islands of Comoros have been settled by a succession of diverse groups from the coast of Africa, Persian Gulf, Malay Archipelago and Madagascar. Swahili settlers first reached the islands as part of the great Bantu expansion that took place throughout the first millennium.

In 933 CE, Al-Masudi refers to Omani sailors, who call the Comoros "The Perfume Islands" and sing of waves that break rhythmically along broad, pearl-sand beaches, the light breezes scented with ylang-ylang, a component to many perfumes.

From the 11th to 15th centuries, trade with the island of Madagascar and merchants from the Middle East flourished, smaller villages emerged, and existing towns expanded. After the 15th century up to the 18th century the Comoros, specifically Anjouan, were a common stopping point for European merchants and voyagers traveling towards the Indian Ocean.

Portuguese explorers visited the islands of the archipelago in 1505 on the Cape Route. By 1506, the Portuguese landed on the islands and began to challenge the Bajas (Bantu Muslim chiefs) and Fanis (lesser chiefs).

The French started to colonize the islands in 1841, ultimately gaining full control of all the islands in 1908.

In 1973, France agreed to give the islands independence, depending on the results of referenda on each island. Grand Comore, Moheli and Anjouan all voted overwhelmingly in favor, but Mayotte voted to remain part of France and has therefore remained under French control.

Comoros has endured 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. Azali seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May 2002.

Religion
97% of Comoros is roughly Muslim, making it rank one of the 20 most religious countries, however, there is a smaller minority of Catholics.

Talk
The official languages are French and Arabic. Most Comorians speak their own language known as Shikomori (Comorian), which is a group of Swahili dialects, as a first language and French as a second. Some can also speak Arabic.

Finding a fluent English speaker is a very rare occurrence. However, an educated person will know a few words in English. Your best bet would be to learn French, which has a strong influence on media, education and business.

Each island has its own dialect. The greetings below are not necessarily direct translations.

Greetings nearly always follow this pattern:

Grand Comore

 * Yedje? (How are you?), response: Ndjema (good)
 * Bariza? (News?), response: Ndjema
 * Mahabari (News?), response: Salimina (peaceful)
 * Hufanyiha dje? (How are you?), response: Ndjema
 * Na kozazidi? (And problems?), response: Raha (Not yet)
 * E ngawe mnono? (Your health?), response: Alhamdulilah (Thanks to Allah)

Moheli

 * Jeje? (how are you?)
 * Ndjema (good)
 * Gushindu? (your health is good?)
 * Ewa (yes)
 * Kumnono? (you feel good?)
 * Ewa (yes)
 * Habari (you are well?)
 * Salaama (at peace)

Any series of words with habari in it requires a response of salaama. Shikomor has various extensions of the habari greeting to indicate time of day, such as habarizaho or habarizasobwuhi.

Other necessary words:
 * Ewa (yes)
 * A-a (no)
 * Marahaba (thank you)
 * Marahaba menji (thank you very much)
 * Swamahani (Sorry/pardon me)
 * Pvapvo (there; used to tell a taxi driver where you want them to stop)
 * Pvano (here; same as above, but the driver will likely slam on the brakes)

Get in
Everyone requires a visa to visit to the Comoros, which is issued on arrival. A normal visa costs 15 000 CF (around €30). Children under 10 are free. It can be paid in Comorian francs (CF, or KMF), US dollars, British pounds or euros. A visa lasts 45 days, and can be extended, but only with a compelling reason (i.e. the authorities won't accept "I want to stay longer" as a reason).

As of April 2022, Comoros visa is issued on arrival at Moroni airport. Have the exact amount in cash, because change might not be given. There is a ATM just outside the airport terminal. Although it did not work in April 2022, so bring euros or US dollars when entering the country. The immigration paperwork asks that you list a place of residence for your stay in the Comoros, but it is not checked. After immigration, Customs officials may search your luggage.

By plane

 * Kenya Airways flies direct from Nairobi, thrice a week, connecting with London, Dubai, Mumbai and Paris flights
 * Ethiopian Airlines flies direct daily from Addis Ababa via Dar es Salaam, connecting with over 100 international destinations
 * Air Austral flies from Paris and Marseilles with change of planes in Saint Denis, Reunion
 * Inter Iles Air flies from Mayotte to Anjouan and Moroni several times a week
 * Air Madagascar and Madagasikara Airways both fly from Antananarivo and Majunga in Madagascar
 * Air Tanzania flies from Dar es Salaam
 * Ewa air flies from Mayotte
 * Turkish airlines has a seasonal route from Istanbul

By boat
There are freighters that leave from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam (in Tanzania) and Madagascar. These are cheaper than flying, usually, but take longer and departure dates are less reliable. To catch these you must find the boat captain at the harbour and discuss prices. If you bargain very hard, you may get passage for €100.

By plane
Int'Air Îles flies between Moroni, Anjouan, and Moheli daily. In Moroni their office is near the Volo Volo Market.

By car
It's possible to rent cars on Grand Comore for approximately CF15,000 to CF25,000 a day, depending on the type of car. In Moheli there are no rental agencies, but still you might try to rent a car or motorbike directly to a local with the help of your hotel. Petrol price varies from island to island. While you may pay CF600 per litre in Grand Comore, the price in Moheli (where petrol is scarce) can rise up to CF1000 per litre.

Each island has a mainroad around the island. Road conditions can be really bad on certain sections, but still doable by regular vehicles without 4WD.

Hitch-hiking is a very common practice among locals, specially in Moheli were there are fewer transportation options. If you look like a tourist, some fee may be requested. As the locals have no access to public transport and children have to walk to and from school, tourists with a car may wish to consider aiding hitch-hikers.

By public transport
Each capital is connected by bus with the villages on their respective island main road. Buses are usually packed, have no fixed schedule and stop running well before sunset.

Shared taxis are the most common mode of public transport within cities.

By boat
Speedboats operate from Chindini on the southern coast of Grand Comore, to Hoani on the northern coast of Moheli. These boats are small fibreglass fishing boats with boat and engines in variable condition. They should be taken only on days when the sea is calm, as passengers have been forced to off-load baggage into the sea and there are rumours boats being lost. However, these boats are generally safe to take on calm days. It is anyway always wise to ask for a life vest. Boats depart from Chindini every morning and the trip takes about one hour. The price is CF10,000 as of 2008, plus an additional CF500 council departure tax. Some tourists have been requested a special permit from the police.

Cargo vessels covering the route between the three island's capitals also accept passengers. You'll have to ask at the port or find an agency, and expect longer travel times (up to 12 hours from Moroni to Moheli). The price from Moroni to Fomboni in Moheli is CF10,000 per person.

The company Maria Galanta operates the route Moroni—Moutsamoudou (Anjouan)—Dzaoudzi (Mayotte) twice per week. As of October 2018, the boat leaves from Moroni Thursdays and Sundays, and return trip is Wednesdays and Saturdays. Duration of each leg is 5 hours. The price to Anjouan is €36 one way, and €140-158 all the way to Mayotte. Maximum baggage allowance is 20 kg plus 10 kg of hand baggage.

See

 * Moroni City Comoros.JPG]]Lac Sale — salt lake adjacent to the beach on the north end of Grand Comore. A trail leads to the top of the rocks surrounding the lake. Along the road there is a small souvenir stand, usually selling ylang ylang oil, jackfruit perfume, jasmine and seashells. Ask the souvenir sellers to tell you about the lake and they'll be able to tell you about how they believe the water and algae from the lake cures acne (a 1 litre bottle of this mixture costs CF5000) and even take you down into the lake to show you the process.
 * Dolphins off the coast beyond Hahaya
 * Livingstone Bats at Moheli
 * Giant Sea Turtles laying eggs at Itsamiya on Moheli
 * Swahili-inspired architecture with arcades
 * White sand beaches - Maloudja beach in Mitsamiouli is probably the most beautiful and most popular. Other popular beach destinations, some with bungalows nearby, include Ndroude and Bouni in the northeast of Grande Comore, Chomoni in the southeast, and Chindini in the south.
 * Moroni old mosque and medina next to it famous for its narrow streets and maze-like architecture.
 * Dragon's Tail - This impressive mountain peninsula jutting off of Grande Comore is located just outside the northeastern village of Ivoini and is a beautiful spectacle and an exciting hike.
 * Turtle Island - also called Choua cha Ndroude in Shingazidja or Île des Tortues in French, this island is the only peripheral island surrounding Grande Comore located in the northeastern village of Ndroude. Depending on the time of the month, at low tide you can walk from the beach right to the island and spend a couple hours enjoying the sea breeze, taking in the sunshine, and watching local fishermen catch fish nearby. Bring footwear as the volcanic rocks get very hot in the sun.
 * Palace of Kaviridjeo - built in the 16th century, these ruins in the village of Iconi just south of Moroni used to be the home of the Sultan of Bambao until the 19th century, when the final sultan, Said Ali bin Said Omar, united all the different sultanates on Grande Comore to form Ngazidja, then signed an agreement allowing the French to colonize the island. A large, modern mosque also sits across the street, featuring a large pool that fills at high tide and drains at low tide. Between the two is a small plaque memorializing the victims of a massacre led by former president Ali Soilih's youth brigade in the 1970s.
 * The Moheli Marine Reserve off the coast of Nioumachoua, amongst the beautiful peripheral islands to the south.

Do

 * Treks such as the Karthala volcano crater (8 hours one way). Guides available for €100. This is possible to do as a one long day hike for €60 or overnight at a basecamp (a group of tin sheds)
 * Cycling
 * Deep sea diving, snorkelling
 * Sailing on a dhow
 * Swimming with dolphins - there are multiple places on Grande Comore that offer this, with Itsandra just north of Moroni being the most popular and costing CF10,000.
 * Swimming with manta rays - an activity exclusive to Nioumachoua on Moheli, seeing the manta rays is often hit or miss, but the staff at Laka Lodge hotel can organize this trip and the guides are experts at seeking them out.
 * Hiking - there are numerous places for this, including in the northeast of Grande Comore, where dozens of small mountains, most including small trails for farmers to reach their fields, dot the landscape; Chezani and other neighboring villages are good jumping-off points for this. You can also hike from Fomboni, the capital of Moheli, to Nioumachoua. It is a challenging and lengthy but beautiful and rewarding trek. Anjouan is also full of swooping peaks and gorgeous waterfalls ready to be climbed. A large, intimidating mountain also sits in the village of Iconi on Grande Comore and has a very simple path to the top with some impressive views of the village and surrounding area, though the beginning of the trail is hidden next to a small corner store and you'll probably have to ask a local to show you.

Money
The country's currency is the Comorian franc, on Moheli denoted by the symbol "CF" (ISO code: KMF). Often, tourists will be given the price also in euros, even if just for reference. In those cases, an invariable exchange rate of €1 = CF500 is used.

Coins of the Comorian franc are issued in denominations of CF25, CF50, CF100 and CF250. Banknotes of the Comorian franc are issued in denominations of CF500, CF1,000, CF2,000, CF5,000 and CF10,000.

It is best to bring euro notes to the island. They can be exchanged at most shops for slightly better than the official rate (€1 = 500 francs). Note that barely noticeable torn banknotes won't be exchanged. There are four ATMs in Moroni in roughly the same area, however travellers report they are often broken and cannot be relied on. Banks may charge about 10% of withdrawal amount as transaction fees. Therefore it's more cost efficient to bring Euros cash. Other hard currency might be exchanged at a bureau de change.

Shopping
Handicrafts are not usually of good quality, though women of Mayotte as well as a few women in Grand Comore make quality baskets. One can buy CDs, colourful cloths that women wear (CF500 for a numbawani and CF750 for a finer shawl), beautiful scarves (CF2,000) and other imports.

Most handicrafts and tourist curios for sale at Volo Volo market in Moroni are made in Madagascar, and sold by Malagasy expatriates in the market. Local crafts are hard to find, but some are available at CNAC in Itsandra. Unique Comorian gifts can be found in other parts of Volo Volo market. Consider locally grown spices and essential oils, home made lamps and vegetable peelers, or products made from coconuts.

Do not buy shells from vendors on the beach.

Costs
Because the Comoros are isolated islands, prices tend to be more expensive than the rest of East Africa. The cheapest hotels or bungalows in Moroni (the most expensive lodging region of the Comoros) may cost €20 or as little as €10 if you bargain hard. On the other hand, Hotel Moroni may cost hundreds. Imported goods are cheaper on Grand Comore than Moheli, but fruits and vegetables are cheaper, if less available, on Moheli. Meals in a brochetterie (cheap restaurant that serves fried meat and bananas, manioc, taro, or breadfruit) may cost up to CF1500 (€3) on Grand Comore and as little as CF250 (€0.50) on Moheli. Cakes (sweet bread) sold by women on the street generally cost around CF50-100 each. One could get by on around CF6,000-10,000 (€12-20) per day for food and lodging.

Eat
Visitors are advised not to eat any of the local food unless it has been cooked through. One speciality available on the island is the jackfruit, a large, green fruit (about 50 cm in length) with a taste resembling lychee.

As for a small island country surrounded by the Ocean, fish and seafood is the main quality food source for Comorians. Men sail away from the island early morning in boats to come back before dusk with a fish to sell.

Interesting food itinerary would be to observe men coming back from the sea with their catches. This is next to a harbour. Many locals are already hanging around there to buy fish, meet friends and just pass time. Sometimes fisherman returns with a bigger fishes for example swordfish. Later go to Volo Volo market to see the same fish being sold and butchered. As a conclusion to the trip, visit local restaurants throughout the city to taste sea goods. Daily menu will vary depending on the catch of the day.

Delicious and popular Comorian foods include:

 * mabawa - chicken wings, usually coated in a marinade of dijon mustard, mayonnaise, peppers, garlic, salt, and onion, perhaps with other variations, and grilled. You'll find plenty of mabawa vendors at night in Moroni and many of the villages and especially around the Volovolo area. Often served with grilled breadfruit, cassava, or green bananas, as well as putu, a spicy pepper-based sauce that varies in heat, flavor, and color depending on who makes it and what other ingredients they include.
 * trama - grilled corn, most available from January to April.
 * madaba - cassava leaves, mashed with a huge mallet into a sort of paste with peppers, garlic, and other ingredients before being boiled and served with rice and sometimes with fish chopped up inside.
 * mkatre foutra - a small, round, savory bread eaten for breakfast, usually sold for CF100 each.
 * sambusa - the Comorian version of a samosa. Contains shredded fish and spices, though each person's sambusa will taste different. Depending on size and where you buy them, they can cost anywhere from CF25 to 100.

Nice, European-style restaurants exist in the capital and larger villages on all of the islands.

Drink
Alcohol is readily available in Moroni from Indian and Chinese merchants near Volo Volo. Castle beer from South Africa and cheap boxed wine from France are common. Most higher-end restaurants will sell alcohol and there are a couple of liquor stores in Moroni; you can find places to buy alcohol because they usually have a green Heineken sign outside.

Tap water is not safe to drink, and bottled water is cheap (1.5 liters for CF400) and readily available everywhere. Despite the risks associated with the water, locally made juices are very delicious, especially tamarind, ntsongoma (strawberry guava), pineapple, and guava.

Sleep
In a pinch, you can probably find a friendly local who will welcome you into their home for the night. Ask if they prefer you to pay them for food and/or lodging. Sometimes people are welcoming you as an honoured guest and consequently it would be odd to pay.

Learn
Learning facilities on the islands, like most facilities, are underdeveloped. There are several schools on the island of Grand Comore, and one college. These are all severely lacking in resources and funding.

Work
By some reckoning, this is the third poorest country in the world and workers can expect to earn only about US$1-1.5 a day for basic employment.

Stay safe
Comoros is a really safe country. You will feel safe walking on your own on an empty street late at night, even if you are a woman, and it is very unlikely that you will suffer any kind of theft. However, as pavements and city lights are scarce, take caution if you are walking on the road side, especially on weekend nights.

The political situation can be tense, especially in Anjouan island, where there are clashes between rebel and African Union forces. Some state that a civil war is possible. In October 2018, not long after the celebration of a referendum that reinforced the power of the president, Moutsamoudou suffered a week-long period of strike and revolts that ended with several dead.

Cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April).

Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano.

Most countries' diplomatic presence in Comoros is carried out through embassies located in nearby Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, or South Africa, though a few countries do operate full embassies or other diplomatic offices in the Comoros.

 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇱🇾 Libya
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇸🇩 Sudan
 * 🇹🇿 Tanzania
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey

For foreign visitors who do not hold one of the above nationalities, the following select embassies will provide assistance while you're in Comoros.

 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇯🇵 Japan

Stay healthy
Malaria, including cerebral malaria, is prevalent in the Comoros. Sleep under a permethrin-treated mosquito net and take an anti-malarial. Grand Comore and Anjouan have the best medical infrastructure and you can be tested for malaria in most major towns. If you get a fever, it is wise to get tested, especially if the fever does not respond to paracetamol or does not go away. Moheli has a hospital in Fomboni. The one in Nioumachoua may occasionally be accessible.

Healthy food is not difficult to find. Eat many fruits and vegetables as well as rice. During some time of the year vegetables might be only available in small quantities in Moheli. A healthy and delicious local dish is madaba; pounded and boiled manioc leaves. But madaba takes hours to prepare, so you may not find it in restaurants. If you are fortunate enough to stay or eat with a local family, you might get to try madaba. Vegetarians should be aware that on Grand Comore locals put fish in the madaba, while on Moheli they do not. Women may experience cessation or alteration of their menstrual cycle due to poor nutrition if they stay in the Comoros for several months or longer.

Tap water is drinkable according to the National Tourism Office, however the CDC states that it is not drinkable.

Respect
Although the Comoros is a rather liberal Muslim country, it is disrespectful for women to expose their shoulders, much of their chest, knees, and especially stomach and lower back. Wear shirts or shawls that cover these areas. Locals will not expect foreign, non-Muslim women to cover their heads. When swimming, local women are fully dressed. Foreigners are not expected to do this, but shorts and a swimming shirt is more respectful than a bikini or topless swimming. Men should wear shorts below the knee, though a man wearing shorter shorts is less offensive than a woman doing so. Public affection between men and women is not acceptable, though one may rarely see a Comorian man and woman holding hands briefly (in the nightclubs some locals seem to ignore Muslim convention).

Non-Muslim religious proselytizing is illegal, as is giving Bibles to locals. Locals are very tolerant and friendly towards non-Muslims, but do not attempt to convert them.

Drinking alcohol in public is disrespectful, though it occurs in nightclubs. Restaurants generally do not serve alcohol unless they cater to foreigners.

To greet an elder, you say "kwesi". The elder says something like "mbona, mkana baraka" to which you respond "salaama".

It is a big mistake to hand out sweets to children on the street. Since locals are unused to tourists, this rarely occurs and they are usually just happy to talk with you, children included. Once tourists begin handing out gifts and money, locals will see Westerners as rich and free with money, destroying many opportunities for a human connection with them. Children will harass tourists for sweets and money. Tourists who do this are showing themselves to be disrespectful of locals, such as by assuming that money/sweets is what they want from tourists and by putting that in between them rather than making an effort to get to know locals, and ignorant of the consequences of their actions.

Since, allegedly, it was discovered that a Western man, resident of Grand Comore for 14 years, had been making pornographic videos and photographs, as well as violating children on the islands, the residents are quite averse to being filmed or photographed. Individual reactions may vary upon being photographed, but taking unauthorised photographs of the locals will, at best, offend an individual and can potentially lead to violent reactions by the subject.

title: Comoros


text:
Comox

Comox is a town of about 15,000 people (2016) on the east coast of Vancouver Island, approximately north of Nanaimo. Together with the City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland, Comox lies in an area known as the Comox Valley between the Beaufort Range and Comox Glacier in the west, and the Strait of Georgia in the east.

Understand
Comox has become a popular tourist area because of its good fishing, local wildlife, year-round golf and proximity to the Mount Washington ski area, the Forbidden Plateau, and Strathcona Provincial Park.

The town is also home to a Royal Canadian Air Force base CFB Comox, an airport for military and commercial airline use and the HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet training facility. The mild climate has attracted many retirees to the area in the 21st century, resulting in a high rate of growth and a sharp increase in the median age of residents.

History
The warm dry summers, mild winters, fertile soil and abundant sea life attracted First Nations (Aboriginal) people thousands of years ago,. They called the area kw’umuxws (Kwak'wala, the adopted language of the K'omoks, for "plentiful").

At the time of first contact with Europeans, the Pentlatch Nation, who spoke the Island Comox dialect of the Comox Coast Salish language, occupied the shores of present-day Comox Bay. (The last speaker of the Island Comox dialect died in 1995.)

At the fishing village located at present-day Comox, the Pentlatch set out elaborate fishing weirs—nets on tidal flats tied to wooden stakes that would be covered at high tide but uncovered at low tide, allowing trapped fish to be removed. These wooden stakes can still be seen at low tide up to 200,000 wooden stakes remain in the mud flats.

In 1792, Captain George Vancouver arrived, tasked by the British government with charting the northwest coast of North America. Vancouver, in concert with a Spanish expedition, entered the Courtenay River estuary between the present-day locations of Courtenay and Comox and charted the shoreline of Comox.

By the 19th century, the K'ómoks had been driven out of their lands by a particularly fierce group of Kwakwaka'wakw, the Lekwiltok, who raided other villages to capture slaves. The K'ómoks migrated south to present-day Comox, where they allied with the resident Pentlatch against their common enemy.

When the area was opened for settlement by Europeans in the mid-19th century, it quickly attracted farmers, a lumber industry and a fishing industry. In 1862, a smallpox epidemic swept across Vancouver Island, killing an estimated 30% of First Nations people. A census of First Nations in the Comox Valley taken in 1876 revealed that the local First Nations population had dwindled to only 88 K'ómoks and 21 Pentlatch.

By 1876, the K'ómoks and Pentledge had been moved onto two reserves: Comox Indian Reserve No. 1 adjacent to the village of Comox, and Pentledge Indian Reserve No. 2 at the confluence of the Puntledge and Tsolum rivers adjacent to the village of Courtenay.

The village remained isolated from the outside world other than by ship until roads and a railway were built into the area during the First World War. The installation of an air force base near the village during the Second World War brought new prosperity to the area.

In 1910, the Comox Logging and Railway Company was incorporated, and started moving steam-powered equipment to the area to exploit the stands of old growth Douglas fir lying between Comox and Campbell River. With sole access to these forests, the company quickly became the largest logging concern on Coastal British Columbia. Also in 1910, the road from Nanaimo was finally built, linking the Comox Valley to southern Vancouver Island.

In 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) sought to set up a base on Vancouver Island from which air patrols could guard against Japanese incursions. Due to its many days of good flying conditions year round, Comox was chosen as the site, and RAF Station Comox was quickly built. The following year, the Royal Canadian Air Force took over operations, and in addition to patrols over the Pacific, also used the base to train transport aircraft crews flying the Douglas Dakota.

Following the end of World War II, the base was mothballed, and Comox returned to its former state as a small fishing village, with a population of less than 1,000. However, in 1952, due to Cold War tensions, the base was re-activated and has been in continuous operation since then as CFB Comox (YQQ). A civilian terminal was added to the airfield in 1956.

In 1979, the first ski runs on Mount Washington Alpine Resort were built, bringing in new tourists. However, in 1982, the local economy suffered when 409 Squadron was transferred to CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, resulting in sizeable transfer of personnel and their families, and a resultant loss of service industry jobs.

In 1991, the local economy was given a boost when 414 Squadron was assigned to CFB Comox. Retirees from other walks of life also began to move to Comox.

By the turn of the 21st century, although Comox Valley contained half of the agricultural land on Vancouver Island, jobs were moving away from other resource-based industries such as fishing and logging. The largest employers were now CFB 19 Wing Comox, the local school board, Mount Washington Alpine Resort and St. Joseph Hospital.

Climate
Comox enjoys temperate weather year-round: summer temperatures average 22 °C (72 °F) and rarely reach 30 °C (86 °F), while winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Although annual precipitation averages 1,179 mm (46.4 in), almost 80% of this falls between October and March, mainly as rain rather than snow. The result is dry, sunny summers, and mild, wet winters.

By boat

 * Has a route from Powell River (Westview) ferry terminal. 1 hour 25 minutes crossing. There are four round trips daily. BC Transit offers bus service to Comox (Little River) from Monday to Saturday, and daily to Powell River (Westview).

More common ways of accessing Vancouver Island are via Nanaimo (115 km south of Comox via highway #19) on the following ferries from the Vancouver area:

 * West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
 * Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Nanaimo (Duke Point)

Seaplanes

 * Seasonal flights to Comox from downtown Vancouver (50 minutes).

By boat
The Comox Marina has all necessary services nearby, including transient moorage, hot showers, laundry facilities, pubs, restaurants, shopping, marine repair, supplies and service.

Hospital

 * The nearest hospital is in Courtenay.

Go next

 * Courtenay - the largest community in the Comox Valley
 * Powell River - accessible via ferry across the Georgia Strait on the Sunshine Coast
 * Mt. Washington Alpine Resort - alpine resort with skiing (downhill and cross country), snowboarding, and tubing in the winter and a number of hiking and mountain biking trails in the summer.

title: Comox


text:
Compton

Compton is one of the Gateway Cities of Los Angeles, and is mainly known for being the birthplace of rappers Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, NWA and The Game, as well as of professional athletes Serena and Venus Williams.

Get in
Compton is west of the north-south I-710 freeway, between CA-91 on the south and I-105 (Century Freeway) on the north. The Metro Rail Blue Line runs directly from Downtown L.A. to Compton via South Central L.A.

Stay safe
This city has many parts which are highly dangerous, as well as parts that are friendly. North Compton is dangerous, an area well known for high prostitution, gang and narcotic activities. South Compton is relatively better, with houses with no iron bars on the windows, and far fewer active gangs.

Go next

 * Los Angeles
 * Long Beach
 * San Diego

title: Compton


text:
Conakry

Conakry is the capital of Guinea and the economic, commercial and trade center for the area.

Get in

 * 5place/7place go from Kindia e.g. until

Get around
Situated on a peninsula, Conakry is thin and long. Although many tourist sites are situated in the old centre on Tombo Island at the very end of the peninsula, distances can be long. Taxis are the best option for tourists.

A popular way of traveling for locals is the Conakry Express, a commuter train that runs the length of the city. Generally not recommended for tourists it can still be an interesting way of experiencing daily life.

The street numbering scheme of Conakry labels all roads with a two-letter code for the urban district, followed by a three digit number: odd for north-south streets and even for east-west, e.g. KA002 for a northbound street in the Kaloum district.

Do

 * Îles de Los (Loose Islands) have nice beaches and dense forests. Boats leave from the fish market behind the Novotel Hotel.
 * Football: the counry's top tier for soccer is Guinée Championnat National or Ligue 1 Pro. This has 14 clubs and half of them are based in Conakry; the playing season is Oct-June.
 * The national team, "The Elephants", play at General Lansana Conté Stadium (capacity 50,000) or at Stade du 28 Septembre (capacity 25,000).
 * The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is to be held in June / July in Guinea, with 24 nations participating. Games will be played in Conakry, Kankan, Labé, Nzérékoré and elsewhere.

Buy
There are several large markets in Conakry

Eat
Budget

Drink
The nightlife starts quite late - just past midnight.

Stay safe
Over the past two decades, significant growth in the city has led to overwhelming population density and infrastructure problems. Elections in 2010 led to protests and violent clashes between Guinea’s citizens and the military. According to the U.S. Department of State, the worst is over, but “there is residual potential for violence.” The State Department further warns that “While not specifically targeted, U.S. citizens have been victimized in the past. Motorists traveling outside of Conakry have encountered improvised checkpoint-barricades manned by persons in military uniforms who demand money and search through personal belongings, confiscating items of value.”

Go next
Dubreka, Kindia, Boke

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Take a taxi to Bambeto gare and plan to arrive around 06:00 to avail of the first car to Freetown. A seat costs 130,000 GNF as of July 2019. Buying 2 seats automatically gives you first dibs on the front passenger seat (unless it is a minibus where you can comfortably sit in front just for paying a seat). The travel time takes about as short as 5 hours depending on military checkpoint stops and border crossing. Plan your travel dates accordingly as the border to Sierra Leone is closed until 12:00 every last Saturday of the month for clean up day in Sierra Leone. During this time, all vehicles usually stop in Pamalap, Guinea. You may notice other passengers leaving their respective taxis and riding moto taxis to cross the border to the border town of Kambia, Sierra Leone for food. Don’t be surprised if many of your fellow passengers are nowhere to be found. They are already waiting on the other side.

title: Conakry


text:
Conceição da Barra

Conceição da Barra is a city in Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Understand
Conceição's northern beach destination of Itaúnas and its eponymous state park are covered in a separate article.

By car

 * ES-209 connects with Itaunas
 * ES-416 connects from southbound BR-101 out of Bahia
 * ES-422 connects from northbound BR-101 north of São Mateus

Go next

 * Itaúnas
 * São Mateus

title: Conceição da Barra


text:
Concepción

Concepción is Chile's second largest city with a population of almost 227,000 (out of Concepción province's 946,000) as of 2016. It is a city rich in culture, history and beauty on the coast of Southern Chile. The commune is home to historical bridges, murals, parks and lagoons, and to important cultural centers such as the Biobío Theater, the House of Art, the Natural History Museum and the University of Concepción Theater. A variety of bars and entertainment venues provide an active nightlife to the city.

Understand
Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bío-Bío River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name Concepción del Nuevo Extremo. More than once the city has been destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis. One in 1570, another on the 25 May 1751, at which point it was decided to move Concepción further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley.

The Universidad de Concepción was founded in 1919, and has its main campus in the city. It was the first private university in Chile. The neighbouring harbour of Talcahuano holds the largest naval base in the country.
 * Concepción municipality website

By car
The famous "Carretera Panamericana", also called "Ruta 5 Sur", there is a very good route from Santiago, meeting international standards for the most part. Drive south from Santiago to near Chillan city (5 hr), then take the "Ruta del Itata" to west for about an hour.

By bus
You can take buses every half an hour from Santiago from 5,000 pesos. Buses are the fastest form of public transport in Chile. Unlike Europe, train services are scarce and the journey take 2–3 times longer than bus.

There are at least two non-stop express services that connect Santiago and Concepcion, EME Bus and PullmanTur (do not confuse with PullmanBus). They take no more than 5 hours. Fares vary, 4,000–12,000 pesos. It depends on the season and day of the week.

By train

From the North there are trains that link Santiago and Concepción. The trip takes 4½ hr to Chillán. There is a change to bus (included in the ticket price) that takes you to Concepción. Night trains from Santiago to Concepción go directly without any change to buses.

From the South there are trains from Laja. Laja connects to Los Ángeles by rural bus every 30 min (from about 06:00-20:00). This bus takes about 1-1½ hr depending on traffic.

By plane

Three airlines serve Concepción:
 * JetSmart flies from Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Iquique, Lima, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Santiago
 * LATAM flies from Antofagasta, Lima, Punta Arenas, Santiago
 * Sky Airline flies from Antofagasta, Calama, Santiago

Get around
The Gran Concepción is the name that receives the whole metropolitan area, which includes Talcahuano, Hualpen, San Pedro de la Paz, Chiguayante, Hualqui and Penco.

By public transport
The transportation system has buses and shared taxis services that reach every single place in the metropolitan area. there is a commuter train service (BioTren) that reaches the surrounding areas.

The following is the list with the public transportation services in The Gran Concepcion:

Talcahuano (through Concepcion-Talcahuano Highway) Vía Láctea (Line 10), Via Futuro (Line 11), Via Siglo XXI (Line 13), Chiguayante Sur (Line 14), Via Universo (Line 16), Nueva Llacolen (Line 20), Ruta Las Playas (Line 30), Buses Campanil (Line 50), Las Bahías(Line 70), Las Galaxias (Line 80)

Talcahuano (through Colon Avenue) Vía Láctea (Line 10), Via Futuro (Line 11), Nueva Sotrapel (Line 12), Vía Siglo XXI (Line 13), Chiguayante Sur (Line 14), Via Universo (line 16), Nueva Llacolen (Line 20), Ruta Las Playas (Line 30), Ruta del Mar (Line 31), Buses Ruta Del Mar (Line 32), Buses Campanil (Line 50), Buses Geminis Sur (Line 52), Base Naval (Line 56), Denavi Sur (Line 57), Mi Expreso (Line 62), Las Bahías (Line 70), Las Galaxias (Line 80), Via Del Sol (Line 81)

Hualpén (through Concepcion-Talcahuano Highway) Las Golondrinas (Line 40), Buses Mini Verde (Line 41) and Mini Buses Hualpencillo (Line 42).

Hualpén (through Colon Avenue) Nueva Sotrapel (Line 12), Ruta Las Playas (Line 30), Las Golondrinas (Line 40), Buses Mini Verde (Line 41), Mini Buses Hualpencillo (Line 42), Flota Las Lilas (Line 43), Flota Centauro (Line 44), Buses Tucapel (Line 60), Buses Cóndor (Line 65), Buses Puchacay (Line 71), Vía del Sol (Line 81), among others.

San Pedro de la Paz Nueva Llacolen (Line 20), Riviera Bio Bío (Line 21), San Pedro (Line 22), Buses San Pedro del Mar (Line 23), San Remo (Line 24), Las Golondrinas (Line 40) and Rengo Lientur (Line 63).

Chiguayante Vía Láctea (Line 10), Via Futuro (Line 11), Nueva Sotrapel (Line 12), Via Siglo XXI (Line 13), Chiguayante Sur (Line 14), Via Universo (Líne 16), Expresos Chiguayante (Line 17), Buses Palomares (Line 18), Las Galaxias (Line 80) and Vía del Sol (Líne 81).

Penco Expresos Chiguayante (Line 17), Ruta Las Playas (Line 30), Ruta del Mar (Line 31), Buses Ruta del Mar (Líne 32) and Mi Expreso (Line 62).

Hualqui = Las Galaxias (Line 80), Buses Palomares (Line 18) and Vía del Sol (Line 81).

just inside Concepción Buses Pedro de Valdivia (Line 72), Buses Tucapel (Line 60 Z & M) and Rengo-Lientur (Line 63).

Learn
Spanish, because of its weather, friendliness of its people and many students around, this is a great place to learn Spanish. Several schools are available, such as HelloChile (info@hello-chile.com).

Sports

 * Regional Stadium – It is the main and biggest stadium in The metropolitan area.it hosts Universidad de Concepcion and Deportes Concepcion matches, a ticket price can vary from 2,000 to 5,000 pesos depend on the match.
 * CAP Stadium – It hosts Huachipato's matches, a ticket is more expensive, 4000 pesos as it has very comfortable accommodations.
 * El Morro Stadium – A historical English design stadium, is the hosts for Naval. During the 1960s the Brazilian superstar Pele played with his team Santos. Destroyed by the 2010 earthquake and tsunami. Not advisable to visit.
 * Federico Schwager Stadium – The host for Lota Schwager. It's been abandoned, so it is not advisable to visit.

Buy
Concepción is not a touristic city so if you are looking for cheap and cheerful souvenirs you will have to use your imagination.

 * Galerías – There are various shopping arcades in the centre of the city mainly on Barros Arana and Maipú close to the Plaza de Independencia (de Armas). Full of inexpensive little clothing stores, beauty salons, hairdressers and any other kind of store you can imagine. Clothing, etc., tends to be poor quality and the bargain prices reflect this. Popular with locals and worth exploring on a rainy day.
 * Galerías – There are various shopping arcades in the centre of the city mainly on Barros Arana and Maipú close to the Plaza de Independencia (de Armas). Full of inexpensive little clothing stores, beauty salons, hairdressers and any other kind of store you can imagine. Clothing, etc., tends to be poor quality and the bargain prices reflect this. Popular with locals and worth exploring on a rainy day.

Drink
Concepción is full of bars and nightclubs so try the traditional Pisco Sour cocktail, a Piscola or even a beer from the German settled south of the country.

Stay safe
The city is generally safe, however:
 * Be aware of pickpockets and avoid wearing expensive-looking jewelry or watches, even during the day.
 * Do not visit Talcahuano's seaport, Hualpen and near areas in the night, especially on weekends.
 * Other residential areas such as Chiguayante, San Pedro de la Paz, are worth visiting but have their dangerous places also, so be careful when going unaccompanied by people who live there or know well the place.

Respect

 * Population is very tolerant and friendly.
 * As the rest of country, this city has largely conservative Catholic and Protestant population but Freemasonry has an important influence in culture, education and business here.
 * Very strong social movements and political activity, sometimes heavily polarizated, be careful while discussing topics such as Pinochet's regime or Pacific War.
 * Mind your vocabulary, in contrast with the rest of Chile, Concepcion is highly populated by university students, so they can understand if you are talking in English. Avoid unnecessary comments about the city and people.

Go next

 * Chillán – A ski town 2 hr from Concepción. Home to a large volcano with great skiing so visit in the winter or enjoy the thermal spas heated by the volcanic waters year-round.
 * Isla Mocha – An island that can be reached from Tirua, a journey 5 hr south by bus.
 * Santiago – The capital is a 6-hour bus journey away and buses run frequently so if you need a taste of the big city life, it's not too far.

title: Concepción


text:
Concepción (Bolivia)

Concepción is a town in the eastern Bolivia, north of Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz de la Sierra). Concepción is the capital of the Ñuflo de Chávez Province in the Santa Cruz Department.

Understand
Concepción is best known as one of the Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Most streets are unpaved with the exception of some around the main square (these are paved with bricks and stones). Unpaved ones have predominantly red color, passing motorbikes and cars leave a lot of dust.

By bus
There are a couple of buses daily from Santa Cruz. They stop at San Javier, so you may jump in (i.e. at 11) there.

By foot
Concepción is small enough to walk on foot.

By moto
A lot of mototaxis are available.

Buy
Locals tell the surroundings of the road to Santa Cruz have become a new town "center" (after the road was paved). Most food and other shops, and petrol station are there.

Some nice wood artwork from shops around the main square or directly from craftsmen at workshops.

Eat

There are two little eateries at the marketplace some two blocks west and one north of the main square.

Drink
You can drink non-alcoholic chicha along with your meal.

Go next
If you want to continue with the missions clockwise, go to San Ignacio. There is a bus at 17:00 (some say at 18:00 or even 15:30 - check with the office which is some two or three blocks west of main square) costs Bs70 and takes 5 bumpy hours to make needed 150 km. There is a taxi option as well, but it is Bs700/person with 4 persons in the car.

title: Concepción (Bolivia)


text:
Concepción (Paraguay)

Concepción is an attractive city on the river Paraguay 460 km north of Asunción in northern Paraguay. With some 83,000 inhabitants it is known as La Perla del Norte (pearl of the north) for its beautiful setting, elegant homes and well preserved public buildings. This is also the place where adventurers and backpackers come to board the Aquidabán boat, a living relic that sails up the river Paraguay once a week to Bahia Negra in the extreme north of Paraguay making stops in almost all riverside communities along the way including Vallemí and Fuerte Olimpo of touristic interest.

Understand
Concepción is distinguished by the beauty of its public buildings and aristocratic residences. Most of them were built at the beginning of the 20th century by European immigrants who were attracted to settle in this part of Paraguay when the export trade flourished and the city port was bustling with commercial activity. The trade activity declined in the 1950s and the city remained a sleepy town for decades, but at the beginning of the 21st century a new port was built and the town is regaining its importance as an exporter point of cattle, beef, and agricultural products of both Northern Paraguay and Western Brazil.

As a riverside city, fishing is also an important leisure activity. For the visitors there are several boats that offer one to multi-day sport fishing services to sites located in the vicinity of town and further north. During long weekends and holidays Concepción fills with people from Pedro Juan Caballero and Brazilians from Mato Grosso do Sul who come to fishing in the river Paraguay. Also youths from nearby towns come to enjoy the city's nightlife.

Concepción has three interesting museums each representing a different era of Paraguay's history. The Museo Villa Real is a testament to the city's role during the Triple Alliance War when this place was used by Mariscal Francisco Solano López as a headquarters for his troops. The Museo Cívico displays several paintings from Concepción's heyday as an important trading post. And the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo has some fine examples of Paraguayan contemporary art including works by renowned painter and a Concepción native, Carlos Colombino.

History
Concepción was founded in 1773 by Agustín Fernando de Pinedo, the Governor of the Spanish colonial Province of Paraguay, close to the existing settlement of Belén to protect territories to the south from attacks by the indigenous Mbaya tribes, also as a centre for growing yerba mate, and for defense against the Portuguese who were always trying to extent the boundaries of its colony, Brazil, over the Spanish territories. Concepción remained exclusively a military outpost for almost 40 years until 1812 when civilians were allowed to settle in and a local government (cabildo) was established. In 1864, Mariscal Francisco Solano López set off from here with 2,500 soldiers to attack the Mato Grosso of Brazil, an event that triggered the Triple Alliance War against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. A few years later Mariscal López met his demise in Cerro Corá (175 km to the east and now a national park) and his wake was held in Concepción.

In 1884 the town became a municipality and with its strategic location on the Paraguay river it rapidly became an important shipping hub during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Yerba mate and wood arrived from other Paraguayan departments as well as the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. These goods were then transported downriver to Argentinian ports where they were re-embarked to Europe and Asia. During this period Concepción saw its grandeur and received a large influx of Italian, Spanish, and Arab immigrants who left their mark on the city in the form of beautifully decorated manors. Many of these buildings are still preserved and some have been nicely restored.

Though its prominence faded somewhat Concepción continues to be an important national transportation hub. Boats departing from the renovated and upgraded port of Concepción serve as a lifeline for the people in the Chaco on the western side of the river and the northern section of the region (on the eastern side of the river) where the roads are frequently impassable and the Paraguay river becomes the only way of communication.

A promoter of the arts: Carlos Colombino
Carlos Colombino (1937-2013) was one of Paraguay's most preeminent painters and a driving force in the nation's cultural scene. Colombino pioneered a technique known as xilopintura, engraving and sculpting thin sheets of wood to create large panels with an otherworldly quality. His work consistently denounced the Stroessner regime with pieces such as "El Torturado" (the tortured one), "El General a Cuerda" (the wind-up general) and a series simply named "Paraguay". Colombino helped found several of the museums in the country including the Museo del Barro in Asunción. Museo del Mueble Paraguayo in Areguá, and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Concepción and lent his expertise to numerous cultural institutions. His works are on display at the Museo del Barro in Asunción and in art galleries throughout the country and he is featured in Esperanza, a documentary about art under the Stroessner dictatorship.

Orientation
Avenida Agustín Fernando de Pinedo is the main avenue and cuts the town in two, running north to south. The city spreads for about 25 blocks east to west until it reaches the river Paraguay. The city centre is a compact grid system very easy to walk. Presidente Franco is the main street running east to west and ending right at the port. Avenida Capitán Herminio Mendoza and Avenida Eligio Ayala are the other boundaries of the downtown area to the north and south respectively. When coming from Asunción via Route 5 you enter the city from the east on General Bernardino Caballero, which turns into Mariscal López after crossing the Avenida Agustín Fernando de Pinedo. The city centre, with the Municipalidad, the Cathedral and the Plaza Libertad, are all on this street, but most of the shops are on Presidente Franco, which is two blocks to the north. If coming through the Chaco you enter the city from the south after crossing the river Paraguay through the Nanawa bridge and passing by the new port to the left and the airport to the right.

Immigration office
Although Concepción is not a border town, there is an equipped to provide entry and exit stamps for those travelling independently along the Paraguay river. If you plan to continue from Bahia Negra to Brazil's Pantanal region it is possible to get your exit stamp in Concepción though there is an immigration office in Bahia Negra. If you are planning to cross over into Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, you can get exit stamp at Carmelo Peralta on the Paraguayan side of the border, however it may be easier to obtain it beforehand in Concepción.

By bus

 * Asunción – 05:00-23:15, every 1.5-2 hr. GS.120,000. Bus companies Nasa, La Concepcionera run their buses through the Transchaco highway. The bus journey takes 6 hr, depending on the route. La Santaniana (09:00, 11:30, 21:00, 23:30), La Sampedrana, Norte Poty, Canindeyú and La Ovetense run from Asunción along Route 3. This route is about 1-2 hr longer.
 * Pedro Juan Caballero – 06:00-16:00, every 1.5-2 hr. GS.60,000. Nasa and Cometa del Amambay take 4-5 hr for this trip.
 * Cerro Corá National Park – 06:00-16:00, every 1.5-2 hr. GS.30,000. Same buses as from/to Pedro Juan Caballero.
 * Vallemí – 08:00, 13:00 (further to Asunción), 18:00 from Vallemí, vis-versa similar. GS.50,000. 2-4 hr, depending on the season and the coffee break along the way.
 * Pozo Colorado – Frequent connections, see Asunción. GS.60,000-80,000. All buses from/to Asunción taking the western route also stop here.
 * Pozo Colorado – Frequent connections, see Asunción. GS.60,000-80,000. All buses from/to Asunción taking the western route also stop here.

By road
From Asunción there are two road alternatives to reach Concepción. Drivers can either head northeast along Route 3 past San Estanislao and turn west at Yby Yaú on Route 5 for a total distance of 460 km; or head northwest along the Transchaco Highway up to Pozo Colorado then turn east on Route "Coronel Rafael Franco" to Concepción travelling through the Chaco wilderness and crossing the Paraguay river through the Nanawa bridge for a total journey of 410 km.

Route 5 links Concepción to Pedro Juan Caballero 215 km to the northeast at the border with Brazil.

Heading east is Route "Coronel Rafael Franco" that links Concepción to Pozo Colorado in the central Chaco where it joins the Transchaco Highway and continue northwest to reach the Mennonite colonies of Filadelfia, Loma Plata and Neuland which are 335 km away. This route offers the chance to watch birdlife and the wilderness of the Chaco. The Transchaco continues northwest, past Mariscal Estigarribia and reaches the Bolivia border after 630 km from Concepción.

By boat
The port is the departing/ending point of the weekly Aquidabán Cargo Ferry to/from Bahia Negra and another weekly cargo ferry to/from Fuerte Olimpo, as well as all towns and villages in between. The Aquidabán is a living relic of the river, and the only one of two commercial scheduled boats that remain to travel the Paraguay river. For more details on schedule and prices see Northern Paraneña.

By plane
The is to the south of the town on the road to the bridge. There is a once-a-week scheduled domestic flight to Asunción with Setam. This flight departs Asunción's Grupo Aerotáctico military airbase and makes a stopover in Concepción before continuing its route to Vallemí, Fuerte Olimpo and Bahía Negra, and then makes the flight back to Asunción stopping at the same places.

Get around
Mostly walking will be you preferred type of transport. You can however rent bicycles to explore the surrounding region, like Belén.

See

 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.
 * Other attractive italianate houses to see from the outside are the Mansión Isnardi, the Mansión Albertini, and the Villa Ida.

Local tours
The Asociación Cultural de la Villa Real is a non-profit cultural organization that organizes historic tours around Concepción from time to time, including guided visits to the local cemetery. Check their website for information on their activities.

Enjoying the river Paraguay
There is a public beach next to the port, very popular on weekends among locals. People come to sunbathing, swimming and fishing. The sunsets are beautiful.

Water taxis in the port can also be hired for a day trip to the mouth of the Ypané river. 8 km to the south, and along the Riacho Negro, the offshoot of the Paraguay river that runs along the other side of Chaco'í. Negotiate the price in advance and bring your own food and beverages.

Across the river is the island of Chaco'í, home to a handful of families. Most cross the river every day by row boat or motor boat to work in Concepción. Walking along the island's dirt roads you will see the quaint scenes of rural lifestyle typical throughout Paraguay, such as farm animals, crops, and a small church. The island is an interesting side trip away from the bustle of Conpceción's motorcycle clogged streets. Water taxis cross between Chaco'í and the port of Concepción at the end of Presidente Franco street. GS.5,000

The Yate Siete Cabrillas is a luxury charter yacht that offer customizable two to seven day trips along the Paraguay river. It departs from Concepción and goes all the way up to Bahia Negra and return. The cost includes full board and guides.

Excursions

 * To Belén: Belén can be visited as a short excursión from Concepción, as it is only 21 km to the southeast. Buses run from Concepción several times a day. The town is sited exactly on the Tropic of Capricorn where there is an allegorical monolith. Belén is the oldest town in the region and was founded in 1760 as a Jesuit Reduction. Lesser known than the other Jessuit towns of Misiones and Itapua in Sputhern Paraguay. The Reduction of Belén had little importance because it was founded shortly before the Expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768, so had little chance to establish itself, and also because it was an experimental venture among the warlike Mbaya indigenous, with none of the success of missions with the more pacific Guaraní. A couple of historians have written books about Belén, and this is the oldest settlement in the entire Northern Paraguay. There are a few sites for the visitor to see like the local church. The present school is an original Jessuit building. In the city centre streets one finds old houses of all sizes with the marked and characteristic colonial style, belonging to the most traditional families of the city, with pillars and galleries in the front.
 * To Loreto: driving north from Concepción on the route to Vallemí for 25 km there is the small town of Loreto, which was not a Reduction, although from its name it sounds as though it might have been. There are several buses per day, every hour or two, departing from the Concepción bus terminal. There is an attractive monument at the entrance of town, like a mini chapel in the middle of the road, blue and white with a tiny dome and cross. The local church is interesting to visit and has a 10 metre bell tower, modelled after the bell tower of the Yaguarón church but built in 2005.

Estancias
There are estancias around Concepción that welcome visitors. Always ring first to reserve and get instructions on how to get there. You may be able to travel by bus and be picked up at an agreed upon location.

The river Aquidabán, north of Concepción, has some of the finest beaches in the country, with big stretches of proper yellow sand, but the best the stream Tagatiyá, which is famous for its crystalline waters and colored little fish.

 * Estancia Ña Blanca: (+595 982 917792) 94 km from Concepción on the road to Vallemí in the district of San Alfredo. Is the closest estancia to the Tagatiyá stream. There are small waterfalls, crystal clear waters, beautiful scenery. Activities include snorkelling in the Tagatiyá, walking, camping. Also has rooms for guests. Visits only by prior reservation. The estancia is named after the owner, Ms. Blanca Ferreira de González.
 * Rancho JMC: (+595 983 776495) the easiest to get to, at Paso Horqueta, a little village on the Aquidabán river, 45 km from Concepción via Loreto, an hour journey on the bus that goes to Vallemí. There is a private beach on the Aquidabán where you can camp, ar you can stay at the house. It has 8 rooms for guests.
 * Estancia Primavera: (+595 331 242045 +595 971 247648) 46 km from Concepción, on the river Aquidabán. Simple place offering camping and two rooms for guests. Lovely isolated beaches. Off the beaten track and the access road is very bad. 4x4 needed, but they can pick you up in Concepción.

Festivals
The spotlight shines on Concepción during the yearly Festival del Río (river festival). During the festival there are a series of sporting events, making use of the city's riverfront, from triathlons to rowing competitions. At night crowds gather to enjoy traditional food and musical concerts and talent shows. Held in late February at the Port of Concepción.

As Concepción's economy is fueled by cattle ranching and meat processing. There is no better time to see the influence of the area´s cattle ranches than at the yearly Expo Norte fair held every September. There are rodeo shows, food and games, and a beauty pageant.

Buy
Most of the shops are on Presidente Franco and Mariscal Estigarribia. There is a craft shop called Ren Artesanía on Mariscal estigarribia and 14 de Mayo. It specialises on leather goods, sandals, clothing and guampas for tereré. Continuing calle Presidente Franco 100 m past Avenida Agusting Fernando de Pinedo to the west is the, a daily covered market with good fresh produce and fish. Interesting to explore.

There is a small but charming art gallery at the corner of Mariscal Estigarribia and General Garay called Arte Libre belonging to Mrs. Gladys Gaona, which also runs a fine arts atelier and where meetings of the local Reading Club of the city are also performed. In this place you will find works of famous Paraguayan artists such as Carlos Colombino, Emmanuel Fretes, Ricardo Migliorisi, Michael Burt, Felix Toranzos and Gladys Gaona herself. Everything on display is for sale.

Sleep
Concepción now offers a range of accommodations. There are several hotels in the historic center, including a hostel, while new establishments have opened in the outskirts of the city, in the vicinity of the port area where the commercial activity and the flow of businessmen is constant.

Budget

 * There are also various inexpensive hospedajes in Concepción. Check out the area around the bus terminal.
 * There are also various inexpensive hospedajes in Concepción. Check out the area around the bus terminal.

Connect

 * Most hotels offer Wi-Fi for guests.
 * Why not send a postcard from the beautiful post office building on Presidente Franco street?
 * The Concepción Noticias (http://www.concepcion-py.com/) is a good resource for current events.

Cope

 * 🇧🇷 Brazil

Go next
Concepción can be a good place to use as a base for visiting the northeast of Paraguay. There are national parks, touristic estancias, and some pretty small towns that are close and worth visiting. Additionally, independent travellers and backpackers continue to the Pantanal region of Bolivia and Brazil sailing up the Paraguay river by boat.

 * Vallemí - A riverside town at the top northwest corner of the Northern Paraneña. A cement producer town with more than 50 limestone caves to explore.
 * Pedro Juan Caballero - At the border with Brazil and an important commercial city with big shopping centers and duty free shops.

title: Concepción (Paraguay)


text:
Concepcion (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Concepción or Concepcion:

Bolivia

 * Concepción (Bolivia)

Chile

 * Concepción - A town in Biobío.

Paraguay

 * Concepción (Paraguay)

Philippines

 * Concepcion (Philippines) - A village in Iloilo (province).

title: Concepcion (disambiguation)


text:
Conception Bay South

The town of Conception Bay South (CBS) is the third largest municipality in the province of Newfoundland, with 26,000 people (2016). It is 20 km southwest of the city of St. John's.

Understand
The town is on the southern shore of Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula. The town is part of the St. John's Metropolitan Area and most residents are employed in the nearby cities of St. John's or Mount Pearl.

Conception Bay provided ample fishing grounds for some time in its history. Lobster trapping is also a common sight.

History
Conception Bay South was formed in 1973 through the amalgamation of nine communities (Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Foxtrap, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies, Lawrence Pond and Seal Cove) all of which follow the coastline of Conception Bay.

The early residents, mainly English but some Irish, were attracted by good growing land, abundant supplies of firewood and the more temperate climate as compared to other parts of the Avalon Peninsula. Good communication with St. John's was established by road in the 1830s and strengthened in the 1880s with the arrival of the railway. Residents of Conception Bay South grew crops and raised cattle for the St. John's market and St. John's residents established summer homes in Conception Bay South.

Get in
It is a 27 km drive from the St. John's city centre to CBS with easy access provided by the twinned Pitt's Memorial Drive highway which connects CBS to downtown St. John's.

There is taxi service from nearby St. John's, Mount Pearl and Paradise, but there is no public transit.

The town is 30 km from St. John's International Airport which receives flights from Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Europe. The town's harbour is in the Long Pond area and hosts many cruise ships over the summer months.

Buy
Shopping is limited to a Sobey's grocery store, a dollar store, some pharmacies, and a few other shops. Most are along Conception Bay Highway.

title: Conception Bay South


text:
Concord

There is more than one place called Concord:

Australia

 * Concord – suburb of Sydney.

United States of America

 * Concord (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Concord (Michigan) - a town in Michigan.
 * Concord (California) - A city in the East Bay (Bay Area) region of California.
 * Concord (New Hampshire) - A city in New Hampshire.
 * Concord (North Carolina) - A town in North Carolina.

title: Concord