text:
Entebbe

Entebbe is a pleasant town built on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda.

Entebbe offers a relaxed stop-over alternative to Kampala if you're flying into or out of Uganda, as the air is clean, the streets are safe to walk, and the old colonial gardens and parks with the lake in the background make for a serene atmosphere. Despite its quaint exterior, you may encounter the President of Uganda or some beautiful wildlife at any turn. If you're not in a rush to the capital, it's worth a stay.

Understand
Entebbe hosts Uganda's international airport. The drive from Kampala is about an hour in light traffic, and more than two hours when it is heavy. The United Nations increasingly use a heavily guarded airport compound at Entebbe as a depot and staging area for their heavy equipment and vehicles that are used in peacekeeping missions in the region of Central Africa. They have their own immigration and customs procedures and a heavy lift capability using Antonovs.

Entebbe is perhaps most famous for an Israeli commando raid on 4 July 1976, when over one hundred mainly Jewish hostages held on a hijacked Air France plane were rescued. The rescue was complicated by the fact that Uganda's president at the time, Idi Amin, was supporting the hijackers. Over 40 Ugandan troops were killed by the Israelis during the rescue.

, is the official residence of the President of Uganda. It has a nice hilltop view of Lake Victoria, the second largest body of fresh water in the world after Lake Baikal. Like Addis Ababa, Entebbe grew up in a rather haphazard way (for example, there is a meteorological college on the corner of the long ceremonial entrance drive of the President) and the centre of things is moving closer to the airport but lots of banks, a supermarket and the public hospital are all just a left turn away when leaving State House.

Climate
For a town pretty well slap bang on the equator, Entebbe is a few degrees cooler than you might expect because of its elevation. Instead of the day-time temperatures hovering around 32°C as residents of Guayaquil, Cayenne, Singapore or Pontianak, Indonesia might expect, maximums are usually closer to 26°C or 27°C. However, humidity is consistently high.

By plane

The airport looks in need of renovation, with the aerobridges looking rather unused, and walking to your plane wherever it happens to be on the tarmac seems the usual way to embark and disembark. There is a collection of ATMs in the building, as well as a café or two, and a small collection of souvenirs. The Karibuni lounge is open to a selection of club members, Star Alliance Gold frequent flyer members, and can also be accessed for a fee. It has decent coffee and drinks, internet terminals, and a pool table.

Taxis are abundant in the parking lot outside the terminal. Security keeps all vehicles away from the terminal proper, so when departing you have to walk from the parking lot up the upper roadway to departures. Officially you can't enter the terminal from ground level (arrivals). However, if you ask the guard nicely he will let you use the single lift rather than hump your baggage up the concrete external stairs. Taxis can't drop you at departures. There are numerous porters to help you with this trek.

By road
To get to Entebbe from the rest of Uganda will usually involve passing through Kampala. Small minibuses ("taxis" in Ugandan English or Matatus in Swahili) go to Entebbe from Kampala every 30 minutes or so. The fare is USh 3,500 but, for foreigners, sometimes the driver will ask for USh 7,000. The journey takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, much quicker when you avoid Kampala's chaotic rush hours. You can take the minibus in the minibus station near to the Kampala central market, with signs for every destination served. You can get off wherever you want en route, but if you ride to the bitter end, your journey will terminate at the in Entebbe.

To and from the airport
A special-hire taxi from the Entebbe airport to Entebbe town cost USh 15,000, or you can walk to the airport gate 500 m and get a Boda-boda motorbike taxi to Entebbe town for USh 5000.

Get around
There are three types of public transport: boda-bodas, matatu and special hires.

By boda-boda
The fastest and most dangerous method is the boda-boda: motorcycles that you see all over town. You won't be in Entebbe long before being propositioned by a boda rider. If you're not interested, a simple 'no' will get them to leave you alone. You can get most anywhere on the back of one for USh 2000–5000, but make sure to agree on the fare before the ride begins. Men usually ride facing forward while women are expected to ride side saddle; very risky. Females can get away with riding facing the front, but may be accused of riding "like a man," though the locals are fairly understanding of female tourists doing this.

Boda-bodas are extremely dangerous as their riders will do whatever it takes to get you to your destination quickly. Expect to dart in front of and against traffic and even through crowds of pedestrians when necessary. Boda-boda accidents account for most of the hospital visits and traffic fatalities in Entebbe; you have been warned!

Boda-bodas got their name from the bicycle taxis that operated at some of the busy border crossing points. Buses had to discharge their passengers at the exit border control, who then had to walk to the entry border control. The distance across no man's land at some borders can be considerable. Hence the bicycle taxis would cry "boda-boda" (a corruption of the English "border to border") to the weary travellers. These bicycle taxis can still be found in most smaller Ugandan towns; however, in Entebbe, they have been replaced by motorcycles.

As boda-boda collisions are one of the most common medical concerns in Uganda, hiring a taxi from a trusted source (decent hotel, friend, or colleague recommendation) may be wiser.

By matatu
Matatus are a series of licensed minibus taxis that follow relatively pre-set routes all over town (and many other parts of the country). It might be a bit confusing in the beginning how to use the matatus to efficiently get where you want to go, but it's really not so difficult.

Their routes usually go between the matatu park at the back of the 7Seasons Hotel and Kampala (or, more rarely, some suburb of Entebbe).

Matatus will stand in the park until they are full, something that normally takes less than 15 minutes, but can take over half an hour (or even over one hour late at night or on Sundays). Matatus that leave the area around the park are hence full, which makes it difficult to hop on a matatu at other places in the town centre. Unless you're very lucky, you'll have to go to where the matatus start in order to leave the town centre.

Each matatu has a driver and a conductor who opens the sliding door, takes fares and yells the destination. Don't be frightened if you can't understand what they're saying. Ask one of them for your destination and you'll be told yes or no. When you get in, expect to be squeezed. Each vehicle is licensed to carry 14 people, but they will pack in as many as will fit (and their belongings). If you don't like this, it's a good idea to sit in the back of the vehicle, since usually the squeezing is limited to the first 2 rows or, alternatively, pay double for the whole of the front seat next to the driver. Once the matatu starts moving people can get off at any time. When you reach your destination, tell your conductor "Stage" and they will stop the van.

Whenever a matatu has empty space the driver will go slowly and honk repeatedly. If you want to get on, just make some gesture and it will slow further down and shout out the destination, just shout your destination as response and they will pick you up if it's along the way. There are often also a number of further staging points along the way where the driver will again stop and wait until they can fill the vehicle. This can take a few seconds or several minutes; just be patient. In some cases drivers won't take you if you only go relatively short distances, since that will mean they'll risk losing money if they can't fill your place quickly once you're dropped. You pay the conductor when you exit, although some people give the conductor money while the vehicle is moving so that he can make change ahead of time. The normal fare is UGX3,500 per person for a trip all the way into Kampala (October 2015).

Going with a matatu is generally cheap, safe, slow and nice. Ugandans are often happy to start up a conversation or help you out, and if the conductor tries to overcharge you or make you take an inefficient route, passengers are likely to point that out to you and scold him. People also complain if a driver takes too long to wait for passengers or drives recklessly and will even collectively quit the matatu in protest if a driver drives badly.

By special hire
If you aren't up for the thrill of the bodas and don't have time for a matatu, then saloon car taxis - also called special hires - are readily available near the matatu park. A very few taxis have meters, but most have not. Be sure to agree on the fare before you get in the car or you may be in for a nasty shock. Don't be afraid to haggle either; most destinations can be reached for USh 10,000 or 15,000.

Do

 * Boat trips on Lake Victoria. These include fishing trips and a visit to see the chimpanzees on Ngamba island. Companies offering such trips include Wild Frontiers.

Eat

 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below
 * Casual diners can also book at the Boma; see below

Drink

 * See also listing for 4 Points above.
 * See also listing for 4 Points above.
 * See also listing for 4 Points above.

Sleep
Partly because of the increasing number of UN and NGO visitors passing through, there is a lot of accommodation available, particularly in the mid-range section. Much of it is distinctly over-priced and some have got shabby and dilapidated rather quickly when (often absent) owners either lost interest or failed to generate the profits they expected. Mattresses and bedding are usually clean, but rooms are rarely fastidiously cleaned even when some outrageous prices are charged.

Budget

 * Dormitory accommodation & camping is also available at "the Zoo" See the listing for the Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre above

Splurge

Stay safe
Compared to other places in Uganda, Entebbe is safe and clean. One major risk are the boda-bodas, both for riders and other traffic including pedestrians.

Go next

 * Uganda's capital Kampala is 35 km to the north, and can be reached by bus, taxi or shared taxi. Entebbe is located on a peninsula with the largest road going up to Kampala, and as mentioned above overland travel to anywhere will usually involve going to Kampala first.
 * The island of Buggala in Lake Victoria is a popular weekend beach destination for locals. There's a daily ferry from, about 4 km northwest of central Entebbe.

title: Entebbe


text:
Enterprise (Oregon)

Enterprise is a city in Eastern Oregon.

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

title: Enterprise (Oregon)


text:
Entre Rios

Entre Rios is in the Mesopotamia region of Argentina.

Understand
The hilly landscape of Entre Ríos is one of Argentina's "granaries". Various types of grain are grown and cattle are raised. The towns along the rivers are popular amongst travellers.

The area is known for carnival, which is similar to Brazil's and is dominated by the murgas, drummers who play African-influenced rhythms to which scantily clad dancers dance. The capital of the carnival is Gualeguaychú, but the carnivals in the other cities are often more attractive because of their originality.

Climate
The climate is subtropical to warm temperate with very warm summers (average 32°C in Paraná) and mild winters (average 17°C). Summer is slightly wetter than winter. Temperature-wise, you should be able to swim in the rivers from November to the end of April.

Talk
The Spanish spoken here is similar to standard Argentine Spanish but has also uses a few Guarani words. Guaraní was widely spoken among the rural population, but is now almost extinct.

Get in
Two bridges and a tunnel connect the formerly isolated Entre Ríos to the rest of Argentina:

 * Zárate - Brazo Largo Bridge to the south, the best point of arrival from Buenos Aires and southern Argentina
 * Rosario – Victoria Bridge for Rosario and south-central Argentina
 * Subfluvial Tunnel Santa Fe - Paraná, for Santa Fe, Córdoba and north-western Argentina.

A variety of buses serve the province from all areas. There are airports in Paraná and Concordia. The Buenos Aires-Posadas train also passes through Entre Ríos province.

See and do
Many towns spas set up on rivers or streams with services for tourists and most also offer river activities.

Carnival is held in many cities in the region, presenting troupes on the streets and in corsódromos.

Sport fishing with return is done in some riverside areas.

Palacio San José or San Jose Palace is a cool-looking colonial Spanish fort.

title: Entre Rios


text:
Epano Vatheia

Epano Vatheia is a village in Heraklion Prefecture.

Understand
Of historical interest is the old church of Saint Antony, with remains of murals. The church is reported in notarial contracts in 1271 as well as in a document dating to 1394. In 1583, it is reported to have numbered 125 residents. In the Ottoman inventory 1671 it is recorded as having fifteen families, while in the Egyptian inventory of 1834 it has 10 Christian and 3 Muslim ("Cretan Turks") families. On the contrary, in the inventory of 1881 only 2 Christians and 225 Muslims were reported. By 1900, it numbered only 10 residents, and none in 1920. By 1928 it had been repopulated, with 258 people living there.

Climate
Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by a system of seasonal breezes. Winters are mild with relatively little rain and rare frosts. .

Get in
Located in the middle of the island, all roads lead to Heraklion.

By plane
There are daily flights from Athens airport and other major Greek cities by Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines. During summer, Sky Express flies to several Aegean islands.

From April till early November charter airlines fly directly to Heraklion from many European airports.

By bus
Heraklion is connected with the rest of Crete by regular bus lines operated by two KTEL companies,. The coaches are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. Fare is reasonable. connections can be made by KTEL Buses in Kokkini Hani to/from both Agios Nikolaos and the island capital Heraklion

There are two bus stations in Heraklion:

By boat
There are ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines, Anek Lines  and Superfast Ferries  - and also there are  normal ferries from Thessaloniki and Dodecanese - G.A. Ferries  ,  and Highspeed Catamarans and normal ferries from Cyclades to Heraklion. G.A. Ferries, Sea Jets  , Santorini Maritime  and Hellenic Seaways. The frequency is reduced in the winter.

By car
The only solution is to arrive to one of the big Ports of Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Sitia or Rethymnon). Then you have to hire a car, if you have not done it yet.

By ferry
There are Highspeed Catamaran and normal ferries from/to Heraklion, Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines , Anek Lines  and Superfast Ferries  - and also from Thessaloniki, Cyclades and Dodecanese to Heraklion. Sea Jets Santorini Maritime  and Hellenic Seaways. The frequency is reduced in the winter. Also every summer there is One Day Cruise from Heraklion to Santorini by cruise boat or highspeed catamarans

Do

 * Heraklion Summer Arts Festival - from June to September
 * Water fun, at the nearby Water City and Aqua Plus water parks.

Drink

 * Raki, also known as Tsikoudia, is the trademark of Cretan day and night life, a strong clear drink similar to Grappa in Italy or Orujo in Spain. It is made out of the 'must' of grape skins and twigs after the local production of the white wine. It doesn't taste like aniseed, as opposed to the Turkish raki. Most raki is 80 proof, about the strength of most vodkas, but some are much stronger. It's often served in small glasses after dinner with a plate of fruit or other dessert.
 * Cretan Wine: Try the distinctive Cretan wine, produced in the island for at least 4000 years. Labels: Sitia, Peza Union. The Cretans themselves drink so called 'open' wine, straight out of the barrel, like fresh white wine, and the sometimes very old dark rusty red wine, a bit like port. Typical Cretan wine varieties are Marouvas and Kotsifali (both red wines).

Go next

 * Faistos
 * Matala
 * Agios Nikolaos
 * Rethymno
 * Anogia
 * Chania
 * Samaria Gorge
 * Spinalonga

title: Epano Vatheia


text:
Épernay

Épernay is a small town in north-east France known for its Champagne production. Some of the most famous brands are produced and cellared in the miles of tunnels which exist beneath the town. Notable brands include Moët et Chandon. Champagne-related places in the town are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars".

Épernay is surrounded by a number of smaller villages including Oiry and Magenta among others.

By train
Épernay is served by France's SNCF. From Paris the trip takes less 1½ hours and costs approximately €13. It is some 20 minutes by train from Reims.

There is no TGV service to Epernay.

See

 * Avenue de Champagne
 * Notre Dame church

Do
Visit of cellars.

Drink
Champagne

title: Épernay


text:
Ephesus

Ephesus (Turkish: Efes) is a with magnificent Roman ruins. It's in the Central Aegean region of Turkey 4 km west of Selçuk and 19 km northeast of the beach resort of Kuşadası.

This page only describes features within the ticketted area of Ephesus or right by its gates. That city began on the site of present-day Selçuk, where the museum holds antiquities found here. The Selçuk page also describes outlying sites such as the House of the Virgin Mary.

Understand
The city of Ephesus can be traced back to the 10th century BC, and human settlement here is thousands of years older than that. The river was navigable from the sea, and a trading port grew up at Selçuk 4 km east, which may have relocated from time to time as the river meandered in its lower course. Its estuary was a stinking midden-cum-malarial swamp, so from about 290 BC the city migrated west to its present site. From 129 BC the new Roman regional superpower took over: they began by looting the place but stayed to embellish it, and most of what you see nowadays is their work from 100 BC to 260 AD.

The place was wrecked by the Goths in 263 AD but rebuilt, and continued to prosper in the Byzantine Roman era. It was an important centre for early Christianity; St Paul preached here, and Ephesus in 431 AD hosted the Third Ecumenical Council which continued the task of defining orthodoxy and condemning heresy. And they sort-of hosted the Fourth in 449 AD, but that in turn was condemned as heretical by the True Fourth at Chalcedon in 451 and didn't count, unless you were Eastern Orthodox, so the church became divided over how many unifying Councils it had ever held. Meanwhile in the real world the coast retreated, fierce enemies stalked the land, and earthquakes roiled the city. By the 7th century Ephesus had lost its port, its livelihood and value, and declined into a small village. Its stonework was pilfered for re-use but the site was not built over. Serious archaeology and restoration got started from the end of the 19th century and these continue.

Ephesus is a year-round site. It has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry and sunny summers, with noon temperatures pushing 36-37°C. Always wear sun protection such a big floppy hat even on cloudy days, as a lot of UV penetrates the cloud and there's little shade. Winters are mild and wet, but the site is well-paved so you can dodge the puddles.

By dolmuş
Dolmuşes run from Selçuk Otogarı to the northern/lower gate every 10-30 min according to season, and cost about €0.50 (8 TL in 2022). They actually connect to Kuşadası along D515, so there's a good dolmuş service here.

There are no dolmuşes to the upper/southern gate.

To get to Selçuk or Kuşadası see those pages "Get in" for long-distance routes. Both have excellent bus connections, and Selçuk is on the IZBAN suburban railway with trains every hour or two from Izmir.

By taxi
Most visitors (including coach tours) explore Ephesus from the southern upper gate: reached by taxi from Selçuk for about €2 (30 TL as of 2022). Leave by the lower gate via dolmuş or another taxi.

From Kuşadası a good plan is to negotiate a taxi day-trip, with the driver awaiting you at the lower gate. But many taxis can be found onsite as well.

By tour
Since Ephesus is one of Turkey's top sights, tour coaches converge on it from far and wide—you can probably even find a tour starting in Istanbul. (Ignore very cheap or free "tours" - you will be trapped for hours in Uncle Mehmet's souvenir shop then be rushed through Ephesus.) Cruise ships call at Izmir or other nearby ports to bus in their passengers.

By road
Independent travellers with their own car can day-trip (though it will be a long day) from any of the Aegean resorts. The site is by the junction of D550 and D515, and well signposted.

On foot
You could walk the 4 km from Selçuk to either gate, but you also have a lot of walking to do around the site.

Nevertheless, doing one direction by dolmuş (to/from the lower gate) and walking the other, you can make a stop by the.

Fees and permits
As of Sep 2023, entry is 700 TL (about €24.15), with an additional charge of 320 TL (about €11) for the Terrace Houses.

Parking at either gate is 50 TL (about €1.75).

The site is open daily 08:00–17:00 (Oct to mid-April), and 08:00–20:00 (mid-April to Sept). The Terrace Houses open half an hour later and close half an hour earlier.

Consider buying a Turkey Museum Pass–any admission gate can sell these, 3,500 TL (about €120) as of Sep 2023. There's a wide range available, but the one for this region is the Aegean Pass, 2,200 TL (about €76) as of Sep 2023. Most attractions included charge less than Ephesus so you probably need to visit four or more others (within 7 days) to make the Aegean Pass a saving.

Get around
The grounds of Ephesus are seen entirely on foot, and take 90 min to 2.5 hours (plus 30 min for the Terrace Houses). Pathways are signed clearly and easily navigated. The paving of the main avenue is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, but with lumpy bits and potholes around ongoing works. This huge site always has ongoing archaeological excavations, maintenance works, and stabilisations after the latest earth tremor or storm, so you might find any individual sight barricaded off.

You may enter or exit by either gate, both have parking lots and taxis. However, only the lower/northern gate is served by dolmuşes. If there is not a taxi, ask the closest shopkeeper and they may be able call one, or the parking lot attendant.

See
Most visitors enter through the Upper Gate, which brings you to an agora (market place), the scrappy Baths of Varius, a stoa (colonnaded walkway) and Odeon (amphitheatre and council meeting place, originally roofed). This would be impressive in any other site, but wait till you see the big one further along. Follow the stoa and crowd past the Prytaneion (meeting place of the city chiefs), Temple of Domitian, statue of Nike, and monument to Memmius grandson of Roman dictator Sulla. Pass through the Gate of Hercules onto Curetes Street descending northwest, the ancient city's main boulevard, which gives way to the following main sites:

Do

 * Test the acoustics at the Great Theatre, if it's quiet and you're not competing with too many droning tour guides, and preferably with a companion in a back row to signal audibility. Declaim poetry or one of the great speeches from Shakespeare if you don't trust your singing voice. You'll discover that the focal flagstone is a sweet spot where you're clearly heard, and your voice comes resonating back to drum upon your chest. Move just one metre away and the effect drops off, and after two metres it's gone. The same happens at well-preserved amphitheatres elsewhere, you have to stand central to hold your audience, and this illustrates how oratory and stage performance must have worked in the unamplified ancient world. The other big lesson is that you can't sort-of know the great poems and speeches, you have to nail them word-perfect.
 * Skydive: Efes airport and dropzone are next to the lower gate. See Selçuk for practicalities, but you may see skydivers under canopy from within the site.

Buy
Souvenir shops by the two gates are poor value even if you haggle them down. You're better buying in town, especially for pricier items such as leather goods.

Never buy "Roman coins" or other so-called antiquities touted in or around the site. For sure they are fake. The problem is that Customs aren't so sure, so when you try to leave the country, they'll detain you long enough to miss your flight while they confirm that these are trash and not illegal exports.

Eat & Drink
There are no facilities within the ticketted area, but small cafes outside both gates. Efes Restoran (open daily 09:00-23:00) is a larger cafe by the lower gate, where most visitors are emerging and gasping for refreshment, but it gets rotten reviews. Try to hang on till you get back to town.

Sleep
See Selçuk and Kuşadası for the nearest accommodation.

Connect
Ephesus has 4G from all Turkish carriers, which extends along the highways to Selçuk and Kuşadası. As of Sept 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Selçuk has the Ephesus Museum, displaying artefacts from the ancient city. Within town is the Byzantine Church of St John, and further out are sights such as the House of the Virgin Mary.
 * Kuşadası is the raucous beach resort nearby. The Greeks and Romans would have loved it.
 * Bergama might be a three hour drive, as it's north of Izmir, but it's another superb site for the ruins of Pergamon.

title: Ephesus


text:
Ephraim

There's more than one place called Ephraim.

United States of America

 * Ephraim (Wisconsin) - A town in the state of Wisconsin.
 * Ephraim (Utah) - A town in the state of Utah.

title: Ephraim


text:
Ephraim (Utah)

Ephraim is in Central Utah. In the spring of 1854, some residents of Manti went north to Cottonwood Creek and were later joined by settlers uprooted from Allred's settlement (Spring City) and recent immigrants from Denmark.

The settlers hauled rocks and constructed a fort approximately a square block in size. This was the start of the town of Ephraim, getting its name from one of the tribes of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament. The security of the fort drew a diverse group of settlers to the area, Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians. The Black Hawk Indian War was most destructive and the longest pioneer-Indian conflict in Utah History. Even through constant difficulties Ephraim managed to survive.

Get in
Ephraim is approximately 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City. To get to Ephraim from the north, take I-15 Exit 225 at Nephi and go East on Highway 132 up the canyon. At the junction with Highway 89 head south.

To get to Ephraim from the South, take I-70 Exit 56 at Salina and follow Highway 89 north.

Do

 * Maple Canyon –Conglomerate rock climbing. West of Moroni
 * Maple Canyon –Conglomerate rock climbing. West of Moroni
 * Maple Canyon –Conglomerate rock climbing. West of Moroni

Sleep

Iron Horse Motel

title: Ephraim (Utah)


text:
Ephrata

Ephrata is a city in the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Route serving Ephrata:
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.  Between Seattle and Spokane, trains stop in Edmonds, Everett, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, and Ephrata.

title: Ephrata


text:
Epi Island

Epi Island is an island in Vanuatu.

Do
There is a friendly dugong (sea cow) who is known to frequent the beaches around Epi, especially at Lamen Bay. As this is a wild animal his presence is NOT guaranteed, but when he is around he seems to enjoying seeking out snorkelers to swim and play with, giving people lucky enough to be out in the water at the right time the once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with one of these majestic endangered animals in the wild.

title: Epi Island


text:
Epirus

Epirus is a region in the west of Northern Greece. The beaches of the coast are developed for tourism and well visited, while the mountainous interior receives little attention, even though it is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Greece.

Regions
Epirus consists of 5 underlying regions: Arta, Ioannina, Preveza, Thesprotia and Zagori.

Cities

 * – In addition to some beautiful beaches (Kryoneri, Piso Kryoneri, Valtos, Lychnos) and the winding inner city with the promenade, the Venetian fortress, built around 1570 and overlooking the rugged coast, is probably the most important sight.

 * – Worth seeing provincial town. The main attraction is the old, impressive stone bridge and the castle ruins in the center.

 * – Village 15 km south of Ioannina with a cluster of archaeological sites.

 * – Port city with ferry connections to Italy and Corfu.

 * – Capital of the province and the lake of the same name with many sights, especially in its surroundings.

 * – The gate to the Tzoumerka National Park and with the must-see Kipina Monastery nearby.

 * – A charming location with a beautiful promenade and some remarkable fortifications and the harbor.

 * Along the coast are beautiful coastal towns (e.g. Sagiada, Plataria, Syvota, Ammoudia, Lygia, Pidima Kiras, etc.), which are strongly tourist-oriented.

Other destinations

 * – Mountain landscapes with deep gorges, lakes and waterfalls, varied vegetation, many old stone bridges, traditional villages with stone-roofed houses, wonderful hiking trails, good food in the restaurants and relatively little tourism.
 * – A region with 46 traditional villages known as Zagori villages, the famous Vikos gorge, beautiful stone bridges and many other picturesque nature sights and the Vikos-Aoos-National Park.
 * – A wild mountain landscape with many waterfalls, old stone bridges and romantic villages

 * - The park has almost deserted mountain landscapes and river valleys. It is a little-known but worthwhile hiking area.

 * – In Greek mythology it is Acheron one of the five rivers of the underworld, into which the other, Styx, Kokytos, Phlegethon and Lethe flow. In addition to the Styx, it is regarded as the river of the dead, over which Charon used his ferry to bring the dead souls into the Hades. According to legend, there was an oracle at its mouth. The beautiful landscape is particularly worth seeing.

Understand
Epirus is one of the poorer regions in Greece. The mountainous landscape, which is one of the most beautiful in Greece, is not yet well developed in terms of traffic and tourism - with the exception of the coast. The region was under Turkish rule until the Balkan War in 1912, only then did the southern part of the historical region come to Greece. Unfortunately, this scenic mountain region is hardly known to travelers to Greece, although it is practically on the way for everyone arriving via Igoumenitsa. If you drive along the coast, you will pass a variety of very beautiful beaches, bays and coastal resorts with a strong tourist focus.

By plane
Aktion National Airport near Preveza with seasonal flights from all over Europe.

By boat
Igoumenitsa is regularly served by ferries from the Italian cities of Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice, and there are ferry connections to Patras and Corfu.

By road
At Igoumenitsa is the starting point of the A2 motorway, which goes to Thessaloniki via Ioannina and Metsovo.

Get around
In the mountain regions, your own vehicle is a prerequisite to get to the places of interest for tourists. Public transport also runs, but the time it takes is quite high.

See
There are a number of very interesting ancient and medieval sites in Epirus that are worth visiting and are described in the corresponding sub-articles. Some highlights are Dodona, an ancient oracle near Ioannina, medieval Rogoi Castle near Arta, the ancient Nikopolis and its aqueduct ruins near Preveza, and the Kipina Monastery near Pramanta.

Monasteries
There is a large number of monasteries in the mountainous, lonely landscape of Epirus. The most important ones not mentioned in any city articles, can be found below. Even if you are not religious, a visit to these facilities is worthwhile, as they were mainly built in unique locations.

Further sights
The following sights are inside the region but away from nearby towns and villages.

Do
Those who visit the mountainous interior of the Epirus at the Vikos Aoos National Park will find wonderful landscapes that invite you to go hiking or just to relax. Along the coast, it is bathing fun that attracts visitors. The coast is also a popular sailing area.

 * Beaches – In addition to the wonderful mountain landscapes, the beaches are of course a main attraction for many tourists, especially from England and Italy. The main beaches are: Karavostasi Beach, Valtos Beach, Parga Beach, Lichnos Beach, Loutsa Vrachos Beach, Lygia Beach, Preveza Beach. Less frequented and also partly suitable as a nudist beach: Dei plus Beach, Artolithia Beach, Kastrosykia Beach, Kanali Beach.

 * Thermal Bathes – North of Konitsa there are two thermal baths, worth to go if you are in the area:

 * Sailing – Along the coast of Epirus and the Ionian Islands is one of the hot spots of sailing in Greece. Good, predictable winds, many bays and harbors along the coast or on the islands and low prices of the marinas make it a popular sailing area that is not too difficult for beginners. Because of the many sailors, you always have to be at the known anchorages in good time to get good places.

 * Hiking – The best hiking area is at Zagori and the Tzoumerka Nation Park.

Eat
A specialty of the area are the pittas (pies) filled with cheese (Tiropita), spinach (Spanakopita), wild vegetables (Hortopita), pumpkin (Kolokothopita - sweet or salty) or spinach and feta cheese (Tirospanakopita). The goat and sheep meat of the area is particularly tasty because the animals graze freely and eat many different grasses and herbs.

Drink
In the mountain villages, the nightlife is mostly limited to restaurant visits or in the hotels. In contrast, Ioannina, as a student city, offers a rich nightlife. In the coastal towns, the nightlife is much more pronounced, with a variety of restaurants, bars, beach bars, etc.

Go next

 * Corfu – One of the touristic hotspots of Greece.
 * Meteora – World famous monasteries on the top of rocks.

title: Epirus


text:
Epping

There's more than one place called Epping or Epping Forest:

Australia

 * Epping - a suburb of Macquarie Park in Sydney, New South Wales
 * Epping - a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria

United Kingdom

 * Epping (England) - a town in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England
 * Epping Forest - an area of ancient woodland, partly in Essex and partly in the London/East region of Greater London

United States of America

 * Epping (New Hampshire) - a town in Rockingham County, Seacoast (New Hampshire)
 * Epping (North Dakota) - a town in Williams County (North Dakota), Western North Dakota

title: Epping


text:
Epping (England)

Separated from England's capital city by Epping Forest - almost 6,000 acres of ancient woodland - Epping is a historic market town in Essex. Despite being in London's Travelcard Zone 6, the town is surrounded by forest to the north and south, and green fields to the west and east. Epping is built on the ridge between the Roding and Lee Valleys, and its countryside walks offer glimpses of the skyscrapers in Central London and Canary Wharf. The town's own High Street is lined with shops, cafes, pubs and - on Mondays - market stalls.

Understand
Along with its ancient forest, Epping also lends its name to the surrounding local government district - Epping Forest. The nearby villages Epping Green and Epping Upland also share the town's name.

The town of Epping may have roots as far back as 7500 BC, according to the town council. Roman coins have been found in the town, dating back to between 81 and 96 AD. Legend says Celtic queen Boudicca died in battle at Ambresbury Banks, in the forest. Epping Forest District Museum says that sadly, there is no evidence to support this claim.

King Henry III signed Epping's first market charter in 1253 - which permitted the Abbott of Waltham Abbey to hold a market on Mondays. Queen Elizabeth I (1575), King Charles II (1683) and King George V (1930) have also signed more recent Epping Market charters.

Today, the town is in the London commuter belt, with its own tube station at the eastern terminus of the Central line.

By train

Epping is the eastern terminus of the Central line, it also has the largest car park on the London Underground making it a popular commuter town.

is in London's Zone 6. At the eastern end of the Central Line, you can get to Stratford, London Liverpool St in the City of London, the West End and West London direct. Transport for London has a fare finder.

By road
The B1393 is the main road through Epping town centre. Major routes nearby include:

 * The M11 (London - Cambridge) - Access via junction 7 near Harlow
 * The M25 (London Orbital) - Access via junction 26 near Waltham Abbey
 * The A104 south of Epping, with connections to Woodford and East London
 * The A121 south of Epping, with connections to Waltham Cross and Loughton
 * The A414 north of Epping, with connections to Harlow and Chelmsford

By bus
Most bus routes in town call at Epping tube station. Routes include:

 * 13 - to Waltham Cross
 * 418 - to Loughton
 * 420 - to Harlow and Ongar

By bike
A network of bike trails and bridleways connect Epping with London, through Epping Forest. Narrow cycle lanes runs alongside the A104 between Woodford and the Wake Arms roundabout, south of Epping.

By air
is in Essex, approximately 15 miles north of Epping. It is accessed by road via the B1393 and M11 motorway.

By car
There are car parks in the town centre, including at Bakers Lane, the Civic Offices and behind St John's Church, and at Epping tube station.

By foot
The walk from Epping tube station to the town centre is up a steep hill. The town centre itself is small. Woodland and countryside walks are signposted.

Connect
Epping and its approach roads have 4G coverage from all UK carriers. As of June 2023, 5G is available on some networks, including Three and EE, but not all.

Go next

 * London, south of Epping, is England's capital city, complete with its famous museums, galleries, theatres and nightlife
 * West Ruislip is Epping's opposite number — the Central Line's westernmost terminus. At 34 miles, it's the longest possible journey on a single London Underground line
 * Chelmsford — Essex's county town
 * Saffron Walden is another historic market town in west Essex. Explore historic streets, visit Audley End House and Gardens, or shop and eat out at all hours of the day in this vibrant English town
 * Cambridge, which approximately 45 minutes up the M11, is a world-famous university city

title: Epping (England)


text:
Epping (New Hampshire)

Epping is a town on the Seacoast of New Hampshire.

title: Epping (New Hampshire)


text:
Epsom

Epsom is a residential town of about 31,500 people (2011) in Surrey, 15 miles (35 km) south west of London, just outside the metropolitan boundary of Greater London. Its racecourse is home to the Epsom Derby, a two-day festival of horse racing dating back to 1780.

Understand
The compact borough of Epsom and Ewell is mainly residential. Some office space and light industry form a corridor between Epsom town centre and the village of Ewell. East Street in Epsom runs through the heart of this commercial district. The town centre is dominated by the Ashley Centre shopping mall, which contains typical chain outlets such as Boots, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, Next, Waitrose and WH Smith.

Epsom borders Reigate and Banstead at Epsom Downs. The Downs are an upland chalk ridge marked by steep slopes rising from the south. This rural enclave takes up a quarter of the borough's land area and is home to the famous Epsom Downs racecourse and grandstand, the venue of the annual Epsom Derby horseracing event in June.
 * Epsom Council website

By road
Epsom lies just to the southwest of London Metropolitan Area, but inside the M25 orbital motorway. The shortest main road between central London and Epsom is the A3, starting at London Bridge, switching to the A24 at Clapham Common, through to Epsom town centre. The A24 makes barely any diversion from the SSW compass point.

Between London and Epsom this Roman route (built c. 100 AD) cannot be widened because of 19th and later 20th century urbanisation and it hasn't been bypassed except for two short sections around Merton High Street and Ewell village centre. The distance is only 15 miles, but during the daytime and the morning and evening rush hours can take an hour or more to drive.

A faster journey from central London follows the A3 after Clapham Common and turns off onto the A240 spur road at Tolworth junction, to approach Epsom from the northwest. This route follows a two- or three-lane dual carriageway most of the way. The A3 is easily accessible from central London.

The M25 serves Epsom from all other parts of the UK. Leave the motorway at Junction 9 and road signs for Epsom direct you onto the A24 from the south. The distance from the motorway junction is miles.

By train
Trains from London to are slow but are still quicker than the road journey. The average journey time of 36 minutes is unimpressive for an 18-mile (29-km) journey, but at least trains depart frequently. Two timetables combined provide eight trains an hour between London and Epsom from Monday to Saturday, and four an hour on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The fastest times are 33 minutes from London Victoria station (operated by Southern Railway) and 35 minutes from London Waterloo station (operated by South Western Railway). An additional hourly service to Epsom, from London Victoria, takes passengers on a 51-minute circuitous route via West Croydon. Southern Railway also operates a handful of peak-hour commuter trains to London Bridge, which also take 50–55 minutes.

The direct lines from London Waterloo and London Victoria pass through Clapham Junction, before diverging and meeting again at Epsom, so you can switch trains at Clapham if you want. The London Waterloo line goes through Wimbledon. From London Victoria the train takes a more easterly route via Mitcham Junction.

Epsom station is outside the London Travelcard area, but Travelcards are available from Epsom station. Oyster cards can be used at Epsom station, but no further outside of London

Two rail routes approach Epsom from the south. There are two trains an hour from Guildford (for connections from Portsmouth and Reading) and four an hour from the town of Dorking. Further south there is a rail link to the West Sussex coast via Horsham operated by only one hourly train that continues beyond Dorking. The English Channel is 50 miles (80 km) due south of Epsom.

Get around
Much of the town centre can easily be covered on foot. Public transport options from the centre up to Epsom Downs, or out to Ewell Village, consist of a reasonable bus network. Timetables can be found here. You can also travel by bus to Leatherhead, Sutton, or Kingston upon Thames.

Do

 * Epsom Rotaract is a well-established local social club aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds, also attracting members who are new to the country or simply passing through. The club has a very varied calendar, including volunteering and fundraising opportunities alongside more conventional events such as cinema trips, paintballing and meals out.
 * Epsom Rotaract is a well-established local social club aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds, also attracting members who are new to the country or simply passing through. The club has a very varied calendar, including volunteering and fundraising opportunities alongside more conventional events such as cinema trips, paintballing and meals out.
 * Epsom Rotaract is a well-established local social club aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds, also attracting members who are new to the country or simply passing through. The club has a very varied calendar, including volunteering and fundraising opportunities alongside more conventional events such as cinema trips, paintballing and meals out.

Buy
Epsom has a Town Centre that has mostly survived the shift to only shopping with The Ashley Centre shopping centre having a large number of national retailers such as Next, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Clark’s and Starbucks, as well as local or independent retailers, such as Toy Barnhaus, Hatty’s Sweet Shop and Mocha.

Eat
There are many chain restaurants in the centre of town, but on Epsom Downs, by the racecourse, there are two pubs which provide good food at reasonable prices. Both can get very busy, particularly at weekends.

Drink
Epsom is not overwhelmed with charming places to drink, particularly in the centre. However, there are a few pubs of interest within 10–15 minutes walk of the station.

title: Epsom


text:
Equatoria

Equatoria is a region of South Sudan.

Cities

 * — home of the Acholi tribe
 * — home of the Acholi tribe
 * — home of the Acholi tribe
 * — home of the Acholi tribe
 * — home of the Acholi tribe

title: Equatoria


text:
Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea (Spanish: República de Guinea Ecuatorial) is a small country in Central Africa that's divided into two parts: the mainland and the islands. The mainland is wedged between Cameroon and Gabon. It is one of the largest oil producers in Africa, along with Angola and Nigeria.

Equatorial Guinea is largely homogenous; the Fang (a Bantu origin ethnicity) are the largest ethnic group, making up more than 86% of the population.

Travel provides one the opportunity to explore a former Spanish colony, where a modern society runs under a strict, controlling, and repressive government.

One of the least visited countries in the world, you may attract a lot of attention as a tourist, and many complete their journey without trouble.

Cities

 * - the capital, on Bioko
 * - the major city on the mainland
 * - new capital under construction
 * - a major access point in the far northeast corner
 * - another town on Bioko
 * - another town on Bioko
 * - another town on Bioko

Other destinations

 * - fantastic fauna in the center of the mainland

Understand
For visitors, Equatorial Guinea is infamous for its high prices and hard-to-get visas for most. This is nominally a police state, akin to Turkmenistan and North Korea (minus the minders and organized persecution of its inhabitants). As a result, tourist infrastructure is sparse and it is not a high priority for the government. You are likely to face harassment by police forces curious of what you are doing in the country as a "tourist". Since the oil companies operating here are mostly American, Americans may receive marginally better treatment compared to other nationalities (e.g. visa-free entry, less suspicion by police).

Since the discovery of oil, Equatorial Guinea has—at least on paper—one of the highest per-capita incomes on the planet. Despite this, income and day-to-day life for many Equatorial Guineans has improved little, due to the endemic corruption siphoning off oil revenue into the hands of a small wealthy elite. However, there has been progress, and new infrastructure and modernization projects are under construction or even finished, especially on Bioko and around Malabo. Work is in progress (2016) building this new city, called Oyala or Djibloho, on the mainland between Bata and Mongomo. In spite of the impressive-looking new infrastructure, few Equatorial Guineans have access to it, and while the government throws billions of dollars at new construction, less than half the country's population (of fewer than 700,000) have access to clean drinking water.

History
In the Rio Muni region, there is believed to have been a widespread pygmy population, of whom only isolated pockets remain in the north. Bantu migrations between the 17th and 19th centuries brought the coastal tribes and later the Fang.

The Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó, seeking a path to India, is credited as being the first European to discover the island of Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa ("Beautiful"), but it quickly took on the name of its European discoverer. The islands of Fernando Pó and Annobón were colonized by Portugal in 1474.

In 1778, the island, adjacent islets, and commercial rights to the mainland between the Niger River and Ogoue Rivers were ceded to the Spanish Empire in exchange for territory in the American continent. From 1827 to 1843, the United Kingdom established a base on the island to combat the slave trade which was then moved to Sierra Leone upon agreement with Spain in 1843. In 1844, on restoration of Spanish sovereignty, it became known as the Territorios Españoles del Golfo de Guinea Ecuatorial. The mainland portion, Rio Muni, became a protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1900. Between 1926 and 1959 all three regions were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea. Spanish settlers arrived and created plantations in the colony.

The Macías regime (1968 - 1979)
Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain in October 1968. Francisco Macías Nguema, the first president, was a brutal, tyrannical, and violent dictator. His repressive regime was complicit in severe human rights abuses (persecution of intellectuals and minorities), banned fishing, and is believed to have personally murdered a third of the country's population.

During this time, Equatorial Guinea was known as the "Dachau" of Africa and Macías has often been referred to as the "Pol Pot" of Africa.

His strong anti-Western views garnered him respect and admiration from the Eastern Bloc, but his views alienated him from much of the Western world.

The Obiang regime (1979 - present)
Macías reportedly ordered the deaths of his family members. Believing him insane, Teodoro Obiang, his nephew, deposed him in a bloody coup d'etat in 1979 and later executed him. Although Obiang's rule is less violent, his regime is still considered to be repressive.

In 1995, large oil reserves were discovered and brought considerable wealth to the country, but this hasn't exactly translated into development; much of the population is poor (70-80% of the population lives in poverty), the country scores poorly on the Human Development Index, and most citizens do not have proper access to drinking water, health care, and basic amenities.

The Equatoguinean government does not tolerate criticism and dissent, and hits back at critics by telling them that they "will not accept interference in the internal affairs of the country".

It doesn't look like things will change in the foreseeable future, but still, hopes are high that things will change for the better.

Climate
Equatorial Guinea has two distinctive and very pronounced seasons: rainy and dry seasons. April to October are the wettest months of the year, and December to March are the driest.

People
The major ethnic groups are the Fang of the mainland and the Bubi of Bioko Island. Sorcerers are still among the most important community members. The abira ceremony that helps cleanse the community of evil is fascinating.

Holidays
Equatorial Guinea recognises the major Christian holidays. 12 October is Independence Day.

Local information

 * Equatorial Guinea government website

Visa requirements
Citizens of Barbados, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Gabon do not require a visa to visit the country.

Visa application requirements
The government officially launched an e-Visa program, making entry into the country much more straightforward. You may apply for an e-visa here. An e-Visa will take three days to process and might be much easier to obtain than an ordinary Equatoguinean visa.

That being said, Equatorial Guinea has historically been one of the most difficult countries to access, mainly because tourism is not a priority of the government. You can apply for an ordinary Equatoguinean visa at an official Equatoguinean consulate or embassy. Although regulations vary from place to place, you are generally required to submit the following with your application:

 * A valid passport.
 * Your passport should have a validity longer than six months.
 * Proof you haven't been convicted of any major crimes.
 * The document should not be older than three months, and must be submitted in either English, French, or Spanish.
 * Proof you have been vaccinated against yellow fever.
 * This is a must.
 * A letter from your bank confirming you have at least $2,000 in your bank account.
 * This is only required if you plan on applying for a tourist visa.
 * A letter of invitation from the local authorities.
 * The letter must not be older than three months and it must be apostilled by the government.
 * This can be very difficult to obtain and is arguably the main deterrent for obtaining a visa to visit the country.
 * Some consulates and embassies claim that you do not need an invitation letter if you have a hotel reservation.

By plane
There are two paved airports, one a few miles from Malabo, and one in Bata.

Airlines flying to Malabo airport include Ceiba (from Madrid), Turkish Airlines (from Istanbul), Air France (from Paris), Ethiopian Airlines (from Addis Ababa), and Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt to Malabo.

By car
The capital is on an island. However, the mainland may be accessed from Gabon via paved roads and from Cameroon. Many roads in have been newly constructed and overall Equatorial Guinea has one of the best road systems in Central Africa, specially across the important cities.

The entry from Campo is often closed. Also, the entry from Kye-Ossi and Ebebiyin may deny entry for visa-free Americans if sufficient reason for entry is not presented or if one is not ethnically Caucasian.

Extortion by security forces is not uncommon in Equatorial Guinea, even to the level of local police exacting bribes for trumped-up traffic violations.

Talk
The three official languages of the Equatorial Guinea are Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Of the three languages, Spanish is the most useful one and it is the first language of many Equatoguineans. French and Portuguese are neither widely spoken nor widely understood by the majority of Equatoguineans.

The colonial language is Spanish, and the country is also a member of La Francophonie. There is an Anglophone population in Bioko that is historically linked to British commerce on the island. Languages such as French and Portuguese are of official use in the country as well. English is spoken by few people, even in the capital city. The Fang language and Igbo are widely spoken.

See
There are lots of beaches. Take the precautions listed in the 'Stay Safe' category.

Money
The currency is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It's also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

You can withdraw money with a Mastercard or Visa card at any Ecobank ATM in Equatorial Guinea.

Costs
Everything is extremely expensive in Equatorial Guinea. A decent room with very limited amenities (bring necessities such as towels, soap and shampoo as the hotel may not have any) will be €100-400. A simple lunch will cost at least €30 (without drinks such as wine, beer or soft drinks) in a clean, air-conditioned restaurant.

Eat
There are several good places to eat, particularly in Malabo. The coffee shop at Hotel Sofitel (across from the Cathedral along the north coast) offers French cuisine. Hotel Bahia's main restaurant is also a favourite destination for locals and expats. For pizza and pasta, the Pizza Place is the best place in town. For Asian cuisine, Restaurante Bantu offers Chinese cuisine. For Moroccan and European food, try La Luna. Try Equatorial Guinean cuisine such as smoked beef with a black pepper. There is also a roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Drink
Ebebiyin is known for its many bars. Wine is available, and the locally produced beer, Guineana, is very good.

Sleep
Due to the influx of foreign workers and foreign investment in Malabo and on the continent, there is an ample choice of hotels.

Photography
Previously, a permit from the Ministry of Information and Tourism was required for photography. Although the law has changed, law enforcement authorities may use this as a reason to target, intimidate, extort, threaten, or even arrest tourists.

As obvious as it may sound, do not walk around with a camera on your neck, and do not photograph airports, government buildings, or anything of military or strategic value.

Authorities
The police are known to be aggressive, truculent, and confrontational. Extortion by them is not uncommon.

Politics
Equatorial Guinea is an authoritarian country that does not tolerate or permit dissent.

It is unwise to criticise or show any kind of disrespect to Teodoro Obiang or the Equatoguinean government. A comment heard by the wrong person can land you in serious trouble with the authorities.

Be very skeptical if someone tries to start a political conversation. Always ask yourself, "What's in it for them?" Since most Equatoguineans know that discussing politics is taboo, there's always some ulterior motive you don't know about.

Extreme weather
Equatorial Guinea is equatorial, its weather conditions are very tropical and normally very hot. It is best to wear lightweight clothing and try avoid wearing anything dark as it may attract mosquitos.

Stay healthy
Food and water: There are no potable or clean water sources in Equatorial Guinea. Visitors should drink only bottled water. Take care when consuming any fruits or vegetables that may have been washed or drinks that may contain ice cubes or 'water' additives such as coffee, tea or lemonade.

Wear shoes: Beaches in Malabo and Bata are beautiful, however, due to discarded trash and unsafe sand bugs, it is a good idea to always wear shoes. This applies to walking on carpeted areas as well.

Malaria medicine: Malaria is a leading cause of death in this country. It is advised that visitors consult their doctor for malaria tablets. Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the most common strain in EG; it is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine.

According to the US embassy, the La Paz Hospitals in Bata and Malabo are the only two in the country with medical standards of a hospital in a developed country.

Respect
Local people are very hospitable and have a certain familiarity for everything related to Spain, as the country was a Spanish province until 1968. In addition, half of the country's population emigrated to Spain between 1966 and the 1990s.

title: Equatorial Guinea


text:
Eraclea

Eraclea is a town in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SP42 goes through it.

It is located on the Adriatic Sea near the coast between the rivers Piave and Livenza and between two famous touristic towns: Caorle and Jesolo.

In 7 May 2009 Eraclea Mare has gained the "3 SAILS" from Legambiente. The city has been awarded the "Blue Flag" from Foundation for Environmental Education every year from 2007-2009 for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater.

EracleaMare is the best place for a family holiday, where everyone can be cuddled by the soft sound of the sea waves and play with the kids on a not crowded beach.

By plane
Eraclea is served by the Venice Marco Polo International Airport, or Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo. Buses run the 25 km from the airport to the station in via Dancalia.

Some discount airlines go to Treviso, Treviso Airport, which is around 55 km from Eraclea Mare.

By train
There is a train line that runs up and down the coast from Venice to Trieste in the east, via any number of smaller resort towns.

By car
From Venice: Take the A4 / E55 east from Venezia to Noventa di Piave for approximately 35km. Take the SP 54 near San Donà di Piave and follow the signs to Eraclea for another 20km or so. Local roads are relatively well maintained and signposted.

From Trieste: Take the A4 / E70 west from Trieste to Cessalto for approximately 120 km. Take the SP Ceggia - Torre di Mosto Eraclea near Cessalto and follow the signs to Eraclea for another 18 km or so.

Get around
Hotels are within walking distance of the beach and the centre.

See
Remember visit a fantastic lagoon very near Eracleamare and called: Laguna del Mort.

Do
Being a beachside little town, Eraclea mare's main attraction is its beach and its pinewwod.

Along the main street in town (Via Dancalia) you will find several restaurants, bars, shops. Via Dancalia really comes to life in summer evenings, and is packed with Italians on their holidays and smaller numbers of foreign tourists.

Remember visit a fantastic lagoon very near Eracleamare and called: Laguna del Mort.

In order:

 * Enjoy the beach and the sea. Part of the beach is in front of pinewood and it is fantastic to stay between them. However, pay attention to the signs.  Building sandcastles may be considered obstructing access and can result in a fine.
 * Rent a bike and take a tour in the pinewood.
 * Partake in golf in Parà delle Torri Golf Club.
 * Stroll along the quiet, shaded streets in the pinewood.
 * Visit the natural Oasis in Laguna Del Mort, protected area.
 * Meditation and relaxation in naturist beach in front of laguna del mort.

Eat
Eraclea has some very good restaurants, featuring the cuisine of the Veneto. Specialties include Spaghetti allo scoglio; polenta, made of corn meal; risotto with cuttlefish ink sauce.

Drink
The lido of Eraclea is geared towards tourists, so there are bars and pubs everywhere. Once the sun goes down, the streets of Eracleamare come alive with lights, colour and noise as the sunbathers of the day become the revellers of the evening.

The best pub in town is Barlume in front of the sea (via Marinella 1). Try a Spritz (with either Campari, Select or Aperol), a typical drink loved by all Venetians that's usually drunk while eating cicheti. You can find it in almost every bar in the city. Price is about €2, more in a touristy place.

If you try the famous Veneto Grappa be careful--it's almost pure alcohol.

Beer in a small pub is about €5 for a pint (birra media). Espresso, the real Italian, is about €1 at the bar, €2 at a table.

Phone
The area code is 0421. As anywhere in Italy, it is compulsory to dial the area code and the number also if you call from the city itself. If you call from abroad, dial +390421 before the number. If you call abroad from Venice, dial 00 first.

Stay safe
Eraclea Mare is considered a very safe city. Everybody can walk down the darkest alley in the middle of the night and feel completely safe. In case of need, you can dial free of charge on any phone 112 (no area code needed) to contact Carabinieri or 113 (no area code needed) to contact the Police.

Go next
Venice, just a half an hour away from Eraclea.

Around the Venetian lagoon are other smaller islands, which have since been deserted but are worth a visit. There is also the Lido, which is a long narrow island with more modern buildings, hosting a youth hostel and a hotel.

 * Venice - The main island
 * The Lido - Venice beaches are located here.
 * Murano - Nearby Island with typical glass
 * Burano - Nearby Island with typical textiles and painted houses.
 * San Lazzaro - Nearby Island with Armenian monastery and impressive art collection, some world class pieces.
 * Jesolo - Jesolo is one of the most important beaches in Italy, just 5' from Eraclea by car.
 * Caorle - Caorle is one of the most important touristic town on the coast in north of Italy, just 10' from Eraclea by car.

title: Eraclea


text:
Eravikulam

Eravikulam National Park is located in Idukki District of Kerala, India, along the Western Ghats. It is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.

Understand
The park with an area of 97 km² is being considered by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Landscape
The maximum temperature is 27°C while the lowest is 17°C. It is watered heavily by the south west monsoons.

Flora and fauna
26 species of mammals have been recorded in the park including the largest surviving population of Nilgiri Tahr, estimated at about 750. The other ungulates are Gaur, Indian Muntjac and Sambar Deer. Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Wild dog, Dhole, leopard and tiger are the main predators. Some little known animals such as Nilgiri langur, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Indian Porcupine, Nilgiri Marten, small clawed otter, Ruddy Mongoose and elephants. 132 species of birds which include endemics like Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Yellow-Throated Marten, White Bellied Shortwing, Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher and Kerala Laughingthrush.

Endemic butterflies confined to the shola-grass land ecosystem like the Red Disk Bushbrown and Palni Fourwing are among the 101 species in the park.

19 species of amphibians have been recorded in the park.

Climate
Three major types of plant communities are found in the Park - grasslands, shrub lands and forests

Get in
The department of Forests and Wildlife operates minibuses for ecological reasons. It is 13 km from Munnar. The nearest Railway station is Alwaye (120 km).

Fees and permits
₹35 for Indians and ₹200 for foreigners.

See
The expansive wildlife, Kurinji bloom and the scenic forests.

title: Eravikulam


text:
Erdek

Erdek is a town on the coast of Southern Marmara Region in Turkey. It's the principal town on the Kapıdağ Peninsula, with a navy base and a straggling resort strip: in 2012 the district population was 32,958. This page also briefly describes other places on the peninsula.

Understand
Kapıdağ Peninsula was one of the Marmara islands until about 2000 years ago. Earth tremors may have lifted the bedrock, and the channel silted up and became a tombola then a broad isthmus. Eventually some enterprising ruler built a road across - Alexander the Great is one suggestion. Its city of Cyzicus, 5 km east of present-day Erdek, was a major port but abandoned around 440 AD.

Erdek in the 1880s had about its present population size, mostly Greek, but these were deported after Turkish independence in 1923. Erdek and the peninsula became a beach resort for domestic tourism. It remains so even though the Turks now venture further for their holidays, as it's within a day's drive from Istanbul. It's also a ferry port for the Marmara islands.

Get in
For intercity routes travel via Bandırma, which has fast ferries from Istanbul, buses from other cities such as Bursa, and a train from Izmir. Frequent minibuses take 20 min from Bandırma to Erdek: they'll probably drop you at the town's main roundabout 300 m north of the ferry port.

has ferries to the Marmara islands. Gestaş car ferry sails twice a day to Balikli on Paşalimani island (1 hour) then makes a circuit of Avşa, Ekinlik and Marmara Island, so timings depend which way round it goes. Marmara RoRo sails five times a day from Tekirdağ Barbaros on the far mainland coast, with some ferries calling at the islands. There are no direct ferries to Erdek from Istanbul but you can island-hop via Marmara.

Get around
You can reach Kyzikos by the minibuses along the highway to Bandırma. These also connect the nearer beach resorts, but you need your own wheels around the peninsula.

See

 * Open-Air Museum (Açık Hava Müzesi) is just a little park with ancient monuments at the foot of Hükümet Cd by the ferry port. It's free to access 24 hours, but the stones are defaced by graffiti and modern hacking.
 * is a wooded islet at the edge of the harbour with late Byzantine ruins and hot springs. It's variously been a monastery, quarantine station and spa but is now an open-air museum.
 * is the larger one seen to the south. The name means "rabbit island" and it's just scrub. The only thing to do here is to avoid confusing it with Tavşan island in the Princes' archipelago near Istanbul.
 * is at the east edge of the site, and you might prefer to drive round to it. Its distance shows how large a city this was.
 * is the first beach resort following the coast east of the tombola. Other resorts, equally undistinguished, straggle along the shore to Karşıyaka. Uninhabited Fener island is seen to the east. After Çakıl the coast turns to face north.
 * was Greek, active from the 19th century until 1923 when they were deported. It's just dilapidated walls, on the road through the mountains to Ballıpınar.
 * has a small harbour. This coastline is rocky.
 * is a small village on the north coast. There's a sandy beach and another ruined church, and not much else.
 * is the main resort on the north coast, with a line of coves and hotels either side.
 * is the main resort on the north coast, with a line of coves and hotels either side.

Do
The main beach stretches northwest.

Buy
Lots of small stores. Bim at the central roundabout is open daily 09:00-21:00.

Eat

 * By the harbour are Adasuare, Pizza Marina, Gözde fish & chips, Kekik Kokoreç and Ahmet's.
 * Lots more on the beachfront northwest.

Drink
Two bars by the port are Kafkas and Ömür.

Budget

 * Erdek has two strips for camping and basic pansiyon accommodation. East is Düzler, along the highway from Kyzikos. Places here include Aldırmaz'ın, Camping Kapıdağ, Pınar Hotel, Mysia Beach, Göktur Camping, Cumhuriyet Camping, Ipek (below) and Abant (below). This area is near the navy base and anywhere signposted TSK is military, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri, where you're less than welcome.

 * The larger strip is along the coast northwest, with dozens of places.
 * The larger strip is along the coast northwest, with dozens of places.
 * The larger strip is along the coast northwest, with dozens of places.

Connect
There is 4G from all Turkish carriers in Erdek, its highway approach from Bandırma, and along the south coast roads of the peninsula. The Vodafone signal reaches Turan but there's otherwise no coverage on the north coast. As of March 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next
From Erdek, there are regular ferries to Marmara Islands (takes about 1hr 45min) and further out to Tekirdağ (4hrs) which is located on the opposite coast of the Sea of Marmara.

title: Erdek


text:
Erdenet

Erdenet, with a population of nearly 89 000, is the second largest city in Mongolia and capital of Orhon province. Erdenet is 375 km away from Ulaanbaatar city.

Understand
One of the world's large open pit copper mines is the reason for this city. This is why Èrdènèt is, with Ulaanbaatar, the most developed town of the country and, with Baga nuur, the cleanest one. There is a carpet factory.

Èrdènèt is also nationally famous for its excellent traditional archers team. Traditional archery, practised in beautiful gown by both sexes, consist of aiming at a horizontal target, a bit like a bowling one, lying on the ground. You may see it for Naadam and official competition, but also near the south stadium for training at the end of afternoons (usually with no gown then).

There are annexes of 3 State universities, plus a private higher education school and a vocational school, so that many youth come from their provinces to learn in Èrdènèt, though Ulaanbaatar attracts many more students. In summer, many of these students go back home.

Get in
You can see the Mongolian transportation page. One daily night train leaving at 20:20 from Ulaanbaatar, arriving at 07:45 the next day. Train leaves Erdenet at 19:40 and arrive first in Darkhan at 00:35 (next day) and in UB at 07:40. Four coaches daily, mini-vans and car service from Ulaanbaatar's Dragon coach station (West of the town, on Peace avenue). First class train is about USD20. Dining car on the train with Mongolian food, fruit juice, soft drinks, beer, snacks, etc.

The third class ("common") train is the cheapest way to go to Erdenet: 6,800 ₮. Mini-vans will then drive you from the station to the city centre (8 km from the station) for 800 ₮. Coaches go from Ulaanbaatar for 11,000 ₮ and can take more for extra luggage.

The road is paved all the way from Ulaanbaatar, but it is two lane and not well maintained. Some people avoid the car and mini-van services because the drivers tend to drive too fast and there are many accidents.

It is possible to bicycle, but watch out for speeding cars.

See

 * The Erdenet Urguu cinema has 4 screens, modern a VIP lounge, and Dolby Cinema technology which shows latest local and latest Hollywood movies daily.

Do

It is possible to visit the open copper mine, the biggest copper mine in Asia, take your passport. There is also a museum of the mine.

If you are there before Naadam, go and see the archers training in Naadam's field, south of the city centre. There are also a few trainings after Naadam. No training if it rains. In winter, hardly no training and, when they take place, it's inside. In springtime there are usually once a week, intensifying as national Naadam is approaching.

Enjoy the soviet city centre built from nothing for the sake of the mine in the 1970s. Many buildings colors and many trees are posterior to the soviet period, as well as a few buildings with glass-wall (usually banks).

There is a musical fountain in the city centre (set in 2009), with music at certain times. See one of the two small temples in the North of the city centre, if you've not seen any before. The countryside is close by. Just walk 20 min to the North of the city, and you'll hopefully see sheep, goats, a shepherd on horse. If, instead of 20 min, you walk 40 min, the probability not to see any is low (except at night). The so-called "ger districts", with more houses than gers, is also nearby. Some families live there a semi-urban semi-rural life: following the cattle on the evening, you'll be lead to a small farm in a street. If you're lucky, you may find someone bringing back home something heavy from the city centre at day fall: propose to help him/her and you're likely to be invited to drink a tea (especially if it's an adult): an opportunity to see one of these small houses with no running water but with electricity.

Rent
You can rent tourism material (but no vehicle) at Fiable.biz, a small company managed by a French. It's possible to give back in Ulaanbaatar the things your rented.

Buy
If you want to go back home with a Mongolian carpet, this is the place. There are small ones. Erdenet carpet was one of the first ISO 9001 certified companies in the country.
 * Especially groceries and some merchandise shops increase their price by 10-30% after public salary day it is some strange local phenomenon. So try to avoid those days to buy things which each month 14-16th, and 29-31st of each month.

Eat
There are many restaurants in the downtown area. Including at least two Korean, one Chinese, one Russian, two vegetarian.

 * But it is highly advised that to avoid Korean and Chinese restaurants because local growing food alerts spreading that these types of restaurants prepare their foods out of very low and bad quality raw food materials. Instead going to other local restaurants and local canteens called Tsainii gazar (Цайны газар) are a better and safer choice.

Drink

 * Some groceries and open market sells some fermented horse milk or locals call airag. Little bit soury 5% alcoholic fermented drink. Some will enjoy some wont.

Go next
You can go to Russia or China from Èrdènèt by train via the town of Blacksmith (Darkhan (city)) or by different means via Ulaanbaatar.

Train
One daily train to Ulaanbaatar (leaving at 19:40, arriving at 07:40) and many stops in between, first class to Ulaanbaatar is USD 20 on the train, there are lower classes for less, bus is less than the first class train. 6 800 ₮, 3rd class. This train reaches the town of Blacksmith (Darkhan (city)) by night at 00:35, for 4 100 ₮ (3rd class, January 2011). You can take there an international train to Russia or China, or a national train to Northern Mongolia.

Trains go each and every day of the year, including on national holidays, except if the government has decided a temporary ban on public transportation against any epidemic (last one against the propagation of virus H1N1, lifted in November 2009).

The train station is 8 km east of the city. You can buy your train ticket there or in another ticket office downtown near the coach station. The latter charges 200 ₮ extra. To go to the station, be at any bus stop in the main avenue (Сүхбаатар гудамж, Sùhbaatar street) at least 40 min before the train departure and wait for a mini-bus with someone shouting "Вокзал, вокзал" ("Vokzal, vokzal": "Station, station"). They will charge 800 ₮.

Coaches

Èrdènèt has 2 coach stations. The one for Darkhan (city) and Ulaanbaatar is at east of the city centre, at the extremity of Sùhbaatar street, in Builders square (Барилагчдын талбай, Barilagčdyn talbai). The one for Bulgan and Mörön is at the south-east of the city, in a place called Dômôg, with a "Дөмөг ХХК" red sign at the top of a building.

Four daily coach services to Ulaanbaatar, coach service to Bulgan City.

There are days with no coach, correlated with national holidays but not exactly the same. They undergo about the same government temporary bans as trains against epidemics (last one lifted in November 2009).

Microbuses and cars
Microbuses and cars (public "taxis") to Ulaanbaatar and Darhan, with no schedule: they leave when full.

Microbus to Darhan: 8 000 ₮/person (Autumn 2009), car to Darhan: 10 000 ₮/person (Summer 2009).

Car to Ulaanbaatar: 20 000 ₮/person (November 2009).

Microbuses and official taxis undergo about the same government temporary bans as trains and coaches against epidemics (last one lifted in November 2009).

title: Erdenet


text:
Erding

Erding is a city of 36,000 people (2018) in Upper Bavaria, Germany. Although the city is home to the world's biggest brewery for wheat beers, Europe's biggest spa, and Munich Airport is only 10 min away, the city has kept most of its small town charm and historical center.

Understand
The official history of Erding starts in 742, although hints of first settlements go back as far as 2500 BC. The settlement was appointed a city in 1228 by Duke Louis I of Bavaria. During the Thirty Years' War Erding was burned to the ground by the Swedes thrice. The citizens were able to rebuild the city, though, with the help of the newly implemented tax on beer. During the last days of World War II, Erding was bombarded before surrendering to American troops without fighting back. After World War II, the city grew continuously, and with the opening of Munich Airport, which is just north of the city, went into a boom, that continues.

By plane
Erding is well connected by plane through Munich Airport, which is 10 km (6 mi) north of the city. The airport is the second busiest in Germany and 7th in Europe, and offers a lot of flights to national, European, and intercontinental destinations. Bus 512 leaves the airport every 40 min and takes about 20 min to get to the center of Erding. The car drive to the airport takes about 10 min.

By train
The city has two stations: Erding, close to the city centre, and Altenerding in the south of the city, not far from the spa. Both stations are part of Munich's public transport system MVV and Erding station is the northern terminus of the suburban train (S-Bahn) line S2. The S2 serves the stations every 20 min and takes about 50 min to Munich Central Station.

By bus
Erding can be reached by bus from most surrounding cities and towns, like Freising, Moosburg, and Markt Schwaben, and Munich Airport (Bus 512) within Munich's public transport system.

By car
Erding is very well connected to the rest of Germany by the autobahn network.

Coming from the north, east, and north-west use autobahn A 92 and take exit 9 "Erding" and follow the airport bypass street in southern direction until you reach Erding.

Arriving from Munich, the south, and south-east take autobahn A 94 and leave the autobahn at exit 9b "Markt Schwaben" and follow the airport bypass street in northern direction until you reach Erding.

Get around
Given the small size of the city, Erding is easily navigable on foot. The bike is also very popular among locals. Another viable option are the city buses.

Buy
In the city centre you find a number of clothing and shoe stores and drug stores. Spread around the city are shops for daily needs, such as butchers, bakeries, grocers, and smaller supermarkets.

Within the "Business Park North-West" in the west of the city you find a DIY warehouse, shoe stores, stores selling consumer electronics, and more clothing stores and supermarkets.

Drink
Erding's bar and pub scene mostly revolves around the city center at Lange Zeile. There are a few clubs and discos in Erding as well, though.

title: Erding


text:
Erfoud

 * For the similarly named capital of Thuringia see under Erfurt

Erfoud (Arabic: أرفود - Also written Arfoud) is a town in southern Morocco, in the Tafilalet-region.

Understand
Erfoud is known as the "Gate of the Sahara" as it is near Erg Chebbi Dunes, and you can actually take direct off-road tracks to the dunes.

Many films were shot in the area, some of the most famous are: Prince of Persia - 2010 - Director Dick Richards; The Mummy - 1999 - Director Stephen Sommers; March or Die - 1977 - Director Dick Richards.

While many Ksars (fortified villages) have existed for centuries, Erfoud was built new by the French around 1920s. Arabs are the majority but as the tourist industry developed, many Berbers started coming to the city around 1990s.

Erfoud is a good place to stay and explore local destinations. Also Erfoud offers quite a good range of businesses, supermarkets, restaurants, mechanics - great for those traveling overland with their own 4x4 or cars, and wish to fill up with goods. It is fairly rural and does not rely on tourism in the way cities like Marrakech do. Thus, Erfoud is exceptionally relaxed, hassle-free, and hospitable.

Get in
Erfoud is the port of entry to the Saharan dunes of Erg Chebbi, driving 13 km asphalt and 26 km desert tracks directly out of town passing the river or via Rissani and Merzouga.

By grand taxi

By bus
Between Erfoud and Errachidia, Tinghir, Boumalne Dades, Ouarzazate or Marrakesh there is one daily Bus from Supratours company that pass all these destinations in one trip. Buses run to Erfoud from the west (via Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Boumalne, and Tinghir) and north (via Er Rachidia, Meknes, and Fez). There is a 22:45 CTM bus from Meknes (and even Fez 21:30), arriving around 07:30, 140 dirham.

From Marrakesh there is one daily Bus from Supratours company. Departures from Supratours main station at 08:30 and arrives to Erfoud around 20:00. Ticket costs 175 dirham. This is the same bus that goes on to Rissani and Merzouga in (Erg Chebbi) Dunes.

By car
There are 2 main national roads coming in/out of Erfoud. R702 connecting Erfoud to Jorf, Tinejad, Tinghir and further more to Ouarzazate. This road also enters the desert off-road until the Erg Chebbi Dunes. Project is under study to finally complete this road reaching Merzouga village. N13 connects Errachidia to Erfoud, Rissani until Merzouga village further south.

Road distances from Erfoud to other Moroccan destinations:
 * Erfoud to Rissani : 19 km
 * Erfoud to Merzouga: 55 km
 * Erfoud to Errachidia: 80 km
 * Erfoud to Ouarzazate: 315 km
 * Erfoud to Fez: 440 km
 * Erfoud to Marrakech: 510 km
 * Erfoud to Tangier: 665 km
 * Erfoud to Casablanca: 750 km
 * Erfoud to Rabat: 590 km, 8 hr (driving only)

On foot
Erfoud is quite small so you walking around town is quite OK. There are 4 taxis working day and night. Hitch-hiking one passing scooter or donkey cart will be fairly easy.

See

Buy

Sleep

Go next

 * Merzouga – Clearly ... Village on the edge of Erg Chebbi Dunes, amazing orange colored dunes just 35km away from Erfoud.
 * Rissani – Desert town with a museum, Alaouite King Mausoleum and impressive center market, full of old kasbahs and surrounded by palm groves and the Saghrou Mountains.
 * Nkob – Small Berber town southeast of Agdz on the road Ouarzazate. Village with 45 well-preserved Kasbahs and surrounded by the Saghrou Mountains and Palm Groves.
 * Errachidia – Region's capital with airport and other main government facilities. Maybe better for going to Quazazate from here.
 * Zagora – Small desert town south of Ouarzazate.
 * Ouarzazate – Called the capital of the south, Ouarzazate makes the transition from oases to Sahara Desert

title: Erfoud


text:
Erfurt

Erfurt is the capital of the German state of Thuringia (Thüringen). The city is the largest one in that province and likewise a major transportation hub.

Understand
With over 200,000 inhabitants today, Erfurt was an important trading town during the Middle Ages, and has many beautiful old buildings and parks. Its university was one of the oldest in Germany, before it shut down early in the 19th century, but a refounded incarnation dating to just after reunification claims the old and august tradition.

By car
Erfurt lies on the intersection of two motorways (Autobahnen): A4 and A71. Distances on the motorways to some cities: Berlin 300 km, Leipzig 150 km, Dresden 215 km, Kassel 150 - 200 km depending on route, Frankfurt 260 km, Munich (München) 400 km, Hanover 220 km

By train
There are hourly ICE connections with Leipzig (45 minutes), Nuremberg (1:20 hr), Berlin (1:45–2 hr), Frankfurt (2:10 hr), Munich (2.5 hr), Stuttgart (3:40 hr) and Hamburg (under 4 hr), once in two hours with Dresden (2 hr). Flixtrain serves the city.

By plane
The most useful alternative is Germany's most frequented airport at Frankfurt, easily reachable by train within 2½-3 hours. Other nearby airports are at Leipzig/Halle (LEJ; just over an hour by train), Nuremberg (1:45 hr) and Berlin Brandenburg Airport (2.5 hr). Munich Airport—Germany's second major airport—is about 3½ hours from Erfurt by train.

By bus
Flixbus and other companies operate here.

Get around
The city centre is quite compact, so walking is often the best way to explore the city.

Regular tram services cover much of the city; they are supplemented by buses. On most sections trams have service intervals of at least every 10 minutes during daytime, becoming less frequent in the evenings. Night buses are available throughout the night after midnight; these run once or twice every hour and meet at the very heart of the city centre (Anger) or depart from the main station (within walking distance from Anger).

Info about public transport (in German language)

See
Much of Erfurt's charm is found in its narrow streets, many of which are pedestrianized, with their beautiful old houses, green areas and little bridges across the Gera river and the Stadtpark and the Nordpark on different sides of the city center.

In the tourist office you can buy a small guidebook in one of several languages that leads you through the city along the main sights.

Jewish heritage
The history of Jews in Erfurt is not a continuous and not always a happy one, but they did leave a mark on the city and there is Jewish life once more in Erfurt today. The first Jewish congregation (with a synagogue dating to around 1094 in its oldest parts) was driven out due to a pogrom caused by slanderous rumours that local Jews were in some way responsible for the Black Death that hit Erfurt in 1349. However, by 1354, a congregation had established itself again in Erfurt and would continue to thrive until the Erfurt city council decided to expel the Jews in 1453/4. During the 19th century, the Jewish congregation of Erfurt grew and thrived once more and by 1932 it had 1290 members. Unfortunately few survived the Nazi era and most that did, fled Germany. Still, Erfurt retained the only Jewish congregation in the entire GDR and since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is growing once more, in part thanks to immigration from former Soviet Republics. During the 1349 pogrom, a wealthy Jew hid a treasure of considerable monetary and incalculable historic value in the cellar of a building near the Old Synagogue. He did not survive the pogrom and thus the treasure was only rediscovered by chance in 1998. It has since been exhibited in several places, including New York City, London and Tel Aviv before returning to Erfurt. It is now exhibited in the Old Synagogue museum. Since 2023 the Old Synagogue, Mikveh and Stone House were listed as a world heritage site named the Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt.

Do

Buy
Shops on the Krämerbrücke offer unique crafts and souvenirs. Around the city centre, along the street Anger, Bahnhofstraße and all the way to the Fischmarkt and Domplatz along Schlösserstraße and Marktstraße you can find almost every apparel shop a European heart desires, from H&M over Mango to Zara, Esprit, C&A and many, many more!

There are also a few shopping malls and other shopping opportunities spread over the whole city:

Be aware: most shops (besides most grocery stores) are only open until 8pm. Sundays all shops and stores are closed! (Exemption: a few Sundays each year are open for sale)

Eat
The Thüringer Bratwurst (famous grilled sausage) comes from Erfurt, and the city has numerous stalls selling this world-famous delicacy. Don't miss out on trying one or more or sampling the differences.

Dance
Erfurt has numerous small bars in the city center. When looking for a nice bar to have a drink or two don't miss taking a look at the Michaelisstraße near Fischmarkt where you can find numerous bars that offer a variety of drinks and snacks. Of course most of the cafes and restaurants mentioned in the "eat and drink" section also offer alcoholic beverages and are open until late.

If you intend to go clubbing or dancing, Erfurt can also offer some clubs, most of them are open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Sleep
For budget travellers Erfurt offers a few hostels and low budget hotels or pensions.

Go next

 * By train, Weimar is only a quarter of an hour away.
 * Eisenach is a 25-to-30-minute train-ride from Erfurt.
 * Jena is half an hour by train.
 * Leipzig is 45 minutes by high-speed train.
 * Wander around on near-by Thuringian Forest, on which Thuringia called the "green heart of Germany".
 * Halle about 35 minutes away and has some great things to see. The largest city in Saxony-Anhalt is the birthplace of Handel and has a few castles.

title: Erfurt


text:
Erg Chebbi

Erg Chebbi is in Saharan Morocco. The dunes are one of Morocco's best Sahara Desert destinations. Erg Chebbi special feature is its beautiful unique orange colored sand.

Understand
Erg Chebbi dunes are bean shaped and cover an area 30 km long and around 5-10 km wide. This is a region on nomad Berbers, as opposed to Zagora and Mhamid desert where people are Bedouin Arabs. Around the Dunes of Erg Chebbi exist few villages: Merzouga, Hassilabied, Tanamoust, Takoujt, Khamlia, Tisserdmine.

title: Erg Chebbi


text:
Erice

Erice is a village in the province of Trapani on Sicily in Italy.

Understand
The entire municipality of Erice has 28,000 inhabitants. Most of them live in the Casa Santa district which is directly adjacent to Trapani. Only fewer than 500 people live in the old medieval fortification which is uniquely located on top of the 715 m high Erice mountain. The city has wonderful views. On a clear day, the Mount Etna volcano, on the other side of the island, can be seen. Because of its height, it can be cold in winter. On some days, the mountain is hidden in clouds of fog. Even on summer evenings, it’s advisable to have a sweater within reach.

Erice is a member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia, an association of small Italian towns.

History
The ancient name of Erice was Eryx (Eρυξ in Greek). With Drepanon, Segesta and Talla, it belonged to the largest cities of the Elymian people. For the Carthaginians Erice was of great strategic importance. After the Romans had defeated the Carthaginians, the significance of the city decreased, and it fell into disrepair. The Arabs, who had gained a foothold on Sicily in the 9th century, called the virtually uninhabited mountain Jabal Hamid. After the conquest of the Normans, the city was rebuilt, under the name Monte San Giuliano. The city walls and bastions were restored. During the Sicilian Vespers (the revolt of the Sicilians against Charles of Anjou), the city choose the side of the lords of Aragon and was rewarded with the construction of the cathedral. In later years, many buildings were realized within the walled city. During the Fascist period, the city regained its original name Erice.

By car
Two roads lead to Erice. SP3 from Valderice in the east, and SP31 from Casa Santa in the west. SP3 continues further south to Trapani.

By bus
From Trapani railway station Ast buses run within 40 minutes to Erice.

By train
Nearest railway station is Trapani (Trenitalia). The station is on Piazza Stazione at the east side of the old Trapani centre.

By cableway
In Casa Santa, part of Erice but adjacent to Trapani, a cableway runs up to the old town. in Casa Santa is at the beginning of road SP31. From the centre of Trapani this station can be reached by bus 21 and 23. A cableway return ticket costs €6.50. Opening hours: M 13:00-20:00, Tu-F 08:10-20:00, Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 10:00-20:00. The mountain station is located close to Porta di Trapani, one of the old city gates.

Get around
On foot.

See

The streets and alleys have been renovated, so the town looks a bit artificial, but the historic buildings and the stunning panoramic views remain. If you visit Erice out of season some sites may been closed.
 * Duomo, Chiesa Madre (3) – The Cathedral of Erice was built in the early 14th century.
 * Castello di Venere (4) - Castello Pepoli is part of Castello di Venere. It’s a Norman castle built on an impregnable rock. Only the watchtower has left.
 * Old city wall (5) – With the gates Porta di Trapani, Porta del Varmine and Porta Spada from the Norman period.
 * Churches (6 t/m 10) – Most churches were built in the 17th century. San Pietro is from the 14th century.
 * Views
 * Park Balio

Do
Get information at the tourist office near Porta di Trapani (Phone +39 0923869388) and make a city walk. If you have time it is worth making a return to Trapani by cable car. It takes about 10 minutes and you have a magnificent view. In Trapani you can take a taxi or a bus to the centre.

Buy

 * Ceramics and carpets
 * Local sweets:
 * Bocconcini di Erice, marzipan with jam and liqueur
 * Genovese alla crema, sweet cakes with icing sugar
 * Mustaccioli, oldfashioned biscuits from the local monastery made from flour with honey and anise liqueur

title: Erice


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Erick

Erick is a city of a thousand people (2019) in the Great Plains Country of Oklahoma, near the Texas border on the former US Route 66.

Understand
Established in 1901 as an agricultural community on the National Old Trails Road, Erick was perched (or parched?) at what was the edge of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. There was brief pre-war natural gas exploration. By the 1940s Erick began to attract motor courts and roadside businesses catering to motorists, which prospered in the post-war era. The last Oklahoma section of Route 66 was bypassed, Sayre to Erick, in 1975.

Erick is known as the former home of country musicians Sheb Wooley ("one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater") and Roger Miller ("King of the Road," "Dang Me," "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd"). It's the second-westernmost settlement (beside tiny Texola OK) in the state.

Get in
From I-40 take State Route 30 South.

Get around
The main roads in Erick are Roger Miller Memorial Highway (Broadway) and Sheb Wooley Blvd. (Main Street or State Route 30). East-west roads are numbered 1st-12th.

Go next

 * Elk City is about 30 minutes to the northeast.
 * Oklahoma City is about two hours to the east.
 * Amarillo is about two hours to the west.

title: Erick