text:
Ossetian phrasebook

Ossetian (Иронау) is an Iranian language that is spoken in Ossetia, regions in Russia and the country of South Ossetia. Most native speakers of Ossetian are also able to speak Russian.

Pronunciation Guide

 * А а : 	'a' as in "art"
 * Æ æ : 'eh' like "band"
 * Б б : 	'b' as in "ball"
 * В в : 'v' as in "victory"
 * Г г : 'g' as in "game"
 * Гъ гъ : 'gh' as in "ghost"
 * Е е  : 'e' as in "bell"
 * Д д  : 'd' as in "dad"
 * З з  : 'z' as in "zebra"
 * Дз дз : 'dz' like "pizza"
 * Дж дж : 'j' as in "jumper"
 * И и : 'ee' as in "eel"
 * Й й : 'y' like "boy"
 * К к : 'k' like "car"
 * Къ къ : 'kh' like "loch"
 * Л л : 'l' as in "lullaby"
 * М м : 'm' as in "mad"
 * Н н : 'n' as in "never"
 * О о : 'o' like "goal"
 * П п : 'p' as in "pool"
 * Р р: 'r' as in "race"
 * С с: 'sh' as in "shovel"
 * Т т : 't' as in "tea"
 * Тъ тъ: 'th' as in "thorn"
 * Тъ тъ: 'th' as in "thorn"
 * Ф ф: 'f' as in "feather"
 * Х х: 'h' as in "hand"
 * Хъ хъ: 'q' as in "quail"
 * Ц ц: 'ts' like "boots" (Note: Always Hard)
 * Цъ цъ: 'tsh' (Note: Harder 'ts')
 * Ч ч : 'ch' as in "cheese"
 * Чъ чъ: 'chuh' (Note: Harder 'ch')
 * Ы ы: 'i' like "sit"
 * Ю ю: 'yu' as in "yugoslavia"
 * Я я : 'ya' as in "yard"

Basics

 * Hello. : Арфæ. (ar-feh )
 * Hello. (informal) : Салам. (sah-lam )
 * How are you? : Куыд цæрут ? (koo-bihd-tseh-root ?)
 * Fine, thank you. :Бузныг, хорз. ( booz-nihg-horz )
 * What is your name? : ? ( ?)
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (  _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : . ( )
 * Please. :Табуафси. (tab-waf-see )
 * Thank you. :Бузныг. (booz nig )
 * You're welcome. : . ( )
 * Yes. : О. (oh )
 * No. :Нæ. (neh )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) :Бахатыр кæнут. (bakh-atihr-keh-noot )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) :Бахатыр кæнут. (bakh-atihr-keh-noot )
 * I'm sorry. :Бахатыр кæн. (bakh-atihr-kehn )
 * Goodbye :Фенынмæ. (fen-in-meh )
 * Goodbye (informal) : . ( )
 * I can't speak Ossetian [well]. : Æз нæ дзурын ??????. (ehz-nae-dzoo-rihn ??????)
 * Do you speak English? :Сымах уырыссагау англисагау ? (simakh-ooih-rih-sha-gau-angli-shagau ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ( ?)
 * Help! : ! ( !)
 * Look out! : ! ( !)
 * Good morning. :Дæ уæ райсом хорз. (deh-oo-eh-ray-shom-horz )
 * Good evening. :Дæ уæ изæр хорз. (deh-oo-eh-ee-zehr-horz )
 * Good night. : . ( )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. :Æз уæ æмбарын He 'мбарын. (ehz-oo-eh-ehm-barihn-ne-mbar-ihn)
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( ?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : . (Iunagai ma niuuadz .)
 * Don't touch me! : ! ('Ma mam avnal' !'')
 * I'll call the police. : . ( .)
 * Police! : ! ( !)
 * Stop! Thief! : ! ! ('Baurom ' ! Qarnih!'')
 * I need your help. : . ('Da ahhus ma qaui' .'')
 * It's an emergency. : . ( .)
 * I'm lost. : . ( .)
 * I lost my bag. : . ( .)
 * I lost my wallet. : . ( .)
 * I'm sick. : . ( Farinchin dan.)
 * I've been injured. : . ( .)
 * I need a doctor. : . (Dohtur ma qaui .)
 * Can I use your phone? : ? ( ?)

Numbers

 * 1 : (iu)
 * 2 : (dluuæ)
 * 3 : (ærtæ)
 * 4 : (tsippar)
 * 5 : (fondz)
 * 6 : (ækhsæz)
 * 7 : (avd)
 * 8 : (ast)
 * 9 : (farast)
 * 10 : (dæs)
 * 11 : ( )
 * 12 : ( )
 * 13 : ( )
 * 14 : ( )
 * 15 : ( )
 * 16 : ( )
 * 17 : ( )
 * 18 : ( )
 * 19 : ( )
 * 20 : ( )
 * 21 : ( )
 * 22 : ( )
 * 23 : ( )
 * 30 : ( )
 * 40 : ( )
 * 50 : ( )
 * 60 : ( )
 * 70 : ( )
 * 80 : ( )
 * 90 : ( )
 * 100 : ( )
 * 200 : ( )
 * 300 : ( )
 * 1,000 : ( )
 * 2,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : ( )
 * half : ( )
 * less : ( )
 * more : ( )

Time

 * now : ( )
 * later : ( )
 * before : ( )
 * morning : ( )
 * afternoon : ( )
 * evening : ( )
 * night : ( )

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : ( )
 * two o'clock AM : ( )
 * noon : ( )
 * one o'clock PM : ( )
 * two o'clock PM : ( )
 * midnight : ( )

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : ( )
 * _____ hour(s) : ( )
 * _____ day(s) : ( )
 * _____ week(s) : ( )
 * _____ month(s) : ( )
 * _____ year(s) : ( )

Days

 * today : ( )
 * yesterday : ( )
 * tomorrow : ( )
 * this week : ( )
 * last week : ( )
 * next week : ( )

 * Sunday : ( )
 * Monday : ( )
 * Tuesday : ( )
 * Wednesday : ( )
 * Thursday : ( )
 * Friday : ( )
 * Saturday : ( )

Months

 * January :Толшор  (tol-shor )
 * February :Февраль (fev-ral )
 * March :Март  (mart )
 * April :Апрель  (ap-rel )
 * May :Май  (mai )
 * June :Июнь | (ee-yoon )
 * July :Июль  (ee-yool )
 * August : Август  (av-goost )
 * September :Сентябрь (sent-ya-br )
 * October :Октябрь  (okt-ya-br )
 * November :Ноябрь (no-ya-br )
 * December :Толсур  (tol-soor )

Colors

 * black : cay (sao)
 * white : урс (oors)
 * gray : фæныкхуыз (feh-nik-koo-iz)
 * red : сырх (sirkh)
 * blue : æрвхуыз (ehrv-khoo-iz)
 * yellow : бур (boor)
 * green : кæрдæгхуыз (kehr-dehng-koo-iz)
 * orange : бурбын сырх (boor-bin-sirkh)
 * purple : cay (sao)
 * pink : розæхуыз (roz-ehkh-ooiz)
 * brown : игæрхуыз(ee-gehr-khoo-iz)

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ( )
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ( )
 * Where does this train/bus go? : ( )
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ( )
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : ( )
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : ( )
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : ( )

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : ( )
 * ...the train station? : ( )
 * ...the bus station? : ( )
 * ...the airport? : ( )
 * ...downtown? : ( )
 * ...the youth hostel? : ( )
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ( )
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ( )
 * Where are there a lot of... : ( )
 * ...hotels? : ( )
 * ...restaurants? : ( )
 * ...bars? : ( )
 * ...sites to see? : ( )
 * Can you show me on the map? : ( )
 * street : ( )
 * Turn left. : ( )
 * Turn right. : ( )
 * left : ( )
 * right : ( )
 * straight ahead : ( )
 * towards the _____ : ( )
 * past the _____ : ( )
 * before the _____ : ( )
 * Watch for the _____. : ( )
 * intersection : ( )
 * north : ( )
 * south : ( )
 * east : ( )
 * west : ( )
 * uphill : ( )
 * downhill : ( )

Taxi

 * Taxi! : ( )
 * Take me to _____, please. : ( )
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : ( )
 * Take me there, please. : ( )

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : ( )
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : ( )
 * Does the room come with... : ( )
 * ...bedsheets? : ( )
 * ...a bathroom? : ( )
 * ...a telephone? : ( )
 * ...a TV? : ( )
 * May I see the room first? : ( )
 * Do you have anything quieter? : ( )
 * ...bigger? : ( )
 * ...cleaner? : ( )
 * ...cheaper? : ( )
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : ( )
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : ( )
 * Do you have a safe? : ( )
 * ...lockers? : ( )
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : ( )
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : ( )
 * Please clean my room. : ( )
 * Can you wake me at _____? : ( )
 * I want to check out. : ( )

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : ( )
 * Do you accept British pounds? : ( )
 * Do you accept euros? : ( )
 * Do you accept credit cards? : ( )
 * Can you change money for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get money changed? : ( )
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ( )
 * What is the exchange rate? : ( )
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ( )

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : ( )
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : ( )
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : ( )
 * Is there a house specialty? : ( )
 * Is there a local specialty? : ( )
 * I'm a vegetarian. : ( )
 * I don't eat pork. : ( )
 * I don't eat beef. : ( )
 * I only eat kosher food. : ( )
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : ( )
 * fixed-price meal : ( )
 * a la carte : ( )
 * breakfast : ( )
 * lunch : ( )
 * tea (meal) : ( )
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. : ( )
 * I want a dish containing _____. : ( )
 * chicken : ( )
 * beef : ( )
 * fish : ( )
 * ham : ( )
 * sausage : ( )
 * cheese : ( )
 * eggs : ( )
 * salad : ( )
 * (fresh) vegetables :  ( )
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )
 * bread : ( )
 * toast : ( )
 * noodles : ( )
 * rice : ( )
 * beans : ( )
 * May I have a glass of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a cup of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : ( )
 * coffee : ( )
 * tea (drink) : ( )
 * juice : ( )
 * (bubbly) water : ( )
 * (still) water : ( )
 * beer : ( )
 * red/white wine : ( )
 * May I have some _____? : ( )
 * salt : ( )
 * black pepper : ( )
 * butter : ( )
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
 * I'm finished. : ( )
 * It was delicious. : ( )
 * Please clear the plates. : ( )
 * The check, please. : ( )

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : ( )
 * Is there table service? : ( )
 * A beer/two beers, please. : ( )
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : ( )
 * A pint, please. : ( )
 * A bottle, please. : ( )
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : ( )
 * whiskey : ( )
 * vodka : ( )
 * rum : ( )
 * water : ( )
 * club soda : ( )
 * tonic water : ( )
 * orange juice : ( )
 * Coke (soda) : ( )
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : ( )
 * One more, please. : ( )
 * Another round, please. : ( )
 * When is closing time? : ( )
 * Cheers! : ( )

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : ( )
 * How much is this? : ( )
 * That's too expensive. : ( )
 * Would you take _____? : ( )
 * expensive : ( )
 * cheap : ( )
 * I can't afford it. : ( )
 * I don't want it. : ( )
 * You're cheating me. : ( )
 * I'm not interested. : (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * Can I have a bag? : ( )
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : ( )
 * I need... : ( )
 * ...toothpaste. : ( )
 * ...a toothbrush. : ( )
 * ...tampons. : . ( )
 * ...soap. : ( )
 * ...shampoo. : ( )
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ( )
 * ...cold medicine. : ( )
 * ...stomach medicine. : ... ( )
 * ...a razor. : ( )
 * ...an umbrella. : ( )
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ( )
 * ...a postcard. : ( )
 * ...postage stamps. : ( )
 * ...batteries. : ( )
 * ...writing paper. : ( )
 * ...a pen. : ( )
 * ...English-language books. : ( )
 * ...English-language magazines. : ( )
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ( )
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ( )

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : ( )
 * Can I get insurance? : ( )
 * stop (on a street sign) : ( )
 * one way : ( )
 * yield : ( )
 * no parking : ( )
 * speed limit : ( )
 * gas (petrol) station : ( )
 * petrol : ( )
 * diesel : ( )

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : ( )
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ( )
 * Where are you taking me? : ( )
 * Am I under arrest? : ( )
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ( )
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ( )
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : ( )
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : ( )

title: Ossetian phrasebook


text:
Ossining

Ossining is the name of both a village and a town in Westchester County in the state of New York in the United States of America.

Understand
The village of Ossining lies within the township of the same name. As one of the smaller towns within Westchester County, Ossining is well known for its humbling diverse character. The variety of cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomics has created a town that offers a unique glimpse of America’s melting pot. Along the Hudson River (just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge) and 30 miles north of New York City, Ossining is a great destination for those looking for a taste of metropolitan life in a suburban setting.

By plane

 * Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Road, White Plains, +1 914 995-4860 (airlines). The closest airport, about a 30-minute drive. Rental cars are available.
 * Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. Another alternative to the congestion of the 3 major airports. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, and JetBlue operate flights from Florida and Philadelphia (Mar 2021).
 * Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport: The three major international airports in the New York City area offer service to just about anywhere. Westchester-based taxi and livery cars offer regular service to and from the three internationals from most areas of the county. New York City yellow cabs will take to you Westchester in a pinch, but the fares can be exorbitant. If staying in Westchester, ask if your hotel offers shuttle service.

By car
Traveling by car is the most convenient way to get around the town, as it also makes traveling to nearby locations more efficient. If you don't bring your own car, renting a car during a short-term stay may be helpful.

By taxi
Whether you're going to the airport or coming home from a late-night dinner along the river, multiple taxi services are available for those who seek to travel distances unavailable by other means of transportation. Most taxi services charge $5 for intown destinations.

By train
Metro-North Railroad – Hudson Line. Express service between Ossining station and New York City's Grand Central Terminal is about 50 minutes. A one-way ticket costs $11.25 off-peak and $14.75 peak. Local service is available between other Metro-North commuter stations. Full weekday and weekend schedules are available online. Local taxis are usually on hand, and Zipcars are available at this station. On-board fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets online or at the vending machines in the overpass across from the station building.

Long-distance connections with Amtrak are available in New York City's Penn Station and at Metro-North's Croton-Harmon station.

By boat

 * Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry. 15 minute ferry trip across the Hudson River between Ossining and Haverstraw, NY, operating during weekday rush hours only. The one-way fare is $4.25 for adults and $2 for children (6-11) and seniors. Children 5 and under ride free. Operated by NY Waterway.

By bus

 * Bee-Line System. Westchester County's bus service provides access to White Plains and other locations in the county. Schedules and route maps are available online and at the Ossining train station.

Get around
Route 9 is called Highland Avenue in Ossining (in adjacent villages it is usually named Broadway). Cars are the most efficient way to get around town, although one can take advantage of the taxi and bus services.

Parks and gardens
With approx. 130 acres of land devoted to recreational use, there are a variety of beautiful parks for kids, and even adults, to enjoy.

Events
While one can find a variety of entertainment held throughout the year there are a few major annual events beloved by community members
 * St. Anne’s & St. Augustine’s Fairs Two of the largest Catholic Churches in the town hosts a carnival every June and August, respectively. The St. Anne's Fair and the St. Augustine's fair are great events for all ages, particularly families. Rides and games for kids (or those young at heart), great food, and even gambling for the adults bring together all members of the Ossining community.
 * St. Anne’s & St. Augustine’s Fairs Two of the largest Catholic Churches in the town hosts a carnival every June and August, respectively. The St. Anne's Fair and the St. Augustine's fair are great events for all ages, particularly families. Rides and games for kids (or those young at heart), great food, and even gambling for the adults bring together all members of the Ossining community.

Buy
Stores include Stop-n-Shop supermarket, DSW Shoes, Verizon Store, and CV S pharmacy. Dining includes an Italian restaurant, a hibachi steakhouse, an ice cream parlour, McDonald's, and Subway.

Stores include A&P supermarket, a hair salon, pharmacy/boutique store, wine & liquor store, and Chase bank. Dining includes a pizzeria, Carvel, Subway, Baskin Robins, Dunkin' Donuts, and a Japanese restaurant.

Eat
There is an amazing variety of restaurants, with ethnic food geography ranging from Northern European (German and Swiss) to South American (Peruvian, Mexican) with stops at Portugal and Italy. Italian-American cuisine is particularly delightful.

Stay safe
Dial 911 from any telephone for emergency police, medical, and fire services.

Go next
For those seeking adventure outside of Ossining, the surrounding NY area features numerous destination spots suitable for all.

 * New York City. Ossining is only 30 miles north of Manhattan, which makes it easy for anyone to travel to and from the Big Apple. For those not looking to splurge on a week-long urban adventure, day trips or even a special dinner excursion are simple and absolutely worth it! If you're worried about driving in the busy city, the MetroNorth train is a short 45-minute ride along the Hudson River.
 * Woodbury Common Outlets. Located right across the Tappan Zee Bridge in Central Valley, NY, this incredible outlet center is a popular shopping haven for both New Yorkers and tourists from around the world. Stores range from casual to designer, such as Gap, Burberry, Polo, Disney, and many more. A food court and restaurants are also provided to keep shoppers on the move.
 * Palisades Center Mall. Also located right across the Tappan Zee Bridge in West Nyack, NY is a massive 4-level shopping mall. A variety of retail stores for shoppers to explore, as well as an ice skating rink, movie theater, and fun zone for kids.
 * Greater Westchester Area. Activities such as ice skating, miniature golf, concerts, theatrical performances and historical tours are all within driving distance in the county.

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

title: Ossining


text:
Ostend

Ostend (Dutch: Oostende, meaning "East End") is a seaside city of 70,000 inhabitants in West Flanders in Belgium. Its North Sea beaches have drawn in tourists since the 19th century when it was a fashionable outing for royalty and aristocracy. It has since become more democratic and is now densely built up with tall 20th-century blocks of holiday apartments and hotels. Its waterfront promenade features every cliche of a European seaside holiday, including a large musical theatre and casino. Besides being a holiday destination, Ostend is also a sizeable port for cargo traffic, particularly across the English Channel. Passenger lines towards the UK have ceased.

Understand
Ostend used to be a small fishing village on the easternmost edge of an island on the shore of the coast. The original town centre is 200 m away in the sea compared to the present day seashore. After the town was flooded and destroyed several times by severe storms, it was moved onshore to its current location. The mudflat between the island and the coastline gradually sanded and the island became a part of the main land. Ostend prospered as a market town. In the 17th century the harbour of Ostend gained importance. Ostend received a lot of attention of Belgian kings Leopold I and Leopold II, since they liked to spend their holidays here. They built many important buildings in the city, such as the Hippodrome Wellington horse racing track and the Venetian-style Royal Galleries, which are still a notable landmark along Ostend's main beach.

Post-war hunger for investments destroyed much of Ostend's original charm, replacing them with tall concrete apartment buildings. In the city centre, several high-rise buildings have been constructed in the 2010s, chiefly intended for the super rich from outside of the city, as most of these appartments are far more expensive than what any local could ever afford. However, some relics of the historical Ostend however managed to survive and can still be found.

Climate
Ostend has a maritime temperature climate which is heavily influenced by the winds from the North Sea. Due to these winds summers here are much cooler than in inland Europe. On the other hand night temperatures below the freezing point are not very common in winter. As is the case anywhere along the North Sea coast, sea water temperatures are highest in mid- to late summer, when the beaches are at their busiest.

By plane

Most travellers arriving by air will however find it easier to fly to Brussels National Airport, which handles by far the most international traffic in and out of Belgium. There is no direct connection between BRU and Ostend, you must change trains at the Bruxelles-Midi station, which is fairly problem-free.

You can also fly in to other airports with direct connections to Bruxelles-Midi, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle or Amsterdam Schiphol, or the airport of Charleroi, branded as "Brussels South" by the low-fare carriers flying there. The former two feature direct high-speed trains to Midi, the latter is served by buses to the station.

De Lijn operates a bus (line 6) between Ostend Airport and the city centre.

By train
The is in the centre of Oostende and offers many direct connections within Belgium. Changing in Brussels, Ghent or Antwerp adds even more options, both domestic and international. In particular, changing in Brussels-Midi allows you to use the high-speed trains of Eurostar (from London) and Thalys (i.e. Paris, Lille, Amsterdam, Duesseldorf and Cologne), as well as other services from the Netherlands, France and Germany. The Thalys no longer serves Ostend.

The travel time by train is little over an hour from Bruxelles-Midi, with 40 minutes to Ghent and 15 min to Bruges.

By bus
The Flemish national bus company, De Lijn, has lines to Ostend from Bruges, Diksmuide and other neighbouring towns. For more information regarding different timetables (only in Dutch): https://www.delijn.be.

By car
Coming to Ostend by car is also possible. Ostend has plenty of parking lots.

By tram
The Kusttram, which runs along the whole Belgian coast from Knokke to De Panne stopping in every beach resort such as De Haan, Nieuwpoort and Koksijde. This tram stops along the beaches of Ostend and at the Ostend train station.

Get around
Most points of interest in town are close together. You can easily reach them by foot or by renting a bicycle from the rail station for €9 per day. De Lijn bus lines 5, 6, and 39 go along the seafront to the west; if you want to get to points farther along the coast, in either direction, take the Coast Train from a stop next to the rail station. You can pick up a taxi at the rail station, or call Taxibond (+32 59.70.27.27).

Raversijde
An area in the western suburbs of Ostend, Raversijde is a short ride out of town on the Kusttram. Raversijde is most famous for its eponymous domain, formerly part of the royal estate. Leopold II had a holiday chalet here and Charles VI retired to the estate following his regency. Sold to the state in 1981, Raversijde is now run as a country park by the provincial government. The park, as of 2022 contains:

Do

 * Football: KV Oostende were relegated in 2023 so they play soccer in Challenger Pro League, Belgium's second tier. Their home ground Versluys or Diaz Arena (capacity 8400) is 2 km west of the river.
 * Football: KV Oostende were relegated in 2023 so they play soccer in Challenger Pro League, Belgium's second tier. Their home ground Versluys or Diaz Arena (capacity 8400) is 2 km west of the river.

Buy
Ostend is a paradise for shopaholics. First of all, you have the Kapellestraat with all the important large chain stores. In the Adolf Buylstraat you can find designer clothing, shoes and accessories. Ostend has also a shopping center Shopping Center Feest- en Kultuurpaleis with 17 different shops. Other shopping streets are Christinastraat, Witte Nonnenstraat, James Ensorgalerij and Alfons Pieterslaan.

Eat
There are a number of places to eat in Ostend, ranging from Pizza Hut to charming old-style Flemish pannenkoekenhuizen (pancake houses). There are also a number of chocolatiers and Dutch-style snoepje (sweetie) stores, the latter lit up in bright pink neon. Most street corners are either a coffee shop or a bar.

A common treat is a coffee served with a small advocaat (eggnog). Sometimes these come with three or four profiteroles, free of chocolate sauce, for dipping in the liqueur.

Drink

 * The Langestraat area is the area with the most bars in Ostend. You have a choice of over 30 bars and restaurants.
 * The Langestraat area is the area with the most bars in Ostend. You have a choice of over 30 bars and restaurants.
 * The Langestraat area is the area with the most bars in Ostend. You have a choice of over 30 bars and restaurants.

Connect
Ostend has 4G from all Belgian carriers. As of June 2022, 5G has not reached the city.

Go next

 * De Haan is a beach resort with many fanciful buildings in the belle époque style. Residential streets are lined by many quaint houses. De Haan is an easy side-trip from Ostend by the coastal tram (Kusttram). Get off at the station De Haan aan Zee. Also neighbouring Bredene-aan-zee is nice to visit, as it is the only Belgian coastal town where the original coastal dunes have not been destroyed by the 'Atlantikwall' of endless rows of uniform, ugly and grey apartment blocks so characteristic of the Belgian seaside. In Bredene, there is no seaside promenade, the town is behind the dunes and high-rises are limited. On the beach, all you see behind you are dunes, and a couple of casual beach bars. A few WWII German bunkers (part of the original Atlantikwall) still stand on top of the dunes. Bredene is also home to Belgium's only nudist beach (a small section of the beach east of town centre). Bredene is halfway towards De Haan, and you can get there either by coastal tram or by taking the free ferry and walking along the beach (just 3 km).

title: Ostend


text:
Osterville

Osterville is a village of the town of Barnstable, on Cape Cod. It has a charming village center and beautiful beaches along Nantucket Sound.

Get in
A car is the best way to get to Osterville, and ample parking is available in the village center. Public transportation information for the town of Barnstable may be found at http://www.capecodtransit.org.

Get around
The village center is centered on the intersection of Main Street and Wianno Avenue, which leads to the beaches. Walking is the most convenient means of transportation; bikes also work. There are many parking areas around the village. The principal beach, Dowses Beach, is open year round; during the summer months you must have a resident beach sticker to park, though visitors can park elsewhere and walk. It is about a 15-20 minute walk from the village center down Wianno Avenue.

title: Osterville


text:
Osterwieck

Osterwieck is a city in the north of the Harz in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. Osterwieck and timber — connoisseurs rave about for a long time of this unique historic medieval town. Half of the 376 listed building timber houses built before 1720 — that is the unique — more than a third of them come even from the period until the end of the Thirty Years' War.

Understand
Osterwieck is a historic town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is on the banks of the river Ilse, north of Wernigerode and the Harz mountain range.

The population was Osterwieck was about 11,000 people in 2020.

History
The settlement was first mentioned about 780 when Charlemagne in course of the Saxon Wars crossed the Oker river and had a church dedicated to Saint Stephen erected at a place then called Salingenstede. This church became a centre of the Christian mission among the pagan Saxons, overseen by Hildegrim of Châlons, and the origin of the later Bishopric of Halberstadt. On April 1, 974 Emperor Otto II granted market and mint rights to Seligenstadt, it is commonly regarded as the date of the town's foundation.

The name Osterwieck was first mentioned in a 1073 letter by Archbishop Liemar of Bremen to Bishop Burchard II of Halberstadt. Destroyed by a blaze in 1511 the town was rebuilt and today features an ensemble of about 400 Fachwerk buildings. The nave of the St. Stephen Church erected in the 16th century is one of the oldest Protestant church buildings, while its Romanesque twin steeples date back to 1100.

By car
Osterwieck is on the B 82 between Goslar and Halberstadt. By car you can reach via the A36 Osterwieck Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Bad Harzburg, exit east Vienenburg / Osterwieck or via the A36 exit Stapelburg / Osterwieck. In addition, we are to achieve the transport links with the B 79 and B 244 of Magdeburg, Quedlinburg, Wernigerode and Schöningen.

By plane
You can travel by plane into either

By train
The nearest railway stations are Vienenburg Brunswick, Halberstadt, Wernigerode and Ilsenburg. The unit community Osterwieck city itself does not have its own railway station.

Bus
Regular bus services to Halberstadt (203, 219), Wernigerode (255) and Ilsenburg (203, 255, 283), as well as Vienenburg (203).

By bike

 * Ilsenburg with various rest and sights invites you to rest. From the market in the north, past the post office and gas station, go towards the outskirts. After crossing the bridge Ilse after 100m turn left (as indicated). Then just follow the Ilse partly right and partly left the shore. You can reach Veckenstedt later life water (swimming pool on the way). At the exit you will cross a railway line, turn to the right direction Ilse.
 * Continue the path you can reach Berßel. Links to confirmation by the Ilse you drive around the place, either you can also drive around Berßel for example in the castle or in the
 * Kutscherstübchen. You can now reach the tarmac road Berßel look. From here, you turn left and drive about 300 m. In a left turn, leave the paved road and continue straight on large poplars.
 * On the horizon Osterwieck can already be seen - on your right which runs Ilse. On reaching the village, turn right over the bridge and then straight Ilse in the centre and reach back to the starting point.
 * On the horizon Osterwieck can already be seen - on your right which runs Ilse. On reaching the village, turn right over the bridge and then straight Ilse in the centre and reach back to the starting point.

Walking tour of the medieval town
In the "creepers," the passage of Stephani churchyard to the market, on blackboards two tours are recommended to provide an opportunity to rejoice in the diversity and ingenuity of what is presented artfully on the facades of the almost 500-year-old houses. A diagram explains the concept of half-timbered architecture, language, and shows where elements such as rosettes subjects, blind arcades, bars or cleats leaves can be found.

In particular, recognize but let the Latin and German inscriptions on the floor thresholds and sill boards, which the builders of their homes was important. With great determination they have known early on to Martin Luther and the Reformation. With an abundance of biblical texts, this can be in Osterwieck than in any other city in Saxony-Anhalt empathize. Word for word, we are able to recreate the spirit of the Reformation century.

The tours are also printed on the leaflet Osterwieck that they can get for free at the tourist information centre, museum and in several places in the city. A leaflet designed to house the inscription is made in the St. Stephen's Church.

Parks

 * On the former farm buildings to the extent paid for by the new owners, renovations are done, or it will try first of all the extant, albeit desolate right to receive substance.
 * From the former beauty of the surrounding park, well laid out too soon after 1780, with then and long afterwards, maintained roads, borders, and probably some caves secluded spot, is now hardly anything recognizable. He slept for a long time, probably starting with the task Gutsbetriebes, but particularly from 1990 onwards a blissful slumber. The new owner tried to stop the brutalization namely stop, up to a "Manor Park" is still a long way.
 * If you still want him to pay a visit to discover whether one or another botanical treasure or other, but should even ask the owner for permission.
 * If you still want him to pay a visit to discover whether one or another botanical treasure or other, but should even ask the owner for permission.

Connect

 * Tourist Information Am Markt 10 38835 Osterwieck. For more information please visit the Tourist Information Centre. Or Contact them via email:- stadtinformation@stadt-osterwieck.de, or telephone them on +49 39421-793 555 (German Speaking Only).

Go next

 * Bad Harzburg — Bad Harzburg is a small spa town nestled in the foothills on the northern edge of the Harz. It is named after a former imperial castle, the Harzburg, which used to stand proud on the heights above the town, but is now a ruin with just a few walls and ramparts remaining. The town itself caters largely for residents taking the "cure" as well as tourists - especially ramblers and cyclists - visiting the Harz. As a result, the centre is a pedestrian zone with small shops and timber-framed houses, surrounded by sprawling suburbs - a mix of impressive timber-framed residences and functional modern buildings. (22 minutes from Osterwieck).
 * Braunlage — Braunlage is a town located in the Goslar region of the southern Harz mountains. Records show that Braunlage existed as a small mining community as early as 1250, and expanded slowly over the centuries. It is the main ski resort and cable car to Lower Saxony's highest peak, the Wurmberg. (40 minutes from Osterwieck).
 * Goslar — Goslar is a medieval town in Lower Saxony and serves as a regional hub to the wider Harz area. It lies at the foot of the Harz Mountains (highest elevation 3,744 feet). Goslar is 250 km west of Berlin. The nearest cities are Brunswick, Hanover, and Magdeburg.Goslar is much older than Berlin and worth a visit. If you are interested in history, outdoor pursuits (especially hiking), tranquility and nature, then Goslar is the right spot for you. (28 minutes from Osterwieck).
 * Halberstadt — Halberstadt Is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, located at the northern foothills of the Harz and known as The Gateway to the Harz Mountains it is only a few minutes by car from the mountains. A town of about 50,000 people, travellers are welcomed from afar by the impressive towers of the 1200-year old Bishop's Seat. The town was severely damaged in World War II, but retains many important historic buildings and much of its ancient townscape. (30 minutes from Osterwieck).
 * Quedlinburg — Quedlinburg, located on the northern boundary of the Harz Mountains National Park, it was once at the centre of the German Empire. Today it is one of Europe's best preserved medieval renaissance towns. It features a rare combination of ancient and modern historical treasures. (40 minutes from Osterwieck).
 * Thale — It is believed that Thale emerged at the beginning of the 10th century and was first mentioned in 936 in connection with Wendhausen abbey, however the abbey was later destroyed in 1525 due to the Peasant’s war. Records have shown that from 1445 there was a working ironworks which was rebuilt in 1648 and it was partially destroyed during the Thirty Years War, it was completely destroyed in 1670. However it was later rebuilt in a small hammer mill due to the close proximity of the ore deposits and availability of wood, this lasted until 1714. Thale has always had a connection with the iron industry which shows in the number of workers it had, it went from 350 in 1872 to 4,400 in 1905. From 1916 Tale produced steel helmets and during the Second World War Thale had the monopoly on the product. Tourism only started to flourish from the 19th century onwards this was due to the Hubertus spring which opened in 1836. (45 minutes from Osterwieck)
 * Wernigerode — Described by the German heath poet, Hermann Löns, as the "brightly coloured town by the Harz", Wernigerode is an attractive destination on the Holtemme river, nestling against the northern foothills of the Harz Mountains. Its has an impressive medieval town centre with rows of charming, centuries-old, timber-framed houses and is dominated by a fascinating, fairy tale castle that is open to visitors. Its popularity and charm have led to it becoming a waystop on two major tourist routes: the German Timber-Framed Road and the Orange Route, a German-Dutch holiday road. The town is also a good base for exploring the northern Harz on foot or by mountain bike. (25 minutes from Osterwieck).

title: Osterwieck


text:
Ostia

Ostia is in Lazio, Italy, close to Rome's major airport of Fiumicino. This article covers both the archaeological site Ostia Antica at the south-western end of Rome's district with the same name, and the nearby beach area Lido di Ostia (or simply Ostia).

Understand
Not far from the center of Rome is Ostia Antica, an archaeological site that contains many Roman ruins, dating back to the days when it served as Rome's port (a function now taken over by Civitavecchia). In antiquity is was situated at the mouth of the river Tiber, however the shoreline moved seawards, due to silting, from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. Ostia Antica is today still lying next to the Tiber, but at a distance of some three kilometers from the beach. It is one of Lazio's major attractions, less crowded and, for some, more enjoyable than the ruins of Pompeii. So if you can't make it down to Pompeii don't worry. Just head out to Ostia Antica.

Nearby Lido di Ostia is a residential area, the capital's beach, and a well-known "Tourist Port" with moorings for boats from 8 to 60 metres in length. Italy might be a Catholic country, but you won't detect any religious conservatism in the skimpy bikinis on display here. There's a carnival atmosphere, with dance halls, cinemas, and pizzerias. The Lido is set off best at Castelfusano, against a backdrop of pinewoods, which provide the summer residence of the President of Italy. This stretch of shoreline is referred to as the Roman Riviera.

If you're flying out of Fiumicino, this town is a good stopover for the night before. You can return your rental car if need be, catch a cab for a few-minute, few-kilometer ride to the airport, and forget about the trains and the traffic from Rome.

By train
If you want to see both ancient and modern Rome, grab your swimsuit, towel, and sunblock, and take the Roma-Lido urban railway (operated by ATAC) from the Roma Porta San Paolo station (see Rome/Aventino-Testaccio). It is directly next to the line B (blue line) metro station Piramide, and within walking distance (500m) of the Roma Ostiense train station. All ATAC tickets and passes for Rome are valid on this urban railway. Departures are about every 15 minutes, or during Sunday and public holidays every 30 minutes; the whole trip takes about 40 minutes. The train lets you off at the Ostia Antica station across one of the highways that connects Rome with the coast. It's just a short walk to the Ostia Antica excavations. Later, board the train again to visit Lido di Ostia and the beach.

By bus
There is also a bus, number 070 departing from EUR Fermi (metro B) and going to the Castelporziano beach.

From the Fiumicino Airport there is a regional bus (COTRAL) departing from Terminal 2 heading to Ostia central station every 40 minutes; the trip takes about a half hour.

Get around
Beaches at Ostia are crowded during the summer months and are full of deck chairs and sunbeds that you have to rent. If you would like a bit more space and a chance to sit on the sand without paying for the privilege you can take a bus from the Cristoforo Colombo train station or hire a bike with specialized company for make a tour around this area. This heads south towards Torvaianica. After a couple of miles of beach and dunes that are closed to the public you come to public beach areas, the dunes of Castelporziano, These have good restaurants, toilets and showers and all the area is a natural reserve and the biggest pinewood in Rome (if you get lost ask for "Cancelli" everybody knows this area as this name)

Ostia Antica

Originally a colony of Rome, Ostia grew to become the major port of the city. It was situated on the mouth of the Tiber, the word Ostia meaning "mouth". The town's growth started in the late Republic, but expanded rapidly under the Emperors Claudius and Trajan. The town was deserted after Rome's fall in 476 AD, and the buildings fell into ruins which were in turn covered by sand and mud from the Tiber, preserving them. The ancient town remained farmland until excavations took place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and now most of the old town is uncovered, giving the visitor an idea of what life was like in an Ancient Roman commercial town during the height of the Empire. The ruins are similar to those in Pompeii, but there are no wealthy houses in Ostia. The archaeological site is vast, with plenty to see to occupy a full day. You will need to wear good footwear.

In Ostia Antica, you should buy a guide book from the ticket office when you enter. Without a guide book, you will see lumps of stone everywhere. With a guide book, you will understand what buildings stood where those lumps of stone now lie. On your tour look out for:

 * The Forum, with its Capitol. The Temple's podium is still in place, as are the walls of the cellar where the cult statues were kept. You get an appreciation of how huge Roman temples were.
 * The Piazza of the Corporations, behind the theatre, preserves the offices of trade guilds or merchants from various parts of the world, each office identified by its mosaic floor.
 * Ostia is famous for the ancient apartment buildings that are very well preserved. The town's population were poor dock workers living in large apartment buildings. These buildings can be explored to one storey in height, with narrow stairways and corridors leading to small rooms. There are also the remains of more wealthy houses, such as the House of Cupid and Pysche, with very rich marble decorations. You get a real feel for how these people lived 2,000 years ago.
 * The small museum contains the main finds from the excavations, ranging from cult statues to small bits of sculpture.
 * The ancient warehouses and docks. These are well preserved and look very much like those of the 19th century. The ancient kerbs and pavement are still in place as they are in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
 * Visit the two Baths with their beautiful and famous mosaic floors.

Eat

 * Ostia Antica. There is a modern, clean restaurant inside the site, next to the gift shop which stocks all kinds of items such as postcards, posters, books and souvenirs.

Go next

 * Infernetto

title: Ostia


text:
Ostrava

Ostrava is a city in the borderland of Moravia and Silesia in the Czech Republic. With a population of 290,000 (2019), it is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the centre of the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. It has several former industrial areas that have become cultural centres and tourist attractions.

Understand
Ostrava had been a predominantly industrial city since the 18th century, when the discovery of extensive coal deposits in the area led to an industrial boom. Ostrava quickly grew from a small provincial town of around one thousand inhabitants to one of the largest cities in the region.

As a major steel manufacturing centre, Ostrava suffered heavy destruction during the Second World War, and holds the sad distinction of being one of the most polluted cities of the European Union.
 * Ostrava City Council website

By train

 * On cross-border routes, look out for split-ticket deals.

 * Prague:
 * 3½ hr, Czech Railway's IC/EC every two hours (494 Kč regular fare sold at train station before - but usually there is some discount offer, 229 Kč companions in a group of 2 or more people, 150-300 Kč if bought online or in advance at train station).
 * 3 hr, Czech Railway's SC Pendolino every one or two hours (prices as above plus 100–200 Kč compulsory reservation fee, around 300 Kč altogether if bought online)
 * 3½ hr, RegioJet several times a day. Tickets are generally sold online and start at 230 Kč.
 * Brno: 2½ hr, hourly fast trains
 * Olomouc: 1 hr, IC/EC trains and SC Pendolino (compulsory reservation) every two hours. Some fast trains (rychlík) from Olomouc to Ostrava go longer way through Jeseníky mountains for more than 3 hours.
 * Katowice: 2 hr, usually with a change at the border
 * Warsaw: 4½ hr, three ECs a day

Moreover there are direct connections from Poprad, Vienna, Bratislava, Žilina, Krakow and Budapest. All of them are best bought online.

There are two main stations, in the north and  at the far western end of the city. Fast and international trains stops at both of them. None of the stations are within walking distance from the historic city centre. However a few trains also calls at, located next to the old town.

By bus
The main bus station in Ostrava is. Student Agency offers five buses a day from Brno, the journey time is 2¾ hours.

Leo Express operates a bus that links the train station at Ostrava-Svinov with the main train station in Katowice, Poland.

By plane

Many travelers fly to Katowice Pyrzowice Airport in Poland. This airport is northeast of Ostrava, and can be reached by A1/D1 motorway in about an hour. The airport has direct connections with over 30 destinations across Europe and Asia. FLiXBUS offers bus service to and from Katowice Pyrzowice Airport.

By tram and bus
Tram and bus travel in Ostrava is operated by Dopravní podnik Ostrava. Service is fast, frequent and inexpensive.

See

Do

 * Football: FC Baník Ostrava play soccer in Fortuna or First League, the top tier. Their home ground Městský Stadion (capacity 15,000) is off Hwy 11, south edge of the city. MFK Vítkovice also play here in the third tier.

There are many activities and business that cater to children and families in Ostrava. Many restaurants have playrooms for children and offer crayons and coloring books.
 * Skalka Family Park offers a zoo, summer amusements, and winter skiing and tubing.
 * JOJO Park is an indoor children's amusement center with food and drinks.

Buy
Ostrava is the shopping centre of the region. You can find small specialised shops, hypermarkets and shopping galleries. Souvenirs are sold in branch offices of the Ostrava City Information Centre.
 * Forum Nova Karolina, a large and modern shopping mall close to the city centre with many stores from international chains, a hypermarket, specialty stores and a food court.
 * Laso, a shopping centre containing many smaller shops just off the main city square.

Eat
In such a big city the number of restaurants is naturally enormous, ranging from the very famous restaurants to the less expensive trattorie or pizzerie. Whether you are looking to enjoy classical Czech food, regional specialities or international cuisine, Ostrava probably has what you are looking for. A visit to the region would not be complete without a pint of the local beer, “Ostravar”, which has been brewed in the city since 1897. The main street for wining, dining and having a great time is Stodolní Street, in the heart of the city. It boasts over 60 bars and restaurants in an area covering just a few blocks.

The secret sweet treats of Ostrava are the katowicke rurki, named after the nearby city of Katowice in Poland - although they are arguably a version of a similar treat popular in the entirety Poland, and not peculiar to Katowice at all. The katowicke rurki consist of a sweet wafer rolled into a tube, and then filled with pařížská šlehačka, both using a specially-designed machine. Pařížská šlehačka, in turn, is a filling vaguely resembling chocolate-flavoured whipped cream, although quite often having nothing to do with either cream or chocolate when it comes to its ingredients, and obviously having no obvious connection to the city of Paris after which it is ostensibly named.

Katowicke rurki are usually made by specialized confissers in possession of one of the unique machines, who often have been operating their specialized businesses for decades. One of those is hidden in the Hornicka street.

Drink
Ostrava is home to the famous Stodolní street, the biggest strip of bars and pubs in the country. Drinks are generally cheaper than in Prague and atmosphere is more local.

Sleep
The city offers a wide variety of accommodation covering all kinds of travel budget and level of service.

Stay safe
While Ostrava remains a quiet and pleasant city, locals will let you know that many areas have gained a reputation for widespread drug consumption. Always be on the lookout for junkies.

Connect
As of July 2024, Ostrava and its approach roads have 5G from all Czech carriers.

title: Ostrava


text:
Ostróda

Ostróda is a town in Masuria, Poland.

By train
PKP

By bus
PKS Ostróda

Polski Bus stops on the way between Warsaw and Gdańsk

Do

 * Water sports
 * Ostróda Reggae Festival, August

title: Ostróda


text:
Ostrów Lednicki

Ostrow Lednicki (pronounced as Ostroof Ledneetsky) is a place in Greater Poland. It's an island on Lednickie Lake, appr 16 km westwards of Gniezno and 40 km eastwards of Poznan, about 3 km north of the train line and road linking two mentioned cities. The whole island is on the area of Lednicki Landscape Park.

Get in
By bus - an independent travel to Ostrow Lednicki seems to be quite challenging - there are just few daily connections to village called Dziekanowice, from where the island is accessible on foot. There are 3 buses to Poznan, 4 to Gniezno and 2 to some other surrounding villages, which have no meaning for tourists. It's much easier to get to the bus stop Dziekanowice-skrzyzowanie (pol.: crossing) which is located at the main road number 5, but from there one must walk more than 2 km to the island.

By train - numerous connections (depending on the day - up to 14 daily) to Lednogora (34 km from Poznan and 17 from Gniezno, 38 and 17 minutes ride respectively), from where one must walk appr. 3,5km. It's essential to know, that accelerated and Inter-Regio trains do not stop at the station (that's why the number of connections to Lednogora is smaller than to Gniezno).

By bike - cyclers can get in to Dziekanowice using a Piast Cycling Trail, starting in Poznan just next to the crossing of Jana Pawla str and Baraniaka str, nearby the shore of Malta Lake. cycling time (depending on speed and e.g. wind) 3-4 hours. An interesting option is to take your bike to train with you one way and come back by bike - all trains stopping at Lednogora are traditional electric trains with a big compartment for bikes.

By car - use the country road number 5 from Gniezno or Poznan, turn northwards at the monument of three ancient knights toward Dziekanowice, in the village - follow signs, soon on the left-hand side you'll see a big parking - 10 zlotys for coaches and 5 for cars.

Get around
From the parking you have to pass the ticket office, decline a little bit to the lake shore and use a ferry to get to the island. On the island it's allowed only to walk - no motor vehicles are let in.

See
The main attraction is the archeological complex on the island. The ferry, that take you there operates is the museum opening time from mid April till the end of October. On the Island you will find:
 * the model of the ancient Lednica fortress from Xth-XIth cent
 * the old hostel, now used only by archeologists
 * the excavations (covered with a modern roof): the remnants of the ducal Palace from 960s (the epoque of the first polish ruler: Duke Mesko I, buried in Poznan) with a chapel and baptistry - a similar baptistry has been discovered as well in the undergrounds of the Poznan cathedral, and the ruins of early Piast-dynasty palaces have been found in Poznan, too and in Giecz.
 * the remnants of a fortress chapel from the turn of Xth and XIth cent with tow shallow graves, often identified as graves of two sons of the first polish king Boleslaus the Brave.
 * the northern parts of Lednica ramparts with a flag in their highest point
 * the remnants of two bridges, which used to link the Island with other parts of the early-Piast-country: the Poznan-bridge (430m long) and the Gniezno-bridge (200m long, just next ti the ferry line), both destroyed during the attack of the Czech prince Bretislav in 1038.

On the mainland you'll find so-called "Small open-air museum" with some windmills (including the oldest in Poland - from 1585, moved to Ostrow Lednicki from a village Gryzyna), with a copy of the Poznan church of St. John, where a small exhibition of Ostrow Lednicki archeological findings has been organised.

Tickets: only for The Island and the Small Open-air Museum: 8 złotys (children, students and retired 4), only to the Small Open-air Museum: respectively 4 i 2, a combined ticket for The Island and Greater-Poland Etnographical Park: 12 i 6 respectively. You have to add a parking fees: coaches 10 zlotys, cars: 5.

Do
The island is a place for many events:
 * every year from May till September on Saturdays you can take part in free guided tours (have to pay only the entrance fee)
 * 1–3.05 - The May Party in Lednica: local artists and handicraft
 * the second half of May - a holy mass for the souls of the first two Polish rulers is celebrated at the ruins of the old chapel (another holy mass like that is celebrated yearly in November in Poznan cathedral)
 * July: a family feast "In the duke Mesko's Lednica fortress"

Eat
There're three small snack-bars on the territory of the Museum:

All 3 snack-bars can offer dinner for groups (ordering by phone)

In the vicinity:

Go next
Interesting objects in the vicinity:
 * The Greater-Poland Etnographical Park (between the village of Dziekanowice and road nr 5, so most visitors heading to Ostrow Lednicki are passing it by)
 * the Fish-Gate (a fish as a symbol of the first Christians in 1st cent AC), where every year in May–June a large youth meeting run by the Dominicans from the Poznan monastery are organised
 * timber churches in Weglewo and Lubowo
 * Pobiedziska

title: Ostrów Lednicki


text:
Ostrów Wielkopolski

Ostrow Wielkopolski is a city in Wielkopolskie Voivodship, in Poland. It is in the southern part of Wielkopolska, one of the largest and the best economically developed regions of Poland. The town has around 73,000 inhabitants (2014) and is the fifth largest agglomeration in that region.

Get in
Ostrów Wielkopolski lies in the centre of a triangle whose points are Poznań, Wrocław and Łódź. It is about 100 km away from each of these cities.

By train
The is on the western edge of the town centre. It is a short walk to the main square of the city from the train station. From Wrocław and Poznań to Ostrów Wielkopolski trains take at least 1½ hours (depending on the train type). From Łódź the train takes approximately 2 hours.

By car
Ostrów Wielkopolski lies 23 km southwest of Kalisz and is easily accessible by car.

title: Ostrów Wielkopolski


text:
Ostrobothnia

Ostrobothnia (Swedish: Österbotten, Finnish: Pohjanmaa) is a stretch of coastal Western Finland. The historic province of the same name has been split in parts; this is the one where Swedish-speakers are found.

Cities
The Swedish name is given first, then the Finnish, also the latter in bold when Finnish is the majority language.
 * / Vaasa — the regional capital
 * / Pietarsaari, a nice small port town
 * / Kaskinen — Finland's smallest town since its chartering in 1785
 * / Kristiinankaupunki, with a lovely wooden old town
 * / Uusikaarlepyy
 * / Närpiö, known for tomatoes and an archaic dialect

Municipalities

 * / Mustasaari – Old Vaasa, suburbs and countryside
 * / Kruunupyy
 * / Laihia
 * / Luoto – islands by Jakobstad
 * / Maalahti
 * – countryside by Jakobstad
 * / Vöyri
 * / Vöyri

Other destinations

 * , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
Ostrobothnia is a region centred around Vaasa on the west coast of Finland, consisting of 17 municipalities. It borders with the regions Central Ostrobothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia and Satakunta. Ostrobothnia is the only region in Finland (except Åland) that has a majority of Swedish-speakers (about 52%).

The linguistic gap towards the Finnish, the cultural one to Swedish-speaking in the southern cities, the proximity to Sweden and the availability of radio and television from there have given the locals a regional identity separate from that of the southerners, only to a degree diluted with greater modern mobility.

The area is dominated by agrarian culture in contrast to the forestry-dominated inland. Ostrobothnia was hit hard by bad economic conditions and famine during the 19th century and thousands of people emigrated to America. Generally, though, this region is and has been quite wealthy, with self-confident independent farmers.

The bigger towns have a significant Finnish-speaking population due to industrialisation, as workers have moved here from the Finnish-speaking inland, while those with old local roots generally are Swedish-speaking.

Talk
The bigger towns, such as Vaasa and Jakobstad, are bilingual and you will get along on Swedish or Finnish with most of the population (and at least in shops, etc.). Generally only either language is spoken in rural communities: Finnish in Laihia, Isokyrö and Vähäkyrö, Swedish in the rest. In fact, the mother tongue of most rural people in the area is some Swedish dialect, often incomprehensible to many Swedish speaking from the south, but people will change to the Swedish learnt at school (and heard from Swedish and Finnish television) when meeting them.

English is known as in other parts of the country. No problem.

Get in
The main road through the region is E8 (here national road 8) along the coast, from Turku via Oulu and Tornio to Norwegian Tromsø. Road 3 leads from Helsinki via Tampere to Vaasa. The Blue Highway and several other roads lead to the region from the inland.

Vaasa and Jakobstad are served by railways from the inland (Jakobstad by the main Helsinki–Oulu railway), and by local airports.

There is a ferry from Umeå to Vaasa, across the Gulf of Bothnia.

By air
There are flights from Helsinki and Stockholm to Vaasa airport. There is also an airport in Kronoby, which serves the cities of Kokkola and Jakobstad.

By train
There are train connections to Vaasa and Jakobstad, the latter with bus for the last stretch. Most connections require changing trains in Seinäjoki.

By bus
There are several coaches a day along the main roads, some from neighbouring regions. Some services make detours to nearby towns, others keep to the highway, with stops at the main junctions.

By car
The main routes are national roads 3 (E12) and 8 (E8). A more rural route with less traffic from Helsinki is via roads 1, 2, 12, 44, 67 and 3 to Vaasa. For the southern parts, turn to road 672 in Jalasjärvi and continue by road 67, for the northern parts instead turn to road 19 and drive via Seinäjoki and Kauhava.

By boat
There is a ferry to Vaasa from Umeå, Sweden: mostly day services, 4½ hr.

Arriving by small craft by the coast or from Sweden is a nice option, although the archipelago is challenging. See Boating in Finland.

Get around
There are coaches and buses covering most of the region. See Matkahuolto and the individual city articles.

A car (or bike) is useful for reaching countryside off the main roads.

By taxi

 * National smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

 * The ship Jacobstads Wapen in Jakobstad, built using 18th century blueprints by famous naval architect af Chapman
 * Finland's statue of freedom in Vaasa, where the "white" government resided during the civil war. The civil war is still a touchy issue, with "whites" usually seeing it as part of Finland's struggle for independence.
 * Kuddnäs, the birthplace of the author Zacharias Topelius in Nykarleby. The Swedish speaking Topelius was important in creating the Finnish identity in the 19th century.
 * Replot bridge, the longest in Finland, outside Vaasa

Do

 * Drive along the road of seven bridges from Jakobstad via Larsmo to Kokkola
 * Have fun at Tropiclandia water park in Vaasa
 * Paddle a kayak around the Kvarken heritage.

Stay safe
The region of Ostrobothnia is safe.

Respect
Religion plays a much more important role in many communities than in southern Finland. Especially the Laestadian pietist revival movement is strong in some areas.

Mink and fox farming (for furs) is an important trade in the region, so animals' rights can be a touchy issue.

title: Ostrobothnia


text:
Ostuni

Ostuni is a town in the province of Brindisi in the region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy. Ostuni is commonly referred to as "the White Town" because the vast majority of its houses, as well as the medieval walls, are painted white.

Understand
Ostuni stands at the boundary between the Murge Plateau and the Salento Peninsula, of which is its northernmost town and one of the most visited ones. The old town rises on the top of three hills that have been covered during centuries with hundreds of white houses, Gothic and Baroque churches, white defensive walls encircled by panoramic streets overlooking a stunning landscape. Its peculiar location gives the opportunity to let the eyes wander from the gentle hills of the Murge to the Adriatic sea, as well as endless olive tree fields dotted with trulli and masserie.

By plane
Brindisi Airport, +39 0831 411-7406, known as Aeroporto del Salento, is located at less than 40 km (24 mi) south and it is reachable by car in about ½ hr.

By train
Ostuni railway station is 2 km east of the historic centre, in the commercial area. Here Intercity and regional trains arrive from Brindisi (20 min), Lecce (45 min) and Bari (50 min), as well as Frecciabianca trains from Ancona (about 5 hr) and Bologna (8 hr), running along the Adriatic railway line. Services are provided by the national company Trenitalia.

By bus
Different private bus companies provides links from cities of Italy, France, Germany and Croatia to Ostuni:
 * Ferrovie del Sud Est from Brindisi (50 min) and Bari (2 hr).
 * Flixbus from 14 destinations including Aix-en-Provence, Nîmes, Rijeka, Zurich and main Italian towns.
 * Marino Bus from various cities of Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland.

By car

 * From Bari: Strada Statale 16 Italia.svg freeway towards Brindisi for 80 km (49 mi) and you will arrive in the very centre of Ostuni. (1 hr)
 * From Brindisi: Strada Statale 379 Italia.svg freeway until the exit "Ostuni" (near the coast), then Strada Provinciale 21 Italia.svg to reach the old town. (½ hr)
 * From Lecce: Strada Statale 613 Italia.svg freeway until Brindisi and continue on Strada Statale 16 Italia.svg to bypass its centre, then follow the route described above. (45 min)
 * From Taranto: Strada Statale 7 Italia.svg until the exit "Francavilla Fontana", then drive along Strada Provinciale 28 Italia.svg. (45 min)

See

 * The coast near Ostuni hosts a few good places to take in some sun or go for a dip; nearby spiaggia Torre Canne is a favorite of the locals, although quieter spots abound as well.

Go next

 * Alberobello – Location of the world-famous trulli, typical white houses recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (45 min by car)
 * Brindisi – Ancient Roman port on the Adriatic Sea, where you can take a ferry to reach Albania or Greece. (½ hr by car)
 * Lecce – The triumph of the Baroque architecture in the heart of Salento Peninsula. (1 hr by car)
 * Martina Franca – The largest city of Itria Valley, with a large pedestrianized old town rich of Baroque buildings (½ by car)
 * Monopoli – A characteristic old town on the Adriatic coast, famous for its enchanting old fishing port. (40 min by car)
 * Taranto – The largest city of Salento Peninsula, on the Ionian coast. In the National Archaeological Museum you can admire a large amount of Greek coins, jewellery and ceramics. (45 min by car)

title: Ostuni


text:
Oswestry

Oswestry (Welsh: Croesoswallt) is a market town and historic railway town in Shropshire, close to the Welsh border. Oswestry is the largest settlement (17,500 people in 2021) within the Oswestry Uplands, a designated natural area and national character area.

Understand

 * Visit Oswestry website

Do

 * Football: The New Saints play soccer in the Cymru Premier League. That's the top tier within Wales, but mostly amateur and on a par with England's fifth tier National League. New Saints are professional and often win the CPL, doing so yet again in 2023, but don't seek promotion to the English Football League. Their stadium is Park Hall, capacity 2000, two miles northeast of town — and in England.
 * Oswestry Balloon Carnival is held in August.
 * Oswestry Balloon Carnival is held in August.

Connect
Oswestry has 4G from all UK carriers. As of June 2022, 5G has not reached town.

Go next

 * Shrewsbury
 * Chirk
 * Ellesmere
 * Welshpool

title: Oswestry


text:
Ota

Ōta (太田) is a city in Gunma.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a partly bilingual guide site.

Get in
Ota is located on the Tobu's Isesaki Line.

It is approximately 80 kilometers from Tokyo and 30 kilometers from Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture.

Direct Ryomo limited express trains run from Asakusa station in Tokyo. Services depart every 30 minutes during the mornings and evenings, and every hour during middays. The trip to Ota takes 90 minutes and costs ¥2340. Local Tobu trains, requiring a few transfers, will get you to Ota in about 2 1/4 hours for only ¥1090.

From Narita airport, Ota is most easily accessed using the Maple Bus Liner leaving almost every hour. The total trip lasts roughly 3 hours at a cost of ¥3,200.

Get around
Gunma is known for having the highest ratio of registered vehicles per population among Japan's prefectures and that is especially true of Ota, the home of Subaru Motors. There are few stations and buses tend to only run on main thoroughfares. Renting a vehicle is the most logical option for those staying outside of central Ota. Toyota Rent-a-car has two locations in the vicinity of the station and various sizes of vehicles are available for rent.

See

 * Daikoin Temple (大光院) - Founded in 1618. Popular with nickname Kosodate Donryu (meaning kid-raising Saint Donryu). Located 2.4 km northwest of the downtown.
 * Kanayama Castle (金山城) - A Kamakura-era castle on the top of Mt. Kanayama (244 m). Located 3.2 km north of the downtown.
 * Tenjinyama Kofun (天神山古墳) - A large ancient burial mound (from around the 5th century).
 * Yabuzuka Onsen (やぶ塚温泉)- Ota's hot springs. Originally it was Yabuzukahoncho Town area annexed by Ota. 9.7 km northwest of the downtown.
 * Snake Center (スネークセンター) - Located in Yabuzuka Onsen area. Famous for collection of rare kinds of snakes.

Buy

 * Aeon Mall Ota (イオンモール太田) - This large shopping mall includes a supermarket and a movie theatre as well as many restaurants and boutiques.

Eat
Ota has a special product called Ota-Yakisoba.

Drink
The south side of Ota Station features various drinking establishments, as well as the largest hostess bar district in Northern Kanto. While for all intents and purposes, a great many of the hostess bars are "Japanese Only", some establishments (particularly those staffed by Filipinas) do occasionally welcome non-Japanese. You can expect to spend roughly 4000 to 5000 per hour including drinks at most of the lower priced clubs. That being said, many such establishments may pad the bill and precaution is necessary whenever frequenting these locations.

 * United, Iida-cho 1024 (right down the main drag on the left side of the street). United is a local sports bar mainly catering to Western and Japanese clientele. A great place sit back with a bear and watch the game or shoot a round of pool. The owner and most of the staff speak English and are extremely hospitable.
 * Ebony, (Route 407 behind Sushi-ro). Ota's largest dance club, Ebony has been serving the area's large South American population for over a decade now. The clientele is usually made up of Brazilians and Peruvians, but a large number of hostesses from countries around the world frequent the club after on Saturday nights after 2am. The drink menu is somewhat sparse, but the 70's disco interior and atmosphere alone are worth the visit.

Connect
You would most likely find reliable coverage of the 2G/3G mobile networks in most locations in Ota, but the 4G network might be unreliable. Signal strength might diminish further away from the city center, and you might occasionally experience a network outage for all or some of the mobile phone service providers in the remote areas of the city. Different networks tend to be more stable and reliable in different locations of the city at different times.

MTN, 9Mobile, Airtel (Zain) and GLO are all available service providers. So if you are planning a visit to Ota, like you would do for many other places in the country, you should probably consider having multiple SIM cards, preferably for all the mobile service providers, since you can't tell which will be more stable and reliable at a time in your location during your visit. And if you will risk not having any of them, you might be better off not risking the MTN network, because, from indications, it seem to perform well than the others, though its rates may be high and its offers and services might be stringent, but you are less likely to be concerned of erratic voice and data connection compared to others.

Airtel is another service provider which is fairly satisfactory for all you might need to connect to the world, including rates and network reliability. Of course, Glo (or Globacom) boasts of fast network speed for internet browsing activities, only that you might not be able to enjoy the privilege in some locations. And 9Mobile (formerly Etisalat) usually also performs well in internet browsing speed too but with locational limitations as well, plus data rate is fairly higher.

Go next

 * Isesaki
 * Kiryu
 * Ashikaga
 * Sano
 * Oizumi
 * Oura
 * Tatebayashi
 * Maebashi - the prefectural capital
 * Midori

title: Ota


text:
Otago

Otago is a region of the South Island of New Zealand whose hilly country and sheltered valleys produce a variety of climates and some spectacular scenery. This article covers the coastal areas and Central Otago (but not the Queenstown-Lakes district of Otago).

Cities

 * – second largest city in the South Island (population 120,000)
 * – on the Otago Central Rail Trail, a 150-km walking, cycling and horse-riding trail
 * – in the former goldfields of inland Central Otago
 * – small town in the south
 * – coastal town (2nd to Dunedin in size) in the north, featuring beautiful Victorian architecture, steampunk, and blue penguin viewing
 * – a small town and Dunedin's cruise ship port

Other destinations

 * – 25 km north of Dunedin
 * – a walking track 20 km north of Dunedin
 * – forest, beaches and wildlife in south Otago (and partly in Southland)

Understand
Stretching from the Southern Alps in the centre of the island to the coast in the east, Otago can provide the full mountain-to-surf New Zealand experience. The Otago region is best thought of in two parts, coastal Otago in the east, with the main city of Dunedin at its centre, and Central Otago (called "Central" by the locals) to the west, in the centre of the island. The two parts of the region differ in climate and geography, with Central Otago being at a higher altitude, and having a more continental climate with cooler winters and hotter summers. The western part of Central Otago is covered by the Queenstown-Lakes article, rather than this one.

Dunedin sits on the coast in the east of Otago, a historic city with many attractions for tourists and access to the Otago peninsula, with its range of unique wildlife attractions. Other towns in the eastern part of Otago include coastal Oamaru (made famous by Janet Frame) and rural Balclutha. To the east Alexandra sits at the heart of central Otago, with Cromwell to its east and Roxburgh to its west.

Central Otago is known for its fruit growing and wine. It produces award-winning wines made from varieties such as the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Riesling grapes.

History
The name Otago is an anglicisation of the Māori place name Otakou as heard in the local dialect. Otakou means red earth.

The Otago region was settled by Europeans in 1848, with initial settlement concentrated in Dunedin. Otago Province was one of the six provinces of New Zealand that were established in 1853, and encompassed everything south of the Waitaki River, including present day Southland and the Queenstown-Lakes area. The 1860s saw rapid commercial expansion after Gabriel Read discovered gold at Gabriel's Gully near Lawrence, and the Central Otago goldrush ensued. Veterans of goldfields in California and Australia, plus many other fortune-seekers from Europe, North America and China, poured into Otago. Further gold discoveries at Clyde and on the Arrow River around Arrowtown led to a boom, and Otago became for a period the cultural and economic centre of New Zealand. The gold rush came and went, but left its touch on the region, including a 'frontier' feeling in many of the small towns.

Get in
Dunedin Airport has flights from Brisbane and several New Zealand cities. Otherwise Otago is normally accessed by road, driving from either Christchurch or Timaru in the north, or from the Queenstown/Wanaka region in the west.

By car
State Highway 1 (SH 1), the main highway, runs down through eastern Otago, including the main centres of Oamaru and Dunedin (and then south and on to Invercargill). The main tourist route is SH 1 south from Dunedin to Milton, and then inland along State Highway 8 across to Queenstown/Wanaka (via Roxburgh, Alexandra and Cromwell). An alternative is to take State Highway 85, which branches off from SH 1 north of Dunedin at Palmerston. That takes you to Alexandra (and on to Queenstown) via Ranfurly, and is an amazing scenic route (this way follows along some of the path taken by the Otago Central Rail Trail). You can hire a car from major towns such as Dunedin and Oamaru.

By bus
Bus and shuttle services run between the centres.

See
Like many New Zealand provinces, the landscapes and the playground they provide are the main attraction - not settlements. Coastal attractions are common along the populated east coast, including unique wildlife attractions at the Otago peninsula. Central Otago has a different climate and landscape, with the area around Ranfurly (part of the rail trail) being particularly famous for its scenery.
 * The lakes.
 * The mountains.
 * The rivers.
 * The tiny towns and villages, some now abandoned.
 * The stone architecture of many of the pioneers' structures.
 * Abandoned goldfields
 * Moeraki Boulders - a popular attraction, large spherical rocks on the beach near the fishing settlement of Moeraki, about halfway between Oamaru and Dunedin, about 20 km north of Palmerston.
 * The Vanished World Centre at Duntroon is a museum on the geology and fossils of the Waitaki district. It exhibits fossilised whales, dolphins, giant penguins, giant sharks and other invertebrates from the marine ecosystems of the Oligocene, 20–30 million years ago. There is also a self-drive Vanished World Trail you can follow to view geology, fossils and Māori rock art in situ. See the Oamaru article for more details.

Do

 * Camping. Central Otago is a popular holiday destination for Kiwis, with a number of lakes and camping locations in the region.
 * Goldpanning
 * Skiing
 * Adventure tourism
 * Adventure tourism

Eat
Central Otago is a well known stone fruit growing region. There are a large number of orchards located around Roxburgh and Cromwell. The region is particularly known for growing cherries and apricots. Roadside food stalls in these places can be a great place to pick up fruit and vegetables (although the larger ones are often designed to capture and overcharge the 'coach' tourists; you will find a better deal at the smaller ones).

Coastal Otago provides some great opportunities to try local sea food.

 * Moeraki Restaurant & Bar. Touristy cafe at the stairs to the beach to the Moeraki Boulders. Good view of sea.
 * Fish Inn, in Waikouaiti. Fish & chips shop on SH1. Good fish in light fluffy batter.
 * Moeraki Restaurant & Bar. Touristy cafe at the stairs to the beach to the Moeraki Boulders. Good view of sea.
 * Fish Inn, in Waikouaiti. Fish & chips shop on SH1. Good fish in light fluffy batter.

Drink
At latitude 45° south, the Central Otago Wine Region is the most southerly wine producing region in the world. The vineyards are also the highest in New Zealand at 200–400 m above sea level, on the floor of glacial valleys. Central Otago is a sheltered inland area with a continental micro-climate characterised by hot, dry summers, cool autumns and crisp, cold winters.

Pinot noir is the leading grape variety in Central Otago, and is estimated to account for some 70% of plantings. The Pinot Noir is notoriously fickle and difficult to grow. Central Otago, however, with its combination of climate, terroir and determined winemaking appears to have the capacity to produce a world-class Pinot Noir that is increasingly sought-after. The grape there is producing elegant wines with great ageing potential that some experts believe will ultimately equal the best in the world.

The other 30% of production comes from Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Pinot gris, and Gewürztraminer. The latter three in particular, amenable to Central Otago's climatic conditions and soil type, are showing great promise, and may develop a reputation to match the Pinot Noirs. Limited production of sparkling wine, made in the traditional style from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, has been of good quality, and has received some accolades at wine tastings around the world.

Stay safe
Unlike the more northerly parts of New Zealand, parts of Otago often gets snow in winter. Some of the roads, especially the alpine passes become icy in winter, so chains should be carried and used when called for.

Many of the main roads can also be very windy and narrow, with many blind corners. Care should be taken when driving in the region, especially when passing.

Go next

 * Canterbury region to the north; first Mid and South Canterbury, then Christchurch
 * Queenstown-Lakes region, including Wanaka and Queenstown
 * Southland region, including the city of Invercargill

title: Otago


text:
Otaki

Otaki is a town in Greater Wellington that is the place for bargains. At Otaki Beach it's a choice of all the attractions of a beachside community - the sand, the sea and warm summer waters. Otaki Town has civic, historic and Maori cultural identity. In the East, the hills ascend into a wilderness experience for trackers, rafters and hunters.

Otaki has developed its funkiest face. It has reinvented its interface with State Highway 1 making it a place of outlet shopping paradise including stores such as Pumpkin Patch, Bendon, Billabong, Kathmandu and Ice Breaker as well as boutique gift and shoe shops. Grab yourself a coffee from the local coffee cart or cafes and be on your way to shopping madness.

Go next

 * Levin
 * Waikanae

title: Otaki


text:
Otaru

Otaru (小樽) is a port city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan, the city is near Sapporo and it is a tourist destination for its food, its historical buildings and its shops.

Understand
Approximately 30 km to the west of Sapporo, Otaru is a port city by the Sea of Japan with a canal and well-preserved architectures of early modern Japan in the Meiji era. Most of the attractions are found in the city center surrounding the Otaru port.

Otaru's original name in the local Ainu language was "Otarunai" or "Ota-or-nai", meaning "river flowing through sand". The area's recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when an explorer from the Honshu island reported settlement. Otaru's early modern history as a port city started in 1871, when Japan's Meiji government opened a colonization office in Sapporo. Rapid development followed, especially after the first railway in Hokkaido was built in 1880 between Otaru and Sapporo. Still a busy port town, today's Otaru has a thriving tourism industry.

Winter in Otaru is less severe than in most other cities in Hokkaido; the yearly average temperature is 8.6 °C.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By train
Otaru is a major station on the JR Hakodate Line from Sapporo, with very frequent train runs. At a cost of ¥620, there are at least five trains per hour; the fastest service, the Airport Rapid, reaches Otaru in 30 minutes. The complete journey on the Airport Rapid from New Chitose Airport to Otaru takes 70 minutes.

By car
Otaru is 25 minutes away from Sapporo by car.

By ferry
Otaru is one of Hokkaido's key ferry ports, and the closest to Sapporo. Shin-Nihonkai Ferry(+81 6-6348-1120) operates a daily service between Otaru and Niigata (18 hours, ¥6,200+) and between Otaru and Maizuru near Kyoto (20 hours, ¥9,600+). Both services are overnight, and private cabins are available for a higher fare (the base fare buys sleeping space on the floor).

On foot
Many of its historical buildings, restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance so walking is a very easy (and cheap) means of getting around. A suggested walking itinerary begins from the Otaru Music Box Museum at one end of Sakaimachihondori Street, follow the street until it crosses a small canal, walk up the street until the Museum of the Money, and then follow the canal down and then keep following the canal when it turns left and widens up.

Do

 * Create your own music box at the Music Box museum.

Buy
Music boxes. You'll find these in Hakodate and Sapporo as well, but shops dedicated to music boxes are especially prevalent here. The two museums selling music boxes are well worth a look, particularly for the hand-cranked variety which emit tunes using a piece of cardboard with holes punched in it.

Antiques. If you walk from central station straight towards the canal district, you'll see a karaoke centre called Thriller Karaoke with a bat gargoyle above the sign. Turn right until you see an eatery called Kongetsudo on the left hand side. Across the road are two antique dealers, one male and one female, on the second storey of a small building that sell mainly kimono. This place is worth a visit as you can pick authentic kimono quite cheap here. Just remember that you may have to haggle up to 50% off the price of a kimono with the male dealer if you are a foreigner.

Glassware. Otaru is famous among Japanese for its glassware. You can buy all types of articles made of glass, from useful cups, bottles and plates, to tiny decorative fishes.

Eat
Otaru is the best town in Hokkaido for sushi, and it ranks high on the national scale too. Sushi restaurants near Kitaichi are expensive, but if you walk to the canal you can find cheaper but good sushi.

Stay safe
Like most of Hokkaido, the footpaths of Otaru tend to accumulate a lot of ice in the winter. Try to wear shoes with corrugated soles that will grip the ice. Alternatively you can buy metal-studded wraparound bands to put on your shoes from roadside shops for about ¥1700.

Go next

 * Yoichi
 * Shakotan
 * Niseko
 * Sapporo
 * Chitose
 * Akaigawa
 * Kutchan
 * Kyowa

title: Otaru


text:
Otavalo

Otavalo is a city in the North of Ecuador. It has about 50,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the canton of the same name. Otavalo is world-famous for its indigenous population, the Otavalos, many of which are travelling around the world to sell their famous handicrafts or play in Andean Folk music groups. The Otavalos are considered the economically most successful indigenous group of Latin America, and many of the grandest houses and largest pick-up trucks in Otavalo are owned by Otavalos. However, a great percentage of the Otavalos, especially in the surrounding villages, live in poverty and are victims of racial discrimination. Otavalos are easily recognized by their traditional dress: white pants and a dark poncho for men; a dark skirt and a white blouse with colourful embroidery and colourful waisteband for women. Both sexes wear their hair long (the men usually platted).

From Quito
Otavalo is approximately 2 hours north of Quito on the Panamerican Highway. Buses to Otavalo leave from the Terminal Carcelén in the North of Quito and may disembark at a small bus terminal in Otavalo along Calle Atahualpa & Jacinto Collahuazo. Some buses have onward destinations (e.g. Ibarra) and only stop in the outskirts of Otavalo. The bus ride costs $3.10 (September 2023). To get to Terminal Carcelén From the Centro Histórico or La Mariscal, take a taxi, or take the Ecovia bus to the last station, Río Coca, and then take a taxi ($5-6 (Jan 2018)) or local bus to Terminal Carcelén.

You may also catch a taxi from Quito Airport at a price of between $50-60. If tight on time, it saves you the time to head to Quito and backtrack towards Otavalo.

From the north
If you come from Tulcán near the Colombian border, buses will probably drop you off at the Pan American highway. From there, it's a 10-minute walk to the center.

The "Otavalo" and "Las Lagos" bus companies running between Quito and Ibarra to the north of Otavalo will drop you off at the bus terminal in Otavalo.

Outbound buses for Quito and Ibarra(0.65USD) leave from the same terminal about every 15 minutes.

Get around
Taxis will take you anywhere within town for $1. Some 'taxis' appear to be white/gray pickup trucks and will drive passengers from outskirts of town into the city. Negotiate with the driver if you want to go to places outside town. To Peguche waterfall, the rate is about $2,50, to Mojanda Lake, you will pay about $10. There are also plenty of buses going to nearby communities and towns, most of them leaving from the main terminal.

See
You can go to the lake with a taxi (should be around $5-6), which will wait for you if you stay for half an hour. You can also take one of the six daily busses from Otavalo to Intag. All of them pass by the lake. The lake is not visible from the road, so it’s best to tell the driver, you want to go to the lake. The names of the bus companies going to Intag are: “6 de Julio” and “Otavalo”.
 * Town Markets. Every Saturday there is a Mercado Artesanal at the so-called Plaza de Ponchos between calle Sucre and Jaramillo, where indigenous and mestizo people from Otavalo and surrounding communities sell their handicrafts. You will find a wide range of weavings, jewelry, clothes, wood and stone carvings, paintings, hats, and all kind of kitsch from pretty much any corner of Ecuador and neighbouring Peru and Colombia. Most vendors will claim that their goods are all hand-made at home, but you will soon get a feel what´s machine-made mass production and what´s a real quality handicraft. Although Saturday is the main market day, purchasing handicrafts on any other day is possible and a far less hectic experience. If you want something more authentic or just want to stock up on your groceries, try the town's largest food market Mercado 24 de Mayo (open all week). There is also an animal market Mercado de Animales, previously in the northwest of town across the Panamarican Highway, and later moved to 5km North of Otavalo, where local farmers buy and sell their livestock. This market is quite an experience, but not recommendable for people who care about animal rights (unless you are planning to protest about the way those animals are treated there).
 * Peguche Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall with a height of 18 m, situated at 3 km from Otavalo. After the waterfall, the river takes the name of "Jatun Yacu" or "Big Water". This is a sacred place for the Indians as they have a close relationship with nature, especially mountains, water and certain trees. Lagoons, springs and waterfalls are considered places full with powers, where the natives carry out ritual baths of purification or pacts with the spirits of the place. Entrance Fee: $1 (Sep 2023)
 * Imbabura Mountain, 4610 m hgh, is 60 km north of Quito, near Otavalo and San Pablo Lake. In local legend it is considered the father of the indigenous people and culture: the "Taita” (father) as they call him, is the protector of the Indians, symbol of hardness and virility; crops and good weather depend on him. During droughts, the locals carry out rituals on the mountain or in other sacred places to ask for his help. During these ceremonies, there is a "Huaccha Caray"(poor gifts), which consists in collecting food of all the families: this food is then blessed by the Yachac or shamán, and shared by all people, while they pray and ask God and the Taita Imbabura for water.
 * San Pablo Lake lies 3.5 km southeast from the center of Otavalo at the feet of the volcano Imbabura. It occupies a tectonic hole that is approximately 4 km long and 3 km wide. It is one of the most visited lakes in Ecuador. Imbakucha and Chicapán are Kichua names for the lake. Chicapán is the oldest archaic name. The lake is worshipped by the inhabitants of the different communities in its surroundings. There are also some old legends that explain the mythical origin of the lake.
 * Cerro Cayambe is an imposing extinct volcano, the third highest mountain of Ecuador and the highest point on the planet crossed by the equatorial line. It is located approximately 65 km northeast of Quito and 60 km southeast of Otavalo. On clear days, its snow-covered summit is perfectly visible from several points of the northern region. For indigenous people, due to its location and its form, Cayambe constituted an important astronomical reference and an exact agricultural calendar. Local people considered the mountain as the center of the Universe and time.
 * Cotacachi Village is a small town of 20,000 inhabitants some 20km north of Otavalo. The town is famous for its leather goods. Frequent buses go there from Otavalo (35¢).
 * Cotacachi Mountain, 4,939 m high, occupies the position N° 11 on the list of Ecuador´s highest mountains. Located 18 km northwest of Otavalo, it is part of the Ecological Reserve "Cotacachi Cayapas". For the indigenous people this mountain is a woman whose full name is: Maria Isabel Nieves Cotacachi. There are many legends regarding her love with the “taita” Imbabura. The climb to its top is of medium difficulty, compound mainly of rock and in its final part of rock and snow. It is an active volcano although there is no historical records on recent eruptions. Its crater is located towards the western side. At its western flanks it joins extensive moor areas, lagoons and cloud forest.
 * Cuicocha Lake is 14 km northwest of Otavalo, at the base of Cotacachi Mountain. It is a deep volcanic crater that is 4 km long and 3 km wide. In the center of this lake are three domes of volcanic rock that form two islands covered with vegetation and separated by a water channel, called “channel of dreams". Its name derives from a pre-inca language: "Tsui cocha" meaning "lagoon of the gods." There is a path around the lagoon that takes about 5 hours to walk (12 km). The access road to Cotacachi Mountain departs from this path. If you have little time, you can do the walk from the checkpoint to the museum: about 30 minutes walking and very nice views of both the lake, the volcano and the valley where Otavalo and Cotacachi are.
 * Chachimbiro hot springs are of volcanic origin with temperatures of 45 to 55°C. The water has a high level of chlorides and iron, magnesium, copper, sulfur among other minerals. The water acts as a purgative stimulant of the cardiovascular system and it has anti inflammatory effects; it also has a diuretic effect and stimulates the central nervous system. And, last but not least, Chachimbiro has all the accomodities you need to stay and feel happy.
 * Ibarra is the capital of Imbabura province. A culinary speciality of Ibarra is Helados de Paila, a type of sorbet icecream. Made of fresh fruit, it is a must for any visitor.
 * Ilumàn offers amazing walking, and a much quieter pace of life, and is a 15-minute bus ride from touristy Otavalo. This indigenous village is truly charming and famous for the many natural healers, or shamans, using all kind of medicinal plants and traditional cleaning rituals. There are over 100 shamans in Ilumàn´s shaman´s association.
 * Museo del Pueblo Kichwa (also known as Museo Vivante) is a delightful museum a 15-minute walk from town, on the other side of the Panamerican highway. Walk northwest on Morales across the river, turn right when the road stops, and ask for directions to "la vieja fabrica".  A group of locals re-opened an old textile factory and hacienda as a living history and cultural museum.  The enthusiastic Kichwa guide (a former worker at the factory) will show you traditional clothing, agricultural tools, and weaving instruments and explain his people's holidays, weddings, and burial customs.  Living history area includes weavers using backstrap and frame looms, a traditional healer's apothecary, and a midwife's delivery area.  Tours in Spanish, unclear if English is an option.  Open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. $4.
 * Other Villages There is a large number of villages surrounding Otavalo, Ibarra, and Cotacachi. Each village tends to specialise in the manufacture of a one particular good, e.g. weavings, rugs, embroidery, wood carvings, handicrafts made of totora reed, and others.

Buy

You will find many vendors who sell exactly the same, so shopping around to get the best price for your desired souvenir is all too easy. Bargaining is accepted, but as most prices are a bargain anyway, pushing the price down is not as integral to the market experience as in Oriental bazaars. Also, try to buy souvenirs directly from the people that produce them, i.e. in the surrounding villages, as many people in the market are resellers who pay pity-prices to the producers. Some of the surrounding towns and villages specialize on certain materials for their handicrafts, e.g. Cotacachi (leather) or San Antonio (wood), so you certainly get more choice and probably better prices there than at the Otavalo market.

Eat
You will find restaurants with national and international cuisine all over town. However, restaurant locations, names and owners change quickly and it is best to ask fellow travellers and locals for their latest recommendations. Prices range from $1.50 for a set lunch with soup and main course, to $7-9 for a dinner in one of the nicer restaurants. There are also a few purely vegetarian restaurants in town, and some restaurants have a range of vegetarian options available. However, vegetarians are not common, so you do run the risk of just having chicken pieces being taken out of the 'caldo de gallina', and served as vegetable soup. More adventurous diners may want to try one of the many food stalls around the handicraft market, at the market "24 de Mayo", or at the "Feria Imbabio". The roast pork and the fried tilapia offered there look delicious (and they really are), but make sure that the stalls fulfill basic hygiene requirements. You might also find the traditional roast guinea-pig ("cuy asado") there. Give it a try, its really yummy, although it doesn't have much meat on it.

For those with a sweet tooth, try the "Pie Shop" at the southern corner of the Plaza de Ponchos, or the café on the third floor of the cinema "Sisa" on Calle Calderon between Calle Bolivar and Sucre, which also serves excellent espresso-style coffees.

Drink
Popular drinking spots in the center of town include "The Red Pub" on Calle Morales between Calle Sucre and Jaramillo, and "El Fauno" just opposite. On weekends you will find a quite lively nightlife along the northern end of Calle "31 de Octubre", with an array of clubs, peñas, and bars.

Sleep
Finding accommodation in Otavalo is no problem at all, even on busy weekends. All over Otavalo and in neighbouring town and villages there are some 50 establishments offering accommodation for all budgets, from simple dorm beds in backpacker hostels, to luxury-style suites in centuries-old haciendas. The only time of year when you should consider booking at least a week in advance is the time of the Inti Raymi (Sun Festival) around 21 June and during the Yamor-festivities in early September.

There are a number of budget options, including a few backpacker style hostels. There are so many hotels in Otavalo that there is fierce competition. Prices are flexible and you should definitely haggle/negotiate your hotel price. Below are a few of the many budget options:

Below is a selection of midrange to toprange hotels that receive good reports.

If you want to experience a homestay with local families and learn about their culture and way of life, the following options are recommended.

title: Otavalo