text:
Courmayeur

Courmayeur is a skiing and mountaineering resort at the head of Valle d’Aosta, in northwest Italy. At 1224 m elevation, it has a spectacular location near the foot of Mont Blanc (called Monte Bianco in Italian).

Understand
The village has been settled since Roman times, during which the villagers subsisted on a sparse crop of rye and meat, and was a spa resort as early as the 18th century, because of its sulphurous springs. It began to grow during the 19th century's fashion for alpinism, and Italy’s first alpine guide society was established here. In the 20th century, it developed as a ski resort. The opening of the Mont Blanc tunnel in 1965 greatly improved road access from northern Europe. The core of the village is the 1 km pedestrianised section of Via Roma, between Hotel Courmayeur at the south end and the town hall at the north end. About 500 m SW of Hotel Courmayeur, down Via Volpi, is the base station for the main cable-car; the north end of the village is served by the smaller Dolonne cable-car. These both rise to the 1702 m station of Plan Checrouit, a small plateau with restaurants, bars and ski rental & schools. All the resort’s skiing is above here: the ski lifts close late afternoon, but the main cable-car runs till 23:40, and the plateau restaurants and bars stay open evenings.

Beyond the centre of Courmayeur, the village straggles along highway SS26. The top of the highway is at the small settlement of La Palud / Entreves, where Valle d’Aosta is formed by the confluence of Val Ferret from the east, and Val Veny from the west. A third cable-car runs up to the ski slopes from here. The SS26 interchanges with the Autostrada, which briefly emerges from its tunnel to take a last gulp of air before plunging beneath Mont Blanc to France.

By plane
The closest airport is Geneva, 100 km northwest via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Most tour operators fly into Turin Caselle, 150 km south. About 220+ km away south are the Milan airports of Malpensa and Linate. All these have good connections across Europe, and Geneva’s reach is global.

By car
Autostrada A5 (toll) comes up Valle d’Aosta from Turin past Ivrea and Aosta – above Aosta it’s mostly in tunnels, bad for views but good for weather-proofing. After the Courmayeur exit, it continues north to the last exit for Italy at La Palud then into the Mont Blanc tunnel (cars €45 single, €56 to return within 7 days), emerging 11.6 km later above Chamonix in France. This is the obvious route to Geneva, and the recommended route to eastern Switzerland, Austria and Germany. (The short cut from Chamonix to Martigny via Col de Montets may be closed by winter weather, in which case take the long way around via Thonon & Evian.) Switzerland can also be reached via the Great St Bernard Tunnel (open year-round, but the historic road over the pass is only open in summer). The Little St Bernard Pass (open summer only) crosses into France via La Thuile towards Val d’Isere and Annecy.

Savda buses run four times a day between the Turin railway stations and Aosta, taking two hours, change there for the local bus to Courmayeur (see below).

By train
From Turin, change at Ivrea for the train to Aosta. A connecting Savda bus runs between Aosta station and Courmayeur. Until 2016 trains continued up the valley to Pre St Didier, but this link has been cancelled, citing low passenger numbers for the cost of running it.

There is of course no railway under Mont Blanc, nor any plans to build one. It’s arguably the biggest missing link in the European railway network.

Get around
Savda buses run every 30 min between Aosta and Courmayeur, taking one hour. They also do a circuit of Courmayeur (as far up as La Palud) every half hour. There’s a direct service between Courmayeur and La Thuile, 3 times in the morning and 3 late afternoon.

Their direct bus between Courmayeur and Chamonix runs six times a day, 45 minutes via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Other destinations will usually mean changing in Aosta.

See

 * in Courmayeur village documents the craft of mountain guiding. The Duke was an early alpinist, founding the guides’ society in 1850, and together they made many exploratory ascents, nearby in the 19th century and then globally in the 20th. It was always primarily a recreational activity here, and client-driven, as Courmayeur isn’t on a historic transalpine route. Entry €3, the opening times posted are just a statement of good intentions but usually daily from 17:00.
 * Church of St Pantaleon & St Valentine, opposite the museum in Courmayeur, is early 18th century.
 * Sanctuary of Notre Dame de Guérison is a church at the foot of Val Veny.
 * On a clear day, ride up the Monte Bianco Skyway, the cable-car which ascends from near La Palud. At the midway station of Pavillon (2173 m), in summer take the short walk to Saussurea Alpine Botanical Gardens. The lift continues up to the terrace at Punta Helbronner (3462 m) on the border with France. From here there are off-piste trails down the glaciers, for expert skiers only, and a guide is essential. The lift system then descends into Chamonix but the Skyway ticket doesn’t give access to the Chamonix ski lifts, and it isn’t a practical route into that ski area – drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel instead. A return trip up the Skyway is €49 for an adult, unless your ski lift pass covers it – see below. The Skyway is routinely closed in November for annual maintenance.
 * If it’s clear-ish but not clear enough for the Skyway (the summit is often mist-shrouded), instead ride up the Courmayeur cable-car to Plan Checrouit. An adult return is €16 if you don’t have a lift pass.

Do
Ski: the resort is good for beginners and intermediates, who for a one-week holiday will be well-served by the Courmayeur six-day pass. In winter 2018/19 it cost €239 for adults, reductions for under 18 and over 65. Uplift from town is via the main or the smaller. All the skiing is on the two sides of the ridge above, mostly blues and reds with limited black runs. Uplift is good and queues are seldom significant except for the cable-car up to Youla, at 2624 m the highest piste. A final cable-car climbs from Youla to Arp (2755 m) but it’s off-piste only from here, or admire the view from the terrace then ride back down to Youla.

As the resort is high, the snow is as reliable as you’ll find anywhere in Europe, but this does mean a risk of avalanches: the pistes are well-monitored but fatal incidents off-piste are not uncommon. On 1 March 2017 three people were killed on an off-piste route into Val Veny.

The Courmayeur area does not link into any other ski domain, so you have to return to the valley and jump in the car to get elsewhere. However the six-day pass is also valid for two days skiing anywhere in Valle d’Aosta (La Thuile or Pila being the obvious choices), or one such day and one trip sight-seeing up the Monte Bianco Skyway as described earlier. Expert skiers, and intermediates staying longer than a week, should consider buying the Valle d’Aosta pass, or the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass which covers an enormous domain including Chamonix, Megeve and Verbier. You need your own transport to benefit from these.

Other activities around Courmayeur include climbing - all ranges of difficulty, in amazing scenery, and summer trekking from easy walks to guided hikes.

Events: Courmayeur Noir film festival takes place in mid-December. Check local media and hotel noticeboards for other events and fiestas. Mardi Gras 2017 took place in heavy snowfall, with the brass band, morris dancers and giant papier-mache head of Donald Trump looming out of the swirling snow.

Eat
Lots of eating places along Via Roma or just off it, eg La Piazetta and La Padella. Also consider a walk-in meal at one of the hotels, Cresta et Duc is particularly good. Places up the mountain include Christiana and La Chaumiere.

Drink
Try the local white wine – Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle is DOC Valle d’Aosta. An exceptional local product is the “ice-wine” Chaudelune from ice-charred grapes.

Many of the bars serve aperitivos, free snacks from about 16:00, though of course that’s reflected in the price of drinks. Popular spots along the main drag of Via Roma include Bar Roma, American Bar and Le Privé cocktail bar. Places up the mountain at Plan Checrouit include Christiana and Super G.

Sleep
In peak ski season, hotels may be entirely booked out to package tours. It’s particularly busy at Italian half-term in late February, usually a week or two later than the English half-term.

Go next
Either go back down the valley to Aosta and Turin, or through the tunnel to France. Or take the summer-only route over the Little St Bernard pass, descending through swathes of lupins to Bourg St-Maurice and Moutiers.

title: Courmayeur


text:
Courtallam

Kuttralam is a city in Tamil Nadu, India. Courtallam is the anglicized version of Kuttralam.

Understand
Kuttralam is in the Tirunelveli district of South India. It is famous for its numerous waterfalls. You can literally find people running around and taking bath in waterfalls with towels on their shoulders. The waterfalls are fed by the monsoon, colloquially referred to as "Kuttralam Season". Due to its location and relative cheap expenses, it is often referred to as "Poor man's paradise". The best time to visit is mid-June to September and October-January.

Kuttralam is also mentioned in many classical Tamil literary works.

Get in
Kuttralam is a famous location is Tamil Nadu, so getting in is not a problem.

By plane
Madurai is the nearest airport, which has flights connecting to Chennai. You can reach Kuttralam by bus, train or by hiring a taxi from Madurai. The journey takes about 3 hours. Another one is Thiruvananthapuram international airport ~100 km and it takes 3 hours from there too. Thenmala eco-tourism centre, Palaruvi waterfalls and Kulathuppuzha Ayyappa temple are on the route from Thiruvananthapuram.

There is also an airport at Tuticorin 90km which has infrequent flights.

By train
Tenkasi is the nearest rail head. It is connected to Chennai and Tirunelveli by frequent services. You can hire a taxi or an auto from Tenkasi Railway Station to reach Kuttralam.

Kuttralam is just 6km away from Thenkasi Railway Junction. Getting in is easy.

By car
Kuttralam is situated about 200km from Madurai, 65 km from Tirunelveli and 5 km from Tenkasi. Tenkasi is a bustling town, which has decent bus services to many parts in south Tamil Nadu. Alternatively, special buses operated by the government ply directly to Kuttralam during the season.

By boat
Though there are numerous waterfalls, they are only from small streams. So, Kuttralam does not have a pier. The nearest seaport is at Tuticorin.

By auto
Auto Rickshaws (trishaw or Tuk-tuk) are available at every corner and near the waterfalls. They can be used to effectively see the various waterfalls within the place.

By car
Hiring a cab is a common mode of transport. The common waterfalls have parking facilities with nominal charges, so it is advisable to hire a cab...

See
Wherever you turn, you will see people with towels moving about. There are numerous waterfalls in Kuttralam which offer beautiful and scenic moments to experience.

Do
Kuttralam is located away from the city's bustle, so you can unwind and relax here. The town gets crowded during the season, as people pour in to experience for the "Kuttralam experience".

Obviously, the must thing to do in Kuttralam is take bath! Facilities are available at all the falls for safe bathing with separate facilities for women, and even police presence! This is required as a precaution as number of people come in during the season, and the crowd could get out of hand. Have an oil massage which is very pleasant before a bath in the falls.

During the peak season this place will be like a paradise, It is also called as poor mans Ooty but now all the cost is getting increased due to the popularity

Buy
Local handicrafts and souvenirs are available.Fruits like Rambootan,Mangosteen, are available.

Eat
There are numerous hotels in the town, being a tourist spot. One of the famous hotel, Rahmed Porata stall situated in piranoor, that is in the bus route of Senkaottai to Tenkasi via Ilanji. There is very long queue during the season period, since it the good non-vegetarian hotel for over more than 15 years. The cuisine is traditionally South Indian with limited options for others. Its also famously known as the Bilal Border Parotta Shop

Drink
There are numerous tea-shops for a hot sip of tea or coffee.

Alcohol is served in bars and also by government run "TASMAC" shops. Please be aware that public consumption is prohibited, and you could get into trouble.

Sleep
There are resorts, hotels, lodges available both in Tenkasi and Kuttralam. They have differential rates during the peak season.

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

title: Courtallam


text:
Courtenay

Courtenay is a city of about 26,000 people (2016) on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia. Together with the Town of Comox and the Village of Cumberland, Courtenay lies in an area known as the Comox Valley between the Beaufort Range and Comox Glacier in the west, and the Strait of Georgia in the east.

Understand
From its inception, Courtenay's economy relied heavily on the extraction of natural resources, like coal, logging, fishing, and agriculture. Over the years as this natural resource extraction decreased, Courtenay has focused its economic growth on supplying services to the large retiree community and the military families at CFB Comox, which is the largest employer in the Valley, supplying approximately 1,400 jobs. Tourism has also been steadily increasing.

History
For thousands of years before the first contact with European explorers, Courtenay had been the home to the Comox people now the K'ómoks First Nation. The K'ómoks people farmed the rich agricultural land, and proximity to the local waterways allowed for fishing and trade with nearby First Nations people. In the Comox language, K’omoks means "plenty" – resulting in the Valley being known as the "Land of Plenty". In 1792, Captain George Vancouver, anchored HMS Discovery in what soon would be known as the Comox Harbour and made contact with the First Nations people in the area.

The settlement of Courtenay by Europeans began in the spring of 1862. The first settlers were coal miners from Nanaimo who were drawn to the area, because it had been known as one of the best agricultural districts in the colony. The early settlers relied on the knowledge and help of the local First Nations people. They hired them for general labour and farm work, although they were paid low wages as were most non-white people during that time. Many of the settlers ended up marrying or living with First Nations women who provided trading and social connections to surrounding First Nations people.

In 1864, Robert Brown, leading the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition, discovered coal deposits in the Comox Valley, and by 1888 Robert Dunsmuir purchased mining claims in the area. He eventually established a mine in Union, later renamed Cumberland, which brought an influx of settlers, and Chinese and Japanese immigrants. During the establishment of the mining and farming industry, the downtown of Courtenay developed on both sides of the Courtenay River, initially on the east side then the west. The two sides were eventually connected by a bridge in 1874. Courtenay was incorporated as a town in 1915, and designated a city in 1953. The city was named after the Courtenay River, which in turn, was named after George William Courtenay, captain of the British ship HMS Constance, which was stationed in the area between 1846 and 1849. On 12 July 1915, a large fire ripped through 5th Street destroying much of the south side of the downtown. After much of the street was rebuilt, another fire hit the south side of 5th Street, again destroying many of the stores.

On 14 June 1946, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck just west of Courtenay, with the epicentre at Forbidden Plateau. The earthquake was felt as far north as Prince Rupert and as far south as Portland, Oregon. Many of the town's chimneys were destroyed, and there was some significant damage to the post office and the Courtenay elementary school. This was the largest earthquake to hit Vancouver Island, and the largest onshore earthquake in Canada on record. There were only two reported deaths.

Climate
The climate in Courtenay is very similar to that of the rest of Vancouver Island. In the summer months it can sometimes be considered to have a Mediterranean-like climate due to the low levels of precipitation and drying. In the spring and fall seasons, Courtenay tends to be quite cool and wet. It has one of the mildest winters in Canada. The high precipitation levels can be attributed to both the oceanic climate and also its proximity to the Insular Mountain range which results in the rain shadow effect.

Get in
The Comox Valley stretches from Fanny Bay to Saratoga Beach and includes the communities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland, as well as Denman and Hornby Islands. The Comox Valley is accessible by land, sea or air.

By car
The Comox Valley is a three-hour (220 km/137 mile) drive north from Victoria or a 75-minute (107 km/66 mile) drive from Nanaimo, where the ferry terminals of Departure Bay and Duke Point are located. Drive Highway #19, the new inland, four-lane expressway. From Highway #19 take exits #101, #117, #127, #130 or #144 to access various points in the Comox Valley. Visitors can also take the scenic Oceanside Route on the old Island Highway #19A.

By ferry

 * The nearest ferry terminal is in Comox (Little River), which has daily service from Powell River (Westview). Public transit is available Monday to Saturday between Courtenay and the Comox (Little River).

By private boat
Those travelling by boat will find a full range of facilities including moorage, showers, restaurants and shops adjacent to the Comox Marina. Contact the Comox Valley Harbour Authority at, for more information.

By plane

 * Helijet International offers non-stop flights to and from Seattle Boeing Field to the Campbell River Airport, which is a 35-minute drive from the Comox Valley.

Get around
Throughout the Comox Valley and surrounding areas, local bus and 24-hour taxi services are provided.

By bus

 * Although it is quite small with only 13 bus routes, it provides quick and inexpensive transportation throughout the Comox Valley, including Courtenay. From the main bus stop, on Cliffe Avenue in downtown Courtenay, there are buses that go to Comox, Cumberland, Royston, as far south as Fanny Bay, and as far north as Oyster River. BC Transit also operates a handyDART transportation service, for people who have a disability or require extra assistance.
 * Bus route 12 between Courtenay and Oyster River (35 to 45 minutes) operates Monday to Saturday, where passengers can transfer to BC Transit's Campbell River Transit System's bus route 6 to reach Campbell River (16 minutes to Willow Point, then transfer to routes 1, 2 or 3 to reach downtown Campbell River in another 15 to 20 minutes).

See

 * Performing theatre groups include the Rainbow Youth Theatre and the Courtenay Little Theatre.
 * Performing theatre groups include the Rainbow Youth Theatre and the Courtenay Little Theatre.
 * Performing theatre groups include the Rainbow Youth Theatre and the Courtenay Little Theatre.

Do

 * There are several other festivals in the area and they include the North Island Festival of Performing Arts, Fiddlefest, Comox Valley Highland Games and the Comox Valley Piano Society puts on performances at the Stan Hagen Theatre.
 * Walking trails include:
 * Walking trails include:
 * Walking trails include:

Go next

 * Hornby Island - enjoy life on a smaller island, reached by traveling to Denman Island, then taking a another ferry to Hornby Island
 * Comox - neighbouring municipality in the Comox Valley
 * Powell River - accessible via ferry across the Georgia Strait on the Sunshine Coast
 * Mt. Washington Alpine Resort - alpine resort with skiing (downhill and cross country), snowboarding, and tubing in the winter and a number of hiking and mountain biking trails in the summer.

title: Courtenay


text:
Courtenay (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Courtenay:

Canada

 * Courtenay - a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia

United States of America

 * Courteney (Florida) - a town on Merritt Island, in Brevard County (Space Coast)

title: Courtenay (disambiguation)


text:
Kortrijk

Kortrijk (French: Courtrai, sometimes referred to in English as Courtray) is a city in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the arrondissement of Kortrijk, which has about 285,000 inhabitants (2014). The wider municipality comprises the city of Kortrijk proper and the towns of Aalbeke, Bellegem, Bissegem, Heule, Kooigem, Marke, and Rollegem.

The city is on the Leie River, 42 km (26 miles) southwest of Ghent and 25 km (15 miles) northeast of Lille in France. Kortrijk and Lille are part of the same transnational Eurodistrict urban area with around 1,900,000 inhabitants.

As the biggest city of southern West Flanders, Kortrijk has many schools, a university, hospitals and shopping streets.

Understand
Kortrijk is a medium-sized city with a good balance of tradition and innovation/modernism. It has always been famous for shopping, and in 2010 a big shopping centre was opened in the heart of the city. There are traffic-free shopping zones, and lots of historical sites in the city centre. Outside the centre there are some less developed neighbourhoods, though none are really bad.

Kortrijk is a rather safe city. Suburbs/satellite cities like Menen have to endure mainly burglary criminality from youth and gangsters, but Kortrijk is rather safe.

The city is known as the Guldensporenstad (City of the Golden Spurs), after the battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. It used to be the centre of the linen industry and is still known as an important textile industry region.

Talk
As Kortrijk is a part of Flanders, the main language is Dutch. Many of the inhabitants will be happy to answer you in English or if you ask beforehand, in French, although automatically starting a discussion in French could offend some of the locals. Some older people speak a little German.

By train
The is in the centre of the city. Kortrijk is an important node in Flanders' railroad network.
 * Direct connections from Brussels and Ghent. Kortrijk is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from both Brussels and 26 to 35 minutes from Ghent, depending on the type of train you take. So make sure to take the quicker train, unless you like to spend time in trains.
 * The French city of Lille is a train ride of 40 minutes away from Kortrijk. Occasionally, this will require a change in the Belgian/Walloon border town of Mouscron. Kortrijk can also be reached from Lille by taking a Tournai train and changing at Froyennes.
 * There are also direct connections to and from Ghent and Bruges. The train covers the distance in 50 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

High speed train lines do not stop in Kortrijk. There is a direct connection to the Lille Flandres and Lille Europe train station (30 minutes by train) however. Accessing Kortrijk from England/Paris through stopping in Lille is easier and quicker to do than going to Brussels and taking the regional train in Brussels.

By bus
Next to the train station there is a large bus station, giving access to regional bus lines and a well-constructed city bus network. The Flemish national bus company, De Lijn, has lines to Kortrijk from Mouscron, Roeselare, Waregem and other neighbouring towns. For more information regarding different timetables (only available in Dutch): https://www.delijn.be.

By car
Kortrijk has an inner beltway, the R8. This highway is connected to the A19 (Ypres/Ieper), E403 (Bruges/Brugge, Ostend/Oostende, Tournai/Doornik) and the E17 (Lille/Rijsel, Ghent/Gent, Antwerp/Antwerpen, Brussels/Brussel).

By plane

 * Daily connections by train to Brussels Airport . Lille Airport can also be an option.
 * Daily connections by train to Brussels Airport . Lille Airport can also be an option.

Get around
Kortrijk has a well-formed bus system, offering easy transport to main spots like Kortrijk Xpo and most surrounding cities.

Historical buildings

Do

 * Football: KV Kortrjik play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Guldensporen Stadion (capacity 9400) is 1 km northwest of town centre.
 * Football: KV Kortrjik play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Guldensporen Stadion (capacity 9400) is 1 km northwest of town centre.
 * Football: KV Kortrjik play soccer in Pro League, Belgium's top tier. Their home ground Guldensporen Stadion (capacity 9400) is 1 km northwest of town centre.

Buy
Kortrijk offers one of the biggest car free areas in Belgium where one can shop or have drink on a nice terrace. One of these streets, the Korte Steenstraat, was the very first pedestrian street in Belgium.

Drink

 * The typical place to party is the end of the Burgemeester Reynaertstraat close to the station. By the local public this is called 'Het Straatje', which stands for 'the little street'. This is a typical place for going out on Thursday night and in the weekend. There are around seven bars, which typical have loud music and are for dancing.
 * If you're keen to enjoy a quiet drink, a place to go is the Vlasmarkt, on a minute walk from The Belfry. A handful of bars there are very nice designed and enjoyable to visit, and usually, they are less expensive then the bars on the Market Place. This place is frequented by locals.

Connect
As of July 2022, Kortrijk has 4G from Base / Telenet and Orange, and 5G from Proximus / Scarlet. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe

 * Generally safe, small unsafe areas near the station (at night) and the Venning, a local neighbourhood.
 * The local police station is at the end of the street in front of the train station (next to Domino's Pizza). Most of the police officers speak fluent Dutch/English/French.
 * Small crimes (vandalism) or information (directions) can easily be reported/asked at some of the city's "guards", who just walk around dressed in purple.

Go next
Kortrijk is on the "Vlaanderen Fietsroute", a cycling network through Flanders, a network of 800 km guiding you through Flanders nicest spots by bike.

 * Brussels — Belgian and European capital.
 * Antwerp — a large and active harbor city, famous for its fashion and diamonds.
 * Ghent — An important and vibrant university city with beautiful architecture, often overlooked by tourists who visit Brugge or Brussels.
 * Bruges — The famous capital of West-Flanders. The entire city centre is Unesco Heritage. Often called: "Venice of the north", due to the many canals and scenic centre.
 * Ypres — Pretty town famous for World War I battles.
 * Lille — French big city with Flemish roots, forms a metropolitan area with Kortrijk.
 * Tournai (Dutch: Doornik) — only 30-35 minutes away by train in French-speaking Wallonia.

title: Kortrijk


text:
Covasna County

Covasna County is in Transylvania, Romania.

Cities

 * (Hungarian: Barót)
 * (Hungarian: Kovászna)
 * (Hungarian: Bodzaforduló)
 * (Hungarian: Sepsiszentgyörgy) — one of the oldest cities in Transylvania, it was first documented in 1332
 * (Hungarian: Kézdivásárhely)

Understand
The county sits among mountains in the Eastern Carpathians group. Most towns can be found in the valleys and depressions along the different rivers crossing the county. The main river is the Olt River; along its banks lies the capital city Sfântu Gheorghe.

Talk
The majority of the county's population is of Hungarian ethnic (~74%), a notable exception being the Intorsura Buzaului area. Hungarian is what you will hear most often, but Romanian is also spoken and it is the official language. Almost all locals speak and understand Romanian, even though not perfect and their accent might be funny. Foreign languages are less known, especially by elder persons and in rural areas.

By train
The main train line crosses the country from south to west, the closest railway hub being Brasov (Brassó). There are several long distance, accelerated, rapid and intercity trains connecting the county with other cities from Transylvania (Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), Satu Mare (Szatmár), Baia Mare (Nagybánya)), Moldavia (Iasi, Suceava]), the capital city of Bucharest, Oltenia (Craiova]) as well as the Black Sea Coast in summer period. There are two international trains connecting the county with Budapest.

By car
The national roads DN11 (Brasov - Bacau - for those coming from Bucharest, from the west or from Moldavia), DN12 (Brasov-Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda) - for those coming from northern Transylvania) and DN10 (from Buzau and the Black Sea Coast) are the main entries to the county.

By plane
There are no airports in the county, the closest international airports being in Bucharest, Targu Mures (Marosvásárhely), Sibiu (Nagyszeben) and Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár). An airport is under construction near Brasov (Brassó), close to the county border.

By train
A secondary line connects the capital of the county with other town and villages, going from Sfantu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) to Bretcu (Bereck) in south-east - north-west direction, operated by a private company called RegioTrans. In spite of the small distance covered, the travel time can be large (~2 hours for 65km).

By car
This is the most convenient way to explore the county. The national roads (DN) are in good condition, some going through an extensive reconstruction work as of 2010 (DN12, DN2D). The quality of the county and rural roads (codenamed DJ, DC) vary, from very good to very bad, especially in the spring months after a heavy winter. Work is ongoing to improve the situation though.

Stay safe
The whole area is very safe, one of the safest counties in Romania. Violent crime is extremely rare (a few cases per year) and is not linked to tourists, but happens inside a family or between drunken people. Do not get into disputes with drunken people and be aware that many rural locals might carry on a small knife with them (for peaceful reasons, like cutting bread and bacon).

Street begging is mostly an annoyance in the towns, but not a problem in rural places. If a beggar approaches you, say firmly "No!", and walk away.

Stealing from cars or the cars happens from time to time, especially in the eastern part, but it is not a general problem.

title: Covasna County


text:
Coventry

Coventry is a large city in the West Midlands region of England, part of the United Kingdom. It has a population of just over 365,000 (2018), making it the eleventh-largest city in the country. Locally, the city is known as 'The Three Spired City', because of the church and cathedral spires that form the most striking aspect of the city's landscape. Coventry is perhaps best known for its association with the 11th century legend of Lady Godiva and for its two cathedrals, one of which is preserved as ruins after heavy bombing in the Second World War. Although an old city, visitors should not expect much in the way of old-world charm. Extensive rebuilding of the city following the war in the 1940s and 1950s replaced much of its pre-war appeal with questionable concrete structures and a highly pedestrianised city centre, enveloped by a partially-elevated ring road.

History
The area that Coventry now occupies has been inhabited for over 1,000 years. The city is known for its association with Lady Godiva, who rode naked through the city streets in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants. Lore has it that the term 'Peeping Tom' is derived from this tale, describing a man named Tom who did not cover his eyes as she rode through the streets. Coventry has been an economically important city in the past, being a hub for the cloth trade in the Middle Ages and for the burgeoning automotive industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The city's industrial prowess helped Britain's war efforts in the early 20th century; it also however made it an obvious target in the Second World War. A series of German bombing raids from 1940-42 (the Coventry Blitz) destroyed much of the city's infrastructure, although the single night of bombing in November 1940 dealt the largest damage, killing more than 500 people.

In the succeeding decades after the war, most of the old medieval dwellings were not rebuilt, being replaced instead by more modern constructions, often brutalist concrete structures. Subsequent to these, Coventry has undergone extensive remodelling most notably within the city centre, making it more pedestrian-friendly. Major regeneration projects have attempted to make the city a more attractive place, such as the Phoenix Initiative (completed in 2004) which was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize.

Climate
In common with most of the UK, Coventry experiences cool winters and mild summers with moderate annual rainfall. Winter temperatures seldom drop below -10°C (14°F) and the summer months rarely exceed 30°C (86°F). Moderate but occasionally disruptive snowfall is possible in January or February. Daylight hours range from 4:45AM to 9:30PM in the summer, to 8:15AM and 3:45PM in the winter months.

Visitor information

 * Visit Coventry website

By road
Coventry is near the centre of the UK motorway network. The M6 passes the north of the city. The M1 is easily accessible via the A45 towards London and the M69 northbound. The M40 is accessed along the A46.

To enjoy the drive into Coventry approach along the A46, exiting at Kenilworth. Drive through central Kenilworth and past the Abbey Fields park before turning right towards Coventry. The broad tree-lined Kenilworth Road offers a beautiful boulevard into the city.

The city also provides a Park and Ride facility, see National Park and Ride Directory.

You can reach Coventry from London using Megabus which starts at roughly £13 return, but it arrives in Cannon Park, near Tesco, not the city centre. National Express has buses arrive at Pool Meadow Bus Station (see listing below), which can be cheaper at some times, though on average, Megabus proposes more options that are almost as cheap as the cheapest, yet less common National Express's equivalents.

One possible problem visitors to Coventry City centre may encounter is the infamous Coventry ring road. It can be very confusing to first time users, with its single on/off ramps. Speed is limited to 40 mph, but don't be surprised to see cars pass by at [sometimes] much higher speeds, racing to get off at the next junction! If you plan to come to Coventry (and want to visit the city centre), it's advisable to have someone who understands the ring road drive you around first.

By rail

By bus
There are a plethora of buses serving Coventry, all run by National Express, although first time users or those unfamiliar with city bus transport can find the number of different routes intimidating. Cost within the city boundaries is standardised at £2.10 per journey, apart from single journeys within the ring road, which are £1. Daysaver tickets for unlimited travel within the Coventry area for one day are £4 for adults and £3.10 for those under 16.

If you plan on travelling frequently by bus, travelcards are available.

 * Adult Coventry Faresaver allows unlimited travel at any time around Coventry. 1 week costs £13.00 (available only from participating agents) and 4 weeks costs £45.25.
 * Adult Coventry Off-Peak Faresaver are valid in the Coventry area all day Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Travel on weekdays (M-F) is limited to between 9:30AM and 3:30PM, and from 6PM onwards. 1 week costs £9.50 (available only from participating agents)

By car
Coventry's city centre is not very car-friendly. With the pedestrianisation of large tracts of the central business district, travelling in the confusing patchwork of roads winding around the pedestrian quarters can be very frustrating. The ringroad surrounding the city centre is a very quick method of getting around, but its frantic pace and multiple sudden exits make it notoriously difficult for visitors. There is ongoing construction work outside the town hall and Herbert Art Gallery which will further restrict accessibility by car, narrowing the road down from two lanes to one.

In contrast, the city's suburbs are much better suited for car transport, although as expected in a city, rush hours tend to be very busy.

By taxi
Many firms operate within Coventry. Black cabs can be flagged down on the street but private hire taxis must be booked. Popular firms include:

By bike
Central Coventry is fairly flat, and good for cycling. Cyclists may use the ring road, but are best advised not to do so; quieter side roads are available for the same journeys.

Other

 * Christmas Lights Switch-On, city centre. This annual event is usually around mid-November, and features a line-up of music acts, presenters, fireworks, etc. There is also a parade, with businesses and schools providing floats that travel through the City Centre streets.

Learn
There are plenty of opportunities to learn in Coventry. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum runs classes for adults in vocational subjects and sometimes in unusual topics. Classes in skills such as maths, English, and computing along with British qualifications such as NVQs are run in the city's central library. For slightly younger learners there are four further education colleges in the city: Henley College Coventry and City College Coventry (both in the north-east of the city), Hereward College (in the west) and Coventry University College (in the city centre).

Coventry is home to two universities:

Buy
Coventry has a variety of shopping complexes in and around the area. These range from retail parks, to the pedestrian Coventry City Centre -one of the first of its kind. Shopping in Coventry mainly consists of the high street chain stores, although there are independent record shops and clothes shops dotted about here and there and there is also the large indoor Coventry Market, which are well worth the visit.

Eat
Coventry is host to a range of eateries. From cafés to restaurants, and from Thai to Italian, a wide range of cuisines can be found here. Indian cuisine is well-represented, with a large variety in quality. Most of the restaurants and establishments are in the city centre, but there may be a few surprises in the suburban areas if you are willing to look and travel out.

Drink

 * Sky Dome Complex, Croft Road, Coventry. A flagship mixed-use urban entertainment complex, featuring:
 * Multiplex cinema

Night clubs

 * JJ's

Spon Street
Coventry's bar scene is mostly concentrated along reconstructed medieval Spon Street on the western edge of the city centre. This includes the adjacent Skydome complex which includes popular nightclubs.

Centre
In the centre of the city you will find the usual pub chains as well as some bars close to Millennium Place.
 * Flamingo, Priory Place. bar & grill
 * The Yard, a gay club in the Bull Yard.
 * Inspire
 * Flamingo, Priory Place. bar & grill
 * The Yard, a gay club in the Bull Yard.
 * Inspire

Eastern
Towards the eastern side of the city centre close to the University campus buildings can be found another concentration of pubs and bars that are popular with students centred close to Jordan Well and Gosford Street.

There is a limited gay scene in Coventry: the city is not very gay-friendly and lacks any real gay nightlife. For a much better scene, head out to Birmingham's Gay Village.

Out of Centre

For a more sedate experience, try Craven Street, set amongst Victorian-era watchmaker's cottages in the suburb of Chapelfields, has several traditional pubs.

Connect
As of Aug 2021, Coventry has 5G from Three and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Free public Wi-Fi is available at all Coventry public libraries as well as the railway station.

Stay safe
Like the rest of the UK, in emergencies you should call 999 or 112 with ambulance, fire and police services available.

For a city of its size, Coventry has a rather low crime rate, particularly in the city centre. This can be attributed to its well-lit pedestrian sections. Take general precautions as you would in any other city in the United Kingdom.

Go next
Take a short trip into the attractive Warwickshire countryside to:
 * Kenilworth, a quiet and pleasant town home to Kenilworth Castle 6 miles (9 km) south of Coventry
 * Royal Leamington Spa, an affluent spa town 11 miles (18 km) away
 * Warwick, a classic example of a rural English town home to the eponymous 11th-century castle is 12 miles (20 km) away
 * Rugby, the purported birthplace of rugby football, 14 miles (22 km) to the east

Head north-west into the metropolitan West Midlands county to:
 * Solihull, an attractive town home to some of the West Midlands' richest citizens is 14 miles (22 km) away
 * Birmingham, the United Kingdom's second largest city and the West Midlands region's travel and economic hub is 23 miles (37 km) away.
 * Wolverhampton, a former industrial city and the gateway to the Shropshire countryside is about 33 miles (53 km) away.

title: Coventry


text:
Coventry (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Coventry:

United Kingdom

 * Coventry - A large city in England.

United States of America

 * Coventry (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut
 * Coventry (Rhode Island) - A town in Rhode Island.

title: Coventry (disambiguation)


text:
Coventry (Rhode Island)

Coventry is the largest town in Kent County and the state of Rhode Island, with a population of approximately 34,660 as of 2007 and a total area of 62.3 sq mi. Coventry is bordered by Sterling, Connecticut to the west, West Warwick to the east, East and West Greenwich to the south, and Foster, Scituate and Cranston to the north. It was founded in 1741 after the population of settlers was significant enough to separate from Warwick and form a new town. Much of Coventry is of historical note as home to many villages and homesteads from the 1700s, including those of Nathaniel Greene and Thomas Paine. Some of the villages include Greene, Washington, Anthony, and Hopkins Hollow. There are two main commercial areas in Coventry. The first is Route 3, which is also known as Tiogue Avenue or Nooseneck Hill Road. Most of the stores and restaurants can be found on this main road. The second large commercial area is called the Centre of New England, which has many stores, restaurants, and hotels.

By plane
T.F. Green Airport is roughly a 20-minute drive to Coventry. Follow I-95 South and take exit 7.

By bus

 * RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority). Bus transportation from anywhere in Rhode Island. Visit the RIPTA website to see rates and bus schedules.

By car
If you are traveling from the northern part of Rhode Island or from Boston, take I-95 South toward Providence and take Exit 6 to enter the Coventry/West Greenwich area (Route 3), exit 6a to enter onto Hopkins Hill Road in Coventry, and exit 7 to enter the Coventry/West Warwick area (New London Turnpike). If you are traveling from the south take I-95 North from any of these exits.

Get around
There are five major roads in Coventry: Route 3 (Nooseneck Hill Road), Route 102 (Victory Highway), Interstate 95, Route 116 (Knotty Oak Road), and Route 117 (Flat River Road). I-95 skirts the edge of downtown and has exits to most prominent areas in town. Route 3 runs through downtown Coventry and sees considerable traffic, but is still the easiest and quickest way through downtown. Route 102 runs through the Western end of town, from West Greenwich to Foster/Scituate, and intersects both I-95 and Route 3 near West Greenwich. Route 116 runs through the northern end of town, from Coventry to Cumberland. Route 117, one of the state of Rhode Island’s original highways, runs from Coventry to West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston.

Do

 * Foster Memorial Park, 1/4 mile north on Station Street from intersection of Main Street in Washington village. There are four baseball/softball fields, three soccer fields, a hiking trail, and a volleyball court. Seasonal food concession and restrooms available. It is also accessible through the Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School of Coventry.
 * Rice Field, 7 Knotty Oak Road, (Rte. 116). Offers a lighted football field, baseball/softball field, tennis court and playground. Seasonal food concession and portable restrooms available. Proposed Restrooms, Pavilion, Basketball court and Gazebo.
 * Briar Point Beach and Picnic Area, on Lake Tiogue, the end of Briar Point Avenue off Arnold Road. Offers swimming and picnic facilities with lifeguards on duty from June 19th thru Labor Day. Playground facility and seasonal portable restrooms.
 * Johnson's Pond Flat River Road. Johnson's Pond is a great spot for fishing and watersports. Wakeboarding Magazine rated Johnson's Pond as the best spot for wakeboarding in Rhode Island.
 * Briar Point Beach and Picnic Area, on Lake Tiogue, the end of Briar Point Avenue off Arnold Road. Offers swimming and picnic facilities with lifeguards on duty from June 19th thru Labor Day. Playground facility and seasonal portable restrooms.
 * Johnson's Pond Flat River Road. Johnson's Pond is a great spot for fishing and watersports. Wakeboarding Magazine rated Johnson's Pond as the best spot for wakeboarding in Rhode Island.
 * Johnson's Pond Flat River Road. Johnson's Pond is a great spot for fishing and watersports. Wakeboarding Magazine rated Johnson's Pond as the best spot for wakeboarding in Rhode Island.

Eat
Chain restaurants are well represented including Applebee's, Burger King, Cracker Barrel, Denny's, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Subway.

Go next

 * Providence, a half-hour away, is the regional transit hub for trips further away, such as Boston, Massachusetts. Boston is a drive away on I-95 North, or take the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for $7.75 one way or Amtrak from the Providence Station, at 100 Gaspee Street, Providence..

title: Coventry (Rhode Island)


text:
Covina

Covina is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles.

Get in
As mentioned before, Covina is located in Los Angeles County and is thus served by Los Angeles International Airport, Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Ontario International Airport, and John Wayne International Airport. By car, Covina is easily accessible from I-10 by taking the Citrus Avenue exit and going north, and from the I-210 by taking Citrus Avenue south.

Get around
Covina is served by two bus systems, two major cab companies, and the Metrolink rail transit system. The two major bus systems are Foothill Transit and Metro. The major cab companies are AAA Yellow Cab and San Gabriel Valley Yellow Cab.

Do

 * - located in Covina

Buy
One main shopping venue for Covina is Downtown Covina, located on Citrus Ave. between San Bernardino Road and Badillo Street. Downtown Covina has a selection of specialty shops, including:

Covina Bookstore: A medium-size independent book retailer. Not as well-stocked as chain retailers, but respectable, nonetheless.

title: Covina


text:
Covington

There's more than one place called Covington:

United Kingdom

 * Covington - a village in Cambridgeshire, England
 * Covington - in Clydesdale, South West (Scotland)
 * Covington - in Wiltshire, in the West Country of England

United States of America

 * Covington (Georgia)
 * Covington (Indiana) - a city in Fountain County, Central Indiana
 * Covington (Kentucky) - a city in Kenton County, Northern Ohio River Region
 * Covington (Louisiana) - a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
 * Covington (Michigan)
 * Covington (New York)
 * Covington (Ohio)
 * Covington (Tennessee)
 * Covington (Texas)
 * Covington (Virginia) - a city in Alleghany County
 * Covington (Washington) - a city in King County, in the Puget Sound region of Washington (state)
 * Covington County (Alabama) - in the River Heritage (Alabama) region of Alabama
 * Covington County (Mississippi) - in the Gulf Coast (Mississippi) region of Mississippi
 * Covington Township - in Pennsylvania

title: Covington


text:
Covington (Indiana)

Covington is a small town in Central Indiana. It is the seat of government for Fountain County.

Get in
Covington is located on Interstate 74 and the Wabash River.

Get around
There is no bus or taxi service, but you can walk from one end of the town to the other in about 30 minutes.

Do

 * Go to a high school football or basketball game in the fall and winter. Small Indiana towns like this one put a lot into their high school sports, and it shows when the entire town shows up for games.

Go next
Portland Arch Nature Preserve about 10 minutes North on Portland Arch Road

Danville about 20 minutes West on Interstate 74 or US Highway 136.

Shades State Park

Turkey Run State Park

Lake Waveland

title: Covington (Indiana)


text:
Covington (Kentucky)

Covington is a city in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the largest city in Northern Kentucky.

Covington is pretty much the southern side of Cincinnati, with similar architecture (though far better preserved if not in the best of shape) and a shared history linked by the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Ohio River. Like its eastern neighbor, Newport, it has profited from revitalization.

By plane

 * Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (Exit 4, State Route 212) Phone: +1 859 767-3151 ([mailto:info@cvgairport.com info@cvgairport.com]). Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport  is in nearby Hebron, Kentucky.
 * John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Dayton International Airport  in Dayton, and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport  in Louisville are also options for travelers.

By car
Covington is accessible by Interstate 71/75 via Exits 192 (Fifth Street—Covington/Ludlow) and 190 (Twelfth Street—Newport/Covington). Covington's street grid numbers southbound — away from the river — whereas Cincinnati's grid numbers northbound. That causes confusion for some travelers coming in from the interstate. The first Fifth Street ramp, when traveling northbound (from Kentucky) is Covington. The next one, labeled "Fifth Street Downtown", is Cincinnati's Fifth Street.

By train
Amtrak offers passenger train service from key U.S. cities. The nearest station is in Cincinnati, at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center.

By bus

 * Greyhound offers passenger bus service from many U.S. cities. Buses arrive and depart from Greyhound's station in downtown Cincinnati.

Get around

 * Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK). Provides bus service in Northern Kentucky and has several routes that crosses the Ohio River into Cincinnati.
 * The Southbank Shuttle which is provided by TANK provides regular bus service from Downtown Cincinnati to the Covington and Newport Riverfronts. For more information on times and stops check the Southbank Shuttle website here.
 * TANK Sales Office; Mercantile Building; 120 East 4th Street, Cincinnati, OH; Hours: M-F 6:30AM – 6PM;

See

Do

 * Dog Costume Parade (Mainstrasse Village) Held in October, near Halloween. This listing will serve either as an enticement or a warning, depending on your personal philosophies.

Drink
Unlike Ohio, for better or for worse, Kentucky still allows smoking in its bars. Some bars in Ohio complained about bars in Kentucky stealing their business due to this ordinance, though if you don't like smoke be warned that it does exist here.

Liquor stores
People in the Cincinnati area flock to Northern Kentucky for its cheaper and more plentiful alcohol due to its looser liquor laws. As a result the riverfronts of Covington and Newport have many large liquor stores that cater to Cincinnatians who are looking to stock up for a big party. Travelers who prefer to drink in their hotel room should check out some of these local stores, particularly for their excellent selection of Kentucky Bourbon.

Sleep
Covington's hotels draw a lot of visitors from Cincinnati. Many of them identify themselves as Cincinnati hotels in their names, despite their location in Covington.

Go next

 * Newport is the other major Cincinnati-satellite over the Kentucky border.
 * Louisville
 * Lexington (Kentucky)

title: Covington (Kentucky)


text:
Covington (Louisiana)

Covington is a city in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana. The seat of St. Tammany Parish, it's about an hour's drive north of New Orleans.

Get in
Driving from New Orleans, take I-10 west to Causeway Boulevard in Metairie; then take Causeway north, keep going across the lake, then follow Highway 190 and the signs straight to Covington.

From elsewhere, from I-12 to either Highway 21 or Highway 190 and go north, and you'll be in the heart of Covington.

Get around
Mostly by car; the small old town section is pleasant for walking.

See
The old town section on and around Columbia Street. The south end of Columbia has "Columbia Street Landing", a park at the riverfront.

Connect
Telephone area code is 985.

Go next
Covington is a good base for exploring the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore area, including Madisonville, Mandeville, and Abita Springs.

New Orleans is an hour south across the Causeway.

Baton Rouge is about 80 minutes drive west on I-12.

title: Covington (Louisiana)


text:
Cowan

Not to be confused with Cowan in Victoria, in which is covered in the Phillip Island article Cowan is a very small town in Tennessee. It has roughly 1,700 residents, and is located at the foot of the Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville. Cowan is oriented around the junction of Tennessee Highway 41 and the CSX railroad heading toward Decherd.

Get in
The only way into Cowan is to drive Tennessee Highway 41, which is named Cumberland St. in town.

Get around
Cowan is a small town, and it can easily be covered by foot or bike. However, a car is essential for entering or leaving town.

See
Downtown Cowan is largely unchanged from its condition 100 years ago, which gives it a quaint and quiet atmosphere. This lack of big-city bustle is the town's main attraction, but there are a handful of local attractions to interest visitors.

Do

 * Mountain Goat Trail. Avid mountain-bikers and off-roaders should ask about the Mountain Goat Trail, which runs up the Plateau toward St. Andrew's and Sewanee. The trail follows the route of the legendary "Mountain Goat", the steam locomotive that allowed for the development of towns on top of the steep-sided mountains. The trail narrows after crossing Highway 56, making it too narrow for automobiles, but four-wheelers can navigate it as well as many side roads.  Locals can point you to its precise location outside Cowan.

Otherwise, Cowan is not the kind of town you visit to "do" anything. Enjoy the quiet, lazy atmosphere of a traditional small Southern town.

Buy
There are a handful of shops near the center of town, most of which sell antiques and other miscellaneous items. You can easily park your car and reach most of them on foot.

Eat

Drink
There aren't many places to drink in town; try Sernicola's for wine and Pancho's for beer.

Sleep

For other options, check nearby towns such as Monteagle, Sewanee and Decherd.

Go next
As is the case with coming into town, automobile is the only realistic way out.

Going east on Highway 41 will bring you to Sewanee; going west will take you to Winchester.

title: Cowan


text:
Cowell

Cowell and Lucky Bay are neighbouring towns on the Eyre Peninsula.

Understand
Cowell is a small coastal town on Lake Franklin, which is a sea lake off the Spencer Gulf. The town is about 100km south by road from Whyalla.

Nearby Lucky Bay, which is the western terminus for the Sea SA ferry service across the Spencer Gulf. Apart from the ferry terminus, there are only beach houses and beach in Lucky Bay. The ferry service landing there operates the 60 km (32 nm) to Wallaroo on nearby Yorke Peninsula. The nearest facilities are in Cowell around 15 km away, there is not even so much as a general store in Lucky Bay.

Like many of the Spencer Gulf towns, the Cowell area was first sighted by Matthew Flinders, but Flinders didn't enter Lake Franklin, possibly believing it to be a lagoon cut off from the gulf.

By car
Cowell is on the Lincoln Highway, the main route to Port Lincoln. Lucky Bay is a 15 km diversion off the highway on a quality road totally disproportionate to the size of the town, constructed to be a main highway when the ferry is running.

By bus
The Premier Stateliner daily service between Port Lincoln and Adelaide via Port Augusta and Whyalla stops in the town.

By plane
Cowell has a taxi service that will operate to the airport.

By boat
SeaSA operate a 7 day per week service using a newly constructed vehicle and passenger carrying ferry. The Aurora runs between Wallaroo and Lucky Bay. It is an approximately 2 hr trip (depending on conditions) of 60 km (32 nm) one way.

The Aurora V is a 56 m newly constructed vessel. It carries a maximum of 80 cars (or equivalent in trucks, buses, trailers, caravans, motorbikes) and a maximum of 300 passengers.

Passengers may travel with their vehicles or as walk on passengers. The operators only allow one item of luggage per passenger unless contained in a vehicle. Published charges for carrying in excess of 1 baggage item (not contained within an accompanying vehicle) are $60 per item. Bookings are available online.

Do

 * Swim

 * Lucky Bay has a long beach with white sand and sea grass. There is no particular point any more suited to swimming than any other.  The calm waters are suited to kayaking and boating also.

 * Cowell has a tidal pool for swimming, just in from the harbor and pier, with a central swimming pontoon. You can also swim in the harbor, just over the sandbar.   Perhaps not as nice a swimming location as some of its coastal neighbours, and like other tidal pools it is probably best at high tide (being a bit muddy at the low tide).

 * Fishing
 * Boating

Buy

 * Jade - nearby Cowell has one of the world's largest jade deposits, and there are two shops in town that sell Jade, including the Cowell Jade Motel near the entrance to town.

Eat
Couple of coffee shop/take-away stores in the main street.

Sleep
In Cowell:

In Lucky Bay you will be looking for beach house rental. Check the usual rental house web sites, or check with local real estate agents.

Go next

 * Arno Bay walk along the Arno Bay Boardwalk, through the mangroves and down to the beach.
 * Cleve, nearby agricultural centre and administrative centre for this region. 18 hole all season golf course, skate park, bowling greens, netball/tennis/basketball courts with coin operated lights, town oval and playgrounds.
 * Tumby Bay
 * Port Lincoln
 * Coffin Bay Fresh oysters and the Coffin Bay Conservation Park.
 * Lock
 * Elliston
 * Iron Knob
 * Whyalla
 * Port Augusta
 * Flinders Ranges
 * Wallaroo on nearby Yorke Peninsula (ferry.
 * Nullarbor Plain

title: Cowell


text:
Cowes

Cowes is a town on the Isle of Wight in southern England. It is a lovely beach and a wonderful place to visit if you are on holiday to the Isle of Wight.

Understand
Cowes, also known as West Cowes, is on the western bank of the River Medina, with East Cowes on the other side of the river.

Get in

 * Red Funnel Red Jet passenger catamaran – Southampton Town Quay to West Cowes; 25 min; adult £14.40,
 * Red Funnel car and passenger ferry – Southampton Town Quay to East Cowes; 55 min

Get around
A chain ferry, the Floating Bridge, runs across the river between the two towns; cars £3, foot passengers £1 (from 1/4/23). To drive by road requires a ten mile trip through Newport.

Southern Vectis provides bus services.

Go next

 * Newport
 * Bembridge
 * Freshwater
 * Ryde
 * Sandown and Shanklin
 * Ventnor
 * Wootton Bridge
 * Yarmouth

title: Cowes


text:
Coweta

Coweta is a town in the Green Country region of Oklahoma.

Get in
Take County Road 51B from Broken Arrow and you should wind up there very fast.

Get around
Walking or Bicycling will work in some parts Coweta, But the most effective means of transit is by far the Auto. Coweta has no connection yet with the Tulsa Transit Bus Networks.

See

 * Koweta Mission Site

Go next

 * Rooster Days is the high point of the year in Broken Arrow.
 * The Azalea Festival and Renaissance Faire are held annually in Muskogee.
 * Red Bird is located on the outskirts of Coweta. It is one of several towns in Oklahoma with an all African-American population that formed in the years following the American Civil War when African-American settlers, known as "Exodusters", Journeyed West to escape poverty and racism.

title: Coweta


text:
Cowra

Cowra is a small town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It has a population of around 10,000 people (2016).

Understand
During World War II, Cowra was the site of an internment camp for Japanese prisoners of war. On 5 August 1944 the POWs staged a mass breakout; nearly half were killed. After the war however, the Australian Returned Servicemen’s League assumed responsibility not only for the graves of the four Australians killed in the breakout, but for the Japanese section of the cemetery. In 1960 the Japanese government had their war dead from around Australia re-interned at Cowra. As a consequence, many Japanese people visit Cowra, in addition to local tourists.

By car
From Sydney: Travel over the Blue Mountains via Bathurst. From Bathurst it is about 1½ hours to Cowra on the Mid Western Highway through Blayney.

From Orange: Travel via Blayney or take the Cargo Road to Canowindra and the Canowindra Road to Cowra, about 1½ hours in either direction.

From Canberra: Travel north via Yass and Boorowa along the Lachlan Valley Way.

From Melbourne: Travel along the Hume Highway via Albury then head towards Wagga Wagga and Young

From Brisbane: Travel south via Dubbo and Orange

By train/coach
NSW Trainlink Regional (phone 132 232) has two bus services to Cowra every day. The first meets the early morning XPT train from Sydney at Bathurst at 10:55AM, arriving Cowra at 12:40PM, the second meets the early afternoon NSW Trainlink Intercity trains from Sydney at Lithgow at 7:20PM, and arrives Cowra at 9:55PM. Both require seats be reserved before travel.

By plane
Cowra's nearest airports offering scheduled commercial flights are Orange, Parkes and Bathurst which offer daily services to Sydney. There is car hire at each of those airports.

Canberra is approximately 2 hours south of Cowra and is a major airport with regular interstate services.

Cowra Airport is a paved airport just on the outskirts of town. It would be a straightforward charter from any of the nearby airports. You can get a taxi or walk into town in around 45 minutes from the airport.

Drink
Cowra is home to some of the most exceptional wine tasting experiences in NSW. From garage cellar doors to distinct historical buildings and vineyard art galleries. The original variety to be grown in Cowra in the 1970s was the Chardonnay grape. This classic and flavoursome Chardonnay established Cowra as a quality grape growing region. Soon after, Shiraz, Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties were planted. The region’s enterprising vignerons have produced some excellent wines from different varieties such as Sangiovese, Mourvedre and Tempranillo.

Today, there are over 40 vineyards dotted around the Cowra, Billimari and Canowindra area which make up the Cowra Wine Region. Many of them offer boutique cellar door tastings, the chance to chat to local vignerons, see winemakers at work and sample some of Australia’s most promising wines.

Go next
Continue along the mid-western highway to Grenfell.

title: Cowra


text:
Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar is a beach resort in the Chittagong Division in south-eastern Bangladesh. It has one of the longest sea beaches in the world, 120 km (75 miles) long.

Understand
For Bangladeshis it doesn't get much better than Cox's Bazar, the country's most popular beach resort. Sort of a Cancun of the east, it's choc-a-bloc with massive cement hotels and gaudy overdevelopment catering largely to the country's elite. To a foreigner it likely won't compare to other beach vacations you may have taken, but it's still interesting to see how the Bangladeshis live it up. The beach is crowded, especially near the Hotel Motel Zone, a large cluster of more upmarket hotels. Expect lots of attention, and expect to stay fully clothed.

30 km south is Inani Beach. Things should be quieter here, but still expect to draw some attention.

Get in
About 150 km south of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar is connected both by air and road from Dhaka and Chittagong.

By plane
Non-Stop flights are available from Chittagong and Dhaka on Biman Bangladesh Airlines (State owned) or US-Bangla Airlines Flights tend to be daily during the high season (Oct - Apr) and 3-4 flights per week during the Summer and Monsoon (May - Sept).

By bus
The main bus terminal is a few km east of the central town area, about a 15-minute / Tk 10 rickshaw ride. Local buses head to Chittagong (Tk 120, 4 hours) and Teknaf (Tk 70, 3 hours).

The private bus companies have offices near Hotel Sea Queen on the main road, and also down in the Hotel Motel Zone.

Get around

 * Cycle-rickshaws are plentiful, and the ride between Hotel Motel Zone and the Laldighi Lake area on the main road should cost Tk 12, though foreigners will have to fight hard for that price. They'll ask for at least Tk 20, Tk 15 is a fair enough middle ground.

See

Miles of golden sand, towering cliffs, surfing waves, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, delightful seafood — this is Cox's Bazar, the tourist capital of Bangladesh.

Buy
There are lots of shops in the Hotel Motel Zone catering to Bangladeshi tourists. Things made of sea shells are very popular and also sold by vendors on the beach, but think twice about encouraging such an environmentally-destructive practice.

You can also check out the Burmese Market, but don't expect a lot of handicrafts. The traditional Burmese dresses and fabrics are definitely interesting. Besides that, you will find some stores which sell pearl jewellery. You can also try some local beauty products (sandal wood based), hand woven textile and bedsheets among many other things.

However, a better bet would be to buy articles of interest from the mobile vendors who will most likely approach you while you are relaxing in front of the beach. They not only have good products, but the prices offered are also cheaper than the same in the markets.

Dried fish is a protein-rich delicacy, and can be bought from the main market in Cox's Bazar. There are also a few shops near the hotel-motel zone, but it is better to buy from the main market.

Eat

 * Jhawban Restaurant and Poushee Restaurant, next door to each other on Hotel Sayeman Rd just south of Sea Beach Rd, serve similarly excellent Bangladeshi food including fried fish, a Cox's Bazar speciality. Both restaurants are wildly popular, especially at lunch time. Poushee is probably one of the best restaurants in Cox's Bazar, and serves delicious seafood. Meals Tk 60-130.

Drink
Alcohol is available in a few locations in Cox's Bazar. The following hotels have bars which generally open from 19:00: Seagull Hotel, Hotel Sayeman, Hotel Shaibal, Renaissance Hotel. Don't expect much as their ambience leaves much to be desired and there is no guarantee the beer will be cold. Prices are higher than you might expect.

Sleep

Most of the budget hotels are in the area surrounding Laldighi Lake in the main town area. The massive cement beasts are closer to the beach, getting bigger and grander as you move the 2 km south to the Hotel Motel Zone.

Hotel Sea Gull and Sayeman Beach Resort are decent choices in the centre of town. There are a few hotels/motels such as Hotel Probal and Sikat operated by the Parjatan Corporation, a government tourism organisation.

ATMs
If you need cash, it's a good idea to get it before going inside bar or club. American Express, Master Card, VISA Card have accepted almost all the ATMs booth in the beach city. Check ahead to see if your bank has locations in Cox's Bazar. On the Strip, the following ATMs are safer bets:

 * For the customers, there are ATMs inside the Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort at Kolatoli Road, Hotel Motel Zone.

Go next

 * Saint Martins Island - This small coral island about 10 km (6 mi) south-west of the southern tip of the mainland is a tropical cliché, with beaches fringed with coconut palms and bountiful marine life. There's nothing more strenuous to do here than soak up the rays, but it's a clean and peaceful place without even a mosquito to disrupt your serenity.
 * Teknaf: Southernmost tip of Bangladesh, Teknaf is on the banks of the Naaf river and just at the end of the hilly regions of the district. Myanmar is on the opposite bank of the river. (Do not attempt to cross here, though: the Burmese have mined it.) Wild animals and birds can be viewed, but the most interesting thing is a journey on the river. The wide sandy beach in the backdrop of high hills with green forests is an enchanting scene never to be forgotten.
 * Himchari: It is about 32 km south of Cox's Bazar along the beach, a nice place for a picnic and photo-shooting. The famous "Broken Hills" and waterfalls here are rare sights. It's an hour's drive from Cox's Bazar and an ideal place for sea-bathing and a picnic.
 * Maheskhali: An island off the coast of Cox's Bazar. It has an area of 268 square kilometres. Through the centre of the island and along the eastern coast line rises a range of low hills, 90 metres high; but the coast to the west and north is a low-lying treat, fringed by mangrove jungle. In the hills on the coast is built the shrine of Adinath, dedicated to Shiva. By its side on the same hill is a Buddhist Pagoda.
 * Ramu: This is a typical Buddhist village, about 16 km from Cox's Bazar, on the main road to Chittagong. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. The village has a charm of its own. Weavers ply their trade in open workshops and craftsmen make handmade cigars in their pagoda like houses.
 * Sonadia Island: It is about 7 km from Cox's Bazar and about nine square kilometer in area. The western side of the island is sandy and different kinds of shells are found on the beach. Off the northern part of the island there are beds of window pane oysters. During winter fisherman set up temporary camps on the island and dry their catches of sea fish.
 * Inani Beach: It is about 32 km south of Cox's Bazar and just on the beach, with the sea to the west and a background of steep hills to the east. Inani casts a magic spell on those who step into that dreamland. It is only half

title: Cox's Bazar


text:
Coyhaique

Coyhaique is a city in Aysén. It is the main and largest city in Northern Chilean Patagonia with a population of 55,000 (2012). A handsome city surrounded by dramatic mountains, it is the jumping-off point for visitors who want to travel through some of Chilean Patagonia's most beautiful and unspoiled landscapes, on the Carretera Austral.

Understand
The modern tourist information office is in Bulnes Street, north of the Plaza de Armas.

By plane
The nearest larger airport is Balmaceda 55 km away. JetSmart serves Balmaceda from Conception. LATAM and Sky Airlines serve Balmaceda with at least a few daily flights from Santiago, sometimes stopping en route in Puerto Montt.

By bus
Numerous buses run along the Carretera Austral and stop in Coyhaique during high season. From the north, 2 buses/week from Chaitén (24,000 pesos, 10 hr), 1/day from La Junta, 1/day from Puerto Cisnes. Going north to Puerto Montt 3 buses/week at 15:00 (70,000 pesos) or to Chaitén (direct only Tuesday and Friday at 08:00 28,000 pesos) otherwise they go to Futaleufu and connection will be the following day to Chaitén for 2,200 pesos. Hitchhiking from Villa Santa Lucía is an option skip the stay in Futaleufu.

You can also go to Chile Chico in combination with a bus to Puerto Ingeneiro Ibañez (Buses Carolina) and then take the ferry. 5 hours in total.

By ferry
Navimag and Naviera Austral offer ferries to Puerto Chacabuco, the nearest port. Check their websites for current schedules and pricing. From Puerto Chacabuco, regular buses will drop you in Coyhaique.

Get around
Coyhaique is small; walking is the best way of getting around. The Plaza de Armas is pentagon-shaped in honor of the carabineros, but otherwise the city is laid out in a grid-like pattern. The plaza is in the northwest portion of the city; Coyhaique becomes more residential the farther away you get from the Plaza de Armas.

See

 * The Plaza de Armas, the town square, is laid out in the shape of a pentagon in honor of the Carabineros, the national police force. A Carabinero general was one of the town's founders. There are often flea markets here.
 * Momumento al Ovejero, on Av. General Baquedano at Eusebio Lillo, honors sheepdogs, the unsung canine heroes of the shepherding world.
 * Casa de la Cultura Coyhaique. Museum of regional culture on Av. General Baquedano at the Monument al Ovejero.

Do

 * The Simpson and Coyhaique Rivers are well known for fly fishing.
 * Cerro Negro in the south-east part of the city offers you stunning views over the area.
 * The Simpson and Coyhaique Rivers are well known for fly fishing.
 * Cerro Negro in the south-east part of the city offers you stunning views over the area.

Stay safe
A 2018 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) looking at 4,357 cities in 108 countries worldwide showed Coyhaique to have the worst air quality in the Americas. This is mostly due to wood smoke from fires the residents light for warmth in the winter months of June and July. Because the city is located between two mountainous ridges, the smoke cannot be dispersed down the valley and away and heat inversion compresses it into a dense cloud of smoke.

Connect
Coyhaique's pentagonal Plaza de Armas has a free Wi-Fi hotspot.

title: Coyhaique


text:
Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. It has great diving, nice people, safe streets, and prices comparable to other Mexican tourist destinations. The diving is the main draw to Cozumel; if you prefer white sandy beaches then other nearby destinations would be a better bet (e.g., Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Isla Mujeres.) Cozumel is a popular port among cruise lines, particularly from December through April when a half dozen large ships may converge on the port each day.

By plane

Alternatively, you can fly into Cancún International Airport which generally has more flights, then take a bus or van south to Playa del Carmen and take the ferry across to Cozumel. A shared van from Cancun airport to Playa Del Carmen will cost around M$300 (pesos) per person one-way. A bus to the ferry terminal will be M$216 (or equivalent US dollars if you do not have pesos handy) as of February 2022 per person one-way.

Also you can take a small plane to Cozumel from Cancun airport's domestic terminal. It takes 15 minutes and the trip is an amazing experience for about US$75 per person one way.

By boat

 * . There are hourly ferries costing about US$13 per adult each way (Feb 2022). There are two companies: Winjet and Ultramar. So buy a single (one-way) ticket because you may need to use the other ferry company coming back and the tickets aren't transferable (two one-way tickets cost the same as a return anyhow).
 * . It leaves a few kilometers south of Playa del Carmen (pass Xcaret). There are 4 ferries each day, but the first at 4AM and the second at 8AM are specially for supply and logistics of the locals and islander. So take the ferry at 12:15PM and 6PM. From Cozumel back to the mainland you can take all ferries: 6AM, 10AM, 4PM and 8PM. Rental cars are not allowed on the car ferry and you wouldn't want to do it in any case as taking the car ferry is a huge hassle involving a lot of waiting on both ends. Not recommended for anyone on a one- to two-week vacation.

Cruise ships often visit the island. A few can dock virtually downtown. A larger pair of piers lies about two miles south of downtown San Miguel, and primarily serves Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ships. If many ships arrive the same day (occasionally in "high season"), some may moor offshore and tender passengers to docks downtown.

Get around
Walk, rent a car, or take a taxi; there is no public transit out of town. The docks are saturated by pushy touts trying to lure you into car rentals and activities. Be skeptical to avoid getting scammed into a timeshare sales pitch (what a horrible waste of your precious vacation!). A regular 1-day car rental is around US$55, but speaking Spanish will get you a discount 95% of the places if you ask. For example, the posted price for a VW Pointer at Less-Pay (next to Hotel Barracuda) was US$40, without insurance and taxes. As an American who speaks Spanish, you can get that same car for M$350, with insurance and taxes. Even if prices are posted, they can be bargained. Scooters half that (~US$25). Alternatively, taxis are always available and will take you to the west-shore beaches for US$20 onwards, depending on distance and number of people. Taxis cost M$30-60 for intra-town destinations. Like most businesses on Cozumel, they accept US dollars at a disadvantageous exchange rate.

Car rentals
Scooters can be a great way to explore the island, but should only be driven by experienced riders. If you are not experienced, please do not rent them. The majority of traffic accidents that befall tourists involve scooters (known locally as "motos"). These accidents seem to be due to a few factors:
 * Some inexperienced riders expect that if they can drive a car, then they can drive a scooter.
 * Some riders are unfamiliar with driving practices and conditions in Mexico.
 * Roads are not always in the best condition, and potholes are generally unmarked.
 * Scooters offer substantially less protection from accidents than anything with four wheels.
 * Many accidents are also caused by tourists having too many alcoholic drinks and then driving "motos."

Car rentals are widely available and most popular are Jeeps, dune buggies, and modified Chevy economy sedans with the doors and roof removed.

See
Most visitors travel to Cozumel to dive and see its wonderful underwater life. While there are quite a few beach clubs that offer snorkeling, the main attractions are the reefs offshore and the multiple dive shops and operations are always ready to take you there.

The main town, San Miguel, and dive operations are on the west side of the island, but if you rent a car or scooter then the east side of the island is the place to go. The east side of the island is mostly undeveloped, but there are beautiful beaches, big waves, and rocky outcrops over the ocean. If the waves are sufficient you can find a few small blow holes. The waves and attendant undertows can make swimming on the east side very dangerous, however. You will also find a restaurant on the beach every few kilometers.

Cozumel also offers several Mayan archaeological sites. The most extensive vestiges are those at "San Gervasio", an inland site a few kilometers north of the "Carretera Transversal" highway. Another site is located near the village of El Cedral, inland from the "Carretera Costera Sur" highway. In Punta Sur Park, at the southern tip of the island, there is the "El Caracol" temple, believed to have been used as a lighthouse by the Mayans.

Scuba diving
Cozumel is Mexico's top diving destination and is one of the premier scuba diving destinations in the western hemisphere. The island abounds with dive shops, most willing to give you a scuba class (resort course) and take you out if you are not yet certified. A boat dive for certified divers (two tanks) will cost around US$70, plus any equipment rental and Marine Park Fee. Most dive sites are located well south of the city proper, as are a number of dive shops if you want a short boat ride. Most diving in Cozumel is drift diving, where you are dropped off by the boat at the beginning of the dive, are carried along the reef by the current, and picked up at the end of your dive by the boat. There is some shore diving, but it is limited compared with what you can enjoy further out and places like Palancar Reef and the walls. Along with other marine life divers are able to see seahorses and eagle rays and turtles especially during turtle nesting season sees large numbers of Turtles on Cozumel's beaches during nesting seasons.

Other activities
If diving or tours are not what you're looking for, there are still plenty of to do:

 * Snorkeling — logically enough, the second most popular activity after diving. Many beach-side dive shops rent equipment for US$7–10. Even though all beaches in Mexico are public some require fees to enter and use the facilities. Beaches with a rocky limestone shoreline on the west coast are the best for snorkeling or shore dives since less sand is disturbed so visibility and coral growth are better.
 * Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Excursion — a great excursion operated by Cozumel Water Sports taking you snorkeling to 2 reefs with music, open bar, snacks of fresh fruit and guacamole, 2 daily departures.
 * Glass Bottom Boat Tour — a twist to snorkeling. You visit about two or three reefs, which are small parts of the second largest coral reef in the world. It costs at the most about US$40 a couple but you can get it a little cheaper depending on where you buy your tickets. While heading to the snorkeling sites you have the privilege of looking through the glass bottom of the boat to see all the sea-life you pass on your way. Very fun to do as a couple or a family.
 * Mini Submarine Tour — a new way of exploring the underwater world. This new activity by Cozumel Water Sports offers all non divers and non snorkelers to explore the reefs and sea life of Cozumel. Riding your underwater scooter with your head dry in the air filled helmet, you can drive around the reefs. Especially great for people who wear glasses as you can have them on under water.
 * Beach lounging — most of the calm western side of Cozumel has rough rocky beaches not suitable for swimming or sun bathing. The areas that are suitable have been turned into small parks. Some charge entrance fees which includes a beach chair and umbrella as well as access to the washroom and shower facilities; others are free to use, and offer many of the same amenities, while relying on visitors to purchase food or drinks. Playa San Francisco is 20 minutes by taxi south of town and has a restaurant on site.
 * The "Other Side" — the beaches on the east (windward) side of the island. Sandy surf and large waves alternating with rocky limestone coastlines on the east side of the island are beautiful but can be dangerous for swimmers. The roaring surf creates strong breakers and undertows in many areas. Never enter the water alone. There are now many areas where flags are displayed showing the level of safety for a particular area. Despite the potentially dangerous swimming conditions, these beaches are stunning and serene for enjoying sunbathing, long walks or playing in the water very close to shore. These beaches are popular with surfers and kite surfers, and with locals on the weekends.

Buy
ATMs with low withdrawal fees in the center are: • Banco Azteca • banamex • Santander • Banorte (near the ferry to Playa del Carmen)

For buying groceries are Oxxo and minimarkets (tiendas) around. A bigger variety of products have the Dunosusa and Waldo's. A large supermarket called Súper Aki is in the east of the center. In the town is also a Soriana Súper available.

Silver is cheaper here than in the U.S. but be sure to look for the .925 stamp as some places do sell fake silver jewelry.

Tip: To avoid being caught out, carry a small magnet when you shop. If the silver sticks to the magnet then it is not sterling silver.

Eat
Local restaurants, most fairly good and fairly similar to each other, are plentiful in and around the city's "downtown" main square.

Mid-range

Drink
Downtown, bottled liquor prices seldom vary, though you'll find some dropoff the farther you get from the center of the city. Don Julio Tequila runs $45–50 at the tourist shops, but if you have time find a local grocery and get it at half price. Kahlua runs $10.

Bars seldom monitor customers for age or drunkenness, so take care driving or walking as the evening wears on.

Sleep

Consulates

 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Hostels and private rooms are available ...:

To the west:

 * Playa del Carmen
 * Valladolid
 * Tulum

To the north:

 * Cancún

By air
Cozumel has direct low-cost flights to Mexico City and Monterrey (updated April 2022). You have more options from the Cancun airport.

title: Cozumel


text:
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a Tasmanian national park located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, the island state of Australia. The park is one of the many parks that make up the Tasmanian Wilderness.

Understand
"This must be a National Park for the people for all time"

- Gustav Weindorfer, 1910

This park has two main attractions - Cradle Mountain making up the north of the park, with Lake St Clair in the south.

History
Gustav Weindorfer first visited Cradle Mountain in 1910 and really liked it. He purchased some land and built by 1912 a chalet for guests. In 1935 the Overland 80 km track was created and rangers guided tours along it. The track was improved by 1937.

Landscape
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park has many mountains and spectacular lakes. Mountains which have made this national park famous include Cradle Mountain. Dove Lake and Lake St Clair are truly breathtaking.

There are many short walks to walk and some long walks. Each of these walks is a fascinating experience.

Always keep to formed tracks.

Flora and fauna
Padmelons, Bennett's wallabies, wombats and possums are some of the animals you will meet in this park. Watch out for the Currawongs (they look like ravens), who have learnt to unzip packs. Even if they can't get to your food, they can peck holes in things through your pack.

Warning: Feeding animals is strictly prohibited in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Fines will be imposed if you are caught feeding animals. Park rangers patrol the park. Do not risk getting fined. Fines will be in large amounts.

Climate
The climate here in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is very unpredictable and can change extremely rapidly. In this part of Tasmania, it rains 9 out of 10 days a year, so fully equip yourself with gear for wet weather.

The temperature is always colder than other parts of Tasmania, although it is not far south. Precipitation here is high because of the large number of trees. It could be raining for 5 minutes, and then it is suddenly sunny. Rain here is very light, like little "flakes" of water. Bring a raincoat instead of an umbrella, because it is extremely windy and you do not want to risk spoiling your brolly.

Be ready for freak weather, including snow during the summer – something that's very unusual for Australia. A lot can also change within the span of a few hours.

Tourism websites

 * Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services (Cradle Mountain)
 * Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services (Lake St. Clair)

Visitor information
There are two visitor centres, one on each side along with an interpretive centre in Cradle Mountain.

By car
To get to Cradle Mountain, it's:
 * 1hr 15min from Devonport by taking the B19 Forth Road and then using the C132 Wilmot Road
 * 1hr 30min from Burnie by taking the B18 Ridgley Highway, A10 Murichson Highway and the C132 Belvoir Road up till the visitor centre.
 * 2hr 30min from Launceston by using National Highway 1, C156, B14, C136 and C132 up till the visitor centre
 * 4hr 30min from Hobart. To get from Hobart, follow the route to Launceston and continue from there.

To get to Lake St Clair, it's:

 * 2hr 30min from Launceston by taking National Highway 1, A5, B11 and then taking A10 to Derwent Bridge, and then turning at C193.
 * 2hr 30min from Hobart by taking the A10 route to Derwent Bridge, and then turning at C193.
 * 3hr 15min from Devonport and Burnie by using National Highway 1 until the A5 exit in Deloraine. Once at A5, exit and then continue as the directions from Launceston

By bus
Cradle Mountain Coaches have services from several Tasmanian locations.

Fees and permits
The Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and all accommodation (except Waldheim) are a few kilometres outside the park. If you pay for a vehicle pass you can drive to Ronny Creek and Dove Lake inside the park. With a vehicle pass you cannot use the shuttle bus service. Alternatively, you can get a single person pass which entitles you to use the shuttle bus service. If you bought your own vehicle you can drive between the Visitor Centre and your accommodation (excluding Waldheim) and when you are actually going into the national park, park your vehicle at the Visitor Centre and take the shuttle bus.

 * Daily (up to 24 hours) - If bringing your own vehicle into the park you should have to pay only the $24 for the carload (up to 8 people). If you come on a bus you will have to pay $16.50 per person. You can only use the shuttle bus service if you have an individual pass.
 * Holiday (up to 8 weeks) - If you are staying in the park for a couple of days it will be cheaper to buy a holiday pass. Per vehicle with up to 8 people $60. Per person $30. A holiday pass is valid for every national park in Tasmania so it is well worth paying a little extra.
 * Annual and Two Year passes are also available.

Overland track fee
This fee is in addition to the park entry fee.
 * Adults $200
 * Children (17 and under) $160
 * Seniors/Pensioners $160

Get around
By foot!

The Cradle Mountain shuttle service runs regularly between the Visitor Centre, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake.

There is a ferry service which operates on Lake St Clair between Narcissus and Cynthia Bay (where the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre is located). The price is $38 per person each way. This service is often used by walkers finishing the Overland Track as an alternative to walking back around the lake. There is a radio at Narcissus Hut connected to the Visitor Centre from which you can inquire about the ferry. Visitors to the Lake St Clair end of the park also take this ferry to Narcissus and then proceed to walk back to Cynthia Bay around the lake. The ferry will stop at Echo Point Hut (an hours walk from Narcissus) if requested. There is a radio located here also.

Scenic helicopter flights are available from a building beside the Visitor Centre. The aircraft in operation is a Robinson 44. Current prices:
 * 2 or 3 adults $245 per person
 * 1 adult $490
 * Children aged 3-11 $150

Mountains
There are many spectacular mountains in the national park, with Cradle Mountain being the most iconic. Others include Mt Emmett, Barn Bluff, Mt Oakleigh, Mt Pelion East, Mt Pelion West, Cathedral Mountain, Mt Ida, Mt Olympus, and Mt Ossa (which is the highest mountain in Tasmania).

Flora
The vegetation at Cradle Mountain is classified as sub-alpine. It comprises of a diverse and beautiful mosaic of vegetation ranging from rainforest to buttongrass plains. The area contains ancient endemic conifers including King Billy Pine, Pencil Pine, Celery Top Pine, Nothofagus cunninghamii - a myrtle beech, and Nothofagus gunnii - a deciduous beech, which looks spectacular during the Autumn.

Fauna
You are likely to see currawongs, wallabies, pademelons, wombats, and if you stay the night possums. Less common sights in the national park include Tasmanian Devils, platypus, echidnas, spotted-tailed quolls and eastern quolls.

Do
There are a range of walks from short easy strolls to strenuous multi-day hikes.

Short walks

 * Enchanted Walk - This leaves from the bridge at the park entrance and passes by scenic waterfalls, pools, moorland and rainforest before returning to the Cradle Mountain Lodge. This walk takes about half an hour and is mostly dry underfoot.
 * Enchanted Walk - This leaves from the bridge at the park entrance and passes by scenic waterfalls, pools, moorland and rainforest before returning to the Cradle Mountain Lodge. This walk takes about half an hour and is mostly dry underfoot.
 * Enchanted Walk - This leaves from the bridge at the park entrance and passes by scenic waterfalls, pools, moorland and rainforest before returning to the Cradle Mountain Lodge. This walk takes about half an hour and is mostly dry underfoot.
 * Enchanted Walk - This leaves from the bridge at the park entrance and passes by scenic waterfalls, pools, moorland and rainforest before returning to the Cradle Mountain Lodge. This walk takes about half an hour and is mostly dry underfoot.

Longer walks
Times are indicative only. Times will vary depending on your fitness.
 * Marion's Lookout - 2 hours return. This hike takes you past Crater Falls and Crater Lake to a viewpoint overlooking Dove Lake. There is a steep section with chains.
 * Kitchen Hut - 4 hours return. This can be accessed via Marion's Lookout. This takes you up onto Cradle Plateau, where you can admire the alpine vegetation. Kitchen Hut can also be accessed via the Horse Track or by using the Lake Rodway or Lake Wilks tracks to access the Face Track and then the boardwalk to Kitchen Hut. These options will take longer than Marion's Lookout.
 * Cradle Mountain Summit - 6 hours return from Dove Lake carpark.
 * Waterfall Valley - 10 hours return or camp here overnight. This is the first overnight stop of the Overland Track.
 * Barn Bluff - 10 hours return or camp at Waterfall Valley.
 * Hanson's Peak - 2 hours return. A beautiful hike that, weather permitting, offers fantastic views of Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake and Marion's Lookout. There is a small section with chains. You will also be able to see Lake Hanson and one of the Twisted Lakes.
 * Lake Rodway - 6 hours return or staying in the Scott-Kilvert Hut. If staying overnight in the hut, there is information there about the walks that can be done from Lake Rodway. Accessed via the Lake Rodway Track and Hanson's Peak, although (if you are fit and prepared) it can be accessed by doing a loop around the back of Cradle Mountain. This would make it a very long day hike through some rough terrain.

The Overland Track
Cradle Mountain is the starting point of the world-famous Overland Track which runs for 65 km to lake St Clair at the southern end of the park. The walk demands a fair degree of preparation and physical fitness and takes 6 days to walk or longer depending on weather delays and the side trips you take. More information about this walk can be found the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service website.

Other activities
You can take scenic flights from Cradle Mountain with Cradle Mountain Helicopters or go canyoning in the Dove River Canyon with Cradle Mountains Canyons

Buy
There are only a couple of shops just outside the park, prices are expensive. Buy your supplies before you get here.

Eat & drink
All of the premium accommodation providers have restaurants, apart from Cradle Mountain Highlanders Cabins and Waldheim Cabins. Prices range from reasonable up. There is a small cafe at the Visitor's Centre, where you can buy items such as wraps and drinks.

A small selection of food (including frozen food) can be bought from the Discovery Holiday Park office. It is a good idea to stock up on food before coming to the park - there are plenty of supermarkets and grocery stores in Launceston (if coming from there) and a sizable Woolworths in Deloraine.

Sleep
There is limited accommodation in the park, and so many of the park's accommodation is outside the park. Also consider finding lodging further afield, for instance in one of the rural B&Bs in the region. Even staying in Devonport or Launceston may be feasible, though they're over an hour away from the park.

Choose accommodation based on which part of the park you want to visit. Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair are not close to each other, and lodging that's convenient for one will be far from the other.

Lodging
Booking in advance is recommended during peak season. They can be some good prices to be had during the off-season (no cheaper than what is listed here).

Camping
Camping inside the Cradle Mountain section of the national park is not permitted within the day walk area. The first two places you may camp outside the day walk area are Waterfall Valley and Lake Rodway, both of which have huts. Camping inside the park, where permitted, is free.

For camping in the Lake St Clair section, see the Tasmanian Parks website for a list of locations where you can camp.

Huts
The huts inside the national park are free to use. All huts are located on the Overland Track with the exception of Lake Rodway Hut. Kitchen Hut and the Ranger Hut between Hansons Peak and Little Horn are for day use only, they should only be used overnight in emergencies.

If you are doing the Overland Track guided with Cradle Mountain Huts, you will use their own private huts. You may be looked after like a king but you need to be as rich as a king as well. Prices range from $2000-3000.

Stay safe
Always sign in and out of the logbook with your intentions.

Carry a hat, sunscreen, and weather-proof jacket in all seasons as the weather can be extremely changeable. If attempting a longer day walk or starting a walk late in the day, a headtorch is a must. Take plenty of water with you as the lakes should not be drunken from and the water from the tanks at the huts should be sterilized first. Take more food than you think you'll need in case you get caught out longer than you expected.

Sturdy footwear is recommended. Boots are not really required within the day walk area if doing walks from Dove Lake. If beginning at Ronny Creek, going on to Lake Rodway, or beginning the Overland Track boots are a must. You will pass through mud and if it rains, walking in running water.

Do not attempt the Overland Track without a pass. You have a very slim chance of getting through undetected as park rangers will ask to see your pass along the way. If you are caught without a pass you will be escorted back to Cradle Mountain.

Go next

 * Mole Creek Karst National Park
 * Walls of Jerusalem National Park
 * Highland Lakes