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Oia (Greece)

Oia (Greek: Οία, sometimes also spelled Ia) is the northernmost town on Thira, the largest island in the Santorini archipelago, which is part of the Cyclades islands about 200 km south of the Greek mainland. Oia is the town that comes to mind for most people when they hear Santorini and even Greek islands in general: steep volcanic cliffs with picturesque white houses, churches with deep blue roofs, and iconic windmills that appear lost in time. Oia's narrow streets scattered with arts and gift shops draw over 2 million tourists from abroad every year.

History
The recorded history of Oia dates back to the 13th century, when the Duchy of Naxos was established by the Venetians and feudal rule was instituted on Santorini. Apanomeria, known with the local inhabitants as Agios Nikolaos castle, was one of the 5 local citadels and the ruins of its residential keep is the oldest part of modern Oia. The Ottoman Empire took over control in 1579, and the name Apanomeria found general acceptance until it was changed to present day Oia in the mid 19th century.

At the end of the 19th century, peace brought prosperity. Oia's harbour, Amoudi Bay, developed as an important centre for maritime trade, a position boosted by the declining importance of Venice as a Mediterranean trading hub. It was part of many trading routes, from Alexandria to as far as Russia. By the turn of the 19th century, the fleet consisted of 130 sailing ships and a wharf was set up in Amoudi Bay. Agriculture on Santorini produced wines of excellent quality which were exported to mainland Europe.

The economic boom came to an end with the arrival of steam power, which made sailing ships redundant. Oia lost trade to Piraeus and Laurium, and the resulting exodus led to a decline in population which in turn hurt the agricultural sector. A shift to finishing industry brought relief, but by the early 20th century this also started to decline due to overfishing. The World Wars brought economic depression and further emigration to the Greek mainland.

The earthquake of 9 July 1956 with a magnitude of 7.8 dealt the finishing blow to Oia. The strongest aftershock had a magnitude of 7.2, with an epicentre just off the coast north of Oia. Nearly the entire town was levelled, and population fell to an all time low of only 306 inhabitants in the 1977 census. It remained largely abandoned for 2 decades.

Redevelopment
The bold decision was made to rebuild the village from the ground up as a tourist attraction. The surviving churches and castle ruins were restored, and infrastructure was developed. Utilities such as electricity and telecommunications cables were laid underground which helped to create a "picture perfect" village. Modern Oia is nearly entirely an artificial town, comparable to Disneyland: it largely consists of tourist accommodation, restaurants, bars, and shops. Oia attracts huge crowds of tourists looking for the "perfect" photograph, and is immensely popular as a honeymoon destination particularly with wealthy Indian and Chinese couples flocking to Oia to have their wedding pictures taken. Unsurprisingly, Oia's narrow streets are lined with jewellery shops, exclusive boutiques, and overpriced souvenirs made in China can be found at the corner of every street.

Get in
Easily reachable by bus from the central bus station in Fira. The road to Oia is not for the faint hearted! The bus fare is very inexpensive--not more than €3 per person.

Taxi from port in Thira costs around €20 per group; €25 if you don't want driver to take people from other groups into the car. A taxi from the airport will set you back.

Road between Fira and Oia is meandering -- keep in mind if you choose between taxi and a rented car when you arrive exhausted after a ferry.

The most rewarding way into town in to walk the footpath along the caldera from Fira. It will take awhile as there some stairs to climb (especially in the way back), but the view is worth it.

Get around
Motorised vehicles are banned from the town, and the only way to get around is by foot. Even garbage is taken away by donkeys. Donkeys can be rented on the staircase connecting Armeni bay to Oia. However, walking gives the most freedom to look around and enjoy the scenery. During the touristic season, which starts in April and ends in October, the town often becomes so crowded with tourists that congestion occurs in the narrow streets. Don't even try to push a bicycle through during the summer months! Fortunately, Oia is rather small so traversing the town only takes half an hour by foot.

See
Oia is a very picturesque town. Spend at least half a day exploring the town by meandering up and down paths and staircases. Along the way you'll see interesting architecture and breathtaking views of the caldera.

Eat

 * Ammoudi Bay Tavernas. There are three tavernas (side by side--difficult to distinguish between) in Ammoudi bay serving fresh grilled seafood. This is possibly the best place for enjoying dinner and a sunset in Ia. The food is okay, albeit a little overpriced. Alternately, you can enjoy an even better view of the sunset if you walk past the tavernas and continue on towards the swimming area. Along the path, where you have a clear view of Ammoudi Bay and the direction the sun sets, is an ideal place for snapping great sunset pics. But, if you don't mind paying a premium for a seafood dinner, the tavernas are quite charming.
 * Try the famous Souvlaki and Singing competition near the Church (on the right, down the steps, through the door) every Sunday night at 21:00 organised by Stelios. Entry is €10. Songs by famous Greek singers, such as "Sexy Back" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", are sung all through the night with endless amounts of souvlaki being served up.
 * Ammoudi Bay Tavernas. There are three tavernas (side by side--difficult to distinguish between) in Ammoudi bay serving fresh grilled seafood. This is possibly the best place for enjoying dinner and a sunset in Ia. The food is okay, albeit a little overpriced. Alternately, you can enjoy an even better view of the sunset if you walk past the tavernas and continue on towards the swimming area. Along the path, where you have a clear view of Ammoudi Bay and the direction the sun sets, is an ideal place for snapping great sunset pics. But, if you don't mind paying a premium for a seafood dinner, the tavernas are quite charming.
 * Try the famous Souvlaki and Singing competition near the Church (on the right, down the steps, through the door) every Sunday night at 21:00 organised by Stelios. Entry is €10. Songs by famous Greek singers, such as "Sexy Back" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", are sung all through the night with endless amounts of souvlaki being served up.
 * Ammoudi Bay Tavernas. There are three tavernas (side by side--difficult to distinguish between) in Ammoudi bay serving fresh grilled seafood. This is possibly the best place for enjoying dinner and a sunset in Ia. The food is okay, albeit a little overpriced. Alternately, you can enjoy an even better view of the sunset if you walk past the tavernas and continue on towards the swimming area. Along the path, where you have a clear view of Ammoudi Bay and the direction the sun sets, is an ideal place for snapping great sunset pics. But, if you don't mind paying a premium for a seafood dinner, the tavernas are quite charming.
 * Try the famous Souvlaki and Singing competition near the Church (on the right, down the steps, through the door) every Sunday night at 21:00 organised by Stelios. Entry is €10. Songs by famous Greek singers, such as "Sexy Back" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", are sung all through the night with endless amounts of souvlaki being served up.
 * Try the famous Souvlaki and Singing competition near the Church (on the right, down the steps, through the door) every Sunday night at 21:00 organised by Stelios. Entry is €10. Songs by famous Greek singers, such as "Sexy Back" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go", are sung all through the night with endless amounts of souvlaki being served up.

Drink
A number of vineyards on Santorini produce great wines. Sample the local wines when possible!

Sleep
The village has a variety of accommodation options. Cave style houses updated with modern features, cliff side houses that form a small hotel, mansions once owned by sea captains converted to luxury suites - are some of the unique features. Points to consider are if the accommodation faces to the sea, caldera and volcano; available terrace for breakfast or lounging, private terrace or shared; windows - as some of the cave houses may have small viewpoints; the location on the cliff as the stairs can be steep and not suited for everyone; and the regular factors: air conditioning, bathroom arrangement, bed style and comfort, services, etc. The protected village architecture and the cliffs restrict the building of swimming pools so there are very few offered on the caldera side. There's a public pool-bar offering views towards the sunset side of the island. If the accommodation has a terrace with the view to the sea, caldera and volcano then you won't miss the pool as gazing over the sea is the point here.

Stay safe
Being a tourist attraction, Oia is a safe destination for travel.

The town's layout makes it ideal for pickpockets, however: during the tourist season, the narrow streets are packed with tourists and body contact is not uncommon, which makes it easy for thieves to lift valuables out of the pockets of unsuspecting travellers. The street layout also makes for an ideal escape route, as pickpockets can easily vanish in the labyrinth of narrow passages and steep steps. It is recommended to leave valuables home or wear them under your shirt in a neck pouch. Do not rely on hip pouches, they are an easy target in crowded areas. Never leave electronics such as cameras unattended.

Stay healthy
As everywhere else on Santorini, tap water is not safe to drink in Oia, despite its new EU-sponsored. Bottles of water can be purchased in every mini market, and most hotels will offer complimentary bottles of water to their guests when booking a room.

Go next
At the northern tip of Thira, the options are to return southward with Finikia on a walking distance away from Oia. Vourvoulos and modern capital Fira can be reached by bus, which departs at the. Instead of taking the bus, though, consider hiking from Oia to Fira: the trail follows the caldera, and is considered the most spectacular hike on the Santorini archipelago.

Alternatively, take a ferry to one of the other islands of the Santorini archipelago. Therasia is only 20 minutes away from Oia by ferry.

title: Oia (Greece)


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Iași

Iaşi (pronounced yashy) is the second city of Romania after Bucharest, the national capital, by population and in cultural, historical and academic importance. It is the second largest university centre in Romania.

It has a population of just under half a million people, swelling greatly when the town's several universities are in session.

Understand
Iaşi is in northeastern Romania, and very close to the border with Republic of Moldova, from which Romania is divided by Prut River. The city is positioned on the Bahlui River, affluent of Jijia that flows into the Prut River, Iaşi is the "legendary city of the seven hills", namely Cetățuia, Galata, Copou, Bucium, Șorogari, Repedea and Breazu, just like so many cities around world, one such example being Rome. Some of these hills have conspicuous churches perched on top, each of which provides a different view of the city.

Iaşi looks green from above in spite of the ubiquitous brick and concrete due to its boulevards and gardens. Ancient churches, old European style houses and communist apartment buildings compete for space in this crowded city, which is constantly expanding into the surrounding villages; the urban rush of communism replaced houses, pigs, chickens, and cherry trees with apartment buildings. The land was confiscated from the peasants and they received apartments as compensation in the newly created common living spots. Factories sprung around the intensive urban effort, organized together in the industrial zone, only to be abandoned two generations later with the fall of the regime which gave them and the nation purpose. Like all communities in the former Soviet bloc, Iaşi had to reinvent itself in 1989.

Tourism in the city takes place around its heritage of archaeological sites, memorial houses, museums and historical and architectural monuments. Moreover, the folkloric and ethnographic heritage, the nature protection areas, natural mineral waters, and the vineyards in the surrounding countryside remain to be discovered.

The city is on the border to Europe's poorest country and you may think that this location is shown off in the city. That is though wrong. Although the borough is very poor and that you will see horse carriage the outskirts of the city, the center is undergoing a renaissance. A mall has been opened and sidewalks and houses have been renovated. On top of that, the thriving student community puts a young and trendy atmosphere as in any other European student city.

History
Also known as the "city of great love stories", "city of new beginnings", "cultural center of Moldavia", "an open air museum", Iaşi has been recognized since the 19th century as being the centre of the national spirit. Every corner of Iaşi evokes a personality, a unique event, a legend, a part of a myth, every stone talks about the past (as Romanian poet George Topîrceanu wrote).

The first document that mentions Iaşi's existence was issued on 6 Octomber 1408 by the ruler Alexandru cel Bun. It was a commercial privilege elaborated by Alexandru cel Bun after some rounds of negotiation with merchants from Lviv.

Iaşi was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1564 until 1859, when Moldavia united with Wallachia to form the basis of the future modern Romanian state. The designation of the capital to Bucharest was met with a lot of grief by the local city dwellers. The Moldavian aristocracy moved massively to Bucharest, leaving the former capital devoid of some of its former shine and richness. Nevertheless, Iaşi continued to be an important cultural center, providing the launching ramp of Romanian literature's most important 19th-century figures. Part of the Kingdom of Romania, Iaşi was again a capital from 1916 to 1918, as Bucharest was occupied by the German army. Its palaces and noblemen residences housed in crisis conditions the state institutions necessary to command the country in times of war.

During World War II, Iaşi suffered considerable destruction when German and Russian forces fought in its streets. The communist regime is responsible for the present street pattern and the bulk of its building fund. Newly formed neighbourhoods provided housing for the working class brought from villages to work in factories. The 1977 earthquake brought another blow to the historical centre of Iaşi, as the authorities at that time took advantage of the occasion to raze some of its former town housing (much of it made by the former multi-ethnic bourgeoisie). Nonetheless the key monuments were preserved as long as some patches of housing neighbourhoods mixed between socialist buildings.

After 1990, and the collapse of the obsolete heavy industry, Iaşi is reinventing itself taking advantage of its universities which constitute the second higher education center in the country, its smaller-sized industries, software companies, services, and commerce.

Climate
The local climate is continental with minimal rainfall and with large temperature differences between the seasons. Summer is hot and it lasts from the end of the month of May up to the half of September. Autumn is a short season, of transition. In the second half of November there is usually frost and snow. Winter is a freezing season with temperatures dropping to –20°C.

By train

The connections to Iaşi from Bucharest, the national capital, and with other counties in Romania are good and reliable. You can check the schedule and price online at CFR (on this website you may also see the prices and the availability of the trains on the dates you wish to travel). You can also take direct trains from Budapest, which is well linked to Western Europe. A train ticket from Bucharest costs around €26 when using the most expensive and luxurious option, the inter-city.

By bus

Destinations:
 * Chișinău, Moldova – Coach services to Iaşi are operated from Gara de Sud in Chișinău. There are 9 services a day, from bay 11 (?), but watch out for the big gap between 07:45 and 10:10. The fare is 140 lei and the trip takes around 4–5 hr.

By plane

Getting there and away:
 * By bus – Bus number 50 connects the airport to the centre. The top left-hand side timetable shows buses from the airport to the centre. The other three timetables show the buses from different parts of the city back to the airport. Tickets cost 3.5 lei.
 * By taxi – A metered taxi to the center of Iaşi should cost no more than about 15–20 lei. Most city taxis have meters. You should pay attention if they use it or not—it is not unheard of for them to try and get away with charging upwards of €10. The metered rate is 2.50 lei/km outside city limits and 2.20 lei/km inside them. Usually the rate is written on the side of the car, but make sure to check with the device in the car. Taxi drivers are more correct and nicer than in the capital.

By car
There are several possibilities to reach Iaşi from all over the country on national roads. These roads have been improved and are not blocked by traffic jams. A drive from Bucharest usually takes 5-6 hours.

If you do not have neither a map of Romania downloaded from the internet, nor a GPS, the best thing to do is to buy one from any gas station. Although the situation has been steadily improving, it is crucial to have a map in order to reach Iaşi from Bucharest without having to stop and ask for directions. The locals know which turns to take — there are not many, but they are not marked with large arrows as they are in the United States.

On foot
Iaşi is a rather large, densely packed town. You can walk from one end to another in a few hours. For the curious visitor, walking is the best way to get around.

By maxi-taxi
Maxi taxis go pretty much everywhere you could go on public transportation. They are privately operated, smaller, usually white micro-buses. They have their endpoint destination written on a paper at the front and they follow a usual route. They do not accept foreign currency. Do not expect the maxi-taxi drivers to speak English well enough to tell you where to get off—you could write your destination on a piece of paper, point and ask.

By public transport
Bus and tram were traditionally very important for getting around Iaşi, especially during the communist period and afterwards, before cars became commonplace. Public transportation is quite frequent and works around 05:00–23:00. However, during weekends and public holidays, their frequency decreases.

A ticket costs 3.5 lei, with a 2-trip ticket at 7 lei (two people can also make one journey with this ticket), a 90-minute ticket at 4 lei, and an all-day ticket at 8 lei. Strangely there can be problems if you try to use a ticket for a tram on a bus, etc. You can buy tickets from ticket offices at stops, but bear in mind that at minor stops these offices close around 17:00–18:00. Ticket machines have been installed throughout the city, and have an English interface.

There is a special tram that goes up and down Copou hill. It is reconditioned classical tram and it is a different style from the normal trams, resembling the San Francisco ones somewhat.

The main reason to go in public transportation is to witness regular people going about their business. Everyone goes on the public transportation. This is a good place to see beggars performing. If you are on a bus, it is fairly likely that some group of little kids will get on and start singing. They are usually Roma singing traditional Romanian songs, and some of them are rather gifted. They want you to give them money, of course. Also, look out for displays of faith. Romania is one of the most religious countries in Europe, and when passing a church or monastery you may see several passengers, from old women to teenagers in sneaks, doing the sign of the cross.

Old town of Iaşi is quite small, however. You could use the public transport to go around, but most of the interesting parts of the city are in the center, so walking is preferable. You need the bus only if you want to see stuff out of traditional center or because your accommodation is there.

By taxi
Taxis are quite popular in Iaşi, and have switched to yellow universally. In Iaşi, locals sometimes take the taxi which they find most appealing, not necessarily the first in line, so if you really like some brand of car, you can opt to take that one. This practice is becoming less common, however.

See

 * National Theatre "Vasile Alecsandri" – With an exceptional interior designed by one of the most popular architects from Vienna at the beginning of the 19th century.
 * Bulevardul Stefan Cel Mare (si Sfint) (Steven the Great ((and the Holy)) Boulevard) – Along it you will find the Metropolitan Church, the Trei Ierarhi Church, the Palace of Culture and the National Theatre. If you go on this boulevard in the winter, you will find an impressive set of light decorations. Part of the boulevard is closed to traffic nowadays. On Sundays, the National Theatre park fills up with icons and naïve paintings, which one can buy for rather small prices.
 * Bulevardul Copou (Copou Boulevard) – Copou is a large hill in Iaşi, which contains a university, a botanical garden and many old, fancy houses. Rose bushes line its sides, and there are many parks and old trees scattered between the buildings. It is a popular place to go for a walk, and for locals it is considered the rich area. Head onto the side streets for the quietest, serenest part of Iaşi.
 * Copou Park – This tame, bench- and rosebush-laden park is a popular destination for youth in heat and the contemplative elderly. It is a pretty park, and you should not put your feet on the benches (you might get fined). There are several large bushes through which you can walk, and an extremely old linden tree held up by metal bars. Linden trees are well appreciated in Iaşi, and this particular tree is the most famous because the beloved Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu allegedly wrote poems in its inspirational shade. In front of this linden tree, there are two large patches of bright blue forget-me-not flowers.
 * Botanical Garden – The botanical garden is high up on Copou hill, and it is a popular summer getaway. In the fall, the walnut trees drop walnuts which you can eat, and some people go to the garden to find these.
 * Sala Pasilor Pierduti (the Hall of the Lost Steps) – The Al. I. Cuza university in Copou houses an exquisite hallway, in which you can get lost in poetic reverie. The hallway is empty, long and narrow, and its walls are covered with large paintings that allude to T.S. Eliot's "Wasteland" and have an intensely epic, allegorical and dreamy character. A lonely guardwatch protects the hallway, and the door is heavy, with small windows that let the light trickle in through dust. It is a lonely place, yet while school is in season it is tread by thousands of steps every day, which only make it lonelier. You might also want to explore the rest of the building. A piece of advice: freeing your mind from the confines of Euclidean geometry will not make it any easier to find your way through the place, but you will feel less frustrated when you find out you have changed floors just by crossing a seemingly level hallway. The classrooms use both the Arab and the Roman numbering system, which makes it hell when you are late for an exam, and learned men all agree that the third floor disappears during full moon. You have been warned.
 * Botanical Garden – The botanical garden is high up on Copou hill, and it is a popular summer getaway. In the fall, the walnut trees drop walnuts which you can eat, and some people go to the garden to find these.
 * Sala Pasilor Pierduti (the Hall of the Lost Steps) – The Al. I. Cuza university in Copou houses an exquisite hallway, in which you can get lost in poetic reverie. The hallway is empty, long and narrow, and its walls are covered with large paintings that allude to T.S. Eliot's "Wasteland" and have an intensely epic, allegorical and dreamy character. A lonely guardwatch protects the hallway, and the door is heavy, with small windows that let the light trickle in through dust. It is a lonely place, yet while school is in season it is tread by thousands of steps every day, which only make it lonelier. You might also want to explore the rest of the building. A piece of advice: freeing your mind from the confines of Euclidean geometry will not make it any easier to find your way through the place, but you will feel less frustrated when you find out you have changed floors just by crossing a seemingly level hallway. The classrooms use both the Arab and the Roman numbering system, which makes it hell when you are late for an exam, and learned men all agree that the third floor disappears during full moon. You have been warned.

Churches and monasteries
It is said that if you throw a rock in Iaşi, you will break a church window. Despite the fact that communism outlawed religion, Iaşi is replete with churches and monasteries. The majority are of Eastern Orthodox denomination, richly decorated and sometimes surrounded by lush gardens. As you walk by, imagine the churches a hundred years ago as the centers of farming, peasant communities; the fruit-bearing trees and domains around the church supported the clergy and nuns. In Iaşi, the priests knock on every door at least once a year to bless your apartment for the new year in exchange for money. It is considered inappropriate not to open the door. When you enter a church, you can make the cross symbol on the doorstep; remove your hat, and do not wear any short skirts. On Sunday, sermon is sometimes held outside the church, broadcast by a loudspeaker, because inside there are few or no chairs.

If you are extremely lucky, you will visit a church on the day of its 100-year anniversary. This is the only day in which women are allowed in the altar; Do not worry if you do not speak Romanian, you will not have to say anything. There are no easy ways of finding out when these anniversaries occur, so if you really want to do this look up the dates when churches were built.

 * Trei Ierarhi Church – This church is completely covered in carvings. The church was once covered in gold, which was burned away to be stolen. Trei Ierarhi is frequently under construction. The atmosphere inside is musky, typical of East Orthodox churches. It contains several chandeliers with decorative ostrich eggs. It is on the tentative list for nomination for the World Heritage list.
 * Metropolitan Church – Do not wear short skirts in this church. The elderly are quite protective of in-church propriety. If you go in the summer, you will enjoy vast rose bushes all around the grounds of the church. If you are thirsty, there is a water fountain at one end of the courtyard. There are always beggars at the entrance of this church, which is one of the most profitable for beggars in Iaşi. Locally, this church is called "Metropolia". Metropolia contains the remains of "Saint Paraschiva", an important local saint. If you like chaos and celebrations, go to Iaşi from 12-16 October of any year. The city floods with peasants and religious pilgrims from Romania and abroad. The city completely changes during this period, and the Stefan cel Mare boulevard is almost impossible to walk through.

 * Golia Monastery – This monastery is surrounded with thick fat walls and has a prominent tower; you can climb to the summit. It is in "Targul Cucului" = "the Coockoo's market", which is right in the middle of the city in a very busy intersection. The contrasting serenity within the walls is almost unbelievable.
 * Sfântul Nicolae Domnesc – This small but beautiful church is next to the Palace of Culture. It was built by Stephen the Great in 1491-1492, making it the oldest standing religious building in Iaşi today, and was renovated around 1900. It is well worth a visit to admire the paintings, and perhaps take a break for a little peace of mind.
 * Frumoasa Monastery – This monastery is in Nicolina, farther form downtown and amidst communist buildings. You can recognise the monastery by the metal roof.
 * Jewish cemetery – Hidden behind communist buildings in the Păcurari neighbourhood lays the Jewish cemetery, a trace of the once thriving Jewish community of Iaşi (up to a third of the population of Iaşi was Jewish before World War II). It is now guarded by a family who lives there, but you should be allowed to enter during decent day-hours.
 * Jewish cemetery – Hidden behind communist buildings in the Păcurari neighbourhood lays the Jewish cemetery, a trace of the once thriving Jewish community of Iaşi (up to a third of the population of Iaşi was Jewish before World War II). It is now guarded by a family who lives there, but you should be allowed to enter during decent day-hours.

Do

 * Football: Politehnica Iași play soccer in Liga 1, the top tier. Their Emil Alexandrescu Stadium (capacity 11,400) is 3 km north of town centre, on the tram route.
 * Releu (an ancient sea bed) – It refers to a large antenna in general, but in Iaşi there is a particular one which you will be directed to if you ask locals. The Releu is a popular picnic spot, and offers a gorgeous view of the city. It is in a strange area, which is half village, half French Riviera; This means that peasants, cows, chickens and dogs still live here, but that some of the properties are being bought by rich Europeans and converted into villas. The two ways to get to the Releu are by maxi-taxi and by taxi. The taxi or maxi-taxi will leave you at the edge of the street, and you will probably feel like you are in full blown countryside. Look for the giant antenna, and go to its base. You will have to walk on dirt roads, but it is pretty. From the antenna, look around, and you should be able to find a crevasse (it is really rather large, like a semicircular cut in the hillside). You can see some caverns dug into the side of the hill. Go down into the semicircular cut (it is an easy walk) and go up to the wall. You can see many shells and remains of a calcarous ancient sea bed which used to cover the entire area. If you are adventurous, you can find caves in the area, some of which are quite large. There are ancient legends that tell of the locals running away from invaders in these caves and sheltering their riches. Most of the locals believe the caves to be fictitious, but they do really exist.
 * Bucium Hill – There is a lookout point with a really good view towards the city. Some people drive there at night to take a look at the panorama, while the car windows get steamy.
 * Explore abandoned communist factories – Iaşi was a burgeoning industrial center of the communist era. The communist ideal revolved around self-sufficiency, so everything (except for oil and the like) that needed to be used in Iaşi was made in Iaşi. The city's outskirts are dominated by an immense industrial zone, in which more than 90% of the factories have become abandoned. When the communist regime fell, these factories closed one by one, succumbing to foreign competition and internal political chaos. What is left are hundreds of factories, buildings, warehouses and fields which are completely abandoned, overrun with shrubbery, begging for exploration. It is unique, amazing and wild, and will not last long. With the European Union's accelerating economic involvement in Romania and the increasing price of land in the city, the industrial wasteland will soon be cleaned up and taken under control by the overzealous and bored Romanian policemen. You can get there by asking which way is the "zona industriala". If you are in "Podu Ros" walk towards "Tesatura", away from downtown. As you walk you will pass the electrical power plant. You can also take tram number 1 from Podu Ros and get off at the very end (make sure it is not going towards Copou). At the end of the tram line, walk around, because you have entered the largest communist wasteland around Iaşi. There are other abandoned factories, but this is the largest concentration. Another extremely large abandoned factory is C.U.G., and used to produce large industrial equipment. It is at the end of bus lines 9 and 41, next to "Frumoasa". If you take the train to come into Iaşi, you will probably go by this factory for a very long time. C.U.G. is not completely abandoned, so you should be careful, but it also probably has the most impressive warehouses and heavy machinery. Try to imagine how in the 1980s these places were the workplaces of most of the inhabitants of Iaşi. Many people moved from the countryside to the city to work in these factories.
 * Visit any factory you are allowed to – Admission has been denied, but the situation changes frequently. If you are lucky, you could visit the clothing and shoe-making factory (at the Tesatura intersection, next to Podu Ros towards the industrial zone), the sewage treatment plant, the bread and pasta factory (the pasta more or less drips from a balcony onto an assembly line below).
 * Go swim in the locals' dippin' spots – In the summer, Iaşi experiences extreme droughts and relentless heat, so the locals escape to swimming holes. The most popular one was the "Ştrand", which was an outdoor swimming pool in the middle of the city. The pool has been relocated as a big real estate project called Palas started to be built in the area. Some people also swim in the Ciric and Venetia lakes and river which lie north of the city. These are lakes, not swimming pools; there is no lifeguard, but there also are no rules. Check the bottom depth before taking a plunge. Also, the water is full of strange microorganisms and who knows what else... the local kids seem to be all right, but two-headed fish have been seen in the Ciric lake more than once. You can also swim in the botanical garden, in the pool at the bottom of the hill. There is a new "Ştrand" on the "Cicoarei" street (just ask the locals for it). It is well fitted and quite a popular place for summer bathing. There are also some hotels which have smaller swimming pools available to the public (Hotel Capitol, Motel Bucium, etc.) The lakes mentioned above are not really safe. A few people get drowned every year and some get eye or skin conditions from the dirty water.

Work
As older Romanians do not have a history of learning a lot of foreign languages, you should orientate to younger people when trying to speak English. Most companies will not hire anyone who does not speak Romanian.

Luckily, given that this is a big university center, a lot of multinational companies have arrived and, especially in the IT sector, you will be able to get a job in the call-center sector: XL World; ITO Sector: Capgemini, SCC.

Also IT professionals will have a lot to choose from as many companies have a strong presence in the Iaşi economic sector and also factories: Endava, Amazon, Comodo, Redpoint, Pentalog, Mind, Continental, Delphi and many more. Most of these companies have more than 50 employees (most have over 200) and they will recruit pretty much all year around as attrition in this sector is very high.

All of these companies have websites in more than one international language so you can check them out. Some will require an IT degree. Some will not. It is a good place to start with if you plan on staying for long, until you get your stuff sorted out.

Most supermarkets will probably hire people to work for product handling in the warehouse, so that is a good place to look as well: Metro cash&carry, Carrefour, Selgros, Kaufland, Lidl, Billa and also Bricostore, Mr Bricolage, Praktiker, Dedeman. IT retailers: Domo, Altex, Media Galaxy.

Besides this, if you have special skills (dancing step or tango) or are a yoga instructor (there are none in Iaşi!) you can probably work your way as self-employed professional. There are also a lot of niches you can go into as a professional, different photograph opportunities, DJ gigs and so on.

Buy

 * The area near Piaţa Unirii is a general shopping area with the usual selection of stores.
 * If you are looking for something to read, there are two bookstores in Piata Unirii, in the center. Junimea has several books in French, while Librăria Humanitas has some books in English.
 * Second-hand shops – All around the city. As the economic crisis hit Iaşi, the number of second-hand clothing shops has skyrocketed, as one of the few profitable businesses in times of economic hardship. You will find really good bargains for some hippy clothes, antiquities, sport equipment. A lot of young locals prefer them to shopping malls, because you may find really quality stuff at affordable prices. Most of these clothes come in big shipments from western countries. You will be surprised maybe to find items your parents would be wearing in their youth.

 * Check the traditional open markets ("Piaţa Nicolina", "Piaţa Alexandru", "Piaţa Păcurari") – They are open daily. You'll find fresh local products, healthier than the ones in supermarkets, and usually at better prices too. You may find peculiar the offer of the sellers from the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, who bring their products there.

 * The Bazaar – This is a purchasing junkyard, curiously popular with the locals. Most of the stuff sold here is reminiscent of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and is probably produced in the same Chinese factories. The Bazar is underneath the land bridge which connects Podu Ros to Nicolina. You can find jeans, sneakers, plastic toys and trinkets of all varieties here.
 * Iulius Mall – Go to "the mall"! Close to Podu Ros, along the Bahlui river. This mall is rather elegant, and houses several eateries which are European-priced and far from traditional Romanian food, but if you are out to spend money this is as good a place as any. It is also the place to go to the movies, with the exception of kids' movies, foreign movies are usually shown subtitled with original audio.
 * Carrefour / Felicia – The Felicia Mall is smaller and less elegant than Iulius and offers little in the way of dining. However, it contains a Carrefour "hypermarket" which is convenient if you are looking for a one-stop shop for electronics, clothes, food and everything else. It is about as Romanian as a McDonald's, but nicely illustrates the near-future total westernization of the Romanian economy. Ask the taxi driver to go to "Carrefour".
 * The "old malls" Moldova Center and Hala Centrala – In the center close to the Cultural Palace. They are not as big or modern as "the mall" (Iulius), but may be a bit cheaper. They both date back to communist times, but have been heavily renovated. One feature typical of the era is the open circular subterrain marketplace in front of Hala Centrala, where you can still buy local food from the producers. Other marketplaces exist around town, but this is the easiest to find. On various holidays and other occasions, tent stalls pop up outside Hala Centrala selling goods or acting as bars.

Eat

 * Restaurant Bar Baron (Str. Sfantu Lazar 52) – It is beyond the Culture Palace. You have to walk for a while, but the pub is very nice and they serve good beer and good food for reasonable prices. You may want to give this place a miss unless you want to be in the company of some very dodgy local characters. There are plenty of decent nosheries in the center of the town, no need to stray this far for utterly forgettable food and bad company.
 * Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices.
 * Restaurant Bar Baron (Str. Sfantu Lazar 52) – It is beyond the Culture Palace. You have to walk for a while, but the pub is very nice and they serve good beer and good food for reasonable prices. You may want to give this place a miss unless you want to be in the company of some very dodgy local characters. There are plenty of decent nosheries in the center of the town, no need to stray this far for utterly forgettable food and bad company.
 * Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices.
 * Restaurant Bar Baron (Str. Sfantu Lazar 52) – It is beyond the Culture Palace. You have to walk for a while, but the pub is very nice and they serve good beer and good food for reasonable prices. You may want to give this place a miss unless you want to be in the company of some very dodgy local characters. There are plenty of decent nosheries in the center of the town, no need to stray this far for utterly forgettable food and bad company.
 * Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices.
 * Restaurant Bar Baron (Str. Sfantu Lazar 52) – It is beyond the Culture Palace. You have to walk for a while, but the pub is very nice and they serve good beer and good food for reasonable prices. You may want to give this place a miss unless you want to be in the company of some very dodgy local characters. There are plenty of decent nosheries in the center of the town, no need to stray this far for utterly forgettable food and bad company.
 * Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices.
 * Restaurant Monte Carlo (Fd. Codrescu 5, near the Al. I. Cuza University) – A quiet, not very well-known restaurant with a lovely ambiance, serving international and traditional food for reasonable prices.

Drink
Iaşi is famous for its nightlife. If you go towards the University you will find a lot of students wondering around or having a beer. There are a lot of bars, coffee shops and pubs where you cand chill, have a drink, or watch a game. Most popular discos and clubs are full until morning during University periods. Check out the discos "Skye", "Skin", "Master", "Code" and "Viper" even though there are much more that are popular. You can find a lot of bars in front of the "Copou Park", as there are a lot of student housing there and is only natural there are a lot of leisure places. These bars usually are mainstream with popular music you can hear on the radio. Sometimes they have karaoke nights during the week.

There are bars almost every where, but most of them are places you will not have a nice experience as they are only for extremely loyal locals and such they have not invested much into the decoration or the experience. You will need to go to more central or student areas to get a more enjoyable experience. Also, if you just need to get a quick drink, you can always get into the many pizza restaurants you will definitely see, as the prices are the same.

Most of these bars will have a Facebook page so feel free to add them and check out what they have planned for the future days. You can also get contact details there and friendly staff that will answer to any of your questions. You can also make reservations.

 * Sage – A place you do not want to miss. It is in the old "Mihai Eminescu Library" building and it has lots of tea sortiments from all over the world. There is also newspapers and books you can read, a piano and social games that you can borrow for free. The personnel also speaks English and, when the owner is in, people have been known to get freebies. Very nice atmosphere.
 * Curtea Berarilor / Baza / Underground / Taverna / The Gate / Hand (Bulevardul Stefan cel Mare si Sfant nr. 10, bl. B1-B2) / la CUB (Catacombe) – All student bars in the city center, next to the green "cube" (modern statue). They are perfect for a bar crawl (or at least some, depending on music taste) since they are literally next door to each other. They all stand out in the Iaşi night scene as they only play modern rock music, indie, dubstep, alternative rock and heavy metal (the first bar mostly pop-rock and folk and the last one heavy metal, the rest something in between). During the week they have a lot of concerts from local bands or karaoke nights, during the weekends everybody just dances. These bars are a favorite hang-out for Erasmus students as they offer a diverse music genre and are very cultural friendly. Beer is 4-5 lei, cocktails 10 lei, shots 30 ml 5-6 lei.
 * Mojo (Str. Cuza Voda, Nr. 30-32) – Close to the National Theatre, indie and alternative rock music, they sometimes host LGBT parties for the local community. It is sign is the "tree of life", be careful as there is only a door with stairs going downwards, easy to miss. Check the website for a more detailed map.
 * Acaju (Str. Sf.Sava, nr 15) – From the National Theatre, make a right and when you get to the parking lot make a left. Walk for 2 minutes and you will find this bar (a couple of more houses far from the other bars you will find on the way). This is a very friendly bar with all sorts of music, from jazz to dubstep. They have a strong community along with some of the local NGOs that occasionally will have different activities as: "Slow food" (home cooked food served to everyone), "Papergirl" (customers will be invited to draw on paper) and so on. This is a neighborhood made of houses or small buildings, it might look deserted and unfriendly but it's very safe to go to this bar. If you feel like wondering around afterwards, just go back where you came to the big boulevards where there is more people. Nothing can happen to you, just nasty beggars that will not leave you alone. Beer 4-5 lei, cocktails 10-15 lei
 * Brain (Str. Gandu 6) – From "Union Plaza" ("Piața Unirii"), if you walk towards the train station, take the first left and you will find this modernist bar that will appeal to electro-music fans. Everything from electro to IDM and a lot of concerts with crazy visuals. They also have a non-smoking room upstairs where they will mostly have project documentaries or live concerts from different bands. Beer 5 lei, glass wine 5 lei.
 * Kaze – Door to door with Brain bar, the only bar where you will find non-stop reggae music. Beer 4-5 lei, cocktails 10 lei.
 * London pub (Str. Piata Unirii nr.1) – In the Astoria Hotel in the city center, this is a theme pub that is a favorite hang out for watching a football match if you feel like it. It is mostly addressed for business men and morning coffees as there will be no dancing usually here, but it is a nice place to enjoy one of their specialties. A 0.5L Tuborg is 6.5-7 lei.
 * Clubul Presei (The Press Club) – In the basement of the Gulliver Block (first tall building on the Stefan cel Mare boulevard starting from Piata Unirii), on the side opposite to the main street. Look for the yellow door with the ramp leading to it. Though not exactly a metal bar, it is a meeting point for metalheads and other alternative types, since it serves some of the best mulled wine in Iaşi. You might want to stick to the small serving, though. It can make you much tipsier than you would think. If you want to play it safe, go for their special, brandy-and-whipped cream hot chocolate. Oh, and try to avoid the toilets. If you've lived in, or traveled extensively through Eastern Europe you have seen much worse, but there is still no need to subject yourself to that mess.
 * Iulius Mall – Actually a retail mall, but if you want a decent shopping experience with trying some of the more extravagant bars in Iaşi, you will need to get here. Everything from Italian gelaterias that will give you ice-creams and espressos to oriental themed restaurants. Obviously, there is a big "food-court" as well, with plenty of international fast-food chains. Prices will range, but only because most of this bars will only serve you import beer (for example) that you will not find anywhere else so you will get a reasonable bargain if this is what you want. Everyone will know where this mall is, from people on the street to taxis, it is in the student housing center of "Tudor Vladimirescu". It is best to get a taxi or a bus, as it might be a long walk, depending where you are from.
 * Max – Found in the living heart of Tudor Vladimirescu Campus. Cheap drinks and totally a place to be if you want to taste the life as a student engineer.

Budget

 * Hotel Continental, Strada Cuza Voda. Simple, modestly furnished rooms at affordable prices. Single room with bath is 110 lei. Central location.
 * Hotel Sport - Str. Sf. Lazar 76. Double room with shower 101 lei/night, no singles. A bit dodgy, but not altogether dismal. TV in each room. It is up a little alleyway next to the Sala Polivalenta sport complex, take bus number 41 or 28 and get off at Sala Sporturilor.
 * Hotel Sport - Str. Sf. Lazar 76. Double room with shower 101 lei/night, no singles. A bit dodgy, but not altogether dismal. TV in each room. It is up a little alleyway next to the Sala Polivalenta sport complex, take bus number 41 or 28 and get off at Sala Sporturilor.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Unirea, Piata Unirii. Based in a high rise imposing building that dates back to socialist times, but now fairly modern hotel offering 3-star service and accommodation and some excellent panoramic views over the city.
 * Hotel Astoria - Str. Lapusneanu 1, next to Piata Uniri. A simpler business class alternative adjacent to the more upscale Traian. One double room is 250 lei/night.

Splurge

 * Hotel Select - Piata 14 Decembrie 1989. Another centrally located boutique mansion hotel. It offers single/double rooms presented to 4-star level and a personable level of service.
 * Hotel Select - Piata 14 Decembrie 1989. Another centrally located boutique mansion hotel. It offers single/double rooms presented to 4-star level and a personable level of service.

Stay safe
In general, the city of Iaşi is as safe as any other urban area in Europe and there is really no need for any special precautions.

Pickpockets
Pickpockets are a problem in Iaşi. Pickpockets do not advertise their strategies, but you should keep your money in a travel pouch tied around your neck and on the inside of a shirt if you want to be confident of its safety. Pickpockets are mainly around the main train station area, and target mostly people with lots of luggage, especially when trams and buses are full.

The best strategy is always check for suspicious groups of persons around you and just move if you see them surrounding you. Do not argue with them or start a fight if you find them with a hand in your pocket. Do not call someone out on their pickpocketing; chances are that you will not get the crowd rallied in your favor and you might cause an unnecessary aggravation for yourself. Simply leave.

Prostitution
Do not go to the train station area at night if you want to avoid visible hints of prostitution.

Beggars
Beggars can be persistent; remember, just because someone is begging does not necessarily mean the person is truly poor or disabled. Judge for yourself. If someone approaches you trying to read your palm, guess your fate in a shell, etc., do not be surprised if you encounter hostility. Do not worry, you will probably not be attacked.

Stray dogs
In Iaşi, dogs run wild and in these abandoned regions they are out of control. It is not uncommon to see 10 or more dogs together in packs. Do not bother them. Do not run away from dogs. See Aggressive dogs for more information on how to behave.

Do not antagonize packs of stray dogs. If you are being followed by dogs, do not be aggressive; they are probably doing their own thing; however, if you find yourself threatened, do not run away. Instead, yell, pretend to throw rocks, to kick, etc., but do not take away their food.

Police corruption
In Iaşi, the police are rather unpredictable. Someone may try to arrest you or fine you for putting your feet up on a bench in a park. If you get caught doing anything, be courteous, friendly, extremely apologetic, etc. You may asked to pay a bribe, but keep in mind that paying or receiving a bribe is illegal. The best way to distinguish a bribe from a fine is official written documentation that should be given to you. If you are asked to pay a bribe, politely refuse and do not pay. Paying bribes can make the situation worse for yourself and continues the problem for others. If this fails, it also is suggested to keep contact details for your embassy on you and insist on speaking to them.

Trespassing
If you are going to go exploring abandoned factories, you always run the risk of being caught by a leftover security guard. You never know. Be quiet, be subtle, bring a camera, don't carry weapons and don't threaten anybody. Do not ask for permission to visit any place; you won't be let in and you'll increase vigilance. If you want to go in a factory or building, walk around it first to see if there are any security guards; if there are, you're better off going to another factory.

Water tunnels
If you are exploring abandoned urban area then be careful where you step. In some places there are water tunnels with murky waters which are more than 2 m deep (couldn't find a bigger stick to check), which are populated by turtles and frogs. It is common for local kids to catch frogs in these basins.

Connect
Iași and its approach roads have 4G from all Romanian carriers. As of Aug 2022, city centre has 5G from Digi, Orange and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Bucharest – A coach service leaves for Bucharest 5 times a day for 70 lei and the trip takes approximately 6 hours. The first service leave at 05:50 and the last at 21:30. The buses are air-conditioned and stop for food half-way.
 * Chișinău, Moldova – There are 13 mini bus/maxi taxi services a day, from bay 5 in the main bus station (opposite the train station), 35 lei. Services run 06:45–17:30, with a rush of departures around 09:00. Private drivers outside the nearby Billa supermarket will aggressively hassle travelers to make the same journey for €20, but some travelers may appreciate the hassle and paying a little more for a quicker service.

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

title: Iași


text:
Ialysos

Ialysos is a city in Rhodes. It includes Ixia, a seaside resort village.

Understand
Ialysos is the second-largest town on the island of Rhodes. It has a population of approximately 12,000, and is located 8 km west of the town of Rhodes, the island's capital, on the island's northwestern coast. Blue waters, a seemingly endless organized beach, the pleasant cool summer climate and mild winters, big hotel complexes and smaller friendly ones, shops of all kinds, and many night-clubs all contribute to make lalysos bay one of the most popular resorts on the island. Thanks to the ideal conditions of the region, important international windsurfing competitions often take place here.

The beaches have a mixture of sand and pebbles. It is a favourite spot for windsurfers with two water sports centres renting boards and jet-skis.

Understand
Ixia has a long narrow beach which is situated near the main road with many small shops, commercial centres, restaurants, cafes and hotels lining the beach strip. The area is popular with tourists.

Get in
The Rhodes International Airport or Diagoras International Airport. "Diagoras" (Greek: Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Ρόδου, "Διαγόρας") is 14 km to the south west of Ixia. Paradisi and Theologos (Tholos) lies a few kilometres further down the coast and past the airport.

See

 * Ialysos is one of the most important archaeological sites on the island. Located on the hill of Filerimos, this site would probably be the most important reason for visiting this area. The remains of the temple of Zeus and Athena Poliada and the remnants of the Byzantine fortifications can be seen.
 * 14th-century Church of the Knights (the Virgin Mary of Filerimos was worshiped by both the Orthodox and the Catholic faith). The road to Golgothas is path of cypress trees with quite impressive shrines lining both sides.
 * Sunsets: relax and view the often spectacular sunsets at Ixia.

Do
Water sports, shopping and visiting the restaurants seem to be popular activities with visitors to this part of the island.

 * The beach can get rather windy with large waves.

 * Windsurfing Ixia is suitable for wind surfing and sailing.

Go next

 * Paradisi — a few km past the airport and down the road to south.
 * Theologos (Tholos) — a few km further past the airport and down the road to south.
 * Faliraki — this is Rhodes' action resort. Go there to party. The hotels north from Faliraki are much quieter. Nice beaches, not as windy as on the west coast and served by good public transport. Hotels near the water park are family friendly and not so popular with the 'clubbers'.
 * Rhodes Old Town — the biggest city on the island and seat of the local government, also the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.

title: Ialysos


text:
Ibadan

Ibadan is a city of 3.6 million people (2021) in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Its historic significance in the affairs of the declining Oyo Empire has endowed it with a lot of places to see and its location at the edge of the Yoruba heartland makes it an ideal base to explore the major Yoruba cities which might not always have as many developed facilities for the foreigner as Ibadan does.

Understand
Ibadan is the largest city in West Africa in terms of geographical mass; it used to be the capital of the entire South West Nigeria region excluding Lagos, and is now the capital of Oyo State.

Climate
The climate in Ibadan is tropical. The average annual temperature is 30 °C in the day and at night is 26°C in Ibadan. During rainy season, the annual precipitation is about 1467 mm (57.8 in). The precipitation reaches its peak between July and August with an average of 218 mm (8.6 in).

In dry season, the driest months are December and January with 8.26 mm of rain. If you are visiting when the weather is like this, drink plenty of water, and do not plan on staying outside for long during the sunny days. The interior of cars will get dangerously hot, especially if it's parked in the sun and the windows are up; don't leave pets or children in there, no matter how briefly.

Get in
Shared cars and buses are available to Ibadan from multiple bus terminals in Lagos for about ₦2,000 and above (naira). The journey takes about three to four hours along the heavily trafficked Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and buses arrive in the southern part of the city. Private taxis can be hired from Lagos for USD 30-50. There are various destinations which you can alight at in Ibadan city, the popular place is known as IWO-ROAD.

Regional buses connect to Ibadan from all major towns in Southwestern Nigeria, including Abeokuta, Ile-Ife, Ogun, Ekiti and Oyo. Night buses also connect the city to the north, via Abuja, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina and eastern Nigerian town.

By plane
Ibadan has an airport, which is served by domestic carriers only. There are flights from Abuja, Lagos and Ilorin. Arik Air and Overland Airways are the two airlines that operate in Ibadan Airport.

By train
The higher-speed Lagos-Ibadan Railway line connecting Ibadan to Lagos via Abeokuta opened in January 2021. In the future, the line will be extended to Kano. The new railway station is located in Moniya, far north of the city centre, meaning you will have to use a connecting bus or taxi. Nigerian Railway Corporation offers several daily return passenger service on the line. Tickets cost between ₦3000-6000.

Additionally, there are much slower long-distance trains on the old narrow gauge route from Kano via Kaduna, continuing to Lagos. These long-distance trains should run a few times per week, but are subject to frequent cancellations. Notice that these trains call at the old, centrally located, station.

Get around
There is an extensive network of minibuses and shared cars. A journey from one end of the city to the other costs around ₦100. Okadas (motorcycle taxis) are cheap and available everywhere, though some riders are erratic.

See

 * Ideere Hills, at Igbo Ora-Eruwa Road, Open 24 hours, with Hills, caves, wonderful rock formations and landscaping views. The rock formations are amazing, the hiking was very exciting, the caves, the lakes, the relics, the fascinating landscape view from the summit. Ideere is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes. (March 2022)
 * Ideere Hills, at Igbo Ora-Eruwa Road, Open 24 hours, with Hills, caves, wonderful rock formations and landscaping views. The rock formations are amazing, the hiking was very exciting, the caves, the lakes, the relics, the fascinating landscape view from the summit. Ideere is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes. (March 2022)
 * Ideere Hills, at Igbo Ora-Eruwa Road, Open 24 hours, with Hills, caves, wonderful rock formations and landscaping views. The rock formations are amazing, the hiking was very exciting, the caves, the lakes, the relics, the fascinating landscape view from the summit. Ideere is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes. (March 2022)
 * Ideere Hills, at Igbo Ora-Eruwa Road, Open 24 hours, with Hills, caves, wonderful rock formations and landscaping views. The rock formations are amazing, the hiking was very exciting, the caves, the lakes, the relics, the fascinating landscape view from the summit. Ideere is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes. (March 2022)

Do
For some outdoor touring and hiking, you could try:

Buy
If you're wanting the outdoor market experience, you could try the Oje, Bere Bodija, Gbagi, Aleshinloye or Dugbe Markets.

For a more cosmopolitan experience,
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Ace mall, Awolowo Avenue Opposite Housing, Bodija Ibadan, Oyo state. Opens 8AM- 11PM (Updated March 2022)

In Challenge

Eat
For meals, you could try Kokodome Plus, Marthas Kitchen, Latitude Cafe & Lounge, Ibachi, or the Wimpy Ibadan.
 * Ola Mummy Food Canteen, along Bodija market, Oju Irin Crescent. 9AM-10PM (updated March 2022)
 * Distinctions Restaurant and lounge, adjacent fidelity bank, Bodija market. 8AM- 11PM (updated March 2022)
 * Amala Skye food canteen, beside Polaris bank Bodija. 7:30AM-8PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Latitude Cafe and Lounge, Ventura Mall, Sango-Ojoo Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Da Kings Grill and Coffee Restaurant, Sango-Ojoo Road. (updated March 2022)
 * Ola Mummy Food Canteen, along Bodija market, Oju Irin Crescent. 9AM-10PM (updated March 2022)
 * Distinctions Restaurant and lounge, adjacent fidelity bank, Bodija market. 8AM- 11PM (updated March 2022)
 * Amala Skye food canteen, beside Polaris bank Bodija. 7:30AM-8PM (Updated March 2022)
 * Latitude Cafe and Lounge, Ventura Mall, Sango-Ojoo Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Da Kings Grill and Coffee Restaurant, Sango-Ojoo Road. (updated March 2022)
 * Latitude Cafe and Lounge, Ventura Mall, Sango-Ojoo Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Da Kings Grill and Coffee Restaurant, Sango-Ojoo Road. (updated March 2022)

Challenge

Drink

 * Oliver's Cafe, 26 Ladoke Akintola new Bodija Ibadan. 8AM-11PM ( Updated march 2022)
 * Distinctions Lounge, adjacent fidelity bank new bodija. 8AM-11PM
 * Celebrity Club, Plot 4, Aare Junction Bodija, 5 Kenneth Dike Road noon-6AM (Updated March 2022)
 * Club GQ Night club, Awolowo Road Till dawn (Updated March 2022)
 * Club Derock, Disco Club. Palms shopping mall till dawn (Updated March 2022)
 * ￼Frolics Lounge and Night club, Akala Express, Elebu till dawn (Updated March 2022)
 * Option 24/7, 4 Orelope street (Updated March 2022)
 * Club Derock, Disco Club. Palms shopping mall till dawn (Updated March 2022)
 * ￼Frolics Lounge and Night club, Akala Express, Elebu till dawn (Updated March 2022)
 * Option 24/7, 4 Orelope street (Updated March 2022)

In Challenge

Sleep

 * Carlton Gate Xclusive Hotel Agodi Ibadan, Quarters 860, Total Garden Road Agodi. (Updated March 2022)
 * Orchard Hotel, Onireke Quarters Rd. (Updated March 2022)
 * BON Hotel Nest Bodija Ibadan, Plot A, Oduduwa Street off Adeyi Street Off Awolowo Road Old Bodija. (Updated March 2022)
 * Danest Hotels and Suites: Hotel in Old Bodija Ibadan, with swimming pool, gym and fitness centre, free Wifi, free parking and complimentary breakfast. (Updated March 2022)
 * 4, Beckley Street off Adeyi- Estate old Bodija Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Best Western Plus Ibadan, 25 Jibowu Crescent. (Updated March 2022)
 * Carlton Gate Xclusive Hotel Agodi Ibadan, Quarters 860, Total Garden Road Agodi. (Updated March 2022)
 * Orchard Hotel, Onireke Quarters Rd. (Updated March 2022)
 * BON Hotel Nest Bodija Ibadan, Plot A, Oduduwa Street off Adeyi Street Off Awolowo Road Old Bodija. (Updated March 2022)
 * Danest Hotels and Suites: Hotel in Old Bodija Ibadan, with swimming pool, gym and fitness centre, free Wifi, free parking and complimentary breakfast. (Updated March 2022)
 * 4, Beckley Street off Adeyi- Estate old Bodija Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Best Western Plus Ibadan, 25 Jibowu Crescent. (Updated March 2022)
 * Carlton Gate Xclusive Hotel Agodi Ibadan, Quarters 860, Total Garden Road Agodi. (Updated March 2022)
 * Orchard Hotel, Onireke Quarters Rd. (Updated March 2022)
 * BON Hotel Nest Bodija Ibadan, Plot A, Oduduwa Street off Adeyi Street Off Awolowo Road Old Bodija. (Updated March 2022)
 * Danest Hotels and Suites: Hotel in Old Bodija Ibadan, with swimming pool, gym and fitness centre, free Wifi, free parking and complimentary breakfast. (Updated March 2022)
 * 4, Beckley Street off Adeyi- Estate old Bodija Road. (Updated March 2022)
 * Best Western Plus Ibadan, 25 Jibowu Crescent. (Updated March 2022)

Radio

 * 105.5 Splash FM Ibadan
 * Agidigbo 88.7 FM
 * Fresh 105.9 FM
 * 32 FM 94.9
 * Oluyole FM 98.5
 * Lagelu FM 96.7
 * Roots 97.1 FM
 * The Beat 97.9 FM
 * Inspiration FM Ibadan

Go next

 * Eruwa is North west of Ibadan
 * Igbo Ora is 117 Km
 * Iwo is 30 km east of Ibadan city
 * Oyo is 85 km east of Ibadan

title: Ibadan


text:
Ibagué

Ibagué is the capital city of the Tolima department. It is on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central and known as the musical city of Colombia, due to its famous conservatory. At 1250 m above sea-level, it has a spring-like climate. Ibagué is a starting point for travellers who wish to do the Nevado del Tolima trek. Apart from that, it's a small, safe, friendly city with a special charm, although there's not an awful lot to do here.

By bus
Ibagué is a 4-hour bus journey from Bogotá, a 3-hour bus journey from Armenia, a 5-hour bus ride from Medellín and a 2-hour bus journey from Honda. Numerous companies serve these routes. The journey to Armenia involves going over the la linea and is notorious for accidents and landslides. Avoid doing this part of the journey at night or in a small minibus.

By plane
Aeropuerto Perales in Ibagué is about 40 minutes outside the city, and has non-stop flights from Bogotá, Medellín and other cities in Colombia.

Get around
Buses run routes throughout the city. Taxis are everywhere. For safety, make sure you choose a legitimate cab company- not a random car with a “taxi” sticker.

Chiva buses (rustic "goat buses") run throughout the city and are popular with locals and tourists.

Do

 * Hang around Plaza Bolívar watching people.
 * Comfatolima Lagos Club - swimming pool resort area.

Sleep
If you are just staying in Ibagué overnight, there are many cheap hotels around the terminal. Other options are in the center of the city. The two places below (in the center) are a better option if you plan to stay for a longer time.

Go next

 * Juntas is a nearby village, especially popular at weekends and holidays, where people go and eat almojabanas, bunuelos, sancocho soup and river trout in a peaceful mountain setting. There is also a mirador from which, if you are lucky and there are no clouds, can see the Nevado del Tolima (early morning is best). You can get to Juntas by taking a bus in Cra 1/Calle 14 from "La Ibaguerena" bus company.
 * From Juntas, you can walk up to El Rancho, some thermal springs in the cloud-forest at 2600 metres above sea-level; it's about a 4-hour leisurely walk uphill alongside the impressive canyon of the Combeima river, or you can take the morning lechero. El Rancho is the starting point for the trek up El Nevado del Tolima (5215 m).  This is the mountain in Colombia where most mountaineers have lost their lives, and to reach the summit a guide is essential.  See the Latas route in this Summitpost entry for more details.
 * From el Rancho, you can also walk via the Filtros route to Laguna del Encanto and Salento.
 * From Juntas, you can also walk to El Derrumbe de las Perlas : when you cross over the river, turn right immediately instead on continuing towards the mirador. After a couple of hours of leisurely walking you'll reach an open valley with a river, an ideal picnic spot. If you continue along this route, you can also reach the summit of the Nevado but this is quite a long way around. The route is known as Las Nieves, and is via some thermal springs at 3900 m where a hermit known as Don Canon lives.

title: Ibagué


text:
Ibajay

Ibajay is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It has a population of about 40,000.

See

 * The Beautiful Sunset At Bugtongbato
 * Katunggan it Ibajay- A 40 plus hectares mangrove park with the most concentration of mangrove tree species in the Philippines.
 * The upstream farming villages along the Ibajay River-well irrigated ricefields, orchards, gentle verdant rolling hills, wild flowers, endemic and migratory birds, unexplored caves, swimming holes and friendly locals.

Do

 * The Ati-Ati Festival.
 * Sto. Nino Festival. Ibajay's special and unique way of celebrating the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño beckons devotees, pilgrims and tourists to come to Ibajay to witness to themselves the reality of the affair. Every year the celebration holds different meanings, different experiences, different revelation to each and every celebrant.

Paeantawan
The Paeantawan (a high place from where to look around) is a circular mountain with three peaks, a deep depression in the middle, and a narrow opening looking to the west. From the inside, it is like a bowl with uneven rim and a break on one side. From the highest peak, one can see the Sibuyan Sea, the Poblacion (municipal capital), Barangays Tagbaya and Agbago on the north; on the northeast and east, Barangays Laguinbanua, Bagacay, Batuan and Capilijan; on the south and west are groups of mountains one of which is Banderahan, the highest mountain peak in Barangay Sta. Cruz. Anyone from as far as one and a half kilometers from Paeantawan can be observed with the unaided eyes.

It was from the highest Paeantawan peak, garrisoned by the Japanese occupation forces and served as both observation and battery posts, that a Japanese sniper shot and killed a Catholic priest, Father Nicomedes Solidum Masangkay, a native of Sta. Cruz, who was running along a creek below. Garison (from garrison) some 500 meters south of Paeantawan and slightly higher is reported to be the most destructive of all Japanese garrisons in Sta. Cruz. It was from this peak that most of the effective sniper and machine gun fires that were poured into Sta. Cruz and other places that can be seen from Paeantawan came from. Filipino guerrillas attempted to wrest control of Garison from the Japanese, but they failed. The Japanese did not leave, unobserved, until the Liberation. Today, one can see only shallow and barely discernible depressions on the summit of Paeantawan of what was once a labyrinth of running foxholes able to hide a standing man. There are no reminders of World War II in Garison except its name.

Go next

 * Altavas
 * Balete
 * Banga
 * Batan
 * Buruanga
 * Caticlan
 * Culasi
 * Kalibo
 * Makato
 * Malay
 * Nabas
 * New Washington
 * Numancia
 * Pandan
 * Sibuyan Sea
 * Tangalan

title: Ibajay


text:
Iban phrasebook

Iban (jaku Iban) is a tribal language of western Borneo, spoken in Malaysia's state of Sarawak, the Indonesian state of West Kalimantan, and Brunei. There are many dialects; this phrasebook uses the Kuching dialect.

grammar
Basic Iban grammar is easy to study. Some of the grammar is closely related to Malay grammar. Word order is verb-object-subject.

 * I read a book
 * "Macha bup aku"

Adjectives are placed after the verb
 * Macha bup aku

Another example:
 * I'm go shopping with my friend
 * "Raun enggau bala bakih ke pasar aku"

 * I search for something
 * " Ngigak utai aku tok"

 * I'm so tired
 * " Lelak mai aku"

Basics

 * Aku - I
 * Nuan/Dek - You
 * Aok - Yes
 * Ndak - No
 * Iti - Piece
 * Aku Kak Ngenak Jamban Dulok - I Would Like To Go To The Toilet
 * Nuan/Dek Ari Dini? - Where Are You From?
 * Nyamai Mai Utai Empak Tuk - This Food Is Quite Tasty
 * Aku Mupok Dulok - I'd Like To Make A Move

 * Hello. : . ( )
 * Hello. (informal) : . ( )
 * How are you? : ? ( Nama brita nuan?)
 * Fine, thank you. : . (Manah )
 * What is your name? : ? ( Sapa nama nuan?)
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (  _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : . (Manah begulai enggau dik )
 * Please. :. (Bah )
 * Thank you. :. (Terima Kasih )
 * You're welcome. :. (Sama-sama )
 * Yes. :. (aok )
 * No. : . ( enda)
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : . ( )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . ( )
 * I'm sorry. :. ( Minta ampun)
 * Goodbye :. ( Selamat Jalai)
 * Goodbye (informal) : . ( )
 * I can't speak Iban [well]. : [ ]. ( enda nemu jako ?????? [])
 * Do you speak English? : ? ( ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ( bisi urang nemu jako English ditu?)
 * Help! :! ( Tulung!)
 * Look out! :! ( Berjimat!)
 * Good morning. : . (Selamat pagi )
 * Good evening. : . (Selamat lemai )
 * Good night. : . ( )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. : . ( endak nemu aku)
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( Dini jamban )

Clock time
Pukul brapa diatu?

Colors
red
 * (mirah)

black
 * (celum)

white
 * (burak)

title: Iban phrasebook


text:
Ibaraki

Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県 Ibaraki-ken) is a prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.

Cities

 * - Famous for Kairakuen Garden and Lake Senba, also largest producer of natto (fermented soybean dish)
 * - Famous for Kashima Jingu (Shrine) and the J-League Kashima Antlers FC.
 * - Home of Tsukuba University and the surrounding modern research town, and beautiful and historically significant Mount Tsukuba
 * - with the tallest Buddha statue in the world
 * - with the tallest Buddha statue in the world

Understand
Ibaraki is yearly ranked among Japanese nationals polled as the least attractive prefecture for tourism. Of course, there are fewer locations to "get away from it all" like would be possible in Okinawa, and fewer picturesque scenes of historical sites such as in Kyoto. However, there is a lot to offer visitors, domestic or foreign, who may have specific interest in the prefecture's strong points. Especially for people who are used to the heavy urbanization of the Tokyo area, the sports, nature, and shopping available in Ibaraki might be well worth the day trip for residents or tourists alike.

Tourist Information Site
Ibaraki Guide is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Talk
Like almost all parts of Japan, Ibaraki has unique linguistic quirks, especially amongst older people, but standard Japanese as spoken in Tokyo is the norm. Tsukuba has strong international connections and Mito is the prefecture hub, and so English speakers may find some support in these cities. Otherwise, English assistance in Ibaraki should be expected to be no better than what may be available in more rural parts of the country.

By plane

Getting there and away:
 * By bus – The best way to travel between Ibaraki Airport and Tokyo is by bus service, operated by Kantetsu Bus several times a day. The trip takes about 2½ hr and costs ¥500 for air passengers and ¥1,530 for non-air passengers. Reservations are required, and free English reservations are available online. The fare is payable when boarding the bus.
 * By taxi – Taxis are available for all flight arrivals but it is an expensive fare to take one to any nearest major city or train station, especially with bus service coordinated with arrival flight times.
 * By train – Even if you intend to use a Japan Rail Pass, there are no exchange offices in the immediate vicinity. It will be best to take the bus to Tokyo Station and visit the exchange office there.

By bus
An easy and cheap way to get to the sights of Ibaraki is via the JR Kanto Highway bus. A number of buses leave from both Tokyo and Shinjuku Stations to many destinations in Ibaraki, some as often as 4 times per hour. While bus access to Ibaraki is convenient, often faster, cheaper, and easier than by train, bus transit within cities in Ibaraki is not close to as developed as in more major urban areas. The most major bus line operating between and within cities in Ibaraki uses its own "Ibappi" prepaid card that is not compatible with the nationwide rechargeable prepaid cards used for transportation on major train and bus lines. Cash should be prepared for bus use unless planning to reside in the area or wanting to have the Ibappi card as a souvenir.

By train
There are no Shinkansen stations in Ibaraki, but the Joban Line has passed through Mito on its way to northern Tohoku (although after the 2011 earthquake, certain sections are in repair and so the last major city on this line is Iwaki; train travel from Mito to Sendai should be through Koriyama and local train service between Tokyo and Sendai should avoid Ibaraki). There is an express train called the "Fresh Hitachi" which links Ueno and the capital Mito in approx. 1 hour. Service using the Fresh Hitachi to extend to Sendai is planned to be re-introduced at some point after Joban line repairs in Fukushima are completed in 2019. The local Joban line takes just over 2 hours. The Tsukuba Express Line connects Tsukuba to Akihabara in downtown Tokyo in about 45 minutes.

See

Do
Sports are a major draw for domestic travel. Ibaraki, being a coastal area, is a high-volume destination for sunbathers and surfers from all over Japan, mainly the Greater Tokyo area. Its beaches are clean, and have surfable waves nearly all year round. Most towns set up an official beach patrol/lifeguard station for the summer holiday season of late July/early August. Hirai and Oritsu Beaches and Kashima Kaihin Park in Kashima, Ootake Beach in Hokota and Oarai Sun Beach in Oarai are all very popular summer destinations. Spectator sports are plentiful, with teams in Japan's top leagues of soccer, basketball, and volleyball, and the prefecture boasts dozens of quality golf courses for play or for watching Japan Tour events. If the timing is right, you can catch a pro wrestling show from Hitachi Pro Wrestling, a group that puts on events (usually free) throughout Ibaraki and neighboring prefectures year-round.

Shopping is also popular, especially for day-trippers from metro Tokyo where high cost of land makes large shopping centers impossible. Residents of Tochigi and Fukushima will drive to Ibaraki's two CostCo outlets in Hitachinaka and Tsukuba. The Aeon shopping mall chain is ubiquitous in Ibaraki with large malls in Mito and Tsuchiura with reasonably sized shopping centers also in Tsukuba and Shimotsuma. (Mito's Aeon Mall was once the largest shopping center in Japan while Shimotsuma's is famous as "JUSCO" from the cult movie Shimotsuma Monogatari.) In Tsukuba city are the Iias and Lala Garden shopping centers, with Iias close to rivaling the larger Aeon malls in size. Mito's Keisei department store is a destination for people seeking luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Tiffany. A large outlet mall is in Ami town, with view of the Ushiku Daibutsu. Hitachinaka city has the Fashion Cruise shopping center, adjacent to CostCo and to the Seaside Park. However, only the Mito shopping options are very easily accessed by train; other locations would need to be accessed by private car or by bus.

World-standard art and history museums are in Mito, Kasama, Kita-Ibaraki, and Tsukuba cities.

Buy
The local souvenirs ubiquitous in all parts of Japan are available in Ibaraki as well. Notable is Ibaraki's unofficial mascot character "Nebaaru-kun". Kame-Jirushi (亀印), headquartered in Mito city, is a popular maker of very good souvenir snacks and candies that are sold all over the prefecture.

Eat
Ibaraki is a major producer of natto (fermented beans). It is healthy and the locals eat it often for breakfast on rice. Many foreigners (and Japanese) find it too stinky to eat, though some quite like it. Asking your opinion of natto is a common topic of small talk with strangers — don't be afraid of offending someone if you don't like it, as it will likely earn a laugh either way. It is often the first thing asked after someone, Japanese or foreign, mentions being in Mito or Ibaraki.

Ibaraki is famous in Japan for its chestnuts and melons.

Tsukuba, due to its position as an international education and research hub for technology and space exploration, has among the highest percentage of foreign residents in the country. As a result, it is possible to find good restaurants of many styles, including Mexican, Iranian, and African cuisine.

Drink
Most towns have their share of chain and family owned Izakaya; Hitachinaka City is famous for its microbrewed Nest Beer.

Go next

 * Fukushima Prefecture
 * Tochigi Prefecture
 * Gunma Prefecture (No border, but separated by only a few hundred meters)
 * Saitama Prefecture
 * Tokyo is less than 20 minutes from Ibaraki via closest stations on the Tsukuba Express line, and less than an hour from much of Ibaraki by train, bus, or car.
 * Chiba Prefecture
 * Ibaraki Airport has budget airline access to Sapporo, Kobe, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Taipei.

title: Ibaraki


text:
Ibaraki (disambiguation)

There are several places called Ibaraki.

Japan

 * Ibaraki (茨城県), a prefecture in Kanto, Japan
 * Ibaraki (Ibaraki) (茨城町), a town in Ibaraki Prefecture
 * Ibaraki (Osaka) (茨木市), a city in Osaka Prefecture

title: Ibaraki (disambiguation)


text:
Ibaraki (Osaka)

Ibaraki (茨木) is a city in Osaka (prefecture). It is a suburban city of Osaka city and a part of Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.

Understand
Literally Ibaraki means Wild Trees or Thorny trees. Legends say the area was developed by cutting down wild trees.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
Ibaraki is a station on the JR Kyoto Line, served by local and rapid trains. From the shinkansen hub at Shin-Osaka, trains reach Ibaraki in an average of 10 minutes (¥210). From Kyoto Station, trains reach Ibaraki in about 30 minutes (¥450). Note that some trains from Kyoto may be classified as "Local" trains, changing to "Rapid" en route, but this does not affect trips to Ibaraki station.

The private Hankyu Railway serves a few stations in Ibaraki, the major one being Ibaraki-shi Station, about a kilometer east of the JR station. Most Hankyu trains on the Hankyu Kyoto Line stop here. Trains run from Osaka's Umeda station in about 20 minutes (¥260), and Limited Express trains run from central Kyoto's Kawaramachi Station in 26 minutes (¥310). To the south of Ibaraki-shi Station on the Hankyu is Minami-Ibaraki Station, which is a transfer point for the Osaka Monorail to/from Osaka Itami Airport.

Airport limousine buses run between Kansai International Airport and both JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations for ¥2000 (one way adult fare).

Get around
Local buses connect the JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations (¥210). Hankyu and Kintetsu buses run from both stations to a wide range of locations in northern Osaka.

Eat
Most restaurants are located around the axis connecting the JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations.

Sleep
Most hotels in Ibaraki are business hotels in the neighborhood of JR Ibaraki station. Prices start from ¥6000 per room.

Go next

 * Takatsuki
 * Minoh
 * Ikeda
 * Suita
 * Hirakata
 * Katano
 * Osaka
 * Nagaokakyo
 * Kameoka

title: Ibaraki (Osaka)


text:
Ibarra

Ibarra is a city in Ecuador. It's a colonial town of 100,000 inhabitants and the capital of Imbabura province, and is halfway to the Ecuador-Colombia border at Tulcán.

Understand
Ibarra has preserved much of its colonial architecture in its city center and its plazas are clean and picturesque. It is a good place for those going to Otavalo's markets to stay it, if you want to get away from the tourists yet still be a short bus ride from the market.

The city has a long and colorful history. Between 1510 and 1520 the Inca rebelled against the Spanish conquistadors. The Battle of Yahuarcocha took place near Ibarra. The town was officially founded in 1606. During Ecuador's War of Independence in the 19th century, Simon Bolivar led the attack in the Battle of Ibarra, which lasted more than a week. In 1868, earthquakes hit the town in the middle of the night, destroying most of the town and causing more than 13,000 deaths. The town was rebuilt, giving Ibarra the grounds for claiming to be the "youngest city in Ecuador".

Get in
It is 2.5 hours north of Quito on the Panamerican highway, and about 30 minutes by bus from Otavalo.

Ibarra has a modern bus station, although some buses that pass through the town don't go there. The bus from Quito costs $3 and takes 2.5 hr. To Tulcán costs $3.5 and takes 2.5 hr.

Get around
A taxi within the city costs $1.

See

Downtown, relax at one of the two town squares, Parque Pedro Moncayo or Parque La Merced, fronting historic buildings and churches. Also you could see pre-Columbian archaeological items, colonial art, and historical exhibits or other displays depending on the curators' decisions at the Central Bank Museum about 2 blocks south of Parque Pedro Moncayo on Antonio Jose de Sucre.

Go next

 * Laguna Cuicocha
 * Tulcán for those heading to Ipiales, Colombia

title: Ibarra