text:
Sierra County

Sierra County is in California's Gold Country.

Go next

 * - Located northwest of Sierra County, the forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities. The Feather River Scenic Byway is a popular way to see the county's beauty, with the east-west route following California's first designated wild and scenic river past nearly one hundred waterfalls, historic bridges and tunnels, spring wildflowers, vivid fall colors, and the "Stairway of Power" consisting of seven hydroelectric powerhouses installed along the river.
 * - Located north of Sierra County, rural Lassen County sits at the confluence of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, the volcanic Cascade Range, and the high elevation Great Basin desert. Fishing, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities attract most visitors to the area, with the 26 mi Bizz Johnson trail the county's most popular hiking and biking route.  "The Bizz" follows the old Fernley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific railroad along the Susan river canyon, traversing abandoned railroad bridges, trestles and tunnels and rewarding visitors with mountain views, beautiful fall foliage, and colorful spring wildflowers.
 * - Located south of Sierra County, Nevada County rises from the Sierra foothills to the Nevada border. The county retains many examples of its Gold Rush past, ranging from California's oldest operating theater in Nevada City to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, an establishment that has hosted four Presidents since its opening in 1851.  Even before the Gold Rush, the county gained fame for the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846, and today the lake named for that doomed expedition is a popular recreation spot.
 * - Bordering Sierra County to the west, rural Yuba County is located along the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas, offering visitors recreational opportunities in the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests, and providing a glimpse into the area's Gold Rush past at the ghost town of Timbuctoo and neighboring Smartsville. The western side of the county is flatter, more populous, and primarily used for fruit orchards, rice fields, and grazing.
 * - Bordering Sierra County to the west, rural Yuba County is located along the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas, offering visitors recreational opportunities in the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests, and providing a glimpse into the area's Gold Rush past at the ghost town of Timbuctoo and neighboring Smartsville. The western side of the county is flatter, more populous, and primarily used for fruit orchards, rice fields, and grazing.

title: Sierra County


text:
Sierra de Aracena

Sierra de Aracena Natural Park is in Huelva Province of Andalucia. It is part of the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra Morena Pastures along with the natural park of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla and the natural park of Sierra de Hornachuelos, in Córdoba.

Understand
Its limited economic possibilities, beyond the sale of hams, explain its low population density.

Landscape
It has an extensive forest mass, favored by a mild climate with high rainfall. It is a cattle region that benefits from its thick sclerophyllous vegetation of holm oaks and cork oaks and which, being severely punished by clearing, is giving way to a dense thicket of heather, mastic, strawberry trees and thyme. There are large pasture properties for pig farming, sheep, and cattle.

Flora and fauna
Among the mammals of the park you can see mongoose, genets or otters. The birdlife is also diverse, it is the habitat of vultures, kites and black storks, among other species.

Get in
The town of Aracena is about 1.25 hours from Seville by car, and is reached by taking the A66/E-803 north from the city (direction Merida). The Aracena turnoff is about 35 km along this road.

Buses ply the route to Aracena from Sevilla's Plaza de Armas bus station twice daily. For more information about bus times see the Andalusia.com website.

Other villages are serviced by less frequent buses. Many of these originate in Aracena.

Trains from running from Huelva to Safra also cross the Sierra with a station at Almonastar Cortegana.

See
The interest of the visit to this park is justified by the richness of its landscapes of meadows of holm oaks and cork oaks, of chestnut forests and riverside forests; as well as for the quality of its gastronomic products, among them the acorn-fed Iberian ham from the Jabugo Protected Designation of Origin.

Do
For many tourists to Andalucia, the Sierra de Aracena comes as something of a surprise. This range of hills, lush with cork oak forests and bright with flowers almost year-round has a cooler climate than that of the Guadalquivir river valley. It is also a hiker's wonderland with trails leading through some of the most enchanting countryside in all of Southern Spain.

While the region may come as a surprise to many outsiders, the Sierra de Aracena is a popular weekend getaway for Sevillanos (as the locals of Seville are known). Many own cottages or houses in the almost uniformly pretty villages scattered through the region.

Day trips are also popular. Two of the most popular attractions in the Sierra are the Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Marvels) in Aracena and the 10th-century mosque at Almonaster la Real.

Drink
The use of natural fruits from the park stands out for the elaboration of traditional products, such as liqueurs, which by macerating cherries, chestnuts or herbs, obtain wines of great value. One of the oldest distilleries in Spain, founded in 1870, the Martes Santo Distilleries, has a museum with free admission and free tasting of its products in the middle of the journey through the town of Higuera de la Sierra, where in a building by the architect Aníbal González, they carry out an ethnographic tour in the relationship of the natural environment and the use of it for the use of traditional products that coexist with respect where they are developed.

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

title: Sierra de Aracena


text:
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is on the West Coast of Africa. The potential for tourism is vast, but largely unrealised, despite the end of the Civil War in 2002, and tour operators are looking closely at what the country has to offer. Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources. It has some of the best beaches in the world, a rich heritage, and some stunning scenery, but its greatest asset is its welcoming, friendly populace.

Cities

 * — capital city in the western part of the country
 * — second largest city and capital of the southern region
 * — An old administrative town on Sherbro Island, now quiet and charmingly decayed
 * — Major town in the eastern part of the country
 * — Another town in the east, capital of the diamond mining Kono district
 * — Fast developing town in the north
 * — Former capital of the northern region and end of the defunct railway branch line

Other destinations

 * — prime tourist spot in Sierra Leone with the idyllic environment of pristine tropical islands
 * — Highest peak between Morocco and Cameroon
 * – river island and wildlife sanctuary

Understand
Sierra Leone was founded as a colony for freed slaves originating in the British Empire.

Sierra Leone achieved its independence from Britain in 1961. Since the end of its civil war in 2002, the government, with considerable international assistance, has made noticeable improvements in the country's infrastructure which should help the tourism sector: most major trunk roads are tarred to a high standard and Bumbuna hydroelectric dam supplies electricity when water levels are high enough (completed in 2009). While the government sector still suffers from chronic shortage of resources, the private sector is booming.

In 2014, the outbreak of Ebola virus, which crossed the border from Guinea threatened to set back the improvements in the countries economy and development. More than a year of development was lost whilst the country focused on the fight against the disease. The country had not recovered fully when it was hit by the global COVID pandemic.

Climate
Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, typified by warm temperatures and high humidity. Night time temperatures rarely drop below 24 °C and daytime temperatures reach 30 °C throughout the year. From October to March the weather is generally dry with many fine, hot, sunny days. From April to September is the rainy season. The rainfall increases to a peak in July and August and then decreases until rain has almost ceased by November.

Terrain
The country has a coastal belt of mangrove swamps with wooded hill country, upland plateau and mountains in the east. The highest point is Loma Mansa (Bintimani) at 1,948 m. It has of coastline.

From an approximate coastal belt long of low-lying land, the country rises to a mountain plateau near the eastern frontier rising  to  with an important timber forest region.

The peninsula, on which the capital and main commercial centre of Freetown stands, is long and  wide with a mountainous interior.

Electricity
Electricity is 220 V/50 Hz. Sockets are British standard. Supplies are unreliable, but parts of Freetown do now get a reasonable supply. The Bumbuna Dam hydro-electric project was commissioned on 6 November 2009 and links to other West African countries supplement this, however, this even with additional thermal power does not meet rapidly increasing demand. Away from Freetown, mains electricity is available in all major towns and some larger villages and comes and goes unpredictably.

History
In 1462, Pedro de Cintra mapped the hills surrounding what is now called Sierra Leone, naming the oddly shaped mountain, Lion Mountains. It came under British rule from 1808 until independence was declared on 27 April 1961. The country then became the scene of civil war from 1991 until 2002. Since 1971, Sierra Leone has governed under a constitutional republic.

People
Sierra Leone is home to 16 different ethnic groups, each with their own language.

Religion
There are no accurate figures for the religious make up of Sierra Leone. Most visitors will see that there is a near equal balance between Muslims and Christians. Like other west African countries, there is a long history of religious tolerance and cooperation between the faiths. Indigenous beliefs are also common, particularly in more rural areas. A significant part of the population believes in witchcraft and this has certainly hampered improvements in healthcare and disease control. The 2014 Ebola outbreak was reported to have made far worse by people believing it was caused by witchcraft rather than seeking proper medical treatment.

Tourist information

 * National Tourist Board website

Talk
English is the official language, but Krio is the lingua franca: a creole with vocabulary derived from English, Yoruba, Igbo, and to a lesser extent Portuguese and French. The minority Krios, who mostly live in the Freetown Peninsula take English as a second language, while the Temnes, Mendes, and other groups have their tongues occupied with Krio as their second language. This makes getting around the peninsula pretty easy for English speakers, but the entire rest of the country is more or less Krio-only land. While Krio vocabulary is predominantly from English, it is not intelligible to your average English speaker—although you might be able to follow a little bit if you know some basic vocabulary.

In the provinces, Mende is the principal vernacular in the south and Temne is the principal vernacular in the north; regular Krio use is mostly limited to provincial cities.

Get in
Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are required for most nationalities. Proof of vaccination might be required to get a visa and is checked at the airport on arrival.

Passport and visa
Everyone entering Sierra Leone must have a valid passport or travel document. Citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not require a visa to enter the country. All other nationalities will require a visa, which are issued online, at Sierra Leone's overseas missions and at the air/land borders. Visa prices vary considerably at the embassies/consulates. Contact the local embassy for current prices (UK, USA). For non AU countries a single entry visa costs $80 online and at the airport. The official web site for visas is www.evisa.sl. If you get an electronic visa and intend to enter anywhere other than Freetown airport, make sure to take paper copies of the visa confirmation. Land border posts do not have access to the online system

 * The Sierra Leone embassy in Gambia is a good place to get a visa, which costs US$100.

By plane
The international airport is at Lungi, the other side of the estuary from Freetown. A new terminal was opened in 2023 which is modern and meets a high international standard. Most people choose to use the water taxi services. There are now 2 main companies - Sea Coach Express (Pelican) which goes to Aberdeen Bridge and Sea Bird Express going to Murray Town. Both charge around US$45 for a single adult journey. The larger boats now have air conditioning and WiFi. The hovercraft and helicopter services no longer operate. Sea Coach Express now have a mobile app which gives schedules and discounted online tickets.

Three often-overloaded car ferries run to the east end of Freetown from Tagrin at the southern tip of Lungi, docking at Kissy Ferry Terminal, which cross the water in 45-70 minutes, but can take several hours including waiting/loading times. For those with a light load, local speedboats (US$1.25) and larger, slower "pampa" boats (US$0.50) are by far the most affordable, if not safest, option. They run fairly frequently, when full, on the same route as the car ferries. The landing in Lungi is wet, but porters wait to carry you in or out of the boats for a small fee (US$0.25).

By road it is 5 hours or more to the city, via Port Loko using some poor roads. This would probably be the most miserable route, and it's not clear that anyone uses it.

Safety concerns have been expressed over all of the different transport options from the airport to Freetown.

Brussels Airlines flies to Brussels 4 times per week and is the most popular route from Europe. Flights to Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Accra (ASKY Airlines, Kenya Airways), Banjul (ASKY Airlines), Bamako (ASKY Airlines) and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines are all available.

It can be very difficult finding seats in December because of local people returning for the Christmas holidays. Booking early is essential. Flight costs are very expensive in part because of high taxes in Sierra Leone.

Thefts from hold baggage used to be common at the airport, especially when departing the country. Security has been improved, but still carry anything of value in your cabin luggage.

By car
Sierra Leone can be accessed by road from Guinea (Conakry) and Liberia. Special permits are required if transiting the border with a private vehicle. Private taxis, buses and trucks commute daily to and from Conakry/Freetown.

The Guinea (Kopoto)/Sierra Leone (Kambia) was open as of January 2013, as was the border with Liberia at Bo (Waterside) in January 2024. Roads on the Sierra Leone side of Bo (Waterside) are excellent all the way from Freetown. They are poor on the Liberian side as far as Monrovia.

Crossing with a car or motorcycle is made possible with the 'Laissez-Passer Pour Vehicule', available at the Guinea Embassy (US$40) and with the 'Vehicle Clearance Permit', available at the Sierra Leone Embassy (US$40). And additional 'Ecowas International Circulation Permit' will be required for Sierra Leone, available at the border for Le100,000.

An Ecowas 'Brown Card' may also be needed for proof of insurance for the vehicle. This can be asked for in Liberia.

By bus
The Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority has some buses which link the major cities. There are minibuses which can be used in Sierra Leone called poda poda. They are run by private individuals with some of the worst driving skills in the country and can cost Le2500-5000 (£0.50-1). There are no designated bus stops and so one can stand on a street and wave to get it to stop. However, be careful with personal belongings as petty theft is common on these buses. They are also usually dangerously overloaded.

By boat
Sierra Leone has the 3rd largest natural harbour in the world and is looking forward to the arrival of cruise ships. Cargo and Passenger ships berth at the Queen Elizabeth II quay, while some passenger/Cargo and private crafts can land at the Government Wharf in central Freetown, arriving most times from Conakry and Banjul. Enquiries should be made to Cargo Shipping Agencies. Seacoach Express run a fast ferry to Conakry.

By car
The road network fell into disrepair during the civil war. However, there has been a substantial reconstruction programme which means the main roads to regional cities such as Bo, Kenema and Makeni are in excellent condition. The road to Masiaka from Freetown is dual carriageway and has toll at Hastings, Songo and Masiaka. In January 2024 the toll for cars was NLe4 which will increase to NLe10 from 1st March 2024. The road to Kabala mostly smooth tar, with a few terribly potholed patches. The road to Kono/Koidu is for three quarters tar, but the remaining quarter is in mostly terrible condition. It means it takes as much time to cover 3/4 of the distance as it takes for the balance 1/4. Government has planned to upgrade the last stretch.

The peninsular road is good from Eastern Freetown clockwise around the peninsular to Tokeh. Work is almost complete but at the beginning of 2024 the short section between No. 2 Beach and Tokeh being nearly impassable to all but high-clearance 4WD and motorbikes.

The roads in Freetown are difficult to characterize. In central Freetown, the main roads are mostly smooth and pothole-free, having been constructed from high-quality asphalt a long time ago. Side streets are often a mixture of dirt and gravel, sometimes with large protruding stones, deep crevasses, and other potential dangers. Some main feeder roads are in atrocious condition. Wilkinson Road and Spur Road have been reconstructed as dual carriage ways. The Hillside bypass road has also been constructed. Work has also been completed on Regent Road through the mountains, Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Signal Hill Road, Aberdeen/Sir Samuel Lewis Road and Lumley Beach Road. The ongoing reconstruction works mean that roads can be closed and alternative routes have to be used. Street parking on major routes such as Wilkinson Road is not permitted. This also applies to the layby's, where stopping is only permitted for a short time. The local police are using wheel clamps which can very quickly be applied. These will require a visit to the local police with Le300,000 to get released.

Driving under the influence of alcohol was often not taken seriously in the past. The police do now have breathalysers and will test and act against anyone suspected of being drunk whilst driving. Traffic lights have started to appear in Freetown and are usually observed by drivers.

When walking, always keep your eyes in front of you: most of the sidewalks in Freetown have "death traps" - missing blocks of cement that could lead to a nasty fall into an open gutter. For this reason, most Freetown residents choose to walk in the street and avoid sidewalks, a major contributing factor to the city's congestion.

By poda-poda
Poda-poda is the Sierra Leonean term for the West African bush taxi. Poda-podas are a lot less fun than your average bush taxi, though, reflecting the country's relative poverty compared to the rest of the region. The vehicles seem to be stitched together with thread, always nearly at the breaking point, six people for each row of three seats, blaring hip hop turning off and on with application of the accelerator, never sure whose sweat that is, never sure whether it will make it up the next hill. They are really cheap, though. Intercity trips often cost Le1,500-2,500 (in 2017, less than US$0.50), and any trip within Freetown just Le1,000. Shared taxis are marginally more comfortable, but still packed to the gills, and usually about the same price.

By boat
The Sea Coach Express boathouse under the bridge between Aberdeen and Murray Town in Freetown is happy to charter the same nice speedboats they use for airport transfers to take you up and down the coast and up the Sierra Leone River. If you have a larger group of people, dropping US$300-400 for a daytrip down to the Banana Islands, Bonthe Island, Turtle Islands, or even just some random stretch of long-lost beach could be absolutely worth the cost.

By motorbike
Moto-taxi is a very efficient way of getting around, with low prices, decent mobility on bad roads, and the ability to skirt past traffic. But they are dangerous. And when traveling on dirt roads, you will wind up covered in dust, often choking on the stuff kicked up by larger vehicles. The driver is required to wear a helmet and to have one to offer to the passenger. Yeah, right. It's also against the law nowadays to have more than two people on one motorcycle. So if you have three people on one bike, and you are approaching a vehicle check, one person will have to get off and walk through the checkpoint.

Buying your own motorcycle is probably the ideal mode of independent travel. Even the worst roads will be passable in dry season, and you won't have to worry about being transported by careless drivers. Be aware that driving your bike inside the major cities is dangerous due to the crazy traffic, but outside the cities you should be OK as long as you wear a helmet with a visor to protect yourself from dust.

See
The beaches of the Freetown peninsula are spectacular, and on an average day, deserted. There are at least ten that could be described as world-class.

Bonthe Town, on Sherbro Island, is a former British Colonial Town, with several beautiful stone churches, and a rich culture.

Tiwai Island (in the middle of a river in SE Sierra Leone) is teeming with rare wildlife.

Rural West African villages: experience hospitality and the tranquillity of the bush.

Snorkelling and scuba diving around Banana Island.

The Turtle Islands, difficult to get to, but idyllic.

Outamba-Kilimi National Park is a park consisting of savannas and jungles with diverse wildlife.

Mount Bintumani is the highest mountain in Sierra Leone with excellent views from the summit.

Sierra Leone has vast swathes of rainforests.

Money
The unit of currency is the Leone, denoted by the symbol "Le" (ISO currency code: SLE). On 1 July 2022 new bank notes were issued. The new notes are similar in design to the old ones but are physically smaller and revalue the Leone by removing three zeros. The former Le10,000 note is now a Le10 note. The old notes ceased to be legal tender on 1 January 2024. Old Leone notes can changed at banks until the end of March 2024 and after that only at the central bank. New Leone notes are Le1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 and coins are 1 (10 old Leones), 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents.

Exchanging money is very easy, either through the black market or banks. The small bank at the airport offers reasonable rates. British pounds, euros and US dollars are most popular, although others are possible.

Credit cards are accepted in an increasing number of supermarkets, restaurants and hotels (Visa mostly). The airport duty free shops take major cards.

There are ATMs in Freetown and other bigger towns. Rokel Commercial Bank, Standard & Chartered and GTCO have visa card ATMs. Ecobank and UBA have ATMs that accept international Mastercard or Visa cards for cash withdrawal.

Costs
As much as Sierra Leone is a poor country it will surprise you with the high cost of everything. The lack of a good import system and high import duties plus 15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) mean that many goods are double the price that one would expect to pay in other countries.

Foreigners usually pay considerably more than the price quoted to locals when it comes to goods you find on the street so make sure to bargain and lower the price as much as you can.

If you are prepared to stay in cheap guest houses (and that means not a safe location with bed bugs in the bed) and travel only by local bus (poda poda) and eat only at street corners (not recommended for your health), you can get by in Freetown on a minimum of around Le220,000 (about US$40 in 2017) per day. If you want to eat a decent restaurant meal every now and then and stay in mid-range accommodation, a more realistic budget is around Le440,000 (about US$80). If you want to eat and sleep well, you can easily chew through Le880,000 (about US$160) per day.

Eat
The main staple of Sierra Leonean food is rice, often accompanied by soup, i.e., stews. These stews may include a delicious and often spicy mix of meat, fish, seasonings, greens, etc., often taking hours to prepare. There are plenty of good quality restaurants offering a variety of local and international dishes.

The diet of Sierra Leoneans like many African countries is very healthy. Many tend to eat some fresh fruit picked from trees growing in their homes or freshly picked by market vendors that very day. They also eat seafood particularly in the capital Freetown which is on the Atlantic coast. It is common to go to areas such as Lumley Beach where one can find local fishermen pulling in nets from the Atlantic filled with fish such as crabs, lobsters, oysters, snappers and many, many more.

The locals of Sierra Leone keep healthy by eating many plant-based dishes which are high in fibre, such as cassava leaves, potato leaves, okra, and more.

Drink
The national brewer Sierra Leone Breweries Limited produces Star beer and the premium Mützig beer. Star is now available in small and large 60cl bottles. Many European beers are also imported. As in many African countries Guinness is widely popular. Soft drinks such as Coca Cola and Fanta are locally produced. Wine is available from restaurants and supermarkets, but can be expensive. Local brewed palm wine (called "poyo" in Krio), is very popular throughout Sierra Leone. Beware of spirits (whisky, gin, etc.) which are sold in large plastic containers - the quality and safety is not certain.

Sleep
There are some high standard hotels/guesthouses in Freetown, including the 4 star Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko. Facilities are very limited in other cities, although improvements are being made. Makeni now has two good hotels. There are a few nice, very small, resort-style getaways, notably at Banana Island and Bonthe Island.

Overnights in Sierra Leone are quite expensive, and similar to what one might spend in the United States, but with poorer amenities. There are guesthouses to be found in towns of any significant size, usually for US$35-50 for a single room, and will almost always have shared bath/toilet. Average hotels are around US$100-180 for a single room.

The cheapest accommodation in SL is found in the villages—ask for the chief (who should speak some Krio, if not any English), and then request a guest house ("guest house" is the right term in Krio, so you will be understood). There is no formal charge associated with the chief's hospitality, but you should "pay him respects" in the morning to the tune of about US$6-8, and then expect to be handing out 10,000 leone notes to the guesthouse caretaker, the water-fetcher, and at least one other person for some random reason.

Learn
Sierra Leone is an excellent place to pursue independent research. Possible areas of study are African music, dance, history, politics, as well as zoology, botany, and traditional medicine. Krio teachers are easy to find. Unfortunately, the idea of advertising private drum and dance lessons hasn't caught on like it has in other West African countries like Ghana and Senegal, but the possibility exists for those willing to search for a qualified instructor. It's unlikely you'd want to come to Sierra Leone to study at Fourah Bay College or Njala University. These institutions are famous for corrupt practices such as awarding of grades in exchange for monetary payment or sexual favors, and the facilities are generally poor. Most Sierra Leoneans with the financial means aspire to attend university abroad.

Work
Many British and American citizens, as well as other Europeans, find short-term volunteer work with international or local NGOs. Finding paid work can be more challenging, but not impossible, especially if you are trained in a field that is lacking qualified locals. You may have to pay for an annual work permit, which costs US$1000.

Stay safe
Despite the horrific violence of the 1990s—or actually, because of it—Sierra Leone is a very safe country to visit. While petty pick-pocketing, bag-snatching, and other non-violent crimes are a problem in parts of Freetown (and the police are non-responsive), violent crime is extremely rare throughout the country by any international standards, even in the capital.

Corruption is less of a problem than it once was. There have been somewhat successful campaigns against corruption, with a series of high-level arrests and initiatives to, say, prevent police from charging bogus fines. Freetown (Lungi) airport has been rebuilt and is quite good by any standards.

The usual dangers found in undeveloped sub-Saharan Africa, though, are present: traffic and disease. Traffic accidents are far less common than they have any right to be, but be aware that the overcrowded, barely hanging together poda-podas are physics-defying death-traps. Similarly, moto-taxis love speed, with total disregard to the lurking dangers of broken roads, gaping potholes, charging trucks lurking in the dust. There have been a small number of very serious crashes involving buses in remote areas. Walking around the cities at night is hazardous not so much for fear of crime, but rather because the lack of lighting can cause a fall, or a driver might not see you in the road. Locals carry phones that have flash-lights, if yours does not, always bring a torch.

The dangers associated with tropical disease are basically neither more or less than anywhere else in West Africa, but there are no hospitals anywhere close to Western standards. Malaria is, as usual, the biggest danger, and any foreign visitor travelling without anti-malarials and possibly a mosquito net is risking their life.

The use of drugs, particularly marijuana is not permitted and the police do enforce the laws against drug use.

Stay healthy
Water-borne diseases, malaria and other tropical diseases are prevalent. You should consider taking medication to protect against malaria and using insect repellent. Vaccination against yellow fever is now required and against rabies might be recommended. HIV/AIDS is prevalent. Lassa fever can be contracted in Kenema and the east. In 2010, it also spread to the North, resulting in 48 deaths between the start of the year and November. If you have travelled in these regions you should seek urgent medical advice for any fever not positively identified as malaria. As well, 2014-15 saw an outbreak of the often fatal and largely untreatable Ebola viral haemorrhagic fever that had spread from neighbouring Guinea and Liberia.

Medical facilities are very poor, especially outside of Freetown. You should carry basic medical supplies. You should take medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. Drink only bottled water and be aware of what you eat and how well cooked it is. It is better to eat local food rather than international dishes that may have been stored for longer.

Phone
The country code is 232. Sierra Leone has fixed line phone service in Freetown, Bo and Kenema. The mobile phone networks use GSM/3G/4G technology (as in Europe) and use is widespread. The format for dialling is: +232-##-######, where the first "##" designates the area code. Like other countries, when dialling locally, "00" is used to access an international number (and followed by the country code) and "0" is used to access a national number (followed by the area code). Nearly all towns enjoy good coverage as well as major national roads. International roaming is available. International calling is relatively cheap. Some of the mobile networks charge as little as US$0.35/minute to all countries with some countries costing just US$0.15 per minute.

Airtel was taken over by Orange in 2016 and was re-branded as Orange. It used to be known as Zain and Celtel.

Sierra Leone uses 112 for emergency calls from any phone network. Calls are free and will be directed to the relevant emergency service.

Phone area codes
22 Freetown land lines

31 Qcell

32 Bo

25 Sierratel CDMA

77/88/30 Africell GSM/3G

76/78 Orange GSM/3G

33 Comium (now defunct)

44 Smart Mobile (now defunct)

Internet
Internet access is reasonable. The situation improved in February 2013 when the country was connected by fibre optic cable to Europe and South Africa. Businesses may have fast fibre connections. Most people use mobile phones for internet.

Orange, Qcell and Africell offer 2G/3G/4G services which work very well. 4G speeds are comparable (and quite possibly better) than in Europe. USB modem 4G wireless internet is also available from Orange, Africell, Qcell and Sierratel. Video calling using apps like WhatsApp work well in all towns.

title: Sierra Leone


text:
Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada region of California is its alpine region, covering a large portion of the state's inland territory. Rugged mountains and awe-inspiring canyons in the area's national parks and forests are truly part of the United States' national wilderness treasures.

It's a region of grandiose sizes; Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous U.S., is here, as well as the giant sequoias, the tallest living things on earth. The human population, however, is relatively small. Most of the towns and cities in the Sierra Nevada region are ski resort towns, or gateways to the area's parks.

Other destinations

 * - a shrine to human foresight, strength of granite, power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.
 * - Immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns ... and the world's largest trees!
 * - protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery
 * - Manzanar National Historic Site, one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II
 * - Home to the bristlecone pines, trees that can live up to 5,000 years.
 * - Home to the bristlecone pines, trees that can live up to 5,000 years.
 * - Home to the bristlecone pines, trees that can live up to 5,000 years.
 * - Home to the bristlecone pines, trees that can live up to 5,000 years.
 * - Home to the bristlecone pines, trees that can live up to 5,000 years.

Location
The Sierra Nevada Mountains are located in eastern California. They stretch from the north of the state to the south, the southern ending being near Los Angeles. The southern parts of the Sierra Range include the highest mountains, such as Mount Whitney and Yosemite National Park. In the north, the mountains are generally not so high but the scenery is still known for being dramatic. However, the northern parts of the Sierras, which are heading towards the Cascades, have a few high volcanic peaks, like Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen.

History
The Sierras — especially the foothills — became populated by white settlers around 1850 due to the gold rush. This is when California became a state.

Climate
Altitude in the Sierra Mountains results in the climate being not as hot as it would be at sea level. Snow can come at almost any time of the year, and temperatures can change quickly. As you go up into the mountains, it is forested until you reach the tops of the higher peaks. In these higher regions, there are no forests.

The lower parts of the Sierra Mountains (known as the "foothills") can get very hot and climatically have quite a lot in common with the Central Valley and the East Bay.

Get in
If traveling to Lake Tahoe, the nearest airport would be Reno/Tahoe International Airport in Neveda. Reno mostly flies throughout the continental United States. If traveling to Mammoth Lakes or Yosemite, the nearest commercial airport is Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), there are year-round flights with United Express from Los Angeles. Other destinations are available during the summer. Several roads go through the Sierras, including I-80, US-50, CA-4, CA-88, CA-108, and CA-120. These roads can close in winter, however, and some of them close for large portions of the year.

Get around
Although roads such as the I-80 and US-50 make travel in parts of the mountains relatively easy, there are several things to consider when traveling in the Sierras:

Driving

 * 1) Many of the California state routes in the Sierras are closed in winter. Therefore, although they usually go far enough to reach major tourist sites and towns, they do not completely cross the mountains when winter closures come in. And even when the roads are open in winter, one is advised to bring chains. Even major roads like the I-80 have to close occasionally in bad weather.
 * 2) There are not many north-south roads. Nearly all roads cross the mountains east-west, since they connect populated areas, and are not primarily tourist routes. CA-49 is one of the few good north-south routes, although most north-south roads are twisty and slow due to the number of canyons they have to pass through. US-395 is a generally well-maintained north-south road that follows the Eastern Sierras through some sparsely populated but rather beautiful country, entering Nevada to serve Reno before heading back into California.
 * 3) A lot of California state highways go into the Sierras, but also end in the Sierras. For example, CA-203 goes west to Mammoth Lakes in the eastern Sierras and on to a pass of several thousand feet, but the road ends shortly after going over the pass, and does not go on to the Central Valley. Even worse, the CA-168 goes into the Sierras and reaches several thousand feet in elevation, comes to a dead end, only to start again on the other side of the mountains. There is no proper road connection between two parts of what seems to be the same highway.

Road Standards
Yes, traveling in the Sierras is much more difficult and requires more planning than most places. Generally, stick to state and national routes when possible - you can know two things with almost any California state routes:
 * 1) The road will be paved.
 * 2) The road will have two lanes at least, one for each direction. In some roads in the Sierras, passing roads also exist for short stretches.

Hiking
For more information about preparing for dangers, scroll down to the "stay safe" section.
 * 1) Much of the Sierras is national parkland. This parkland has trails, and trail maps are often available in visitor centers. Trails will be of varying condition - trails in Yosemite Valley will be in much better condition than those on the edges of Kings Canyon, for example.
 * 2) For those who are ambitious, there are hiking trails in the Sierras which go hundreds of miles over mountain passes and canyons. Other trails are shorter, but still, most trails in the Sierras are pretty long and tedious.
 * 3) The Sierras are not like the community park down the road: these mountains are filled with bears and other wild animals. Although these animals will not usually attack you unless you attack them first, they are still extremely dangerous and may attack you if you have food items. Just the sight of a plastic bag can make a bear's mouth water. Even in regions of the Sierras near urban areas, bears can be spotted.
 * 4) The Sierras are a big place. In other words, you can get lost, and that's definitely no fun. As pine trees cover much of the land, landmarks might not be within view when you're in the middle of a forest. Make sure you stick to hiking trails and that you have a map with you.

Stay safe
The Sierras are a high mountain environment containing some of the snowiest places in the US. During winter you should always carry tire chains in your car and know how to use them.

When hiking or backpacking where you will be far from help, check the weather first. The first snows of winter may come earlier than you expect, such as during early fall. In summer, be careful about heatwaves — while higher-elevation trailheads could maintain mild to warm summer temperatures, lower elevations such as river valleys and canyons can experience vastly higher temperatures. Each thousand feet in each direction can change temperature by several degrees Fahrenheit, which combined with daytime heat or the arrival of a blizzard can be fatal to the unprepared.

In summer during the North American Monsoon, thunderstorms often build up near the crest of the Sierra Nevada, particularly during late afternoon. It is unwise to be in a high, treeless place during a thunderstorm. If hiking far in summer, it's a good idea to carry a light rain jacket just in case a thunderstorm pops up out of nowhere.

Bears are endemic to most parts of the Sierras, and unfortunately some of them have realized that humans are a source of delicious food and garbage and will wander into towns. If you are camping, be sure to research how to "bear-proof" your campsite. Note that it's not just food and food-related trash that attract bears, but anything with an attractive scent. E.g. toothpaste and even soap are surprising favorites. Bears almost never attack humans unless severely provoked, but there is a risk of getting between a mother bear and her cubs, which can provoke an aggressive reaction.

In general, don't feed or touch any wildlife. Any animal may bite if startled or frightened, and some carry nasty diseases including rabies and bubonic plague.

Go next

 * San Francisco is just a few hours west.
 * The Gold Country where the California Gold Rush began is in the Western foothills of the Sierra. There are plenty of quaint historic towns to visit there when traveling to or from points west.
 * If you're headed to Los Angeles or other places to the south, taking US 395 down the Eastern Sierra is a great scenic alternative to the monotony of traveling through California's Central Valley.

title: Sierra Nevada


text:
Sierra Nevada (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Sierra Nevada ("Snowy mountain"):

Spain

 * Sierra Nevada (Spain) - A mountainous region in Andalucia.

United States of America

 * Sierra Nevada - A mountainous region in California.

title: Sierra Nevada (disambiguation)


text:
Sierra Nevada (Spain)

The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in Andalucia in the south east of Spain. They are the tallest mountains in mainland Spain, rising to over 10,000 ft (over 3000 metres). The highest peak is Mulhacén at 3,479 m.

It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing possible in one of Europe's most southerly ski resorts, in an area along the Mediterranean Sea predominantly known for its warm temperatures and abundant sunshine. At its foothills is found the city of Granada and, a little further, Almería and Málaga.

Regions
The Sierra Nevada lie in the provinces of Granada and Almería.

Cities
The city of Granada lies in the foothills on the northern side of the Sierra Nevada

Understand

The Sierra Nevada was formed 66 to 1.8 million years ago from the collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates.

Climate
Sierra Nevada has a Mediterranean climate, with different variations depending on the altitude. Summer and winter daytime temperatures are some 12° C cooler than found in Granada, differences that are even greater in spring as Sierra Nevada takes longer to approach the short summers. In May daytime highs in Sierra Nevada are around 4 °C (39 °F) with Granada having an average of 24 °C (75 °F). The yearly temperature of 3.9 °C (39.0 °F) at the ski station of Pradollano is in stark contrast to Granada's 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) and coastal Málaga's 18.5 °C (65.3 °F).

Get in

 * Fly in to Malaga and drive eastwards from there.
 * Drive westwards from the city of Almeria
 * Ski resort 2 hours from Malaga Airport, 45 minutes from Granada airport
 * Alpujarras Valley 2½ hours from Malaga, 1 hr 15 min from Granada

See

 * - Draped across southern Spain,the park is in Sierra Nevada mountain range, and is a paradise for snow enthusiasts and sun seekers alike. In winter, hit the slopes at Spain's southernmost ski resort. In summer, explore meadows adorned with wildflowers and conquer Mulhacén, the Iberian Peninsula's tallest peak. The  Park covers part of the Sierra Nevada range.

Go next

 * Motril

title: Sierra Nevada (Spain)


text:
Sierra Norte

Sierra Norte de Sevilla lies within the Sierra Morena range, north of Córdoba and Sevilla in Andalucía, Spain.

The area is home to a number of small and picturesque villages, and to dramatic landscapes that starkly contrast with the Guadalquivir Valley further south. The mountains are not particularly high, and the rivers mostly circulate in a north-south direction towards the Guadalquivir.

Villages
There are a few villages scattered within the Park. Most are rather small and picturesque. Constantina and Cazalla are the two largest villages, and they sport a large range of interesting sights. The other villages are good starting points to discover the countryside that surrounds them.

The most important villages are:
 * Alanís
 * Almadén de la Plata
 * Cazalla de la Sierra
 * Constantina
 * Guadalcanal
 * Las Navas de la Concepción
 * El Pedroso
 * La Puebla de los Infantes
 * El Real de la Jara
 * San Nicolás del Puerto

Understand
The park is mostly covered in dehesas, a form of pasture dotted with oak trees, and this translates into an economy where farming and wood are major players. This characteristic landscape is complemented by olive groves, and along the rivers, riverside forests.

The natural environment is home to many large mammals, such as deer (they can often be seen grazing around by visitors) and boars. In the riverside forests, otters can be seen.

Average rainfall is higher than in places further east and north, as the Sierra Morena blocks incoming precipitation from the Atlantic. The temperatures are slightly lower than in the Guadalquivir Valley, and they show a market stationarity.

Apart from farming and forestry, hunting and fishing are important sources of income, as they do bring tourists into the Park. The olive groves have resulted in a thriving high quality olive oil business, which is complimented by other farm activities, such as honey production, and mushroom and herb gathering.

By bus
There are a number of bus services from Sevilla Plaza de Armas coach station.

By train
The railway that winds north towards Extremadura from Sevilla calls at El Pedroso and Constantina.

Get around
The park is poorly served by public transport. This makes the use of a private car a near must. The roads are narrow and winding, and driving might be difficult in adverse weather conditions.

Eat
Try the delicious Iberian pork delicacies (ham, cured loin, chorizo sausages).

Drink
The traditional aguardiente made from cherries is a good antidote against cold winter nights!

Sleep
There are a number of 'casas de turismo rural' (restored country cottages) are dotted throughout the region. These traditional self-catering dwellings are often restored to high quality standards, and provide very convenient and affordable accommodation for families and large groups of people.

 * Hacienda Los Gorriones  has two nice cortijos (cottages) with a swimming pool and barbeque. The cottages are near Las Navas de la Concepción.
 * San Blas Hotel, Constantina, a town in the heart of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Nature Park.
 * Cartuja de Cazalla, an upmarket hotel in a monumental guesthouse.

title: Sierra Norte


text:
Sierra Vista

Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public.

The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".

Get in
Sierra Vista is 75 miles (121 km) from Tucson, the nearest major transport hub.

By plane

By shuttle bus
The following shuttle bus companies offer transportation to and from Tucson International Airport, as well as to nearby communities.

By car
Take I-10 heading south of Tucson or west from Silver City, NM, then head south on Hwy 90.

By bicycle
The city is very bicycle-friendly with a well-developed network of bike paths and bike lanes. Maps of bike and multi-use paths can be downloaded here.

See
For travelers interested in military and local history, Sierra Vista offers some museums and sites. In addition to this, the views to and from the nearby mountain ranges are fantastic and many of the city's best attractions are actually located outside the city itself.

Eat
The local restaurant scene includes American diners, Mexican restaurants, pizza places and some places with Asian food but also a surprising number of German restaurants and cafés.

Go next
Head east on Charleston Rd toward Tombstone, and along the way explore the old ghost towns of Charleston and Millville. Or head east on Hwy 90 towards Bisbee, or south on Hwy 92 and visit Coronado National Memorial. Drive north on Hwy 90 and visit Kartchner Caverns State Park, and then continue on towards Tucson.

title: Sierra Vista


text:
Siesta Key

Siesta Key is a barrier island in Southwest Florida, and has one of the most beautiful beaches in North America and possibly the world. The beach is a fine white powder that is never too hot to enjoy a walk. Calm Gulf waters are typically warmer than the Atlantic coast. It is a short distance west of Sarasota.

By car
The northern entrance is Siesta Dr, which connects from US-41 on the mainland (Sarasota). At the junction with Higel Ave, take a left. When Higel Ave intersects with Midnight Pass Rd, a left turn bypasses the downtown, while a right turn from Higel Ave onto Ocean Blvd a block later goes to the downtown.

The "southern," or eastern entrance to the park is via Stickney Point Rd (FL-72). This road intersects US-41 on the south side of Sarasota.

There is no road to Siesta Key from Ben Franklin Rd; to go to Longboat Key, it is necessary to drive a route via the mainland. There is also no highway connecting to Siesta Key from the south (Palmer Point Park).

See
There are a number of public beach access locations including, , , , and.

Do
The best beaches in Florida! You must stick your toes in the sand to truly get the full benefit of this beach! It's like walking on a beach full of talcum powder, completely cool to the touch. It's a great time for families of all ages!

Go next

 * Sarasota is the main regional city; it is east of Siesta Key, across the inland waterway.
 * To the north of Sarasota the next major municipality is Bradenton.

title: Siesta Key


text:
Sifnos

Sifnos is a small island within the Western Cyclades, of about with a permanent population of about 2,200, but which increases greatly during summer.

Understand
Inhabited since very early times, Sifnos's main claim to fame in the ancient world was for its gold and silver mines, some remains of which still exist, as a result of which the island became known by the 6th century BCE as one of the most prosperous places in Greece. This wealth was reflected in the Treasury of the Siphnians at Delphi, which was reputed to be one of the most opulent buildings at that shrine; its foundations may still be seen there today. The Greek historian Pausanias records that the island's gold mines were destroyed in an earthquake caused by Apollo after the islanders, out of greed, sent as tribute to Delphi a gold-gilded egg instead of the solid gold one which they had traditionally sent before. By Hellenistic times, the island's golden age had passed, and its subsequent history is subsumed in the general history of the Cyclades.

In its geography and climate Sifnos falls naturally into two halves, the western part, where most ferries land, being bare and rugged, while the eastern part, which most visitors find more amenable, has somewhat more gentle terrain and is greener. Despite increased tourism, much of the island's traditional atmosphere has been retained.

By boat
Daily or almost daily fast boats and steamship ferries connect Sifnos with Athens (Piraeus port) during high season (the ride takes about five hours by steamship, about half that by fast catamaran). On summer weekends and holidays some of the fast boats can sell out, so if you're going at these times you may want to buy a ticket in advance. In summer there are buses every hour or two from Kamares to most other points on the island. There are usually also taxis waiting when ferries arrive, but sometimes these can fill up. Some hotels offer transfers from the port at rates that can be anything from free to more than a taxi; if interested, ask your hotel when you reserve.

By plane
Sifnos does not have an airport. If you want to travel by plane, go to nearby Milos and take the ferry to Sifnos from there.

Get around
Sifnos is one of the easier Greek islands to get around with or without a car. Roads are generally good. The conveniently frequent and reliable bus system goes most places the visitor would want, and taxis are easily available with affordable fixed rates between towns. Sifnos is small enough so that walking will often get you where you want to go, provided you can handle the hills, though in summer you should take water and avoid the heat of the day, since as in most Cycladic islands there is little shade.

See

 * The island capital of Apollonia is part of a complex of clustered villages spread along a hillside which merge into one another. It's where most shops and services are, including banks, the post office, and a number of tourist-oriented shops and bars.  There is a mini-"scene" there on summer evenings with locals and tourists going among the tavernas, cafes, and other establishments.  There's an interesting Folk Art Museum (open daily April to October tel ) in the main square.  The other major village of the cluster, farther up the hill, is Artemonas, less lively but more atmospheric with cubistic Cycladic architecture than Apollonia.  The walk between the two is steep but only takes about twenty minutes, and offers many beautiful view points.
 * Though Sifnos lacks any Classical antiquities, there are some ancient sites which may interest some visitors. The remains of some of the ancient mines are marked on some maps. The silver mines at Ag. Sostis are thought to be some of the earliest workings known in Greece. There is an island walking tour offered in summer (information at the Aegean Thesaurus Travel Agency office in Apollonia) which takes in some of them.  The ruins of an important Mycenaean citadel can be seen on the hill of Aghios Andreas (named for the church built on the same site). It is reached reached by a steep climb on a path (signposted) leading off to the west of the main road to Vathi, or easily by car or motorbike, about 2 km south of central Apollonia.   The superb excavation of the massive retaining walls and inner long area gives a good idea of how extensive the site was. There is now an excellent small museum attached to the site  and the views are worth the climb.  A smaller citadel, harder to find and not fully excavated is at Aghios Nikitas, about 5 km NW of Apollonia, north of the road to Cheronisos.
 * Bay of Vathi: Many consider this the best beach on the island:  though its strip of fine sand is narrow in parts, it's very long and on a beautiful enclosed bay which keeps the water calm.  The several beachside tavernas there tend to be good.
 * The cloister of Aghios Simeon, north of Kamares, with a spectacular view on the Bay of Kamares
 * Kastro is the medieval island capital and is worth seeing as an almost perfectly preserved medieval Cycladic town, beautiful and unspoiled. It's on a rocky hilltop right on the sea. You can hike along the coast, or to a tiny beach with restaurant, or to a swimming "place" (rocks, not a beach), or through the fields up into the hills. There's a bus between Kastro and Apollonia/Artemonas.  It's also possible to walk the approximately three kilometer path from Kastro to Appolonia, part of it hilly.  A longer, twistier path leads from Artemonas down to Panaghia Poulati monastery and from there in a rough track along the sea to Kastro, offering spectacular views. Neither path has much shade.  Kastro has a small Archaeological Museum (open Tu-Su 08:30-15:00, ) with a few excellent pieces. Kastro's  lanes include some Roman sarcophagi as well ancient columns built into some houses, and if you look around you can find (poorly signmarked) a well preserved section of impressively built Classical wall.
 * Cheronisos: fishing village in the barren north part of the island with a very small beach, two nice tavernas and a traditional pottery place, where the craftsman specializes in "trick" pots, for instance, fill one up with wine, pour the wine out of the spout till it seems empty, set the pitcher down for a moment, then pick it up and start pouring again -- and more wine comes out!
 * Chrisopigi: The church on a small peninsula at the east of Sifnos is regarded as the most important religious site on the Island. There is a beach with two tavernas nearby.
 * Kamares is the island's main port and where almost all arrivals by boat are. Kamares has a Blue Flag beach from June 5 to Oct 31 (as of 2020), and an array of restaurants, shops, hotels, and other services, along with a certain amount of night life. There's not really much there to tempt the visitor to linger, though, and most will prefer to stay up in Apollonia/Artemonas, in rooms in Kastro, or at one of the beach settlements in the southern part of the island.
 * Faros: The beach might be a bit windy, but the octopus at the taverna overviewing the bay is a must
 * Lazarus Beach: a bit further south than Plati Ghialos.
 * Lazarus Beach: a bit further south than Plati Ghialos.

Do
Hiking

Sifnos has a well-established and well-marked trail network with more than 100km of professionally designed trails, one of the largest trail networks of the Aegean. These trails connect the towns to each other as well as to the beaches and to sights you can only see on foot. There are trails for all levels and abilities, but in the summer it's generally too hot to go on longer hikes due to high temperatures and lack of shade. Still, you will often unintentionally find yourself on part of the trail network as you navigate between towns and beaches on the island, and the excellent red and white way markers and trail signs are great for orientation. More info on the trails and hikes can be found on the official site: Sifnos Trails

Buy
Sifnos offers little for the avid shopper; but there are several good jewelry and pottery shops in Apollonia. In Apollonia there is a shop on the path leading to Petali that sells interesting old prints, and the Gerontopoulos sweet shop on the ground floor of the Hotel Anthousa sells local sweet preserves and other foods which may survive a trip home. This hotel/sweet shop also runs a nearby shop on the main shopping lane which sells local foods, including the very good local capers (pickled along with their leaves, and much more pungent and flavorful than typical bottled capers) and the simple but interesting Sifnos wine. Sifnos is also known for its pottery, and shops in Apollonia and Kamares sell attractive goods in a wide range of prices. Perhaps the most worthwhile souvenir would be a pot (quite affordable) from the potter in Cheronisos, described above.There are working potteries in Plati Yalos and Vathi that sell their work directly to the visitor.

The Book Shop (To Vivliopoleio), with a store in Apollonia (down the street from the post office) and another in Kamares (at the other end of town from the ferry quay) has books about Sifnos and general books in English and other European languages. It's also the place to go for English (and other European language) magazines and newspapers.

There is a drop-off laundry in the Hotel Anthousa/Gerontopoulos sweet shop building in Apollonia, open most hours.

Eat
Sifnos has long had a reputation in Greece for excellent cuisine. There are many tavernas serving good traditional food and now several presenting far more sophisticated versions. To Astro and Leonidas in Kastro offer great views and are great places for lunch. The restaurants in Seralia (by Kastro), offer reliably fresh seafood, but they are very seasonal. Good seafood places can also be found in the fishing villages of Faros (for most of the year), and Heronissos (seasonal). Near beaches, the many restaurants at Plati Yialos offer good, family type atmosphere and cuisine; the restaurants at Vathy beach are also good, with traditional menus and good (quiet) ambiance.

Off the bus route, if you drive, try the very traditional tavernas in Apokofto bay near Chrisopygi, and in Fasolou beach near Faros. In Kastro, To Konaki cafe/creperie and sweet shop by the bus terminal, has a balcony with good views and traditional sweets; the ekmek, a Greek dessert of Turkish origin, is good here, though very rich. A similar, equally good, and more accessible sweet shop is Gerontopoulos in Apollonia, also by the bus stop. In Artemonas, on the plateia (square), is also the cafe/restaurant Margarita, where you can put together a meal from small plates; the traditional Sifnos chickpea soup, usually made only for Sundays, can be good here. If you are in Apollonia, there are several tavernas, and even funky, nouveau restaurants in the steno to catch a quick lunch or even a leisurely (albeit noisy) dinner during high season. Also in Apollonia, coffee shops, souvlaki stands, and easy breakfast stops abound. Several hotels on the island run full restaurants for guests. Ivariably, these are also open to the public; the quality is usually high, and the views can be breathtaking (look for them in Kamares, Petali, Plati Yialos, etc.)

Kamares, Apollonia, and Artemonas all have grocers and bakeries. Most of the beach resorts and small villages, have at least one small shop which sells a limited range of food items and notions. The two pharmacies of the island are both in Apollonia; you will find them next to, or very near the island's three Banks.

Drink
In Kamares, the ferry port, there's a pretty stylish pub and feet-in-the-sand bar, with cocktails, lounge music, yacht crowds, and the young and hip. It is located at the farthest point of the bay, walking down from the ferry dock all the way, to where the beach begins.

Aside from Kamares, most cafe/bars are in Apollonia and Artimonas .There are a few on the main road that goes past the National Bank, which have balconies or terraces with good views; and more on Apollonia's main street (known as the Steno), a couple of which are of the boomboom-music-dim-lights variety. A more civilized option on that street is Argo, which has pleasant outdoor seating and well chosen recorded jazz and classical music. Another good option where also locals hang out is Angel cafe-bar at the backside of town just after the turn-off to Vathi. In Kastro Dolci, by the bus terminal, is a high end bar/creperie shop with international feel, easy music, and great views.

For the gorgeous, the young, and the energetic, there is the all day, and all night beach club at Lazarou. There, you can also experience a heavenly swim off a rocky, but gently descending beach. You can reach it by a short walk, over the hill, past the bus terminal at Plati Yialo; or you can drive to it over a winding, narrow, scary but paved road, starting at the farthest end of the Plati Yialo main drag.

Sleep
The Petali Village Hotel Ano Petali tel:, fax: +30 22840 33391 email: [mailto:petali@par.forthnet.gr petali@par.forthnet.gr] or [mailto:petali@vernicos.gr petali@vernicos.gr]. The hotel has rooms, suites, and one self-catering apartment set on a hillside with a terrific view on the footpath halfway between Apollonia and Artemonas. (There's also access by car via a roundabout road that ends up in a parking lot behind the hotel.) It has a restaurant, open only in high season, and a pool. Rates are high for Sifnos but so is the hotel's quality, and they sometimes offer significant discounts out of season.

Vathi, is a growing resort especially popular with young families. It has modest studio hotels and an expensive resort complex, the Elies. Plati Yialos, the most built up beach, has numerous places to stay.

Kamares has good accommodation and is a good option to stay because there are good options for eating and having a drink in the evening and it's close to the ferry.

There are several places to rent rooms outside of Kastro. Some have patios and shared kitchens.

There are pay camp sites at Kamares (Camping Makis) and Plati Yialos (Camping Plati Yialos.)

Go next
Almost all boats leave from Kamares, going in summer daily or almost daily back to Piraeus or onward to Milos, with less frequent boats to other islands in the Cyclades group. There are several travel agents selling boat tickets in Apollonia and in Kamares.

title: Sifnos


text:
Sighetu Marmației

Sighetu Marmatiei (also spelled Sighet), with its 41,000 inhabitants, is the main town of the Maramureş region (northern Transylvania, Romania). Inhabited since the Stone Age, the settlement was first mentioned in 1334, and as town, in 1352. Today, Sighet is the gateway of Maramures, and one of its most important tourist attractions.

By plane
Nearest airport is Baia Mare at approx. 70 km, which is served by Tarom. From Baia Mare a bus or car connection is recommended.

A more likely destination for traveling by plane would be Cluj-Napoca. From Cluj-Napoca there are several possibilities of getting to Sighetu, like train, bus or car.

By train

From Ukraine you can take a train to Solotvyno, then cross the border by foot.

From Poland you can take a train to Lviv, then to Solotvyno.

By bus
If coming from Romania, Baia Mare will most likely be your first stop from which there are several buses daily, see autogari.ro. Dracard and other companies run about 15 minibuses a day M-F (fewer on Sa and Su) from Autogara Baia Mare on Strada Garii (1 hr 45 min, 12 lei, Sep 2018).

Sighetu has a border crossing with Ukrainian town of Solotvino to which you can get from Lviv and other cities by train or bus.

By car, bike or on foot
You can get in from Ukraine via the border crossing at Solotvino. The bridge over the Tisa is old and one could say a point of tourist interest.

Get around
You can reach all sights in the town on foot. The open-air part of the village museum is 3 km away from the centre.

See

 * The Archaeological, History and Natural Sciences Museum (the former Piarist Monastery, built in 1730).
 * The Roman-Catholic Church "Saint Carol Boromeu" (built between 1730-1806, Baroque style, sun clock above the entrance, an Armenian altar, paintings and statues).
 *  The Ukrainian Orthodox Church "Elevation of the Holy Cross" (built between 1791-1807, many saints relics).
 *  The Sephardic Synagogue (built in 1900-1904, Mauric-Renascentist style).
 *  The Jewish Cemetery and the Soap Monument (3.000 graves, like those of the founders of Hasidic movement - Teitelbaum dynasty. The Soap Monument contains two boxes filled with soap made by Jews gassed at Auschwitz death camp).
 *  The Steam engine (built in 1943, model Henschel&Sohn).
 *  The Livestock Market (very colourful, takes place every first Monday of each month).
 * The Central Market (daily, where the merchants sell vegetables, fruits, dairy produces, handcrafts).
 * The Cultural Palace (built in 1912-1913, looking like a medieval castle, Eccletic-Romantic style).
 *  The Steam engine (built in 1943, model Henschel&Sohn).
 *  The Livestock Market (very colourful, takes place every first Monday of each month).
 * The Central Market (daily, where the merchants sell vegetables, fruits, dairy produces, handcrafts).
 * The Cultural Palace (built in 1912-1913, looking like a medieval castle, Eccletic-Romantic style).
 * The Cultural Palace (built in 1912-1913, looking like a medieval castle, Eccletic-Romantic style).

Buy
If you walk east along the main street, you'll come to three supermarkets: Carrefour, Lidl and another one. Further out of town is a hyper-markets -- Kaufland.

Eat
There aren't many restaurants in the town - mostly cafes, bars, and fast food places along the main street selling pizza and shwarsas.

Go next

 * Săpânța with the Merry Cemetery
 * Baia Mare, the county's capital
 * Vișeu de Sus with steam forest train

title: Sighetu Marmației


text:
Sighișoara

Sighișoara is a city on the Tarnava River in Mures county, in the historic region of Transylvania. German craftsmen and merchants, the Transylvanian Saxons, were invited here by the King of Hungary during the 12th century to settle and defend the frontier. Central Sighișoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city, which the Saxons called "Schäßburg", and it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July. Sighișoara is a popular tourist destination due to its well-preserved walled old town. The landmark of the city is the Clock Tower, a 64-m high tower built in 1556. It is now a museum of history.

By plane
The nearest airports are Targu Mures  away, Sibiu   away, Cluj Napoca   away, and Bucharest Otopeni   away - see those pages for flight options. If you fly in and hire a car, none of those transfers are difficult. If you're relying on public transport, you probably need to stay overnight in the city you land in. Romania time is +1 hour on western Europe and +2 hours on UK, Eire and Portugal, so last trains and last buses will leave that much earlier.

By train
There are 6 direct trains daily from Bucharest, 6 hours; 3 per day from Sibiu usually changing at Medias or Copsa Mica, 3 hours; and 3 from Targu Mures, 5 hours.

From Budapest the best option is the overnight direct train, leaving at 19:00 to arrive 07:00. Destinations further west, e.g. Vienna, Prague and Warsaw, will usually mean a change in Budapest. From Istanbul take the overnight Bosfors Expres and change in Bucharest.

For timetables, the easiest site to navigate is Deutsche Bahn.

The is 1 km N of the old centre, next to the bus station. As you exit, zag right then left onto Str Garii/Station Rd, walk south with the citadel in plain view ahead, a jog left then right takes you over the little bridge into the centre.

By bus
Direct buses to Cluj-Napoca (3 hours), Bucuresti (5½ hours), Otopeni OTP airport (6 hours, 250 lei), Sibiu (3½ hours) or Targu Mures (1 hour); but the times may be erratic. The is near the railway staion. For timetables check www.autogari.ro.

By road
Romanian highways are mostly well-signed and in good repair: reckon 8 hours to drive from Budapest. Drive defensively of course, watching especially for horse-drawn carts.

Get around
It's such a small town that you will have no problem in going around walking. If you need any suggestion there is a tourist information office inside the Café International and Family Center or the tourist information booth, both located in the main square Piata Cetatii; they will help you reach the fortified churches in the area. For more information see the Do section.

Parking
If you drive to the city you can park in:

See

 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:
 * Outside the Citadel:

Do
Special events:

 * Sighișoara Medieval Festival: During the annual event, the town receives around ~30,000 tourists, doubling its population. Numerous cultural events take place during the 3 days of the festival - theatre, indoor and outdoor music concerts, handicraft demonstrations and exhibitions, painting, sculpture, seminars, film projections, etc.
 * DAVA Festival: A young electronic music festival, organized in a former glass factory, 5 min away by car from the city centre.
 * DAVA Festival: A young electronic music festival, organized in a former glass factory, 5 min away by car from the city centre.
 * DAVA Festival: A young electronic music festival, organized in a former glass factory, 5 min away by car from the city centre.

The town is quite small, so one day to visit it is enough. In any case, you can consider staying more to visit the surroundings.

 * Hike or cycle up to the great Oak forest on the Breite plateau - a wonderful walk in nature.
 * A great picnic location is the hill to the south of the city directly opposite the clock tower (get your bearings from the lookout at the base before you set off). Grab some goodies from a local shop and walk up any road leading to that hill. Just keep going up and, eventually, the road will die out to grass which you can walk over (it's public land) towards the defunct communications tower on the hill. A seat up here will give you a grand view of Sighișoara and the villages beyond.
 * A day out on a bike which you can easily rent (€1/hr or €10/day) involves heading south out of town to Soas, then on to Apold where you can see the fortified church. From Apold head left by the church towards Vulcan (signposted). The road becomes a stony track. After a few km, turn left following signs to Vulcan. At Vulcan, bear left over a tiny bridge and then onto a dirt track. Follow this uphill out of Vulcan. At the brow of the hill go straight across and down the valley to Sighișoara. If it has rained in the last couple of days or is raining, the track from Vulcan to a few kilometres south of Sighișoara will be a quagmire. It is a very beautiful descent into Sighișoara though. Be prepared for mud!

Buy

 * Paintings - local artists will have displays of their works on the sidewalks during tourist season. Many nice watercolors and oil paintings can be purchased in RON, EUR, USD, or HUF.

Eat

 * Hotel Sighișoara restaurant - Romanian and international cuisine in a medieval atmosphere.
 * La Perla - Pizza and other foods, a meeting place for locals, across the post office
 * Casa Vlad Dracul - Good soups and traditional Romanian fare. The childhood home of Vlad Țepeș, the inspiration for Dracula, makes it a fun tourist night out. As would be expected, the price is inflated to match the tourist trade.
 * Café International and Family Center - Piata Cetatii 8. It is an important resource for a tourist there. It is in the main square of Sighișoara; if you come inside you'll meet few girls dressed in traditional clothes giving touristic information. On the same floor there is a café serving sweet cakes or sour pies baked locally with organic ingredients. The juice is organic, too. The prices are higher than normal, but the quality of the food is very good. Very good breakfast sets for up to 15 lei. If you go downstairs you will find an Internet point.
 * Concordia Pizza and Spaghetti - Italian cuisine, nice terrace, open until late.
 * Vila Franka - a restaurant on a hill surveying the Târnava valley, offers an outstanding panorama point. Can be reached by car or on foot (~1 hour walk/hike from the Citadel)

Go next
Spend at least a day exploring the nearby medieval fortified churches – you’ll need your own transport. The Saxon settlements of Transylvania came under attack in the 15th & 16th centuries, but instead of erecting castles, they fortified the churches with walls and lookout towers. Most examples are clustered around Medias (another well-preserved Saxon medieval center), the best being the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Biertan, Saschiz, Valea Viilor and Viscri. Other fine examples close by include Apold and Malancrav.

Sibiu has a beautiful medieval old town. It can be combined with a day-trip to the fortified churches, but stands as a centre in its own right. Other notable centres include Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, and Brasov.

If your itinerary includes Bucharest, try to visit it before Transylvania. It’s interesting but far from pretty, and it’s going to look especially drab after seeing Sighisoara.

title: Sighișoara


text:
Sighnaghi

Sighnaghi (Signagi) (Georgian: სიღნაღი) is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and the administrative center of the Sighnaghi District. It is one of the country's smallest towns with a population of about 1,600 (2019).

Understand
Sighnaghi has undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important center of Georgia's tourist industry. While Sighnaghi itself requires just a day or so for sightseeing, it is probably the best base for exploring the region through day trips. You can follow the road from Sighnaghi to Telavi via Gurjaani, visiting wineries on the way, escape for a day to the Kvareli lake resort or Lagodekhi National Park, and go visit the David Gareja monastery on the Azerbaijan border.

Do not expect wild night life here (except perhaps if there is a busload of tourists in town). Sighnaghi is the place to take in the view of the mountains, drink homemade wine, and enjoy delicious Kakhetian food in one of the many restaurants.

By bus

From specific destinations:
 * Tbilisi – To Sighnaghi marshrutkas run daily every odd hour from 07:00 to 17:00, the last one leaving at 18:00, from the Samgori metro station, from the lot of marshrutkas farthest from the metro entrance, past the open market. While most drivers will point you in the right direction, you can also look for the two "m"s with "right arms" in სიღნაღი on the destination placard. Travel duration is 1 hr 45 min, for 10 lari (Sep 2022).
 * To Tbilisi marshrutkas leave at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, and 18:00 every day. Book tickets back to Tbilisi in advance (buy your ticket from the small kiosk on the marshrutka station's square), even a few hours before, since all marshrutkas are usually full. Like most marshrutka travel, seats are first-come, first-serve. It is possible to arrive early, pick a good seat, set your bag or backpack in that seat, and then get a bite to eat. Check with the driver for actual departure time. As a courtesy to the locals, assume every seat will be occupied by a person by the time the vehicle departs. Also check with driver if you have a big backpack that needs to be stowed underneath the rear seat.

 * Kakheti region – There are also marshrutkas every hour to nearby Tsnori, from where you can get a marshrutka to many Kakhetian destinations. There is at least one marshrutka leaving daily at 9.30 to Guurjaani (5 lari) and Telavi (10 lari).

 * Rustavi – From Sighnaghi daily at 07:00 and 09:15. Vice-verse, expect similar times.

Get around
Most sights can be reached on foot, even the Bodbe Convent. Though, you might want to take a taxi or hitch-hike there to save time.

See

A 20-minute taxi ride away, the following might be worth visiting if it is Sunday:

Do

 * Visit the towers of the town wall and walk along it.
 * Sighnaghi is part of the popular wine route of Kakheti.

Drink
If you are in a restaurant, order a glass of house wine. If someone invites you to a wine-tasting, go (maybe 10 lari for a cup of red and a cup of white wine). If someone wants to sell you a liter of wine, buy it (15 lari). Yes, the local, homemade wine comes in used plastic soda pop bottles. Don't worry; the wine still tastes great, and, as the locals will tell you, it's all-natural.

Sighnaghi is part of the popular wine route of Kakheti—checkout the information and available wineries there. Many guesthouses can organise day trips to the wineries and monasteries of the region.

Sleep
There are plenty of home-stays in Sighnaghi as well as high class hotels.

Go next

 * Tsnori – small nearby town with transportation to all Kakhetian destinations
 * Gurjaani – one of the centres of Georgia's wine industry. Landmarks include the Church of the Dormition (Kvelatsminda; 8th-9th century), Museum of Local Lore and History, Museum of Nato Vachnadze, and the historic mud-cure resort of Akhtala.
 * Dedoplis Tskaro - nearby town with a nice church and Eagle Gorge on the outskirts, in a close proximity to Khornabuji fortress
 * Telavi – the capital of Kakheti is a convenient base for exploring the region's wineries, castles, and monasteries
 * Lagodekhi – A pretty border town (next to Azerbaijan) and a nearby nature reserve with subtropical forests.
 * Vashlovani National Park
 * David Gareja Monastery Complex – A 6th century cave monastery clinging onto a rocky hillside lying meters away from Azerbaijan, with beautiful frescos. Can be reached by taxis or organized tours, no public transport available from Sighnaghi (only Tbilisi). 50 km from Sighnaghi, a detour along the way to/from Tbilisi.

Also, see Kakheti for more details.

title: Sighnaghi


text:
Sigiriya

Sigiriya is a city in the Central district of Sri Lanka. The "Ancient City of Sigiriya" is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
Sigiriya is famous for its high red stone fortress and palace ruins which are surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures. The rock is believed by Hindus to be the site of the fortress of Ravana, the main villain in the epic Ramayana. There is also the Naipena Guhava (Cobra Hood Cave), which Hindus believe is where Ravana imprisoned Rama's wife Sita after kidnapping her. The fortress is 200 metres above the surrounding plain (370 metres above sea level). The rock was a Buddhist monastery between the third century BC to 477 CE. The palatial complex on the top of the rock were built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), who had seized power after committing patricide. The rightful heir to the throne, Moggallana, fled to South India. Fearing an attack from Moggallana, Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya. Most of the constructions on the rock summit and around it, including defensive structures, palaces, and gardens, date back to this period. Kashyapa was defeated in 495 CE by Moggallana, who moved the capital again to Anuradhapura. Sigiriya was then turned back into a Buddhist monastery, which lasted until the 13th or 14th century.

Around the rock is a walled citadel covering an area of about 15 hectares. This citadel presents an irregular, broadly elliptical plan, which defines the outer limits of the hill slopes around the base of the rock. This boulder-strewn hillside has been fashioned into a series of terraces, forming a terraced garden around the rock. It also incorporates rock-shelters and rock-associated pavilions which form the distinctive architecture of the boulder gardens both to the west and the east of the citadel.

The area to the west of the citadel is laid out as a symmetrically planned royal park or pleasure-garden with elaborate water-retaining structures and surface and sub-surface hydraulic systems. It is surrounded by three ramparts and two moats forming a rectangle whose inner dimensions are about 900 by 800 metres. To the east of the citadel extends the 'eastern precinct' or inner city', a rectangular form whose inner precincts measure about 700 metres from east to west and 500 metres from north to south with a high earthen rampart, gateways and vestiges of a moat. The outermost rampart of the Sigiriya complex is a low, eroded vestigial earthen embankment defining the extent of the still largely uninvestigated eastern residential or 'outer city' area. This is more or less laid out as a rectangle, 1,000 by 1,500 metres, with two eastern gateways, suburban settlements beyond its northern walls, and the man-made Sigiriya Lake to its south.

Among the most remarkable aspects of the urban form at Sigiriya are its planning mathematics and total design concept. The plan of the city is based on a precise square module. The layout extends outward from the coordinates at the centre of the palace complex on top of the rock. The eastern and western entrances are directly aligned with the central east-west axis. The royal water-gardens and the moats and ramparts of the western precinct are based on an 'echo plan, which duplicates the layout on either side of the north-south and east-west axes.

Get in
There is very little to see in Dambulla and ideally you want to climb Sigiriya for a sunrise so if given a choice, you should avoid staying in Dambulla altogether and try to stay locally at Sigiriya.

By plane

 * FitsAir from Colombo-Ratmalana,
 * Millennium Airlines from Colombo-Ratmalana,
 * Cinnamon Air from Colombo-Bandaranaike, Batticaloa, Trincomalee

By bus
Sigiriya is located about from Dambulla, the closest city, from there buses run between 6:30AM to 6PM at 30 minutes intervals, and cost Rs 100 (2023). Travel by tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw) from Dambulla costs Rs ~2,000 (2023)

No direct bus from Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya, so you'll have to go first to Inamaluwa (Inamaluwa junction) by bus, where you can change for the bus to Sigiriya. The bus ride from Polonnaruwa to Inamaluwa junction will cost Rs 20 and takes some 90 minutes. At Inamaluwa junction, buses for Sigiriya run at intervals of 30 minutes until 6PM. You can also take a tuk-tuk to Sigiriya — the distance is only and will not cost more than Rs 500.

Air Taxi
Cinnamon Air operates daily scheduled flights to Sigiriya from Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport). The destination can be reached within 30 minutes. One-way fare per person is listed as USD 199 (without tax).

Ancient City of Sigiriya
Entry fee to the site is US$15 for citizens of South Asian countries and US$30 (Rs 4350, as of March 2018) for those from other countries. Citizens of South Asian countries are required to show passports as proof of citizenship. Guides charge around Rs 1,500. Guides would be helpful if you are travelling alone and want someone to take pictures of you, but otherwise the services of a guide would not be required as the path up to and including the climb to the top of the rock are well defined. There are notice boards along the way that give details of the structures and landmarks around. There is a straight pathway from the entrance to the complex till the rock. The gardens and other features are located on either sides of the pathway.

The Apsara paintings

One of the most famous features of the Sigiriya complex are the fifth-century paintings found in a depression on the rock face more than 100 metres above ground level. These paintings can be reached by a spiral staircase. These paintings are fragmentary survivals of an immense backdrop of paintings that once extended in a wide band across the western face of the rock. The painted band seems to have extended to the north-eastern corner of the rock, covering thereby an area nearly 140 metres long and, at its widest, about 40 metres high. All that survives of this painted backdrop are the female figures preserved in two adjacent depressions in the rock-face known as 'Fresco Pocket A and 'Fresco Pocket B'. Three other depressions: 'Fresco Pockets C, D and E higher up the rock-face, also contain patches of plaster and pigment and, in at least one instance, fragments of a painted figure. Traces of plaster and pigment elsewhere on the rock-face provide further evidence of the extent of the painted band. They represent apsaras or celestial nymphs, a common motif in the religious and royal art of Asia. The Sigiriya paintings have been the focus of considerable interest and attention in both ancient and modern times. The poems in the graffiti on the Mirror Wall, discussed below, dating from about the sixth to the thirteenth or fourteenth century, are mostly addressed to the ladies in the paintings, who seem also to have been studied and reproduced in the eighteenth century by the Kandyan artists who painted the Damhulla murals. Antiquarian descriptions of the figures in the fresco rock date back to the 1830s. The first proper descriptions in the nineteenth century are based on the examination of the paintings by telescope from the plain below.

Stay safe
Bring lots of water as the walk through the gardens and the climb to the top of the rock takes about one and half hours. There is no water available inside the complex. It is possible to climb Sigiriya in the rain but care on the stone steps which become slippery when wet. Additionally, the view at the top might get obscured due to the rain.

You'll see signs along the path telling you to be quiet so as not to provoke the wasps.

Connect
Good connection by all mobile providers. Vast majority of hotels and restaurants offer WiFi with acceptable speed.

Go next

 * Dambulla — with its great cave temple.
 * Kandy
 * Kaudulla National Park — less known place to see elephants in about away from Minneriya
 * Minneriya National Park — primary place to see elephants in this part of Sri Lanka
 * Trincomalee

title: Sigiriya


text:
Sigmaringen

Sigmaringen is a city in Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg on the River Danube.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Friedrichshafen and can be reached with non-stop flights from Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt Airport, Graz, Hamburg, London, Rotterdam, and Vienna Airport.

By bicycle
Sigmaringen is a popular stop on the Donauradwanderweg (Danube River Bike Trail), which begins at Donaueschingen approximately 60 km to the west, and hence the area is extremely bicycle-friendly.

Go next
Make sure that you visit the upper Danube valley, between Sigmaringen and Tuttlingen. The Danube has managed to cut a beautiful, deep passage through the limestone hills. The valley is covered in forest, but the limestone outcrops appear on the valley walls.

In the centre of the valley is the monastery at Beuron – its massive! Its very hard to get a sense of its scale from the tiny village that it dominates. The best view is from the road to Tuttlingen.

 * Pfullendorf
 * Bad Schussenried

title: Sigmaringen


text:
Sigtuna

Sigtuna is a city in Sigtuna Municipality in Stockholm County, north of Stockholm's northern suburbs.

The city of Sigtuna was Sweden's capital from the 10th to the 13th centuries and has 8,000 residents.

Understand
Sigtuna is located on the shores of Lake Mälaren, but the plains around Sigtuna were below sea level from the Ice Age until the beginning of common era. The land was fertile, and became densely populated during the Viking Age, leaving a heritage of runestones, graves and monuments, while Lake Mälaren was part of the Baltic Sea.

According to tradition Sigtuna was founded in 980 AD by king Erik Segersäll (the Victorious). The founding of Sigtuna is considered an important step in unifying Sweden into one centralized kingdom. It replaced Birka as the most important trade node in the region, and as an early Christian centre it competed with the pagan Uppsala for religious supremacy. Erik's son and successor Olaf Skötkonung constructed a mint in Sigtuna, and thereby became the first king to mint coins in Sweden. With a royal mint and a bishop, Sigtuna was effectively the capital of Sweden until power shifted towards Stockholm and Uppsala in the 13th century. The city was raided by "pagans from the East" in 1187, and a few years later in 1190 the archdiocese was moved to Uppsala.

However, Sigtuna prevailed, and in 1237 the first Dominican monastery in Sweden was built there. Sigtuna's decline accelerated in the 16th century due to the Protestant Reformation, as power and wealth moved from the convent in Sigtuna to the king in Stockholm. Between 1648 and 1666 the city suffered three city fires and was eventually abandoned. In 1700 the population of Sigtuna was only 108 people.

Sigtuna's population was down at the hundreds for 250 years, until the city was revived in the 1910s as a nationalist project. Even though many of the buildings look traditional, most of them are from the early 20th century. However, due to the conservative spirit in which the city was reconstructed, it did not experience the same heavy urban renewal that many other Swedish cities did in the 1950s and 60s.

By plane
is located in Sigtuna Municipality and is by far the largest airport in Sweden. For public transport between Arlanda and Sigtuna, bus 579 goes directly, while bus 583 connects Arlanda with Märsta where you have to change to bus 570 or 575.

By public transit
The local public transportation operator in Stockholm County is SL. There is no train station in Sigtuna, the closest one being in Märsta some 7 km east of Sigtuna. Sigtuna is reached from Märsta station by local buses 570 or 575. These buses are synchronized with the local commuter trains between Stockholm and Märsta.

By boat
Strömma has a tourist ferry line between Stockholm and Sigtuna, with a stopover at Skokloster Palace in Håbo.

By car
Route 263 passes through Sigtuna and continues towards Enköping in the West and connects to the highway E4 in the east. The E4, in turn, carries traffic between Uppsala in the North and Stockholm in the South.

Get around
Sigtuna is small and walkable. Unless you intend to leave the town for the surrounding countryside there is no real need for a vehicle.

Runes and Ruins

 * Runestones and other artefacts from the Viking Age in Sigtuna. Over 40 runestones has been found in Sigtuna, and some 170 in Sigtuna Municipality.

Do
Hiking, cycling and fishing during summer. Ice-skating and cross-country skiing during winter.

 * Go bathing

Drink
As most residents venture to central Stockholm for nightlife, Sigtuna municipality mostly contains local hangouts and hotel bars.

Go next

 * Stockholm is where most visitors go, after touching down at Arlanda. See Stockholm for transit to the capital.
 * Knivsta is a suburb of Uppsala, with several historical artefacts.
 * Märsta is the largest town in Sigtuna Municipality.
 * Norrtälje contains the northern edge of the Stockholm archipelago.
 * Uppsala is a millennial city, famous for its Viking Age heritage, and the oldest university in the Nordic countries.

title: Sigtuna


text:
Sigulda

Sigulda is administratively in the Riga region, however culturally a part of the Vidzeme region. It is a resort town just over an hour from Riga by train (50 km east), featuring a wooded river valley containing forest walks, cable car, bobsleigh track, three castles and a former times rehabilitation centre featuring a hostel, all of which is manageable as a day visitor on foot.

Understand
Sigulda is at the south-western end of Gauja National Park. Located in the picturesque Gauja valley, with its steep banks and cliffs, Sigulda has become known as the 'Switzerland of Latvia'.

At lot of information can be found on the tourism office website.

Get in
1188.lv provides up-to-date bus and train schedules, route planner and prices.

By train
The train from Riga takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and a single ticket costs €1.90. Train runs approximately every 90 minutes.

By bus
The bus also takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from Riga.

By car
If going by private transport, be wary of traffic jams during nice summer weekends – lots of people go there during season, and sometimes it's better to take the train.

By foot
Sigulda is a small town, and every major sight is easily accessible on foot. In winter, some hiking paths are even cleared of snow.

By bus
A local bus goes to Turaida and Krimulda every day and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Itineraries
Walk the wooded trails to Turaida. Take the cable car across the valley, then up and down a variety of paths and steps to Turaida village and castle, before returning along the river valley and a visit to Gutman's Cave. Distance is around 10 km.

See

Eat
In the centre of town (Pils Iela) there are two large buffet cafés opposite the main shopping area that are open throughout the day all week from breakfast until late evening. There is also a Hesburger outlet behind the bobsleigh course, but this is a good walk from everything else.

In Turaida there are no food options for lunch beyond a microwaved hot dog at the village store.

Go next

 * Ligatne – A village fairly well known for its nature trails, with a great natural park with wildlife animals and "fairy tale" forests with characters from famous Latvian fairy tales. Nearby, also an old Soviet bunker complex can be visited, which was built in case of a nuclear war.
 * Cēsis – One of the country's oldest towns. It has an impressive castle complex of Livonian Order origin, a charming city centre with some cobblestoned streets, and historic wooden buildings.
 * Vidzeme – Check out the nearby towns and attractions of the Vidzeme region, like Straupe with the Lielstraupe Castle.
 * Limbaži - a former Hanseatic city, nowadays its castle ruins hints of its glorious past.

title: Sigulda