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Blumenau

Blumenau is a city in the Itajaí Valley, in Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil. The population in 2018 was estimated to be about 352,000.

Understand
Blumenau and the surrounding regions became home to a large number of German immigrants in the late 19th century, leading to a culture that's distinctly different from the common image of Brazil. After Germans, the second largest ethnic group is Italians.

The Oktoberfest is held every year in October, and is the world's second largest beer festival. It attracts over one million tourists during the 16 or 17 days it's held.

History
In September 2nd, 1850 the German immigrant Bruno Otto Hermann Blumenau settled on the site of modern-day Blumenau, on the shores of the Itajaí-Açu river. He came with another 17 immigrants and intended to develop a farming colony, but due to the rugged terrain, the development of industries came more natural to the region.

Throughout its history, the city suffered many major floods, with severe ones in 1983 and 1984. After some economic stagnation in the 1990s, the city is now thriving again, becoming also one of the major software developing areas in Brazil.

At the end of November 2008, the city suffered another major flood caused by 3 months of rain. The rain damaged the entire state of Santa Catarina, but Blumenau went down, with streets full of water, mud, and a lot of landslides which caused dozens of deaths. But with the help of donations from Brazilians across the country and international help from Germany, which donated €200,000, the city has been rebuilding.

Geography
Located in the Itajaí Valley, Blumenau is the 3rd biggest city in Santa Catarina State. The city is in an average altitude of 14 meters above the sea level and its municipality has 510 km².

By bus
It is very easy to get to Blumenau by bus. There are several interstate companies with regular lines to Blumenau and region. A trip from São Paulo takes about 10 hours and costs about R$100 one-way. The bus station is open 24 hours a day and has showers free bathrooms and a diner (however those are very old right now and very dirty, and only snacks are available and the bus station whose is very dangerous indeed). It is served by urban buses to PROEB (downtown) and Fortaleza (neighborhood) Terminals. There are also taxis, which would take you downtown for about R$15.

Some companies in Blumenau Bus Station:
 * Auto Viação Catarinense
 * Empresa Nossa Senhora da Penha
 * Empresa União Transportes

By plane
The nearest airport is Ministro Victor Konder International Airport, located 59 km away in Navegantes, with flights only from São Paulo and Porto Alegre. In the airport there buses to take you downtown Blumenau. GOL Linhas Aéreas also has free buses for its costumers.

It may be easier to find flights to Santa Catarina through the Aeroporto Internacional Hercílio Luz, in Florianópolis, but from there you must take a bus or a taxi to Florianópolis Bus Station and from there, a bus to Blumenau.

Or also take a flight to Curitiba airport (in the city of São José dos Pinhais) and take a Catarinense bus directly without having to go to Curitiba central bus station. You can go to the Bus point called 'Pinherão' in the center of São José dos Pinhais with is located about 30 min by foot or R$ 10 by taxi.

By car
If you are not far away, you can come by car. The main road in the coast of the State is BR-101, but there is no way to get into Blumenau directly through this road. You will have to use either BR-470 (which is very dangerous), or SC-470, known as Rodovia Governador Jorge Lacerda, which goes through the cities of Itajaí, Ilhota and Gaspar. This road is not as fast as BR-470, but it's much safer, has less trucks and it is better illuminated at night. You still have an option, using SC-486, which goes to Brusque, a nearby city, and then from there to Gaspar and Blumenau.

If you come from the West (Western Santa Catarina, Northern Rio Grande do Sul, Southwestern Parana, Argentina or Paraguay), you have to take highway BR-282, after Lages, enter to Otacilio Costa and there you'll eventually end up at BR-470, where you'll have to take the East direction, towards Rio do Sul and eventually to Blumenau.

On foot
Walking in downtown Blumenau may be pleasant from April to December, but avoid walking too much in the summer, as summers tend to be extremely hot and there aren't many trees.

The city has many hills and outside downtown you might find some challenging slopes. Sidewalks in Brazil don't have standards and in Blumenau the best are downtown, so in the neighborhoods take some care with them. During the summer it rains almost everyday, but usually in the late afternoon, so it won't really be a problem to stroll around.

By taxi
Taxis are expensive.

By bus
The bus system in Blumenau is one of the most efficient in Brazil. The system is run by SETERB and composed by six terminals in different spots of the city: Garcia in the South, Fonte in the Center-South, Velha in the West, Aterro in the Northwest, Fortaleza in the Northeast and PROEB in the Center-North. Inside the terminals you can transfer to another bus without paying extra.

The buses are yellow and light blue. Line 33 goes from Fonte-PROEB-Fonte via Beira-rio and Rua 7 de Setembro. One trip costs R$2.05, which you pay either when you get in a bus or in the terminals.

There is also another kind of bus, the red ones, which are restricted mostly to the downtown area and a little further to the north and south. These buses have air conditioning and more comfortable seats, which may come handy during the summer in the city. They don't stop at bus stops, only in the Garcia and PROEB terminals. To catch one, you just have to lift your arm and make a sign whenever you see it. The fare is a bit more expensive though.

Hourly buses to the nearby town of Pomerode, where the annual Festa Pomorana takes place, can be caught on Rua Sete (7) de Septembro, and close to the Blumenau bus terminal Terminal Aterro, further along and on the same side of the road, Rua Eng Udo Deeke, 45 - Salto Norte,. Taxi drivers will offer to take tourists to Pomerode - avoid doing this, as it will be an avoidably expensive trip. The last bus from Pomerode to Blumenau leaves at 22:15 and can be caught at one of the bus stops along Pomerode's main road.

By car
Blumenau is not an easy city to drive in. The streets are irregular and in the neighborhoods there aren't many traffic signs. But if you prefer, you can rent a car for a fair price. Make sure you can use OsmAnd, Mapy.cz or Google Maps to navigate, as even locals get lost here.

Downtown there are three main and parallel streets: Avenida Presidente Castelo Branco, known as Beira-Rio (rivershore), Rua XV de Novembro and Rua 7 de Setembro. The three of them get very busy during the rush hour, but traffic is not chaotic overall.

Watch out for speed reducers in the city, they limit the speed to 50 km/h (31 mph). There are also red light cameras.

Do

 * Oktoberfest de Blumenau.jpgWander in Rua XV de Novembro and see one of the most beautiful streets in Brazil. Completely reurbanized in 2000, it still has some original buildings from the 19th century and has most of the city's attractions. Throughout the year it's always very busy and crowded during the day, but it also gets empty during the Christmas - New Year's Eve period, as most of the city's inhabitants rush into the beaches nearby.
 * Oktoberfest! The best time to come to Blumenau is in October, because in October there's Oktoberfest. The party began in 1983 and attracts thousands of people from the whole country and also from other Mercosur countries. During the 17 days, every Wednesdays and Sundays you'll have the opportunity to see the traditional parade in Rua XV de Novembro and every night at Vila Germânica people gather to party. The party goes until 01:00 on weekdays and until 06:00 in the weekends. Most of the best and biggest local breweries have stands in the party and delicious food, such as the Stuffed Potatoes and X Alemão. If you get tired of the German music inside, try the electronic tent outside.

Eat
For a small city, Blumenau is quite diverse, there are Chinese, Japanese, Italian restaurants and, of course, German. There are also some fast food chains like Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Subway, all present in the city's shopping mall.

Except for the German food, you may have some great opportunities to have sweets in Blumenau. There are cakes for all tastes and delicious Cafés Coloniais (Colonial Lunches).

In the restaurants, especially in the cheaper ones, don't expect people to speak much English. If you speak German it may be easier.

Budget

 * Blu Lanches, Rua 7 de Setembro, 1395. This diner serves the best sandwiches in town, and try their great mayonnaise. It also gets very full of people on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays before the clubs open and especially on Sundays, when there are no clubs, so people would just stick around over there talking with friends by their cars and drinking some beer. It gives you a very different feel.
 * Blu Lanches, Rua 7 de Setembro, 1395. This diner serves the best sandwiches in town, and try their great mayonnaise. It also gets very full of people on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays before the clubs open and especially on Sundays, when there are no clubs, so people would just stick around over there talking with friends by their cars and drinking some beer. It gives you a very different feel.

Medium

 * Sabor Imperial - If you don't have too much time to look for a restaurant downtown, this is the place you should go, another all-you-can-eat, better than Gutes Essen. Prices are about R$21/kg, but you must try their Strogonoff. (Rua 7 de Setembro, 640 - Hotel Rex)
 * Pizzaria Don Peppone, Rua 7 de Setembro, 2013. This delicious pizzeria only opens at night, but they surely have the best pizza in the city, but if you don't like too much cheese, be sure to ask for it. They also serve a superb lasagna and they have other international food dishes.
 * Churrascaria Tiefensee - This traditional churrascaria serves meat on dishes. It's one of the oldest in the city and they have a very nice aviary right in the middle of the restaurant. Be sure to get a table nearby. (Rua Amazonas, 2322)
 * Nakirimoto Sushi Bar, Rua Alemeda Barão do Rio Branco. Another Asian restaurant, but this one only serves Chinese and Japanese food. If you like really thin Sashimis, avoid coming here, but if you like hot dishes of the Japanese cuisine, this is the place for you. It has also delivery service. Remember to ask for new glasses, without any cracks.
 * Chef Waldemar - Even though it's a delivery "restaurant", it has one of the best international cuisine of the city, and for a fair price. You can call 3222-1015 and order a delicious Strogonoff at your hotel.
 * Nakirimoto Sushi Bar, Rua Alemeda Barão do Rio Branco. Another Asian restaurant, but this one only serves Chinese and Japanese food. If you like really thin Sashimis, avoid coming here, but if you like hot dishes of the Japanese cuisine, this is the place for you. It has also delivery service. Remember to ask for new glasses, without any cracks.
 * Chef Waldemar - Even though it's a delivery "restaurant", it has one of the best international cuisine of the city, and for a fair price. You can call 3222-1015 and order a delicious Strogonoff at your hotel.

Splurge

 * Moinho do Vale, Rua Porto Rico. Right across from Churrascaria Ataliba, Moinho do Vale (Valley's Windmill), was an ancient windmill that used to produce wheatflour and later became a restaurant. It was very damaged in the floods that hit the city in 1983, and in 2008 it was redesigned and rebuilt, becoming a nice international restaurant, and a bar with a huge deck right beside the river Itajaí-Açu. It's a nice place to make a Happy Hour or to go with friends. The menu comes in English, German and Portuguese.
 * Moinho do Vale, Rua Porto Rico. Right across from Churrascaria Ataliba, Moinho do Vale (Valley's Windmill), was an ancient windmill that used to produce wheatflour and later became a restaurant. It was very damaged in the floods that hit the city in 1983, and in 2008 it was redesigned and rebuilt, becoming a nice international restaurant, and a bar with a huge deck right beside the river Itajaí-Açu. It's a nice place to make a Happy Hour or to go with friends. The menu comes in English, German and Portuguese.
 * Moinho do Vale, Rua Porto Rico. Right across from Churrascaria Ataliba, Moinho do Vale (Valley's Windmill), was an ancient windmill that used to produce wheatflour and later became a restaurant. It was very damaged in the floods that hit the city in 1983, and in 2008 it was redesigned and rebuilt, becoming a nice international restaurant, and a bar with a huge deck right beside the river Itajaí-Açu. It's a nice place to make a Happy Hour or to go with friends. The menu comes in English, German and Portuguese.

Drink
Blumenau is known as the "Brazilian beer capital". Besides the traditional Oktoberfest, that attracts tourists from the whole country in October, Blumenau also has a few microbreweries.

Eisenbahn, is the most famous, as they're the only ones of them to sell beer in bottles. They have ten different beers (Pilsen, Pilsen Orgânica (Organic), Dunkel, Pale Ale, Weizenbier, Weizenbock, Kolsch, Wiechnachts Ale, Rauchbier and Golden Ale), and can be found in the major cities of the country.

Besides Eisenbahn, you can also find Bierland and Unser Bier, on tap in some bars and restaurants. All of them are very good and highly recommended if you want to feel the taste of Blumenau.

Sleep
Websites for inexpensive hotels in Blumenau are not immediately available through the search engines or hotel search portals, which tend to respond with hotels offering double rooms at R$120 or more per night. These are no better in quality than more economical hotels, though they exploit the tourist's unfamiliarity with the area. Except during Oktoberfest, hotel rooms are plentiful and it is a buyer's market. Once you arrive, you will find hotels everywhere, many of which offer double rooms at around R$70 (US$30) per night equipped including breakfast, cable TV, and a private bathroom. You can pick up a free tourist magazine at the overpriced and shabby Blumenau Tourism Hotel next to the rodoviario which contains a list of hotels with their prices and addresses.

Two highly recommended hotels based on price and comfort and quality at R$70 per night per double room are:

Stay safe
Blumenau is a pretty safe city. However watch out for pickpockets in buses and downtown. The whole Rua XV de Novembro is monitored by cameras, which drastically reduced criminality in this busy area. If you have a car, be careful when driving in BR-470.

Go next

 * Itajaí - the closest coastal town
 * Serra do Itajaí National Park - the surrounding area is a nature reserve of the Itajaí Mountain Range.

title: Blumenau


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Wikivoyage:Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense/Blumenort

Blumenort is a city in Manitoba.

Get in
Being so small, it is actually impossible city to find. Your best bet is to get a hot air balloon and proceed to fly over Manitoba. This is best done in the evening, and upon the occassion that you should smell something absolutely disgusting, you should immedately exit the hot air balloon, preferably by parachute. The use of a parachute is suggested in order to ensure a high level of speed so that you won't miss the tiny town upon your landing. Also, you are free to land virtually anywhere as approximately 92% of Blumenort consists of fields.

Get around
Obviously, Blumenort doesn't offer any taxi or bus services. However, if you happen to own any form of tractor, it is highly suggested you take it along with you on your trip as this will prove useful in many situations. It will not only function as a form of transportation, but it will lend you a hand in experiencing Blumenort culture. If, however, you don't own a tractor, for a reasonable price the local farmers may lend you a pig on which you may ride. This is an ancient skill only learned through a rather difficult training process during which you may find yourself often upon your back in a pile of pig manure.

See

 * When entering Blumenort, it has a large, beautiful sign displaying the name of this charming village.  The sign and its surrounding area take up about half of the village itself, but it is definately worth seeing, as it is one of the best compared to other cities and villages in the surrounding area.

 * In this flatter-than-roadkill town, any field provides an excellent view of either the sunrise or the sunset.

 * If you happen to be taking a walk through the town at approximately 8:30 in the morning, it is most likely you will run across the dog that walks his man every day. It is an encouragement to all Blumenorters that the world is still turning and that there has been no change.

Do
Blumenort is famous for having nothing to do, but the youths still living in the area have found ways of entertaining themselves, including the following;

 * Climbing Silo's

 * Walking through drainage pipes

 * Finding out how to break into the school

 * Going for walks in the middle of the night

 * Burning things

For the younger children, there are in fact a few things for them to do.

1) Play on the school play structure

2) Play on the park play structure

These, surprisingly, are NOT the same structure. The school recently got a new structure which may excite the children. However, if you are like the mennonites that occupy area and don't appreciate change, you can always go to the park play structure. In a world obsessed with health and safety, this structure clings to the old ways of danger and excitement. It is known for giving slivers, being fallen off of, and a rather treacherous spider-web made out of thick ropes. The smaller your legs, the more likely they will slip into the holes of the web and you will not only have rope burn all the way from your ankles to your crotch, but you will be indefintely stuck until you can configure a way to remove your legs from the trap.

The structure also includes balance beams with ropes hanging nearby that should be within reach for children, but often only help once older. The ropes are mostly for swinging from one side of the structure to the other. It also features a large yellow slide which can occupy a large number of kids at one time which often results in a large pile-up at the bottom. This is especially unpleasant in spring and summer when there is often a large puddle of water sitting there in anticipation for its next victim.

Buy
Blumenort has 2 stores; M&R and R&L. R&L now has its name changed, but anyone living there knows it as R&L so asking for directions to its other name is utterly pointless as they will most likely direct you to an entirely different city. R&L is the most popular of the 2. This is partially because of its female-like multi-tasking skills. Not only is it a convenience store, but its a post-office, a restaurant, key maker, and a video rental store. It also sells a variety of books, cleaning supplies, and pet supplies. The building itself is no bigger than the average store you might find in a mall.

The school sells a small number of items as well. While attending there, you may use the 2 drink machines. At the office, you may also buy pens, pads, and tampons for $0.50.

Eat
As you are on a trip, you are probably accustomed to eating in restaurants which you may do here at R&L. However, as you may be running short on money after buying your pig, if you just walk around and yell "I'm a hungry visitor" a number of people will likely invite you into their homes and make you eat until they're satisfied that there is no possible way you could still be hungry, no matter how large your appetite. Being a mennonite community, it is most likely that you will be eating a meal including some of the following foods

 * farmer sausage
 * potatoes
 * cottage cheese perogies
 * Shmone Faut
 * Summa borscht
 * Krumst borscht
 * Rah Kueken

And a number of other mennonite dishes. A warning to any dieters, none of these are particularly health in any sense and it would be best if you just stayed home as denying this food may prove to be offensive.

Drink
Don't even MENTION alcohol! The mennonites are very conservative and many would throw you out of town for even suggesting the consumption of alcohol.

Sleep
The same people who feed you supper will likely give you a place to sleep. However, if you prove the least bit rebellious (a.k.a. non-mennonite) they may be very wary of you and suggest you drive to a different city for night. However, they will do this very kindly and politely and will likely give you more food to take with you to wherever you may go. The food will likely be homemade buns. If, however, you chose the restaurant, you didn't have a chance to become friends with anyone over supper and it will be very difficult to find a trusting home. In this case, it is best to find the nearest brush and walk around in there until you find a tree house. This is best done further into the country nearer to the farmers as these tree houses tend to be better and more extravagant. If you have need of warmth, you can either use a blanket found there or snuggle with your pig that you previously borrowed. If you are still on good terms with the people whom you borrowed the pig from, they will likely offer you food and a place to sleep in return for the precious pig.

Contact
Contact between opposite genders before marriage is strictly forbidden. You may even want to be cautious about touching your wife. Mennonites tend to gossip and within minutes of the contact, you will be shunned by the whole town. This is, of course, avoidable upon the knowledge of your marriage. However, Mennonites try not to be materialistic and will not quickly notice your wedding bands. No matter the case, it is always best to be a bibles width apart from any person of the opposite gender. If you don't have a bible...well God help you.

Get out
Well seeing as you parachuted into Blumenort, it would be best if you could parachute out as well. This will easily be done by climbing a silo and jumping off. Remember, though, to compensate for the weight gain from eating the fatty mennonite foods, the food on your back, and the pig if you two grew attached and you full out bought it. If however, none of this was taken into account, you will remain stuck in Blumenort. You will have no escape from the life for which you are now destined. If, however, you become desparate as many do, you may try to strap on your parachute, jump off the silo, and hope a crop dusting plane comes by and snags the parachute as you fall.

All the best of luck to you all!

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


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Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon is a famous nature reserve, popular with tourists visiting the Kruger National Park and its surroundings. The reserve protects the Blyde River Canyon, including sections of the Ohrigstad and Blyde Rivers and the geological formations around Bourke's Luck Potholes, where the Treur River tumbles into the Blyde below. Southwards of the canyon, the reserve follows the escarpment, to include the Devil's and God's Window, the latter a popular viewpoint to the lowveld at the reserve's southern extremity.

Understand
The Blyde River Canyon is one of the largest canyons worldwide.

Fees
Driving on the highway between the attractions is free. Most of the points of interest charge an entrance fee, as detailed in the See section below.

Get in
It is located along the R532 and R534 highways (locally known as the Panorama Route) and is easily accessible from the Kruger National Park and the towns of Graskop, Sabie and Mbombela.

If you come from Johannesburg, treat yourself with a drive through Belfast, Dullstroom, Lydenburg and Pilgrim's Rest en route to Graskop. If possible, spend the night in one of the hotels, lodges, or campsites on the escarpment and devote a day to exploring the whole Panorama Route.

See
The main highlight is the canyon itself, but there are also waterfalls, landmarks and several viewpoints, the best-known is the Three Rondavels/Three Sisters.

The Escarpment near Graskop
South of the canyon, the park extends along the Drakensberg escarpment. Near Graskop, there are some well-known landmarks and viewpoints within the park. On the other side of the highway, just outside the park, are the Lisbon and Berlin waterfalls.

Do
There are hiking trails in the nature reserve and horse riding is a possibility, but most people seem to drive through it on their way to or from game reserves like Kruger National Park.

Drive the panorama route to see all the geological features such as God's Window, the Pinnacle and the many waterfalls.

Buy
Many locals sell artwork here, ranging from those famous wooden giraffes to knobbly paper made from elephant dung. Prices are higher at more frequented sites and lower at spots off the main stream.

Eat
The cafe at Bourkes Luck Potholes has drinks and quick meals/takeaways.

There are restaurants in Graskop and Pilgrim's Rest.

Go next

 * Kruger National Park
 * Sabie
 * Dullstroom

title: Blyde River Canyon


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Blythe

Blythe is a city in Riverside County in the Desert region of California.

By car
Blythe is the center of the southwest desert. From here, you can travel north for 4 hours to Las Vegas, west 2 hours to Palm Springs (4 to Los Angeles), south 2 hours to the Imperial Valley or Yuma (or 4 to San Diego) and 2 hours east to Phoenix.

Interstate 10 (I-10)/Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Fwy passes through Blythe in an east/west direction. It is the main stopping area when traveling from Phoenix through to any major city in California. When heading west on I-10, you will pass directly over the Colorado River. Be prepared to stop and possibly have your vehicle inspected by the State of California Department of Agriculture as you enter the state. California is one of the few states in the United States that has natural barriers against "outside" contamination (i.e. fruit-fly, fire-ants, etc.) that could potentially harm California's delicate environment, and the Blythe inspection station is the first and best at stopping them.

Hobsonsway serves as local road access into downtown Blythe as a local (business) street and as the old US Routes 60 & 70 that used to go (concurrently) through town before the freeway was built to bypass the town. Going west it is the first exit (Exit 242) past the agricultural inspection station and parallels north of I-10, through downtown, towards Mesa Dr (Exit 232 of I-10) as Hobsonway. Eastbound access are at Mesa Dr (#232) and Riviera Dr (#243).

Intake Blvd is locally called "the California side" because the south-bound lanes travel through Arizona. US-95 starts from the intersection of Intake Blvd and I-10 (Exit 240) and heads north on Intake Blvd (at eastern edge of town) to Needles and I-40 (approximately a 2-hour drive), Laughlin (2½ hr-drive), and Las Vegas (approximately a 4-hour drive). This road is very windy, curvy, and hilly! It is only a 2-lane highway. Going south on US-95, it goes concurrently on I-10 to Quartzsite, AZ (at Exit 17) and through Quartzsite on W Main St to Central Blvd (AZ/US 95). Going north on Central Blvd the road becomes AZ-95 towards Parker and south as US-95 towards Yuma.

Neighbours Blvd starts on I-10 (at Exit 236) and travels south. Careful: this road is windy, curvy, hilly and is only a 2-lane highway. During your drive, you will run into the world-famous Glamis (approx 1 hr south of Blythe). 78 will take you to the Imperial Valley (including Brawley, El Centro, Imperial and Calexico).

By bus

 * on 400 S Lovekin Rd, on S Lovekin & Wells, south of Exit #239 of I-10 in the outskirts of town serves as a de facto bus station for:

Get around
While in town there are a couple of ways to get around: the (only) Blythe Cab or the Desert Roadrunner. Both of these companies are very dependable and are readily available.

See

Do
The locals like to cool down along the shores of the Colorado River. Bring a personal-water craft (which can be rented at of the river-front stores) to ride, or just head down to a river-park to swim and relax in the shade. The off-roading is also very entertaining, with a strip of pristine sand called "7-mile dune" just 11 miles west of town. There, all 4x4's (including sand-rails, quads, buggies & dirt-bikes) can range in fun from following simple trails to challenging extreme sand dunes.

Buy
There isn't much to buy in Blythe. The small-town mentality has kept most major stores away from this town and shopping has suffered the consequences. It's alright though, keep heading west towards the Indio/Palm Springs area (it's only 108 miles)

Eat
Dining has a wide variety of food. As this town is located 108 miles from the nearest mall, the locals have become accustomed to local-made foods. If you're looking for the same-ol' usual stuff (McDonald's, Jack-In-The-Box, Carl's, etc.) try Lovekin Blvd. You can't miss it with all of the advertising signs.

Sleep
Blythe has over 1,200 hotel & motel rooms. Almost all of the hotels can be seen from I-10, as they all have sky-sign displays. Some of the common companies are:

title: Blythe


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Bnei Brak

Bnei Brak, also spelled Bene Beraq, is an Israeli city. It lies in the Gush Dan district of which Tel Aviv is the largest city, between Ramat Gan and Petach Tikvah. The city is a major focus of chareidi Jewish life, and this article is thus mainly focused on such travellers, since for other travellers, Bnei Brak is not an especially interesting destination.

Get in

 * From Ben-Gurion Airport you are best off taking a taxi (price $37). It is possible to take buses, but there is no direct bus from the airport to Bnei Brak, so you would have to change buses in Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan. In that case, you could also take a train from the airport to Tel Aviv HaMerkaz (Central Station) and switch to a bus there.
 * From Tel Aviv, take Dan city buses 240 or 160.
 * From Jerusalem, take Egged/Dan intercity bus 400 from the Tachanah Merkazit (Central Bus Station), which leaves every 10 to 15 minutes, or take bus 402, which is faster and goes mainly through the chareidi neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Get around
There are some city bus lines in Bnei Brak.

See
South of Jabotinsky Road, the main traffic artery, is the Haredi area of the city, almost exclusively inhabited by Haredi Jews. Walking in these areas is a unique Israeli experience, but be respectful of the local customs. Wear long-sleeved clothing and full pants; a head cover is also recommended. On Shabbat (Friday night and Saturday), it is not recommended to openly display/use electronic devices, ride a bicycle, or make noise in this area.

Do

 * Rabbi Akiva street, running mostly east-west, is the "downtown" of Bnei Brak - the biggest shopping and transportation destination in the city.

Buy
There are many Judaica stores. It is best to limit Judaica purchases to mezuzah covers (not parchments), candlesticks and artwork, which are not intrinsically religious unless you are qualified to judge the authenticity of an item. As in all shopping, let the buyer beware.

The chareidi population in Israel is generally poorer than the rest of the Jewish population. Therefore the prices are lower, and you can often find better deals on all sorts of domestic items than elsewhere in the greater Tel Aviv area.

The first women-only department store is located in Bnei Brak. For ultra-Orthodox women this a good place to shop since men are not allowed inside the store.

Eat
Bnei Brak is one of the cheapest places in Israel to buy food (both fast food and supermarket goods), but in general the quality is unremarkable. The most interesting food seems to be available on Thursday nights in preparation for Shabbat.

Cholent is the classic Ashkenazi Jewish dish for Shabbat - a stew that's left cooking all night to provide hot food for Shabbat day when cooking is forbidden. In Bnei Brak you can buy cholent before Shabbat to save yourself the trouble of cooking - or better yet, as the local youth do, eat it while chatting with your friends on Thursday night. A number of cholent restaurants operate in Bnei Brak on Thursday nights, you can often spot them by the line heading out the door as people wait to purchase a bowl. Come late, things tend to get busy after 9pm.

Drink
The local population is not in the practice of partying in the secular sense. If you are in town for the festival of Purim, or get invited to a wedding or other festivity, you can expect to have a good time, with separate-sex dancing and the odd l'chaim (toast).

Sleep
There are no hotels in Bnei Brak itself, but there are hotels in surrounding suburbs nearby.

Learn
For those interested in Torah studies, there are various yeshivot in Bnei Brak. The Ponevezh Yeshiva, pictured on this page, seems to be the best-known in town.

Go next

 * Jerusalem, particularly its north-central parts, is the other huge concentration of Haredim in Israel.

title: Bnei Brak


text:
Bo

Bo is the second city of Sierra Leone and the main city of the Southern region. Bo is one of the only cities in Sierra Leone to be untouched by the war, owing to a citizen militia which kept the rebel soldiers out for the entire 10 years.

Get in
The road journey from Freetown takes 4 hours by an excellent paved road. The road from Kenema is also in good condition and takes about 1 hour.

See
Though Bo is the second city of Sierra Leone, there is not a lot to see here. Most people will use it as a stopping point on the way to other places. Small scale diamond mining is present in the area and could be worth a visit.

Eat
Being a long way from the sea, the menu is rather limited in most places. Beef, chicken or river fish can be found.

Drink
There are numerous bars throughout the town, usually serving Star beer at reasonable prices.

Sleep
Hotels in Bo are very basic compared with those in Freetown. Electricity is often only available during the night, if at all. Town center hotels can be noisy.

 * Countryside Hotel on the Bo-Kenema road on the south of the town. Has electricity during the night and air-conditioned rooms, swimming pool and tennis court. It has deteriorated somewhat since it opened. There is also a risk of loud music late into the night. Rooms start at Le120,000.
 * Madame Woki Hotel in the center of town. Very basic, but some rooms have simple air-conditioners which work when the electricity or generator are working. This is usually not all night.
 * Imperial hotel on the Bo-Kenema road on the south of the town.

Cope
The unrelenting heat and humidity can make life very unpleasant. For anyone not used to this, an air-conditioned room to sleep in will be almost essential. BBC World Service can be heard on 94.5MHz (FM) and Western style commercial station Capital Radio on 102.3MHz.

title: Bo


text:
Bo'ao

Bo'ao (博鳌; Bó'áo) is a town on the east coast of Hainan in China. It is administratively part of the county-level city of Qionghai.

Understand
Boao, the seat of the Boao Forum for Asia, has its share of luxury hotels. Tourist facilities are well developed, with heavy overseas Chinese investment.

This article also covers the fishing town of Tanmen (潭门), which is just 10 km north of Bo'ao's downtown area.

Get in
Bo'ao is somewhat over an hour from Haikou and about two hours from Sanya.

Bo'ao airport opened in 2016 with regular flights to Guangzhou, Chongqing, Guiyang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Kunming.

Get around
Taxi from Qionghai coach station ¥30-40 (negotiate!). Bus number 2 ¥3.

Bike rentals range around ¥30 per hour or hop a motorcycle taxi for around ¥5 or less per trip to nearly anywhere around Bo'ao.

Buy
There is a duty-free store at the Bo'ao Forum site.

Eat
Boao has everything from five star dining, ocean front seafood dining to local eateries featuring Chinese cuisine from nearly every province. The main street of Boao is lined with outdoor restaurants and fruit sellers serving until the wee hours of the night.

Boao is surrounded by fields of pineapples. Sample a peeled pineapple on a stick for only ¥1. A tropical island, visitors to Hainan can eat fresh fruit all year round.

Go next

 * Qionghai

title: Bo'ao


text:
Bo'ness

Bo'ness is an industrial town in West Lothian in central Scotland, with a population of 14,840 in 2020. The main reason to visit is to ride the Bo'ness and Kinneil steam railway.

Understand
The town's full name is Borrowstounness, meaning "the headland near Beornweard's farmstead", but it's never called that. From medieval times coal-mining was its main industry, along with pottery, metal-working and ship-breaking; but the harbour became blighted as much by silting as by the decline of those industries. It's nowadays effectively a suburb of the oil and gas town of Grangemouth, and a commuter town for Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Get in
Bo'ness is 15 miles (25 km) west of Edinburgh, from M9 exit at junction 3 onto A904 / A993.

Bus C19 runs from Edinburgh past the airport every 3 hours, taking an hour to Bo'ness. Bus 909 follows a similar route every couple of hours and continues via Grangemouth to Stirling.

It's often more convenient to travel to Falkirk then take Bus 2, which runs every 30 min via Grangemouth and takes 40 min. Otherwise travel to Linlithgow and take Bus 45 / 46, which orbits the area hourly.

The nearest railway stations are Falkirk and Linlithgow, on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street. The branch line to Bo'ness is only used for heritage train excursions.

Get around
The town centre can easily be explored on foot. See above for buses to neighbouring towns.

Taxi firms are Bo'ness Taxi (+44 7511 710960) and Gordon's (+44 1506 264242).

See

 * is a pleasant parkland off A904 at the west edge of town. Within it are:
 * Kinneil House, a mansion built 1677. This can only be visited on special tour days about once a month.
 * Kinneil Old Kirk, a 12th-century ruin.
 * The museum, in the stables, open W-M 12:30-4PM, free.
 * A Roman fortlet, the only remnant of the two dozen built along the Antonine Wall.
 * A Roman fortlet, the only remnant of the two dozen built along the Antonine Wall.

Do

 * Blackness Castle near Linlithgow is reached by walking east along the coast. This is part of the John Muir Way, which follows the Union Canal from Falkirk to Linlithgow then backtracks down to the coast at Bo'ness to hug the coast past the castle to South Queensferry and Edinburgh.
 * Barony Theatre is a mile south of town centre in a former primary school.
 * Bo'ness Revival is a classic car event and hill-climb held on Kinneil Estate at the end of August. (The original hill climb course closed in 1966 and the land was built over.)
 * Bo'ness Revival is a classic car event and hill-climb held on Kinneil Estate at the end of August. (The original hill climb course closed in 1966 and the land was built over.)

Drink

 * Anchor Tavern on North St is open daily 11AM-11PM.

Sleep

 * And see Falkirk and Grangemouth accommodation, for instance the Premier Inn at M9 jcn 5.
 * And see Falkirk and Grangemouth accommodation, for instance the Premier Inn at M9 jcn 5.
 * And see Falkirk and Grangemouth accommodation, for instance the Premier Inn at M9 jcn 5.

Connect
As of July 2023, Bo'ness and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone and (in patches) from EE, only a basic mobile signal from Three, and 5G from O2.

Go next

 * Linlithgow three miles south has a ruined medieval palace.
 * Follow the coast east past Blackness Castle to South Queensferry and into Edinburgh.
 * West there's a lot of industry around Grangemouth and Falkirk, but plough on past that and you come to Stirling, a pocket-sized Edinburgh, and the Campsie Fells.

title: Bo'ness


text:
Boardman

Boardman is in North Eastern Oregon along the Columbia River, just east of the Columbia Gorge, and its recreation is similar to most Gorge cities.

Get in
Boardman is part of Morrow County and is located along the Columbia River and Interstate 84. You will find it by traveling east on Interstate 84 from Portland.

Get around
Interstate 84 literally splits the town of Boardman. It is accessible from either direction (east or west). The main mode of transportation is by car/truck. Leisure transportation can include horseback riding or even atv's. The union pacific railroad runs just along the outskirts of the town however, there is not a bus station. However, there is a bus stop in the heart of the town. Boardman has a regional airport which does not include commercial flights.

See and do

There are many paved walking and biking trails along the river's edge. Also, there is a playground area for children, and a specified swimming area.

There are 2 softball fields, a basketball court and several horseshoe pits. Boardman is probably most known for it annual Fourth of July festivities. People from many surrounding towns come to join the festivities. The day usually starts with an early morning marathon, continues with a parade, and ends with a beautiful firework show. There are many other activities throughout the day including a lip-sync contest and the annual softball tournament.

The Boardman Willow Run Golf Course is a great place to relax on a nice sunny day. Also, with so much wildlife area surrounding it, Boardman is a great place to go on horseback rides.

title: Boardman


text:
Boa Vista

Boa Vista is the capital of the state of Roraima in the north of Brazil. Most foreigners pass through en route between Manaus and Venezuela.

Understand
For a Brazilian state capital this size (about 437,000 in 2021), Boa Vista is remarkably quiet. Judging by the number of evangelical churches, Jesus has his equatorial stronghold here. Despite being more than 100 years old, the city has the aspects of a planned capital, with wide modern streets and traffic circles. Historical references are difficult to find.

By plane
LATAM and Gol operate to all large Brazilian airports, mostly via Manaus and/or Brasília.

Locally based Meta have more regional destinations, and also crosses the border into Suriname and Guyana.

The 10-minute cab ride from the airport to the centre runs at fixed 30 reais.

By bus
Boa Vista has 3 daily bus connections to Manaus by way of Presidente Figueiredo (11 hours, R$95) by Eucatur. This includes an en route passport screen by the Federal Police.

Also buses to deep into Venezuela.

Six daily buses to Bonfim and the border with Guyana. If crossing the border, do not get off in Bonfim, the bus will continue to the border.

Get around
Most sights are within walking distance from the central hotels. Buses pass by the terminal urbano in the center. Taxis marked lotação are slightly more expensive than buses, but run faster, and can also deviate somewhat from their routes for an extra fee. Regular cabs run on metres, but might insist on fixed prices to the bus station and airport.

Do

 * Sunset cruises leave from Orla Taumanan at 17:00. Book ahead. Tel. 9971 5454.
 * When the river is low, the far side has a string of beaches, a couple of them with shacks serving drinks and snacks. A boat ride across costs R$2.50.

Buy
Stores generally close early on Saturday and remain closed on Sunday.

Sleep
Hotels are spread out between the centre and the bus station.

Crossing borders with Venezuela
There is one morning bus for R$22, leaving from Terminal International at 07:00, to the border town of Pacaraima. The other option is to take a shared taxi. The shared taxis leave from Terminal Coimbe usually in the morning hours (07:00-10:00) and charge R$30-35 per person.

title: Boa Vista


text:
Boa Vista (Cape Verde)

Boa Vista is the third largest island of the Archipelago Cape Verde. Similar to the island of Sal, it is flat, and has a surface of 620 square kilometres. The Peak of Estância is the highest point of the island, measuring about 390 metres. It has large areas of white sand dunes. Oases of date palms are found here and there, and are the typical vegetation of the island. A few baobab trees can also be found in isolated locations.

Boa Vista has 55 kilometres of white sand beaches and clear water.

Understand
This island is considered to be the birth place of Morna, a main musical genre of the country.

Boa Vista went through some economic improvements in the beginning of the 17th century, when great amounts of salt were found on it. At the time, salt was already sold in the island of Maio. Before the discovery of salt, the island's economy was based on cattle breeding, just like the other arid islands of the archipelago.

The island is now very heavily geared towards tourism, principally catering towards package tours for Europeans, with many chartered flights operated by Tui, which also operates large resort-style hotels on the island located in isolated enclaves that have restricted access for locals.

By plane
Aristides Pereira International Airport is the gateway to the island. There are regular domestic flights to Sal island: Binter CV (Praia, Sal) and Cabo Verde Express (Sal). International destinations are primarily through Tui Airlines and its subsidiaries.

Get around
Taxis from Sal Rei to the airport are around 700 CVE. Many apartments or hotels will organise free pick-up from the airport if requested in advance.

title: Boa Vista (Cape Verde)


text:
Boa Vista (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Boa Vista:

Brazil

 * Boa Vista — A town in the North of Brazil.

Cape Verde

 * Boa Vista (Cape Verde) — An island in Cape Verde.

title: Boa Vista (disambiguation)


text:
Boaz

Boaz is a small town in north central Alabama. Its main attractions are outlet stores and Guntersville Reservoir and State Park.

title: Boaz


text:
Bobo-Dioulasso

With a population of more than half a million, Bobo-Dioulasso is the second largest city in Burkina Faso, and is a major center of culture and music. The city has many historic buildings reflecting its complex past.

Understand
Somebody once said that “Bobos,” or those Burkinabe who have spent a significant amount of time in Bobo, and have adopted some of the “Bobolaise” mannerisms are the most hospitable Burkinabe, and perhaps one of the most hospitable groups of people, in the world. Strangers are welcome in general, and just about anyone from strangers to neighbours are always invited to drink tea or some bissap and eat food. In every neighbourhood, you will see small parties of tea drinkers, old ladies out walking, children in groups to a degree not found in many other towns and villages. Bobo is social. That said, some PCVs say that Bobo also holds the highest rate of Faux Types, merchant hawkers, and the like, on the hunt to chat it up, or sell something to a “Tubabu” (that’s you, silly). French and Jula are spoken in Bobo, along with Bobo (a dialect) and many other regional dialects. Bobo is often called the commercial capital of Burkina. You can get almost anything that you can get in Ouaga (OK, no Jimmy’s Bar, or Ice Cream like there is at Chez Simone). In general prices for things are a little cheaper than Ouaga. It is also much more temperate in Bobo (not too hot, not too cold) due to lots of greens, trees, etc. in and around the area.

Get in
There are several bus companies with daily services to Bobo-Dioulasso from Ouagadougou and other regional cities as well as a few international destinations. Rahimo (+226 76643860), STMB (+226 50314472), TCV (+226 50301303), SOGEBAF (+226 50344255), TSR (+226 50342524) and Rakieta amongst others.

Also, the twice weekly train between Abidjan and Ouagadougou makes a stopover here. Although a scenic and rather comfortable ride, the train is slower the bus services and delays are common.

Get around

 * Taxis during daylight hours should charge XOF200: no more, unless you are going really, really far when XOF300 should suffice. At night, XOF300 is what you should pay to go anywhere. Wee wee morning hours, prices mount but should never exceed XOF500. If you have heavy bags or a bike expect to pay another XOF100 or 200. Try never to take a taxi out of a gare, and it's better to walk a block and get someone who won’t try to milk you for a tourist.

However, you are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to negotiation if you are white, and if you can afford to get to Burkina Faso XOF500 is hardly bank breaking.

Do
Cine Sanyon – cinema off Ave. de la Republique

See

 * Centre Culturel Francaise – You can always swing by to see what is going on in terms of exhibits/ art / music – or just sit in their garden to study or read.
 * The Konsa house which is the ritual centre of a senior house of the Zara (or Bobo-Jula) group
 * A sacred natural pond called Dafra at its southern fringes, which is the source of the We river. The pond is also a site of pilgrimage and the giant catfish living in it are given offerings.
 * The Konsa house which is the ritual centre of a senior house of the Zara (or Bobo-Jula) group
 * A sacred natural pond called Dafra at its southern fringes, which is the source of the We river. The pond is also a site of pilgrimage and the giant catfish living in it are given offerings.

Marché

If the Grand Marche is too intimidating or you don’t have the time to hassle with it, nearly every neighborhood has a comprehensive marche. Also worth noting is the Marche de Fruits that is on the road that leads to the Airport towards Banfora and Orodara. (You’ll see a sign pointing off to the right that says “MARCHE DE FRUITS” ). Piles of mangoes, oranges, bananas, ignames and patates when in season.

Marina Market, a very Western style supermarket with lots of Arabic imports, cheeses, chocolate, wine and alcohol. No haggling. Cousin to Marina Market is Cobodim, which has much the same selection. It is located on the corner to the SouthWest of the Marche. No haggling.

Tailors

 * Antoine. His shop is in Accartville North. To get there, get a taxi to go just past the bar “Jardin D’Eden” in that neighbourhood and drop you off at the road just after Jardin D’Eden you will see a mini bar called CP1. Walk approximately 2 blocks in on that CP1 road, and on the left hand side is a mango tree surrounded by lots and lots of mud bricks; door to the tailor is by the tree.

Restaurants
Most larger buvettes have eats in the afternoons and evenings, but here are a few notables from the recommendations and favorites of Bobo Stage Goers:

 * La Pacha – has pizzas, Middle Eastern food/ French cuisine, and is on the pricey side. It faces the Gare by the Marche de Fruits.
 * Sidwaya – next to the giant train station “Le Gare” not to be confused with various other bus stations. Sprawling tables set in a garden space – prices are not outrageous and it is mostly general Burkinabe restaurant fare (some salads, brochettes, sandwiches, soups, rice plates, french fries, plantains, and other such side dishes, and a selection of beers, soft drinks, yogurt).
 * Campagnard – Noted for its brochettes, also has the best salad in Burkina Faso: piles of grated beets and carrots, avocados, hard-boiled eggs and delicious dressing. Much the same fare as Sidwaya, similar prices, but brochettes are raved about by the meat eaters.
 * Oscars – ice cream, cold drinks, beers, and has a small selection of Western foods.

Street food and snacks
You can get rice and sauce, achekeh, fish, to and sauce, cokes, Fantas, and snacks on almost every corner, but here are some things to watch out for in season:
 * June/July “chenilles” - fried caterpillars, which are crunchy and eaten like French-fries, or in a baguette for a caterpillar sandwich
 * November/January “wusu” or white sweet potatoes sold boiled, with salt and piment.
 * April/November - mangoes.
 * Imports from Cote D Ivoire (Ivory Coast): “aloco” or fried plantains, coconuts, all bananas.

Drink
There are many. Here are the favorites from the Bobo Stagiares (these are all bars you can dance in):

 * Entente Plus – 1000 cfa cover per person for drinking and dancing inside (drinks not included in that). Music good on a regular basis.
 * Macoumba – Cover charge 1000 cfa per person. About same as above.
 * Fashion Café – Cover charge seems to be high around 1000 or 1500 cfa depending on music or event.
 * Jardin D’Eden – Cover charge 300 cfa is usually asked, but can be avoided if you are sneaky or stubborn. Music deafeningly loud, but not bad but don’t expect to talk.
 * Oxygene – Expect cover charge of 1000 cfa.

Connect

 * Post Office off the Place de la Nation. Operating hours are from 07:30–11:30 and 15:00–17:00. The stamp-selling ladies are matronly. If you need a package wrapped envelopes or other stationery supplies there is a mini-library across the street. Attached to the Post office is a cyber cafe (see below).
 * Internet There are many many, with two being La Grande Poste (XOF600 per hour) and CisPlus (about the same price and facing the Ave. de la Revolution just in front of the Grande Poste).

title: Bobo-Dioulasso


text:
Bobruisk

Bobruisk is a city in Mogilev Oblast.

Understand
Bobruisk is the seventh largest city in Belarus. Despite the city's rather long history, the vast majority of buildings, even in the centre, are relatively new. Among the sites of historical interest are the remains of a XIX century fortress, which was of considerable local importance during the Napoleonic wars, and the buildings of several XIX century synagogues.

By train
It's around 2 hours by train from Minsk, arriving at. There is no direct line to Mogilev, the region center.

By bus
Minibuses and buses depart many times a day from Minsk bus station.

title: Bobruisk


text:
Boca Brava

Boca Brava is a sparsely populated island in the Gulf of Chiriquí in the Pacific West of Panama. It is a protected wildlife area that is part of the Chiriqui National Marine Park. Boca Brava is particularly known for its large population of howler monkeys.

Get in
From Boca Chica regular water taxis make the five-minute trip (8 km) to the south-western Playa Piedrita at Boca Brava for $3 per person ($5 at night).

Or to the pier just 2 min straight across from Boca Chica for $1, for the trail to Coco Beach.

Or to the pier just 3 min diagonal from Boca Chica for $2, for the trail to Playa Christina.

Get around
By boat, water taxi or foot.

If water taxis are not available at the dock, press the hotel to take you to the docks in their own dock.

See
Boca Brava is covered in untouched rain forests and home to multiple families of howler monkeys, as is the neighboring island, Isla Palenque.

Do
Due to the estuary of the Pedegral, Boca Brava cannot boast of nice beaches. The waters become beautifully clear just past Boca Brava on Isla Palenque, however.

There are hiking trails dotting the island, though it is not large.

Buy
This largely uninhabited island has no stores of note, try Boca Chica.

Eat and drink
Bar and restaurant can be found at Cala Mia Resort, as well as at Hotel y Restaurante Boca Brava.

Sleep

 * Solar powered green resort Cala Mia can be found on Boca Brava, which offers 11 bungalows and practices environmentally responsible tourism and sport fishing.
 * Also on the island, Hotel y Restaurante Boca Brava is formerly a backpacker hangout (Cabanas Boca Brava) commonly known as "Frank's Place." It is under the new management of Americans Kelly and Brad; it has gone slightly more midmarket, but still has hammocks available for backpackers.
 * Howlers Bay Hotel – Double tent: $22. Double cabin: $34.
 * On neighboring Isla Palenque a boutique eco-resort development plans to break ground at the end of the year.
 * Panama Big Game Fishing Club has just finished a multi-million dollar re-furbishment and now has a five star rating and a Certificate of Excellence at Tripadvisor.

title: Boca Brava


text:
Boca Chica

Boca Chica is a village in the Pacific West of Panama.

Understand
Boca Chica is located on the western Pacific shore of Panama, near the border of Costa Rica. Boca Chica is on the shore of Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí, which is considered by savvy sport fishermen as one of the best kept secrets in big game fishing. In the Gulf there are the Coiba National Marine Park, Islas Ladrones, Islas Secas, and Islas Paridas all known for world class scuba diving and snorkelling.

Boca Chica is 50 km from David, and 28 km south of the Intra American highway, via the community of Horconcitos, in the San Lorenzo (Panama) District. There is only one road to this town and it ends at the estuary of the Pedregal River with the island of Boca Brava just across the water. This road to the fishing village used to be famously rough, especially during the rainy season, but recent improvements have made it an easier drive.

By road
From David's bus terminal there are regular buses by the junction to Boca Chica, $1.75. From there a minibus takes you the 21 km to the water, $2. The road goes through with its roughly 1,000 inhabitants, which has the last big and inexpensive supermarket.

Also, taxis pass by from the highway junction fairly regularly, and one will take you to Boca Chica for about $15 per ride/car. This can be difficult at night. If no taxi can be found, walk the 4 km to Horconcitos and ask someone to call a taxi.

By boat
Alternatively, a five minute car ride from David to the nearby port of Pedregal will enable travelers to board a boat for the 50-min scenic trip to the Boca Chica.

By plane
Boca Chica is less than an hour from David’s Enrique Malek International Airport and traveler's can get there by bus or car. Construction has begun to expand David's airport to accommodate direct regular flights from the United States and Canada.

Get around
By foot or boat.

See
Boca Chica is the main jumping off point for the islands Isla Boca Brava, Isla Palenque, Islas Ladrones, Islas Paridas and Islas Secas.

Do
Boca Chica is the closest town to Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí and is said to be one of Panama’s best kept secrets. The fishing is incomparable near Boca Chica, with an abundance of marlin, tuna and dorado. The village is remarkable, too, for having no skyscrapers or three story buildings, and for having pristine beaches giving the locale an untouched feel unlike anything in Panama.

 * Scuba Diving – Tailor made scuba experiences are on offer, just ask around.
 * Game Fishing – World-class sport fishing and diving can be found around the Islas Ladrones and Islas Secas. Try Gone Fishing, deep-sea fishing with Panama Big Game Fishing Club.
 * Coiba National Marine Park – A supreme venue for aqua tourism and marine reserve, a convenient day trip away. Featuring huge coral reefs that are breeding grounds for orcas, dolphins, whales, sharks, manta rays, barracudas, three kinds of marlin and moray eels.
 * Water taxi operators in Boca Chica will often arrange a full-day tour that includes whale watching, a beach visit, and snorkeling for a large enough group for about $20 per person. The current rate is $100 per boat for the day. The boats may be rickety, and most of the operators speak only Spanish.
 * Water taxi operators in Boca Chica will often arrange a full-day tour that includes whale watching, a beach visit, and snorkeling for a large enough group for about $20 per person. The current rate is $100 per boat for the day. The boats may be rickety, and most of the operators speak only Spanish.

Buy
There is a supermarket right next to the gas station at the last junction 150 m before the water. Also, there is another little shop on the eastern town road.

The next decently priced supermarket is in Horconcitos.

Eat
There are a few restaurants here:
 * Wahoo Willy's in the town's small port area,

Sleep

 * Boca Brava – A short boat ride away, there are some places to stay on this nearby islands, including a few budget accommodations.
 * Isla Saino – Camping, see above.
 * Boca Brava – A short boat ride away, there are some places to stay on this nearby islands, including a few budget accommodations.
 * Isla Saino – Camping, see above.

Connect
There seems to be internet in or near the café next to the gas station.

Go next

 * Boca Brava
 * David (Panama)
 * Las Lajas

title: Boca Chica


text:
Boca Raton

Boca Raton is a city of 100,000 people (2018) on the east coast of Florida about halfway between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The name boca ratón translates literally as "mouse mouth" (not "rat mouth"), and is believed to derive from a Spanish nautical term for a shallow inlet filled with jagged rocks.

Understand
Boca, as it's known by locals, is a city that was started as the project of one man, the eclectic architect Addison Mizner, who is more than anyone responsible for South Florida's Spanish-inspired architecture. Little of his luxurious plans was built, as he went bankrupt during the Florida real estate collapse of the late 1920s. It was intended to surpass Palm Beach, 30 some miles north, some of whose key mansions were designed by Mizner. Much of downtown was (and is being) built in "Addison Mizner-style" architecture, using distinctive bright orange and more subdued pinks in its Old Spanish theme with a touch of Venice.

Boca's long history of catering to the well-to-do has given it a snobbish reputation, but looking deeper one can find many terrific features that can be enjoyed on any budget. The city is very safe and enjoys a much higher standard of living than many of its neighbors, giving it a well-manicured appearance with many amenities. Moreover, visitors can appreciate the limited nightlife and great beaches any time of year as the city consistently enjoys comfortable weather.

By plane

 * Fort Lauderdale International Airport, large airport 20 miles south of Boca in Fort Lauderdale. This is often a better choice compared to Miami. Shuttles are usually available from airports and taxis are common.
 * Palm Beach International Airport, large airport 20 miles north of Boca.
 * Miami International Airport, Miami (about 45 miles/45 minutes non-rush hour.)

By car

 * Interstate 95 - five exits to Boca Raton are Palmetto Park Road, Glades Road/Spanish River Blvd, Yamato Road, and Congress Avenue.
 * Florida's Turnpike - toll road with lighter traffic and an exit for Boca Raton at Glades Road.
 * US 1, also called Federal Highway, goes through Boca in N-S direction, connecting it to other towns along the coast.
 * A1A - also goes through Boca and other coastal towns, in a scenic route along the ocean.

By bus

 * Palm Tran, Phone number: +1 561-841-4BUS (4287). Palm Beach County's public bus system runs between Palm Beach gardens and the Camino Real Transit center. Route 1 runs between Palm beach Gardens and the Boca Raton Transit center via West Palm Beach.

By rail

 * TriRail (Stations at Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach and Yamato Road, Boca Raton) goes to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Airports. The TriRail station in Boca Raton is at 680 Yamato Road next to I-95. You can catch the local Palm Tran bus 94 to go downtown. If you need to go to a hotel on the beachfront, you will need to change to the 92 bus at the Camino Real transit station next to South Federal Highway.
 * TriRail (Stations at Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach and Yamato Road, Boca Raton) goes to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Airports. The TriRail station in Boca Raton is at 680 Yamato Road next to I-95. You can catch the local Palm Tran bus 94 to go downtown. If you need to go to a hotel on the beachfront, you will need to change to the 92 bus at the Camino Real transit station next to South Federal Highway.

By boat
With your own boat, you can get to Boca Raton from the Atlantic Ocean on these routes:
 * Via Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This is a port of entry for cruise ships and other commercial vessels.
 * Via Boca Raton Inlet. Vessels can enter Boca Raton through its inlet that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW). Local knowledge is required, as shoaling outside the inlet can limit access at low tide and swift moving currents cause pretty decent swells where the outflow meets the ocean.
 * Via Hillsboro Inlet, south of Boca Raton, between the communities of Hillsboro Beach and Pompano Beach. This inlet was much improved by widening the channel outside the jetties. The widening was extensive, and allows safer approaches into the inlet from more bearings.  The inlet is well marked, and has a dredge on site actively keeping the channel clear by dredging the sand that drifts into all East Coast inlets from the north.  Local knowledge is suggested, as there are reefs to the south and jetties and lots of boat traffic.
 * Via the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW), which stretches along the East Coast from Maine to Texas. The ICW flows through Boca Raton, and has no fixed bridges across it, just 3 draw bridges that open on schedule and/or on demand.  The bridges across the ICW from North to South are at Spanish River Boulevard, Palmetto Park Road, and Camino Real Drive.

Get around

 * Tri-rail connects to Miami, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm. It is underused and thus runs relatively infrequently.
 * Palm Tran buses serves Boca Raton and the rest of Palm Beach County are available. . Buses run every 20–45 minutes, depending on the route.  The cash fare is $2 per trip.  A one-day unlimited pass is available for $5 from the bus. The 92 bus runs between downtown and the beach between East Palmetto Park Road and Hillsboro Blvd.  The 94 bus runs between downtown and the Boca Raton TriRail station.
 * Delray Scooter Rental, LLC,, . Scooter rentals delivered and picked up for Downtown and Beach areas in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
 * Royal Airport Transportation Service & Taxi Cab Company - 1901 Dixie Hwy. is a commonly used transportation service in Boca Raton.

Your best bet is to rent a car to get around. Boca Raton is friendly to bicycle traffic, but the public transportation serves a limited portion of the city, and overall it's not a very walkable city outside of the downtown area.

Streets are numbered in a grid with four quadrants (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast) centered on the intersection of Palmetto Park Road (which runs east-west) and Dixie Highway (running north-south). Streets run east-west while avenues run north-south. Addresses within the city generally correspond to the street numbers (the 1900 block of an avenue starts at 19th Street), but outside the city a different county-based numbering system is used which doesn't correspond to the Boca Raton street/avenue numbers (even though some of those numbered streets continue outside the city limits). To add to the confusion, some areas annexed into the city continue to use the county numbering system instead of the city one.

Outdoors
Sports in the area are college-based - no professional sports. Fortunately, Boca Raton is home to a beautiful, beach-themed 30,000-seat college football stadium at Florida Atlantic University called FAU Stadium. FAU and nearby Lynn University also have college basketball arenas; FAU men's basketball is likely to be an especially tough ticket in the 2023–24 season, given that (1) its home of Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena seats less than 3,000 and (2) the Owls return all five starters from a team that made a surprising run to the Final Four (NCAA tournament semifinals) in 2023. Boca Raton is not home to any professional sports teams although pro teams can be found within an hour's drive: Inter Miami CF soccer (15.7 mi), Miami Dolphins football (36.9 mi), Florida Panthers hockey (30.5 mi), Miami Heat basketball (48.1 mi), Miami Marlins baseball (36.9 mi). Also consider the Royal Palm Polo Sports Complex (7.1 mi) where some of the world's top polo players play during the months of (Jan-Apr), as Boca Raton is known as the winter capital. Watching greyhound racing at the Palm Beach Kennel Club (24.4 mi) is also an option; as is the Dania Jai-Alai (29.6 mi) at Dania Beach.

Boca Raton has many golf courses.

 * Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.
 * Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.
 * Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.
 * Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.
 * Intracoastal - tour by boat, during the holidays or for special events, boat tours are available and captains will gladly drive you and your guests down the intercoastal. Tours are also available for sight seeing and a guided one to view celebrity houses from the water.

Eat
Boca has a deserved "ritzy" reputation, but good food can be found for a variety of budgets.

Drink
Boca Raton doesn't have a very lively downtown area but interspersed throughout the city are some great bars, from local faves to upscale chains.

A slappy dappy clapper is a really great drink after a long day of golfing. The more a drink in Boca sounds like only a dad on vacation would order it, the better it is.

Bars

 * College Bars
 * College Bars
 * College Bars
 * College Bars
 * College Bars
 * College Bars
 * College Bars

Go next

 * Deerfield Beach is just to the south.
 * Delray Beach, just north of Boca Raton is a sleepy beachfront town with beautiful beaches and a hip inland downtown district with good restaurants.
 * Miami for sports events, fine dining, people watching and more.
 * West Palm Beach is not far away and has its own venues for entertainment.
 * Palm Beach is Boca Raton's predecessor, a half hour's drive up the coast. Great for window-shopping and ogling the spectacular, palatial mansions on the waterfront.

title: Boca Raton


text:
Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro (aka Bocas Town aka Bocas) is a town in the Caribbean West of Panama. The town has an interesting mix of islanders, ex-pats and backpackers and is the most developed in the region. The town boasts an abundance of restaurants, hotels and bars. Bocas has developed a reputation for being a party town with a number of bars and clubs that sit on the stilts over the water.

Understand
Bocas Town is on the southern tip of Isla Colón and is part of the Bocas del Toro archipelago of islands.

Further afield on the island of Colón, are a number of white sand beaches and nature reserves. Bocas also makes a good base for doing tours around the other islands. Other islands accessible by water taxi from Bocas Town include Carenero, Bastimentos, Cristóbal, and Solarte.

By plane
There is a small airport on Isla Colón with several flights from Panama City. AirPanama operates several flights a day from Albrook Airport in Panama City (not the main international airport). FlyTrip has flights from both Albrook and Tocumen although booking through them is less straight-forward than Air Panama.

By car
It is possible to take your vehicle on the island using a car ferry. The ferry leaves Almirante port every morning at 08:00 Monday to Saturday (no service on Sundays). Cost per car is $15 and there is an extra $1 charge per passenger. The same ferry goes back to the mainland on the same days at 16:00. If you wish to leave your car on the mainland, there is a secure parking available next to where the water taxis leave in Almirante. Cost is $3 per day.

By bus and boat
The town is on Isla Colón and you'll need to take a boat to access it. Boats departs frequently from Almirante. There is no service anymore from Changuinola. There are three operators, all offering the same service. Standard prices are $6 one-way, $10 round trip (June 2023).

An alternative is to take the truck ferry which departs Almirante every day at 07:00 and 12:00. Pedestrian passage is $3, $3.50 for a bicycle and more for motorcycles or cars. Arrive early if you have a car. The ferry returns from Bocas at 10:00 and 15:00.

From David look for buses to Changuinola and ask a driver to stop in Almirante ($8.45, 4 hr). In Almirante, get off before the bus terminal at the turn, otherwise it is a very short walk to the docks (1–1.5 km). Many decide to take the taxi ($2), which is why they do not stop near the docks.

Ignore the guys who want to walk you there as this will increase the price of your ticket to the island.

From Changuinola the bus might stop near the dock ($1.45).

From Panamá City are two buses: 07:00 and 20:00 ($27.50) (August 2022)

By private shuttle
From Boquete you can also take a private shuttle for the 4-hr journey to Almirante, and then the water taxi, which is included in the ticket price, to Bocas del Toro. Two companies in town offer the daily shuttle: Reservations are recommended ($30-35). From Boquete they leave at 08:00 from Hola Panama in the Mamallena Hostel, or 09:00 from the Transport Company in Plaza Los Establos on Main Street.

There are a few other companies also offering private buses and shuttles to Bocas from many destinations including Puerto Viejo, Panama City, San Jose and others. To check pricing, schedules and availability, click the link: Caribe Shuttle.

By sailboat
Bocas del Toro is a popular place for sailboats to stop and stay for awhile, with plenty of easy anchorage and a marina, and it is an authorized port of entry to Panama. If you are arriving from another country, immigration officials will come to your boat to do an inspection once you contact them upon arrival, and the crew is not supposed to leave the boat until this process is complete (though you are unlikely to be penalized if you make a mistake). If you do not have your own boat and cannot afford to charter one, it may be possible to find crew opportunities for boats coming here from elsewhere in Panama or the Caribbean.

From Costa Rica
From Sixaola in Costa Rica you get to pay a $7+1 exit fee and a $4 municipality fee to enter Panama. The border in Panama closes at 17:00 local time. The Panamanian officials frequently ask for printed proof that you are going to leave the country again. If you can't provide any such documents you might be required to buy a $14 ticket to San José. From the border there are $10 shuttles to Almirante, or you can take a bus to Changuinola ($1, 15 min) and from there a mini bus to Almirante ($1.45, 40 min).

Get around
Bocas town is small enough to walk all over. If you need a ride, cabs are plentiful and usually only cost 60 cents or so to get around town.

By water taxi
Not necessary for getting around the town itself, but water taxis are the main means of transport to other islands or farther-flung beaches. Fares are always charged per person, not per group, and start at $1 (from the Bocas Town waterfront to Aqua Lounge on nearby Carenero Island). Agree on the price beforehand. You can also pay before getting in if you want to make sure to get your change.

By rental
Bicycle rentals run approximately $2/hr or $10/day. There is a guy opposite the market downtown renting cruisers for $6/day, you will pay more for a mountain bike or one with electric pedal assist from the bigger hostels. The roads are flat and in good repair inside town. Cycling to Playa Bluff will require crossing some sandy areas, but nothing too challenging. Cycling to Boca del Drago takes about an hour over the hilly, sometimes-gravel road through the jungle.

Scooters can also be rented, for approximately $70/day. ATV are also available and popular.

By bus
There are two bus companies that provide service between Bocas town and Drago beach (for the starfish). They run every full hour for $3.50 (Aug 2022). If you get off a little earlier, it is $1 less (see the price sign in the bus). In case you stay along Bluff or at Skullys, entering later than the town they still demand $2.50. If you are confident, you can argue with them. At least on the way back, you can refer to the price sign.

Beaches

 * El Istmito
 * Big Creek
 * Bluff Beach – There are several hotels/restaurants in middle. Swimming can difficult but come here for unspoilt sometimes private feeling beach. Surfing is popular. About $15 taxi from town. Otherwise take the bus to the junction towards Drago ($0.50) and walk the rest.
 * Starfish Beach – Take the hourly bus to Drago (45 min) and walk another 1.5-2 km from there (20 min).
 * Mimitimbi Beach

Ecotourism

 * Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Tropical Research Station – A world-class marine science research station, offering free guided tours Thursday and Friday afternoons. Located a bit outside of town.
 * Finca los Monos – A private botanical garden, also just outside of town, known for its good birding and good chances to see wild monkeys and sloths. $25 admission.
 * Sloths – Wild three-toed sloths can be seen anywhere in the Bocas del Toro archipelago if you're lucky, but tours offer visits to "sloth islands" where your odds are supposedly better. Package tours that only include a boat ride past the islands are unlikely to result in sightings, but more focused tours that land on the islands are more likely to be worthwhile.
 * Dolphin Bay – There is a lagoon a few miles away from Bocas Town with a resident population of wild dolphins. Many day tours of the islands include stops here, and it's also possible to take a water taxi.

Do

Eat
There are plenty of places to eat lining the main streets of Bocas Town. Just walk around and check some out. Expect to pay about $3–5 for a cheap meal, though of course it is easy to find places where you will pay much more. Food carts can be either fairly expensive or pretty cheap, usually depending on the location and target clientele. Specialties are empanadas or fried chicken and patacones.

Drink
There quite a few bars in Bocas Town, and all the restaurants serve beer as well. It's not uncommon for backpackers to buy beer at one of the many small grocery stores and drink while walking down the street.

Sleep
This section lists accommodations within Bocas Town. For more (and quieter) options within a short water taxi ride of Bocas Town, see Isla Carenero. There are also places to stay on the slightly-farther Isla Bastimentos, Isla Cristóbal, and Isla Solarte, still accessible by water taxi from Bocas.
 * Try Mondo Taito or Heike twin hostels in the town. Dorm beds are available from $10 with kind of gross shared bathrooms. Run by a group of American ex-pats. They do not take advance bookings, it is very noisy, not all that clean and not on the water, but if you are up for a party you will probably have a great time. Cheap Spanish lessons available.
 * Try Mondo Taito or Heike twin hostels in the town. Dorm beds are available from $10 with kind of gross shared bathrooms. Run by a group of American ex-pats. They do not take advance bookings, it is very noisy, not all that clean and not on the water, but if you are up for a party you will probably have a great time. Cheap Spanish lessons available.
 * Try Mondo Taito or Heike twin hostels in the town. Dorm beds are available from $10 with kind of gross shared bathrooms. Run by a group of American ex-pats. They do not take advance bookings, it is very noisy, not all that clean and not on the water, but if you are up for a party you will probably have a great time. Cheap Spanish lessons available.
 * Try Mondo Taito or Heike twin hostels in the town. Dorm beds are available from $10 with kind of gross shared bathrooms. Run by a group of American ex-pats. They do not take advance bookings, it is very noisy, not all that clean and not on the water, but if you are up for a party you will probably have a great time. Cheap Spanish lessons available.
 * Try Mondo Taito or Heike twin hostels in the town. Dorm beds are available from $10 with kind of gross shared bathrooms. Run by a group of American ex-pats. They do not take advance bookings, it is very noisy, not all that clean and not on the water, but if you are up for a party you will probably have a great time. Cheap Spanish lessons available.

Go next
Within the Bocas del Toro archipelago are a few other islands. Many visitors will split their time in Bocas between these islands.

 * Isla Carenero - Smallest island, but home to some of the best restaurants and hostels.
 * Bastimentos - Known for beaches, jungles, and a National Marine Park.
 * Isla Cristóbal - Mostly agrarian island, mostly home to local farmers and a few small bed & breakfasts.

These destinations are a common next stop from Bocas on the Central American backpacking trail:
 * Gualaca - A small mountainside community in the cloud forests south of Bocas. Known for hiking and waterfalls.
 * Boquete - The well-developed town of Boquete is Panama's adventure hub, with rock climbing, hiking, river rafting, and more.
 * Changuinola - Near the border with Costa Rica, of limited interest to tourists but has better shopping & supplies than Bocas.
 * Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica - Anyone traveling from Bocas north to Costa Rica will pass through here.

title: Bocas del Toro


text:
Bocșa

Bocșa is a town in Caraș-Severin County, Banat, Romania.

Understand
Bocșa (Hungarian: Boksánbánya; German: Deutsch-Bokschan or Neuwerk) is a town in Caraș-Severin County, in southwestern Romania, with a population of 19,023 in 2002.

title: Bocșa


text:
Bochnia

Bochnia is a town of almost 30,000 people (2021) in Małopolskie Province in southern Poland, 40 km southeast of Kraków. It has a pleasant old town centre but the big attraction is its salt mine, worked since medieval times.

Get in
There is very good bus connection between Bochnia and the nearest large cities. Bochnia is located on the Kraków - Przemyśl highway. It is very easy to get there by bus from Kraków, Tarnów or Rzeszów Airport.

Trains to and from Kraków leave every hour and cost around 10 zł (depending on the kind of train).

Sleep
There are few hotels in and around Bochnia.

Go next

 * Kraków – once the capital city of Poland, the city holds many centuries of royal history
 * Tarnów – a historic city east of Bochnia with a pretty old town
 * Wieliczka Salt Mine and Castle – parts of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * Nowy Wiśnicz – with its stunning castle

title: Bochnia