text:
Piatra Craiului National Park

Piatra Craiului National Park is near Brasov in Romania.

Understand
Piatra Craiului National Park, founded in 1938, is one of Romania's national parks. It has a core area of 4879 ha and a buffer zone of 9894 ha.

Flora and fauna
Rare species: Dianthus callizonus, Hesperis nivea, Minuatia transilvanica, Leontopodium alpinum.

The Garofiţa Pietrei Craiului (Dianthus callizonus) is a beautiful purple flower only found in Piatra Craiului. It is protected as is the Edelweis growing on the high slopes.

Get in
Access points are: Zarnesti (easy to reach from Brasov), Dambovicioara, Bran (Inima Reginei, Magura village), Moeciu, Fundata and Sirnea.

Have a look at this timetable:

From the south:

Buses from Brasov to Cumpulung or Pitesti and back stop in Podul Dimbovitei. Travel further into the valleys with a minibus, with one of the 'Bucuresteni' (from Bucarest, number plate starts with 'B') that own houses there or try one of the trucks going for timber or coming back fully loaded.

Get around
All tracks are marked very well with different color codings. In 2011, a lot of signs were renewed.

Some tracks high on the mountains are very steep. Steel cables are attached to the walls. One track is even called "Lanturi" meaning "chains". 7 cables can be found here. The old chains have been replaced by steel cables which usually are in reasonable to good condition.

The valleys to the north (Zarnesti and Plaiul Foii) and east of Piatra Craiului (Dambovicioara) are in weekends more crowded than the valley in the west from Podul Dambovitei to Satic and lake Pecineagu. During the week it is quiet everywhere.

A brand new very steep road starts from Dambovicioara going up to Ciocanu and Sirna eventually reaching the main road to Brasov. It has been built with European funds and should contribute to tourism in the region. It offers a very beautiful view on the Piatra Craiului.

See

 * Visitors center near Plaiul Foii, 1 km from Zarnesti.
 * Rare species
 * The Zarnesti Gorges
 * Stanciului Cave
 * Cerdacul Stanciului (La Zaplaz)
 * Dambovicioara Cave and Gorges
 * Gâlgoaie Brusturet Fount

Do

 * Hikes on the mountain trails inside the Piatra Craiului National Park (various degrees of difficulty)
 * Visit the virgin forests
 * Walk the educational trail of the Piatra Craiului National Park
 * Brown bear observation (from an enclosed observatory) March - November
 * Trips with mountain guides for wildlife observation (deer, chamois, cappercaille), identifying various wildlife species tracks in the field
 * Rock climbing: longer tours can be found tours on the ridge. A lot of climbers and shorter routes of 1-3 rope lengths (difficulty 2 to 8b*) can be found in the Zarnesti Gorges (Prapastiile Zarnestilor). Guides are available when needed.
 * Visit the mountain villages Magura and Pestera and the traditional sheepfolds, tasting traditional products
 * Visit the Bran Castle, the Rasnov Fortress and the Brasov Old Center
 * Horseback riding
 * Horse carriage or sled strolls

Sleep
Hotels, private pensions ("Cazare") and campings can be found anywhere around Piatra Craiului.

Mountain huts (Cabana) can be found near the base of the mountains. Take your own sleeping bag and food with you. There is often no restaurant but a kitchen is available for your own cooking.

Ordinary Romanians usually use the cabana for barbecue parties until late in the night. Especially in weekends and on new years eve. Be prepared for some noise. At the other hand you are invited quickly to join the party. Do not forget to bring some wine and Tuica.

On the ridge there are some half-dome shelters. One near the summit "La Om". Many times people camp outside the shelters, even on the ridge, as the shelters can be crowded and some times are not that clean.

Bring your own sleeping bag and mattress. There is nothing inside the shelters but a steel plate to lie on.

Stay safe
There are bears in this national park. Be carefull camping lower on the mountains in the wild especially in spring when the bears have cubs.

When approaching flocks of sheep, if you can't circumvent the flock, call for the shepherd as soon as possible to prevent being attacked by Carpathian Shepherd Dogs guarding the herd. Always carry a stick for protection and some stones in your pockets. The shepherds know their dogs and usually react quickly.

Particularly in spring, wild bears will attack you if you come upon them suddenly while they are accompanied by their young. Be careful on open fields. Slowly backup when encountering a bear. Do not run as they are faster then you. By the way: normally they will get away when people are approaching. Making some noise while walking could be a good idea.

Do not walk in the forest at night.

Be alert for thunderstorms on the ridge. Lightning strikes often here, and there are not many ways to descend. The shelters on the Piatra Craiului ridge are said to be safe from lightning. One shelter is near the summit "la Om" on the ridge.

Take enough water from the few springs at the foot of the mountain before ascending. No water can be found on the ridge and the path is long. Ask locals for locations of springs. On some trails they are hard to find.

title: Piatra Craiului National Park


text:
Piatra Neamț

Piatra Neamţ is a city in eastern Romania, located in the mountainous part of Moldavia.

Understand
With its cozy streets and coffee shops, warm people and antique boutiques Piatra Neamţ will make you feel at home. Surrounded by wooded mountains and boasting modern comforts, Piatra is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Moldavia (and perhaps all of Romania). It also offers a small town feel that, for those who frequently travel there, gives a warm feeling whenever one passes through the Bine ati venit arch that welcomes people back to the city.

Talk
Romanian (of course), but most young citizens speak English and many speak Italian, French or German.

By train
There are two daily direct trains (one InterCity and one Rapid) from Bucharest, and one Accelerat train from Iasi. By car from Bucharest 4 hours or by bus 4–5 hours. There are three daily buses from Cluj-Napoca. One is a minibus that departs at 09:00. The trip takes 5–6 hours. At 11:00 there is a bus that is slower and arrives in Piatra around 20:00.

Get around
Exceptionally cheap minibuses (nostalgically referred to as 'Roznov buses' by the locals) run throughout the city, it costs 2.5 lei to use this transport and the price doesn't change, if you're going to the end of the road, or the opposite end of the city!

Taxis are reasonably cheap, be warned though, they will try and con you out of money. A good example of this is that the driver might place his meter in a position where the customer cannot see it. Other times he will 'forget' to turn on the meter and at the destination give you an inflated price. If the driver fails to turn on the meter then it would be wise to ask him to do this, he will oblige. One might even be inclined to negotiate the price with the driver before agreeing to go with him. A 5-minute journey from the outskirts to the centre seems to cost around 7-8 lei.

Historical sites

 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.
 * Neamt fortress.

Bicycles shops
There is a well-stocked (with Shimano parts, e.g.) bicycle shop, Sport and Bike Planet, at the south end of Str. Ozana.

Drink

 * Café-bar Bacardi - str. Duraului nr.1, tel. +40 233 217805 (program: 8:00-24:00)
 * Café Latino - Bd.Decebal Bl.I4 parter, tel. +40 233 218493, +40 233 214302 (program: 08:00-24:00)
 * Costarica Café - str. Titu Maiorescu Bl.I1 (program: 08:00-20:00)
 * Bar 12 (12 floor at Hotel Ceahlau) - str. Stefan cel Mare nr.3 tel. +40 233 219990, +40 233 219991; fax. +40 233 215540; e-mail: hotelceahlau@artelecom.net - night-bar, streap-tease
 * Cazino Fortunato - Piata Petrodava, tel. +40 721 393599; bd. Traian, tel. +40 720 366031 - bar, mechanic games, electronic rullet (program: 11:00-02:00)
 * Club Q 30, str. Stefan cel Mare, nr. 31 (M-Th 16:00-24:00, F-Su 16:00-4:00)
 * The Kilkeny (Irish Pub) - str. Dimitrie Leonida, nr.53 (program non-stop)
 * The Kilkeny (Irish Pub) - str. Dimitrie Leonida, nr.53 (program non-stop)

Sleep

 * Central Plaza **** Piata Petrodava nr.1-3, tel. +40 233–216230, +40 233 214530; fax. +40 233 214532, +40 233 223528, internet: www.centralplazahotel.ro, e-mail: office@hotelcentral.ro. Capacity: 262 beds in 131 rooms (72 double-rooms; 12 matrimonial apartments; 47 (Comfort +plus) double-rooms; 30 rooms with air conditioner. Services: Room-Service between hours 6AM and 1AM, Cable TV, Mini-bar, International telephone, Internet Access, Copying and Fax, Parking, Ticket Purchase, Safebox, Laundry and Drycleaners, Money Exchange. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Classic Restaurant (300 people), Breakfast Restaurant (150 people), Reception Hall (60 people), and Pink Salon (20 people). Inside the Central Complex you will find a suspended terrace with room for 150 people and one of the most modern cafeterias in country with room from 100 people. You are invited to taste the most delicious cookies: Central, Aluneta, Exotic, Select, And Tarta cu fructe de padure. Prices: Double Rooms: €53-58, Single Room: €38-43.
 * Grand Hotel Ceahlau *** str. Stefan cel Mare nr.3, tel. +40 233 219990, +40 233 219991; fax. +40 233 215540, internet: www.hotelceahlau.ro, e-mail: hotelceahlau@artelecom.net. Capacity: 244 beds in 42 single-rooms, 94 double-rooms and 7 VIP apartments. Services: Room-service, Cable TV, Internet, fax and courier, international telephone, air conditioner, barbershop and beauty salon, Laundry and drycleaners, Parking, Reservations and Tickets, Car Rental.Restaurant: 4 bars and terraces with room from 1600 people, Reception Hall with 120 seats, money exchange, tourism agency.
 * Hotel Belvedere *** - str.Petru Movila tel. +40 233 261470 Capacity: 50 beds in: 12 Rooms with 2 beds, 3 apartments, 17 beds in rooms with 2 or 3 beds. Restaurant: 80 Seats, bar with 16 seats, Parking with rooms for 10 cars. Prices: 80 lei double-room; 100 lei triple-room; 120 lei apartment
 * Hotel Lido ** - Bd. Republicii; tel. +40 233 226349
 * Hotel Bulevard ** - Bd. Republicii nr. 38–40, tel. +40 233 235010, +40 233 235020; fax. +40 233 218111. Capacity: 75 beds in 36 Rooms. 13 Matrimonial rooms, 16 Double rooms, 3 Apartments with 3 beds, 4 Apartments with 2 beds. Services: room service, cable TV, telephone, fax, safebox, parking. Restaurant with 60 Seats, diverse menus.
 * Hotel Bulevard ** - Bd. Republicii nr. 38–40, tel. +40 233 235010, +40 233 235020; fax. +40 233 218111. Capacity: 75 beds in 36 Rooms. 13 Matrimonial rooms, 16 Double rooms, 3 Apartments with 3 beds, 4 Apartments with 2 beds. Services: room service, cable TV, telephone, fax, safebox, parking. Restaurant with 60 Seats, diverse menus.

Pensions

 * Pension Melania ** http://www.melania-neamt.info Neamt county, locality Vaduri, Contact:Topliceanu Melania +40 722 626859. email:pensiunea.melania@yahoo.com. Pension tourist Melania is situated on the route Piatra Neamt-Bicaz, the valley town of Bistrita in Vaduri. Tourist attractions such as monasteries Pangarati, Bistrita, Bicaz Chei, Red Lake, are located nearby.  5 bedrooms, a recreation room with pool table, large spaces for spending time inside, terrace and swimming pool outdoor.
 * "Ambiance" pension *** - str. Petru Movila nr. 200A. owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro/. contact: Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Aris" ** pension. owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro/. contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Cornelius" pension *** - Str. G-ral. N.Dascalescu nr.490, tel. +40 233 211511, +40 745 566143, +40 745 372008, e-mail: - - office@cornelius.ro. Capacity: 9 Rooms: 3 Matrimonial with showers, hot water, room service. Restaurant: 60 seats, organic foods, Select Collection wines. On request can organize trips for tourists. Prices: 120 lei per night and includes breakfast, internet, telephone, cable TV. Discount available depending a length of stay. Car rental available.
 * "Cozla" pension ** - str. Elena Cuza nr. 8. Contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431
 * "Elis" pension * - Bd. Republicii 40. Capacity: 9 locuri
 * "Nora" pension ** - Str. Petru Movila nr.162 A. Tel. 0233 237737. Contact Person: Ciubotariu Family. Capacity: 2 Double Rooms with 2 beds. 7 Matrimonial Rooms. 8 Rooms have their own bathroom, all others have a common bathroom. Services: Cable TV. Restaurant: 16 seats. Reservation is necessary a week before. Prices: 60 lei/day double room, 75 lei/day double room with sofa.
 * "Red Rock" pension ** - str. Maratei nr. 63. tel +40 233 228077
 * "Virginia" pension ** - - owned by ANTREC, http://www.antrec.ro. Contact : Lucia Muj, tel. +40 233 234204, +40 722 608431

Gyms

 * Chimina San Gym Baltagului Street no.6 (inside the Central Market Complex) 5-min walk from city downtown tel:+40 233227570; +40 749488245; +40 746137426. Fitness club, powerlifting club, bodybuilding club, weight loss programs, personal trainer, nutrition bar, Dry sauna, massage.

Stay safe
The city is one of the safest cities in Romania and ranked as top 20 safest city in Europe. Regardless, always be prudent and take basic precautions as you would in any other city. Beware of packs of feral dogs at night.

Go next
There are buses that travel to Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Suceava, Bacau, Orhei, Chișinău as well as others that travel to various villages in Neamt County.

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

title: Piatra Neamț


text:
Piauí

Piauí is a state in Northeast Brazil. It has the shortest coastline of any northeastern state. Piauí is one of the poorest states in Brazil, and the economy is largely agricultural.

Understand
Piauí was settled from the interior by cowboys and bandits. The battle of Jenipapo in 1823 - where a Piauíese militia suicidally gave battle to Portuguese regular soldiers - is largely credited with leading to the independence of the northern part of Brazil.

Piauí is home to three of Brazil's National Parks, including the oldest known inhabited site in the Americas: Serra da Capivara National Park. The state has the world's fourth largest river delta, which is especially a haven for birds.

The state is remote. It has a population of three million people, and less than a dozen foreign permanent residents. The Brazilian Federal Government once forgot to include Piauí in a map of the country, and the state has given its name to Brazil's best-known satirical magazine.

Piauí is for travellers rather than tourists. Culturally, perhaps the state is the most authentically northeastern. The extreme heat shapes the culture. The state claims to be the birthplace of Forró music. Frank Aguiar, Brazil’s undisputed “King of Forró”, is Piauíese and sings about the state. Piauíese Milindô music is one of the roots of samba. Maracatu is a specifically north-eastern form of samba.

Carnaval in Piauí is modest but includes local traditions such as Bumba meu Boi, a dance involving people dressed as a bull. Teresina hosts the three-day Micarana festival in July, attracting top artists and visitors from all over Brazil - and no tourists.

South America's only opal mine is located at Pedro II. Local artisan products, including lacework, wood carving and leatherwork, are of a high standard.

Other destinations

 * , a national park with peculiar rock formations.
 * , a national park with peculiar rock formations.

Get in
Travel to Piauí in most cases will be by bus from other Brazilian states. Teresina has regular bus links to Fortaleza and São Luis and it is also possible to get a bus to Brasília or the big cities in the South-East (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte) but these destinations are over 48 hours away by bus and the roads entering South Piauí are in a terrible state.

Teresina and Parnaíba  both have small airports receiving domestic flights. Both airports are accredited to receive international flights. An Italian charter airline has occasional flights to Parnaíba. Generally the fastest (not necessarily cheapest) way to reach Piauí from abroad is a direct flight to Fortaleza, Ceará, and a connecting flight to Teresina. Most international flights to Piauí are routed through first São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and then Brasilia.

Get around
Teresina is the hub from which to get around the state by bus. The bus north to Parnaíba takes 5-6 hours.

See

 * Teresina, the state capital, is extremely hot all year round. For people who like dramatic weather, it is one of the world's most lightning prone cities. Visitors mainly use the city as a transport hub, and there is not much touristic interest. Karnak Palace, built in 1890 and seat of the Governor of Piauí since 1926 is named after the famous Egyptian palace. The garden was designed in 1970 by Roberto Burle Max, Brazil’s most famous landscape architect. The palace is open to visitors. Unfortunately an outgoing Governor stole many of the precious artefacts. Teresina has a smaller and less dramatic "Meeting of the Waters" than the Amazon, as the clear waters of the river Poti flow into the muddy river Parnaíba. The river is also the place to see the annual Procissão de São Pedro, or just to relax with the locals on one of the river beaches.
 * Parnaíba is the state's second largest city located near the thin strip of coastline. It is a long way from anywhere else but has excellent beaches nearby. Try Coqueiro or for the more adventurous the more distant Barra Grande. Parnaíba is also located on the delta of the river of the same name and daytrips to see the fauna, flora and sand dunes of the delta are well worth the detour.
 * Ilha do Cajú is actually in Maranhão, but can only be accessed from Parnaíba in the state of Piauí. The boat trip to the island is fabulous in itself, taking a couple of hours meandering through lush mangrove swamps, a fantastic opportunity for aquatic bird watching. The island itself is private property and there is only one guesthouse and one adjoined restaurant. On the island, which is practically deserted, there are numerous hiking and kayaking opportunities, all arranged by the guesthouse staff. Reservations are essential, and for what you get the guesthouse is comparatively overpriced, but its really the only way to see the island.  This is about as far away from it all as you can possibly get.
 * The Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades is located between Teresina and Parnaíba (nearest town Piracuruca). Well worth a visit for its weird and wonderful rock formations and prehistoric cave paintings. There is a guesthouse located within the national park, and another, larger one, just outside the main gate. The best way to see the park is by bicycle, which can be rented at the visitor's center. Other options include walking (a warning: it gets very hot) or by car. In every case you must hire an official guide, who are all very friendly and well trained, although its doubtful any will speak more than rudimentary English. They are always available at the visitor's center.
 * The town of Pedro II, in the hills not far from Sete Cidades National Park. This is one of only two Opel producing areas in the world (the other is in Australia). The town is pleasant, sometimes called the "Switzerland of Piauí", somewhat of an exaggeration, but nice enough anyway and cooler than the rest of the state also. Visit the Opel mines, all mined by hand, with a local guide. Ask for one in any of the many stores selling Opel products. Pedro II is also known for its weaving, with many stores and workshops spread around town.
 * The Serra da Capivara is located in the remote south of the state where the arid Sertão begins to merge with the more Amazonian landscape of the west. Incredibly hard to get to but full of indigenous wildlife and some of the earliest evidence for human settlement in the Americas.
 * Poços Jorrantes – naturally pressurised jets of water at Cristino Castro – is close to Serra da Capivara.
 * Serra das Confusões National Park
 * Cachoeira do Urubu. White water rapids. A popular picnic spot.

Eat
The Piauiense coastline is one of Brazil's main crab-producing areas so on the coast don't miss out on all the crab specialities. The state also grows a lot of cashew trees - you can eat the fruit, the toasted nuts and they even make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from the juice, not to mention caramelized sweets from the fruit itself.

Local specialities include:

 * Carne de sol - meat that has been preserved by the sun.
 * Baião de Dois – rice, beans, cheese and herbs
 * Maria Isabel – rice with sun dried meat
 * Panelada - Tripe
 * Linguiça do porco - a type of pork sausage

Drink

 * Cajuína - a soft drink made from cashew fruit - is produced in Piaui. Caetano Veloso, one of Brazil's best-known singers, wrote a song about Piauiese cajuína.

title: Piauí


text:
Piazza Armerina

Piazza Armerina is a town in central Sicily, Italy, best known for Roman mosaics of the UNESCO World Heritage site Villa Romana di Casale.

By bus
Frequent buses run from Enna, Caltagirone, Catania, Palermo and Pergusa stop in Piazza Senatore Mareschali.

Get around
It is easy enough to walk around the old and new towns. See below for details of transport to the Villa Romana.

See

 * The old town contains several interesting buildings.

Do
The town is nestled on hills and was built in two parts - first by the Saracens in the 10th century and then developed to the southeast in the 15th and then again the 17th centuries. There are many wonderful buildings to see including the 18th century Duomo, which dominates the town standing majestically on top of a hill, the elegant town hall and grand old palazzi such as the Palazzo Trigona. For those who enjoy wandering through small streets and finding hidden places, try the 13th-century area round the Via Monte near the Duomo.

Eat

 * Ristorante da Gianna

title: Piazza Armerina


text:
Picacho

Picacho is a small town in South Central Arizona. The community name derives from Spanish for "peak."

title: Picacho


text:
Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak State Park is in Arizona.

Understand
The Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center has public restrooms, a gift shop, vending machines and many types of snacks.

History
The Butterfield Overland Stage passed through the area. But perhaps even more exciting is that a Union cavalry from California skirmished with Texan Confederate scouts here in the Battle Of Pichaco Pass, an event that is claimed to be the westernmost battle of the Civil War.

Landscape
Hopefully you like Sonoran desert because Pichaco Peak State Park is like a masterpiece of that on display, and then there are near and distant views of topography like the Santa Catalina Mountains to the southeast and the Santa Cruz River sink to the west from the apex of Pichaco Peak. The most singular sight might just be the peak itself though from its base while driving along I-10 or approaching it otherwise.

Flora and fauna
Scorpions, cacti, desert flowers in season.

Climate
Sizzling by mid-day in summer on the desert floor. A little milder in late fall and winter thankfully, but watch out for monsoonal systems in the fall.

Get in

 * Picacho Peak State Park, 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, +1-520-466-3183. The park is located off I-10, on exit 219; 60 miles south of Phoenix, and 40 miles north of Tucson. Park hours: 5AM-10PM; Visitor center hours: Su-Th 9AM-3PM, F-Sa 8AM-5PM (varies by season);

Fees and permits
$7 per vehicle, $3 per bicycle

See
The park centers around the most noticeable 3,374 foot Pichaco Peak that rises from the desert floor.

Do
There is great hiking to the top of the peak within the park along two trails, with cables and catwalks at certain points near the top. Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes and signs of heat stroke/overexertion.

Camping
Camping is only permitted in designated areas. There are 100 sites, some with electricity.

title: Picacho Peak State Park


text:
Pichilemu

Pichilemu is a holiday town with beaches in Central Chile, south of Valparaíso. Pichilemu is a crossbreed of a sleepy fishing village and an international surf destination. Pichilemu is not quite on the Gringo Trail, but visitors from Chile and abroad quickly take to this rapidly growing town.

Understand
Getting around is really easy, the people are friendly, the prices are reasonable, the beaches are big and easily accessible, and every year there are more interesting restaurants with varied cuisine. Due to it being the #1 surfing destination in Chile there is a delightful mix of international visitors and Chilean tourists. There is not much by way of luxury accommodation, a few high-end places, several mid-range and lots of not-so-nice but cheap places (especially outside of Jan and Feb).

Get in
Pichilemu is 3½ hours by bus from the Terminal Alameda in Santiago, or 2 hours by bus from San Fernando. Make sure to take the bus via Melipilla from Santiago, it's much shorter than the San Fernando/Santa Cruz Route.

Getting to Pichilemu by car is fairly easy and faster than the bus.

Get around
It's easy to get around Pichilemu in taxi, colectivo taxi, walking, and on bike.

See
Five national monuments of Chile are located here:

Also, a part of the town is declared "Zona Típica" ("Traditional Area" or "Heritage Site") by the National Monuments Council.

Do
Surf in the Pacific Ocean — this is what the town is all about.

Buy
Must buys in Pichilemu: Completos and Empanadas! Also you can find cool weavings, ceramics, and wood sculptures at stores in the center.

Go next

 * Bucalemu is a village by the sea south of Pichilemu. The road from Pichilemu to Bucalemu has been paved.

title: Pichilemu


text:
Pickering

There's more than one place called Pickering:

Canada

 * Pickering (Ontario) - in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario

United Kingdom

 * Pickering (England) - in North Yorkshire, England

title: Pickering


text:
Pickering (England)

Pickering is a market and agricultural town in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, with the North York Moors rising behind. The town slumped from 1965 when it lost its railway, but this helped preserve its historic centre. It revived from 1973 when the line was restored as a heritage steam railway and tourism developed, and in 2011 it had a population of 6830.

The town is probably named for an Anglo-Saxon called Picer, so his family and dependents would be called Pickerings. The Domesday Book of 1086 counted 30 villagers organised into 9 plough-teams, and the whole lot was worth £1 and tuppence.

By train
The nearest mainline railway station is Malton. This has hourly trains from Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Victoria, Leeds and York to Malton and Scarborough. From London and the south, change at York. At Malton change for Coastliner Bus 840; the bus and railway stations are adjacent.

Pickering is the south terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It's a heritage standard-gauge line running from Whitby, often steam-hauled, and seasonal, see below. In summer there are four trains a day so it's a realistic transport option.

is on Park Street north side of town centre.

By bus
Coastliner 840 bus operates between Leeds (2 hr 22 min), Tadcaster (1 hr 54 min), York (1 hr 9 min), Malton (25 min) and Pickering, then continues on to Thornton le Dale (6 min). This service runs approximately every hour until early evening on Mondays to Saturdays. There are five Sunday buses most of these only run to/from Malton where a connection to York and Leeds is provided. Four buses per day (2 Sunday) continue past Thornton le Dale across the North York Moors to Goathland (38 min) and Whitby (1 hr 6 min). It is a modern fleet of buses with comfortable seats. The top deck offers great views, particularly on the trip over the moors, and has been nationally-recognised as Britain's most scenic bus route.

The main stop is Eastgate.

East Yorkshire Bus 128 runs from Scarborough via Seamer, Brompton and Thornton-le-Dale to Pickering (one hour), Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley (40 minutes). There are eight services a day, running every two hours Monday to Saturday. A Sunday service runs between Pickering and Scarborough with four buses in each direction. During Summer this improves to six buses which run through from Scarborough to Helmsley.

In Apr-Sep on Friday and Saturday, the Moors Bus runs twice from Malton to Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Danby. The morning and evening buses are from and to York. On Sunday Apr-Sep they also run once from Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough and twice from Guisborough via Danby and Kirbymoorside to Pickering.

By road
From the south take A64 east past York to Malton then A169 north; this road winds on across the moors from Pickering to Whitby.

A170 crosses the moors from Thirsk: caravans and heavy vehicles must not attempt Sutton Bank, where the road climbs the western scarp of the moors. A170 continues east via Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside to Pickering, and on through Brompton to Scarborough.

There are car parks on Eastgate (near the roundabout), The Ropery and Vivis Lane. Whilst The Ropery is short stay, Vivis Lane and Eastgate are long stay. All three car parks are operated by Ryedale District Council.

All approach roads and car parks get very congested on summer weekends.

Get around
Walk - everything in town is close by. But you'll need wheels to get out into the moors.

See

 * The attractive old town is centred on Market Place.
 * St Peter and St Paul's Church on Hall Garth is an Anglican church with remarkable wall paintings from circa 1450. They were plastered over in the Reformation and forgotten until 1852 when the plaster crumbled: the affronted vicar had them whitewashed over. His successor 25 years later had them restored.
 * St Joseph's RC Church on Potter Hill dates from 1911.
 * The town park is just north of the castle.
 * See North York Moors for Dalby Forest.
 * See Helmsley for Nunnington Hall and Rievaulx Abbey.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard.
 * See North York Moors for Dalby Forest.
 * See Helmsley for Nunnington Hall and Rievaulx Abbey.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard.

Do

 * Trips on the steam railway across the moors to Whitby - see above. Day trips are feasible.
 * Kirk Theatre is unlikely to reopen before 2021.
 * — see Malton for this theme park and zoo.
 * See Helmsley for Ryedale Show, held in Kirkbymoorside in July.
 * Ryedale Festival is a music festival held in late July. The next event is 12th-28th July 2024 with some events being held in Pickering.
 * See Helmsley for Ryedale Show, held in Kirkbymoorside in July.
 * Ryedale Festival is a music festival held in late July. The next event is 12th-28th July 2024 with some events being held in Pickering.

Buy

 * Market day is Monday, with Market Place closed to traffic. The Country Market is held Th 9:30-11:30AM in WRVS Hall on Hungate.
 * The Hidden Market indoors off Market Place is mostly homeware and clothing. Coop Food is next door.
 * Lidl in town centre is the main superstore. It's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

Eat

 * White Swan gets the best ratings in town for food, see Sleep.
 * White Swan gets the best ratings in town for food, see Sleep.
 * White Swan gets the best ratings in town for food, see Sleep.
 * White Swan gets the best ratings in town for food, see Sleep.

Drink
Black Swan on Birdgate has its own micro-brewery and serves a fine range of its own beers and larger. See Sleep.

Connect
Pickering has a good mobile and 4G signal from all UK carriers. As of Jan 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Whitby has an attractive harbour and ruined abbey. It's where Dracula reached England, perhaps planning to attend the town's Gothic Festival.
 * Scarborough is a Victorian seaside resort. Cliffs stretch north through picturesque Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby; south is Filey, Bridlington and Flamborough Head.
 * York retains its medieval walls and has a great collection of sights and attractions.

title: Pickering (England)


text:
Pickerington

Pickerington is a city in Fairfield and Franklin Counties, Southeast Ohio. It is a suburb of Columbus.

Understand
Pickerington is also known by locals as Picktown and The Violet City.

By Car
I70 and SR 256 pass through Pickerington

title: Pickerington


text:
Pickpockets

Pickpockets steal small items such as passports, mobile phones and wallets from victims' clothing and bags. Pickpocketing is a very old crime that is continually being reinvented, and a hazard in most destinations. After all, almost all tourists and business travellers are likely to be carrying some money and/or valuables. Pickpockets can also exploit travellers' state of confusion and ignorance of local customs.

See crime, theft and common scams for other crimes or schemes against travellers.

Risk factors
There may be pickpockets anywhere, but there are some high-risk places; usually the same as for other crime:

 * other people who prey on tourists (beggars, touts or prostitutes)
 * crowded areas, especially places like bus, train stations, shopping and nightlife venues, as there are lots of potential victims, noise provides cover, and the thief can disappear into the crowd easily.
 * areas where you are obvious, perhaps because you look very different from locals or dress and behave quite differently
 * areas which draw huge numbers of foreign visitors, such as famous tourist attractions, festivals, or street performances
 * areas where the local income is low, as a traveler's pocket money may be more than local monthly income.
 * airports, train stations, hostels and other places where travellers and other people tend to carry a lot of baggage

Traditional open-air markets, especially those selling handicrafts in developing countries, combine many of the above risk factors and are often infested with pickpockets. A more modern place is around ATM's. Someone coming from them has money and an observer can watch where the money is put away.

Psychological experiments have shown that we tend to overestimate our ability to know if we are being pickpocketed. True, if someone approaches you from in front and reaches for your pocket, you can avoid them, but awareness threshold is usually much lower. In a crowd, for instance, your tolerance for being jostled will go up automatically and you will literally not feel it if someone reaches into your pocket. It is possible to cultivate alertness to counteract this, but it takes a real effort. If you are in a high-risk area and are not feeling somewhat jumpy, you probably are not trying hard enough.

Pickpocket techniques
Pickpockets use a variety of techniques, and only some of them are covered here. Their methods and motivations are exhaustively described at Thiefhunters in Paradise.

Easy targets
A skilled pickpocket can hit almost any pocket, but all pickpockets prefer easy targets. Ridiculously easy targets are away from the body where the victim will not feel a thief's touch:
 * Open bags, especially shopping bags with an interesting store label
 * Outside pockets on a man's jacket or other loose-fitting outer garment
 * Outside pockets of a backpack or shoulder bag
 * A bag or pack left away from you or in an adjoining booth while at a restaurant, internet café, etc.

Other easy targets are pockets that are easy to get at and out of the victim's field of vision:
 * Rear or thigh pocket of trousers
 * Anything hanging on your belt, such as a cell phone or fanny pack

Do not carry your wallet, phone, or other valuables in any of these places.

Tools for pickpockets
Pickpockets in many places routinely carry razors for slitting pockets. These may also be used to cut the strap on a purse, shoulder bag, or camera quickly. In some places, pickpocketing can escalate to armed robbery if pickpockets are discovered, although that's not strictly considered pickpocketing. Check the country listings for your destinations.

Thieves may carry fairly long tongs for reaching into purses or pockets. These are not as large and noticeable as a hand reaching for the goods. There are even reports of Chinese pickpockets using chopsticks.

Distraction
Most pickpockets employ some element of distraction. Various things common on the streets of tourist areas can be used:
 * A prostitute offers services and often keeps touching you
 * A seemingly drunk, unwashed person grabs your arm and tries to talk to you
 * Street musicians
 * Street magicians
 * Insistent begging or peddling

Other things can be used as deliberate set-ups:

 * Someone passes by you and "accidentally" drops money
 * Some people begin a loud argument or fight (often staged)
 * A "beware of pickpockets" sign so everyone in the area reaches for their wallets to make sure it is still there, enabling the pickpockets to find out where people's wallets are.
 * A street child flashing something in your face
 * A beggar comes toward you with one hand beneath a newspaper or magazine
 * A man "tackles" you, asking if you play football
 * Someone sprays you with ketchup or some other substance. A "helpful" stranger, often an older lady, appears with a damp cloth ready to help clean you up. The damp cloth provides cover for prying hands and the ketchup is a great excuse to pat down obvious places on your body for money. If you are sprayed with anything while walking down a street, don't stop; keep right on going and refuse any offers of assistance.
 * Fake drownings have been used to get people away from their valuables on some beaches.
 * Peddlers that initiate an argument about change and steal the money from your wallet in meantime

Use common sense if you are confronted with a distraction. For example, no children typically approach strangers unless coached to do so by an adult. Fights and arguments are best avoided anywhere. Also, a person who finds or drops money on the street isn't going to offer it to you.

Pickpockets are not always subtle. Often, pickpockets use an element of physical force. For example, pickpockets might walk straight at and barge past the person they are stealing from and use physical contact as a distraction to take a purse or similar valuable item.

Pickpockets work in teams
Pickpockets often work in teams. For example, getting on a crowded bus, the one ahead of you may create a delay so the one behind can get your wallet. One may distract the victim's attention while the other reaches into a pocket on the other side. The loot may be immediately handed off to a third player, so even if you grab the actual thief, there is no evidence, and the item is lost. Pickpocket teams typically include both genders and both young and older people. Anyone can be a pickpocket, even women, children (even toddlers), elderly people or other tourists.

More brazen pickpocket teams will work with 4 people who swarm from different directions to block you briefly. The person behind you then suddenly bumps or jostles you while reaching into your pocket and handing off what is found to another person. If you sense this happening soon enough, jumping and/or turning back in the opposite direction may get you out of the trap.

Protecting yourself
The basics of protecting yourself are common sense:
 * Leave the valuables and money you don't need at your hotel room, preferably in a safe.
 * Go through your wallet before travelling and remove unnecessary items, such as local ID cards, driver's licenses if you aren't driving, and the like. The fewer things you have to replace if stolen the better.
 * Know and avoid the most dangerous areas.
 * Be alert, especially in crowded spaces or when people invade your personal space.
 * Stash valuables in hard-to-reach places. (See following sections.)
 * Do not carry more cash than you are likely to need.
 * Carry money and passport in separate places, so that losing one doesn't mean losing the other as well.
 * Wear packs in front of you, not at the rear or side.
 * Deep-front trouser pockets offer more protection than back pockets, but be aware that experienced pickpockets can even get into zippered front pockets.
 * Inside jacket pockets offer even better protection, especially if they are zippered.
 * Dress inconspicuously so as not draw attention to yourself as a "rich foreigner."
 * Attach your wallet to a chain. Better yet, ditch the wallet entirely and use a money clip, or just fold the bills into your pocket.
 * Get a money belt and wear it underneath your clothes. Keep your passport and extra money in there. Even if someone knows you are wearing it, they will be hard-pressed to get at it without your noticing.
 * Use luggage locks to lock the zippers on your backpack together so pickpockets cannot open the zips. Most zippers on backpacks will have holes or other places that a luggage lock can be fed through.
 * Consider taking a page from the thieves' book and use distraction. Carry a cheap wallet with a few small bills in it in an obvious place like your hip pocket.  This may decoy pickpockets' attention away from your real stash.

Above all, do not flash your valuables around unnecessarily. An expensive watch on your wrist or fancy camera around your neck is quite a temptation to someone whose annual income may be less than its price.

Catching pickpockets
Every second counts. As soon as you sense something is "off", get away from the area immediately. For example, an old lady carrying a sack suddenly stops directly in your way. Or a youngster sprays ketchup on you. Both are likely setups for pickpocket teams. Doing something unexpected (jumping, backing up and going the opposite direction or picking up your pace to get away) may be enough to get you away from the pickpocket's reach.

Learn "Thief!" in the language of your destination and be prepared to yell it if you notice a pickpocket at work. When confronted, most pickpockets will fling their booty to the ground and attempt to make their escape. It's probably best to let them go, as they may be armed, and you don't want to get charged with assault or harassment yourself.

In most cases, in a crowded environment, the people around will co-operate with you to at least attempt to catch the thief and report the loss to police and act as a witness. In some places, the crowd may take justice into their own hands, brutally.

In countries with notoriously corrupt police, avoiding confrontation with thieves is strongly advised. They know the language, the system, and the police much better than you do. They may be part of a gang with connections you cannot fight.

Money belts and pouches
There are many ways to stash your money and passport where it will be quite a bit more difficult to grab it.

Separate your money. Carry a small-change purse or keep a small amount of money in a pants pocket, for small transactions like buying a bus ticket or an ice cream. Put larger bills somewhere else. Many experienced travellers have 3 to 5 wallets with their money split so that if one or two get stolen, it does not cause too much trouble.

Many urban outfitters or mountaineering shops sell a money belt that you wear under your pants. These are typically nylon and have many pockets, so you can have cash, travellers cheques and passport separated. This is probably your most secure option, since it is hard for a thief to reach and is in a sensitive area of the body; you are quite likely to notice someone touching you there. The only disadvantage is that some people find them inconvenient to access. The luxury versions of money belts have straps with sewn-in wires (or the whole belt is made of this material) and all connections are made of steel and are not easy to open. So it's not possible to cut these straps or snatch away the belt. However, you may want to avoid models that contain metal parts, since they will cause problems at security checkpoints.

Several companies offer underwear or other clothing with hidden pockets for sale. The Clever Travel Companion sells men's and women's underwear with secret, zipper closed pockets. Also they sell t-shirts and tank tops with built in pockets to hide valuables. The pockets can carry passports, money, credit cards, and even cell phones. It would be extremely difficult for a thief to steal from your undergarments without you noticing.

Another type of money belt is just a zipper sewn onto the inside surface of an ordinary belt. These are OK for money, but it is too small for a passport. They can be bought in some travel-oriented shops or are easily made. Use a nylon zipper; metal will cause problems at airport security.

Many travellers use a passport pouch hanging under their shirt. Again, this is a sensitive area of the body; you will likely notice activity there. Make sure it has a secure strap and be careful not to wear it on the outside of your clothing, where it would be an easy snatch-and-run target. Some pouches have a second strap that goes around your chest; with these it's not possible for the thief to snatch-and-run. Some travellers find the presence of anything around their neck to be a danger in itself, however. Others use a leg pouch worn under the pants or sometimes on the upper arm under a shirt.

In Africa it is quite common for women to store money and even cell phones in their bras. Again, you will certainly notice someone touching you in this area, and it's directly in your line of sight as well.

Some travellers use a drawstring shoe bag. These are cheap and are difficult for a thief to get into if the string is drawn tight. Also, the drawstring can be tied around your wrist when at a table to protect against snatch-and-run thieves. Some contain inner pockets, so even if the bag is slashed, your valuables may be protected.

A waist bag is handy for keeping your valuables near you and you can cover it with your clothes.

Defensive tailoring
There are many ways a tailor can make clothing somewhat pickpocket-resistant.

Hong Kong tailors routinely put an extra pocket in a pair of pants, built into the waistband.

Simply adding fasteners (velcro, buttons or zippers) makes picking the pocket harder.

You can have additional pockets sewn into garments in odd places. Some possibilities are the following:
 * sewing a zipper on the inside of a belt to make a money belt
 * sewing a long narrow pocket on the inside of a jacket, from high up near the lapel down diagonally to near the hip. Drop your wallet or passport in there and you have to reach in elbow-deep to get it
 * sewing a pocket on the surface of a backpack that goes nearest your body; nothing lumpy can be carried there, but money or a passport are OK

Some travellers have one garment they use for travelling, such as a jacket for a businessman or a denim vest for a budget traveller, which has extra pockets and they almost never remove it.

For ladies, a cleverly hidden pocket sewn into a wrap-skirt can work well. It is fairly easy to add a secure pocket to a pair of bike shorts or similar.

Emergency money
It is best to leave a small reserve of money (for example, a large-value note) in the unlikeliest of places in case the worst happens. This money could then be used to cover a hotel room, transport, phone calls to your embassy, or something else. Suggestions include inside your sock or your shoe, your bra, paperclipped to your belt, or somewhere equally obscure. Be cautious about money inside a shoe: after a few months of trekking, paper money can disintegrate, so check every day when you are definitely alone.

Leave a credit card at home. Scan both sides of it and leave the information with an emergency contact (e-mailing credit card information, especially to webmail accounts, is not safe).

title: Pickpockets


text:
Pico

Pico is an island in the Azores archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean. This volcanic island is the second largest of the Azores, and provides opportunities for hiking and whale-watching. The island's vineyard culture landscape is a.

Understand

The island of Pico (PEE-koo, /ˈpi.ku/) is south of São Jorge and just  east of Faial, in the Central Group of islands, an area that is colloquially known as o Triangulo (The Triangle). Pico is long, and at its maximum extent about  wide, rising from its center to the west in the summit of the stratovolcano of Pico; making it the second largest of the Azores islands.

The three main settlements on the island are Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico.

The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the tradition of the Portuguese poet, Raul Brandão, Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"), for its black volcanic earth, responsible for its UNESCO-designated historical vineyards that allowed the development of the island.

The island supported a substantial whaling industry until 1980. The position of the island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge means that deep water is very close. Active industries include tourism, shipbuilding and wine production.

Get around

 * Taxis: usually hang out at the ferry terminal in Madalena.
 * Taxis: usually hang out at the ferry terminal in Madalena.

It is quite easy to drive the length of the island from Madelena to Piedade and back in a day. Adding in stops like the Gruta das Torres and Mount Pico could leave you pressed for time.

See

 * Former biology professor Malcolm Clarke runs a beautiful whaling museum in São João. Displays about the sperm whale and its main food, the octopus (also called giant squids). There are many unique exhibits and you can also sniff ambergris. There is another whaling museum in São Roque that is worth seeing.

Do

 * Swim in the largest man-made, outdoor, public saltwater pool in Madelena. It's a fantastic place to relax and cool off in the summer. The pool is deep enough for diving. Beginner swimmers should stay away from the middle, as the size is quite large.
 * The island also offers good opportunities for cycling.
 * Despite some natural swimming pools, the island is less suitable for a beach holiday.
 * The island is one of the centers for whale watching. It is also popular with divers.
 * The island is one of the centers for whale watching. It is also popular with divers.

Hiking
Popular, but demanding and strenuous, is the ascent of the Pico volcano. The Rother hiking guide Azores describes the following tours:
 * From Criação Velha to Gruta das Torres (2 hours 50 minutes)
 * Zona do Verdelho (3 hours 30 minutes)
 * From Furna de Frei Matias to Madalena (2 hours 40 minutes)
 * Montana do Pico (5 hours 45 minutes)
 * Around Santa Luzia (5 hours)
 * From Lagoa do Capitão to Baia de Canas (4 hours 15 minutes)
 * From Lagoa do Capitão to Cais do Pico (3 hours 30 minutes)
 * From Miradouro da Terra Alta to Santo Amaro (2 hours)
 * From Miradouro da Terra Alta to Piedade (4 hours)
 * The highland lakes of Pico (7 hours 15 minutes)
 * Ponta da Ilha (4 hours)
 * From Parque Florestal de São João to Silveira (3 hours)

Buy
There is a large Continente supermarket on the edge of Madelena, and a smaller Solmar supermarket closer to the centre.

There is also a local shop run by a Chinese family that sells inexpensive items of almost every variety from electronics to socks. Clothing is mainly imported, and as a result, expensive.

Eat
There are many cafes in the area and all of them offer good food for reasonable prices. Variety of food is limited mainly to bread, cheese, and beef. Vegetarians may have some trouble having a balanced meal. Even the local soups will most likely have meat or meat broth as an ingredient. If you're a vegan, be prepared for starvation.

Drink
The local cafes usually double as the local bars. Beer here is cheaper than bottled water, at about €0.50 a bottle.

Stay safe
Towns in Pico are very safe. Crime is very low and violence is almost non-existent. However, be very aware when crossing the streets; people on this island tend to drive a bit crazy. You will frequently see cars driving at freeway speeds on cobble stone roads. Also, it's not surprising to see cars parked in the middle of a road and blocking traffic. The driving laws are loose at best.

title: Pico


text:
Pico Rivera

Pico Rivera is one of the Gateway Cities in the Los Angeles area of Southern California.

Get in
Metro buses are available from other parts of the Los Angeles area.

title: Pico Rivera


text:
Picton

There's more than one place called Picton:

Australia

 * Picton (New South Wales) - a town near Sydney in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales

Canada

 * Picton (Ontario) - is a town in Prince Edward County in Ontario

New Zealand

 * Picton (New Zealand) - a port town in Marlborough (New Zealand), South Island (New Zealand)

title: Picton


text:
Picton (New Zealand)

Picton is a small but important town in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. The town is a major hub in New Zealand's transport network, linking the South Island road and rail network with ferries that cross Cook Strait to and from Wellington in the North Island. For many travellers, it's the gateway to the Marlborough and Nelson Bays regions. It serves as a base for exploring the Marlborough Sounds, with nearby activities that include sailing, SCUBA diving to the wreck of the Soviet passenger cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov, fishing, biking and hiking.

Understand
In 1962, the New Zealand Railways' chose Picton as the South Island terminal for its new Cook Strait road and rail ferry service, now known as the Interislander. Ferry GMV Aramoana provided the first roll-on-roll-off ferry service between two islands, dramatically cutting travel times and proving extremely popular. By 1976, Aramoana has been joined on the route by three other ferries and together they had effectively wiped out their maritime inter-island competitors, including the long-standing 'Steamer Express' overnight ferry between Wellington and Lyttelton. Today, five ferries operated by both Interislander and Bluebridge ply the Wellington to Picton route.

By boat

Passenger and vehicle ferries sail several times daily from Wellington to Picton, taking about 3½ hours.

Cruise ships call at Picton during the summer season (October to April), ranging from small boutique ships to mega-ships such as regular visitor Ovation of the Seas (347 m long and 4,500 passengers). Cruise ships up to 245 m long berth at Waitohi Wharf alongside the Cook Strait ferries, while larger cruise ships berth at Waimahara Wharf on adjacent Shakespeare Bay and passengers are shuttled from the wharf to the i-Site Information centre in central Picton. One reason that cruise ships visit Picton is the very picturesque voyage in/out through the Queen Charlotte Sound. Make sure you get a good viewing position.

By plane

 * Sounds Air operates frequent flights between Wellington and Picton from Picton Airport, 5 minutes south from Picton off SH1. A one-way fare is around $99, making the 25-minute flight a time-saving alternative to the ferry.  Booking on-line is the cheapest choice. Sounds Air will pick you up from Picton by arrangement. Sounds Air also fly direct to Nelson for not much extra, if you aren't inspired to visit Picton.

By train

By bus
There are bus and shuttle services that connect with the ferry sailings travelling to Christchurch via Kaikoura, Nelson via Havelock and one shuttle to Fox Glacier via Murchison and Greymouth. All services travel via Blenheim.

 * Intercity Coach
 * Nelson Lakes Shuttles specialise in providing transport for trampers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and skiers. They run on demand and scheduled services to St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes National Park, Kahurangi National Park, the Richmond Ranges as well as other tramping destinations further afield.

By car
State Highway 1 connects Picton with Blenheim (28 km; 23 minutes) and from there the rest of the South Island.

Coming from Nelson there is the option of taking Queen Charlotte Drive, which leaves State Highway 6 at Havelock and snakes along the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Queen Charlotte Drive, despite being far shorter by distance, does not save any driving time but does provide magnificent views and the sound of birdsong as you slowly negotiate its myriad hairpin bends. Allow additional time for photography.

Almost all rental car companies will have an office in Picton so you do not need to take rental cars on the ferry. A number of rental car companies are clustered around the Ferry Terminal. Sometimes they will offer deals relocating cars (usually) to Christchurch.

On-street parking in central Picton is free but limited to 60 minutes. All-day off-street parking is available for $5 in signposted carparks off High St and Wellington St.

Get around
Picton has no local bus service. The "one-horse" town centre is easily explored on foot. If you need to get around and don't feel like driving, take a taxi.

By boat
Queen Charlotte Sound is largely inaccessible by road, and many parts rely on boat transport. Water taxis depart from the, on London Quay at the top end of Wellington St.

See

 * Marlborough Sounds.
 * Memorial Park and the waterfront.
 * Marlborough Sounds.
 * Memorial Park and the waterfront.

Marine cruises
There are a variety of cruises, including wildlife tours, scenic cruises, fishing and transport to and from tramping tracks. Most excursions depart from the Picton Town Wharf, on London Quay at the top end of Wellington St.

Buy
Precious minerals may be worth looking into, such as the lustrous greenstone from the wild, boulder-strewn rivers of the area. The area also favors a concentration of craftspeople, especially glass blowers, potters, weavers and wood carvers, who have been attracted by the high quality of raw materials.

Stay safe
Picton, like all small towns in New Zealand, has a volunteer fire brigade, with firefighters called out by a siren atop the station in High Street. The siren is tested every Monday night (excluding public holidays) at 19:00.

Go next

 * Blenheim – the largest town in Marlborough and centre of the Marlborough wine region, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc
 * Havelock – also in the Marlborough Sounds, and the green-shell mussel capital of the world
 * Nelson Bays – the sunshine city of Nelson with its art galleries, theatres, fine restaurants, neo-gothic Christ Church cathedral, beaches and popular national parks

title: Picton (New Zealand)


text:
Pictou

Pictou is a small town of 3,200 people (2016) in Pictou County, Nova Scotia on the north-western shore of a natural harbour. It is most well-known for its claim to be the birthplace of new Scotland after the landing of the first settlers to come to Nova Scotia directly from Scotland in 1773. There are many old buildings to see, an attractive waterfront and several museums.

Understand
Once an active shipping port and the shire town of the county, today Pictou is primarily a local service centre for surrounding rural communities and is the primary tourist destination in this region of Nova Scotia.

The name Pictou, pronounced 'Pick-toe', derives from the Mi'kmaq name Piktuk, meaning "explosive place", a reference to the river of pitch that was found in the area, or perhaps from methane bubbling up from coal seams below the harbour.

History
Pictou had been the location of an annual Mi'kmaq Aboriginal summer coastal community prior to European settlement. Pictou was part of the Epekwitk aq Piktuk Mi'kmaq District, which included present-day Prince Edward Island and Pictou.

Pictou was a receiving point for many Scottish immigrants moving to a new home in northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island following the Highland Clearances of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The first wave of immigrants arrived on September 15, 1773, on the Hector.

When the Hector arrived, there were already a few families in Pictou that had arrived on the Betsy six years earlier. The town has an indirect connection to Scottish settlement in New Zealand; the Reverend Norman McLeod emigrated to Pictou from Scotland some years after the Hector but eventually re-settled with his parishioners at St. Ann's on Cape Breton Island, and later to Waipu where there are still many descendants from Pictou and St. Ann's. In 1812, Sir Hector Maclean (the 7th Baronet of Morvern and 23rd Chief of the Clan Maclean) emigrated to Pictou from Glensanda and Kingairloch in Scotland with almost the entire population of 500. Sir Hector is buried in the cemetery at Pictou.

During the latter part of the 19th century, Pictou's industrial sector gained strength. The Intercolonial Railway was built to the town on a spur from the Stellarton-Oxford Junction "Short Line". Shipbuilding increased through the 19th century, particularly with the increase in coal being shipped from Pictou Landing, Abercrombie and the East River of Pictou. Shipyards have been established in the town since this period. CN Rail abandoned its service to the town in the late 1980s but other transportation - including Highway 106 (the Trans-Canada Highway) - opened in the 1970s to provide alternatives.

By road
Speed demons coming from New Brunswick, Cape Breton or Halifax can get to Pictou quickly via the Highway 104 and the short connecting Highway 106. A more leisurely drive from New Brunswick can be taken along Trunk 6. Highway 104 is part of the main route route of the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway 106 continues at Highway 1 on Prince Edward Island, and both of those highways are part of a branch of Trans-Canada Highway.

By ferry
It's the closest town in Nova Scotia to the Prince Edward Island ferry connecting from Wood Islands. Ferry crossing time is 75 minutes. There are as few as 3 sailings per direction per day in the winter and more than double that at other times of the year.

Get around

 * Walk - around town - it's only 2 km from one end of downtown to the other.
 * Drive - around to the different attractions in Pictou County
 * Cabs - a $5 cab ride gets you just about anywhere
 * Water taxis and boat tours of the harbour are available, which also connect to the town of New Glasgow.

See

 * The Pictou Lodge
 * Historic stone buildings
 * Water Street
 * The Pictou Lodge
 * Historic stone buildings
 * Water Street
 * The Pictou Lodge
 * Historic stone buildings
 * Water Street

Do

 * The Pictou Lobster Carnival in July. An amusement park is set up. This yearly event celebrating the end of the fishing season and has been a town festival since 1934.
 * There are several beaches near the town, most notably Caribou Provincial Park and Waterside Beach Provincial Park.

Eat
Lobster in season, of course.

Pictou County pizza is a regional variant of pizza found in Pictou County. The pizza is made with a "brown sauce" and Halifax-made pepperoni called "Brothers". The pizza can be shipped frozen across Canada via an arrangement between a local pizza shop and the local UPS agent.

Drink
Local pubs

Go next
North to the ferry to Prince Edward Island, south to Highway 104 and New Glasgow, or east on Trunk 6 along the Northumberland Shore coast (eventually reaching Amherst).

Pictou is 5 km south of the port of Caribou where Northumberland Ferries Limited operates a seasonal vehicle-pedestrian ferry service to Prince Edward Island; there is also a pedestrian-only ferry that operates seasonally to Pictou Island.

title: Pictou


text:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the first of the only three United States National Lakeshores. It is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the southern shore of Lake Superior, and is known for its rugged coastline featuring colorful naturally sculpted rock formations and waterfalls.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
The Lakeshore is located east of Munising and west of Grand Marais, Michigan.

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees charged at Pictured Rocks, nor are any fees charged for day-use.

Fees are charged for overnight camping at campgrounds and at backcountry campsites.

See
Miner's Castle and Miner's Falls

Chapel Rock and Chapel Falls

Grand Portal Point

Indian Head Point

Au Sable Point Lighthouse - Shipwrecks along the beach west of the lighthouse

Log Slide at Grand Sable Dunes - logs were pushed down the log slide by lumberjacks into Lake Superior to be more easily transported.

Beaver Lake

Do
Go hiking!

The Pictured Rocks may be more easily seen by tour boat, which sail from Munising.

Stay safe
Those rock formations aren't just pretty; they're dangerous. Falls from them have been fatal.

Go next
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, featuring one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, is a couple hours' drive to the east. The Yooper metropolis of Marquette is a similar distance to the west, along the lakeshore. Other notable State and National Parks/Lakeshores within a few hours' drive are Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, in the Northern Lower Peninsula, Mackinac Island, Isle Royale, Porcupine Mountains in the western Yoop and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northwest Wisconsin.

title: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


text:
Pidgin

Pidgin languages are created as a group of people merge words and parts of two or more languages into a unique combination. Pidgin languages may evolve as immigrants or displaced people use some of their old language, peppered with new words from their new country. Or they may come about as native people try to deal with an influx of a new dominant group, holding on to some of their old language even as they must communicate with the new group. If the pidgin becomes more stable and children begin learning it as their primary language, the pidgin will become a creole, a stable language. Instead, if later generations take one of the languages instead of the combination, the pidgin will be lost.

True pidgin languages are normally in a state of transition and development. People speaking the pidgin language will still have their old language to fall back to, if you are able to speak to them in that language.

Many people may continue to refer to a language as a pidgin for some decades after it has been adopted by the group, even though linguists would term it a stable creole. Languages which have become standardized creoles but are still frequently referred to as pidgin are:
 * Bislama -- spoken in Vanuatu. Bislama was based on a combination of English, French, and native words for local plants and animals.
 * Tok Pisin -- spoken in Papua New Guinea and sometimes referred to as New Guinea Pidgin. Tok Pisin was based on a combination of several European languages and native languages.
 * Hawaii Pidgin English -- spoken in Hawaii.

title: Pidgin


text:
Piešťany

Piešťany is a city in the Trnava region of Western Slovakia, on the river Váh, approximately 80 km from Bratislava, the Slovak capital, and 150 km from Vienna.

Understand
Piešťany, a well-known spa town, is in the western part of Slovakia in Trnava region. A lowland, dry and soft windy climate is typical for Piešťany. Moreover, Piešťany is a town with the most sunshine days in Slovakia. There are around 28,000 inhabitants in the town.

Get around
Piešťany is also known as a town of cyclists. The town is not very big and to get from one place to another does not take a lot of time. That is why the habitants prefer to use bicycle rather than car and traffic jams are rare in Piešťany.

See
Piešťany could be also called “Queen of the spa towns“. On the other side of Váh river is located Spa Island which is actually not very far from the lake. Both town sides are connected with two bridges. The colonnade bridge is architecturally very interesting and it is designated for pedestrians. Parallel to this bridge is Krajinsky Bridge dedicated to automobile and truck transportation. To get to Spa Island is not difficult though and it is not far from the centre of the town. In the entrance to the spa complex takes place the statue of a man breaking his crutch which symbolizes people who left the spa with a good health and without any disease. This Spa Island is full of cure houses, hotels, parks, swimming pools, unique fountains, natural springs and vegetation. All the hotels offer for their guests very high qualities of services and accommodation. Hotel Thermia Palace is the first 5-star spa hotel in Slovakia.

Do
Piešťany has great conditions for relax, sport and cultural life. The lake Slňava is the biggest water basin in neighbourhood of Piešťany. In summer days, it is the best place for people who prefer cycling, in-line skating, water-skiing, barbecuing or just sunbathing and relaxing. The opening of the spa season is a day which takes place every year on June 1 and it is full of attractions. There are lots of open air concerts, film festivals and traditional exhibitions. Piešťany is a popular conference centre as well. The winter atmosphere in Piešťany is also something special. It is possible just to take a walk and admire the beauty of the surrounding countryside or to go a little bit further to the ski centre Bezovec which has great conditions for the winter sports lovers. Piešťany is not only town of spas, parks and culture, but also a very important centre for development sport abilities of citizens or visitors. Big tradition has swimming, tennis, soccer and water sports in general. Golf is an important sport in Piešťany.

Eat
There are many possibilities to eat in pubs and restaurants in this small and agreeable town. You can choose from many offers that really differ from each other, and every single restaurant or pub is specific and unique.

Le Griffon - restaurant in French style situated in centre of the town offers meals from French cuisine and the interior and exterior is decorated in the style of this country as well.

Jazz - live jazz music concerts, centre of the town, quiet and agreeable atmosphere.

Slovensky Dvor - restaurant in the suburb of the town offers typical Slovak meals including bryndzove halusky and other specialties.

title: Piešťany


text:
Piedmont

Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte) is a region in the northwest of Italy, next to the border with France. The main city is Turin (Torino), which was host to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Piedmont is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, including the Monviso, where the Po River rises, and the Monte Rosa. It borders with France, Switzerland and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Aosta Valley.

The area is justly famous for its wines, which include some of the best produced from Italy, such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato D'Asti. Its local cuisine is renowned throughout Italy and the precious white truffles of the region have been compared to gold because of their cost and delicacy.

Piedmont consists of the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli.

Cities and towns

 * (Torino), the first capital of modern Italy, is an elegant fun city.
 * - the entrance to the Langhe, the home of Nutella Chocolate spread, otherwise best known for its ancient Roman walls, elegant wines and exotic truffles
 * - a city and province in the southeast, the province also containing Acqui Terme, a beautiful Roman town famous for its hot sulphur springs and ancient baths
 * - the southernmost port on Lake Maggiore
 * - centre of the Piedmont wine area, an important medieval republic known as “City of 100 Towers”, of which around 15 still stand in the old historical walled city
 * - a small town south of Alba, world famous for its red wine
 * - a town and province with a strong tradition in wool and clothes production, and a 13th-century fortification at Candelo
 * - a city situated midway between Cuneo and Turin that is one of the main centers of the Piedmontese Baroque style with its many churches and palaces of the 17th and 18th centuries
 * - Capital and largest city of Piedmont's largest province, one of the main centers of Italian "Resistenza" during World War II with a surprisingly strong industrial base.
 * - a city at the foot of the Alps in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
 * - a town in the province of Turin
 * - a city and province in the east of Piedmont
 * - a sophisticated small town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore that is known for its pleasant climate and scenic surroundings and functions in part as a health resort
 * - the main city of western Lake Maggiore, with beautiful lakeside mansions, plenty of shops and restaurants, and one of the biggest farmers' market around the lake
 * - Small village near the French border and popular ski resort.
 * - a city and province in the east of Piedmont
 * - a sophisticated small town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore that is known for its pleasant climate and scenic surroundings and functions in part as a health resort
 * - the main city of western Lake Maggiore, with beautiful lakeside mansions, plenty of shops and restaurants, and one of the biggest farmers' market around the lake
 * - Small village near the French border and popular ski resort.
 * - a sophisticated small town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore that is known for its pleasant climate and scenic surroundings and functions in part as a health resort
 * - the main city of western Lake Maggiore, with beautiful lakeside mansions, plenty of shops and restaurants, and one of the biggest farmers' market around the lake
 * - Small village near the French border and popular ski resort.
 * - the main city of western Lake Maggiore, with beautiful lakeside mansions, plenty of shops and restaurants, and one of the biggest farmers' market around the lake
 * - Small village near the French border and popular ski resort.

Other destinations

 * is one of the largest lakes in Italy, about 65 km (40 miles) long with a width of to, and a pleasantly temperate climate. Most of the western shore is in Piedmont and contains a number of picturesque towns.
 * The vineyard regions of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero Hills lie in the center of Piedmont and are a mixture of limestone and sandstone deposits laid down by the retreating Adriatic 3 million years ago, now cut by numerous river valleys and the area of most of Piedmont's wines. The "Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato" is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 * - in Cuneo Province to the south and west of the river Tanaro famous for its wines, and for its truffles. The hills of Langhe contain Piedmont's finest vineyards. The grapes grown in this region are primarily nebbiolo, dolcetto and barbera. The nebbiolo grape is used to make the renowned Piedmontese red wines Barolo and Barbaresco.  Within Langhe are famous wine towns such as Barolo, La Morra, Monforte, Serralunga d'Alba and Barbaresco.
 * Monferrato - extending from Turin to the eastern border of Alessandria, bounded by the Po River to the north and merging into Langhe in the south. The Monferrato is divided into northern and southern areas with Asti in the center. This area is also a well known wine area particularly for Barbera d'Asti, as well as less known varieties such as Fresia, Grignolino, Brachetto, Malavasia and Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato; it is also known for one of the rare white wines of the region: the Gavi. The Monferrato is also famous for its white truffles found in Autumn and celebrated in local festivals each Sunday.
 * Roero - the hills situated on the west bank of Tanaro River between Alba and Asti. The sandier soil produces light Nebbiolo wines as well as Piedmont’s best white variety the Arneis. The area is also famous for its honey; there is a beekeeping trail you can walk, as well as peaches (check the local markets in summer and autumn). And then there is the Eco-museum of the Roero rocks, or the great path of the Roero a hiking trail stretching from Cisterna to Bra which incorporates the Roero rocks, ancient lime and sandstone cliffs.

Understand
Native Piedmontese are friendly and down to earth. This region has been the industrial heart of Italy since 1800, even though nowadays it's experiencing some economic difficulties connected with loss of industry. Tourism is a growing factor.

The monarchy has left strong heritage across the region, particularly in wide natural parks (former king's hunting reserves) and in 18th- and 19th-century buildings.

Talk
Piedmontese is spoken by about 2-3 million people throughout Piedmont. However, Italian dominates everyday communication.

In 2004, Piedmontese was recognized as Piedmont's regional language by the regional parliament, although the Italian government does not recognize it. It has, however, been recognized as a separate language by the European Union. It is supposed to be taught to children in school, but this is happening only in a limited way.

While the Piedmont region does not attract as many foreign tourists as Rome or Milan, locals can usually speak a few foreign languages. French is widely understood and sometimes spoken at a basic level thanks to the geographic proximity with France. Once very uncommon, English has become widespread, especially with younger generations. German, albeit rare, can be spoken by a few people.

By plane
Piedmont is well served by airports.

Caselle Airport in Turin is the main airport of Piedmont. It has regular flights with main European hubs and Italian cities operated by major airlines as well as low fares companies.

Milan is well connected to Piedmont and has three airports:

 * The main international airport is Milano Malpensa Airport, which is one of the Italian airports with most international traffic and is closest to Piedmont. It has direct connections with railway and highway networks. The airport is connected to Milan by the Milano-Varese highway as well by a dedicated train called "Malpensa Express", both with good connections to Novara and Lake Maggiore. There is also a scheduled bus service for Turin.
 * Linate Airport (LIN) is the closest airport to Milan’s city centre and is well served by domestic and short-haul international carriers. It has easy access to the local highway network and is connected to Malpensa Airport by a scheduled bus service.
 * Orio al Serio (Phone number: +39 035326323) is located nearer to Bergamo and serves the low-cost traffic of Milan, but is probably the least convenient way to reach Piedmont.

To the south is Cristoforo Colombo Airport in Genoa which is served by domestic and short-haul international carriers.

Another option is Levaldigi Airport between Savigliano and Cuneo, but it has a very limited number of flights and very few connections other than private car.

By train

 * From France directly to Turin from Lyon through the Frejus Tunnel
 * From Switzerland through Domodossola

By car

 * From France through the Frejus Tunnel, Ventimiglia or Tenda Pass or via Mt Blanc tunnel and Val D'Aosta;

from France, the Montgenèvre road (RN 94/ SS 24) from Briançon to Cesana Torinese in Italy is very good (above all on the Italian side), always open during winter and free.

 * From Switzerland through Sempione, or St Bernhard, Saint Gothard and other minor passes
 * From the other parts of Italy by A4 Turin - Trieste, A21 Turin - Piacenza or A6 Turin - Savona highways

Get around
Although some local bus and train service exists, the best way to tour the Piedmont is by car, especially for tourists who want to venture outside Turin and a few other large cities.

See
The region has numerous interesting museums, some of the best are found in Turin including Museo Egizio, the second most important Egyptian museum in the world, and National Cinema Museum, most famed for the spectacular building.

Ski areas
There are a number of well known ski resorts in Piedmont Alpine region

Resorts
The Milky Way ski area is one of the biggest areas in Europe and encompasses the following resorts.
 * Sestriere – location of the Winter Olympics
 * Sauze D'Oulx
 * Claviere

Bardonecchia in Turin province is a mountain town and a large ski area that was host to the 2006 Winter Olympic snowboarding events. It is also the Italian entrance to the Frejus Tunnel, which connects to France.

Macugnaga and Alagna Val Sesia in the V.C.O. (Verbano, Cusio, Ossola) province (North-east of the Region).

Limone Piemonte and Prato Nevoso in the province of Coni.

Eat
If you can, try the Bollito Misto and Fritto Misto. These are two very traditional dishes and you may only be able to find them in old restaurants far from the tourist circuit. The Bollito Misto is a mix of beef and pork meat boiled with vegetables and eaten with a variety of sauces. The Fritto Misto is a mixture of fried meats and vegetables. Another very typical meal is Bagna Cauda: it consists of a hot garlic sauce eaten with raw vegetables. Try also the "Paniscia vercellese" a typical dish from Vercelli made with rice, beans and sausages. You can eat also fried frogs and good fishes from the lake and rivers.

Piedmont also boasts a range of typical sweet dishes and biscuits. Chocolate is a particular specialty of the region.

Drink
Piedmont is well known for its great wines, particularly Barolo and Barbaresco but also Dolcetto, Arneis, Freisa, Gavi and others. Most vineyards are on the Langhe hills around Asti and Alba and on Monferrato other hills between Alba an Alessandria, but the passion for strong red wines has spread among the entire territory. Try also beers (Menabrea) and aromated wines (Vermuths).

Sleep
You will find many accommodations from bed & breakfast to superb hotels. A good place to stay is the Verbania area at Lake Maggiore. In Stresa you will find the most sophisticated hotels. Camping is also available. A good way to learn more about the area is staying at an agritourismo or a family oriented B&B.

Stay safe
Piedmont is generally a very safe region. Parts of Turin have modest petty crime, but otherwise you are not likely to encounter any danger.

Go next

 * Aosta Valley

title: Piedmont


text:
Piedmont (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Piedmont:

Italy

 * Piedmont

United States of America

 * Piedmont (California) - A town in the Bay Area of the state of California.
 * Piedmont (Oklahoma) - A town in the Frontier Country region of the state of Oklahoma.
 * Piedmont (North Carolina) A region in central North Carolina.
 * Piedmont (Georgia)
 * Piedmont (West Virginia)

title: Piedmont (disambiguation)


text:
Piedmont (Georgia)

Piedmont is a region in the state of Georgia. This region includes the Metro Atlanta Region.

Metro Atlanta Counties

 * Cherokee - includes Lake Alatoona
 * Henry - location of the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton.
 * Rockdale - includes Conyers, famous for horse races and the annual cherry blossom festival.
 * Cowetta - includes Newman.
 * Forsyth - includes Cumming.
 * Paulding - includes Dallas.
 * Spalding - includes Griffin.
 * Barrow
 * Bartow - includes Cartersville and the Etowah Mounds.
 * Carroll - includes Carrolton, Villa Rica, and Mt. Zion
 * Douglas - rolling hills at the south end of the Appalachians, includes Douglasville and Sweetwater Creek State Park.
 * Newton - includes Covington
 * Walton - includes the historic village of Social Circle.
 * Haralson
 * Butts
 * Meriwether - includes Warm Springs, the location of FDR's Little White House.
 * Pike
 * Lamar
 * Jasper
 * Heard

Other counties

 * Banks
 * Clarke - includes Athens.
 * Elbert
 * Franklin
 * Greene
 * Hall - includes Gainesville and Lake Lanier Islands.
 * Hart - Lake Hartwell.
 * Jackson - includes Jefferson.
 * Madison
 * Morgan
 * Oconee
 * Oglethorpe
 * Troup

Cities

 * Athens - College town home of the University of Georgia.

Other destinations

 * Lake Lanier Islands

Get in
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary domestic and international airport that serves the Metro Atlanta Region.

See
Georgia Aquarium The largest aquarium in the world with tens of thousands of animals in 8 million gallons of water. M-Su 9AM-6PM; $26.00 (adult); $19.50 (child age 3-12); $21.50 (senior age 55+).

Do
The Forum- shopping center is an outdoor mall!

title: Piedmont (Georgia)


text:
Piedmont (North Carolina)

The Piedmont is the central region of North Carolina, a plateau of gentle hills between the flat Coastal Plain and the majestic mountains. The Piedmont is home to the state's biggest cities as well as rolling farmland; fast-growing research centers as well as old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Cities
Research Triangle:
 * - Home of the University of North Carolina.
 * - Famous for Duke University and tobacco connections.
 * - North Carolina's capital, with great museums and cultural attractions.

Piedmont Triad:
 * - One of the largest cities in the state, with several colleges and universities, attractive historic districts, and civil rights history.
 * - "Furniture Capital of the World".
 * - Mid-sized city, home to the famous historic Moravian settlement of Old Salem.

Charlotte Metro
 * - The Carolinas' largest city, and the center of commerce and culture in the Piedmont.
 * - Home of Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway), host to three major NASCAR races; Concord Mills, the state's #1 tourist destination; a lovely historic district; and many cultural attractions.
 * - Historic mill town now home to the NC Research Campus. Local attractions include the Gem Theater (built 1938); Cannon Village; and the Village Park, host to many concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Understand
The Piedmont is, in more ways than one, a transitional zone. It is between the Deep South (the Hollywood version of Southern culture) and the Mid-Atlantic coastline. It also represents a gradual transition from the Appalachian mountain range toward the coastal area. Therefore it seems rather "in the middle" culturally and politically. Standard rules of Southern culture -- pronounced etiquette, slower speech patterns, relatively conservative social standards -- are present, but not nearly as overbearing for visitors as one might expect to find in other areas.

Due to the strong banking industry, mild climate, and natural resources, it has become a desirable destination for companies and families to relocate from the Northeast and Midwest.

By plane
The two main airports in the region are Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte Douglas. Charlotte is a major hub for American, with destinations all around the world, while Raleigh-Durham is connected with most big cities in the US. The Greensboro area is also served by Piedmont Triad Airport, although in many cases it may be more convenient to fly into Charlotte or Raleigh-Durham and then drive around 1 - 1½ hours to your destination in the Triad.

By car
The main highways in the Piedmont are:
 * I-40 - connects California with North Carolina
 * I-85 - passes through NC on its way between Richmond and Atlanta.

By train
Amtrak's Carolinian service originates in New York and terminates in Charlotte, while the Silver Service passes through on its way to New York from Florida.

By bus
The Piedmont is well served by Greyhound and Megabus.

Get around
Driving is the most popular option for getting around the region. But train coverage is better than average for the US: Amtrak's aptly named Piedmont line goes across the Piedmont, as does the Carolinian. Both lines connect Raleigh and Charlotte as well as cities in between, such as Durham and Greensboro. The train is a convenient and nice way to travel between the region's cities.

Megabus and Greyhound buses are available. There's also a regional bus system called PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit), mostly centered around the Piedmont Triad but with one line that connects to Chapel Hill. The Research Triangle and Charlotte Metro have their own bus systems as well.

There are short commercial flights between the airports in the area (though the region is small enough that flying within it probably isn't worth the hassle if you're not making a connection).

Biking in the Piedmont is a pleasant way to enjoy the green, wooded scenery and farmland. Expect plenty of hills.

See
Nature lovers will like Charlotte. The area is very green compared to most cities. The closest (large) bodies of water and waterways are:

 * The Catawba River

Several cities in the region have a good selection of museums, especially Charlotte and Raleigh. Greensboro is home to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

 * Old Salem: Visit this 1800-style neighborhood and check out the college. Learn how to make corn pancakes and play old fashion games.

 * Tour Greensboro's historic Blandwood Mansion, have lunch at one of several restaurants on South Elm Street (three blocks east), then visit art and antique galleries along South Elm Street between Elm and Lee streets. 5 hours.

Drink
A local favorite is Cheerwine soft drink, you should give it a try. Other favorites include Sun Drop and RC Cola. As for beer, Char-Meck is nothing out of the ordinary. Liquor is available by the drink throughout the county, though some nearby small towns have wrestled with whether to permit it.

Liquor is only available through state-sanctioned ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores. Therefore, traditional liquor stores do not exist. Wine and beer are available for purchase at any gas station or grocery store.

Stay healthy
Allergy sufferers be warned: because of the heavily wooded nature of this region, this area will be hell on you during the spring. If you are sensitive to high pollen levels, you should consider coming another time, or bring medicine.

Go next

 * Central Virginia
 * North Carolina Coastal Plain
 * North Carolina Mountains
 * Olde English District, a region of South Carolina that includes some of Charlotte's suburbs

title: Piedmont (North Carolina)


text:
Piedmont Triad

The Piedmont Triad (or simply the Triad) is an urban region in central North Carolina.

Cities

 * – biggest city in the region
 * – historic city with an old Moravian settlement
 * – "furniture capital of the world"

Towns

 * - A small city, mostly known as the home of the North Carolina Zoological Park.
 * – "barbecue capital of the world"
 * – inspiration for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show
 * – small town famous for pottery
 * – "Chair City"
 * – "barbecue capital of the world"
 * – inspiration for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show
 * – small town famous for pottery
 * – "Chair City"
 * – small town famous for pottery
 * – "Chair City"
 * – "Chair City"

Other destinations

 * – a state park featuring a distinctive mountain
 * – a state park featuring a distinctive mountain

By bus
The Triad is served by Greyhound buses from other parts of North Carolina and beyond. Beyond that, PART has one line that goes from Chapel Hill to Burlington and Greensboro.

By train
Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont trains stop in Burlington, Greensboro, and High Point; this is a convenient and pleasant way to get to these cities from Charlotte or the Research Triangle. The Crescent also stops in Greensboro and High Point on its way from New York City to New Orleans.

Get around
PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit) buses serve various cities and towns in the region. The system's big hub is the.

Go next

 * Asheville – liberal, artsy town in the mountains
 * Charlotte Metro – not too far away, and home to the biggest city in North Carolina
 * Research Triangle – another metro area centered around three cities instead of one

title: Piedmont Triad


text:
Piedras Negras

Piedras Negras is a Mayan archaeological site in Guatemala near the Usumacinta River. The site was a large city, known for its large number of sculptures.

Understand
The archaeological ruins known as Piedras Negras (or Yo'k'ib' in the Mayan language) are on the eastern bank of the Usumacinta River, opposite the Mexican border in northwestern Guatemala. The site was one of the largest and most important of the Classic Maya period. It used to have many magnificent limestone sculptures, relief panels, and stelae, but most are now in museums.

History
The history of Piedras Negras dates to at least the 7th century BC. The city grew steadily, peaking in population around 200 BC, and then declining for several centuries before increasing again to a second peak around the 8th century AD, at which time the city population is estimated to have been about 2,600 people. The city ruled over a large territory that comprised a population of about 50,000. Its thought the city once had alliances with nearby city-states, such as Yaxchilan.

The city had a large number of sculptures, many dating from the period 608 through 810 AD. A unique feature of sculptures at Piedras Grandes is that artists signed their works with unique glyphs.

Get in
The archaeological site is inside the Sierra del Lacandón national park, in the Peten jungle. The easiest way to get there is via Chiapas Mexico using a boat on the Usumacinta River.

Go next

 * Tikal
 * Yaxchilan
 * Bonampak

Piedras Negras

title: Piedras Negras


text:
Piedras Negras (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Piedras Negras:

Mexico

 * Piedras Negras - A border town in Coahuila.

Guatemala

 * Piedras Negras - A Mayan archaeological site.

title: Piedras Negras (disambiguation)


text:
Piedras Negras (Mexico)

Piedras Negras is a city of 165,000 people (2015) in northern Coahuila opposite the city of Eagle Pass, Texas, on the banks of the Rio Grande. It has various places for recreation, such as the Plaza de las Culturas, the Paseo del Río and the Gran Plaza.

Understand
In Spanish, Piedras Negras translates to 'black stones' – a reference to coal deposits in the area. Across the river, coal was mined on the U.S. side at Dolchburg, near Eagle Pass. This mine closed around 1905, after a fire. Mexico operates two large coal-fired power station named "José López Portillo" and "Carbón 2" 48 km south of Piedras Negras.

Climate
The high temperatures recorded in Piedras Negras have earned it recognition as one of the hottest cities in the country.

The climate of the region is semi-arid and hot. During summer the temperatures often surpass 45 °C (113 °F). The hottest months are May through September with a daily average (mean) temperature between 26 °C (79 °F) and 31 °C (88 °F).

Highest precipitation months are May, June and September with an average monthly downfall in excess of 80 mm (3.1 in) but that is highly sporadic lending to frequent drought conditions. The period of lowest precipitation is between December through March, with a monthly average of 30 mm (1.2 in).

Get in
Piedras Negras is best reached by car or bus. Day visitors from Eagle Pass Texas can simply walk across the international bridge.

By car

 * Mexico Highway 57 connects to Monclova in the south.
 * Mexico Highway 2 connect to Ciudad Acuña to the west, or Nuevo Laredo to the east.

By bus
Piedras Negras is served by trans-border buses from Texas, by first class buses to Monclova and other major cities in Mexico, and by Coahuilenses buses operated by Grupo Senda to towns throughout the Coahuila region. The main bus station is downtown at Allende 100. Coahuilenses buses also pick up passengers at the Soriana on the outskirts of Piedras Negras. Coahuilenses schedules and fares are available online.

See

 * De la Ventana Caverns

Do

 * Nacho Festival or Nacho Fest that takes place in October. Piedras Negras is the birthplace of nachos, where Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya invented them in 1940.
 * Nacho Festival or Nacho Fest that takes place in October. Piedras Negras is the birthplace of nachos, where Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya invented them in 1940.

Eat
Piedras Negras is the birthplace of nachos.

 * La Casasita - charming small restaurant, casual and affordable. Outstanding empanadas.

Consulates

 * 🇺🇸 United States

Connect
As of Dec 2021, Piedras Negras has 4G from AT&T / Unefon, Movistar and Telcel. You might also get a signal from the US carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Eagle Pass, Texas - casino
 * Monclova

title: Piedras Negras (Mexico)


text:
Pieksämäki

Pieksämäki is a city in South Savonia province, Eastern Finland.

Understand
Pieksämäki used to be a part of the larger Kangasniemi parish, which was established in the late 1600s. In the 1700s, the area began to develop with the opening of a new road connecting the towns of Heinola and Kuopio, which passed through Pieksämäki. This road made Pieksämäki an important trading hub and helped the town grow and prosper.

Pieksämäki became an independent municipality in 1868, and it continued to develop as a center of agriculture, trade, and industry in the region. In the early 1900s, the town experienced significant growth as new industries, such as a pulp and paper mill, were established in the area.

During World War II, Pieksämäki suffered some damage from bombings, but it was quickly rebuilt after the war. The town continued to develop and modernize in the post-war era, and it became an important center for transportation and logistics due to its location at the intersection of major rail lines and highways.

By train
Pretty much the only reason a traveller is likely to end up in Pieksämäki in the first place is that it's a major train junction where the Jyväskylä–Joensuu and Kouvola–Kuopio lines meet. The town can thus be reached by direct train from virtually all of Finland's main cities, such as: Helsinki (3 hrs), Tampere (2 hrs), Turku (4 hrs) and Oulu.

By bus
Coaches connect Pieksämäki to Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Varkaus and Mikkeli. See Matkahuolto.

Get around

The railway station is at the eastern end of the centre, which is a kilometre or so across. Local bus is available. The Matka.fi route planner includes timetables of Pieksämäki local buses. Matkahuolto Routes and Tickets app is able to first plan the route and after it sell the right ticket for it.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku
 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku

See

Do
Visit a few lakes around Pieksämäki; there are hundreds to choose from, all of them suitable for swimming, also those with a brownish natural sediment. The highest transparency of several metres is found in the waters around Jäppilä. For geologists the most interesting lake is Iso Naakkima, notable for having an impact crater, about 1,200 million years old, under its surface.

Mushrooms and berries are abundant in the local forests.

Buy

If you have half an hour or more to kill at Pieksämäki, make your way to the market (signposted as Tori), where in summer you'll find vendors of berries, freshly cooked vendace (muikku), and more. There's also a large S-Market supermarket right next to the market.

Go next

 * Mikkeli
 * Suonenjoki
 * Varkaus

title: Pieksämäki