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Cincinnati

Cincinnati is Ohio's third largest city and the largest metro region, and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio in the United States of America.

Cincinnati is distinct amongst Midwestern cities. Its culture is a mixture of the Northeast, Old South, Midwest, and Appalachia blended with a strong German-Catholic heritage. It was one of the United States' early boomtowns, and the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is the largest National Historic District in the country. Today, it's part of a fast-growing metro area, and home to a remarkable blend of industry and architecture. Downtown Cincinnati is surrounded by picturesque foothills that add a beautiful backdrop to the Queen City and its legendary skyline – celebrated in the opening credits of television show WKRP in Cincinnati.

Districts
Though not part of the City of Cincinnati, the two cities just south across the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky are practically contiguous with the downtown area:

Understand

Peak tourist season is summer and fall. If you are visiting during the winter or early spring, some activities or sights may have shortened hours or possibly be closed.

History
Formerly known as Losantiville, the city was renamed Cincinnati by the first governor of the Northwest Territory, Arthur St. Clair, in honor of the Society of the Cincinnati, a society named after Roman dictator Cincinnatus who famously gave up absolute power and returned to his farm after serving his country in times of crisis and founded at the end of the Revolutionary War. Many members of the society were prominent men in the early years of the United States.

The city's early economy was based on the pork industry, and this was celebrated in the summer of 2000 with the Big Pig Gig, during which large flying pig statues took up residence along the city's main thoroughfares. Many of these pig statues later found homes downtown in offices, parks and even private residences. The Miami and Erie canal was completed in the 1840s, and was used to transport hogs and butchered pork products to Cincinnati from much of western Ohio.

During this time period massive waves of Germans settled into the city populating neighborhoods which at their height in the late 1800s were some of the most densely populated outside of New York City. These German immigrants built a culture based on beer gardens, beer brewing, dance and music halls giving Cincinnati a very distinct and vibrant local culture. Very little remains from this era due to both World War I anti-German backlash and the prohibition of alcohol in 1920. Lately, with the beginnings of revitalization of the Downtown Basin neighborhoods, there has been a renewed interest in this heritage and some of it can be seen to this day in faded German signs on densely built ornate Victorian buildings in Over-The-Rhine, a high per-capita number of bars, and the celebration of large German festivals such as Bockfest, Mayfest, and the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States.

Cincinnati also has a charming riverboat heritage that dates back to the days when large, steam and paddle-wheel driven vessels were used to transport locally produced pork products. In recognition of this tradition, the city plays host to the Tall Stacks Festival once every few years (although it hasn't been held since 2006), during which time the river front is transformed into a mass of color, with river boats of all shapes and sizes jostling for positions along the river banks. Baseball is another Cincinnati tradition, and the Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team in the United States; in deference to that, Opening Day is always a home game for the Reds, held at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati has a thriving local industrial economy and is home to many businesses ranging from manufacturing to services, including General Electric, Procter and Gamble, Fifth Third Bank, Milacron, Kroger, and the American Financial Group. In World Wars I and II, Cincinnati's local machine tool companies, such as LeBlond (now Makino) and the Cincinnati Screw and Tap Company (now Milacron), played an important role, providing what is commonly considered the best machine tool technology in the world for its time.

Cincinnati has undertaken some large scale revitalization projects, such as the construction of Great American Ball Park, Paycor Stadium, and TQL Stadium; the reconstruction of Fountain Square, the construction of the first and second phases of the Banks neighborhood, the beginnings of restoration of Over-The-Rhine south of Liberty Street, and a streetcar line connecting downtown to the historic Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine. This has given the central areas of Cincinnati a vitality that hadn't been around for decades, and a small degree of national attention from travel publications. In spite of the sweeping changes over the last 10 years its still a work in progress creating an odd mix of abandoned buildings next to high end restaurants and boutiques.

This progress did not come easy. For instance, county officials, city government, and area residents were flabbergasted that large-scale projects like "The Banks" were undeveloped for over 10 years while the smaller cities of Newport and Covington, across the Ohio River, continued to develop their riverfronts and draw visitors away from Cincinnati. However the tide seems to be flowing back in Cincinnati's favor; time will tell as these developments mature.

There is a rivalry between the "East Side" and "West Side" of Cincinnati. Historically people from the West Side were blue collar workers, while those from the East Side were white collar workers

Climate
Cincinnati has four distinct seasons. Winters range from harsh to mild, while summer and early fall is hot and humid.

The average temperature in the winter drops to the low 30s (F) and during the summer reaches the upper 70s (F) to mid-90s (F).

Normally, there are very few snowy days that impair driving on the city's hilliest roads. Snow in Northern Kentucky is of exceptional concern, though, because of the increased number of hills and rural roads, which are not as quickly treated as roads in Southwest Ohio. If you plan to drive or travel through Northern Kentucky during a snowy period, be extremely careful and phone ahead to make sure your destination is still accessible.

Newspapers and magazines

 * Cincinnati Enquirer. Morning daily newspaper, including a Sunday edition. Located downtown.
 * Cincinnati Magazine
 * City Beat. The city's oldest free weekly arts and entertainment publication, geared toward college students and young adults. Has a good list of upcoming events, bars, restaurants and museums.

Blogs & news websites

 * Soapbox Cincinnati. The city's newest weekly publication, focuses on the economic and physical transformation of the Cincinnati region by highlighting interesting development and innovation news, profiles on growth businesses, and providing guides of neighborhoods that have a concentration of locally owned restaurants, shops, and unique housing opportunities.
 * Urban Cincy. Blog focusing on issues of urbanism in the Cincinnati area. Also discusses local development projects and news events towards promoting city living.  A good source for information regarding local events too.

By plane

 * Air Canada: Toronto–Pearson
 * Allegiant Air: Austin, Baltimore, Cancun, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Walton Beach, Jacksonville (FL), Las Vegas, Montego Bay, Myrtle Beach, Newark, New Orleans, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, Punta Cana, Punta Gorda/Fort Myers, San Juan, Savannah, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
 * American Airlines: Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Washington–National
 * Apple Vacations: Cancun, Monetgo Bay, Punta Cana
 * Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cancun, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Houston–Intercontinental, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto–Pearson, Washington–National
 * Frontier Airlines: Atlanta, Cancún, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston–Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, San Francisco, Tampa
 * Southwest Airlines: Baltimore, Chicago–Midway
 * United Airlines: Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles
 * Vacation Express: Cancun, Freeport, Monetgo Bay, Punta Cana
 * Vacation Express: Cancun, Freeport, Monetgo Bay, Punta Cana

By car

Cincinnati is served by Interstates 71 (from Columbus and Louisville), 74 (from Indianapolis), 75 (from Dayton and Lexington), 471 (a spur of I-71 to the south), and 275 (the circle beltway). US 50 also serves the area as an expressway to the eastern neighborhoods (Columbia Parkway) and western neighborhoods via the Sixth Street Expressway, which links River Road and the Waldvogel Memorial Viaduct to Downtown. If you feel like taking the scenic route, take Columbia Parkway east of the city and enjoy the beautiful Ohio River views along the parkway.

One of the most beautiful panoramic views in the country occurs when driving northbound on Interstate 71/75 (the interstate routes share the same highway in part of Northern Kentucky) traveling into downtown Cincinnati. The panoramic view comes up once you get to what's known as the "Cut-in-the-Hill", which is reached once you pass signs warning you of a steep grade. Traffic on the Brent Spence Bridge sometimes backs up, though, especially during rush hour. Try to plan your trips so you don't get too much of this truly spectacular view!

By train

 * Route stopping in Cincinnati:
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville,  Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.  All westbound and eastbound trains stop in Cincinnati during the night.
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville,  Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.  All westbound and eastbound trains stop in Cincinnati during the night.

By bus
The main form of public transportation is by bus. The region is served by two bus systems. The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Sorta) operates Metro, the bus company that serves the Ohio side of the state line. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (Tank) serves Northern Kentucky and all routes between Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Bus lines marked with a "X" are express routes and make less frequent stops. Be sure to check whether the bus makes a stop at your required destination before you get on. Sorta and Tank operate a different fare rate system, though both require passengers to submit the exact fare and no change is given.

If you plan on taking the bus, highly recommended is the "Cincinnati Frequent Transit Map" which was developed by a concerned citizen looking to increase transit use. This will give you a good idea of which parts of town are well served by transit as well as which parts of town are underserved, eliminating lines from the official map that don't have frequent service. More information here: https://web.archive.org/web/20221211225107/http://cincymap.org/

For sightseeing the recommended option is the Metro 1 bus. Metro's tag line for this bus is "Ride the One for Fun," because it visits the most important cultural destinations in the city. The bus loops from the Union Terminal Museum Center, to downtown's theaters and museums, to the sports stadiums and parks on the riverfront, to the upscale Mount Adams residential neighborhood, to Eden Park and Krohn Conservatory, ending in nearby Peebles Corner, Walnut Hills. This bus is $1.75 a ride, but passes are available. If taking the 1 especially if from a more transit rich city, make sure to check a schedule first as the line can close early and doesn't have the highest frequencies of routes.

If you wish to cross the river into Kentucky be sure to ride the Southbank Shuttle, which loops around the riverfront on the Ohio and Kentucky sides. Stops include Fountain Square, The Banks, Newport on the Levee, and Roebling Point. The Shuttle is often used by locals who do not want to drink and drive or pay high parking prices, as the shuttle stops at many popular nightlife spots. The Shuttle is instantly recognizable by its old-fashioned trolley look, but are newer and cleaner than the regular TANK bus system. The shuttle is also cheaper at $1 a ride. Daily passes are available.

Metro charges passengers based on zones: Zone 1 (The City of Cincinnati), Zone 2 (Hamilton County, outside of Cincinnati), and Zone 3 (Stops outside of Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati). Prices for each zone are respectively: $1.75, $2.65, and $3. Metro has several routes, most notably routes 71X and 72 (both $4.25), which charge a slightly higher fare than normal. Transferring between one bus route to another on the Metro system requires another 50 cents for a transfer ticket and passengers transferring from a Zone 2 or 3 bus to another Zone 2 or 3 bus should ensure that the bus driver hole punches the appropriate zone on the transfer ticket. Otherwise a further payment equivalent to the difference between the zone you're traveling to, if your trip ends in zone 2 or 3, and zone 1 fare must be paid.

TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) buses charge a flat rate of $1.50 for all adults, 75¢ for seniors, $1; for students. Transfers between TANK buses are free. However, transferring between TANK buses and a Metro buses costs an additional 50¢ or 40¢, if you're transferring to a TANK bus from a Metro bus.

Government Square

Government Square is the main bus hub for Metro and is on Walnut Street. Occasionally, when large events are going on downtown, bus routes will be re-routed to avoid Government Square. The square received its name due to the government buildings that border the square, such as the Federal Office Building, a Federal Courthouse, and a Federal Reserve Bank branch. Within the complex is an information kiosk providing details of bus routes and a free Wi-Fi service.

Lines
Below is a short list of the most important SORTA (Metro) lines that serve tourist sites.

 * Route 1 is a route marketed to tourists as the 1 for Fun, and although it only runs about every 30 min on weekdays and every hour on weekends, its still useful for getting to some major sites between Union Terminal and Mt Adams just make sure to get a schedule on Metro's website before trying to catch it: Museum Center,Ezzard Charles and Linn Street (Near Music Hall and Washington Park), Government square area F(eastbound)/4 & Walnut Downtown (westbound), Art Museum (Mt. Adams), Park and Taft Ave.
 * Route 72 - stops from Downtown to Kings Island: Walnut Street & Court Street (Downtown), Government Square, Area B,  Kenwood Road & Montgomery Road,   Mason-Montgomery & Fields Ertel Road ("Park and Ride"), Mason-Montgomery & Western Row Road, Kings Island.
 * Route 71X - stops from Downtown to Kings Island: Walnut Street & Court Street (Downtown), Government Square, Area B,  Kings Island,  Mason-Montgomery & Fields Ertel Road ("Park and Ride").
 * Route 17 - one of the more frequent routes in Metro, good for going to OTR, University of Cincinnati, Clifton and Northside. The ride up from Main Street in OTR to the hilltop neighborhoods on E Clifton is a good way to soak in the gorgeous Victorian architecture of the area and see a few of the more vibrant urban neighborhoods too.
 * Metro*Plus - Metro's try at speeding up bus times by reducing stops. This limited route goes between Downtown and Kenwood Mall passing by University of Cincinnati (not far from the Zoo) and Xavier University along the way.  Runs every 15-30 min, weekdays only. See website schedule for details.

By streetcar
A streetcar line, the Cincinnati Bell Connector, runs in a loop between Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine neighbourhood and the Riverfront Transit Center. Starting in October 2020, there is no fare required to ride.

By taxi
There used to be some odd regulations making riding taxis without calling ahead of time a chore, this has changed. People now can hail taxis from anywhere and unlike heavy taxi oriented-cities like Chicago some cabs have lights (newly installed) indicating if someone is in the cab or not. Taxis are pretty easy to come by downtown and in OTR, but are much harder outside of these key neighborhoods. Taxi costs are all over the place as rates aren't set by the city or the state, if you pick the wrong company, you could pay 50% more than another company! Inquire with the taxi companies regarding rates, see below for contact information.

Taxi companies in Cincinnati include:

Lyft and UberX are also available in Cincinnati on a smartphone - the rates are usually cheaper than normal taxis, but watch out for surge pricing (up to 7 times the normal price) on Uber and PrimeTime (up to 200% the original cost) on Lyft during busy times like after sports games or during large events.

There is also a Cincinnati Taxi smartphone app which could come in handy for surge-pricing periods: Android App, Iphone App

By foot
Some of the older neighborhoods in Cincinnati are quite walkable, with the Clifton Gaslight District (Ludlow), Over-The-Rhine, Mt. Adams, and Downtown being amongst the easiest to travel by foot. Due to massive depopulation of neighborhoods that had densities approaching that of New York City, (like Over-The-Rhine and the West End), Cincinnati is way more car oriented these days with most destinations being too spread out to walk to. However, many of these districts were built to pedestrian scale and are worth a stroll so long as one exercises caution (see the stay safe section). A visitor from a larger East Coast city may expect neighborhoods of similar scale and architectural composition to be filled with people, but instead oftentimes they are full of abandonment and the problems that come along with it. However, places like Mt. Adams, Downtown, or Clifton around the Gaslight District don't have these problems are well worth exploring by foot, park your car outside of the neighborhood and walk right in.

Skywalk
Cincinnati's Downtown has a Skywalk path. The Skywalk is an indoor, above-ground path through the streets of Cincinnati's Downtown. The Skywalk is free, and only used by pedestrians. Urban analysts hired by the city and downtown business leaders want to tear down chunks of the elevated passageways. Although most of the paths have been torn down, some of the Skywalk still exists, allowing travelers to continue to beat the weather.

Hillside Steps
Cincinnati has over 400 hillside steps for the adventurous traveler to explore. These steps were built before people had cars to facilitate easy transportation by foot up and down the steep hillsides that populate the city. Some steps are very famous such as the Mt. Adams Steps up to the Holy Cross Immaculata Church (described under the To See section) while others underused and/or are falling apart. Still more, like St. Gregory's steps in Mt. Adams, are hidden gems, guiding a traveler through a hidden forest oasis in a densely populated neighborhood. Be cautious when traveling on these steps, as they sometimes go through remote areas and while the neighborhood on one end of the steps could be safe, the neighborhood at the other could be crime infested. The city has a somewhat difficult to decipher but extensive guide of the locations and conditions of the steps here.

By bicycle
Cincinnati has a long way to go before it reaches the level of Portland or Chicago in terms of bicycle culture and accessibility. However, the city has installed bicycle lanes and on-street bicycle parking in some key neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine and Northside. Biking in Cincinnati is challenging, and is recommended for experienced urban riders, as the terrain is quite hilly producing often curvy roads that can go up or down very steep grades.

Despite the challenge, the narrow roads and urban setting are well suited for using a bicycle. Residential neighborhoods along the river near downtown (Roebling Point, The Banks, Over-the-Rhine, Newport Historic East Row) are relatively flat and quiet. The city posts a color-coded map/guide to recommended bicycle routes and facilities, and provides information regarding its bicycle policies and projects here. All buses have bike mounts on the front if you get tired or don't want to pedal up a hill.

You can rent bikes from the Cincinnati Bike Center at Smale Riverfront Park or from Wheel of Fun Rentals by Sawyer Point on the Riverfront downtown (charges hourly, including tandem bikes).

Bike share is also available: Cincy Red Bike - $8 for a day-pass which will give you unlimited free hour-long trips over the course of a day (different from the 30-min trips common for most cities). The bikes come with locks and baskets. If you have a yearly pass with another Bcycle bike share system your card will work with Cincy's (see website for details). Most stations are concentrated in Downtown, Over the Rhine, and by the university with a map available on the website and on individual stations, though the system is expanding with new stations in Northern Kentucky's river towns, Northside and Eden Park being the newest locations. Be careful to return the bikes within an hour as the longer you leave the bikes off of a station the more you will get charged!

By car
For getting quickly and conveniently to most places in Cincinnati, you will need a car. There is a street grid only in Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. Outside of those parts of the city navigation can be tough, with street names changing constantly and unintuitive routes being the norm. It can be particularly tough getting up to Mt. Adams. If you don't go down the right series of one-way streets, you could wind up getting flung out to one of the surrounding neighborhoods or Eden Park. There are a few signs directing drivers through the neighborhood, but they are easily missed. A good roadmap or GPS system is highly recommended if you plan on driving around.

Many roads are very narrow and very hilly reflecting the age of most of Cincinnati, which was built well before the automobile was the mainstay of transportation. Some streets will feel like country roads with the occasional urban house or apartment built where the terrain can support it. Other roads like the aptly named Straight Street quite literally go straight down a hill at a very steep grade. Be careful when driving in inclement weather. When parking on a steep slope, point your tires towards the curb (if downhill) or away from the curb (if uphill) and use your emergency brake.

I-75 is to be avoided around rush hours at all costs. While traffic isn't as heavy as one would encounter in much larger cities, it can still be quite formidable. The large amount of truck traffic, combined short ramps and many blind corners create a traffic nightmare. If you can, take the less traveled (though still somewhat congested) I-71.

Parking is generally cheap and plentiful in Cincinnati. The few trouble spots are around the University in the Clifton/Corryville areas (Uptown), Downtown, Mt. Adams and Over the Rhine south of Liberty Street. When parking in Mt. Adams, be aware of parking restrictions by reading the signs. There are far more parking restrictions here than anywhere else in the city, due to the narrow streets and dense population of that neighborhood.

Do
Cincinnati has quite an impressive assortment of 19th century architecture. Parts of town will remind a visitor of large east coast cities like Boston or Brooklyn. With a renewed interest in the oldest parts of the city there are an increasing number of tours highlighting Cincinnati's golden age when it was one of the largest cities in the US. During some events like Oktoberfest or Bockfest, additional tours are offered, such as those highlighting the cities strong brewing heritage, or even the rare venture down into the abandoned subway tunnels, inquire locally or read local blogs as these are not well advertised to people from out of town.

Sports are taken extremely seriously in Cincinnati. Everyone roots for the Reds and the Bengals, but college basketball is where the city becomes divided. One of the most intense rivalries in all of college basketball is the Crosstown Shootout (called "Crosstown Classic" from 2012 to 2014), the annual matchup between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The game has returned to having the two schools alternate hosting duties after three years at the neutral site now known as Heritage Bank Center in the Central Business District. This came about because the 2011 game ended in a bench-clearing brawl (which also led to the temporary name change).

Learn
Cincinnati's most prominent institutions of higher learning are the University of Cincinnati in Clifton, and Xavier University in Norwood. Northern Kentucky University is also across the river.

Work

Cincinnati is home to numerous international corporations that are important employers within the Greater Cincinnati area. The region fares well nationally with 10 Fortune 500 companies and 18 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the Cincinnati area. Statistically, Greater Cincinnati ranks sixth in the U.S. with 4.98 Fortune 500 companies per million residents and fourth in the U.S. with 8.96 Fortune 1000 companies per million residents. A few of Cincinnati's notable businesses include: Fifth Third Bank, Great American Insurance, Macy's Department Stores , Kroger and Procter & Gamble.

In the summer, restaurants and amusement parks employ large numbers of foreign students with J-1 Visas. Kings Island in particular is a major employer, hiring several thousand foreign college students.

Buy
Cincinnati has 52 neighborhoods, and each one has its own shopping districts. Some of the more noteworthy are Clifton Gaslight District (Ludlow Avenue between Clifton Avenue and Middleton Avenue), which offers bohemian and international shops, Northside Business District (Ludlow Viaduct/Blue Rock Street/Spring Grove Avenue), Hyde Park Square (Erie Avenue between Zumstein Avenue and Shaw Avenue) and Oakley Square (Madison Road between Hyde Park Avenue and Marburg Avenue) offer upscale boutiques.

If you're searching for something that is quintessentially Cincinnati, be sure to look for Rookwood Pottery, Findlay Market, Ulf's Big Onions, or Graeter's handmade candy.

Eat
Cincinnati is famous for its unique chili, based on a Macedonian recipe. It contains finely-ground meat, no beans or onions, and usually contains spices such as cinnamon or cocoa powder, and not as much tomato as traditional recipes. It is served over spaghetti with finely-shredded Cheddar cheese on top, known as a "three-way"; add diced white onions or kidney beans to make it a "four-way"; and add both kidney beans and onions for a "five-way". It's also served over hot dogs with shredded Cheddar cheese on top, known as a "cheese coney." Cincinnati has more chili restaurants per capita than any city in the United States. The debate over where to find the best Cincinnati chili is almost a religious war. Two major chili-parlor chains (Skyline & Gold Star) are dominant, but individual parlors and other smaller chains have their fans as well.

Goetta (pronounced "get-uh") is another Cincinnati tradition, developed by German immigrants. It's a sausage made of pork and/or beef, mixed with oats and spices. It's usually sliced and then fried, and most often served as a breakfast food, although goetta sandwiches are also popular.

Drink
The Main Street Entertainment District (on Main Street north of 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine) was a popular area featuring many clubs and bars. However the riots did their number on the district forcing just about every bar to close down during the 2000s. This isn't all doom and gloom as, there have been attempts to bring bars back up there with several notable night spots opening up in the last few years such as Neon's and Japp's. After a few years of Kentucky getting the attention, the center of nightlife in Cincinnati has shifted to the area near Fountain Square and the Arnoff Center, or Restaurant Row generally bounded by 8th St to the North, 5th St to the South, Vine St to the West and Main St to the East. The area is always busy on weekends, especially with many young professionals. Over the last few years it has been slowly growing with many new bars/clubs and other night spots opening up.

Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, many restaurants and nightspots are along the riverbank in Covington's Mainstrasse District and the area of Newport around Newport on the Levee.

With the loosening of laws regarding microbreweries and allowing them to sell beer on site, and with increased interest in reviving its brewing heritage, Cincinnati has a growing scene of tap rooms which aren't necessarily open late but may be a good way to get microbrew straight from the source.

Sleep
Many Covington hotels shamelessly play up their proximity to their more famous neighbor. From Covington, it's a short drive, walk or bus ride (Southbank Shuttle) across the bridge to get back to downtown Cincinnati, so it's not an inconvenient option.

Stay safe
Cincinnati is a safe city to visit, however care should be taken when visiting certain neighborhoods. Some perceive downtown as unsafe, but according to a 2011 article by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Downtown is "as safe as the suburbs.... The most common crime [downtown] is theft, which includes shoplifting but not muggings, and the most likely crime you'll suffer is having your car broken into." Therefore, it's safer to park your car in a monitored lot than on the street. As always, be sure to take proactive steps to ensure your safety regardless of where you are by using common sense. There are a fair number of Panhandlers, most aren't harmful, use common sense and firmly say no if approached.

The safest neighborhood near downtown is Mount Adams, which statistically experiences almost no serious crime. Some neighborhoods you should use care in, particularly at night, include Avondale, Walnut Hills (though East Walnut hills is fine), The West End, and parts of Over-the-Rhine.

Over-the-Rhine is becoming a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, but it is still in a transition phase. As of 2015, the safest part of Over-the-Rhine is on Vine Street from Central Parkway to just north of 14th Street at the Cincinnati Color Company building (large sign) and Main Street up to Liberty as well as the area immediately surrounding and including Washington Park (which is monitored security cameras) as far north as Taft's Ale House, and Walnut Street up to 14th street just past the 16 bit bar. These areas is well lit at night, and have constant police presence. Use caution wandering off by yourself in Over-the-Rhine at night as the neighborhood is inconsistent in its makeup. A good rule of thumb for OTR is to stay on the major streets (Vine and Main) and stay south of Liberty. Travel in a group if possible, or call/hail a cab.

Connect

 * Cincinnati Bell offers over 300 Wi-Fi spots throughout Cincinnati. Rates are $4.95 an hour or $9.95 for 24 hours payable with credit card. Free for Cincinnati Bell Fuse/Zoomtown customers.
 * The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County offers free Wi-Fi at the Main library downtown, and at all the branches.
 * Lily Pad is a 100% volunteer-driven free Wi-Fi service throughout Cincinnati, available in most public, business, and common areas, including on many Cincinnati metro buses.

Consulates

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇩🇪 Germany

Adjacent places
Cincinnati is part of a very fractured metro region with many old small towns and suburbs, some of the more notable ones include:

 * Clermont County, directly to the east
 * Milford-Miami Township. An average town with plenty of outdoor activities and parks.
 * Warren County, to the northeast
 * Lebanon. Home of the Golden Lamb which is historical and famous for hosting many US presidents including George Washington.
 * Mason. Home of several amusement parks including Kings Island.
 * Oxford. Home to Miami University, called "the prettiest campus ever there was" by Robert Frost.
 * Northern Kentucky
 * Florence. Just south of I-275 in Northern Kentucky. Famous for the Florence Y'All water tower.
 * Creation Museum, near Hebron - A unique and interesting attraction, whether you believe it or not.
 * Ark Encounter in Williamstown, billed as a life-size replica of Noah's Ark and operated by the same organization responsible for the Creation Museum. Said organization also offers a combo package that includes a one-day Ark Encounter ticket and a two-day Creation Museum ticket, and a 7-day pass with unlimited entry to both attractions. See the website of either attraction for details.
 * Southeastern Indiana
 * Perfect North Slopes. Winter ski resort in nearby Lawrenceburg. 1/2 hour from Cincinnati.
 * Rising Sun. 30 mins west in Indiana by the Ohio river. Regional center for casino gambling, home of the Grand Victoria Casino.

Farther afield
Cincinnati is centrally located in reference to other interesting Midwestern or Southern cities and attractions. The following are accessible as day trips:

 * Indianapolis. Home of the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 automobile races. A two-hour drive from Cincinnati via Interstate 74.
 * Chicago. The largest city in the Midwest is a little over a four-hour drive from Cincinnati via Interstates 74 and 65. Flights to Chicago are also available from $100-200 and take just under an hour.
 * Dayton. 45 min north on I-75. Home of the Wright Brothers, The Dayton Art Institute, The National Museum of the United States Air Force, and The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.
 * Columbus. Ohio's capital and largest city is a 1½ hour drive from Cincinnati.
 * Cleveland. The Rock and Roll city is in northern Ohio and is about a four-hour drive from Cincinnati. Flights to Cleveland are also available from $200-300 and take just under an hour.
 * Serpent Mound. The largest effigy of a serpent in North America (¼ mile long). The park is dated to belong to the Fort Ancient era. The mound apparently represents an uncoiling serpent eating an egg. It's believed that the head of the serpent is aligned with the summer solstice sunset and the coiled tail is pointed toward the winter solstice sunrise and the equinox sunrise.  3850 State Route 73 in Peebles, Ohio.
 * Lexington, Kentucky. Lexington is Kentucky's beautiful college town. It's home to the University of Kentucky and the top ranked Wildcats, and is generally acknowledged as the Thoroughbred racehorse capital of the world, with many famous horse farms nearby. Lexington is a 1½-hour drive south on Interstate 75.
 * Daniel Boone National Forest. The Daniel Boone National Forest is home to the Red River Gorge Geological Area—over 80 natural arches, historical sites, and miles and miles of trails made for cross-country backpacking or just day hikes. Eastern Kentucky past the city of Winchester.
 * Kentucky Speedway. A new racing speedway in Sparta Kentucky, home to major motor races.
 * Louisville. Home of the Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race. A 1½-hour drive southwest on Interstate 71.
 * Mammoth Cave National Park. The world's largest cave system, in Kentucky. About three hours southwest, via Interstates 71 and 65.

title: Cincinnati


text:
Cingoli

Cingoli is a city in Marche. The town is almost entirely surrounded by the old walls.

Get in
Catch the bus from Jesi.

Do
On a clear day, a walk around the city walls provides views to the sea from one side, and forest on the other. There are also many churches and historic buildings to be seen.

Drink
Ciliegino, the local liqueur made from cherries.

Go next
Visit Frasassi Caves, Italy's largest and most famous complex of caves. However, try to avoid high summer as it can get quite crowded.

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

title: Cingoli


text:
Cinnaminson

Cinnaminson is a township in Burlington County, in the Delaware River region of New Jersey. It is about 10 miles east from Philadelphia and is a truck stop.

Get in
Route 130 by car or bus, but then you are also able to take the Riverline into either the Cinnaminson station, or the Riverton Station which is very close to Cinnaminson. The Riverline connects in Camden at the Walter Reed Transportation Center with the PATCO High Speedline. There are bus stations located on RT 130 using NJ Transit

Get around
The main mode of transportation is by car, however there are bus stops in Cinnaminson that are able to take you to other nearby towns and locations.

See
Cinnaminson has many small parks that are great for recreational purposes. Dog walking, and running are very popular, as well as basketball and baseball. Many of the larger parks offer baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, as well as a playground for children. Walking around town is a great thing to do, many Cinnaminson residents take pride in the appearance of their homes, and are beautifully decorated with gardens.

Do
Cinnaminson has shops along Rt. 130. The Shoppes at Cinnaminson Avenue, includes a Shop Rite, Burlington Coat Factory, and other large brand name businesses. There are many great outdoor parks around town, each child friendly. Neighboring towns, such as Delran and Cherry Hill, offer more shopping centers, and there malls in Moorestown and Cherry Hill. Movie theaters in Cherry Hill and Moorestown are also something to do with your leisure time.

Buy
Cinnaminson is very close to 2 shopping malls.
 * The Cherry Hill Mall.
 * The Moorestown Mall is a smaller mall, however there is a movie theater attached.

Eat
Cinnaminson offers both chain and locally owned restaurants.

Drink
Cinnaminson offers two bars, Whistlers and The Jug Handle Inn.
 * Whistlers, 901 Rt. 130 S., +1 856 786-8776
 * The Jug Handle, 2398 Route 73, +1 856 665-8696

Many restaurants are BYOB, and there are also local restaurants that offer lounges such as Hathaways which is a diner.

Sleep
There are a few motels located along RT 130, but there are also franchised hotels in neighboring towns, such as Cherry Hill, NJ.
 * The Sleep Inn 208 Route 130 North, +1 856-829-0717
 * Cinnaminson Motor Lounge 1905 Route 130, +1 856-829-3115
 * Hallmark Motel 399 Route 130 South, +1 856-829-5440

Connect
The Township office is located at 1621 Riverton Rd. Their telephone number is +1 856-829-6000.

title: Cinnaminson


text:
Cinque Islands

Cinque Islands are in the South Andaman Islands of India.

Understand
Great reefs for diving.

Fees and permits
South Cinque Island is visitable with the general permit obtained on arrival in Port Blair.

Do
Scuba diving is the reason to come here.

Lodging
There is no lodging at Cinque Island, only at Wandoor, from where you take the boat to Cinque Island. Try Anugama Resort at Wandoor.

title: Cinque Islands


text:
Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, which means Five Lands, comprises the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso located in the Italian region of Liguria. They are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.

Villages

 * — includes Groppo and Volastra
 * — includes San Bernardino
 * — includes San Bernardino

Understand
All the towns slope down to sea-level except for Corniglia, which is perched on top of a tall cliff. Four of the towns possess an old-world charm (from north to south: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore). The northern-most town, Monterosso, is completely different. It is very beachy-resorty, with not much to see beyond the boardwalk apart from modern apartment blocks and hotels—nothing like the narrow, crooked streets of the other towns, lined with colorful old houses stacked haphazardly on top of each other.

Riomaggiore is the southern-most of the Cinque Terre. During the day you can hear bell towers chiming and at night the frogs are in frenetic chatter as small boats go night fishing for anchovies and other fish using lights to attract the fish. Riomaggiore also has an ancient stone castello, about which little has been written. An information sign outside explains that first mention of the castello appeared in a document from the mid-500s, which already described it as “ancient”. Its quadrangular walls with two circular towers were built to protect the citizens in case of an attack from the sea. In 800, the castello became a cemetery, and parts were destroyed to adapt it to its new function. Nowadays it is one of the monuments of the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre. Most of the action in Riomaggiore is on the main street, Via Colombo, where there is an assortment of cafes, bars, restaurants, and of course, gelaterie. There are also alimentari shops selling the typical yummy Italian fare: fresh fruit (strawberries, cherries, and nespole [loquat]), an assortment of salumi (salami, mortadella and the like), cheeses, olives, etc. These are good places to stock up for the hikes into the hills, although all of them are not very far from a town. Bar & Vini, perched on the side of the mountain above the sea, is excellent place for a summer night. The place had the usual mix of tourists and local families with their kids, even well into the night.

Manarola is a town filled with boats, at least on the lower part of it. Covered boats of all kinds line the main street, but it is hard to say when they had last been out. There are many lovely places to eat and drink in Manarola. La Cantina Dello Zio Bramante serves acciughe (anchovies) fresh from the sea, with lemon, olive oil, and fresh, crusty bread. Aristide Café had the cheapest espressi macchiatti, the first bar encountered if walking from Riomaggiore (a paved, easy, path that goes by the sea, and takes about 15 minutes or so). It turns out that Manarola also has the best gelateria of all the towns: 5 Terre Gelateria e Creperia, on Antonio Discovolo next to the Farmacia which is next to the Coop 5 Terre. Manarola also has a nice little swimming area. It's a little cement pier next to some big rocks that you can wade out from, into the blue blue waters. It gets deep fast, so it's possible to dive off the end of the pier. Plenty of caves and coastline to explore, and underwater rocks. There are also a few more swimming holes farther on, accessible from the Blue Trail, not far from the gate beyond which the trail pass is required. There are stairs going all the way down to sea level, and a small little terrace about half-way down with picnic tables where you can see locals enjoying a simple lunch. There are lots of sharp mussels and barnacles down by the rocks, but otherwise the swimming is fantastic here too, without many people.

Corniglia: Farther along the Blue Trail there is a stone beach that offers much easier access to the water, and also more people. At the Corniglia train station, the path gains height to reach the town, the only one not near sea-level. The road passes lemon trees, vines, lilies and vegetation of all kinds, and in May the air is full of the perfume of flowers.

Corniglia feels smaller and quieter, but just as quaint as the other towns. Bar Nunzio serves glasses of local wine—with a complementary bowl of local olives— under some yellow umbrellas near the statue of Corniglia himself. There is a little piazza with a communal olive press where you can sit and pass the time. There is also a tower, but it is not very high.

As Corniglia is atop a large hill, it is only reachable from the train station by either climbing the 365 steps up the hill ("one for each day of the year") or also there is a bus run by the Cinque Terre National park that takes people up to Corniglia and back down again. This is a must if you are carrying suitcases. The bus only runs from 07:00 - 20:00, and starts at 08:00 on the weekends.

The Blue Trail from Corniglia to Vernazza, the next town to the north, is a dirt path that starts off in an olive grove above the town. It keeps climbing and things get a bit sweaty and steep in some places, with many stone steps and a few switchbacks. Nothing too strenuous though. The trail along the sea affords great backwards views of both Corniglia and Manarola. Vernazza is approached from above and its two ancient towers are in prominent view (they close at 19:00). The town has a maze of tiny streets that eventually lead down to the main street. At first sight, Vernazza seems a little rundown. The paint on the buildings around the beach area is peeling off in large sections, but don't let that put you off. Vernazza is lively and boisterous and has a great night scene, two clock towers, a beach, boats, and a large public space with umbrellas and tables. The beach area is a small sandy strip that is not the best swim spot (there is only a small section of water roped off for swimming, beyond which are boats and then the open sea), but it is safe for kids and free of sharp bivalves.

You can spend the evening having wine along the main street below the train station, lounging on a quiet bench above the town beside hotel Gianni overlooking the sea, or by the sea, watching the mountainous coastline zigzag in and out, hiding Monterosso.

Monterosso is built to accommodate many tourists in large, modern apartments and hotels. It doesn't have quite the same charm as the other towns, but it does have quite a large sandy beach with lots of colourful umbrellas, and of course, beach-side restaurants and cafes. The backstreets of Monterosso are not as interesting as in the other towns. Not to be missed at the end of the beach is a big statue holding a terrace.

Climate
The Cinque Terre have a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures very rarely fall below 0°C in winter, and rarely surpass 35°C in summer, rendering the climate very mild year-round.

By plane
The closest airports to the Cinque Terre are in Pisa and Genova with Firenze also being a reasonable choice. The city of Milan is about a 2-hour train ride to Genoa where one is able to change to the local train line at both Piazza Principe or Brignole stations. Milan's Malpensa International Airport is a major international airport with several European and some North American connections, but you will have to take an additional Malpensa Express airport train to Milan's main station, adding another hour to the journey.

By train
The Cinque Terre villages are well connected by rail and each of the villages has a train station. Regular and very frequent local trains run from Genova and La Spezia, some of which terminate in Sestri Levante from both directions. All trains are operated by the state carrier, Trenitalia with the majority being newly introduced, air-conditioned trainsets. They tend to get very crowded during high season though and not all trains stop at all of the smaller stations. There are also few but regular InterCity trains stopping at some of the villages on the way for a slightly faster and less crowded journey on at least part of the trip.

When travelling from La Spezia, you can buy your passes for Cinque Terre in a tourism office in a hallway off of platform 1 at the La Spezia station. The passes can also be obtained at Levanto and Montorosso stations. The day pass covers entry to the national park and unlimited train trips between Levanto and La Spezia for 24 hours from the time of validation which is significantly cheaper than the special one-way fare of 6-10 Euros within the Cinque Terre depending on the season. Trenitalia however also provides a mobile app which can be used for current schedules and to purchase regular tickets (available in English and supporting Apple Pay and PayPal).

By car
Take the 'litoranea' road from La Spezia. It takes approximately 20–30 minutes from La Spezia to drive to Riomaggiore or Manarola. There is a good parking garage in Riomaggiore, up the hill from the train station. The parking garage operates from 08:00 to 21:00. You will not be able to park in the garage after 21:00 but may find a few open spaces near the parking attendant office. The roads to and between the five towns are not for the faint of heart, and why most travelers are encouraged to leave their vehicle in La Spezia and take the train to the Cinque Terre.

Get around

Frequent trains link all five villages with each other (Trenitalia-run trains as well as a train service run by the park authority), La Spezia and other places towards Genova (only Trenitalia-run).

A more expensive, but very scenic option, are the boats that run up and down this part of the coast.

Hiking is very popular, especially on the main coastal paths, which are subject to park entrance fees. It's worth exploring some of the higher paths to Volastra (above Manarola), Monte Negro (above Riomaggiore) or paths that begin outside of the park such as the trail between Levanto and Monterosso. Suitable hiking equipment and proper health are required, wearing flip-flops, pumps or sandals within the national park is explicitly - and for good reason - prohibited. Neglecting this may lead to fines between €50 and €2,500, depending on level of distress and whether a rescue team is necessary.

In order to walk along the trails between the villages, one must purchase a pass from information offices near the train stations at any of the five villages, as well as the stations at Levanto and La Spezia.It costs €7.50 for an adult, or €16 (as of October 2017) to get unlimited travel on the train between the villages, Levanto, and La Spezia on regional trains for the duration of the pass. The pass also allows you to use buses within Cinque Terre, as well as entry into various museums (with discounts in La Spezia). If you want to use only train between villages, ticket for one way between all five villages cost €5 and is valid for six hours.

Traveling by car is by far the worst way to explore the Cinque Terre, there is little parking and what there is lies well outside the villages. UNESCO forbids cars inside the villages so you will need to stay out of the heritage zone. To get from one village to the next involves driving all the way up to the high road and back down again. Better to leave the car and use the train.

See
The main attraction of the Cinque Terre is the landscape. Mediterranean herbs and trees grow spontaneously from the top of the hills down to the water level. Well embedded in this magnificent natural scenery, you can admire the intense human activity of the ancestors, when the wine terraces were built. An enormous (and somehow crazy) work of transportation, carrying all the heavy stones on men's shoulders and women's heads. A work through the centuries, in fact it's estimated to have taken about 200 years to build the entire stone-wall network. Its total length has been calculated to be at least equal to the Great Wall of China.

You can enjoy the scenery, walk through the towns (or between them), or hike on the paths and enjoy the local atmosphere.

Depending on the time of the year there are some specific things to see:
 * The lighted Nativity in Manarola (Dec 8 to late Jan). The world's biggest Lighted nativity.
 * The patron festivity of the 5 towns (all between late May and Aug), a mix of religious ceremony and popular parties.
 * The pirates attack in Vernazza (mid-summer), a celebration of the successful defence of the town from a Saracen attack occurred during the middle age.
 * The harvest (early/mid-Sep) and wine making, when men's shoulders and women's heads are still used as they were hundreds of years ago.
 * The sea storms (frequent in winter), a great show of nature's power.

Hiking
The Cinque Terre boasts some of the best coastline hiking trails in the world. Note that several of these routes are actual, somewhat demanding hikes, and not leisurely walkways. Proper equipment - especially suitable hiking footwear, sun protection and water - and a sufficient physical condition is mandatory. There are guidelines posted alongside the entrances which should be read and followed. In case of an emergency rescue due to improper equipment severe fines of up to 2500 Euros have been imposed.

Since Cinque Terre is an area prone to landslides, it's always better to check if the hiking paths are open or closed, before leaving. For the latest on whether the hiking trials are open or not, see the Official Parco Nazionale della Cinque Terre website. Other paths may be closed due to adverse weather conditions on short notice.

You must purchase a pass if you hike the trail number 2 (blue), while no pass is required for the other trails. It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town. Trains are frequent but it is advisable to check local time tables especially on Sunday and Public holidays as you could be waiting up to an hour for the correct train. In June, July, and August, start the walk as early as possible to avoid the unforgiving midday sun.

The walk on the No. 2 trail between all the villages takes the better part of a day. For those that would rather not walk (or not walk the entire trail), a boat ferry service runs seasonally to all five villages, plus Lerici. The price is reasonable, and gives a nice view of the villages from the water. The regional train that connects all the villages is also a quick way to hop among towns.

If you are a more experienced hiker, take advantage of other trails that go higher up the mountain. These trails are well maintained, off the beaten path, and usually have fewer tourists. You can obtain detailed maps from any of the park offices. The paths number 7, 7/a and 6/d are particularly scenic and passing through nice vineyards and terraces.

Riomaggiore to Manarola
The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore (or roughly "Lovers Walk"). This is a paved path that is easy to walk for any age. Only the side starting from Manarola is wheelchair accessible. The Riomaggiore side starts with 2 flights of stairs. Along the way, passers-by have the opportunity to write their names on the walls of a gallery. Visitors should not scratch their names on trees or cactuses as this is damaging to the plants. Mid-way down the path, you will come across 'The Lover's Lock' which is a place to seal your eternal love. This custom follows the Italian fad that was started by the film Tre Metri Sopra il Cielo. At this point there is a 'love seat' in the shape of a male and female locked in a kiss, where many couples pose. 20 minutes. Closed after a landslide since 2012, to be reopened in July 2024.

Manarola to Corniglia
The next hike from Manarola to Corniglia takes approximately 30 minutes. The path is not paved. To reach Corniglia town center there is an up hill hike and a large zig zag shaped staircase with 385 steps which can be quite a mission in the midday sun. 45 minutes.

Corniglia to Vernazza
The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is longer and the terrain is uneven. The hike takes approximately 2 hours.

Vernazza to Monterosso
The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is the steepest (you need a reasonably good level of fitness - there is over 250 m of climbing over very uneven rocks, about 750 steps), winding through olive orchards and vineyards and offering dramatic ocean views. The paths are narrow, with a very real danger of falling 3-4 m if you lose your footing. If you attempt this hike, take some water, and be prepared to build up a very decent sweat. 90 minutes.

Swimming
It is possible to swim in the sea at each of the villages. Almost every year the Cinque Terre Marine Reserve vies for the top of the Blue Flag Beach list of Italy. There are two large sandy beaches at Monterosso, a small sandy beach at the harbor of Vernazza, and pebble beaches near Riomaggiore and Corniglia. Off the beaten path there are pebble beaches in Framura and Bonasola just 20 minutes away on the train. You can swim off rocks at the small harbors at Manarola (which has a very nice and deep swimming hole) and Riomaggiore. Corniglia's small harbor is reached by a long staircase leading down to the sea. It is probably the quietest swimming spot of all the five lands because of this.

Eat
When grapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides, wine and oil are a must on our tables. They prove excellent companions for the salted anchovies of Monterosso served in olive oil as well as the many specialty fish dishes, authentic gastronomic delights.

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavors and fragrances of the primary ingredients. Trofie is a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour and is one of the forefathers of modern and more sophisticated pasta. Its condiment is still pesto sauce; an original Ligurian sauce made from basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, grated cheese, pine nuts, and marjoram. Tagliatelle, a broad handmade pasta, is used with sauces that contain mushrooms, cabbage and potatoes, beans, chickpeas or sometimes with pesto.

Vegetable pies, 'torte di verdura' are prepared with a stuffing containing borage (borago officinalis), parsley, marjoram, other local herbs that grow wild, artichokes, Swiss chard, zucchini, potatoes, and leeks are combined with egg and ricotta cheese or with stale bread soaked in milk or béchamel sauce (depending on each family's traditions), Parmesan cheese. The pie crust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity.

Rice pie, or 'torta di riso' is a specialty of every grandma in the region. In Monterosso this rice pie was made even more delectable by adding a bit of dried mushrooms to the filling. In Manarola, the tradition is to make this dish for the feast of the patron saint Saint Lawrence on August 10.

Egg 'frittate', or flat omelettes, are popular today as the 'frittata' has been rediscovered as a tasty antipasto. Another important dish on the tables of the Cinque Terre population was the 'cotoletta di acciuga', anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried. The 'fritelle di bianchetti', fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines were also highly appreciated. Following the seamen's gastronomic traditions, other dishes included stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.

Mussels, another protected designation of origin product from the Gulf of La Spezia are prepared in a variety of ways: stuffed, stewed, baked.

Farinata, like a focaccia but made with chickpea flour. A regional speciality.

Pizzeria Fratelli Basso on via Roma is one of only two places in town where you can eat farinata—like a focaccia but made with chickpea flour. The wood-fired pizzeria down the road will make it if they don't have any left.

Riomaggiore
 * La Grotta
 * Via Dell'Amore (across the railway station, their 'tourist menus' are actually quite OK)

Manarola
 * Restaurant Il Porticciolo
 * Da Billy
 * Marina Piccola
 * 5 Terre Gelateria e Creperia for extraordinarily delicious gelato

Vernazza

Drink
The fame of the Cinque Terre is largely due to its products, the dry white wine, simply called 'Cinque Terre' and the 'Sciacchetrà', a prized dessert wine made from prime grapes dried to the point of holding only a few drops of sweet juice. A colorful addition to the Cinque Terre products is 'limoncino'; a dessert wine made from steeping lemon peels in pure alcohol and then adding sugar and water to make a fragrant and fresh liquor. The lemons, another famous product of the Cinque Terre are prominently on display in the many 'limoneti' (lemon groves) and at the annual Lemon Festival held each year in Monterosso during the season of Pentecost.

The Sentieri dell'Uva (Grape Routes) are still as they once were with fig trees planted in strategic positions to give shade during breaks from work, agaves planted to mark boundaries, to line the footpaths along steep, stony steps and to indicate the rail terminals of the monorails which are the only vertical structures emerging from this seemingly completely, horizontal landscape. Many dry stone walls support this terraced landscape.

The large wicker baskets of grapes (corbe) are arranged along the "pose" (little walls, as wide as tables, built solely for this purpose). These include Albarola (Trebbiana), Biancorotto, Bruciapagliaio, Piccabon (Pizzamosca). To make white table wines the following are used: Fiore di Bosco, Rappolungo, Fogiaccia, Ruspara, and Sesagra. Baskets full of Magnagra (Albarola), from which the famous Black Sciacchetrà is made, are handled with extreme care and set to one side.

The Cinque Terre grape tracks reach down to the sea. In the past, people used to anchor small fishing boats called "gozzi" immediately below the terraced vineyards. Baskets laden with grapes were then lowered from above into these small boats which then sailed round to the otherwise inaccessible village.

Nowadays this method is nothing but a distant memory but by visiting the Cinque Terre you are still able to sample some of the most prized wines of the world that have been created by centuries of backbreaking experience.

Sleep

 * Ostello Cinque Terre in Manarola is the largest hostel in the area. Book well in advance.
 * Ostello Corniglia, in the historic center of Corniglia, has two small dorm rooms and private rooms.
 * Ostello Tramonti is actually in Biassa, not any of the five towns, but is accessible by bus from La Spezia and Riomaggiore. A word of warning: the last bus up the mountain runs at about 8PM, and you don't want to hike up in the dark.
 * Monastery of S. Bernardino, above Corniglia, offers accommodation for about €60 per room.
 * Cinque Terre Holidays hostel in Riomaggiore. €40/person, but these are rooms with a view! High up on a hill with a stone balcony overlooking the sea in front and a terraced mountainside on the side. Be warned that this hostel has gotten very mixed reviews on review sites.
 * Cinque Terre Holidays hostel in Riomaggiore. €40/person, but these are rooms with a view! High up on a hill with a stone balcony overlooking the sea in front and a terraced mountainside on the side. Be warned that this hostel has gotten very mixed reviews on review sites.
 * Cinque Terre Holidays hostel in Riomaggiore. €40/person, but these are rooms with a view! High up on a hill with a stone balcony overlooking the sea in front and a terraced mountainside on the side. Be warned that this hostel has gotten very mixed reviews on review sites.
 * Cinque Terre Holidays hostel in Riomaggiore. €40/person, but these are rooms with a view! High up on a hill with a stone balcony overlooking the sea in front and a terraced mountainside on the side. Be warned that this hostel has gotten very mixed reviews on review sites.

Campgrounds
There are a few campgrounds where you can rent a tent with two beds and linens for very low prices. Note that none are inside the national park area but quite a few can be found just to the north of the park in the touristy but pleasant town of Levanto. It's not advised to try wild camping, since it's illegal, and it can be dangerous due to the presence of wild boars roaming free in the park.

 * Camping Acqua Dolce near the town center and about 200 meters from the beach.
 * Pian di Picche a bit more inland, at about 1000 meters from the beach but closer to the railway station (at about 200 meters).
 * Albero d'Oro situated next to Pian di Picche.

Other campsites can be found south of La Spezia and further north around Deiva Marina. Levanto is a better option though because it is serviced by the park-run train service connecting all five villages as stated earlier.

It's advisable to try to book in advance when arriving in late June, July and August since these sites tend to fill up quickly during the summer. Many hotels, including the hostel, are booked out months in advance.

Go next
As the weather gets warmer so does the evening life at local bars and restaurants on the weekends. Italian Holidays mean the hotels, restaurants and bars will be very busy. As summer sets in there is some nightlife in almost every village.

 * Cantina dello Zio Bramante, in Manarola is a watering hole par excellence for the young locals, musicians and social minglers. The owners invite latin jazz bands or musician friends to play on weekend nights in the summertime. The tavern-like atmosphere has been known to transform itself into a late night dance party if the owner is in the mood.
 * Pie de Ma Wine Bar Perched atop a cliff on the Via Dell'Amore (closer to the Riomaggiore side) this bar offers a sample of the best wines by the glass of the region. The owners are experienced cocktail artists and this is a draw for many Cinque Terre locals and La Spezia area people as well. The seating is in the open so the bar is closed November to February. In the summer they invite DJs, bands and dance groups to perform on their terrace overlooking the sea.

title: Cinque Terre


text:
Cintsa

Cintsa is in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. This small village about 40 km east of East London has become a backpackers magnet and offers nice beaches and two excellent hostels.

Get in
Cintsa is a Baz Bus stop on its way from Port Elizabeth to Durban. Both hostels offer transportation to East London where you can catch a bus from the main companies.

Get around
This small village requires nothing but your feet.

See
Walk along the beaches and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Several tours are available at the hostels. The beach in Cintsa West, near Buccaneers, stretches forever, and has a rock pool for swimming

title: Cintsa


text:
Circassian phrasebook

Circassian (Адыгэбзэ / Адыгабзэ) languages are spoken in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.

Basics

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 * What is your name? : ? ( ?)
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (  _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : . ( )
 * Please. : . ( )
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 * You're welcome. : . ( )
 * Yes. : . ( )
 * No. : . ( )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : . ( )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . ( )
 * I'm sorry. : . ( )
 * Goodbye : . ( )
 * Goodbye (informal) : . ( )
 * I can't speak Circassian [well]. : [ ]. ( [ ])
 * Do you speak English? : ? ( ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? ( ?)
 * Help! : ! ( !)
 * Look out! : ! ( !)
 * Good morning. : . ( )
 * Good evening. : . ( )
 * Good night. : . ( )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . ( )
 * I don't understand. : . ( )
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( ?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : . ( .)
 * Don't touch me! : ! ( !)
 * I'll call the police. : . ( .)
 * Police! : ! ( !)
 * Stop! Thief! : ! ! ( ! !)
 * I need your help. : . ( .)
 * It's an emergency. : . ( .)
 * I'm lost. : . ( .)
 * I lost my bag. : . ( .)
 * I lost my wallet. : . ( .)
 * I'm sick. : . ( .)
 * I've been injured. : . ( .)
 * I need a doctor. : . ( .)
 * Can I use your phone? : ? ( ?)

Numbers

 * 1 : зы (zy)
 * 2 : тӏу (t'wy)
 * 3 : щы (schy)
 * 4 : плӏы (plh'y)
 * 5 : тху (twxy)
 * 6 : хы (xy)
 * 7 : блы (bly)
 * 8 : и (jy)
 * 9 : бгъу (bghwy)
 * 10 : пщӏы (psch'y)
 * 11 : пщӏыкӏуз (psch'yk'wyz)
 * 12 : пщӏыкӏутӏу (psch'yk'wyt'w)
 * 13 : пщӏыкӏущ (psch'yk'wysch)
 * 14 : пщӏыкӏуплӏ (psch'yk'wyplh')
 * 15 : пщӏыкӏутху (psch'yk'wytxw)
 * 16 : пщӏыкӏух (psch'yk'wyx)
 * 17 : пщӏыкӏубл (psch'yk'wybl)
 * 18 : пщӏыкӏуй (psch'yk'wyj)
 * 19 : пщӏыкӏубгъу (psch'yk'wybghw)
 * 20 : тӏощӏ (t'osch')
 * 21 : ( )
 * 22 : ( )
 * 23 : ( )
 * 30 : щэщӏ (schasch')
 * 40 : плӏыщӏ (plh'ysch')
 * 50 : тхущӏ (txwysch')
 * 60 : хыщӏ (xysch')
 * 70 : блыщӏ (blysch')
 * 80 : ищӏ (jysch')
 * 90 : бгъущӏ (bghwysch')
 * 100 : щэ (scha)
 * 200 : щитӏу (schit'w)
 * 300 : щищ (schisch)
 * 1,000 : мин (min)
 * 2,000 : минитӏу (minit'w)
 * 1,000,000 : мелуан (meluaan)
 * 1,000,000,000 : ( )
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : ( )
 * half : ( )
 * less : ( )
 * more : ( )

Time

 * now : ( )
 * later : ( )
 * before : ( )
 * morning : ( )
 * afternoon : ( )
 * evening : ( )
 * night : ( )

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : ( )
 * two o'clock AM : ( )
 * noon : ( )
 * one o'clock PM : ( )
 * two o'clock PM : ( )
 * midnight : ( )

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : ( )
 * _____ hour(s) : ( )
 * _____ day(s) : ( )
 * _____ week(s) : ( )
 * _____ month(s) : ( )
 * _____ year(s) : ( )

Days

 * today : ( )
 * yesterday : ( )
 * tomorrow : ( )
 * this week : ( )
 * last week : ( )
 * next week : ( )

 * Sunday : ( )
 * Monday : ( )
 * Tuesday : ( )
 * Wednesday : ( )
 * Thursday : ( )
 * Friday : ( )
 * Saturday : ( )

Months

 * January : ( )
 * February : ( )
 * March : ( )
 * April : ( )
 * May : ( )
 * June : ( )
 * July : ( )
 * August : ( )
 * September : ( )
 * October : ( )
 * November : ( )
 * December : ( )

Colors

 * black : ( )
 * white : ( )
 * gray : ( )
 * red : ( )
 * blue : ( )
 * yellow : ( )
 * green : ( )
 * orange : ( )
 * purple : ( )
 * brown : ( )

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ( )
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ( )
 * Where does this train/bus go? : ( )
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ( )
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : ( )
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : ( )
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : ( )

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : ( )
 * ...the train station? : ( )
 * ...the bus station? : ( )
 * ...the airport? : ( )
 * ...downtown? : ( )
 * ...the youth hostel? : ( )
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ( )
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ( )
 * Where are there a lot of... : ( )
 * ...hotels? : ( )
 * ...restaurants? : ( )
 * ...bars? : ( )
 * ...sites to see? : ( )
 * Can you show me on the map? : ( )
 * street : ( )
 * Turn left. : ( )
 * Turn right. : ( )
 * left : ( )
 * right : ( )
 * straight ahead : ( )
 * towards the _____ : ( )
 * past the _____ : ( )
 * before the _____ : ( )
 * Watch for the _____. : ( )
 * intersection : ( )
 * north : ( )
 * south : ( )
 * east : ( )
 * west : ( )
 * uphill : ( )
 * downhill : ( )

Taxi

 * Taxi! : ( )
 * Take me to _____, please. : ( )
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : ( )
 * Take me there, please. : ( )

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : ( )
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : ( )
 * Does the room come with... : ( )
 * ...bedsheets? : ( )
 * ...a bathroom? : ( )
 * ...a telephone? : ( )
 * ...a TV? : ( )
 * May I see the room first? : ( )
 * Do you have anything quieter? : ( )
 * ...bigger? : ( )
 * ...cleaner? : ( )
 * ...cheaper? : ( )
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : ( )
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : ( )
 * Do you have a safe? : ( )
 * ...lockers? : ( )
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : ( )
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : ( )
 * Please clean my room. : ( )
 * Can you wake me at _____? : ( )
 * I want to check out. : ( )

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : ( )
 * Do you accept British pounds? : ( )
 * Do you accept euros? : ( )
 * Do you accept credit cards? : ( )
 * Can you change money for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get money changed? : ( )
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ( )
 * What is the exchange rate? : ( )
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ( )

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : ( )
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : ( )
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : ( )
 * Is there a house specialty? : ( )
 * Is there a local specialty? : ( )
 * I'm a vegetarian. : ( )
 * I don't eat pork. : ( )
 * I don't eat beef. : ( )
 * I only eat kosher food. : ( )
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : ( )
 * fixed-price meal : ( )
 * a la carte : ( )
 * breakfast : ( )
 * lunch : ( )
 * tea (meal) : ( )
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. : ( )
 * I want a dish containing _____. : ( )
 * chicken : ( )
 * beef : ( )
 * fish : ( )
 * ham : ( )
 * sausage : ( )
 * cheese : ( )
 * eggs : ( )
 * salad : ( )
 * (fresh) vegetables :  ( )
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )
 * bread : ( )
 * toast : ( )
 * noodles : ( )
 * rice : ( )
 * beans : ( )
 * May I have a glass of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a cup of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : ( )
 * coffee : ( )
 * tea (drink) : ( )
 * juice : ( )
 * (bubbly) water : ( )
 * (still) water : ( )
 * beer : ( )
 * red/white wine : ( )
 * May I have some _____? : ( )
 * salt : ( )
 * black pepper : ( )
 * butter : ( )
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
 * I'm finished. : ( )
 * It was delicious. : ( )
 * Please clear the plates. : ( )
 * The check, please. : ( )

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : ( )
 * Is there table service? : ( )
 * A beer/two beers, please. : ( )
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : ( )
 * A pint, please. : ( )
 * A bottle, please. : ( )
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : ( )
 * whiskey : ( )
 * vodka : ( )
 * rum : ( )
 * water : ( )
 * club soda : ( )
 * tonic water : ( )
 * orange juice : ( )
 * Coke (soda) : ( )
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : ( )
 * One more, please. : ( )
 * Another round, please. : ( )
 * When is closing time? : ( )
 * Cheers! : ( )

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : ( )
 * How much is this? : ( )
 * That's too expensive. : ( )
 * Would you take _____? : ( )
 * expensive : ( )
 * cheap : ( )
 * I can't afford it. : ( )
 * I don't want it. : ( )
 * You're cheating me. : ( )
 * I'm not interested. : (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. : ( )
 * Can I have a bag? : ( )
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : ( )
 * I need... : ( )
 * ...toothpaste. : ( )
 * ...a toothbrush. : ( )
 * ...tampons. : . ( )
 * ...soap. : ( )
 * ...shampoo. : ( )
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ( )
 * ...cold medicine. : ( )
 * ...stomach medicine. : ... ( )
 * ...a razor. : ( )
 * ...an umbrella. : ( )
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ( )
 * ...a postcard. : ( )
 * ...postage stamps. : ( )
 * ...batteries. : ( )
 * ...writing paper. : ( )
 * ...a pen. : ( )
 * ...English-language books. : ( )
 * ...English-language magazines. : ( )
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ( )
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ( )

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : ( )
 * Can I get insurance? : ( )
 * stop (on a street sign) : ( )
 * one way : ( )
 * yield : ( )
 * no parking : ( )
 * speed limit : ( )
 * gas (petrol) station : ( )
 * petrol : ( )
 * diesel : ( )

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : ( )
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ( )
 * Where are you taking me? : ( )
 * Am I under arrest? : ( )
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ( )
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ( )
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : ( )
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : ( )

title: Circassian phrasebook


text:
Circle

Circle is an old gold rush settlement on the Yukon River in a remote section of Interior Alaska with a population of 73.

Understand
The gold rush is over, and the population today is small (73 people) and mostly indigenous. It is located 50 miles south of the Arctic Circle, but was named "Circle" because miners thought it was at the Arctic Circle.

Circle was apparently a popular tourist spot in years past, as it used to be the spot furthest north it was possible to drive to via the Alaska Highway. Alas, with the completion of the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay, this is no longer true, and Circle is very much off the typical tourist map.

By car
Circle is at the end of a 160 mile gravel road from Fairbanks.

By boat
As Circle is on the banks of the Yukon River, it is also accessed by river. For canoes it either a stop for people canoeing the length of the Yukon, or as a takeout point for people seeing Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve. It is also one of the few places to launch a motor boat from a car along the length of the Yukon. During the winter it is on the route of the Yukon Quest dog sled race.

Get around
Although a long way from anywhere, all of the attractions in town are within a short walk of each other.

Buy
The only commercial establishments are a small grocery store/gas station and the Washeria across the road. The Washeria has coin operated showers and token operated washer dryer. You will need to get tokens from either the store or locals. There is a telephone booth outside the store.

Sleep
The only accommodation in town is a spot by the boat ramp where you may pitch a tent or park an RV. In our experience the locals are very friendly. The River View Motel mentioned in some guides has been abandoned.

title: Circle


text:
Circleville

Circleville is the county seat of Pickaway County and a city in the Miami - Scioto basins in south-central Ohio. It is located along the banks of the Scioto River. As of the 2020 Census, Circleville's population was 13,922 and is slowly increasing. It is located approximately halfway between Washington Court House (Court House, as the locals refer to it: designated as Washington CH on highway signs) and Lancaster on US 22, and about halfway between Columbus and Chillicothe on US 23.

By plane
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (IATA: CMH) is the major air hub for Circleville. It is located on the northeast side of Columbus, about 40 minutes from Circleville. Take US 23 North toward Columbus, and in 19.5 mi, take the exit for I-270 (the Outerbelt) going east. Stay on I-270, going around the south and east side of Columbus, and follow signs for John Glenn Columbus International Airport. You'll take the exit for I-670 West (exit 35) and keep left. The Columbus airport is the next exit. Columbus International Airport provides to 31 airports via 9 airlines on 148 nonstop flights daily.

Significantly smaller, newer, and closer is Rickenbacker International Airport, located on the south side of the city. It is about 25 minutes from Circleville. Take US 23 North to OH-317/London-Groveport Rd (just south of Scioto Downs) and turn right. Continue for 4 miles, then turn right onto Alum Creek Dr., and you have arrived. Rickenbacker International Airport services Allegiant Airlines to over ten destinations in the Deep South, mostly in Florida.

By car
The backbone of Circleville's transportation system is the two major US Highways running through it.

US 22 runs WSW-ENE through the city and forms Main Street through downtown. It continues WSW to Washington CH and Wilmington before terminating in downtown Cincinnati. It travels east past Ohio Christian University to Lancaster, Zanesville, Cambridge, and Steubenville before continuing into West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

US 23 runs N-S through Circleville, just west of downtown. It is a two lane divided highway for most of its length through town, but has a freeway-style exit at US 22/OH-56 into downtown Circleville. It continues north to Columbus, Delaware (Ohio), Marion, Upper Sandusky, Fostoria, and on to Toledo and Michigan. It continues south to Chillicothe, Waverly, Portsmouth, and Huntington (W. Va.) metro, before winding through the Appalachians.

Numerous state highways service the city as well, the most major being OH-56, providing access to I-71 to the northwest.

By car
Because the city is relatively small, it isn't difficult to get around. The major streets in Circleville are:

 * Main Street (US 22/OH-56) runs ESE-WNW through downtown. The two highways merge just west of town, then they cross the Scioto River into town. They split just to the east of downtown.
 * Lancaster Pike (US 22) when US 22/OH-56 splits to the east of town, US 22 goes northeast to Lancaster, about 20 miles away. This is a major road, and it has many businesses along the road. The Pickaway County Fairgrounds are also along Lancaster Pike.
 * Court Street (partially OH-188) is another major street in Circleville. The intersection of Main and Court is the center of downtown, and north of Main Street, Court Street becomes OH-188. It continues south to the main shopping district.
 * Northridge Rd (OH-188) to the north of town, OH-188 turns northeast onto Northridge Rd, which goes toward Lancaster.
 * Nicholas Dr is a major N-S road starting at US 22 and continuing to Northridge Rd. Mostly through residential, but is near Circleville Public Schools and the YMCA.
 * US 23 is the main transportation corridor in Circleville. To the south of town, it runs through a major shopping district with a Walmart, many restaurants, and a few hotels.

Go next

 * Columbus
 * Chillicothe

title: Circleville


text:
Circum-Baikal Railway

The Circum-Baikal Railway (Кругобайкальская железная дорога (КБЖД), Krugobaykal'skaya Zheleznaya Doroga) is a railway on the western shore of the Baikal mostly for tourist purposes. The railway stretch used to be part of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Understand
The 89-km–long route from Slyudyanka-2 to port Baikal is a great opportunity to enjoy the changing views of the lake as the train rides along the shoreline from south to north and back. You will pass through 39 tunnels making several 20-min stops to take a stroll outside.

Get in/Go

 * By Circum-Baikal Express, Кругобайкальский экспресс which departs from Irkutsk. It comprises 1st, 2nd and business-class carriages which are rather relaxing. You can hear the music, listen to the guide or sit at the bar. The ticket usually is being bought at tour agencies as excursions. The train starts from Irkutsk on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 08:00 or from the port Baikal on Thursdays and Sundays. The trip takes about 12-13 hours including stops for a walk. The time of return to Irkutsk is 21:00-22:00.

It is possible to travel independently using local transport at any time of the year, as train #6201 Matanya assures the connection between Slyudyanka 1 (Слюдянка 1) and Port Baikal (Байкал) through the Circumbaikal Railway. The train leaves Slyudyanka at around 13:30 local time four times a week, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Updated timetables are available online from the Russian Railways website (remember that local trains run in local time). As with any local train, it's not possible to buy tickets online, but they can be bought at the train station, or aboard for cca ₽70 (one-way, July 2014), another ₽60 you pay for a bigger backpack.

Matanya is now a comfortable, hi-tech looking red train, but like other local trains, it has no food for sale aboard and no hot-water dispenser. Water from "drinking water dispenser" was muddy and didn't look drinkable at all. The stops are not long enough to alight and, outside of season, there are no food sellers on the plataforms, so pack your lunch and don't rely on instant noodles.

Note that official Russian train directions are irrelevant to north-south and are only two: to the west (на запад) and to the east (на восток). This is what you will always see when dealing with railway timetables. So in case of Circum-Baikal Raiway to the west means northward to the port Baikal and to the east means southward to Slyudyanka.

 * Getting to Slyudyanka from Irkutsk is possible by either marshrutka or eletrichka and takes at least 2.5 hours. If consulting the Russian Railways website, eletrichkas are the trains whose ticket price is not shown (because it's not possible to buy them online). Tickets cost ₽83 aboard (one-way, October 2013). Inquire for a route Irkutsk/Baikal and click on "routes with changes" ("Маршруты с пересадками") for obtaining connection suggestions. If you like to walk, you can walk from Slyudyanka to Kultuk or another further stop and catch the train there.

 * From Port Baikal, most tourists cross the Angara river towards Listvianka. Apart from summer season, the Matanya train usually arrives after the departure of the last ferry to port Rogatka (₽49 one-way, October 2013), but it's possible to cross on private boats paying about ₽500 pp. There is a new and clean hotel/hostel/museum (restaurant closed outside season) in front of the Matanya last stop, cheapest dorm costs ₽450 for a 10-hr stay, and in summer private accommodation abounds. In July 2014, the last ferry departure was at 20:15, train arrival at 19:30. The Port Baikal/Listvyanka ferry serves the Rogatka port, west of the main Listvyanka settlement. A few meters from the port is a main road where you can catch minibuses to the city center or to Irkutsk.

 * From the opposite direction you should first go to Listvyanka and take a boat (ferry) across Angara river to the port Baikal. Departure time for port Baikal: 08:15, 16:15 and 18:15.

Summing up the connection timetables it will need another day for the round journey. In summer 2014, the last minibus to Irkutsk departed Listvyanka at 21:00, so it was possible to complete the journey in one day.

See
These are major stops as follow:

 * Slyudyanka — its station building is covered with white and pink marble.
 * Staraya Angasolka — small village and viaduct.
 * Mys Stolby
 * Kirkirey
 * Polovinny — the location of the shortest and the longest tunnels.
 * Shumikha — you can get out and see valleys of two rivers and Italian wall.
 * Port Baikal — on the cape Baranchik, it has an early 20th-century lighthouse.

Eat
Food stores are scarce on the railway, so take something with you or use the bar.

title: Circum-Baikal Railway


text:
Cirebon

Cirebon is a city in the North Coast region of West Java, not far from the border with Central Java.

Understand
Its name is often said to be derived from the Sundanese words of ci (water or river) and rebon (shrimp). Indeed, the city's main industry is fishery, including shrimp. An alternative Javanese explanation is that the city's name is from caruban, meaning "mixture", a reference to Cirebon's complex mix of Javanese, Malay, Sundanese, Chinese and Arabic cultural elements. While Indonesians from outside of Cirebon pronounce the name CHEE-reh-bon, locals say Cheer-BON (with rolling R).

The city weather is hot and humid. Wear cotton clothes. You do not need long sleeves shirt, instead a T-shirt and knee-long trousers are comfortable. Some places like mosques and temples require polite dress such as long trousers/skirts. Hot pants/mini skirts may attract unwanted attention and might be considered impolite.

By car
Cirebon is along the major west-east motorway connecting Jakarta and Central Java. If there are no traffic jams, Cirebon can be reached in about 2½ hours from Jakarta. However, traffic congestion is common and the trip usually takes up to 4 hours. During weekends and holidays, it may even take significantly longer.

There are additional trunk roads to Cirebon from the northwest (Indramayu), southwest (Bandung and Sumedang) and south (Kuningan).

By train
The main station of the city is (also known as Kejaksan Station). There is on average about 1 train per hour to and from Jakarta (Gambir or Pasar Senen stations in Central Jakarta), both during daytime and at night. Almost all of these trains are business or executive class trains (one-way tickets about Rp150,000-250,000), but a few per day are economy class. Travel time between Jakarta and Cirebon is usually about 3 hours.

In the other direction, there are also on average hourly trains to the east. The final destinations of these trains differ, with several trains per day terminating at Surabaya, Kediri, or Malang in East Java, and several others going to cities in Central Java, such as Tegal, Semarang, Cilacap, or Yogyakarta. Finally, there are three (executive/business) trains per day from Cirebon to Bandung via Cikampek.

By bus
The main bus terminal of Cirebon is. The terminal is served by frequent buses to and from various bus terminals in Jakarta, the port of Merak, Tegal and Semarang, Tasikmalaya, Kuningan, and Bandung, among other cities. There are at least daily bus connections to all larger cities throughout Java, such as Surabaya and Yogyakarta, and also to Denpasar in Bali.

Get around
There are several ways of getting around the town of Cirebon. The most convenient way is by rented car. However, it is advisable to rent a car with a driver if you are not used to driving in Indonesia.

Another way to get around is by angkot (public minivan). There are various angkot routes throughout the city. Angkots follow a fixed route, but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get on, simply raise your hand. To get off, simply shout "Kiri!" to the driver, so he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price of an angkot ride within the city is usually about Rp3,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to take, and how to recognise the location you want to get off.

Other options to get around include hiring a becak (cycle rickshaw), ojek (motorcycle taxi) or a regular taxi. Not all taxi drivers are willing to use a taxi meter, so then the price depends on your negotiation skills. Two taxi companies in Cirebon that are known to usually use the official taxi meter are Central Taxi and Bhinneka Taxi. You can also get around by online ojek or taxi that is already available in the city. Install Gojek or Grab application on your phone, then you can order ojek or taxi from your phone almost anytime, to go anywhere in the city.

See

 * Animal statue at Keraton Kasepuhan of Cirebon; 2017.jpg

Buy
Cirebon is a centre of batik cloth industry. The special 'Batik Cirebon' style can be bought in many places around the city.

Local cuisines
Cirebon is known for a few local dishes, often with fish and seafood products, but also other dishes that show the city's mixture of Sundanese and Javanese influences. Below is a list of some popular local eateries that serve these local dishes.

Connect
The telephone area code of Cirebon is 0231.

Go next

 * Mount Ciremai National Park — the highest mountain of West Java province, just south of Cirebon.
 * Linggajati — point of entrance to Mount Ciremai, and also the location of the 1946 Linggajati Agreement (now a museum).
 * Indramayu — to the northwest, Indramayu has various beaches along the Java Sea coast, as well as a few offshore islands.
 * Kuningan — in the eastern part of West Java province, south of the city of Cirebon.

title: Cirebon


text:
Cirencester

Cirencester is a picturesque market town in the Cotswolds, in the county of Gloucestershire. It's an ancient market town with traditional Cotswold buildings and thriving shopping centre. It's worth spending a morning here, especially on a Saturday. Every other Saturday there is a farmer's market.

Understand
Cirencester is the Roman capital of the Cotswolds, Roman Corinium. People are very friendly and it's easy to get in. The town is famous for its polo connections in the Cirencester Great Park, and for the Royal Agricultural College. It's about 90 miles west of London and in 2011 had a population of 19,076.
 * Town council wrbsite

Get in

There's usually one bus an hour to Cirencester from Swindon, Cheltenham and Stroud.

There is a National Express Bus service to Heathrow Airport and London Victoria from the Beeches Car Park (near the town center).

Parking in Cirencester has become more expensive, but there are many car parks near the centre. There is also parking on the high street, but not on market days.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk around on foot, and was pedestrianised in 2017.

Kemble
A small village 5 miles southwest of Cirencester:

Buy
There are the typical high-street chains here, but there are some good special local shops in Dyer Street, the Market Place and in Black Jack Street behind the church.

A great locally-owned fresh fish shop, New Wave, in Dyer Street, sells quality sustainable Cornish fish and shellfish, as well as homemade fishpies, fishcakes and potted shrimp.

Mid-range

 * Le Spa Hotel, in Stratton, short walk from town centre, Cotswold Manor House with superb spa and events facilities.
 * The Fleece Hotel, High street. 1651 restaurant.
 * Le Spa Hotel, in Stratton, short walk from town centre, Cotswold Manor House with superb spa and events facilities.
 * The Fleece Hotel, High street. 1651 restaurant.
 * The Fleece Hotel, High street. 1651 restaurant.

Connect
Cirencester and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of July 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Charming Cotswolds villages surround the town.
 * Cheltenham is a wonderful Georgian spa town.
 * Witney is where you come into lower pastoral country towards Oxford.

title: Cirencester


text:
Citrus Heights

Citrus Heights is a city of 88,000 people (2019) in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Sacramento County in California.

Climate
Citrus Heights has mild winters and dry hotter summers. The area usually has a low humidity and the average temperature throughout the year is, with the daily average ranging from 45°F in December and January to 76°F in July. Average daily high temperatures range from 53°F in December and January to 93°F in July. Average daily low temperatures range from 38° to 58°F. Almost no rain falls during the summer months (less than 1%), and over 80% falls between November and March.

By car
Citrus Heights is centrally located between the region's major freeways and highways. Interstate 80 passes through the west side of the city, and Interstate 5, U.S. Highway 50 and California State Route 99 are all 3-11 miles (5-18 km) from the city. The Business 80 freeway (Capital City Freeway) begins near Citrus Heights and ends in Downtown Sacramento.

By train
Amtrak is in Roseville about 10 miles (16 km) from the city.

By plane
The Sacramento International Airport is the closest major airport to Citrus Heights is in Sacramento about a 30-45 minute drive away from the city.

Get around
Citrus Heights is serviced by the Sacramento Regional Transit District, with buses in operation around the city. The service started early in 2019.

See
Citrus Heights has many enjoyable parks, several of which have playgrounds for families or trails. However, there tends to sometimes be homeless people/drug users in these areas, so exercise caution if you see any suspicious activity and go somewhere else if needed.

Drink
Margaritas are available at El Tapatio's along with small bars in most restaurants in the city. There are several Starbucks and McDonald's close by that sell coffee and tea.

Go next
Roseville- About 5 minutes away on 80 East. Home to The Galleria Mall and Maidu Park.

Sacramento- 80 West. About 15 minutes away during quiet hours.

During peak hours, it can take up to an hour. Home to California State Capitol and Sutter's Fort.

Gold River- Sunrise Blvd South.

Rancho Cordova- Sunrise Blvd to 50.

title: Citrus Heights


text:
Città della Pieve

Città della Pieve is a city in Umbria in Italy.

Understand
This city is noted for its beautiful red brickwork. Having no natural areas of stone Città della Pieve turned to its local clay soils for building material. This has always been a brick-making center. Palazzo della Corgna, in the main square, is one of the few buildings where imported stone was used. Città della Pieve houses some wonderful works of art by Pietro Vannucci, known as Il Perugino (The Perugian), who was born in the town.

Get in
The closest railway stations are on the Rome to Florence main line, at Fabro and Chiusi.

By car, exit the A1 Rome-Florence Autostrada at Fabro or Chiusi.

See

 * Oratory of Santa Maria dei Banchi. Perugino managed to paint this enormous masterpiece in just 28 days.
 * Via Della Baciadonne. Baciadonne means “ kiss the women”. This street is narrow enough to be able to kiss the woman in the opposite window and is said to be the narrowest street in Italy.
 * Il Duomo. “ Pieve” means Baptismal Church and the town developed around this cathedral. The cathedral has been extensively remodelled. It has several works by Il Perugino.
 * The Infiorata di San Luigi. This takes place on the Sunday closest to June 21st. The streets of Via Pietro Vannucci are covered with flower designs based on the paintings of Il Perugino.
 * The Palio dei Terzieri. An archery competition between the three “quarters” of the town, together with theatrical and musical performances. From August 10th to the second-last Sunday of August.

Sleep

 * Hotel Vannucci is housed in Villa Mirafiori built in 1887 by King Vittorio Emanuele II. Thirty rooms: €95-125 for a double. Two restaurants.

Go next
Città della Pieve is close to Orvieto, Perugia and Lake Trasimeno.

title: Città della Pieve