text:
Carpi

Carpi is a city in Modena Province, in Italy's Po valley 20 km north of the provincial capital Modena.

Understand
Carpi is a large city, with a textile industry and population of some 71,000 in 2017, yet its old centre is compact. It was founded in 752 AD, and ruled by the Pio dynasty from 1319 to 1525 then by the Este family. Between them they created the city's medieval and Renaissance centre, ranged around its impressive piazza. Repairs continue after the earthquake of 2012 but most attractions are open to visit.

The dark side of Carpi is Fossoli concentration camp 5 km north. Some 2000 Jews were dispatched to their death at Auschwitz during World War II.

Get in
The nearest airports are in Bologna and in Verona. They have limited flights and you're probably better flying into Milan or Venice.

Regional trains run every 30 min from Modena to Carpi, taking 15 min, and continue north to Mantua. Change at Modena for trains along the Po valley from Milan, Piacenza, Parma and Reggio Emilia, which continue to Bologna, Rimini and the south.

The is 200 m east of town centre.

SETA Bus 500 runs from Modena every 30 min or so, taking 50 min to Carpi.

The is at Piazzale Allende, which fronts onto Via Baldassarre Peruzzi 500 m west of town centre.

By car follow A22 motorway Modena-Brennero. Reckon an hour from Bologna and 20 mins from Modena.

Get around
The historic centre is a traffic-free zone and easily explored on foot.

See

 * is the centrepiece of the city, a fine Rennaissance square flanked by a portico with 52 columns. At 300 m by 150 m it's Italy's third biggest square, with all the city's principal buildings around it.
 * Other churches by the piazza are San Bernardino da Siena and Chiesa dell'Adorazione.
 * Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio next to the monastery was built in 1670 by the Jesuits.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * Other churches by the piazza are San Bernardino da Siena and Chiesa dell'Adorazione.
 * Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio next to the monastery was built in 1670 by the Jesuits.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.
 * was a wartime prison camp. It was built in 1942 for allied POWs captured in North Africa. In 1943 these were transferred to Germany, and the camp was enlarged to become a concentration and transit camp primarily for Italian Jews. Some 2800 of these were dispatched to Auschwitz, as chronicled by Primo Levi in If This Be a Man. It closed in 1944 as the Allies advanced, but had three spells of later use for refugees, up to 1970. The camp is open on Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00.

Do

 * VIE Scena Contemporanea Festival in late Feb is mostly in Modena but with some events in Carpi.
 * Festival of San Bernadino da Siena the town's patron saint is on 20 May.
 * Carpi Summer Fest is in July.
 * Festivalfilosofia is held in Sept between Modena, Sassuolo and Carpi. The next is 17-19 Sept 2021.
 * The Italian Marathon is run in October between Maranello and Carpi. The town marathon is mid-June.

Buy
Shopping in the city market (on Thursdays and Saturdays morning) or in the many shops (mostly textile wares). There are many shops around the square that specialize in selling particular goods, many of them clothing, but beware that much of it is pricy, as Carpi is known for its fashion.

Eat

 * Local specialties include pasta with fillings such as meat, pumpkin, cheese, herbs, and sauces like cream, butter and herbs, and meat ragù. In cold weather eat polenta with roast sausages, beans with tomato sauce, and mushrooms in sauce. Zuppa Inglese is a dessert of vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, soft Savoiardi biscuits and a dash of liqueur.

Drink
Obviously Lambrusco! Three main denominations are available: Grasparossa, Sorbara, Salamino di S. Croce.

Sleep

 * Lots of small B&Bs and Agroturismo places in the nearby countryside.
 * Lots of small B&Bs and Agroturismo places in the nearby countryside.
 * Lots of small B&Bs and Agroturismo places in the nearby countryside.
 * Lots of small B&Bs and Agroturismo places in the nearby countryside.

Connect
Carpi has 4G from all Italian carriers. As of May 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Modena the provincial capital is only 15 min away, with an array of fine piazzas, churches and palaces.
 * Bologna is a must-see for its historic centre.

title: Carpi


text:
Carpinteria

Carpinteria is a small oceanside city in Santa Barbara County. The name translates to "Carpentry".

Understand
Located only a few miles south of Santa Barbara, this city of about 13,000 is most known for its large sandy beach and state park. Sacramento, the capital city, is 613 km to the north and Santa Barbara, the county's administrative center, 18 km to the east. It is a coastal city on the Pacific coast of southwest California

History
Prior to the white residence, it was a residence of the Chumash tribe of Native Americans, and white people migrated to form a village during the California Gold Rush in the 1840s. Traditionally, agriculture and fishing such as avocados, grapes, and nuts were the main economic activities. In the 1960s, oil fields were developed in California Offshore Oil Field, and oil manufacturing became the main industry, and food processing and manufacturing industries also developed. It is a resort located in the middle of Ventura and Santa Barbara, and there are camping grounds and trails along the beach, so you can enjoy fishing, boating, and surfing. The nearby coast is famous as a breeding ground for seals and sea lions, and it is an area where various sea creatures, including gray whales, live.

By car
Highway 101 goes north to San Francisco and south to Los Angeles.

By bus
Santa Barbara MTD provides bus service to Goleta and Santa Barbara. VISTA bus goes to Ventura. Greyhound stops in Oxnard and Santa Barbara.

By train
Amtrak has a station on the Pacific Surfliner route between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, via Los Angeles. Nearest stop for the long-distance Coast Starlight train, running between Los Angeles and Seattle, is in Santa Barbara or Oxnard.

By plane
Santa Barbara has an airport which flies to several destinations. Los Angeles International Airport is about away and has cheaper flights to many more destinations. There is an airport shuttle, Santa Barbara Airbus, which travels 8 times a day to/from LAX.

By foot
A great way to get around, given that the city is small and compact.

By car
Moving a car can be a hassle, especially in the summer when it is crowded. However, parking is free throughout the city.

By bus
There is a shuttle bus run by Santa Barbara MTD which travels in a loop around the city on 20 minutes increments.

By bike
Another good way to get around.

See
Seals and sea lions have a rookery at the Carpinteria Bluffs and can be seen from December through May. There are also tide pools in the area that contain anemones, sea urchins, crabs, starfish, snails, fish and octopus.

Do
Visit the beautiful beach. Visit the State park and go shopping in the various antique stores through the town. Ride along the Seaside Shuttle to visit historical sights throughout the city.

Eat
A few of the places to eat in Carpinteria are The Spot and Little Dom's. The Spot offers a medium price food selection from burgers to fries to tacos.

Go next

 * Ventura - Located on the coast 23 miles southeast of Carpintera, Ventura is home to many interesting shops, the historic Mission San Buenaventura, and is the gateway for excursions to the Channel Islands National Park.
 * Ojai - Located 22 miles to the east, Ojai is a popular weekend getaway for Southern California residents, offering wine tasting, art galleries, hiking, horseback riding, spas, and a rustic environment for those looking to escape the big cities.
 * Montecito - Bordering Santa Barbara and located along the ocean, Montecito is located eight miles west of Carpinteria and is one of the wealthiest communities in America, home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Rob Lowe. Visitors seeking luxury, and who can afford to pay for it, will appreciate the upscale resorts; those who would rather not pay a small fortune for lodging can still enjoy the beaches and excellent restaurants.

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

title: Carpinteria


text:
Carrabelle

Carrabelle is a city on the Forgotten Coast of Florida. It is the eastern end point of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Visitirs are drawn by its white beaches and to visit the "World's Smallest Police Station".

Understand
Carrabelle was settled by "First Americans" thousands of years ago and archeological finds have shown that the area was a plentiful supplier of seafoods. It continues to be a sportsman's paradise, offering fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, birding and kayaking opportunities.

Carrabelle also has a long history as being a tourist attraction. In the early 1900s the city became a destination resort for travelers in the Southeast. A railroad was built, the Carrabelle, Florida and Georgia, to bring tourists to Carrabelle to enjoy the crystal white "sugar" beaches.

By plane
Carrabelle Airport is available for general aircraft use in the town. Tallahassee Airport is a one-hour drive for commercial air travel.

By boat
The harbor has several marinas for visitors traversing the ICW.

By car
US Highway 98/319 goes right through the city.

Get around
Carrabelle has the congenial atmosphere of a forgotten coast fishing village. It is easily explored by walking, including the Carrabelle River Walk. An especially convenient asset for mariners is the availability of hardware and grocers just across the street for those routine and unexpected needs of the boater.

Go next

 * Apalachicola
 * Panacea

title: Carrabelle


text:
Carrara

Carrara is a city of 60,000 people (2020) in Tuscany that is famous for its marble. The extraction of marble in Carrara has been documented since ancient times. Today's city of Carrara, located at the foot of the Apennines, was founded in the 11th century and marble quarrying resumed in the 12th century. Over the centuries the city of Carrara has expanded towards the sea, where today most of the population is located. Starting from the 19th century, the village of Marina di Carrara was built on the seashore as a summer resort. Marble quarrying and processing is still the dominant industry.

By car
Take the A12 highway and exit at the Carrara toll booth.

Events and festivales

 * CarraraMarmotec: International fair of marble and technologies for its processing.
 * Carrara Festival
 * Marble Weeks: Marble exhibits and installations are arranged throughout the city edit
 * Solemnity of San Ceccardo: July 16th. Patron of the city.
 * Solemnity of Our Lady of the People: Second Sunday of May and third Sunday of November. Patroness of the historic centre.

Buy
In Carrara there are numerous shops selling marble items, such as sculptures, statues, busts and tombs.

Go next

 * Massa
 * Massa

title: Carrara


text:
Carrbridge

Carrbridge is a village in the Spey Valley  in the central Highlands of Scotland, 24 miles southeast of Inverness and six miles north of Aviemore. Its Gaelic name is Drochaid Chàrr but derives from Norse: "boggy area". The main reason to visit is to access Cairngorms National Park. It's a quiet place in the wooded valley with a population of roughly 700.

Boat of Garten (Coit a' Ghartain) five miles southeast is a village of similar size, historically a ferry crossing of the River Spey until replaced by a bridge in 1899. It nowadays hosts the Strathspey Railway stock, and has a nature reserve where ospreys nest.

Get in
Carrbridge is on the railway from Edinburgh and Glasgow, with trains every 2-3 hours. They take 3 hr 15 min via Stirling, Perth, Dunkeld & Birnam, Pitlochry, Kingussie and Aviemore, and continue north to Inverness. Not all trains to Inverness stop in Carrbridge. Change at Inverness for Aberdeen, Thurso (for Orkney), and Kyle of Lochalsh (for Skye).

Nightly F-Su the Caledonian Sleeper leaves London Euston around 9PM to reach Carrbridge by 8AM, continuing to Inverness; return timings are similar.

See below for the heritage Strathspey Railway: this starts from Aviemore, but its main collection of locomotives and rolling stock is at Boat of Garten.

is half a mile west of village centre. It has a staffed ticket office but no machines, and a waiting room but no cafe or toilets. There is level access to Platform 2 but a footbridge with stairs and no lift to Platform 1.

Carrbridge is on a lengthy bypassed loop of the A9 from Perth to Inverness, with no direct access. From the south you join this loop (badged A95) at Granish north of Aviemore, then B9135. Coming from the north exit onto A938. Inter-city buses flash past on A9 and don't stop at the village. Local buses you might use, run by Stagecoach Highland, are:

 * Bus X37 from Inverness via Tomatin to Carrbridge, continuing to Dulnain Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten; five buses M-F and three on Saturday.
 * Bus 39 from Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore to Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge, every two hours M-Sa.
 * Bus 37 from Aviemore via Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge to Grantown-on-Spey, every two hours M-Sa with four on Sunday.

Cyclists may use A9 throughout but will prefer to use the loops of its former course wherever possible.

Get around
You need wheels to get around this scattered district.

See

 * over River Dulnain is the oldest surviving bridge in the Highlands. It was built in 1717 to enable funeral processions to reach Duthil Church, hence it was also known as "coffin bridge". Only the basic arch remains, as the parapet and surface were lost in 1829 to the "Muckle Spate" flood, so don't try to scramble across with or without packhorse or coffin.
 * Carrbridge Parish Church south along Main Street was built in 1909, and holds memorials and other items relocated from the former church at Duthill. It remains active as a Church of Scotland.
 * has been rebuilt twice since those processions solemnly trudged over the bridge towards it. It closed in 1967 but the graveyard contains many memorials to Clan Grant, with two large mausoleums.
 * is the main collection of locomotives and rolling stock of the Strathspey Railway, a heritage standard-gauge line. Most visitors join excursions from Aviemore, which make an extended stop at Boat of Garten, but you can buy tickets and start from here. Trains continue northeast to Broomhill, a small station where you can also start, then hiss to a halt a quarter-mile further when the line ends inconsequentially in the fields.
 * is a rock formation visible from A9 and the railway at Slochd northwest of Carrbridge. Most passers-by fail to see any resemblance to a head or any other item of military anatomy, until one day they suddenly "geddit" and thereafter irritate their travelling companions by repeatedly pointing it out.
 * is a rock formation visible from A9 and the railway at Slochd northwest of Carrbridge. Most passers-by fail to see any resemblance to a head or any other item of military anatomy, until one day they suddenly "geddit" and thereafter irritate their travelling companions by repeatedly pointing it out.

Do

 * Golf: Carrbridge GC is by the village crossroads. It's nine holes so twice around off white tees is 5382 yards, par 71, visitor day ticket £35.
 * Golf: Carrbridge GC is by the village crossroads. It's nine holes so twice around off white tees is 5382 yards, par 71, visitor day ticket £35.

 * Carve Carrbridge is the Scottish Open Chainsaw-Carving Competition, held on the village sports field in early September.
 * Golden Spurtle is the world porridge-making championship, held in Carrbridge village hall in late October as the nights draw in and folk want warming food. The winner gets the spurtle — the traditional stirring-stick — though this is probably the world's only contest in which you would be helped by winning a wooden spoon. Early October.

Buy

 * Spar on Main Street is open M-Sa 7AM-6PM, Su 8:30AM-5PM.

Eat

 * Cairn Hotel is a pub serving non-residents, see blow.
 * The Old Bakery Coffee Shop is on Main Street north side of Cairn Hotel. It's open Th F M 8:30AM-4PM, Sa Su 9:30AM-4PM.
 * Carrbridge Kitchen opposite Old Bakery is open W-Sa 8:30AM-8:30PM, Su-Tu 8:30AM-5PM.

Drink

 * Cairn Hotel is the village pub.
 * Distilleries: several big names for Scotch whisky are based further down the valley beyond Grantown.

Connect
Carrbridge and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of July 2023, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Aviemore to the south is the main Speyside resort town and base for reaching the Cairngorms.
 * Grantown-on-Spey downriver northeast is another resort village. The river then escapes the hills into Moray towards the coast.
 * Inverness north is a pleasant Victorian town. Its castle is the start and finish of the North Coast 500 motoring itinerary.

title: Carrbridge


text:
Carriacou

Carriacou is the second-largest island of the Caribbean nation of Grenada. It's about 12 miles long by 3 miles wide, and in 2022 had a population of 6081. It's a quiet relaxing place where the main attraction is scuba diving on its coral reefs.

Towns

 * is the only significant town.
 * , also called Harvey Vale, is a village on Tyrell Bay and nowadays the ferry port.
 * is a village on the northeast coast.

Understand
Carriacou is a product of the same volcanic activity that threw up Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean chain, and continues today. It was settled long before the Caribs arrived from South America from 500-1200 AD, but whether these people arrived as invaders or neighbours is unclear. They called it "Kayryouacou", meaning "surrounded by reefs". The first European known to set foot here was Jean-Baptiste Du Tertre in 1656, who documented many of the Lesser Antilles. The French were the first to colonise and they held it until 1763. Having lost the Seven Years War they ceded Grenada and Carriacou to the British, who developed plantations and populated both islands with African slave labour. The French returned in 1779, supporting the American Revolution against Britain and reclaiming their West Indies possessions, but were again ousted by the treaty of 1783. The largest land-owner and slave-owner on Carriacou during this interchange was Judith Philip, a free black woman. The islands remained British until independence in 1974, but French place-names and patois words persist.

Carriacou's main harbour is at Tyrell Bay / Argyle on the sheltered southwest coast. During the 20th century the port moved to Hillsborough, which became the main town, but with the construction of a new marina Tyrell Bay is again the port of arrival. The island's shoals and corals have done a good job of cramping transport and industry, but today are the main draw.

December to April is the best time to visit, as those months are somewhat cooler and drier. Carriacou is clear of the main hurricane belt, but was damaged in 1944, 1955, 2004 and 2005.

Get in
By air: SVG Air fly once a day from Grenada Maurice Bishop Airport to Carriacou, and continue to Saint Vincent Argyle Airport their hub. They connect in St Vincent with flights to Barbados and other islands, and some services between Grenada and Carriacou involve doubling back that way - a four hour journey for what should be a 20 min hop. The aircraft are small BNF Islander or Twin Otter turboprops.

Long distance flights to Grenada arrive too late to connect same day to Carriacou, so travellers need to factor in an overnight stay there.

is 2 miles west of Hillsborough. It's just a small simple terminal.

By boat: Osprey Lines (+1 473 440 8126) ply between the three inhabited islands. As of Jan 2023, they sail between St George's and Carriacou twice M W F, for a single fare of EC$ 80 adult, EC$ 50 child. A day-trip either way is easily possible. On a straight run it's 90 min, but some are triangular sailings via Petite Martinique.

There is one sailing M-F from Carriacou to Petite Martinique, connecting with the morning ferry from St George's and taking 30 min. There are two return sailings, with the afternoon ferry connecting to St George's. A day-trip only gives you two hours, enough for essential island business but not conducive to relaxed sightseeing.

A freight vessel / car ferry also plies three days a week between Grenada and Carriacou, taking 2 hr 30 min.

The ferry to Union Island in Saint Vincent leaves Mondays and Fridays only.

The ferry ticket office and pier are at Tyrell Bay Marina in Argyle / Harvey Vale.

Private vessels entering Grenada must first obtain immigration and customs clearance. That can be done at Tyrell Bay if not already completed on Grenada main island.

Get around

 * You can walk around Hillsborough in half an hour. Even the airport isn't much further.
 * Minibuses run M-Sa 7AM-5PM from Hillsborough to all settlements on the island. The main routes (with a flat fare of EC$ 3.50) are
 * #10 southwest to Lauriston, L'Esterre, Tyrell Bay and Harvey Vale.
 * #11 northeast to Windward and Dover.
 * #12 east to Belair and Grand Bay.
 * Car and jeep rental is available from Wayne's (+1 473 443 6120) and R/C Auto Rental (+1 473 404 0293). See Grenada for rules on driving permits.
 * Taxis wait by the ferry pier, and their official rates are posted nearby. To Lauriston Airport would be EC$ 20.

See

 * Hillsborough waterfront is atmospheric rather that picturesque - it's dilapidated and run down. The beach is sandy but narrow.
 * Hillsborough Botanic Garden is a sorry mess in 2023, but work is at last under way to refurbish it.
 * Anglican Church of Christ the King on 2nd Avenue Hillsborough was built in 1856. It's closed in 2023, as is the Rectory and Garden.
 * is the bootlace of sand and palm trees seen off Hillsborough. Boat trips putter out for picnics but there's no shade, water or other facilities here.
 * west of Sandy Island is scrubby and with not much beach, but this is a popular area for dive boats.
 * Paradise Beach is just west of the airport, with white sand and calm water sheltered by the barrier reef. The little settlement is called L'Esterre.
 * is the highest point on Carriacou at 291 m / 956 feet. The trails are poorly marked and in dense woodland, you might want a guide (who'll point out the wildlife), else head north from the junction on Bogles Rd and reckon 2 hours altogether. You might see iguanas, land tortoises, soldier crabs, humming birds and macaws.
 * is the highest point on Carriacou at 291 m / 956 feet. The trails are poorly marked and in dense woodland, you might want a guide (who'll point out the wildlife), else head north from the junction on Bogles Rd and reckon 2 hours altogether. You might see iguanas, land tortoises, soldier crabs, humming birds and macaws.
 * Anse La Roche Bay is on the northwest corner, reached by a coastal trail. There's a good beach (which you may have to yourself) and snorkelling. The "roche" is a prominent rock 10 yards offshore. South end of the bay are fort and plantation ruins.
 * has old gunnery positions and views towards Union Island, part of Saint Vincent. The British governed all these as a single colony, but when they became independent the tip of North Point was taken as the dividing latitude. This meant that Petite Martinique (seen east) became Grenadian but not Petit Saint Vincent only a mile north of it.
 * Petite Carenage Beach is the bay east of the Point, reached by a trail from the road. This beach is made up of tiny shells and turtles use it to lay their eggs: a guide conducts night tours in nesting season. The settlement's name "Windward" indicates that this is the exposed northeast coast, so the surf can be rough.
 * on the east coast has a macabre beach where an old cemetery is being washed away by the sea. Ningo Well here is one of the earliest wells built on Carriacou and is under archaeological excavation. There are plantation ruins nearby.
 * on Belair Road in the 8 m tower of an 18th / 19th century mill for crushing sugar cane.
 * by the south coast has the ruins of an old plantation, with machinery used to process cotton and limes, and a stone chimney.
 * off the south coast has sandy beaches so it's a picnic spot.
 * Saline Island near it is privately owned. Further south are Frigate Island and Large Island (which isn't, really).

Do

 * Scuba diving and snorkelling are the main activities. Dive shacks are Deefer Diving in Hillsborough and Dive Carriacou and Lumba Dive in Tyrell Bay.
 * Carnival or Mardi Gras is held just before Lent, with the next on 20-21 Feb 2023. There are parades with oily jab-jabbers, Shakespeare recitation matches and a lot of rum-drinking. Don't expect much sense out of folk on Ash Wednesday morning.
 * Carriacou Maroon & String Band Festival is usually in April.
 * Carriacou Regatta is a race for locally-built boats on the first weekend in August. The shore-side festivities nowadays eclipse it.
 * Parang on the weekend before Christmas celebrates the island's traditional music and culture. "Parang" originated in Venezuela and involves promenading musicians; it became blended with Christmas carols and calypso satire.

Buy

 * Hillsborough has a bank with ATM. There's no supermarket, the main stores are Patty's Deli (M-Sa 8AM-4:30PM) and Family Store (M-Sa 8AM-4PM).
 * Argyle has Alexis Food Stores, open M-Th 7AM-10PM, F Sa 7AM-11PM.

Eat

 * Hillsborough has La Playa, Ocean Sunset, Snagg's and Ann's.
 * Bogles Round House serves dinner W-Sa 6:30PM to 8:30PM and gets great reviews. See Sleep for location and contact, they also have cottages.
 * Argyle and Tyrell Bay have Big Citi Grill, D'Empress, Tanty Mavis, Frogs, Lambi Queen, Crazy Beach Corner, Original Slipway (below) and Las Iguanas.

Drink

 * Hillsborough has Wayne's and Excelcia's Butterfly Bar.
 * Argyle and Tyrell Bay have Swampy Jo and Sundowners.
 * Rum: there are no distilleries on Carriacou, but you'll find plenty on sale.
 * Rum: there are no distilleries on Carriacou, but you'll find plenty on sale.

Stay safe
Sun protection, care of valuables and water safety are the main things to think about. Carriacou hospital is small and anything serious would mean a transfer to St George's and perhaps an airlift to the US mainland, so you must have adequate health insurance.

Connect
As of Jan 2023, Carriacou has 4G from Flow and Digicel. 5G has not rolled out in Grenada.

Go next
The ferry or plane will take you back to St. George's on Grenada.

Petite Martinique is a short ferry ride. It's little developed.

Direct flights go to Saint Vincent to the north.

title: Carriacou


text:
Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus is a large town 12 miles northeast of Belfast, historically in County Antrim. The counties of Northern Ireland have been abolished so since 2015 the town has been part of Mid and East Antrim District. It's often abbreviated to "Carrick" but that's a common place name in Ireland, so always specify "Carrickfergus" when organising transport.

Understand
Carraig Fhearghais means "The rock of Fergus" - Fergus the Great (430-501 AD) was King of Dál Riata and it's said his ship hit a rock here. It became a substantial walled town in the Norman period, acquiring the fine castle which today is the main reason to visit. It long pre-dates Belfast, which only outgrew it in the 18th and 19th centuries as metal-bashing industries developed, and ships needed deeper harbours. Until then, Carrickfergus was the place you had to capture to land your troops in Ulster, and the English, Scots and Irish took turns doing so. King William of Orange landed here to campaign against James II / VII, and in 1760 the town was even seized for a few days by French privateers.

The modern town's fortunes have ebbed and flowed with those of industry and civil stability in Northern Ireland. It's become a commuter town for the city, with a population in 2011 of 27,998. The TIC is within the Museum & Civic Centre, see below.

Get in
See Belfast for long-distance travel from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Trains run every 30 min from Belfast Great Victoria Street via other city stations, Yorkgate (for ferry port) and Whiteabbey (for Newtownabbey), taking 35 min to Carrickfergus; a walk-up adult single is about £5. Most trains continue to Larne.

Carrickfergus is north side of town centre. Trains also stop at Clipperstown a quarter of a mile west, and Downshire half a mile east towards Larne.

Ulsterbus 563 runs from Belfast Laganside bus station via High St, Ulster University, Yorkgate, Skegonell, Greencastle, Whiteabbey and Greenisland, taking 40 min to Carrickfergus and continuing up Larne Road to Kilroot. It's every 30 min M-Sa and every 90 min or so on Sunday.

By road from Belfast follow M2 onto M5 then A2 the Shore Road.

There's free parking at Harbour Car Park next to the castle.

Get around
The town is walkable, but you'll be wanting a car to explore Islandmagee and the Antrim glens.

See

 * Carrickfergus Museum is in the Civic Centre behind Town Hall. It's open M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM.
 * St Nicholas Church (Church of Ireland) near Town Hall was established by the Normans but the present building is from the 19th century.
 * is a village at the entrance to Belfast Lough that developed as a seaside resort in the 1890s. Not much has happened here since so it retains its period atmosphere, and it's an access point for The Gobbins and Islandmagee. See Larne.
 * is a village at the entrance to Belfast Lough that developed as a seaside resort in the 1890s. Not much has happened here since so it retains its period atmosphere, and it's an access point for The Gobbins and Islandmagee. See Larne.
 * is a village at the entrance to Belfast Lough that developed as a seaside resort in the 1890s. Not much has happened here since so it retains its period atmosphere, and it's an access point for The Gobbins and Islandmagee. See Larne.

Do

 * Cinema: Omniplex is within Rogers Quay shopping centre.
 * Carrick Rangers play soccer in the NIFL or Danske Bank Premiership, Northern Ireland's top tier. Their home ground is Taylors Avenue, capacity 6000, half a mile east of the railway station.
 * Amphitheatre Wellness Centre is on Prince William Way between the golf course and the railway tracks.
 * Golf: Carrickfergus Golf Club is on North Rd, quarter of a mile north of the railway station. White tees 5713 yards, par 68.
 * Slieve True is a 312-m (1024-ft) hill three miles northwest of town. Park on Slievetrue Rd to its east and walk up the firm track to the telecoms mast near the summit, reckon 15 min each way. Half a mile southwest of the top are the "Three Brothers" standing stones, but they've been incorporated into a field wall.

Buy
The main shopping centre is Rogers Quay by the harbour, with Sainsbury's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

Eat

 * Little India is at 75A Belfast Rd, west of the marina. It's open Su-Th 4-10PM, F Sa 4-11PM..
 * Little India is at 75A Belfast Rd, west of the marina. It's open Su-Th 4-10PM, F Sa 4-11PM..
 * Little India is at 75A Belfast Rd, west of the marina. It's open Su-Th 4-10PM, F Sa 4-11PM..

Drink

 * Central Bar at 13 High St is a JD Wetherspoon, open Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM.
 * Jacques Bar on North St has live TV sport and is open M-Sa 11:30AM-11:30PM.

Connect
As of Feb 2021, the town and highway from Belfast have 4G with EE, O2 and Vodafone, but a poor signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Belfast is a fascinating city that needs several days to explore.
 * Larne town is ugly and industrial, but you go that way for the scenic Antrim glens.

title: Carrickfergus


text:
Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town of County Leitrim in northwest Ireland, and grew up at a place where the Shannon could be forded. (A soggy experience, as the town's Irish name of Cora Droma Rúisc means "weir of the marshy ridge"). Later the river was bridged, so Carrick and the south bank village of Cortober in County Roscommon became a single settlement. In the early 19th century Carrick was an important river port when the Shannon navigation was improved, and the Royal Canal connected all the way to Dublin. Water traffic faded with the coming of the railways, but in the 20th / 21st century was revived by pleasure craft. In 2016 Carrick had a population of 4062.

Get in
Although the town is often simply referred to as Carrick, always give it the full "on Shannon" when organising transport, as several other places are named for An Charraig, a crag or rock.

Trains from Dublin Connolly take 2 hr 20 min to Carrick-on-Shannon via Drumcondra, Maynooth, Mullingar, Longford and Dromod, and continue to Boyle, Ballymote and Sligo. There are 7 M-F, 6 Sa, 5 Sunday. A walk-up single from Dublin is €17, see Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets. The is on the retail park south bank of the river, 1 km from town centre. The ticket office is staffed M-F 07:00-16:00 and there are ticket machines and toilets.

Expressway Bus 23 runs six times a day from Dublin Busáras, taking 3 hours via Dublin Airport, Lucan, Maynooth, Mullingar, Longford and Dromod, and continuing from Carrick to Boyle and Sligo; it bypasses Ballymote. The town bus stop is on N4 opposite Landmark Hotel.

There's also a Local Link bus on Tu, Th, Sa. It sets off from Manorhamilton around 09:00 and runs south via Dromahair, Drumshanbo and Leitrim to Carrick, in time for the midday train from Sligo to Dublin. It sets off back once the 13:00 train from Dublin to Sligo arrives, to reach Manorhamilton for 15:00.

By road from Dublin follow M4 then N4 through Mullingar and Longford.

The Shannon is navigable by small craft at Carrick and linked by canals north to Drumshanbo and Lough Allen, northeast to Enniskillen, south to Athlone and Limerick, and east to Dublin and Waterford.

Get around
The town won't take long to explore on foot. You need wheels or a boat to explore along the river.

Local Link Bus 568 runs from Carrick to Leitrim village, Drumshanbo and Arigna. It runs 3 times M-Sa, taking 45 min, so you can use it to visit Arigna Mines. Bus 567 also makes 4-5 runs between Carrick, Leitrim and Drumshanbo but doesn't reach Arigna.

Local Link Bus 564 runs 3 or 4 times a day from Carrick to Jamestown, Dromod, Mohill, Fenagh and Ballinamore.

See

 * Churches of normal size are St Mary's (RC) and St George's (C of I), side-by-side on Main St and both 19th century.
 * Castle: if there's an award for Ireland's most ruined castle then here's a contender, a little knuckle of masonry by the bridge.
 * Hatley Manor is an elegant mansion of 1830 on St George's Terrace. It's privately owned, no tours.
 * is now St Patrick's Community Hospital. A plaque marks the Famine graveyard next to it. An inspector of 1846 rated this workhouse the worst he had ever seen.
 * , home to Anthony Trollope in the 1840s, has a scenic stone river bridge. This was the upper limit of navigation of the Shannon until a 2.6 km canal was cut to bypass the shallows, enabling shipping to reach Carrick and beyond. The old locks and lock-keeper's cottage still stand.
 * , the upstream end of the canal, has another stone bridge and the gnarly stump of an abbey on the Leitrim riverbank.
 * is a village 5 km upriver from Carrick, with O'Rourke's Castle the scrappy remains of a 15th century tower house. It's the upper limit of natural navigation of the River Shannon, which above here is shallow in its descent from Lough Allen. That meant it could be forded: in 1270 the Normans marched here but were routed by the Irish of Connacht, and the place previously called "the ford with the tree-stump" became known as Battlebridge. The Lough Allen Canal ascends from Battlebridge (1 km northwest of Leitrim) to Acres Lough, Drumshanbo and into the extensive Lough Allen; there's no onward navigation from there. And Leitrim village itself is the south terminus of the 63 km Shannon-Erne waterway, re-opened to navigation in 2009.
 * Arigna Mining Experience: see Drumshanbo for this coal mine museum.
 * Arigna Mining Experience: see Drumshanbo for this coal mine museum.

Do

 * What's on: check the Leitrim Observer.
 * The Dock on St George's Terrace is an art gallery and performance space, in the 1822 former courthouse. Prisoners were led down from the court dock through a tunnel to the cells of the gaol opposite - this was demolished in 1968 and became, fittingly, a dock, the kind used by boats. The courthouse also held Council offices but these are now in a modern building next door.
 * Moon River Cruises sail the Shannon from the quay by the bridge. Daytime sailings are an hour, adult €15. They also do evening booze cruises and stag and hen events.
 * Cinema: Carrick Cineplex is on Sligo Rd, Cortober.
 * Aura Leisure Centre northeast of town centre has a gym and pool.
 * Boat hire is available from several operators. This includes long-distance hire, with one-way rentals available from Carrick to Bellanaleck near Enniskillen and Banagher in County Offaly. You don't need a boat licence, anyone over 21 can hire.
 * Gaelic games: the County GAA play Gaelic football and hurling at Seán Mac Diarmada Park (capacity 9331) at the east edge of town.
 * Carrick Golf Club is 5 km west along N4 towards Sligo. Blue tees 5767 m, par 69, visitor round €30-40.
 * Coarse fishing is plentiful near town on the river and lakes.
 * Shannon Blueway is a riverside route between Drumshanbo, Leitrim and Carrick, with several side-trails. The first 600 m across Acres Lake in Drumshanbo is a floating boardwalk - cyclists must dismount and marching armies break step over this section. The Blueway continues downstream from Carrick to Rooskey near Dromod: this section is only on water, suitable for kayaks and paddle-boards.
 * Carrick Carnival is in June. The next is probably 3-12 June 2022, tbc.
 * Carrick Water Music Festival is in July, dates for 2022 TBA.

Buy

 * Tesco is on the main retail park east edge of town, open daily 08:00-22:00. Aldi is a little way further east.
 * There's also a retail strip south of the river, with Lidl and SuperValu.
 * Bank of Ireland and AIB in town centre have ATMs.

Eat

 * Coffey's Pastry Case on Bridge St does light meals M-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 10:00-16:00.
 * Lena's Tea Room at the top of Main St is a delightful 1920s experience.
 * Boardwalk Restaurant within Landmark Hotel serves modern Irish food.
 * Toppers on Main St is open W-Su 17:00-21:30.
 * Red Bank restaurant on St George's Terrace is open W Th 17:00-21:00, F-Su 13:00-21:00.
 * Buffalo Boy is a steak house on Main St, open W-Su 15:00-23:00.
 * Leitrim has Barge Steakhouse, and Waves Restaurant within the Marina Hotel.
 * Leitrim has Barge Steakhouse, and Waves Restaurant within the Marina Hotel.
 * Leitrim has Barge Steakhouse, and Waves Restaurant within the Marina Hotel.

Drink

 * Cryan's Bar on Bridge St has trad music and a great atmosphere.
 * An Poitín Still on Main St also has a restaurant and accommodation.
 * Flynn's Bar is a grand old-style pub on Main St, open daily 12:00-23:00.

Sleep

 * The hostel closed down in 2018.
 * Camping in Carrick is available on the Roscommon side of the river, eg at Anderson's pub, see Drink.
 * Battlebridge Camping & Caravan Site is on the riverside 1 km northwest of Leitrim village. A caravan or tent is €22. They also have glamping pods and run Beirne's pub adjacent.

Connect
As of July 2021, the town has 5G from all Irish carriers.

Go next

 * Longford has a fine cathedral, a mysterious "bog road" and several Neolithic portal tombs.
 * Boyle has a grand Georgian mansion and a ruined abbey.
 * Sligo is set in the haunting landscape of WB Yeats, with limestone scarps and Atlantic coastline.

title: Carrick-on-Shannon


text:
Carrington (North Dakota)

Carrington is a town in the Coteaus and Plains region of North Dakota. It had a population of about 2,000 people in 2019.

By car
Via US-281, approximately 40 miles north of I-94. It also can be reach on North Dakota Highway 200 and US-52. 66th AVE NE 2 miles south New Rockford on via ND Hwy 15.
 * Carrington Municipal Airport Tel: +1 701 652-2206

title: Carrington (North Dakota)


text:
Carrizo Plain National Monument

Carrizo Plain National Monument is a United States national monument about inland from San Luis Obispo in the Central Coast of California.

History
Native American people have occupied the Carrizo Plain for at least the last 10,000 years. The Carrizo Plain National Monument lies primarily within the historical territory of the Chumash people. The Salinian, who lived north of the Chumash along the coast to the Salinas Valley, and inland within the Coast Range, also visited the Carrizo, as did the Yokuts who lived in the San Joaquin Valley to the east. The presence of pictograph sites like Painted Rock and other Native American spiritual sites on the Carrizo Plain indicate that this region has long held special values to these people. Their descendants continue to revere these places and visit them to conduct ceremonies and rituals.

Flora and fauna
The park is perhaps most famous for its wildflowers - mid March to mid April is the usual time frame for wildflower season, but it is dependent on the weather and varies from season to season. There are many factors, including temperature, rainfall and the timing of the two that determine which flowers bloom and their distribution in any given season. Every year is not spectacular and only a few flowers may prevail in some years.

Carrizo Plain is home to many animals with sensitive status. Tule elk and pronghorn antelope have been reintroduced into the area and can be seen at various locations on the plain. Many raptors, including redtail hawks, golden eagles, kites, harriers, owls, and others can be found all year throughout the area. The California Condor has been reintroduced nearby and is occasionally seen over the plain.

Visitor information

 * Park website (BLM)

Get in
The park is remote and no gas stations are nearby, so fill your tank before visiting. The only reliable road through the park is Soda Lake Road, which bisects the 37 miles of the national monument from north to south. Since only the northern eighteen miles of Soda Lake Road are paved most visitors choose to visit the park from the north via Highway 58. The intersection of Highway 58 and Soda Lake Road lies 27 miles west of the town of McKittrick, and 40 miles from Santa Margarita and US-101.

If arriving from the south, Soda Lake Road intersects CA-166/CA-33 about nine miles southwest of the town of Maricopa; from there you will need to travel 19 miles of dirt road to reach the park visitor education center. While Soda Lake Road is well-maintained and suitable for vehicles without four-wheel drive or high ground clearance, the numerous county roads that cross the park are less well maintained and can be impassable during wet weather; check conditions before setting out on these roads.

Fees and permits
There are no fees for visiting or camping in the Monument. Some areas, such as Painted Rock, require you to register and pay $1 for a guided or self-guided tour. You can only camp in designated areas so be sure to review the camping regulations noted below.

Get around
Soda Lake Road is the main route through the park. It is well maintained and safe for low clearance vehicles, but be careful: the road often has dips and axle-breaking chuckholes that need to be avoided, especially when the rainy season ends, the wildflowers are out, and road maintenance crews have not yet had time to implement repairs. If you are going faster than about 30 miles per hour you may not see hazards in time to dodge them, and long stretches of relatively smooth gravel road can lull a driver into a false sense of security. Panorama and Simmler Roads are usually impassable due to mud long after the last rain. Once the roads have dried out, gullies, ruts, rock-slides and wash-outs often render roads impassable, especially for low clearance vehicles. Stay on designated roads with any motorized vehicles. Except on county roads, or unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour.

Stay on existing roads and trails with mountain bikes.

Do

 * Geocaching
 * Flower viewing
 * Birdwatching
 * Geology field trips, viewing the offset streams and other features of the San Andreas Fault
 * Hunting
 * Hiking
 * Mountain Biking
 * Visit the Education Center
 * Take a guided tour of Painted Rock and an old Ranch
 * Camping

Buy
Guidebooks, maps, birding books and regional interest titles are available at the Goodwin Education Center. The nearest gas stations are outside of the park in Taft, Maricopa and Santa Margarita so it is important to fill up the gas tank before visiting.

Eat
There is no food available in the park so you must bring everything with you. If you plan on cooking, be aware that any fire outside of a designated campground requires a campfire permit that can be obtained from the visitor center, a ranger or the Bakersfield BLM office.

Drink
There is no drinking water available within the park, so be sure to bring plenty of fluids with you.

Lodging
The closest hotels are in the city of Taft including the Best Western Plus in Taft. Santa Margarita or Paso Robles are within striking distance of the Monument and both have many fine hotels, and numerous bed and breakfasts as well as many unique restaurants.

Camping
There are two developed campgrounds in the Monument. Occasionally the KCL campground will fill up on weekends during flower viewing season and hunting season. Not to worry, you can head up to Selby or, if you are tenting or have a small trailer, there are still many fine areas in the monument where open (dispersed) camping is permitted.

Backcountry
Dispersed camping is also permitted in certain areas of the monument using low impact camping techniques. Campers are asked to use existing fire rings, keep vehicles on established roads, and leave areas cleaner than they found them. Maps showing where dispersed camping is permitted can be obtained at the Bakersfield BLM Office (year round) or the Goodwin Education Center (open seasonally)

Camping in the monument is limited to 14 days within any 30 day period and 28 days per calendar year. Make sure to call ahead and check to see if there are any fire restrictions in effect for the area if you plan on having a campfire or using any open flame. Free campfire permits are required to use any stove, lantern, or to have any type of fire. Campfire permits may be obtained at any area BLM office or Forest Service facility.

Stay safe
Bring extra water, food, and warm clothes. Summer temperatures can reach above 100°F (38°C) and winter temperatures can fall below freezing.

Keep an eye on the sky and check the weather report. Any amount of rain makes quite a few of the roads impassable due to clay and high salt content. Avoid the Caliente Ridge Rd, San Diego Creek Rd, Simmler-Soda Lake Rd, and Selby Rd during and after rain; navigate other roads with caution and watch for mud holes and washouts.

There is little to no cell service within the Monument, except near to California Valley, so help may be far away. Tell a reliable person where you are going and when you plan to return. Search and rescues for stranded or stuck motorists and off highway vehicle enthusiasts are common.

Watch your speed. Speed limits on BLM roads are 25 mph and 55 mph on county roads unless otherwise posted. The Soda Lake road is notorious for rollover accidents. Remember the average emergency response time is well over one hour.

Fill your gas tank before you come and keep in mind the closest gas to the monument will be Maricopa.

If you are hiking off-trail, or walking through grassy areas, especially near dawn or dusk, watch for rattlesnakes. They are abundant and quick to anger. Usually they give a warning before striking, but if you are walking fast and step very near to one, it may strike.

Go next

 * McKittrick - Northeast of the park, McKittrick is an oil & gas town located on Highway 33 that is home to the McKittrick Brea Pit, a tar pit that was the site of a huge cache of prehistoric fossils.
 * Taft - East of the park on Highway 33, Taft is an oil town that offers food, gas, and lodging services. Taft is also home to the West Kern Oil Museum and a replica of Sutter's fort that was built in 1940 as a Depression-era project.
 * Maricopa - East of the park on Highway 33, this oil & agriculture town was the site of one of the largest oil spills in history when the Lakeview Gusher unleashed nine million barrels of oil onto the surrounding countryside.

title: Carrizo Plain National Monument


text:
Carrizo Springs

Carrizo Springs is a city on the South Texas Plains.

Go next

 * Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, southeast of town off US 83, +1 830 676-3413. Over 15,000 acres of native brush land, with nature trails and scenic drives.

title: Carrizo Springs


text:
Carrollton (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Carrollton:

United States of America

 * Carrollton (Alabama) - A ghost town in Alabama.
 * Carrollton (Georgia) - A town of 21,000 in Georgia.
 * Carrollton (Kentucky) - A town of 4,000 in Kentucky.
 * Carrollton (Michigan) - A town of 6,000 in Michigan.
 * Carrollton (Missouri) - A town of 3,000 in Missouri.
 * Carrollton (Ohio) - A town of 3,000 in Carroll County in Ohio.
 * Carrollton (Texas) - A city of 120,000 near Dallas-Fort Worth.
 * Carrollton (Virginia) - A town of 7,500 in Virginia

Also:

 * New Carrollton - A town of 13,000 in Maryland.

title: Carrollton (disambiguation)


text:
Carrollton (Georgia)

Carrollton is in the West High Country of Georgia.

Understand
Carrollton is the county seat of Carroll County and is home to the University of West Georgia.

title: Carrollton (Georgia)


text:
Carrollton (Texas)

Carrollton is a fast-growing suburb of Dallas, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. In 2019, it was home to about 140,000 people.

By car
Via Interstate 35E and President George Bush Turnpike.

By train
Operated by DART, the Green Line connects with downtown Dallas in about 50 minutes. In 2022, the Silver Line will provide direct connections from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Plano to downtown Carrollton. Additionally, DCTA runs the A-train from Denton, up north, to Trinity Mills station where it terminates, connecting with the Green Line. There are three stations within Carrollton.

Get around
The easiest way to get around is by car. Carrollton is also part of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which has a fairly decent amount of bus routes. The buses are considered clean and safe. The majority of residents do not use mass transit, and they would not be able to tell you how to get somewhere by bus. Uber and Lyft ride sharing services are available in the area. Carrollton also has a large network of hike and bike paths to get around the general area.

Stay safe
Carrollton is a mostly residential community, and considered a relatively safe place to be even at night. Obviously you should take care and be aware when walking alone outside at night, however should the need arise the Carrollton police are polite and plentiful.

Go next
Take I-35 north about 20 miles to Denton, which is home to the University of North Texas and to the Texas Women's University. There is a lively music scene, centered on the old courthouse square downtown, which is surrounded by restaurants, some bars, and several shops. Easy parking.

title: Carrollton (Texas)


text:
Carson

Carson is a major suburb in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. Carson is a very ethnically diverse but poorer suburb, with few sights or tourist destinations. However, it does hold Dignity Health Sports Park, a sports complex that's home to one of L.A.'s two Major League Soccer teams, the LA Galaxy. It is home to about 91,000 people (2019).

Get in
Several freeways directly serve Carson. I-405 cuts east-west across the middle of the city, connecting to Long Beach to the east and Los Angeles International Airport to the northwest. The I-110 runs along the west side of Carson, heading north through South Central to Downtown Los Angeles, while I-710 runs along the east side of town between Long Beach and East L.A. Lastly, CA-91 runs east-west across the north side of the city, heading east to Anaheim and Orange County.

Do
The main stadium at Dignity Health Sports Park is home to the oldest of L.A.'s two top-level professional soccer teams, and was the temporary home of the National Football League's Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 to 2019. It will also host the USA Sevens event in the World Rugby Sevens Series for men's national rugby sevens teams for at least 2020, and possibly beyond.

title: Carson


text:
Carson (North Dakota)

Carson is a town in Western North Dakota. It has a population of about 319 people and an area of 4 square miles. Altitude is 2,305 feet.

Understand
In the wide open areas of western ND, population density is very low, and Carson is no exception. Though it is the county seat. This area is more normally visited by hunters and fishers rather than sightseers.

By car
From exit 110 on I-94, take state highway 49 south for 32 miles then head east on state highway 21 for 14 miles.

By plane
Elgin Municipal Airport is 14 miles to the west of Carson near the junction of highways 49 and 21.

title: Carson (North Dakota)


text:
Carson City

Nevada's capital, Carson City is located along the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada, in the Eagle Valley, just east of Lake Tahoe, south of Reno, and north of Douglas County and the Carson Valley communities of Minden, Gardnerville, and Genoa. The Carson River flows through the southeast corner of the city. With a population approaching 60,000 (2020), Carson City is a picturesque, evolving destination with central access to the outdoors as well as larger and smaller communities nearby.

Understand
From the beginning, Carson City was intended to be Nevada's capital. Its cause was advanced by local fraternal orders and businessmen, chief among them Abraham Curry, who bankrolled and oversaw many of Carson City's early developments. Carson City was once home to an outlet of the US Mint. The collectible "CC" Carson City coins were produced here from 1870-1893.

With several hidden surprises for the history buff, Carson City is a pleasant daytrip from nearby Reno and Lake Tahoe.

By plane
The nearest airport for commercial flights to Carson City is, 30 miles north via Highway 395. Carson City has, a small regional airport for general aviation with no scheduled commercial services via major airlines.

By car
Carson City can be accessed via US Highway 50 from the east and west, and US Highway 395 from the north and south.

From Reno
Highway 395 from Reno comes into Carson City just south of Washoe Lake. The divided freeway ends at the junction with Highway 50.

From California
Highway 395 from Bishop comes into Carson City approximately 30 miles north of the Nevada/California border.

Highway 50 from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe comes into Carson City via Spooner Summit.

From the east
Highway 50 from Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and Ely comes into Carson City just west of Mound House.

By bus
Carson City is served weekday mornings and afternoons via Washoe County RTC's commuter express bus service RTC Intercity.

By bus
Carson City's transit service is called JAC (for Jump Around Carson). Regular scheduled service operates 6 days a week hourly on 3 routes. RTC Intercity shares a few stops with JAC. JAC connects to Tahoe Transportation, offering stops in Minden, Gardnerville and South Lake Tahoe. The route setup and schedule frequency of the various bus transit services operating in and around Carson City makes using public transit as your primary means of getting around in the Carson City area a challenge.

By car
Interstate 580 Nevada, known until 2012 as US 395, connects Carson City with Reno and terminates at the junction with US-50.

Carson Street, which is also US 395 business, runs north-south through the city. It is supplemented by Stewart Street, Roop Street, and Saliman Rd providing north-south connectivity through Carson City.

Williams Street is also US-50 as it heads east through Carson City. Highway 50 (as it is mostly referred to locally) is joined by 5th Street to the south and College Parkway on the north carrying traffic eastward and westward to and from Carson Street. The west side of Carson Street is known as Carson City's "West Side" and is served mainly by small neighborhood streets.

By foot
Downtown Carson City and the West Side are all easily explored on foot. The Kit Carson Trail, a route of blue lines and bronze medallions on the sidewalk, guides the visitor past a variety of historic and cultural attractions.

Buy
You should be able to find any general merchandise you require along Carson Street or Highway 50. Downtown Carson City just near the capitol complex features a variety of small shops.

Go next

 * Lake Tahoe. Just over Spooner Summit at the south end of town, via Highway 50 West (completely different road than the popular "Highway 50" Williams Street), is Lake Tahoe.  Carson City is a direct route to South Lake Tahoe and the Stateline casino area, as well as Heavenly ski area and the rest of what Lake Tahoe has to offer.
 * Nevada Outback. The other way on Highway 50 East, Williams Street, you find the Nevada outback.  This region of basins and ranges is perhaps best explored via Highway 50.  Overnight trips work best for anything beyond Sand Mountain, which lies outside Fallon.  Other things to see along the Highway 50 corridor include Fort Churchill State Park, Lahontan Reservoir, and the historic diametric opposite central Nevada mining towns of Austin and Eureka.
 * Carson Valley. South along 395, the Carson Valley is home to Genoa, Nevada's oldest settlement (established as Mormon Station in 1851), as well as the towns of Minden and Gardnerville.  Gardnerville is home to some Basque food and downtown Minden is quaint and picturesque.  Kingsbury Grade climbs the Sierra west of Carson Valley to Lake Tahoe, and is the Nevada side entrance to Heavenly Ski Resort.

title: Carson City


text:
Cartagena

There is more than one place called Cartagena:

Colombia

 * Cartagena (Colombia) - A city in Bolívar.

Spain

 * Cartagena (Spain) - A town in Murcia.

title: Cartagena


text:
Cartagena (Colombia)

Cartagena or Cartagena de Indias is a city and a world heritage site in Bolívar, Colombia. The city was one of the first sanctuaries of freed African slaves in the Americas. It is populated by an ethnic mix representative of Colombia's own variety.

Understand
Cartagena has almost 1 million inhabitants, and is on the northern coast at the Caribbean Sea. Founded by the Spanish in 1533, it was fortified and functioned as the center of the Inquisition in the region. The impressive buildings from the Spanish time today make up a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cartagena is the most visited city in the country by tourists. It gets extremely crowded in the December holidays and the holy week, when schools are out and most Colombians take their vacations. The city has basically two main parts where tourists go: the walled colonial city ("ciudad amurallada"), which is truly amazing and has many fancy restaurants, clubs and hotels; and a long strip of hotel towers and condos fronting onto the beach, known as Bocagrande. It is also nice to visit the exclusive neighborhood of Castillogrande, filled with modern condos, places to jog, and a quiet beach to soak up some sun.

Being in the tropics, the climate of the city is defined by dry and rain seasons. The dry season is from December to April and it also rains a little less in July. Nevertheless, there are still on average more sunny than rainy days per month in the rainy season. Apart from September and October, the monthly amount of rain isn't much more than 100 mm. Thanks to this, the temperature is also quite constant around the year with daytime highs of +32°C and nighttime lows of +23°C.

Also, there are small Tourist kiosks on Plaza de San Pedro Claver and on Plaza de los Coches.

By plane

At the airport you can find several ATMs and an exchange bureau where you can change cash and traveler's checks. To get downtown, go to the taxi stand which will give you a receipt with the exact amount you'll have to pay to the driver, around COP$20.000 or 35,000 depending on your destination (2019 rate). To get into town more cheaply, walk about 50 m (150 ft) to the street and hail one of yellow cabs. You should be able to get a cab to take you into town for about COP$10,000. A still more affordable alternative are the "Transcaribe" new public transportation service going from the Calle 70 near the airport (COP$2,500)(A bus driver doesn't accept the money. Locals use a plastic card to go inside a bus. August 2023) to the entrance of walled city that place is called "Paz y Concordia" which is in front of "La Serrezuela" what is a shopping Center at the western edge of downtown. On the way back from the downtown to the airport take the "Transcaribe" bus in the station of the system to the airport (T102 portal - Crespo, this is the notice in front of the bus).

By bus
The is 11 km east of the old city. Orange and white air-conditioned Transcaribe buses (X104, this is the notice in front of the bus) go to the old city and cost COP$2,500 (depending on the traffic goes between 45-70 minutes). Taking a cab costs COP$30,000, a late night surcharge of COP$500 applies after 20:00. Another fast and cheap way to reach the center is to take a taxi to the Transcaribe Portal terminal 3 km away from the main terminal. From there, the Transcaribe buses which have their own lanes, reach the centre in 30 minutes. The Transcaribe travel card costs COP$4000 and one trip costs COP$2,300.

 * Expreso Brasilia  has buses:
 * from Medellin: 13 hours (6 per day or more)
 * from Bogota: 18 hours

 * Unitransco has buses:
 * from Barranquilla: 2½ hours
 * from Santa Marta: 4 hours
 * from Mompox: 6 hours
 * from Tolú : 3 hours
 * from Montería: 4½ hours (every 45min)

 * Rapido Ochoa:
 * from Riohacha: 8 hours (daily)

If you are coming overland from Panama, your first bus will be from Turbo. Turbo to Monteria is COP$25,000 (4 hours) and Monteria to Cartagena COP$35,000 (4 hours) for express services.

Expreso Brasilia, Expreso Amerlujo and Unitransco have a daily connection to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas via Barranquilla, the two former for COP$200,000 taking 20 hours. If you travel with Unitransco it's a bit cheaper but it entails an additional transfer of buses at the border.

You may be able to bargain down prices for long-distance tickets, locals do that too.

By boat
Cartagena is an important port for charter boats between Colombia and Panama. There are several private boats doing this trip, but expect to have to wait several days to find a boat. Fares vary between US$300-550 depending on the size of the boat and the on-board services. The trip usually takes 4 nights and 5 days and includes a 2- or 3-day stopover in San Blas Islands. At the Panama end, the boats either leave from the Portobelo Area or from Carti Islands Kuna Yala rather than Colón. Reliable information about departure dates and captains can be found at the hotel Casa Viena. One option is Ave Maria Sailing.

Especially during cooler months in North America, cruise ships regularly pay day-long port calls here. Depending on their size and numbers on any day, available shore excursions can vary from visits to the city proper, to beaches and islands nearby. Very few will venture to cities elsewhere. The is about 3 km southeast of the old town, probably best accessible by taxi or by foot.

By car
The city is connected to the rest of Colombia by good roads. Ruta 90 (Transversal del Caribe) goes along the coast connecting Cartagena to places line Barranquilla and Turbo and has been built out to limited-access highway. You can drive here from Bogota too, but that's a drive of more than 1000 km.

On foot
The old town in particular is best explored walking. Most places in Bocagrande are also within walking distance.

By bus
To reach other destinations such as the San Felipe fort, Bocagrande, Castillogrande, airport, etc. there are many buses running all over the city. Ask the driver or other people who are waiting which bus goes to your destination. An urban bus ticket cost COP$2,300 sold by the driver (A bus driver doesn't accept the money. Locals use a plastic card to go inside a bus. August 2023). On the downside, buses drive slower, stop at each corner and seldom take the direct way so expect a bus ride from A to B to take several times that of a taxi ride.

By taxi
Taxis don't have meters in Cartagena, fares should be negotiated. There are printed fares, but they are more like minimum fares. Even negotiated rates are often higher, especially in high season. There are also night and air condition surcharges each of a few hundred pesos. Confirm your fare before getting in the taxi. Taxi drivers may demand ridiculous rates if not negotiated in advance.

Taxis are generally easy to find, although in the old town you may have to walk a few blocks away from the center, toward the wider road close to wall. From the old town to Boca Grande or vice versa or any transport inside Bocagrande or inside old town expect to pay COP$6,000; from the airport to the old town or vice versa is COP$10,000-12,000.

By chariot
A chariot is a popular way for tourists to get to know the old town. These can be flagged down in the street or there are usually some waiting at the Plaza Bolívar or close to the Santa Clara hotel. They are reminiscent of public transportation of colonial Cartagena, and essentially complete the atmosphere of the old town.

By boat
Cartagena has several harbours for Boats going out to the Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca, including the Muelle Turistico de la Bodeguita, Muelle Todomar. One of the easiest options (which includes a good lunch and roundtrip tickets [you can come back the same day or stay as long as you'd like as long as you keep your ticket stub]) is to go on one of the big ships like the Alcatraz. These come at the best price at COP$25,000, but beware - they take around four hours to actually get to Playa Blanca because they move really slowly and stop at the aquarium at Rosario Islands first (which is rather boring).

By scooter
Electric scooters can be rented in town and are to be ridden only within the city area. Gas-powered scooters are not available for rent. Many of the bicycle shops will also rent electric scooters.

See
Cartagena has several faces; one of a dirty, sprawling Caribbean metropolis, in Bocagrande the one of a massive "hotel ghetto" and finally the old town with its well-polished face of a once affluent colonial city. Cartagena's main attraction is its historic old town surrounded by the city wall. Main entrance is the Clock Tower Building. The walled city includes the neighbourhoods Centro, San Diego, Getsemaní and the modern part La Matuna. The oldest part of Cartagena is around Plaza Trinidad in Getsemaní. Cartagena's 500-year-old coralstone forts and great parts of its walled city are admirably intact and represent some of the finest examples of civil and military architecture of the Spanish colonial times.

Almost all churches in the historic center are worth visiting, especially Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, in honor of the priest St. Pedro Claver, who was the first saint of the new world for his work with slaves; La Catedral, near Plaza de Bolívar and the Iglesia de Santo Domingo

The old town is divided into three parts: El Centro with the cathedral and the many palaces in Andalucian style, San Diego, which was the quarters of traders and bourgeoisie lived and Getsemaní which was the home of the lower classes. The old harbor of Getsemaní, which used to separate El Centro and San Diego, has during the last century been transformed into the old town's new commercial area, La Matuna. Here you can also find the pedestrian area Camellón de los Martires, a good place to start exploring the old town.

Do

Nearby coral reefs, powdery beaches, impressive mangroves, and waterways complement the historic and urban beauty.

Tours

You can also take a horse and carriage tour, per Get around.

Beaches southwest of Cartagena
The easiest way of going to the beach is heading to the west coast, where there are sand beaches both north of the old town and on the Bocagrande peninsula.

However, there are a couple of beach destinations one or a few hours by boat from Cartagena. Commonly boats leave Cartagena (most near Muelle de la Bodeguita) in the morning and return in the early afternoon. Trips are often available as two-way boat tickets including lunch, but to avoid disappointment don't do business with the wandering ticket touts but buy tickets from a ticket office or kiosk. There is a port surcharge of COP$10,000 not included in posted ticket prices. Also, for these out-of-city destinations you may want to bring some bug spray. is widely regarded as the best beach of Cartagena, but it is not that easy to reach. With its white sand and crystal clear water it is probably one of the best beaches in Colombia. After tour boats leave in the afternoon it is also very peaceful and quiet. It is worth staying on Playa Blanca for at least one night. There are several places where you can rent hammocks, get food and drinks. For example, "Wittenbergs place".

On the beach you will be approached to buy massages, fruit platters, sea food and jewelry among other things — they can at times be rather persistent touting their products and services. Watch out for the vendors selling oysters: they will give you an oyster as a present (regalo) to taste. They will quickly crack the shells and serve you a number of oysters, after which you are told that they each cost COP$2,000. Avoid this COP$30,000 charge and the subsequent argument on the beach. If you are looking for great seafood and Coco Locos, ask around for Nelson Mandela. Sunbathers are often ushered to rent a "stall" for COP$5,000.

 * By boat Take a bus or taxi to “Mercado Bazurto”, the big market of Cartagena about 10 minutes from the center. From there, every day, except Sundays, small cargo-boats (lancha de carga) leave for Playa Blanca. They don't have an exact departure time, be there before 09:00 to be sure. You will have to pay about COP$20,000 each way (December 2008) and the trip takes more or less 1 hour to reach the beach. The way back is much easier, most boats (tour boats) will bring you back for around COP$15,000. The last boats from Playa Blanca to Cartagena leave 14:00-15:00. More comfortable and safer is taking a round-trip from the centre at Muelle de las Pegasos. You can bargain down a one-way-trip without lunch to about COP$25,000 plus COP$8,300 port tax. The tour takes you to Rosario Islands first until it reaches Playa Blanca in the late morning. You can leave the tour there to stay overnight.
 * Overland by public transport (1½ hours): take a bus to Pasacaballos from calle 30 and carrera 17 (in front of the castle - the bus will have a big Pasacaballos sign in front). The bus will leave you either in Pasacaballos or a bit before, under a highway arch; either way, you can take a taxi or mototaxi to Playa Blanca. The bus is COP$1,900 and the taxi is COP$10,000 per person (the mototaxi should be a bit less). The whole trip takes about 1½ hours.

Events
Major events take place during the dry season, coinciding with the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Getting money
Most hotels, upscale restaurants take credit cards, but many places, especially taxis only accept Colombian pesos. Some banks may exchange money, but the rates may not be the most convenient. The easiest method for obtaining pesos is to use your debit card at an ATM. Another option is to use a Cambio or currency exchange kiosk, although your exchange rate will be a little higher than by using a debit card. Using a credit card at the ATM will require you to use a PIN number, so contact your financial institution before your trip.

Handicrafts
Handcrafts are fashionable and sophisticated. Emeralds are available for sale all over Cartagena, including polished and uncut loose emeralds and beautiful jewelry. The prices can be reasonable and the variety available is extensive in the old walled city. The stores that sell emeralds and emerald jewelry use various names such as "Taller y Fabrica de Joyas" (workshop and manufacturer of jewelry), "Museo de Artesanias y Esmeraldas" (museum of crafts and emeralds) or simply "Joyeria" (jewelry). Store owners will negotiate and provide a certificate of "authenticity".

Touts
Take some care. Street hawkers are everywhere, ready to lead you to stores that pay them considerable "commissions"; you actually pay them...through higher prices. And many reliable sources report that, without in-depth knowledge of emeralds and ability to recognize 14K and 18K gold, you risk buying fake or "enhanced" stones or gold-plated metalwork at some stores, or paying more for quality items here than you would in reputable stores elsewhere in the Caribbean or at home.

When approached by a street vendor, your best bet is to smile and say "no, thank you", and they will more likely leave you alone. If you do it in a harsh way, they are likely going to follow you around for longer.

Eat
Cartagena features a rich fusion cuisine, combining ingredients and methods of the New and Old worlds, as well as of the original African, Arabian and other legacies of its inhabitants. Eating set menu lunches and dinners in local restaurants called 'corrientes' costs around COP$6,000. A typical dish consists of fried fish (if you are by the beach), chicken or meat, served with coconut rice (arroz de coco), fried plantains (patacones) and salad. There are many places that sell COP$2,000 fruit juices. Colombia boasts a very good range of exotic fruits that can be mixed with water or milk.

In the old town, dozens of good restaurants can be found dotted around the streets particularly concentrated close to the Plaza Santo Domingo. Beware that many of the city's restaurants are not open on Sundays.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Coffee
The most common type of coffee in Colombia is the sweet tinto. This can be bought from street vendors all over Cartagena for COP$500.

Nightlife
Most bars and clubs are found in the old town or at Avenida del Arsenal near the Convention Center. Plaza San Diego is a square with a lot of bars and restaurants, very lively in the weekends.

Sleep
In the Ciudad Amurallada, the most famous hotels are Sofitel Santa Clara and Charleston Santa Teresa, both old monasteries renovated in the 1990s. Either of them have fabulous facilities - expect prices like Monaco. Otherwise, the newest part of the city, Bocagrande, offers the largest number of hotels of all prices. You should always try to stay in the ciudad amurallada, since this is what makes Cartagena unique, rather than its beaches, which are normally too crowded and not really clean. If you cannot afford the five-star hotels, you may try with colonial houses turned into hostels, but they are rather small and sometimes getting a room there may be a matter of luck.

In some other parts of Latin America, like Uruguay, more expensive hotel rooms may be quoted in US dollars even at the hotel's own web page.

Budget
Budget hotels and hostels can be found in Getsemaní around the Calle de la Media Luna. If you're already in Cartagena just walk along the Calle de la Media Luna and check out the numerous hostals to get an impression of their offering. You'll notice that the 'value for money' differs heavily between the places, even though they're next to each other: for COP$50,000 you can either stay in a really nice private double room or in a dodgy dorm.

Splurge
Up-scale hotels can be found in San Diego and El Centro area of the old city.

Stay safe
The touristed old town is not more dangerous than a city in the first world, but going off the beaten path to the periphery of the city there is a real risk of getting robbed. Be very careful when walking at night specially around lonely parts of the city. Locals are in general helpful and kind. The street vendors can be very annoying, but a simple "No quiero nada" in Spanish will keep them away.

Getsemani where a lot of the budget hotels are located is safe during the day but it does become very seedy at night, with a lot of aggressive beggars as well as lowlife individuals who make a living by talking to all tourists and selling drugs or asking for tips for minor things, such as walking with you to the store, when you didn't even ask him to do so. These people are very aggressive and will follow you around, do not support them by giving them money.

Aggressive beggars

As of Oct 2016 aggressive beggars are a major annoyance in Cartagena, they will follow people around relentlessly harassing tourists to give them money. Sometimes when you are shopping in the supermarket, a lady beggar will ask you to buy bread for her, despite having her shopping cart full already. If you leave the tourist areas you might be surrounded by delinquent looking 12-year-olds demanding you give them your coins. They don't ask, they demand, it's short of a robbery, more like taxation through intimidation. Do not give to these people ever or you are encouraging them to continue. Do not give in, stay polite and they'll just go away.

Possession of illegal drugs in Colombia can lead to criminal charges. There is a scam going on where tourists are lured into buying illegal drugs. If you try to buy, "police" (the rest of the con gang) will emerge in a minute, drag you off to the nearest ATM and demand that you withdraw astronomical sums to pay "fines" or even kidnap you.

Money-changing magicians
Those street vendors offer you a very good exchange rate. After you have counted the money you will recognize that a small amount is missing, and after complaining he will put exactly that amount on top again. In the same move they will take some big notes from the bottom. Most people won't count their money a second time, and first think they made a good deal but in fact got ripped off.

Dodgy tours to Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca
The tours offered to visit Islas del Rosario and Playa Blanca can be quite a let down. You'll be offered a price for a tour which "includes" either snorkeling or entrance to the aquarium and a meal at Playa Blanca for about COP$50,000. Once on the trip you find out that you have to pay extra for the aquarium or the snorkeling - COP$15,000. Make sure the tour guides on the boat are told by the person who sold the tour what is included in order to avoid disagreements.

The best way to book a tour is going inside the marina and avoiding the "sales" people outside. They are getting a cut for the sales and have no responsibility to you. Once inside ask for Elizabeth ('La negra Liz"). She owns several boats, will give you the best price, and most importantly her word. You can rent your own small boat for COP$700,000 or secure a seat for COP$75,000. Ask them before hand about the itinerary. Her company in particular has its own "resort" in the Rosario Islands. The resort is clean, nice and has good food for a reasonable price. Their beach access is limited and less than spectacular. Her boats will insist on taking you there, but you have a choice.

Playa Blanca is by far the best beach, but it can be overwhelming with the locals trying to sell you their products.

More upscale destinations include the Baru Island and private resorts owned by the big hotels (Santa Clara, Santa Teresa). In most, you are allowed to spend the day at the beach. Every tour boat has their own agenda.

Long-distance buses
If you plan to take a bus to Santa Marta from bus terminal, it is advised to approach ticket counters and buy tickets directly there. Otherwise be aware: normally there is a bus service with connection in Barranquilla, where you will have to change a bus and pay a new fare to Santa Marta again, even if you have already paid it in a previous bus and even if you were promised that this was an absolutely direct bus to Santa Marta. If you happen to have this kind of connection in Barranquilla, make sure that you keep your tickets with you (even though they are being collected shortly after departure) and make sure that the guy, who will meet you in a bus and guide to another bus during a connection was clearly notified by a bus driver that you have already paid your fare to Santa Marta.

Stay healthy
Colombia has an outbreak of the Zika virus, which is hazardous for pregnant women since it can severely damage the baby in the womb. The Colombian government is advising its residents to avoid pregnancy and various other governments advise women who are or might become pregnant to avoid travel to the area. Here is the travel advisory from the US government Center for Disease Control.

Post

Sending postcards to Europe is expensive; a stamp costs COP$6,800.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇵🇦 Panama
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Go next

 * You can get to Santa Marta for COP$80,000 with Berlinastur (Feb 2021). Buses leave every twenty minutes and the trip lasts about 5½ hours and passes through Barranquilla (US$16 if you stay there; departures every hour, half of the buses stay here and half continue to Santa Marta). In Cartagena, their terminal is at Crespo, on the way to the airport. Many colectivos passing by the India Catalina can let you just at their door for COP$1,500. They also have buses to Cúcuta, Bucaramanga and Bogotá.

 * About 45 km northeast of Cartagena on the road to Barranquila is the Volcán del Totumo, a 15 m high mud volcano. You can enter the crater and take a mud bath (entrance COP$2,000), which is enormous fun and highly recommended. The nearby laguna then serves as a natural bath for washing off the mud.

 * The easiest way to get there is to take a tour. These cost around COP$30,000 (Dec 2010, COP$50,000 but booked from Hilton) with Rafael Perez tours (next door to the Cartagena Plaza Hotel in Bocagrande) and include the one hour each way journey to the volcano, as well as lunch and a swim at La Boquilla on the return to Cartagena. Another tour company is Los Pinos, which also charges COP$35,000 (or COP$25,000 without lunch) and uses the Manzanillo del Mar fishing village for a swim on the return journey. This tour can be booked from many hotels, such as the Casa Viena, in Calle San Andrés (Getsemaní), 5-664-6242 or Hostel Mamallena in Calle Media Luna 5-664-0948. Although the mud bath and massages are offered free of charge, you will be expected to tip anyone who helped you before your bus leaves. Other services expecting tips include storing your belongings, your shoes, holding onto your camera and taking snaps while you are immersed in the mud, and the women who help you wash off in the laguna. Tips of COP$1,000-5,000 for each person are the norm, depending on the service. Be sure to bring change.

 * Going by yourself is quite a hassle, but you may find you have the whole volcano to yourself and can take all the time you want. (Dec 2010, COP$3,000 for every help, massage, guy who takes photos of you, woman who helps who washing afterwards.) Take a bus from the city center to Terminal de transporte (COP$1,700). There, take the hourly bus to Galerazamba and get off at Lomito Arena (COP$6,000). From there it is 45 minute walk or take a motortaxi (COP$2,000). The whole trip takes about 2.5 hours. The last bus back from Lomito Arena leaves around 15:00.

 * Botanical gardens Jardin Botanico de Guillermo Piñeres — A pleasant escape from the city rush, 18 km out of Cartagena close to "Turbaco", a small town 20 km from the center of Cartagena. Take a bus to the bus terminal and get of at "la Bomba de Amparo", a big gasoline station 25 minutes out of the center. From there, are leaving buses to "Turbaco"- get off (ask the driver) a bit before Turbaco and walk to the right, about 20 minutes straight on. Together with your entry ticket you get leaflet which lists about 250 plants identified in the gardens, including some varieties of coca plants.
 * Punta Arena  — A fishing village 10 minutes by boat on the island of "Tierrabomba", in front of "Laguito" (Bocagrande). You reach it by boats (lanchas), leaving from "Muelle de los Pegasos" or with boats in "Laguito" next to the Hilton Hotel. Punta Arena has probably the nicest beaches close to Cartagena. There are restaurants where you can get food and drinks. Enjoy a day, hanging out under palm trees with a fantastic view of the skyline of Cartagena.
 * La Boquilla  — A fishing village (pueblo de pescadores) close to Cartagena. Take a bus for COP$1,600 (March 2013), from India Catalina (Avenida Venezuela), if you get off of the bus at the end of the ride you can rent a canoe which brings you to a nice beach (Playa de Oro) passing trough lagoons and mangroves – pay for the boat once  you are back.  Riding a bike is a great way to get there and should take around an hour.  Once you get past the end of the airport turn on to the beach and you can ride along the sand to La Boquilla.
 * Bocachica  - a fishing village on the island of "Tierrabomba" (pueblo de pescadores)
 * Bocachica is worth to visit to see its restored fortress (Fuerte de San Fernando). The beach isn't really special but OK to hang out for some hours. Several open-air restaurant serve food and drinks. Local boats leave during the day every 30-45 minutes from "Muelle de los Pegassos". The boat ride takes about 15 minutes. Guides will try to sell you expensive "all included" trips to Bocachica but you should pay just the local fare (COP$5,000/one way, July 2009). Once you ask for the price it will get more expensive.

 * Los Montes de María — This is a sub-region in the Colombian Caribbean that is in the south, 2 hours away from Cartagena by car. It's composed of mountains whose highest point is about 1,000 m above sea level. This region is of great ecological importance, one of the last remaining dry forests still intact in the Colombian Caribbean, with around 280 species of birds and 44 species of mammals, among which the Red Howler and the cotton top tamarin (an endemic monkey species). This ecosystem (dry forest) is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. The Montes de María is also famous because of the Gaita Music, the Hammocks and its indigenous history (It has one of the oldest pottery made by cultures in America), an interesting region to hike, to see wildlife and to learn from this unique culture of the Colombian Caribbean

title: Cartagena (Colombia)


text:
Cartagena (Spain)

Cartagena is the main seaport of the Murcia region. It has 214,000 inhabitants (2018), the second-largest city in the region. Cartagena concentrates an artistic legacy that summarizes almost three millennia of Spanish history, being inhabited by most great Mediterranean empires that have conquered the Iberian Peninsula. Cartagena is a city full of monuments, with many archaeological sites and outstanding buildings of historical interest, together with the charm of the sea and the typical bustle of a port city.

Understand
Dirty and very polluted in the past (due to the nearby refinery), the new redevelopments (like the initiative "Cartagena, Port of Culture") and restorations have turned it into a major tourist destination, and is a frequent disembarkation point for numerous cruises. Its wide municipal territory also include part of the famous holiday resort La Manga del Mar Menor, part of the Mar Menor coast and several protected areas of natural beauty near the coast.

By plane

 * San Javier Airport (Murcia) is a short drive from the city.
 * El Altet Airport (Alicante) is located on the homonymous nearby province.

By rail

 * Mainline trains from Murcia serve a terminus on Mexico Square, east of the city centre.
 * Metre-gauge trains terminate in the corner of a roundabout two thirds of the way along the road to the main station.

By bus

 * The city's circular bus station is adjacent to the narrow-gauge station.

By ship
Cruise ships occasionally visit, and often can "deposit" passengers at a dock on the edge of downtown.

Get around
Municipal buses are subcontracted to ALSA.

See

 * Roman remains, including the brand-new Roman theatre. Also of interest is its museum.
 * Modernist houses, made by the pupils of the famous architect Anton Gaudí, including the former Town Hall, the Gran Hotel, the Casino and the Casa Maestre, among others.
 * Military fortresses and facilities.
 * The Promenade and the harbour, including the famous Peral Submarine and the ARQUA (National Museum of Subacquatic Archaeology).
 * Other ancient remains (of Punic, Byzantine or Arab origin).
 * Several churches throughout the city.

Do

 * A route by the tourist catamaran throughout the port area on way to the Christmas Fortress, at the end of the harbour and at the beginning of the open sea.
 * A route by the tourist bus, covering the old part of town.
 * Take the panoramic elevator and have a view of the city.
 * Go to the nearby beaches.
 * Football: FC Cartagena play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Estadio Cartagonova (capacity 15,000) is on the west bank of the river.

Buy
Shopping ranges from numerous, quality stores to an El Corte Ingles department store, most found on a pedestrianized avenue that begins at the harbour.

Eat
City centre:

 * La Tartana, Puertas de Murcia. Mediterranean food.
 * La Tagliatella, Italian nice restaurant, near of the Roman Theater.
 * La Mejillonera, seafood and good fish. Calle Mayor.
 * Mare Nostrum, in the port. Mediterranean food.
 * Mesón Jamaica, Calle Canales. Mediterranean food.
 * La Marquesita, Plaza de Alcolea nº6, Mediterranean food, expensive but excellent food.

Near of city center:

 * El pincho de Castilla, Calle Angel Bruna.
 * Sacromonte, in "La Vaguada". Excellent food. (5 km from city centre).
 * El Trovador, in "La Vaguada". (5 km from city centre).
 * Alameda Tapas, Alameda San Antón.
 * La Vagoneta, Alameda San Antón.
 * El Rancho, cocina argentina.
 * La Sella, vegetarian food and good ambience.

Sleep
There is a naturist family beach at El Portus some 12 km southwest of Cartagena with a family naturist camping site where there are bungalows and apartments to rent.

title: Cartagena (Spain)


text:
Cartago (Costa Rica)

 * For other places with the same name, see Cartago (disambiguation).

Cartago is a city in Costa Rica's Central Valley. It used to be the national capital before that honor went to San José and is one of the few places in the country where more than a handful colonial era buildings have survived to the present day.

By bus
Take the Lumaca buses in San José. There are many buses running between San Jose and Cartago. For ₡750 (colones) and up, you will be able to catch a bus in San José downtown along Avenida 2. They run every 15 minutes, and take 45 minutes. "Indirect" buses from San Isidro de El General to San Jose stop on the outskirts of Cartago next to a stop for local buses.

By car

 * From San José (and the rest of the Central Valley) to Cartago through Ruta Nacional 1 (Interamericana).
 * From the south (Pérez Zeledón, Panamá, etc.) also take Ruta Nacional 1 (Interamericana).
 * From the Caribbean, go through Turrialba.

By train
There's a commuter train from San José. The train has a handful of stops between its Terminus at Estacion Atlantica in San José and Cartago and a few trains continue on to a place called Los Àngeles. Unfortunately there is no train in either direction between 10:00 and 15:00 and the last train leaves Cartago at 18:30 so if you want to take the train, you'll have to arrange your visit to fit the train schedule. The service doesn't get affected by rush hour traffic but it is far slower than taking a bus or driving a car.

Get around
Cartago downtown is perhaps the smallest of the main cities in the Central Valley, it is possible to walk all around the city in short time.

By bike
There is an effort by the local city government to make Cartago a bicycle-friendly city, because of that and thanks to a donation, the city constructed a bicycle-only loop track around the city.

Cartago Downtown

 * Basilica de los Angeles.jpg
 * Old Ruins in Cartago, Costa Rica by Daniel Vargas - 27.jpg

Irazú Volcano area

 * Main Crater Lagoon 1, Irazu Volcano, Costa Rica - Daniel Vargas.jpg

Paraíso Canton

 * Lankester Japanese Garden.JPG

Orosi Valley
A beautiful valley town 12 km east of Cartago, with amazing views from the hills. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and coffee plantations. It is easy to find hostels, hotels and restaurants in the area.

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The next two scenic overlook points are on the road to and from Orosi valley. It is possible to visit one, then go to the valley and visit the other. The usual way to visit the area is to do a loop using National Route 224, which starts and ends in Paraíso.

Cachí

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Do
Good Friday Procession: A massive spectacle beginning with the Romans marching into the city early in the morning arriving in the center of town around 09:00. They arrive at the church and then carry Christ off around 10:00 taking a long route to the Basilica.

Romero: Starting the end of July some 1.5 million people walk to the Basilica in Cartago to honor the Black Virgin. Streets are filled, traffic redirected, vendors are out in force. The final day of the walk is 2 August (see above for the legend).

Return of the Virgin: After the Romero the Virgin travels around Costa Rica for a month. Then she returns to Cartago. Another procession from the church in the center of town to the Basilica. Before the procession begins the path of the procession is decorated. Sand paintings, flowers, paper sculptures... a beautiful and unique expression of adoration for the Virgin.

Buy
Go to the Basilica de los Angeles and buy a souvenir there. "Casa del soñador" Dreamer's House is a must-visit in Cachi.

Eat
Ask for "comida tipica" or typical food when you get to Cartago. These restaurants are found specially on the way to the tourist areas as Irazu Volcano, Paraiso, Orosi or Turrialba.

In Cartago downtown besides typical restaurants and International food you can find chains like Burger King, McDonald`s, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, Pollos Campero and Pollos AS.

Drink
"Chaguite" is the name of a beverage that was invented in Cartago many years ago. This drink is hard to find nowadays but you can go to the central market and ask for it. It has a sweet flavor like anis.

"Guaro Cacique" is the national drink of Costa Rica and is like a vodka. This drink can be found in bars, restaurants or supermarkets.

title: Cartago (Costa Rica)