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Vrådal

Vrådal is a small village with 500 inhabitants in Telemark, in south-eastern Norway.

Understand

Tourists have been visiting Vrådal for over 100 years, first in the summer but from the 1960s also in winter. The village lies between the Vråvatn and Nisser lakes. It belongs to the municipality Kviteseid, with its centre some 15 km away.

Get in
Vrådal is located between the south-eastern and western shores of Norway. 3 hours to drive from Oslo, 6 hours to drive from Bergen and 4 hours from Stavanger (summer).

By car
From Oslo: E 18 to Drammen, E 134 Drammen - Kongsberg - Notodden - Seljord - Brunkenberg, R41 Brunkeberg - Vrådal. 200 km. From Kristiansand: E 18 to Timenes, R 41 Timenes - Birkeland - Åmli - Trenungen - Vrådal. 168 km

By bus

 * Nor-Way BusExpress: Haukeliekspressen from Oslo, Bergen and Haugesund to Seljord and local bus (corresponding) from Seljord to Vrådal.
 * Nor-Way BusExpress: Telemarksekspressen from Tønsberg, Sandefjord Airport, Larvik, Porsgrunn, Skien and Bø to Seljord and local bus from Seljord.

By plane
Closest airport is Sandefjord Airport 150 km.

Get around
Vrådal is a small place and you can get around mainly by foot. The hotels are located in the village centre and within walking distance from the souvenir shops and the supermarket. The Ski Centre is located 4 km from the village centre. The hotels have a skibus with departure in the morning and returning from the ski centre at closing time.

Do
Vrådal offers activities all year round.

Winter

 * Cross country skiing. Vrådal has 20-40 km with prepared tracks when the weather allows it. Information about track on the accommodation sites.
 * Cross country skiing. Vrådal has 20-40 km with prepared tracks when the weather allows it. Information about track on the accommodation sites.

title: Vrådal


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Vršac

Vršac (in Serbian Вршац, in Romanian Vârșeț, in Hungarian Versec or Versecz, in German Werschetz) is a town in Serbia 84 km from Belgrade and 75 km from Timișoara in Romania, in the eastern part of Vojvodina, close to the border with Romania, and has around 35,000 residents. The town is known for vineyards and premium quality wines in the larger municipality area. The wine cellars in villages around Vršac have become symbols of the Vrsac Wine Route which is held every year during the town's celebratory Grape Ball (Grođžebal).

Along with its wine offerings, Vršac is also known for the tallest mountains in the region, that provide a stark contrast to Vojvodina plains. They have a rich ecosystem, and are very specific in nature because they are island mountains which were once a part of the Pannonian Sea.

The town has a rich history of multiethnicity that spans over 200 years, and it can be seen best in today's various cultural communities and religious landmarks.

By car
The European route E-70 connects Belgrade and Timișoara via Vršac. The road is in very good condition and the trip takes less than 2 hours from Belgrade and an hour and a half from Timișoara.

By bus

 * Every day there is a bus from Timișoara, just over the border with Romania, leaving at 12:00, ~2 hours.

By train
The train to Belgrade is scheduled to depart half an hour after the train from Timișoara comes in Vršac. Tickets must be bought at the station before entering the train. The train connecting Vršac and Belgrade is a modern and fast one, the only downside being that is stops in every village en route to Belgrade. One way ticket to and from Belgrade costs less than €4.

On foot
Vršac is very small and compact, easily covered by foot, but reaching further destinations such as up on the hill can be a time-consuming experience and a good solution might be taking a taxi which is very affordable. It will take you about an hour from town center to reach Vršac Castle on foot. As of 2014, there were no bike nor motorbike rentals available.

By car
The traffic in town is usually light, except on Saturdays in the morning when it's grocery day. If you are traveling by car, be sure to pay attention to bikes as they are a very common method of transport for elderly citizens. Parking is available, but you need to buy a parking ticket the required parking zones where sign is displayed. Paper tickets are available at nearby kiosks and are valid for an hour. You need to scratch out the numbers which represent the hours you will be parked and leave them on your dash window. Otherwise, the easiest way to pay for parking is by sending an SMS to 8131 (+381 8131 if you use a foreign SIM card) with your full licence plate number (no spaces, no dashes, no dots). You can send multiple messages to extended your parking time. The cost of these messages is approximately between €0.25 and €0.4 and depend on the zone in which you parked your car. Buying a parking ticket is required M-F 07:00-21:00, and Sa 07:00-14:00. You don't need to buy a parking ticket on Sundays.

By taxi
All the taxis (including the freelance ones) have a defined fare with taxi meters exposed, so the possibility of paying a higher price than that shown is reduced to a minimum. An average trip will cost you between €1.5 and €3. There are a couple of taxi stations in the town, with the most relevant being the one in front of Hotel Srbija. Here you will find taxis at any time of day and night. Some taxis might have free Wi-Fi service available. If you want to connect all you need to do is ask the driver for network ID and password.

There are three major local taxi companies:

Events
During the third week of September each year, the town is a host to Grožđebal (Grape Ball), a three-day event which celebrates harvesting of the grapes. The town has been a wine-loving region since Roman times making this a very important event for all wine connoisseurs in Serbia. During the event itself, many public institutions are open with diverse cultural, kids and sport events being organized, as well as entertainment programs, competitions and various grape and wine exhibitions.

Mid-range
If you have a sweet tooth, you might also want to check out:

Drink
Most of the café bars and located in the town center (Trg Svetog Teodora Vršačkog) and are open 08:00-24:00. Prices are affordable and expect pay anywhere from €1-2 for two cups of coffee. Beers are priced from (domestic) to €2-3 (imported). Tips are preferred, although not required. During weekends, some cafés have music nights with a live band or a DJ.

Connect
Municipal Tourist Organization of Vrsac is the main provider of information and services to incoming tourists and they will help you with any inquiries regarding your trip to and from Vršac.

Free public wireless internet service is available in town center. The majority of cafés, restaurants and hotels also have their own Wi-Fi services, but you need to ask for the password in order to get online.

4G network coverage is also available throughout town from all the major providers (VIP, Telenor and MTS).

Stay safe
Vršac is generally a safe town and muggings are extremely rare. Downtown area is very well lit and it is are safe to walk around during the night. Outskirts of the town are also safe, but caution is advised during the night. Thefts and break-ins are somewhat of an uncommon occurrence and if you are staying in a rented house you should always make sure that the front door is locked when you leave the house. Otherwise, in hotels and motels you should be fine.

As always, take care of your belongings and pockets. If you manage to lose your wallet or belongings, visit the local police station to report them missing.

Emergency numbers
As throughout of the entire Serbia, the police can be reached at 192, fire department at 193 and ambulance at 194.

If, for any reason, you need to contact the local police, fire station or hospital directly, you can do so by calling the following numbers:
 * Local police station: +381 13 833 000
 * Local fire station: +381 13 831 745
 * Local hospital: +381 13 832 552

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Various styles of architecture dominate the city. Its resurgence as the leading hub in south-eastern Europe makes it a must-see destination.
 * Timisoara, a university city and industrial centre in western Romania. It is often described as the most cosmopolitan city in Romania.
 * Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, the northern Autonomous Province of Serbia on the Danube River between Budapest and Belgrade. It is a treasured regional and cultural centre.

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

title: Vršac


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Vredefort

Vredefort is a small farming town in the northern part of Free State. It is an agricultural town where cattle, peanuts, sorghum, sunflowers and maize are farmed. It is home to 3,000 residents. The nearby Vredefort Dome is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
The town was established in 1876 on a farm called Visgat, on the Vredefort crater, the largest and oldest visible bolide impact crater in the world (with a diameter of 300 km (190 mi)). It was this approximately 10-km (6.2 mi) wide bolide that led to the preservation of the gold-bearing reefs of the Free State some 2 billion years ago. The town's name, which translates to "peace fort" in Afrikaans and Dutch, was derived from the peaceful conclusion to a threatened war between the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children.

The Vredefort Dome (Crater) is the largest and one of the oldest known meteor impact sites in the world. It is South Africa's seventh World Heritage Site.

In 2019, scientists from the University of the Free State discovered 8,000-year-old carvings made by the Khoisan people. The carvings depicted a hippopotamus, horse, and antelope in the "Rain Snake" Dyke, which may have spiritual significance regarding the rain-making mythology of the Khoisan.

Get in
From the N1 take the R59 through Parys.

See

 * The Dome: Although the crater has long since been eroded away, the remaining geological structures at its centre are known as the Vredefort Dome or Vredefort impact structure. The crater was caused by an asteroid impact in the Paleoproterozoic Era. The crater site is one of the few multiple-ringed impact craters on Earth, although they are more common elsewhere in the Solar System. Jan Fourie  offers various tours of the dome (geological, history and culture, birding, and general).
 * Buildings in Vredefort classified as National Monuments include the post office (in Orange Street), the police station (on the corner of Church Street and Orange Street) and the oldest house in Vredefort, on the corner of Mark Street and Charl Cilliers Street.

Buy

 * The Famous Joko Tea General Store

title: Vredefort


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Vrindavan

Vrindavan (Hindi: वृंदावन Vr̥ndāvan), also spelled Brindavan, is a holy town at the banks of the Yamuna River, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Understand
Vrindavan (vrihn-duh-vuhn) stands on the original forest of Vrindavana where the Hindu god Krishna spent his childhood, on the banks of the Yamuna River. Numerous events are documented to have occurred here: this is where Krishna did the divine dance with Gopis (Maharaas), spread the message of divine love with his lover Radha, stole the clothes of the bathing maidens (gopis) who prayed for attaining him, and destroyed an entire succession of demons. Consequently, it is a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus, and features by some counts as many as 5000 temples.

It is believed that the essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the year 1515, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan, with purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri Krishna's transcendent pastimes. Lord Chaitanya wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavan in a spiritual trance of divine love. By His divine spiritual power, He was able locate all the important places of Krishna's pastimes in and around Vrindavan.

According to Vaishnavites and particularly Krishna devotees, Vrindavan on Earth is a manifestation of the original Goloka Vrindavan Dham of Lord Krishna. Rather than visiting Vrindavana as any other tourist spot, this place is best enjoyed when visited with the thoughts of Sri Krishna alone and when remembering him at every foot length of land. It will not be too inaccurate to say that all the great Hindu saints have visited Vrindavana in their lifetime atleast once. Even now most localites here always chant the names of Radha and Krishna during their day to day activities. This place is still being visited by devotees from different parts of India who are very spiritual and attracted to Lord Krishna.

Vrindavan is also known as the Shelter City for Widows. By Hindu tradition, widows may not remarry but spend life towards spiritual liberation, and many of those abandon their families or having abandoned by their families on the death of their husband make their way here. In exchange for singing bhajan hymns for 7-8 hours in bhajanashrams, they are given a meal and a little money (around ₹10-₹20). This enables chanting of the Lord's name and also feeding of widows who have no other means of survival. Some of them also beg on the streets. However, some of the trusts that operate the ashrams are regularly accused of skimming off vast amounts from the donations. There are an estimated 20,000 widows, some of whom are very old having spent over 30 years there.

Get in
Vrindavan is about 150 km south of Delhi. The nearest train station is Vrindavan's twin holy town Mathura, 12 km (20 min) away by rickshaw. A one-way ticket from Vrindavan's train station costs from ₹100.

Vrindavan is about 50 km from Agra, which hosts the Taj Mahal. It lies on the tourist Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Get around
The core of Vrindavan is congested as it is an ancient town with thin lanes. The best way to get around is on foot or cycle rickshaw. A cycle rickshaw ride from ISKCON Krishna Balaram temple to the Banke Bihari temple or similar distances would cost you ₹20 per person.

Signage in English is non-existent, so you'll either need to ask for directions constantly or, an easier choice, hire a guide to show you around. Your rickshaw driver will be more than happy to find you one, but do beware of temple scams (see ).

See

Entry into all temples is free, but have some coins handy for the shoe handlers. Many temples prohibit photography inside, so enquire when in doubt.

 * Govinda Dev Mandir. Built by Raja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur in 1590, this squat, bulky temple reportedly had four stories lopped off during Aurangzeb's reign of terror. These days it's just infested by monkeys.
 * Kesi Ghat, by the Yamuna. According to the legend, this is where Krishna killed the demon Kesi and then bathed to celebrate. Aarti (prayer lamps) are offered to the Yamuna here every evening.
 * Radharaman Mandir In Seva Kunj, see the Deity of Radharaman that self-manifested from a Shalagrama Shila (sacred stone).
 * Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.
 * Kesi Ghat, by the Yamuna. According to the legend, this is where Krishna killed the demon Kesi and then bathed to celebrate. Aarti (prayer lamps) are offered to the Yamuna here every evening.
 * Radharaman Mandir In Seva Kunj, see the Deity of Radharaman that self-manifested from a Shalagrama Shila (sacred stone).
 * Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.
 * Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.
 * Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.
 * Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.

Do

 * The Brahmotsava Festival, held for ten days after Holi (February/March), is the largest in Vrindavan and can draw up to 100,000 visitors. On the main day, known as Ratha Ka Mela, a giant wooden chariot is pulled by devotees from the Rangji temple to its gardens and back.
 * Parikrama is about a three-hour / 6-km walk around the city performed by Hindu pilgrims on the parikrama path that circles the city. Best to start early in the morning at the ISKCON Mandir.
 * Sandhya (Evening) Aarti , attend this event at ISKCON Krishna Balaram temple held at 7PM in summer and 6:30PM in winter. It's a beautiful spiritual drama of singing, dancing and chanting.
 * Sandhya (Evening) Aarti , attend this event at ISKCON Krishna Balaram temple held at 7PM in summer and 6:30PM in winter. It's a beautiful spiritual drama of singing, dancing and chanting.

Eat
Due to the sacred nature of the city, you might expect mainly vegetarian foods here, as meat consumption is restricted in Hinduism.

Drink
Local specialities are lassi (yogurt based shakes), and jal jeera (literally means "cumin water"), a sweet and sour tamarind beverage with a spicy kick.

Sleep

 * MVT Guesthouse. 24-hr hot and cold running water, AC or heating during cold seasons, 24-hr electric power (with generator). Kitchens in the rooms and a Western restaurant on the rooftop.
 * MVT Guesthouse. 24-hr hot and cold running water, AC or heating during cold seasons, 24-hr electric power (with generator). Kitchens in the rooms and a Western restaurant on the rooftop.
 * MVT Guesthouse. 24-hr hot and cold running water, AC or heating during cold seasons, 24-hr electric power (with generator). Kitchens in the rooms and a Western restaurant on the rooftop.
 * MVT Guesthouse. 24-hr hot and cold running water, AC or heating during cold seasons, 24-hr electric power (with generator). Kitchens in the rooms and a Western restaurant on the rooftop.

Stay safe
Like all Hindu holy towns, the chaos and squalor of Vrindavan can get pretty intense.

If you take a guided tour, you can expect to be led to a temple where the priest will treat you to a simple ceremony and then start demanding donations of thousands of rupees to carve your name on a marble plaque that will supposedly go up on the wall. A few tens of rupees for dabs of kumkum on your forehead etc are reasonable, but there is absolutely no reason to pay more: simply walk out if you feel uncomfortable. The easiest way to avoid getting into this situation in the first place is to insist on going to temples of your choice, not the guide's.

Vrindavan is absolutely infested with monkeys, who are adept at stealing cameras, glasses (in certain areas some are trained to come up behind you and whip off your glasses, then there are boys who ask for money to get them back by offering food to them), food and anything you're not keeping a close eye on. Wear contacts or go without if you can.

Go next

 * Agra — the Mughal-era city known for the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and other attractions.

title: Vrindavan


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Vrsar

Vrsar is a millennia-old little town in Istria. Vrsar used to be a fisherman's village, but it is now more famous as a family tourist destination. Just off Vrsar’s coast lies one of the most beautiful Istrian archipelagos with 18 uninhabited islands.

title: Vrsar


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Vukovar

Vukovar, The Hero Town, is a city in Slavonia (eastern Croatia) along the Danube River.

Although the city has a long cultural history, today it is most noted for its fate during the war in the early 1990s in the former Yugoslavia and often called "The Hero Town". It is the first city in Europe to be completely devastated in the period after World War II. The Siege of Vukovar is famous among military analysts as 2,000 self-organized Croatian civilians and volunteers from all around the Croatia defended the town for 3 months against 40,000 heavily armed Serbian soldiers and 110 tanks, resulting in a pyrrhic Serbian victory. The city was defended up to the last street and therefore it was a modern model of a Stalingrad battle.

Understand
The city has long had a highly mixed population of different ethnicities, including large numbers of ethnic Croats and Serbs. As a result it suffered greatly during the war between the Croats and the Serb-dominated Yugoslav National Army in the early 1990s. The three-month siege of the city in 1991 and the subsequent occupation by Serbia destroyed or damaged much of the city's infrastructure and resulted in a massacre of Croatian population. As a result, it is difficult to find employment, and much of the population has left; around 30,000 still remain. Those who remain in the city live together nonviolently, although there is still animosity between ethnic groups. Today, it is a living war and massacre monument.

Get in
Consider traveling to Osijek, the regional center of Slavonia, by train or air, then proceeding to Vukovar (an hour's drive).

By bus
The city has direct bus connections with Osijek (approximately every hour), Zagreb (numerous times a day), Ilok and Vinkovci, and daily to the Serbian cities of Sombor and Novi Sad. There are also seasonal buses to the Dalmatian coast and cities in Germany.

By train
Infrequent trains operate to Vukovar from Osijek and Vinkovci. The station, Borovo-naselje, is around 4.8 km (3 mi) north from the main area of Vukovar. There is a daily direct train to Zagreb at 15:00 from Zagreb Central Station and returns 06:00 from Vukovar.

By bicycle
Vukovar lies on the EuroVelo VI route between Osijek and Ilok.

By car
Highways lead to Vukovar from all directions.

Get around
The town is best explored on foot. All the main areas of interest are within a short walk of each other.

See
The war damage is still very obvious throughout most of the city.

Hospital: The hospital in Vukovar is the same one used during the siege of the city. Make sure to act politely and respectfully because after the "Fall of Vukovar", the Serbian army dragged all wounded people (including children) and massacred them at the "Ovčara" site, making this building a living UN critic as UN forces located outside the hospital did nothing to prevent it. The above-ground portion of the hospital has been restored into a typical modern facility, but the basement area (which was the only part of the hospital used during the siege due to the continuous shelling of the above-ground parts of the hospital) has been made into a museum. The museum is very well-designed and gives a chilling feel of what the hospital was like during the siege. While you're in the hospital, if you're lucky you may see Dr. Vesna Bosanac, who was the hospital director during the war and still works there and is regarded as something of a national hero in Croatia because she saved many lives.

Tank Graveyard Street: A location of one of a greatest battles in Europe. In the time of a siege Serbian army, equipped with 110 tanks tried a breakthrough with tanks against a lightly armed Croatians led by national hero Blago Zadro, but it resulted in a greatest tank destruction site ever, with tanks mostly being destroyed on many unconventional ways. Today, although rebuilt it still gives an unexplainable chilling feel of a battle, and one tank is left as a memorial.

Museum: The museum in Vukovar placed in the baroque Eltz Manor, is horribly damaged from the war, but it is still in use. Aside from the war damage, the museum has various exhibits to see. Many of the pieces are archaeological artifacts, including a right-footed ceramic shoe from several thousand years ago (Vučedol culture) that the museum staff seem to be particularly proud of. The museum also periodically exhibits paintings from the Bauer collection which is considered one of the more significant collections of Croatian modern art.

Ovčara massacre site: The Ovčara field is a short drive from the main area of Vukovar. After the fall of the city to the Serb-dominated Yugoslav National Army, the Serb soldiers gathered 200 of the hospital's doctors and injured patients and massacred them in the Ovčara field. Today at the massacre site there is a memorial and a nearby museum.

Cemetery: The cemetery has the graves of many who died during and after the siege. At the center of the cemetery is a memorial statue. The statue has a symbolic flame at its center, and the stones present the image of the Christian cross facing outward in all directions. While walking among the graves, there are several interesting things to consider: Graves labeled 'Hravtski Branitelj' are the graves of untrained volunteers who helped defend the city. People who died after November 18 were usually tortured to death. There are also many graves where you can see that an entire family died on the same day.

'''Crkva Sv. Filipa i Jakova''': This is the main Catholic cathedral in the city. It is the 3rd longest church in Croatia and also has the 3rd most significant library in Croatia with several books (incanabulae) from the 15th century. It was horribly damaged during the war. There have been slight reconstructions since the war (Namely, a simple roof was added in order to keep out the rain. The church also has a new organ.), although the cathedral is generally the same as it was in 1998. The walls of the church still bear many holes from mortar shells and grenades, and there is still graffiti that was left by the Serb soldiers, including images of Orthodox Christian crosses and a slogan that translates into English as "God forgives. Serbs don't." If you have extra time and money, you may want to hire a Croatian translator and arrange a visit with the priest, as he is extremely knowledgeable about Vukovar, the siege, and what occurred at the cathedral during the siege. As it is placed on a hill over the Vukovar centre it has a great lookout over the city and the Danube river.

Do
Walk the streets. It's as moving as visiting any war museum!

Eat
Local specialities are based around smoked pork meat and freshwater fish.

Smoked meat: Be sure to try šunka (smoked ham), kulen and švargl (check Wikipedia for details).

Fish dishes: The Danube area in Croatia has very strong tradition in fishing and fish based dishes. Be sure to try the spicy fish soup which is very common in Slavonia. But also try to get your hands on some smoked catfish steaks or šarani u rašljama (carp baked in wooden forks over an open flame) which are more traditional to the Danube subregion of Slavonia and Syrmia (Croatian: Srijem).

Other dishes: čobanac and paprikaš (meat stews)

Local cuisine tends to be very spicy due to extensive use of red paprika, so if you don't like hot food ask in restaurants to make your food less spicy.

Cakes and sweets: There's a funny thing called poderane gaće (Torn underpants) which are made from pancake-like dough and are sweetened with sugar or honey. There are numerous cakes and pies indigenous for the region but they can rarely be found in restaurants. It's best to ask the locals, people are very friendly and very hedonistic in regards to food so they might just invite you for a treat.

Drink
Try the local beer, Vukovarsko pivo.

Sleep
There are hotels in Vukovar; however, they are somewhat expensive. You may choose to visit Vukovar as a day trip and then sleep in a nearby city such as Osijek.

Go next
Osijek and Novi Sad are about an hour's drive away.

title: Vukovar


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Vulcan

There is more than one place called :

Canada

 * Vulcan (Alberta) — a town in Southern Alberta, the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada."

Philippines

 * Mt. Vulcan — a volcano on Camiguin, Northern Mindanao

Romania

 * Hunedoara — a city in Transylvania

South Africa

 * Vulcan Rock — a diving destination near Cape Town

title: Vulcan


text:
Vulcano

Vulcano is one of the Aeolian Islands. Famous for its mud baths, the island literally smells like rotten eggs (sulfur). Odor or no odor, it's an interesting place to visit for the traveler interested in geology and hiking, not to mention soaking in some rays on the beaches.

Get in
Primary access is by boat. The hydrofoil and ferry operators SIREMAR, Liberty Lines, and NGI  all connect Vulcano to other points in the Aeolian Islands and to Sicily and the mainland. Access from Milazzo in Sicily is convenient, as Vulcano is the boats' first stop from there as they proceed to the other islands. If you're not bringing a vehicle (there's really not much need for one), try to board a hydrofoil; they're significantly quicker than the ferries, and generally quite comfortable.

Air Panarea offers helicopter flights to Vulcano on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the summer. However, they're expensive and don't save much time compared to the hydrofoils.

Get around
It's a small island, and essentially all points of interest to the visitor can be reached quickly by foot from the dock area. Moped rentals may be available. Do not expect to get much value out of a full-size car, if for some reason you bring one via ferry; most of the island's roads are sized for a golf cart or similar conveyance.

Licensed taxis are supposed to charge €4.50 per journey and another €1.70 per kilometer. However, taxi drivers are unlikely to offer such low rates to tourists.

There are public buses on the island. Their schedule changes frequently and unfortunately most timetables are heavily vandalized.

See
Vulcano is more oriented toward "doing" than "seeing." However, the beaches are agreeable, particularly on the west side, and you get good views of the active volcano from the small harbor.

Do

 * Laghetto di Fanghi is a celebrated "mud bath" close to the dock. A small fee (entrance €2, shower €1) is charged to enter this area, which is based on natural hot springs both inland and in shallow offshore waters.  Bathers use the former to cover themselves in mud (reputed to have therapeutic powers) and then go into the spring-warmed sea to wash off.  Swimsuits are not optional here, and it's a good idea to use a suit that you won't be wearing in more conventional settings for a while (and that you can bag in some airtight container after use), as a sulfurous odor will continue to emanate from the suit for some time after you exit the baths. Due to hydrogen sulfide content your silver jewellery might tarnish, so better remove it before soaking.
 * If you're a hiker, the trail to Fossa, the volcanic center which was last active in 1890, should not be missed. The round trip takes about 3 hours from the dock area and involves the gain of about 400 m of elevation.  Several alternative routes exist once you've reached the top of the cone.  The fumarole field on the west side of the crater (Gran Cratere) is fascinating if you can stand the smell (it's one of the few places on the earth's surface where you can view droplets of molten sulfur), but is best avoided if you have respiratory problems.

Drink
The two bars listed under "Eat" also serve beverages of your choice. Vulcano is not a hotbed of night life.

Sleep
Unlike some of the other Aeolian Islands, Vulcano has mosquitoes, and most of the lodging on the island derives its temperature control from the breezes that give the islands their name, rather than from air conditioning. Accordingly you may have mosquito problems in your room -- but it's just part of the experience.

Go next

 * Lipari is the largest and most developed of the Aeolian Islands, and is just a few minutes' hydrofoil ride away from Vulcano.
 * Stromboli, with its active and fairly visitor-friendly volcano, is also reachable by hydrofoil. You may need to change boats in Lipari.

title: Vulcano


text:
Vulci

Vulci is a former Etruscan city in northern Lazio in Italy. It is now deserted but many of the Etruscan ruins found in excavations from 1828 onwards of an extensive Necropolis are housed in a former castle.

Understand
Vulci was active as early as the 8th century BC. In the 6th century BC, the presence of Greek labour led to the production of ceramics, sculptures and bronze objects of a high standard. The struggle to remain independent from Rome came to an end in 280 BC when Vulci had to give up most of its territory. The city then declined and disappeared rapidly.

Get in
From Rome, take the A12 Autostrada to Civitavecchia continuing into the E80 (Via Aurelia) at the end of the Autostrada. After Tarquinia leave the E80 at Montalto de Castro and follow the signs.

See

 * Etruscan National Museum. This is housed in the La Badia Castle. Admission €2. Guided tours can be arranged. For groups of 20 or more a visit can be made to the Necropolis itself to see the Tomb of François and the nearby Tomb of Inscriptions, which contains remains of original Etruscan inscriptions. Walks in the area can also be recommended. Next to the castle is the Ponte della Badia, a Roman bridge.

title: Vulci


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Vung Tau

Vung Tau (Vũng Tàu) is a city in Southern Vietnam, about 125 km from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Its nearness to Saigon and its beauty and fresh air makes it a very popular destination for weekends.

Understand
Vung Tau is the economic centre of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, a province in southeastern Vietnam. The city centre, located on the southern tip of the peninsula, has been long known as a tourist haven for businesspeople from Ho Chi Minh City.

Geography and climate
Vung Tau sits on a peninsula separated from the mainland by a river. Much of the city is flat and easy to commute by bicycles/motorcycles or on foot.

The city features long coastlines and a savanna climate pattern with two seasons: Vung Tau has two main beaches for tourists. The first, Front Beach, is a compact beach with calm waters located in a small bay in the southern tip of the peninsula. The second, Back Beach, has long stretches of sand and relatively violent – but safe for swimming – waters, located on the city's eastern side. The city is scattered with several smaller beaches, though they are dangerous for swimming and drowning is frequent.
 * Dry season (Nov-Apr): consistently hot and dry, though cooler during the year-end months and the Tết Holiday (Jan-Mar). Ideal for hiking
 * Rainy season (May-Oct): lots of rain, usually in the afternoon. Gets very hot and humid during daytime. Ideal for seaside frolics.

Vung Tau features two mountains in the backdrop: Mount Tương Kỳ and Mount Tao Phùng, both popular for hiking. The two mountains are colloquially known as núi Lớn ("Big Mountain") and núi Nhỏ ("Small Mountain"), because of their visible sizes. On the hiking trail to the top of the Big Mountain are numerous Buddhist pagodas and a Vietnamese Zen (thiền) Monastery. On top of the Small Mountain is a 32-metre (105 ft) statue of Christ the King, built from 1974 to 1994.

History
During the 14th and 15th centuries, European trading ships regularly visited the waters of this area for shelter because of its calm waters, which inspired the name "Vũng Tàu" (literally "anchorage"). During the Nguyễn Dynasty, Vũng Tàu was officially Tam Thắng (literally "Three Boats"). The Portuguese named the then-small fishing town after the Catholic Saint Jacques.

With the onset of French colonisation, Vung Tau was a battleground where the Nguyễn Dynasty fired at French battleships with cannons from mountaintop fortresses; the cannons still exist on the hiking trails today. After the French invaded Vietnam in the 19th century, Vung Tau was known as Cape Saint-Jacques, shortened to Cape. The Vietnamese then colloquially called the city "Ô Cấp", based on the French pronunciation of "au Cape" (literally "to the Cape", used by French people in Saigon referring to their weekend getaways in Vung Tau).

Under French rule, Vung Tau became a popular seaside getaway for officials and the elites. The last Emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty, Bảo Đại, often retreated to the hillside French colonial mansion Bạch Dinh (Villa Blanche, literally "White Palace", now a popular tourist destination) while on holiday. The French built many public buildings, a Catholic church, and tree-lined avenues; all are well preserved and still intact to this day.

During the American War (called the Vietnam War outside the country), Vung Tau was home to the Australian Army and American support units. Its popularity as a seaside resort continued. After the war, Vung Tau was a common launching place for boat people fleeing the communists. In the 1980s, the joint Vietnamese-Soviet enterprise for oil and gas exploration Vietsovpetro established, leading to an influx of Soviet (mainly Russian) migrants. In 1991, Vung Tau officially became a city.

Waves of immigration have turned the northern part into an industrial zone with many ports and oil industry services, and the southern tip remains an attractive weekend getaway. Because of Russian immigration, an ethnic Russian cluster was established, with Soviet-era architecture apartments and many Russian shops and eateries.

Economy and society
Historically a port city, Vung Tau is a major centre of Vietnam's modern offshore oil industry. State-controlled oil and gas enterprises attract many high-skilled engineers and technicians. After privatisation in 1986, Vung Tau has welcomed many private corporations in ship building, oil services, and logistics. As a result, Vung Tau's middle-class population is generally well-educated and well-mannered, though the lower-class population consisting of immigrants from rural areas does exist. Contrary to North American cities, the suburban area is home to the lower-middle class immigrants and working population. The middle- and upper-middle class population mostly settle in the city centre located at the southern edge of the peninsula, close to the beaches and tourist spots.

As of 2021, Vung Tau is home to 420,000 people. As a result of Russian immigration, there is a sizeable Russian minority living in a designated area colloquially called Khu Năm Tầng ("Five-Storied Area"), because of the area's array of five-storied apartment buildings in Soviet architecture. There is also a significant Australian community, mainly elderly, drawn to the area after serving in the Battle of Long Tan 35 km to the north of Vung Tau. In vibrant downtown, foreign cultural influences are visible through Japanese, Korean, and Russian shops and eateries. An expat community has contributed to the city's hippie-ish neighbourhoods with Italian, Mexican, American, and Indian influences.

Although the population is generally irreligious, Vung Tau is religiously tolerant and there are many religious buildings catering mostly to Buddhist and Catholics along with other religious minorities such as Protestants and Cao Đài. Two of the city's iconic spots are the Statue of Christ the King and Thích Ca Phật Đài, highlighting the religious diversity of the population.

By road
Vũng Tàu is connected to the mainland by Hwy 51 (Quốc lộ 51), which runs from Biên Hòa City. The shortest route from Ho Chi Minh city is through HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway, exit at Long Thành and join Highway 51.

By bus

At least hourly buses run between Vung Tau and HCMC throughout the day 04:00–19:30; 110–200,000 dong, ca. 2 hr.

Otherwise, Vung Tau is well connected to Southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta by bus, with 60-80 bus connections daily in addition to HCMC. There exist 4 daily connection with Phan Thiet (for Mui Ne) in each direction.

The full list of bus schedules and prices can be found next to the bus station administration desk.

By car
From HCMC, the best route is similar to coach/bus mentioned above. Use HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway, turn right at Long Thành exit and go straight on Highway 51 to reach Vũng Tàu. It takes roughly 2 hours from District 1, HCMC, to Vũng Tàu, depends on drivers and/or traffic. On public holidays or weekends, the roads usually become busier.

Drivers need to remember to follow speed limit as traffic police may present anytime, check speed and give fine. 120 km/h is limit on HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway. On Highway 51, drivers can reach 90 km/h on most of the way outside crowded area. In some crowded towns, it is limited to 60 km/h and prompted by big blue information signs on roadside. There are several other certain limits described by other signs infrequently.

There are 3 toll booths on the way from HCMC to Vũng Tàu. One is on HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway and another two are on Highway 51. At the first booth, fare for up-to-9-seat car is 40,000 dong. At the second and third booths, you pay 20,000 dong for the one you reach first and give receipt to the rest, no more charge.

By motorbike or bicycle
As motorbikes and bicycles are forbidden from HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway, the best way for drivers/riders is using Cát Lái ferry.

After crossing the river, follow the main road to get through Nhơn Trạch district, then join Highway 51, turn right and go straight.

The road quality is acceptable for driving/riding. Just make sure you are on proper lane and watch out for pedestrians especially at busy intersections, where people cross the road irregularly at times. Except HCMC–Long Thành–Dầu Giây Highway, there are many coffee shops, restaurants, gas stations for drivers/riders to take a break. Make sure you know the price before settle down.

By boat
"Tàu cánh ngầm" aka "Hydrofoil fast ferry" in Vietnam is a quick way to get to and from Vũng Tàu. Taking the hydrofoil is a good way to see the commercial maritime areas as the boat runs through the Saigon River to the sea. After 1¼ hr Vũng Tàu peninsula appears with its two mountains (conveniently called "Big Mountain" and "Little Mountain") at the waterfront. This is a little more comfortable way to get to Vung Tau rather than taking the bus. Booking at least one day in advance in recommended, especially at the weekend.

The ferry departs at Bach Dang Pier in Saigon, District 1. Not far from the Majestic Hotel (100 m). Lands in Cầu Đá Port, Ben Cau Da, Ha Long St, Vung Tau.

At least the following company serves Vung Tau (but verify!):

By taxi
As an ordinary Vietnam urban area, Vũng Tàu has plenty of taxis and xe ôm (taxi motorbike) drivers who are professional. The taxis fare is similar to Hồ Chí Minh city. Remember to always agree on a price before setting off. Also your accommodation can help you organise a ride.

But for foreigners, the best option is to use Grab due to the language barrier and to avoid "misunderstandings" about price, etc.

By motorbike
Motorbike rental service can be found in most of hotels or hostels, especially at back beach. Expect arund 120,000 dong for manual and 200,000 dong for automatic. Make sure you have valid driving license and helmets.

By bicycle
Vũng Tàu should be one of the best places in Việt Nam where you can enjoy riding a bike, thanks to low traffic density and picturesque coastal roads. Bicycle rental service is not too abundant but can be found in some hostel at Back Beach.

The best cycling route is along the coast, through Thùy Vân st, Hạ Long st, Quang Trung st and Trần Phú st. With this way, slow pace to breath sea breeze or speedy race are up to you, as road quality is quite nice. If you prefer off-road, some paths up to Small/Big Mountains are good way of practising.

Wearing helmet is not mandatory yet recommended. And do not forget to watch out at any intersection as other drivers tend to not give way to biker.

On foot
Vũng Tàu is rather small, so you can walk most places. Recommended ways are: Ba Cu street (the city's centre), Đồ Chiểu street (food centre), Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị Square, Công viên Bãi trước (Front Beach park) and pavements along the coastline. Pedestrians should watch out before crossing roads as drivers usually do not give way, like in most of Vietnamese cities.

See

Beaches
The seaside makes Vung Tau a nearby paradise for Saigon visitors. Well-travelled foreigners may be underwhelmed. The beach is not too attractive with litter lining the coast, although as of July 2018 the local authority have had a clean up and the beaches are much cleaner and most of the sandy eastern beach has signage about dangerous swimming. There are four beaches near the city center:

Hiking

 * Lighthouse – On Little Mount. The entrance is at in Phan Chu Trinh St, about 1 km from the beach.
 * Jesus Statue – Also on Little Mount. This is a very nice short hike.
 * Big Mount – The trail starts on Tran Hung Dao St. The top is very flat, and there are a couple of restaurants on top.

Money
ATMs are plentiful in Vung Tau. Most of them are located on commercial streets such as Lê Hồng Phong, Ba Cu and Trưng Vương Square.

At least one and one  can be found near the center — see Vietnam.

Shopping

 * Handicrafts are ample at and are ideal as souvenirs.

Also, several Circle Ks and WinMarts can be found around the city.

What

 * Bánh Khọt – Vung Tau's signature meal. It is a breakfast meal with rice cakes filled with seafood (squid, shrimp) or egg and lots of greens into which you roll the rice cakes and then dip them into a sweet and salty sauce. Bánh Khọt starts at 45,000 dong, but often goes for 60,000 dong — a little steep when you compare it to the 5 pieces of Bánh Căn for 25–40,000 in Nha Trang, which is pretty much the same.
 * Hủ Tiếu Mực – Squid noodles, around 50,000 dong.
 * Bánh Cánh Ghe – Grab noodles, around 50,000 dong.
 * Lẩu – Meaning hot pot, is very popular in Vung Tau, but often only makes sense in a larger group due to the price and amount. Hot pot is a must at every Vietnamese party.

You will also be able to find Bò Kho, Bánh Xèo, or just Phở.

Meals in Vung Tau are generally more expensive than in the rest of the country — you won't find many meals below 40,000 dong (as of 2023). This is also due to the city being a petroleum center and due to focus on seafood dishes.

Where
Inexpensive, local and authentic eateries can be found along going north for not more than a kilometer, along  going west, and along  going north.

Many busy hot pot (Lẩu) restaurants can be found all along heading south and then turning left into  and heading southeast. Come here to enjoy the Vietnamese hot pot in different styles. Beer is encouraged.

Budget
Cheap guesthouses and hotels on Thùy Vân St, in front of Bãi Sau (Back Beach). Lowest room prices from 140,000 dong (weekdays) and 200,000 dong (weekends).

Cope

 * Police: 113
 * Fire: 114
 * Ambulance: 115

 * General info service : (064) 1080

Stay healthy
Sand flies on beach can be a problem and cause allergic reaction on your legs. If you experience this, just use anti-mosquito spray all over your legs before you enter the beach, it will minimise amount of bites you will have. Note that you might not immediately notice the sand flies at the beach, but you will definitely wonder where you got all those "mosquito" bites from the next day — so be prepared.

Go next

 * Ho Chi Minh City
 * Con Dao – The archipelago in the southern sea, best known for the Côn Đảo prisons, Côn Đảo National Garden. A hydrofoil fast ferry connects from Vung Tau.
 * Minera Hot Springs Bình Châu – Halfway towards Phan Thiet in Xuyên Mộc district
 * Phan Thiet – Next transport hub east and gateway into Mui Ne, the beach resort just 10 km east — 4 buses daily.
 * Da Lat – The old French hill-station with "eternal" spring climate

title: Vung Tau


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Vuno

Vuno is a village in Coastal Albania, located a few kilometres north to the town of Himarë.

Understand
Vuno is a small village on a mountainside near the ocean. It has about 80 inhabitants all year round which increases to about 500 in the summertime. There is no school here anymore, so the youngsters have to go elsewhere for education.

Get in
You can take a bus from Tirana to Sarandë but since it departs early in the morning, you may try getting first to the town of Vlorë and then taking a bus to Himarë. In either case, just ask the driver to stop in Vuno. Vuno is the small village between Dhërmi and Himarë.

Get around
The village is small and easily covered on foot. Besides that, the most reliable way to get around (ie. to nearby Himarë or to the beach) is hitchhiking. Basically, any car with available seats and heading for your direction will take you. If you're staying at Shkolla Hostel there is a possibility that the nice people working there can give you a lift for a fee.

See

Do

 * Beach - Spend time at the marvellous beaches, even partying there at night. Crowded or deserted beaches? You decide. There's something for almost everyone here
 * Kayak - Rent some simple two seat kayaks at the beach
 * Paddleboating - Can be rented at the beach
 * Relax - Vuno is a perfect place to relax. Set up you hammock or sunbed as soon as possible! This is probably the laziest town you'll find at the Albanian riviera.
 * Hike - To the mountain behind the village
 * Mix with the locals - If you're good at playing cards this should be no problem. If you can speak Albanian you're gonna rock!

Other than this, it is a great place to wander about this pure area, encountering stocks of various domestic animals.

Eat
There are two small restaurants/cafés/shops in the village. Here you can buy some groceries, eat a few of the local dishes or just grab a local beer. Don't expect anything fancy, but this is the meetingspot for the locals in the summertime and gives you the opportunity to meet some authentic Albanians.

Drink
Beers can be bought at the two restaurants mentioned in the "Eat"-section. Jal beach, 5 km from Vuno, has a few clubs and bars where you can find drinks and some decent and quite posh parties from time to time. How posh? Sometimes even the urban people of Tirana comes down here to see and be seen.

Sleep

 * Villa Filip is one of the best accommodation in the village of Vuno with an amazing view of the Gjipe Canyon and Ionian sea.
 * You can find it on Google,Booking.com or Facebook

Stay safe
The only safety issue in Vuno would be the stray dogs. Some are really friendly and just want you to pet them. Some are scared and run away as soon as they see you. Others will try to chase you away from their territory for sure. Don't get bitten! If you hear them growl, leave, but back off slowly and don't run, as dogs have an instinct to chase after anything that runs.

Go next

 * Dhërmi
 * Himarë
 * Sarandë
 * Llogara National Park

title: Vuno


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Vyazma

Vyazma is in the Smolensk Oblast of Central Russia.

title: Vyazma


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Vyborg

Vyborg (Russian: Вы́борг; Finnish: Viipuri; Swedish: Viborg) is a city in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, near the Finnish border. It was Finland's second-largest city until World War II, when it was handed to the Soviets as war reparations. It is part of the Silver Ring of cultural and historical centers of Northwestern Russia.

Understand
The city is at the mouth of the Saimaa Canal, on a bay of the Gulf of Finland. Until World War II it was an important trading city. Especially in the 19th century it had a very international atmosphere. Although the Finnish speaking population grew from half to more than ninety percent, multiculturalism was important to the identity of the city, and the minorities of Swedes, Germans, Russians, Romani, Tatars, and Jews remained.

At the end of World War II the former population was evacuated and the city was later populated by Soviet Union citizens. The pre-war population of 70,000 was reached in the 1970s, with Vyborg having some 80,000 inhabitants in 2010.

History
Vyborg was one of six charted towns in medieval Finland. It started out as a marketplace for Karelians, belonging to the Novgorod realm. Until the 17th century Vuoksen, draining much of the Finnish Lakeland, had a western mouth here, while the eastern mouth was (and remains) in Ladoga. Thus Vuoksen connected Vyborg with Saimaa on one hand and Ladoga on the other, while Vyborg itself was on the coast.

Vyborg was conquered by Sweden in the "Crusades", and a fortress of stone was built in 1293, in place of the former wooden one. The town got its charter in 1403 and became one of the most important towns in the eastern part of Sweden (which was to become Finland).

Ceded to Russia in 1720 it grew in importance as a trade route for the Karelians, to the new Russian capital Saint Petersburg. This position remained when it became part of the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812.

Again part of Finland, Vyborg was one of the grand duchy's most important cities. The Saimaa Canal, inaugurated in 1856, again provided access to the Finnish Lakeland. Vyborg remained one of the most important cities in independent Finland until World War II, when it was ceded to the Soviet Union, reconquered by both sides and finally became Russian once more. There is much nostalgia for the city in Finland, which can be seen in the museums, with many Finnish visitors.

Get in
Seeing Vyborg is possible as a day trip from Saint Petersburg or Lappeenranta, or as a stopover on the Helsinki–Saint Petersburg train line. From Finland you need a visa, except on some organised cruises.

By plane
Saint Petersburg has good plane connections.

By bus

 * Bus excursions depart St. Petersburg's Gostinyy Dvor on weekend mornings and cost about ₽700, returning to St. Petersburg in the evening, a total of about 10–11 hours.
 * International coach lines connect Vyborg to Helsinki, Turku, Lappeenranta and Jyväskylä in Finland. More information from Matkahuolto, Savonlinja, Ecolines, Busvbg and Northpalmira.

By train

Trains from St. Petersburg use the Finlandskiy station; then there's also the overnight Moscow-Helsinki Tolstoy train from Moscow and Tver going via St. Petersburg Ladozhsky. Check the website of the Russian railway operator RZD for up-to-date timetables.

 * The major international trains between Russia and Helsinki were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 and again in 2022 because of the war Russia launched on Ukraine.
 * Express trains (with upholstered seats and a restaurant car) run between 5 and 10 times per day, and take around 1¼ hr. Tickets cost ₽182 each way, and tickets can be purchased in advance or at windows 27–30 at the station (not in the main hall) on the day of departure. Beware of long lines if you're attempting to purchase tickets shortly before the train departs.
 * Elektrichkas (with wooden bench-seats and few amenities) run more or less as often as express trains, but take 2¼ hr. Tickets are slightly cheaper for a longer ride and can be purchased in the main hall at Finlandskiy station on the day of travel only.

By small cruiseliner
In the summer there are daily cruises from Lappeenranta in Finland down the Saimaa Canal to Vyborg operated by Saimaa Travel. If you are arriving and leaving Russia by ship from the same port and staying less than 72 hours you do not need a visa.

By yacht
You can make the same journey by small craft. As the town lies in the Vyborg Bay of Gulf of Finland, it is easily reachable by small craft also from the sea. With small craft you need visa and certain documents; check requirements in advance and follow procedures strictly. Coming from Finland (or the Schengen in general) you need to visit customs also on exit, before entering Russia. The Finnish customs on the inner fairway is at Santio near the border, the nearest customs by the open sea is on the island Haapasaari off Kotka.

By car
Vyborg is on the highway E18 between St. Petersburg and the Finnish border and you can visit the city if you are driving by.

Get around
Vyborg is compact and walkable. Local buses are available. Those in a hurry can take local bus #12 from the train station to the castle. City maps of Vyborg can be purchased at bookstores in St. Petersburg, at news kiosks at the Vyborg train station, and are sometimes sold at the Vyborg market ("rynok").

See
A walking tour of the major sights of the city can be done in about three to four hours, with being the highlight of the tour.

From the train station, walk down Leningradskiy Prospekt and turn right along the embankment of the Salakka-Lakhti Inlet. See the on the left at the end of the quay, where one can see the Market Hall or "Rynok" and the 16th-century. Walk past the Round Tower to the Lutheran in the park. Cross the street to see the blue-painted, then walk up Vyborgskaya Ulitsa past the along the remnants of the old city wall, then head up the street (this is the least picturesque part of the walk through the Stone City) to see the Clock Tower tucked in among the apartment buildings. Before the Castle Bridge, see the Statue of Torgils Knutsson, the Swedish knight who founded the city in the 13th century. Look across the gulf to the Statue of Peter the Great in the park opposite.

Cross the bridge to Vyborg Castle which was built in 1293 by Swedes, captured by Peter the Great in the 18th century, served as a Finnish prison in the 19th century, and passed between the hands of the Soviets and Finns multiple times during World War II. The castle has several different exhibits, each with its own entry fee, and one can climb to the top of the tower for a nice view of the city. (Tickets for the tower cost ₽80 from the museum cashier.)

Cross back over the bridge and walk up Krepostnaya Ulitsa through the town, turn left on Suvorovskiy Prospekt, see the and the Statue of a Moose in the park, then proceed to  and the  before heading up Vokzalnaya Ulitsa back to the train station.

The is one of the objects of Finnish nostalgia, an extensive English landscape park, founded in the 1760s. Under Soviet and later Russian rule much has been neglected or destroyed, but there have also been restoration efforts. Also, in the south-eastern part of the center of Vyborg is the another park, the (also known as Patterinmäki in Finnish), which is an old military and fortification area. The top of the rocky hill rises about 30 meters above sea level.

Do

 * A popular beach located on the shores of Vyborg Bay.

Buy
Visit the market hall ("Rynok") and the market square outside, where one can find Karelian knits and woolen clothing, as well as tablecloths and lace among the fruits, vegetables, shoes, and other sundry items. There is a public toilet available in the market, but it is very basic indeed.

Eat

 * Restaurant NiKa at the Hotel Atlantik (Ul. Podgornaya 9). Prices are moderate to high.
 * Kruglaya Bashnya, a Russian restaurant inside the Round Tower. Not as expensive as you might expect for its prime location, but service is slow.
 * Restaurant NiKa at the Hotel Atlantik (Ul. Podgornaya 9). Prices are moderate to high.
 * Kruglaya Bashnya, a Russian restaurant inside the Round Tower. Not as expensive as you might expect for its prime location, but service is slow.
 * Restaurant NiKa at the Hotel Atlantik (Ul. Podgornaya 9). Prices are moderate to high.
 * Kruglaya Bashnya, a Russian restaurant inside the Round Tower. Not as expensive as you might expect for its prime location, but service is slow.
 * Kruglaya Bashnya, a Russian restaurant inside the Round Tower. Not as expensive as you might expect for its prime location, but service is slow.

title: Vyborg


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High Tatras

Vysoké Tatry (High Tatras) is a mountain range in Tatra National Park in Slovakia.

Cities

Vysoké Tatry is a conglomerate, (area-wise) largest urban area in Slovakia. In fact, it consists of three sub-areas, which consist of 14 settlements:

Understand
High Tatras belong to the national park (TANAP) and also are registered in UNESCO because many protected animals and plants are found in High Tatras. High Tatras consist of peaks, mountain lakes and basins. The highest peaks are Gerlachovský štít, Kriváň , Rysy and Lomnický štít. Gerlachovský štít is the highest peak in Slovakia and the Carpathian Mountains rising to above the sea level.

In November 2004 a huge storm destroyed a part of the forest and disturbed natural fauna and flora, but most of the damage has been cleared away. The trees that used to protect the soil from erosion are gone now and the topsoil is being exposed to rain and erosion. The disaster did not have such catastrophic impact on tourism, and all ski centers, hotels and cottages go on providing their services.

Poprad, a town stretching below High Tatras, offers a beautiful town center, various types of accommodation, small air port for tourists and incredible view at High Tatras scenery.

By train
As most towns in the region are connected to the rail network, this is one of the fastest and most convenient ways of getting into High Tatras. There are 9 express IC standard trains operating between Bratislava and Košice, the 'Tatran', 'Kriváň', 'Gerlach', 'Rysy', 'Chopok' and another 4 untitled IC trains which all stop in Poprad-Tatry.

If you're coming from Prague (Czech Republic), and want to get as much time in for sightseeing as possible, consider the overnight sleeper trains. EN 'Slovakia' leaves Prague in the evening (get a full day in Prague), and you can get a very cheap ticket for a sleeper booth, plus you wake up in the Tatras with the whole day in front of you. EC 'Košičan' leaves Prague in the morning and comes to Poprad-Tatry in the afternoon. Both operate between Prague and Košice.

The fastest access to High Tatras is from the same station - Poprad-Tatry operates tram connection directly to Starý Smokovec, Štrbske Pleso and Tatranská Lomnica with many stops along the way. All of that stops are in Vysoké Tatry region.

By car
From Czech Republic Austria, west and east Slovakia you can use a motorway 'D1', from Hungary roads of 1 class and part of motorway 'R1'. Connection from Poland is a bit more complicated, with only one road connecting Zakopane and the Slovak part of the High Tatras through the border check point in Lysá Poľana.

By bus
For those wishing to travel from Krakow:

There are many buses, every 20 minutes of so during daytime, to take you from Krakow to Zakopane on the Polish side. Journey is about 2½ hours.

From there, there are buses connecting Zakopane on the Polish side of the border with Stary Smokovec and Poprad. These run from out-front of the bus station where you will be deposited. However, many only run in peak season (which, in the summer, starts from June 16). The bus company's name is Strama. You will see the signs out front of the bus depot. Check their website for exact times. Last one is about 17:00. There are approximately four daily.

When these buses do not operate, simply go across the road from the bus station, and get a bus to Lysa Polana, which costs about 10 zł. Takes about 20 minutes. From where you will be dropped off, cross a small bridge up 50 m and to the left and you will be in Slovakia - there is a small restaurant, gift shop, and another small shop on the border, where you can change remaining złoty for euros, should you not yet have any. There are no ATMs.

From there, there is a bus which waits at the top end of the carpark which runs through the Vsyoke Tatry to Poprad, about once every hour or two. It costs €2.2 for a single ticket. Journey time is about 30 or 40 minutes to Stary Smokovec.

By plane
There are also flight connections available through Poprad Airport.

By foot
If you are on a hiking trip, it is possible to cross from Poland on foot at several places.

Get around
Transportation and orientation in High Tatras is very easy. Trains, cog railway, cable railways, and trams these are possibilities how to get to any locality in High Tatras.

Local rail public transport form an inexpensive way to get around. It consists of the lines listed below. As of 2017, single ticket prices range from €0.50-2 based on the distance travelled. Daily tickets cost €4, a weekly pass is €14 and a monthly pass is €16. Consult the Slovakrail route planner for the schedules. The trains can be rather crowded in high season.
 * The Tatra Electric Railway trains running between Štrbské Pleso, Poprad and Tatranská Lomnica., although the schedules are not the most convenient. Typically there is one train per hour, but frequency is increased to two trains per hour in the peak hours of the summer season. Most trains run direct between Poprad and Štrbské Pleso via Starý Smokovec, which serves as a transfer point to Tatranská Lomnica. Transfers are timed during most of the day, however, there can be some exceptions.
 * There is a rack railway (Zubačka or Toothed) that connects Štrba railway station (actually in Tatranská Štrba) with Štrbské Pleso. There are usually one to two trains an hour, but the schedule is somewhat irregular in order to provide connection to the national rail services.
 * A normal-gauge train service connects Tatranská Lomnica and Poprad (Transfer at Studený Potok, generally one every 1-2 hours).

Frequent bus services connect destinations not served by rail, such as Tatranská kotlina to Tatranská Lomnica and Starý Smokovec (Less frequently to Poprad and Ždiar).

While trams are often the most convenient option, the villages and towns in the region are also connected by roads, so driving is always an option, though you might have to pay for parking. Finding parking spots can also be a trouble in the high season.

There are cable cars and chairlifts that take you further uphill. Prices are roughly proportional to the altitude gain, and range from €8 (Starý Smokovec to Hrebienok ) to €27 (all the way up to the Lomnitz peak and back) in 2017.

There is a great variety of hiking and cycling trails as well. They are mapped very well, e.g. in the OpenStreetMap project or mapy.cz, which also have free offline mobile viewers available. The purchase of the tourist map of High Tatras can be recommended too, as they are cheap and show a very detailed map of the trails, marked along with the time it takes to walk them. There is also a free android app with many hiking trails, waypoints and options to save individual routes: Trails Tatra Mountains.

See

You can also take a tram and travel under the highest peaks and take delight in magnificent nature.

Hiking
There are numerous opportunities for hiking, depending on the fitness level of the hiker, ranging from an easy stroll to a difficult all day hikes.

Popular all day hikes, sorted by "perceived" local popularity, include:

Skiing
In High Tatras it is possible to ski downhill in nine localities and each one consist of two to nine slopes.

Snow conditions during the winter are usually great for skiing or snowboarding. Funiculars are accessible to many alpine localities, such as
 * Solisko (1840m)
 * Skalnata chata (1751m) where tourists can take another funicular

Cycling
Cycling is another activity that is very interesting for people who love adrenaline. Cyclists can choose either between asphalt or field roads. Different kind of roads with various level of difficulty are suitable for less or more demanding people.

A 9-km long cycle road is available between Spišská Belá and Tatranská Kotlina with a smooth asphalt surface - also good for inline skating.

Amusement
Children can have fun e.g. at:

Sleep
Among others, these huts are located in high(-ish) altitudes above the sea level: Each cottage offers accommodation and food and most of them offer their service just during the summer because of bad access condition during the winter and/or closed tourist paths.

Most of the bigger hotel resorts in the area provide restaurants and wellness areas. The most iconic ones (often portrayed on photos and Tatry area marketing materials) include:

 * Hotel Patria, one of the most recognizable hotels right at the Štrbské pleso lake
 * Grand hotel Kempinski
 * Grand hotel Starý Smokovec
 * Grand hotel Praha in Tatranská Lomnica

Stay safe
Emergency calls (Núdzové volania):
 * Helicopter emergency medical service (Letecká záchranná zdravotná služba) in Poprad: 18 155
 * Medical emergency service (Zdravotná záchranná služba): 155, 112
 * Mountain rescue service (Horská záchranná služba): 18 300
 * Fire and Rescue Corps (Hasičský záchranný zbor): 150, 112
 * Police (Polícia): 158, 112

Go next
Central Slovakia | Western Tatras | Belianske Tatras | Spiš

title: High Tatras


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Vythiri

Vythiri  is a hill station in Kerala in India. The hill station is at 1,300 m and has coffee, tea, cardamom, pepper and rubber plantations and mountain scenery.

Get in
Vythiri is 66 km (2 hours) from Kozhikode. It can be reached from Kerala, as well as from Karnataka (from Mysore and Bangalore) or from Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore or Ooty).

By rail
Nearest railway station is Kozhikkode (formerly Calicut) (Railway code: CLT) which is 68 km away from here. Kozhikkode is well connected to the important cities of India. From Kozhikkode frequent bus services (both Government owned (KSRTC) and Private bus services) are available.All the buses going to Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavadi, Bangalore, Mysore, Gudalur and Ooty will stop at Vythiri. Approximate charge (as of Jan 2013) is ₹45-₹55 depending on the category of service. Private Taxi services are also available from Kozhikkode to Vythiri.

By plane
Nearest airport is Kozhikkode international airport, which is 85-90 km from Vythiri. Private taxi services are available from airport to Vythiri. If travelling by bus, from airport get bus to Kozhikkode and then to Vythiri.

By bus
Connected to Kozhikkode, Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty by government buses. Online reservation can be done from the websites of Kerala RTC or Karnataka RTC sites.

The final lap of journey from Kozhikkode is through a ghat road with nine hair-pin bends. If you have motion sickness or related problems, take appropriate medications.

Get around
Tourist taxis are the most convenient way to travel around attractions, especially while travelling in a group. Most airports and railway stations have tourist taxi services that would take you anywhere you would want to go.

Sleep

Go next

 * Vythiri National Park is nearby.

title: Vythiri


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Wa

 * "WA" is also the abbreviation for Washington (state) in the United States and the state of Western Australia.

Wa is a city in the Upper West Region, Ghana.

Understand
Wa is the capital of the Upper West Region of Ghana and is the main city of the Wala people. The majority of the inhabitants are Muslim. It is the seat of the Wa-Na, the Paramount Chief of the Wala traditional area. Features of the town include several mosques, the Wa-Na Palace, a museum and a nearby hippopotamus sanctuary. The town serves as a transportation hub for the northwestern part of Ghana, with major roads leading south to Kumasi, north to Hamile and Burkina Faso, and northeast to Tumu and the Upper East Region. There is also a small airport.

A small ex-pat community offers places to stay for couch surfers.

Get in

 * OA, STC, and Inter city busses
 * busses from Tamale, Kumasi, Tumu, Bolgatana, and Accra
 * if you're brave you can also tro all the way to Wa

Get around

 * good tro tro service in Wa
 * good taxi service
 * biycyles recommended for longer stays, though Wa lacks the bicycle lanes of Tamale
 * Wa is a small city, and most places can be walked to, though its best avoided during the heat of midday

See

 * A great view of Wa and the surrounding sahel from the top of Ombo Mountain (accessed near Kalieo on the Nadowli road)
 * Wicchau hippo sanctuary, which is home to more than 50 hippos
 * An ancient, and crumbling, mud and pole mosque, behind the newer central mosque
 * Wa's prolific kasbah, the old part of the city located around the central mosque, known for its narrow, windy streets and passages
 * The impressive new University of Development Studies campus
 * Annual Dumba festival is the main traditional event of Wa. It is typically held in late September to correspond with the harvest. The highlight of the year was a ceremony in which the Wa-na stepped over a small cow lying on the ground. According to traditional belief, if any part of the chief or his clothing touched the cow, he would probably die within the year. If on the other hand he stepped over the cow successfully, he was guaranteed a successful coming year.
 * The sprawling 'Ministries' quarter of town
 * Slave caves and 2km square clearing of unique termite hills shaped like giant mushrooms in nearby Sankana (near Kaleo)
 * The Black Volta River, which serves as the border between Ghana and Burkina Faso, just West of Wa
 * The serene School of the Deaf
 * The beautiful School of the Blind
 * Impressive colonies of weaver birds in large trees downtown
 * Graves of former Wa Na (Wa chiefs) by the palace
 * Tombstones of former British colonial administrators
 * The graves of famous slave traders
 * Central market, which is bustling every sixth day, but more peaceful on other days
 * Mud and pole mosque in nearby Nakori (be expected to pay 5 GHC merely to behold it)
 * The centrally located famous Wa prison
 * The urban wetlands of Wa's Lower East Side
 * A significant chameleon population; individual chameleons can often be found crossing roads
 * The urban wetlands of Wa's Lower East Side
 * A significant chameleon population; individual chameleons can often be found crossing roads

Eat
Despite its urban status, Wa is in many ways still an agricultural community, and many people make a good portion of their living in small scale farming. The main crops are corn, millet, yams, okra and groundnuts. Upland rice is also farmed in a few areas. The major fruit crop is the mango. Shea nuts are collected from wild trees, for food or refinement into oils and cosmetics.

The staple food of Wa is known as T-Zed in English. This is an abbreviation for the Hausa expression tuo zaafi, meaning 'very hot'. In Waali, this food is referred to as sao. It is a thick porridge of corn flour eaten like fufu - by tearing off a chunk and dipping into a soup, usually of okra. Comment on the food : T-Zed or TZ is made of millet and, or as stated corn, (corn is originally from South-America. It is also not like fufu, but more like Kenkey, because of the fermentation process.

Good eating spots include:

 * Mommie's Kitchen
 * Alam's
 * Green Beam
 * Jubilee Park
 * In Service Training Centre (ISTC)
 * Destiny Guest House
 * Spicy Food

Drink
Popular Drinking spots (which are often the popular eating spots) include:

 * Green Beam
 * 69 Spot
 * Alam's
 * In Service Training Centre
 * KG Spot
 * Destiny Guest House
 * Merryland Spot
 * Our Heritage Gardens
 * Saviour Spot

Sleep

More budget sleeping options include the Tegbeer Catholic House (C35) and Kedge Lodge (C25), Kunateh Lodge (C20), Big White Lodge (C20) and Destiny Guest House (C20)

Go next
STC and City Express buses leave from the bus station near the main roundabout to Kumasi (three times a week) and Accra (three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Sunday at 14.00) and Metro Mass has a pretty trustworthy daily service to Tamale, which leaves at 6.00. The Tamale bus stops at Larabanga. As it arrives around 10.30 you'll have plenty of time to stroll around the village, have lunch and still be in time to catch a tro-tro or hitch a ride to Mole Motel, install yourself in your room and be in time to catch the 15.30 walk through the park.

Make sure you buy tickets well in advance, as buses can fill up early, especially around holidays, which can turn into a bit chaotic scramble for the last tickets. An interesting spectacle you probably rather watch from aside than be a part of...

title: Wa


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Waasmunster

Waasmunster is a small city in East Flanders, Belgium.

By car
Waasmunster has an exit on the E17 Ghent-Antwerp motorway.

Go next
Sint-Niklaas and Ghent are not far.

title: Waasmunster


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Wabamun

Wabamun is a village in the Edmonton Capital Region, Alberta, west of Edmonton. It is on the northern shores of Lake Wabamun, the largest recreational lake in the Edmonton region.

Understand
Wabamun had a population of approximately 650 to 700 people in 2016.

Wabamun gets its name from the nearby Wabamun Lake, whose name is derived from the Cree word for "mirror", in reference to its water. The ancient name for the lake, from the Nakota Sioux language, is Wihnemne.

The main source of income within Wabamun are power plants in the area operated by TransAlta Utilities. The power plant in the village was closed down because of increased pressure from environmental agencies and aging. The Wabamun power plant was the subject of heated debate among the residents and cottagers of Wabamun Lake.

There is a large cabin-going community in Wabamun during the summer, while the village is populated year round.

The lake has a large population of walleye as of 2023. It was known as a near-trophy status lake for Northern Pike in the 1980s. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the lake was sometimes called "White Whale" due to the large size of whitefish that were hauled out of the lake and shipped to support the fur trade. The lake also contains ling-cod (burbot), white prairie sucker, and perch.

Lake Wabamun is approximately 82 km² in area, is long by  wide, and it has an average depth of, and a maximum charted depth of  - although the lake was only surveyed at 500 m intervals and the depth off of the end of Coal Point is reputed to be over  in some spots.

History
Wabamun was named for its location on the north shore of Lake Wabamun. The first post office opened in Wabamun in 1903. In the early 1900s, Wabamun was an important railway stop for homesteaders. Before the railway was extended further west, many settlers brought good and animals on train cars as far as Wabamun and then transferred to wagons drawn by oxen or horses for the remainder of trips to homesteads in the Lac Ste.-Anne area.

Get in
Wabamun is 20 minutes west of the town of Stony Plain and 40 minutes west of Edmonton on Highway 16; take exit 324 to access the village and exit 327 to access Kapasiwin and Wabamun Lake Provincial Park.

See

 * Wabamun Lake

Buy
Businesses include 4 restaurants, hardware store, bowling lanes, post office, pharmacy, liquor store, market, car wash, laundromat, motel, hotel, inn, tavern, convenience store, 2 banks, mechanic and a grocery store.

Nearby

 * Kapasiwin − small summer village just east of Wabamun and near Wabamun Provincial Park
 * Seba Beach − small summer village on the west shore of Wabamun Lake; marina, pier, restaurant, and campground available; home of the Edmonton Yacht Club.
 * Lake Isle − small lake northwest Wabumun
 * Lac Ste. Anne − northeast of Wabumun, the site of an annual religious pilgrimage.

title: Wabamun


text:
Wabasha

Wabasha is a city in Southern Minnesota.

title: Wabasha


text:
Wachau

The Wachau is in Lower Austria on the river banks of the Danube river. The area is approximately 30 kilometers long.

Understand
The Wachau is very famous for its vineyards and the beautiful scenery. The climate is a bit milder than in the other parts of Lower Austria, because of the pannonian climate influence. This is why there are lots of vineyards, apricot trees and even almond trees.

Tourism is very popular in the Wachau and a trip by boat on the Danube River is an experience you won't forget.

The cultural landscape of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems is recognized as a part of world cultural heritage.

Viticulture
The winemakers of this region offer their homemade wine at the so-called Heurigen, which are wine-taverns where cold food and local wine is offered. To indicate that their Heurigen is open, the wine-makers put a small wheel made of straw in front of their house.

Wachau is a source of Austria's most prized dry Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners, some of the best from the steep stony slopes next to the Danube on which the vines are planted. The temperature variation in the valley between day and cold nights has a significant role to play in the process of ripening of the grapes. The heat retained in the water and the stoney slopes with thin soil cover facilitates this process of growing fine variety of grapes, which results in the sophisticated wines produced in the valley. Since rainfall is not adequate for the growth of wines on thin soils, irrigation is an essential requirement to give water supply to the wine yards.

Get around

 * Melk to Krems Wachau Valley bike ride. Pedaling along the most beautiful stretch of the Danube downstream 40 km with the slope in your favor (about 3 hours). Check with the Melk Tourist Office for the best route. The north bank bike trail is paved all the way, winds through picturesque villages, and runs near the river. The south bank bike trail merges with the actual road about half the time, but it has better river views.
 * Melk to Krems Danube River boat cruise. The downstream Melk to Krems cruise (~1.6 hr) is faster than the upstream Krems to Melk cruise (~3.3 hr). In the summer many tourist boats operate at the Wachau. The biggest and most visible boat companies are DDSG and Brandner. Both charge the same (€18 one-way, €23 round-trip), allow stopovers, and take bikes for free, but they are not necessarily the cheapest. MS Stadt Wien is a popular alternative among locals (weekends only). You can return to Melk on the Postbus line WL1 or WL2. In Krems, walk out the main gate of the ferry dock by the gift shop and you will come to a roundabout. Just beyond that is a second roundabout. Cross through that, and on your left look for the bus stop (the sign has a green "H" on a yellow disk). The bus runs every hour or so and has Melk on its destination sign. The fare is less than €3.
 * Melk to Krems bus services. VOR operate two bus services along the length of the Wachau, the hourly WL1 along the more popular north bank of the river and the less frequent WL2 along the south bank. The Wachauticket day pass costs €10 for adults or €5 for children and allows you to stop off along the valley.

See
In the Wachau there are three medieval castle ruins that you can visit. Because they are on the tops of hills or cliffs they allow an amazing view of the Wachau valley.
 * Dürnstein Castle was built in the 12th century, the castle is best known for being the prison of King Richard the Lionhearted of England from December 1192 to March 1193, after he was captured by Austrian Duke Leopold V while returning from the Third Crusade. In 1635, toward the end of the Thirty Years' War, the Swedes captured the castle and later destroyed the outer gate. After serving as a refuge during the Austro-Turkish War a couple of decades later, it was abandoned and fell into disrepair.
 * Hinterhaus Castle Ruins are on a rocky ridge of the Jauerling, the highest mountain in the Wachau. The castle was established in the 12th century, and conquered by the Knights of Spitz, who modified and extended it in the 13th and 14th centuries.
 * Aggstein Castle is the remains of a castle from the 12th century. It is on a rocky outcrop at a height of approx. 300 m above the right bank of the Danube. At the time of the Kuenrings, the castle was besieged and destroyed at least twice.

title: Wachau


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Waco

Waco is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of north central Texas. Waco is best known in Texas for being the home of Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world, chartered during the Republic of Texas.

Understand
Waco is now a city of 139,000 people (2020), with 280,000 people in the metropolitan region. Waco has a number of worthwhile attractions.

History
Founded in 1849 near the site of an abandoned agricultural village of Waco Indians, Waco rose to prominence in the 1870s as a major junction for the transport of cattle; by 1871 between 600,000 and 700,000 head of cattle had passed through the city. As time progressed, Waco's location at the crossroads of major railroads and its location on the Brazos River helped the city grow and thrive. The Dr Pepper soft drink was invented in Waco in 1885.

Waco came to the world's attention, and is still remembered by many people, for the February 28, 1993 stand-off between federal agents (FBI, ATF) and the Branch Davidians, a Seventh Day Adventist offshoot religious group, led by David Koresh, the sect's leader. It resulted in the deaths of 86 people. The incident took place 15 miles outside of Waco, though - not in the city. When asked about the incident, most residents will answer; just realize that generally Wacoans are tired of the subject and would rather talk about something else.

In 2014, due to the immense popularity of HGTV's hit show, Fixer Upper, the Magnolia Silos became a place of pilgrimage for HGTV viewers from all over the world.

By plane

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are each about a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Waco.

By car
Waco is along I-35, thus allowing easy access by car from Dallas and Austin. On I-35, it is a 90-minute drive south of Dallas, and a 90-minute drive north of Austin. State Highway 6 is the preferred route to reach Waco from Houston, a three-hour drive.

By bus
Waco has a in the center of downtown, on S 8th St, between Mary Ave and Jackson Ave.

By train
While Amtrak does not service Waco directly, there is a nearby station on the Texas Eagle route between Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago in McGregor, a small community 15 miles west of Waco on highway 84. is at 1 Amtrak Blvd. Trains run once daily, with the northbound train arriving in late morning, and the southbound train arriving in late afternoon. There is no scheduled public transport from McGregor, meaning that a taxi or private transport is required in order to reach Waco.

By boat
The Brazos River flows through downtown Waco and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Reaching Waco by boat will be a challenge due to the shallowness of this river, along with frequent dams and falls.

A more practical (and entertaining) way of reaching Waco by boat would be to launch a kayak or canoe at the Lake Whitney dam, (approximately 40 miles upstream) and float downstream to Waco.

Get around
The easiest way to travel around Waco is by car. The city of Waco does run a Waco Transit public transportation system; however, it has few stops and only runs during the daytime.

Theatre
Although Waco is a relatively small city, it does have a moderately rich theatrical life. There are several companies that produce performances throughout the year, including the Waco Hippodrome, Baylor University Theatre, McLennan Theatre, and Waco Civic Theatre. The Waco Children's Theatre offers a theatrical outlet to local children during the summer.

Drink
Since Dr. Pepper originated in Waco, it is the "primary" drink to try. "Dublin Dr. Pepper" is made using the original sweetener—pure cane sugar—which makes it different from other soft drinks that now use the less expensive high fructose corn syrup.

Sleep

Stay safe
Waco has a reputation for a higher-than-normal crime rate for a small to medium size city. Visitors should exercise normal caution. That said, most violent crime occurs in residential areas, away from most areas visitors may visit. If you do find yourself in such an area (usually for dining), use normal caution. Drive with the doors locked, do not draw attention to yourself, and do not make prolonged eye contact (i.e. stare at other drivers).

It is strongly advised not to be at Cameron Park at night unless you are with a large group.

Waco, and Texas in general, is not frequented by pedestrians as much as a lot of other places. If you decide to walk, be careful, as the drivers are not used to pedestrians and may not see you, and be aware that many sidewalks are in poor condition, if they exist at all.

Tornadoes are not a frequent occurrence in Waco, but when they do hit, they tend to be very strong. Do not panic if a tornado warning is issued. If such a warning is issued, turn on the local news and keep updated. The weatherperson will explain what cautions need to be taken, and who should take them. If the weatherperson, any hotel staff, or public officials give you directions, follow them. It should go without saying that you should not go outside during a tornado. See the tornado safety article for more information.

If on the Baylor campus, while you can call 911, a faster emergency response can be obtained by calling the emergency number for the Baylor Police,.

Go next

 * Clifton - 20 minutes west on Route 6 is this small town which is very proud of its Norwegian heritage.
 * West - 10 minutes north on Interstate 35 is a small, confusingly named community of Czech expats, known for its numerous kolache shops.

title: Waco


text:
Wadden Sea National Park

Wadden Sea National Park (Danish: Nationalpark Vadehavet) is a large area stretching the entire west coast of South Jutland of Denmark. It's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
The Wadden Sea is the largest tidal flats system in the world, stretching from Denmark, through Germany, and well into the Netherlands. Because of its unique biodiversity and intact intertidal ecosystem, the Wadden Sea was designated as an international UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

History
The Danish parts of the Wadden Sea, has been protected nature since 2010, when it became a national park. The Wadden Sea National Park is by far the largest of Denmark's national parks, outside of Greenland, reaching from Ho Bugt in the north, right to the German border, and includes the islands of Fanø, Mandø and Rømø, as well as Skallingen, the Varde Å valley, and many of the marshlands of Tjæreborgmarsken, Ribemarsken, Margrethekogen and De Ydre Diger in Tøndermarsken.

Landscape
Almost all (97%) of the national park is part of the European Natura 2000 nature protection, divided into several projects: important bird sanctuary, important wildlife sanctuary, and Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The Wadden Sea National Park comprise biomes such as low-lying flat coast, tidal channels, tidal flats, stream mouths, beach meadows, sandplains and dunes.

Flora and fauna
More than 10 million migratory birds pass through the Danish parts of the Wadden Sea twice a year, signifying the area's international importance. Large flocks of European starlings can be experienced flying in peculiar huge group-formations known as 'black sun formation', a truly special natural phenomenon. The Wadden Sea is also home to large numbers of breeding birds, fish, and invertebrates such as starfish and blue mussels, and it provides habitat for more than 500 species of plants and animals.

Get around
The Wadden Sea landscape and nature can be experienced in many ways; hiking, on a bicycle, in a canoe, from the deck of a historic wooden ship, or other regular guided tours of various sorts. Go to the Wadden Sea Visitor Centre to learn more about your options.

The North Sea Trail passes through the entire length of the national park, often right behind the dikes.

See
Experience the Danish islands of the Wadden Sea:

 * Fanø
 * Mandø
 * Rømø

Hike or bike through the Wadden Sea coastal Marshlands.

Do

 * Seal safari - participate in a seal safari. Seals are common on the tidal flats, where food is plentiful and they can rest undisturbed in the sun.

Buy, eat, drink, and sleep
See listings in the Fanø and Rømø articles.

Go next
Extend your Wadden Sea experience and go to the German side of this World Heritage Site.

title: Wadden Sea National Park


text:
Wadebridge

Wadebridge (Cornish: Ponsrys) is a market town in North Cornwall, with a population of 7,900 (2011). The town sits at the Camel Estuary, 5 miles (8 km) upstream from Padstow. It is host to the Royal Cornwall Agricultural show, each June.

Understand
For many years Wadebridge was a traffic congested town but in 1991 the Wadebridge bypass was opened together with the Egloshayle bypass causing the two settlements to regain much of their former charm. The main shopping street in Wadebridge (Molesworth Street) has become pedestrianised through an inner link road, allowing traffic free shopping.

By train
Other train operators include CrossCountry (which operates routes to the North of England and Scotland via Bristol and Birmingham) and Southwest Trains (who operate routes to London Waterloo).

Train services are frequent with roughly one train every half-hour in each direction during the week.

By car
Wadebridge is joined to Bodmin by the A389. From Bodmin the A30 goes to Exeter where it connects with the M5. From Bodmin the A38 runs towards Plymouth.

By plane
For the latest destinations and prices visit SkyScanner.net.

By coach
There are regular National Express coach services from London Victoria.

Foot
Wadebridge is a very pleasant town to walk around,: the main shopping street (Molesworth street) is pedestrianised.

Bicycle
Wadebridge has many cycle paths that are frequently used.

Taxi

 * Ocean Taxis - +44 1208 812049
 * Wadebridge Taxis - +44 1208 812725.
 * Wadebridge Midas Taxis - +44 1208 812345.
 * Wadebridge M & M Cabs - +44 1208 814848.
 * 24 7 - +44 1208 812634.
 * Kittiwake Taxis - +44 1208 816953.

Do

 * Go surfing at one of the many beaches within easy reach of Wadebridge.
 * Cornwall Folk Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The main venues are Town Hall, Betjeman Centre, Far Stage (the car park on Eddystone Rd) and Shanty St (free shows in the streets).
 * Go surfing at one of the many beaches within easy reach of Wadebridge.
 * Cornwall Folk Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The main venues are Town Hall, Betjeman Centre, Far Stage (the car park on Eddystone Rd) and Shanty St (free shows in the streets).
 * Cornwall Folk Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The main venues are Town Hall, Betjeman Centre, Far Stage (the car park on Eddystone Rd) and Shanty St (free shows in the streets).
 * Cornwall Folk Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The main venues are Town Hall, Betjeman Centre, Far Stage (the car park on Eddystone Rd) and Shanty St (free shows in the streets).

Buy
Wadebridge contains a large number of independent shops each with their own character.

Go next

 * Visit nearby Padstow.

title: Wadebridge


text:
Wadena

Wadena is in Northwestern Minnesota.

Get in
US Highways 10 and 71.

title: Wadena


text:
Wadesboro

Wadesboro is a town in North Carolina. Named after Colonel Thomas Wade who co-founded the municipality, it is a down on its luck textile mill town, but it has an intriguing wildlife refuge. Probably what sets Wadesboro apart more than anything though is that it was used for the set of "The Color Purple", in addition to "Evil Dead 2".

Get in
Wadesboro is along Hwy 74 east of Charlotte, and Greyhound makes a stop at the sad little strip market at 2458 US Highway 74 E that hardly has a single business running.

title: Wadesboro