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Altoona (Wisconsin)

Altoona is a city with a population of nearly 7,900 (2019) people, in Eau Claire County in Wisconsin. Altoona is well known for its focus on outdoor recreation. It attracts fishers on the lake and bikers on its trails to enjoy the fresh air.

Get in
From Interstate 94, take exit 70, Altoona has 2 exits off of US Hwy 53. Just east of the City of Eau Claire.

Do

Buy
Altoona is mostly a residential community, with a few places to shop. This will change with the development of the new River Prairie area in the next couple of years.

Go next

 * Eau Claire, borders the city on the west side.
 * Chippewa Falls, is about 10 miles to the north.
 * Menomonie, is about 24 miles to the west.
 * Augusta, is 20 miles southeast on Hwy 12. Be sure to take an Amish tour, tour the Dells Mill Museum, and visit the quaint historic downtown.
 * The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota are about 85 miles to the west.

title: Altoona (Wisconsin)


text:
Alto Paraíso de Goiás

Alto Paraíso de Goiás, often shortened to Alto Paraiso (Highland Paradise), is a city in the Brazilian state of Goias. It is the main gateway to the Chapada dos Veadeiros region.

Understand
Alto Paraíso is home to some 40 mystical/ philosophical/ religious communities (Daimists, Oshoists, Hare Krishna, Kardecists, Protestants, Buddhists and others). It is believed that the huge geological layer of quartz crystal underground makes this a region of the Planet that was chosen to receive enlightened beings, creators of the Age of Aquarius, and emanate positive vibrations. The parallel 14, which crosses Machu Picchu in Peru, also does so on Alto Paraíso, more precisely upon the Zen Garden (there is a small monument, full of stones and flowers, on the highway en route to Cavalcante), a beautiful scenery and stage to fantastic stories involving UFOs and ETs. On the road to São Jorge is the impressive Morro da Baleia (Mount Whale), a close second in mystic beauties and mysteries. Within the municipality are several of the best and most beautiful waterfalls in the country, especially in this sense the rivers Preto, São Miguel and Couros, tributaries of the mighty river Tocantins in Amazon Basin.

By plane
Most air travelers arriving at the Brasilia airport. There is a small domestic airport here, for small planes, but there are no regular air services.

By bus
The buses depart from the Brasilia Interestadual bus station.

Just check the departure times on the apps of Clickbus or Buscaonibus.

By car

 * From Brasilia, take the BR-020 toward Salvador (for those arriving by plane: Airport> South Eixão> North Eixão> Bragueto Bridge> Torto Roundabout> Posto Colorado> Sobradinho) and turn left into the BR-010 (GO-118) after Planaltina (the roundabout is well signposted). Total distance from Brasilia is 230 km.
 * From Goiânia, pass Brasilia and follow the above route.
 * From São Paulo, take Via Anhanguera (SP-330) until Uberaba. From there, take the BR-050 to Brasilia.

Get around
The city itself is very small and easy, a Main Avenue (Avenida Ary Valadão Filho) starts on the road and cuts through the whole of it. The Bus Station is two blocks to the right of Main Avenue and all the "buy", "eat", "drink", "stay safe" and half "sleep" options are either at Main Avenue, (at most) two blocks away of it, or close to Bus Station. It´s that simple.

There are a lot of waterfall options around Alto Paraiso (Loquinhas are the closest and coziest, Crystal River is close too, there is a hiking trail to Sertão Zen, a little harder, Couros and Macaco rivers require a 4WD vehicle), but the best ones are around Vila São Jorge (St. George Village) 36 km west, the gateway to the National Park. There are vans and little difficulty to hitchhike. The road is very scenic, half of it is paved already, but the dirt part can get a little annoying during the rainy season (October-April).

See

 * City Portal - Stone arches welcome the visitor, at the entrance of APG.
 * Mirante do Pouso Alto- Monument on Pouso Alto hill, highest point of Goiás state - 1.676 m.
 * Jardim Zen (Zen Garden) - Monument marking Parallel 14, ahead on the highway
 * Little Stonehenge - beside the City Portal, parallel to the road, curious arrangement of granite blocks, worth a pic.

Waterfalls

 * Sertão Zen - 8 km of hard trek, going along good bouldering and climbing options, cozy fall with stunning abyss view at the end. Better hire a guide.
 * Portal da Chapada- Rodovia GO-239, km 8 - at Fazenda São Bento, after 3 km of dirt road, and 1 km walking, another Chapada wonder, on rio dos Couros, Almécegas I - The Fall. Following the dirt road a little more, Almécegas II - The Pool, a few meters walking. São Bento waterfall is a gorgeous natural pool, where water polo matches are held, very easy access for children.
 * Anjos e Arcanjos - Moinho a 10 km - medium difficulty trek, the falls are worth it. It's customary to jump (35 m) from one to the other.
 *  Vale da Lua (Moon Valley)- Rodovia GO-239, km 30 - on Rio São Miguel, an unbelievable moonlike landscape, not for swimming, just bathing. Extra caution on the rainy season, as this place has already claimed the lives of many careless unlucky fellows.
 * Vale do Rio Macaco (Monkey River Valley, 50 km) Waterfalls and canyons complex. Arduous trekking on rugged terrain. Great for canyoning. 4WD vehicle and hired guide recommended.
 * Cataratas dos Couros (28 km) On Fazenda Boa Esperança, sequence of 4 lovely falls on Rio dos Couros, 4WD vehicle and hired guide also recommended.
 * Poço Encantado - Rodovia GO 118, on the way to Cavalcante, 35 km from APG - beautiful fall with spacious and calm pool, very recommended for children.
 * Cataratas dos Couros (28 km) On Fazenda Boa Esperança, sequence of 4 lovely falls on Rio dos Couros, 4WD vehicle and hired guide also recommended.
 * Poço Encantado - Rodovia GO 118, on the way to Cavalcante, 35 km from APG - beautiful fall with spacious and calm pool, very recommended for children.

There are a lot more; local people will be happy to talk about it.

Do
There is a New Age quality about Alto Paraiso, lots of people come there looking for Positive Vibration and alternative stuff. As a rule of thumb, "quiet" people stay here and "party" people stay at São Jorge.

Buy
Crystal souvenirs, hippie clothing and pinga de arnica (pinga: strong liquor, arnica: spicy vegetable with medicinal properties)

Sleep

 * Reges Hostel: The dorm rooms of this nice central hostel cannot be booked on Booking.com or Hostelworld. It's for R$40 per night (Feb 2021).
 * K House Hostel: This homestay dormitory has a minimum stay of 2 nights.

Go next
If you don´t enter Alto Paraiso and keep on the road going north, you´ll end at Cavalcante(87 km) with another hundred waterfalls (try looking for Rei do Prata). If you go through Main Avenue all the way, you´ll end at Vila do Moinho (Mill Village, 10 km), home to Anjos e Arcanjos (Angels & Archangels waterfall). Both are worth the trip and both trips have very beautiful landscapes.

 * Colinas do Sul (70 km)
 * Niquelândia (150 km)
 * São Jorge (36 km)
 * São João d'Aliança (60 km)
 * Teresina de Goiás (64 km)
 * Brasília
 * Pirenópolis

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

title: Alto Paraíso de Goiás


text:
Altrincham

Altrincham is a town in Greater Manchester in the northwest of England. It was a small market town until the 18th century, then industrialised with the coming of the Bridgewater Canal and later the railway. Altrincham was historically in Cheshire, but in 1974 was re-assigned into the new entity of Greater Manchester, and became a commuter town for the big city. The main reason to visit is the thriving cafe culture centred on the market house together with Dunham Massey Hall, and Tatton Hall a few miles south.

Visitor information

 * Visit Altrincham tourist information
 * Altrincham Unlimited is an online listings magazine, including parking options.
 * The town produces a quarterly magazine Altrincham Today.

By train
Long-distance train routes usually mean changing at Manchester Piccadilly, or at Victoria from some northern starting points. But trains from London Euston and the Midlands to Piccadilly also call at Stockport and this can be a quicker connection.

An hourly train runs from Piccadilly via Stockport to (30 min) then continues through Knutsford to Chester.

These trains also call at the north end of town, then the Interchange, then  at the south end before trundling on across Cheshire.

By tram

Metrolink trams (green and purple lines) take 30 min from central Manchester via St Peters Square, Deansgate, Old Trafford, Stretford, Sale and Timperley to the Interchange. Altrincham is in Fare Zone 4 so a single journey is £4.60; trams run every 10 min or so 6AM-midnight. The purple line starts from Piccadilly; the green line starts from Bury and runs via Prestwich and Victoria then through city centre. Change in city centre for the other lines to Wythenshawe and the airport, to Imperial War Museum and Trafford Centre, through Piccadilly to Ashton-under-Lyne, through Victoria to Oldham and Rochdale, and to Salford Quays and Eccles. See TGM website for fare deals, service updates and travel planner; you must tap in and tap out with a card or buy your ticket before boarding.

By bus
Long-distance coaches don't serve Altrincham, change at Manchester city centre or the airport for local transport.

Arriva North West Bus 263 runs (6AM-11PM) from Manchester Piccadilly via Stretford and Sale to Altrincham Interchange. It takes an hour and runs every 15 min daytime.

Buses also run to Altrincham from Warrington, Lymm, Knutsford and Macclesfield.

By car
From London and most points south, follow M6 to jcn 19 then A556 / 56 north into town. From the north follow M60 onto A56, from the east follow M62 and M60 onto M56 then A560.

The direct road from central Manchester is A56 through Stretford. It was once the Roman road to Chester (Deva), and if you try it in rush hour you'll lurch along at XVIII thousands-of-paces per hour, slower than their chariots.

Get around
The town centre is best explored on foot. Dunham Massey Hall is two miles west: Bus 5A / Cat5 runs hourly from the Interchange to the Hall and Garden entrance, continuing to Lymm, Thelwell and Warrington. You need your own wheels to reach Tatton Park.

Cycle Hub near Platform 1 at Interchange station is a bike locker facility (open 6AM-midnight) where you can leave your bike securely under cover and take another mode of transport. Access is via a season ticket from Transport for Greater Manchester.

See

 * : see Knutsford for details of this grand mansion house, 5 miles south across the boundary into Cheshire.
 * Public mementoes include:
 * Bravest Little Street in England was how King George V hailed Chapel Street, from where 161 men volunteered to fight at the onset of World War I; 29 were killed. The street was demolished in 1960 to make way for flats. There's a blue plaque on the side of Phantong Thai Restaurant on Regent St, just south of the Travelodge.
 * Bee Bop a Raver is a glam-rock multicoloured, kinda scary bee, outside Myerson Solicitors at the junction of Barrington Road and Woodlands Road.
 * Frank Sidebottom, the comic creation of Chris Sievey, stands at Timperley village crossroads, junction of Stockport Rd and Thorley Lane.
 * Bee Bop a Raver is a glam-rock multicoloured, kinda scary bee, outside Myerson Solicitors at the junction of Barrington Road and Woodlands Road.
 * Frank Sidebottom, the comic creation of Chris Sievey, stands at Timperley village crossroads, junction of Stockport Rd and Thorley Lane.

Do

 * : Altrincham has yet to adopt the Italian passeggiata — the evening stroll to see and be seen — but Goose Green is its closest shot. This historic street has been given a makeover and is home to several restaurants and bars. A statue of a goose stands in the alley from the main road.
 * Vue Cinema is at its east end on Denmark Street.

 * Watch football at
 * Planet Ice is the ice rink, on Oakfield Rd behind Interchange railway station. Public skating is M-F noon-3:45PM, with other sessions for lessons and demos. Manchester Storm play home games here in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the UK's top tier.
 * Walk or boat along the Bridgewater Canal, which passes north of town centre. It stretches 41 miles (66 km) from Wigan to Runcorn and is navigable throughout, with no locks. Opened in 1761, it's one of the earliest "true" canals, not a channeling of a natural river, and its commercial success sparked a frenzy of canal-building across Britain and Ireland. The towpath is in variable condition and in 2020 is only intermittently suitable for cycling. Multiple access points, eg the bridge on A56 Manchester Road, where there's a couple of pubs.
 * The Trans Pennine Trail meanders from Southport and Liverpool on the Irish Sea coast, right across the Pennines to York, Hull and Hornsea on the North Sea coast. It's suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and passes north of Altrincham and the Bridgewater canal. Westbound from town, you could join it just north of Oldfield Brow canal bridge: it follows an old railway embankment straight west through Dunham Massey village (but some distance from the Hall) and Lymm. Eastbound from Altrincham, it zigzags north along the edge of the housing towards the Mersey.
 * Play golf at:
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Walk or boat along the Bridgewater Canal, which passes north of town centre. It stretches 41 miles (66 km) from Wigan to Runcorn and is navigable throughout, with no locks. Opened in 1761, it's one of the earliest "true" canals, not a channeling of a natural river, and its commercial success sparked a frenzy of canal-building across Britain and Ireland. The towpath is in variable condition and in 2020 is only intermittently suitable for cycling. Multiple access points, eg the bridge on A56 Manchester Road, where there's a couple of pubs.
 * The Trans Pennine Trail meanders from Southport and Liverpool on the Irish Sea coast, right across the Pennines to York, Hull and Hornsea on the North Sea coast. It's suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and passes north of Altrincham and the Bridgewater canal. Westbound from town, you could join it just north of Oldfield Brow canal bridge: it follows an old railway embankment straight west through Dunham Massey village (but some distance from the Hall) and Lymm. Eastbound from Altrincham, it zigzags north along the edge of the housing towards the Mersey.
 * Play golf at:
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.
 * Learn vegetarian / vegan cookery at along A56 Dunham Rd, the headquarters of the Vegetarian Society UK.

Buy

 * George Street has the usual retail chains.

Sleep

 * See also Manchester Airport for hotels just east of Altrincham, especially those at M56 junction 6 with Wilmslow Rd.

Connect
As of June 2021, Altrincham has 4G from all UK carriers. 5G has not yet arrived but is getting close.

Go next

 * Manchester's got the lot - the big city deserves a few days to explore.
 * Chester retains its ancient walls and many historic buildings.
 * Knutsford is a pleasant market town; Tatton Hall midway from Altrincham is the big draw.

title: Altrincham


text:
Altun Ha

Altun Ha are the ruins of an ancient Maya city in Belize, in the Belize District about 30 miles (50 km) north of Belize City and about 6 miles (10 km) west of the shore of the Caribbean.

History
Starting in 1965 an archeological team led by David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum began extensive excavations and restorations of the site, which continued through 1970. Among the discoveries is a large (almost 10 pounds, or 5 kilograms) piece of jade elaborately carved into an image of the head of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau. This jade head is considered one of the national treasures of Belize.

Get in
The Old Northern Highway connects Altun Ha to Belize's Northern Highway. "Old Highway" is apt. The Northern Highway is a collection of potholes connected by small stretches of worn-out asphalt. Genuine Belize is what you see all the way from Belize City to Altun Ha. Not the tourist version.

There are four main ways to reach Altun Ha:

 * The most expensive way is to visit on a tour from Belize City. However, these tours tend to only run one or two times a week and run upwards of US$100.  Your hotel or hostel will usually arrange this for you free of charge.
 * You can cut your price to about US$50 if you take a US$2 bus to Crooked Tree and sign up for a tour there.
 * The easiest and probably most cost effective method to visit Altun Ha is to rent a car and drive out there yourself.
 * Many taxi drivers will drive you out to Altun Ha, wait for 1-2 hours and then drive you back. The cost here depends greatly on which taxi driver you choose.  The average cost will be US$50 regardless of the number of people who go.  The most reliable drivers are located by the Marina in green and white uniforms.  However, if you're on a budget, a regular taxi driver will take you for US$10-20 less.

Fees and permits
There is a small entrance fee which was BZ$10 as of May 2006.

See
The Jade Head of Belize (Kinich Ahau) was discovered here in 1968. The Jade Head can be seen on most every banknote of Belize. It is in the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) in Belmopan.

The ruins of Altun Ha are just that. Ruins. This is not a spectacular site with reconstructed pyramids and elaborate art work. Most of the ruins are still buried to preserve them until enough money and interest is raised to restore them.

The pyramid that is open for tours is in poor condition and a very steep climb. This site is not handicapped accessible. A good guide is a necessity. Otherwise all you will see are grass covered hills. Paradoxically a nice modern lavatory is in place just before you enter the site.

The usual souvenirs (wood carvings,postcards, shell jewellery) are on sale in the gift shops. It is a nice, educational day trip from Ambegris Caye, Caye Caulker or Belize City.

Do
You can visit the ruins! Most tour operators pair a visit with the ruins with a visit to a spa or village (depending on the operator). Food at the spa is expensive and they try to sell you extras like horse back rides or spa treatments. On the up-side there is a decent bar at the spa you can use to while away the two or so hours you are stuck there.

title: Altun Ha


text:
Alturas

Alturas is in Modoc County in California.

Go next

 * Lava Beds National Monument - This national monument is located 63 miles northwest of Alturas and is home to a massive lava field featuring dozens of lava tube caves.

title: Alturas


text:
Altus

There is more than one place called Altus

United States of America

 * Altus (Arkansas) is in the state of Arkansas.
 * Altus (Oklahoma) is in the state of Oklahoma.

title: Altus


text:
Altus (Arkansas)

Altus is located in the River Valley region of Arkansas. It is known for its wines and having been the location of the first season of the reality TV show The Simple Life starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

By air
Fort Smith is the nearest city with an airport  with scheduled passenger service. Other nearby airports within a 2 hour drive are Northwest Arkansas National, Tulsa International , and Little Rock International.

General aviation pilots can consider using Ozark-Franklin County Airport (FAA ID: 7M5) or Paris Municipal Airport (FAA ID: 7M6), however, neither have standard rental car services available. You may be able, though, to arrange car service through the airport FBO or a rental agency in the Fort Smith area. For the Simple Life tourist, the airport seen in the first episode is (ironically) the Paris Municipal Airport.

By car
Altus is bounded by Interstate 40 to the north and U.S. Route 64 to the south, and is about 45 miles east of Fort Smith.

From Little Rock, travel west on Interstate 40 and take exit 41.

From Fayetteville or the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, travel south on Interstate 49 until it intersects Interstate 40 in Alma, then go east on I-40 to reach exit 41.

From Oklahoma, travel east on I-40 to reach exit 41.

Get around
Altus is a small town, so getting around isn't really a problem. The whole town can be toured by car, bicycle, or walking.

Wineries
The main tourist attractions in Altus are the wineries.

Other places
Fans of The Simple Life will easily recognize the setting. Note however, that the Sonic Drive-In and the Wal-Mart are not located in Altus, but in the neighboring town of Ozark, which is the next town west on U.S. Route 64.

Do
If you are a Catholic, a Simple Life fan, or both, you might want to attend Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, also called St. Mary's Church. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was attended by Hilton and Richie on the show.

Buy
Most wineries sell bottles of wine in their gift shops.

Eat
The Wiederkehr winery hosts the Weinkeller Restaurant. It is a gourmet restaurant, with prices ranging from moderate to expensive. But the food is very well worth the price.

Visited by Hilton and Richie:

Drink
While taking a tour of a winery, you might be given a chance at free wine tasting. Altus' wines are among the most exquisite in the world, so don't miss out on it.

Sleep
Altus has very few accommodations, most of which are bed-and-breakfast inns. Motels are available in Ozark, around 6 miles west, or in Clarksville, around 20 miles east.

Most visitors to Altus travel there on side trips from Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Eureka Springs. All three cities have abundant hotel accommodations.

title: Altus (Arkansas)


text:
Altus (Oklahoma)

Altus is in the Great Plains Country region of southwest Oklahoma and is a military town with the presence of Altus Air Force Base nearby. In the beginning, it served as a trading post for the Great Western Cattle Trail.

Do
You can take a walk around . Granted it's not one of Oklahoma's top ten or anything in terms of attractions, but a road circumnavigates the body of water the entire way, which makes for a relatively peaceful place to walk.

title: Altus (Oklahoma)


text:
Alupka

Alupka (Ukrainian: Алупка) is a city in Crimea. It is famous as a beach resort, and a favourite holiday destination for many citizens of the former Soviet countries.

By car
17 km from Yalta.

By bus
Alupka can be reached by taking a mini bus number 26 or 27 from Yalta.

title: Alupka


text:
Alushta

Alushta (Russian, Ukrainian: Алушта) is a small city in the Crimea.

Get in
You can take the 'famous' Crimean over mountain trolley bus but you may be disappointed. It's about as interesting as riding around the LA municipal transit. (Alushta is twinned with Santa Cruz in California USA). The trolley system is extremely slow and basically just a really old bus that is electrically powered. The kicker is that it goes over a windy road. The trolley bus can't go around turns quickly or else it'll fall off of its cables so at every turn its goes really slow. Take a mini bus instead, cheap and regular but very hot in mid summer.

See
Alushta has some fairly nice former boat docks that have been converted into beaches. The town is mostly a big carnival though.

Visit the Genonese fortress and Byzantine defensive tower.

Do
Alushta offers you a wide selection of clubs and discos. Don't miss the famous Kivi Kivi on Gorkovo Street. It's hard to get a table inside, but you can be sure to meet friendly Russians/Ukrainians. This is probably the only establishment in Alushta that knows Western-style drinks (such as Cuba Libre). Meeting people is easy here. Every sixth or seventh song is a slow one. Don't miss that chance.

Take a walk down the Naberezhnaya. Get yourself a beer or two, sit anywhere and good things will happen. You can be sure to meet someone who will invite you to a party.

Eat
The dishes tend to be extremely small (this is both for the locals and tourists), be sure to order at least two dishes. The "plov" is recommended.

Sleep
Private accommodation is plentiful and cheap (about USD 7 per night). Just look for the signs people have posted outside their homes (in Cyrillic letters, жильё) and knock.

title: Alushta


text:
Aluva

Aluva (ആലുവ), formerly Alwaye, is the second largest town in Greater Kochi agglomeration and an important commercial town in Kerala. The town is famous its festivals, large river banks and temples. Many of Kochinites (people of Kochi, as popularly known) do prefer to live in Aluva, while working in Ernakulam, considering quiet cityscape, waterfront facility and presence of large commercial areas.

Understand
Aluva is well known for its large banks of the Periyar River. The town is divided into two halves by the river, making the commercial town towards southern side of river and residential areas towards northern side. The Shiva Temple at the banks is the main attraction of the town due to the traditions and legends associated with it. The temple gets submerged under river during monsoon season (May–September).

Aluva has a major historical significance. The town ceded to Travancore by Cochin as part of Travancore–Cochin Treaty of 1790. Due to which, the town became a first major defence line for Travancore-Kochi Kingdoms from any external aggressions. The Northern side of Aluva (Travancore Aluva), thus became famous for its extensive Nedumkotta lines (Frontlines Fortifications) of Travancore Army, whereas Southern Aluva (Cochin Aluva) turned into commercial port which received boats and ferry from Travancore's High ranges loaded with spices and other commodities of high value.

The formation of Modern Aluva started, when H.H Maharaja Chitra Thirunal, then-the Maharaja of Travancore started his industrialization program in 1930s, making Travancore Aluva, one of the major centers for various industries. More than a dozen heavy industries were opened, creating the largest industrial belt in Kerala. A large bridge across Periyar made easy connectivity between Cochin and Travancore sides of Aluva, which helped the town to grow and diversify its economy into non-agrarian areas.

After independence, both sides of town merged into a single municipality and merged into Ernakulam district. Again, Aluva got a shot in the arm, when Kerala's largest private bank - The Federal Bank made the town as its Headquarters. Several small and medium sector financial institutions soon started its operations from this town, boosting its local economy.

Get in
Aluva is well connected by air, road and rail from all parts of the country

By plane
Cochin International Airport, is just 15 km from the centre. Regular domestic and international connections are available from the airport.

By train
(station code: AWY) is the second largest railway station in Greater Kochi after Ernakulam Junction. All passenger, express trains bound to southern Kerala do have a stop in this station. Some leaflets/websites still refer the town's old name (Alwaye).

By bus
is one of the largest bus terminals in Greater Kochi. Regular private and KSRTC buses connect this town from all parts of Kerala. Apart from this, daily passenger buses of Karnataka RTC and Tamil Nadu's SETC do connect from places like Mysore, Mangalore, Bangalore, Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem, Palani, Kodaikanal etc.

Privately operated Inter-state buses to Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Mumbai etc. do have stops in various points of Aluva town.

By metro
is at one of the two ends of the Kochi Metro. Metro is more useful than railways as trains are always subject to delays.

By ferry
Aluva is one major stop for National Waterway 3, scheduled to open by August 2010 which connects to Thiruvananthapuram in south and Kottapuram (Thrissur) in north.

Get around
Autorikshaws charge ₹15 per km. Bus are cheaper at ₹7.00 for three km.

Do

 * Go Karting @ Airport. A short karting circuit is at the city side of Cochin Airport, opposite the airline complex. Regular karting competitions are held on weekends and a few rallies are also organised.

Buy
The Aluva Sivarathri festival is the best time to shop in Aluva. It boasts of the largest cultural fair in the state. There will be One month long sale of various products along with the fair. For Clothing, Aluva has exclusive outlets of Reebok, Raymond, Reid & Taylor. Several other local dress boutiques are located inside the city. Seemas Textiles operate a 7-floor big textile showroom in Aluva.

Drink
softdrinks There are a lot of shops that offer different type of fruit juices and bottled soft drinks. You can find tea shops very easily. They offer snacks like banana fry (pazampori), vada like. Two or three vegetarian restaurants offers offers veg. meals with more than 5 or 6 curries and they serve you good south Indian masala dosa also.

Stay safe
Aluva is a Safe town.There are good enough facilites and it's safe after Kochi Metro has started.

Connect
There are plenty of internet centres available. Wire line and wireless internet connections available. Reliance offers 3.1 Mbit/s Broadband service in city call +91 9349040010

Go next

 * Kochi
 * Kalady
 * Paravur
 * Perumbavoor
 * Muvattupuzha
 * Chalakudy
 * Thrissur
 * Kottayam
 * Idukki

title: Aluva


text:
Alva

Alva is in the Red Carpet Country region of Oklahoma. The town itself boasts a handful of sights, but its real attraction is as a convenient base for exploring three of Oklahoma's most interesting natural attractions: Little Sahara State Park, Alabaster Caverns State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

Get in
US Highway 64 from the east and west and US Highway 281 from the north and south.

title: Alva


text:
Alvin

Alvin is in the Gulf Coast of Texas. Home of the Pitcher Nolan Ryan. It's about 20 miles southeast of Houston, at the intersections of SH-35 and SH-6.

Get in
SH-35 business cuts right through down town. From I-45, exit Telephone Rd. and go south until you see Alvin.

Get around
Car. Only car. This is near-rural Texas!

See

 * Nolan Ryan fans be sure to catch the statue of him. The McDonald's on Highway 35 at the south end of Alvin is replete with Nolan Ryan garb.
 * Alvin Museum Society, 302 W Sealy St. More depictions of Nolan Ryan and history of Alvin in general, that it was a sundown town and all that. Tel: +1 281-331-4469. Tu-Sa 10:45AM-3PM.

Eat
Pecans fallen from the trees. They're addictive!

Drink
Brazoria county is a "wet" county. It used to be "damp" which meant you could only buy beer with low alcohol content. The availability is still somewhat lacking, so consider going to Galveston County for a better selection.

Sleep

 * Scottish Inns & Suites, 900 E Hwy 6. Has an aquarium in the lobby. Tel: +1 281-331-7900. $56 (Jan 2022)

Go next

 * Houston
 * Galveston
 * Lake Jackson

title: Alvin


text:
Alvor

Alvor is a town and freguesia (civil parish) in Portimão, in the southern Algarve region of Portugal. It is a holiday base for visiting the Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve, and has a nice beach.

History
Alvor was founded in 436 BC by the Carthaginians as a commercial port named Portus Hannibalis. Taken by the Moors in 716, the settlement began to be referred to as Albur, and gained an impressive castle, with only vestiges remaining. This bastion was conquered in 1189, by the forces of King Sancho I of Portugal, with help from Crusader forces. It was retaken two years, and definitively reconquered in 1250. Rebuilt by King Denis in 1300, it served for 500 years the coastal defences against attacks by pirates and privateers until it was destroyed in 1755 by the tsunami and earthquake that devastated Lisbon.

Although the 1755 earthquake resulted in the death of only one person, it was responsible for the destruction of homes, the fort, the Facho tower, and the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, in addition to altering the river's course. Its effects also resulted in the decrease of the local population by 1000 residents; by 1900 the population included less than 3014 souls, owing to the effects of the earthquake.

In the closing decades of the 15th century Alvor was a centre of the Jewish community in Portugal.

By car

 * Use the A22 motorway and the N125 road; Alvor is only 4 km away from these roads.

By train

 * The train station is in Portimão, 7 km away from Alvor.

By bus

 * Rede Expressos line 67 connects Alvor with Lisbon (about five daily) and towards Albufeira in the other direction, see their planner (which does not show the connections to Albufeira, only two connections to Faro changing in Albufeira).
 * Regional line 51 (Albufeira – Lagos (Litoral)) and line 52 (EVA Cliffs Line, 1st of June to 31st of October only) stop at Alvor. See Vamus Algarve for routes and timetables.
 * Local buses connect Alvor with Montes de Alvor (lines 15 and 16), Portimão train station (line 15), downtown Portimao (lines 13, 14, 16, and 1P), and Portimão beaches (line 1P and partly line 14), see Vamus Algarve Portimão for routes and timetables. Significantly more service during summer and workdays; in particular line 13, which has the most departures, is weekdays only. Line 1P, which serves beaches, is weekends only except four late evening services on weekdays during summer. Tickets for local buses can be bought on-board and cost €1.50. ( updated Nov 2023)

By taxi

 * Taxis from Portimão (both train station and city center) cost around €12 (Sunday/night rate). Taxi stand in a small road behind the building next to Alvor Centro bus stop; the cul-de-sac next to harbor and waterfront restaurants is frequently used for the after-dinner pick-ups. Taxis Arade consolidates local operators. Ride hailing services are also available, might be cheaper and the price is known upfront. ( updated Nov 2023)

See

 * The Igreja Paroquial de Alvor/Matriz Church was constructed in the early part of the 16th century.
 * In 1652 the Santa Casa da Misericórdia was erected in the community.

Do

 * Pool Complex of Prainha
 * 3-km boardwalk between the river and the beach. A pleasant walk, start at one end of the boardwalk and stroll to the other. From the Three Brothers rocks westwards to the lighthouse at the harbour entrance, spend a few hours (and clock up the steps) stopping for drinks and lunch at the cafes along the way. Stock up on water before you hit the trail. Between the beach and the harbour, a nature reserve is home to a large variety of wildlife - fish, birds, insects, turtles - and offers nice photo opportunities.
 * Golf: lots of courses, notably the three at Penina Hotel, see Sleep.

Eat
There are many restaurants in Alvor, from Mexican and English cuisine in the Amigos to seafood restaurants on the harbour such as Ababuja, you will find steakhouses, Indian, Italian and Portuguese restaurants. In the harbour, of course the best dish is the fresh from the local fishermen. Many restaurants are cash-only.

O Arco da Vehla sits adjacent to the harbour, offering traditional family style Portuguese cuisine such as grilled fish, sardines, cataplana and charcoal meat skewers.

Drink
The village has many lively bars with a friendly atmosphere among locals and holiday makers especially on a Friday and Saturday night. The Sports Bar is popular with young people, there is Karaoke in Happy Nights mosts nights through the summer, and sometimes has live bands playing. There is also a selection of Irish bars with regular live music.

Mourisco Bar serves fresh fruit cocktails with style in a relaxed and classy atmosphere.

Sleep
There are many hotels and apartments in Alvor. A short walk away from the centre you will find the large apartment complex Alvorferias, for hotels there are many under the Pestana brand, for example Dom Joao and Delfim.

Go next

 * Portimão — The second biggest city in the Algarve, Portugal, and famous for its fresh fish restaurants, grilled sardines being the most famous dish.
 * Carvoeiro — More commonly known as Praia de Carvoeiro, represents a particularly attractive option when it comes to tourism (beaches, Golf and water sports)
 * Lagos — City sculpted with traditional architecture and colors from the region. Beaches vary in shape and style from long sandy beaches to almost private ones hidden by cliffs.
 * Albufeira — Centre of a very touristic area.
 * Vilamoura — Biggest touristic complex in Europe.
 * Faro — A popular destination for sun-seekers from northern Europe and the UK
 * Tavira — Great city to enjoy the Ria Formosa

title: Alvor


text:
Alwar

Alwar is a city of 460,000 people (2018) in the Rajasthan state of western India. Alwar is surrounded by the Aravali Hills and has a unique recognition because of Sariska Van Abhyaranya, Bala-Quila and Silished.

It was the capital of the princely state of Alwar or Ulwar in British India. The city is around 160 km south of Delhi, and around 150 km north of Jaipur.

Get in

Buses frequently run from Deeg (₹30, 2½ hours)

Buses and trains frequently run from Delhi (for bus ₹96, 3½ to 4 hours)

Buses and trains frequently run from Jaipur (for bus ₹90, 3½ to 4 hours)

By air: The nearest airport to Alwar is Delhi Airport which is 163 km away.

Buy
Also buy the famous mojris and lac bangles, a speciality of Rajasthan.

Silver ornaments are considerably cheaper due to abundance of silver ore in Rajasthan.

Eat

Also try the delicious panipuri at Bhagat Singh ka Chauraha as it tastes like no other

Kalakand (milk cake) near Ghanta Ghar (clock tower)

Drink

Alwar is very famous for milk cake.

By bus
Buses frequently run to:
 * Deeg - (₹30, 2½ hours)
 * Sariska - (local, ₹12, 1½ hours)
 * Jaipur - (₹68, four hours)
 * Bharatpur - (₹45, 4 hours)
 * Delhi - (₹81, half hourly).

By train

 * Jodhpur - The Mandore Express leaves at 11:43PM (sleeper/3AC ₹226/₹578) arriving at 8AM
 * Jaisalmer - The Jaisalmer Express leaving at 8:50PM goes all the way (sleeper/3AC ₹251/₹705)
 * Jaipur - The Shatabdi (No 2015/6) passes through Alwar at 8:35PM and stops at Jaipur (₹315).

By taxi
A return taxi to Sariska Reserve and National Park will cost you around ₹750.

title: Alwar


text:
Alytus

Alytus is a city in Dzūkija or Dainava Region of southern Lithuania. It has an old core but is mostly modern and industrial, and you'd probably only visit if you were in the refrigerator business. In 2023 Alytus had a population of 53,514.

Understand
The original medieval settlement was east of the River Nemunas around the castle. This town, sometimes called Alytus I, became part of the Tsarist Empire in 1795 with the river as the border. The west bank settlement or Alytus II developed from the 15th century around the site now occupied by the Church of the Guardian Angels; it became part of the Prussian Empire. The two only combined in 1915.

In the 20th century the city spread far beyond its core, mostly on the west bank. Major industries here are machinery and electrical equipment especially refrigerators and freezers, timber products such as furniture and pre-fab housing, and textiles including clothing and sportswear.

The Tourist Information Centre is on St Dariaus & St Girėno g 1, corner with Alyvų tak. It's open M-F 09:00-18:00.

Get in
Alytus is 105 km west of Vilnius, and also linked by major roads to Kaunas, Lazdijai on the border with Poland, and Hrodna in Belarus.

Kautra buses run hourly from Vilnius, taking 1 hr 40 min by the direct route or 2 hr 10 min via Trakai. Bicycles are carried free on Kautra buses.

They run hourly from Kaunas, taking just over an hour via Prienai, and usually continue to Druskininkai or Varėna. From Marijampolė change at Kaunas. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

the bus station is on Naujoji g two km northwest of city centre. No much here, the toilets are often locked. Some buses also stop in town centre on their way here.

Alytus has no railway service and the station 3 km west of town is of interest only to archaeologists of post-Soviet dereliction.

Get around
Town centre is walkable but you need wheels for outlying sights.

The main taxi operator is Alytaus Taxi (+370 315 42222).

See

 * is just a grassy knoll on the east riverbank, reached by Piliakalnio gatvė. It was wooden and first documented in 1377, though it's probably from the 11th century. It was wrecked by the Teutonic Knights and never rebuilt.
 * Antanas Jonynas Museum south edge of town remains closed.
 * is just a grassy knoll on the east riverbank, reached by Piliakalnio gatvė. It was wooden and first documented in 1377, though it's probably from the 11th century. It was wrecked by the Teutonic Knights and never rebuilt.
 * Antanas Jonynas Museum south edge of town remains closed.
 * Antanas Jonynas Museum south edge of town remains closed.

Do

 * Theatre: Alytus City Theatre is at Rotušės a 2, 200 m south of Guardian Angels Church.
 * Cinema: Kinas Dainava is on Sporto g, 500 m south of Guardian Angels Church.
 * Football: DFK Dainava were promoted in 2022 and now play soccer in Lyga A, the country's top tier. Their home ground Alytus Stadium (capacity 3790) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.
 * ASRC the sports and recreation centre is at Naujoji g 52 towards the bus station. It's open M-F and has a pool, gym, fitness classes and multi-use sports ground.
 * Cycle: the former railway east-west through town is now a cycle route.
 * Alytus Film Festival is in November but is not confirmed as happening in 2023.

Buy

 * Supermarket: the main store is Lidl next to the bus station, open daily 07:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Čeburekinė is a fast food outlet at Vilniaus g 13 by Senas Namas Hotel, open M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00.
 * Lisushi serves sushi at S Dariaus & S Girėno g 7, 100 m south of Guardian Angels Church, daily 11:00-22:00.
 * Druska pipirai is a cafe at Pulko g 12a, 200 m south of Guardian Angels Church. Good food, service erratic. It's open daily 10:00-22:00-ish.
 * Klevelis Gastropub is a burger place at Jotvingių g 4, round the corner from Druska pipirai. It's open W-Sa 12:00-21:00, Su 12:00-20:00.
 * Carpe Diem cafe at Rotušės a 16 is open daily 10:00-23:00.
 * Carpe Diem cafe at Rotušės a 16 is open daily 10:00-23:00.

Drink

 * Pušis bar at Vilniaus g 16 has good food and is open M-Th 10:00-20:00, F Sa 10:00-03:00, Su 11:00-18:00.
 * Dzūkų Baras at Rotušės a 16 opposite Town Hall also has good trad food. It's open M-Sa 09:00-23:00, Su 11:00-22:00.

Connect
As of May 2023, Alytus and its approach roads have 4G from all Lithuanian carriers, though the signal is patchy from Tele2. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Daugai 22 km east is a lakeside resort.
 * Vilnius the capital is a must-see for its baroque architecture.
 * Trakai the medieval capital has a scenic island castle.
 * Kaunas is mostly modern but has an old centre and the bastions of its wartime defences.

title: Alytus


text:
Amacayacu National Park

Amacayacu National Park is an enormous protected area of rainforest in the deep south of the Colombian Amazon.

Understand

 * Park pages at parquesnacionales.gov.co

Get in

 * From Leticia : Express boats depart to Caballococha 3 to 5 times a day and will drop you at the park entrance (COP$22,000, 1hr 40min).
 * From Peru : if you're coming down the river from Iquitos, whether on the fast boat or the slow one, you ll save time and money by first stopping in Caballococha and transferring on the fast boat that goes to Leticia and asking to be dropped at the park. You ll do the immigration formalities when you arrive in Leticia.

title: Amacayacu National Park


text:
Amador County

Amador County is in California's Gold Country. The county's Shenandoah Valley is also considered part of California Wine Country.

Understand
Amador County was established in 1854, and later ceded portions of its territory to form Calaveras, El Dorado and Alpine counties. The county is named for José María Amador, a soldier, rancher and miner who established a gold mining camp in 1848 near current-day Amador City.

The county was one of the most active gold-producing areas during the Gold Rush, and several mines were later established. The Kennedy Mine, located near Jackson, was the deepest gold mine of its era. During the Gold Rush the county's Shenandoah Valley become an important wine-producing region, although the region's wineries were decimated by the decline in gold production and the Prohibition era. Today, the area has recovered, and over forty wineries are in operation. The region is best known for its Zinfandel, with the Grandpère vineyard dating back to 1869 and believed to be the oldest Zinfandel vineyard in America

Get in
Take Interstate 5 or State Route 99 toward Sacramento and exit on Eight Mile Road, north of Stockton. Drive east to the junction of Eight Mile and State Route 88, turn left (north). Just a mile east of Clements, take the SR 88 split north (left).

Go next

 * - The name of Amador County's northern neighbor translates from Spanish as "the gilded/golden", an appropriate title for the county where the California Gold Rush was kicked off after a discovery at Sutter's Mill (near Coloma) in 1848. The county's attractions include mountain scenery, gold mining history, the impossibly blue waters of Lake Tahoe, backpacking opportunities in the Desolation Wilderness, and epic skiing in the South Lake Tahoe area.
 * - Located east of Amador County, sparsely populated Alpine County advertises itself with the slogan "two people per square mile and you", making it a good option for a quiet mountain getaway. Attractions include the hot spring pools at Grover Hot Springs State Park, amazing views of the Sierras from the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway, and the excellent winter skiing at Kirkwood Mountain Resort.
 * - South of Amador County lies sparsely populated Calaveras County, which inspired author Mark Twain's first successful story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"; today visitors can both visit Twain's cabin and enjoy the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee in the tiny town of Angels Camp. The county is also home to several natural caves, a handful of wineries, Gold Rush history, and giant sequoia trees in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
 * - San Joaquin County lies to the southwest of Amador County on the eastern edge of the California Delta, an estuary formed by the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. Nicknamed "California's Holland" due to the extensive levee system, the area is an interesting place to explore by car or boat.  Stockton is the county's largest city and is notable for being the world's most inland natural seaport.
 * - Bordering Amador County to the west, Sacramento County stretches from the wetlands at the edge of the San Francisco Bay to the rolling hills of Gold Country. The Sacramento and American Rivers played prominent roles in the county's development, and today offer outdoor opportunities ranging from boating to fishing to birdwatching.  The capital city of Sacramento is located at the rivers' confluence, and visitors will appreciate its historic districts and more than 25 museums.

title: Amador County


text:
Amagasaki

Amagasaki (尼崎) is an industrial city in Hyogo prefecture, Japan. It is located just west of Osaka.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Amagasaki has access to Kansai International Airport. From the airport a bus or a train can be taken to JR Osaka Station. From there, Amagasaki JR and Amagasaki Hanshin (阪神) are accessible.

By train
Take the Shinkansen (新幹線) to Shin-Osaka, then transfer to a JR train to go to JR Amagasaki station.

Get around
Amagasaki has both a Hanshin (阪神) and JR station. Amagasaki Hanshin is located in southern Amagasaki, and Amagasaki JR is in the north. On the Hanshin line, there are local stops at Kuise (杭瀬) and Daimotsu (大物).

See
Most of Amagasaki consists of factories.

Eat

 * There is a tiny gem just north of Kuise Station (杭瀬) called Ka Ka (カカ). This Nepalese restaurant has excellent curry and an amazing lunch special.

title: Amagasaki


text:
Amaicha del Valle

Amaicha del Valle is located in Tucuman province in Argentina. It is one of the Valles Calchaquies more visited places.

Get in
by bus: Aconquija, for 20 pesos from san miguel de tucuman

Eat
Empanadas, tamales, locro con vino...

Drink
Vino patero is a sweet wine made by locals.

Stay safe
Anywhere. It's a very small village, with very calm people.

title: Amaicha del Valle


text:
Amakusa

Amakusa (天草) is a city and chain of islands off the west coast of Kumamoto in Japan. The southernmost part of the islands belongs to Kagoshima.

Municipalities

 * Amakusa City
 * Kamiamakusa City
 * Reihoku Town
 * Nagashima Town, Kagoshima

Understand

 * Some places are born cursed, while others are cursed by the whims of history. It has been Amakusa’s tragedy to suffer both fates. -Spike Japan

The Amakusa Islands are a small chain of ten islands just off the coast of Kumamoto, south of the Shimabara Peninsula to the north. Swept by strong currents, fishing off the islands is poor and the thin, volcanic soil of the islands can only barely support even barley and sweet potatoes. This is where Portuguese Jesuit missionaries first landed in the 16th century and started converting the local populace to Christianity, with some success until Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned the faith on pain of death in 1614. In response to the brutal persecution that followed, the islands rose up in the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (島原天草の乱) of 1637-1638, eventually leading to the death and execution of over 35,000 rebels.

After the islands were depopulated by these executions, Amakusa was resettled with convicts and other undesirables from the mainland, who were forcibly moved to the islands. By 1868, Amakusa had over 150,000 people, most living in desperate poverty. After the isolation of Japan ended, over 30,000 women fled to work as karayuki-san prostitutes in the brothels of Asia, as harrowingly depicted in the book and movie Sandakan No. 8.

Today's Amakusa suffers from precisely the opposite problem: it is Japan's most rapidly depopulating region, with Amakusa losing over 10% of its population every decade since the 1960s. Few tourists, domestic or foreign, make it to the islands, but those who do find many traces of its history and some of the finest Christian sites in Japan, including Sakitsu Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By plane
, served exclusively by Amakusa Airlines, has daily service to Fukuoka (¥13,700-¥15,000 one-way) and Kumamoto (¥8200-¥9600 one-way. The airline's entire fleet consists of one ATR 42 turboprop, so if the plane has any technical difficulties, all flights will be cancelled.

By train
There is no train service on the islands themselves, but (三角駅), terminus of the eponymous Misumi Line from Kumamoto, is right across the bridge from Oyano Island.

By ferry
Shimabara Railway operates hourly ferries between Kuchinotsu (口之津) at the southern tip of the Shimabara Peninsula to Oniike (鬼池) on northern Shimoshima. The trip takes about 30 minutes.

By car
Built in 1966, the Five Bridges of Amakusa (天草五橋 Amakusa Gokyō) connect the islands to each other and the mainland at Uto.

See

 * A small village on Amakusa's eastern side that once became the islands' center of Christianity. During the ban on Christianity many Christians were forced to practice their faith with household objects like seashells rather than standard devotion items. The village's main church was built in a Gothic style and fuses Japanese and European design. The church's interior features tatami mats and high steeples jut from the church's roof. Visits must be reserved beforehand at the church's website.

 * Kabuto-Ume (兜梅) It's a beautiful ume blossom but doesn't bear fruit. The reason is guessed as a curse of a woman. In the Middle Ages, she was a wife of a samurai and fought bravely against enemies in full armor. However, her helmet (兜 in Japanese) was caught in the ume tree and she was killed because of it. So, she had a grudge against the tree and said, "I never let it bear fruit!"

Do
Their festival, Amakusa Hondo Summer festival, is held from July 31 to August 7.
 * Beach, there are many beaches here. Shiratsuru-hama in particular has been selected as the 88th nicest beach in Japan by the Japanese government.
 * Hondo bathing beach It's next to Amakusa Dolphin World. The sea is running calmly and there's good place for family.
 * Dolphin Watching, there is a dolphin watching tour. The scheduled times are: 10:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30. A minimum of two people are needed. If there are only two people, the costs are ¥3000 per person. Information is available from 09:00-18:00. The tour takes about 1 hour, although, you should arrive there 30 minutes early. Call if you're late, please. The basic fare for adults (over 13 years old) ¥2500, child (under 13) ¥1500, kids (under 4 years old) ¥1000. If you join as a group of more than 15 people, you get a group discount. Reservation: you must make a reservation 3 days in advance and check whether the ship works or not. If case of bad weather, the tour might be cancelled. The cancellation charge is 0% until 5PM the day before, 50% on the day. There is an option of dolphin watching and a sea barbecue - ¥4000 - ¥6000 per person (you can eat special seafood, Urchin-Don, and freshly prepared boiled abalone and lobster). Another option is dolphin watching and fishing - ¥4000; no more than 5 people. It takes about 2 hours and you can bring them your house. Also there is the option of dolphin watching and staying the night - ¥10000-15000. You can choose a tourist home or a Japanese inn.
 * Amakusako Haiya (July 31) The festival kicks off with a kids dance that starts in the evening near Hondo Citizen Center.
 * The Fireworks (July 31) Starting at 20:30 (after the dancing), it is held at Hondo port. There is a big fireworks which marks 1.5 Japanese foot so you must move around to get a big impact. They also have a beer garden.
 * The eve of Amakusa Haiya (August 6, held in the evening) Locals dance in the Hondo Suwa temple to celebrate this festival. After that, the main group dances on the arcade to entertain the audience.
 * The general dance of Amakusa Haiya on the street. (August 7. Starts at 19:30. Held between the front of the city hall of Hondo and Amakusa Shinyou Kinko.) This is the biggest event in the festival. About 3500 people dance in colorful clothes, and even allow visitors to join the dancing!

More information: Hondo Matsuri practice committee: Hondo shoukoukaigisho tel:0969-23-2001 fax:0969-24-3340

Buy
Amakusa is famed for type of pottery clay called Amakusa-toseki (天草陶石), used for producing white porcelain like the local Takahamayaki' (高浜焼).

Eat
Amakusa is beside the sea, so fresh seafood is easy to find.

Go next

 * Uki
 * Uto
 * Hikawa
 * Minamishimabara
 * Yatsushiro
 * Kumamoto
 * Jonan

title: Amakusa


text:
Amalfi

Amalfi is in Campania, Italy. Amalfi is the heart of this magnificent Italian coastline and a must-see town on your Amalfi Coast adventure. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery. Amalfi is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2017, it was home to 5,100 people.

By bus
July and August are prime months for people-moving so the buses can become very crowded so make sure you are at the front of the pushy crowd when the bus pulls up otherwise it is a long wait for the next one.

It is a comfortable way to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrentine Peninsula on the bus, however if you are prone to motion sickness the hairpins on these roads will certainly induce symptoms very quickly! SITA offers a very efficient public transportation service in the area, with expert drivers who breeze along the winding roads like they were driving on a highway (you will be happy to know that they are experienced). Here is something that you might need to know to know before you board your bus.
 * 1) You have to buy your tickets in advance, before you get on the bus.  Tickets can be bought at caffe bars, some have a black and white sign 'Tabacchi' hanging out the front while some stores selling lotto tickets also sell bus tickets so look out for these too. Shops also which display the SITA logo as well as at the SITA ticket office at the Salerno train stations. If a bar does not sell SITA tickets, you can always ask where you can find them as they are generally helpful.
 * 2) As you get on the bus you have to clip your ticket in the yellow/orange machine that you will see in front of you as you climb the steps.  If you are not able to get the machine to clip your ticket, ask the driver to do it for you.  Do not forget to clip the ticket: during your trip an agent will board the bus and ask to check the ticket.  If the ticket is not clipped you will have to pay a fine

By boat
The ferry season opens from Easter weekend and runs until mid to late October with connections from Amalfi to Positano, Salerno, Capri, Naples and Sorrento.

There are also private boat charters offered at the ticket kiosks on the Molo Pennello pier.

Boat and ferry information:
 * Travelmar +39 89 871483.
 * Alicost (+39 89 871483).
 * Alilauro (+39 81 8073024).
 * Alilauro-Gruson (+39 81 8071430).
 * Caremar (+39 81 8073077).
 * Linee Maritime Salernitane (+39 89 873301 in Amalfi; 089 811164 in Postiano; 081/8073024 in Sorrento). Positano ferry and hydrofoil ticket office (Via del Brigantino, Italy. +39 89 811986).
 * Travelmar (+39 89 872950).
 * For ferry and bus timetables in English you can also refer to Amalficoast-Web

By train
The two main train stations serving the Amalfi Coast are Salerno which has direct Frecciarossa high-speed and inter-regional train connections to Naples and Rome and the local Circumvesuviana over in Sorrento which is the main train line which connects Sorrento to Naples and importantly, Sorrento to Pompeii ruins. Conveniently, both stations are also hubs for cheap, efficient bus and ferry services radiating toward the major tourist destinations along the Amalfi Coast and inland.

By car
It is simple to hire a car for your stay - but driving in southern Italy is not for the faint-hearted! The Amalfi Coast roads are very narrow and cliff-hanging, and will either provide a challenging drive. But there are many spots to stop along the coastal roads and small towns that are only easily accessible if you have your own car.

For those who are truly adventurous, scooters can be a practical form of transport, however precision driving is key.

The ferry and bus services on the Amalfi Coast offer excellent connections between towns and the price of parking could also put you off hiring a car.

Amalfi is 270 km from Rome, 70 km from Naples, 60 km from Avellino and 85 km from Caserta.

Understand
Amalfi is one of the bigger towns on the Amalfi coast. It has squares connected by pedestrian streets full of restaurants, souvenir shops and tourists.

See

Do

 * The beach can be crowded in summer, particularly in August when Italians are on holiday and let their kids loose for the month on the strip of pebbled beach.
 * Evening walk along the marina to where the mega-yachts dock in summer time.
 * The Amalfi Coast to Capri Boat Excursion is a full-day sightseeing tour taking in all the Amalfi Coast villages, including Ravello, Positano, Atrani, Praiano, Maiori and Minori. You visit the grottos in Capri and Amalfi, you can go swimming directly from the boat, the tour circumnavigates Capri island and you have the opportunity to disembark in Capri for three hours of your own time before you cruise back at about 6pm. Departures from Amalfi, Maiori and Minori.
 * A half-day Amalfi to Positano Cruise is also offered by Amalfi Boat Excursion and is perfect for travellers with limited time.
 * Hiking in the Valle delle Ferriere from the Valle dei Mulini locality upwards through the Valle delle Ferriere and back to Chiorito locality.
 * Hiking in the Valle delle Ferriere from the Valle dei Mulini locality upwards through the Valle delle Ferriere and back to Chiorito locality.
 * Hiking in the Valle delle Ferriere from the Valle dei Mulini locality upwards through the Valle delle Ferriere and back to Chiorito locality.

Buy

 * Cameo brooches
 * Limoncello
 * Fresh herb mixes for making spicy Southern Italian-style pastas

Drink
There are several hot spots for good cappuccino and sweet treats in Amalfi.
 * Pasticceria Pansa has overpriced coffee but excellent traditional Amalfitani cakes and a shaded morning position in the Piazza Duomo.
 * Directly opposite Pansa is Bar Francese and this is where prime aperitivo hour occurs in Amalfi for those holidaymakers and touring Italians who want to be seen.
 * Nearby is Bar Savoia for very good cakes to take away.
 * Up the main concourse from the piazza check out Pasticceria Leone which has excellent sweets, biscuits (all made on site) and espresso. There is a small bar next to a mini-mart in Piazza dei Dodgi, the little square off the Duomo, and it is very popular for locals and people watching.
 * Grand Caffe overlooking the main beach is also nice for a drink (their light lunches are very hit and miss however) with lovely relaxing views up the coast while the Marina Grande restaurant operate a bar on the beach with funky decor and candle-light, which is a very good choice on a hot summer night.
 * Bar Flavio Gioia opposite the main ferry pier and parking bay has the best gelato in town and offers a good pit stop before taking a bus from the nearby terminal or catching a ferry.
 * For dancing, you will have to take yourselves to Praiano to the famous Africana nightclub or onto Positano to an equally popular disco hub, Music on the Rocks or up to Positano's chic Next2 bar.

Go next

 * The Emerald Grotto (La Grotta dello Smeraldo), is 5 km West of Amalfi town on the main coastal road heading in the direction of Positano. It is situated in the town of Conca dei Marini. There are daily boat excursions of one-hour which leave Amalfi taking guests to the Emerald Grotto. Visit the grotto and sightsee part of the striking Amalfi Coast. Ferry cruises leave daily from 09:00, on the hour with the last boat at 15:30 as the grotto closes at 16:00. You can also arrive at the grotto by the local SITA bus network which stops above the cliff where the grotto is housed in Conca. You then descend down to the grotto by lift. Take the Positano or Sorrento SITA bus from Amalfi and get off at Conca, about 20 minutes into the journey.
 * Ravello, 6 km North East of Amalfi. The City of Music, is thirty minutes away by public bus and offers beautiful views of the coast. Villa Cimbrone is a superb afternoon of wandering around its gardens and sculptures.
 * Positano is a short and scenic 25 minute ferry trip away from Amalfi. And the best way to full appreciate this beautiful town is to arrive by sea.
 * Atrani, 1 km East of Amalfi, is a neighbouring and pretty town and only ten minutes from Amalfi by foot.
 * Furore is about 25 minutes from Amalfi by SITA bus or car via the main Amalfi to Positano coastal road. This town hosts the famous Fjord of Furore, a secret cove with fisherman's houses.
 * Agerola is about 45 minutes from Amalfi by SITA bus, car or by bicycle (this last solution is advised if arranged with local bike tour operators) via the main Amalfi to Agerola coastal road. This town hosts the famous cheeses named Fiordilatte (milk flower).
 * Valle delle Ferriere, 7 km west of Amalfi

title: Amalfi


text:
Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast lies in the southwestern region of Campania, Italy. For its extraordinary beauty and its iconic medieval cliffside Mediterranean fishing villages, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cities
From west to east

In the mountains
This is one of the best places you can visit in the summer as it is hot and offers lots of facilities

Understand
The Amalfi Coast is a stunning beauty with its steep sloped lemon tree gardens and coloured terrace houses and stunning views and azure sea. It is south east of Naples starting from Sorrento stretching almost to Salerno. Along the coast line you will find places like Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello, each of them stunning beauties with their own flair. Prices are high compared to Naples.

Climate
The Amalfi Coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. The winter months are characterized by pleasant daytime temperatures and variable weather. Summers are sunny and dry. Overall, although it gets a lot of sunshine, the Amalfi Coast also receives abundant rainfall, as shown by its lush vegetation.

Get in
Most trips to Amalfi are done by boat, commonly people use Naples as a transit point, but you can also take ferries from Capri, Salerno and Paestum during the summer months.

Taking your car is discouraged because of the road size and lack of parking. During the summer there may be limitations on the road for tourist buses: e.g. sometimes the road along the coast is one way only for tourism buses from Sorrento to Salerno.

Get around
Many people rent the ubiquitous scooters, which is an indeed a good option, if you have previous experience, otherwise the heavy traffic and narrow roads makes this a bad place to learn.

By boat
There are many agencies offering boat excursions along the coast and to Capri.

Ferries are also available to access major towns on the coast, including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno. Ferry tickets can be purchased by the docks.

See
The Amalfi coast is renowned for its diversity; every town has its own character and interesting sites. The most noticeable places to visit on the Amalfi coast are:

 * The Duomo (the cathedral) in Amalfi, and its cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso in Italian)
 * The church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano
 * The churches of San Salvatore del Birecto and of Santa Maria Maddalena in Atrani
 * Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in Ravello
 * The churches of San Luca and San Gennaro in Praiano and their viewpoints
 * The church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini and its viewpoint
 * The church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa in Minori
 * The Fjiord of Furore with the Mulino Cartiera (Paper Mill) and the "Monazzeni" of Anna Magnani & Roberto Rossellini Furore

Do

 * Hiking trips along the mountain paths (see Positano)
 * Riding by bike along hill paths
 * Local festivals and events information: Amalfi coast

Go next

 * Visit nearby Herculaneum and Pompeii.
 * Climb Mount Vesuvius
 * Visit Paestum
 * Visit Naples
 * Visit Capri
 * Visit Ischia, an island outside Naples.
 * Visit Praia a Mare, about 150 km south of the Amalfi Coast.

title: Amalfi Coast


text:
Amaliapolis

Amaliapolis, or Amaliapoli, is a beautiful seaside village about 60km south of Volos, on the western side of the Pagasetic Gulf in Greece. It sits in its own bay with a small island off-shore and has a gently sloping sandy beach (good for kids) and several tavernas and bars, some of which stay open all year. It is also popular as a holiday destination in August for Athenians. However outside August it is a great spot to get 'away from it all' and there are hardly any foreign tourists. Prices are also very reasonable as the Greek visitors won't put up with over-charging! Another bonus of the lack of foreign visitors is that the old. Greek concept of 'filoxenia' is alive and well and the locals are really friendly and welcoming.

Get in
Amaliapolis is situated approximately fifteen minutes drive from the E75, the main Athens to Thessalonica highway. Take the exit for Sourpi, pass through the village and follow the signs.

The nearest airport is Volos Nea Anxalaios, but there are very few flights. Far better served are the airports in Athens and Thessaloniki, each of which are approximately 2-3 hrs drive away.

Get around
The village is sufficiently small that you can easily walk everywhere by foot.

See
There are a couple of Greek Orthodox churches in the village.

Do
The best way to relax is to spend a day at the beach. The beach is clean, shallow and family friendly, with various beach cafes, umbrellas and sun loungers (free when you buy drinks), and changing cubicles. As with most beaches in Greece, be warned that there are sea urchins on the rocks. The best way to avoid them is to try and wade into deeper water on the route the Greeks take from the sand to the deeper water - forging your own path to the sandier, deeper water may well lead to you getting spines in your feet. The beach is on the eastern end of the waterfront. There is another good beach in Nies.

Hire a motorboat and visit the island out in the bay.

Buy
There are a couple of small, family run supermarkets on the northern end of the waterfront. However, they are small and not particularly well stocked, and more like British corner shops. For a big family shop in a large supermarket, you'll need to head to either Almyros or Volos. The supermarket opposite the post office has a good butcher inside and to the right as you enter, who sells good quality, locally sourced meat. Every evening, there is a pick up truck parked 100m away from the supermarkets selling locally grown fruit, whilst there is a fruit and veg shop a few blocks back from the waterfront.

There are two bakeries in the village, one on the square just off the waterfront, and one on Basilieious Giorgos B (the road to the left of the steps at the back of the square.)

There is a post office on the Waterfront, in front of which, most evenings in the summer there is a tiny market selling books and crafts.

Eat
The tavernas are particularly well-known for the fresh fish they serve and have many customers at week-ends with day-trippers from Volos.

Drink
There is a cluster of beach side bars with nice shaded seating.

Go next
There are other nice beaches within easy reach of Amaliapolis - for example, Nies and near Pigadi.

Makrinitsa and Portaria make nice day trips into the Pelion mountain range. Further afield, a two hour drive will take you to the ruins of Delphi, a one hour drive to the location of the battle of Thermopylae, and a three-hour drive to the monasteries of Meteora.

title: Amaliapolis


text:
Amami Islands

The Amami Islands (奄美諸島 Amami-shotō) are a small archipelago south of Kyushu, Japan.

Islands

 * Amami Oshima — the largest island in both area and population
 * Kikai
 * Kakeroma
 * Yoro
 * Ukeshima
 * Tokunoshima
 * Okinoerabujima
 * Yoron

In addition, the Tokara Islands just to the north of Amami are sometimes lumped in with the Amami Islands.

Understand
The Amami Islands are geographically, linguistically and culturally a part of the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa), but in the early 1600s they were conquered by Satsuma (today's Kagoshima) and have been formally a part of Japan ever since. They escaped World War II largely unscathed, being briefly occupied by the US afterwards but handed back to Japan in 1953, almost two decades earlier than Okinawa.

By plane
Flights to and around the Amami Islands are carried out by Skymark and Japan Airways (JAL) and its affiliates JTA and RAC. Amami Oshima is the main hub for flights, with direct flights to Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka-Itami, Kagoshima and Naha. Kikai, Okinoerabujima, Tokunoshima and Yoron have small airports with service to Amami and Kagoshima only.

By ferry
The Amami Islands are served the cozy duopoly of A-Line Ferry, aka Maru-A (マルエー) and Marix Line, both of which run between Kagoshima (Kyushu) and Naha (Okinawa) via the islands on alternating days. Fares on both are identical, with a one-way Kagoshima-Amami Oshima trip (11 hours) costing ¥8,800 in 2nd class (二等), or ¥9300 from Naha (13 hours). The exact schedules are complicated and change from day to day, but the main ports served, from north to south, are:
 * Naze (名瀬) on Amami Oshima, served by all ferries
 * Kitoku (亀徳) on Tokunoshima, served by some ferries
 * Wadomari (和泊) on Okinoerabujima, served by some ferries
 * Yoron (与論), served by almost all ferries

In addition, A-Line runs a service from Kagoshima via Naze that serves one extra island and some additional ports:
 * Kikai (喜界)
 * Koniya (古仁屋) on Amami Oshima
 * Hetono (平土野) on Tokunoshima
 * China (知名) on Okinoerabujima

Finally, there's also a once-a-week service on Ferry Toshima from Kagoshima to Naze via the Tokara Islands, but this is both slower (16 hours) and more expensive (¥11,620) than the direct option.

Drink
All roads lead to Yanigawa, a street that runs away from the main port in Naze-shi (Naze City). Like all Japanese small towns it is an irreverent mix of live house (naff attempt at a modern bar), izakaya and snack bars. The mood here is much more reserved than in other larger centres and the younger crowd and salarymen alike enjoy over 100 different hole in the wall venues.

Westerners are a novelty here (still) and you a guaranteed a good night out on the local Shochu (which is made from sugar cane)

Go next

 * Tokara Islands, if Amami feels too overcrowded and frantic

title: Amami Islands


text:
Amami Oshima

Amami Oshima (奄美大島 Amami Ōshima), literally "Big Amami Island", is the largest of the Amami Islands, a small archipelago south of Kyushu, Japan. While administratively a part of Kagoshima, it's geographically and culturally a part of Okinawa. Together with Tokunoshima, Iriomote and the northern part of the Okinawa Island it was listed as a natural world heritage site by UNESCO in 2021.

Understand
There are five municipalities on the island: Amami City (奄美市), Tatsugō Town (龍郷町), Yamato Village (大和村), Uken Village (宇検村) and Setouchi Town (瀬戸内町).

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
The airport in Amami has JAL flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima and Naha.

Marix and A-Line ferries connect Amami to Kagoshima, Naha and various other islands in the Amami archipelago.

See

 * Mangrove
 * Cape Ayamaru Kanko Park
 * Tanaka Isson Memorial Art Museum

Do

 * Relax on the beaches
 * Relax on the beaches

Stay safe
The Habu snake is a venomous pit viper that inhabits roughly 70% of the island.

When diving, swimming or snorkeling at the various beaches watch out for sea urchins lying on the sea floor.

title: Amami Oshima


text:
Amana Colonies

The Amana Colonies are a collection of seven villages in Eastern Iowa, founded by German settlers in 1855. The people in these villages actively maintain many of the cultural traditions of their ancestors. The Colonies are located just west of Iowa City along I-80. They are: Amana (also called Main Amana), East Amana, Homestead, Middle Amana, High Amana, West Amana, South Amana.

The Amana Colonies are about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Iowa City, 20 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids, 100 miles (160 km) east of Des Moines and 250 miles west of Chicago.

Understand
In 1855, a group of German settlers decided to buy some 30 square miles (70 km²) of land in eastern Iowa. These settlers, whose spirituality was marked by a strong belief in mysticism and communal life, sought to practice their religion in isolation. The Great Depression made it impossible for the villages to continue their isolation, and the Amana people voted to end their communal life, convert their shares in the common property into a formal business corporation, and build economic ties with the outside world. To this day, residents still maintain some of the traditional industries—woolen textiles, meats and cheeses, furniture—that their ancestors brought over from Germany. Some of the largest businesses and farms in the area either are or were previously owned and operated by the Amana Society, the for-profit corporation that was created when the businesses were separated from the church.

The entire set of colonies was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1965, and there are hundreds of historic buildings still in use across the seven villages, mostly as homes for the approximately 1,200 permanent residents or as small businesses that cater to tourists.

Talk
Everyone speaks English. Compared to the rest of the region, a greater proportion of residents have learned some German in school. Some of the oldest residents also speak an older form of German, derived from West Central German, called Amana German or Kolonie-Deutsch.

Get in
The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is the Eastern Iowa Airport, between Cedar Rapids and the Amana Colonies.

Get around
There is no public mass transit service, no bike rental, and no car rental service within the colonies. Transportation is by car, by joining a bus tour, by biking, or by walking.

Each of the small villages is a couple of miles away from the next, which means it is about an hour's walk from one to the next. However, few people routinely walk or bike between villages now, except to follow the bike trail between Middle Amana and Main Amana. Within each small village, however, walking from one shop to the next is often the best choice. The colonies were modeled after German farming villages, so they generally have a single main street with smaller residential streets branching off from the main street, and most shops are on the main street or very close to it.

Buy
Main Amana, in particular, is home to many tourist-friendly shops selling art, antiques, clothing, and gifts.

Eat
One of the main attractions of the Amana Colonies are its restaurants, which usually feature old German recipes and family-style service. Several of these well-known restaurants are housed in former communal dining houses from the earlier period. Many attract bus tours from considerable distances for a meal in the Amana Colonies.

Drink
Although many restaurants offer beer and wine, there are few bars, no clubs, and little nightlife. However, there are several wineries and craft breweries.

Sleep
If you want to stay in the Amanas, there are many small bed and breakfasts available. Larger hotels are available in nearby cities such as Williamsburg and Cedar Rapids.

Stay safe
The Amana Colonies have a low crime rate. Your biggest safety risks are likely car wrecks and severe weather, including flooding and cold weather.

The nearest hospital is the Compass Memorial Hospital at 300 West May Street in Marengo, about a 20-minute drive west on Highway 6. It is a small rural hospital with 25 beds and an emergency room, but no intensive care unit. The nearest large hospitals are all about a half-hour's drive away: Mercy Iowa City and the University of Iowa Hospitals, which are in Iowa City, and St Luke's Hospital, which is in Cedar Rapids.

Cope
The church that founded the Amana Colonies still exists; it is formally known as the Community of the True Inspiration or the Amana Church Society. The old meeting houses look very much like regular buildings near the center of a village, although if you look closely, you may notice that the windows are somewhat larger. The old meeting house in Homestead is now a museum.

Services are usually held on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings the smaller Middle Amana meeting house. The large meeting house in Main Amana is used for Sunday School classes (8:30AM) and for special events, such as the Christmas Eve service. The regular Sunday services are either in English (10AM) or in a combination of German and English (8:30AM). At the earlier bilingual service, some prayers and the hymns are in German, and everything else is in English. Sunday meetings begin with quiet contemplation and a hymn. A portion of an inspired testimony by 18th- and 19th-century prophets in the Inspirationalist church may be read, followed by prayers, Bible verses – traditionally with each lay elder reading a single verse of the passage in turn – a sermon, and a Psalm. The service ends with another hymn and a closing prayer. The Sunday service is usually less than one hour long.

Some traditional practices are still observed, and others have been dropped or modified. Hymns and psalms are traditionally sung without accompaniment by piano, organ, or other musical instruments. Men and women do not usually sit together during church services, with men sitting on one side of the room, and women on the other side. However, the traditional seating arrangements are not enforced, especially for children or people with special needs. Women used to wear plain black caps, shawls and aprons to embody equality and the belief that inward devotion is more important than outward adornment. However, this is no longer observed, so you should expect to see modern clothing, such as colorful dresses, and if you attend the services, you should wear whatever you have with you that is appropriate and comfortable.

title: Amana Colonies


text:
Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate (天橋立), the meaning of which is roughly bridge in heaven, is a 3.6-km-long, pine tree covered sand bar. It spans across Miyazu Bay on the Tango Peninsula, northern Kyoto Prefecture. It is ranked as one of Japan's three most scenic views.

Understand
Coin lockers are available in the train station behind the tourism office and after the left exit. If they are busy, the gift shop Surumeya (旬彩するめや) located across the street 75 m on the right of the station can keep your luggage.

By train
Direct Hashidate (はしだて) limited expresses run four times a day and connect Kyoto Station to Amanohashidate in 2 hours (¥4500). At other times, you can take the Kinosaki (きのさき) limited express from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama (福知山) and change to the Tango Relay limited express to Amanohashidate. You can manage the trip with local trains for as little as ¥2260, but this will take over three hours and require several transfers.

From Osaka, take the Kounotori (こうのとり) limited express to Fukuchiyama, and transfer to either the Hashidate or Tango Relay (2 hr 15 min, ¥5380).

If you have a Japan Rail Pass and travel on the Hashidate or Tango Relay you must pay a surcharge of ¥1520 each way, as part of the trip uses the private Kita-Kinki Tango Miyafuku Line (北近畿タンゴ宮福線).

The Amanohashidate station is on a spur line off of the main line to Miyazu. Don't be surprised as the train stops completely in Miyazu, changes direction, and then turns onto a separate line toward Amanohashidate.

By bus
Tankai Bus makes five daily round-trip runs to Amanohashidate from Kyoto (2 hours, ¥3000), and from Hankyu Umeda and the Shin-Osaka bullet train station in Osaka (3 hours, ¥2650).

Get around
The small villages on the north and south sides of the land bridge are easily walkable by foot, as distances are short. In the village of Monju (文珠) on the south side of the land bridge, the train station is only a few hundred feet from numerous ryokan, noodle shops, dried fish shops, and tourist shops.

One can rent a bicycle at one of the many bicycle rental shops around Amanohashidate to ride across the land bridge and bike to surrounding local tourist spots.

If you prefer motorized transport, small motorboats transport passengers between the north and south sides of Amanohashidate. The boats are inexpensive and take 5–10 minutes to travel the length of the land bridge. On the south side of Amanohashidate, the boats dock near the Shinto shrine.

See

About the only thing to see in Amanohashidate is, well, Amanohashidate itself. The land bridge is best viewed from the hillside on either the south or north side of it. On the south side, there is a chair lift and cog wheel-type train that one can ride up to a viewing area, where there is a small amusement park. On the north side, there is an electric train/trolley and a chair lift (which offers a better view) that take visitors up to a viewing area, where there is a small coffee and snack shop. Purchase tickets at the bottom of the lifts. They are well-marked and easy to locate.

The canonical way to view Amanohashidate is to turn your back to it, then bend over and look at it upside down from between your legs — this is supposed to make the bridge appear as if it floats to heaven, and bring good luck.

The rotating bridge on the south side of Amanohashidate is unique, although it is by no means a must-see. Rather than raising like a traditional drawbridge, the middle section of this bridge rotates 90 degrees to allow boats to pass through. The bridge is located near the Shinto shrine and boats that transport visitors to the north side of Amanohashidate

Do
Swim on the sandbar in the summertime while eating dried squid.

Stay overnight so you can get up early (6am in October) and watch the cormorants and mist lift with the sunrise to reveal the pristine sandy bar that is the Bridge/Passage to Heaven.

Plus if you're quite lucky - you might meet a sumo wrestler! Be judicious about your hotel or ryokan, there are some with outdoor tubs on a second floor balcony and some with no view at all.

Chie-no-yu (知恵の湯): This is a small hot spring spot located just next to the Amanohashidate train station. Men and women are separated. Price: ¥700/per person. Open: M Tu Th F 14:00-21:00, Sa Su holidays 12:00-21:00, closed: every Monday (except public holidays). If you want to just try a bit of Japanese Onsen, you can try Ashiyu (足湯), a hot spring you can just soak your feet in, which is located outside of this place and is free to try! You can hire a towel from them cheaply.

Buy
Dried seafood, chirimen fabric, sake flasks made from a dried squid.

Rice vinegar made by Iio-jozo (飯尾醸造). This vinegar company has more than 100 years of history and their vinegar is organic. They even farm the rice which is used to make the vinegar. They also have other flavours of vinegar, like a fig vinegar, pomegranate vinegar, black bean vinegar etc.

Eat
Seafood.

In the summer, don't miss the melon ice from the little snack shop on the northern slope's viewing area.

Cafe du Pin (カフェ・ド・ピン): This cafe is beside Amanohashidate, so you can see Amanohashidate (not overview) through big wide windows when you drinking or eating. They not only serve drinks and sweets, but also cater casual lunches (like a curry or sandwiches). Open 09:00-18:00.

Drink
There are some local wineries.

Sleep
Abundant ryokan serving local seafood. Ask at the Amanohashidate train station's tourist information stand for information or to make a reservation. Prices range between ¥10,000 and 25,000 per person per night.

Go next

 * Miyazu
 * Ine
 * Kyotango
 * Yosano
 * Maizuru
 * Fukuchiyama
 * Takahama
 * Obama
 * Toyooka

title: Amanohashidate


text:
Amanzimtoti

Amanzimtoti is a town of 14,000 people (2011) on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The town is well known for its warm climate and numerous beaches, and is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers. The annual sardine run attracts many to the Toti beaches.

Understand
According to local legend, when the Zulu king Shaka led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828, he rested on the banks of a river. When drinking the water, he exclaimed "Kanti amanzi amtoti" (isiZulu: "So the water is sweet"). The river came to be known as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is actually mnandi, but, as Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, he invented the word mtoti to replace mnandi out of respect not to wear out her name. Locals frequently refer to the town as "Toti". Amanzimtoti is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Cape clawless otters, blue duiker and spotted ground-thrush. Vervet monkeys are common and can be seen throughout the suburban parts of the town and in the nature reserves. Most of the wildlife can be found along the Manzimtoti River or in the coastal dune vegetation.

Get in
Amanzimtoti lies 27 km south-west of Durban and 99 km north-east of Port Shepstone and is known as the gateway to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

There are commuter passenger trains from Durban.

Do
A nature reserve was established along the banks of the river in 1965 called Ilanda Wilds. There is also a 'bird park' called Umdoni Bird Sanctuary along one of the tributaries of the Manzimtoti River. Other nature reserves and green areas include; Umbogavango, Vumbuka, and the Pipeline Coastal Park.

Buy
Amanzimtoti has four notable shopping centres:

 * Arbour Crossing
 * Toti Mall (includes Shoprite), in the town centre
 * Toti Centre in the town centre
 * Toti Centre in the town centre

title: Amanzimtoti


text:
Amapá

Amapa (Portuguese: Amapá) is in a state in the North of Brazil. It occupies the northernmost part of the country's Atlantic coast, bordering French Guiana and Suriname.

Cities

 * — the locals call it "the capital of the middle of the world", as the equator runs through the city
 * — near the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park
 * — known for the Festival of São Tiago which takes place between 16 and 28 July, and re-enacts the war between the Moors and Christians
 * — the northern-most city in Brazil, on the border of French Guiana, its attractions include Cachoeira Grande, Vila Brasil at the headwaters of the Oiapoque river, Cabo Orange National Park and Serra do Tumucumaque
 * — visitors come for the annual Pineapple Festival in September and the spa near the Araguari River
 * — a port city where the larger passenger boats depart for Amazonian destinations
 * — a farming and mining town of 16,000 people (2020)

Other destinations

 * — called the Amazonian Stonehenge, it's a pre-Columbian site with an ancient astronomical observatory, near the French Guiana border, 390 km from Macapá. The starting point is the small town Calçoene on the road to Oiapoque

Understand
Unexplored rainforests cover more than 70% of the territory of Amapá. Most of its intact beaches are mixed with swamps, creating the largest representation of this biome in Brazil.

Amapá is one of the poorest states in Brazil, but has among the fastest growing economies and populations. Almost the entire region is covered by rainforest, only in the southeast there is a larger urban area around Macapá and Santana.

So far, the state has hardly been discovered by tourism, apart from the shopping tourism from French Guiana. The almost untouched rainforests are of particular interest to travelers, even if there are also problems with illegal logging in this region. On the Atlantic coast, which has hardly been developed, there is a lagoon landscape that is interspersed with swamp areas. There are no beaches that are open to tourists.

Climate
Amapá has a very humid tropical climate with 2,000 to 3,250 mm of rainfall per year and a short dry season of 2-3 months between September and November. The wettest months are January to May with more than 300mm per month. The maximum temperatures during the day are a little under 30°C in the rainy season, around 33°C in the dry season, and at night it just cools down to around 23°C.

By plane
The most convenient way to get here is via Macapá-Alberto Alcolumbre International Airport, which has daily connections to several other major cities (Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Foz do Iguaçu). Some international flights arrive in Belém.

Regional airports:
 * Oiapoque Aeroporto de Laranjal
 * Pista de Pouso (Cunani, Calçoene).

By road and ferry
The state is cut off from Brazil's road network because of numerous rivers, and there are only connections to the north of Pará, which is also remote.

If you come by car, you have to take a ferry across the Amazon from Belém to Macapá. The journey takes 36-38 hours and goes around the Ilha de Marajó, the largest river island in the world. Passenger ships also operate on this route. A lesser-known alternative is to arrive from Santarém, where you have to take a ferry to Almeirim. From there there is a dirt road to Laranjal do Jari via Monte Dourado, where a river is crossed in a short ferry.

There is also an (expensive) car ferry from French Guiana to Oiapoque, a bridge completed years ago has not yet been released for border traffic (as of 2017). On foot or by bike you can take one of the small boats that are waiting about 2 km downstream of the bridge in the village for little money. In Oiapoque, the border post is in the middle of town, and taxis that know the "immigracion y onibus para Macap" tour are already waiting at the "port". In the rainy season, look for a ride in one of the four-wheel drive pickups at the port, as the road to Macapa is long and partly a mud desert with tree trunks as bridges

Get around
The main thoroughfare is the BR-156, which runs from Oiapoque in the north via Macapá to Laranjal do Jari in the south-west. Its central part is tarred. Buses run daily on the BR-156. Road BR-156 connects10 Laranjal do Jari, on the river of the same name, 167 km to the junction of the AP-020 (102 km towards Macapá via11 Santana). Further than Perimetrál Norte 106 km to the junction of the AP-340 (34 km direction Curicaca and Itaubal or to the north Cutias) further to Oiapoque, the border town to French Guiana.

River navigation is still important for passenger transport today. The largest port is in Porto Santana, where the ferry to Belém also departs.

See
In Macapá, the capital, the Fortress of São José is the main point of visit and is considered one of the most imposing and solid military monuments in colonial Brazil. It was built to ensure the definitive conquest of the Amazon by the Portuguese. The Church of São José is the oldest building in the city, inaugurated in 1761. It underwent several renovations, but still preserves its original features.

To mark the passage of the imaginary line of Ecuador through Macapá — one of the only ones in the world — a monument was built, Marco Zero, with a sundial and a terrace for observations.

The "Amazon Stonehenge" is a megalithic stone circle, consisting of 127 blocks of granite, each up to 4 meters tall, standing upright in a circle measuring over 30 meters in diameter at the bank of the Rego Grande river on a hilltop in Parque Arqueologico do Solstício. Archaeologists believe that this site was built by indigenous peoples for astronomical, ceremonial, or burial purposes, and likely a combination.

One of the points that most attract attention in tourism in Amapá is a natural phenomenon called . Pororoca is a tidal bore where the waters of the sea meet the waters of the Araguari River, making a deafening noise and a water elevation of up to 6 meters that travel as much as 800 km inland upstream on the Amazon River and adjacent rivers. The tidal bore can take trees from the banks. In its rivers, waterfalls and rapids there is a great variety of fish, highlighting the Tucunaré, a symbol of sport fishing.

Do
There are the many nature reserves, but the tourist infrastructure is poor and access is not permitted to everyone.

Amapá has beaches such as Araxá and Fazendinha, close to Macapá, in addition to the forest forest in Calçoene, Praia Oceânica do Goiabal, which stands out for its natural beauty and the richness of fish and flocks of ibis.

The boat trip on the Amazon River and Igarapés, the mine and the extraction of manganese in Serra do Navio is one of the places that cannot fail to be highlighted.

The state's biggest religious festival is organized in Macapá in honor of São José, to mark the passage to this saint.

Eat
Amapá has a unique cuisine, prepared with Amazonian fauna and flora. The use of forest products is a legacy of the first inhabitants of the region: the Indians. It was with them that people from Amapa learned to prepare delicious dishes, such as Pescada da Gurijuba, a typical fish from the region, Tucunaré na Brasa and Camarão ao Bafo. There is also the tasty and today international Açaí juice.

Stay safe
The BR-156 is notorious for raids, particularly on the unpaved sections. Therefore, you should only stop in unpopulated areas in extreme emergencies. Robbers often fake car breakdowns - so don't stop even then.

Go next
Afuá

title: Amapá