text:
Mumbai/Elephanta

Elephanta is an island off of Mumbai and home to the Elephanta Caves, a. It consists of a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Understand
The island has been referred to as Gharapuri (literally meaning village of caves) in ancient literature. It has a coastline of about 7 km, covers an area of 1050 ha and consists of two hills separated by a narrow valley. The highest point rises to a height of 173 m above sea level. The island once had a share of mangrove forest but a large chunk of it has gone missing over the years.

The Portuguese named the island Elephanta, after a huge rock cut elephant statue found on the island. The elephant statue was damaged in attempts to relocate it to England, was moved to Victoria Gardens (now Jijamata Udyaan) in 1864, and reassembled in 1914. Because of its strategic location at the mouth of the Thane Creek, the island has served as a pit stop for ancient sailors dating back to the 2nd century BCE.

The caves, for which the island is famous, came up much later. Nothing much is known about the history of the caves. Numismatic evidence, along with inscriptions and construction style suggest that the caves were constructed by King Krishnaraja of the Kalachuri Dynasty and date back to the mid 6th century CE.

As of 2022, the grand sculptures of the cave are heavily damaged and defaced, it is not known when the destruction started. The most common theory states that the statues were damaged by the Portuguese soldiers as they used the caves and statues as a firing range and for target practice.

Get in
Elephanta is about 11 km from mainland Mumbai. Ferry service is available from Apollo Bunder Jetty located next to Gateway of India, in South Mumbai.

 * The ferry operates every half an hour and the journey takes about an hour.
 * The first ferry leaves Mumbai at 9:30 am and the last one at 2 pm.
 * The first ferry leaves Elephanta Island at noon and the last one at 5:30 pm.
 * A roundtrip ticket costs ₹260 (December 2022). Payment of an extra ₹10 will provide a seat in the upper deck
 * Elephanta Cave is closed on Monday

The journey is a remarkable experience and the ferry sails past the Mumbai harbour providing great views of the city skyline. The ferry also sails past huge ships from all over the world. Folks of seagulls are part of the journey. Tourists feeding these birds fried snacks causes serious damage on the birds' health and is illegal, but the practice continues.

Fees and permits

 * Entry tickets for citizen of India and SAARC (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand) countries is ₹ 40 for other nationals it is ₹ 600. Children below 15 years are free
 * Videography charge: ₹ 25 per camera
 * Still photography: Free
 * Gram Panchayat Tax: ₹ 5 per visitor

Cave 1 is the largest and the grandest of the caves. Paid guide services are available in the cave. Caves 2-5 are adjoining to cave 1 and are much less impressive. But since they are a short walk away they should not be given a miss. Caves 6 and 7 are located outside the walled complex. Located on the adjoining hill, they are approachable by an unmarked trail. The hill also contains two Buddhist Stupas, one unexcavated and one unexplored. Outside the walled complex and on the opposite side of Caves 6 and 7, there are two huge cannons. They are reached in about 20 mins walk from the walled complex gate through a winding trail.

Get around
The ferry docks at the, on the northern side of the island. A toy train operates along the pier taking visitors to the island. Tickets cost ₹10 for a round trip. However, it is not far to walk on foot. On reaching the ground of the island a long flight of stairs leads to the caves. There are about 120 steps and it is not very steep. There are souvenir and artefact shops all along the way. The shops also sell guide book books which provide ready reference about the history and mythology of the ancient caves.

See

 * Yogishvara (Lord of Yogis) (no. 9 on map): Located on the left of the entrance, the panel shows Shiva seated in padmasana posture and lost in his meditation. Here the lord is represented as a master of the discipline of yoga, the teacher of Yoga arts. It is also known as Mahayogi or Lakulisa, the 28th incarnation of Shiva. He sits on a lotus with a stalk shown as if coming out of the earth, his legs are crossed symmetrically. He wears a crown and his face expresses great spiritual strength and calmness. The statue is badly damaged with both the upper limbs completely broken. The background contains several smaller statues of gods and goddesses, as well as monks and sadhus, creating a complex collage. Although these statues are badly damaged, one can trace out Bramha, Indra and Vishnu riding their respective vehicles of swan, elephant and Garuda.
 * Nataraja (Dancing Shiva) (no. 8 on map): The panel of Nataraja Shiva lies on the right hand side of the main entrance opposite the Yogishvara panel. Here, Shiva represents Nararaj or Nataraja, the king of the dancers. He is seen in lalita mudra. The panel is heavily damaged, with the entire lower portion missing. Large portions of the upper limbs are broken off. In the top left corner, statues of Bramha, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya can be spotted.
 * Trimurti (no. 4 on map): Trimurti or Mahesh Murti occupies the prime position of the Elephanta caves and no wonder is the star attraction. The sculpture has a width of 6.55 m and a height of 5.43 m and a depth of 3.2 m. It consists of a threesheaded statue of Shiva, identified as Mahesa, Mahadeva, or Sadasiva. Each face has its own expression, jewellery and headdress and represents three essential aspects of Shiva: creation, preservation, and destruction. The central face represents the Tatpursha or Mahadeva the creator. With eyes almost closed it represents Shiva in deep meditation. The left face represents Aghora, Bhairava or Rudra, the destroyer. The face exhibits a curled moustache, bearded, hooked nose and somewhat gruesome appearance. The right head represents Vamadeva the preserver. With eyes almost closed. it has a peaceful look. The trimurti is flanked on both sides by statues of guardians deities, accompanied by a dwarf attendant.
 * Ardhanarishvara (no. 3 on map): Left of Trimurti is the panel of Ardhanarishvara, literally meaning the half-woman god. The female part represents Parvati while the male part represents Shiva. The male part of the four-handed statue leans on a bull (Nandi). The female part with a large breast is elegant with jewellery and holds a mirror in one hand. Numerous other figures crowd the background of the statue creating an elaborate backdrop.
 * Gangadhara Shiva (no. 5 on map): This panel is located right of Trimurti. The panel represents the story of Lord Shiva bringing river Ganges from heaven to earth. The panel shows Lord Shiva and Parvati standing side by side. In between them stands a gana (dwarf jester). Baghirath can be seen kneeling down on the lower left corner. Here also, the background contains an amazing collection of minor sculptures, which include Bramha and Vishnu.
 * Shiva - Parvati dice game (no. 2 on map): This panel occupies the south east corner of the main hall of cave 1. The panel shows Shiva and Parvati engaged in a game of dice in Kailash. The scene, taking place in Kailash Mountain, includes rocky terrain and clouds layered horizontally. There are traces of a crown and a disc behind Shiva, but it is all damaged. In between the couple stands a female figure with a child in her lap. The background is crowded with accessory figures, many of which have been damaged beyond recognition.
 * Ravan lifting Kailash (no. 1 on map): This panel is on the north east corner of the main hall. According to legend, Ravan wanted to uproot Kailash Parvat, the abode of Shiva, and bring it back home to Lanka. He managed to lift the mountain but when Shiva put his left foot on the mountain, it settled back to its original position. The panel depicts Ravana at the base while Shiva is sitting atop with one of his hands steadying a frightened Parvati. The background behind Shiva is crowded with numerous figures. The panel, especially the lower portion is badly damaged, and several of Shiva's arms are broken.
 * Marriage of Shiva and Parvati (no. 6 on map): This panel occupies the south west corner of the main hall. The panel depicts the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. According to Hindu text, the iconographic representation of this celestial marriage is known as Kalyanasundara. Both Shiva and Parvati are in standing position. Shiva is depicted as calm and young, while Parvati is shy and emotional. Brahma, the priest, is squatting on the floor to the right tending the yajna fire. The background shows gods, goddesses and celestial apsaras as witness to the grand wedding.
 * Shiva slaying Andhakasura (no. 7 on map): The panel is on the north west corner of the main hall in Cave 1. The panel shows Shiva, the destroyer, killing the demon Andhakasura, literally meaning blind, darkness. According to legend, each drop of Andhakasura, that falls on the ground creates a new Andhakasura. The Shiva statue in Elephanta carries a cup to prevent the blood of the demon from touching the ground. In the other hand he carries a sword. The upper portion of the panel contains an assortment of statues depicting various gods and goddesses flying through the air and paying homage to a votive stupa. Sadly, like all other statues of Elephanta, this too is badly damaged.
 * Linga Shrine (no. 16 on map): The Linga shrine consists of a free standing cubical cell located on the eastern side of the main hall. All four sides have doors approachable by a flight of stairs. All sides of the four doors are flanked with colossal statues of dvarapalas (gate guardians).
 *  West Wing Shrine: A flight of stairs from the main hall leads down to the western court. The western court houses a large water cistern on the south. The small shrine is on the west. A small flight of stairs leads to the shrine supported by two pillars. The linga shrine is on the western wall and is guarded by two dvarapalas (gate guardians). The northern wall contains a statue of Yogishvara Shiva (no. 14 in map) while the southern counterpart houses a statues of Nataraja Shiva (no. 15 in map). Both the Shiva statues and those of the dvarapalas (gate guardians) are badly damaged. They are also of inferior quality and does not match the grace and beauty of those of the main hall.}}

 *  East Wing Shrine: The eastern gate of the main hall leads to an open space, the eastern court. At the centre of the open space is a circular pedestal which probably housed a statue of nandi bull, the vehicle of Shiva. A flight of stairs, in between six pillars, leads to the eastern shrine. Straight in front is the shiva linga shrine guarded by two lion statues. A flight of stairs leads to the only entrance of the shrine housing linga. The shrine comes in with a circumambulating path.

 * On either side of the circumambulating path are statues of two giant Dvarapalas (gate guardians) (no. 13 on map). The dvarapala on the left is badly damaged but the one on the right is mostly preserved. There are cells on both ends of the porch in front of the shiva shrine. The eastern cell is empty. The western cell contains statues of Kartikeya (no. 10 on map), Matrikas (no. 11 on map) and Ganesha (no. 12 on map). The cell is extremely dark and photography is difficult.

Cannons: Elephanta Island also houses two gigantic cannons mounted on rotating platforms. These strategically placed British cannons date back to the time of Edward VII. To reach the cannons, one has to walk out of the cave complex and head left. A 15 mins walk along a winding trail will lead to the first cannon, a couple of minutes more walk will lead to the second cannon. There are also a couple of ruined masonry structures near the two cannons.

Buy
The stairway leading to the main shrine is lined with shops selling artifacts and souvenirs but most of the items sold are available at a lower price in Mumbai. Also, the prices are subject to heavy bargaining.

Eat and drink
There are several small eateries all along the stairway. They serve meals at a reasonable cost along with tea and snacks. Hawkers sell wild berries, starfruit and cucumbers coated with masala. They are tasty but not very hygienic. It is advisable to take lots of drinkable water with you from Mumbai itself.

Sleep
There are no hotels and lodges in Elephants Island, so there is no option to sleep. You have to book a hotel in Mumbai instead.

Stay safe
Beware of the monkeys that roam around. They are quite used to the huge masses of people moving around. But they are not happy when kids and even pesky teenagers tease them by throwing stones or making weird sounds. There have been many cases of people been scratched or attacked by monkeys, usually in retaliation. If left alone, they will usually not do anything. Try to be with the crowd, especially if you have got some packed food with you and want to have a picnic in the area.

title: Mumbai/Elephanta


text:
Elephant Coast

Elephant Coast, also known as Maputaland, is the area of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

Cities

 * — the hub of tourism because it is near Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park game reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Indian Ocean beaches, and the cultural heritage of the Zulu people
 * — one of the top dive sites in the world
 * — on the southern tip of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, with beautiful beaches

Other destinations

 * — well known for its extensive wetlands, sand dunes and beaches, with large herds of game, visiting whales in the winter months, rafts of hippopotami and sun-basking crocodiles
 * — renowned for its birding possibilities
 * — a game reserve owned and operated by the Tembe people to protect elephants
 * — (Manguzi or kwaNgwanase), close to the Mozambique border

Understand
The Elephant Coast is the brand name for the Umkhanyakude District Municipality, which consists of 5 local municipalities and a District Management area.

 * Maputaland is in the northern part of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province that is tucked in between Eswatini, Mozambique, and the endless white beaches of the warm Indian Ocean coast. It is a vast remote place of shimmering lakes, forests, bush and pristine seashore.
 * Kosi Bay is the main town in this region. It is approximately 300 km from Richards Bay, 250 km from St. Lucia, 200 km from Hluhluwe and 80 km from Sodwana.
 * Despite the name, there is no bay in Kosi Bay so local residents refer to Kosi and not Kosi Bay. Kosi Bay is a misnomer. The town is 25 km away from the coastline and to get to the coast you need a 4X4 vehicle or book into a place that will take you in their 4X4 vehicle on excursions.
 * Kosi town is a vibrant colourful African village and the surrounds (because it is so remote and difficult to reach) are undiscovered paradise that offers diverse and some unique tourism activities and attractions in a fabulous subtropical climate.
 * Kosi has grown tremendously and you can shop for most things here.

History

 * Kosi Bay, Manguzi, eManguzi, KwaNgwanase are all different names for the same place. Manguzi is the community in which the town is settled and KwaNgwanase is the district name.
 * The name Kosi is said to be derived from the word Nkosi which means king. Ngwanase is the name for the Thonga King who fled from the Portuguese colonists in Mozambique. The original king was Mabhudu which the Portuguese and English colonists mispronounced and misspelled respectively to Maputo and Maputa. The region is still known as Maputaland.
 * The region is also known as Thonga Tembe Land. Historically this region was the orphan of South Africa and none of the previous governments made any effort to develop this region. Maputaland was/is completely self-governed by the Thonga people. The current king is Mabhudu Israel Tembe. Even today the Tembe Tribal Authority retains power and oversees everything regarding everyday life.
 * The fact that the region have a king and chiefs, local government, various other state bodies who have interests here and that large parts of Maputaland are national borders, world heritage area, state forest land, marine sanctuary and conservation areas do not make it easier to manage and purposefully develop Maputaland.
 * In Maputaland first world dreams are conflicting with third world tranquillity and existence more than anywhere else. The stage was set when the Portuguese and English colonists clashed in these regions during 1875 and asked the French prime minister to arbitrate. With typical heavy handedness he drew a line on a map that divided the Thonga tribe in two.

Get around
The roads are mostly unsealed.

Do

 * Kosi Bay Lakes excursions are an experience to remember. The four interconnected lakes spill into the Indian Ocean. In the Kosi mouth you will find a reef in the estuary which is excellent for snorkelling. When boating on the lakes you will encounter hippos.
 * Another sight worth seeing in the Kosi lakes is the ingenious fish traps by the Thongas using stick kraals (enclosures) to harvest fish.
 * Turtle Tours - During turtle season (November to February) these amazing creatures, leatherback and loggerhead turtles; come back to the same place every year, after crossing oceans, to lay their eggs. It is an unforgettable experience and privilege to witness a giant leatherback (nearly 2 metres in length) or loggerhead turtle as she performs this miracle of nature.
 * Tembe Elephant Reserve is a conservation area where only a few privileged tourists are allowed daily to enter this remote 30 000 hectares. It is accessible only to guests with 4X4 vehicles or on a guided game drive with tour operators in the region. It features magnificent elephants, lions, giraffes and both white and black rhinos. Among the many species of antelope is the Suni, the smallest antelope.
 * Birdwatching - You’ll find prolific bird life in Ndumo and Tembe Elephant Park - more than 400 species - 60% of all bird species in South Africa are found here. You might be lucky enough in Kosi Bay to find the Palmnut vulture and a Pell’s fishing owl.
 * Canoe at Siyadla and Amanzinyama will give you a jungle thrill to remember. This is the only place in South Africa where the five major species of mangrove occur, and over 300 bird species have been recorded. These include the rare and endangered palm nut vulture - the only fruit-eating vulture in the world - and Pell’s fishing owl. The raffia palm forest and Siyadla riverbanks in particular are a birder's delight. You will encounter crocodiles in the river and hippo’s in the 4th lake.
 * Boat excursions - You can experience the best bird watching and fishing on the boat excursions on the lakes. Along the way you may spot the hippos. This system consists of four lakes, which change from crystal clear salt water in the estuary through to black hippo waters in the Raffia Forest on the fourth lake, and a series of inter connecting channels, which eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian Ocean. It is home to a large variety of birds and animals including hippos and crocs.
 * Snorkel at Black Rock, Mabibi or Lalanek beaches is recommended. You can also snorkel in the Estuary
 * Fishing - Kosi is famous for fishing.
 * Hiking - Go on short (half day) guided hiking trips. You cannot help to marvel at the knowledge of the guides when they explain the Thonga culture and the way they have lived off the land for centuries using what is available in nature.
 * Horse Riding - Go on guided horse trails. Beginners to experienced riders are welcome. Non-riders are welcome to join a trip in the game drive vehicle. Experiencing the best of the area from the back of your trusty horse during two hour out-rides or 3- and 6-day trail riding going from camp to camp.
 * Whale watching, swim with dolphins or go scuba diving. The reefs off the Northern Maputaland coast are nothing short of spectacular. Along just of reef, over 1,250 different species of fish have been identified (compared with 1,600 species along the entire  of Australia's Great Barrier Reef).

Stay safe
Malaria is endemic in this region, and HIV is a serious concern. Practice safe sex and take anti-mosquito and anti-malaria measures, such as netting, repellant, and anti-malarial medicines.

Go next

 * Zululand

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

title: Elephant Coast


text:
El Escorial

San Lorenzo de El Escorial (also San Lorenzo del Escorial) is a town about 45 km northwest of Madrid in Spain. Set in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, its chief attraction is the Monastery of El Escorial, a World Heritage Site that was the power centre of the Spanish empire under King Felipe II. It's usually visited as a day-trip from Madrid.

By plane
The nearest airport is Madrid Barajas. From the airport take the metro to Madrid Chamartin and change to Renfe local line C3, as below.

By bus
Autocarres Herranz operates emerald-green buses 661 and 664 from Madrid Moncloa bus station. They run every 30-60 mins, taking about an hour, fare. Get off directly in front of the monastery. For the return bus to Madrid, walk to the nearby (bus station) on C/ Juan de Toledo 3.

By car
El Escorial is well signposted from AP6 north from Madrid, exit at Junction 47. Parking just outside the monastery is €5 for 2 hours.

See

Sleep
Other small, central hotels here include Miranda & Suizo, Florida, NH Victoria Palace, Sercotel Los Lanceros, and Posada Don Jaime.

Go next
On Mondays El Escorial is closed (as are most visitor attractions in Spain) and there's not much else to see or do here, so consider an outing to somewhere else scenic. Choices within an hour's drive include Segovia, Avila and Salamanca.

In and around Madrid are Toledo, Aranjuez and Alcalá de Henares. Reaching more distant cities such as Barcelona and Seville will probably mean travelling via Madrid, see that page for transport options.

Further west beyond Salamanca lies Portugal, while routes to the north and east lead to Leon, Burgos and Bilbao.

title: El Escorial


text:
Eleuthera

Eleuthera is an island in Bahamas. The long, thin island has wide rolling pink sand beaches and large outcrops of ancient coral reefs. Its population was approximately 11,000 in 2017. The principal industry of the island is tourism.

Understand
"Eleuthera" derives from the feminine form of the Greek adjective ἐλεύθερος (eleútheros), meaning "free". It was known in the 17th century as Cigateo. It lies 80 km (50 miles) east of Nassau. It is 180 km (110 miles) long and in places little more than 1.6 km (1.0 mile) wide. Its eastern side faces the Atlantic Ocean, and its western side faces the Great Bahama Bank.

By plane
Eleuthera has 3 airports: North Eleuthera (ELH), Governors Harbour (GHB), and Rock Sound (RSD). All airports are small, open-air and convenient. ELH and GHB have onsite bars and ELH has an onsite restaurant.

ELH has the most flights arriving and departing. ELH is a short taxi ride and water taxi ride to Harbour Island. Most car rental places on the island will gladly pick you up at ELH and drive to another town on the island. ELH is 15 to 20 minutes north of Gregory Town.

GHB is the centrally-located airport, located just south of the town of James Cistern and a 10 to 15 minute drive to Governor's Harbour, the largest town on Eleuthera.

Twin Air flies from Ft. Lauderdale into all 3 airports on Eleuthera. It's about an hour's flight from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Eleuthera. You can fly from Nassau to Eleuthera on Southern Air, Pineapple Air, or Bahamas Air; the flight is less than 30 minutes from Nassau.

By boat
Bahamas Ferries. The ferry docks on Eleuthera at Governor's Harbour, Spanish Wells and neighboring Harbour Island. To get to and from Eleuthera and Harbour Island or Spanish Wells, you take a water taxi and a cab ride to reach your destination.

Regions
Harbour Island To reach Harbour Island, one can take a water taxi (~$5) from the main island of Eleuthera. Harbour Island has the highest concentration of hotels; many of them upscale. Harbour Island is more densely populated than Eleuthera. The 3 mile beach on Harbour Island features pink sand and clear waters and has often been cited by various travel magazines as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Get around
Eleuthera has no public transport system. There are taxis and car rentals. It's generally best to rent a car to explore Eleuthera. Hitchhiking is popular and locals are generally helpful and friendly. Bicycling is increasingly popular, but see notes below.

In 2010, the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, a lush, 25-acre sanctuary, opened as Eleuthera’s first National Park. Created jointly by the Leon Levy Foundation and the Bahamas National Trust, the Preserve is home to more than 171 species of indigenous plants and  has become a popular destination for local teachers and schoolchildren, as well as tourists.

Eleuthera is 110 miles long, and delightful to explore. Be prepared: Eleuthera's gas prices are $1-2 higher than the U.S. Car rental costs are based on a per day basis and never involve extra fees. In most cases, you don't sign papers. No car rental chain companies exist on Eleuthera -- you rent from locals who may keep a fleet of rental cars in their yards. Some entrepreneurs combine their car rental companies with a gas station or with a taxi company. As you drive around (on the LEFT-HAND side of the road), you will need a good map or good local knowledge.

By bike
Eleuthera with its rolling hills (and three killers around Gregory Town) is the most challenging island of the Bahamas. The main road, Queen's Highway, the only option for road bikes) should not be ridden by beginners. For more casual riders, mountain bikes are fine; a hybrid is an ideal compromise. There are no bike shops and serious riders usually bring their own, but several resorts and individuals rent mountain bikes or hybrids. Refer to other pages on Eleuthera for details.

Bicycling is a growing sport and Eleuthera hosts the Cancer Society "Ride for Hope," with 50-75-100 mile competitions, every April. The Queen's Highway is well paved (watch out for road repairs north of Governor's Harbour airport). Drivers are generally courteous, giving bikes a wide berth, but use a rearview mirror and wear a helmet. The greater danger lies ahead: cars pulling out to pass who may not see you coming at them. Be alert when you see an oncoming car closely following another. Another problem: being chased local dogs ("pot-cakes"). Lately there haven't been many, but be on the lookout south of Tarpum Bay and around Gregory Town.

By car
Eleuthera Car Rental by Gateway

See

 * The many beautiful beaches
 * The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
 * Current Cut in North Eleuthera
 * Preachers' Cave in North Eleuthera
 * Glass Window Bridge in North-Eleuthera
 * Queen's Bath south of Glass Window Bridge
 * Surfer's Beach south of Gregory Town
 * Hatchet Bay Caves south of Gregory Town
 * Ocean Hole in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera
 * Lighthouse Beach / Bannerman Lighthouse south of Bannerman Town
 * Cathedral Cave

Do
Enjoy (walk, swim, snorkel, get a tan, or whatever you like to do on beaches) the many great beaches. The water is usually rougher (bigger waves) on the Atlantic side of the island.

Surfing near Gregory Town in North-Central Eleuthera ("Surfer's Beach").

Swim, snorkel or dive the tidal current at Current Cut (North Eleuthera). Thrilling!

Fishing is one of the biggest sports in Eleuthera. Several people have recommended Paul Petty as a good local fishing guide.

Explore the Hatchet Bay Cave... bring a friend and at least one flashlight (preferably one each - or a back-up candle and matches - you don't want to get stuck without light down there!). Bring swimming gear if you want to explore the lowest level, which is half-filled with water. There are some friendly bats in the cave, but not many.

Explore some of the other caves on the island (there are several)! A) There is one just north of Ten Bay Beach (South of South Palmetto Point) - look out for the "Bahamas Heritage" sign on Queen's Highway. This one has a huge colony of bats, you can't miss them, and you will need a flashlight here! B) There is a nice system of caves just south of Rock Sound - look out for the "Bahamas Heritage" sign opposite to a church. You don't need any flashlight here. There is a small colony of bats in one of the caves. Also, look out for the turtle in the nearby "bottomless" pond. C) Preacher's Cave, close to a nice beach at the northern end of Eleuthera, is of historic interest as "The first Bahamian settlement". No flashlights needed here. The unpaved road, taking you the 2 miles or so from Queen's Highway to the cave, is a tough drive for a normal car (although possible).

Watch the Junkanoo parade in Tarpum Bay (this is a must if you happen to be on the island during Christmas time)! Check with the locals for the exact schedule.

Feed the fishes (or swim with them) in the Ocean Hole in Rock Sound.

Take a bath in "Queen's Bath", a mile or so south of the Glass Window Bridge. But make sure to watch out for big waves!

Attend a "Friday Night's Fish Fry" in Governor's Harbour. A large percentage of all tourists on the island seems to gather here every Friday for some BBQ, drinks and loud music. Be prepared to wait for an hour or more to get your food once you have ordered.

Visit nearby Harbour Island accessible via water taxi, approximately 10 minutes from the boat dock just east of North Eleuthera Airport.

Other activities
Go snorkelling at Kemps Creek, Twin Coves or the Current. Go to the Schooner Cays, off Cape Eleuthera; hire a local who takes you over to these islands for the day, and live like the former beatnik on Dobey Gillis, Gilligan, sans Skipper and MaryAnne; you might see movie stars though.

Drink

 * Tippy's, on a very nice pink sand beach between Governor's Harbour and Palmetto Point.
 * Fish Fry, Governor's Harbour, next to Haynes Library, fish-fry every Friday night where locals and tourists meet on the water front. The food and drinks are good -- the music very loud.

Sleep
On Eleuthera there are only about 3 hotels on the waterfront even though the island is 100 miles long. Many foreigners rent their homes.

title: Eleuthera


text:
El Fuerte

El Fuerte is a colonial city of 13,000 people (2010) in Sinaloa. El Fuerte, meaning "The Fort", was named a Pueblo Mágico ("Magical Town") in 2010, for it has many attractions and a special, pretty-small-town aura. The town is known as the "home of Zorro", so keep an eye open for Antonio Banderas swashbuckling his way through town.

Understand
Though often referred to as the Gateway to Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre), El Fuerte is a delightful destination in itself, best visited from November through April.

Founded as San Juan Bautista de Carapoa in 1564 by Spanish explorers, the city derives its present name from the fort constructed in 1610 to defend against attacks by the Zuaque and Tehueco tribes who resented the Spanish intrusion. El Fuerte soon became one of the most important staging and trading centers of northern Mexico, with its location near the head of the wide, verdant Río Fuerte valley assuring prosperity from agriculture. In 1824, it became the territorial capital of the vast area comprising what is now Sinaloa, Sonora, and part of southern Arizona.

The architectural results of this history are evident today throughout the center of the city, from the central Plaza de Armas to the colonial mansions that extend for several blocks.

Get in

 * The local station of the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico railway is a few miles south of town. The "ChePe" passes through the scenic Copper Canyon from Creel, to the northeast, to Los Mochis, near the Gulf of California, to the southwest.

See

 * There are local petroglyphs a short distance from the downtown in the Rio Fuerte basin. These rock inscriptions were left by Nahua groups that centuries ago passed through the Sinaloan migratory corridor. Access to them is somewhat difficult.
 * The Cerro de la Máscara is an archaeological site just north of town and across the Rio Fuerte. The site is home to a petroglyph complex, considered one of the most significant in the state due to the sheer number of engravings and the diversity of contents. It is located on the banks of the Río Fuerte, approximately 5 km from the city. In total, there are about 45 stones that together contain more than 100 engravings, whose antiquity is estimated between 800 and 2500 years, in different stages of sculptural application and that, due to historical memory, must belong to Toltec and Aztec migrations. Highlighting among them: the buried Stone of the Goddess of Fertility or Parturient Woman, and The Chief.

Do
Two large lakes are located just north of El Fuerte: El Sabino and El Mahone

Festivals

 * Fiesta de San Miguel Arcángel, September 29. Regional music with traditional dances including the Danzas de Moros y Cristianos, lots of food and drink and a fair with games and rides.
 * Fiesta Cívica, November 16, Traditional music and dancing including La Danza del Venado, Las Pascolas with Matachines, fireworks, and a midway fair with games and rides.

Buy
Basketry, furniture, palm weaving, pottery, cabinetmaking and textiles make up the handicrafts of this Municipality, which has one of the richest samples in the State of Sinaloa, highlighting beautiful handicrafts made mainly by Yoreme artisans, among which stand out: blankets and wool zarapes from Alameda; pots and earthenware made in Capomos; carved wooden figures mainly of Jews and deer and pascola dancers made in Capomos and Mochicahui; hats, baskets, bags and other items woven from palm in Bamicori, El Realito, Tetaroba and Lo de Vega; guasima chairs and tables made in Capomos; bules painted by Angelo in El Fuerte; in addition to the clothing and clothing used by the Mays in their religious and pagan festivals such as: tenabaris, ayales, masks, coyolis.

Eat
The typical dishes of this region are: cocido, colachi, chilorio, machaca, caldillo, picadillo, rice, gorditas, tostadas, golden tacos, fresh panela, menudo, pozole; pineapple, meat, corn and sweet tamales; meat broth, guacabaqui and barbecue. In the municipal seat, dishes based on bass have become customary, such as: chicharrones, tripe, meatballs, shaken, breaded or flamed fillet, as well as seafood and prawns (cauques) prepared in different ways.

In sweets we find pepitorias, rice pudding, ham, cocadas, capirotada, tacuarines (coricos), coyotas, colachi and burnt milk empanadas, semitas, marshmallow, fritters, cheese gorditas.

Typical drinks are pinole atole and corn atole, barley water, horchata and different fruit flavors of the season.

Connect
Cellular service is good in town but is mostly 4G as of 2024. Expect signal to drop in the remote areas outside town. Most restaurants and hotels have broadband internet with free WiFi.

Stay safe
Tourism remains a major industry in town, although it has been diminished because tourists are wary of Mexican drug cartel violence in other parts of Sinaloa; however, violence declined by 2013 from a high in 2011.

Go next

 * Los Mochis
 * Creel
 * Chihuahua
 * Copper Canyon

title: El Fuerte


text:
Elgin

Elgin is the county town of Moray in northeast Scotland, best known for its ruined cathedral which made it a "city". Together with nearby Lossiemouth it's the service town for two nearby Royal Air Force bases, with a population in 2016 of 24,760.

Understand
Ornithosuchus was one of the beasts that dragged its slithery tail across the Triassic sands that became the bedrock of Elgin: imagine a 2-m-tall crocodile walking on its hind legs. (Towards you, quite rapidly, with a glint in its eye.) This and other strange local reptiles are exhibited in the Elgin museum. But the later value of that sandstone was to provide something to build upon and with, originally on higher ground 5 miles south. A town grew on the present site from the 12th century, under the patronage of Alexander II, and the cathedral foundations were laid. It would become one of the most serially-wrecked cathedrals in the country: sometimes "wyld, wykked Heland-men" were the culprits, but pretty much everyone had a go at it except the walking crocodiles.

The "Elgin Marbles" have only a tenuous connection with the town. It was the 7th Earl of Elgin who in the early 19th century removed (or looted or legally purchased or rescued from destruction, take your pick) many friezes and sculptures from the Acropolis in Athens — they're now in the British Museum in London. But the family residences were in Fife and elsewhere, and none of the Earls of Elgin lived here.

Tourist Information is in the library near the cathedral, open M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10:00-16:00.

Get in
Trains run every couple of hours from Aberdeen via Dyce, Inverurie, Huntly and Keith, taking 80 min to Elgin and continuing west to Forres, Nairn and Inverness (another 50 min). A single from Aberdeen (as of Aug 2021) is £12 in advance or £20 for a walk-up fare.

Elgin is just south of town centre. It has step-free access, toilets, a ticket office and ticket machines. No left luggage or cafe but there's a vending machine.

Stagecoach Bus 10 runs hourly from Aberdeen Union Square, via Inverurie, Huntly and Keith, taking 3 hours to Elgin and continuing to Forres, Nairn and Inverness, another 90 min.

Bus 35 takes a roundabout route from Aberdeen, four hours via Dyce, Oldmeldrum, Fyvie, Turiff, Macduff, Banff, Portsoy, Buckie, Cullen, and finally Elgin. Alternate buses turn back at Banff, so to Elgin they're hourly M-Sa and every two hours on Sunday.

Bus 33 runs every 30 min between Elgin, Lossiemouth and the RAF base.

Bus 32 runs hourly M-Sa between Elgin, Duffus, Hopeman and Burghead.

Elgin is right in town centre on A96 Alexandra Rd.

By road follow A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness, which runs through town, there's no bypass.

Get around
You can walk around town and take the bus for places along A96, but you need your own wheels for other outlying sites.

Taxi operators include C & R +44 1343 546546, Elite +44 1343 544555, and A2B +44 1343 556655.

See

 * Biblical Garden is a peaceful spot east side of the cathedral, open daylight hours, free.
 * The Monument on Lady Hill west end of High St is a 24-m column for the 5th Duke of Gordon (1770-1836), aka Marquess of Huntly. The spiral staircase within leads to the statue atop but is rarely open. Nearby is the ruins of Elgin Castle, built in the 12th century, captured by the English and then destroyed by Robert the Bruce in 1308.
 * See Lossiemouth for points further north, which include Gordonstoun School and the small ports of Hopeman and Burghead.
 * is a village 10 miles east of Elgin, now bypassed by A96. The main attraction is the walled garden of Gordon Castle, open daily 10AM-4PM. Admission costs adults £7, concs £5, children £3; half-price Nov-Mar; the castle itself isn't open for tours but is used as an event space. The 18th-century Duke laid out Fochabers village on a grid pattern; Fochabers Folk Museum on High St is open F-Su 10AM-4PM. See also St Mary's Church (RC) and Gordon Chapel (Anglican), both with impressive stained glass windows.
 * See Lossiemouth for points further north, which include Gordonstoun School and the small ports of Hopeman and Burghead.
 * is a village 10 miles east of Elgin, now bypassed by A96. The main attraction is the walled garden of Gordon Castle, open daily 10AM-4PM. Admission costs adults £7, concs £5, children £3; half-price Nov-Mar; the castle itself isn't open for tours but is used as an event space. The 18th-century Duke laid out Fochabers village on a grid pattern; Fochabers Folk Museum on High St is open F-Su 10AM-4PM. See also St Mary's Church (RC) and Gordon Chapel (Anglican), both with impressive stained glass windows.
 * See Lossiemouth for points further north, which include Gordonstoun School and the small ports of Hopeman and Burghead.
 * is a village 10 miles east of Elgin, now bypassed by A96. The main attraction is the walled garden of Gordon Castle, open daily 10AM-4PM. Admission costs adults £7, concs £5, children £3; half-price Nov-Mar; the castle itself isn't open for tours but is used as an event space. The 18th-century Duke laid out Fochabers village on a grid pattern; Fochabers Folk Museum on High St is open F-Su 10AM-4PM. See also St Mary's Church (RC) and Gordon Chapel (Anglican), both with impressive stained glass windows.
 * is a village 10 miles east of Elgin, now bypassed by A96. The main attraction is the walled garden of Gordon Castle, open daily 10AM-4PM. Admission costs adults £7, concs £5, children £3; half-price Nov-Mar; the castle itself isn't open for tours but is used as an event space. The 18th-century Duke laid out Fochabers village on a grid pattern; Fochabers Folk Museum on High St is open F-Su 10AM-4PM. See also St Mary's Church (RC) and Gordon Chapel (Anglican), both with impressive stained glass windows.

Do

 * Cinema: Moray Playhouse on High St shows mainstream releases.
 * Football: Elgin City play soccer in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. Their home ground is Borough Briggs (capacity 4500) just north of town centre.
 * Golf: Elgin GC is on Birnie Rd a mile south of town centre. White tees 6458 yards, par 71, visitor round £80. There's a handful of other courses by the coast around Lossiemouth and Burghead.
 * Speyside Way is a hiking and cycling trail along a former railway trackbed, from Aviemore to Grantown-on-Spey then down the valley to Ballindalloch, Craigellachie, Fochabers and the Spey estuary.
 * Burning of the Clavie is a New Year's custom in Burghead, but by the former Julian calendar, so it's on 11 Jan. (When the 11th is Sunday, it's held on the 10th - this next happens in 2026.) The clavie is a burning barrel of staves carried around town then set up on Doorie Hill, site of the Pictish fort.
 * Highland Games are held at Gordon Castle in May. The next are on Sunday 19 May 2024.
 * Aberlour Highland Games are next held on Alice Littler Memorial Park in Aberlour on Sa 3 Aug 2024.

 * Speyfest is traditional and contemporary Celtic music in Fochabers village. The next is 19-21 July 2024.

Buy

 * "I commissioned something about seventy pair of shoes and brogues, which might come to 3 shillings or three shillings and sixpence each...."
 * - the Earl of Kilmarnock, awaiting execution after the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, sought to settle his debt to the Elgin shoemakers.

 * St Giles Shopping Centre is the town centre mall on High St.
 * Aldi is just north of A96, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-7PM. Asda and Lidl are next the railway station.
 * Johnstons of Elgin are a knitware chain. Their mill shop is 400 yards east of the cathedral, open daily 9AM-5PM.

Drink

 * Joanna's Nightclub on High St next to Diceys is open Saturday night to 3AM.
 * Others in town centre are Victoria Bar, Against The Grain, White Horse Inn, Midas and Ionic Bar.
 * Other distilleries line the Spey valley. The main concentration is higher up around Dufftown and Grantown, but those near Elgin include Benriach, Longmourn, Mannochmore, Glenlossie and Glen Elgin.
 * Joanna's Nightclub on High St next to Diceys is open Saturday night to 3AM.
 * Others in town centre are Victoria Bar, Against The Grain, White Horse Inn, Midas and Ionic Bar.
 * Other distilleries line the Spey valley. The main concentration is higher up around Dufftown and Grantown, but those near Elgin include Benriach, Longmourn, Mannochmore, Glenlossie and Glen Elgin.
 * Other distilleries line the Spey valley. The main concentration is higher up around Dufftown and Grantown, but those near Elgin include Benriach, Longmourn, Mannochmore, Glenlossie and Glen Elgin.
 * Other distilleries line the Spey valley. The main concentration is higher up around Dufftown and Grantown, but those near Elgin include Benriach, Longmourn, Mannochmore, Glenlossie and Glen Elgin.

Connect
Elgin has 4G from all UK carriers, though the coverage in Lossiemouth and Burghead is patchy. As of Aug 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Elgin is a good base for exploring the many distilleries of Moray and Speyside whisky.
 * It's also midway between the cities of Inverness and Aberdeen, each around an hour's drive away.
 * On the Moray Firth coast there are opportunities for dolphin-watching, and you can visit the offbeat Findhorn Foundation - a 1960s new age community which has become an ecological living centre, with self-built houses, circular meditation room, and wind turbines.
 * Lossiemouth is a few miles north on the coast.
 * Forres to the west has a Pictish stone and a monument to Nelson, but the star attraction is Brodie Castle 5 miles west.

title: Elgin


text:
Elgin (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Elgin:

Canada

 * Elgin, a small village on the Rideau Canal in Rideau Lakes township, Leeds and Grenville county, Eastern Ontario
 * Elgin County - A county in Ontario.

South Africa

 * Elgin, a town in South Africa's Western Cape province.

United Kingdom

 * Elgin - A city in Scotland.

United States of America

 * Elgin (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Elgin (North Dakota) - A town in North Dakota.
 * Elgin (Pennsylvania) - A town in Pennsylvania.

title: Elgin (disambiguation)


text:
Elgin (Illinois)

Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Connect
Chicagoland's Northern Fox River Valley, Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

title: Elgin (Illinois)


text:
Elgin (North Dakota)

Elgin is a town in Western North Dakota. It has a population of about 659 people. Its elevations is 2,351 feet.

Understand
Elgin is much larger than Carson, 14 miles to the east, which is the County Seat. It describes itself as "A land of rolling hills, bountiful wildlife, and beautiful sunsets".

Get in

 * By car: from exit 108 off I-94, 32 miles south on state highway 49.
 * By air: Elgin Municipal Airport with a 3,000 foot runway.

title: Elgin (North Dakota)


text:
El Gouna

El Gouna (الجونة) is a self-sufficient, fully integrated resort town of 24,000 on the Egyptian Red Sea Coast just north of Hurghada. The town offers a large variety of activities and entertainment and is a popular destination around the year.

Understand
Resorts in Egypt, both on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, are usually a bunch of hotels on a previously uninhabited piece of coastline. El Gouna was built with a different mindset; a real town with inhabitants and "free standing" restaurants, bars, night clubs and shops as well as a marina for yachts. The same concept was used for Marina el-Alamein on the Mediterranean, Taba Heights on the Sinai east coast and Port Ghalib.

The construction of El Gouna (the name translates to "the bay" or "the lagoon") on the site of the village of Kafr el-Gūna began in 1989 with work on the Tamr Henna Palace. The town stretches for about 5 km along the coast and 2 km inland. It's set up like a Mediterranean lagoon landscape with several islands connected to each other by bridges. The buildings are a mix of both modern and traditional architecture and in addition to hotels, there are also holiday homes and housing for the around 10,000 employees of the resorts. Also Italian, French and American architects and engineers have been involved in the project.

Today El Gouna’s facilities include a landing strip, 3 international standard marinas, universities and schools, an 18-hole championship golf course, 17 hotels, 2 spas, and a state-of-the-art gym. The town has over a hundred restaurants and bars, scuba diving, yachting, fishing, and fully-equipped water sports centers, tennis, squash, padel and horse-back-riding.

There are three main areas with shops, bars and restaurants: also including El Balad and Kafr el-Gouna,  just north of the former, across a bridge and the  much further north. The largest public beaches are Mangroovy Beach, Marina Beach, Buzzha Beach and Zeytouna Beach.

Climate
Temperatures are mild or warm throughout the year. Autumn and spring are the best times to visit; summer is scorchingly hot and during the winter there strong winds are common.

By plane
El Gouna is 35 km north of which handles flights from many destinations in Europe, and some destinations in the former CIS and Middle East. If your nationality entitles you to get a visa on arrival, there's a counter before the passport control to get it; you buy it yourself to save the commission that travel agents charge for the service. From the airport it takes about 25 minutes by car (rental car or taxi) to El Gouna. Shuttle buses to El Gouna depart the airport every half hour.

The smaller is open to private aviation.

By bus
A bus ride from Cairo takes about six hours, from Hurghada about 30 minutes. Buses and share taxis between Cairo and Hurghada stop at a west of town. There are about a dozen of these in each direction per day. For buses, you need to book tickets beforehand. GoBus has up to nine daily departures between Cairo and El Gouna.

By car
From Cairo, drive to Ain Sokhna and south along the coast. The distance is 440 km. You need to show your driver's permit and have your vehicle examined at the entry checkpoint. Vehicles entering and leaving will need to scan their QR code.

By boat
El Gouna has three marinas ( extended in 2009, and the  ). Abu Tig has 224 berths for yachts with a maximum length of 45 m and depth of 12 m. In the extension part there's space for yachts with a length of up to 60 m. Facilities include electricity and water supply, phone, cable tv, Wi-Fi and emptying of toilets.

To arrive by your own craft you will need, in addition to passport and visa, a departure document from the former port, a valid VHF radio license, a crew list (name, birth date, passport number) and registration and insurance documents for the vessel.

Get around
There are various transport options available within the resort.

By bus
Regular shuttle buses run around the town, until as late as 2:00 in the night. Check the local bus timetables for buses that stop in front of your hotel. Tickets (day and week) are sold at hotel reception desks or you can buy them from the driver.

By tuktuk
These can be flagged down on the street and often have a flat fare for up to three passengers to any destination in El Gouna. Sometimes they accept payment in euros.

By taxi or car
You can request to reserve a taxi from your hotel. Cars can be rented with (effectively a long-term taxi, El Gouna Limousine Service is one company offering this option) or without a driver. There are also so-called water taxis plying the canals.

By foot
The roads are very quiet and have pavements for pedestrians to walk along safely.

See
El Gouna does have a few things to see, eventhough the vast majority of what the town has to offer falls in the Do category.

Do
El Gouna has a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities. These include leisure pursuits such as horse-riding, camel-riding, go-kart racing, scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing.

Beaches
There are five beaches not part of a resort hotel, these are listed below from north to south. In addition Labranda Club Paradisio El Gouna and El Gouna Mövenpick Resort & Spa have their own beaches.

Diving
Almost every hotel has its own scuba dive facility from which you can explore the northern part of the Red Sea. Top attractions are the wrecks of Abu Nuhas or the wrecks of Rosalie Moller behind Tawila Island.

Many beaches are lagoons separated from the sea with steeply falling reefs. Just outside the reefs there are good areas for diving, and this is where many diving tours will head. These reefs alone have about 50 diving areas. The waters around Tawila Island, 16 km to the north has a couple of wrecks, a large number of different corals and rich sea fauna. One of the wrecks is the British freight ship Rosalie Moller, sunk in 1941 by German bomber planes. It's at a depth of 50 meters, and is not suitable for beginners.

All diving operators have diving courses for different experience levels: for beginners and for experienced divers who want to learn more (wreck diving, diving with a rebreather etc.). The courses follow the programs of international organizations like PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

El Gouna’s nine certified diving centres and easy access to the finest reefs and wrecks in the Red Sea make it a diver’s paradise. Each centre offers a complete range of diving education, including PADI diving certification, from beginner through to professional level. El Gouna’s The Dive Tribe is also a certified National Geographic Diving Centre. The heated pools and calm reefs of El Gouna are ideal for beginners wanting to perfect their skills.

Some dive centres offer diving programs and courses tailored for kids, which include PADI Bubble Maker, Discover Scuba Diving, Junior Scuba Diving, and a Junior Open Water Diving and Snorkelling course. Special discounts are available for young children. In addition diving programmes to guests with reduced mobility. Guests are able to complete a standard scuba diver course, with minor adjustments as necessary, depending on the type of disability. All divers must complete a medical questionnaire, and those with a handicap are required to produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit to dive. It is advisable to get in touch with the dive centre and discuss individual needs in advance. Dive schools with facilities tailored specifically for divers with physical disabilities can be found in Sheraton Miramar, TTC Rihana, and Mövenpick Resort & Spa.

Windsurfing, kitesurfing and wakeboarding

The resort’s five kite centres provide facilities, equipment and training staff with courses for beginners and advanced surfers. El Gouna’s beaches, excellent winds, and all-year sunny weather attract droves of kite surfers regularly, while its shallow waters are suited to beginners learning moves.

The Sports and Fun Aqua Centres offer windsurfing and other aqua sport activities. The centres operate from Mangroovy Beach, the Steigenberger, and Rihana resorts.

Land sports
The resort’s 18-hole championship golf course at the Steigenberger Golf Resort offers year-round golfing for players from novices to professionals. The club offers a full range of retail products, rental equipment, driving range facilities, and PGA tuition for players looking to improve their game. Designed by Gene Bates and Fred Couples the course features three different men’s and ladies’ tees, bunkers, lagoons, an aqua driving range and desert rough to challenge players. The aqua driving range can accommodate up to 30 players.

 * In addition to the tennis club, several hotels have their own tennis and squash courts.

Ride horses and camels at the Mövenpick Hotel and Zeytouna Beach or go for full service with Arabian cross horses and ponies for children at Yalla Horse Stables.

Safaris and land tours
If you prefer to see the town by tour, there are many operators, check at your hotel. Some options include touring the coast and canals by boat, the streets by Segway or seeing the town from the air. You can also discover the secrets of the desert with an exhilarating drive through the sand dunes. Early morning and sunset trips are available. Quads are available for a desert safari, a full moon trip, or a visit to the Bedouin camps. Operators include:

Boat tours

 * Tawila Island: A real 'escape to nature' from the resort bustle, this quiet island offers sparkling white sandy beaches and serenity. Located over an hour from El Gouna, travellers might get the chance to watch dolphins jumping in and out of the surf along the way to Tawila Island.
 * Galatea Boat: to Gobal Island. Private day trips for diving or fish barbecues are available too.
 * Lagoon Trip: Tour El Gouna by boat every Wednesday and Saturday morning. Bookings can be made through the Information Centre in Tamr Henna, or at your hotel's reception.
 * Flying Dutchman Hydrofoil Submarine: The Flying Dutchman will take you from Abydos Marina to the coral reefs in only 10-15 minutes. Along the way there is a very good chance you will pass dolphins swimming quickly to try and keep up with your boat! The glass bottom of the boat shoes you the underwater world.
 * Abu Tig Marina: The first purpose built yacht marina in the Red Sea, Abu Tig houses El Gouna’s most exclusive shopping and dining outlets, hotels and real estate properties. Abu Tig has been the harbour of choice for several international yacht rallies such as the Med-Red, Vasco de Gama, and Blue Water rallies.

Festivals
There are three dance and live music festivals taking place weekly or even twice a week, meaning almost every day there's such an event. The Marina Street Festival takes place in Abu Tig Marina each Friday at 20:00. On Thursdays and Sundays at 21:30, there's the Tamr Henna Square Event, and on Thursdays and Saturdays at 20:00 the Kafr El Gouna Party.

The El Gouna Film Festival has apparently been on hold because of the corona pandemic; the next event is scheduled for 13-20 October 2023.

Wellness
Angsana Spa offers two spa locations in El Gouna: at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa and the El Gouna Golf Club. Both have a wide selection of beauty massages, sauna and steam bath treatments for singles and couples. A spa session can be booked in any spa in El Gouna regardless of your hotel of residence. Contact the El Gouna Spa Concierge at your hotel for more information.

Buy

Outlets offer a range of goods from practical to ethnic to high fashion. The resort’s many shops are grouped around two distinctive centres: the Downtown area and Abu Tig Marina. There are also two shopping centres: and.

Built in a traditional Egyptian style complete with bustling inner courtyards, winding alleys and a series of brick domes, El Gouna’s Downtown offers a variety of interesting and exotic shopping arcades, bazaars, boutiques and arts and crafts galleries. Courtyard cafes, bars and restaurants are interspersed throughout the vicinity to provide visitors with refreshments during their authentic Egyptian shopping experience.

The Abu Tig Marina has fashionable boutiques at a range of prices. With restaurants, cafes and bars, Abu Tig is a good spot for all-day shopping. Shops are usually open from 9:00 to 18:00, and prices are mostly not posted.

Food
Grocery stores for self-catering:

Souvenirs
Some of the many shops:

Eat
The resort is home to a variety of excellent cuisine, with over 100 different dining outlets to choose from that offer fine dining options through to casual cuisine, and include a variety of cafes and coffee shops.

The Dine Around Program gives hotel guests opportunity to taste as wide a variety of the resort’s food as possible.

Restaurants

The restaurants listed above usually also have cheaper alternatives on the menu like sandwiches, salads, soups and pasta.

Drink
Music and dance events on Wednesday and Sunday nights on Mangroovy Beach. On Friday nights in Moods (Marina Beach) or in DuPort (TTC Ocean View).

Some resort hotels have bars and restaurants often serve alcohol (in addition to non-alcoholic drinks).

Sleep
El Gouna is host to 17 hotels and resorts. Accommodation options include the convenience of a marina inn, the charm of a downtown boutique hotel and the luxury of a five-star beach resort. As a resort for package tourism, it's easiest to book your lodging beforehand through a tour operator or on the hotel's website rather than walking in when you're in El Gouna. Often lodging is offered as a package with activities.

Budget
Truly barebones hotels, hostels and the like don't exist here, the cheapest correspond to three-star, ie. mid-range hotels when it comes to amenities in the rooms and overall in the hotel.

Mid-range

Splurge

Holiday homes
There are also holiday homes for rent, bookable through travel agencies or dedicated websites.

Post
There's a post office on Tamr Henna square, open daily except Friday from 9:00 to 14:00.

Phone and Internet
There's both a landline and mobile network; Vodafone and Etisalat offers 4G coverage, Orange 4G coverage inland but 3G in the resort. Calls within the city are free of charge when calling through the landline network - these are the five digit numbers in the listings above marked "ext".

Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, it tends to be free in public areas but payable in the rooms.

Banking
Many hotels have banks or ATMs. Banks are usually open on forenoon and midday every day except Friday.

Stay safe

A purpose-built resort, inhabited only by tourists and resort staff and patrolled by private security, El Gouna is a safe destination even for lone female voyagers. You can dress like you would in a Western country, and even Egyptian tourists do that.

Police and tourist police are based in Hurghada.

Stay healthy
The town has an international standard hospital providing 24-hour emergency care. Moreover, many hotels have either a resident doctor or a contract with a doctor that will come there when needed.

Go next

 * The nearest destination to head next is the larger resort of, about 30 minutes southeast by road.
 * , a ghost city, formerly a center for phosphate mining, 20 km south of Safāgā.
 * , famous for its citadel, built by the orders of Ottoman sultan Selim I.
 * and, old Roman quarries.
 * The desert monasteries of and.

Tour operators offer trips to these and also to for instance Cairo or Luxor.

title: El Gouna


text:
El Hatillo

El Hatillo is a beautiful pueblo on the outskirts on Caracas. It is known for its colorful houses and good restaurants. There is a small park, where many events take place, as well as very interesting shops and places to eat surrounding the park. There is a small mall with several shops, supermarket, and movie theater, as well as a food court. It is a town rich in history. The people are also very friendly.

Understand
In 2016, it was home to 70,000 people.

El Hatillo was declared a national heritage due to the architectural value of the colonial houses in the area.

Get around
The entire region has paved roads, which are passable by all types of vehicles.

See

 * Grotto or monument to Pope Saint John Paul II — in the intercommunal La Trinidad - El Hatillo, between the entrance of avenue 2 of the La Boyera urbanization and the first entrance to the Los Pinos urbanization. The Saint John Paul II bust was made by the artist Jorge González and dated 2007.
 * Grotto or monument to Pope Saint John Paul II — in the intercommunal La Trinidad - El Hatillo, between the entrance of avenue 2 of the La Boyera urbanization and the first entrance to the Los Pinos urbanization. The Saint John Paul II bust was made by the artist Jorge González and dated 2007.
 * Grotto or monument to Pope Saint John Paul II — in the intercommunal La Trinidad - El Hatillo, between the entrance of avenue 2 of the La Boyera urbanization and the first entrance to the Los Pinos urbanization. The Saint John Paul II bust was made by the artist Jorge González and dated 2007.
 * Grotto or monument to Pope Saint John Paul II — in the intercommunal La Trinidad - El Hatillo, between the entrance of avenue 2 of the La Boyera urbanization and the first entrance to the Los Pinos urbanization. The Saint John Paul II bust was made by the artist Jorge González and dated 2007.
 * Cuevas del Indio Park — in the northern sector of the municipality on the Peñón de los Naranjos, near the East Cemetery, it is a mountain formed of limestone rocks covered by abundant vegetation, it is administered by the National Institute of Parks (INPARQUES). You can also visit the Cueva del Pio and the lime kiln that is 1 km from the base of the park.
 * Cuevas del Indio Park — in the northern sector of the municipality on the Peñón de los Naranjos, near the East Cemetery, it is a mountain formed of limestone rocks covered by abundant vegetation, it is administered by the National Institute of Parks (INPARQUES). You can also visit the Cueva del Pio and the lime kiln that is 1 km from the base of the park.

Do

 * Golf — in El Hatillo there is one of the main golf courses in the country (Lagunita Country Club).
 * Hatillo Music Festival is held annually for approximately two weeks, in which the most outstanding musicians of the country, as well as international artists, perform.

Buy

 * Paseo El Hatillo Shopping Center
 * La Boyera Shopping Center
 * Los Naranjos Gallery

title: El Hatillo


text:
El Hierro

El Hierro is the smallest island of the Canary Islands. El Hierro is a tiny planet, where you can find all the possible climates and landscapes (except the polar), from the desert around La Restinga to the most exuberant tropical in the Valverde area, without forgetting the beautiful and shocking volcanic landscapes.

Understand
It is the most western island of the Spaniard territory, and for long time, it was considered the end of the known world, where the zero meridian went through. Longitudes for locations were given as degrees east of the Ferro meridian. It was home to about 11,700 people in 2023, and covers 278 km².

The remoteness has meant that development has arrived later to El Hierro than for instance to the other Canary Islands. The island got an electrical grid in the 1970s, still in the 1980s there were hardly any cars, and most roads were paved only in the 21st century. The shortcut between the island's two biggest villages, the 2,240 m long Los Roquillos tunnel was built in 2003. As such, visiting the island can feel like going back in time.

In 2000, El Hierro was declared a Biosphere Reserve (the status was upgraded to geopark in 2014) by UNESCO which implies that most of the fauna and flora are protected. Also the coast is included in the Reserve, all the underwater life is protected. But being a Biosphere Reserve has some inconveniences, like the prohibition of camping or collecting fruits and fish from the nature.

Talk
The main language is Castilian Spanish, more exactly Canarian Spanish. As the Canary Islands have been a tourist destination for a long time, you can mostly get by in English.

Flora and fauna
El Hierro's size and geography supports entirely endemic species including the critically endangered El Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi), for which there is a captive breeding programme, allowing its reintroduction.

The non-barren parts of the interior rely on relief precipitation, not much more than the average of 19 rainfall days per year, high relative humidity and geothermal springs. This non-arid parts have thermophilous (geothermal heat-liking) juniper clumps and a pine forest with other evergreens. Several species of lesser known beaked whales live around the island.

Landscape
Like the rest of the Canary Islands chain, El Hierro is volcanic and sharply mountainous. The highest summit is Pico de Malpaso, 1501 m ASL. One eruption has to date been recorded on the island: from the Volcan de Lomo Negro vent in 1793, lasting a month. Between 2011 and 2012 a volcano was bubbling in the ocean south of El Hierro. Except as landscaped at its harbour towns the shore is rocky and in places precipitous.

Across the island goes the Cumbre, a forested volcanic mountain range. In the northeast is another plateau, in the northwest the El Golfo valley and in the southwest the slopes of El Julán. The landscape shows great contrasts: on one hand much of the island is high above the sea and steep cliffs make up most of the coastline, though on the other hand the highland is quite even and composed of fertile farmland.

Climate
Its Atlantic location makes it the first breaker of the trade winds, which is not uncommon for fog and abundant cloudiness in its northern part, especially in the capital Valverde and its surroundings.

Towns

By plane

By boat
Naviera Armas sails from Los Cristianos in Tenerife to Valverde (2 hours 30 minutes, one sailing a day).

Get around
The Túnel de Los Roquillos on the HI-5 highway may only be transited by vehicles that have a license plate; not on foot, by bike, e-scooter, horseback or the like. There are manned control booths at the tunnel openings, and one of the tasks of the guards is to watch that nobody gets into the long tunnel by a slow mode of transportation. If you need to get through, hitchhike or take the bus.

By car
A hire car is the best option for discovering the remote wilderness regions. They can be rented at the airport, in Valverde or Frontera. Reputable companies include CICAR, Cabrera Medina, PaylessCAR.

By thumb
On this small island, it's easy to hitchhike. Locals do it all the time, regardless of age, and you won't need to wait for long for someone to offer you a ride.

By bike
There are mountain bikes, e-bikes and normal bikes for rent. Some rental companies can bring the bike to your accommodation. The island is mountainous but the road tends to stay at the same level, if possible.

By bus
In the Canarian fashion, buses are called guaguas. They're operated by Transhierro - check the route planner on their website to see how to get where you want to go.

By taxi
Taxis run both day and night. Some operators include:

See

The island offers a rough and very varied nature. There is a lot of different vegetation and well-preserved, different volcanic-geological formations, for example huge fields with angular Aa lava and others with bread-like Pahoehoe lava (that's why the island has been a UNESCO since 2014 Geopark). Hiking is therefore highly recommended on El Hierro. Cave hikes or visits to the 50 or so El Hierros caves (often old lava tunnels) are also highly recommended.

The island's energy generation using five wind turbines south of Valverde is also interesting El Hierro and two water storage basins,  and, which, in the form of a pumped storage power plant, serve as energy storage for days with little wind.

Impressive lookout points include the lookout point the viewpoint with a restaurant,, the lookout point and starting point for a beautiful hike into the valley   (a good starting point for a hike into the valley), the lookout point , and the highest mountain on the island, the.

Do
It is the ideal place to take a rest for a few days; relax, enjoy nature, and go on peaceful walks in a quiet environment. More active pursuits include bike or horse riding, hiking, paragliding, and scuba diving.

Hiking
You can hike a lot on Hierro. It is particularly worthwhile in winter and spring, as the island is wonderfully green and not too hot at this time.

The hikes in the Pinar forest (Canary pines), through the fairytale Brezal Fayal Fog Forest (cloud-milking tree heaths and Gagel trees) and through the famous Sabinar forest with its curved juniper trees are particularly recommended. It is also worth making a detour to Malpaso, the highest mountain on the island. You should also make a detour to with its fire watchtower, which stands in the pine forest. You can also go from San Andrés to the holy, water-giving tree  hike. A must for every hiker is the ascent and descent of one of the old Mudanza trails from the Golfo valley to the plateau.

There are also several hiking guided tours available on-site, at the hotels, or at the Tourist Information in Valverde.

Swimming
There are few beaches and they are small. The locals and also many tourists like to swim in the natural swimming pools, of which La Maceta is the most visited, where you almost always meet other people. The other seaside resorts are usually visited alone.

Near the airport

East coast

 * - Very flat sandy beach, therefore suitable for children and surfers, the best beach for building sandcastles, ditches and walls in the sand, you can walk 50 m into the water and still stand, there is a bar nearby. Near the Puerto de la Estaca ferry terminal (drive through the tunnel)-

Quiet harbour beaches
that are protected from waves by the harbour wall:
 * below Valverde, with several floating islands
 * below Valverde, with several floating islands

Golfo Valley (Frontera)
West of the Pozo de la Salud :
 * , the only white beach (washed up bones and shells), looks a bit dirty due to the floating debris (wood, but also nets and plastic parts)

Far west
In the far west, below the juniper forest (Sabinar):
 * remote, steep pebble beach, but with dangerous ocean currents, which is why it is only suitable for sunbathing from autumn to spring

Boat trips and diving
There are 9 diving schools with their own boats in La Restinga in the summer 2018. Some of them also offer boat tours.

The island is advertised as a diving paradise in the travel guide because the southern part of the sea around the remote island is a statutory nature reserve in which the underwater photo competition Openfotosub takes place every year. Because of the reserve, a lot of species live there, and other ones go there to find food (whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles, etc.) You can buy your material or rent it. Each centre has its own boat to take scuba divers out to open water. The instructors, good experts of the underwater spots, will bring you to the most interesting places, passing through lava arches, visiting ballon-fish lairs, and a lot of other fascinating sensations.

Paragliding
Almost all year round you can see paragliders (Spanish parapente) over Frontera, who plunge into the depths on the steep mountain slope from one of the four starting points at Frontera (about 1350 m above sea level) or at Sabinosa.

Tandem flight with Renán (Parapente El Hierro, Flying over El Hierro in tandem), Calle la Corredera, Frontera. Mobile: +34 630 169 253, email: elhierroparapente@yahoo.es. Renán Andrés Morales is a member of the Spanish national team of aerial acrobats. He speaks Spanish and very good English. The main landing point is on the meadow in front of the town hall in Frontera. Price: €90 (2018).

Caves
There are about 50 relatively long and branched lava tube caves on the volcanic island stretching several hundred metres — one is 6 km long — which you can explore. There are also countless living caves in which you can spend the night.

There are also guided cave walks in German, Spanish and English. Many different types of caves are offered for exploration: in some, you have to climb, in some crawl, in some, you can walk quite comfortably.

 * CD Bajo Tierra El Hierro, the official cave association of El Hierro, offers visits to the island's lava tubes with its local speleologists. The participant then receives a certificate and documentation on the caves visited. Info by email in Spanish or English: bajotierraelhierro@gmail.com
 * El Hierro cave adventure (Aventuras en las Cuevas de El Hierro, guided cave hikes). Mobile: +34 666 953 587, email: buchung@hoehlenablebnis-el-hierro.com . 4-hour cave hikes and explorations including equipment. Price: €40 (2018)
 * El Hierro cave adventure (Aventuras en las Cuevas de El Hierro, guided cave hikes). Mobile: +34 666 953 587, email: buchung@hoehlenablebnis-el-hierro.com . 4-hour cave hikes and explorations including equipment. Price: €40 (2018)

Festivals
The most important festival of El Hierro is the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes, held every four years, on the first Saturday of July (the 2021 event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic - the next will take place in 2025). During the festival, the Virgin of the Kings (Virgen de los Reyes, patron saint of the island of El Hierro) is taken from her sanctuary in La Dehesa (in the municipality of La Frontera) and carried to the capital of the island, Valverde, making a tour of 44 km and running through all the towns of El Hierro.

The annual festival of the Virgin is celebrated every September 24.

Buy
The island isn't exactly a shopping destination. Most shops are geared towards the daily needs of the locals, such as supermarkets and hardware stores.

Eat
There is fresh fish in La Restinga. The rest of the island often features goat (cabrito) and rabbit (conejo) on the menu.

A food of the local people is gofio, roasted grain flour (corn, wheat and others) that is given to all children there - stirred in milk, sometimes sweetened with cocoa powder or honey - as a high-energy breakfast. Otherwise, gofio is also eaten with vegetable soups.

A typical dish of all the Canary Islands are the papas arrugadas, potatoes boiled in salt. Mojo rojo (hot) and mojo verde are offered as sauces. You should definitely try this, for example as a topping on bread with a little queso herreño (typical El Hierro cheese made from sheep, goat and cow milk).

A local specialty on El Hierro is a cake named quesadilla based on fresh cheese. There is a quesadilla bakery in Valverde. There you can buy the small cheesecakes made from the unique queso herreño (a cheese made from cow, sheep and goat milk), flour, egg, sugar and aniseed. There is also a bakery in Frontera that sells quesadillas. The quesadillas, which are only produced on the island, can also be bought in any supermarket.

You can buy dried figs, fresh pineapples and bananas from El Hierro all year round, and fresh mangoes from El Hierro in late summer. In the agricultural cooperative near the La Maceta bathing area (near Frontera) there are inexpensive and delicious bananas all year round.

Restaurants

Drink
In addition to the restaurants, there are also bars but these too are mainly places where people go to eat. You can find a couple of discos/nightclubs in Valverde. El Hierro is definitely no Playa del Inglés or Los Cristianos but rather a place to experience the Canary Islands without noisy nightlife.

In the summer there is a discotheque (El Submarino) in Frontera, which is in the former luxury residence of an alleged drug dealer, son of the builder of the first Spanish submarine, therefore with submarine access, directly on the sea near Frontera. The lion that was kept there until a few years ago no longer lives there.

Sleep
In addition to the hotels, there are a number of individual houses that short-term visitors can rent.

Tent and caravan
During the summer months, caravans can be seen all over the island, especially at the many swimming areas. In addition to the official campsite, there are, however, many opportunities to pitch your tent in a hiding place, be it in the forest, or secluded at Charco Manso (bathing area), or on one of the many abandoned, walled-in property that is heavily overgrown with hedges. It is important to the authorities that everything is left clean and not noticed.

Stay safe
The greatest danger is when swimming in the sea, especially in winter when the Atlantic is often very agitated even in good weather. On the beaches (e.g. Playa del Verodal) there is a strong undercurrent away from the land, and the bathing pools created by lava barriers (e.g. Charco Azul, Pozo de las Calcosas) are repeatedly (and surprisingly!) overrun by several breakers in winter.

Changes in the weather can also endanger the hiker. Suddenly rising fog in the Passatzone makes orientation difficult. Rainfalls lead to falling rocks and often cause entire slopes to slide down, making steep stretches in particular impassable. This can also affect the roads on the island. Speaking of traffic, there's little of it and people often drive slowly. Locals sometime park in the middle of the street, blocking the traffic, when going to a shop or something so watch for this.

Crime is hardly an issue on the island. It's a rural area where "everyone knows everyone" and cars and homes are often left unlocked.

Go next
To Tenerife or Gran Canaria by scheduled ferry or flights. If you're sailing your own ship, also other destinations would be possible.

title: El Hierro


text:
Elista

Elista is the capital of Kalmykia in Russia, containing many Buddhist temples, monasteries and architecture.

Understand
The city was founded in 1865, and has a population of just over 100,000. When, in WWII, a significant number of Kalmyks collaborated with the Germans during WWII, Stalin dissolved the Kalmyk ASSR, deported much of the citizenry to Siberia, and resettled the land with ethnic Russians and Siberians. Elista was named Stepnoy during this period. Only after Stalin's death were the Kalmyk people allowed to return, and the city resumed its former name. From then on, it witnessed some brighter days as the site of the 1998 Chess Olympiad (with the creation of a satellite village called Chess City even), the dedication of the tallest Buddhist temple in Europe by the Dalai Lama, and the establishment of many Buddhist and Lenin monuments by its enthusiastic mayor.

By plane

 * "ESL" redirects here; for the city in the United States, see East St. Louis

By train
The Moscow-Elista train route goes through Stavropol. However, the most convenient way is travel to Volgograd by train then on to Elista by express minivan, which are relatively cheap.

By bus
Several private companies operate a daily bus service between Moscow and Elista. The pickup point in Moscow is Luzhniki Stadium.

Get around
Mini-buses ply routes around the city.

Do

 * Drama Theatre
 * Puppet Theatre
 * Play chess

Buy

 * Kalmyk puzzle närn shanj (нәрн шанҗ)

Eat

 * Uralan (Уралан), Nomto Ochirova St., 9
 * Zheltaya Cheburechka, Ulitsa Pushkina 1. A little shwarma/cheburek hut that seems to win people's hearts and serves tea.
 * Chaykhana "Tamerlan", Ulitsa Imeni Yu 27A. Good-sized portions of kebabs, dumplings, soup, etc.
 * Gurman, Ulitsa Imeni Nomto Ochirova 9. Traditional dishes. Attached to the Kalmykia Museum.
 * Cafe Kalmyk Cuisine (Калмыцкая Кухня)

Drink
You can drink Kalmyk tea

Mid-range

 * Belyy Lotos, Khoninova Str., 7. Glassy exterior. Here you'll get a free breakfast and maybe some tea from a samovar. +7 960 897-18-18.
 * Belyy Lotos, Khoninova Str., 7. Glassy exterior. Here you'll get a free breakfast and maybe some tea from a samovar. +7 960 897-18-18.

Go next

 * Khurul Monastery - about 6 km from the city.

title: Elista


text:
Elizabeth

Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.

Understand
Elizabeth, along with its neighbor, Newark, is a major port and a major center of industry, but the city also has charm, including tree-lined streets with pretty houses.

By train
Elizabeth has two train stations, Elizabeth and North Elizabeth. New Jersey Transit runs through these train stations though its Northeast Corridor Lines and North Jersey Coast Lines. Both stop at the Elizabeth and North Elizabeth Stations. Amtrak does not have any trains that stop at Elizabeth; a majority of these trains stop near Newark, from where passengers can connect to an NJ Transit train. By far, traveling by train is the best method of travel other than automobiles and buses, because of its wide variety of destinations. is on W Grand Street while is at 1180 North Avenue.

By car
Coming from the south, the fastest way is I-95, which runs straight up the east coast, and from there you can take the New Jersey Turnpike directly into Elizabeth. You should take either Exits 13 or 13A to go into Elizabeth.

Elizabeth is a hub of several major roads including the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 95, Interstate 78, U.S. Route 1&9, U.S. Route 22, Route 27, Route 28, Route 82 and Route 439.

Elizabeth can also be accessed from Staten Island via the Goethals Bridge.

By bus
If you are traveling long-distance, Greyhound Buslines is the best choice for bus travel. Though you may have to arrive in Newark first, this should not be a problem to board another bus or train, because of Newark's close proximity to Elizabeth. The New Jersey Transit bus system and Coach US are also very reliable.

By boat
As of right now, there is no means of passengers getting to and from Elizabeth by ship. The only ships that can come into the Elizabeth port are marine and cargo ships. However, there are plans to develop a ferry system that will transport passengers to and from Elizabeth to New York.

By bus
NJ Transit has buses around Elizabeth including the Coach USA's ONE Bus; however, not all buses are available at nights or Sundays.

See
There are many historical landmarks throughout the city, such as the Art Deco Hersh Tower, St. John's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, and the City Hall building. Other historical landmarks or tributes are the Veteran's Monument dedicated to soldiers who were citizens of the city. There are also tributes to the members aboard the Challenger spacecraft, as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument. All of these are in Midtown Elizabeth. The newest monument displayed in front of the Elizabeth Train Station (itself a landmark, pictured in this article) is the 9/11 Tribute. It was dedicated to remember the citizens from Elizabeth who died on that day either in the line of duty or who worked in the World Trade Center.

In addition, the Union County Courthouse in Midtown and the Elizabeth Seaport are two destinations in the city that people find quite amazing.

Do
The city of Elizabeth offers a wide variety of things to see and do, depending on one's interest.

The Ritz Theatre on East Jersey Street in Midtown is a historical theatre that has been operating since 1926, and showcases many different shows, including stand-up comedy.

Some locals also go to the Dunn Sports Center which is connected to the Elizabeth High School. The Dunn Center is where the Elizabeth Minutemen play basketball and wrestle. During the spring and summer months, there are carnivals and parades throughout the city for all to attend. The weekend of Memorial Day, there is the "Tour de Elizabeth", which is a citywide bike tour. Most people also love going to Warinanco Park for Baseball, Soccer, and Track. People also enjoy rides in the park as well as ice skating in the skating rink. Warinanco Park connects Linden, Roselle, and Elizabeth.

Learn
Union County College has a campus on the border of North Elizabeth and Midtown Elizabeth. The Drake School of Business is also located on Broad St in Midtown. Kean University is located right on the border of Elizabeth and Union, New Jersey.

Buy
Elizabeth is home to the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, The Mills at Jersey Gardens. Features of this mall include the AMC-Loews Cineplex showcasing 20 movie screens, a large play area, as well as many comfortable couches and chairs throughout the mall that parents can sit while the children play. Others include stores such as Nautica, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Skechers, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and New Balance outlet stores. There are also many other well known stores that you can find in any part of the country, and a large variety of shoe stores. The food court is tremendous and offers many different kinds of food, including a Burger King.

Also for those who crave shopping, Broad Street in the Midtown district is the main area for shopping with a wide variety of department stores, the best known and largest of which is Shopper's World.

Elizabeth Avenue is home to many businesses, especially Hispanic-owned businesses such as fresh produce markets and travel agencies, as well as banks.

Eat
Restaurants range from the usual chains to little well-known eateries that have been around for years.

Budget

Sleep
Elizabeth is filled with hotels and motels all around. There is a great range that can suit the needs of many people.

Budget
If you are on a budget for a place to stay, then you are looking for some of the motels that are right along Rte 1&9.

Mid-range
If you are able to spend a pretty penny for a great place to stay, then the Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and the ExtendedStay Hotels are some to consider. They provide room services, complimentary items and indoor facilities.

Splurge
If you can splurge for the best experience available, the Hilton Hotel and the Sheraton Four Points Hotel are the hotels for you. If the Hilton or the Sheraton do not fit your needs, the Renaissance by Marriott and the DoubleTree Hotel which is in the sister city of Newark are both available and no more than 5 minutes away from the Jersey Gardens Mall.

Stay safe
Like many other urban cities in the United States, Elizabeth does have nice areas and bad areas. However, problems can be avoided with common sense. Do not go to areas of town you know nothing about during the night, without someone who knows the area well. It is not very likely that you will be a victim unless you make yourself a victim. The people of Elizabeth carry a mentality of handling their own business and not interfering with others. Thus, if you are walking alone at night, try to remain in well lit areas. It is relatively safe as long as you avoid staring at groups of people. Even if an activity looks suspicious, 9 times out of 10, they are not even worried about you unless you seem to pose a threat or meddle in their business like a police officer would do.

The downtown area close to the Port of Elizabeth can be very dangerous at night time even for the residents, so stay away from this area at night, and never ever handle large sums of money in public. Otherwise, walking through the city during daylight hours is not a problem, and you should have nothing to worry about. North Elizabeth, Elmora, and Elmora Hills are the calmest parts of the city, and the cleanest.

Also, Elizabeth is a very diverse city with ethnic groups consisting of a majority of Hispanic/Latino citizens from almost every Latin-American nation, especially Colombians, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans, along with Portuguese and Brazilians, and a large African-American community; others include Italians, Polish, Asians, and White Anglo-Saxons. Respect the diversity. Any racial remarks or slurs in any part of the city can result in major problems and confrontations.

Consulates

 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador

Go next

 * Newark
 * New York City

title: Elizabeth


text:
Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. It is located near the mouth of the Pasquotank River, and is the Gateway to the Outer Banks.

Founded as the town of Redding in 1793 on land acquired from Adam and Elizabeth Tooley. In 1794 the town was renamed Elizabeth, and in 1801 Elizabeth City. The name change has been variously attributed to honor either Queen Elizabeth I of England, who 200 years earlier spearheaded the colonization of the Carolina and Virginia coasts, or Elizabeth "Betsy" Tooley. Elizabeth City is in North Carolina's Inner Banks region, and is nicknamed the "Harbor of Hospitality".

Get in
Elizabeth City is at the junction of NC-158 and NC-17; driving is the only realistic option for arriving there (aside from flying a small plane or navigating a boat up the river).

Directions: From I-64 (VA): take 17 South to Elizabeth City (25MI), exit 264 to Elizabeth City // From I-95 North: take 64 East (Rocky Mount) follow 64 East to Williamston take 17 North to exit 255 to Elizabeth City // I-95 South: take NC 158 East to 17 South, to Elizabeth City

Get around
Elizabeth City has three taxi companies, Winslow's, Moore's, and M&M. Public transit is also available. Call the Inter-County Public Transportation Authority (ICPTA) at +1 252-338-4480. $3 Same-day Roundtrip.

Bicycling is somewhat popular, but the narrow streets and lack of sidewalks in parts of town can make it unsafe. As Elizabeth city is located along the Intracoastal waterway, boaters often take advantage of free docking in the harbor located downtown.

See
There is something for everyone in Elizabeth City...today the city is a distinctive Main Street community with six historic districts, including the waterfront where the famous Moth Boat was created in 1929. The town boasts a state university—once home to Roots author Alex Haley—and two Colleges; the largest Coast Guard air base in the country; and a new Museum of the Albemarle. So come and stay a while at Elizabeth City—where there really is something for everyone—and discover the good life daily!

Do
The annual Potato Festival is held in May.

Summer Speed Boat Races and Moth Boat Regatta on the Pasquotank River.

Carriage rides through the city's historic district.

Step shows and concerts at Elizabeth City State University.

Live theatre performances at the College of the Albemarle, as well as Encore Theatre.

Football games at Northeastern High School and Pasquotank High School are a town-wide affair.

Buy
Produce and local crafts at the Waterfront Market held on Water Street. Saturdays from May to October.

Eat
Whether you're looking for fine dining or a fun feast, Elizabeth City's restaurants create the atmosphere for you. Take your meal in an old train station, cozy up to your table in a movie theater, hang with the locals in their meeting place, or grab a bite at a bar and restaurant with nightly entertainment.

Mexican cuisine options include El Parian with cocktails and 3 Amigos with fast service.

Quality Seafood Co. sells fresh fish and shellfish to customers directly, and serves the same in its restaurant area. Groupers is another popular restaurant downtown combining seafood and entertainment.

Has two Japanese restaurants; Toyama is a downtown storefront with amazingly authentic sushi and kitchen entrees. Drinks imported from Japan. Volcano is in the Southgate Mall.

Dragon Buffet is next to Volcano in the mall. New Star is also family-owned and has generous portions of tasty food!

Cypress Creek Grill offers a classy atmosphere and delicious food. Owned and operated by Elizabeth City's own Bobby Plough. Located on Water St.

The Sandwich Market, a shop run out of a renovated barn on Selden Street, also offers great sandwiches and wraps--careful though, they close early! Pineapple Cafe on Halstead Boulevard offers a wide variety of breakfast choices, as well as a lunch menu.

Montero's is a high-end restaurant run by Elizabeth City's Andy Montero. Lovely gourmet food! Classic southern atmosphere.

Tony's is the city's premiere Italian restaurant, serving delicious authentic food.

Van's and The Circle offer both Greek and Italian Cuisine. The Villa Restaurant also serves breakfast all day.

Good chains include Applebee's, IHOP, and Ruby Tuesday's.

All the usual fast food chains are available. Most are located on Ehringhaus Street.

Drink
Muddy Waters Coffee House on Main Street, locally known as Muddy's, offers the region's best espresso bar with all the trimmings. Barista's from Muddy's have placed in national competitions.

Level's is the town's favorite bar. Karaoke is a frequent (if somewhat painful) occurrence. "Level's Idol" singing competition is held each summer for six weeks.

Coasters Downtown Draught House is a bar with a wide variety of draught beers that changes frequently. If you like beer, this is a great place to drink.

Sleep
Hotels & Motels:

Inns and Bed & Breakfasts:

Go next
Norfolk, VA, about 45 minutes north of Elizabeth City, offers many malls and artistic centers such as concert venues and museums.

The Outer Banks, 45 minutes east, are home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches. Makes a great day trip.

See Historic Edenton, 45 minutes west. Beautiful southern architecture and atmosphere. Movies have been filmed there!

title: Elizabeth City


text:
Elizabethtown

There is more than one place called Elizabethtown:

United States of America

 * Elizabethtown (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Elizabethtown (Indiana) - A town in Indiana.
 * Elizabethtown (Kentucky) - A town in Kentucky.
 * Elizabethtown (New York) - A town in New York.
 * Elizabethtown (North Carolina) - A town in North Carolina.
 * Elizabethtown (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.
 * Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) - A town in Pennsylvania.
 * Elizabethtown (Texas) - A town in Texas.
 * Elizabethtown (California) - A town in California.

See also:

 * Elizabethton - a town in Tennessee, spelled -ton rather than -town.

title: Elizabethtown


text:
Elizabethtown (Kentucky)

Elizabethtown is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Abraham Lincoln's parents Thomas and Nancy had their daughter Sarah here in 1807 and then Abraham nearby at Sinking Spring Farm in 1809.

Understand
In 1862, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan assailed the town in a hail of cannon balls, one of which lodged in the Joey Lee Building on the downtown square and can be seen to this day.

George Armstrong Custer also spent time here working to quell anti-freedmen violence and illegal distilleries.

Get in
Elizabethtown, often called "E-town" by locals, is a hub city located in Hardin County, Kentucky. It is served by Interstate 65, linking Louisville and points north with Nashville and points south. The Blue Grass Parkway links Elizabethtown with points east, including Lexington. Heading west is the Western Kentucky Parkway, which brings traffic from the Land Between the Lakes and Paducah.

Buy
There is a mini mall called "Towne Mall".

Eat
Penn Station is amazing.

Drink
City voters approved full retail alcohol sales on October 4, 2011, making "E-town" fully "wet". Previously, alcohol sales had been allowed only by the drink in certain restaurants (determined by seating capacity). Its neighbor of Radcliff and near-neighbor of Vine Grove also voted wet on the same day. The rest of Hardin County is dry, with two exceptions:
 * One private golf course (Pine Valley Golf Course) received approval from local voters to sell alcohol by the drink.
 * The city of West Point, in the far north of the county, has voted to allow sales by the drink in restaurants that seat at least 50.

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Elizabethtown consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but the entire 270 area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 364 as the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated.

Note that nearby Fort Knox is in area code 502, not 270/364. However, Radcliff, which borders directly on both Elizabethtown and Fort Knox, is in 270/364.

title: Elizabethtown (Kentucky)


text:
Elizabethtown (New York)

Elizabethtown is a tiny town of 1300 people in the Adirondacks region of upstate New York.

title: Elizabethtown (New York)