text:
Erzincan

Erzincan is a city in Eastern Anatolia. It's modern, on a grid pattern, as its predecessor was destroyed by an earthquake in 1939. In 2022 its population was 150,714.

Understand
The city stands at 1185 m altitude and has a continental climate, with a baking sun in summer and thick snow in winter. It's in a well-watered valley with agriculture and historic trade routes. In antiquity this region was Acilisene, part of Armenia, on the cusp between Persian and Byzantine control. Its heyday was in the 11th century, but it dwindled under Seljuk rule, and was wrecked by war and earthquake in the 13th century. It came under Ottoman control from the early 16th century.

For the next 400 years the Ottomans were a mighty force across south Europe and the Mediterranean, and Erzincan was a backwater, but that Empire was collapsing by the onset of the First World War in 1914. Turkey's rulers convinced themselves that the Armenians would side with the opposition to seize independence, and commenced systematic massacres to forestall this. Those in cities like Erzincan who survived were sent on death marches across the Syrian desert to concentration camps. Meanwhile the Russian army advanced into Erzincan, and held it until 13 Feb 1918 - the "13 Şubat" commemorated in the name of a main boulevard.

On 27 December 1939 Erzincan suffered an earthquake of magnitude 7.8, the largest ever recorded in Turkey, and equalled only by the 2023 Gaziantep quake. Some 20,000 died at the time, and another 10,000 in the following months from aftershocks and floods. The ruined city was therefore abandoned, and rebuilt on higher ground a few km north. This means that it has 20th century architecture on a grid pattern, and lacks the higgledy-piggledy medieval alleys and ancient buildings seen in other cities.

By plane
has daily flights from Istanbul (IST and SAW) and Ankara. It's modern and clean, with the usual facilities including car hire. It's 5 km southeast of city centre, a dolmuş runs downtown and in 2023 costs 5 TL.

By train
Doğu Express departs Ankara daily at 18:00, reaching Erzincan 16 hours later around 10:00. This train continues to Erzurum, another 4 hours, then to Kars, a further 4 hours. The return train leaves Erzincan around 16:00. There are couchettes and a buffet. The main stops along the route are Kayseri and Sivas: for details and tickets see Turkish Railways website.

A tourist version of this train runs daily year-round. The eastbound train makes long stops for sightseeing at İliç, Erzincan and Erzurum, while the westbound train calls briefly at Erzincan around 06:30 then makes long stops at Divriği and Bostankaya.

A regional train runs twice a day from Divriği, leaving at 05:00 and 16:00 and taking three hours. The eastbound return train leaves Erzincan at 14:30 and 05:30.

A high-speed line is under construction from Sivas towards Erzincan and Kars: completion is nowhere in sight.

is 500 m south of city centre.

By bus
Three buses a day run from Istanbul, taking 16 hours via Gebze, Izmit, Adapazarı and various routes across Anatolia, for a fare in 2023 of 900 TL. They continue east to Erzurum and Kars.

From Ankara buses take ten hours via Sivas. From Trabzon they take 3 hr 30 min.

Bus operators include Metro Turizm and Flixbus; Pamukkale don't run here.

the bus station is 3 km east of city centre at the junction of the bypass. The dolmuş downtown takes five minutes.

By road
From Istanbul follow O-7 (toll) onto E80 past Bolu and ever east.

Get around
Dolmuşes ply the main streets. Taxis wait along Ordu Cd, or you're sure to find one just dropping off.

You need your own wheels to reach the outer sights.

See

 * means "four roads" and it's the city's main intersection and plaza. Halit Paşa Cd joins from the west and becomes Fevzi Paşa Cd, 13 Şubat Cd joins from the south and becomes Ordu Cd. It's by no means scenic, but it's the obvious reference and rendezvous point. No statue of Atatürk? - don't worry, he's 500 m north along Ordu Cd.
 * (Ulu Cami) has a pleasant courtyard.
 * at the junction of Fevzi Paşa Cd and 793rd Sk is vast and modern. Many Turkish mosques are modern but in retro-Ottoman style, but this one from outside looks like a congress hall.
 * is a hill and public park with a view over the city.
 * is a park with mineral springs and picnic area (piknik tesisleri).
 * 12 km east of the city is a volcanic hillock that was inhabited for millennia. Best preserved is its Byzantine church, but of most archaeological interest is its Urartian settlement from 9th to 7th century BCE. The site is under excavation and in 2023 remains closed to visitors.
 * (Şelalesi) are 30 km southeast of the city. They're not a single drop, but several cascades descending 30-40 m. The area is a park, free to enter 24 hours.
 * (meaning "three springs") was once the Armenian village of Abrank (Ապրանք), but in 1915 that community was variously massacred, deported or fled. Two km south is the ruined 13th century Surp Tavit (Saint David) Monastery. By it are two 6-m tall khachkars, elaborately carved Armenian memorial stones: probably the finest still standing in Turkey, and maybe the tallest in the world. The approach road is in bad shape, so hike from the village rather than breaking an axle.

Do

 * Football: 24 Erzincanspor play soccer in TFF Second League, the third tier. Their home ground 13 Şubat Şehir Stadyumu (capacity 13,000) is next to Grand Mosque.
 * Olympic Swimming Pool (Olimpik Yüzme Havuzu) is 2 km northeast of city centre on Yunus Emre Cd, open M-F 08:00-23:00, Sa Su 10:00-23:00.
 * Ergan Dağı the mountain above Yaylabaşı, 20 km south of Erzincan, is a ski resort, and in summer has white-water kayaking.

Buy

 * Lots of small supermarkets, for instance Cankar Hipermarket at Ordu Cd 10, 100 m north of Dörtyol, open daily 08:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Erzincan döneri is the local specialty, served as a sandwich or together with rice and fried potatoes.
 * Dörtyol area has the main concentration of eating places.

Drink

 * Places near Dörtyol serving alcohol include Çarşı Izgara, Mozaik Cafe Bar and Çınar Restaurant all on Ordu Cd, The Well within Eliza Hotel, and Safir on Halit Paşa Cd.

Sleep

 * Karakaya Hotel is the shabby place at Fevzi Paşa Cd 40 where you end up if misled by Google Map, which shows a duplicate Grand Simay here.
 * Karakaya Hotel is the shabby place at Fevzi Paşa Cd 40 where you end up if misled by Google Map, which shows a duplicate Grand Simay here.
 * Karakaya Hotel is the shabby place at Fevzi Paşa Cd 40 where you end up if misled by Google Map, which shows a duplicate Grand Simay here.

Connect
As of Nov 2023, Erzincan has 4G from all Turkish carriers. There's a mobile signal along the main east-west highway through the district but lots of dead spots. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Erzurum east is next stop on the road into Georgia or Iran.
 * Trabzon on the Black Sea doesn't rate as a beach resort but has a surprising collection of mosques.
 * Kemaliye (or Eğin) is a beautiful old town 3 hours southwest.
 * Sivas to the west has three religious complexes and is connected by high-speed trains to Ankara.
 * Tunceli to the south stands out as a unique place due to its natural beauties, beaches with mountain views, Munzur River, and unexpected development despite sparse population.

title: Erzincan


text:
Erzurum

Erzurum is a city in Eastern Anatolia, and is the hub for visiting eastern Turkey.

Understand
Erzurum is the highest major city (population: 767,848 according to 2019 census) in Turkey, situated at an altitude of about 2000 metres above sea level. Combined with its relative distance to the sea, this makes the climate of the area one of the harshest in Turkey. Its hemiboreal climate, featuring temperatures of around -20°C during the long winter nights (and often no warmer than -10°C during winter days), rainy summers around 25°C in the day time and chilly at night, is likely the city's largest touristic obstacle.

The city hosted the international 2011 Winter Universiade (“university olympic games”).

By train
The Doğu Express runs daily from Ankara to Erzurum, departing at 18:00 and arriving 20 hours later around 14:00. This train continues to Kars, taking another 4 hours. The return train leaves Kars around 08:00 and Erzurum around noon. There are couchettes and a buffet. The main stops along the route are Kayseri, Sivas, and Erzincan, for details and reservations see Turkish Railways website.

There's also a "tourist" version of this train, running daily year-round. It makes long stops for sightseeing eastbound at İliç (for Kemaliye), Erzincan and Erzurum; the westbound train calls at Erzurum around 02:00 then makes long stops at Divriği and Bostankaya. You're tied to the train schedule without flexibility of stopover. The accommodation is in standard sleeping cars, which have been purloined from the conventional train, so the travel experience on that has been degraded.

A high-speed railway line is under construction from Ankara towards Erzurum and Kars. This greatly reduced journey times when the first section to Sivas opened.

By bus
Most bus services use Erzurum Otogar, which is about 10 km away from the city centre. Take a local bus or taxi to the centre.

As of 2022, buses from Trabzon in the north, on the Black Sea coast, take around 4½ and cost 180-200 TL, while buses from Diyarbakır in the south take a little more than 6 hours and have the standard fare of 230 TL.

Get around
Erzurum is a pretty small city, and you can cover most of it by foot, unless you are thinking of heading out and around the city, in which case, most public buses and taxis will be able to get you there.

See

Do

 * In summer you can hike up to the top of Palandöken (3,150 m above sea level) for fantastic views. There is a road (first paved up to some of the hotels, then a dirt road) up to the very top, but it is possible to take shortcuts when hiking. There are no marked trails, but the directions are clearly visible. It is good to start early to allow time to enjoy the views.

Buy

 * Oltutaşı (Oltu stone in Turkish) — This is a kind of jet which is extracted only in Oltu, a town near Erzurum. It is mostly chipped into jewelry, with different levels of quality and correspondingly different levels of prices. Look around in Erzurum. Taşhan is the best place to shop for Oltutaşı and it is also an interesting traditional building.
 * Silver — In jewelry shops in the center or on Taşmağazalar street, fancy authentic silver jewelry can be found.

Eat
Stockbreeding is widespread in the region, and there is little chance to cultivate vegetables and fruits in this high and cold land. Therefore traditional food is mainly dependent on meat.

The city is also known for different types of local cheese that is hard to find elsewhere in Turkey.

Kadayıf dolması — A must-taste local dessert of Erzurum cuisine. It is made from kadayıf, a sweet pastry that is lots of thin fibres of flour put together. Walnuts are stuffed in the kadayıf and the stuffed kadayıf is first fried, then cooled and finally ready to serve with addition of a sweet sauce. It may be sampled in virtually every restaurant in Erzurum, but some of the best can be tried in a specialist restaurant, Muammer Usta

Döner — Typical Turkish döner is really made well and should be tasted in Hacı Baba Restaurant (10AM-10PM) İsmetpaşa Cad. No : 15, +90 442 234 40 33.

Cağ kebap — local kebab of Erzurum, that you can have in Gelgor Restaurant. It is made with lamb meat and the preparation is like döner, but unlike döner, instead of a vertical axis, the meat is cooked on a horizontal axis.

Güzelyurt Restaurant — A very nice old restaurant right in the city center on Cumhuriyet Caddesi. You can have a good Turkish meal with some Turkish raki and enjoy the atmosphere.

Hmmburger — A very tiny small hamburger place. Hamburgers are really delicious.

Coffeebox — A local coffeeshop, with various pasta options and nice coffees.

Sleep

 * Renaissance Polat Hotel. Four stars hotel. 220 rooms. TV satellite. +90 442 232 00 10

Connect
There is 4G in Erzurum from all Turkish carriers. There's a mobile signal along the main east-west highway through the district but lots of dead spots. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * Doğubayazıt, Kars, Sarıkamış, Van, and Iran are nearby and further eastward destinations. Buses run by Star Ağrı Doğubayazıt heading for Doğubayazıt (170 TL, 2022, 4 hrs) depart daily at 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00 on weekdays, and at 12:00 and 15:00 weekends.
 * Hopa on the border with Georgia is around 5 hours away by bus. A Yeşil Artvin bus leaves from outside the Yeşil Artvin offices next to the Yeşil Artvin Otel three times a day, there is no need to travel to the Otogar outside of the city to catch the bus. The journey takes around 5 hours and costs 190 TL (2022). It is possible to book the bus online but turn up early to collect your actual ticket from the bus company office. The journey is a beautiful one, descending from around 2000 m to sea level through different landscapes.
 * For more Seljuk-era architecture, head west to Divriği with its UNESCO World Heritage listed Great Mosque. A daily train from Erzurum call at the town's station.
 * Trabzon, to the north of the Pontic Mountains is the main sea- and airport in eastern Turkey.

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

title: Erzurum


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Esbjerg

Esbjerg is a city in Southwestern Jutland. The town was once Denmark's biggest fishing harbour, and the harbour is still an economic driving force in the town. Esbjerg has grown into an important centre for education with campuses belonging to the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University. The town holds an annual music festival spanning two weekends (nine days) in mid-August.

Understand
The city of Esbjerg is Denmark's fifth largest city with a population of 71.500 (2024). It was established around the harbour, which the state had built here in 1868 as a replacement for the harbour in Altona (now Hamburg), lost in the 1864 war with Germany, that had been Denmark's most important North Sea harbour. In 1874, Esbjerg became connected by rail to Fredericia and Varde.

Esbjerg is also today an important harbour for all of Denmark, as off-shore industry, transport, energy, and commercial fishing forms the backbone of the city. However, there are also cultural attractions here as well to experience.

 * Tourist information website

Get in
Esbjerg no longer has passenger ferries.

By train
The train station is in the town centre and this connects you to pretty much all of Denmark and beyond.

From here, DSB operates InterCity trains to Copenhagen via Kolding and Odense and Regional trains to Aarhus via Fredericia. Arriva operates trains on the smaller lines south to Ribe, Tønder and Niebüll and north to Varde, Nørre Nebel and Skjern.

By plane

 * Billund Airport is western Denmark's biggest and better connected. It is about an hour's drive from Esbjerg and there's a bus connection.
 * Billund Airport is western Denmark's biggest and better connected. It is about an hour's drive from Esbjerg and there's a bus connection.

By bus
Express buses connect Esbjerg to Aalborg, Aarhus and Sønderborg as well as other towns in Denmark.

Get around
The town is centered around the harbour and shopping area (Skolegade, Kongensgade). As the town area is rather small, it is possible to get most places by walking. However, you might consider using the public bus operated by Sydtrafik for the more far sights as Fisheries- and Maritime Museum in Hjerting.

Do

 * Football: Esbjerg fB play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Blue Water Arena (capacity 18,000) one km north of city centre.
 * Football: Esbjerg fB play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Blue Water Arena (capacity 18,000) one km north of city centre.

Buy
Esbjerg City has some great options for shopping centred around the two main shopping streets. Kongensgade is a pedestrianised shopping street and has some 150 specialty shops and eateries. Torvegade, partly pedestrianised, is also worth a visit. The two converge right around the main square in town. Shopping hours are on weekdays from 09:00-10:00, to 17:30-18:00. On Saturday, most shops close down at 14:00. while Sunday nearly all shops remain closed.

In the northern part of Esbjerg, the malls and  offer even more shopping opportunities.

Eat
Esbjerg has some good options for eating out.

Drink

Skolegade is the street where most bars and clubs are located. It is in the center of the city.

 * Industrien - also serves a really good reasonably priced meal. The burgers are recommended. Occasionally live music
 * Dronning Louise - Good looking place right on the town square. Has got “English pub” style live music and a good selection of beer
 * Paddy Go Easy - Irish Pub

Go next

 * Legoland — the original Legoland is in the town of Billund, about an hour's drive from Esbjerg where Lego originates and the world heaquarters are located.
 * Ribe — Denmark's oldest city with a beautiful old town.
 * Rømø — an island in the North Sea connected to the mainland by a causeway. Known for its sand beaches, it's a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
 * Sylt — a German island likewise known for its beaches; accessible by train from the German mainland or by ferry from Rømø.
 * Wadden Sea National Park — the North Sea coast has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuing south into Germany and the Netherlands.

title: Esbjerg


text:
Escaldes-Engordany

Escaldes-Engordany is a parish (administrative division) mainly to the east of Andorra La Vella but with main village of the same name 1.6 km N of the capital of Andorra on the road to La Massana and Ordino.

Get in
By car, take the CG2 direction Pas de la Casa and France and turn north into Ave der Pessebre. Route map at |EUR&isAvoidFrontiers=false&isFavoriseAutoroute=false&isAvoidPeage=false&isAvoidVignette=false&isAvoidLNR=false&carTypeHidden=Citadine&caravaneHidden=false&typeCarbHidden=essence&autoConso=6.8&villeConso=6&routeConso=5.6&carbCost=1.3&dtmDeparture=19/08/2007 ViaMichelin - Andorra La Vella to Escaldes-Engordany. Parking is available at Carrer del Prat Gran.

By bus, with the exception of e (express) bus to Sant Julia de Loria, all of the Andorra's local bus routes (L1 through L6) have stops in Escaldes-Endogrdany. International bus line between Toulouse and Andorra la Vella also stops here.

If you are in Andorra la Vella, simply walk east. Once you passed Carrer del Valria, you are in Escaldes-Engordany. If you don't prefer to walk, the LC circular bus route takes you from Andorra la Vella and back.

Get around
The entire tourist area can be explored on foot. Av. Carlemany is pedestrian street and closed off to traffic from 12:00 to midnight daily.

The greater part of Escaldes-Engordany stretches towards Spain and the east. Some wonderful walks are to be had up the Riu Madriu direction Pics del Pessons, the "lakes" and the Coll de Vall Civera.

Do

 * The 5-day Coronallacs hiking trail starts and finishes in Escaldes-Engordany.
 * The 5-day Coronallacs hiking trail starts and finishes in Escaldes-Engordany.

Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
The cultural landscape of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, which was inscribed in the World heritage list in 2006, can only be accessed on foot. It offers great hiking and climbing possibilities in summer and in winter ski mountaineering or walking with snowshoes is an option.
 * One entrance to the valley is a short bus ride or just over an hour walk from the oldest part of Andorra la Vella.
 * Start at gas station
 * Take Cami de la Muntanya (mountain path) until it crosses a road (Ctra de la Comella i de la Plana) which takes about 20min
 * At this point you will be in the valley and can continue hiking on the mountain path for hours

Buy
Similar to Andorra la Vella, Av. Carlemany has plenty of brand name fashion, electronics and jewellery. It is worth shopping around to find the best deals.

Drink
A number of restaurant pubs can be found along Av. Carlemany or its side streets.

Connect
The stretch of Avinguda Carlemany in Escaldes-Endogrdany that continues west on the same street as Avinguda Meritxell in downtown Andorra la Vella has free public WiFi.

Go next
Andorra la Vella is the obvious choice as it is right beside Escaldes-Engordany. You may have crossed the Carrer de la Valira street without realizing that it is the boundary between Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany.

You can also head to La Massana and Ordino in the north and Encamp, Canillo, Soledu and Pas de la Casa in the east.

title: Escaldes-Engordany


text:
Escambia County

Escambia County is the name of two counties in the United States of America:
 * Escambia County (Alabama)
 * Escambia County (Florida)

title: Escambia County


text:
Escanaba

Escanaba is in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan, United States of America.

By car

 * Escanaba is commonly reached by highway. State Highway M-35 is a scenic drive along Lake Michigan to Menominee and the Wisconsin border. Highways US-2 and US-41 share a combined stretch of road that lead North into the communities of Gladstone, Rapid River, and the Hiawatha National Forest.

By bus

 * Indian Trails bus service serves many stops in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. In Escanaba, buses arrive daily at the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) terminal.

Get around

 * Many locations in Escanaba can be reached on foot or bicycle as the city is not very large.
 * Citywide and countywide public transportation is provided by the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA). DATA does not run traditional bus routes, instead operating its fleet of seventeen busses on a dispatcher-coordinated on-demand service.
 * There are three taxi options for travelers: Escanaba Taxi co., JN Taxi, and Delta Taxi Service.

Do
At the end of Ludington Street is the beautiful Ludington Park. Playgrounds are plentiful as poppies and the beach is always welcoming. Be sure to come around the Fourth of July for an excellent lakeside fireworks display.

title: Escanaba


text:
Escárcega

Escárcega (full name Francisco Escárcega) is a small city of 31,000 people (2020) in the state of Campeche, at an important junction between Mexico's Federal highways 261 and 186. The route between Escarcega and Chetumal is known as the Ruta Rio Bec where a number of Maya archaelogical sites can be found.

By car
Federal Route 261 provides a secondary, inland alternative to the main route from Villahermosa to Mérida. Route 186 traverses the sparsely populated southern half of the Yucatán, between Escárcega and Chetumal.

By train
Escarcega is a key station on the Tren Maya intercity high-speed rail line. The three train lines converge at Escarcega, making it the most important transfer point for changing trains bound for Cancun, Chetumal, or Palenque. All trains on all lines stop at Escarcega.

Understand
The location of Escárcega at highway intersections has made it a stop for truckers and long distance buses. Widely considered the least charming town in the Yucatan Peninsula, there is no reason for travelers to make a special trip here, nor to linger longer than needed while in transit to elsewhere. Basic food, lodging, and supplies can be obtained here if needed, but don't expect anything beyond that.

See
Escárcega is a nondescript city with very little of interest to traveler except as a place to wait to change buses or change trains.

Do
Escárcega is a place to change buses. Overland travelers from Cancun, Merida, Campeche, and other sites in the Yucatan pass through Escárcega on their way to Chiapas and Palenque.

Sleep

 * A small, clean budget hotel is located near the bus terminal.

Go next

 * Follow the Ruta Rio Bec to Xpujil
 * To the west along Federal Highway 186 are several less visited Maya ruins, Siviltuk, Chicana, Becan, and Xpujil; beyond that the highway continues into the state of Quintana Roo and its capital Chetumal.
 * To the north, Highway 261 leads to the city of Champoton and beyond that the state capital of Campeche
 * To the north-east, via 186, 258, and 180, is Ciudad del Carmen.
 * To the south-east, 186 continues towards the state of Tabasco, including the city of Villahermosa. The famous Maya ruins of Palenque are a bit south of the highway before Villahermosa.

title: Escárcega


text:
Escobedo (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Escobedo:
 * Ciudad General Escobedo, a suburb of Monterrey, Mexico
 * Pedro Escobedo, a city in the state of Querétaro, Mexico

title: Escobedo (disambiguation)


text:
Escondido

Escondido is a city in North San Diego County in Southern California.

Get in
Escondido is located 30 miles north of San Diego on I-15, and 20 miles east/inland of Oceanside on State Route 78. The nearest major airport is the San Diego International Airport in San Diego. The nearest general aviation airport is Palomar Airport in Carlsbad.

The North County Transit District (NCTD) operates bus routes throughout northern San Diego County, as well as the Sprinter, a new light rail line running along Route 78 between Escondido and Oceanside.

Buses and the Sprinter train calls at, located at 700 W Valley Pkwy.

Go next

 * San Marcos (California)
 * Ramona
 * Julian
 * Temecula

title: Escondido


text:
Eshowe

Eshowe is the oldest town of British settlement in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and is a good base to see the Zulu culture. The town is enmeshed with the Dlinza forest, one of five remaining coastal scarp forests in Kwazulu-Natal.

Understand

In 1861, Reverend Hans Schroeder of the Norwegian Mission Society was given permission by King Mpande to start a mission station nearby.

During the Anglo-Zulu War, in 1879, British forces occupied the mission but the fort was besieged by Zulu forces for 10 weeks. The Zulu forces razed the fort to the ground, much as it is today near the town of Gezinsila.

Fort Nongqayi was built by the British in 1883, and the town served as the administrative headquarters of Zululand.

The Eshowe area has been home or base at one time or another to four Zulu kings: Shaka, Mpande, Cetshwayo, and Dinizulu.

Eshowe is inland and set on an elevation, and is cooler than Durban in summer. During the wet season, it is often misty, and is reputed to have the third highest rainfall in South Africa. South Africa has awarded Eshowe its most picturesque town award at least once, to which a drive through its suburbs will attest.

In 2011, it was home to 15,000 people.

By car
Drive up the N2 from Durban, turn left at the Dokodweni Plaza onto Route 66. Carry on straight for roughly 30 km, passing turn-offs to Gingindlovu and Mtunzini. There are two turn-offs to Eshowe, one at the bottom of a large hill (best to take if headed to George hotel) and the second is at the top of the large hill, taken by turning left at the first traffic light encountered. Ask your guesthouse which turn-off is best.

By minibus taxi
Minibus taxis leave/arrive at the main taxi rank in Eshowe. To get to the taxi rank, follow the road that leads off Main Street between the roundabout (outside KFC) and the George Hotel. Minibus taxis leave when full.

To Durban - Cost: R70. The dropoff in Durban is on Umgeni Road and Fynn Street, in front of Durban Station.

To Empangeni - Cost: R30. 1 hour.

To Melmoth - Cost: R20. 45 minutes.

By bus
The Baz Bus stops at Zululand Backpackers and the George Hotel. The fare from Durban is R225.

Greyhound runs bus service to Melmoth, 48.3 km from Eshowe. You can take a minibus taxi from Melmoth to Eshowe for R20.

Provincial public buses (2 a day, mornings) also leave from the taxi rank daily. The journey takes around 2 hours.

Get around
It is possible to walk from end to end in the Town Centre (about 20 minutes at a medium pace). The entrance to the boardwalk and visitor centre is a further 25 minute walk away from the Pick n' Pay centre. A car may be easier, but is not essential if you have time on your hands. Taxis can help you visit sights you think may be too far to walk.

Eat
Memory Lane Coffee Shop in the Pick n' Pay shopping centre offers meals and an environment frequented by (often retired) locals, where you may get a chance to learn more about the town if you ask nicely enough. Ask to see the coffee shop's copy of an old Zululand Times magazine which provides insight into and experiences from the past. Memory Lane also has a separate ice-cream and milkshake cafe next door.

The Sports Club and the Bowling Club offer an a-la-carte menu and a pub/bar, and are open for lunch and dinner (relatively formal).

There are standard South African fast food outlets such as Spur, Steers, Debonaires, KFC and Nando's.

Pop-in Cafe, up the hill from Super-Spar walking toward town, offers a selection of popular South African working-man meals, such as samp and beans, curry dishes, Vetkoek and 'Russians'. They have a sit-down section, or you can eat under the tree in the park outside.

To sample the fare enjoyed by locals, head to either of two town centre butcheries, that offer an offstreet barbeque. Hear the sizzle and smell your way there.

Stay safe
While the level of crime affecting tourists is generally low, caution and sensibility is advised, especially for female travellers.

Go next

 * Durban - the third largest city in South Africa, 150 km from Eshowe
 * iSimangaliso Wetland Park
 * Mtunzini - coastal town, home to the Umlalazi Nature Reserve
 * Amatikulu Nature Reserve and the nearby Prawn Shack
 * Siyaya Coastal Park - 42 km of unspoilt coastline stretching between Amatikulu Nature Reserve and Umlalazi Nature Reserve. Most easily accessible from either of the reserves.
 * Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park

title: Eshowe


text:
Eskdale Green

Eskdale Green is a small village in Cumbria at one end of the Eskdale Valley. The hamlet of Boot has an old corn mill in the heart but wander south away from the mill to find the little old church by the river. The only sounds to be heard are the water, the birds and probably the odd sheep. To the north is Wast Water and the highest lake district peaks of Scarfell and Scarfell Pike.

Get in
It can be found when travelling by car from Holmrook on the western coast of Cumbria or more popularly by train from Ravenglass. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, better known as the La'al Ratty, winds its way from Ravenglass on the coast through the valley of Eskdale past

and terminates at.

See
Boot is but a stones throw from the terminus of the railway and is probably of more interest to the traveller.

title: Eskdale Green


text:
Esker Trail

Esker Trail is a 5.7-km trail in Birds Hill Provincial Park which is 24 km northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The park protects areas representative of Aspen/Oak parkland. It is looped trail starting at the riding stable that connects to the Chickadee and Bluestem trails at Griffiths Hill. There is a sharp decline at Griffiths Hill.

Get in
From the main park entrance on Highway 59, take the north park drive to Nimowin Road. Turn left on Nimowin Road and take the first road to the left until reaching the large parking area. The trail starts behind the restaurant.

GPS waypoints
Latitude and longitude in this table are derived from GPS measurements taken on the trail. Elevations are from Google Earth.

Trail description
In spring, summer and fall, permitted uses are horseback riding, horse- drawn carriage, hiking, and running. In winter, it is groomed for cross-country skiing. The ski trail is intermediate level.

In this section, the bold numbers indicate total distance in kilometers from the start of the hike, while the numbers in brackets refer to a GPS waypoint in the table above.

While the trail surface is easy for walking, there are many areas that are often muddy or flooded, so waterproof hiking boats are a must. Insect repellent is also a good idea, particularly for the return portion of the trail.

0.0 Walk past the front entrance of the restaurant at (1). The trail starts at (2). This area is riddled with lots of trails, many of which are predominantly used for cross-country skiing. There are two marked hiking trails that start here, the Esker Trail and the Lime Kiln Trail. Both follow the same path initially. While there are many trail intersections, the Esker Trail is easy to follow, with a distinctive yellow sign pointing you in the right direction at every junction.

After a short portion of grassy trail which may require dodging around some parked horse-drawn sleds, the trail joins a wide dirt horse trail. Watch where you step. After 0.6, at (3), the trail branches left and becomes grassy again. At (4) 0.8, the esker and lime kiln trails split, with the esker trail veering left. As with all junctions, this one is well marked.

At 2.5 you reach a clearing. There is an outhouse (5) and a warming hut used by skiers in the winter. The trail continues to the right, but first, take the path past the warming hut to a lookout tower (6) at 2.6. Interpretive signs at the base of the tower and at the top explain the geology of the area and point out sights that may be visible from the top. It appears that the surrounding trees have grown up substantially since the tower was constructed, and much of the view is now obscured. Bird's Hill is the highest point within 30 km, rising 30 metres above the surrounding prairie.

Return to (5) and take the trail to the left. The trail descends steeply and enters darker, denser forest where insects are more likely. At (8), 4.1 from the start, you find yourself proceeding parallel to the outbound trail. At 4.8 you reach a 5-way intersection (9). Bear slightly right. You will pass an equestrian arena at (10). The trail rejoins the outbound trail at (3), 5.1 from the start. Retrace your steps along the first part of the trail, reaching the parking lot after a total of 5.7 km.

title: Esker Trail


text:
Eskişehir

Eskişehir (pronounced Ess-KEE-shay-hear) is a city in Western Anatolia, 228 km west of Ankara. In 2021 it had a population of 898,369, with almost as many again in the wider metropolis. Its name means "old town" but the old quarter is compact; most of it is a new town with a buzzing student population, astride transport routes between Istanbul, Ankara and the Mediterranean coast.

Understand
Somewhere beneath these streets is Doryleaum, the city founded by the Phrygians when they abandoned Karachisar their stronghold further south. They emerged as a civilisation around 1200 BC and disappeared in the 7th century AD, assimilated into the Byzantines. Their heartland was the region to the south called the Phrygian Valley and the museums hold many of their artefacts, but little of their buildings or monuments survive. Conquering armies, earthquakes and plundering of masonry have taken their toll but ultimately a more destructive force here and elsewhere in Turkey has been Devrim, now in turn a museum piece. That was the name of Turkey's first home-produced car, hand-crafted in Eskişehir: it flopped as a model, as did the project to make the country self-sufficient in vehicles, but mass automobile ownership and manufacture certainly took off from 1960. Devrim also aptly means the future, one in which boulevards were carved through ramshackle Ottoman town centres, and modern industry supplanted traditional trades.

In Eskişehir development spared much of Odunpazarı, the compact old town surrounding Kurşunlu Mosque. New town is focused 2 km north on Köprübaşı, the main bridge crossing the Porsuk River via a small island. Boulevards of honking traffic radiate north from the bridge to the railway station (on the Istanbul-Ankara high speed line), business districts and airport. The lively riverside strip is called Adalar, "islands" though there's only one. Southeast from Adalar is Hamamyolu, a pedestrianised street with a broad leafy strip in the middle. Many buildings in these central areas are retro-Ottoman rather than the original.

For Eskişehir the future now means a knowledge economy not metal-bashing, and there are three large universities: Anadolu, ETI and Osmangazi. These total some 90,000 students, 10% of the city population. It was already a progressive-minded place through 19th century arrivals from Crimea and the Balkans, fleeing the last throes of the decrepit Ottomans and supporting Atatürk's secular republican reforms. Add all those students and their lecturers and it becomes a haven of liberalism in a largely conservative region. It also means that amongst the young, you will find more fluency in English and other major European languages than elsewhere in Turkey.

Climate is semi-arid and continental; summers are hot and dry, winters are cold and snowy, autumn and spring are mostly mild albeit with a short storm season in spring.

By plane
Best fly to one of the Istanbul airports or Ankara. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen is the most convenient as you can take a taxi or bus 10 km to Pendik station, then train to Eskişehir.

By train
Eskişehir is near the fork in Turkey’s YHT high speed railway network, with frequent fast trains from Istanbul, Ankara, Konya and Karaman.

From Istanbul, 11 trains take 3 hours via Pendik, Gebze, Izmit and Arifiye (for Adapazarı), and mostly continue to Ankara. Change in Ankara for cities in the east.

From Ankara, 13 trains take 90 min via Polatlı. From Konya three trains take 90 min; one starts in Karaman. Change in Konya for buses to Antalya and Alanya, and connections to Adana. Buses to Bursa (2 hr 15 min) connect at Eskişehir with the YHT trains.

The overnight train between Istanbul and Ankara calls at Eskişehir at around 01:00 westbound and 04:00 eastbound. There is also a sleeper taking 11 hours from Izmir and a daytime train taking 6 hours from Denizli, for Pamukkale.

is in the modern district of Hoşnudiye, 3 km northwest of downtown and 5 km from the old quarter. Trams connect to the centre.

By road
The city is 335 km southeast of Istanbul, 228 km west of Ankara and 144 east of Bursa.

From Istanbul go east on O-7 (toll) to Adapazarı then D650 south to Bozüyük, then D200 east.

You could also leave O-7 at Gebze for O-5 south to Bursa, then O-22 onto D200 east through İnegöl.

From Ankara follow D200 / 90 southwest via Polatlı. Don't follow signs for Istanbul, as the direct highway sweeps well north via Bolu.

By bus
Buses from Istanbul run every hour or so and take 5-6 hours, for a fare in 2024 of 450 TL. They mostly continue to Ankara, another 3 hours.

Buses from Bursa take 2 hr 15 min via İnegöl. From Antalya is 7 hours, from Izmir 7 hours, and from Adana 10 hours.

Bus lines include Metro Turizm, Pamukkale and Flixbus.

is by Highway D200 three km northeast of town centre. Take the tram downtown.

Get around
Walk: old town sights are in a compact area around Kurșunlu Mosque.

Trams: Line 1 starts from the bus station (Otogar) and loops through old town / Odunpazarı (Atatürk Lisesi), the modern centre / Köprübaşı (Çarşı), Doktorlar Cd (İsmet İnönü), the railway station (Espark), and the Yunus Emre campus (Anadolu Üniversitesi) to SSK interchange. There it connects with suburban Line 8 to Batikent and Line 9 to Çamlıca.

Line 4 also runs from the bus station through old town, then heads west to Osmangazi University. Line 3 makes the third side of the triangle, from Osmangazi University to Çarşı then with Line 1 north to the railway station, Yunus Emre campus and SSK interchange.

Line 7 from Osmangazi University runs through the south suburbs to Çankaya.

From the southeast, Line 10 runs from Sehir Hospital and Line 12 from Yil to old town. Line 12 there joins Lines 3 and 4 to Osmangazi University, Line 10 goes north to the Opera and Kimlubel.

Dolmuşes and public buses cover the rest of the city. The city also has a small fleet of 19th century-looking fayton horse-drawn carriages.

Taxis: On the main streets, you’ll see buttons looking like electric switches on walls, trees, etc. Push the switch and the taxi at the nearest rank will come and pick you up.

Odunpazarı
Colourful renovated Ottoman houses line the cobbled streets of Odunpazarı, the old town 2 km south of the modern centre.

Elsewhere

 * is a park on the banks of the Porsuk River, with an artificial beach and a lake. It's 3 km east of town centre, just south of the bus station, and accessible free 24 hours.
 * Love Island: don't get your hopes up. It's a small bosky island in the Porsuk River 500 m west of Kentpark, accessed by a bridge from the south bank, popular with smooching couples.
 * is a park on the banks of the Porsuk River, with an artificial beach and a lake. It's 3 km east of town centre, just south of the bus station, and accessible free 24 hours.
 * Love Island: don't get your hopes up. It's a small bosky island in the Porsuk River 500 m west of Kentpark, accessed by a bridge from the south bank, popular with smooching couples.
 * is a park on the banks of the Porsuk River, with an artificial beach and a lake. It's 3 km east of town centre, just south of the bus station, and accessible free 24 hours.
 * Love Island: don't get your hopes up. It's a small bosky island in the Porsuk River 500 m west of Kentpark, accessed by a bridge from the south bank, popular with smooching couples.
 * Love Island: don't get your hopes up. It's a small bosky island in the Porsuk River 500 m west of Kentpark, accessed by a bridge from the south bank, popular with smooching couples.
 * 5 km southwest of downtown is a huge leisure complex. Officially it's the Science, Culture and Art Park, but you won't be overly troubled by those. Its main attractions are
 * The Zoo, open Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. Bilim is an events venue within the zoo.
 * Underwater World is the aquarium, open Tu-Su 10:00-17:00.
 * Science & Space Centre, open Tu-Su 08:30-17:30.
 * Turkish World is a cultural centre.
 * Esminyatürk: scale models of landmark buildings from around the Turkic-speaking countries.
 * Japanese Garden, just west of the large parking lot.
 * Fantastical Castle (don't call it Disney or the lawyers will all descend) with games inside.
 * Noah's Ark near the castle is closed and derelict in 2024.
 * Pirate Ship open daily 09:00-19:00.
 * A miniature railway chunters round the extensive park.

Further out

 * Odunpazarı Botanik Park is on the road out to Karacahisar, open daily 08:00-00:00.
 * 10 km southwest of town is the scrappy ruins of a Byzantine hilltop fortress, open 24 hours. It was built (or re-built) around 1175 but soon after fell to the Seljuks or their allies the Germiyanids. In 1288 it was captured by the Ottomans, in those days a small semi-nomadic tribe based in nearby Söğüt. Ottoman mythology dates the capture earlier, to portray it as a first victory for Islam against the Byzantine Christians, but it was their fellow Muslims that the Ottomans hacked to bits here.
 * is on a hillside at the south edge of Seyitgazi town, 40 km south of Eskişehir. It's a Seljuk-built külliyesi or religious complex dedicated to the folk hero Battal Gazi (605-740 AD). He's probably fictional, but his deeds became intertwined with those of a real 8th century Islamic warrior, and have been embellished in films. The complex was extended by the Ottomans, and consists of a mosque, a madrasa, a dervish lodge, and a caravanserai serving traders and pilgrims.
 * is a village 27 km south of Seyitgazi and 70 km south of Eskişehir, with rock-cut reliefs in its valley walls. Best of these, just south, is "Midas Throne" built 7th century BC, but probably after that king's death. It was also a shrine to the Phrygian mother goddess Cybele, whose cult long preceded and outlasted Midas, as it was exported by the Romans across their far-flung empire.
 * Phrygian Valley is an unofficial name for the rocky countryside starting at Yazılı and extending over a wide area, with numerous Phrygian rock-cut tombs and other ancient sites.

Do

 * Hamams: a dozen traditional Turkish baths are in the streets around Çarşı Mosque. Women and men have separate sections.
 * Kılıç Lunapark is a family-oriented funfair on İsmet İnönü Cd, west side of Capella Hotel. No overall admission, you pay for separate rides.
 * Football: Eskişehirspor were relegated in 2023 from TFF Third League, the fourth tier, so they now play soccer down in the regional amateur leagues. Their home ground New Eskişehir Stadium (capacity 32,500) is west edge of town on Sazova Science, Art and Culture Park.

Learn

 * Anadolu University has 22,622 undergrads and 1672 postgrads on site, but almost 2 million participate in its distance education. It has about 1700 academic and 1800 non-teaching staff. Its main Yunusemre Campus is 6 km north of town centre.
 * Osmangazi University has about 30,000 undergrads, 5100 postgrads and 1500 academic staff. The main campus is 5 km west of town centre.
 * Eskişehir Technical University (ESTU), established in 2018, has 12,000 students and 600 academic staff. Their campus is by the airport, which they run.

Buy

 * Lots of ATMs and small stores. Credit cards are accepted in most places.
 * Meerschaum souvenirs are often in the form of tobacco pipes.
 * Atlıhan is a shopping centre off Pazaroğlu Sk in a renovated caravanserai, with handicraft shops ranged around its courtyard.
 * Espark is a modern shopping mall northeast side of the railway station, open daily 10:00-22:00.
 * Haller Gençlik Merkezi 100 m east of Espark is a smaller but more interesting bazaar with cafes, bars and small shops.

Eat

 * Donas is a wrap of chicken meat, potatoes, and a dash of vegetables, all slathered with sauce. It's sticky, tasty, hearty, and cheap.
 * Çi börek (or çiğ börek) is a Crimean Tatar delicacy, a deep fried pastry of thin, half moon-shaped dough filled with minced meat and onion lightly sprinkled with black pepper. True Tatars eat it by hand, perhaps with a napkin, so they don't provide forks in their eateries. Examples are at Şeh Şemşettin Sk 11 just north of Kurşunlu Mosque, at Atatürk Blv 97 west near ETI Museum, Papağan Çiğbörek (below), and Porsuk Çibörek nearby.
 * Pizza and other western fast food outlets are near the roundabout just east of the Ibis Hotel and down the strip southeast to the Porsuk bridge.

Drink

 * Haller Gençlik Merkezi near the railway station (see Buy) has several pubs and wine bars.
 * Vural Sk leading downtown from the railway station has Campus (formerly Station), Las Vegas Live, Beer O'Clock, Varil Pub, Beerschot Eskişehir, Cuba Bar, Tuttis Super Pub, Sünger Teras, No 46, Peyote, Social and Fedfull.

Mid-range

 * Soyic Otel is next to Atışkan Otel at Yunus Emre Cd 95.
 * Arslan Otel is next along the street at Yunus Emre Cd 101.
 * Arslan Otel is next along the street at Yunus Emre Cd 101.

Connect
The city and surrounds have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Feb 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Kütahya to the southwest makes beautiful faience tiles, which decorate its mosques.
 * Çavdarhisar has the Roman site of Aizanoi, with the Temple of Zeus.
 * Söğüt is the unremarkable little town to the northwest where the Ottomans emerged to bestride the continent and history.
 * Konya to the south was the base of the "Dancing Dervishes".
 * Sivrihisar to the east is an attractive old town with a UNESCO-listed wooden mosque.
 * Polatlı further east is where the Greek invasion was turned back in 1921 in the War of Independence.
 * Unmissable Ankara lies another 80 km east of Polatlı.

title: Eskişehir


text:
Gebze

Gebze is a city in Eastern Marmara, 65 km east of Istanbul. It's a sprawling industrial conurbation, with a population of 392,945 in 2020.

Traditionally you came here to take the ferry from Eskihisar across the Gulf of Izmit towards Yalova and Bursa. You can still do so, but most travellers nowadays cross by the bridge and bypass Gebze.

Understand
The settlement is probably thousands of years old but was first documented in 281 BC, when it was known as Dakibyza or Libyssa in the kingdom of Bithynia. That kingdom battled Roman expansion but succumbed in 85 BC, so Gebze was under Roman / Byzantine rule until falling to the Ottomans in 1330. It's on major trade routes, overland from the east and by sea from the west and from the Black Sea regions. In the late 20th century it became not so much a commuter town for Istanbul as an overspill, with population and industry relocating from the congested metropolis. Major industries today are around chemicals, metals, automobile parts, electronics and IT. A large industrial park OSB was laid out north of town, the Technical University was established west on the Istanbul metropolitan boundary, and Tübitak south was opened as an industrial research facility.

By plane
is the closest, and has international and domestic flights. It's connected by Metro to Pendik, although the Metro and mainline railway stations there are 1 km apart. From Pendik take the Marmaray train as below. A taxi from the airport to Gebze might take 20 min.

Istanbul Airport has a global range of flights at competitive fares, but is away west, Europe-side of the Bosphorus. Havalines Bus runs three times a day to Gebze (2 hr, 70 TL), Izmit and Sakarya. Otherwise you have to travel into the metropolis then onward.

By train
From Istanbul take the Marmaray suburban train (B1), which crosses the width of the metropolis from Halkalı way out in the western suburbs via Bakırköy, Yenikapı, Sirkeci (for Old City), then under the Bosphorus to Üsküdar, Ayrılıkçeşmesi (for Kadıköy), Bostancı and Pendik (for SAW airport), terminating at Gebze. It runs 06:00-23:00 every 15 minutes; the ride from city centre takes an hour and costs 16 TL. Don't take the Metro, which terminates at Pendik – there are plans for an extension to Gebze, but don't hold your breath.

YHT fast trains run six times a day from Ankara and three times from Konya, via Eskişehir, Arifiye and Izmit. From Gebze they continue west to the Istanbul stations of Pendik, Bostancı and Söğütlüçeşme, and once a day out to Halkalı. You can't use these trains for the short hop to and from Istanbul, though you could use the sleeper (below). There are also five regional trains (Ada Ekspresi) a day to Gebze from Adapazarı via Izmit. The regionals also call at Hereke station, which is marked as Hereke YHT on timetables, although no YHTs stop there.

Ankara Express runs overnight, leaving Ankara at 22:00 to reach Gebze at 05:00 and central Istanbul around 06:00. The eastbound train departs around 22:50, calls at Gebze at 23:50 and reaches Ankara at 06:45.

By bus
Long-distance buses towards Istanbul drop off at Gebze on their way from the east, so there's a frequent service from Ankara and beyond. However, as with the trains, it's not sensible to use these for the short hop from the city, and they might not let you buy a ticket.

the long-distance bus station is 2 km east of town centre by the D100 highway interchange.

Minibuses ply every 10-15 min to Gebze from Harem, Istanbul's main bus station on the Asian banks of the Bosphorus. Harem has frequent ferries from the Old City and is 1 km from Ayrılık Çeşmesi, on the Metro red and blue lines. In Gebze you can get off in town centre.

By road
From central Istanbul, join O-1 ring road then O-4 / E80 east. From Istanbul Airport, Thrace (eg Gallipoli) or western Europe, avoid the city by sweeping north on O-7, eventually joining O-4 at Kurna. In light traffic it takes an hour, but when would Istanbul ever have light traffic?

From Izmir and Bursa use O-5, which crosses the Gulf of Izmit by the Osmangazi Bridge. The bridge toll in 2022 is 184.50 TL per car.

By boat
has IDO ferries from Topçular near Yalova across the Gulf. They run continuously 24 hours, taking 45 min, and in Aug 2022 the fare for a car and all its occupants is 130 TL.

A ferry for foot passengers also sails between Pendik and Yalova, as does another between Hereke and Karamürsel, 5 times daily.

Get around
Bus 416 runs every 10 min between Arapçeşme, Gebze town centre and Eskihisar.

For Hereke, either take the regional trains mentioned above or bus 500 running from Darıca via Gebze train station, every 45 min.

See
Gebze city centre is bland and modern. Its three museums have one thing in common: they're marked on Google Map but don't exist.

 * is a 16th century religious complex, restored in 2015. Centred on the mosque, it contains tombs, a madressah, lodge, soup kitchen, hospital and caravanserai.
 * is in the grounds of Tübitak Research Centre, accessible free M-F 10:00-15:00. Hannibal (247-182 BC) was the Carthagian general who fought Rome in the Second Punic War. He captured much of Roman Spain and southern Italy by elephants and clever strategy, until eventually Scipio carried the fight to him in North Africa. Hannibal went into exile, seeking other rulers at war with Rome: the Seleucids in Anatolia, Artaxias in Armenia, and finally Prusas in Bithynia. His hurling of snakes against enemy shipping was a first in maritime warfare, but the Romans got him trapped and he took poison rather than be captured. The exact location where this happened or what happened to his body afterwards are unknown, and the present memorial was built in the approximate whereabouts in 1981, about half a century belatedly on order of Kemal Atatürk, who was a great admirer of the Carthaginian.
 * Osmanhamdibey.jpg
 * is a twee, Hobbit-themed public park signposted Millet Bahçesi, open 24 hours. Otopark B is the nearest car park (free), and there is a cafe nearby. If you find yourself wondering about the connection between göl - Turkish for "lake" - and the slimy creature that existed in one, then keep that thought to yourself. Comparing the President of Turkey to that creature attracts a one-year jail term, and serve you right. It's probably ten years if you ask him what you've got in your pockets. Free.
 * is a small zoo in Darıca. Daily 10:00-17:00.
 * , northeast near Tavşanlı, is a scenic woodland with limestone canyons riddled with caves. It's a favourite of rock climbers from Istanbul.
 * is a 16th century bridge that has somehow survived in Dilovası. Two km south, the Osmangazi Bridge vaults over the Gulf of Izmit.
 * 25 km east along the coast is a traditional carpet manufacturing centre. Don't let the cement plant on the western approach and the ugly industrial sprawl all over the place discourage you from visiting this little town – scenery greatly improves as you come closer to the pretty waterfront.Hereke Wilhelem köşkü.jpg
 * 25 km east along the coast is a traditional carpet manufacturing centre. Don't let the cement plant on the western approach and the ugly industrial sprawl all over the place discourage you from visiting this little town – scenery greatly improves as you come closer to the pretty waterfront.Hereke Wilhelem köşkü.jpg

Do

 * Beaches hereabouts are small. Eskihisar has the best stretch, with another 500 m west of the Hobbit Village.

Buy

 * AVM is the main shopping centre, just south of D100 by Hyatt House (see Sleep). It's open daily 10:00-22:00.
 * Carpets: silk and wool Hereke carpets have long been renowned for their quality, with up to 100 knots per square centimetre, or about 650 per square inch, adding up to picture-like patterns dubbed "Ottoman Baroque", uncommon in more traditional designs. Cumhuriyet Cd, Hereke's downtown thoroughfare, and the adjoining streets have several stores offering the local product, including Han Halı and Ayyıldız İpek.

Eat

 * Gebze town centre has Bahçe, Paradise Cafe, Antep Sofrası, Izgaracim and Birlik Et.
 * Near Eskihisar ferry pier are Süleyman Usta'nın Yeri, Doydum Izgara, Erzurum Cağ Kebabi, Sahil Sofrası and Sahil Restaurant.
 * Hereke has several fish restaurants along its promenade east of the Carpet Factory.

Drink

 * Town centre bars include Hasır Birahanesi and Meydan.

Sleep
Many people have extended stays in Gebze for their work, so there's lots of accommodation.
 * Libiza Otel next to Atasayan is similar price and quality.
 * Libiza Otel next to Atasayan is similar price and quality.

Connect
Gebze has 4G from all Turkish carriers, which extends west to Istanbul city, east along the coast towards Izmit, and south over the bridge. As of April 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Istanbul just west is unmissable.
 * Bursa south across the Sea of Marmara was the Ottoman's first city, so it's full of historic sites.
 * Ankara is 3 hr 30 min by train, so it's just about within range of a day-trip.

title: Gebze


text:
Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna is a city in Södermanland county, Sweden. With an approximate population of 100,000 inhabitants in Eskilstuna Municipality, out of which 70,000 live in the city proper, it is the biggest city in Södermanland County. The town is situated close to Lake Mälaren about 100 kilometers west of Stockholm.

Understand
Eskilstuna is located along Eskilstunaån (Eskilstuna River) which flows from lake Hjälmaren in the south to lake Mälaren in the north. During the Viking era, the area became an important trading place known as Tuna. In the 11th century the Anglo-Saxon missionary and bishop Eskil founded a church in Tuna, and turned it into his diocese. Initially Eskil's missionary was under the protection of the Christian King Inge the Elder, but in 1080 the apostate pagan Blot-Sven seized power and had Eskil stoned to death in Strängnäs. Eskil eventually became considered a saint with a strong cult following in Tuna, which thus became known as "Eskil's Tuna", or Eskilstuna. About a century after Eskil's death the Knights Hospitallers established a monastery in Eskilstuna in his memory, preserving his relics and turning Eskilstuna into an important destination for pilgrims.

During the reformation Sweden became protestant, abolishing monasteries and the worship of saints. Eskilstuna Monastery was turned into a royal castle known as Eskilstuna hus, and Eskilstuna developed from a religious site to an industrial town. The most notable industry was Rademachersmedjorna (the Rademacher Smithery), initially producing small arms and artillery for the Swedish Empire. In 1659 the city was granted its first privileges under the official name Karl Gustafs Stad ("City of Karl Gustav"). This new name didn't catch on, and eventually the city regained the official name Eskilstuna.

In 1680 Eskilstuna hus was destroyed in a fire and never rebuilt, but Eskilstuna remains an important industrial site. During the era of industrialization Eskilstuna grew rapidly, producing machinery tools, precision instruments, cutlery, and keys, earning the nicknames Stålstaden (the Steel City) and the Sheffield of Sweden. To staff these industries Eskilstuna attracted a large number of Finnish immigrants, a group which today make up about 10-20% of the population. Like many other industrial cities Eskilstuna experienced a setback during the western de-industrialization of the 1970s, but industry remains an important part of Eskilstuna's economy and identity.

Today many Swedes think about Eskilstuna mostly as the hometown of "Sweden's most successful rock band" Kent.

Get in
You can also get in by car; the E20 highway passes just north of Eskilstuna. Eastwards it continues to Södertälje and Stockholm, and westwards to Arboga, Örebro and Gothenburg, or towards Karlstad and Oslo as E18. West of Eskilstuna E20 branches into road 56, which continues to Västerås, and east of Eskilstuna it branches into road 55, which continues to Enköping and Uppsala. The smaller road 53 connects Eskilstuna with Nyköping and highway E4 in the south.

The nearest major airports are Västerås Airport (52 km north), Stockholm-Skavsta (in Nyköping, 83 km south) and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (151 km east).

Eat
There are several food trucks on the central square "Fristadstorget" selling budget priced street food.

title: Eskilstuna


text:
Eslöv

Eslöv is a city in Scania.

Get in
Eslöv lies along the main train line that runs from Malmö and north to Stockholm. High speed trains do not stop in Eslöv though.

Get around
As of 19 May 2021, there are 2 bus lines:

1 Solkullen-Flygstaden

2 Bäckdala-Rönneberga

Tickets and more line information can be find in the Skånetrafiken home page.

See

 * Lagerhuset, tallest wooden house in Sweden

title: Eslöv


text:
Esmeraldas

Esmeraldas is a coastal city in Ecuador, It has one of the most popular beaches in Ecuador. Thousands of tourists come to Esmeraldas to enjoy the beautiful warm tropical weather, not cold at all and not too hot. You can swim in the ocean and enjoy big waves, The beaches are not as fancy as those in Hawaii or Miami, but that is what makes the Esmeraldas beaches more cozy.

Understand
Esmeraldas is the wettest coastal province and summer is simply less rainy than the rest of the year. Most days in Esmeraldas is bright sun, with a tropical shower in the afternoon and at night. January-February are the best months to visit Esmeraldas, as they receive the most sun. They are also the hottest months. The northern coast and tropical forests of Esmeraldas receive more rain than the southern beaches and savannah.

As of October of 2019, the US State Department has given Esmeraldas a travel advisory level of "Do not travel".

By bus
Trans Esmeraldas station is by the main park.

 * Ambato, (8 hr, $6.50)
 * Bahía de Caráquez, vía Santo Domingo ($6.80)
 * Guayaquil, every hour (8 hr, $5.80)
 * Manta ($6.80)
 * Muisne, every hour (3.5 hr, $1.70)
 * Portoviejo ($2.90)
 * Quevedo (6 hr)
 * Quito (5-9 hr, $7)
 * San Lorenzo, daily (6 hr, $5.50)
 * Santo Domingo, (4 hr, $2.50)
 * Suá, Same, and Atacames, every few minutes
 * La Tola (3.5 hr, $1.80)

See
Go to Súa. It is an important fishing village with several species of seabirds. There are also basic whale watching tours offered from June-September.

Eat
On the coast of Ecuador, you can get seafood at good prices. For $6 you can get a nice dish of delicious spiced rice with shrimp and fried green plantain or you can get a ceviche for $4. You can get a nice fry fish with beans and rice or a hot seafood soup. If you have not eaten lobster for a long time, here is your chance, as you can get a delicious spiced lobster for $12-15.

Drink
Enjoy party nights in Atacames, a city 20 min away from Esmeraldas. In Atacames you can find different kiosks with very loud music making natural juices, margaritas, piñas coladas and more. There many clubs there to go out dancing. Salsa, merengue, reggeaton, etc., just for $2.

title: Esmeraldas


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Esna

Esna is an Egyptian town in the region of Upper Egypt, located on the west bank of the river Nile some 54 km south of Luxor and 53 km north of Edfu.

Understand
Esna is one of the oldest cities in Egypt, 300 years BC, Esna was the capital city of the third Nome of Upper Egypt. Esna’s urban fabric still holds Ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern layers of history. It is really an amazing experience and a fascinating imagination when you walk in the streets of the city nowadays in 2020 and you feel like your walking in history. The old 19th century houses connected together with the 700 years old ottoman market adjacent to the temple, where you will see people from the local community in their authentic costumes and in their local markets. It is really interesting and attracting me seeing local people in an indigenous or a bit elementary environment how they are living their life and spending their daily life activities. Moreover, Esna enjoys a rich intangible heritage in terms of its unique social structure where the city center is subdivided into spatial domains inhabited by deeply-rooted Esna families, and its traditional crafts—all on the verge of extinction.

By train

Trains from Cairo take 10 hr to Luxor then another hour to Esna, continuing to Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. There are 10–12 per day, so you should be able to avoid an early-hours arrival or departure.

By bus
Buses between Luxor and Aswan pass through Esna; their frequency in 2020 is unknown. The bus stop is by the railway station on the east bank.

By boat
Esna is a regular calling point for Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan. Actually they do not have a choice, because there is a lock system between the two bridges, where boats can be held up for hours.

Local Bus
2 options :

A From West Bank direct bus to pick up close to the railway station

B From est bank First bus to pick up on the main road at the cross with the channel close to the police check point DIRECTION Ermant 8 LE Second from Ermant to Esna 10 LE In total it take 1h30

Those prices are in January 2024 for the minibus, there are also kind of pick up that are less expensive

Get around
Taxis and tuk-tuks are available all throughout town, and offer a convenient transport from train or mini bus stations to the temple (there is not much else to see). Tuk-Tuks should not cost more than LE20.

See

 * Old Esna Mosque – The one with the charming adobe minaret seen on the approach to the temple.
 * Al-`Amriyya Minaret – The almost 1,000-year-old structure is of five unique minarets built by the Fāṭimid vizier Badr al-Jammali in different cities of Upper Egypt during the 11th Century A.D. It is the only remaining part of Jami’ al-`Amri. It is called Al-`Amri as a tribute to the Muslim Leader `Amr Ibn al-`Aāṣ.
 * Esna's Coptic Churches and Monasteries – In the Coptic history, Esna is known as the “City of Martyrs” due to a series of Roman persecutions between 303 and 311 A.D. Therefore, the city and its surroundings are privileged with various religious destinations mostly related to these events such as the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of Mother Dūlāji, Shrine of the Three Martyred Peasants, the Monastery of the Martyrs (Monastery of Saint Ammonius), and the Monastery of Saint Matthew the Potter
 * Local Architecture – Esna is privileged with an abundance of architecturally significant buildings from different ears that can be rarely found in other cities of Upper Egypt. These buildings belong to the city's prominent families that still inhabit the city until today
 * Esna Old Barrage – Constructed in 1908 to control the flow of Nile water, is an engineering masterpiece. A felucca ride would cross the barrage and offer a closer view of its articulate details and stone masonry work.
 * Al-Qīsāriyya Market – Located directly to the south of the Temple of Khnum, this traditional covered market --established more than a century ago-- is one of Esna’s most significant features. In the past, several caravanserais used to exist along this market which was famous for the sale of fabrics, sewing tools, and tailors' shops.
 * Wakālat al-Jiddāwī – Believed to be built by Ḥasan Bek al-Jiddāwī in the 1700s. The wakala (caravanserai) is overlooking the Temple of Khnum. It was one of Esna’s main commercial destinations during the 18th and the 19th centuries - being famous for the trade of many commodities including textiles, African ivory, and ostrich plumes.
 * Wakālat al-Jiddāwī – Believed to be built by Ḥasan Bek al-Jiddāwī in the 1700s. The wakala (caravanserai) is overlooking the Temple of Khnum. It was one of Esna’s main commercial destinations during the 18th and the 19th centuries - being famous for the trade of many commodities including textiles, African ivory, and ostrich plumes.

Buy

 * Bakkūr Oil Press – Built in 1897, is still run manually by local master craftsman Nāṣir Bakkūr, producing oil made of lettuce, sesame and arugula seeds. Since the Abbasid era, 9th century A.D.), Esna is a center for the oil pressing industry, especially for its production of lettuce seeds oil.

Go next

 * Edfu
 * Luxor

title: Esna


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Española (New Mexico)

Española is a small, predominately Hispanic city of 10,000 people (2018). Española has few tourist attractions of its own and isn't much to look at from the main roads — passing through, what you'll see is mostly strip malls and gas stations — but its location midway between Santa Fe and Taos, combined with its proximity to a number of Pueblo Indian communities, makes the town a useful staging point for trips around the region.

Understand
The town sits at the heart of North Central New Mexico in a wide valley between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east and the Jemez on the west.

Get in
Española is about 20 miles (30 km) north of Santa Fe on US Highway 84/285. US 84/285 are co-routed on the same road through town, and split apart at a junction about 10 miles northwest of Española. Other roads out of Española are NM 68, which heads northeast to Taos; NM 76, the "High Road to Taos" which heads east through some mountain villages; and NM 30, which heads southwest towards Los Alamos. Though there is a small airport north of town, there is no commercial air service.

New Mexico Park and Ride offers regular weekday bus service to Santa Fe and Los Alamos. Additionally, Española also serves as a hub for NCRTD bus service to many of the communities of North Central New Mexico; service is limited and restricted to the weekdays, with the exception of the Taos Express weekend service to Taos and Santa Fe.

Get around
Española is not particularly pedestrian friendly. Nearly everything in town requires a car to be reached.

See
Most of the most interesting things to see are not on the main drag. You'll need to venture onto the side roads. Ansel Adams' famous "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941," considered by some the finest photographic black-and-white print ever made, was taken just north of Española. Bring your camera and see what you see.
 * Española has a quirky sort of fame as the self-proclaimed "Lowrider Capital of the World," allegedly with more lowriders per capita than any other place on Earth. While no one has exactly proved that, no one has disproved it either; indeed, you're likely to see a lowrider or two cruising the main drag if you keep your eyes peeled.
 * Two Native American pueblos border the town: Santa Clara Pueblo on the south off NM 30 and Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo, and still so listed on many maps) on the north off NM 68. Both are good sources of American Indian arts and crafts; Santa Clara is noted for fine black and red pottery, while Ohkay Owingeh operates an arts and crafts cooperative in the village, where you can see artists at work and purchase wares.
 * New Mexico Wildlife Center, 19 Wheat St. An opportunity to see native wildlife from rattlesnakes to bald eagles, some being rehabilitated. Tu-Su 9am-4pm. Adults $5.
 * New Mexico Wildlife Center, 19 Wheat St. An opportunity to see native wildlife from rattlesnakes to bald eagles, some being rehabilitated. Tu-Su 9am-4pm. Adults $5.

Do

 * The two pueblos bordering Española operate casinos. Santa Clara operates the at 460 N Riverside Dr, in the middle of town, while Ohkay Owingeh operates the   on NM 68 on the northern edge of town.

Buy

 * Pueblo art (pottery and jewelry) is available in a few places in town, but better at the pueblos. Several significant potters at Santa Clara Pueblo have galleries easily reached from New Mexico route 30, south of town on the way to Los Alamos. Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, on the north side of Española, also produces pottery that can be bought at a small shop there.

Go next

 * Several Native American Pueblos are located nearby: in addition to Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh bordering the town, San Ildefonso, Nambe, Pojoaque (at the town of the same name), and Tesuque are a short drive south. All are good sources of American Indian arts and crafts; Santa Clara and San Ildefonso are particularly noted for fine black and red pottery. Several of the pueblos host casinos.
 * North of town on US 285, about a half-hour drive, is the tiny town of Ojo Caliente, which has a popular hot springs resort with several mineral spring pools, spas, bath houses, and scenic hiking trails leading into the hills behind town.
 * Taos, Santa Fe and Los Alamos with Bandelier National Monument nearby are all short drives from Española and worthy destinations to visit. In the case of Taos, the trip there is worthy in and of itself:
 * NM 68, the primary route to Taos, follows the Rio Grande up the valley and through a section of the Rio Grande Gorge, passing a number of picturesque little villages, many with seasonal fruit stands. (Don't bother with the peaches at these; in the main, they're not local products but are trucked in. Much of the other produce, however, is of local origin, including apples and chile.) The stretch of the river through the Rio Grande Gorge is excellent white water, but there are more outfitters/tour operators in Taos and Santa Fe than in Española.
 * Alternatively, you can take a longer, though even more scenic drive to Taos via NM 76, the "High Road to Taos," east from Española into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This route passes through several picturesque villages, including Chimayó, home to the Santuario de Chimayo, a church reputed for miracles that is the focus of a major pilgrimage every Easter.
 * Española is the gateway to much of the red-rock country of north central New Mexico made famous by artist Georgia O'Keeffe. The small town of Abiquiu is northwest on US Highway 84, with a pleasant motel and attached restaurant (Abiquiu Inn, Cafe Abiquiu) and Abiquiu Lake, a man-made lake on the Rio Chama that can offer some boating and fishing, depending on the level of the lake (it's often drawn down in fall and winter to prepare for spring runoff).  Ghost Ranch, a conference and retreat center owned by the Presbyterian Church, is just north of the lake and has a lot of gorgeous red rock scenery as well as some hiking and photography opportunities.

title: Española (New Mexico)


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Espanola

There are several places in the world called Espanola (usually with a tilde, Española). You may be trying to find:

 * 1) Espanola (Galapagos), one of the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
 * 2) Española (New Mexico), a small town near Santa Fe (New Mexico) in the United States.
 * 3) Espanola (Ontario), a small town in Northern Ontario

title: Espanola


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Espanola (Galapagos)

Espanola (Isla Española or Hood Island) is one of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.

Understand
As the most south-easterly island in the Galapagos, it is the oldest and the wildlife has had the most time to evolve.

Punta Suárez

A wet landing onto a beach with Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas leads on to a 2km trail through Masked and Blue-Footed Booby colonies (be careful not to step on them!) to some cliffs with a blow-hole. Beyond here is the Galapagos' only Waved Albatross colony - watch their somewhat clumsy attempts to take-off and land. Other animals including the Large cactus finch can also be seen.

Gardner Bay
Found on the northeastern part of Española Gardner Bay, a wet landing brings you to a magnificent long, white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and inquisitive mocking birds boldly investigate. The beach is considered an open area where you are free to explore and view land iguanas.

Snorkeling at Gardner Bay is fantastic. This is often your first chance to swim with the Sea Lions and this is an opportunity not to be missed. Further out towards Tortuga Rock and Gardner Island schools of large colorful tropical fish including yellow tailed surgeon fish, king angelfish and bump-head parrot fish swim along with an occasional Manta Ray gliding by and white-tipped sharks napping on the bottom.

Islote Gardner

This small island in front of Gardner Bay is lined with vertical cliffs that drop to sandy ledges and large boulders. Diving here you will encounter the smallest of the Galapagos garden eels, snake eels, blackspot morays, Galapagos putterfish, scorpionfish, and red-lipped batfish. On the north end of the island are twisting tunnels and to the south are caves making for interesting exploration. The area has an abundance of fish including schools of snappers, creolefish, king angelfish, butterflyfish, jacks, large pufferfish and a variety of sea urchins and sea stars.

Bajo Gardner
Normally the second dive at Española begins at the sea mount. Here, contrasting Islote Gardner, you will find some of the largest and least timid of the Galapagos garden eels. Tiger eels and red-lipped batfish are also common. Frequent encounters include eagle rays, hammerheads, schools of snappers, brightly colored peacock flounders, moray eels, whitetips, morays, king angel fish, creolefish, yellowtail surgeons, large Spanish hogfish, flag cabrillos and Panama graysbys.

Go next
The nearest islands are:

 * Floreana
 * San Cristobal

title: Espanola (Galapagos)


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Espanola (Ontario)

Espanola is a city in Northern Ontario that founded in the early 1900s for the employees of the Spanish Pulp and Paper Company. Though still a fine paper town, Espanola is now renowned for its picturesque wilderness, lakes, fishing, camping, hiking and golfing opportunities.

Understand
Espanola's population has hovered near the 5000-5500 number for the last 30-40 years. It has a beautiful golf course that lies along the Spanish River, several motels, camp grounds and restaurants for visitors, and is the largest shopping area between Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie.

History
The story of how Espanola got its name dates back to the 18th century where an Ojibwe tribe went out on a raid far away and brought back a Caucasian woman who spoke Spanish. This woman was said to have married into a First Nations family and taught her children to speak her mother tongue. Later, when French voyageurs would make their way to the mouth of the river they were surprised to hear bits of Spanish spoken by the local natives. Thus giving the town the name “Espagnole” which was later anglicized to “Espanola”. The river was subsequently then called the Spanish River.

The town of Espanola was founded in the early 1900s for the employees of the Spanish River Pulp and Paper Company. The town soon populated and housed a hotel, school and theatre. A couple decades later the mill was closed during the Great Depression and was rendered a ghost town. During the war Espanola was used as a German prisoner camp and later reopened and produced paper once again. Throughout the years the pulp and paper mill has become committed to lessening their environmental impact.

The 1969 CBC Television series Adventures in Rainbow Country was filmed near Espanola, close to the small First Nations community of Birch Island and at Whitefish Falls.

By bus
Espanola has Highway 17 (Trans-Canada Highway) passing through it. Espanola can be reached by car by travelling east from Sault Ste Marie or west from Sudbury on Highway 17, then south on Highway 6 for 2 miles.

By bus

 * Operates a route between Sault Sainte Marie and Sudbury including stops in Blind River, Elliot Lake, and Espanola.

Get around
Espanola is accessible by car but the best part of it all is that it is accessible to anyone by foot or by paddle along the Spanish River.

See

 * Massey Fair, 3rd weekend in August. Since 1908, tractor pulls, horse shows and lumber-jacking. Local farmers and gardeners still bring their best produce, jams and breads, quilts and handiwork.

Do
Espanola is renowned for its picturesque wilderness, lakes, fishing, camping, hiking and golfing opportunities. It offers many groomed snowmobile trails, and the Espanola Ski Hill for downhill skiing. Take a walk along the fitness trail to the shores of a sparkling lake Espanola.

Go next

 * Blind River — a small town about west, once a trading post, on the way to Sault Ste. Marie
 * Killarney — looks much closer than it is, because the Near North landscape here isn't open to road travel. The  drive will take you through Sudbury first.
 * Sudbury — the largest city and transportation, service, and business hub in Northern Ontario, along the Trans-Canada Highway.
 * Manitoulin Island — Espanola is the jumping-off point for travel to Manitoulin Island from the north.

title: Espanola (Ontario)


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Espírito Santo

Espírito Santo is a state in the southeast of Brazil.

Cities

 * — the capital of the state of Espírito Santo, famous for its bay, beaches and nightlife
 * — the Cordillera do Empoçado: is a mountain formation that forms a wall of stones and well-preserved forests
 * — offers great geological attractions and hiking
 * — surrounded by lakes and waterfalls, it has one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world
 * — to get a taste of a town colonized by German immigrants
 * — a popular beach resort town, famous for its lively ambiance, with many clubs and beach parties, especially during the summer months
 * — famous for its dunes and forró, a Northeastern Brazilian dance
 * — characterized by the presence of many lakes, including the "Juparanã Lagoon" which is the second largest in the country
 * — to get a taste of a town colonized by Italian immigrants

Other destinations

 * — the main attraction of this 12-km2 park is its 1909-m-high peak, Pedra Azul, which got its name due to the blue tonality reflected on the rock at some moments of the day
 * — the largest Buddhist monastery in Latin America, where you can take guided tours of the spacious grounds with reclining and upright Buddha statues and various tranquil meditative settings. Also available are handicrafts, pastries, corn porridge, sugarcane juice, and Buddhist specific items. North of Serra on BR-101 at Km 217 in municipality of Ibiracu, Website, phone: +55 27 3257-3030.

Understand
Forming a narrow and long band between the ocean and the mountains, the state of Espírito Santo has a great potential for tourism, offering beaches for all tastes; old buildings, and historic landmarks of its colonization. The origin of the capixaba people – that's what the locals are called – comes from a mixture of Indians, blacks and Germans, among others.

Its capital, Vitória, stands out for sheltering one of the most important Brazilian ports, Tubarão – and for offering excellent places for sports fishing. Besides, it is the second oldest city in the State. The oldest is Vila Velha, founded in 1534; but the hostility of the Goitacas Indians who used to live in that region forced the colonizers to move to the island across it. In the land dispute, the Portuguese triumphed and gave the new settlement the name of Vitória. The two cities prosper harmoniously, separated only by a 4.8-km-bridge.

The state of Espírito Santo holds a very diversified industry, standing out as the one which has had the biggest economic development in the past few decades. Besides, the state is greatly responsible for the connection of the country with the international market. Its port complex is among the most efficient in Latin America.

By plane
Vitória Airport - also known as Eurico Salles Airport - is the main airport of the state, and is in the capital Vitória. It receives daily flights from most state capitals in the country. Among the main airlines serving the airport are LATAM and Gol. A number of smaller carriers also serve the airport, including Azul, TEAM, and TRIP.

See
O Frade e a Freira (The Monk and the Nun) is an interesting rock formation near Cachoeiro de Itapemirim. The Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves are a UNESCO World Heritage site; two of the forests are located in this state (the others are in Bahia): and.

Eat

 * Caranguejada, a local stuffed crab dish.
 * Moqueca Capixaba - a delicious seafood stew cooked in a traditional clay pot. This version in milder than the Bahiana version because it does not contain dende oil.
 * Torta Capixaba

Go next

 * Rio de Janeiro - World-known city famous for its breathtaking landscape and annual carnival.

title: Espírito Santo


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Esperance

Esperance is a town in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia. It's a popular travel destination for locals, noted for magnificent coastline, spectacular beaches, outdoor activities and fine fishing.

Understand
Esperance was first named by the French who sheltered in the bay here in 1792.

History
Pirates roamed the nearby islands during the 19th century, harkening back to a period when the west was indeed wild.

Parts of the NASA Skylab space station fell close to town when it dropped from orbit in 1979.

Esperance has the necessities for a prosperous town – a deep-sea port, airport and railway junction. Esperance is awakening as more people discover the natural wonders of the town. The weather is very changeable.

By car
Esperance is 720 km southeast of Western Australia's capital, Perth, by road. It is approx a 7-hour trip from Perth. The nearest major towns are Albany, to the west, and Kalgoorlie, to the north.

When travelling from eastern states, across the Nullarbor using the Eyre Highway, the first notable junction is that at Norseman – the road to the north goes to Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, the road to the south is to Esperance.

By plane
There are daily flights from Perth to Esperance with Rex. The airport is from the town, and rental car facilities are at the terminal. You should book car hire in advance. A taxi into town will cost around $50.

Go next

 * East
 * Norseman and the Eyre Highway to the east
 * Cape Le Grand National Park – less than 50 km from town to the east – a mix of rugged wild coast and views of the Archipelago of the Recherche
 * North
 * Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie if travelling north and inland
 * West
 * South Coast Highway to Albany if travelling west

title: Esperance


text:
Espinho

Espinho is a seaside resort town of 32,000 people (2011) in the north of Portugal. Its main source of income is tourism.

Understand

Espinho (sh-PEE-nyoo, /ʃ.ˈpi.ɲu/) became a spa town in the beginning of the 20th century due to the quality of the water on its beaches. It has one of the best gambling casinos in all of Portugal, where players from all over Europe come, and where you can see great shows.

By rail
Espinho is served by the Lisbon-Porto "Linha do Norte" railway line, so it is easy to reach from the two biggest cities in Portugal. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Ovar, Aveiro and Coimbra are within an hour or two of traveling time. Less frequent trains are available to Santa Maria da Feira from the Espinho-Vouga train station which is approximately 500 m south of the main Espinho train station. There are a few daily Alfa Pendular fast trains to Lisbon and all Intercidades trains stop at Espinho.

By road
The A29 and A1 highways offer access to Espinho, the road signage is easy to follow. Regional road N109, connects Espinho to nearby cities of Porto and Aveiro but be prepared to move at a slower pace.

By plane
Espinho has a civilian airfield servicing private pilots and small aircraft. The Aeroclube da Costa Verde clubhouse and club members aircraft are housed at this facility. The "aeroclube" offers a variety of air related activities and hobbies.

Get around
The most interesting areas of the city are within walking distance close to the train station downtown.

See

 * City Hall square and adjacent João de Deus city park.
 * The fishermen pulling the nets to the shore using a traditional technique named xávega on early morning in the south of the city.
 * City open air market, every Monday - fish, vegetables, clothes, shoes, fabric, etc.
 * The City Museum at the Fórum de Arte e Cultura de Espinho in which the fishing history of the city is depicted. The museum is in the building of a former factory of canned fish called Brandão Gomes.

Do

 * Walk on the city-long promenade by the beach.
 * Swim (be careful with the currents though) and enjoy the sun on the nice white sand beaches that Espinho offers.
 * Learn to surf, or rent a board if you can already, with one of the surfing schools in the city.
 * Walk on the gangway that starts in the northern beach of Espinho and takes you through the dunes with a fine sea view up to several kilometers into Vila Nova de Gaia. Another gangway built in 2013 takes you towards the southern areas of the municipality (civil parishes of Silvalde and Paramos).
 * Watch a volleyball match. Espinho is the Portuguese volleyball capital. Three local clubs host matches regularly: Associação Académica de Espinho, Clube de Voleibol de Espinho and Sporting Clube de Espinho.
 * Play tennis at Complexo de Ténis de Espinho.
 * Rent a light aircraft (if a PPL holder) at the Aero Clube da Costa Verde and fly over the region on a clear day or take your first flying lesson with a competent instructor.
 * Visit the Planetarium and watch the stars from the Observatorium at Centro Multimeios de Espinho.
 * Watch a concert at the Music Academy.
 * Play golf at the Oporto Golf Club, in the suburb of Paramos, south of the city of Espinho.

Festivals and events

 * FIME - Espinho International Music Festival, that takes place every year.
 * CINANIMA - Festival Internacional de Cinema de Animação, an international animation festival in November
 * FEST - New Directors New Films Festival, an international film festival.
 * Sporting Clube de Espinho is an eclectic sports club with a proud tradition and sporting history.The football team plays in the lower leagues but volleyball is big. Home match schedules are available from the club website.

Buy
Fresh vegetables and local fish in the weekly open-air market.

Eat
Being a coastal town with deep fishing roots, Espinho has a wide variety of seafood restaurants by the beach.

Drink
During the summer there are plenty of bars by the beach. In other seasons, you might want to visit "Bombar" or "Doo Bop", two vibrant places by the beach where locals gather for a drink and good music late in the evening and into the night.

Go next

 * Santa Maria da Feira with its Castle and its interactive science museum Visionarium is less than 20 km away and reachable by train or bus.
 * Arouca and the Freita mountain range (Serra da Freita), a nice hiking spot, are less than 75 km away by car.

title: Espinho


text:
Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo (also just Santo) is in the largest island in Vanuatu.

Cities

 * . The largest town on the island.

Understand
The local people make their living by supporting the tourist trade, by cash-crop farming, mostly copra, but also some cocoa beans and kava, as well as peanuts, or by subsistence farming and fishing.

Most of the people are Christians, but for almost all of Espiritu Santo's people, custom plays a large part in their lives, regardless of their religion. The chief system continues strongly in most areas.

History
In 1980 the island was the site of a rebellion during the transfer of power from the British/French condominium to the independent Vanuatu. Jimmy Stevens' Nagriamel movement, in alliance with private French interests and backed by the Phoenix Foundation and American libertarians hoping to establish a tax-free haven, declared the island of Espiritu Santo to be independent of the new government. The "Republic of Vemerana" was proclaimed on May 28. France recognized the independence on June 3. On June 5, the tribal chiefs of Santo named the French Ambassador Philippe Allonneau the "King of Vemerana", and Jimmy Stevens became the Prime Minister. Negotiations with the Vanuatu government failed, and from July 27 to August 18, British Royal Marines and a unit of the French Garde Mobile were deployed to Vanuatu's capital island, but they did not enter Espiritu Santo as the soon-to-be government had hoped. The troops were recalled shortly before independence. Following independence, Vanuatu requested assistance from Papua New Guinea, whose army invaded and conquered Espiritu Santo, keeping it in Vanuatu.

Get around
From Luganville, three "main roads" emerge. Main Street leaves the town to the west and winds along the south coast of the island for about 40 km ending at the village of Tasiriki on the southwest coast. Canal Road runs along the southern and eastern coasts of the island, north through Hog Harbor and Golden Beach, ending at Port Olry. Big Bay Highway splits off from Canal Road near Turtle Bay on the east coast, runs generally west to the mountains, and then it leads north to Big Bay.

Diving
Espiritu Santo is a diver's paradise with a multitude of sites and wrecks. Its most famous wreck, the SS President Coolidge, is known for being the largest accessible wreck dive in the world. It is a fascinating ship with a dual history as a luxury cruise liner and a military transport vessel and the wreck retains evidence of both lives. It requires experience experience with deep dives and wreck penetration to safely explore. The wreck is so large that there is anecdotal evidence of divers getting lost inside and having to rely on strategically placed emergency oxygen bottles to escape.

Another famous (and less intimidating) dive site is Million Dollar Point where the United States military dumped all of its equipment into the sea after World War II. Divers and snorkellers can enjoy exploring sunken tanks, jeeps, aircraft and millions of 1940s Coke bottles.

Bush walking
Millennium Cave is another attraction. Only found in 2000, tourists can make the trek to this large bat-filled cave and then relax while tubing back to their starting point along a lazy river. Wear old clothing, sturdy shoes, and realise that there is an active bat colony which will crap on you. Remember that you can wash back at your bungalow and enjoy the experience.

Trekkers and nature walkers have numerous options, including several multiday treks. Ask around in Luganville for tour operators and guides.

Eat
Local foods include sweet pineapples, mangoes, island cabbage, flying foxes, and coconut crab, as well as local nuts such as natapoa and the sweet fleshy-fruit nouse. There is a market in Luganville where local food such as manioc, taro, yam, and cabbage; and other freshly grown island staples are sold. Several small supermarkets such as LCM, Unity Shell, and Au Bon Marche sell groceries and many packaged goods.

Stay safe
The people of Santo face some health problems, especially malaria and tuberculosis. Although there is a hospital, most local people consult either their own witch doctor or medical clinics set up by western missionaries. Kava is the popular drug of the island, although alcohol is becoming more prevalent. With the rising number of adults using alcohol, there is a rising crime rate, especially involving violence toward women, and tribal warfare.

title: Espiritu Santo