text:
Algiers

Algiers (Arabic: الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; Berber: ⵍⴷⵣⴰⵢⵔ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵏⴰⵖⵜ, lezzayer tamanaɣt; French: Alger) is the capital of Algeria as well as the country's largest city.

Located right on the Mediterranean coast, Algiers is a city of contrasts, with a blend of modern and traditional architecture, as well as stunning natural beauty. Tourists to Algiers can explore its rich cultural heritage, including its Ottoman and French colonial influences, or take in the views of the Bay of Algiers. Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday or an adventure, Algiers is a great destination to explore.

Districts
The city is divided into 13 districts.

Etymology
The city's name is derived from al-Jazā'ir (Arabic: الجزائر), which is one of two broken plurals of the word jazīra (Arabic: جَزِيرَة, "island").

History
Algiers is the capital city of Algeria, located in the northern part of the country. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea and is the largest and most populous city in the country. Algiers is a bustling city of over 3 million people. It is home to many educational institutions, including the University of Algiers, the country's most prestigious institution of higher learning.

The city has a rich history and culture, ranging from archaeological sites to modern architecture. The city is home to iconic buildings such as the Ketchaoua Mosque, the National Library of Algiers, and the Algiers Opera House. The city also has several museums such as the National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art, and the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers.

By plane
It also hosts the national carrier, Air Algérie, which serves the largest Algerian cities such as Oran, Annaba, Tammanrasset, Skikda, Tlemcen, Constantine several times daily. There also many connections to African capitals such as Bamako, Cairo, Abidjan, Dakar, Tunis Ouagadougou, etc.

Air Algérie operates from Hall 1. Hall 2 is reserved for the international airlines.

International airlines
 * Air France (Marseilles, Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
 * Air Canada (Montreal)
 * ASL Airlines France (Lille, Lyon, Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
 * British Airways (London-Heathrow, London-Gatwick)
 * EgyptAir (Cairo)
 * Emirates (Dubai-International)
 * Iberia (Madrid)
 * ITA Airways (Milan-Malpensa, Rome-Fiumicino)
 * Libyan Airlines (Tripoli)
 * Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
 * Nouvelair (Tunis)
 * Middle East Airlines (Beirut)
 * Qatar Airways (Doha)
 * Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca, Oudja)
 * Saudi Arabian Airlines (Jeddah)
 * Syrian Arab Airlines (Aleppo, Damascus)
 * TAP Portugal (Lisbon)
 * Transavia (Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris-Orly)
 * Tunisair (Tunis)
 * Turkish Airlines (Istanbul)
 * Tui fly Belgium (Brussels)
 * Volotea (Bordeaux)
 * Vueling (Alicante, Barcelona, Marseille, Valencia)

By train
Algiers is the hub for passenger railways in Algeria and there are at least daily trains from most major cities. All trains are operated by SNTF. Most long-distance train departures and arrives at Agha railway station.

By car
Being the capital of the country most, if not all major roadways in Algeria begin and end in Algiers. So getting into Algiers is quite easy. However, the infrastructure of Algerian roadways is not highly regarded so arriving by road might not be the most desirable option. There are a number of road projects around the country that are aimed at improving the infrastructure, most notably the east–west highway running from Annaba in the east to Oran in the west, of course coming through Algiers.

Be careful about traffic jams, especially in downtown Algiers. There are almost no traffic lights. Lights are replaced by policemen. There are police and military checkpoints almost in every municipality. Slowing down is highly recommended. Utilization of mobile phones when driving is strictly prohibited. Be sure to have your seat belts on.

By bus
La Gare Routière, Algiers's central bus terminus, in the commune of Hussein Dey (7-10 min drive from downtown), offers a plethora of bus services to most major Algerian cities and towns cheaply and efficiently. Most of the coaches used are modern and air-conditioned so the rides are, more often than not, comfortable. However, there are a few old coaches still in service, so try to avoid those, for the ride won't be as pleasant.

For long distances such as Algiers-Tammanrasset or Algiers-Annaba travelling by plane is recommended due the long duration.

By boat
There are regular ferry services to Algiers from Marseille and Alicante. Algérie Ferries has the most destinations, but there are a few other shipping companies. The ferry terminal is located right in the centre of the city, next to the railway station.

Get around
Algiers has an extensive public transportation system, including buses, trams, and taxis. Trams are a great way to get around the city quickly, as they cover many of the main areas. Taxis are also available, and you can easily find one in the city center.

By metro

After three decades of construction, the first segment of the Algiers Metro finally opened in 2011. The main line runs from Place des Martyrs next to the Casbash to Haï El Badr, with stops along several of the most important places in the city. From there it continues to El Harrach Centre. An extension line starts from Haï El Badr and terminates at Aïn Naâdja.

Tickets can be purchased at the station, either from a ticket machine (multiple languages but only takes coins) or from an attendant. A single trip ticket costs DA50, or a 10-trip ticket can be purchased for DA400.

By taxi
Taxis are a great way to get around Algiers. The best way to find a taxi is to look for one of the many taxi stands located around the city. You may even hail a taxi at the airport. It is important to check the taxi's meter to ensure that the fare is fair and reasonable; some taxi drivers in Algiers will try to take advantage of tourists and charge more than the regular fare. You can also book a taxi online through services such as Yassir and Careem.

By bus

Buses operate within the city centre and to the suburbs: tickets are purchased on the bus for DA20. Typically, a man with a bundle of tickets approaches you when you board.

By tram
Getting around Algiers by tram is remarkably economical; a ticket typically costs DA40. The trams are modern, air-conditioned, and are accessible to people with mobility issues. You may buy a ticket at a designated tram kiosk and you can get all the information you need at a tram kiosk.

By rail
Algiers has a small regional train network, connecting the suburbs with the central city as well as the airport. While not particular useful for tourists, it might be a good option if you are planning to visit some of the surrounding towns.

By foot
Algiers is a large city, so the best way to get around by foot is to plan your route before setting out. The best way to get around is to identify the main landmarks and attractions you want to visit, and map out a route that takes you to each one. Pay attention to street signs and always make sure to stay in well-lit and populated areas. Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of your surroundings at all times. You should also consider the time of day – many shops close after dark and street lighting is often poor, so there will be a lot less people outside.

By bike
Cycling is rather rare as many parts of Algiers are built on hills, and traffic can be dangerous. It can however be an option to explore the downtown, coastal or other areas. Bike rental is not so easy to find, but there are some bike shops that are willing to rent too.

At the Sablette beach promenade (see Do), bike rental is also available to cycle the few kilometres of track next to the sea.

Casbah
The Casbah is the ancient city, dating to the 17th century. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Do

Parks, theme parks, nightclubs and local restaurants are not very difficult to find. Local and casbah shops are relatively cheap and have nearly everything.

Taking a stroll along the beach promenade and park at is a popular family activity. It is however not easy to reach as it's separated from the rest of town by a major highway.

Like taking risks? Then you can go to any mountain in the countryside and climb it. Visiting the beach during sunset can feel romantic.

Buy
Money Exchange

Unofficially exchanging money can be done in the Square Port Said and in Abane Ramdane Street, and in some shops in the area such as mobile phone operators. It's an incredibly common practice and transactions are done openly. The exchange rate is typically 40%-50% better than the official rate. People are most interested in exchanging euro. As of March 2024, you can get about DA235 for €1.

Shop

Eat
There are several restaurants in the Bois des Arcades area. This is the hill 500 m southeast of the big Martyrs memorial. Particularly good views over Algiers and the coast can be found from here. The hill is also a woodland, so is a nice area for walking too.

Drink
Algeria's red wine is of very high quality and will be appreciated by wine aficionados. It is rarely found on the international market. Locally produced beer is good quality. Alcohol is readily available in hotels, good restaurants and shops.

Budget
A good place to look for a hotel is Rue Abane Ramdane, which is in central Algiers. There are several hotels with prices starting from DA2000-2500 for the cheapest category.

Stay safe
Algiers is a relatively safe place. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and dangers of visiting Algiers, as well as how to stay safe while in the city.

First and foremost, visitors should be aware of the security situation in Algeria, and the political situation in the region. The country has seen its share of violence in the late 2010s/early 2020s, so it is important to stay informed about any potential security threats and to always be aware of your surroundings.

Visitors should also be aware of the local laws and customs. For example, it is important to respect the country's religious beliefs and to dress appropriately when visiting mosques or other places of worship. Additionally, drinking alcohol in public places is not allowed.

Visitors should also be aware of their surroundings and avoid traveling alone, especially at night. The streets of Algiers very quickly empty of women after around 18:00, and of almost all people by 20:00. It may not be unsafe, but it is eerie. It is also important to avoid carrying large amounts of cash or other valuable items, as well as leaving them in plain sight. It is also important to take common precautions such as keeping an eye on your belongings when in public places, as opportunistic bag snatching may occur.

Emergency numbers

 * To contact the Algerian police, dial 1548.
 * To contact the Algerian fire department, dial 14.
 * To contact the Algerian parademics, dial 213 0 23 54 44 28.

Connect
You can reach most cities by buses or trains. For train information, visit the sntf website. Be careful, there are two train stations in Algiers. Most trains leave from the Agha station.

Cope
There are more than 90 embassies in Algiers.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇴 Angola
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇭🇷 Croatia
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * Indonesia, 17 Chemin Abdelkader Gadouche, Hydra B.P 62 El-Mouradia +213672531636
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

title: Algiers


text:
Algona

Algona is a city in North Central Iowa.

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

title: Algona


text:
Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Park is the oldest and most famous of all the provincial parks in Canada, and the largest park in the Ontario Provincial Parks system. The park protects an area of 7,600 km², twice the size of Rhode Island, and larger than every county in England except North Yorkshire. With few inhabitants, this park forms the boundary between Ontario's Northern, Eastern, and Central regions.

Located within less than a day's drive on well-paved highways from three of Canada's biggest cities, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, it is easily accessible and has many nearby amenities for those who are just getting their first taste of outdoor life in Canada.

History
The lands that form today’s Algonquin Park have been used for thousands of years. Artefacts such as tool fragments, beads, and pottery shards show that people occupied the forests and shores of the park long before contact with Europeans.

The story of how Algonquin Park came to be a symbol of modern Ontario’s wilderness begins with European politics and global trade at the end of the 1700s. Great Britain’s economy was thriving in this era, and the country was importing vast quantities of wood from Europe and its colonies to support its growth. However, the Napoleonic wars in Europe and the American Revolution eventually cut off much of its timber supply from everywhere but Canada. By 1830, when pine logging began in the lands that would become the park, Canadian timber was one of Great Britain’s main imports. Upper Canada (now Ontario) provided seemingly vast forests of towering white and red pine - some over 35m tall, and 1.2m in diameter. Old growth pine was so valuable that loggers and lumber barons typically left the other relatively worthless trees standing.

In 1892, a Royal Commission recommended a Forest Reservation and National Park. Their report focused on maintaining the entire territory as public land: the government can license companies to take timber, but the leftover land and soil should be public. The strategy also prohibited settlers from interfering with logging activities by expanding settlements into valuable pine forests. The park was officially created in 1893 to protect the valuable timber industry while preserving birds, animals, watercourses, and most of the primeval forest. At the time, the forest was so dense with other mature species of trees that it was believed every last pine tree could be removed without impacting the ecology of the park. Tourism in the park emerged from health resorts promising city dwellers cures from fresh water and the aroma of balsam and spruce. In 1896, lumber baron J.R. Booth completed the Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway (OA&PS) through the southern portion of the park; it was intended to haul logs out, but it also brought more visitors in, and more of the vast interior was open for tourism.

Highway 60 opened in 1933, and by the 1950’s, logging activity had reduced significantly, replaced by recreational uses that visitors still enjoy today. Logging activities are now strictly separated from recreational uses, and the railways have been pulled up. The last train rolled through the park in 1994.

Landscape
Algonquin's landscape consists of large and small lakes, rocky outcrops, rolling hills, boulders, marshes, bogs and swamps. It’s set on top of a dome of bedrock that forms the Canadian Shield. It's as old as the earth itself, and was worn down to its relatively low profile about 500 million years ago.

The winding maze of lakes and rivers is thanks to the glacier that retreated 11,000 years ago, reshaping the land and leaving sand, soil, and gravel as ice several kilometres thick melted. Wide valleys were once deep rivers of melting glacier water. Bluffs are visible along rivers where erosion has washed away softer rock, leaving a steep cliff of harder granite, for example, along at. Faults create deep valleys with creeks and rivers, most notably along the Barron Canyon.

About 12% of the park’s land area is underwater. The park’s higher elevations are in the west half; the highest points are almost 600m above sea level, surrounding and further west on the highlands around Porcupine Lake,. The lowest is 150m, on the Barron River near the east edge of the park.

Flora and fauna
Algonquin Park’s forest is situated in a transition zone between Canada’s vast Boreal Forest to the north (stretching from Newfoundland to Alaska), and the deciduous forests at the southern edge of the Canadian Shield that extends through Southern Ontario. The mix of coniferous and deciduous forests, and the range of climate, soil and topography create a diverse variety of plant and animal life in the park. The variety of tree species includes sugar maple, birch, hemlock, pine, cedar, balsam fir and spruce. Smaller, provincially rare plants such as southern twayblade and the white fringed orchid can be spotted in the park’s bogs. The oldest trees in the park are eastern hemlock and red pine, protected on the shores of. An impressive white pine forest is accessible from Big Pines Trail, along Highway 60. These mature trees were too small to be valuable when the area was logged.

Moose are an iconic mascot of the park and the largest animal most visitors see. The park is at the southern limit for wolves in Ontario. If you’re lucky, you may hear a wolf howl which can carry for many kilometres on a quiet night. A population of black bear is active throughout the park, but will typically flee long before you’ve noticed. Nevertheless, know how to camp and hike safely through bear country. The spruce grouse and Canada jay are common in Ontario and within the park. A spruce grouse believes so strongly in camouflage that you may be able to get quite close to one. Jays are more bold, and aren’t too afraid of joining you if they want a bit of your lunch.

Some less pleasant species also call the park home. Black flies start to hatch as soon as the ice has melted, and peak in May and June, when they are joined by mosquitos, which peak until the end of July. Both are busiest in the late evening hours. Deer and horse flies are larger, but few in number, mostly in July and August. Wearing long clothing and insect repellent are the time tested way to endure bug season. Poison ivy is widespread (mostly outside the Highway 60 corridor) but avoidable if you’re careful.

Climate
Algonquin is not quite part of Northern Ontario, but it shares the typical climate for its region. Springtime is likely to be cool and wet. Daily highs in summer range from 18°C to over 30°C. In summer, it can be humid throughout June and July, though the humidity tapers off in August. Days are still warm enough in September and October to enjoy a daytime hike, but cold, dark nights and autumn rain keep all but the most determined expert paddlers out of the backcounty. Winters are guaranteed to be snowy, cold and harsh.

Spring is marked by ice out- a day usually between April and mid-May, when the winter's ice has melted from the park's lakes. This is when they become navigable for another canoeing season, though the water itself will stay cold (sometimes dangerously frigid) for weeks after.

Fall begins in early September, earlier than elsewhere in Southern Ontario. Trees begin to reveal fall colours when nighttime temperatures sink toward 0°C, and fall colours peak between September and mid-October depending on tree species and weather conditions.

By Car
The most convenient way into the park is your car. Highway 60 is the only major route through the park, running east-west near the park's southern corner (above the "pan handle") for within the park boundary. Highway 11 runs north from Highway 60 in Huntsville to North Bay. Highway 17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway, runs north-west from Pembroke to North Bay. Smaller roads enter the park from both these highways.

Once inside, park in one of the many designated spots to set out into the backcountry or explore the Highway 60 corridor. The two access gates at both ends of the Highway 60 corridor provide permits, park information and serve as a basic rest stop with public phones, washrooms, and first aid.

Access points around the periphery range from unstaffed parking lots to small offices. These are access points to the backcountry. Whether arriving for a day visit or an overnight trip, you should only enter the park here with a well-planed itinerary, appropriate clothing, equipment, food and water. Camping trips through the back country require advance reservation. A few of the access offices are:

It is possible to drive to campsites in the northern parts of the park from Highway 17. The campsites at Achray (west of Petawawa), Brent (south of Deux-Rivieres) and Kiosk (south-east of North Bay) are accessible by car during the summer months, but ensure your vehicle is in good condition- some old or gravel roads can be in rough condition.

By Bus

Other bus services will get you close to the park. Taxi services are available in Huntsville, and some outfitters such as Voyageur Outfitting in South River, or Algonquin Bound from Huntsville or Pembroke provide a pick-up from some bus stops.

By Plane
A less common way to get into Algonquin is by aeroplane. The only airfield is in the northern community of Brent, so if you are getting in by air your vehicle will most likely be a float plane capable of landing on water. However, it is illegal to land private aircraft on any lakes within the park boundary. If you've chartered a float plane, it will take you to a lake outside the park.

Fees and permits
Using of any of the park's amenities, services, and facilities (including trails, exhibits, beaches, and picnic sites) requires a permit. You can drive Highway 60 without a permit if you don't plan on stopping by any of the sights along the way. If you do not have a camping permit valid for a day you plan on visiting the park, you can buy a day use permit (also called a Daily Vehicle Permit) which provides access for a vehicle and its occupants between 7AM and 10PM.  Day use prices valid until March 31, 2024:
 * Single day, access points on Highway 60: $21
 * Single day, all other Algonquin Park access points: $18
 * Annual: $112
 * Summer season: $85
 * Winter season: $68

Day use permits can be purchased in advance online or by phone 5 days in advance, to reserve access for a particular day and access point. Permits can also be purchased upon arrival if any are still available. Annual and season passes are valid for an unlimited number of daytime visits at all Ontario Provincial Parks. However, they do not provide guaranteed access when an access point is at capacity. Daily reservations for season pass holders can be made 5 days in advance, free of charge. Pack a printed copy of your permit and reservation details - you may need to show them as you enter and while you're inside the park, without access to mobile internet.

A permit for a campsite at a developed, drive-in campground costs $42-54 per night depending on the services available, and whether you need an electrical connection. Yurts (semi-permanent tents, furnished with seating and bedding) cost $112-155 per night. A camping permit is valid for one vehicle and up to 6 people.

A backcountry canoe/hike-in campsite permit costs $12 per adult/$6 per child for one day. A backcountry ranger cabin costs $64-132 per night, plus the permit. All backcountry camping in Algonquin must be reserved in advance.

Additional vehicle permits for camping cost $13 per night. Camping reservations cost $13 when made over the phone, or $11 online.

Fishing permits are issued by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. They can be obtained at some locations in Algonquin. Costs for these permits fluctuate.

Get around
If you are exploring the Highway 60 corridor, the best way to get around is by vehicle. Some people use bicycles as well, and some even walk; but this is not recommended. Away from the corridor, the only way to get around most of the time is by canoe. Algonquin has an extensive canoe route system, with many portages and campsites. Be sure to obtain a canoe route map before you depart.

See
There are many natural and historic sites in the park. No trip to Algonquin is complete without seeing the abandoned Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway bed, which is not only fascinating in itself but also passes by some interesting sites (abandoned train stations, logging depots, bridges, even the remains of a train derailment from the 1930s). The Brent Crater and Barron Canyon are both off of provincial Highway 17, which runs north of the park. They will provide a fascinating hike.

Canoe
Algonquin offers an endless network of canoe routes, either as a daytime activity, or as part of a backcountry camping itinerary to access campsites that are only accessible by paddle and portage. Outfitters around the park rent equipment and supplies; many will deliver a canoe to your campground or access point, or even meet you at your destination at the end of the day so you don't need to backtrack or canoe in a loop. They also often provide advice and assistance when planning a route.

Old-fashioned printed maps are still the reliable way to plan and navigate. The Friends of Algonquin Park publishes the official map, Algonquin Park Canoe Routes, containing regularly updated routes and information.

Hike
Take a hike along one of the many guided trails. You can pick up a booklet at the beginning of each trail, and numerous posts placed throughout will provide fascinating information. These trails range from easy, short and flat to extremely challenging, long and rugged.

Winter Activities
Hiking is still possible with proper clothing and preparation, but snow opens up the trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and dogsledding. Camping can feel even more tranquil with far fewer people staying overnight. Most backcountry access points are closed, and some roads aren't plowed of snow. Most activities focus on the Highway 60 corridor, which is plowed and maintained all winter.

Buy
The Portage, Two Rivers and Opeongo stores provide camping, canoeing and other outfitting equipment. There is a souvenir and bookstore in the Visitor's Centre. All stores tend to be overpriced, compared to stores selling similar goods further from the park.

Small grocery stores, pharmacies and post offices are available in the two towns on Highway 60 just outside the park; Dwight to the west, Whitney to the east. For a wider selection of stores, larger supermarkets, and banks, consider Huntsville or Petawawa.

Eat
If staying overnight in Algonquin, it is highly recommended (and often necessary) that you bring your own food. You can cook over a fire (a fire-pit is provided in every campsite) or a lightweight camping stove (which you must provide). There is a cafeteria in the Visitor's Centre, but the food is expensive and not of amazing quality. The store at Lake of Two Rivers campground offers "fast food" type meals and ice cream. The Portage Store on Canoe Lake has dine-in and take out food, a small convenience store and ice cream retailer.

Three lodges in the park (Arowhon, Killarney, and Bartlett Lodge), all accessible from Route 60, offer expensive but good-quality meals. Reservations suggested.

Drink
As always, remember that glass bottles, cans (including soda cans) are banned in the park. Should drinks be packaged in such containers, pour them into a re-usable plastic bottle. It is strongly recommended that you not drink out of the lakes. Bacteria and parasites are present. This is especially true for bogs and rivers. Prior to drinking the water, bring it to a full boil for 5 minutes, or pass it through a filter.

Camping
In the park, it is most likely that you will be staying on a campsite. Remember, camping requires a permit which can be obtained at any Park office, in advance online or by phone;. Each campground in the park is operated by the provincial government, balancing public access with natural heritage and conservation. Campgrounds for drive-in camping provide a good compromise between the rugged nature of Algonquin Park, with at least a few comforts available as you use your car, tent or trailer as a base for your visit. Individual sites are typically walking distance to water taps and vault toilets. Even if you arrive by car instead of portage, the rules for camp safety and etiquette still apply, especially regarding wildlife, campfires, food, and garbage. Information for all campgrounds is available by phone from Ontario Parks,

Backcountry
Outside the development of the Highway 60 corridor, the main reason for visiting Algonquin is accessing the park's interior. of canoe routes wind throughout the park, connected by well-marked portages ranging from to  long. There are also 13 historic ranger cabins that can be rented in the interior, equipped with only the most basic supplies. There are nearly 2,000 campsites scattered throughout the interior; the combinations of canoe routes and camps are practically endless.

There are 3 backpacking trails that access parts of the backcountry not accessible by canoe. The Western Uplands and Highland trails are accessible from Highway 60. The Eastern Pines trail is the shortest, but located away from the busy corridor near Achray campground. All three trails are difficult due to steep slopes and rough terrain. A brochure, Backpacking Trails of Algonquin Provincial Park is available. In the winter months, backcountry camping is only possible on the Western Uplands and Highland backpacking trails.

In the backcountry, camping is only permitted at designated interior campsites marked by an orange sign, and only when you have a permit. The popular routes are heavily used and should be reserved well in advance, up to 5 months before your trip. When reserving a trip, you will need to specify the access and exit points and where you plan to camp each night; the permit effectively becomes your itinerary. Each campsite is limited to 9 people. The Algonquin Park Information Office at can provide information about planning your trip. Reservations can be made online or by phone;.

Lodges
Three lodges in the park offer resort-type lodging and meals.

Outside the park
East of the park, about from the gate, Whitney is a small town that provides a handful of motels and cabins:

There is also hostel in Maynooth (to the south-southeast of the park) and a few motels on Highway 11 near Huntsville (west of the park).

Stay safe
Even though the park is an easy drive from some of Canada's largest cities, the park's vast wilderness poses a number of risks that can ruin a trip or cost an adventurer their life. It takes careful research and planning to prepare a trip appropriate for your skill level. Even experts start planning well in advance, reviewing the latest maps, maintaining equipment, and reading journals from previous trips.

Plan only activities that are appropriate for your skill-level, especially in the backcountry. If you've never camped, canoed, swam, hiked or portaged before, try each of these activities on their own before committing to a route through Algonquin. Try each of your skills before setting out on a longer itinerary. For example, try a paddle-in site that's only a short canoe ride from an organized campground, or plan to base camp before booking a trip that requires canoeing between campsites every day. Keep track of how far you can canoe or hike each day, and anything you want to buy, fix or learn about for your next trip.

If you don't have all the skills necessary to survive in the backcountry and you still feel compelled to visit, hire a professional guide or join a guided group for beginners.

Wildlife
Follow good practices for sharing the forest with large animals, such as bears while camping, and moose while driving.

Black bears in Algonquin normally avoid people. However, bears in distress may become defensive or aggressive. Bears that are used to human contact can be attracted by the scent of food. All possible attractants must be stored or disposed safely (e.g. in your vehicle, a bear-proof garbage bin in developed areas, tied between trees, or burned) when your site is unattended or while sleeping. Possible attractants includes food, garbage, clothes with food residues on them, dirty dishes and cooking equipment, soap, toothpaste, and so on. Never store attractants in your tent and keep your site clean. Report bear sightings to a Park Warden or at the campground office.

Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn to rely on humans for food will stray closer to campgrounds and highways, and increase the risk of unwanted interactions and vehicle accidents.

Canoeing
It is imperative that you obtain a canoe map prior to venturing out by canoe. Other maps won't show you which routes are navigable or where to portage. Pay attention to the weather; larger lakes can become impossible to paddle when wind and waves pick up.

Make sure you have everything you need on board for a safe trip. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are required for everyone on board, and should be worn while on the water. Don't overestimate your ability to swim or re-enter the canoe if you capsize, especially in cold water; cold-water shock will instantly affect your breathing and muscles.

Camping
Plan your campsite carefully and check for hazards. Avoid dead or loose branches above, and look for dead trees in danger of falling. Don't start a fire outside a designated pit or build a fire larger than you can control. In dry weather, fire restrictions are in place when even a small well-controlled campfire is likely to spread. Small, portable camp stoves are the only way to cook and boil water when fires are prohibited.

Lake water is not safe to drink without treating, filtering, or boiling. Potable water is usually available from taps in developed campgrounds. In the backcountry, you'll need to be prepared to make your own drinking water. Boiling water takes time and uses fuel; most campers use modern kits that are much more convenient.

Hiking
Outside the peak of summer daylight, check sunset times and trail lengths to ensure you'll be off the trail before dusk. As a general rule, don't start a winter hike after 3PM. Some trails take you through rough terrain or close to cliff edges. Wear appropriate footwear, and keep an eye on your surroundings, as well as any children.

Backcountry roads
Logging still occurs in Algonquin and trucks rumble up and down backcountry roads which are not shown on the map. Don't follow roads that are closed or not shown on the map. Not only are they private, but they are narrow and a human will give way before a logging truck does.

Emergency help
Cellphone service is not reliable in the park, and help may be far away. Many people bring a satellite messenger device or personal locator beacon than can send an SOS signal with your location. They offer peace of mind, but search-and-rescue in the park is complex and dangerous. You're always responsible for your own safety in the park: if you wouldn't do something without a panic button, don't do it with one.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) coordinates emergency response in the park. Dial 9-1-1 locally or. Leave a copy of your plans with someone outside the park in case they need to call on your behalf.

Go next

 * Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley: Bancroft is a popular cottage country town, with small museums, restaurants and shops on its main street. Arnprior is the gateway to Ottawa and the National Capital.
 * Northern Ontario: Parry Sound is a town in the Near North on the shore of Georgian Bay. North Bay is the gateway city to Northern Ontario along the Trans-Canada Highway.
 * Central Ontario includes a lot of the province's cottage country. The Haliburton Highlands and Kawarthas are south of Algonquin. Muskoka is to the southwest.
 * If you have a permit valid for other provincial parks, or you want to extend your time in the wilderness, several parks are nearby. They're popular destinations for car camping, hiking and swimming (but for backcountry campers, hot showers might be their most appealing amenity):
 * Arrowhead is located near Huntsville
 * Mikisew is located west of South River and Highway 11
 * Bonnechere is near Renfrew in the Ottawa Valley
 * Driftwood is north of the park on Hwy 17
 * Samuel de Champlain is near Mattawa.
 * The nearest national park to Algonquin is Georgian Bay Islands National Park, near Midland.

title: Algonquin Provincial Park


text:
Alhama de Granada

Alhama de Granada is an old spa village of about 6,000 people (2018) in Granada Province about 50 km from the city of Granada. The name is derived from its thermal baths, which are called الـحَـمّـة al-hammah in Arabic. Alhama de Granada looks out over spectacular scenery; the view to the Sierra Nevada is uninterrupted. The Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park is a few kilometers to the south.

Understand
Alhama sits not far from Arenas del Rey (about 14 km away), which is on the edge of the vast Bermajales lake. The lake is surrounded by woods of poplars and Mediterranean black pines. Constructed between 1947 and 1954 this reservoir with a hydro-electric plant at one end provides sandy beaches, safe swimming and plenty of non-motorised water sports. There are also a couple of cafes at the edge of the lake. Many people spend evenings and weekends barbecuing at the water's edge.

Read
Suggested reading list:
 * Ornament of the World - How Muslims, Jews and Christians created a culture of tolerance in medieval Spain - Rosa Menocal
 * Driving Over Lemons - Chris Stewart
 * The Parrot in the Pepper Tree - Chris Stewart
 * South from Granada - Gerald Brenan
 * Guerra - Jason Webster
 * Al-Andalus - Jason Webster
 * Duende - Jason Webster
 * Ghosts of Spain - Giles Tremlett
 * The New Spaniards - John Hooper
 * Spain by the Horns: A Journey to the Heart of a Culture - Tim Elliott
 * It's Not About the Tapas - Polly Evans
 * The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society - Chris Stewart
 * Muslim Spain and Portugal: Political History of Al-Andalus - Hugh Kennedy
 * Casa Moro: The Second Cookbook - Sam Clark and Sam Clark
 * Moro East - Samantha Clark
 * Spanish Lessons: How One Family Found Their Place in the Sun - Derek Lambert

Get in
Bus from Torre del Mar or Vélez-Málaga - both easily reached from Málaga. Car hire from Malaga Airport and train station is also a good, cost effective option, the drive takes around 90 minutes. Car hire from Granada airport is also inexpensive; this drive takes around 40 minutes.

Get around
There is a bus from Granada to Alhama that runs 4 times a day, check the times on the alsa website, last one is around 18:30. Once in the town, everything you need is in walking distance: fresh fruit and vegetable shops, butchers, supermarkets, fresh fish shops, bars and restaurants.

See

 * The Balneario - drop to the bridge over the river Alhama and turn left.
 * The Alhama Gorge - stunning views down from the village over an almost sheer slope.
 * The monumental area - the monuments are only open in the morning out of season.
 * The Roman Bridge - just off the side of the road on the way to the Balneario. Dates from 1st century.

Do

 * Windsurfing, horse riding, hiking, quad biking, go karting, mountain biking, cycling, kayaking.
 * Swimming in Lake Bermajales (10 km away) - the lake is surrounded by sandy beaches.
 * Hatha Yoga is readily available in Alhama contact Sami at Asura Yoga for prices, classes and venues.
 * Swimming pools - there is an open air public pool in town with grassy areas for laying out and one at Pato Loco 3 km steady walk up the gorge. It costs a few euros to use either pool, which are only open in the summer months.
 * Winter sports - November to April, the slopes are 90 minutes drive away.
 * Beaches - the Costa Tropical is a little over an hours drive away, Nerja and it's amazing caves is an hour and 10 minutes away.
 * Spas: there are two spas in the town, both have hotels attached with all the facilities you'd expect. One is at the bottom of the town Balneario de Alhama de Granada near the Roman bridge (20 minute, 3 km easy walk, or 2 minutes in the car) and one is at the top - El Ventorro (30 minute, 4 km steady walk up the gorge or 4 minutes in the car). Balneario dates back to Roman times (1st century), the thermal waters are 47 °C, there is a hotel with a full range of treatments see or you can walk down to the river and sit in one of the warm pools for free, there is a small parking fee if you take the car.
 * Massage: there are many professional masseurs in the town, English and Spanish - some of whom will visit your hotel or rental home. Sports Massage and physiotherapy are also available, so if you pick up an injury while walking or horse riding, cycling or running you can find the perfect treatment.
 * Massage: there are many professional masseurs in the town, English and Spanish - some of whom will visit your hotel or rental home. Sports Massage and physiotherapy are also available, so if you pick up an injury while walking or horse riding, cycling or running you can find the perfect treatment.

Buy
There is a bustling market on a Friday morning, selling fresh local produce, plants, clothes and household stuff. Fabulous locally produced olive oil, honey, almonds and wine is available to buy in many of the local shops and bars. Ventorro (at the top of the gorge) has a particularly good selection.

a small selection of local arts, crafts and post cards is available at the small tabac on the corner of Plaza Constitution.

Eat & drink
There are a few bars in Alhama which serve coffees and "tostadas" in the morning, lunch in the late afternoon, and tapas in the evening. Casa Ochoa Tertulia Bar and Cafe Bar El Tigre are local favourites. For nightlife, El Encuentro plays more contemporary pop and reggae music, while Por Amor Al Arte has live flamenco on the weekends.

Top Square (Plaza de la Constitution)
There are around 38 bars in Alhama de Granada, pretty much all serve food, hot and cold drinks, Some of favourites include:

 * Ochoa: classic Spanish rural bar, serving great rustic plates of food, local wine and draft beer. Run by Josephina and Paco. This place has very friendly service and in the colder months they place trays of hot olive wood coals (Braseros) under your table to keep you warm. Fantastic! Try a media plate of the Setas (fleshy mushrooms) and the calamari plancha (grilled squid) - both fantastic with a cold beer or drop of tinto verano (red wine and lemonade cooler).
 * Le Seguriya: proper sit down restaurant, run by Paco and Lola. Great food and relaxed atmosphere. There is a fantastic terrace overlooking the gorge and there are rooms available since it is also a "Hotel Rural".
 * Meson Diego: Great for 'menu del dia' served every weekday lunchtime - around €8 for 2-3 courses. The terrace is a suntrap, which is great for most of the year, but it can be a bit hot in summer, there is an air conditioned restaurant inside.
 * Bar Andalus: Also do a great 'menu del dia' served every weekday lunchtime - around €8 for 2-3 courses. Again catches the sun.
 * Bar Gallega: modern bar, serving great and interesting tapas.
 * La Boega: Great, down to earth bar, with good breakfasts. Really good, generous tapas.
 * El Encutentro: Young modern bar that stays open until late.
 * El Tigre: the small bar in the corner of Calle Fuerte and Alta De Mesones. By the top corner of Constitution. In the summer season, they have control of a big space at the top of the square. Antonio the owner has a real flair for classic tapas with a twist.
 * Al Dente: A very good homemade Italian pizza place.
 * La Crème: This is an ice cream and coffee shop. Also one of the best places in town to get a fresh loaf of bread.

Near the Lower Square

 * Churreria De Ascencion: Right on the main (Granada) roundabout - the sign over the door says 'Hamburguesa'. Specialize in churros, a sweet Spanish delicacy for breakfast, served in a big spiral of doughnut type thing - cooked fresh whilst you wait. You dip your hot chorros in an amazing, thick, real chocolate drink. An experience you must do at least once, be warned you may have to put the diet on hold for the day. Friendly staff and very clean bathrooms. You can also get a beer here later in the day. Hamburgers look pretty good too.
 * Bar Rincon: next to the children's play area in the bottom square, so is an ideal place to have a drink whilst the keeping an eye on the kids playing a few metres away. Rincon serves all the usual coffee, beer, wine, food, and is very good.
 * Tasca Casa Marin: in a little street just behind the 2nd (Loja) roundabout. A little gem of a place specialising in fantastic Iberico ham and mature cheeses - a real foodie paradise.
 * Cafe 25: Quite loud music and the ice cream is great.
 * Rafa bar: the place where all the teenage kids hang out, table football and pool. Usually doesn't get going until 22:30.
 * Internet café: on Carretera Loja right hand side walking out of town, around 50 metres from the second roundabout.

Restaurants up the gorge by the small lake

 * El Ventorro: They serve very, very good food in this restaurant it is 25 minutes walk from town up the gorge, or a 5 minute drive. There is a biggish menu, we had the menu del dia, which was excellent. They have a spa facility, which is great: €15 for a couple of hours of steam, pool, jacuzzi, or treat yourself with a massage for an extra €15. There is a half-price day on Tuesdays. You will usually need to book ahead here as space is limited.
 * Pato Loco: Huge restaurant with a huge swimming pool, food is good.

Sleep
There is a good selection of rental properties on the owners direct website. Local hotels are relatively small but all adequate. There is one hotel with spectacular gorge views called Le Seguiriya. Just outside town there is a good hotel and spa with excellent restaurant called El Ventorro.

Go next

 * Granada is famous for Alhambra and other historical buildings. 40 min away by car or 90 min on the bus.

title: Alhama de Granada


text:
Alhambra

Alhambra could refer to more than one place in the world. You might be looking for:

 * 1) Alhambra (California), a city in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.
 * 2) The Alhambra, a fortress above Granada in Spain.

title: Alhambra


text:
Alhambra (California)

Alhambra is a city in the San Gabriel Valley. There is a large ethnic Chinese population (both from Taiwan and Mainland China), though not as much as in neighboring cities like Monterey Park.

By plane
The closest and most convenient airport is the Burbank/Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, which is 18 miles from Alhambra. Other nearby airports are Los Angeles International Airport and airports in Ontario, and Orange County.

By train
Alhambra is just 6 miles from Union Station in Downtown L.A.. Metro Local Bus Line 76' runs from Union Station to Alhambra.

By car
Alhambra is intersected by the east/west Interstate 10 with exits at Fremont Ave, Atlantic Blvd, and Garfield Ave, the main north/south arteries of the city. Interstate 710 has its northern terminus at Valley Blvd., at the western edge of Alhambra. Cars traveling to Pasadena or South Pasadena exit the 710 here and must take side streets (Valley Blvd. east to Fremont Ave. north).

By bus
Las Vegas Express Bus operates a daily service to and from Las Vegas, which has a stop just south of Alhambra in neighboring Monterey Park.

Get around
Alhambra is a walkable city in some areas (Main St, Valley Blvd) but you are likely to want to rent a car to see the surrounding areas as well. The bus is a cheaper, but slower option.

By bus
Alhambra is accessible by LA Metro Bus routes 76 (Valley Blvd) and 78 (Main St), as well as the Metro Express 760. Although inexpensive, expect it to be much slower than automobile. Detailed routes and schedules are located at the LA Metro website.

The city runs a few of its own buses, the Alhambra Community Transit (ACT). There are two lines, Green and Blue. The fare is only 25 cents.

By car
Car rental will be your best bet. Car rentals from all the major companies are at the Los Angeles Airport as well as two in Alhambra.

Sleep
The few hotels in Alhambra are not well reviewed. The Days Inn on First St. is probably the best bet. There is a Hilton not to far away in San Gabriel on Valley Blvd., though you will probably feel more like you are in Taipei than California. Airbnb offers local rentals, which may be your best option if you want to stay in the city limits.

Stay safe
Alhambra is a safe city, with its own police force, the Alhambra Police Department (APD). The APD is professional and courteous, and will respond quickly. Do not drink and drive: they are serious about it, and you will go to jail. The most likely crime one can encounter is minor property theft. Lock your bicycle, and normal stuff like that. As in all of America, for emergency services call 911. The APD non-emergency number is +1 626-570-5151.

title: Alhambra (California)


text:
Al Hudayda

Al Hudayda (often spelt Al Hodeidah) is a city in Yemen with a population of 402,560 (2004).

It is the principal port of Yemen on the Red Sea coast. Tourism is not a big industry, so there are relatively few facilities for visitors.

Get in
The city is located 225 km from Sana'a and 225 km from Ta'izz, 294 km from Jizan, 14 km from Al-Kathib.

There are regular flights from Sana'a, which take about half an hour. The road from Sana'a is not in good condition.

See

 * Mosques
 * Mosques

Sleep
There are very few good hotels in the town. The only real exception is the Hodeidah Land Resort. There are a number of small hotels in the city centre, but they are poor by any international standards.

Go next

 * Zabid is the most important religious center in Hodeida province. It had the first Islamic University in Yemen. The Great Mosque of Al Asha'ir was founded in the 5th cent AH (11the cent AD).
 * Al Shifra spa with warm mineral waters is located 70 km east of Hodeida.

title: Al Hudayda


text:
Alibag

Alibag (also spelt Alibaug) is the headquarters of the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It's best known for its historic marine forts, fine beaches and clean water.

By boat
There are ferries and catamarans available from the Gateway of India, Mumbai. The journey takes 2 hours. However, service is suspended during the rains, i.e. May-October. The ferry takes you to Rewas and you are taken on a bus to Alibag. The cost of the bus trip is usually included in the ferry fare. This is the recommended way of getting to Alibag. A one-way trip by ferry costs ₹120 and by catamaran ₹190, both types of tickets include a bus trip to Alibag. The newest ferry i.e. M2M ferry does not include this bus trip in its cost.

By bus
MSRTC buses should be available from various parts of Maharashtra. If you are leaving from Mumbai, then you have an option of boarding MSRTC buses, leaving every 30 mins - 1 hr from the Mumbai Central Bus Station. Though they might be uncomfortable, they top in terms of punctuality. Remember to grab a window seat! Private buses can be chartered, a good option if you are going in a large group.

By car

 * Take a car or a taxi from Mumbai. Alibag is on the way to Goa from Mumbai, so you could do the trip as part of a trip down south to Goa. To reach Alibag from Mumbai, take the Mumbai-Goa-Ernakulam National Highway (NH 17). At Wadkhal 'naka' (crossing), which is a little 8 km ahead of Pen, continue straight (the left turn keeps you on the highway to Goa), and you are now on the road to Alibag. Alibag is about 22 km from that point.
 * From Pune, take the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and take the Khopoli exit. From there drive towards Pen (30 km), then cross the Mumbai-Goa highway to proceed towards Alibag.

By train
There's no railway station in Alibag. Pen is the nearest railway station to Alibag at a drive.

Get around
There are autos (shared/individual) available but the best bet is to have your own vehicle as you would like to hop on from one beach to another and you may not get anything in between.

Eat and drink
Alibag has lots of restaurants and bars, and soft drinks and liquor are freely available.
 * Sanman restaurant, specialises in sea food. They have different thalis with different fishes like Pomfret, Surmai etc. Each thali will have one fried piece and one curry piece of fish. The rest of the items are also a speciality of that area like bhakri (chapati) of rice powder, solkadhi (a refreshing appetiser prepared with the purple fruit kokam (garcinia) and coconut milk).

Sleep
There are many homestays dotted along the 45 km road from Alibag to Murud. Rooms are like what you find in regular homes, generally cheaper than the regular hotels but service is only basic. They generally have parking space on the lawn in front. Rates vary with the tourist season and the quality of the room.

Go next

 * Murud
 * Goa
 * Mumbai
 * Pune
 * Sindhudurg

title: Alibag


text:
Alicante

Alicante (Valencian: Alacant) is a popular tourist city of 332,000 people (2018) in the Valencian Community of Spain. It is the capital of Alicante province and a historic Mediterranean port. The city has become a hub of tourism directed to the beaches of the Costa Blanca.

Understand
The city is believed to have been founded by the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, who established the fortified settlement of Akra Leuka (Greek: Ἄκρα Λευκή, meaning 'White Mountain' or 'White Point'), where Alicante stands today. It was later conquered by the Romans who renamed it Lucentum. In mediaeval times, Alicante became a major Mediterranean trading station, exporting rice, wine, olive oil, oranges and wool.

By plane
Bus C6 (, alcoyana.ali@subus.es@undefined) connects the airport with the city, departing every 20 minutes from a bus stop at the departure level (level +2) of new terminal. Don't get confused between the departure level (level +2) and the bus level (level -2); the latter is used by charter buses. The city bus takes about 20 minutes to the city centre, where it follows a circular route. It stops near the Alicante bus station, at Plaza Puerta del Mar, near the Archaeological Museum, next to the central market, at Plaza Luceros, and on its way back to the airport near the train station. A one-way ride costs €3.85 (2019). Tickets can be purchased from an attendant on the platform either card or cash. The buses run from 6:00 until 23:00; a complete schedule is available here.

A taxi to the city will cost €20-25. Cabs can be caught at the arrival level (level 0) of the new terminal. A dozen car rental agencies including Avis, D and Europcar

Coach hires and buses serve many towns in the region, most notably Benidorm and Elche, though their frequency is erratic at best.

Get around
If you stay in the old town, most areas of interest are within walking distance.

By tram and bus
Public transportation is provided by trams (described above) and buses. Visitors intending to use both systems may want to consider purchasing a rechargeable Bono Móbilis Multiviaje card, which costs €8.70 for 10 rides plus €2 for the plastic card (2016); discounted youth and senior Móbilis cards are also available.

The card can be purchased at the main (C/ Díaz Moreu 6,, M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-13:00), at the central bus station (M-F 08:30-14:00, 17:00-19:00), and at a number of shops throughout the city.

Subus Alicante operates an expansive network of bus routes, with bus stops at key locations including the train station, airport, shopping centres, and major sights. On most routes, buses run from 06:30-22:30, with extended hours on weekends. There are also a number of night routes. A single ride costs €1.45 (2023), payable in cash directly to the driver on entry; drivers can give change for bills €20 or less. Maps and schedules for all routes can be downloaded here. For travelers with a smartphone, Alicante Bus is a helpful app (iOS and Android) with a route planner and schedules.

By taxi
Taxi rates are regulated and most tourists find them affordable. A number of taxi stands (paradas de taxi) are in various places, including by the bus station, the train station, and the Explanada de España.

See
The old town of Alicante is roughly the triangular area enclosed by the Rambla de Méndez Núnez, the Explanada de Espanya, and Mount Benacantil. Largely tourist-friendly, the old, narrow streets make for an enjoyable wander provided you don't get yourself lost. Here you'll find the town hall, cathedral, an old covent, and several art museums.

Beaches
In the heart of the city there is (Playa de Postiguet). The sandy beach is popular during the day and fairly busy during the evening when it's illuminated by sodium street lights. These give the beach and breaking waves a surreal effect. Beach goers should take precautions however even during the day, as unattended bags and purses are popular targets for thieves.

With a bit of traveling by bus 22 or tram (L3, stop 'Costa Blanca'), you can reach the spacious 7 km long (Playa de San Juan), which is considered to be one of the finest in Spain.

The less crowded (Playa del Saladar/Urbanova, bus 27) is south of the port, along the road from Alicante to Cartagena. (Playa de los Arenales) is a bit further still, has sand dunes, and is even less crowded. This beach can be accessed by an hourly bus from the main bus station.

Eat
As with the rest of Spain, breakfast is usually light, usually some sort of bread (e.g. toast) or piece of bakery. Traditionally, a hearty meal in the early afternoon is followed by a siesta as the heat builds. Many restaurants are then closed between 16:00-21:00. A light meal is taken once the sun goes down, often in the local tapería if you are a visitor. Many restaurants don't open before 21:00 for dinner, so bear this in mind when planning your dinner schedule.

As elsewhere in the region, seafood and rice dominates, with paella in the frontline. In almost every restaurant, you will find a menú del día ('menu of the day') or a similar special for €10, a three- or four-course meal with or without a drink. This is an excellent way to economise if you want to splash out later.

In tourist areas, you'll have no problem finding UK fare served at earlier times, if you find yourself intimidated by the local cuisine. Restaurants of all price ranges are clustered around Carrer Castaños (near the theatre), Calle San Francisco and Calle Mayor (near the cathedral).

Drink
El botellón, literally, 'the large bottle', is a custom among young people in Spain, in which they buy 2-litre bottles of soft drinks and mix into them hard liquor, and then stand or sit around drinking in parking lots and other public places. This is to avoid the high cost of drinks in some bars and clubs. There are many organizations which organise and advertise the party scene of the Barrio, such as BarrioLife.

The Barrio (aka Casco Antiguo) is the centre of nightlife in Alicante, with bars like, , , and ; there is never a dull night in this small Spanish city. Drinks are cheap, and shots are sometimes free.

Another focal point is the eastern rim of the marina, called Puerto, in and around the, where things start and end later – a typical night can end at around 07:00 or 08:00. As this part of town has a bad reputation at night, most nightclubs here hire their own security who also act as bouncers. Especially at dawn party goers should take care, as theft is common.

Connect
The city provides free Wi-Fi to everyone in a number places across the city centre, including the (Plaza del Ayuntamiento),  (Plaza de los Luceros),  (Plaza de la Montañeta), the Castell de la Santa Bàrbara (Santa Barbara Castle), and at Platja del Postiguet (Postiguet Beach).

Stay safe
Alicante is generally a safe city, but visitors should take precautions in the port area, especially the neighborhoods to the west, which should be avoided at night and dawn.

The city's beaches are usually well-patrolled by coast guards and the police, but do watch out for your belongings.

Some neighborhoods in the north of the city (Campoamor, Virgen del Remedio) have a bad reputation among locals, but they have no touristic appeal.

Cope

 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Go next

 * Tabarca – there are several companies near the port which offer boat trips, from 45-minute excursions on a catamaran to all-day trips to the island. Prices vary.
 * Costa Blanca
 * Benidorm - Aqualandia, Mundomar, Terra Mitica
 * Altea
 * Calpe (Calp)
 * Dénia
 * Jávea (Xàbia)
 * Biar
 * Biar

title: Alicante


text:
Alicante (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Alicante:

Spain

 * Alicante - The capital city of Alicante province in the Valencia Region of southern Spain.
 * Alicante (province) - A province in the Valencia Region of southern Spain.

title: Alicante (disambiguation)


text:
Alice

There is more than one place called Alice:

South Africa

 * Alice (Eastern Cape) - A town in Eastern Cape.

United States of America

 * Alice (North Dakota) - A town in North Dakota.
 * Alice (Texas) - A town in Texas.

Also:
 * Alice Acres, Texas, in the United States of America.
 * Alice Springs, Northern Territory, in Australia often colloquially called as Alice.

title: Alice


text:
Alice (North Dakota)

Alice is a very small rural town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. It had a population of about 40 people in 2019. Elevation is 1,125 feet and coordinates are latitude 46.76 N & longitude 97.79 W.

Understand
Alice was named for the wife and daughter of R.B. Lewis, a one-term lieutenant governor of ND and a banker from Fargo. It was incorporated in 1900.

Get in

 * By car: approximately 6 miles south of I-94 on State Highway 38.

Go next
Alice is about 30 minutes southwest of the Fargo metropolitan area.

title: Alice (North Dakota)


text:
Alice (Texas)

Alice is a city of 19,000 people (2018) on the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. It is a focal point for the oil industry in the area, and is considered to the "birthplace of Tejano music".

Understand
It was here, in the 1940s, that Tejano music was first recorded and popularized. Armando Marroquin, Sr., of Alice and partner Paco Betancourt of San Benito launched what was to be the first home-based recording company to record Tejano artists exclusively. Ideal Records, which was based in Alice, under the direction of Marroquin became the vehicle for Tejano groups and artists to get their music to the public. Marroquin, who also owned and operated a jukebox company, ensured that Ideal recordings would be distributed throughout South Texas. The songs recorded, which were contributed by Tejano and Mexican composers, became very popular through jukeboxes placed in restaurants, cantinas, or other establishments that would have them, and the then-scarce Spanish-language radio programs. In addition to Ideal, Alice was the home of Freddie Records and Hacienda Records, which were dominant players in Tejano music in the 1970s and 1980s.

Alice's economy is centered on the oil industry, with more than 100 oil field companies around the Alice area. Alice is called the "Hub City" due to its geographical location between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. Its location between these cities makes it an ideal center for distribution.

History
Alice originated from the defunct community of Collins, 3 miles (5 km) to the east. Around 1880, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway attempted to build a line through Collins, which then had about 2,000 inhabitants. The townspeople were not amenable to selling their land to the railroad company; so the railroad site was moved 3 mi west. In 1883, a depot called "Bandana" was established at its junction with the Corpus Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande Railway. Bandana soon became a thriving cattle-shipping point, and an application for a post office was made under the name "Kleberg" in honor of Robert Justus Kleberg, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. The petition was denied because a town named Kleberg already appeared on the post office list, so residents then chose the name "Alice", in honor of Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg, Kleberg's wife and the daughter of Richard King. The Alice post office opened for business in 1888. Within a few years, the remaining residents of Collins moved to Alice, which was by then a thriving community.

Alice was known for its large cattle industry until the discovery of petroleum beneath and around the town in the 1940s, which caused a slight population boom.

By car

 * US Highway 281 goes around the western side of town. The highway leads north 41 miles (66 km) to George West and south 37 miles (60 km) to Falfurrias.
 * Texas Highway 44 goes through the center of town and connects it with Corpus Christi. It leads east 26 miles (42 km) to Robstown and west 35 miles (56 km) to Freer.
 * Texas Highway 359 's southern end is near Alice. It leads northeast 30 miles (48 km) to Mathis and southwest 53 miles (85 km) to Hebbronville.

Buy
Alice's main shopping district is along Texas Highway 44 and Main Street

Go next

 * Corpus Christi
 * Kingsville

title: Alice (Texas)


text:
Alice Springs

Alice Springs (Arrernte: Mparntweis), sometimes colloquially known as plain-old Alice, is the heart of Central Australia and consists of cavernous gorges, boundless desert landscapes, remote Aboriginal communities and a charming pioneering history. It embodies the hardy outback of the Northern Territory's Red Centre, and is a travel hub for sights and hikes in the region, such as Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (formerly known as the Olgas) and Kings Canyon. Since the start of the tourist boom in the early 1980s, the population has substantially grown to over 25,000. It is a great town and well worth a visit.

Understand
Originally founded as a telegraph station on the line across Australia, Alice Springs is 1500 km from the nearest major city, being Darwin to the north or Adelaide to the south. As a result, the people that inhabit the town are often quite ingenious when it comes to making things last! Don't expect a quaint rural village though: Alice Springs has more than its fair share of suburban strip malls with big box stores and fast food outlets.

Also, due to this distance, you may find that some things can cost more than in the cities, such as fruit and veg, and some clothing (if you forgot to pack your singlet or jacket!). Over all, however, the town isn't too expensive when it comes to the necessary requirements and it is much cheaper than smaller outback towns, making it an ideal place to stock up before heading to more remote areas.

Something else to remember is that hotels in Alice Springs are rated slightly differently than those in European or North American countries: hotels are rated on their facilities rather than the actual rooms. The reason for that is the distance that Alice Springs is from anywhere and the difficulties involved in getting building materials. Mind you, the star ratings reflect the quality of the establishment.

Language
Most of the town's indigenous population speak the Eastern Arrernte language, often as their first language. For useful phrases, see the Eastern Arrernte phrasebook. Most locals speak English, however, although in small communities outside Alice Springs, Arrernte is mainly spoken.

Indigenous history
The Arrernte (pronounced Arrenda) Aboriginal people have made their home in the Central Australian desert in and around Alice Springs for more than 50,000 years. The Aboriginal name for Alice Springs is Mparntwe. Three major groups Western, Eastern and Central Arrernte people live in Central Australia, their traditional land including the area of Alice Springs and East/West MacDonnell Ranges. They are also referred to as Aranda, Arrarnta, Arunta, and other similar spellings.

Arrernte country is rich with mountain ranges, waterholes, and gorges; as a result the Arrernte people set aside 'conservation areas' in which various species are protected. According to the Arrernte traditional stories, in the desert surrounding Alice Springs, the landscape was shaped by caterpillars, wild dogs, travelling boys, sisters, euros (Kangaroo-like creatures) and other ancestral figures.

There are many sites of traditional importance in and around Alice Springs, such as Anthwerrke (Emily Gap), Akeyulerre (Billy Goat Hill), Ntaripe (Heavitree Gap), Atnelkentyarliweke (Anzac Hill), and Alhekulyele (Mt. Gillen). Many Arrernte people also live in communities outside of Alice Springs.

Pronunciation of these Arrernte words can be very difficult. The reason for that is that Arrernte, and indeed every indigenous language of Australia, was not written. When Europeans arrived with their missions to convert people to Christianity, they felt the need to have the language written, and using their own languages put the written form to the language. As a result of the missionaries being mostly German, they used their own language to develop the Arrernte written language.

Don't worry if you can't pronounce it; everyone in town knows the places by their European names.

Modern history
In 1862, John McDouall Stuart led an expedition into Central Australia and the area where Alice Springs is located. Until the 1930s, however, the town was known as Stuart. The Overland Telegraph Line linking Adelaide to Darwin and Great Britain was completed in 1872. It traced Stuart’s route and opened up the interior for permanent settlement. It wasn’t until alluvial gold was discovered at Arltunga, 100 km east of Alice Springs, in 1887 that any significant settlement occurred.

The telegraph station was sited near what was thought to be a permanent waterhole in the normally dry Todd River and was optimistically named Alice Springs after the wife of the former Postmaster General of South Australia, Sir Charles Todd. The Todd River was named after Sir Charles. The original mode of transportation in the outback were camel trains, operated by immigrants from Pathan tribes in the North-West frontier of the then British India and Pakistan who were misnamed ‘Afghan’ Camellers.

Cattle stations opened up the interior of Australia, with stations the size of small European countries running mostly cattle. Camels were (and still are) farmed in Central Australia - and the exporting of camels to the Middle East is a fast developing industry. This is because the Australian Camels are a purebred of camel, and often free from the diseases which can be prevalent in the Middle Eastern countries.

During the Pacific War, Alice Springs was an important location for the northern defence of Australia, and was a staging point for the allies movements to defeat the Japanese Imperial forces. Alice Springs' importance grew when it was established that coastal shipments to Darwin were no longer safe. Lots of relics from World War II are still in use today in Alice Springs, primarily the Alice Springs Airport, which was constructed as a result of the War.

After the conclusion of the war, there was still a large American influence in the town, and as a result, a number of covert locations were set up in and around Alice Springs to monitor world events. One of these was a Seismic Vault, which was a bunker of sorts, dug into a mound, and which held instruments such as seismographs and other instruments to detect the ground movements of possible nuclear testing in the (at the time) USSR. One of these bunkers was 'discovered' and is now heritage listed.

The Joint Defence Space Research Facility, or as it's locally known, "Pine Gap", began operations in 1970. The facility is the only area in Australia with prohibited airspace, so forget about seeing it up close. You may, however, see it on approach or departure from Alice Springs Airport.

Tourism
Tourism is a major industry in Alice Springs, with well-developed facilities for travellers. Visit the Alice Springs Visitor Centre at 60 Gregory Terrace, at the south end of Todd Mall, for visitor guides, maps, tour and accommodation bookings, and suggested itineraries. You can even download or view the latest Visitor Guide for Central Australia on their website.

Climate
The climate of Alice is mostly hot and dry during the summer months, and cool and dry during the winter months.

Geography
Alice Springs is to the north of the imposing McDonnell Ranges, with all transport links to the south using "Heavitree Gap" - a distinctive narrow gap in the range where the railway, highway and Todd River run through without any climb required. Heavitree Gap was named by William Mills, a surveyor of the Overland Telegraph line. He named it in honour of his former school in Devon (UK).

The roads around Alice Springs are generally flat and tend to skirt a lot of the hills, some of which are sacred sites to the local Indigenous people.

By train
The Ghan is a private all-sleeper tourist train covering the vast distance from Adelaide to Darwin stopping in Alice Springs. Very luxurious, but expect to pay a steep premium over even business class air fares.

By car
Alice Springs is 17 hours drive from Darwin, and 18 hours drive from Adelaide. The Stuart Highway from Adelaide is well-maintained and goes right through Coober Pedy, an underground town famous also for being the opal capital of the world (and therefore well worth stopping off for a visit on the way). It continues through Tennant Creek and Katherine all the way up to Darwin.

If you are driving on the main sealed routes from other Australian capital cities, you will likely not be driving on remote roads, and provided you do not take side trips, there will likely be passing traffic. It is worthwhile reading the safety tips for driving in Australia and always carrying water and ensuring you know the location and opening hours of your fuel and food stops. Mobile phone reception is limited to a few of the larger townships along the Stuart Highway, so be prepared to go for long distances without coverage.

Read the rental car conditions carefully. Rental cars in Alice Springs may not offer unlimited free kilometres and do not cover you if you take your vehicle on unsealed roads. Rental cars rented outside of the Northern Territory may not be able to be driven into it. Driving after dark outside of the city limits may be prohibited. Rental companies in AC do not offer hand-controls for the handicapped.

The official visitor information centre has access to unlimited kilometre rates, so it's worth getting in touch with them if you are going to clock up the km on the car!

By bus
Greyhound ply the route to Alice Springs from the north and the south.

Get around
There are a couple of public bus lines bringing you around town. Other than that, you can get around by foot or bike, drive or take a taxi. Taxis can be scarce during peak hours. Uber is not available in Alice Springs as of August 2022. A taxi from the airport to the centre of town is around $45.

See
Alice Springs has quite a few interesting things to see; one of them happens every night. If you don't get out of town and watch a sunset, even just sitting off the main highway, you've missed something special. Other than that:

Events

For a detailed and up-to-date calendar of events in Alice Springs, go to the Alice Springs Town Council website.

History

 * Old Timer's Museum - located at the Old Timer's Retirement Village, off the South Stuart Highway leading into town from the airport before you get to the Gap. Really cool history of the outback, with a big collection of amazing stuff from the first white folks to hop a camel for the middle of nowhere. Definitely worth a visit.
 * Hartley Street School
 * Hartley Street School
 * Hartley Street School

Aviation

 * Aviation Museum - a number of older planes, showing the history of aviation in a town which relies on it to survive.
 * Aviation Museum - a number of older planes, showing the history of aviation in a town which relies on it to survive.

Do

Adventure

 * Pyndan Camel Tracks – Take a one-hour or half day journey aboard a "ship of the desert", through the scenic Ilparpa Valley, located in the famous MacDonnell Ranges. Owner and cameleer Marcus has been working with camels since 1982 and his camels are well trained. Pyndan Camel Tracks is the only camel-riding experience based out of Alice Springs, and he also offers a free shuttle service from most hotels and the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre to help people get to his property.
 * Outback Ballooning - Take a balloon ride and see the sunrise. Alice Springs has ideal weather for ballooning and the tour operators run almost every day of the year.
 * Quads & Motorcycles - Some tour groups do quadding through the spinifex, and Harley rides through remote Central Australia - lovely day trips.
 * Cycle hire - You can hire a bicycle and tour around town the healthy way. Just remember your water!
 * Golf - Alice Springs GC is an 18-hole desert course that has hosted the PGA Seniors tour, as well as the Masters Games and the NT Open.
 * Rugby League - Sport is part of life in Australia - what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Winter then at the Rugby League? Matches are held at Anzac Oval from March and finalise in the Grand Final usually held on the first Saturday of September. League was founded in Alice Springs in 1963, and to this day, two of the foundation teams, Wests and United still play, as well as Memo and Vikings. It is a good strong competition and makes for a wonderful day out!
 * Rugby League - Sport is part of life in Australia - what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Winter then at the Rugby League? Matches are held at Anzac Oval from March and finalise in the Grand Final usually held on the first Saturday of September. League was founded in Alice Springs in 1963, and to this day, two of the foundation teams, Wests and United still play, as well as Memo and Vikings. It is a good strong competition and makes for a wonderful day out!

Gem fossicking

 * North of Alice - The area stretching north of Alice Springs is known for its serene beauty and as a setting for gem fossicking, bush walking, bush camping and four-wheel-driving. A few hours north are gem fields with Garnet, Zircon, Tourmaline, Apatite and various kinds of Quartz. Contact the Gem Tree for details. Garnet is the easiest to go for on your first try, as the garnet chips are easy to find on the surface and require no digging or special equipment. You do need a permit, though.

Work
Because of the large tourism industry and the small population Alice Springs is an easy place for anyone to find work. Many companies will employ travellers, and wages are comparable to, if not higher than, other parts of Australia.

The big thing to be aware of is that long term accommodation is very scarce, and backpackers/travellers are usually at the bottom of the list for long term accommodation. Renting is very expensive, as there is a high demand for housing in the town, and house shares are not common. If you are looking to stay for 6 months or more, you will probably need to rent a house. It's easiest to find rental accommodation in December/ January and June/ July as people tend to leave during these periods.

During the off tourist season (October - March/April) the hostels will do a good deal on long stay accommodation, but during the busy time (April–October) they will charge their normal rates.

Buy

 * Alice Springs Markets, Todd Mall, 08 8952 9299. Fresh food, jewellery, books, clothing, art, hand-made crafts and other neat merchandise. A market that takes place along the Todd Mall in the centre of town, with local vendors setting up stalls along the mall. The Todd Mall Markets are held on alternate Sundays.
 * Heavitree Gap Markets, held on the opposite Sundays to the Todd Mall markets, this has a less formal, car-boot sale atmosphere. Just on the other side of Heavitree Gap from the town, it's about 30 mins walk from the town centre, or 5 or 6 minutes drive.
 * Saturday Morning Lawn Sales - Friday's Centralian Advocate will have a listing of lawn sales in the back; getting a group together with a car and a map and driving around town at 6:30AM on a Saturday morning equipped with coffee, cash and a big trunk to put your stuff in while watching the sun rise is a real pleasure.

Eat
Despite its small size, Alice has a good and varied restaurant scene.

Fast food
There are a fair few options here in Alice Springs for tucker (dinner). Maccas, KFC, Hungry Jacks, and Red Rooster are the main take away chains, but there are also your small family take aways, such as Big Al's, East Side Fish and Chips and Scoff.

Additionally, there are some great pizza shops in town, La Casalinga is a great feed. It's on Gregory Terrace, and it's got a really nice old school atmosphere about it. Has not changed for 20 years, and won't in the near future!

Vegetarian and vegan food

 * The Tea Shrine is on 113 Todd Street - right next to the Greyhound station, and serves a large variety of teas both hot and cold, and some excellent light Asian-style vegetarian meals. The Korean iced tea is really, really good - don't leave without trying it! M-Sa 9AM - 4PM, closed Sunday.
 * The Tea Shrine is on 113 Todd Street - right next to the Greyhound station, and serves a large variety of teas both hot and cold, and some excellent light Asian-style vegetarian meals. The Korean iced tea is really, really good - don't leave without trying it! M-Sa 9AM - 4PM, closed Sunday.

Sit-down meals
On the Todd Mall:
 * Oscar's is near the movie theatre, and has an ever-changing fusion cuisine Mediterranean menu and a nice wine list.
 * Sporties has a long history in Alice; it used to be the little casual place owned by and attached to the only 5-star place in town, Puccini's. But Puccini's closed and transferred some of their menu to Sporties, so as rough and tumble as they look, their food is amazing. "I’ve never had a bad meal at Sporties" is a common saying amongst locals. Very good service - surprisingly quick.
 * The Thai Room is down an alley off the Todd Mall. It has home-style Thai food, from paw-paw salad to beef salad to the best Tom Yum ever and pad Thai. Excellent food, not too pricey, and if you ask for it spicy they will accommodate you. Open for lunch and dinners most days.
 * Red Ochre Grill is attached to the Aurora Hotel on the Todd Mall, and serves an ever-changing menu of various local things. Tries to use a lot of indigenous ingredients in their menu. The ribs come highly recommended.

Other locations around town:
 * Overlander's Steakhouse is the classic outback steak restaurant. Excellent beef, but they do nice chicken and barramundi too; home of the "Drover's Blowout" where you try a little crocodile, kangaroo, emu, camel etc. An Amazing wine cellar with some of the best Australian wines available in the cellar. They do the "Tourist Humiliation Routine" for tours, where you participate in some traditional Australian songs with the Wobble Boards ala Rolf Harris and Home Amongst the Gum Trees.
 * Hanuman, in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Indian and Thai and it's yummy but expensive. Nice place, good wine. Service can be spotty.
 * Hong Kong Restaurant next to Yeperenye Shopping Centre on Hartley Street, is one of the best Asian restaurants in town. Delicious food, relatively inexpensive food, with a large upstairs restaurant and an extensive take-away menu. Been in Alice Springs for many years.
 * La Casalinga, across from Mbantua Gallery, near The Diplomat has truly excellent pizza; they have the old-fashioned pizza bar atmosphere, with dark wood paneling and cold beer. Good steak and lasagna, too.
 * Casa Nostra, across the river via the causeway from the Todd Tavern. Excellent fresh pizza and some lovely pasta. More of a romantic atmosphere, old-style Italian. BYO.
 * Southern Spice Authentic Indian Cuisine, a little out of town to the east. Authentic Indian cuisine, great food and very highly rated. Weekly specials such as Dosa night on Wednesday.

Drink
Alice Springs, like most of the Northern Territory, has tough liquor laws. It is illegal to drink in public places (parks, streets, etc). The Telegraph Station to the north of the town permits drinking and a lot of families go there for a BBQ and a relax. Regardless of how sorry you may feel, don't purchase alcohol on behalf of people you don't know - if they can't buy it themselves, then there's a reason for that. You will require some form of approved identification (e.g. driver's license) to purchase take-away liquor in the Northern Territory.

 * Todd Mall is the main street (partly pedestrian only). You will find a couple of options here to get a drink. Starting at the end near Anzac Oval, The Todd Tavern has a bar meant for working blokes and a restaurant with good pub grub. Town & Country and Sporties both have bars and serious addictions to sport of all sorts.

Outside the Todd Mall
 * Almost all the hotels have bars.
 * Almost all the bars that aren't in hotels have live music some time or another - check the Advocate (local newspaper) for the "Gig Guide" to see what's playing where.
 * Non-bar drinking: There are liquor stores in town - Northside Foodland, Coles, Woolies and a few others. These have a decent selection of beer, wine and hard stuff. Bottle Shops, as they are known as, open at 2PM on weekdays until 9PM, and from 10AM to 9PM on Saturdays. No takeout liquor is available on Sundays (except at the 2 drive-thru bottle shops in town.)
 * The Casino - Lasseters - has a couple bars, including one devoted to *not* gambling called the Juicy Rump. Nice place – tasty food, good beer.
 * The Gillen Club - Although it's not in the CBD, it's a very nice club to visit. Good food! Especially fun on a Saturday night during the Football season when the teams based at the club have had a good win!
 * The Gillen Club - Although it's not in the CBD, it's a very nice club to visit. Good food! Especially fun on a Saturday night during the Football season when the teams based at the club have had a good win!

Stay safe
Alice Springs suffers from a relatively high crime rate. Socio-economic tensions which stem from Australia's colonial history have led to the development of impoverished Indigenous communities, known as 'camps', in and around the town, and alcohol-fuelled violence remains a significant problem in the community. Exercise extreme caution when walking around after 10PM, as large groups of inebriated Indigenous youths are notorious for causing trouble in the city. Todd Street is nauseatingly well-policed, so problems in the CBD are less of an issue than they were previously.

From time to time you may be asked for money or other items while in Alice Springs. According to Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, the organisation which represents the Native Title Holders of Alice Springs, this is not acceptable behaviour, and giving handouts only encourages a begging culture when there is no need for it to exist. Don't give money, cigarettes or food to those who ask. There is a chance that you will get yelled at and cursed at for not giving a handout but ignore this and keep walking. They will have forgotten you in 30 seconds anyway.

Go next

There are four main roads leaving Alice Springs: the Stuart Highway, which runs north to Darwin and south to Port Augusta; Larapinta Drive which runs West and splits off to the Namatjira road; and the Ross Highway, which runs East. The Stuart Highway (highway 87) is sealed all the way; this means it's got tarmac and is passable using a normal car. Larapinta Drive and Ross Highway are sealed for a couple hundred kilometres in each direction, but after that they convert to dirt roads which you will need a 4x4 vehicle to access. Wherever you go, be careful not to enter Pine Gap unless you have formal authorisation from the U.S. or Australian military to do so.

There is a web of dirt trails - sometimes called unsealed roads - which surrounds Alice Springs, and some of the nicest places within a few hours drive will require a four-wheel drive vehicle (4x4) to get to. There are two ways to go south. The first is the Stuart Highway, which is sealed and frequently travelled. The second is a dirt track which leads off the Stuart Highway; it's called the Old South Road. A dirt track connects the Old South Road to the modern Stuart Highway, from a point north of the Aboriginal community of Titjikala.

On the side of the old South Road, you will see a narrow track that follows the road - this is the track of the Finke Desert Race which is held every year on the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend in June. Best to just view the track though and not drive on it as it is very tough going, even at low speeds. If you are game and drive on it, have a think about how the competitors race along it at speeds in excess of 150 km/h on race weekend.

Around Alice Springs

 * Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve - a spectacular solitary column towering 40 metres above the Simpson Desert plain
 * MacDonnell Ranges - following Ross Highway, you'll find plenty of gaps, rocks and gorges
 * Ewaninga Conservation Reserve - gain insight into an ancient culture as you explore the small, six hectare Ewaninga Rock Carvings
 * Jim's Place - an outback roadhouse with Dinky, the singing dingo. Next door to this property is a great camel farm, too
 * Rainbow Valley - a scenic natural reserve consisting of various formations of sandstones and rocks
 * Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park - Simpson's Gap, Glen Helen Gorge and other stunning gorges and rock formations
 * Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre - a nature centre specialising in the field of sustainability in education and eco-tourism

Further south

 * Coober Pedy - the home of opal mining in Australia with underground hotels
 * Mount Conner - a plateau frequently mistaken for Ayers Rock by travellers
 * Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - home to Australia's most recognisable natural icon
 * Watarrka National Park - home to Kings Canyon, a mighty chasm reaching a depth of 270 metres with some great options for the less energetic to explore

Further north

 * Tennant Creek - a small town, makes a great base for seeing the Devil's Marbles and the Pebbles.

To the west

 * The Larapinta Trail is a famous hike from here leading 223 km to the West to Mount Sonder.

title: Alice Springs


text:
Aligarh

Aligarh is in Uttar Pradesh. Aligarh is famous for Aligarh Muslim University and its lock industry.

Get in
Aligarh is on a well-connected railway line from Delhi. One can get trains almost at a frequency of an hour after afternoon.

Eat
Being in the Nawabi state of Uttar Pradesh, you can find some really good non-veg dishes out here at very reasonable prices. The major restaurants are in centre point location which is considered as posh market of Aligarh. Meizbaan, Mughal Kareem, etc. But if you want to explore the local taste go for various road side dhabas such as near Tasveer Mahal and Purani Chungi area. And you can food almost round the clock in the Rasal Ganj area of Aligarh. You can also enjoy Ganpat's tikki and gulab jamun and Sibbu's kachori.

title: Aligarh


text:
Alingsås

Alingsås is a city with about 27,000 inhabitants in the Västergötland province in Sweden. It is known for its many cafés and as the birthplace of Jonas Alströmer, the man who brought the potato to Sweden.

Understand
Alingsås is first mentioned in written sources during the 14th century. The name is derived from the personal name "Ale" and the word "ås", meaning "ridge". Alingsås was granted city rights in 1619, stayed a small city with less than 150 inhabitants until the early 1720s, when Jonas Alströmer established a manufactory in the city. He also popularized potatoes in Sweden, growing them in Nolhaga castle. The crop is therefore associated with Alingsås, which hosts a potato festival every year. It also became a centre for the early Swedish textile industry. Despite two major city fires during the 18th century, Alingsås grew to 1,000 inhabitants by the year 1800. The city was hit hard by a crisis in the Swedish textile industry during the 1960s and 70s.

By train
Västtrafik runs commuter trains to Alingsås from Gothenburg. The train takes about 40 minutes and runs up to twice an hour. The ticket costs around 75-80 kr one way. SJ can take you to Alingsås from the rest of Sweden. The fastest train from Stockholm is the X 2000 which takes 2 hours and 40 minutes (stops in Katrineholm and Skövde).

By bus

 * Swebus Express makes a stop in Alingsås (Götaplan) with the bus line Gothenburg-Mariestad-Örebro-Stockholm up to four times a day.
 * Public transport buses take you to Alingsås from (among others) Borås, Trollhättan and Herrljunga.

By car
The European route E20 passes through Alingsås on its way to Stockholm from Gothenburg.

Get around
If you don't like walking, you can always use public transport. The main bus hub is Alingsåsterminalen.

Eat
Visit one of Alingsås' cafés. A sign to keep a lookout for is "Gratis påtår" which means that a free refill of coffee is included.

Go next

 * Gothenburg - The largest city in western Sweden

title: Alingsås