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Mardin

Mardin is a historic city in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. The city is known for its fascinating architecture and location: heavily decorated stone buildings cascading down a mountain, overlooking the vast expanse of the Mesopotamian plains below.

Understand

Mardin lies at the heart of the homeland of the Assyrians (also Syriacs, Turkish: Süryaniler), an ancient people who trace their origin to the Akkadian Empire, established in Mesopotamia around 2200 BC. Syriac is a Semitic language directly related to the native tongue of Jesus Christ, Aramaic. Syriac Orthodoxy was established after one of the earliest divisions in Christianity in the 5th century, much earlier than the Great Schism of the 11th century between the churches of Rome and Constantinople. While the Syriac population in Mardin dwindled due to emigration (nowadays Assyrians are more numerous in Sweden than in all of Turkey), they are still very much present in the city, along with more or less all other regional cultures, including Turks, Kurds, and Arabs.

Mardin served as the capital of the Turkic Artuqid dynasty between the 12th and 15th centuries. Much of the Islamic heritage in the city (madrasahs and mosques) dates back to this time.

It was effectively closed to tourism throughout the 1990s by the on-going conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdish militia PKK in the surrounding countryside, and was omitted from most guidebooks to the area. Mardin has started to catch up with tourism, but don't expect hordes of package tourists. It rewards the intrepid traveller who took the effort to go there with a sense of discovery, along with plenty of beautiful architecture and vistas.

Orientation
The main street of the historic quarter (Eski Mardin) traverses the town from one end to the other through its centre. It is called '''1. Cadde or Cumhuriyet Caddesi''' for part of its route. At the eastern end of the old town, it makes a sharp U-turn, and then runs along the entire southern edge of the city, before making another U-turn at the western end and thus completing a loop.

While the maps and aerial photos of the old city may look like a labyrinth, it is pretty hard to get lost in the alleys—depending on which side of the main drag you are at, follow the downhill or uphill alleys one after another, and within 15 minutes at most, you will be back at the main street.

The main avenue of Yenişehir (literally "New City", a modern suburb on a lower elevation to the north of the old town) is Vali Ozan Bulvarı, which eventually turns into the road climbing up to the old city with hairpin turns on the side of the hill. You are unlikely to spend too much time in Yenişehir (save for a range of accommodation it offers), but whether coming in from the west (Urfa) or the northwest (Diyarbakır), Vali Ozan will be the first street you will set foot in Mardin.

By road
Although there are roads leading to the city from roughly all cardinal directions, your most likely point of entry will be Urfa. Upon getting close to Mardin, the hilltop old city will greet you from a distance, and as you get closer, the road will swing north, eventually leading to Yenişehir behind the hill. The connecting highways are all well-paved, except for a 100-km section east of Urfa which is full of potholes.

Hitchhiking from Urfa (the ride should take around 2½-3 hours) is very easy, thanks to the hospitality of the local people.

By bus
There are buses from Urfa, which take around 4 hours and cost 25 TL. Minibuses (dolmuş) from Diyarbakır take 2 hours and cost 9 TL.

By air
There are daily flights from Istanbul.

By train
Although there is a small train station just south of the city, it has been in disuse since at least the 1990s. The nearest station with a regular passenger train connection to the rest of the country is in Batman to the north.

Get around
Blue minibuses (dolmuş) connect Yenişehir with the old city. They cost 0.90 TL/person. The steep road between the new and old cities might be taken in 30–40 minutes on foot, however it will surely be a very demanding walk, particularly during the peak of summer heat.

The old city is small enough to be negotiated on foot; the distance between either end of the main street can be taken in about half an hour. You will certainly not find any vehicles of any kind on the twisty and staired side alleys — even garbage is collected with the assistance of diligent donkeys there.

See

All sights of Mardin are located in the old city.

Do

 * Walk the alleys of the old city to grab more of local atmosphere and architecture.
 * Watch the Mesopotamian plains everywhere you can grip a good sight. The perspective is such that it's easy to assume the plains extend to the end of the world.
 * Enjoy one of the closest shaves in the Middle East. There are several small barber shops along the main street through the old city centre. Most offers include double shaving, head massage, a good conversation and of course a cup of tea. Though be wary of those that will try to rip you off—the first barbershop on the uphill street from the main square will ask 20 TL for the service, which is a totally unacceptable price in this part of the world.
 * There is a traditional hamam (bathhouse) in town, along the main street in the old town.

Buy
Several banks have branches on the main street of the old city, complete with ATMs on the exterior walls.

There is a big-box type store (Migros) in Yenişehir, right at the beginning of the ascent towards the old city.

Stores in the old city are closed by 21:00-22:00 (even those few that are offering alcoholic beverages, which are typically open till late at night in western Turkey), so make sure you have enough supplies of snacks and drinks (especially water!) for the night.

 * Colourful keffiyehs (locally known as poşi) can be a good buy while in Mardin. There is a store on the main street of old city where you can get 4 scarves for 10 TL. The red, yellow, and green kuffiya is the traditional and politically loaded colors of the PKK/Kurdish, and will get you lots of friends in the Kurdish areas (but don't wear it in the Turkish areas).

Drink
Süryani şarabı is the local red wine, found in some shops and restaurants.

Local tap water is far too chalky to be tasty and may be unsafe to drink. Buy bottled water instead.

Sleep
Booking in summer months, especially at weekends, is important since Mardin attracts more and more travellers day by day but there are not lots of places to stay.

Stay safe
The safety situation has been vastly improved since the 1990s, and Mardin and its surrounding area seem to be very safe with an overly heavy presence of policemen in the old city.

Connect
Mardin's telephone code is (+90) 482.

Internet

There are also a couple more internet cafes on the main street of old city.

There is a tourism information office (Turizm İrtibat Bürosu) on the main square of old city, run by students of a local high school. They also offer free internet.

Go next

 * Midyat, about 40 min by minibus to the north is renowned for its architecture as well as Mardin. Midyat's stonework is even more detailed than that of Mardin, although the town is on a less privileged flat ground.
 * Savur, on the old mountain road to Midyat, is a mini-Mardin: stone buildings spreading over an outcrop.
 * Hasankeyf further north on the banks of the Tigris was a very beautiful village with cave houses, a citadel, and monuments from the Middle Ages. Some of this was moved to a higher ground, and the rest has been submerged by the Ilısu Dam lake.
 * Beyazsu (Kurdish: Avaspi; both meaning "white water") is about one hour away from Mardin on the road between Midyat and Nusaybin. The area is a favourite weekend retreat of the locals thanks to its waterfalls and greenery, something of a miracle in this arid region.
 * Further on, Nusaybin is a border town with an ancient Syriac Orthodox church and a 12th century mosque, and features the fascinating desert ruins of Dara in its outskirts.
 * Further on, Nusaybin is a border town with an ancient Syriac Orthodox church and a 12th century mosque, and features the fascinating desert ruins of Dara in its outskirts.

Hitchhiking
If you are hitchhiking toward Urfa, it will be easiest to take an inexpensive dolmus/minibus from the Mardin otogar/bus station to Kiziltepe, a town just south of Mardin. The bus station in Kiziltepe is right near the dusty highway toward Urfa. You may have to walk a bit to get out of town, or just start flagging and try to get a ride to the edge of town (if the ride isn't going the whole way). If you wear a Kurdish kuffiya, you won't have any problems finding a ride and plenty of goodwill.

title: Mardin


text:
Maremma

Maremma extends from Tuscany to Lazio.

Understand
Maremma is being promoted as a destination for agritourism. Near the coast are extended flat zones, which were notorious for malaria contamination up to the 1930s. This was the area that was home for famous bandits like Domenico Tiburzi. Nowadays the Maremma coast has beautiful beaches that are hardly developed.

Landscape
Maremma extends from Tuscany to Lazio; generally speaking it's considered Maremma the region between Cecina and Tarquinia (the distance between these two cities is about 180 km).

The landscape of the Maremma is extremely varied, because the Maremma extends over plains and hills, and has a fabulous and not yet polluted coastline.

It is a very wild and low densely populated area (one of the lowest in Italy), with very little industrialization.

The Mediterranean maquis alternates with olive groves and vineyards, and sandy beaches with a rocky coastline.

The inland hills are rich in natural hot springs too.

Climate
Mediterranean climate: neither very hot in summer nor very cold in winter.

Get in
The major centers (Tarquinia, Capalbio, Orbetello, Grosseto, Cecina) on the coast between Rome and Pisa are well connected through railway and motorway "via Aurelia". Trains stops in minor centers with lesser frequency.

The nearest airports are located in Rome (about 70 km from Tarquinia), Pisa (about 60 km from Cecina) and Florence (about 80 km from Grosseto).

To reach minor centers, especially the ones located in the internal parts of Maremma, a car is required. Also by car, these centers are linked by tortuous roads, climbing up and down from the hills.

Get around
The local bus company is called RAMA. Their buses connect almost all the minor centres to Grosseto.

Giglio and Giannutri islands can be reached from Porto Santo Stefano and Castiglione della Pescaia.

A car is recommended to explore the area.

See

 * Pitigliano, beautiful old town made of tuff stone.
 * Pitigliano, beautiful old town made of tuff stone.

Do

 * Signhtseeing (Grosseto, Massa Marittima, Pitigliano, Manciano, Vie Cave, Abbadia Ardenghesca, Civitella Paganico and more)
 * UNESCO Geopark: Tuscany mining geopark, with nice spots
 * Beaches: fun in the sun and the blue sea!
 * Lots of restaurants (wild boar is the traditional meat in the Maremma)
 * Nature parks such as the Maremma Nature Park and Lake Burano
 * Excellent wines (including Morellino, Monteregio, Montecucco)
 * Hiking
 * Water sports
 * Mountainbiking
 * Horseback riding
 * Fishing
 * Golfing
 * Hot springs and spas (Petriolo and Saturnia)
 * Hot springs and spas (Petriolo and Saturnia)

Buy
Fantastic olive oil, good wine, tasteful food, some arts and crafts.

There are some malls, but they are not really interesting, so stick to smaller shops.

Learn
The Maremma is a popular region for language vacations.

Eat

 * Wild boar (cinghiale)
 * Acqua cotta
 * Tortelli maremmani
 * Cured meat
 * Manciano cheese
 * Porcini mushrooms
 * Sea food
 * Fish

An excellent and fun way of eating good real traditional food at a reasonable price is by going to one of the many village festivals organized in the Summer: they are called Sagra.

Drink
D.O.C. Wines of the Maremma

 * Morellino di Scansano
 * Montecucco
 * Monteregio
 * Pitigliano Bianco
 * Sovana
 * Capalbio
 * Parrina

Here is a page by the Regione Toscana on the Wine Trails of Tuscany

Sleep
Furnishings, colours and details reminds one of the Tuscan tradition and the territory of “Maremma” to which the Locanda La Pieve belongs.
 * Pieve di Caminino Historic Resort, Strada Provinciale 89, Roccastrada (GR): 6 romantic suites with fireplace and antique furniture in an 11th century former monastery. Panoramic Pool, Strategic location to reach top Maremma and Tuscany destinations.
 * Tenuta San Carlo, Strada Provinciale 40 della Trappola 147/a 58046 Marina di Grosseto, (GR) Italia. Tel. & Fax +39 0564 31016. Situated in the regional park of the area, Parco dell'Uccellina, Tenuta San Carlo is a great example of what it's like to live on an Italian farm. The property is approximately 400 ha (1,000 acres) and has some of the most exquisite examples of the flora and fauna of the area such as wildboar, horses, bovine, daini (small deer), foxes, porcupines, turtles, many species of rare Italian birds, pine forests, swamp land, and natural fresh water and salt water beaches.
 * Casina di Rosa - Vacation rental in Maremma - Vacation rental in medieval hilltop village, Civitella Marittima, in the inland hills of the Maremma. On the border between the Siena region and the Maremma, it is the ideal base to explore many diverse areas of Tuscany. It can accommodate up to 3 people. It has received many excellent reviews, and it was chosen as Slow Travel Favourite in 2005. The website for this house is full of useful information about the Maremma and the Siena area, ideas for your holidays and a remarkable photogallery with hundreds of photos.
 * Agriturismo in Maremma Il Passo degli Ulivi - Holiday farmhouse in the countryside of the Maremma, near Petriolo Hot Springs. 3 holiday rental apartments with airconditioning, garden, terraces and shared swimming pool.
 * Holiday villa in Maremma Lo Scopetaccio - Beautiful holiday rental cottage on the Metalliferous hills, 2 km away from the village of Sassofortino. It can accommodate up to 4 and has a huge private garden and use of the owners' swimming pool.
 * Saturnia Tuscany Hotel  - 2 km from the famous Mulino Waterfalls and the Terme di Saturnia Spa, with its golf course and thermal pools, Saturnia Tuscany Hotel is the ideal place to spend a relaxing holiday in the Saturnia valley.
 * Farmhouse Il Quarto is in the heart of Maremma Tuscany, 20km from Saturnia Spa. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, the 98 hectare farm allows guests to experience total relaxation and tranquility.
 * Agrialbergo Capalbio is a hotel in Capalbio near the Maremman coast. It offers comfortable rooms fitted with all services.
 * Locanda La Pieve, Semproniano-Saturnia (GR) - 9 km from the spa of Saturnia is the medieval village of Semproniano. Each of the 8 rooms is different in colour and décor, but all have a private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, television, telephone and safe.

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

title: Maremma


text:
Marfa

Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.

By car
Marfa sits at the intersection of US Hwy 67 and 90 and Texas Hwy 17:

 * US 67.svg to Texas_17.svg Highland St/S Highland Ave US Hwy 67 goes south to Presidio and  east to Alpine concurrent along US Hwy 90. It then continues another  northeast from Alpine to Ft Stockton on the I-10 corridor (via Exit 248). Going north of town, Highland Ave becomes State Highway (SH) 17 which goes up another  to I-10 in Saragosa (Exit 209).
 * US 90.svg San Antonio St Coming from the east, US Hwy 90 makes for an interesting, scenic drive to Marfa. Plan your fuel stops wisely, as it's possible to go almost 200 miles between cities. US Hwy 90 takes in a couple of all-but-ghost towns along the way, as well as the Trans-Pecos crossing and some breathtaking scenery.
 * I-10.svg Travelers in more of a hurry may prefer to take Interstate 10 to US Hwy 67 (Exit 248) from Fort Stockton (or from further east) or US Hwy 90 (Exit 140A) from Van Horn, if coming from the west, straight into Marfa. Likewise one can also exit off at TX-17 from Exit 209 of I-10 from either direction.

By plane
For those flying, the nearest airport is in El Paso, which is roughly west. Midland International Air and Space Port in Midland, Texas is roughly the same distance. Marfa is roughly six to seven hours from Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Most travelers typically rent a car at the airport and come by car.

Get around
Visitors will need their own transportation to reach most of the sights in Marfa, although many of the art galleries and restaurants are within walking distance of each other on the main drag in town, between the Presidio County Courthouse and the Marfa post office.

See

Do
Visitors should consider planning their trip when the town is most active - between Wednesday and Saturday, when many local shops, restaurants and attractions are open.

For many visitors, the mysterious Marfa Lights are the main attraction. There is a viewing platform several miles east of the city on Route 67. After dark, the famed lights may appear... or they may not. Theories have been put forward as to their origin, but none have been conclusive; there is no way to predict whether they will appear on any given night. Visitors determined to catch a glimpse of the eerie, dancing orbs may have to set aside a couple of nights and wish for luck.

Stay safe
The crime rate in Marfa is incredibly low compared to other nearby cities and towns. However, visitors are advised to check into their motels before 10PM as the street lights in Marfa turn off at this time, or carry a flashlight or firearm. Once it gets dark, coyotes and pumas come down out of the Davis mountains looking for prey.

Law enforcement is provided by the Presidio County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Highway Patrol, after the disbanding of the Marfa Police Department in 2010.

Connect
Verizon AT&T and T-Mobile all have cell phone coverage in the whole town. Sprints coverage only covers the western part. The town is covered by a few broadband internet providers. .

Go next

 * Alpine is the next city to the east of Marfa.
 * Big Bend National Park, with 801,000 acres of land, is a short drive away.
 * Fort Davis, about 30 minutes north of Marfa on Route 67, is home to the McDonald Observatory, which hosts terrific Star Parties after dark.
 * Marathon, east on Highway 90, has a few small art galleries, dusty cafes and a grand hotel, the Gage, giving it the feel of a miniature Marfa.
 * Presidio, an hour south, shares a border with Ojinaga, Mexico.

title: Marfa


text:
Margao

Margao is the second largest city in the Indian state of Goa, 33 km from the state capital Panaji. It is Goa's cultural and commercial capital, and is close to the central coast. The long white-sand beach stretch was rated by an early-1970s UNDP study as potentially one of the ten best beaches in the world.

Understand
This South Goa city is also the second-largest (after Vasco da Gama) by population and very busy as the administrative headquarters of South Goa.

This beach spans more than 30 kilometres, from Sancoale in the north to the Mobor Peninsula in the south. Margao lies somewhat in the middle of this beach, five kilometres eastwards. Hence, it's a convenient base station for beaches like Velsao, Cansaulim, Arossim, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim, Benaulim, Varca, Fatrade, Cavelossim and Mobor.

Like other Goan places, Margao too has got multiple names in different languages. It's called Madgaon by the Indian Railways, and the local Konkani pronunciation is Mudgannv or Modgannv. Margão is the Portuguese name and spelling.

Skirted in part by the River Sal, Margao is known for its huge Indo-Portuguese style mansions -- they are more visible around here than in other parts of Goa. Take a look around Abade Faria Road and its eastern parallel, the Padre Miranda Road, the area around the Holy Spirit Church and St. Joaquim Road that leads to Borda.

Margao is crowded and hot, but it's worth seeing. The hustle and bustle is quite incredible.

Get in
The nearest airport is Goa Airport, at Dabolim (28 km).

Margao is connected by road to other cities like Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Ratnagiri, and Mumbai through national highway 17. Also, there is a road which connects Margao to Ponda and other towns in Goa.

By train
Goa's biggest and most important railway station, (IR station code: MAO), is 2 km east of Margao town, off NH-17. Margao's railway station is big and important, an intersection of the Konkan Railway and the South Western Railway (earlier South Central Railway). It is the terminus station for several Konkan Railway trains, being a major station of the Mumbai-Mangalore rail line, after Ratnagiri.

Almost all trains passing through Goa stop here, and it is the gateway to south Goa. There are direct trains from most parts of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Mangalore and Bangalore. For a list of trains, see the main article.

Margao is also a convenient point to disembark for the beaches of Palolem (38 km) or Colva and Benaulim (about 6-8 km).

By bus
Margao is well connected with other cities of Goa by bus.

Express mini-buses run by the (Goa government) Kadamba Transport Corporation connect Margao to Panjim (Panaji), the state-capital. These mini-buses leave from the KTC Bus Stand, on the outskirts of Margao, and one needs to queue up to buy a ticket. They ply during peak hours (not after 8PM or so).

Some inter-state buses touch Margao. For instance, buses headed to Bangalore via the Karwar route, touch Margao in the evenings, and pick up passengers there. Some of the buses for Mumbai leave from Margao, but they are only a few.

Buses connect the Margao-Panjim route till 9:30PM. Margao is also connected to Ponda, Vasco da Gama, Canacona, Karwar and a number of outlying villages of Margao. Margao is a major terminus on the Konkan Railway route, and local and express trains connecting to Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Tamil Nadu halt here as per their schedules.

Get around
It is very easy to get a bike for rent in Goa, so go to any of the famous Motorcycle taxi guys and ask for a bike to rent and they will be happy to assist you.

Auto rickshaws are very rare to find while taxis (Maruti Omni's, ambassadors, etc.) are easily accessible. Motorcycle taxis are a great option for solo travellers.

Private buses are also very efficient for travelling within Margao and to nearby locations. Remember: unlike other states, Goa doesn't have separate men and women seating arrangements. Busses are cheap with maximum charges of around ₹6 for a 3-5 km distance.

Intercity/interstate trains leave from the bigger junction station about 2 km from the centre of town. If you are getting a bus into the city and get dropped off here (just 2 km north of the main city square), public buses only run 7AM-7PM, but private buses run until about 11PM. They stop at the main road entrance to the bus stand, close to the middle. It's ₹10 to the centre of town in a private bus.

See
Some landmarks in Margao include the Presentation Convent (Holy Spirit Church area) and the Fatima Convent (near the municipal square). They are two of Margao's oldest unisex high schools started and being run by Catholic religious congregations, for girls.

Clergy Home along arterial Padre (Pe.) Miranda Road was among the first shelters for retiring priests built by the Goa Archdiocese. Today you can see the reconstructed version. It is near today's district hospital, Hospicio, which is a unique edifice in its own right. It was founded by Rev. Antonio Joao de Miranda, a humble Catholic clergyman, after whom the thoroughfare outside is named.

Clube Harmonia was originally called the Clube de Margao (subsequently renamed as Teatro de Harmonia) operating from a house at the Borda locality. The idea of a modern building for the Teatro de Harmonia was mooted by its members in 1936. The present structure was built 1955. Together with Bernado Peres da Silva (BPS) Club, Clube ABC and Margao Cricket Club, Harmonia is today a leading social club of the town.

Hindu Mathagramasth Sabha: As the 'mathagram' in the name suggests, it's a Brahmin institution. It has provided yeoman's service in education, irrespective of creed or caste, to Margaoites. It runs the Damodar Arts & Science Higher Secondary School (not to be mixed up with Damodar College, that's run by Vidhya Vikas Mandal, a different ball game), one of the best higher secondary schools in Goa, if one goes by Std. XII science board exam results.

Aga Khan's Children's Park: Few would be aware that the northern half of the Margao municipal garden was actually developed by a businessman, Abdul Javerbhai Mavany, hailing from Margao's minuscule Agakhani community. He did that after two young sons were lost to cancer and His Highness, The Aga Khan, was visiting Goa. The park was inaugurated by Goa's last Portuguese Governor General, Vassalo e Silva, in 1959.

Margao is home to the popular deity of Damodar, as reflected in names of local educational and other institutions.

It has four churches, Holy Spirit in the central area, Our Lady of Grace adjoining the municipal square, St. Sebastian at Aquem and Rosary near the football stadium at Fatorda. The Holy Spirit, while entering the city from the North, is Salcete taluka's second-oldest (after the one first built within the Rachol Fort) built 1564-65, its present (fourth edition) edifice, re-built in 1645, being more grand.

The town has four chapels with near-Parish size following at Mungul, Ambajim, Borda and the picturesque 'Monte' hillock, all with resident Chaplains and regular daily services. In addition, there is a major church of the Carmelite order at Malbhat, besides half a dozen chapels of various religious orders from Jesuits to Salesians. A walk around this church-square reveals some grand homes, and great photo opportunities. Check the scenic chapel on the nearby Monte Hill.

Gomant Vidhya Niketan: After Portugal became a republic in 1910, Margao-based Hindus used the end of religious discrimination and their new found freedom to establish this noble institution on March 19, 1912. It was then known as Saraswat Brahman Samaj and renamed to its current name in 1962, and ran a public library at the southern end of Abade Faria road. The present building was built in 1965 and houses the library in the rear of the ground floor and an auditorium upstairs. It is the venue of most of Konkani and Marathi stage shows to this date. The society also runs a physio-therapy centre from rented premises further down the road.

A modern stage centre, Ravindra Bhavan, near Fatorda's Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru football stadium, promises to be South Goa's major centre for the performing art

Among the town's spots one could check out: the early 20th-century municipal building (Câmara) and the municipal garden lying in front of it, the municipal garden, the Anna Fonte (natural springs), the Old Market or Mercado Velho, the Hindu crematorium ('smashant bhoomi'), the Catholic cemetery and the Muslim burial ground ('kabrasthan'), all on Pajifond's Rua das Saudades.

Margao also hosts Goa's largest Nehru sports stadium, where one can run into popular off-monsoon evening football matches, and even the occasional international cricket test match.

Konkan Railway is working on a Skybus (elevated rail system) which can be seen in Margao, amidst challenges on the fronts of costs and technology. Konkan Railway claims its Skybus, which technology it has patented, will follow the existing roads without taking "road space and be as flexible as a bus". It will have rail-based mass transit capacity, not divide the city, be derailment and collision-proof, free from vandalism, noise-free and pollution-free, and non-invasive (requiring the "least amount of scarce land space and not come in the way of development").

Margao's name is believed to come from "matha-grama" (the village of religious maths) as it was a village of temple schools (mathas) -- including the principal Vaishnavi 'math', Jeevottam, before it was shifted to Partagal in Canacona half a millennium ago. Margao's main Matha, Jeevottam, was shifted to Ordhofond, Partagal in Canacona in 1475, as political battles took on religious tones in those medieval days. Margao was also a temple town, with as many as 13 temples in 1544 when the population was around just five thousand, according to writer and former Margao municipality chief S Valmiki Faleiro.

Margao's Holy Spirit church square is also known for its baroque architecture church. It also is lined by palatial mansions around it. Structures in this area are low-rise, adding to the stately nature of the locality, with a maximum of two floors. Many have balconies (the balcao or balcoes) and verandas facing the square.

Running parallel to the Church Square is the Old Market's commercial street. Next to the church is a landscaped area called the Praca da Alegria (Square of Happiness).

Another landmark in Margao is the commercial shopping area around the municipal garden and the old bus stand. Part of the garden was developed by the Mavany business family, and dedicated to the Aga Khan, during a visit of his to colonial Goa. Swami Vivekananda is also known to have stayed in the home of another business family, the influential Narcinva D. Naik residence, during a visit to Goa way back in 1892. The mansion also houses Margao's well-known temple-hall Damodar Sal.

In Aquem Alto, Arlem was Goa's first brewery started by the Chowgules at a locality of the same name (Arlem), on the outskirts of Margao. Incidentally, Goa's second brewery was the Mallya's, at Bethora-Ponda. Former politician Monte Cruz must have been the last to join the club with his brand of Kings.

Goa Bottling, better known locally as "Gold Spot" after the popular aerated softie it bottled in the yesteryears, was a latecomer to Goa. It straddles the corner junction of Margao-Ponda NH-4A and Margao's Eastern Bypass road. Among Goa's very first aerated soft drink bottlers was a seaman from Velim, who, immediately in the post-liberation years, started his Crunet bottling unit at Borda, in Margao. Coke's Goa franchise, the politically prominent family of the Sequeiras, later started their unit in Borim. The mining-based Modu Timblo group later started Goa Bottling. It's now owned by Pepsi's Delhi-based principal franchise in India.

Cupid's Haven is a nearby open air event venue. It hosts dances and wedding receptions.

Goa's second plant that makes industrial and medical oxygen gas from thin air, Goving Poy Oxygen, is nearby. (The first was Gas Carbonico, on Margao's outskirts at Nuvem, a village that was once part of Margao. The company was taken over by Margao Govind Poys, once a smalltime hardware establishment that diversified into multi-purpose gases with factories in Cochin, Nashik and Goa.)

Also part of the city's map are places like the Pandava cave (near the current St. Sebastiao Church at Aquem, Torsannzor -- a healing mineral spring, more famous than Ana Fonte in yesteryears -- among others.

Some of the buildings are still styled in a colonial way, from the Portuguese past. Some places to visit in and around Margao are:
 * Municipal Building, believed to have been built around 1770.
 * Indo-Portuguese styled Houses along Margao-Borda Road.
 * Holy Spirit Church, and the Church Square dating back to the 1564-1675 period.
 * Monte Hill. From atop this hill one can see the whole of Margao.
 * Colva Beach, some 5 km out of Margao.
 * Old Market, dating back to the pre-Portuguese era.
 * District Court (1777) and jail.

Do

 * See the musical fountain on weekend evenings, near Nanutel hotel
 * Watch an Indian movie at one of the several cinemas
 * If you go around May/June, there is a feast of the Holy Spirit church. To celebrate this, there is a huge street side sale of everything from clothes to furniture to kitchen utensils. It's near the KTC bus stand along the road.
 * Try to lay your hands on the inexpensively priced "Margao Heritage Walk Map", that has been researched by architect-urban planner Ashish K Sinai Rege of Altinho Panjim. This is a creatively crafted map that offers suggestions for three 'heritage walks' around Margao. Each is of 20, to 35 and 45 minutes.

Buy
Margao also has a 'covered' market (earlier Mercado de Afonso de Albuquerque, near Pimplapedd or Pimpalakatta in Konkani), along Francisco Luis Gomes Road (a.k.a. Old Station Road), even if the town's main market today adjoins the Kadamba bus terminus near its northern reaches.

There are markets all over the place.

 * Gandhi Market
 * In and around the Municipal Building, in the heart of town.
 * Near the KTC bus stand, at the entry to the town, from the Panjim side.

Eat
Margao isn't as rich in decent eating places as the touristic coast nearby. But because Margao is a town rather than a tourist destination, the restaurants are open year-round.

Check some on these list: the restaurant at Hotel Nanutel (Indian/Chinese/mixed). Longuinhos (Goan/Indian/Chinese). Hotel Woodlands' bar. The restaurant of Hotel Saaj (Malayalee specialities). Shahi Durbar along FL Gomes (Old Station) Road for Mughlai/Indian, with nice cuisine even if a crowded area. Gaylin along Varde Valaulikar Road (behind the Collectorate) and Rice Bowl at Reliance Park, along the Margao-Colva Road, just beyond the municipal limits (Chinese), which is worthy of a recommendation.

 * Tato's (Apna Bazaar Complex)
 * MainLand China (behind Loyola High School)
 * Kamat Hotel (Colva bus stand)
 * Shalimar
 * Golden Chariot's Relish: multi cuisine restaurant,but specialists in seafood (GOGOL)
 * Bhel Puri stands around the park
 * China Gate (west of the police station)
 * Kandeel is very popular with locals, including retired couples. The ambience is very plain but the Goan food (fish curry thali) and cocktails are inexpensive and excellent (as of 2011).

Sleep
Places to stay include the GTDC-run Margao Residence (fair place to stay on a budget), behind the municipal building; Hotel Woodlands; Nanutel; Hotel Saaj (behind Fatima Convent), Miguel Loyola Furtado Rd (behind Fatima Convent); Government Rest House, Monte; and Gold Star Hotel (Isidorio Baptista Road).

Others: Woodlands, Margao's first multi-storeyed modern hotel (the ones before were lodges and traditional pensoes that almost went to rot), Hotel Saaj and the slightly upper middle-end Nanutel which stands on part of the Cine Metropole property, opposite Ana Fonte.

There are of course numerous lodges farther away from the city centre, (₹300-500), and with corresponding facilities. Milan, Goa Lodge, and a sprinkling around the Khareaband road leading to Benaulim, are generally patronised by outstation travelling salesmen. But there are better places to eat and stay outside of Margao proper.

Internet

 * Cyber Inn, Shop No.5, Kalika Chambers, Varde Valaulikar Raod 403601 Ph 2733232
 * Terrance Pimenta, Shop No. 12, Felicinta Apartments, Near Big Foot Traffic Island, Gogol 403601
 * Tokina Cybercafe, Damodar Building, Near Police Station, Above Central Bank, Margao 403601
 * Antonio Jose D'Costa, F11, Regency Plaza, Near LML Showroom, Comba, Margao 403601
 * Sarah Cafe, St. Anthony Complex, Shop PG 11, Aquem, Margao 403601 Ph 2703034

Go next
Move on to the nearby beaches of Colva, Benaulim or Palolem.

 * Ponda
 * Karwar
 * Udupi
 * Dharwad
 * Anshi National Park

title: Margao


text:
Margaret River

Margaret River is a coastal town south of Perth. It is renowned for its wineries, food and surf beaches. It is located in the 'south west' and as many features in the region are now tied into the name, Margaret River is now the common term for the region between The Capes - Cape Naturaliste in the north, and Cape Leeuwin in the south.

By car
The most common way to approach Margaret River is by car. There is no scheduled commercial air service, although there is a local airport. It takes around 3 hours to drive from Perth. One route is to take the Kwinana Freeway/Highway 1 route out of Perth, and drive south. There are alternative routes, and these might take longer.

By bus
Unless you are taking a tour, being in Margaret River town without a car is limiting. There are two bus services that go through the town, the Transwa bus service to Augusta and Flinders Bay, and South West Coaches run a daily bus leaving Margaret River for Perth in the morning, and then leaving in the evening.

By rail
You can only catch the train from Perth to Margaret River as far as Bunbury, from there the Transwa bus continues on to Margaret River.

Get around
Margaret River is a great place to walk or bike around. A car is helpful for seeing sites in the surrounding area, including the wineries.

See
A day in the Margaret River with a family might start with a morning trip to the coffee roastery at Yahava, sip your morning cappuccino, followed by a trip to one of the three mazes, picking up some cheese and crackers from the Margaret River Dairy for morning tea on the way. Lunch at the Colonial Brewery, with a sampler of a beer and the kids on the playground, followed by a tour of one of the two lighthouses or four caves that run tours in the area. Drop into a couple of wineries for tasting, before heading to the beach to watch the sunset over the water (and a swim if visiting in summer).

 * Wineries. There are many wineries in the surrounding area, from large producers to smaller boutique wineries with just a couple of rows of vines.  In some places there can be 3 or 4 cellar doors within a few hundred metres.  Some wineries have covered areas, and have quality food available, others have souvenirs and produce, others will just fill your tasting glass when you arrive.
 * The beach. Margaret River town is inland. However it is not far from the beaches and surf breaks of Gracetown and Yallingup.
 * Wardan Aboriginal Culture Centre
 * Margaret River School of Wine
 * Margaret River Caves
 * Cape Leeuwin

Do

 * Coastal hiking trails

Buy

 * Local wines, locally brewed beers, olive oils, cheese, nuts, coffee and other produce
 * Margaret River Chocolate Factory
 * Candy Cow

Sleep

Prevelly Caravan Park

Go next

 * Augusta - the southernmost town in the Margaret River Region.
 * Cowaramup
 * Dunsborough - Beachside community.
 * Gracetown
 * Yallingup - Caves, Reef a Surfing.

title: Margaret River


text:
Margarita Island

Margarita Island (Spanish: Isla de Margarita) is in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, off the northeastern coast of the mainland and to the northeast of the country's capital Caracas.

Cities

 * is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta and is located in Arismendi on Margarita Island. It is the seat of the regional government and home to around 25,000 people. La Asunción boasts a fine colonial-era pink cathedral.
 * is a city of around 45,000 people. Not far from the city centre is the site of the fortress La Galera. In the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought at this site. Juan Griego also has some smaller shopping centres and beaches.
 * has several beaches, around 50,000 inhabitants and is home to a good number of the larger shopping malls including; Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), La Redoma, Rattan Depot, Sambil Margarita.
 * is the island's largest city. This is the main commercial centre and has many shops and good restaurants. Population is approximately 85,000 or around one third of the islands total inhabitants during the low season. Numbers rise to around 125,000 in the high season. It has two city beaches.

Main beaches

 * - Is said to be a more popular beach destination, due to the surf conditions, the good selection of shops and restaurants available. The surf at times does get very rough and there are no lifeguards on duty.
 * - A picturesque village located between two rocky hills. A white sandy beach extends along a bay for around 2 km with clear water and good surf
 * Punta de Piedras- A fishing port and the good place to admire the traditional colourful local houses with their brightly painted windows and doors. Site of the College, La Salle Foundation Oceanographic Experimental Station and Technical Fishing school.
 * - A village and beach located just 10 minutes from the airport. The beach is internationally renowned for windsurfing and kitesurfing. There are many classes available from the beginner to the advanced.
 * Playa Punta Arena
 * Playa La Restinga
 * Playa La Pared
 * Playa Isla Bonita
 * Playa Paraíso
 * Playa El Guamache
 * Playa Parguito
 * Other Beaches: Guacuco, Moreno, La Caracola, El Ángel, Varadero, El Humo, Puerto Real, Manzanillo, Guayacán, Puerto Viejo, Puerto Cruz, Zaragoza, Caribe, La Galera, Pedro González, Arenas, Cardón, La Caranta, La Auyama...

Urban places and malls

 * Boulevard Guevara and Boulevard Gomez
 * Av. Santiago Mariño
 * Av. 4 de Mayo
 * Ratan Plaza Mall
 * AV Mall
 * Sambil Mall
 * Parque Costa Azul Mall
 * La Vela Mall
 * Parque La Marina
 * Jumbo Mall (discontinued)

Landmarks

 * Fortín de la Libertad o de La Galera (Juangriego).
 * Castillo San Carlos de Borromeo|Castillo San Carlos de Borromeo (Pampatar).
 * Ruinas del Fortín Santiago de La Caranta (Pampatar).
 * Castillo de Santa Rosa de la Eminencia (La Asunción).
 * Columna de Matasiete (Cerro Matasiete, Vía Porlamar-La Asunción).
 * Fortín España (Santa Ana).

Tourist sites

 * National Parks: Laguna de la Restinga y Cerro Copey.
 * Natural Monuments: Laguna de Las Marites, Las Tetas de María Guevara y los cerros Matasiete y Guayamurí.

Churches

 * Church del Cristo del Buen Viaje (Pampatar)
 * Church Nuestra Señora de La Asunción (La Asunción)
 * Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora del Valle (El Valle del Espíritu Santo)
 * Church de San Nicolás de Bari (Porlamar)

Museums

 * Museo Nueva Cádiz (La Asunción).
 * Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Francisco Narváez (Porlamar).
 * Museo Marino (Boca de Río).
 * Museo Casa Natal de Juan Bautista Arismendi (La Asunción).
 * Museo Diocesano (El Valle del Espíritu Santo).
 * Casa Natal de Santiago Mariño (El Valle del Espíritu Santo).

Understand
Margarita island (Isla de Margarita) is the largest island of the Nueva Esparta State of Venezuela with a total area of 934 km², mountainous terrain and a tropical Caribbean climate. It is a 35 minute flight or a couple of hours by sea using the ferry from Puerto La Cruz or Cumana as it is only a short distance off the northern coast of the mainland of Venezuela.

The Province of Margarita was founded in 1525 and was the oldest of those that in 1777 formed the Post of Captain-General of Venezuela.

The island has more than 50 beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline and is blessed with an average of over 320 days a year of sun and beautiful tropical beaches lined with palm trees.

US and EU citizens don’t need a visa to visit Venezuela making Margarita easy to access. The climate is warm and pleasant with vacationers visiting Margarita all months of the year.

By sea
Via ferry from mainland Venezuela at Puerto La Cruz with Conferry. Passenger/vehicular ferries operate the route providing access to the island for motorbikes, cars, buses and trucks. The Carmen Ernestina or any express ferry is preferable.

Get around

 * Street and touristic map

When traveling about on the island, ensure that you carry sufficient local currency in smaller denominations so that you can make purchases without running into problems. Smaller local traders and transport operators may not be able to give you sufficient change for larger bills and will most likely be reluctant to accept foreign currency as it will be difficult and troublesome for then to exchange it later.

Taxis hire is subject to prior negotiation with the driver. Taxis can often be chartered for a day if required. Most of the taxi have fix rates and should be inexpensively priced.

The taxi painted in white with yellow license plate are often considered to be the most reliable.

 * Por puesto service most of the island. These are a little like a shared taxi having much more flexibility than a conventional bus service. Many locals use the Por Puesto services which normally travel a fixed route offering a cheap and safe alternative to a taxi. The journey can sometimes be a little slow however, as they often stop to pick up and discharge passengers at frustratingly short intervals and this may draw a trip out considerably.
 * Buses run to the most destinations in daytime only. Typical service hours are daily from 6AM-8PM with reasonably priced fares. Flag the bus down if you are on the side of the road and want it to stop. Check the rate to your destination with the driver as you board the bus and pay when you arrive. The local buses may be a little too rustic for some visitors used to more modern transportation systems but they are a good inexpensive way to get about and to meet the local people.
 * Buseta (mini-buses) offer an opportunity to travel cheaply and to get in touch with the locals. Trip times will depend on distance and traffic conditions. Knowing a little Spanish is always helpful to get through, but some locals will be pleased to practice their English with you. Fares are inexpensive and depend on the length of your travel. Before boarding a mini-bus, ask the driver how much the fare is to your specific destination to ensure there are no misunderstandings.

Rental cars are available from major chains such as Avis, Budget and Hertz, as well as local operators. Look for established operators with an identifiable operating base. Outlets are to be found in the main city of Porlamar, at Playa El Yaque, and there are several offices and kiosks at the islands airport. Always use common sense when renting and make sure to check for any hidden costs and levies that may appear when you return the car. To rent a car you will need a current driver’s license and a passport. Make sure you have adequate insurance to cover any loss/damage or purchase a Collision Damage Waiver and do not leave your passport, drivers licence, or any other important documentation with the rental company as a security deposit. Since in most cases the contract will be in Spanish, make sure you understand what you are signing. Do not take the rental agents word in translating it, you are signing a legally binding contract. Thoroughly check over the vehicle including the glass and all panels for any damage and have the salesperson initial a damage record. If in doubt at all photograph the vehicle from all sides prior to taking delivery. Make sure that the vehicle is registered with the municipality as a rental car, there will be a sticker on the drivers side windshield. Check the vehicle over thoroughly before you leave the depot to ensure everything is functioning on the vehicle and that it is roadworthy. Fuel is cheap so most companies do not require the car be returned full.

Motorbike and scooter rental are also available.

If considering making a trip to the mainland on the ferry and taking a rental vehicle with you then please ensure beforehand that your rental and insurance contract permits the vehicle traveling off the island.

See
Margarita Island is often called the Pearl of the Caribbean. Dozens of beautiful beaches await you, from pristine, isolated beaches on the west side of the island, to long, tropical beaches full of interesting people including local artisans, surfers, golfers, fishermen, businessmen, locals and visitors. The east side of the island is full of tropical trees and flowers; the west side is an isolated desert that contains several breathtaking beaches.

Many visitors enjoy the island’s duty-free shopping, and in the evening, a sparkling nightlife awaits you, full of beach bars and discos, salsa clubs and fine restaurants.

From here, you can plan a day trip to the nearby islands of Coche or Cubagua, or to other destinations on the island. Visit the islands natural wonders or venture further afield to the stunning, colorful waters of Los Roques islands, Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, Canaima, an indigenous village with breathtaking jungle, waterfalls and land formations, or the clean and crisp Andes Mountains.

Whether it’s for hiking in the mountains, exploring the mangroves of La Restinga National Park, visiting Spanish Colonial historical sites, swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, exquisite spa treatment, a shopping trip to buy a hammock made on the island, a visit to a charming maritime museum, fishing or sailing, you will find it quite easy to arrange your daytrips. You will enjoy the calm pace of the island’s inhabitants, the lively stories of those who have moved here from other countries, and the intellectual stimulation of those Venezuelans who have moved here from the mainland to live a more peaceful life.

Do

 * People-watching at Playa El Agua, the most popular beach on the island with numerous nearby bars, restaurants and nightlife.
 * Visit La Restinga National Park, which consists of a sandbar that unites the eastern part of Margarita with the Macanao Peninsula and is home to interesting flora. The park's mangrove-covered natural canals can be accessed by boat from El Indio sector, boats also pass along the coastal area from El Saco to the town of La Guardia, or the park can be crossed by vehicle on the road to San Francisco if you have a 4x4 vehicle.
 * Visit Isla de Coche, a quiet fishing island with around 7,000 inhabitants. The island offers windsurfing and kitesurfing. Take a ferry from Punta de Piedras or a lancha from El Yaque. The most popular beach on the island is Playa la Punta.

Eat
The island of Margarita has a wide range of restaurants and local eating houses to cater for all budgets and styles. It is customary for a 10% service charge to be added to your bill. While your server may receive a small portion of this, it is not a tip for your server. In most cases part of it goes to the "house" for breakage and incidentals, with maybe a small portion split between the help. If you received good service, it is customary to tip your server. Some go as far as rewarding the bartender separately when eating out and their service was exceptional. Don't be surprised if you order a mixed drink and the bartender brings the bottle of liquor, glasses of ice and mixer to your table. A bartender pouring a triple shot of liquor for the price of a single is not unusual.

Typical dishes

 * Rompecolchón
 * Calamares rebosados
 * Asopado de Mariscos
 * Pastel de Chucho
 * Empanada de cazón
 * Ensalada de Langostas
 * Camarones al ajillo

Drink
Margarita is one of the Caribbean Islands and has many bars and clubs, and exotic tropical drinks are a favourite here.

There are many popular tropical drinks on the island of Margarita. Just ask at the club, hotel, bar or restaurant you are visiting and the local bartender will no doubt be pleased to get things moving. Watch out, some of these drinks can be a little potent.

 * Cuba Libre Load the glass with ice, add rum to just under the brim, add a splash of Coca Cola, serve with a limon wedge.
 * Coco Loco 1 fresh coconut, 1 cup ice, 1 ounce white tequila, 1 ounce melon liqueur, 1 ounce coconut rum, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1/2 fresh limon. Slice a couple of inches off the top of the coconut, keeping the coconut milk inside. Put everything inside the coconut and squeeze the limon half over the mixture then drop the limon in. Stir, drink, repeat.
 * Margarita Mojito 1 teaspoon powdered sugar, juice from 1 limon, 4 mint leaves, 1 sprig of mint, Cacique Rum, club soda. Put the mint leaves into glass and squeeze the juice from a cut limon over it. Add the powdered sugar, then crush the mint into the limon juice and sugar with a muddler or spoon.  Add crushed ice add rum until glass almost full, stir, add a splash of club soda and garnish with mint sprig.
 * Kapiroska Squeeze the juice from one limon into a glass, add 2 tablespoons of powder sugar, fill glass with crushed ice then add vodka until almost full and shake for a full minute. Strain into clean glass and garnish with limon wedge, drink, repeat.
 * El Ritual is not about mixing the flavors in a glass, but setting up the steps that allow you to mix the flavors in your mouth. First pour a shot-glass of Pampero Aniversario (aged Venezuelan rum), next you need a limon wedge, then you pour brown sugar and instant coffee into two separate piles on a small dish. Dip one side of the limon into the sugar, the other into the coffee and bite and suck on it, chug the rum and let the flavors intermingle in your mouth before swallowing.

A limon is a cross between a lemon and a lime and is common on Margarita Island

Sleep
For hotels and other places of accommodation please see the listings in the individual destination articles.

Keep in mind that the beds in many hotels (mostly up to the mid-range levels) are nothing more than mattresses on concrete slabs that resemble box springs. Depending on what your sleep preference is they may not be the most comfortable for you. Many visitors opt for a self-catering condo instead of a hotel. When one compares prices a self-catering condo is may be a good option to a hotel. Also, when staying in a self-catering condo one has the option of eating in or eating out.

Stay safe
Avoid drinking too much and dancing too late.

Use caution late at night and try not to walk about alone in unfamiliar areas unless in a larger group of people who are familiar with the locality. Leave your jewelry at home; you will not need it here. A cheap watch is all you may need.

Stay healthy
There are several public and private medical clinics on Margarita.

Dental work is normally quite reasonably priced on Margarita Island. Many dentists have modern facilities and have trained in the US or EU.

Contacts

 * Fire Dept. Emergency 166

Go next

 * Coche Island (Isla de Coche) - A small island about 11 km long and 6 km wide. The capital is San Pedro de Coche. Several kitesurfing and windsurfing schools are based here.The main activities are fishing and tourism. Estimated population on Coche is said to be less than 10,000 and the island is located just 8 miles from Margarita Island. Coche has a small airport, Andres Miguel Salazar Marcano.
 * Cubagua Island - an uninhabited island to the immediate south of Margarita

title: Margarita Island


text:
Margate

Margate is a seaside resort on the north Kent coast, with a population in 2021 of 64,491. It's suffered the usual decline of English seaside towns but its beach is still thronged on warm summer weekends, and there are several places of interest for cold wet days.

Understand
"You can keep the Costa Brava, I'm telling ya mate I'd rather have a day down Margate with all me family!"

- Chas and Dave

Margate was a seaport on the medieval Isle of Thanet, which is nowadays separated from the mainland only by farm ditches. "The Battle of Margate" in 1387 typifies its story: the English fleet spotted an enemy fleet near here but chased them all the way to Holland before there was any fighting. These ships turned out to be laden with wine, so the great "Battle-of-nowhere-near-Margate" was more like a booze-cruise.

The fashion for sea bathing began around 1750 and Margate was an early resort, as it was accessible and had a sandy beach. "Bathing machines" - wheeled beach huts - lumbered into the water "whereby the most refined female is enabled to enjoy the advantages of the sea with the strictest delicacy." The railway arrived in 1846 and brought a mass market, and this was the mainstay of the town economy for the next century. Then hardy explorers discovered the Med, the holiday-makers deserted and Margate slumped.

While Brighton and Blackpool found ways to re-invent themselves as destinations, Margate has been slow to do so. It has a downbeat mix of fading Georgian and Victorian villas and tatty bedsits. Perversely, this has given it a role as a TV and film location for grey low-rent settings, such as Edge of Heaven in 2014. Turnaround requires an iconic flagship development and this (they hope) began with the opening of the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in 2011. Margate is still a work in progress.

By plane
Travel time from all the London airports by public transport is much the same, as you have to go into central London then come out again. By car, London Gatwick  is the closest, 85 miles by road.

By train
Trains from London Victoria run every 30-60 min, taking 1 hr 50 min via Rochester,  Chatham,  Gillingham, Sittingbourne and Faversham, where the train may divide. You need to be in the portion running along the north coast to Whitstable, Margate and Ramsgate. The other portion heads south to Canterbury East and  Dover Priory.

Trains from London St Pancras run every 20-30 min via three routes. Fast trains take 90 min via Stratford and Ebbsfleet then either along the north coast as above, or via Ashford, Canterbury West, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. A third train takes two hours via Folkestone and Dover, so you'd only use it to connect from the Channel ports.

is central near the beach. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, and Plusbus is available. There's a cafe, toilets and waiting room. There is level access to Platform 1 (towards Ramsgate) and step-free access via lifts to the other platforms.

Westgate-on-Sea station a mile west might be more convenient for that end of town.

By bus
National Express Bus NX022 takes three hours from London Victoria via Canterbury to Margate, continuing to Ramsgate. In summer 2020 this only runs once a day.

Stagecoach Bus 8 runs every 15 min from Canterbury and takes an hour to Margate. Once an hour it runs as 8X which continues to Broadstairs.

Bus 36 along the coast between Whitstable and Margate is not running in summer 2020, so by bus you'd have to travel via Canterbury; take the train instead.

Get around
Bus: Stagecoach Loop bus orbits the tip of Kent every 10-15 min, from Margate to Cliftonville, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Westwood, and back to Margate; and vice versa.

Bike hire: Margate Bikes & Hire are at 87a Canterbury Rd by the railway station. They're open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM.

Taxi firms are Swift (+44 7909 607904), Central Cars (+44 1843 601601), Margate Taxis (+44 7786 389286) and Thanet Cars (+44 1843 3333). United Cars get rotten reviews.

See

 * Margate seafront faces the main beach, a trad promenade with a clock tower, pubs, bingo halls, and amusement arcades.
 * Harbour Arm casts an embrace around the harbour north of the beach, with eating places, and nowadays the Turner at its foot.
 * Walpole Bay Hotel Museum is open to non-residents day-time, see Sleep.
 * Walpole Bay Hotel Museum is open to non-residents day-time, see Sleep.
 * Walpole Bay Hotel Museum is open to non-residents day-time, see Sleep.
 * Walpole Bay Hotel Museum is open to non-residents day-time, see Sleep.

Do

 * Margate Beach is a large crescent of sand right in town centre, by Dreamland and the railway station. It's accessible even at high tide, and the tidal pool is a sheltered area for kiddy-bathing. Half a mile west is a smaller beach, Westbrook Bay. Beaches east of the harbour through Cliftonville are narrow, and covered at high tide. Naylor Rock Shelter by the west end of Margate Beach is a grand Edwardian structure. Here in 1921 TS Eliot found himself composing The Waste Land, often hailed as depicting the despair of a post-Great War generation, but more to do with huddling in a beach shelter while being married to Vivienne Haigh-Wood.
 * Tom Thumb Theatre is squeezed into an old coach house with offbeat decor. It's at 2A Eastern Esplanade.
 * Cinema: Dreamland Cinema is only occasionally open. Carlton Cinema is two miles west by Westgate railway station. Vue Cinema is three miles south at Westwood.
 * Theatre Royal remains closed in 2023.
 * Golf: Westgate & Birchington GC is 4877 yards, par 64, visitor round £27.
 * Football: Margate FC play soccer away down in the minor leagues. Their home ground Hartsdown Park (capacity 2100) is south side of the railway station.
 * Football: Margate FC play soccer away down in the minor leagues. Their home ground Hartsdown Park (capacity 2100) is south side of the railway station.

Buy

 * Tesco Express is just west of the station.
 * Aldi is east end of the bay.
 * Any amount of catchpenny stuff on the sea front, including Margate Rock.

Eat

 * There's a whole slew of places to eat near the seafront and on the harbour arm, and more in town centre.

Drink

 * Lots of pubs and clubs, but beware of aggressive drunks late at night.

Connect
As of Jan 2021, Margate mostly has a 4G signal from all UK carriers, though Vodafone has dead spots. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Whitstable for a different kind of traditional coastal town.
 * Faversham for the national fruit collection and breweries.
 * Canterbury is a must-see for its historic cathedral city.
 * Broadstairs and Ramsgate are nearby Channel harbours.

title: Margate


text:
Margate (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Margate:

South Africa

 * Margate (KwaZulu-Natal) - A town on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal

United Kingdom

 * Margate - A town in Kent.

United States of America

 * Margate (New Jersey) - A town in the state of New Jersey.

title: Margate (disambiguation)


text:
Margate (KwaZulu-Natal)

Margate is a town of 27,000 people (2011) in KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa. Margate is one of the most visited tourist destinations in South Africa and had the third highest inflow of new visitors in December 2019 in South Africa after Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay in the Western Cape Province.

Understand
With Margate being a major seaside resort, majority of its economy comes from tourism. Signs of this can be found on the coastline where hotels and holiday accommodation apartments lie.

It features Blue Flag Beaches for swimming, snorkelling, and surfing. Many apartment buildings offer accommodation for residents and visitors. It also contains a shopping street and many restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs, Margate is a spot where many South Africans and foreign visitors spend their vacation.

Margate is busiest during school and public holidays when inland residents travel to the coast. Christmas and Easter are especially busy times, with Margate's main street often clogged with heavy traffic during these times.

History
In 1908, Henry Richardson, an English surveyor laid out the town and named it Margate after another seaside resort on the northern coast of the county of Kent, in the United Kingdom.

Get in
It lies 15 km south-west of Port Shepstone and 127 km southwest of Durban.

Margate is served by Margate Airport with flights from Johannesburg offered by CemAir.

Sleep

title: Margate (KwaZulu-Natal)


text:
Margraten

Margraten is a village in South Limburg, the southern most region of the Dutch province of Limburg. This town of 3,400 people (2021) is on the main road between Maastricht and Aachen. It is mostly known for the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. As there's not all that much else to see or do, most people come here on a daytrip. Nonetheless, there are some options to stay and eat.

Understand
The military cemetery of Margraten is the 3rd largest World War II cemetery for unidentified soldiers in Europe and the final resting ground for no less than 8301 American soldiers. Many of the graves have been adopted by locals, who attend to the white marble crosses and sometimes place flowers. The American president George W. Bush visited the Margraten cemetery in May 2005. Although visits by other Americans, both relatives and former army comrades of the deceased used to be common, the number of people that comes here has decreased heavily over time.

The town itself is part of the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten. Other major population centers in this community include Cadier en Keer, Noorbeek, Mheer and Sint Geertruid.

Get in
Margraten is on the main road from Maastricht to Aachen, and therefore easily reachable over the N278 from both directions. Bus line 50 will bring you here from Maastricht, Vaals or Aachen. The military cemetery is served by many buses, including line 50, but also line 150 (Gulpen-Maastricht) and line 48 to Valkenburg.

There is no train station.

The nearest airport is Maastricht-Aachen Airport, which receives only a few international discount carriers. Better options are Cologne airport (about 1 hr. away), Dusseldorf airport (1.5 hr) or even Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (3 hr).

Get around
There's not all that much to see apart from the cemetery. The town itself is small enough to explore on foot. The cemetery is about 1,5km out of the village centre, along the main road. Walking there is easy, but it also has its own bus stop called Militair Kerkhof, served by a range of bus lines. Line 50 can take you from the main road bus stop near the village centre to the entrance.

Buy
Most relevant shops are concentrated in the heart of town, roughly around the Amerikaplein. They offer all daily travel needs, including groceries, clothing and books.

Go next
Margraten is a 15-minute drive from Maastricht and equally close to Valkenburg. Gulpen is the next stop on the main road to Vaals and the German city of Aachen, which is just a half hour by car.

title: Margraten


text:
Maria Island National Park

Maria Island, situated on the east coast of Tasmania, is a tiny island not known by many people but an absolute jewel that is worth visiting on any trip to Tasmania. Large impressive mountains, gorgeous beaches stunning cliffs, fossils, prolific wildlife and a rich convict history make this a great place to visit.

Understand
Maria Island was sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642. Seal and whale fishing arrived in the early 1800s. The island was used as a penal colony between 1825 and 1832, followed by a probation station in 1842.

Maria Island was declared a national park in 1971.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By ferry
The ferry runs from Triabuna to Darlington on Maria Island daily. There are five ferries per day, costing $45 for adults and $28 for children.

 * Encounter Maria Island is the new ferry operator for the island, operating a new larger vessel the Osprey V

Do

 * Walking
 * Cycling
 * Diving
 * Snorkelling
 * Swimming
 * Bird watching

Eat
There are no restaurants or supply stores on the island as it is a national park. Food and provisions can be purchased in Triabunna or in Hobart. There Is no rubbish disposal on the island and waste must be taken off the island.

Drink
There is no drinking water supply on the island. There are water taps, but the water should be purified or boiled for one minute.

Go next

 * Triabunna, a scenic township on Tasmania's east coast, is a short ferry trip from Maria Island

title: Maria Island National Park


text:
Maria la Gorda

Maria la Gorda is in Pinar del Rio province in western Cuba.

Understand
The island is mostly synonymous with its diving camp. The entire settlement consists of a hotel, diving centre, small shop, sandy beach and 2 restaurants. However, even if you are not a diver, it is a nice place to spend a night.

This peninsula was run over by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Get in
There are no public buses to this part of Cuba. You can however book transfers easily through tour agencies.

From Vinales for example a transfer bus leaves daily at 08:00 and returns at 17:00—journey time 3 hr for CUC15. Bear in mind that Maria la Gorda is a long way from anywhere.

See
If you walk a few kilometers away from the camp, towards the top of the peninsula, you see interesting landscape; mangrove swamp and the sea are divided by wall of old shells/corals. Some big (50 cm) empty shells there.

Do
Diving is the main activity on offer. A range of options are available, and snorkeling trips go out with every dive (though on one trip there was little to be seen by snorkelers that couldn't be seen by snorkeling from the jetty). There is also a volleyball pitch.

The hotel also advertises that it runs hiking excursions, and other entertainment, but travelers report little evidence of any of that.

If you have your own transport it is possible to drive (with a paid guide) to the western end of mainland Cuba. (One traveller was rather disappointed in this trip: it was a long dusty drive with little to see - there is a lighthouse and marina at the end, but they were not taken round the former and were the only visitors to the latter. They provided sandwiches and beers, not included in the price.) You may see some Iguanas from the road, or within the resort. There is a deep swimming hole with an underground connection to the sea (and containing some tropical fish) at the Ecological station, where the road meets the sea on the way in.

Other trips (including hikes) are also available from the station. If you're interested in Cuban birdlife there are a few bits and pieces to be seen. Bee Hummingbirds (the smallest bird in the world) are said to be present on the peninsula and at Playa Larga. Royal Terns loaf on the piles near the resort entrance and there are some Yellow-headed Warblers and Black-throated Green Warblers around a dump not far from the resort - follow a track into the scrubby woodland next to a roadside pool on the inland side of the road half a mile or so from the resort entrance. In spring large black, yellow and red land crabs swarm in their hundreds across the roads (especially after rain) and the inevitable casualties attract scavenging flocks of Turkey Vultures. Quite a sight.

Eat
The dinner buffet is no good and at CUC15 per person is very bad value. There is also a small a la carte restaurant which is marginally better. When booking the hotel do not take the dinner option—you can decide when you get there if you want to risk the buffet! (In Mar 2006 the food was found to be OK, though the restaurant was better than the buffet. Both were no better or worse than most of the meals in various parts of Cuba.)

Drink
A decent bar&but taking a bottle of rum with you advisable, and they do not mind.

Sleep

 * Hotel Maria la Gorda, CUC66 for a room with 2 beds (hot water, TV, rich breakfast). This is the only hotel in entire area down from Guane. They have a complex of wooden cabins connected by walkways which were comfortable and pleasant.

title: Maria la Gorda


text:
Mariana

Mariana is a colonial mining town in Central Minas Gerais.

Understand
Mariana, originally known as Nossa Senhora do Carmo, came into existence with the discovery of gold along the Ribeirão Nossa Senhora do Carmo river in 1696. Known informally as the Primeira Cidade (First City), it is indeed a city of firsts: It was the first vila established in the state and soon became the first state capital, and a major center for the burgeoning gold trade. In 1745, the Portuguese king, Dom João V, renamed the city after his wife, Maria Ana D'Austria. Around the same time, the city became the seat of the first bishopric in the state and hence became an important religious center for the region. In response to the influx of people, streets and rectangular plazas were planned, making Mariana the first planned city in the state. These days, Mariana preserves many of the original colonial buildings and churches in such a thorough way that the traveller almost feels he has stepped back in time.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Belo Horizonte.

By bus

 * Local buses ferry between Ouro Preto and Mariana every thirty minutes, dropping passengers at the tourism office on Rua Antônio Olinto. The ride takes 35 minutes and costs R$1.
 * Long distance buses from Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Victória and other cities arrive at the bus station on the outskirts of town.

Do

 * Pan for gold - Off of Rua Rosário Velho along the creek, people still pan for gold in much the same way they have for centuries.

Events

 * July 16 - On the anniversary of the city's founding, the state governor comes to spend the day in Mariana, and the city relives the days when it was the grand capital of Minas Gerais.

Sleep
Many of the accommodations in town are within a short walk of Praça Tancredo Neves.

title: Mariana


text:
Mariana Islands

The Mariana Islands are composed of two U.S. jurisdictions:
 * The territory of Guam
 * The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

title: Mariana Islands


text:
Marianna

Marianna is a city in West Florida.

Go next

 * Chipley
 * Rural Holmes and Jackson Counties — rural areas outside Marianna

title: Marianna


text:
Maribo

Maribo is a city in Lolland. This is the main inland town of Lolland with 5,700 inhabitants (2021). Here you can visit Maribo Cathedral and the beautiful Sønder Lake, which is the primary part of Maribo Lakes National Park.

Understand
Maribo is the seat of Lolland Municipality. It is a borough and one of the few in Denmark not on the coast.

Maribo dates back to the 15th century. At that time a small village called Skimminge existed here, there is still a street of that name. A convent dedicated to Virgin Mary was established here and the name was changed to Maribo, meaning Mary's home, also Maribo Cathedral was built. The town developed around the convent for the next 100 years or so, but after the reformation the convent was shut down and the town did not see much development for centuries, despite being the seat of Maribo County and of Maribo Diocese. From the middle of the 19th century, an industrial development slowly took off.

Get in
Maribo is a traffic junction on Lolland.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Copenhagen 150 km away.

By train
The local train, Lollandsbanen, running between Nakskov and Nykøbing Falster passes through here. The travel time from either of the two places is around 25 minutes.

Coming from Copenhagen, you will have to change trains in Nykøbing Falster, the total travel time is around 2 hours. Coming from Rødby, you would also have to travel to Nykøbing Falster and change for Lollandsbanen there, so a local bus is a much faster option.

By bus
Maribo is a local bus hub with buses from most other places on Lolland. This includes Rødby Færgehavn (bus 23 or 24, 23 minutes), Sakskøbing (bus 800, 16 minutes), Nykøbing Falster (bus 800, 37 minutes), Bandholm (bus 20, 14 minutes), Knuthenborg (bus 20, 10 minutes), Kragenæs (bus 20, 35 minutes), Nakskov (bus 14 or 800, 35 minutes). From Nysted you will have to change buses at Toreby.

By car
Motorway E47 passes just north of Maribo connecting it to Rødby 20 km southwest and in the other direction to Falster, Vordingborg (50 km) and Copenhagen (140 km). Nakskov is 25 km west.

Get around
Maribo is small enough to walk around. There are a few infrequent local buses operated by DOT. There are two local taxis reachable at +45 5478 1200 and +45 5478 0500, respectively. It is possible to rent bikes from Maribo Turistbureau.

See

Cope
There are to local newspapers based in Maribo

Go next

 * Knuthenborg Safaripark

title: Maribo


text:
Maribor

Maribor is the second most important centre and the second largest city of Slovenia. It has about 114,000 inhabitants (2021) who live embraced in its wine growing hills and the Mariborsko Pohorje mountain. Maribor is near Slovenian border with Austria, beside the Drava River and at the centre of five natural geographic regions. It is the capital of Štajerska, the Slovenian Styria.

Understand
Maribor was first mentioned in the 12th century. Though the city had been attacked by the Turks several times, it was constantly under the rule of the Austrian Habsburgs until the end of the World War I. After the war was over the city was claimed by both the Austrians and by the new state of Yugoslavia. Finally it fell to Yugoslavia. It was occupied by the Germans during World War II but became part of Yugoslavia again after the war was over. In 1975 the University of Maribor was founded and this has helped the city to become more and more an attractive, vibrant, student city. After Slovenia declared independence in 1991, the city suffered from the economic consequences.

Today, Maribor is a trans-regional financial, educational, trade and cultural centre. And since it's pleasantly small and lodged in the nature of Pohorje Mountain on the one side, the wine growing hills on the other, and with the river Drava wending its way through it, Maribor has grown into one of the country’s most important tourist destinations. Its key features are: the rich wine culture (the oldest vine in the world, numerous wine roads and wine cellars), the old town's cultural offer (theatre, traditional events, galleries and museums), and the recreational activities (hiking, cycling and skiing).

Orientation
Maribor sits among the Pohorje Mountain, the Slovenske Gorice Hills and the Kozjak Hills on the gravel terrace of the Drava Valley. The river Drava divides the city on the so-called left (north) and the right (south) bank. The city's old town core is on the left bank of the river Drava. On north, Maribor is embraced with the town (wine-growing) hills, and on the south-western part of the city, the foothills of the Pohorje Mountain start to rise.

A good first stop in the city is Infopeka, an information centre which gives out free advice, free internet usage and free rent-a-bicycle. They can be found across the old bridge from the Glavni Trg, on the right side of the street.

Tourist information

 * Visit Maribor website

By car
By car, you can travel to the Maribor region from the direction of Ljubljana (Slovenia) on the A1/E57, from the direction of Zagreb (Croatia) on the E59, from the direction of Budapest (Hungary) on the E59/E65/E71/M7, and from the direction of Trieste (Italy) on the E57/E70. Maribor is a few minutes from the Austrian border: you can travel to Maribor from the direction of Graz on the A9/E57/E59, from the direction of Klagenfurt on the road B80/B70, and from the direction of Villach on the B80/B70/E66/B83.

In order to use motorways and express roads in Slovenia, a vignette is required. You can purchase the vignette at the border, at petrol stations in Slovenia and neighbouring countries, at post offices in Slovenia, at some kiosks, etc. The monthly vignette is €30, while the weekly one is €15 (for motorcycles €7.50).

Between Maribor and other ex-Yugoslavia countries' capitals is a distance of: Ljubljana 123 km, Zagreb 110 km (Croatia, Sarajevo 487 km (BiH), Belgrade 512 km (Serbia), Podgorica 703 (Montenegro) and Skopje 945 km (North Macedonia).

Between Maribor and other European cities is a distance of: Paris 1299 km (France), Venice 365 km (Italy), Prague 548 km (Czech Republic), Budapest 340 km (Hungary), Berehove 653 km (Ukraine), Shkodra 759 km (Albania), Hamburg 1163 km (Germany), London 1488 km (United Kingdom), Nordkapp 3699 km (Norway), Lisbon 2739 km (Portugal), Belgorod 1925 km (Russia), Thessaloniki 1134 km (Greece), Frankfurt 1050 km, Graz 68 km, Milan 622 km, Munich 493 km, Prague 595 km, Salzburg 352 km, Split 460 km, Trieste 216 km, Vienna 255 km, Zürich 803 km.

By train
The is in the eastern part of the Maribor city centre (at Partizanska cesta 50). By train, you can travel to Maribor for example from:

 * Vienna Meidling – Maribor (3 hr 30 min)
 * Graz – Maribor (1 hr)
 * Venezia Santa Lucia – Ljubljana – Maribor (9 - 10 hr)
 * Zagreb – Dobova – Zidani most – Celje – Pragersko – Maribor (3 hr 30 min)
 * Budapest – Vienna – Graz – Maribor (6 hr 30 min)
 * Budapest - Székesfehérvár - Veszprém – Hodoš Aiga immigration.svg – Murska Sobota – Ormož – Ptuj – Pragersko – Maribor (6 hr 30 min), IC 246/247
 * Budapest – Murakerestur – Zagreb – Maribor (13 hr 30 min)
 * Prague – Vienna – Maribor (9 hr)

You can find more connections and schedule information at Slovenian Railways (Slovenske železnice).

By plane

Nearby airports are in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Graz (Austria), Zagreb (Croatia), and Klagenfurt (Austria). Airports in Ljubljana, Graz and Klagenfurt are also destinations of the low-cost carriers easyJet (Ljubljana) and Ryanair (Klagenfurt and Graz). Closest to Maribor is Graz Airport: trains from Graz Airport to Maribor leave six times a day, and the journey takes about an hour and a half.

By bus
The Maribor bus station is in the eastern part of the city centre (at Mlinska ulica 1), a few metres from the main train station. There are a few international bus connections running through Maribor:
 * Ljubljana – Beograd (Serbia)
 * Beograd (Serbia) – Ljubljana
 * Maribor – Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
 * Maribor – Neum (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
 * Maribor – Vienna (Austria)* Maribor – Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
 * Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Maribor

By bike
It is handy to visit the Maribor region by bike, since there are numerous widespread trails over the slopes of the Pohorje Mountain and in the picturesque Maribor surroundings.

If you're arriving to Maribor from the direction of Italy, Austria or Croatia, you can cycle along the Drava Cycling Route, starting in Dobbiaco (Italy), passing Lienz, Spittall, Villach (Austria), Dravograd, Ruše, Maribor, Ptuj, Ormož (Slovenia), and ending on the Slovenian-Croatian border.

On foot
Maribor is quite a small town, so it's easy to get around the city centre on foot. There are two tourist information centres in Maribor: one at Partizanska ulica 6a, next to the Franciscan Church (the red-brick one). The other one is in the Old Vine House on Lent, the oldest part of the town next to the river embankment (at Vojašniška ulica 8). The tourist information centres are open every day, provide free maps, and will help you arrange accommodations. Maps of central Maribor (aerial photos) can also be found in the streets fitted on the walls of houses.

By bus
Maribor has an extensive bus network, but there is no need to use it unless you want to go to the outer districts of the city. For tourists, bus No. 6 is the most interesting one - it takes you under the Pohorje Mountain (lower station of the cable railway, hotels, apartments and campsites, wellness centre, restaurants; recreational activities: hiking, cycling,skiing, etc.).

Some bus numbers are more regular (arriving at stops every 15 minutes) than others (arriving at stops every 30 – 45 minutes). The approximate operation time of the bus lines is from 05:00 to 23:30 on weekdays and from 06:00 to 22:30 on weekends. Two circulator buses run from Monday to Friday from 11:15 to 00:00. Bus ticket can be purchased either on the bus (€1.10 for single-ride ticket) or in advance (2, 6, 10 or 20 ride ticket) in kiosks or at the Main Bus Station (at Mlinska ulica 1).

For visiting the wider surroundings of Maribor, local bus isn`t the best transportation choice due to rather irregular bus frequencies and poor bus links. Car rental recommended.

By car
Travelling around Maribor region and its wider surroundings is best by car. Thus, you can fully enjoy the picturesque countryside and visit the most hidden corners of the Pohorje Mountain and the wine hills. There's a good highway network around Maribor that directly connects the city with smaller places like Ptuj, Murska Sobota and Slovenska Bistrica. Regional roads are well maintained, as well.

If you go to the Maribor city centre by car, it might be difficult to find toll-free parking space during weekdays. Most of the inner city is covered by the "blue zone" that is payable. Alternatives are the parking garage below Trgovski centre City (€1.50/hour), the Forum parking garage (€1.00/hour), or the Kolosej parking garage (€1.20/hour). Usually, the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets. A good chance to find toll-free space might be in the area of the Mestni park. During the day, free parking is also possible in shopping centre Europark. Otherwise, parking in the blue zone gets free after 17:00 and on weekends.

By bike
Maribor has a wide network of cyclepaths. Using a bike to get around, at least the central areas of Maribor, is one of the best choices. Bikes may be rented at the Tourist Information Centre, city hotels Piramida and Orel, cultural centre Pekarna - magdalenske mreže, the main train station, and at the cable railway station (under the Pohorje Mountain). Tourist Information Centre provides city map for cyclists who want to get to know the city from the bike and other cycling maps with cycling routes on the Pohorje Mountain and around the Maribor-Pohorje region. Maribor also hosts annual Mountain Biking World Championship on Pohorje Mountain.

By taxi
Taxis are available 24/7. You can go to a taxi rank (at the main train station at Partizanska cesta 50 and along the Svetozarevska street next to the Trg svobode square) or simply order one by phone. There are several taxi companies providing services for a reasonable price (about €0.70/km), e.g., Taxi Micro, Taxi Štajerka, Taxi Plus.

See

Do

 * Lent is a district located at the waterfront of Drava river. It's a beautiful place with lovely small avenues, restaurants and bars.
 * Watch football at NK Maribor, who play soccer in PrvaLiga, Slovenia's top tier. Their home ground Ljudski Vrt is 500 m north of city centre. Its renovation is way off schedule and capacity (as of 2021) is restricted to 11,700. Nevertheless it's sometimes a guest ground for other clubs with even smaller stadiums, e.g., for NŠ Mura in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.
 * Planet Tuš - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre. Shopping centre with free parking.
 * Kolosej - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre.
 * Pekarna Cultural Centre - An alternative cultural centre in a former military bakery. It consists of several concert venues (the large Gustaf Hall and some smaller concert halls e.g. Supernova and Klub MC), gallery spaces (Hladilnica Gallery, several studios), a spacious second-hand bookshop called Bukvarna and band practice rooms.
 * Planet Tuš - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre. Shopping centre with free parking.
 * Kolosej - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre.
 * Pekarna Cultural Centre - An alternative cultural centre in a former military bakery. It consists of several concert venues (the large Gustaf Hall and some smaller concert halls e.g. Supernova and Klub MC), gallery spaces (Hladilnica Gallery, several studios), a spacious second-hand bookshop called Bukvarna and band practice rooms.
 * Planet Tuš - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre. Shopping centre with free parking.
 * Kolosej - cinema multiplex (movies are presented in original audio language while equipped with Slovenian subtitles; this does not apply to computer-rendered and animated movies, which are dubbed for the children). Bowling centre.
 * Pekarna Cultural Centre - An alternative cultural centre in a former military bakery. It consists of several concert venues (the large Gustaf Hall and some smaller concert halls e.g. Supernova and Klub MC), gallery spaces (Hladilnica Gallery, several studios), a spacious second-hand bookshop called Bukvarna and band practice rooms.
 * Pekarna Cultural Centre - An alternative cultural centre in a former military bakery. It consists of several concert venues (the large Gustaf Hall and some smaller concert halls e.g. Supernova and Klub MC), gallery spaces (Hladilnica Gallery, several studios), a spacious second-hand bookshop called Bukvarna and band practice rooms.
 * Pekarna Cultural Centre - An alternative cultural centre in a former military bakery. It consists of several concert venues (the large Gustaf Hall and some smaller concert halls e.g. Supernova and Klub MC), gallery spaces (Hladilnica Gallery, several studios), a spacious second-hand bookshop called Bukvarna and band practice rooms.

Buy
Be sure to buy a bottle of wine. Wines from the region surrounding Maribor are among the best in the world. Especially the white wine. You can buy good quality wine at wine producers or at the normal supermarkets.

Buy "bučno olje" (pumpkin seed oil). This oil is a specialty of the Austrian and Slovenian part of Styria and has a very unique and wonderful taste. You can buy good quality oil at the normal supermarkets.

There are many possibilities to go shopping in Maribor. Maribor is now a trans - regional shopping centre. Good places to shop are: Shopping in old city or in shopping centres as Europark, Tuš, Mercator, Qlandia or if you need furniture and gardening equipment the stores Rutar, Merkur, Bauhaus and BauMax.
 * TPC City is an old shopping mall in the heart of city offering plenty of clothing shops and a supermarket.
 * Vetrinjska ulica is a small shopping street in the old centre starting at Grajski trg place offering loads of boutiques containing all sorts of international brands and very good ice cream at Iglu (on the corner next to the H&M).
 * Vetrinjska ulica is a small shopping street in the old centre starting at Grajski trg place offering loads of boutiques containing all sorts of international brands and very good ice cream at Iglu (on the corner next to the H&M).

Eat

 * Gostilna in Pivnica Štajerc (Vetrinjska ulica 30, Tel. 22344234) is a nice inn a few minutes away from Grajski trg. Offers rather traditional cuisine (including a great salad buffet) at reasonable prices. Starters are €3-6, main courses €7-10. Serves home-made beer, brewed in the cellar under the restaurant.
 * Gostilna in Pivnica Štajerc (Vetrinjska ulica 30, Tel. 22344234) is a nice inn a few minutes away from Grajski trg. Offers rather traditional cuisine (including a great salad buffet) at reasonable prices. Starters are €3-6, main courses €7-10. Serves home-made beer, brewed in the cellar under the restaurant.
 * Gostilna in Pivnica Štajerc (Vetrinjska ulica 30, Tel. 22344234) is a nice inn a few minutes away from Grajski trg. Offers rather traditional cuisine (including a great salad buffet) at reasonable prices. Starters are €3-6, main courses €7-10. Serves home-made beer, brewed in the cellar under the restaurant.

Sleep

 * Hotel Orel - a hotel located at Grajski trg in the centre. Any sights are within 15-min walking distance. Has single, double and triple rooms.
 * Garni Hotel Tabor - close to Dvorana Tabor Hall and Ice Ring Tabor.
 * Hotel Piramida - business hotel located in centre.
 * Hotel Bellevue - on the Mariborsko Pohorje plateau. Wellness centre. Near the ski slope and cable car.
 * Hotel Habakuk - one of the best Slovene hotels is in a beautiful natural setting at the beginning of the Mountain Pohorje, near the ski slope and cable car. Wellness-spa and conference centre. Reachable by city bus.
 * Hotel Piramida - business hotel located in centre.
 * Hotel Bellevue - on the Mariborsko Pohorje plateau. Wellness centre. Near the ski slope and cable car.
 * Hotel Habakuk - one of the best Slovene hotels is in a beautiful natural setting at the beginning of the Mountain Pohorje, near the ski slope and cable car. Wellness-spa and conference centre. Reachable by city bus.
 * Hotel Habakuk - one of the best Slovene hotels is in a beautiful natural setting at the beginning of the Mountain Pohorje, near the ski slope and cable car. Wellness-spa and conference centre. Reachable by city bus.

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Maribor has 5G from A1 and 4G from Telecom and Telemach. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Phone: The local area code is (0)2. The country code for Slovenia is +386. Internet TLD .si.

Go next

 * Budapest via Székesfehérvár and Veszprém. Take a direct train,-or drive on the E59/E65/E71/M7,-to the amazing Hungarian Capital. One of the few places on the World, which is proud owner of three UNESCO World Heritage places. Visit the Castle Hill area, enjoy the panoramic view to the Danube River, walking on Andrassy Avenue around hundred years nobleman's mansions and palaces.
 * Zagreb in Croatia is about an hour drive

title: Maribor


text:
Mariánské Lázně

Mariánské Lázně ("mariaanskae laaznjae") is a spa town in West Bohemia in Western Czech Republic with a population of 13,300 and is close to the German border.

Understand
The town is popular with German and Russian tourists and it can be difficult to communicate in English. The town is renowned as a spa town and hosts a number of springs. Accordingly, many hotels offer relaxation packages. Spa tourism has a long history here and the town is considered one of the three "corners" of the West Bohemian Spa Triangle, along with Karlovy Vary and Františkovy Lázně. All three are part of the "Great Spa Towns of Europe" UNESCO world heritage site shared with eight other cities around the continent.

By train
see also: Rail travel in the Czech Republic

Get around
The town is walkable, although there are trolley buses available as part of the town's public transport. The fare is 12Kč (as of August 2014) payable through a machine when you enter the bus (exact change only). Handy if your hotel is further from the centre, or you don't want to walk 20-30 minutes from the main station to Kolonada. While there were several attempts to shut down the trolleybus system, ultimately the argument that a Spa Town needs to keep its air as clean as possible won out and the deficiencies of battery buses convinced those in charge to keep the trolley buses.

Go next

 * Cheb
 * Lázně Kynžvart
 * Plzeň

The other towns of the West Bohemian Spa Triangle

 * Františkovy Lázně
 * Karlovy Vary

title: Mariánské Lázně


text:
Maricopa

Maricopa is in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Understand
Maricopa is a small community nestled in the southwest corner of the San Joaquin Valley. Agriculture and oil production are the primary employers for the residents.

Get in
Maricopa rests at the intersection of California Highways 33 and 166. From the west, CA-166 connects Santa Maria and US-101 with Maricopa, about 80 miles of driving. From the east, Maricopa is 23 miles from I-15. From the north, CA-33, also known as the West Side Highway, connects to Maricopa from Taft and Coalinga.

Go next

 * Carrizo Plain National Monument - Take CA-33/CA-166 south for 9 miles, then turn right on Soda Lake Rd. This remote national monument is home to the largest remaining native grassland in California. During wet years it boasts spectacular wildflowers in the spring, and Soda Lake is an important wintering area for waterfowl when precipitation is sufficient to flood the seasonal lakebed. The park is also home to Painted Rock, a Native American site that has been adorned with pictographs over thousands of years. Services are extremely limited, with just a small visitor center, two primitive campgrounds, and a handful of marked trails available.
 * Taft - Located seven miles north of Maricopa Highway 33, Taft is an oil town that offers food, gas, and lodging services. Taft is also home to the West Kern Oil Museum and a replica of Sutter's fort that was built in 1940 as a Depression-era project.
 * The Grapevine - The Grapevine is a corridor along I-5 that is located east of Maricopa and is home to the outlets at Tejon and a slew of traveler-focused restaurants and hotels for the thousands of cars traveling on I-5.
 * Bakersfield - Northeast of Maricopa. Nicknamed "the country music capital of the West Coast", Bakersfield is the largest city in the southern San Joaquin Valley and is thus the best option for those seeking lodging, transportation, or other services.
 * Ojai - Located 73 miles to the south, Ojai is a popular weekend getaway for Southern California residents, offering wine tasting, art galleries, hiking, horseback riding, spas, and a rustic environment for those looking to escape the big cities.
 * Santa Maria - 79 miles to the west on Highway 166, Santa Maria is the largest city in Santa Barbara County, and is probably best known as the original home of barbecue tri-tip, now referred to as Santa Maria style barbecue. The area is also one of the state's largest wine-producing regions, and has been a filming location for films ranging from The Ten Commandments to Pirates of the Caribbean.

title: Maricopa


text:
Strängnäs and Mariefred

Mariefred is a city in the Södermanland province, Svealand region.

Understand
Mariefred is a small town named after the Carthusian monastery Pax Mariae (latin for Mary's peace - 'fred' means peace in Swedish). The monastery is long gone, demolished in the 1500s after the Protestant Reformation, its bricks reused for building the Gripsholm Castle.

Get in
Drive southwest from Stockholm along the E4/E20 to Södertälje, continue along the E20 in the direction of Göteborg. About 40 minutes from Stockholm.

Or take the train to Läggesta, and bus - or museum railway - into Mariefred.

Or, in summer, travel by steamship Mariefred which starts near the Stockholm City Hall in the morning, takes 3-4 hours to Mariefred, and returns to Stockholm in the evening. S/s Mariefred has travelled the same route for more than a century!

Get around
You'll walk through the entire town in about 7 minutes.

See

 * Grafikens hus - international center for fine arts printmaking.
 * Narrow gauge railway museum.
 * Very quaint wooden houses and town square, lake views.
 * Kärnbo, 12th century church ruin with a nice view of the town (right behind Grafikens hus).
 * Stallarholmen with plenty of ancient artifacts, and an annual Viking festival.
 * Stallarholmen with plenty of ancient artifacts, and an annual Viking festival.

title: Strängnäs and Mariefred