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Abuja

Abuja is the capital of Nigeria. Because most Nigerian government agencies are now headquartered in Abuja and most other countries' embassies have been relocated from Lagos to Abuja, it is a surprisingly expensive city.

Understand
Abuja is very beautiful. One of few purpose-built cities in the world planned and built from scratch, it has an excellent road network, a beautiful rolling terrain and modern Nigerian architecture. However, power is often erratic.

It is part of the Federal Capital Territory and one of the six local area councils, formally known as the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). It is surrounded by the other councils which include Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Bwari, and Abaji. Majority of government institutions headquarters and offices are located in Abuja, mostly in Garki and the Central Business District.

The National Assembly, which the legislative arms of the government, is located in Maitama.

Abuja is one of the world's fastest-growing cities, and the exact population is uncertain. The capital territory had 3.5 million inhabitants as of 2016.

Districts

 * – a rural area in Abuja municipal area council
 * – a suburban district and major way in and out of the FCT
 * – a suburban district and major way in and out of the FCT

By plane

While the industry is being overhauled and aviation safety is being upgraded, only a few local airlines are reliable: AeroContractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Max air and Dana Air. The quasi-government-owned Arik Air has frequent flights from many domestic locations. Air Peace, Max air and Dana Air are private airlines but operate quite a few routes into Abuja as well.

From the airport, take the official Green Cab. Board the cab with only people you know. Uber operates here as well. The Abuja light rail system connects the airport with the city centre. Bolt (formerly Taxify) also operates extensively within the city and off rides to and fro the airport. The airport is quite a distance from the main city. There are also private shuttle services offered to customers in the city.

By bus
You can travel to Abuja by bus from major cities like Lagos, Benin, Kano and Port Harcourt. Reliable services include: ABC Transport (with air conditioned luxurious bus rides), Ekene Dili Chukwu, Chisco Transport (CTN) and Young Shall Grow. The preferred bus service would be ABC transport. These are for purposes of moving from other parts of the country to Abuja.

Take day trip buses from wherever you are coming from in the country because part of the interstate roads are not maintained and full of potholes. And also the issue of being attacked by robbers by night. If you're unfamiliar with the country, take a bus with an escort. Buses allow you to appreciate the terrain, the towns and cities and the subtle changes in these and culture as you drive towards the capital either from the South or the North.

Bus shuttles have been banned in the city. You may find few buses that ply the outskirts of the city. Motorcycles (popularly known as Okada) has been banned as well but can be found in the slums and lowly areas.

By train
Nigeria Railway Corporation has completed an inter-city line between Abuja and Kaduna, where you can connect with the rest of the Nigerian rail system. Trains arrive and depart from which is about 15 km west of the city centre. As of 2018, there are four daily departures in each direction. The train service offers three types of fares: Economy, First Class and Sleeper. The schedules and current fairs can be found on the Nigeria Railway Corporation website.

There is a light rail connection from the railway station to the centre.

Get around
Car or taxi is the main mode of getting around Abuja: public transport is limited. However, the Abuja Light Rail provides service mainly on the west side of the city, and provides connections between the city, rail station and the airport.

Abuja has a few strict driving laws that are enforced by different bodies of the government. The prominent road traffic and driving control enforcement bodies include VIO, FRSC, the Police. Seat belts are required of the driver and front seat passenger. The vehicle can be impounded and not released until the fine is paid. It will be helpful to have your papers updated as to avoid getting into trouble. Drivers don't typically observe lanes within the city, and often attempt to squeeze in what might seem to be dangerously close to your vehicle. In some cases they may drive on the sidewalks. However these happen mostly where there are no law enforcement officers present. Observation of traffic laws and traffic lights by drivers is higher in the city than in any other part of the country. Occasionally, drivers from other parts of the country that are unfamiliar with the driving culture in the city try to beat traffic lights. If you're driving, keep an eye out for other motorists, especially at intersections, who may try to beat the traffic lights. Occasionally, traffic lights stop working during outages and road marshals are deployed to critical intersections.

See

Abuja is a beautiful city. The tourist attractions are:

Buy
There is some interesting artwork all over Abuja. Wood carvings, paintings and leatherwork. Everything is available in surrounding countries quite a bit cheaper, but if you are here you might as well buy it here.
 * Art & Craft village (across the road from Sheraton Hotel)
 * Fashion : Jaybecks Fabric Store and Bridals, for fabrics shopping and haute couture design pieces +234 908 146 6711.
 * Fish Market : There is a market dedicated for just fish called fish market, easily found on google maps . it is located along Karmo road coming from jabi and heading to zuba.
 * You can buy thrift items Like clothes, shoes , bags , crafts etc from Karmo Market , easily found on google map as well
 * You can buy thrift items Like clothes, shoes , bags , crafts etc from Karmo Market , easily found on google map as well

Eat
Food prices in Abuja are high, especially for Western food. There are, however, many good restaurants in Abuja that are worth the money. Of course, whether you live in Abuja or are just visiting, there are times when you are willing to pay a little extra for the simple fact that there are few to no alternatives.

Mid-range

 * Shawarma Shop, adjacent to Amigos Supermarket, Wuse II. ₦700 for shwarmas and they offer pizzas for somewhere from ₦1500.
 * Southern Fried Chicken. A local knockoff of KFC, but ask them to go easy on the mayo.
 * Mr. Biggs. Are all over. They have burgers.
 * Shawarma Shop, adjacent to 212 Supermarket, Usuma St., Maitama. These shawarmas have cabbage in them and about same price as the one by Amigos.
 * City View, Cape Town Street, off IBB Way, Wuse Zone 4. Perhaps the best Lebanese food in Abuja, excellent prices, they also host large groups, indoor or outdoor sitting.
 * Ceddi Plaza has a fast food chicken restaurant on second floor - and ice cream
 * Drumstix, Aminu Kano Crescent. Fast food, Nigerian dishes, grill, shawarma and ice cream.
 * Tantalizers Burgers. All over.
 * Cafe inside Grand Square Market, Mohammadu Buhari Way.
 * Cafe at Dunes Center, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, one on the main floor and one upstairs.
 * MrPickup.biz, Delivery service. Picks up your orders and brings to you for a small fee! +234 702 828 6771.
 * Spice Food In front of Sahad Store, across from Bolton White Hotels, Ahmadu Bellu Road. +234 7031111005, +234 8034500653. Delicious Indian food and snacks at very reasonable prices. Main course ₦1000-1500, snacks ₦300-600. Su-F buffet noon-3PM ₦2000. Dinner 6PM-10PM
 * Spice Food In front of Sahad Store, across from Bolton White Hotels, Ahmadu Bellu Road. +234 7031111005, +234 8034500653. Delicious Indian food and snacks at very reasonable prices. Main course ₦1000-1500, snacks ₦300-600. Su-F buffet noon-3PM ₦2000. Dinner 6PM-10PM

Splurge

 * Ciao, Jitau Plaza, Plot 1173, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, After AP plaza, Wuse II. A good Italian restaurant with the usual Italian dishes. Expect to pay around ₦2000 for a dinner with wine. Good Pizzas, but AJ's have more to them.
 * AJ's Pizza, adjacent to the Park and Shop in Wuse II, Aminu Kano Crescent. Call your order in before you get there +234 803 314 0469 or +234 804 410 4567. If your order 5 pizzas, ask for free juice.

 * Wakkis, Like Sitar but more reasonable prices, this might be considered moderate instead of Splurge. Amino Kano Crescent, follow signs, Wuse II. ₦1500-2500 main dishes, good seafood. Amazing King Prawns!
 * Blakes, Fish bar, add unknown, Garki District.
 * Obudu Grill Steakhouse at the Sheraton You won't spend less than $50 USD here, but the steaks are excellent.
 * Albasha Palace Good Mediterranean & Continental food and Pizzas, Shisha. Outdoor, indoor events & parties... 11 Cassandra Street, off Usuma St, Maitama.
 * LaZeez Place, Usuma Street, Maitama.
 * Golf Course, has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, would be a good place to have large group gathering, not called Golf Course, but that is where it is.

Drink
Drinks are available all over Abuja and are very overpriced. Average US$20 for some mixed drinks, US$5-9 for a local beer. Buy beer from the Market and you will save a lot of money. The major hotels have bars and restaurants. Watch out for the call girls, if you ignore them, they get really offended. If you are not interested, just say so and have a short conversation, then they will leave you alone.

 * British Village requires a membership to enter and is popular during different sporting events, especially during soccer games and rugby.
 * Jake's Club is in Silverbird Galleria, Central Business District.
 * British Village requires a membership to enter and is popular during different sporting events, especially during soccer games and rugby.
 * Jake's Club is in Silverbird Galleria, Central Business District.
 * Jake's Club is in Silverbird Galleria, Central Business District.

Splurge
Decent hotels in Abuja tend to cost above US$200 per night.

Stay safe
Abuja tends to be a sharp contrast against the background of the rest of Nigeria. While car hijackings and armed robbery are high in Lagos, and kidnapping of foreign oil workers is prevalent in the Niger delta, Abuja, in sharp contrast, is one of the safest metropolitan cities on the continent.

General security measures like elsewhere in the world should be observed. Like anywhere else in the world, it's always a good idea to have company when exploring unfamiliar places. If you're driving, observe simple measures like keeping your car door locked when parked to avoid opportunistic crime. Armed robbery at gun point is the most prevalent form of crime. A calm disposition and full cooperation with robbers is the best line of action in the unlikely event that you are the victim of a robbery.

Robbers tend to become violent when victims try to pull tricks. Contact your embassy in Abuja and the police if you are robbed. Occasional pick pockets target mobile phones and wallets as well. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Usually, US$250 cash (or ₦30,000) would more than suffice for impulsive purchases and other daily costs.

When moving in Abuja, as a foreign visitor, you are best advised to use the official Green Cabs. There's a remote chance that privately operated unofficial cabs could be traps. Cab fares would be around ₦500 for trips within the city. Cab rides to the airport are significantly higher. Negotiate a fare before you enter a cab.

There have been reports of fraudulent use of credit card details almost immediately after people have used their cards to pay hotel deposits, even in the very top hotels.

Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Jos
 * Kaduna
 * Lokoja
 * Minna

title: Abuja


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Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel (also spelled: ...Sinbil, ...Sembel; Arabic: أبو سمبل) in Upper Egypt was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, growing behind the Aswan Dam, in a massive archaeological rescue plan sponsored by UNESCO in the 1960s. The complex of temples dedicated to the Pharaoh Ramsis II "the Great" remain an evocative and unforgettable destination.

Understand
Abu Simbel is a village lying 280 km south of Aswan and 40 km north of the Sudanese border. It is a very small settlement with very little to attract visitors other than its great temples for which it is famous. Few tourists linger for more than a few hours, although there are 5 hotels to attract visitors to stay the night.

The temples at Abu Simbel used to be located further down the hillside, facing the Nile in the same relative positions, but due to the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the original locations are underwater. In the 1960s, each temple was carefully sawed into numbered stone cubes, moved uphill, and reassembled before the water rose.

The Great Temple of Ramses II was reassembled fronting a fake mountain, built like a domed basketball court, where the stone cubes occupy a section under the dome; from outside, the fake mountain looks like solid rock.

Archaeologists have concluded that the immense sizes of the statues in the Great Temple were intended to scare potential enemies approaching Egypt's southern region, as they travelled down the Nile from out of Africa.

Climate

 * See also: Egypt

Summers are extremely hot at days, while winters are warm at days and mild at nights. Rainfall is almost non-existent. The best time to visit is from November till February.

In Abu Simbel, it feels at least 10°C (or 20°F) colder than in Aswan due to lake Nasser and the wind coming from it. Thus, bring some warm cloths and scarf, and especially in winter wear something that can deal with around 5–10 °C and strong wind.

By bus
Foreign travellers can get to Abu Simbel by coach or minibus (tour) from Aswan, travelling in convoys. There is at least one daily convoy each way, taking 3 hours. Seats can be arranged at your hotel or through the Aswan tourist office. The cost for a return trip is LE150-350, depending on the season and your negotiation skills. It seems there are not many companies offering this tour, so the only price difference will be due to varying hotel commission. Nevertheless, inquire at several hotels, like Kaylany, Marhaba and Tiba (LE185 as of Nov 2018). The trip price does not include entrance fees, but may include travel to additional sights in Aswan such as the High Dam or unfinished obelisk, but only if agreed before. Also make sure you have at least two hours (by agreement with the booking office) in Abu Simbel and refer to this tour agreement in case the driver is not willing to stick to this. They will not leave without you, promised! (Also because of security concerns and rules.) Be prepared to be asked for a tip by the driver at the end, even though he just cashed LE200 for this simple bus ride and the driver's behaviour was not really accommodating nor did he deliver any additional service like a stop at the high dam.

Sit on the left hand side of the bus, and you will see the sunrise in the morning (if awake) and be in the shade on the way back.

There are also two public buses from Aswan (3 hours each way). One leaves at 4AM and the second one at 11AM. All convoy buses need to leave for their return journey to Aswan by 4PM latest.

By car
Abu Simbel is generally not accessible to foreigners travelling by their own car, because of police security concerns. Travellers are only able to access Abu Simbel by bus from Aswan. Or they can rent a car with driver via a local agency, which is the most comfortable way.

However, you might get around these concerns and travel with you own car or taxi by telling the police you are working in Egypt—mostly they will not be able to identify that from your passport due to the lack of knowledge of the Roman letters. You would however prefer to travel with the car convoy all tourist mini-buses go with, starting at around 5AM from —just take the road towards Abu Simbel and after having left Aswan you will encounter the checkpoint with waiting mini-buses and a more throughout police questioning.

By boat
It is possible to travel by cruise ship from Aswan through Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel.

Get around
The town of Abu Simbel is small enough to navigate on foot.

Do
Read more about the temples before arriving: time at Abu Simbel will likely be limited, with little time to read about the stone carvings inside the temples. Beyond the temples themselves, the detailed description of sawing and moving the stone cubes is also an interesting story to read.

As with the pyramids at Giza, reading about them, before arriving, in no way diminishes the impact of seeing them firsthand. The reconstructed temples at Abu Simbel appear entirely real, not like a simulated building at some theme parks; however, do go inside the dome of the Great Temple to appreciate that it is a fake mountain.

Early morning boat tours of Lake Nasser or to see the sunrise on the monuments can be arranged through Eskaleh Nubian Lodge.

Eat
Visitors might need to bring their own snacks and beverages, due to the length of the journey and the limited time at Abu Simbel. There are many cafes along the main road. Prices are high due to the number of tourists.

Sleep
Many people do Abu Simbel as a day trip and fall asleep on the ride to/from Abu Simbel due to its early time. A reason to stay overnight is to see the Sound & Light show or see the temples away from the crowds. Expect to pay more in Abu Simbel due to its isolated location than equivalent hotels in Cairo.

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

title: Abu Simbel


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Abusir

Abusir (also spelt Abu Sir) is the name given to an Egyptian archaeological locality on the desert plateau (and its neighbouring village in the valley) 10 km (7 miles) south of Giza and 8 km north of Saqqara. About 35 km south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, Abusir is the site of a compact pyramid field, with pyramids and funerary temples dating mainly from the 5th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. It is somewhat "off the beaten track" for most visitors and therefore ideal for exploration with far less hassle and company than will be experienced at Giza, or even Saqqara.

Understand
Just one, relatively small segment of the extensive "pyramid field" that extends from north of Giza to below Saqqara, the locality of Abusir took its turn as the focus of the prestigious western burial rites operating out of the then-capital of Memphis as an elite cemetery (or necropolis) during the Old Kingdom 5th Dynasty. Neighbouring Giza had by then "filled up" with the massive pyramids and other monuments of the 4th Dynasty, leading the 5th Dynasty pharaohs to seek sites elsewhere for their own funerary monuments. Although two 5th Dynasty pharaohs (Unas and Userkaf) did build their pyramids further south at Saqqara, adjacent to the 3rd Dynasty Step Pyramid of Djoser, most of the Dynasty's rulers concentrated their efforts at Abusir (for their pyramids and associated funerary temples) and elsewhere (for their so-called "sun-temples").

Get in
Abusir is not served by any viable means of public transport, the site lying some distance from the village and the main road that leads south to Saqqara. The only practible means of visiting Abusir are by car, by hired taxi (perhaps in association with a visit to Saqqara or Giza) or as part of an organised tour group.

There are local trains from central Cairo to El Hawamdeyya, a few kilometers to the east.

See
The Abusir necropolis is open daily 8am-4pm. Admission LE80 (as of Dec 2018). 14 pyramids were constructed at Abusir - of these, four were those of pharaohs, three of royal women and one unfinished. Some are better preserved than others, from those surviving, but all in a far more ruined state - and certainly built to more modest dimensions - than those found at Giza:

Go next

 * Cairo
 * Memphis
 * Saqqara — an extensive number of pyramids and tombs on a plateau above the Nile Valley, just a few km South from Abusir

title: Abusir


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Abydos

Abydos is an important Ancient Egyptian archaeological site in Middle Egypt, a collection of temples, sites and ancient cemeteries close to the town of al-Balyana, 90 km (56 miles) north of Luxor.

Understand
The sacred city of Abydos (Abdju) is occupied since the Predynastic period; their rulers' town, temple and tombs, in the royal necropolis of Umm el-Qa'ab, have been found here.

A funerary chapel of Pepi I of the 6th Dynasty evolved over the years into the Great Temple of Osiris, and Abydos became the centre of the worship of the Isis and Osiris cult. The temple and town continued to be rebuilt at intervals down to the times of the 30th Dynasty, and the cemetery was in continuous use. The Great Temple and most of the ancient town are buried under the modern buildings, to the north of the Seti temple. Many of the original structures, and the artifacts within them, are considered irretrievable and lost, most likely destroyed by the new construction.

By train
Most travellers arrive at Abydos by train north from Luxor, alighting at the station for the town of al-Balyana. The fare is approximately LE 52, first class. From the station, either the tourist police or a police-escorted taxi will take you to the site of the Ramesside temples. Depending on local conditions and police levels of business, you should be able to get at least a couple of hours visiting the site.

At al-Balyana, there should be some police at the station. If not, ignore any touts, exit the station to the south and you will almost immediately come to the east-west road that heads out to Abydos. Start heading west along this road and you will soon come to the police checkpoint, they used to be where the road forms a bridge over the canal, and had a small blue wooden sentry box and some barriers. They will either take you to the main temple of Seti I, or arrange a taxi for you. It's usually a private taxi, but sometimes a share. As always, have small denomination notes to the pay the fare as drivers always have "no change". It's not necessary to spend money getting a private taxi to wait. When you leave the temple the police on site will find a vehicle for you to get back down to town, just so you aren't their problem anymore.

Back at the station the police will usually (not always) wait with you and see you on the train. Note that if a 3rd class train comes first (as it often does late afternoon), they will often put you on that one. It's not the most clean or comfortable experience (no air con, no guaranteed seats, sometimes not even any lighting), but the travel time isn't much different to the nicer trains. All in all, the journey is more hassle than an organised tour, but the freedom you get to spend several hours on site and explore on your own, in peace and in your own time, makes it well worth while.

By road
You can go by taxi in the police-escorted convoy to Abydos in one day, usually including Dendera as a stop-off point. A trip in a private car arranged through your hotels could cost around US$90 for two or three passengers (Oct 2018). You can likely get a better price by talking to taxi drivers directly. Make sure you agree on how much time you will spend at each temple - 90 min each is a minimum, though if you want to spend longer (especially at Abydos), then taking the train and just doing Abydos will give you much more time on site, and will work out much cheaper, though dealing with the local police is a hassle.

Also available are minibus tours from agents in Luxor, usually with a local guide of variable quality. These also travel with the escorted convoy, and can be a reasonable deal for a small group if you haggle, especially in off-season. Expect to pay around LE 300 - 400 per person, dependent on size of your group, time of year and your haggling skills. The major UK, US and European holiday companies also offer escorted tours, but these can be expensive.

Eat and sleep
The square facing the temple features several cafés.

Go next

 * Luxor
 * Dendera

title: Abydos


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Açailândia

Açailândia is a city of 113,000 people (2020) in Maranhão, on the intersection of the Belém-Brasília highway and the São Luís-Parauapebas railway.

Understand
Açailândia grew out of the construction of the Belém-Brasília highway in 1958. The city is an important center of agribusiness as the surrounding area has the largest cattle stock in Maranhão. The main source of the municipality's economy is the export of pig iron produced by five steel industries. The city houses many of the workers who produce charcoal in the area. The city has one of the most important railway stations on the Carajás Railway line.

The climate is hot and humid in the middle of the year and the rains are heavier from November to May, with March being the rainiest month in the region. From June to August the climate becomes drier with hot days, and relatively cold dawns with temperatures of up to 16 °C, with fog being common. From September to November the climate is warmer, with some showers starting in October.

Get in
Açailândia has a small but very busy bus terminal with interstate buses to all regions of the country, every day of the week at different times.

The railway does not carry passengers.

Squares

 * Praça do Patizal - in Vila Ildemar, the square has a plantation of palm trees.
 * Bible Square - Inaugurated on December 22, 2000.
 * Praça do Pioneiro - Homage from the people of Açailândia to João Mariquinha, considered one of the pioneers and one of the first residents to arrive in the then village of Açailândia.
 * Praça da Esperança - Commonly known as "UPA square".

Do

 * Açaí-Folia - Micareta is one of the biggest attractions in the city, held for the municipality's birthday party, always in June. It is the largest off-season carnival in the region and one of the largest in the state, attracting tourists from all regions of the state and from other states.

title: Açailândia


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Aït-Benhaddou

Aït-Benhaddou is a city in Morocco.

Understand
Aït-Benhaddou is a traditional mud brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has been featured in many films, mostly as a stand-in for Jerusalem. It has appeared in more than 10 films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Overnighting in Aït Benhaddou is recommendable as you get to see the Ksar in different lighting conditions. It looks very different in the morning when sun rises or when the sun is just setting.

Get in
Aït Benhaddou is accessible from Ouarzazate and Marrakesh.

By bus
Most buses do not go directly to Aït Benhaddou but can drop you off at the turn off about 7 km away from where you will have to find a lift. Or, you can get dropped off a little earlier at Tadoula, from where you can walk through the desert for about 5 km.

By taxi
A grand taxi seat from Ouarzazate costs 20 dirham (as of 2023). From or to the junction at the highway, it is 10 dirham.

Or, you arrange a private hire of a taxi for the trip. During the daytime, grand taxis are always waiting at the crossing.

From Marrakesh it will be a full day trip and thus a private tour might not be a bad idea.

By car
Aït Benhaddou is 9 km off the main Tizi n Tichka road, which links Ouarzazate to Marrakech. Coming from Ouarzazate, turn to the right after about 18 km from the town. It's quite a scenic drive to Aït Benhaddou. On the way into town there is a slight turn to the right, which is a popular spot for great views over the town and the Kasbah.

Get around
Once inside the Ksar you can only walk or climb. There are two main entrances into the Ksar. One can be reached by new bridge. To reach the second, it is necessary to cross the river using the stepping stones (in dry season the river is completely dry).

See
The town itself is the main attraction, with mud buildings climbing up the side of the hill.

Do

 * Climb to the top the hill for breathtaking views.
 * Rent a bike and drive up the road to Telouet (~50 km). It was paved a few years ago but traffic is still scarce.

Buy
There are several shops within the town that sell souvenirs from all over the Sahara, particularly prevalent are models of the Ksar and wooden artifacts from the Dogon people in Mali.

There is a very friendly carpet shop in the newer part of town near the post office.

Eat
Many touristy restaurants and cafés.

Go next

 * Ouarzazate
 * High Atlas

title: Aït-Benhaddou


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Añasco

Añasco is a city in the Porta del Sol region of Puerto Rico. Old town Añasco offers typical Puerto Rican hangout places with its large central square or plaza and well preserved churches.

Understand
Añasco holds an important place in Puerto Rican history, as it was here that the Spanish Conquistadores were proven to be mortals. A group of rebel Taino natives attacked and drowned a Spanish conquistador named SALCEDO, thus debunking the myth that the Spanish were gods. A bronze fountain in the main square depicts this act of bravery and defiance of colonial Spanish rule.

Today, Añasco is known for its Hojaldre cake (filled with brandy and spices) and the Chipe clam.

Añasco Beach has a Balneario or public beach facility, located on beautiful Tres Hermanos Beach. It completes the chain of surfing beaches in Northwestern Puerto Rico.

Añasco is located on a perfect spot in the west side of the island, closed by many tourist attractions and marvelous places to see. It serves as a strategic location for visitors to enjoy the many beauties that Puerto Rico offers.

Get in

 * San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
 * Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
 * Ponce: Mercedita Airport

From Aguadilla take I-PR-2 South. Take Exit

Get around
Añasco is served by Interstate PR-2; which connects Añasco with Aguadilla to the north and Mayagüez to the south.

Eat

Go next

 * Aguada
 * Moca
 * Las Marías
 * Mayagüez
 * Rincón
 * San Sebastián

title: Añasco


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Acadiana

Acadiana is a region of Louisiana, in the south and south west of the state. It is sometimes called "Cajun Country", noted for its distinctive culture. This is the birthplace of Cajun cuisine, Cajun music, and Zydeco music.

Regions
From west to east, Acadiana can be broken into five distinct and unique regions, where Cajun and Creole peoples adapted unique aspects from their environment.

Cities

 * – largest city
 * – largest city
 * – largest city
 * – largest city
 * – largest city

Other destinations

 * (also known as Atchafalaya Swamp) - enormous swamp around the Atchafalaya River
 * (also known as Atchafalaya Swamp) - enormous swamp around the Atchafalaya River

Understand
Acadiana or Cajun Country spreads over the prairies and bayous of SW Louisiana. Acadiana is a reference to the large population of Acadians, descendants of French speakers expelled from Nova Scotia by the British. These Louisiana Acadians are known as Cajuns, an English corruption of Acadiens.

While the Cajuns are the dominant population, since early in its history the region has also included Native Americans, Germans, Spanish, French Creoles, and Creoles of Color, all of whom made their contribution to creating Acadiana. Many more people have contributed more recently to the vibrant region with its unique culture, dialects, and food.

While locals were long proud of their traditions, in the early 20th century Cajuns were often looked down on. A fortunate change came about in the last third of the 20th century, when a new widespread appreciation of Cajun culture developed, especially for its music and food.

Roman Catholicism is the majority religion in Acadiana, which makes it stand out together with Greater New Orleans in contrast to the rest of the largely Evangelical Protestant South.

Talk
Acadiana is home to the majority of Louisiana's Francophones. The vast majority of people in Acadiana can speak English, though some older Cadiens in rural areas may speak only French. Many Cajuns are bilingual, and around 30% of Acadiana residents can speak French (as opposed to 7% in Louisiana as a whole). Visitors from other English- or French-speaking regions may struggle with stronger local accents. The local English accent incorporates many basic French words and unique pronunciations.

The dialect of French spoken by the Francophones of Acadiana is essentially similar to the one spoken in New Brunswick and other Acadian areas of Canada. Communication in French between Cajuns and residents of France or Quebec usually requires some effort.

Get in
The main airport in Acadiana is located in Lafayette, which serves flights to Houston, Dallas and Atlanta. Lake Charles is the only other airport in the region with commercial air service, with flights to Houston and Dallas. Other towns have small airports that are only served by general aviation. Alternatively, you can fly into New Orleans and drive into the region. If you are in New Orleans, there are tour buses and limo services that can bring you to the area.

Get around
If you want to travel at your own pace, you should bring your own vehicle or rental car. Tour bus companies are great, but you sign up for a specific itinerary.

See
In the River Parishes along the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, is a historic region known locally as the Louisiana River Region. Historical plantation homes dating back to the 1800s are on both banks of the river. Some of these are open to the public, ranging from non-profit educational facilities to commercial tourist attractions with major amenities. Pre-Civil War, there were hundreds of wealthy plantations along this trail, growing mostly sugar cane. Most are gone today, but locals have worked diligently to keep the remaining plantations viable and open to the public for visiting.

Do
Listen – and dance to – some Cajun and Zydeco music. There are dance halls and clubs in cities and towns, and some scattered in more remote locations people drive for miles to get to. A few of the more noted ones are:

 * Fred's Lounge, Mamou
 * Prejeans, just north of Lafayette
 * Randol's, Lafayette
 * Slim's Y-Ki-Ki, Opelousas
 * Whiskey River Landing, Henderson, near Breaux Bridge

Acadiana hosts a number of festivals. Some major ones are:

 * Crawfish Festival, May in Breaux Bridge
 * Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, September or October in Lafayette
 * Festival International de Louisiane in late April, Lafayette
 * Frog Festival, November in Rayne
 * Zydeco Festival, August in Opelousas

Swamp life:

Eat
Real Cajun food! Acadiana is the birthplace of Cajun food. Much of what is labeled "Cajun" elsewhere (including other parts of Louisiana!) has little to do with the delicious real thing.

Not to be confused with the Creole style of cooking native to New Orleans, Cajun food is more provincial and less glamorous than its counterpart to the east. Equally rich to Creole food, Cajun dishes are often spicier as well. Cajun food also does not rely on tomato sauce to the same degree as Creole food, and in foods common in both cuisines, the Cajun version is often a brown color compared to the Creole's red version. Some of the more notable Cajun food that visitors should sample in Acadiana are:

 * Boudin: (pronounced "Boo Dan") A spicy sausage that descends from the 'boudin blanc' of French cuisine, it consists of a sausage casing filled with a mixture of rice, pork, liver, green onion, and other bits. First-timers should be sure to inquire as to the level of spiciness, since some varieties can pack a lot of heat. Boudin filling can also be rolled into balls, breaded, and then deep fried to create boudin balls. Ask a local where to get the best boudin, they are often fiercely loyal to that of their favorite butcher shop or restaurant. While pork is usual, crawfish or shrimp boudin is sometimes seen.
 * Cracklin': The Cajun version of pork rinds, they are often heartier and much spicier than other varieties. Most trips to get boudin aren't complete without an accompanying small grease-soaked brown bag of cracklins for the trip home.
 * Crawfish: Whatever you do, don't call them "crayfish." Crawfish are a local delicacy to Louisiana, and in particular for Acadiana. The neighboring town of Breaux Bridge proclaims itself the "Crawfish Capital of the World," and residents of the region eagerly await the return of crawfish season every year. Crawfish is served in a variety of ways in Cajun cooking. Étouffée is a dish consisting of the meat of the crustacean smothered in butter, onions, peppers, and spices, and finally served over white rice. Fried crawfish is also another popular option. Perhaps the most popular method of cooking is a crawfish boil, which like the clam bakes of more northernly destinations, is part meal, part communal celebration. Large quantities of live crawfish are boiled in heavily-seasoned water, along with potatoes, corn, and onions (also meant to be eaten later). The finished product is then often poured out on a large table for everyone to grab a seat and dig in. Locals have different techniques for peeling the hard shells, and they are eager to teach any newcomer their particular method. Some say the "fat" sucked out of the head is the best part, but I'll leave that up to you to decide.
 * Gumbo: While gumbo can be sampled in New Orleans and other destinations, residents of Acadiana often insist their regional version of the thick stew-like dish is the true version. Some noticeable differences include darker roux and the lack of tomatoes (which are seen in New Orleans gumbo due to the history of Italian immigration in the city). Two main varieties of Cajun gumbo include seafood (often with shrimp, crab, oysters, and sometimes crawfish) and chicken and andouille sausage (a slightly different version with duck replacing the chicken is lesser known but equally delicious).
 * Jambalaya: An easy way to think of this oddly-named dish is basically Cajun paella. It always consists of rice, vegetables, spices, and some kind of meat, but never tomato sauce unlike Creole jambalaya. Types of meat often include chicken, sausage, shrimp, or tasso (a smoked, cured, and spiced cut of pork).
 * Rice & gravy: A staple crop of South Louisiana (the town of Crowley calls itself the "Rice Capital of the World"), rice is more important to Cajun cooking than probably any other European-derived American cuisine. It is served with étouffée and gumbo, mixed with spices and liver to make "dirty rice,"and paired with red beans and sausage for a famous Louisiana dish. In the case of rice and gravy, the white rice (most often long grain), serves as a starch addition to braised or smothered meat with gravy. Most often made with pork cutlets, the gravy is made with meat drippings, onions, peppers, and spices. Rice-based dishes trace their roots to a time when the Cajun people of Louisiana often needed to stretch what little meat and vegetables they had into a full meal. Today rice and gravy dishes are more of a comfort food, but they can be bought as "plate lunches" as various small eateries and even the corner grocery store or deli.

In addition to these several true Cajun dishes, there are many other items which are unique to Acadiana and can be found, at least in an authentic form, no where else in the world, as well as beloved Southern dishes such as fried chicken and frog legs.

Drink
Many enjoy a cold beer with Cajun food or music. Lafayette's Parish Brewing Company concentrates on quality small batch brews, including the popular Canebrake wheat beer brewed with local sugarcane. The Bayou Teche Beer company in Arnaudville sells multiple varieties brewed at the Mississippi brewery Lazy Magnolia. Also popular in Acadiana is Abita Beer, from Abita Springs in Acadiana's neighbor to the east, the Florida Parishes. As in all of Louisiana, whiskey is also popular.

While famous for its drive-through daiquiri shops, Louisiana does have an open container law - please wait until you've reached your destination to crack open that frozen deliciousness. When you tour a plantation, depending on the plantation's own rules, visitors over age 21 may purchase an alcoholic beverage and drink it while taking a tour, walking the grounds, etc. This is also true for some swamp tours and golf outings.

Go next

 * Greater New Orleans
 * Florida Parishes
 * Texas

title: Acadiana


text:
Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is the only United States national park in New England and the easternmost national park on the mainland. It is on the coast of the Down East region of Maine, near the town of Bar Harbor.

Understand
Acadia NP encompasses more than, 30,300 of which are on Mount Desert Island. 2,728 acres of the park lie on Isle au Haut and 2,266 more on the Schoodic Peninsula in Winter Harbor.

Acadia is one of the smaller national parks in the country, yet it attracts around 4 million visitors per year.

History
It was designated as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 by a presidential proclamation by Woodrow Wilson. Congress renamed the park Lafayette National Park in 1919. Congress again enacted a name change in 1929 to the name we now use, Acadia National Park. It was the first NP established east of the Mississippi River.

In October 1947, Acadia and some adjacent lands were ravaged by fire.

Landscape
A quick look at any topographical map of Mount Desert Island will indicate the powerful and lasting effects of the last ice age on the island and the current landscape of Acadia. As the last glacier receded over 18,000 years ago it left behind the elongated mountains and lakes we see today. The moving ice was also the culprit behind the "bald" summits of most of the park's hilltops, scraping off vegetation and leaving the beautiful pink granite underneath.

Flora and fauna
More than 273 bird species have been identified in the park, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, blue jays, finches, and chickadees (the Maine state bird). Mammal species include deer, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, porcupines and bats. Other species include garter snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander.

Climate
Acadia's weather is largely a product of latitude and marine influences. On a daily and annual basis, Mount Desert Island temperatures are more moderate than those of inland Maine. The Maine coastal climate has been ranked second only to the Pacific Northwest in annual precipitation. This moisture occurs in every form at Acadia. Ice storms are regular in winter and early spring, and rain is frequent in every month. Fog is common during June, July, and August.

Spring can be foggy with temperatures ranging between and. Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeve shirts, and long pants for protection. Annual rainfall is $$.

Summer daytime temperatures range from to. Evenings are cooler. Dressing in layers is advisable for any boating or hiking activities. Ocean water temperatures range from to. Lake water temperatures range from to.

Fall temperatures can range from low 70s during the day to freezing during the night. Come prepared for all types of weather, from sun to fog, from downpours to flurries. Fall foliage often peaks during the first couple of weeks in October. Weather conditions over the summer, such as drought, may alter the time that the leaves peak.

In the winter, due to Acadia's coastal location, snow and weather conditions change rapidly. Temperatures vary from mid-30s to below zero. The park averages $$ of snow annually. For the latest in weather information, call the local weather phone line at +1 207-667-8910 or call the park at +1 207-288-3338.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Acadia National Park is along the rugged, rocky coast of "Downeast" Maine. Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, which is accessible by vehicle. The park is approximately six hours north of Boston.

By car
From Boston take I-95 north to Augusta, Maine, then Route 3 east to Ellsworth and on to Mount Desert Island. For an alternate route, continue on I-95 north to Bangor, Maine, then take Route 1A east to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take Route 3 to Mount Desert Island. By car to the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor: Follow Rt. 1 North/East from Ellsworth to Rt. 186.

Distances from other cities

 * Bangor, ME 50 miles, 1 hour
 * Portland, ME 161 miles, 3.5 hours
 * Kittery, ME 211 miles, 4.5 hours
 * Boston, MA 264 miles, 6 hours
 * New York, NY 492 miles, 10 hours
 * Saint John, New Brunswick 227 miles, 5 hours
 * Montreal, Quebec 424 miles, 8 hours
 * Halifax, Nova Scotia 500 miles, 10 hours

By plane
Direct flights from Boston's Logan Airport land at the Hancock County Airport, from Acadia National Park. National airlines serve the Bangor International Airport, about one hour from the park. Car rentals are available at both airports.

By ferry
There is no longer ferry service from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth Nova Scotia. "The Cat" is no longer in service.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees as of 2020 are:
 * $15 Acadia Entrance Fee - Per Person
 * $25 Acadia Entrance Fee - Motorcycle
 * $30 Acadia Entrance Fee - Private Vehicle
 * $55 Acadia Annual Pass

Get around
The free Island Explorer bus system, Phone: +1 207-667-5796, can take you through the park, stopping at points of interest. There are bicycle racks on the front and back of each bus if you'd like to combine transport methods as you explore. Island Explorer buses are propane-powered.

Land activities
There is an extensive network of carriage roads throughout Acadia National Park, which are closed to automobiles and are excellent places to ride your bicycle. The carriage roads are mostly paved with crushed stone and, therefore, are best navigated on a mountain or hybrid bicycle. Another option for cyclists is the ~20 mile (32 km) long Park Loop Road, which encircles much of the eastern portion of the park. The road is open to automobiles, but is a one-way, two-lane road for much of its length. The Park Loop Road appears to have been re-paved in 2008, making for a very smooth, pleasant ride. Bikes can be rented in Bar Harbor.

Acadia has the best day hiking in the Eastern U.S. Walking the miles of trails is one of the best ways to experience the park. Immerse yourself in the flora and fauna of the island on a number of different hikes of various environment, length, and difficulty. These trails are stunning, with high ocean views, accessible tree lines, steep precipices, stone bridges, etc.

Acadia is a great place to birdwatch, with many species calling the park home including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, great blue herons, cranes, ducks, geese, chickadees, woodpeckers, owls, orioles and blue jays can be seen in the park. For an extensive checklist and more info on birdwatching opportunities in Acadia, see the NPS's birdwatching page.

The park is one of the darkest spots on the East Coast and on a clear night stargazers can see the Milky Way in all of its glory. Drive into the park after dark, find a safe place to stop along one of the park roads or parking lots where you're not crowded in by trees or lights, get out and look up. You will not be disappointed.

Water activities
The last glacier of 18,000 years ago carved out the incredible and beautiful terrain of the park, leaving behind some of the cleanest lakes and ponds in the country. Sea kayaking tours and boat rental services are offered from numerous establishments in Bar Harbor and allow access to Mount Desert Island and other destinations.

Fishing is allowed in the park in accordance with the park regulations. While ocean fishing is open to all, fishing in freshwater lakes and ponds requires a Maine state fishing license. Licenses are required for residents aged 16 and up and non-residents 12 and up, and can be purchased at town offices and a few local shops.

Some ponds and lakes are used for drinking water and do not allow swimming; check park office for list of approved swimming locations.

Tours
Those who prefer a guided experience can choose between free park tours or commercial options.

Lodging
There are no hotels within the park borders, but the nearby town of Bar Harbor has numerous options.

Camping
The park has three campgrounds:

Backcountry
Backcountry camping is not permitted (and strongly discouraged due to the fragile ecosystem) in Acadia National Park.

Stay safe

 * It is unsafe to venture out onto Maine's coastal waters without having the necessary equipment and experience. This is true of kayaking, canoeing, sailing or any other kind of boating.  The water is cold and hypothermia can set in in a short amount of time.  Dense fog often rolls in very quickly as well as the occasional storm.

If you are determined to go out on your own, it would be foolish and could result in serious fines from the Coast Guard or a Marine Patrol officer to do so without every single passenger:
 * wearing a PFD and/or
 * having a compass and knowing how to use it and/or
 * understanding how to navigate safely around other boats and water hazards

There are numerous companies on Mount Desert Island and elsewhere that offer guided sea kayak, sailing, and power boat tours.

title: Acadia National Park


text:
Acadian Coast

The Acadian Coast (French: la Côte Acadienne) covers the eastern coast of New Brunswick.

The Acadian Coast extends eastward from Campbellton/Pointe-à-la-Croix along the south shore of the Baie de Chaleurs, a warm bay which continues past Caraquet. This region has a strong francophone heritage, in sharp contrast to the United Empire Loyalist roots of more southern New Brunswick communities such as Fredericton.

Cities

 * — a mining, fishing and forestry centre with access to some beautiful wilderness areas
 * — connected by bridge to Quebec, it has a strong Acadian heritage
 * — a lobster fishing village and seaport and a focus of the August 15 Acadian "fête nationale"
 * — long stretches of natural beaches, scenic vistas, and lots of snow for winter sports
 * — a francophone fishing village
 * — beautiful beaches

Understand
Much of what is now New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was once Acadia, a French-speaking colony in North America which was defeated by the English in the 1750s. Great Britain demanded Acadia pledge allegiance; the Acadians refused out of fear they would be forced to attack the Nouvelle France colony on behalf of the English and claimed neutrality. The English retaliated with mass deportations, known as le grand dérangement de 1755. Some Acadians settled as far afield as Louisiana, some returned to France. A few, displaced from points in southern New Brunswick such as Fort Beauséjour, fled north to establish the clandestine precursors of what is now Caraquet in 1757.

The people of the Acadian Coast region speak French as their first language, however many Acadians (particularly those south of the Miramichi Bay and Bathurst, Gloucester County regions) can speak fluent English.

By plane

 * Bathurst Regional Airport has flights from Montreal.
 * Charlo Airport  has flights from Halifax.
 * The nearest international airport is in Moncton.

By train
Via Rail's Atlantic train The Ocean stops in Bathurst twice a day, three days a week: in the morning having departed from Montreal, and in the evening having departed from Halifax.

By bus
The Maritime Bus travels between several locations in the Maritimes, and has daily service in Bathurst, Campbelltown and Dalhousie.

By car
From Quebec City, Campbellton is 520 km along Autoroute 20 and Highway 132.

From Moncton, Bathurst is 220 km on highways 15, 11 and 8.

By bus
The Maritime Bus travels between several locations in the Maritimes and eastern Quebec, and has daily service in Bathurst, Campbelltown and Dalhousie.

By car
Highway 11 is the main highway that connects the Acadian Coast, running from the bridge from Quebec at Campbellton, through Bathurst, Caraquet and Tracadie-Sheila, then on to Miramichi.

From Campbellton to Bathurst, Route 134 follows the coastline more closely, providing a slower, more scenic route. From Bathurst, it turns south and connects to Highway 8, providing a more direct route to Miramichi across the base of the peninsula.

See
The Inch Arran Lighthouse near Dalhousie, also called the ‘Bon Ami Point Range Front’ lighthouse, was constructed on Inch Arran Point in 1870 to guide ships to safety at night. It is recognised as a Federal Heritage Building.

The Bon Ami Rocks, also near Dalhousie, is a volcanic formation represents a lava flow deposited during the Devonian period, nearly 400 million years ago.

The Village Historique Acadien, in Bertrand west of Caraquet, is a pioneer village living museum reconstructing a francophone village of 1755-1855 with its people.

Do
The Festival Acadien in Caraquet is an annual festival culminating in Tintamarre, a boisterous and noisy costume party where revellers make themselves heard at 5:55PM on August 15, the feast day of the Virgin Mary and de facto Acadian national holiday.

The Salmon Festival is held in Campbellton in late June to early July. There are Miss and Little Miss Salmon Festival pageants, Canada Day celebrations (July 1) with a giant fireworks display, salmon suppers, road race, live bands, Campbell Amusements Carnival, daily children activities, family activities, and a gigantic parade. The Sugarloaf Provincial Park near Campbellton is a 11.5-km² park for hiking, and biking in the summer; downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling in the winter.

Eat
Acadians adapted their cuisine to incorporate the crops and animals that flourished in the Upper St. John River Valley in Maine, particularly after the English began pushing the French farmers out of their original settlements onto less productive land. Typical dishes include:
 * Poutine râpée: potato dumplings
 * Fricot: a type of soup or stew
 * Tourtière: meat pie
 * Rappie pie: a dish of grated potatoes and meat (salted pork or chicken)

title: Acadian Coast


text:
Acapulco

Acapulco is the original Mexican resort town. It is a historic port city that during the Spanish Empire served as a terminus for trade between Mexico and the Philippines. The trade route between Manila and Acapulco is a.

Get in
Travelers by bus or car should note the cautions in "Stay safe" below.

By bus
Many buses go from major cities (e.g. Mexico City) to Acapulco. Most buses are safe, fast and comfortable and usually not very expensive. Some bus lines offer student discounts. The Estrella de Oro bus line offers non-stop trips from Mexico City with service more like First Class on an airline: roomy seats, ride attendants, snacks and drinks, and free movies. A regular Estrella de Oro (double-decker) one-way ride is M$395 (pesos) (about US$20), while upgraded VIP bus service is M$520. VIP service includes a marble lounge inside the regular Acapulco bus terminal with TVs, drinks, and newspapers. Depending on the bus, the ride takes 5-5½ hours in comfort. They search you and pat you down for weapons before leaving.

By car
There is a modern four-lane highway from Mexico City to Acapulco (Autopista del Sol). It is somewhat expensive, but will take you there in 3½ hours, approximately, if you don't stop on the way. Be sure to have cash on hand as there are plenty of tolls, or "casetas" along the way. The Autopista is not continuous; there is a break in two sections where the road is rougher, so a car with good tires is a must. Traffic and parking in Acapulco are difficult.

By plane
Ground transportation from the airport to the major tourist area of La Costera takes more or less the same time. Round-trip fares depending on the season and class, range from US$23 to US$50.

Get around
Taxis are everywhere in Acapulco. Since they are unmetered, make sure that you agree on a fare before entering. Always negotiate; they can smell tourist money a mile away. The old Volkswagen beetle cabs are cheaper than newer air-conditioned cars. Shared cabs (usually white with yellow) run between major destinations and are very convenient. They usually display their destination in large letters and charge a flat fee of M$12, irrespective of distance. You should not have to pay more than M$50 per cab ride within the Costera area but fares can reach as much as M$120 for rides from La Costera to La Quebrada, Princess Hotel (Revolcadero Beach) and the airport. Alternatively most hotels can arrange for taxi transportation for a fixed fare (usually inflated). Prices will usually be about 50% more expensive than for a taxi hailed on the street.

There are several public transportation options: Yellow cabs are M$12 per person; buses are M$8 for non-air-conditioned, M$9.50 for air-conditioned, and M$10 (after buying a card for M$10) for AcaBus, a new system started in January 2017. Because of the sheer amount of taxis here, when one is dining out it is often worthwhile for them to offer a round trip and simply wait around while you have your meal, and they will not charge extra.

Buses are worth experiencing even if you don't want to travel on them. Destinations are printed on the front window of each bus. There is no need to be at one of the regular bus stops in order to get on, except for AcaBus. Just wave your arm or look at the driver. He will stop and encourage you to get in. In fact, drivers will stop and try to get you to ride with them if you are even walking in the same direction that they are driving in. The bus system in Acapulco has been fully privatised; each bus is privately owned. This means they can decorate them however they want. Pink buses cruise around blaring out traditional Mexican music, racing against ones decked out in UV lights pulsing out club music into the night air. The complete lack of suspension makes for an unforgettable ride.

Private autos: It is generally unwise to try to drive yourself around Acapulco. Traffic is heavy and drivers aggressive, parking is scarce, streets do not run in a neat grid, and even change names unexpectedly. Most, if not all streets lack signs indicating their name. In addition, foreign tourists driving rental cars can become targets of the Acapulco police officers, who will accept payment (~M$400) for violations in person at the time of pullover, without providing a receipt or proof of violation or clearing of the violation.

See

 * San Diego Fort in Acapulco, Mexico.jpg
 * San Diego Fort in Acapulco, Mexico.jpg

Beaches
Most beaches are in the bay area fronting the main boulevard "La Costera". This bay area is what made Acapulco famous and its beauty and majesty have not faded over the years. Some of the most popular beaches inside the Bay and lining the Costera are Hornos, the traditional "afternoon beach", Papagayo, Tamarindos, and Icacos. Condesa beach at the east end of the bay is gay-friendly. Caleta/Caletilla beaches and Langosta Beach are on the open ocean, and usually a bit cleaner. Most hotels in Acapulco are found along the Costera, and prices generally go down as you move west toward the Zócalo and old Acapulco.

Another open water beach, more suitable for surfing, lies in front of the Fairmont Acapulco Princess and Fairmont Pierre Marqués Hotels. Playa Revolcadero is east of Acapulco, closer to the airport. The wave action is much higher than inside the bay or at Caleta/Caletilla, which are protected by La Roqueta island. Transportation from La Costera takes about 35 minutes through a winding and scenic road.

Don't miss Barra Vieja, approximately 20 minutes past the airport coming from the Costera (M$500–800 for a cab all day).

Do

There are several more attractions, including golf courses, night clubs and post-Hispanic fortifications. Nightlife in Acapulco is pretty much fun, and many places are suited for tourism including "El Alebrije", "Disco Beach" and "Palladium", this last having an awe-inspiring sight of the whole bay of Acapulco.

Drink

La Costera, Acapulco's main street along the coast, is full of bars and clubs:

Stay safe
For an average tourist, a common danger comes from local police. Bribery and extortion can be encountered at every step. For example, if you are driving a nice clean car, you can expect to be stopped and falsely blamed for driving through red lights (even if the traffic lights were turned off), not using mirrors, using traffic lanes wrongly or other minor infractions.

Consulates

 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Taxco is along the way from Acapulco to Toluca, and just off the highway to Mexico City. Some guidebooks depict it as an adorable little town filled with silver shops, but many drivers have come to dread the crowded, narrow, windy roads. The caution under "Stay safe" above also applies.
 * Ixtapan de la Sal is about an hour past Taxco on the way to Toluca. It boasts a perfect climate and thermal waters. There are modern water parks, spas, and a variety of folk health services. Caution as above.
 * Cuajinicuilapa is a small coastal town that is home to an Afro-Mexican community.

title: Acapulco


text:
Accra

Accra is the capital city of Ghana. Accra has a mix of 19th-century colonial architecture, modern skyscrapers and apartment blocks, and dusty shanty towns.

Understand

Accra has an estimated population of 4—5 million in the metropolitan area. Since an administration reform in 2018 the city itself comprises only of the historic quarters and houses around 280,000 people. However, the surrounding municipal districts are tightly connected to the Accra Metropolitan District. Usually the whole metropolitan area is referred to as "Accra". The local language is Ga; other widely spoken languages are English, Twi (pron. 'ch-wee'), Ewe (pron. ayvay), and Hausa.

History
Accra was founded in the 17th century by the Ga people. It became the capital of the British Gold Coast in 1877 and the capital of Ghana on the formation of the country as an independent state in 1957.

Climate
Accra has a hot, semi-arid tropical climate. Rain falls during the rainy season, between April and mid-July, usually in the form of brief but intense thunderstorms that sometimes cause flooding. In the months of September and October, it may rain again, but less intensely. Daily temperatures throughout the year vary between 32ºC (89.6ºF) and 22ºC (71.6ºF).

Local information

 * Municipal government website

By plane
is a major hub, with international connections from North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, along with internal connections to Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi, and regional connections to virtually every West African country.

Asky airlines fly to Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Lome

From the United States, Delta Airlines and United airlines operates flights directly from New York-JFK and Washington-Dulles. From there, it is possible to connect to all major North, South, and Latin American cities, and the Caribbean.

South African Airways operates a service from Johannesburg. Ethiopian airlines from Addis Ababa. Kenya airways from Nairobi, Freetown, Monrovia Rwandair from Kigali. Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca. Egypt Air from Cairo.

Emirates and Turkish Airlines operate into Accra, from their respective hubs in Dubai and Istanbul. It is also served by Middle East Airlines from Beirut and Qatar Airways from Doha.

Air France operates from Paris's Charles de Gaulle. British Airways operates a daily service from London Heathrow. KLM also operates a daily service from Amsterdam. TAP Portugal has a direct service from Lisbon and Sao Tome, Brussels Airlines operates a service from Brussels.

Ibom Air operates daily flights from Lagos, Nigeria to Accra.

Transport from the airport
There is an official taxi stand. Make sure you find it if you want a regulated fare. Otherwise, expect to be taken for a very expensive ride. On the upside, though, the expensive car touts usually put you in a nicer car with a professional driver, and you get to skip any potential taxi confusion—you decide! Better yet, walk out to the main road and get a taxi for a real price.

By train
Although rehabilitation of the rail network is a priority of the government there's just one line operating. Regional commuter trains ply the route from the nearby industrial city of Tema, of limited interest to the tourist, several times a day. Ghana Railway Company publishes timetables at their webpage.

By car
Accra's best attractions are scattered across a relatively wide area, so if you can afford the modest prices the best thing to do is hire a car and driver to take you around. Travel companies offer drivers who double as well-informed guides, which helps as interpretive exhibits and brochures (if you can find them) leave much to be desired.

If you need an SUV or a sedan there are plenty of affordable options because even the best drivers earn only about US$15 a day in Accra. You can book directly from Avis and local rental companies at the larger hotels, such as the Golden Tulip, La Palm, or La Badi Beach. Cars are available on short notice but if you want a van or SUV it is best to book ahead. Rates for car and driver are about US$9 an hour. For a US$75 you can book a 10-hour day, but fuel is extra. Rates increase if you leave metro Accra, which is fair because poor roads add to the wear and tear on the vehicle. Toyota Land Cruisers are a popular choice and are widely available.

By foot
Though the city is fairly spread out, Accra is relatively safe to walk around during the day (and night, in many areas). Watch out for open sewers, automobiles, (even in the city) when walking the streets.

By taxi
To flag a taxi wave your arm with your finger pointed down to the ground. On a busy street you will have many taxis driving past trying to offer you their service by honking at you. There are very few Ghanaian cabs with meters. You must negotiate how much you are willing to pay before you start the trip. It is generally US$3 within the centre of town and US$10 to the airport or Accra Mall from the centre. A rough mileage rate would be US$ 0.30 per mile. Try to ask someone local how much a trip to a certain location usually costs. Also make sure to haggle hard, as most taxi drivers will often try to charge three times (or more) the going rate to foreigners. Relax, and don't show urgency. If the first taxi won't come down on his price, wait for another as they are plentiful. Do have an idea of your route: taxi drivers navigate by landmarks, e. g. traffic circles, traffic lights, petrol stations – not street names – and make sure you have a local SIM in your phone so you can ring someone at your destination and pass the phone to the taxi driver.

Taxis do not have to be so private, though, and it's exceedingly rare for Ghanaians to hire one privately (although they will assume that foreigners want a private one). The rate is in theory one fourth of a private ride, but, again, foreigners taking a private ride tend to get taken for a little extra. It's more confusing, to be sure, but chances are they are going in the direction they are already headed, and you can just ask if they're going towards a major landmark, especially a market.

The problem with taxis, aside from the constant honking at foreigners, is that they don't know their way around Accra. No really, they won't have any idea where you want to go. They can't figure out maps either. The landmarks used by locals and cab drivers in no way align with those that are relevant to outsiders. Even worse, the cab drivers usually live kind of far outside the city centre, and usually aren't even familiar with basic neighbourhood names or the biggest attractions like Independence Square! Some useful landmarks that they will know are the major markets, Osu Castle, the Stadium, the financial centre (Cedi Tower), the major traffic circles along Ring Rd, and major street names, from which you can try and direct them to where you want to go. Now, if you don't already know your way around, it's tough.

Metered taxi
There are some taxis with meters in them. These are generally more expensive, but you can be a little more sure about how much they will cost.

Ride hailing

 * 1) Yango app works in Accra.
 * 2) Uber also works in Accra.
 * 3) Bolt which is very popular.

By TroTro
TroTros are usually very crowded and dilapidated minivans ad minibuses that act as the city's public transit system. TroTros travel along a well known routes in the city, and stop at various points along the way (some stops have signs, others don't). As a TroTro approaches a stop, a "mate" (the driver's assistant) will usually yell out the side of the window where the TroTro is going. Many people die in TroTro accidents every year, however typically on highways in rural areas. Accidents causing death in Accra are relatively rare, in part due to traffic congestion.

See

 * Osu castle.JPG
 * Light House-Jame Town,Accra..JPG
 * The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas.
 * Osu castle.JPG
 * Light House-Jame Town,Accra..JPG
 * The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas.
 * Osu castle.JPG
 * Light House-Jame Town,Accra..JPG
 * The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas.
 * Osu castle.JPG
 * Light House-Jame Town,Accra..JPG
 * The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas.
 * The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas.

Do

Swimming Pools: Sport swimmers find a pool in East Legon at A&C Mall for 7 cedis a day. Those who want to spend a relaxing day at a hotel pool can use the one of La Palm Royal Beach Hotel for 10 cedis a day.

Culture
Goethe Institut - German institute organizing frequent movie screening and expositions. There is a regular Thursday movie screening.

Alliance Francaise d'Accra - French institute organizing frequent concerts, art performances and expositions.

Accra Expat - The expat webpage informing its visitors about planned events in Accra

Buy

 * Kaneshie Market is both a transit centre and a great place to shop, offering a very wide variety of mostly traditional goods and items. It is a source for food and household items; beads, hair salons, shoes, handbags and beauty products, and fabric shops.
 * Agbogbloshie Market
 * Nima Market
 * Alajo Market
 * Nima Market
 * Alajo Market

Wild Gecko (near the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange, off the Kwame Nkrumah Motorway Extension sells a variety of crafts, upscale curios, furniture, and batik clothing. Be sure to check out the extensive collection of Christmas ornaments, including Adinkra symbols carved into dainty souvenirs. Down the dirt road from Wild Gecko are further several smaller but well-stocked pottery and craft stores.

Shopping malls include:
 * The Accra Mall, off the Liberation Road
 * The A&C Shopping Mall, East Legon
 * Palace Shopping Mall, situated on the Spintex Road
 * Shaaba Shopping Mall, off the Motorway Extension

Eat
Eat out at one of Osu's many trendy restaurants. Osu, a suburb of Accra, is known for its nightlife and a wide variety of eateries, hotels, and several options for entertainment.

Located in Labone near the Metro TV building, "Maquis Tante Marie" is a restaurant serving a variety of African cuisines in a pleasant garden setting.

Frankie's on Oxford Street in Osu is a popular oasis for tourists in Accra. Offering accommodation, a restaurant, salad bar, ice cream and a bakery/pastry shop.

Other popular restaurants in Osu include Papaye (Fast Food), Asanka Locals (Traditional Ghanaian Cuisine) and Noble House Restaurant (Indian and Chinese Cuisine).

Drink
The biggest entertainment precinct in town is the Oxford Street area, in Osu. Home to over a dozen different night venues (most of them tucked up side-streets), there is no shortage of variety. Taxi drivers generally know the location of the following, but if not, just ask a young-looking person on Oxford Street.

 * Tantra: A late-night (best from midnight to 05:00) club, with a 50:50 mix of expats and locals. Plays western style electronic and R&B music. Entry GH₵20, small beers GH₵5. You can usually negotiate for a discount on the entry charge.
 * Duplex: Possibly the most popular venue as of early 2012, 50:50 expats and locals. Similar music to Tantra, free entry, GH₵5 small beers.
 * Container: One of the original drinking icons, located on Oxford Street. An overgrown "spot" style bar, 90% locals. Good for a couple of drinks in the open air early in the evening, large beers about GH₵3. Free entry. Street acrobats.
 * Epo's: Another overgrown spot, 80% locals. Located a couple of blocks off Oxford Street, it feels like a mini carnival. Try the "beer tower", a 3 or 5 litre (you choose) tapped tower of beer delivered to your table. 3 litres for GH₵15, 5 litres for GH₵25, free entry.
 * Duncans: A chilled but popular outdoor spot.
 * Ryan's Irish Pub: One of the few places in the area where you can order a pint. An option if you want a rest from Africa, but pretty uneventful otherwise.
 * La Pleasure Beach: Located at Labadi Beach (about 4 km from Osu), an outdoor reggae night happens every Wednesday on the beach from 9PM. GH₵5 entry, GH₵4 large beers. 80% locals, foreigners get hassled a little by jewellery and t-shirt sellers, but it's safe, and worth a look on a Wednesday.
 * FireFly: A nice classy cocktail lounge in Osu near Citizen Kofi. Entry is free and drinks are GH₵4–5 for a single shot and GH₵10–15 for cocktails. Local and expat crowd. Plays electronic and pop music here you see a lot of foreign (white) young ladies gyrating with public displaying of affection with the local Ghanaian gentlemen.
 * The Republic Bar & Grill: a retro-styled afrocentric hangouts for creatives (bloggers, photographers, fashion designers), expats and just anybody else who can't be bothered with high heels or a formal shirt. You can sit in or outside and enjoy chilled fermented flavoured sugar cane juice whilst listening to World Music or very old school Ghanaian Highlife.

Stay safe
See Ghana for general information.

Bywel's bar in Osu district is a frequent hangout of expats on Thursday nights, meaning that it is a target for muggings. Be sure to leave in a large group and enter a taxi immediately upon exiting the bar.

Respect
The majority of Ghanaians are devout Christians and have a traditional lifestyle; respect that.

Embassies and High Commissions
Being the national capital, Accra hosts several embassies and high commissions. A majority of them are clustered in Cantonments, North Ridge and in the Airport Residential Area (west of the airport) neighborhoods. They can be located elsewhere too. Other countries maintain (non-resident) diplomatic representation to Ghana through their embassy in Abduja or Lagos in Nigeria; Dakar, Abidjan, and/or elsewhere in Africa:

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇯 Benin
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
 * 🇨🇲 Cameroon
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * Ivory Coast
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
 * 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇬🇦 Gabon
 * 🇬🇲 Gambia
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇳 Guinea
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇱🇷 Liberia
 * 🇲🇱 Mali
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇪 Niger
 * 🇳🇬 Nigeria
 * 🇳🇦 Namibia
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇬 Togo
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Koforidua
 * Cape Coast
 * Kumasi
 * Keta
 * Kakum National Park
 * Tamale - the biggest and fastest developing city in West Africa.

title: Accra


text:
Accrington

Accrington is a town in East Lancashire. The town's main visitor attraction is the Tiffany glass collection in its art gallery, and the stark natural beauty of the Pennine moors all around. It's also notorious for its football team Accrington Stanley, which until 2019 was unfairly regarded as a joke and byword for failure. But not any more.

The small towns of Baxenden, Oswaldtwistle (say ozzle-twizzle) and Clayton-le-Moors are nearby, and Blackburn is five miles west.

Understand
Its name probably means "acorns" from the oak woods that once carpeted these valleys. It grew during the industrial revolution, when the streams racing down from the Pennines powered its textile mills

It had a population of 35,000 in 2011, with a total of 80,000 in the borough of Hyndburn area. Many of its residents are Bangladeshis who came to work the mills in the 1950s. The town also produced Accrington Brick or NORI ("Iron" backwards), an exceptionally hard and acid-resistant brick, valuable for lining furnaces, chimneys and the like. The brickworks closed in 2008, were re-opened to political fanfare in 2015, and quietly closed again in 2016. The northern suburb of Ewbank gave its name to the carpet-sweeper manufacturer.

Football team
Lots of towns have had football (soccer) teams that collapsed. But this place is unique, at least in Britain, in the way the collapse of Accrington Stanley hung like a pall over the name of the town for decades, in spite of the team's resurgence. One reason is that they collapsed in the 1960s, in an era when that was difficult to accomplish. England's Football League was a closed shop. Promotion and relegation between fourth division and the minor leagues below was rare.

From 1960 Accrington Stanley were near bankrupt, and fell like a stone through the League placings. By March 1962 their debts were unsustainable, they couldn't afford to put on games, and they had to resign from the League during the 61/62 season. It was a traumatic disorderly exit, and all their results were expunged. In the following seasons they played in the Lancashire Combination Leagues, and then they dissolved in 1966.

An entirely separate, new Accrington Stanley was formed in 1968, and for the next 30 years plodded away in the minor leagues. From 1989 to 1995 they were the butt of a TV advert by the Milk Marketing Board. One young football fan has been warned that if he doesn't drink milk, he'll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley. His friend asks "Accrington Stanley, who are they?" and the first replies "Exactly." Town and club took a perverse pride in this recognition, but it didn't move the narrative on.

In 2002 the club came into money from a transfer fee and began a steady rise up the rankings. In 2006 they were promoted back into League Two, equivalent to the old Fourth. In 2018 they were promoted to League One. In Jan 2019 in the FA Cup Third Round they pulled off a shock, beating Ipswich Town from the Championship (the tier above). They progressed to the Fourth Round to lose narrowly to Derby County, another Championship team.

Visitor information

 * Visitor information from Visit Lancashire

By air
Manchester Airport is 27 miles (43 km) south, with excellent flight connections across the UK, Europe and beyond. Leeds Bradford Airport is 30 miles (48 km) east of Accrington but has fewer flights and less onward transport.

By rail
Accrington is on the East Lancashire Line. There is an hourly train (daily) from Preston via Blackburn to Accrington, continuing to Burnley, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds and York.

There's also an hourly train (daily) from Blackburn via Accrington to Manchester Victoria. (Change at Victoria for Manchester Piccadilly and Airport.) This train meanders on west via Salford and Wigan to Southport.

is east side of town centre, with the main entrance on Eagle St next to Tesco.

By road
The town is on the M65 motorway which traverses East Lancashire, and is just off the A56/M66 from Manchester.

By bus: Red Express X41 runs between Manchester, Prestwich and Accrington, taking 1 hr 50 min. It runs M-Sa every 30-40 min, on Sunday hourly.

There are two direct daytime National Express coaches and one overnight from London Victoria taking 7-8 hours (NX 540 & 422 to Accrington & Burnley). Megabus doesn't serve the town.

By bike: The town is on National Cycle Route 6 which runs from London to the Lake District.

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal runs by Accrington. It's navigable coast to coast, and its towpath is a good long-distance walking & cycling route.

Get around
Lancashire Buses 6 & 7 ply between Accrington and Blackburn, taking 30 min. They run M-Sa every 8 min or so (Sundays every 20 min) 5:30AM-10PM, also serving Rishton, Great Harwood, Clayton-le-Moors, Oswaldtwistle and Intack.

Burnley Bus 9 runs between Accrington and Burnley via Lowerhouse, taking 30 min. It runs M-F every 30 min 6AM-6PM and Sat hourly 9AM-4PM; no Sunday service.

Burnley Bus M3 runs further up the valley, from Accrington via Padiham, Burnley, Nelson and Colne to Trawden. It runs hourly M-Sa 7:30AM-10:30PM and Su 9AM-8:30PM.

Taxis within the town should only cost between £3 and £5.

Do

 * Football:
 * One mile east of town off A679 is Peel Park and The Coppice, a pleasant strolling area. The parallel ditches were World War II defences against enemy glider landings.
 * Vue Cinema is off King Street just below the railway viaduct.

Buy
The market is an excellent place to buy Lancashire speciality foods like Lancashire cheese, black pudding, pies, oatcakes, pikelets, tripe and cowheel.

Eat
There's the usual collection of fast food outlets, and reasonable Bangladeshi restaurants. The best eateries otherwise are the hotels.

Drink
There are plenty of pubs (some rather dingy) serving good cheap beer. Always ask for cask beer rather than the mass-produced brands; there are many excellent beers available from small local micro-breweries.

Connect
As of July 2021, the town has a good 4G signal from EE, but only patchy coverage by O2, Three and Vodafone. 5G has reached nearby Blackburn but not Accrington.

Go next
A few miles north of Accrington, the River Ribble flows west out of scenic dales and hills. The closest area is Pendle Hill, brooding above Clitheroe.

The upland north of the Ribble is The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Further upstream lies the Yorkshire Dales National Park, usually accessed via Skipton, Settle or Ingleton.

Blackpool: get a glimpse of the traditional British seaside holiday. How did it take so long to discover the Med?

Manchester is Northern England's hub city, vibrant with nightlife and architecture, and with many cultural attractions.

title: Accrington


text:
Aceh

Aceh (pronounced "ah-chey", various spellings include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin) is a province and special territory (daerah istimewa) of Indonesia, in the northwestern part of the island of Sumatra. It has a population of 4.2 million.

Its major towns include: Banda Aceh (Aceh's capital), Lhokseumawe, Meulaboh, Sigli, and Calang. The island of Sabang (an hour's ferry ride from Banda Aceh), considered a diver's and snorkeler's paradise, belongs to the province.

Cities

 * – capital city of the province.
 * – industrial city.
 * – southernmost city, a place where roads meet. Capital of Southeast Aceh Regency.
 * – mountainous city by Laut Tawar Lake, famous for its fish.
 * , Weh Island (Pulau Weh) – Blue Lagoon, snorkeling, famous for its fish. The westernmost point of Indonesia and Aceh's favorite beach getaway with some of Indonesia's best diving.

Other destinations

 * — surfing within easy striking distance of Banda Aceh. Nearby Lampuuk, is a beach and mountain area with a variety of accommodation and attractions.
 * — The best place to visit Gunung Leuser National Park in the Aceh province. A small, quiet and charming village. However it is an effort to get there.
 * — The best place to visit Gunung Leuser National Park in the Aceh province. A small, quiet and charming village. However it is an effort to get there.
 * — The best place to visit Gunung Leuser National Park in the Aceh province. A small, quiet and charming village. However it is an effort to get there.

Understand
The province of Aceh is in the northwest of Sumatra, with an area of approximately 57,365 km2, or 12.26% of the size of the island. It includes 119 islands, 73 major rivers and 2 lakes. Aceh is surrounded by the Straits of Malacca in the north, North Sumatra Province in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south and the west. The capital of Aceh is Banda Aceh.

History
Aceh was long known for its desire for political independence from Indonesia. For many years, travel in this part of Indonesia was restricted by the government, due to a long war between the Indonesian Army and an Acehnese separatist guerrilla force known as the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka or GAM in short).

On 26 December 2004, the coastal areas were devastated by a huge earthquake triggering a tsunami, which is estimated to have killed over 160,000 people in Aceh and completely devastated coastal infrastructure (including the capital city of Banda Aceh), and made over 500,000 people homeless. The devastation in the wake of the tsunami led the Indonesian government and the GAM to declare a ceasefire in order to provide aid to the victims, setting the stage for peace talks to take place.

A peace agreement was signed in Helsinki on 15 August 2005 between the Indonesian government and GAM, in which the GAM agreed to give up their struggle for independence in exchange for more autonomy being given to the provincial government in managing its internal affairs, including the right to enact Sharia law. Since then, the Indonesian government, in cooperation with the European Union, has been working with the local militia to disarm the former guerrilla fighters, with great success. After the tsunami, the UN and numerous international aid agencies moved in to reconstruct the area.

Aceh's shariah laws are stricter than in any other part of Southeast Asia, including Brunei, and even stricter than in Dubai, where non-Muslims are allowed to sunbathe in a bikini on the beach. In 2014, some ulemas spray painted the legs of women who wore tight jeans and trousers, because they felt that the sharia police were ineffective. So far no sharia laws have been enforced upon tourists, and non-Muslims are exempted from having to follow sharia laws, but to avoid unpleasantness for both parties, women should be modest in their clothing and behaviour. Conservative dress is expected, and this means no leggings, tight pants, shorts, or any tight or see-through clothing, but headscarves are not required for non-Muslims. One-piece conservative swimsuits, but not bikinis, are acceptable at some hotel swimming pools.

Although Aceh enforces sharia law, some regencies such as Gayo Lues Regency do not fully support this. They are mostly Muslims, but don't want sharia to be implemented too hard. Some other regencies want to separate from Aceh, but the central government has not given any response to their requests. However, visitors should operate on the basis that Aceh is under sharia law, especially in the northern and eastern coastal regencies. On Friday, some vendors totally close or are open until 11:30 and either open again at 14:30 or stay closed until Saturday morning. Fishermen do not go to the sea and people don't swim on the beach on Friday, so if you want to swim on Friday, make sure beforehand that you won't cause offense.

Backpacking into the back country in Aceh is safe from landmines because the GAM used only pipe-bombs. The areas around Banda Aceh and along east coast are relatively ready for tourists, but along the west coast of Aceh, which has more beautiful scenery, there are fewer facilities for tourists. However, backpackers can use their own tents on the beach as they wish.

Flora and fauna
The largest portion of Leuser National Park is in Aceh Province, and provides habitat for many endangered species, including the Sumatran Tiger and forest Rhinoceros.

Watch
The Black Road is a documentary from 2005 told by an American journalist who was in Aceh between 2001–2003, interviewing those on both sides of the Aceh insurgency. During the course of the documentary, it becomes clear that the journalist has begun to support the GAM, and that one of the military's interpreters is a spy for GAM. The documentary is available on YouTube.

Talk
Bahasa Indonesia is spoken but sometimes you will hear Bahasa Aceh (Acehnese), Bahasa Gayo (Gayonese), and other more minor languages.

By plane
The main airport of Aceh is Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport near Banda Aceh. There are international flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport by AirAsia, and from Penang by Firefly. Domestically, there are frequent flights from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, and from Jakarta's Halim Airport by Batik Air. Other domestic destinations include Medan, Bengkulu, and Batam.

There are various smaller airports across the province, such as Malikus Saleh Airport and Cut Nyak Dien Airport, with most of them only having scheduled flights from Medan, operated by Garuda Indonesia and/or Wings Air.

By bus
The road from Medan to Banda Aceh is in reasonable condition. Especially the express night buses from Medan 10 hours, Rp200,000 are a good deal. Non-express day and night buses are cheaper (Rp150,000) and take longer - 12-14 hours.

By boat
The ferry from Penang has stopped running. Instead, take the ferry to Medan and continue from there.

Get around
There is no need for travel permits anymore in Aceh. Taxis, rental cars and motor taxis are available in Banda Aceh.

Sleep
There are many hotels and also other types of accommodation available in Banda Aceh and the surrounding area. There are many cheap guest houses in the popular local beachside areas of Lhoknga and Lampuuk, there are a range of very affordable guest houses which cater mostly to international tourists, particularly surfers and adventurers.

See
Aceh is rich in events, attractions and unique cultures that will fascinate anyone. Aceh is also rich in natural beauty, waves and sea gardens which are suitable for diving. However, some of the most beautiful Aceh tourism and historical sites and beaches were damaged by the massive earthquake and the tsunami in 2004.

Highlights: the Baiturrahman Great Mosque, Aceh State Museum, the Graves of Sultan Iskandar Muda and of Teungku Syiah Kuala, Salahuddin Graveyard in Bitay (Turkey village), Ujong Batee and Lampuuk Beaches, Tjut Nyak Dien Museum, Rubiah Sea Garden, Simpang Balik Hot Water Pool, Linge Isaq Hunting Area, Leuser National Park, Cakra Donya Bell, remains of the Samudra Pasai Kingdom and Teungku Chik Di Tiro Heros Cemetery.

Itineraries
Nature and outdoor lovers who arrive in Medan can travel from Medan to the jungle resort of Bukit Lawang and from there, go to the more remote Tangkahan. From Tangkahan, you can travel to the mysterious Danau Laut Tawar near Takengon were you can hike and climb some spectacular volcanoes. From Takengon you can travel to Banda Aceh. There you can visit some great beaches and go mountain biking and hiking. Banda Aceh is also the place to get a ferry to Sabang or Pulau Weh where you can dive and snorkel.

Do
There is fantastic diving on Pulau Weh (called "Sabang" by the locals, the name of the city on the island). If you're certified, expect to pay €25 for your first dive, €20 for every dive afterward.

Aceh is also great for hiking and mountain biking and bicycling.

Surfing is great at Lhok'nga beach where you can also rent boards and do surfing courses. Also in nearby Lampuuk (3 km NE of Lhok'nga) a variety of beachside and mountain recreational attractions and activities is developing very rapidly. There are many restaurants and fresh seafood stalls. Some of the restaurants provide very affordable accommodation, some with panoramic views of the mountains, beaches and seaside area.

Eat
Arab, Persian, and Indian traders influenced food in Aceh although flavours have changed to a point where they are no longer similar to their original form. Amongst these are curry dishes known as kare or gulai, which are rich, coconut-based dishes traditionally made with beef, goat, fish or poultry, but now also made with tofu, vegetables, and jackfruit. Popular Acehnese food includes roti cane and mie Aceh.

New restaurants and seafood stalls are popping up all the time in the local Lhoknga and Lampuuk seaside areas of Banda Aceh as the local economy develops.

You will have trouble finding food during the daytime during Ramadan, and also 2-3 days immediately before and after the Islamic holy month.

Stay safe
The insurgency may be over, but Aceh remains a somewhat unsettled place, with a rate of violent crime higher than average for Indonesia. In 2009, a German Red Cross worker was shot in broad daylight in Banda Aceh. In 2014 the situation was relatively safe.

Aceh has adopted a strict version of the Shariah law, which prohibits, among other things, drinking, homosexuality, intimate contact outside marriage, gambling, adultery and wearing revealing clothes in public spaces (including public beaches). Since 2016, such laws have been applied both to Muslims and non-Muslims, so make sure you don't violate them. If you do, the punishment for Muslims who drink alcohol or are together with a person of the other sex to whom they are neither a close relative nor married is to be publicly whipped and fined or imprisoned, whereas non-Muslims can choose which of these punishments to suffer, and even playing online games in public can be punishable by getting whipped.

Go next

 * To the south: take a flight from Banda Aceh to Medan, if you are in a rush. You can also use the bus, but there are no special views along the trip. From Medan, you can spend one day in Brastagi or you can spare more time, if you want one day to hike to or climb Sibayak Mountain and one day more to hike to or climb Sinabung Mountain. Neither of these mountains is too difficult to hike, if you are fit, but you need a guide to avoid getting lost. Spare two days in Lake Toba, even if you are not going anywhere around the lake.

title: Aceh


text:
Achao

Achao is the main town on the island of Quinchao, off the main Chiloé Island. It is a small quaint town on the sea.

Understand
Achao is frequented by inhabitants of the smaller islands making up the archipelago, who go to Achao for school or commercial activities.

Lying on level ground, Achao has a shallow sandy beach and is surrounded by hills. Opposite the town are the islands of Llingua and Linlín. The surrounding hills have a number of lookouts, such as the Alto de la Paloma lookout.

The architecture in Achao is known for the wide variety of larch tiling used on the roofs of its houses.

Get in
A bus from Castro goes there.

See
The wooden chapel in the center of town. Especially large for being made of only wood.

Do
In the summer, Achao is host to the Chiloé folklore festival (Encuentro de las Islas del Archipiélago), celebrating traditional culture on the Chiloé archipelago with customs, music and food.[1]

Buy
To the side of the church in the center of town there are vendors of hand woven crafts that sell for very cheap!

Eat
Eat out, it's very cheap.

Sleep
There are a few hostels that are very economical.

Go next
Early in the morning there is a bus that leaves from the bus station to leave.

title: Achao