text:
Orleans County (New York)

Orleans County is in the Niagara Frontier region of New York. This rural county sandwiched between the 'big cities' of Buffalo and Rochester may not have the amenities or marquee attractions of its neighbors, but it makes for a serene and convenient getaway for travelers to Western New York.

With several creeks and streams perfect for fishing, quaint 19th-century villages with well-maintained historical attractions, a long Lake Ontario shoreline, and the famous Erie Canal, often-overlooked Orleans County can be a surprising re-discovery for intrepid travelers.

Villages and hamlets

 * — the county seat and largest village, home to Historic Courthouse Square and Mount Albion
 * — a tiny hamlet with an excellent restaurant and the Cobblestone Museum
 * —
 * —
 * —
 * — a thriving canalside village with a fantastic railroad museum
 * — fishing and boating on Lake Alice and at Point Breeze

Other destinations

 * Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge — also known as the swamp
 * Lakeside Beach State Park — fun in the sun

Understand
Orleans County is largely rural, comprising mainly farmland and light forest (the "Oak Orchards" commemorated in so many place names throughout the area), dotted with a few villages and hamlets. There may not be much to do in any one location, but the county as a whole offers a variety of recreational and historical attractions, all within easy driving distance of each other.

The county owes much of its tourism to the Erie Canal, which runs east-west through several communities, and to Lake Ontario, which lies to the north. Orleans County's many creeks attract fishing enthusiasts from throughout the region.

Albion, the county seat, is located close to the middle of the county, and it makes a great jumping-off point for day trips. Albion and Medina are the largest villages; both have quaint 19th-century canalside downtowns, with light commercial strips farther out. The other villages and hamlets are much smaller but have a number of hidden gems.

History
Unlike other areas of Western New York, there were very few—if any—permanent Native American settlements in this region. Certainly they used the high Ridge (now State Route 104) as a major transportation route, and they hunted and fished here, but the swampy land led to illness for anyone who tried to settle down.

Early European settlers also stayed away until well after other areas like Canandaigua and Batavia were prosperous and thriving. In 1796, the area was included in the Holland Purchase, an enormous swath of land encompassing every part of the state west of the Genesee River. The land office in Batavia sold off parcels throughout the Purchase, which became known as Genesee County. The other counties of Western New York were split off from Genesee in turn, with Orleans being the second-to-last in 1824.

The major impetus for the settlement of the area north of the Oak Orchard Swamp was the construction of the Erie Canal. The westernmost stretch of the canal opened in 1825, and that opened up eastern markets for the products of Orleans County farms. Only a few years later, high-quality sandstone was discovered to exist under the topsoil in the region, and Medina sandstone was soon being quarried and exported throughout the state.

Manufacturing has never been as important here as in neighboring counties, due to the low population and lack of readily available power. Instead, farming remains the county's major industry.

Get in
The vast majority of visitors come to Orleans County by car. Long-distance travelers from the east and west can take the New York State Thruway to exit 48 (Batavia) or 48A (Pembroke), both in Genesee County. From there, you'll join the folks from the Southern Tier heading north and take State Route 98 from Batavia to Albion, or Route 77 to Route 63 from Pembroke to Medina.

From Buffalo, taking the Thruway would work, but you could also take I-990 towards Lockport, then pick up State Route 31 which parallels the Erie Canal. From Rochester, State Route 104 is the most convenient route, although the Lake Ontario State Parkway is quicker and more scenic if your origin or destination is farther north. From Niagara Falls, Routes 104 and 31 are your best bets.

You could also arrive by boat, if you've got one available. If you're coming in via Lake Ontario, there's a small marina in the Oak Orchard State Marine Park at Point Breeze, the mouth of the Oak Orchard River. If you come in via the Erie Canal from the east or west, you can tie up right in the heart of the county's three canalside villages: Medina, Albion, and Holley.

While there are a number of rural airstrips scattered around the county, the only public airport is Pine Hill (FAA: 9G6) southwest of Albion and southeast of Medina. Even there, don't expect much; it's got a half-mile asphalt runway, no scheduled commercial flights, and very few services. You can fly in on a private single-engine plane, but that's about it. Genesee County Airport (FAA: GVQ) to the south is bigger and can accommodate small jets, but still has no commercial service. For commercial air service, you'll have to fly into Rochester, Buffalo , or maybe Niagara Falls , then rent a car and drive in.

There's no passenger train service to Orleans County. The nearest terminals are in Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls.

Get around

As noted above, you'll probably want a car to get around the county. If you need to rent one, there's an Enterprise branch in Albion, but you're probably better off renting at the airport or train station where you came in.

RTS Orleans, a subsidiary of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, does offer weekday bus transportation around and between the villages of Medina and Albion ($1 within a village; $2 between; halved for seniors and children 6-12; kids under 6 free with adult), but if you're going any farther afield, or interested in traveling at night or on weekends, you'll need a car.

Fortunately for drivers, the county is criss-crossed by an array of well-maintained state routes. Routes 18, 104, 31, and 31A travel east–west, while routes 63, 98, and 237 are the main north–south routes. 104 is the primary highway, with only a few speed zones to slow you down, while 18 is a scenic lakeside route. 31 parallels the canal through Medina, Albion, and Holley, while 31A bypasses those villages to the south.

Off the state routes, roads are usually paved, but they're often narrow and sometimes completely devoid of markings—even on what are nominally "major" connecting roads. Nonetheless, traffic is light enough that you shouldn't have any problems. Deer will probably pose a greater hazard to you than other motorists.

The major creeks of the county are not well-suited for boat navigation, though the stretch of Oak Orchard River immediately upstream of the dam—an area known locally as Lake Alice—is fairly placid. The canal, on the other hand, is eminently navigable, with only a few lift bridges and no locks to delay your voyage.

Eat
Orleans County boasts what is almost inarguably the best Mexican food in Western New York (yes, even better than what you'll find in Buffalo and Rochester!), thanks to the community of immigrant farmhands that has coalesced in the region. Medina and Albion each have a combination grocery store and taquería that do brisk business selling to local Mexicans even as they remain well off the radar screens of big-city foodies, which means that what's served there is the real deal, not bastardized for the American palate.

Sleep
Albion has a small but serviceable motor lodge, and Medina a vintage 19th-century hotel restored to boutique status in the 2010s. There are also a handful of bed-and-breakfasts around, but information about them can be hard to find. And of course you can always rent a campsite at Lakeside Beach State Park. If, though, you'd prefer to stay at a chain hotel or motel, the closest options will be in Lockport, Batavia, and Brockport.

Connect
The county is entirely within Rochester's 585 area code, which was split off from Buffalo's 716 years ago. There are full-service post offices in Medina, Albion, and Holley, with smaller offices in Lyndonville and Kendall. The hamlets of Kent and Waterport have tiny post offices located in converted houses. Welcome to rural New York!

Cope
The daily newspaper of record is the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, but coverage of these rural towns from the big city is limited and often perfunctory. For more comprehensive coverage, the Batavia Daily News is delivered six days a week to Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans Counties. The Lake Country Pennysaver and Albion Advertiser are free weekly publication focusing on ads and coupons, but with some public notices and brief news items.

The online-only publication OrleansHub.com launched in April 2013, intending to provide free daily news for the entire county.

For broadcast media, both Rochester and Buffalo stations are accessible from most points in the county, giving Orleans County residents the "best of both worlds", so to speak.

Go next
Travelers looking to expand their horizons beyond Orleans County have a number of options:

 * Rochester – a mid-sized city to the east with a small-town charm; serves as the gateway to the scenic Finger Lakes wine country
 * Niagara County – Orleans County's western neighbor, most famous for Niagara Falls, while Lockport showcases the canal in a way few other communities can
 * Genesee County – Orleans County's southern neighbor, boasts the small city of Batavia, the Darien Lake amusement park, and a whole lot of farmland
 * Buffalo – a mid-sized city to the southwest, slightly bigger than Rochester, with plenty of cultural attractions and the Bills and Sabres major-league sports teams

title: Orleans County (New York)


text:
Orlik

Orlik (Russian: О́рлик OHR-leek) is a small town in Buryatia.

Understand
Orlik is the small capital of Okinsky region, a remote mountainous area west of Ulan Ude that is famous for its pristine landscape, traditional Buddhist temples and hot springs. The town has a population of around 1,000, and makes the most convenient base for exploring the greater region.

Almost half of the territory of the district is occupied by forests. Most of the territory is covered with mountains, so the area is often called Gornaya Oka. Academician S. V. Obruchev gave another definition to the Okinsky region: “Tibet in miniature”.

Climate
Orlik has long and severe winters, windless and little snow. Summers are short and warm.

Get in
Orlik is the terminus of the A164 Kultuk-Mondy-Orlik highway.

The nearest railway station is Slyudyanka (Irkutsk region).

The nearest airport is Irkutsk.

The distance from Orlik to Ulan-Ude is 714 km, to Irkutsk 460 km, to Slyudyanka 370 km.

Every day at 08:00 a fixed-route taxi departs from the terminal square of Ulan-Ude station. A regular bus departs from here on Saturdays.

Buses to Orlik leave from Slyudyanka from the central square at 09:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

You can also get from Slyudyanka by the transport of the information and tourist center "Gornaya Oka". You must arrange with them in advance. Contact Orlik, ul. Soviet, 32. Tel. +7 30150 51-320, admoka@rex.burnet.ru

Get around
People move around the neighborhood on horses, light off-road vehicles and heavy vehicles because mountain roads are not adapted to the use of other ground vehicles.

Transportation must be negotiated with the local population or the Gornaya Oka company.

In summer, there is a fairly active flow of tourists in the Okinsky district, so you can easily leave with a group, paying only for yourself, and not for the whole car.

See
The most popular tourist sites are the Shumak natural park, the Munku-Sardyk peak, the Khoyto-Gol springs, the valley of volcanoes, the wild resort of Zhoigan, and the Topographers peak. Here you will see glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs.

The Akhin Ekhin area is the source of the Oka River and the stream flowing into the Irkut River, a place of worship for the Soyots Gargan locality: private Soyot farm with traditional mountain farming (yak breeding, horse breeding) Dabat Falls - a cascading waterfall on the Dabata River. The total height of the waterfall is 1200 m, the maximum height of the free fall of water is 84 m.
 * Munku-Sardyk: the highest point of the Eastern Sayan Mountains (3491 m)
 * Nuhu-Daban is a limestone char with a through hole, a well-known sanctuary on an old pack trail to the Okinsky District. In the epic "Geser" there is a legend that this hole was formed from Geser's arrow, which he shot at his enemy.
 * Tymelik gorge: Soyot Suburgan, waterfall, "Crying Mammoth" mountain
 * Ulus Sorok: a place of compact residence of the Soyts, a local history museum, a tourist information center, a souvenir shop.
 * School Museum of Local Lore in Orlik
 * Okinsky Datsan: the highest Buddhist temple in Russia, there is a cave for meditation nearby
 * Sentsyn Tal Village: stele Khongodors, energy stone burial Hun, 20-meter high stone Hunnish arrow.
 * Sailag (Small Zhombolok) - 28-meter-high waterfall in the valley of the Oka river
 * The Geser Temple is a wooden structure in the form of a gazebo with a hearth in the middle, built in the national style in memory of the exploits of Geser. Nearby there is a mountain called "Geser's Saddle".
 * The village of Shara-Tala: Buryat yurt, national cuisine, old-timer Lopson Galsanov
 * Topografov Peak is the largest glacier center in the Eastern Sayan Mountains (8 glaciers), the main peak (3044 m) of the Charm-Taiga massif
 * Mount Ulan-Shulun (Red Stone). Here, according to legend, the battle of the hero of the Buryat legends Geser took place.

Do

 * Wild resort Zhoigan is located on the territory of Tyva, but more accessible from the Buryat side. More than 30 mineral springs and hot springs treat many diseases. The temperature of the springs ranges from + 18 °С to + 40 °С. The sources are hydrocarbonate, and carbonic.
 * Shumak: a natural park, valley of a hundred springs, open-air craft museum, waterfall
 * Khoyto-Gol: hot springs (three baths, one pool), Arshansky pass (2300 m), alpine meadows, a valley of volcanoes (Peretolchina (2044 m), Kropotkin (2074 m) and Stary (with three craters) volcanoes, lava field)

Buy
The village has several shops, a post office, a hospital, a canteen, a bakery, and a pharmacy.

Eat
The traditional food of the locals is meat and dairy dishes. The meat is especially tasty here, because the cattle graze in natural high-altitude conditions. Reindeer and yaks are bred here. If you're lucky, you can taste these delicacies too.

In the Okinsky region, wild berries grow in abundance - strawberries, honeysuckle, blueberries, blueberries, forest currants. Therefore, you can please yourself with fruit drinks and jams.

In mountain rivers, grayling is found, which tastes in no way inferior to river trout.

All vegetables and fruits here are imported - the harsh northern conditions do not allow growing "green" in the beds.

You can have a tasty and inexpensive meal in the "Heshegtey Buuza" cafe in the village of Orlik, st. School 7 Tel: 8 (30150) 51-5-33.

Sleep
Guest house "Oka" Okinsky district, Orlik village, Molodezhnaya street 32-2, 89834220002, 89833375748, 8 (30150) 51-3-63

Guest house "U Davydova" 671030, Orlik, Shkolnaya 4 n.t. + 79140565039, +79148350678, +79149811428

Guest house in Okinsky district 8-30150-51-336

Hotel "Sayany" Okinsky district, p. Orlik, st. Soviet, 34 8-30150-51-460

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

title: Orlik


text:
Orlovskoye Polesye National Park

Orlovskoye Polesye is a national park 85 km to the northwest from Oryol, Oryol Oblast of Russia.

History
Orlovskoye Polesye National Park was founded in 1994 to preserve plants and animals of a unique southern Russian taiga.

Landscape
The area of the park covers about 360 km2 of forest and steppes, many streams cross the forests and there are few dozen lakes, many of them are located at the old peateries and amidst peat bogs.

Flora and fauna

 * Flora Deciduous and coniferous woods alternate with forest-steppes. There are pines, common spruce, oaks, birches, linden, aspen, maples, ash trees and black alder.
 * Fauna Typical taiga birds (wood grouse, hazel grouse, black woodpecker) are neighbouring steppe birds & animals like steppe polecats, partridges, steppe marmots and quails. Red deer, elks, lynxes, roes, wild boars, wisents populate the deep forests. Beavers, otters, minks, Russian muskrats and musquashes live on the river banks. Wisents have been brought to the park since 1996, now they are 170 head; endemic Russian muskrats are under preservation programme.

Get in
By car: From Oryol drive along Naugorskoye Chaussee to Znamenskoye (ca. 40 km to the NW from Oryol), few kilometres before Znamenskoye turn left following the sign to the Orlovskoye Polesye National Park, and then always follow the same signs. You will pass Lgov and then enter the cone forest - which is actually the national park. Total distance is about 75 km. The road is 2 lanes in good condition, winding between the buckwheat fields. Another road through Khotynets is longer, about 110 km.

By bus: Take a bus to Khotynets from Oryol bus station (3 times a day), and then in Khotynets take a bus to Zhudre (3 times a day). Check the timetables before the trip!

By train: take a train to Bryansk from Oryol railway station (4 times a day), step off at Khotynets and take a bus to Zhudre (3 times a day). Check the timetables before the trip!

Fees and permits
No entrance fee or permit is required.

Get around
Distances are quite long, it is better to drive a car or rent a bike at the hotel. Beware of hedgehogs crossing the road right in front of your wheels!

See

 * Sacred Spring and the Orthodox Chapel nearby. The spring comes out of white 'boiling' sands; you may take a cold bath few metres below. The water is believed to be sacred and curing.
 * The Zoo complex at the open air
 * Ostrich Farm, if you have never seen an ostrich
 * Holy Trinity Church in Lgov. The church was built in 1765.
 * Lakes are very calm and picturesque! The water is often transparent black colour, because some lakes are located at the old peateries.

Do

 * Forests are full of blueberry and strawberry in July, you may want to try it, or collect mushrooms, or nuts
 * Rent a boat and have a short trip on the Central Lake - very quiet and pacifying
 * Take a horse ride
 * You may want to have a swim at Staroye Lake on the way to the Sacred Spring.
 * There are assigned places for picnics, so why not have the one ?
 * There is ecologic trekking organized by your hotel
 * Go and see how they feed local wisents
 * Go fishing

Buy
There is a shop in the Zhudre settlement selling basic food and other things for the household. Some postcards and souvenirs are available at the kiosks near the entrance to the Zoo.

Eat & drink
There are no options except the restaurants at the both hotels in the park. You may also want to have a picnic at a designated area.

Sleep
There are two small hotels located in the park, camping is also allowed:
 * Located in the forest in 3 km from the Central Lake. Russian billiards, sauna, bike, ski rental, horse riding, daily tours and eco trekking.
 * Hotel & Restaurant located on the bank of the Central Lake and surrounded by deep forests. Boat & bike rental.

title: Orlovskoye Polesye National Park


text:
Ormoc

Ormoc is a city on the west side of Leyte Island, in Leyte Province.

Get in
Many people bound for Leyte Province fly to Tacloban, but one can also fly to Ormoc and most people coming by ferry land in Ormoc.

By boat

 * There are fast Hydrofoil ferries to/from Cebu in (2½ hours).
 * Oceanjet
 * 2GO SuperCat
 * Or there are large slower RoRo ferries. to/from Cebu in (4½ hours up too 6 hours)
 * Lite Shipping lines Departs Ormoc Daily at 10PM. and Departs Cebu City at 11AM. Fares from P600 (updated Jul 2023). There is also a Lite shipping lines ferry from Ormoc to Ouano Port in Mandaue Cebu Departs Ormoc Daily at 8AM. It departs Ouano port Mandaue to Ormoc at 11PM. Fare from P300.
 * Roble Shipping lines departs Cebu City at 10PM. It departs Ormoc at 11AM. Fare is from P430

By bus

 * There are buses and minivans going from Ormoc to Tacloban, Naval, Baybay, Maasin.
 * Philtranco Bus lines has two buses a day from Manila via Tacloban and Legazpi City.

Get around
Jeepneys and tricycles can be found at the City Jeepney Terminal next to the main bus terminal near the port.

See

 * Tongonan Hotsprings National Park is located at an elevation of 2,000 ft. amid densely forested hills. It is a 272-hectare park at the west end of the Leyte Mountain Trail, 18 km. northeast of Ormoc City. It also has a cool climate, lush tropical vegetation and underbrush, a warm medicinal pool, a cavernous hillside geyser that spouts boiling water and steam hourly and formations exuding sulfuric vapors. It is a valley of geothermal power source that can supply electricity to the whole region. The first geothermal plant to operate in the Philippines.
 * Pineapple Plantation lies in 210 hectares in rolling terrain located north of the city Barangay Hibunawon. Ormoc's Queen Pineapple is famous for its sweetness, a favourite pasalubong, and the unofficial icon of the city. The plantation is owned by the Locsins (family of the city vice mayor). Ormoc is known for its famous “Queen Pineapple."
 * Centennial Park The Veteran's Park was constructed in early 1990s in honor of the Filipino soldiers who fought for the liberation of Leyte and the Philippines. The Centennial Marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the 100th year of Philippine independence. The park is a leisure and picnic ground.
 * Lake Kasudsuran is just one of the three beautiful lakes of Ormoc. It is located at Barangay Gaas, Ormoc City in Leyte. The 5-hectare Lake Kasudsuran is 27 km (a 4- to 5-hr drive) northeast of Ormoc City on the virgin forest of Barangay Ga-as and Mt. Janagdan, a plateau 1,000 m above sea level. The lake is only accessible by foot. Lake Kasudsuran is also a place to explore in Ormoc City.
 * Alto Peak is known as the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas (Region VIII). The domain is also a home to farming communities that has vegetable plantations, etc. It is also known as Mt. Amindueuen and is part of the Municipality of Jaro, Leyte, but Barangay Cabintan, Ormoc City, is the base for exploring the mountain.
 * Sayahan Falls at Sitio Maglahug, Barangay Gaas, Ormoc City. The Sayahan Falls started gaining attention when a local tourist uploaded pictures of it in social media and was widely shared.
 * Puente dela Reina is known as the oldest bridge in the city. Its cobblestones still intact, relic of an age long gone. It was built in the early 1800s but was completed in 1861. In Spanish era, the bridge was used as docking area for sailboats, vintas of Chinese, Javans and Indonesians who frequented the island to sell their produce. The bridge is still in use to this day.
 * Western Leyte Guerrilla Warfare Forces Monument The Monument commemorates the Filipino resistance fighters who fought in the guerilla war against the Japanese occupiers in the Second World War.
 * Ruins of Cong. Dominador Tan Residence The Tan Mansion Ruins was built during the 1930s. In World War II, the mansion became a Japanese garrison in Leyte. It was destroyed during the bombing of Ormoc before liberation day, known as the “Battle of Ormoc Bay.”The Tan Mansion Ruins is like a memorial to the Japanese that visits the place. Treated like a shrine as it has a significant part of history of both countries—Japan and Philippines. It serves as a monument representing not only Dominador's young love but also as witness to Ormoc's history.
 * Ruins of Cong. Dominador Tan Residence The Tan Mansion Ruins was built during the 1930s. In World War II, the mansion became a Japanese garrison in Leyte. It was destroyed during the bombing of Ormoc before liberation day, known as the “Battle of Ormoc Bay.”The Tan Mansion Ruins is like a memorial to the Japanese that visits the place. Treated like a shrine as it has a significant part of history of both countries—Japan and Philippines. It serves as a monument representing not only Dominador's young love but also as witness to Ormoc's history.

Buy

Go next

 * Cebu City

title: Ormoc


text:
Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach is a city in Volusia County, East Central Florida. Ormond Beach is adjacent to the north of Daytona Beach.

Understand

Ormond Beach is located at the north end of the Daytona Beach area. Ormond Beach was once home to oil industry multi-millionaire, John D. Rockefeller and railroad magnate, Henry Flagler, as well as the early automotive pioneers who tested their inventions on the hard-packed beach.

Today, Ormond Beach is known as the "Birthplace of Speed" and celebrates its racing heritage with annual events that reenact the early days of racing on the beach. Visitors to the area can enjoy a tour through the Casements, the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller, canoeing, fishing and viewing a vast array of wildlife at the Tomoka State Park. The area also boasts several beachfront and riverfront parks. Visitors seeking a quieter part of the beach can find it in the Ormond Beach area. In fact, beach driving is not allowed at the northern end of Ormond Beach.

Climate
Ormond Beach offers a humid, subtropical climate that is typical throughout Florida. Winters are dry and mild, marked by a constant series of cold fronts and warm-ups. Temperatures dip into the low 40s and upper 30s on occasion, although freezes are rare. Snowfall is very rare.

Temperatures in spring are famously pleasant with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and far less humidity. The summers are long, hot and humid, with temperatures frequently in the upper 90's in July. Thunderstorms are frequent in summer afternoons. Dangers include hurricanes from June 1 until November 30, although the area has not been threatened since the storms of 2004.

By plane
Although Ormond Beach has a Municipal Airport, it primarily serves privately owned aircraft. Commercial flights to this area are provided by Daytona Beach International Airport, Orlando International Airport, or Jacksonville International Airport.

By train
Amtrak offers the Amtrak Auto Train service with its southern Terminus located in Sanford (Florida), about 35 miles west of Ormond Beach. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into Ormond Beach after departing from the Auto Train.

Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being near the city of DeLand. This stop is rather remote and is not recommended as an option.

By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines offers bus service to nearby Daytona Beach. Upon arrival at the Daytona Beach Greyhound station, you will need to either transfer to a local Volusia County bus or take a taxicab to complete your trip to Ormond Beach.

By car
Ormond Beach is easily accessible by car. Both I-95 and U.S. Highway 1 pass through Ormond Beach. A1A is a scenic North/South route along the beach.

By car
Getting around by car is very easy and convenient in Ormond Beach. The major roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all the major areas signposted, but traffic jams around major intersections are common in the afternoons, and around the tourist areas on Saturday nights.

The main tourism area is Atlantic Avenue (North and South), a strip of road that runs parallel to the beach.

By Bus

 * VOTRANis the name of the local Volusia County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. A one-day Votran bus pass costs $3.
 * A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to Labor Day (September) along Atlantic Avenue on the beachside. They are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.

Budget

 * Genovese's Italian Cafe, 183 East Granada Blvd., (386) 677-3222. Serving pizza, pasta, salads, calzones and strombolis. Beer and wine. Open everyday. Lunch and dinner.
 * Charlie Horse Restaurant, 810 South Atlantic Ave., (386) 672-4347. Seafood is the specialty of the house. Famous for all-you-can-eat king crab legs.   Wide variety of salads and sandwiches.  Serving Beer and wine.  Open everyday. Lunch and Dinner.
 * Dustin's Bar-B-Que, 1320 West Granada Blvd., (386) 677-5292. Wide variety of pork, beef and chicken Bar-B-Que. Beer and wine. Lunch and dinner. Open everyday.
 * Alfie's Restaurant , 1666 Oceanshore Blvd., (386) 441-7024. Seafood, burgers, salads and sandwiches.  Full liquor bar.  Open everyday.  Lunch and dinner.
 * Hull's Seafood Kitchen and Market, 111 West Granada Blvd., (386) 673-8888. Casual seafood eatery and retail seafood store with extensive selection of shellfish and fresh locally caught fish and crabs.  Beer and wine.  Lunch and dinner.  Open everyday.

Stay safe
Florida has a high occurrence of hurricanes. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the central part of the state. Ormond Beach is known for a high number of shark attacks, so be careful when surfing. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornadoes in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page.

Ormond Beach has varying crime intensity by neighborhood. In certain parts of the city it may not be safe to walk alone or even in small groups at night. Tourist areas rarely have violent crimes, but theft is an occasional occurrence. The 911 number for fire and police emergencies is in effect in Ormond Beach.

Connect

 * Seven digit dialing is in effect for local calls in Ormond Beach. The local area code is (386).

Internet
It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.

Public Libraries
Public libraries in the area offer free computer internet access to Volusia County residents. There is a small charge for non-residents.

Go next

 * Daytona Beach
 * Flagler Beach
 * Ocala National Forest

title: Ormond Beach


text:
Orodara

Orodara, in the Black Volta Region of Burkina Faso, is capital to the Siamou ethnic group – but other ethnic groups that live in the area include the Tousian, and the more distant Sambla (further along the road to Bobo) the Turka and Samogo, and the Senoufo.

Understand
The region is rolling/hilly, and there are a few barrages (reservoirs). One barrage is in Dieri as you head towards Mali border, but it's small. There is a giant lake 7 km behind Mussodougou worth a camping trip to see, fish in, possibly swim in. The road to get to the lake is a dirt track.

The languages spoken most frequently in Orodara are French, Jula, Siamou, Senoufo, and Tousian. Orodara has lots of fruits and vegetables in most all seasons (due to old fruit tree projects, and the general availability of year round river water in the area). There is a large bakery to the west of the marketplace that sells baguettes.

Get in
If you want to get in and out of Orodara, there are various "taxis brousse" (privately operated mini-vans) options coming from Mali like Yi Houchee and Sogebaf – avoid them if you can, and get on the bus company buses: TCV or Rakieta. Either TCV or Rakieta will get you to Bobo Dioulasso in about one hour from Orodara.

During holiday seasons it is wise to book ahead, or go directly into Orodara to get your ticket – as they don’t have room always to stop for passengers who wait on the side of the road. Also note that the market day in Orodara is always Saturday – so if you are coming from Bobo Dioulasso on Saturday morning or leaving Orodara on Saturday evening you will run into difficulty getting on the bus.

The TCV and Rakieta buses run on schedules. Please see their ticket windows for time lists. The price is approximately 1000 CFA for a ride from Orodara to Bobo Dioulasso. Extra money will be paid for having the bus transport a bicycle, motorcycle, or large packages.

Get around
The best way to get around Orodara is on foot, on bicycle, or motorcycle. There are a number of neighborhoods that surround the main street (National Route 8) that runs through the town center. Most all neighborhoods have small stores that will sell some dry goods like spaghetti, matches, hard candies, and other various items. The homes in these neighborhoods are almost all exclusively made of mud brick.

Do

 * There is a cinema, but it works infrequently.
 * There are places to dance during the evening.
 * If you are not familiar with the area, it's always a good idea to see if you can find a local guide. Orodara is not set up in general for tourists.
 * Visit the reservoirs (barrages) in Mussodougu and Dieri.
 * For the adventurous types with dirt bikes, riding the unnamed road towards Banfora is scenic and a work out (at nearly 60 km or 40 miles).

Buy

 * If you like mangoes — you will be in luck in mango season which typically runs from May to July. There are many varieties.
 * The market is always open (you can’t miss it off the main road — RN8 – on the right hand side if you are coming in from Bobo Dioulasso). You can get most anything in the shops in the market. Saturday is market day – and all sorts of other goods like used clothes and Chinese faux brand sneakers, radios, the works come in barrels.
 * Mini-markets (boutiques)
 * Paper stores (note the French word "librarie") for paper and small office supplies – just wander on the outskirts of the market and ask locals.

Eat

 * West Africa's answer to fast food are the women who sit in the market, or at stations along the road and sell plate fulls of achekeh (grated, fermented, steamed manioc — that has the taste of sourdough bread — but looks like couscous), fried fish, rice and peanut sauces, rice and fish sauces, spaghetti and other foodstuffs. The food is delicious.  Also for sale in season are fried sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, and taro root with a tomato based sauce, or oil sauce.
 * There are also usually "coffee bars" or small wooden stalls where coffee (Nescafe brand) is sold with sugar, or sweetened condensed milk. You can usually order an omelette or egg also.
 * Plastic bags of yogurt and juices (bissap, ginger based juice, tamarind based juice) are sold through out the market and in the coffee bar stalls.
 * If you like pork — right next to the District Sanitaire (Medical district office — not the hospital) there is a bar and a pork roasting oven that swells packets of cooked meat.
 * For those who don't like eating from food stalls, Orodara doesn't offer much. Check out the one large hotel in the area for food options that cater to more western styles.
 * Restaurants: there is one that is favored by locals right in front of the cinema. They always have a pig roasting in that bar as well.
 * A nice place to get fresh bread is the bakery (just on the other side of the Cinema on the same RN8 road). If you time it right – you get a hot baguette.

Drink
Ubiquitous "buvettes" or places to sit and have a soda or beer are all along the market and RN8.

Sleep
Hotel Prestige is pricy, but is on the north eastern end of town. It serves more western style food. There are several hotels across from the market that are more reasonable — and will offer a room with a mosquito net, squat toilets, and a sink.

Post office
Right next to the mosque on the road to Tin/Diguera. Hours of operation 7:30AM-noon, and 3PM–5PM. Christian and Gaston are the post office attendants who work there – along with an adorable post office cat. They are helpful and friendly, as is the post office guard. You can get money out of this post as well if you have a bank account through the Burkina Faso Postal system. Expect letters to take about 2 weeks to reach the East Coast of the USA, maybe a little longer for the West Coast of the USA.

Internet
There are two options for internet access in town, both of which are somewhat unreliable, with slow connections. Hotel Prestige has a cyber cafe open most days, and there is another run by the NGO SOS Enfants, located at the eastern end of town. Both cost 500 CFA per hour.

title: Orodara


text:
Orono

There is more than one place called Orono:

Canada

 * Orono (Ontario) - A town in Ontario.

United States of America

 * Orono (Maine) - A town in Maine.
 * Orono (Minnesota) - A town in Minnesota.

title: Orono


text:
Orono (Maine)

Orono is a city in Maine. It is home to the University of Maine.

By plane
Bangor International Airport is served by passenger airlines: Allegiant Air, American, Delta Connection, and United.

title: Orono (Maine)


text:
Orontes Valley

The Orontes Valley is a region in west-central Syria.

Cities

 * — waterwheels
 * — an ancient city by the Orontes River, amazing green mountains in spring
 * — known for its large castle, headquarters of the medieval Order of Assassins
 * — known for its large castle, headquarters of the medieval Order of Assassins
 * — known for its large castle, headquarters of the medieval Order of Assassins

Other destinations

 * — a former Roman city which once housed about half a million people. Apamea was hit by an earthquake in the 12th century and much of it was destroyed but it still boasts a long street lined with columns, some of which have twisted fluting.
 * - the site of the Battle of Kadesh between the Hittites and Egyptians in the 13th century BC. It was destroyed by the invading Sea Peoples in around 1178 BC. However, Hellenistic remains have been found in the upper levels of the tell (ruin-mound), and the summit is still occupied today.
 * - ruins of an ancient city that contained one of the largest royal palaces of Bronze Age Syria.
 * - Ruins of a palace, church and barracks erected in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I

title: Orontes Valley


text:
Oroville

There is more than one place called Oroville:

United States of America

 * Oroville (California) - A town in Butte County, California.
 * Oroville (Washington) - A town in the North Cascades region of Washington.

title: Oroville


text:
Oroville (California)

Oroville is a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. With a population in the greater urban area of 40,000, it is the seat of Butte County. A relaxed place, it boasts a massive dam that has created the man made Lake Oroville. There are excellent outdoor activities including boating, hiking, biking, and fishing.

Understand
For a California town located no small distance from the state's major population centers, Oroville has a rather extensive history. It was the first major town in the area and grew enormously in the mid-19th century due to the Gold Rush. Unfortunately the timeless wisdom that holds "what comes easy won't last and what lasts won't come easy" certainly held true in Oroville, as it has the lengthy ignominy of being the seat of one of California's poorest counties (Butte). Constantly overshadowed by neighboring Chico with its vibrant California State University campus, Oroville has spent most of its post-Gold Rush existence quietly serving administrative purposes with some unfortunate race tensions in the middle of the 20th century.

Since the construction of the massive dam which in turn created Lake Oroville, outdoor tourism has become one of the main draws of the town and more people have moved there as it becomes a "bedroom community" of towns such as Chico and even Sacramento. Visitors to Oroville will more than likely be spending their time hiking or on the lake as the town proper, while having a nice, old historical area, isn't heavy on cultural attractions.

By bus
There are three main bus methods to get to Oroville:
 * Amtrak - While better known for their trains, Amtrak does run a connecting bus service from their Sacramento hub. In Sacramento you can transfer to trains that will take you nearly anywhere in the country.  The number of buses varies a great deal based upon the season and it's best to consult their website to make plans specific to when you want to travel.  The stop is not near the center of town though as it is just off the main highway at a gas station, so visitors would need to plan an additional ride accordingly.  If the timing works, the hourly B-Line 24 Route can connect visitors to the rest of town.
 * Casino Buses - With the opening of two large Indian gambling casinos in the town several years ago, bus routes were created to link up gamblers in the San Francisco Bay Area with these casinos. The schedules are not ideal, but the cost of the ride is considerably cheaper than any other option given it is offset by the fact that they believe those riding it will be gambling upon arrival.  To use this, inquire directly with the Gold Country or Feather Falls Casinos.
 * Greyhound - The stalwart American bus service. There are at least two regular bus connections with Oroville a day that are exceedingly slow, although they stop closer to the main part of town.  The hourly B-Line 25 Route is available to connect people to other areas of town.

By car
You will most likely need a car once arriving in Oroville, so it is better to arrive with your own first. Oroville straddles Highway 70 and has four exits off this main thoroughfare.

By train
During Gold Rush times, there were several trains a day down to Sacramento and San Francisco. Today, there is no direct service. The Amtrak Coast Starlight stops in neighboring Chico, but has quite horrible arrival times and frequency to get to Oroville, not mention being a half-hour drive from town.

Get around
The public transportation in Oroville is not amazing, but strides have been made to have a more reliable system. The B-Line covers not only the core of the town, but also has hourly connections to neighboring towns.

Bicycling can be a wonderful way to see the area, especially in the Fall or Spring when the temperatures are more moderate and the natural scenery pleasing.

Taxis are scarce and not to be seen running around. You actually have to call a taxi to come to your specific location if you want one and they are not cheap.

While the immediate downtown area is a pleasant walk, to go anywhere else will require your own car. If you don't have one upon arrival, there are several rental offices in town such as Enterprise and Hertz.

Buy
There are no items specific to Oroville that warrant special attention of purchase. Here are a few places where more basic items can be found.

Drink
Oroville is not lacking in drinking options, which is probably a tribute to its bawdy Gold Rush past. The issue is more that the vast majority of bars fall under the "dive" classification.

There are also several small wineries of varying levels of quality in the foothill area of Oroville. While not an area known for wines, the hot summers make growing wines quite possible, although winemakers in the area are overall still learning how to work the terroir and which varietals grow best.

Stay safe
Oroville is an overall safe town. Because most people drive, there are few if any petty crimes such as pickpocketing or mugging. There is an underbelly of methamphetamine producers and users in the town, which tend to be focused in the area known at "South Side", roughly bounded by Lincoln, Wyandotte, and Ithaca. Although this is an over-simplified definition, there is little reason for a visitor to go to this area, so it should be a non-issue.

The area just east of Hwy 70 and between Oro Dam Blvd and Ophir road has been heavily contaminated by the chemical waste leftover from wood processing back when Oroville was a more prominent lumber town. It's advisable to not spend any time in this area, although again, it offers next to nothing as far as attractions unless a trip is needed to the local garbage dump for some reason.

While the area is low in humidity, the summers get incredibly hot, usually staying at a minimum of 37 °C/95 °F from June through August and sometimes peaking to 48 °C/120 °F. This makes for great fun at the lake or on the river, but when not on the water, make sure to stay very hydrated and wear sunscreen.

On the other end of the seasons, the winters are quite cold. While snow is extremely rare, it will often get below freezing which creates the hazard of "black ice" when driving. Also to note is the period in late January or February when a longterm fog settles in for a week or two that is quite cold, but more importantly makes for very hazardous driving due to decreased visibility. Make sure to take care and reduce speed as during this time there are often large pileups on the freeways of multiple cars.

Go next

 * Chico - Twenty minutes west of Oroville, Chico is the main town of the area with good shopping and a state college.
 * Gold Country - Where the formation of California really took place.
 * Mount Lassen - Excellent outdoor hiking and breathtaking scenery in the volcanic park about a 45-minute drive from Oroville.
 * Sacramento - About an hour south of Oroville and the capital of California.

title: Oroville (California)


text:
Oroville (Washington)

Oroville (pop 1,686) is a tiny city in the North Cascades region of Washington State.

Understand
Established at the west end of the Okanogan Highlands as “Oro” in 1892 and renamed “Oroville” in 1909, this small community owes its name to its gold mining, panning and dredging history. The historic towns of Nighthawk, Molson, and Chesaw are nearby. Some gold is still extracted along the Similkameen River, which flows into Okanogan river; the nearby Buckhorn Mountain gold mine produces 123 thousands ounces of gold annually.

The local economy relies primarily on agriculture (apples, cherries, grapes and other fruit) sustained through irrigation. Farmers' markets, fruit stands, a brewery and three local wineries offer local home-grown products. The surrounding countryside of hills, mountains, rivers, lakes and forests hosts various fruit orchards, public lands and trails. Oroville is an amazing place to take your kids to swim in Lake Osoyoos.

Get in
US Highway 97 runs through the center of town, crossing the Canadian border as BC 97.

Get around
While the city is small enough to walk around in, the only sidewalks are in the downtown area. A car allows one to reach resort cottages spread out across Lake Osoyoos.

Do

 * }

Buy
Most stores in Oroville, other than Princes, close at 5PM. There are numerous antique stores and gas stations.

Eat
Most restaurants in Oroville close by 9PM and are shut down for portions of the winter.

Stay Safe
Some issues with vandalism and illicit drug use may be cause to keep an eye on your possessions.

Molson
Molson (pop. 19) was established during an 1896 gold rush; George Meacham established a town in 1898 but never registered the land. The small boom town, which had about 300 people at its peak, was named for early investor John. W. Molson – a member of a Montréal family which had built one of the largest breweries in Canada.

In 1909, a local man claimed the land under the tiny community for himself, causing many buildings (including a 1900-era post office and a bank) to be relocated to a new, rival town site a half-mile away.

A theatre and hotel had been built when the Great Northern Railroad came to town in 1905-06; this international railway (Spokane WA to Princeton BC) served Molson until 1935. The principal mining and farming businesses began to die in the 1920s. The post office closed permanently in 1967.

The customs house and border crossing were abandoned in 1941; the southernmost half-kilometre of Old Molson Road in Canada (which used to reach the border from nearby Bridesville BC) no longer exists, leaving Old Railroad Road in Molson WA a dead-end at the 49th parallel. The former Customs and Immigration station now stands as part of the Molson Museums; access to the ghost town is only available from the US side. Only a handful of farmers and ranchers remain in the area.

title: Oroville (Washington)


text:
Orrville

Orrville is a city in Wayne County in Northeast Ohio. Orrville is the corporate headquarters for The J.M. Smucker Company and its fruit spread producing facility, which Smucker's claims is the largest in the world.

Understand
The population was 8400 in 2019, and the city has an area of 5.3 mi2.

Orrville was laid out in 1852, and named after Judge Smith Orr, proprietor. A post office called Orrville has been in operation since 1852

By car

 * State Route 57 - runs north to south. To north it connects to Rittman, Wadsworth, and Medina. To south it intersects with Route 30.

Get around
Drive, bike, or walk.

See

Go next

 * Wooster
 * Akron

title: Orrville


text:
Orsa

Orsa is a small town of 7,000 in Dalarna, Sweden, mostly known for its ski resort, Grönklitt, and the Bear Park - Europe's largest. Also known for its folk music, in particular "Orsa Spelmän".

By train
Orsa is only served by Inlandsbanan, which offers daily services from Mora during the summer months as well as limited services during winter holidays. Nearest city with regular all-year traffic is Mora which has several daily direct connections from Stockholm with SJ as well as regional passenger traffic from Borlänge and other cities in Dalarna.

Up to four bikes can be brought onto regional trains, but are not allowed of SJ intercity trains. Notice that space for bikes can not be reserved, so during high season it might be a hit-and-miss, depending on how full the train is, if you may be allowed onboard with a bike.

By bus
Orsa is connected by bus through the company Dalatrafik to regional transport. There is also a bus to and from Östersund twice a day. The central bus stop is called Orsa busstation.

On SJ you can search combined train and Dalatrafik bus.

By car
The European route E 45 (old name: Riksväg 45) passes by Orsa. It continues south towards Mora and Gothenburg, and north towards Karesuando.

By bicycle
In Orsa proper there are only a few bike paths. Nevertheless, Orsa and its surroundings can be easily explored by bicycle. One popular bike route is the circuit around Orsasjö, but other destinations in Orsa are also easy to reach by bike. If you bike south towards Mora, it might be better to choose the bike path Lisselhedsvägen and not the busy E45. Local bike trips can be planned by using Siljansleden.

Dalatrafik buses can carry up to two bicycles (on a bicycle mount at the back of the buses)

Eat
There are various ways to eat in Orsa. The opening times vary widely between peak season and low season.

Drink
Nightlife is virtually non-existent in Orsa. Some restaurants are open in the evening.

Go next

 * Mora – The largest city in Siljansbygden
 * Rättvik – On the eastern coast of lake Siljan

title: Orsa


text:
Orte

Orte is a city in the province of Viterbo in the Italian region of Lazio. For most people it is just a very noticeable hill town on the Autostrada between Rome and Florence, about 60km north of Rome, but it is well worth taking the trouble for a quick visit. Orte is built on tufo (tuff) rock and overlooks the valley of the River Tiber. From the 6th Century B.C. it was an important Etruscan center and Etruscan caves can still be seen in the side of the tufo rock.

Get in
Orte is on the main railway line between Rome and Florence. It is the junction for the line to Umbrian towns such as Assisi.

By car it is at an important junction between the A1 and the highway that connects Perugia and Spoleto with Viterbo.

Get around
The town is located a few km north of the railway junction at Orte Scalo. Taxis are available.

See
Orte has an elliptical layout following the contours of the hill. Things to see include remains of an aqueduct, some notable medieval palaces and interesting churches.

Sleep

 * Locanda San Lorenzo. Modern building on a hilltop overlooking Orte. Euro 64-76 for a double. Phone Cellular in English:+39 339 8619328

Go next
Orte is close to many interesting towns. It is just a short distance from Orvieto. Many of the surrounding villages are fascinating.

title: Orte


text:
Ortley Beach

Ortley Beach, also called Dover Beach South, is part of Ocean County, on the Jersey Shore. It is located on the Barnegat Peninsula and is physically separated from its governing entity, the city of Toms River. Ortley Beach spans about 10-15 blocks, and is surrounded by other popular summer destinations including Lavallette, Mantoloking (both of which are covered in this article), Normandy Beach, Point Pleasant, Mantoloking Shores, Bayhead, Seaside Heights, Dover Beach, and Seaside Park.

This small seaside vacation destination is a typical Jersey shore community. Sleepy and quiet during the offseason, with a large influx of visitors from mid-June through August. Vacationers enjoy the clean beaches, quiet sunsets, and relaxing atmosphere. Families come here to get away from it all while still being surrounded by the finest attractions the Jersey Shore has to offer.

Get in
The most popular access to Ortley Beach is by automobile, and during the summer months the traffic can become very congested. The worst traffic occurs on popular holidays such as Labor Day, July 4th, and Memorial Day.

 * From Northern New Jersey NJ

Depending on your starting location, travel along the Garden State Parkway until Exit 92. Then, take Route 35 South over the bridge. Follow signs for “Seaside Heights”. From there, continue until you see the large blue water tower labeled ORTLEY BEACH on your left.

Depending on your starting location, travel along the Garden State Parkway until Exit 82 East for Route 37. Then, take Route 37 East for 9 miles over the Bridge into Seaside Heights. Ortley Beach is the next block North of Seaside Heights.
 * From Southern New Jersey

 * From Philadelphia

Take Route 70 East until Route 37 East, which meets in Lakehurst, NJ. Continue on Route 37 and follow it over the bridge onto Route 35. From there, follow directions from “Northern New Jersey”.

 * From the West

Drive along Route 195 East to the Garden State Parkway south. Continue on the Parkway until Exit 82 East for Route 37. Take Route 37 East for 9 miles, follow it over the Bridge into Seaside Heights. From there, follow signs to your destination.

Take exit 82 on the Garden State Parkway, route 37 east to Seaside Heights, and then north on route 35. Route 35 runs all along the water and will lead you all the way to the tip of Island Beach. It is very easy to get where you need to go. There is road access to both the ocean side and bay side of the water.

Get around
Ortley Beach is less than a square mile in size. It is bounded by Barnegat Bay on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Most people enjoy walking as a form of transportation, but bicycles are also very popular.

Taxi service is also available for those who wish to experience the exciting nightlife that surrounds Ortley Beach.

See
The beach is the main attraction. The cooler sea air found here is also quite a relief from hot humid summer days that occur in places like Philadelphia, interior New Jersey, or New York City. You can't spend all day and night at the beach. What else are you going to do while you are on vacation? There are plenty of options. Some of these are close at hand and, depending on where you are staying, within walking distance. Other places such as Island Beach State Park, Tom's River, and Six Flags Great Adventure are further away and require more planning than someplace that is just a few blocks away.

Do
There is so much to do in Orley Beach for both families and party-goers. For the kids, be sure to visit:

Eat
You can enjoy going out to diner, grab some takeout, or take a trip to the grocery store to stock up the rental house refrigerator without having to go far from home - or wherever it is you are staying during your time in Ortley Beach. Seaside Heights and Lavallette are also close at hand. You can even venture further afield and head over the Tom's River Bridge to the continuous line of stores found along 37.

 * Boathouse Cafe, Bay Boulevard & Route 35, just past the A&P on your way to the Tom's River Bridge. 7AM-2PM daily.
 * Gabriella's, Route 35 North & 1st Ave, +1 732-793-7400. Italian and other dishes served in their dining room. They also have a bar, with many TV's, where sandwiches and other light fare are served.
 * Sunny Hunny, Route 35 North & 6th Ave, +1 732-793-3717. Amazing Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Sleep
Many vacationers choose to rent houses and stay in them. Seasonal rentals are available.

There are also several hotels in the area, including:

Go next

 * Just to the north is Lavallette, which is much like Ortley Beach.
 * Just to the south is Seaside Heights. It is much busier and has a large commercial boardwalk.

title: Ortley Beach


text:
Ortonville

Ortonville is in Southern Minnesota. It lies on Big Stone Lake, and is across the lake from Big Stone City, South Dakota.

Get in
US Highways 12 and 75, Minnesota Highway 7.

title: Ortonville


text:
Oruro

Oruro is a city in the Oruro Department of Bolivia.

Understand
Oruro is famous for its carnival. It's been a major mining centre and railway hub, but with the closing of the mine and with more and more rail connections ceasing the town is about to lose its importance. But only 3 hr and Bs. 15 by bus from La Paz, this is a nice getaway from the prices and stress of the capital.

By bus

 * La Paz – There frequent daily buses to Oruro (3~4 hours). The ticket is Bs. 15.
 * Cochabamba – Buses depart from there every 30 minutes. The trip takes 4~5 hours, and will cost around Bs. 25.
 * Challapata – Buses take about 2½ hours and cost Bs. 8. Faster and slightly more comfortable minivans do the distance in 90 minutes and at Bs. 12.
 * Uyuni – From Uyuni at 04:30, 09:00, 15:30, 17:00, 22:00, and 23:00. Night buses with semi cama costs Bs. 50 and takes about 6-7 hours. Reservations can be a good idea as the bus connects from La Paz. Beware that the road is quite bumpy at parts and it can get freezing cold, especially in June, July and August. Bring warm clothing!
 * Tupiza – From Tupiza at 10:00, 10:30, 12:00, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:00, 21:00 and 21:30.
 * Sajama National Park – Vans/servis travel between the in Oruro (in the far southwest of the city at the ring road right next to the roundabout leading south out of the city) and Tambo Quemado (and thus the junction to the national park) four times a day (in either direction): 06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00. They take 3 hr for the 270 km, and cost Bs. 45.

By train

The Oruro to Villazon connection timetable and prices from Oruro in the following:

Classes/prices are popular (only Wara Wara) / salon / executive. Executive also includes drinks but is basically the same as salon. Sometimes Wara Wara del Sur just goes as salon without other options.

As of 2018-02-18, the route between Uyuni and Villazon is closed due to flooding. It is expected to reopen in October 2018.

Get around
The streets are well planned and orientation is simple. The easily recognized Av. 6 de Agosto, featuring a railway track in the middle runs from north to south with the bus terminal in the north and the town center in the south. The center is small enough to get around by foot and micros heading to the main bus terminal cruise Av. 6 de Agosto, otherwise it's a ten minute walk.

The main square garden (Plaza 10 de Febrero) is the reference for all the locals and visitors.

The Virgen del Socavon temple, is where the carnival ends. It's situated in the west part of the city, and there you can also visit a little mining museum.

In the south part of the city, you can find the zoo, where you can see some of the very exotic Andean wildlife.

Oruro is a city fulfilled of legends and traditions. One of them tells the story about the origin of the carnival.

See

 * One of the best sight views is the Faro del Conchupata.
 * You can also visit El Cerrato, also known as El Corazón de Jesús.
 * Near the zoo, in the south part of the city, there is a museum of ethnography and folklore. There you can see, how the ancient locals, the Chipayas, used to live. Also you can see an invaluable collection of carnival outfits, including masks.
 * 45 min from the center ville, there is a little town called Cala-Cala. There you can visit the Señor de Lagunas temple, some stone based prehistoric art.

You can also visit some of the traces of our legends:
 * In the south part of the city, over the hills, you can see a long stone with a snake form.
 * Near Cala-Cala, at the east of the city, there is a mountain with the shape of a giant crocodile with the head cut-off.
 * Coming from the north, you can see a giant frog.
 * All around the city, there are some little sand monticles, made form the ants.

Do

 * See the train coming in the middle of the main road. Wait for it on the about 1.5 hr before its departure.
 * A walk up on the hills surrounding the town is an easy and nice excursion offering decent views. Bring ice cream and water.
 * The Carnival occurs before Ash Wednesday which can be anywhere between February 4th and March 10th

Eat
Fastfood places serving cheap burgers, chicken and papas fritas is found just about everywhere. They are especially common around the bus station. One fancier restaurant in the International Park Hotel connected to the bus station, all others in the same bracket is in the center.
 * Govinda, 6 de Octubre 6071. Ambitious vegetarian restaurant with a hare-krishna and müsli-sch approach to life. The whole menu is not always available, best to be there at lunch. Mains are Bs. 6 to 12.

Sleep
Budget accommodation in the center is surprisingly rare, and either the options are far below any known standard or prices start at Bs. 80.

Mid-range to splurge

 * Hotel Sucre, situated at 6 de Octubre street, near Sucre street.
 * Hotel San Felipe de Austria, Av. San Felipe between 6 de Octubre and Soria Galvarro.
 * Hotel Terminal, In the bus station.
 * Hotel Plaza, situated in the main plaza.
 * Hotel Plaza, situated in the main plaza.

Go next

 * Several bus companies run buses to Iquique and Arica in Chile from the main bus terminal. Trans Salvador is very comfortable and charge Bs. 90 for the trip, including a simple meal. The trip takes 10-14 hr depending on how busy the border crossing at Tambo Quemado is. Don't bring any food across the border as there is X-ray searches at Chungara on the Chilean side.
 * Sajama National Park – A beautiful Andean landscapes, hidden gem with the highest peak in Bolivia, Nevada Sajama, which can be climbed with a tour, and many more trekking and nature watching opportunities. Buses leave from the Tambo Quemado servis bus station in the far southwest of the city at the ring road right next to the roundabout leading south out of the city.

title: Oruro


text:
Oruro (department)

The Oruro Department is a region of the Bolivian Altiplano.

Cities

 * — Famous for its carnival and a good jumping-off if you intend to head towards Sajama National Park.
 * — A night stop between Potosi and Oruro for most travellers, this is a side of Bolivia rarely seen.

Other destinations

 * — A beautiful Andean landscapes, hidden gem with the highest peak in Bolivia, Nevada Sajama, which can be climbed with a tour, and many more trekking and nature watching opportunities.

title: Oruro (department)


text:
Orvieto

Orvieto is a city in Umbria. Designed to be impregnable, it was founded by the Etruscans on the top of a steep hill made of tufa, a volcanic ash stone.

Understand

By train
The Orvieto train station is at the base of the hill at Orvieto Scalo and there are several daily trains to Florence, Chiusi, and Rome. The station is small and it is easy to find a taxi or a public bus up to the town. The best option however is to walk over to the funicular terminus just outside the station and take the spectacular ride up!

By bus
The bus station is at Piazza Cahen on the Eastern edge of the town. Public buses, taxis, or a quick walk will get you into the town itself. Frequent buses run to and from Rome (2 hrs), Viterbo, Bolsena, Perugia (1 hr), and Todi (2 hrs). Bus A connects Piazza Cahen to the Piazza del Duomo and Bus B to the Piazza della Repubblica.

By car
Orvieto is on the A1 autostrada that runs from Milan to Rome via Florence. After exiting the autostrada, a steep road winds its way up to the town. The approach to the town is one of the most glorious things about visiting Orvieto, but parking in the upper town is very limited and many streets are pedestrianized. It is better to use the free parking available at the railway station (then take the funicular up to center of the town) and on Via Roma if you eat at a restaurant in the centro storico (ask for a voucher at the restaurant).

Get around
A funicular railway runs from the railway station to Piazza Cahen and is an easy and spectacular way of getting into town. The town itself is small and walking the entire length of the town is easy. Frequent public buses run through the town and taxis are also available. Parking in the upper town is very limited and many streets are pedestrianized, so that driving is neither convenient nor necessary.

Useful bus routes:
 * Bus 1: Railway Station to Piazza della Repubblica.
 * Bus A: Piazza Cahen to Piazza del Duomo.
 * Bus B: Piazza Cahen to Piazza della Repubblica.

Bicycles are available for rent at Testa Renato on the Via Montmarte and at Ciclo e Trekking Natura e Avventura on via Montenibbio near the station.

See
Just wandering around within the walled city is part of the experience. Piazza del Popolo, Saint Patrick's well, La Cava well (etruscan), Corso Cavour (with its shop and restaurants), the Medieval quarter, Saint Giovenale, Saint Giovanni and Saint Francesco churches, Albornoz rock and the surrounding promenade of the downtown are all worth a visit.

 * Pozzo di San Patrizio
 * Pozzo della Cava
 * Medieval Quarter
 * Palazzo Buzi
 * San Giacomo Maggiore
 * Madonna della Cava
 * Underground Orvieto
 * Piazza del Popolo and Corso Cavour
 * Palazzo del Popolo
 * San Giovanni
 * Sant'Agostino
 * Porta Maggiore
 * San Lorenzo de Arari
 * The citadel
 * The citadel

Churches
Apart from the Cathedral, there are numerous smaller historic churches with artifacts.

Do

Buy
Orvieto has long been and still is a center of artisanal pottery. You will find many shops near the Duomo, often with competitive prices. Also, the town is filled with several enotecas that feature Orvieto Classico — the white wine named after the city. You can get a bottle of good Classico for €3.

Eat
The gelato in piazza del Duomo is the best.

Budget
Pizzeria Charlie's- Corso Cavour. Some of the best pizza you will eat in all of Italy. A varied menu, wines, on tap beers, etc. Open for dinner at 19:00. Pizza prices range from €5-7. Delicious.

Pasqueletti's- Gelateria, (Next to Duomo, and on the corner of Corso Cavour and Via Duomo) fresh gelato, open from mid day until 00:30. €2-3.5 for a cone/cup. They will let you put up to three flavours on one order. (It's a chain-there is also another Pasqueletti's on Via Corso Cavour near to Via Duomo, a much smaller store though.)

Drink
Orvieto Classico Amabile white wine. There is a little shop with yellow awnings that sells meats and cheeses and wines on Via Duomo that has a nice array of Orvieto wines. An old married couple, Vera and Giovanni, work there. They will be happy to assist you in picking out the perfect "vino", depending upon what food you will be drinking it with.

Sleep
Orvieto gets inundated with tourists every day. So the best time to enjoy it is before the tourists arrive, which means you have to stay there. The Piazza del Duomo (cathedral square) worth visiting when there is no one else about.

Go next

 * Lake Bolsena is to the southeast of Orvieto in the province of Lazio.
 * Todi
 * Perugia
 * Assisi
 * Civita di Bagnoregio

title: Orvieto


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Oryol

Oryol (Russian:Eagle) is a city in the Chernozemye region of the Russian Federation. This regional capital is a destination for its clean air, old churches, and extensive literary and dramatic history.

Get in
Oryol is located 368 km to the South from Moscow, on the way to Ukraine and Crimea. It is just a 5-hour drive from Moscow, the road is a 4-lane highway until Tula, often bumpy though, and then 2-3 lanes of a moderate quality. Alternatively, you can take an express commuter train from Kursky railway station in Moscow. It starts at 6PM and arrives at Oryol at 10:40PM There is also an overnight 'sleeping' train starting at 11PM and arriving before 6AM Generally, there are a LOT of trains passing Oryol from Moscow on their way to Ukraine. The fare is US$10-20-40 depending on the carriage class.

Firmenny sleeper train Turgenev № 603/604 rides between Oryol and Moscow daily.

Get around
The central part of the city is pleasant and walkable. To travel around, locals choose between public buses, trolley-buses, trams and numerous minibus-taxies. Fares vary from a fixed US$0.33 (buses, trolley-buses and trams) to US$0.50 (minibus-taxies); however, you may prefer to move around by a private taxi (US$3-7 for trips within the city). The interesting means of transportation is a river tram, a boat shuttling on the river for tourist purposes but may be used for other ones. It goes from the Central Park to Luzhki aka Luzhkovsky Bridge at 10-00, 12-00, 14-00, 16-00, 18-00, 20-00 if there is no less than 10 passengers abroad.

Museums

 * Museum of Regional Studies
 * Museum of Military History
 * Museum of Fine Arts
 * House of Ivan Turgenev
 * House of Ivan Bunin
 * House of Nikolai Leskov

Other destinations

 * Bogoyavlensky Cathedral, among the churches it is the oldest building in the city, founded in 1640.
 * Victory Park
 * The Central Park (ЦПКиО)

Do

 * Korfball, a Dutch sport of which Russia's best team trains in the city.

Go next

 * Orlovskoye Polesye National Park
 * Spasskoye-Lutovinovo

title: Oryol


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Oryol Oblast

Oryol Oblast is a region in the Chernozemye region, bordering Kursk Oblast to the southwest, Bryansk Oblast to the northwest, Kaluga Oblast to the north, Tula Oblast to the east, and Lipetsk Oblast to the southeast.

Cities

 * — the regional capital and only city of any significant size is a destination for its clean air, old churches, and extensive literary and dramatic history
 * — a small city built on the site of a former Russian fort, which often found itself at the center of conflict between the Russians, Cossacks, and Crimean Tatars
 * — a large town near the country house-museum of Ivan Turgenev at Spasskoye-Lutovinovo, where he wrote his Hunter's Sketches

Talk
As throughout the majority of Russia, few foreign languages are spoken, and not often spoken with much proficiency; knowing some Russian will certainly come in handy.

title: Oryol Oblast


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Os (Hordaland)

Os is in Hordaland county in Norway. It is south of Bergen, and most visitors visit on day trips from the city.

Understand
The municipality Os is in the southern part of Bergenshalvøya - The Bergen Peninsula - where the fjord and the coast meet. To the north Os borders on the city Bergen. Otherwise Os faces Krossfjorden, Bjørnefjorden and Fusafjorden, and borders on the municipality Samnanger to the east. The driving distance to the centre of Bergen, and also to Flesland Airport, is 30 km. Osøyro is the ancient seaside settlement that has developed into a modern centre. The centre of Os can be reached both on land and at sea. Here you can find the municipal council and most of the services inhabitants and tourists need. The centre circles around the river mouth.

Os has about 16 000 inhabitants. Osøyro, the centre, is most densely populated. Other areas with a concentration of population are Lysefjorden, Søfteland, Søre Neset and Nore Neset.

Os covers about 140 km². Towards the south and the west there are hills and open fields and a coastline with islands, bays and sounds. Towards the north-east there are rather steep fjord sides, narrow valleys and mountains with peaks as high as 850 metres.

The Place with Sculptures
In the roundabout at Osøyro, in the shopping centre, in shops, in parks and public buildings you will find sculptures in steel and bronze, marble and granite. Not like in Carrara or other famous sculpture cities, but enough to characterise Os as "The Place with Sculptures". A couple of excellent, local sculptors, and also the international sculpture symposium must be given credit for this. The sculpture symposium is a biennial event which has tempted artists from all over the world to spend a couple of summer weeks at Os working with chisel and angel grinder in a big tent at the banks of The Os River. They have used both Italian marble and Norwegian granite, but mostly marble. During the two weeks of the symposium each of the sculptors finishes one sculpture, and it is open for the public to come and watch the sculptors working.

Many of the sculptures from the symposiums have remained at Os, to the great delight of inhabitants and visitors.

In 2002 the sculptor Mette Midtseter opened the first sculpture workshop in Western Norway at Lysefjorden, where she has her studio together with some other artists.

"Fritio i Os" - "Time off at Os"
"Fritio i Os" was first arranged in 1978. It is a great cultural event that receives the attention of most people at Os for some hectic November days. Every other year a whole week is devoted to various kinds of music and theatre: traditional concerts, plays, musicals, cabarets, jazz concerts and revues. An exhibition of arts and crafts, where the Os people can show what they are doing in their spare time, is always a part of "Fritio i Os". Most people involved in the cultural life at Os contribute to "Fritio", even if it is not possible for everyone to participate each time.

Music and theatre
Strong music traditions, with choirs and bands at a high level, have traditionally been the most important aspect of the cultural life at Os. That is the reason why several young musicians from Os, mostly jazz musicians, have become professional. A raising star on the national rock scene is Furia, a girl band from Os that has been touring the whole country. However, brass bands and choirs - and the municipal music school for children and young people - are still the cornerstone in the local music life, from which coming stars will grow up. The municipal culture- and music school offers a versatile education in music, dance and art.

Blues and jazz
A weekend at the end of June is the time for the blue notes. Osøren Blues & Jazzfestival has been arranged each summer since 1999, and has attracted an imposing group of musicians at a high national, and even international level. The blues artists are mostly brought to Os from other places, while the jazz artists are generally local. They have developed their skills on the flourishing local music scene. However, the quality of the jazz concerts during the festival is still very high.

Art
Several artists are working at Os. Some of them are full-time, professional artists, others work on a part-time basis having other sources of income to support them. Many genres are represented by these local artists, ranging from more or less abstract installations to naturalistic oil paintings. Perhaps it is the sculptors who have reached the furthest, with works in both stone and ceramics, wood and bronze. Some artists working two-dimensional have succeeded too. About 30 artists and handicraftsmen have been organised in a network that among other things arrange an annual exhibition. "Os kunstlag" and the municipal culture council have for many years arranged art school for children, with courses twice a year.

Rose painting
The most distinctive art form that has a tradition at Os is rose painting. This local tradition, "The Os-painting", has been developed from the eighteen twenties and further on, and it is the only one of the styles of rose painting in Norway that has an unbroken tradition until today. Rose painting has traditionally been a male profession, but today it is women that carry the tradition on to new generations.

Sports
At Os there are different kinds of sporting activities with special emphasis on a few sports. Handball and football are most popular, but other sports also have strong traditions. Race walking has an exceptional position. Kjersti Tysse Plätzer’s silver medal at 20 kilometres in the Olympic Games is the greatest trophy any person from Os has ever won. Otherwise she and other athletes from Søfteland have won a lot of royal cups and other great trophies in race walking. Athletes from Os have also excelled in rowing, swimming and karate.

Os Aeroklubb is one of the most active glider clubs in the country.

Otherwise you can enjoy sports ranging from horse sports, shooting and sailing to athletics and most ball games. Increased interest in golf has led the golf club to become the biggest sports club. Bjørnefjorden Golfklubb runs a nine-hole golf course at Hauge, some hundred metres from Osøyro.

By car
From the city centre of Bergen, follow E39 south.

By plane
Bergen Airport, Flesland is the closest airport. From the airport, follow the signs to Nesttun and then follow E39. Alternatively, follow the signs to Nesttun until right before the shopping centre Lagunen, from where you follow the signs to Fana and then to Os/Drange (towards Lysøen).

Eat
Osöyro:
 * Matstova Kafé et Restaurant
 * Kinarestaurant Peking House
 * Madammen
 * Kaiser's Konditori
 * Bella Napoli Pizzeria
 * Pizza Bakeriet
 * Kaien Hamburgerrestaurant
 * Mobergsvikjo Kafé

Solstrand:
 * Solstrand Fjord Hotel

Hauge:
 * Björnefjorden Gjestetun

Moldegard:
 * Stallmestergarden

Amfisenteret Flåten:
 * Flåten Kafé

Askvik:
 * Askvik Sjö og Fritid

Lysekloster:
 * Kafé Ole B.

Söfteland:
 * Memos Verona Pizza Pasta Restaurant

Söre Öyane:
 * Garvik Sjöhus

Drink

 * Bar2Be, Opus

title: Os (Hordaland)