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Batanes

Batanes is the smallest and the northernmost province of the Philippines.

Islands

 * Batan Island
 * capital
 * Itbayat Island
 * Sabtang Island
 * - Y'ami
 * Itbayat Island
 * Sabtang Island
 * - Y'ami
 * - Y'ami
 * - Y'ami

Understand
Batanes lies off the northern coastline of mainland Luzon, and is an archipelago composed of three inhabited islands and other smaller islands. It is the northernmost, smallest, and least populated province of the Philippines.

The province is bordered by Babuyan Islands to the south, the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to the west, Taiwan to the north, and the Philippine Sea to the east. Due to its extreme location and proximity to Taiwan, signals from Chinese-language radio stations to the north reach the province. Batanes is very prone to typhoons, and is an important reference point for typhoon tracking by the Philippine meteorological agency, PAGASA, which maintains a weather station at the provincial capital in Basco.

The islands are the homeland of the Ivatan, an isolated ethnic group that lends its name to the province. Their origins are unclear, but they are physically similar to other Filipinos and other Austronesian peoples. They speak a language closely related to Yami spoken in Taiwan's Orchid Island, but generally use Ilocano when dealing with visitors from outside the province. The Ivatan people used to live in hill forts called idjang, but after the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, they are resettled to lowland locations of the inhabited islands. While most are Christianized, most Ivatan retain their ancient lifestyle, and live in stone houses that withstand strong winds from passing typhoons.

While the province is grouped with Cagayan Valley by the Philippine government, Batanes is considered distinct from the other provinces of that region, and Wikivoyage treats this as a separate region.

By plane
There are two airports serving the province of Batanes
 * Basco Airport
 * Itbayat Airport (ICAO: RPLT)

Natural sites

 * Sabtang Island is undisturbed and unspoiled. The island has lots of natural attractions guaranteed to satisfy the most sophisticated nature lovers. It has intermittent white sand beaches with steep mountains and deep canyons with small level areas sporadically found along the coastline. Southwest of Batan Island, Sabtang is accessible by 30-minute falowa ride from Radiwan Port in Ivana. Sabtang Island is also the take off point for Ivuhos Island from Barangay Nakanmuan.
 * Itbayat Island is located north of Batan Island. Itbayat is shaped like a giant bowl. The island is surrounded by massive boulders and cliffs rising from 20–70 feet (6-23 m) above sea level and has no shoreline. It has a dirt airstrip for light aircraft. A regular ferry runs the Batan-Itbayat route. Travel time is about four hours on falowa from Basco Seaport or Radiwan Port in Ivana. A light plane flies from Basco Airport to Itbayat at per person and leaves only when the plane is full.
 * Batan Island is the most populated island of the province. It is composed of four municipalities namely Basco, Ivana, Uyugan and Mahatao. Basco is the center of commerce and seat of the provincial government.
 * Mount Iraya is a dormant volcano standing at 1,517 m whose last eruption was recorded in 505 AD. Mountaineering, trekking and trailblazing are recommended sports activities on the mountain. Walking distance from Basco, the top of Mt. Iraya can be reached in about three hours.
 * Yami/Amianan is the northernmost island of Batanes. It is also called the Orchid Island. You can see Taiwan on a clear day. Tatus or coconut crabs abound in the island surrounded by rich marine life.
 * Di-Atay Beach is a beautiful cove with multi-colored rocks and white sand ideal for picnics and beach combing. Located along the highway of Mahatao, it is 9.85 km from Basco.
 * Songsong in Chadpidan Bay is an hour of exhilarating trek from Basco proper (3 km). It is famous for its beautiful sunset view.
 * Naidi Hills is walking distance from Basco.
 * Chawa Cave is for the more adventurous. An enchanted cave with natural salt bed whose mouth opens to the south China Sea and is accessible through the boulders of Chawa Point in Mahatao. It is four kilometers from Basco.
 * Sitio Diura At Racuj-A-Ide is the fishermens village at Mananoy Bay. Fishing season is marked by a festival in mid-March called Kapayvanuvanua. Visitors are treated with fresh fish delicacies from the Pacific Ocean. Within the area is the legendary Spring of Youth and living cave with crystal limestone formations. The bay is 9 km from Basco.
 * Nakabuang Cave is 5.5 km from San Vicente Centro in Sabtang.
 * Mt. Matarem is an extinct volcano 495 m at its summit. It is 8 km from Basco.
 * White Beach at Vatang, Hapnit and Mavatuy Point, all in Mahatao.

Man-made artifacts

 * Radar Tukon was a United States weather station on a hilltop. It offers a magnificent 360-degree view of Batan Island, the South China Sea, Mt. Iraya, Basco proper, boulder lined cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. It houses the last weather station in the north, the Basco Radar Station and is 2.75 km from Basco.
 * Old Loran Station housed a U.S. coastguard detachment for almost two decades and is about 25 km from Basco.
 * Ruins Of Songsong is a ghost barangay which is a cluster of roofless shells of old stone houses abandoned after a tidal wave that hit the island of Batan in the 1950s. It has a long stretch of beach. The ruins are 23 km from Basco.
 * San Jose Church in Ivana was built in 1814. It has a crenellated fortress-like campanile. The church is fronting the Ivana Seaport and is 14 km from Basco.
 * Kanyuyan Beach & Port at Baluarte Bay in Basco is the port of call of the cargo ships bringing goods from Manila.
 * San Carlos Borromeo Church and a convent at Mahatao are 6 km from Basco. It was completed in 1789 and still retains its centuries-old features.
 * Many buildings are traditionally two-storey lime and stone houses and churches with meter thick cogon roofs believed to last 60 years. These houses were built around 1795 with the help of imported masons, stone cutters and carpenters from the Province of Cagayan. These stone houses, found all over Batanes, are worthy subjects for photography.
 * Radiwan Point at Ivana Seaport is where the Katipuneros landed in September 18, 1898. It is also the ferry station of the falowas plying the islands of Sabtang and Itbayat.

Historic relics

 * Idjangs or fortified stone fortresses where the native Ivatans' ancestors migrated to Batanes as early as 4,000 BC lived in them for defensive cover.
 * Boat-shaped stone grave markers, Chuhangin Burial Site, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang, Batanes
 * Chavulan burial jar site, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang Island
 * Arrangement of stones with holes, Sumnanga, Sabtang
 * Columnar stones, Post holes, Stone anchors, Itbud Idyang, Uyugan, Batanes
 * Arrangement of stone walls, Idyang Site, Basco, Batanes
 * Paso stone formation, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang, Batanes
 * Columnar stones with holes, Mahatao, Batanes

Special interests

 * The Kapayvanuvanua ritual in Diura at the start of the fishing season.

Do

 * Spelunking at:
 * Chawa Cave, Mahatao
 * Crystal Cave, Mananoy Bay, Mahatao
 * Sarokan Cave, Itbayat
 * Nakabuang Cave, Sabtang
 * Trekking in Marlboro Country & Naidi Hills
 * Surfing at Madiwedved, Mahatao
 * Mountaineering, trekking & trailblazing of Mt. Iraya
 * Bird-watching of Cuyab, the migratory birds from China that flock the islands. They stop over in Batanes for a day or two before they continue their flight in search for warmer climate. Sometimes they are called Virgin Mary's birds as they appear only on October during Our Lady's birthday.

Stay safe
The entire province is a place far from the maddening crowd with no traffic and pollution problems. There is practically zero crime rate except for simple drunkenness and other relocated incidents. One real danger is typhoons, which frequently wreak havoc on the province during the rainy season.

Go next

 * Cagayan
 * Ilocos Norte

title: Batanes


text:
Batangas

Batangas is a province in the southern part of Luzon, the main island of the northern Philippines.

It is the fourth richest province and the ninth most populous in the Philippines. It is also the cradle of the Tagalog culture. Being near to Metro Manila, Batangas is a frequently visited area in Southern Luzon, with its share of resorts and heritage sites. The province is also a growing destination for pilgrimages with its number of Roman Catholic churches as well as various pilgrimage sites.

Regions
Wikivoyage's regions for the province mostly share the same boundaries as the original four legislative districts of Batangas, except for Lipa which is included in the Taal Lake Area as an important hub for that region.

The whole province is reasonably close to Metro Manila so it gets a lot of Filipino tourists; see Philippines for times when there may be too many.

Cities and municipalities

 * - Provincial, educational and cultural capital, and major seaport.
 * - Largest city and commercial capital of the province, known for kapeng barako coffee and religious sites. It is unofficially nicknamed the "Rome of the Philippines".
 * - Diving spots not far from Manila
 * - Luxury resorts and mountains, as well as a glimpse of the local sugarcane industry.
 * - Northern gateway city, home to a shrine for St. Padre Pio. Hometown of General Miguel Malvar.
 * - The "Egg Basket of the Philippines", it is small agricultural town along the old highway between Lipa and Batangas City.
 * - A small town at the border of Quezon, the rural municipality around it has a white beach and a growing number of seaside resorts.
 * - a historic town known for its heritage houses, the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, and its butterfly knives (balisong)
 * - Hometown of Apolinario Mabini.

Other destinations

 * - An active volcano, noted as an example of "a lake with a volcano with a lake", a provincial symbol, and a recognized natural monument. It is generally reached via Tagaytay in neighboring Cavite province, but the volcano and surrounding lake are in Batangas province.

Understand
Batangas had long been inhabited by the Tagalog before the Spaniards arrived. Today, it has become one of the richest provinces of the Philippines, and has benefited from tourism and foreign investment. Its beaches and resorts are the main draw, but there are also many historical sites, cultural attractions and religious sites. Being not far from Manila, Batangas gets a lot of visitors.

What is now Batangas started as two pre-Hispanic kingdoms, Kumintang and the sultanate of Balayan. The Spaniards first arrived in the 16th century, and recreated the two as the provinces of Balayan and Bonbon, which were eventually merged into Batangas. The original capital was in Taal (then Bonbon), but was moved to what is now Batangas City after the deadly 1755 Taal Volcano eruption. The name "Batangas" derives from the Tagalog word batangan, a reference to the logs used to create rafts used to cross the Kumintang River.

Batangas has a tropical wet and dry climate, but this depends on where you are in the province. Western Batangas has a dry climate, while eastern Batangas has a wetter climate and the rest of the province, including the major cities, lie in between. It can be sunny in Nasugbu, while it may rain in San Juan in the same day.

The province had a population of 3 million in 2020. It is a Tagalog region, but there is a significant Bicolano and Visayan minority, many being migrants from Cebu. Batangas City has significant numbers of Chinese Filipinos and Muslims, mostly integrated into the local community. Batangas residents are called Batangueños, and speak a distinctive dialect of Tagalog.

The culture of Batangas is distinct from its neighbors, as it preserves old Tagalog traditions that have disappeared elsewhere, and so, the province is the cradle of Tagalog culture. Many Batangueños live in large households, distinct from other Tagalogs who have embraced the nuclear family. The Tagalog dialect spoken in the province has a peculiar accent and preserves some vocabulary inherited from the ancient Tagalog language but now archaic in most dialects (including the standard Manila dialect).

Batangueños are known as the "hybrid" Tagalog, who proudly defend their distinctive culture. They are friendly, welcoming and hardworking, but they can be as fierce as a bull when angered.

The population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic; religion is integral in everyday life, locals are noted for their devotional practices, Mass attendance remains high, and Batangueños are mostly socially conservative. All that said, many Batangueños continue to practice aspects of the pre-Hispanic religion, such as the rainmaking dance called subli which has been integrated into Roman Catholic devotions. Batangueños (and the Tagalog in general) consider Mount Maculot in Cuenca as sacred, and superstitions continue to be taken seriously.

Batangas is traditionally a politically conservative province by Filipino standards, but this is relative, with the province's high level of development. Batangueños are economically liberal but socially conservative and environmentalist.

By bus
Most of Batangas are reached by bus from the rest of CALABARZON.

From Manila, there are multiple operators, with ALPS the Bus, Ceres/Gold Star, DLTB and JAM Liner the largest. As of 2023, buses depart from Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) south of Manila and near Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Araneta City Bus Port in Cubao, Quezon City. The Manila-Batangas routes are one of the busiest bus routes, with departures at approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

From Quezon Province, two companies have routes headed for Batangas: Supreme Transport, which plies the Batangas City-Lucena City route with economy class buses, and P&O Transport, on the daily Batangas City-Tagkawayan using a deluxe bus stopping only at major cities and towns.

From the other islands of the Philippines, buses take the ferry, with a stop at Batangas port, before continuing onward to Manila via the expressway or through slower routes along the older highways.

By car
There are a number of major roads that lead to Batangas from the surrounding provinces. Batangas City, Lipa and Tanauan lie along STAR Tollway which serves as the major highway from Metro Manila and Laguna. To avoid the tolls, you may take the parallel but older Jose P. Laurel Highway (Route 4), that is mostly congested in the major cities. From Cavite, you may take the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road (Route 410/407), Ternate-Nasugbu Road (Route 407), Diokno Highway (Route 410) or Ligaya Drive (Route 421). From Quezon, you may take the Quezon Eco-Tourism Road, also called Batangas-Quezon Coastal Road (Route 422), or Batangas-Quezon Road (Route 435).

By boat
Numerous ferry routes connect Batangas with the other islands of the country. Many are Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) boats that carry cars.

There are ferries to several ports on Mindoro, all taking 2½ to 3 hours. Ferries also connect with Romblon, Roxas City and Caticlan port near Boracay.
 * Puerto Galera, the main tourist destination
 * Calapan, provincial capital
 * Abra de Ilog, up near the north tip

By bus
Bus services serve most of Batangas's largest cities and towns, plying the province's primary highways except most places along Route 4.

 * BSC has one route plying Batangas City – Nasugbu (via Tuy), Taal and Bauan every hour.
 * JAM operates the Batangas City-Lipa (via STAR) and Lipa–Batangas City or Tanauan-Lipa-Batangas City-Lemery via Santo Tomas Batangas Crossing road routes.
 * Supreme's Batangas City–Lucena route serves the largest towns of eastern Batangas along Routes 435 and Route 422.

Santo Tomas is in Batangas but close to the borders with Laguna and Cavite provinces; roads through it lead to those provinces and through them to Metro Manila, Quezon Province and the Bicol Region.

The RoRo ferries from Batangas Port to Calamba on Panay carry buses that originate in Metro Manila and continue to Iloilo City, Bacolod, and Dumaguete. See Dumaguete for details,

By car
The province has an extensive network of national roads, as well as provincial roads. STAR and Jose P. Laurel Highway serve as the backbone of the highway system. You may need to drive a car to reach destinations where public transport is inefficient, but parking is most often hard to find in most cities and towns.

The key routes are:
 * Route 4: Mostly named the Jose P. Laurel Highway (often shortened to J.P. Laurel), it connects all the established cities in the province. While its importance waned with the opening of STAR, it still remains congested, especially at Lipa.
 * Route 433: The main link between Lipa, Lemery and Taal, and western Batangas in general. It is mostly straight and flat, except for a winding section at the foot of Mount Maculot, and is also the main street of Cuenca
 * Route 435: Officially the Batangas–Quezon Road, it links Batangas City with eastern Batangas, and onward to Quezon Province. It is quite narrow, with most segments passing through towns. At Rosario, the major town served by the route, it links to Route 422 (Rosario-San Juan Road), which leads to San Juan and also onward to Quezon Province.
 * Route 436: Officially the Palico–Balayan–Batangas Road, it serves as the main east-west route connecting Metro Batangas with western Batangas. It starts at Nasugbu, passing by Balayan, Calaca, Lemery, Taal and ending at Batangas City. At Lemery and Taal, it is a congested main street of those towns; a bypass to the north provides an alternate route.

There are also numerous provincial roads, some of them the only main route to some towns. Most of these are narrow, and have a lot of tricycles and slow traffic. A lot of these roads are in poor repair.

By jeepney
Batangas City and Lipa have extensive jeepney route networks, serving nearby suburbs as well as some towns farther afield. Jeepneys are the only practical way to travel without a car to the towns along Route 4 (where most intercity buses take STAR), as well as to the resorts at Mabini. Batangas Province Transport's UV express vans are air conditioned and ply the routes from Santo Tomas to and from Batangas and Tagaytay to and from Cavite and Batangas, north- and south-bound.

By tricycle
Most cities and towns have tricycle service within their town center and between rural barangays.

Talk
Batangas is a Tagalog-speaking province, but features a distinctive dialect called Batangas Tagalog, also called Batangueño or less commonly Batangan, also spoken in parts of Laguna and Quezon Province, and most of Mindoro. Batangueño retains many features of ancient Tagalog in terms of grammar, accent, and vocabulary, which are also shared by Tayabas Tagalog (Tayabasin), which are collectively known as the southern Tagalog dialects. Some of these features are:

 * A distinct set of prefixes and suffixes to form words. Na- (as opposed to standard -um) is used to form the present tense or perfective form of verbs (e.g. nakain nuh-KAH-en "eating"), and a common butt of jokes from speakers of standard or Manila Tagalog. Pagka-, similar to Spanish -ísimo/a is used for the absolutive form of adjectives, which is absent in all other Tagalog dialects (e.g. pagkaganda pug-kuh-GAHN-dah "so/very/most beautiful").
 * The distinctive Batangueño accent, usually marked by the "closed syllable" in some words, where a consonant on one (usually the last) syllable moves into the previous one, and replaced by a glottal stop. For example, gabi ("night") is pronounced in Batangas as gahb-EH (with a glottal stop before the i sound) as against the standard gah-BEH. This also manifests in the Batangueño spelling, where the glottal stop is written with a hyphen or em-dash (e.g. gab-i).
 * The interchanging of e and i, and o and u, similar to Visayan languages. Unlike with speakers of Visayan languages, this generally does not manifest when Batangueños speak in English.
 * The use of ho instead of po to indicate politeness.
 * The use of sila (see-LAH) as a polite third-person pronoun, similar to Italian lei. For example, Sino ho sila? may mean "Who are you?" if you are older than the speaker.
 * Divergent vocabulary, carrying on from ancient Tagalog, e.g. guyam GOO-yahm for "ant" (standard langgam), hawot HUH-woht for "dried fish" (standard tuyo), hinaw HEE-now for "wash hands" (standard hugas ng kamay), mabanas mah-buh-NAS for "hot" (standard mainit), tubal for "laundry" (standard maruming damit). Some of these have cognates in other Philippine or Austronesian languages (e.g. hinaw is cognate with Cebuano hunaw and Bikol hanaw, mabanas with Malay and Indonesian panas)
 * Demonstratives such as are/ire ("this") and dini ("here"), instead of the standard ito and dito.
 * The interjection ala eh!, similar to Tayabasin hane and Marinduqueño ngani. Eh, as a particle, is also commonly used to end a sentence, like the similarly spelled and used but unrelated Canadian English expression.

Batangueños customarily shun code-switching, but this is becoming less common, especially on large cities like Batangas City and Lipa, and towns along STAR. People who can only speak Batangueño are most common in the most conservative areas of western Batangas. Most Batangueños, by the way, can also speak in standard Tagalog or Filipino and English, but may speak with an accent.

See

 * Taal Volcano and the surrounding Taal Lake. It used to be possible to land on the volcano island and climb to the rim, but this has been forbidden since an eruption in 2020.
 * Fire trees (caballeros), southeast Asia's answer to Japan's famed cherry blossoms, typically bloom from April till the start of the rainy season (June).
 * Basilica Minor of St. Martin of Tours, located in the town of Taal, one of the biggest Catholic churches in all of southeast Asia.
 * Mount Maculot, a 947-m mountain in the town of Cuenca. The mountain has a great view of Taal Lake and you can also see Mount Makiling and Tagaytay Ridge.

Do
The province is very busy during the school vacation between March and June, particularly during Holy Week. The rainy season drench the province beginning as early as May and ending no later than November, but it will not keep you from exploring.

The coastal regions has an active beach and diving scene, concentrated in western Batangas, but if peak season bothers you, there are other seaside destinations as well. Inland resorts with swimming pools, some with slides, are another option, if you want to escape the crowds.

The province provides many destinations for history buffs; most towns have old downtowns with houses and churches deserving a mention. Taal is one major destination for historical travel, but the larger cities of Batangas and Lipa also provide cultural and historical options.

Buy

 * The barong tagalog, a type of shirt used as formal wear for men.
 * Batangas is famous for the balisong knife, commonly called butterfly knives outside of the country. They are illegal in many countries, so if you buy one you risk having problems at Customs, perhaps even being prosecuted.
 * Batangas is famous for its panutsa (peanut brittle), sinaing na tulingan (small tuna simmered in a broth of water, rock salt, sampaloc/tamarind, and dried kamias), suman (rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves), and the longganisa (pork sausage) and tapa made in Taal, the achara of Calaca, and bagoong of Balayan.
 * Sweets like macapuno, ube and pastillas are famous in the town of Malvar, particularly the Elsa's Sweet Candies in San Gregorio Malvar Batangas.
 * Saplot Batangenyo, Batangas novelty shirts.

Eat
The Batangueños culinary scene is dominated by both Filipino and Chinese cuisine, and the province has its contributions to the Philippine culinary scene, such as lomi, goto, tawilis, maliputo, bulalo and tamales.

What to eat

 * Ask the locals about their "kilawin", it is fresh fish soaked in vinegar and acidic juices like lemon, lime, or the local kalamansi, with lots of tiny chopped onions, fresh garlic, and hot peppers, its really good when the fish is still very fresh, as in just caught and straight ahead to the chopping board.
 * Fried longganisa and Tapang Taal with Atchara
 * Gotong Batangas at Gotohan sa Barangay in Lipa City
 * Crispy Pata at The Only Place and The Other Place Restaurants
 * Pritong Tilapia caught fresh from Taal Lake
 * Maliputo is a delicious fish found only at Taal Lake
 * Tawilis is another delicacy - small fishes caught only in Taal Lake
 * Pancit Tikyano (red stir-fried noodles) from Letty's in Batangas City
 * Hot Chocolate in a roadside stand en route to Mabini and Anilao
 * Kapeng Barako, the coffee that made the province famous particularly in Lipa City for its famous Cafe de Lipa (with branches at SM-Mall of Asia, SM City Lipa, Petron Star Toll, Market Market and main office at 032 San Carlos Drive Mataasnalupa Lipa City, opposite to Robinson's Lipa Exit
 * Bulalo and Halo-Halo at Almarius Grill in Lipa City
 * Lomi Noodles at Lomihan sa Bario in Ibaan Batangas
 * tamales of rhemars in Ibaan batangas.

Drink
if you want a refreshing drink, try the mura coconut juice. It is coconut juice with young coconut meat, really good when served very cold and mixed with condensed milk for sweetness.

Try lambanog from San Juan town. It's a local wine made from sugarcane.

Batangas and neighbouring Cavite Province both have a local coffee variant called kapeng barako.

Sleep
The reputation of Batangas as a tourist destination has resulted in the sudden growth of one-stars, numerous bungalows over the water accessed by boardwalks, with wooden stairs leading down to the sea, and three-stars that are cheap by international standards.

Stay safe
Temperatures don't reach beyond, but the heat index can soar. Always have sun protection when on the beach. Weather is very changeable during the hot dry and wet seasons, and it's possible to be sunny and rainy within the same day. Heavy downpours are common, but flooding is less of a concern. Typhoons are possible to hit Batangas from June to October.

Roads outside STAR Tollway, in the province are of medium to high quality, but can be narrow, with houses encroaching the shoulder. Driving habits can be unnerving, and motorcyclists are suicidal; many road accident deaths in the provinces are due to impaired driving or dangerous overtaking especially by motorcyclists.

Tricycles are readily available from hotels or bars to transport terminals and vice versa in Batangas City, but watch out for unscrupulous drivers who overcharge. Trips by tricycle from the east and west sides of the Calumpang River are notorious for scam attempts during evening hours when jeepneys are at short supply. Better take a jeepney if possible.

Petty crime is rare in the province generally, but watch out when staying in the cities, especially if you look touristy. Pickpocketing at jeepneys is possible during rush hour.

There is risk from Taal Volcano, roughly at the center of the province. Destructive earthquakes are rare, but can happen. In 2017, an earthquake off Mabini has damaged some structures around the Metro Batangas area and some coastal towns to the west, including historical churches such as the Taal Basilica and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception; the former having masonry falling off its façade and the latter being closed for six months for repairs.

Stay healthy
The key cities and municipalities have good coverage of hospitals and clinics, as well as pharmacies and drug stores. Elsewhere, they are spotty.

Dengue fever is a concern, especially during the rainy season from June to September. Vaccine against dengue is available, but because of health concerns and ongoing controversy, it has been taken off the shelves. Bringing mosquito repellant is adequate.

Stray cats and dogs are widespread in most parts of the province, and rabies is another concern. Antirabies vaccine is recommended, especially when dealing with local animal life.

Heat stroke can be another risk during the summer months, and do not forget to drink lots of water and wear light.

Respect
By and large, Batangueños are relaxed over their Manila counterparts and they usually don't take themselves very seriously, but common jokes or stereotypes about Batangueños or the province from Manileños are not welcome. Batangueños are proud of their province, prosperity and culture.

Common superstitions are taken more seriously in Batangas, and many Batangueños still believe in mythical creatures like goblins (nuno) living around termite mounds, and mermaids (sirena) and mermen (shokoy) at the beach. Mt Maculot in Cuenca is considered sacred for the Tagalog.

Batangueños are more modest in terms of dress, and wearing smart casual is advisable anywhere in the province except in the beaches or large cities. Churches or religious sites strictly enforce dress codes, and you may be required to wear a shawl or sarong if you are dressed immodestly.

Unlike in other Tagalog areas, kinship titles are less used outside family circles, so, don't always expect your friends will call you kuya (KOO-yah, "big. brother"), ate (AH-teh, "big sister"), etc., or the other way around. General Tagalog honorifics still applies, despite the dialectal differences.

Cope
Visa renewals can be done at the Bureau of Immigration office in Batangas City, minutes away from the port.

Go next

Many travellers transit through Batangas City to catch a ferry to another island. Batangas has a large port with ferries going to many places in the Philippines. The boats/ferries called RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off) usually can accommodate your own vehicles. Schedules change frequently so check ahead of time. Also, the terminal is a focal point for many islands and therefore sees a lot of traffic. Expect longer lines and waiting times especially during public holidays, especially Holy Week. The Filipino culture observes and respects queueing so lines move orderly and quickly.

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

title: Batangas


text:
Batemans Bay

Batemans Bay is a small coastal city (population 16,000) situated at the mouth of the Clyde River. It is close to the many fine beaches of the Eurobodalla in southeastern New South Wales.

Understand
Batemans Bay is the closest ocean beach to the Australian capital, Canberra, making it a popular weekend and holiday destination for Canberrans. Many of the people who live in Batemans Bay are retired, although it is now attracting younger families looking for more affordable homes that are close to the sea.

Batemans Bay and the surrounding South Coast area boast some of the most spectacular and unspoiled coastline in New South Wales. However, the township itself is fairly unlovely.

During summer, Batemans Bay's population more than doubles from holidaying folk from inland.

Climate
Warm during summer (December-February). The weather in autumn and spring is fairly mild. Due to the coastal location winter in Batemans Bay is not too cold.

Get in
Batemans Bay is on the Princes Highway (A1), some 280 km (175 miles) south of Sydney (3–4 hrs driving time) and about 10–11 hours northeast of Melbourne.

Batemans Bay can be reached from Canberra (2–2.5 hours) by the Kings Highway (B52). Both the Kings Highway and the Princes Highway have a fairly high accident rate relative to the Australian average. They are fully paved roads, but quite busy. Apart from the occasional passing lane, it is one lane each direction, no center divider, generally 100 km/h limit. There are some very tight 20 km/h corners going down the Clyde mountain from Canberra.

For Melbourne visitors coming via Canberra and the Hume Highway is the faster route.

By bus

 * Murrays Coaches Canberra - Batemans Bay
 * Premier Motor Service Sydney - Batemans Bay - Melbourne
 * VLine Batemans Bay - Melbourne (via Sale)
 * Priors Scenic Express - Sydney - Southern Highlands - Batemans Bay

By plane
The nearest airport is at Moruya, 27 km south of Batemans Bay, or a 20-minute drive. A rental car (arrange before you arrive) can be collected at the airport. Hertz operate at the airport terminal.

 * Rex Airlines flies into Moruya from Sydney.

Get around
The local bus service is Prior's Bus Service - Ph: 02-4472 4040

The local taxi service is Batemans Bay Taxis - Ph: 131 008

See
There is an emphasis on natural attractions including national parks and beaches. The local bush is mainly spotted gums with an understory of burrawangs. While there is development around the town, the bush is nearby and quite unspoilt.

Do
Cruise up the Clyde river to Nelligen. Visit Mogo for arts and crafts, recreated gold mining village, and zoo. Visit national parks including Murramurang. The Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens explains the local flora. Most importantly visit the beaches.

Water based activities in the area include deep sea fishing to surf board, boat and jet ski hire. Just south of Batemans Bay, the Broulee Surf School offers lessons for all levels. Jetskis can be hired off Corrigans Beach close to the town on the south side of the bay.

Shop for arts and crafts in the neighbouring villages - Mogo is quite close, Tilba Tilba is further afield, south down the Princes Highway. At Tilba Tilba the ABC cheese factory sells produce.

Spend a night out on the town with first class restaurants and home town pubs with local entertainment.

Swimming
The sea temperature becomes quite pleasant as summer progresses, though at the start of summer can be quite chilly. Surprisingly there is often a brief period towards the end of spring when the sea temperature is quite mild, before getting chilly, and then warming up as summer progresses.

Most beaches in the area have times when they are patrolled by local surf life saving clubs manned by volunteers. Visitors should ensure they swim between the yellow and red flags that denote the patrolled area of the beach. Broulee South Beach is a great beach to swim at on a calm day especially for young families and it is patrolled all weekends during summer.

Buy
You can purchase small souvenirs (both commercial and unique) of Batemans Bay from the many local arts and crafts establishments and retailers. As a growing regional population center, the town is also well serviced by local shops and chains including Kmart, Coles and Woolworths.

Eat
Oysters from the Clyde River are a local speciality and are also highly praised and appreciated by a much wider audience, including Sydney restaurants and beyond. The Pearly Oyster Bar in North Street is a good place to try local produce.

Try some fresh fish and chips from any of the shops along the main street facing the bay.

Drink
There are a number of hotels in the town and also the Soldiers' Club.

Sleep
A range of accommodation options are available. Visitors often hire a house or an apartment from a local real estate agent or stay in the many local motels, apartments, caravan and holiday parks or bed and breakfast accommodation establishments available.

Batemans Bay and surrounds are extremely busy in December/January during the Australian Christmas holiday period, and accommodation will be extremely difficult to find at those periods unless pre-bookings are made.

Easter holidays and long weekends (including Canberra Day) are also popular, so book early.

Go next

 * The town of Moruya is just south of Batemans Bay

title: Batemans Bay


text:
Batesville (Mississippi)

Batesville is a city in Mississippi.

title: Batesville (Mississippi)


text:
Batesville (Arkansas)

Batesville is in the Ozarks region of Arkansas.

See

 * Daffin Field
 * Batesville Commercial Historic District

title: Batesville (Arkansas)


text:
Bath

Bath is a historic Roman and Georgian spa city. It is famous for its hot springs, Roman period baths, Medieval heritage and stately Georgian architecture. Bath has been double UNESCO-listed as a World Heritage Site, both in its own right (in 1987) and as one of 11 "Great Spa Towns of Europe" (in 2021). Set in the rolling Somerset countryside on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Bath (with a population around 90,000) offers a diverse range of attractions for its 4.4 million visitors each year: restaurants, theatres, cinemas, pubs and nightclubs, along with interesting museums, and a wide range of guided tours. It is also a university city.

History
Bath is among the oldest of England’s principal tourist destinations and has been welcoming visitors for centuries. The three hot springs within the city were sacred to the Celtic goddess Sulis, whom the Romans later identified with the goddess Minerva. Bath first achieved its status as a sacred spa site with the growth of the Roman settlement Aquae Sulis around the thermal springs. The Roman period saw a vast complex of baths constructed - the remains of these were re-discovered in the 18th century and helped fuel Bath's modern revival as a luxury resort.

Bath was a prosperous city in the Medieval period, the site of an Abbey and Cathedral (under the Bishop of Bath and Wells). The Reformation under Henry VIII created uncertainty for Bath's, although during the reign of Elizabeth I, the town was revived as a spa resort. It was during the Georgian period, however, that Bath came again into its own. Exceedingly fashionable, Bath was laid out in stately avenues, streets and crescents, encrusted with Neo-Classical public buildings.

Bath suffered a significant amount of damage during air raids in World War II. The prestigious crescents and terraces were relatively unscathed and restored where necessary, but some of the more minor Georgian and Victorian streets were demolished both after the war and during a later ill-conceived phase of development known now as the "Sack of Bath". Consequently some modern buildings pop up in unexpected places, and the locals are generally very opposed to any major building developments that are put forward. Those works are substantially complete, and a new shopping centre near the railway station has opened.

Orientation
Bath is 160 km (100 miles) west of London and 18 km (11 miles) south-east of the nearest big city, Bristol. It lies in the valley of the Avon River, upstream of Bristol.

Read
Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey is traditional reading before a visit to Bath. Austen spent some time there, and her novel is a satire of the social life of the city at the time. Many of the sites she mentioned are still able to be visited in the city today.

Visitor information

 * Visit Bath website

Regional airports
These smaller airports provide a much more sedate experience than the London ones. Check in queues are shorter, there are fewer people about, and it's much clearer where you have to go and what you have to do. Less stress and fewer delays than the London ones.

Bristol Airport is  from Bath and boasts scheduled flights from many major European cities, including Amsterdam Schiphol, Barcelona El Prat, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris and Prague (but not London). By public transportation there are three main options for reaching Bath.
 * 1) Catch the Flyer bus service from the airport to Bristol Temple Meads station, then the train from there to Bath; expect the journey to take about one hour, and longer between 4PM and 6PM when Bristol's roads are congested.
 * 2)  Air Decker direct bus from the airport to Bath railway station. Every thirty minutes from early until late. Journey time is about 55 minutes. Single ticket £16.50, return £22.00.
 * 3) Taxi (about £40) and get to Bath in about 40 minutes.

Southampton Airport is under 2 hours from Bath by train, and connections are good.

Cardiff Airport, Exeter Airport , and Bournemouth Airport are also served by low-cost airlines and are within a couple of hours driving distance of the city.

London airports
The alternative is to use one of the London airports and travel on to Bath by train, car or bus. The most convenient are:

 * Heathrow Airport is about two hours drive straight down the M4 (westbound) motorway. Alternatively, the RailAir express bus service (running every 20 minutes) connects with the main London to Bath rail service at Reading rail station; expect the total journey to take slightly over two hours. Or take the train the entire way, hop on the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and then take a train from there to Bath Spa railway station, the journey takes a little under two hours. Alternatively, the National Express coach company run direct buses from Heathrow to Bath bus station.
 * Gatwick Airport is about three hours drive away via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. Alternatively, a half-hourly rail service from Gatwick connects with the main London to Bath rail service at Reading rail station; expect the total journey to take slightly over two hours.
 * Stansted Airport is about three hours drive away via the M11 (southbound), M25 (anti-clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. By train, you will need to catch a Stanstead Express train to London Liverpool Street station, the tube to London Paddington station, then follow the directions below; expect the total journey to take around 3½ hours.
 * Luton Airport is about a 3-hour train ride. The Thameslink rail connects the airport to central London where you can catch a train to Bath Spa.

By train

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Train times (from any location) can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling +44 8457 484950 from anywhere in the UK. There is a taxi rank outside the station, and the bus station is adjacent.

The station is staffed M-Sa 6M-8PM, Su 7:45AM-8PM, however the ticket office will only sell advance tickets between 8AM and 6PM (ignore the times on the National Rail website: they are wrong) There are no luggage lockers in the station; Bath Backpacker's Hostel in Pierrepont Street, which is a few hundred feet from the station, will look after left luggage for the day for £3.00.

By bike
The Bristol-Bath Railway Path is part of the National Cycle Network (R4) and provides a cycle corridor between the city centres of Bath and Bristol. Travel time is about 90 minutes. The path is relatively flat, and has only 2 road crossings, making it very safe. In the morning and evening it is a busy commute route, so it may be advisable to avoid these peak hours.

By car
Get off the M4 at Junction 18, follow signs for about 10 miles (16 km). Use the Park-and-Ride facilities!

It is very easy to get lost in Bath, as a lot of it is one-way and there's a traffic system that prevents you driving from one side of the city to the other. You have to go out on an unofficial ring road and re-enter the city. Furthermore, the high population density, the lack of a city bypass and the low capacity of the old narrow streets means that congestion is often horrendous. In particular, on Saturdays the car parks will all be full, and the roads will be blocked by people queueing to get into these car parks, a problem made worse since the opening of the new Southgate car park. At peak times, it can be quicker to walk from the edge of Bath to town, rather than driving and finding somewhere to park. The short answer - don't drive in Bath.

Parking in central Bath is better than it used to be as there's a big new underground multi story under the Southgate Shopping Centre. Most of the smaller long stay car parks will be full by 8:30AM during the working week so you have to get in early. Major central multi-storey car parks are based underneath the Southgate Shopping Centre, Walcot Street, Manvers Street (near the train stations) and Charlotte Street (off Queens Square). Average 2010 rates are around £3 an hour - or the more prohibitive pay and display in central bath at £1.30p per 30 minutes in the most convenient street locations. Many parking bays are "residents parking only" so check before leaving your car. Traffic wardens are very efficient so don't even think of parking on a yellow line or going over your time limit. On Sundays and between 7PM and 8AM other days most parking is free, however check machines for exact details.

The best way to drive into town is to use the park and ride facilities when travelling into Bath for the day. You can park for free and then take a bus for £2.20 per adult return (round-trip, discounts exist) right into the city. The only downside to this is that the last bus leaves at 8:30PM, so you can't use this service if you're staying in Bath late.

By bus
is close to the railway station and buses to most destinations outside the city leave and arrive at this location. It is served by:
 * operates buses locally and from bath to Bristol, Lawrence Hill, Hengrove, Weston-super-Mare, Wells and points in between in West England.
 * operates buses locally and from bath to Bristol, Lawrence Hill, Hengrove, Weston-super-Mare, Wells and points in between in West England.

Get around
Most locations in Bath are easily walkable from the city centre and stations. Avoid using a car in town centr.

By foot
Some of Bath's shopping streets feel like pedestrian-only areas - but aren't. Have a quick look round before you follow everyone else out into the road and, if you're driving, expect pedestrians to walk out in front of you.

By public bus
Typically for British public transport, public buses are at best adequate. A popular 'Park and Ride' bus system operates from a ring of car parks around the outskirts of the city (Newbridge, Lansdown, Claverton Down and Odd Down). They will take you to the city centre, or to a number of the cities schools. Bath's buses are often quite expensive, compared with other cities. If you are going to be taking more than 1 return journey or 1 single journey in a day, it is recommended to ask the driver for a day pass instead which gives unlimited travel on that bus company's buses in Bath. This costs around £3.70 per day. There are several bus companies operating, such as WessexConnect and FareSaver, but the most useful for tourists will be buses operated by First.

By tourist bus
Tour buses complete an enjoyable circuit of main attractions; they can be picked up en route or at the main bay at 'Bog Island' (for the Skyline tour) or next to the fountain near Bath Abbey (for the city centre tour). When you see something you like just hop off at the next stop, have a look round, and hop back on the next one that comes along. Attractions en route include the historic Royal Crescent, The Circus - and some tour bus companies include a route up the winding Ralph Allen Drive past the impressive Prior Park Gardens. Tickets cost £11.50 for the 40-minute Skyline tour of the 45-minute City Centre, hop-on, hop-off service.

By taxi
There are taxi ranks outside the train station and the Abbey, and Kingsmead square. Taxi firms are well advertised locally. The drivers know the city well and will entertain you with (often cranky) stories.

Landmarks

Come out of the Roman Baths and you will see:

''Come out of the main Abbey door, turn right and follow the pavement round the corner past the statue of "The Lady With The Pitcher". Pass some bookshops and a shop selling Bath Aqua Glass and cross the road to the entrance to Parade Gardens. Then follow the road to the left to see:''

Cross Pulteney Bridge to see:

Go back in the direction of the Parade Gardens to catch a Hop On Hop Off Tourist bus to take you to:
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).
 * Other attractions include Solsbury Hill, the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Avon, and St. Catherine's Court (unsure if you can visit, but you can stay there for £6500/weekend!).

Parks
Bath's parks are ideal for a summer picnic although local by-laws prevent the drinking of alcohol outdoors. Topless bathing used to be frowned upon but is becoming the norm as the regenerating city becomes more cosmopolitan. The Council maintains all parks to a high standard.

 * Alexandra Park. A free park to the south of the city centre with fantastic views overlooking Bath.
 * Prior Park Landscape Garden. Eighteenth-century landscaped garden with lakes and winding wooded paths and the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only three bridges of its kind in the UK.
 * Alexandra Park. A free park to the south of the city centre with fantastic views overlooking Bath.
 * Prior Park Landscape Garden. Eighteenth-century landscaped garden with lakes and winding wooded paths and the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only three bridges of its kind in the UK.
 * Prior Park Landscape Garden. Eighteenth-century landscaped garden with lakes and winding wooded paths and the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only three bridges of its kind in the UK.

Do

 * What's on? Read Bath Chronicle (published Thursday), or Venue Magazine (Wednesday).

Tours
There are many guided tours, walking tours, and audio tours of the city available. Options range for historical tours to ghost tours to pub crawls; you will find leaflets for these in most hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Bath also makes a great base for day trips to the surrounding countryside. There are also tours that go to Stonehenge and places like Avebury, the village of Lacock, Castlecombe, and other surrounding villages throughout the Cotswolds. Go to Tourist Information next to the Abbey for brochures or to book a tour.

Cinema

Concerts
Not many of these. Bath hasn't really got a suitable venue. Bands sometimes play at the Pavilion, or the Rugby Ground but it's a poor show from the city that once held the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. Some major classical events are held in Victoria Park but they're far from frequent.

Jazz music every Thursday and other live music occasionally at St James' Wine Vaults in the north of town near the Royal Crescent. The Bell Inn on Walcot Street has live music on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Sunday lunchtime, always free and busy.

The city is pretty good for local and up-and-coming bands, though, as well as street musicians.

Golf

Cricket
Visitors to Bath wanting to enjoy a summer afternoon watching cricket have some lovely grounds that welcome spectators for Saturday and Sunday fixtures:

Walking

 * Bath Skyline Walk provides excellent views of the city.
 * Follow the canal for 40 minutes to the George Inn at Bathampton for good food in a delightful setting.
 * Two Tunnels Greenway is a four-mile paved path south to Midford.

Riding
Bath is a small city surrounded by lovely countryside for a horse ride.

Get wet
Bath is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in hot natural waters. You can't leap into the Roman Baths but you can pamper yourself at the Thermae Bath Spa across the road. The "Thermae Bath Spa" is a modern spa in the heart of Bath one block over from the original Roman Baths. It is a four-storey day spa, that uses the "healing waters" to sooth and relax. The waters are filtered but remain warm in the indoor and outdoor roof pool. A great way to spend an afternoon or evening relaxing in the warm waters looking out over the city architecture. They offer everything from massages to a "kraken stove" steam bath but just spending a couple of hours soaking in the indoor pool, steam baths and roof deck outdoor pool is great fun.

Read a detective novel set in Bath
Two authors have written a series of detective novels set in the city: Christopher Lee's started with The Killing of Sally Keemer and Peter Lovesey's first was The Last Detective. You can buy them in at the top of Milsom Street.

Learn
Bath is home to the University of Bath, a very well respected institution that focuses on the sciences, engineering and social sciences. Bath University has world-class sports facilities used by British Olympic athletes. It is located at the top of Bathwick hill, about one mile east of the city centre.

Bath acquired its second university, called Bath Spa University, in 2005. The main campus is in a rural setting at Newton Park to the west of the city.

As with most tourism-heavy cities in the United Kingdom, Bath has a selection of language schools, and colleges for international students. Some of these institutions include International House and Bath Academy.

Work
The Ministry of Defence was a major local employer until 2012. The city has a large technology, finance, and property sector. Outside that Bathonians are generally employed in lower paid tourist, retail and dining industries. The universities and hospital are also large employers. Future Publishing, a large magazine and media company, has many offices in Bath.

Buy
The 2010 Southgate Shopping Centre is constructed in a mock Georgian style and features a selection of mid-to-upper range clothing chains plus some pretty good places to eat. It is opposite the railway and bus station but offers little of interest for the tourist as it provides predominantly mainstream retailers available in many high streets in Britain. This was a historic area up until the 1960s when it was demolished due to persistent flooding problems.

Boutique shopping can be found in the North part of the centre, notable for its art and antique showrooms. Head up Milsom Street to George Street and beyond. Bath claims to have one of the highest percentages of independent shops in any British high-street.

Walcot Street to the north-east of the centre has been designated the "artisan quarter" by the Council and has a number of independent stores.

Eat
For its size, Bath has an excellent choice of eateries for any budget and taste. Mainstream restaurant chains are present as well as many independents. Within the city centre there are Italian, French, Thai, Nepali, Indian, Spanish, Turkish, Japanese and fusion restaurants. There are also specialist fish, steak, and gourmet restaurants. Most pubs sell food at lunchtime and in the evening.

Budget
Head to Kingsmead Square for burgers, kebabs, etc..

Mid-range

International
Bath is well served in this department.

Sweet
Local specialities are:
 * Bath Buns are buttery buns with large bits of sugar and raisins on top and can be bought at any bakers.
 * Sally Lunn's Buns are bigger, with no sugar and raisins, and can be enjoyed at Sally Lunn's Refreshment House with sweet or savoury fillings
 * Bath Oliver Biscuits are available worldwide from supermarkets and delis.

Drink
Bath, has a huge array of pubs and bars to choose from, ranging from the very traditional pubs serving real ale to the typical trendy bars:

The most notable pubs:

Other notable pubs are:

Notable bars are:

Country pubs near Bath
There are many great pubs in the countryside around Bath. The following have been selected based on a real sense of history and/or a great place to sit outside in the summer months:

Nightclubs
Considering the size of this small city there are a reasonable number of nightclubs to be found, in no small part helped by the city's substantial student population. Most club nights cater to mainstream tastes, while serious clubbers tend to travel further afield to the larger cities of Bristol and London. Posters and fliers advertising more specialist nights can be found in locations such as the walls inside the town's independent fast food outlets. A unique aspect (for better or for worse) of Bath's nightclubs is that many of them are located in the cellars of old Georgian buildings and can weave through the ground like mazes.

Water
You can drink the hot Bath mineral water in the Roman Baths, towards the end of the exhibition, and it is included in the cost of admission. Otherwise, one can purchase a sip of the mineral water from the Pump Rooms in the Abbey Churchyard, served from a fountain in the restaurant area for about 50p. Both water sources are filtered. The experience is unforgettable: it has a unique taste due to the minerals that the Romans believed had health benefits for the drinker.

Sleep
Accommodation in and around Bath ranges from budget hostels and smart, comfortable self-catering homes, through elegant bed and breakfast and guest houses, hospitable farms and inns, to top-of-the-range hotels.

Stay safe
Overall Bath is a very safe city to visit; the large number of tourists and university students generates a friendly and vigorous feel to the city. Bath city centre is lively and bustling until late on Friday and Saturday evenings, although things get rougher around kicking out time late at night. Women would be well advised to avoid wandering around alone at night. The common problem for tourists is the occasional groups of homeless beggars around the parks and abbey - you may see them drinking lager and shouting abuse, which can surprise many first-time visitors. However, they're not pushy when asking for money, and argue amongst themselves rather than getting passers-by involved. Accept it as a byproduct of a city that attracts tourism (and therefore money), and it's no problem.

The river between Pultney Bridge and the weir looks good for a spot of swimming when you're young and fit. It is actually very dangerous, and every year people die doing it. Warleigh weir is good if you're looking for a swim - about 3 miles along the canal.

If you're a keen cyclist, there's a wonderful Bath-to-Bristol cycle path at your disposal. However, please be aware that there have been robberies and attacks on this stretch of cycle path in 2008. Police have made arrests, but it's something you should consider if planning to make the journey.

Connect
As of April 2022, Bath has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Bath Library (in the Podium Shopping Centre) offers Internet access at £3.60 an hour for non members.

Go next

 * Bradford on Avon — a beautiful, picture-postcard small town near Bath; it's accessible by rail and there's a lovely 30-minute walk along the canal to Avoncliff where the Cross Guns pub provides good food in an excellent riverside setting - and you can catch the train back to Bath from there. Trains between Bath Spa and Bradford on Avon take 15-20 minutes and run 2-3 times an hour.
 * Bristol — with its many attractions situated around the floating harbour and Avon Gorge, is 12 miles drive or 15 minutes train journey away, and makes an excellent day trip from Bath.
 * Swindon — known for its history as the heart of the Great Western Railway, 20 minutes on the train, or an hour by car on A46 and M4 motorway.

title: Bath


text:
Bath (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Bath:

United Kingdom

 * Bath (England) - A city in Somerset.

United States of America

 * Bath (Maine)
 * Bath (New York) - A town in the Southern Tier
 * Bath (West Virginia) - A town in West Virginia, also known as Berkeley Springs.

Canada

 * Bath (Ontario) is on Lake Ontario, south of Napanee and west of Kingston (Ontario).
 * Bath (New Brunswick)

Travel topics

 * Hygiene and body care
 * Spas
 * Water sport

Bath

title: Bath (disambiguation)


text:
Bath (Maine)

Bath is a city in Maine on the Kennebec River. It has always been a center for shipbuilding and still builds ships at Bath Iron Works.

title: Bath (Maine)


text:
Bathinda

Bathinda is a city in Punjab (India).

By train
Bathinda is well connected via train to other cities of India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, etc. There are frequent trains from Delhi.

By bus
Bathinda is well connected via roads to other cities of India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, etc. There are frequent buses from Delhi.

Sleep

 * Hotel Bahia Fort - 4 Star Government Approved. The Mall, Bathinda
 * Hotel Sepal - Goniana Road, Bhatinda

title: Bathinda


text:
Bathurst

There is more than one place called Bathurst:

Australia

 * Bathurst (New South Wales) - a city in New South Wales
 * Bathurst Island (Northern Territory) - off the northwest coast

Canada

 * Bathurst (New Brunswick) - a city in New Brunswick
 * Bathurst Island (Nunavut) - a large uninhabited island in the far north

South Africa

 * Bathurst (Eastern Cape) - a town in Eastern Cape

Bathurst

title: Bathurst


text:
Bathurst (Eastern Cape)

Bathurst, the pineapple capital of South Africa is located in the Eastern Cape. Many of the original settler houses and other buildings have been preserved, and there remains much of the look and feel of an English village of the early 19th century. The Pig and Whistle Inn, at the heart of the village, is reputed to be the oldest pub in the country. In 2011, it was home to 6,400 people.

Understand
Bathurst was founded in 1820 and named after the colonial secretary of the British government, Lord Bathurst. 10 minutes from Port Alfred and home to the oldest pub in South Africa, the town’s major attraction is the Big Pineapple, which stands 16.7 m high.

By plane
There are two airports near Bathurst. The closest is the East London airport which is 112 km from Addo. The Port Elizabeth airport is 127 km away. There are regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other South African destinations to the airports in Port Elizabeth and East London.

By car
Bathurst is easily accessible by motorways from Cape Town (779 km) or East London (112 km). You could also drive in from Johannesburg (818 km). The road conditions are fairly good if you are coming from any of these cities.

By bus
All major South African coach companies offer regular schedules from places like Addo.

Go next

 * Addo
 * Baviaans
 * Grahamstown
 * Jeffreys Bay & St Francis
 * Karoo Heartland
 * Sunshine Coast
 * Tsitsikamma

title: Bathurst (Eastern Cape)


text:
Bathurst (New Brunswick)

Bathurst is a city of 12,000 people (2016) on the Acadian Coast of New Brunswick, and 30,000 people in its metro area.

Understand
Bathurst is at the southernmost part of Chaleur Bay on Bathurst Harbour, an estuary at the mouth of four rivers: the Nepisiguit River, the Middle River, Little River, and the Tetagouche River. Two spits of land, Carron Point and Alston Point, form the enclosure for the harbour.

Several of the salt marshes around Bathurst Harbour play host to a Chaleur Bay-specific butterfly: the Maritime Ringlet, which flies late July to late August.

Economy
The economy is primarily focused on mining, fishing and forestry. Other sectors include: tourism, phone call centres, manufacturing, and provincial and federal government. The service sector is the city's largest employer. The city has one health care facility, Chaleur Regional Hospital.

The Bathurst Mining Camp provided for almost 50 years a lot of jobs to the regional economy. After it closed in 2013, unemployment rose over 20% in northern New Brunswick. A regional Tax Services Canada and a Transport Canada Marine Safety Service centre are located in the old downtown.

History
Bathurst had been the location of the annual Mi'kmaq (an Aboriginal people) summer coastal community of Nepisiguit prior to European settlement. Europeans first reached the shores of the Baie des Chaleurs when in 1534 it was named by Jacques Cartier. Early settlers from France came to the area in the 17th century in what became part of the colony of Acadia. In 1607 Samuel de Champlain sailed into the Miramichi, and in 1636, Nicolas Denys was granted a seignory by the French crown, apparently the third grant in the colony of Acadie.

Little is known about the region between the death of Nicholas Denys in 1688 and the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), whereby Louis XIV ceded the territory of Acadia to Anne, Queen of Great Britain. The British attempted to remove the remaining scattered Acadians from the Nepisiguit basin and Caraquet in late October 1761. Following the transfer of this part of Acadia to British control in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris, many English and Scottish settlers arrived, eager to exploit the region's natural resources.

The community, which up to 1828 had been named St. Peters, was renamed in honour of Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst (1762–1834), Secretary of State for the Colonies of the British government. Its economic activities included farming, lumbering, and fishing.

Joseph Cunard, attracted by the county's timber resources, set up a branch of his family's shipbuilding firm here in 1837 and his production of ships in Bathurst harbor began in earnest. The age of timber ships began its decline in 1848. This event caused the shipbuilding firm to founder, and with it went New Brunswick's economy. A shipbuilder who followed in Cunard's wake by the name of John O'Brien built more than 60 ships from 1858 to 1877. It was not unusual during the heyday of Bathurst shipbuilding to see anywhere from five to fifteen ships in various stages of construction along the waterfront.

In the 19th century, men were eager to fell trees in the forest around Bathurst all winter long from sunup to sundown (Sundays excepted) for eight to ten dollars a month. Timber camps typically housed 50 men, who were each employed in one of several job descriptions.

The population of the Parish of Bathurst in 1861 was 3,771. Agriculture was the primary occupation of the denizens, and potatoes were the crop of choice. After the closure of Cunard, by 1871 Bathurst's population fell to 600.

The opening of the Intercolonial Railway of Canada in 1876 provided a fast connection from the port of Bathurst to the rest of North America which was essential for developing the region's principal industries in forestry and zinc mining. By 1904 Bathurst was a seaport, a port of entry on the Intercolonial Railway and the Caraquet and Gulf Shore Railway.

Get in
Bathurst is 90 km south of Dalhousie, and 90 km north of Miramichi.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Travel time to Bathurst from Montreal is 13.5 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 9.5 hours, from Moncton is 3.75 hours, and from Halifax is 8.25 hours. Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By bus

 * Operates a route between Campbellton and Moncton including stops in Dalhousie, Bathurst, Miramichi, and Moncton Airport. Travel time to Bathurst from Campbellton is 1.25 hours, from Miramichi is 45 minutes, and from Moncton is 2.75 hours.
 * Travel to Bathurst from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Edmundston (11.25 hours), Fredericton (7.5 hours), Halifax (6.75 hours), and Saint John (7.75 hours) with a transfer in Moncton.
 * From Charlottetown (5.75 hours) with transfers in Amherst and Moncton.
 * From Antigonish (7.75 hours), North Sydney (10.5 hours), Sydney (11.25 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton.

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

From Quebec City: the most popular route is Highway 132 East through Matapedia, down to Campbellton, and then to Bathurst on Highway 11 South. Travelling down the Trans-Canada from Riviere-du-Loup, down to St-Leonard, NB, up to St-Quentin on Highway 17 North, and over to Bathurst on Highway 180 East takes you directly through the Appalachian mountains, and is quite an experience for the adventurous traveller.

From the U.S.: the fastest way to Bathurst is most likely across I-95 to Woodstock, NB, and up the Trans-Canada 2 West to St-Leonard, over to St-Quentin on Highway 17 North, and across to Bathurst on Highway 180 East. However, this route has few amenities between St-Leonard and Bathurst, with the exception of St-Quentin. A less-isolated route would be taking the Trans-Canada 2 East from Woodstock to Fredericton, then taking Highway 8 North to Bathurst.

From Nova Scotia: take Highway 104 across to Sackville, NB and continue to Moncton on Highway 2 West. Then take Highway 15 East to Shediac. From Shediac, take Highway 11 North to Bathurst.

From Prince Edward Island: cross the Confederation Bridge and continue to the 15/16 traffic circle. At the traffic circle, go on Highway 15 West to Shediac. From Shediac, take Highway 11 North to Bathurst.

Get around
Bathurst is a lovely, picturesque city. Driving around it from the Basin to the Marina is a pleasant experience. Some recommended scenic routes are along Queen Elizabeth Way, by the coastal cottages and houses, and Basin Street/Riverside Drive, around the Bathurst Basin. For biking, jogging, or walking, the New Brunswick Trail can be found all over Bathurst and is a good way of getting around.

See
There are all sorts of remarkable sites to see in Bathurst. The ocean is, of course, the most predominant of all sites.
 * La Promenade Waterfront is cluster of shops, art, boutiques, a visitor information center, and an outdoor pavilion that hosts a variety of activities throughout the year. There are boardwalks with views of the Bay of Chaleur.
 * Bathurst Hospitality Days is a week-long festival with many activities. It includes four nights of concerts, featuring a mix of classic rock, Acadian and maritime music.
 * Bathurst Chamber Music Festival is an annual week-long classical music festival which features over 30 emerging musicians and composers from around Canada and abroad.

Buy
Bathurst has two malls: the Superstore Mall, and the Place Bathurst Mall (both on St. Peter's Avenue). The Place Bathurst Mall is the only one that is still kicking, although the new grocery store in the Superstore Mall has somewhat rejuvenated it. There is also a good bookstore in the Superstore Mall. There are some lovely boutiques in downtown Bathurst, and of course, the usual tourist gift shops. For someone from outside of Canada, there is a Tim Horton's on practically every corner, so it's impossible to avoid the place.

title: Bathurst (New Brunswick)


text:
Bathurst (New South Wales)

Bathurst is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, some 200 km west of Sydney, mostly known for the Bathurst 1000 racing event.

Understand
The area's traditional owners are the Muurrai clan of the Wiradjuri people. The British town was founded in 1815 as the first inland European settlement on the Australian continent and Bathurst quickly became an expanding regional centre. Its wealth grew considerably during the first wave of the Australian Gold Rush in the 1850s and to this day plays off its history and gold rush heritage to attract visitors. Today it is a modern rural city, with good visitor facilities and walking down the main street you may be mistaken for thinking you're in a major urban centre.

Being inland of the ranges, Bathurst has greater temperature extremes than the coast. Summer days can be very hot, and there can be an occasional day of snowfall in winter. Bathurst also has areas of colourful leaves and flowers in the autumn and spring.

By car
Bathurst is approximately 2.5 hours drive west of Sydney. Cross the Blue Mountains on either the Great Western Highway from the Penrith area or the Bells Line of Road from the Windsor area. On the other side of the mountains, follow the Great Western Highway from Lithgow to Bathurst.

The road between Lithgow and Bathurst is straight and quick with parts of it being a divided highway, however expect significant traffic delays when crossing the Blue Mountains away from Sydney on a Friday afternoon or returning to Sydney at the end of a weekend.

By train and bus
sees the following services:
 * NSW Trainlink XPT. Bathurst is a stop on the Daily XPT Service from Sydney to Dubbo.  The cost will be around $70 return, but the service allows a full day to visit Bathurst.  Arriving Bathurst early morning and departing late afternoon.  You must book this ticket online with NSW Trainlink before travelling.
 * NSW Trainlink Bathurst Bullet (Unbooked). The Bathurst Bullet is an unbooked service that leaves Bathurst for Sydney early morning, and returns to Bathurst late at night.  Its primary purpose is to give Bathurst residents access to a day in Sydney.  This train accepts Opal, so the most you'll pay is $8.50 each way.  Less if you have other Opal discounts.
 * NSW Trainlink Lithgow Train and Coach. There is a NSW Trainlink coach that meets the Lithgow train.  You'll find the timetable on the Sydney trains website.  You have two choices with this service.  You can use Opal all the way, and ring NSW Trainlink to reserve a seat on the coach for no additional charge on 13 22 32, and pay the Opal fare (always less than $8.50), or you can book the service online for $11.80.  This is an identical service no matter which way you use it.  Your seat is reserved on the coach, and unreserved on the train in any event.  You'll simply pay more if you use the NSW Trainlink website to book.

By coach
Australia Wide Coaches or Sydney Transport Group have an express service from Bathurst to the Sydney City and on to Sydney airport every morning, and return in the afternoon. Price is less than the booked regional train service, but more than unbooked intercity train service.

By foot
Most attractions are within five or six blocks of the Bathurst train station.

By bus
Bathurst Buslines offers are extensive service to Bathurst and surrounding area. Monday to Friday it offers a useful service. Saturday is limited, and Sunday there is no service. You pay your fare on boarding, and the services do not accept Opal. The most useful route for tourists is route 526 that operates in the central business district. This bus stops at the train station, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, at the base of Mount Panorama, and some hotels and restaurants.

See
The Bathurst visitors information has three self-guided walking tours available to explore the history of Bathurst.

Events

 * The Bathurst 1000. The Bathurst 1000 is an annual 1000-km motor race for touring cars in the Supercars Championship, held once a year in October at Mount Panorama just outside Bathurst. The weekend of the Bathurst 1000 attracts Bathurst's largest contingent of visitors.
 * Bathurst Show

Learn
Charles Sturt University has a Bathurst campus in Panorama Avenue in the south of Bathurst. ph 6338 4000. Its B Arts (Communications) degrees in theatre, journalism, advertising and public relations among others are particularly well regarded.

Stay safe
The weekend of the Bathurst 1000 is a risky time to be driving in the area: the fans are keen to emulate their heroes, and reckless driving is much more common than at other times.

Go next
The second large town in the area, Orange, is only half an hours drive west on the Mitchell Highway, and several bus services run between the two every day.

The interesting historical gold mining towns of Sofala and Hill End are about an hours drive away if you want to try your luck panning for gold.

Abercrombie Caves offer a less crowded alternative to the more famous Jenolan caves. Cave tours are available (as well as a self-guided tour). The route via Abercrombie is a scenic route to Canberra and the Southern Highlands.

title: Bathurst (New South Wales)


text:
Batken

Batken is a town of 16,000 people (2021) in the Ferghana Valley of Kyrgyzstan, close by to the border crossing to Tajikistan.

Understand
The town was heavily damaged by shelling in the 2022 Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan clashes.

Get in
Shared taxis depart when full from Osh, taking about 5 hours and costing 1000 som when not crossing the Uzbek enclave. As the main road between Osh and Batken passes through a small bit of Uzbekistan, remember to ask the driver to go around if you do not have an Uzbek visa in addition to a multiple entry Kyrgyz visa.

Go next
Tajikistan

title: Batken


text:
Batman

Batman (pronounced as baat-maan, not like the name of the superhero; Kurdish: Iluh) is a city in southeastern Anatolia. It is the capital of an important oil producing province.

Understand
A village of a couple of hundred people in 1950s when petroleum was discovered in the surrounding mountains, Batman has grown ever since, having a population of several hundred thousands today. Large numbers of immigrants from surrounding region also contributed to quick urbanization, usually with no respect to building codes. Therefore, most of the city is slums surrounding a plaza by the railway station in the downtown and an oil refinery south of the station.

The city's name is, unsurprisingly, entirely unrelated to that of the famed fictional superhero. Instead, it is theorized to be a shortened form of Batı Raman, i.e. "Western Raman (Mountains)" where petroleum was first found in the vicinity. In fact, the city's name actually postdates that of the comic book, as the character Batman first appeared in 1939, while the former village of Iluh was only renamed in the 1950s. This didn't stop the then mayor of Batman from threatening to sue Warner Bros. in 2009 (after the release of The Dark Knight), though no suit actually materialized.

By bus
Buses are available from various cities across Turkey, especially frequent are the services from surrounding cities such as Diyarbakir and Tatvan (at least one daily; it costs 15 TL pp from Tatvan). The bus station (otogar) of the city is located in the northern outskirts, about one to one and a half hour walk away from the city centre/train station.

By rail
The Guney Kurtalan Express operates three times per week between Ankara via Diyarbakır and Batman on to Kurtalan, about 40 km further east from Batman. Notice that this train do get overcrowded during early August because of huge numbers of seasonal workers taking the train to work in western Turkey during the harvest season. It might be almost impossible to find a ticket further than Diyarbakır during that season and the can be uncomfortable because of the huge numbers of passengers getting on and off the train.

By plane
Batman har a small regional airports with daily domestic flights from major cities.

Do

 * One of the most popular things for tourists to do is taking pictures of things with the word Batman on them, such as the highway sign at the entrance of the city.

Buy
There is an ATM (of Halkbank) located on the side of the small square near the train station.

Go next

 * Hasankeyf on the banks of Tigris River to the south is, unlike Batman, a village full of historical sights and impressive views of nature. About 40 minutes away.

title: Batman


text:
Batna

Batna is a city in Northeast Algeria. It is also the main city and commune of Batna Province. With a population of around 340,000, it is the fifth largest city in Algeria.

By plane
Only Air Algérie serves this city and they serve a domestic route and international routes.

Domestic: Batna-Algiers

International: Batna-Lyon, Batna-Marseille, And Batna-Paris Orly

Seasonal: Batna-Paris CDG

By train
There's at least one train leaving Algiers' Agha station at 12:33 arriving in Batna 19:09.

By bus or shared taxi
Transport from Constantine arrives at the Gare Routière Nord. A shared taxi is DA400.

By taxi
Best and most popular way to get around is to use a taxi. There are no apps such as Uber, so you need to use the local taxis. Or you can rent your very own chauffeur.

By bus
Bus is also a very popular choice. Usually cheaper. And take also take you to far distances. Bus thieves are pretty common. So make sure to always check your pocket.

See
Batna is full of historical Roman places. Timgad is a ruined Roman settlement, sacked by Berbers around 700 AD, about 35 km from Batna. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is an excellent example of Roman town planning.

 * Aurès mountains, are mountains that has rugged peaks and ancient history sites

 * Belzma National park has protected landscapes for animals and plants

 * Ghoufi, a canyon that is history rich and has stunning nature.

 * Madghacen (also spelled Medracen or Medghassen or Madghis) is a royal mausoleum-temple of the Berber Numidian kings which stands near Batna city in Aurasius Mons in Numidia.

Do
Batna has a lot of waterparks. Most popular one is Lompi Family Park, both a waterpark and a garden, between the high mountains, nature, and trees.

Amusement park Qadri, a theme park that has an impressive amount of ferris wheels and activities.

Buy

 * Batna has a good quality of gold and jewellery at relatively cheap prices compared to other cities. There are all types of gold accessories such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc.

 * Algerian dates are among the best in the world, and are exported to other countries. Buying it from the date capital of Algeria is really worth it because the prices are much cheaper compared to Europe and The United States. You can buy a 1 kg box of fresh dates straight from the palm tree for €3.

Eat
There are tons and tons of restaurants in Batna. Restaurants usually serve grills and pizzas. Cafeterias serve coffee, Atay (Algerian tea), and Algerian and French desserts. There are very few vegan restaurants, but it isn’t that hard to find one.

Drink
Most popular things to drink in the area are coffee and Atay (Algerian tea). There are also bars which serve beers and local wine. Algeria has one of the best wines in the continent. Franchises such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts aren’t available. If you can’t choose which cafeteria to drink from then you can ask locals from the city and they will guide you there.

Sleep
There is a decent amount of hotels in Batna, from normal tents in the desert to high-end hotels in the middle of the city. Some budget motels and hotels can be found using major booking sites, but for many availabilities are not available online. Calling is required for those. Or simply ask locals who know the area very well. Plan before going.

title: Batna


text:
Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, USA. Located on the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is Louisiana's second largest city, home of Louisiana State University, major port facilities, and a variety of attractions.

Understand
The name of Baton Rouge was given on 17 March 1699, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, led an expedition along the Mississippi River. The early French explorers found a pole stained with blood of fish and animals that served as the dividing line between the Bayougoula and Houmas Indians. It is from this "red stick" that Iberville called the city le Baton Rouge, French for "red stick". The city was founded in 1721.

The small town here was selected as the new capital of state of Louisiana in 1817, and it's been growing since. The capital was returned to New Orleans for a while during and after the troubles of the American Civil War, but it's been back here since 1882.

Climate
Baton Rouge has a semi-tropical climate, perfect for outdoor activities.

The weather is consistently warm from May to September. Be warned that, like the rest of the Southern United States during the summer, it can become down-right miserable, with sustained temperatures in the 90s (°F) with 100% humidity. Proper medical precautions should be taken if you plan on partaking in outdoor activities, such as ample amounts of sunscreen and hydration. Also, there are many days throughout July that are classified as "ozone days" due to severe ground-level ozone, which can damage the health of sensitive individuals.

Winter is usually mild and short-lived. Spring is glorious with cool nights and warm, sunny days. A light jacket is all that is needed. Fall is mild and only a light sweater is needed in the evenings.

May is considered the best month to visit, good for outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Precipitation is reasonably well-distributed and ample throughout the year with an average annual precipitation of 55 in (140 cm)
 * Average summer temperature: 81.3°F (27°C)
 * Average winter temperature: 52.5°F (11°C)
 * Average annual temperature: 67.5°F (20°C)

Baton Rouge, like many cities in the Gulf States, has what is known as 5 seasons. The 5th season is hurricane season, the time of year between June 1 and November 30 when hurricanes are most likely to form.

Tourist information

 * Visit Baton Rouge website

By train

While there is no Amtrak train service to Baton Rouge, connecting bus service can be booked with the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Los Angeles as well as with City of New Orleans, which runs to and from Chicago.

By car
From New Orleans, Baton Rouge is an 80-mi (129-km) northwest drive on I-10, which drives into the heart of downtown. The distance between the two Louisiana cities is an easy 90-min drive if you avoid weekday rush hours; if you catch the traffic of commuter rush hours at either end it can take a lot longer.

If you're driving in from anywhere east of Louisiana, come into Baton Rouge via I-12, which will take you north of Lake Ponchartrain and bypasses New Orleans. From the west, I-10 connects Lafayette, Houston, San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix, and Los Angeles with Baton Rouge. From the east, I-10 connects Baton Rouge with New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, and Jacksonville. If you're coming from Chicago, St. Louis, or Memphis follow I-55 South and merge onto I-12 West and continue driving for roughly 45 mi (72 km).

By bus
In town the bus companies have their own separate stations & stops in downtown (Flixbus, Greyhound and Megabus) and in the east side of town (Turimex):

Theaters

Buy

 * Denham Springs Antique Village, about 18 miles east of Baton Rouge on North Range Aveune (LA 16) between Centerville Street (LA 1032) and Railroad Avenue. Antiques are a pretty serious matter in this town.
 * Denham Springs Antique Village, about 18 miles east of Baton Rouge on North Range Aveune (LA 16) between Centerville Street (LA 1032) and Railroad Avenue. Antiques are a pretty serious matter in this town.
 * Denham Springs Antique Village, about 18 miles east of Baton Rouge on North Range Aveune (LA 16) between Centerville Street (LA 1032) and Railroad Avenue. Antiques are a pretty serious matter in this town.

Drink
The Baton Rouge Metro Council has outlawed many drink specials in establishments classified as bars, so if you're looking to save a buck, you should stick with drinking in restaurants. However, if you're looking for that bar atmosphere, there are several places to choose from. Baton Rouge's blue laws were repealed in 2007, but restrictions on drink specials are still in effect.

Go next

 * Covington to the east
 * New Orleans
 * Plantation houses along River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans
 * River Parishes in Acadiana, on the other side of the Mississippi River
 * St. Francisville to the north

title: Baton Rouge


text:
Battalgazi

Battalgazi is a town in Eastern Anatolia, north of Malatya. With its 14,000 inhabitants, Battalgazi is a typical Turkish provincial town with mostly concrete low rise buildings and some faint remnants from its past.

Understand
Battalgazi was the original location of Malatya, as implied by its local (and formerly official) name, Eski Malatya ("Old Malatya").

The settlement in the vicinity—particularly the Arslantepe mound (Arslantepe Höyüğü) near the town of Orduzu to the southeast of Battalgazi—dates back to the 4th millennium BCE. However, it was the Hittites, originated from the west and conquered the area in the 14th century BCE, giving the area its present name: Malidiya, possibly related to the Hittite word of melid, which meant "honey".

The long list of rulers of the area post-Hittites include the Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Armenians, Crusaders, Seljuk Turks, Mamluk Turks, and Ottoman Turks.

In 1838, during a war between the Ottoman Empire and the forces of Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt, the Ottoman army seized the town, forcing the local population to nearby Aspuzu, then a collection of cottages amidst the orchards in the outskirts of the town. After the war, the people decided not to return to their battered town, and settled permanently in Aspuzu, renaming it to Malatya.

The abandoned old town was later re-populated, and after being called Eski Malatya for more than a century, was renamed Battalgazi in 1987, after Battal Gazi, a legendary warrior who is thought to have bornt in the region (he is likely a fictional character based on the real-life exploits of an 8th century Islamic warrior).

Get in
Battalgazi lies 10 km north of Malatya, and a wide avenue free of potholes and with separated directions through lush apricot groves connects each other.

It's possible to catch public buses (run by Malatya City Council–Malatya Belediyesi, lines #B1, #25, #251) and minibuses (recognizable by large banners saying Battalgazi Koop in front of them, which is the name of the company that runs them), which depart every 15 minutes, from various stops in downtown Malatya. However, to avoid long de-tours through the city, it is best to wait for them in the stop just off the roundabout where the road to Battalgazi branches off the main highway. (Directions from the central square: walk east along Cumhuriyet Caddesi and Kışla Caddesi for 500 m. You will arrive at an intersection, turn left into Sivas Caddesi here; look for the sign saying Aslantepe Höyüğü in the centre of that intersection. After a walk of about a kilometre along Sivas Caddesi, past a stadium, you will arrive at a large roundabout with traffic lights on the main intercity highway. Cross the highway at those traffic lights, and there you have the bus stop on the right, 50 m down the street.)

A one-way ride on both the buses and minibuses costs 1.25 TL. Minibuses can be a little crowded on the weekends, but it's a 15-minute ride maximum anyway.

Get around
Once you step out of the bus/minibus at the town's central square, you have no other option but to walk. But note that while signage for street names is adequate (usually on small blue signs on the walls of the buildings on the corners of the streets), the signage for interesting sights is woefully rare or even totally non-existent, so either have a print-out of a detailed map of the area before you go, or trust your luck on finding the sights.

You will see lots of local kids around the main sights of interest, and be ready to be shouted at by them ("hello, tourist!" seems to be their favourite phrase). Some will (persistently) try their broken and limited English on you, and might recite what the buildings were used for, etc. You may accept their guidance but keep in mind that they are doing this in the expectation of a tip, so do return the favour if you chose to take a tour with them.

They may keep following you for a while even if you are clearly disinterested, but be patient and they will give up sooner or later. A kind "good bye!" might help.

See
The town is littered by many historic structures, most of which date back to Seljuk era, and some of which have been renovated, while others waiting for the same favour in a half-ruined state.

Of these, "must-see"s include:

A number of other tombs and smaller monuments, parts of which are in ruins, are scattered throughout the town.

A neighbourhood between the Great Mosque and the central square consists of whitewashed houses and streets surfaced by large stones, creating a nice but faux preserved townscape, as none of those buildings are historic.

Ruins of Roman-built city walls, including a re-built arch gate, can be seen just off the road from Malatya.

Connect
The area code of the town is (+90) 422.

There is a small postoffice (PTT) in the town, open M-F 08:30-17:00.

Go next

 * Karakaya Dam (Turkish: Karakaya Barajı; locally baraj for short) — a ride of 20 minutes further north through verdant apricot orchards, you can reach the banks of the Karakaya Dam lake, a favourite fishing spot of the locals at the weekends. While there are no businesses on the coast (no restaurants or cafes; save for a ferry harbour), the view of grayish serene waters backed by dramatically rising barren mountains on the opposite shore is quite worth the effort to get there. And it could be a nice watersports spot if it weren't for the trash lying around.
 * Public bus line #B1, and most, if not all, of the minibuses from Malatya continue on to the dam lake after Battalgazi. The bus/minibus fare is fixed (1.25 TL) and doesn't depend on where you caught it (i.e., downtown Battalgazi, or all the way from Malatya).
 * A crossing of the lake takes around 20 minutes by ferries, which depart at 07:30, 11:00, 15:30 daily from the harbour on Battalgazi side (with return voyages at 08:00, 13:00, 17:00). They accept vehicles and foot passengers, however, they depart whenever their vehicular capacity is full without waiting for the departure time to come, so show up at least half an hour before the scheduled departure if you are a traveller with no vehicle. The road from the harbour on the opposite banks leads to the town of Baskil and further on to Elazığ. This is quite a remote route and the main highway to Elazığ leads east from Malatya, crossing the dam lake by a bridge.

title: Battalgazi