text:
Râșnov

Râșnov is a town in Transylvania, Romania, in the popular tourist county of Brașov.

Understand
Râșnov is part of the region called Burzenland, a historical region that was colonized by Germans. The town itself was founded by German settlers in the 13th century near the site of an old fort dating from Thracian-Roman times. It is home to a freshly restored Saxon fortress from the 14th century, and also to many old Saxon houses. The German name of the town is "Rosenau", which means Rosepond. There are about 15,000 inhabitants who live next to a huge forest that leads up the mountains. The river Ghimbasel (German: Weidenbach) crosses the town. Today most of the population is Romanian, but there are also Romas, and some Germans and Magyars. The city is rapidly developing towards an important tourism town, while new pensions and attractions are being developed. Those who rush through Brașov county, stop by to see the fortress, but many people take the time to stay here for a few days and enjoy its blend of nature and fun. Others choose it as a cheap and quiet base to explore the surrounding area with its numerous attractions (Brașov, Sinaia, Bran, Zărnești, Prejmer, etc.)

By car

 * From Brașov: exit Brașov to the south, toward Pitești and Rucăr. You will drive for about 10 km, then pass Cristian, and after another 2-3 km you will reach Râșnov. Total distance from Brașov: About 15 km.
 * From Bucharest/Sinaia: while driving on national road DN1 you will reach Predeal. Here, after passing over a bridge, take a road to the left. You will pass Pârâul Rece. Distance from Predeal: about 17 km. Distance from Bucharest: about 180 km.
 * From Pitești/Bran/Moeciu: Follow the road to Brașov. You will pass Bran and Tohanu Nou. Distance from Bran: about 15 km.
 * From Poiana Brașov: As you drive towards Brașov, in the center of Poiana Brașov, just 100-150 m after the big parking space, there is a road to the left. Take that road, and then after 50 m take it to the right into the forest. Don't worry, the road is very good. The next city is Râșnov. Distance from Poiana Brașov: about 10 km.

In Râșnov there are 2 gas stations on the main road, one Lukoil (exit towards Brașov) and one Petrom (exit towards Bran).

By train
There is a train on the route Brașov-Râșnov-Zărnești. It leaves from Brașov main station, where you can also get tickets, but you will have to ask which cassa is the right one as it is a private company. Alternatively, you can buy tickets on the train. The price for one trip is about 2.7 lei.

 * the trains from Brașov to Râșnov leave at: 06:13, 08:18, 12:00, 14:17, 16:02, 18:10, 20:12.
 * the trains from Râșnov to Brașov leave at: 05:40, 07:19, 11:09, 13:29, 15:27, 17:29, 19:24, 21:34.
 * the trains from Râșnov to Zărnești leave at: 06:34, 08:40, 12:21, 14:38, 16:23, 18:31, 20:32, 22:36.

This timetable is also valid for weekends.

You should get off in the first station in Râșnov, otherwise you will end up about 2 km from the town in Râșnov h. The stations are as follows: Brașov Main station - Brașov Bartolomeu - Cristian - Râșnov - Râșnov H - Tohanu Vechi - T Moșoiu - Zărnești.

Tip: on Saturday and Sunday you can use an old steam-train on the route Brașov-Râșnov-Zărnești. This train leaves Brașov at around 09:00 and then goes back to Brașov from Râșnov at exactly 11:36. One ticket is about 10 lei.

By bus

Brașov: The bus runs every 10-30 minutes from Codreanu Autostation (also known as "Autogara 2"; it is next to the soccer stadium. Use the lines to get there). First fare is at 06:30, last fare is at 21:00. Saturday and Sunday they go only every 20-40 minutes, and last fare is at 17:00. In Râșnov the bus stops several times. The price is 4 lei. To get from the main train station to Autogara 2 use line 23 or 23B. To get here from the center take the line 16. In order to return to Brașov, go to Strada Republicii street and the stop is near the technical liceum (Grupul Școlar Industrial).

Bran: the bus towards Brașov crosses Râșnov.

Poiana Brașov, Predeal: none.

Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking to Râșnov from Brașov is a regular practice. The place you can try are the intersection of Lunga Street with soseaua Cristianului. Be sure to stand on the side of the road that goes out of the city (across the street from Bartholomeus Church). The second spot is down that road, toward Pitești, on the strip between Eliana Mall and the train crossing.

Hitchhiking from Bran is also quite a natural phenomenon: stay in the bus station or on the road and signal your intent.

Hitchhikers have been seen to be picked up from the road Predeal - Brașov, but you will certainly need more patience.

It is polite to give the driver about 2-3 lei per person, from all these directions.

By taxi
Any taxi driver will be glad to take you to Râșnov, but make sure you choose one which runs for a company. The price per kilometre should not exceed 2 lei, and it must be shown on the door of the cab. You will also have to pay for the trip back that the taxi driver will have to make. The double fee per km will be calculated from the moment you are at the train passing and exit Brașov (but the sign with crossed Brașov will be reached only after 2-3 km). The total trip from Brașov (train station) should not cost more than 40-45 lei.

Get around

 * Easiest is to walk,
 * but there is also a taxi: Tur Taxi, or  or.
 * You can also get around with the bus that stops several times as it goes/comes to/from Brașov.

Main attractions

 * How to get thereː
 * by car: from Râșnov city centre take the road towards Poiana Brașov and right where Râșnov ends go left. A forest road leads up to the parking for the fortress. Can be crowded and tight in high season.
 * by foot: a wonderful walking path takes you from the center to the fortress, through a shady forest (but it is now under construction). As you face the hill from the city centre, you will see a big entrance between two big old buildings (on the left there is a shop, and on the right a pub). Go through that entrance and follow the path. Walking time: 15-20 minutes. Difficulty: you need to be more or less fit, but certainly not a passionate hiker.
 * by funicularː it's close to the above-mentioned path.
 * by foot (alternative)ː Go along "Strada Cetății" until you reach a big parking place. There is a big cobblestone road that goes up to the castle. Here you may also take a "train" (actually a tractor with a trailer) that will take up the hill for a few lei (only during tourist season). However, it is extremely slow (walkers can pass it little effort) and generally not worth the money.
 * Old Orthodox Church: from the centre park with the hill on your left hand side, go straight and then the second street to the left (quite a small street). Total walking distance: about 10-15 minutes. The church was built in 1384 by the Dan I Basarab. It also houses a small museum.
 * Cheile Râșnoavei - this green canyon is appreciated for its beauty not only by locals and tourists but also by movie producers who have filmed here. In the canyon there is a fast mountain river with many small waterfalls. Here you can bungee jump, rappel, walk, drive an ATV, climb, picnic, tent (but beware of bears), or just enjoy this natural and well preserved area.
 * Cheile Râșnoavei - this green canyon is appreciated for its beauty not only by locals and tourists but also by movie producers who have filmed here. In the canyon there is a fast mountain river with many small waterfalls. Here you can bungee jump, rappel, walk, drive an ATV, climb, picnic, tent (but beware of bears), or just enjoy this natural and well preserved area.

Other attractions

 * Old Saxon houses: in the centre towards the north. From the center park, with the hill on your right hand side, go straight and you will find several streets with old houses. After you pass the school go right, and follow the road that goes under the hill. You will end up with a beautiful walk through the forest. Most houses are 100-200 years old, and quite a few are beautifully restored.
 * Old Saxon cemetery on Armata Romana street.
 * Roma neighborhood. The Roma neighbourhood is towards Pârâul Rece (Predeal).
 * Orchids several orchid species can be found around and in Râșnov. It is also the home town of the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club.
 * Surroundings: you can go to Bran and see the old Castle, or to Zărnești and visit the Piatra Craiului National Park, one of the greatest in Romania. You can visit Brașov, Poiana Brașov and Predeal. Râșnov, or Rosenau, was one of the towns in the old Saxon Burzenland, and around it you can visit the other old towns. Sinaia with Peles Castle and the view from 2200 m is a great place to visit.

Around Râșnov

 * the old city of Brașov with the Black church and many towers.
 * Prejmer fortified church, a UNESCO world heritage site

Do

Relaxing

 * Walk in the Promenada, a path in a forest at the base of a hill.
 * Hiking Lots of hiking opportunities. Towards the south, you can get to Bucegi mountains (Malaiesti chalet is 5 hr from the town, you can stay there for 20 lei/person. From there you can go to Omu Peak in 2-3 hr). Towards the east, you can get to Cheile Râșnoavei and Poiana Brașov.
 * Travel with a steam engine train (see get in section above)
 * Picnic: in the Cheile Râșnoavei region you can have the picnic of your life.
 * Travel with a steam engine train (see get in section above)
 * Picnic: in the Cheile Râșnoavei region you can have the picnic of your life.

Exciting

 * Mountain climbing : several tracks. Please check this official site. Rappel and other similar activities are available. Also check the website of the local mountain club or call them  or.
 * Horse riding: there are places in the Cheile Râșnoavei region and on the road towards Bran. Check: pecailarasnov.ro.
 * Bow shooting : up in the fortress you can shoot with a sport bow.
 * Drive an ATV (also known as quad) through many forest tracks.
 * Tent in the Cheile Râșnoavei region. But beware of bears: don't venture too far into the canyon. See also Extreme section.
 * Skiing and snowboarding - Râșnov is 20 minutes by car from Predeal and Poiana Brașov, two important skiing resorts in Romania. You can rent all the equipment in the resorts (including sledges). Accommodation in Râșnov is however much cheaper.
 * Skiing and snowboarding - Râșnov is 20 minutes by car from Predeal and Poiana Brașov, two important skiing resorts in Romania. You can rent all the equipment in the resorts (including sledges). Accommodation in Râșnov is however much cheaper.
 * Skiing and snowboarding - Râșnov is 20 minutes by car from Predeal and Poiana Brașov, two important skiing resorts in Romania. You can rent all the equipment in the resorts (including sledges). Accommodation in Râșnov is however much cheaper.

Extreme

 * Bungee jumping: presumably one of the highest in eastern Europe - 137 m. You jump between cliffs in the "Cheile Rasnoavei" region. The cost is €100 for one jump, and you need to make an appointment by calling Florin Saşca -.
 * Paragliding
 * Get eaten by a bear - certainly a life's experience. The huge forests that stretch out towards Poiana Brașov and Predeal are home to many wild bears. If you tent at night in the wrong place you might make a new hairy friend. Warning: Bears are really dangerous, and camping in Cheile Rasnoavei might result in an encounter. Unless you camp at the entrance of the canyon, on the field side of Râșnov, in a fenced camping or in a yard, you expose yourself to the life-threatening situation of being visited by a rude bear who will disregard your gun, stick, fire, ninja sword, pepper spray or air gun. Bears go out at night. Walking in the forests during the day is safe, and a common practice for locals. If you encounter a bear at night it is looking for food, which is not you, but all the vegetables you are traveling with (or, if it is starving, the meat). Let it do its feeding and retreat slowly.

Beauty and fitness

 * A small fitness center is on Teiului street (close to the Saxon school).
 * A tanning studio is right next to the Saxon school.

Around Râșnov

 * Climb in the climbing park Aventura, in Brașov:
 * Swim in Brașov

Buy

 * You can buy extraordinary stones in the fortress, as well as folklore art and handmade art.
 * Râșnov has a market with fresh fruit and vegetables.
 * Local cheese: in the market, or in shops.
 * Râșnov has two supermarkets: Penny Market and Billa
 * Art from several local artists in Râșnov: beautiful religious paintings by the local artist Toma Condrea and Camelia Condrea phone: . Ioan Negus and Maria Negus paint modern art, they live on Bălcescu street, number 8; . Savluc Boris does pastel art. He can be found on Brazilor street 47,.

Banks

 * BCR Erste Bank with ATMs and money transfer is in Piata Unirii 10 (the centre)
 * BRD Groupe Societte General with ATM and money transfer is in Caraiman street 2, near the market.
 * Raiffeisen Bank with ATM is at Republicii street, near the market.

Eat
There are a few restaurants in Râșnov.
 * Izvor is the cheapest place to eat in Râșnov, but food is good. A soup is 5 lei, a beer 3 lei. It is in the centre opposite of the hospital.
 * Rosenau is from the city center towards the market: with the hill in your back go down the street with the Evanghelic Church (2 min walking). It looks good, but food is expensive and doesn't taste as good as in other places.
 * Radsor, the restaurant of the eponymous hotel, can be found on a parallel street: with the Castle Pub in your back go straight ahead on a small street which also has the BCR Bank building and a fire station.
 * Sub Cetate Sergiana, Strada Cetății 34, a choice of sausages or little meat pies or other sundry choices in a lodge-type place.

You can also buy your own food at the two supermarkets, Penny Market and Minimax. If you are looking for fresh meat for a barbecue, try the renowned butcher Arzoiu in the intersection Caraiman street and Armata Romana street.

Drink

 * From the center towards the market (with the hill in your back, straight ahead) you can walk 2 min to Rosenau restaurant and bar.
 * La Strada can be found as you walk 2 min from the center with the hill on your right hand side. Right after you pass the school yard on your right.
 * Also in the center there is Puscalupi at Strada Libertății 2. It has a very authentic Transylvanian/Romanian feel.

You will not pay more than 9 lei in any of these for a beer. You will probably also get beer for about 4.5 lei in any of these.

Sleep
There are many pensions offering accommodation for good prices in Râșnov and new ones are being opened all the time. Most of them are small pensions. You can find places that charge €10-30 for one night. Here are some (you can find more in Google using the terms "cazare Râșnov").

Many people find it advantageous to stay in nearby Brașov -- it is significantly larger, with more options for sleeping, dining, and nightlife, and travel to Râșnov is a 30-minute bus ride that costs approximately 4.5 lei. }} couchsurfing in Râșnov, use parameters Romania, Brașov, Râșnov. There are two campgrounds in Râșnov: one before you exit the town towards Poiana Brașov, and one in the Glejerie area.
 * Redis: 8 rooms, 70 lei/night. Strada Izvorului 61, phone
 * Rock & Red: 7 rooms, 3 apartments, internet, playroom and small fitness, 150 lei/night. Strada Ion Luca Caragiale 165, phone ,
 * Rem's:13 rooms, garage, 75 lei/night. Strada Cetății 13, phone ,
 * Max international: 18 rooms, parking, minispa, 120 lei/night. Strada Brândușelor 32, ,
 * Pensiunea Andrei: 5 rooms, parking, 80 lei/night. DN73 519, Moieciu de Jos, ,
 * Belvedere: 10 rooms, 2 apartments, internet, parking, 80 lei/night. Calea Brașovului 1,, ,
 * Casa Râșnoveana: 6 rooms, parking, 70 lei/night. Strada Teilor 50, {{phone|+40 268 231 708, {{phone|+40 742 224 090}}, {{phone|+40 745 999 050}}
 * {{listing | type=sleep
 * name=Vila Nely | alt= | url= | email=
 * address=Strada Mihai Viteazul 22 | lat= | long= | directions=
 * phone=+40 763 429 469 | tollfree= | fax=
 * checkin= | checkout= | price=80 lei/night
 * wikipedia= | wikidata=
 * lastedit=
 * content=6 rooms, parking.
 * lastedit=
 * content=6 rooms, parking.
 * Casa Contelui: 5 rooms, internet, parking, 120 lei/night. Strada Nicolae Bălcescu 16, {{phone|+40 756 770 009}}, {{phone|+40 745 011 870}}
 * Casa Ducar: 5 rooms, parking, optional internet, 80 lei/night. Strada Caraiman 12, {{phone|+40 268 231 403}}, {{phone|+40 723 382 881}}

Connect

 * In the centre you can find two Internet cafes.
 * The post office is on Mihai Viteazu street.

Stay healthy

 * The hospital in Râșnov is in the centre; however, ambulance service is available only 12 hours a day.

Pharmacies

 * In the center next to the hospital
 * Almost in the center towards Poiana Brașov
 * On Republicii street as you go from the centre to the market
 * Next to the Lukoil gas station at the exit towards Brașov.

Police and law

 * The police station is on Brazilor street number 11. or . There must be somebody 24/7, but you might not be lucky to be able to communicate in English.
 * A lawyer office is to be found on Brândușelor street 2, or on the phone.

Less than 100 km

 * You can visit Brașov which is less than 15 km away. See get in section for buses and trains.
 * You can go to Bran (15 km) or Moeciu (20 km) and then pass the Rucăr passing to Pitești (100 km) on the other side of the mountains. See get in section for busses. In Bran and Moeciu there are the famous Bran castle, and surrounding agrotoursim region.
 * You can head for the ski resorts Predeal (20 km), Sinaia (the famous Peleș Castle) (35 km), Bușteni (25 km), Azuga (22 km).
 * You have a direct road road up the mountain (very good condition) that will take you to the ski resort Poiana Brașov. Distance: about 9 km.
 * Zărnești is about 13 km away, and easy to reach via bus or train (see get in section. Here you have access to one of Romania's most beautiful natural parks, Piatra Craiului.
 * The ruins of Rupea are 75 km away.
 * Sfântu Gheorghe, the first town in the Hungarian region of Romania is only 50 km away. Notable destinations here include: Băile Tușnad (80 km), Târgu Secuiesc (80 km), Sf. Ana Lake, and Miercurea Ciuc (120 km).

More than 100 km

 * You can see other great places in Transylvania such as Sibiu (150 km), Sighișoara (140 km) and Târgu Mureș (180 km). Sibiu was the cultural capital of Europe in 2007 and a profoundly German city. Sighisoara is home to the only inhabited fortress in Europe. Târgu Mureș is a place marked by Hungarian influence.
 * You can visit Moldova, and head to Bacau (180 km). In the north of Moldova there are famous monasteries.
 * You can also head to the capital Bucuresti (180 km). If you have a car go via Predeal, if not, you must get first back to the very close Brașov.
 * Pitești (100 km) can be reached via Bran and the Rucar pass. It is on the other side of the mountain. Close to Pitești you can visit Curtea de Argeș, an old wallah fortress.
 * The Transfăgărășan, a road that crosses the highest mountains with a dramatic scenery, is accessible via Fagaras (80 km). From Fagaras you still have to drive about 40km to the beginning of the road. On the top of the mountain you pass Bâlea Lake (glacier), and then Vidraru Lake (anthropic). You end up in Curtea de Argeș, where there is an old wallah fortress.
 * Chișinău, the capital of Moldavia, can be reached by bus from Brașov. The buses leave daily at 11:59 and at 19:00, from Autogara 2, the place where the Râșnov-Brașov bus leaves you. For reservations call +40 0744362146.

title: Râșnov


text:
Rättvik

Rättvik is a municipality in Dalarna, with some 11,000 inhabitants. As the rest of Siljansbygden at lake Siljan, it is popular for travellers interested in cultural heritage.

By plane
Rättvik is 48 km from the airport in Mora. There are no transfer buses from the airport to Mora, so you will have to take a taxi (which is pricey) or get a car (AVIS has an office at the airport).

By train
The easiest way to reach Rättvik is by road or by train. It's about four hours from the capital Stockholm. Railway tickets can be bought at the website of the Swedish railway company SJ.

By bus
Bus is in general the cheapest way of reaching Mora from other cities, although the biggest intercity bus company Swebus Express. MasExpressen service goes from Stockholm to [[Mora], stopping at Rättvik.

See
Rättvik is home to the longest pier in Scandinavia - it's quite long! Lots of benches and places to fish or dangle your feet.

Do
There are lots of walks to do in the surrounding forests and the Tourist Information Centre can provide helpful maps. These are well signed and although the paths are boggy in places there is some planking over the worst bits. A summer tobogganing run operates in the summer season. Toboggans can get up to speeds of on the twisty run.

Crazy golf is available next to the lake near the train station and also in some of the campsites around the outskirts of the town such as Rattvikparksen.

Canoe rental is advertised from some outlets but is not always available.

Events
Rättvik is home to the long-established Classic Car Week, which takes place in late July each year. This draws crowds of serious car enthusiasts and affiliates, and events are organised around the theme all week.

Go next

 * Falun — Famous for its copper mine
 * Mora — The only city in the Siljansbygden region
 * Tällberg — A holiday resort, known for its midsummer celebration

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

title: Rättvik


text:
Río Muni

Río Muni, called Mbini in the Fang language, is the mainland territory of Equatorial Guinea.

Cities

 * — one of the two border crossings for those traveling from Gabon to Equatorial Guinea
 * — the major city on the mainland
 * — previously known as Oyala and Djibloho, this planned city is being built as new capital
 * — called Puerto Iradier during Spanish rule, it is known for its ruins of colonial architecture
 * — a major access point in the far northeast corner
 * — a small mountain-top town known for its nightlife, its market and the nearby waterfalls
 * — known for its seafood and for nearby beaches
 * — a city on the border with Gabon with an airport for domestic flights

Other destinations

 * - fantastic fauna in the center of the mainland

Understand
The main languages spoken in Río Muni are Fang-Ntumu, which is spoken in the north, and Fang-Okak, which is spoken in the south. Spanish also is spoken, although only as a second language.

Get in
Bata Airport

See
Bata has some nice colonial buildings, markets, and a promenade of more than 20 km.

title: Río Muni


text:
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve

The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is in Honduras.

Understand
It is recommended that at least one in the travel party speaks Spanish. This will help you keep prices down and smooth out the process.

Climate
From before Christmas until June is the dry season. Less mosquitoes and hotter.

Get in
By boat

Boat services depart with great infrequency from La Ceiba and Trujillo. These are cargo barges that makes stops along the coast to sell merchandise to local stores. Ask at the docks.

By land from La Ceiba

First off, you have to get on a chicken bus bound for Tocoa that leaves early in the morning from the bus station in La Ceiba. In Tocoa, there are pickups leaving every morning around 9AM. They gather across the street from the market place by the bus station. All of them will try to sell you a ride in their own pickup, but don't let anyone grab you bag until you have negotiated a fair price. Prices for the 5-6 hours very bumpy pickup ride vary between L300 and L500 (lempiras), depending on negotiating skills, luck and if you get to ride inside the car or up back with the merchandise (it will be loaded badly). Car robberies are common on this route, make sure to hide credit cards and camera memory sticks as well as your passport in case of bad luck.

The pickup trucks stop in Batalla, which is just across a narrow strait of water from Palacios. From here, you can get a collectivo-boat to take you where you would want to go. Don't pay anymore than L200 to get to Belen or Raista.

To Las Marias

"Collectivo" Once you are in the Belen-area you can ask around for the next boat heading to Las Marias. With bad luck you might have to wait up to 4 days, but usually there leaves a motorised canoe at least 3 or 4 times a week. The one way "collectivo"-price here should be no more than L800 max, L500 is the common price. It is a bit more expensive to go upriver than down. Making the reverse journey should cost between L300 and L500. Use your negotiating skills without being too rude. It is only fair they charge outsiders a bit more than locals that pay even less than the prices stated here.

"Expresso" If you are short on time and have the money to spend, it might be worth considering hiring a private boat. This will cost between L3000 and L4500, is roundfare, and usually includes the 2 or 3 overnight stays that the driver has to do in Las Marias. Most boats can take 4 people.

By air

Regular takeoffs from La Ceiba, in small aircraft. Palacios near the park has a small airstrip. From there you can enter the park by boat or on foot. The airstrip in Las Marias is too short to be used for anything else than emergencies. Belen and Puerto Lempira also have airstrips.

Fees and permits
There is no park entrancefee. In Las Marias the head guide asks for a voluntary donation.

Get around
Inside the reserve there are no roads and all transport is done by boat. The local boats are called "Pipante" and are hollow tree trunks sometimes motorised by outboard engines. They are a more pricey form of transport than the inboard engine alternative called "tuck-tuck". For some travels you don't even need a motor.

Quad wheelers and motorcycles trafficate the beaches.

It is also possible to fly.

See
Petroglyphs can be seen in the upper reaches of the Río Plátano. Archeologists suspect a hidden town somewhere around this place in the jungle.

The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is the home of unique wild life such as toucans, monkeys, parrots, rare butterflies, and sea turtles. Terrain includes jungle, forest, and beach land. Some communities even offer tours of archeological sites! Travellers also get to see how indigenous residents live their everyday lives.

Do
There is so much to do in the Biosphere Reserve! Tours through the indigenous communities of the La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance allow travellers to view beautiful natural environments. Travellers have the opportunity to engage in authentic cultural exchanges with the indigenous communities of Belen, Raista, Brus Laguna, Yamari Savannah Cabanas, Plaplaya, Batalla, Les Marias. These cultural activities include storytelling, dancing, drumming, singing, and craft making. Travellers can also kayak, swim, hike, and canoe to explore the land and waters of the biosphere.

Tour operators

Trips departing from Las Marias for the independent traveller

As an independent traveller one will be sought out by the "sacaguias", the head guide upon arriving in Las Marias. He charges a one time organising fee of L100. They have a rotating guide system so that everyone in the village can take their turn at making a days living as a guide, usually they will want to send 3 guides for most overnight adventures. The prices here are fixed and there is no use negotiating or trying to be accompanied by less guides. Try not to circumvent the head guide, as that is the way the whole community has decided to organise things and trying to arrange other deals would create conflict within the community.

Also ask for Agua Muerta or Sendero Lomriz.

All prices exclude your own accommodation and food, usually about L200 per day.

Those who come here in search for the archaeological secrets beyond the petroglyphs will have to arrange a special deal, that probably will come at a pretty hefty price. The head guide does not offer any tours to the fabled "White City". Stories of it include well preserved bright white stone buildings, of unknown origin far up the river Platano. One has to remember though that this site has not been excavated or barely even noted by archaeologists, making it a very susceptible to unscrupulous souvenir hunters and ignorant tourists. Don't touch anything, and make sure that the guide taking you also respects the great importance and cultural value of the place. One of the few people in town who knows of its position is Don Luis at the Los Angeles hospedaje, although he himself never has been there.

Buy
Gold prices in Las Marias average L200 per gram of rivergold. That is about half the normal price fetched in cities. Be aware however that the supply is steady but a bit slow - and don't expect to be able to buy great quantities at once. One riverminer fetches on average 1 gram on 2-3 days of good work.

Eat
In the Great Pine Savannah, home to the Yamari Savannah Cabanas and the Bus Laguna, travelers enjoy fresh seafood dinners. Other areas allow tourists to watch how their meals are being made such as the Batalla community where traditional ‘casaba’ bread is made.

In a lot of these communities one should expect a staple diet of yucca, rice, beans and platones with very little variation. It might be a good idea to bring some spicy sauce from the city.

Drink
Travellers can access alcoholic drinks in most communities. One should however be a bit self-conscious about how much one drinks and where and when. Alcoholism here is by far the major social problem, and locals have a tendency to mimic the behaviour of visitors. In the village of Las Marias drinking doesn't, as of yet, pose as big a problem as along the coastal communities. Let's try to keep it that way. Think twice before consuming alcohol, and if you to, try to set a responsible example.

Sleep
In the small town of Las Marias it is possible to stay with the indigenous people.

Most of the host communities are part of the La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance, which provides lodging for travelers. Lodging is typically in the form of small cabanas with comfortable single beds or larger ecolodges. Showers and flush toilets are available at all locations.

Camping
In Las Marias it is hard work to try to convince the head guide that one would rather camp out during excursions. Permanent lodges are placed along the standard hiking routes. It might be arranged to live in a tent las marias, but the hospedajes there are cheap anyway. And it is important that the local community feels that is gains economically from tourism.

Backcountry
You will find stiff resistance to attempts of going at it alone. In Las Marias they don't want tourists venturing into the jungle without a guide.

Stay safe
It is good to respect that not even local women feel secure walking alone at night in the coastal communities.

Malaria happens frequently. The scare of dangerous wildlife is just something tour companies pull in order to make sure no one ventures alone. There was no serpent antidote in Las Marias in Apr 2009 because of a broken solar fridge. The locals say that they have herbal remedies that work just as good.

Las Marias is as safe as your own backyard. The small village social control makes it nearly impossible for robbers or thieves. But of course, kids can be tempted so leave your doors locked when you are not there.

The desolate route Tocoa - Batalla, is robbed with frequency. Hide your most prized possessions well, but otherwise work with the robbers and you will be ok.

One good way to avoid unfortunate situations is to not stir up temptation from potential thieves. Put away unnecessary wrist watches and jewellery, and be very discrete with your camera and technical gadgets. This also helps to preserve local culture as the great interest in these valuables, combined with the belief that a life in the city is sure to provide heaps of money, leads to an unfortunate urbanisation which in turn results in all the social problems of life in the shantytowns around the cities.

Go next
From Raista/Belen there is a 3AM colectivo pipante that arrives just in time for the day's only pickup departure from Batalla.

title: Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve


text:
Rødby

Rødby is a small town on Lolland, that is mainly known for its harbour Rødbyhavn, from where ferries go to Puttgarden in Germany, one of the most heavily trafficked ferry routes in Europe, with large ferries departing every 30 minutes nearly round the clock.

By train
From 2021 and some years the trains are cancelled due to the rebuilding for the Fehmarn tunnel. You can go to Maribo by train through Nykøbing Falser and then bus. Unless also closed for rebuilding, then you have to change to bus earlier. Search at https://www.rejseplanen.dk

By car
Rødby is the first exit after/before the Rødbyhavn harbour on the E47-motorway that leads to/from Copenhagen. The car ferries in Rødbyhavn goes to Puttgarden in Germany with a southbound connection to Autobahn 1.

title: Rødby


text:
Rømø

Rømø is an island in the Wadden Sea National Park at the west coast of South Jutland, Denmark.

Understand
Most visitors to Rømø rent a cottage for one or two weeks. But it is also possible to stay in hotels or Bed & Breakfasts for a day or two. And if you are in South Jutland it is worth it to go to Rømø for a day trip.

The attraction of Rømø is the spectacular nature: the heather, the enormous beaches, the Wadden Sea.

By bus
Bus No. 285 leaves from Skærbæk train station and stops at Lakolk, Nørre Tvismark (The Havnebyvej/Vesterhavsvej intersection), Kongsmark, and Havneby. It is also the school bus, so it runs 9 times a day on schooldays but only two or three times on weekends and school holidays. On schoolday the bus also stops in Toftum and Juvre.

By car
It is possible to drive on to the huge beaches at Lakolk and Sønderstrand, but keep an eye on the car while parked; the tide can come quickly.

By bike
Rømø is a good size for bicycles and there are bicycle paths along the major roads (Havnebyvej and Vesterhavsvej).

On horseback
Horseback riding is very popular on Rømø. You can ride on all public roads, the beaches, and marked bridleways.

See

Do
Go to the beach. it is the largest sand beach in Northern Europe. During low tide it can be 2.5 km wide and 8.5 km long.

Eat
Local specialties include the Wadden Sea lamb, which you can see grazing along the causeway to Rømø, and seafood, for example the small brown shrimps and the Wadden Sea oysters.

If you have access to a kitchen or a barbecue you can make a great local fresh meal with vegetables and eggs from one of the honor box produce stands, fish from the shop in Havneby or lamb from the butcher.

Drink
You can have a drink at most restaurants and cafes. Havneby Kro has a good bar. On a nice day Hattesgaard is the place to enjoy a drink outside at one of the outside terraces.

Sleep
Most visitors to Rømø rent a cottage for a week or two. But there are also good options for staying a few days.

Connect

 * Hattesgaard is a great place to connect to the free WiFi while having a coffee or a beer.
 * Hattesgaard is a great place to connect to the free WiFi while having a coffee or a beer.

Stay safe
Rømø is generally safe, just watch out for the tide. Open fire is not allowed anywhere on the island because of the fire hazard. Barbecuing is OK.

On the north end Juvre Sand is used for military exercises. When in use a signal ball is raised. The closest pharmacy is in Skærbæk.

title: Rømø


text:
Røros

Røros is a town in Norway and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name Røros Mining Town and the Circumference. Røros was established in the 1600s because of that copper mine that was in operation for more than 300 years. Røros' unique history still dominates the town.

Røros sits in the uplands and interior, and is one of the coldest places in Europe during winter. The coldest temperature measured in Røros is -50,4°C on 13 January 1914. This is the lowest temperature measured in the southern part of Norway which makes it one the coldest places in the country.

Understand
Røros was created in the 1600s because of the copper mines established there. The town sits on a high plateau and there was only scattered settlement before mining began. Røros and surroundings, a circle 44 km around the first mine - known as the circumference, obtained royal privileges in 1646. Røros, along with Kongsberg, obtained special status as a mining town ("bergstad"), a name still used Bergstaden or Bergstaden Røros. The town was included in UNESCO world heritage list in 1980, the world heritage area was enlarged in 2010 to include the circumference. Except the masonry church the town is characterised by log buildings from the 300 years of copper mining. The town was burned during conflicts with Sweden in 1600s.

Norway's first coast to coast railway connected Oslo and Trondheim via Røros and was of course named Rørosbanen - Røros line (today the main line runs via Gudbrandsdalen and Dovrefjell).

Mining ended in 1977 and left a town with a unique history that can still be seen for instance by the slag heaps. Today the town of Røros has about 3,000 inhabitants.

The towns rich past can be seen by the large church that dominates the skyline. The church, also known as Bergstadens Ziir, is one of the most important works of church architecture in Norway. It is a big surprise to find this key church in a small mountain town. The church was designed by local master builders in cooperation with the copper mine manager. It is not clear how they got the idea for the particular design, except that octagonal churches already existed in Germany and in Trondheim.. Construction work was paid by the copper mine company and the church belonged to the company until 1865 when the church became public property. Several churches around Norway have been built as copies or as inspiration from this unusual building. The church tower is the symbol of Røros and instantly recognizable.

Røros is in the interior uplands and is during winter the coldest place south of the Arctic circle in Norway. The town itself sits at above 600 meters above sea level, which is regarded as upland in this part of the world. The town is surrounded by Rørosvidda, a largely barren plateau-like "fell" landscape. Rørosvidda reaches about 1200 meters above sea. There was previously more forest on the plateau, but the copper mine needed large amounts of wood or coal to extract metal from the ore and large part of the forest within the circumference was cut down.

The Swedish TV-series Pippi Longstocking (based on Astrid Lindgren's children's books) was shot at Røros.

By rail

 * There are direct trains from Trondheim (from kr 249, 2 hr 30 min) and Hamar (from kr 249, 3 hr 30 min).
 * In Hamar there are connecting trains to Oslo and Lillehammer.
 * In Hamar there are connecting trains to Oslo and Lillehammer.

By plane

 * Widerøe operates two daily flights from Oslo (from kr 599, 50 min), no flights on Saturday.

By bus
AtB operates buses from Trondheim (kr 286, 3 hr).

By car

 * From Oslo: route E6 then 3 via Elverum (5 hr, 400 km).
 * From Trondheim: Route E6 then 30 (2 hr 30 min, 150 km).
 * From Sveg in Sweden: route 84 then 31 (3 hr, 210 km).
 * From Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen:
 * E6 to Ringebu then through Friisvegen mountain pass to Atna
 * E6 to Frya (near Ringebu) then through Venabygdsfjellet/Rondane road mountain pass
 * From Ålesund and Molde: E136 through Åndalsnes, then E6 through Dovre pass, through Folldal and Alvdal

Get around
It is easy to get around in Røros. Everything is in walking distance.

Do

 * Sylan (swedish: Sylarna, sami: Bealjehkh) is a mountain area north-east of Røros that is shared with Sweden. The highest summit marks the border and is also the highest point in Jämtland. Trekking associations in Norway and Sweden operate some 30 lodges on both sides of the border. Hikers can comfortably do 2- to 4-day hikes lodge-to-lodge, as well as scrambles to summits. The landscape is relatively gentle with a handful of massifs/summits rising above plateau.

Buy
Artists are abundant in Røros. Local arts and handicrafts, potteries as well as reindeer and sheep skins are available.

Eat
A typical meal for the locals consist of amazing fresh bread with local cheeses, cold cuts and gravlaks. Unique to Røros are reindeer and moose meats. These meats are usually eaten as steaks or stewed to perfection.

Cope
You can find lockers of different size in the train station (kr 10-20).

Go next

 * Hedmark: Tynset and Femunden lake
 * Oppdal
 * Trondheim
 * Sweden: Jämtland, Dalarna including Falun mining town

title: Røros


text:
Rüdesheim

Rüdesheim am Rhein (also spelled Rudesheim or Ruedesheim) is a city in the Rheingau in Hesse, at the southern end of the Rhine Valley, across the river from Bingen. The Rüdesheim village within the city is a small picturesque place at the Rhine, one very typical example of Rheinromantik

Understand
The town incorporates the village of Assmannshausen, also on the Rhine but on the other side of a bend in the river, and is also known as Rüdesheim am Rhein to distinguish it from the smaller nearby town of Rüdesheim an der Nahe.

Uphill (go by car or ropeway) you will find the Niederwald monument and its surroundings. The monument is one of a select group of national monuments in Germany and is a major attraction. It has a tremendous view over the Rhine, Rüdesheim and Bingen. You can combine the visit with a walk in the forest that includes an animal park and other smaller places to see.

By train

Rüdesheim is served by the Rechte Rheinstrecke train line between Koblenz and Neuwied and Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. Trains are infrequent, with around one service per hour, but cheap towards Frankfurt/Wiesbaden/Mainz, as all towns lie in the RMV fare region.

By car
From Frankfurt the Autobahn A66 passes to the south of Wiesbaden via Eltville to Rüdesheim, where it links into federal highway B42. The B42 runs along the right bank of the Rhine from Koblenz to Wiesbaden via Rüdesheim. As you enter the town from the north, a railway level crossing ensures long traffic jams, particularly on weekends when the weather is fine.

From Bingen harbour you can take a car-ferry to Rüdesheim. Between Wiesbaden and Koblenz there are no bridges across the Rhine although there are a number of ferries.

By boat
KD and BR boats cruising the Rhine stop at Rüdesheim.

Ferry Rüdesheim – Bingen - You can also hop on a ferry across the river to Bingen and board there.

On foot
The Rheinsteig walking trail passes above Eibingen, Rüdesheim and through Assmannshausen.

Get around
Rüdesheim is small enough to cover on foot. You can travel to Assmannshausen by train or bus, or just walk along the Rhine (6-7 km), you can also take a cable car up to Niederwald and a chair lift back down to Assmannshausen.
 * The cable car runs from late March to early November and during the run-up to Christmas over the vineyards to the Niederwald monument. Single: €5, return: €7, children 5-15 years: €2.50-3.50, including chairlift to Assmannshausen: €7, including return by boat: €13, including a tour on a larger boat and entrance to Rheinstein castle: €16.
 * Bus number 171 runs every hour from Wiesbaden station via Geisenheim to Rüdesheim and continues twice daily as far as Assmannshausen via Lorchhausen. Bus 187 runs from Rüdesheim via Aulhausen to Assmannshausen. This route makes a rough round trip through Eibingen and Windeck. At the weekend you must call for buses roughly 90 minutes in advance, and sometimes even during the week (Tel: +49 1803 101 113).

See

Do

 * Walk part of the Rheinsteig.
 * Walk part of the Rheinsteig.

Buy
Rüdesheim is full of shops selling tourist trinkets, but there are also a few places to purchase some good local wines.

Eat

 * Drosselgasse is a very pretty (and very touristy) strip of restaurants and souvenir shops in the heart of Rüdesheim.

Drink
Rüdesheim is the heart of the Rheingau wine region and is particularly famous for the Rheingauer Riesling white wine.

Also try a Rüdesheimer Kaffee, a coffee with Asbach Uralt brandy, served flambéed.

Go next

 * Assmannshausen
 * Bingen
 * Bacharach
 * Loreley, the famous rock of Loreley near St. Goarshausen, an hour by ferry down the Rhine.
 * St. Goar – look to the Loreley
 * Eltville am Rhein – Kurfürstliche Burg (Electoral castle)
 * Eberbach Abbey (Kloster Eberbach) near Eltville
 * Wiesbaden
 * Burg Rheinstein near Trechtingshausen

title: Rüdesheim


text:
Rügen

Rügen (also: Rugia) is Germany's largest island. It is situated in north eastern Germany on the southern Baltic Sea Coast, in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

A holiday destination for more than 200 years, it is known for its sandy beaches, chalk cliffs and Bodden lagoons. In a number of the seaside towns you can find noble resort architecture (Bäderarchitektur) style buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Towns and villages

 * , the island's largest town.
 * – the "white town"
 * , a harbor town with a car ferry connection to Trelleborg in Sweden and Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm. The place is right next to the Jasmund National Park with its famous chalk cliffs. Its old care offers unique resort architecture.
 * , the oldest town on Rügen.
 * , including Drewoldke, Gudderitz, Lanckensburg, Mattchow, Schwarbe, Presenske, Wollin and Zühlitz.

Bathing resorts

 * , the most famous and bustling beach resort with a long stretch of fine sandy beach.
 * including Breege, Juliusruh, Kammin, Lobkevitz and Schmantevitz.
 * including Breege, Juliusruh, Kammin, Lobkevitz and Schmantevitz.
 * including Breege, Juliusruh, Kammin, Lobkevitz and Schmantevitz.

Other destinations

 * – UNESCO World Heritage Site with primeval beech forest and coastal landscape, the most famous chalk cliff being the 117 m high Königsstuhl (King's chair)
 * , the ruins of world's largest hotel which, however, was never completed. Today turned into modern apartments, youth hostels, museums and event locations (like the nightclub M3 Prora) while still being mostly empty.
 * – with its 50-m-high steep cliffs it is the northernmost place in East Germany, situated on Rügen north of Putgarten.

Understand
The size and shape of the island provides 574 km of coastline. The beaches are generally excellent for bathing. In the main season dogs are only allowed on designated dog beaches (Hundestrände), but there are plenty of these. Also on the island are a few nudist (FKK - Freikörperkultur) beaches.

Talk
The mother tongue spoken on Rügen is Standard German, with few mixing in a bit of Low German dialect. You will get along with basic English in most areas, especially at the coast. The island was for more than 40 years part of East Germany, when the first foreign language taught in schools was Russian though, so speak clearer and easier to older people. You should get by with the German phrasebook.

]

By car
From the A20 then B96, you can get in by car along Germany's longest bridge from Stralsund on the German mainland, or you can take the ferry from Trelleborg in southern Sweden.

By train
There is also a regional train connection from Stralsund to Sassnitz and Ostseebad Binz, some long distance trains from major German cities travel to Ostseebad Binz.

By boat
Three are three ferries to and from Sassnitz:
 * Scandlines, to Trelleborg in Sweden. Phone: +46 42 18 61 00 or +46 410 650 00.
 * Bornholmslinjen , to Rønne on the island of Bornholm. Phone: +45 56 95 18 66
 * DFDS Lisco, to Klaipeda in Lithuania.

There is also a cable ferry from Stahlbrode near Greifswald to Glewitz on Rügen.

Get around

 * Bus: RPNV
 * Steam-powered narrow gauge railway, Rügensche BäderBahn - Rasender Roland (Rushing Roland)
 * Ship: www.fahrgastschifffahrt-ruegen.de

See
As well as the coast line with excellent beaches and spectacular cliffs there are some beautiful woodlands and wetlands. This is a great location for wetland bird watching, notably the large flocks of cranes.

Eat
Rügen is an island, which you can tell when you walk into a restaurant. Seafood is omnipresent and usually very fresh. Try a fischbrötchen, a sliced bread roll filled with smoked (Raücherfisch) or pickled herring and vegetables. The Germans are crazy about asparagus, so during season, do not miss out. You will also find in the region products made from sea-buckthorn (sanddorn) such as fruit juice (served hot or cold), jam and flavoured ice cream.

Drink
The local sea-buckthorn (sanddorn) fruit juice is best hot.

Although brewed just of the island in Stralsund, Störtebeker beer is readily available and well worth a few glasses.

Sleep
Due to the island's popularity over the years, it is easy to find accommodation at all price and comfort levels. The most common accommodation is various forms of holiday apartments, a practical and cheap way to stay. If you prefer to stay in hotels or hostels, there is plenty to choose from. A double in a hotel is around €80-120/night, breakfast included. A holiday flat, a ferienwohnung, starts at around €20 p.p. and night.

Stay safe
When walking near the cliffs, be careful near the edges as they tend to overhang the actual cliff face and are subject to collapse.

Although rare, there is a risk of coming across wild boar. Best advice is to keep your distance and treat them with respect.

Go next

 * Stralsund, UNESCO World Heritage old town surrounded by water, the "Gateway to Rügen"
 * Usedom Island ("Sunny Island") and Greifswald (university and harbour old town)

title: Rügen


text:
Rădăuți

Rădăuţi is a city in Southern Bucovina.

Understand
A relatively pleasant small town with several historical sites, Rădăuţi is also a good base for visiting the Painted Monasteries. It has received prizes as being the cleanest city in Romania.

Get in
Radauti is reached by hourly buses from the regional hub Suceava (one hour away) and 4-5 direct buses from Bucharest (9-10 hours away). There are also several buses from Siret (30 minutes away), near the main border crossing from Ukraine.

Get around
The town is rather small, it can be visited on foot.

Go next

 * Bukovina - historical region in Central Europe
 * Arbore monastery is about 15 km south of the town
 * Sucevita monastery is 20 km to the west
 * Putna monastery is 30 km north-west

title: Rădăuți


text:
Reading

There is more than one place called Reading:

United Kingdom

 * Reading (England) - A town in Berkshire, England.

United States of America

 * Reading (Pennsylvania) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Reading (Massachusetts) - A town in the state of Massachusetts.

title: Reading


text:
Reading (England)

Reading (pronounced like "redding", not "reeding") is a large, historic town in Berkshire in the South East of England. It is one of the largest towns without city status in the United Kingdom with just under 235,000 inhabitants. Its main attractions are the medieval abbey ruins and minster church, the rivers Thames and Kennet and surrounding countryside of the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills. It is a major regional shopping centre with a wealth of restaurants and pubs.

Understand
There are several possible derivations of Reading's name, however, the true source is obscured. Reading holds several Royal Charters permitting Parliament to be held there during times of plague or rebellion in London.

Reading grew rich through the medieval and Tudor periods thanks to a booming trade in cloth. The siege imposed by Parliament on the town during the English Civil War crippled the town's economy which never recovered. The economy of the town is historically most famous for the "three Bs" of biscuits (US English: cookies), beer and (flower) bulbs. However, information technology and insurance have replaced these traditional businesses. As such, it is not an obvious travel destination in its own right, but if you happen to be here on business, there is plenty to see and do.

The Forbury Gardens, near the centre of town, have been restored to their original Victorian splendour. The adjoining Abbey Ruins, which reopened to the public in June 2018, are the remains of a once powerful abbey, sacked by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. They have long been held to be the burial place of King Henry of England. The Heritage Lottery Fund funding for the Reading Abbey Revealed project also included the Abbey Gateway, which was the former school room attended by Jane Austen.

Reading is also home to the former jail in which Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for homosexuality and where he composed his famous "The Ballad of Reading Gaol". The prison closed in 2013 but the buildings remain and are to be preserved and redeveloped.

Reading is at the heart of an attractive area of the Thames Valley, sitting across the confluence of the rivers Thames and Kennet amid green rolling hills, thatched cottages and pubs. It is surrounded by numerous small towns and villages such as Caversham, Thatcham, Pangbourne, Purley on Thames and Streatley, many of which are of great age and beauty. Much of it is now part of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the Cotswolds being easily reachable.

It is a long-inhabited and well-domesticated area that sits at the junction of several major transport rail and road routes. As such, Reading serves as a major hub for commuter traffic into and out of London.

Incidentally, describing Reading as a city could raise the odd eyebrow locally. Despite its size and population, it is not designated as a city. To become a city in the UK a royal charter is required, and to gain a charter the town used to have to contain a cathedral. Because of Reading's large abbey, a cathedral was never built there, so Reading was never made a city. This law was changed in 1889, but many people still believe it to be in force. Charters are now granted periodically with Reading losing out, such as to Newport, Wolverhampton and Brighton and Hove. However, none of this has stopped a number of signs and services referring to the "city centre".

Reading has become more famous as the local football team has fluctuated between the Premier League and the Championship, where it resides as of 2019. Reading FC play at the Madejski Stadium south of the town centre. The club has raised awareness of the town throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. There has been a resurgence in the south of the town with new commercial properties, new housing developments and new superstores such as B&Q and Costco and there are plans for an international convention centre, Royal Elm Park, next to the football stadium.

The town centre has been transformed with a modern shopping centre called The Oracle, a £900-million railway station and major private sector investment from a Business Improvement District. Further developments and apartment blocks continue to be built.

By plane
Reading is well served by London's collection of airports. For travellers coming directly to Reading, here are the most convenient (in increasing travel time) ones. The times given for road travel assume no hold-ups - at busy times or in case of bad weather, road maintenance or traffic accidents you should allow considerably longer, especially if travelling to the airport to catch a flight.

 * Heathrow Airport is about 40 min via the M4 motorway. It is also linked directly to Reading rail station by the RailAir express coach service running every 20 min or so and taking about an hour and, indirectly, by the Elizabeth line train service (change at Hayes & Harlington station).
 * Luton Airport is about 65 min away via the M1, M25 and M4 motorways. Luton Airport Parkway connects the airport to Kings Cross station every 35 min, the tube to London Paddington station and then follow the directions below.
 * Gatwick Airport is about 70 min away via the M23, M25 and M4 motorways. There is an hourly direct train service to Reading from the rail station in the South Terminal with a journey time of 75 min.
 * Stansted Airport is about 90 min away via the M11, M25 and M4 motorways. By train you will need to catch a Stansted Express train to London Liverpool Street station, the tube to London Paddington station, then follow the directions below.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

From London, you should travel from London Paddington station and catch an intercity train whose first stop is Reading (there are several of these an hour); the travel time will be about 30 min. Slower direct services can be taken from London Waterloo station (journey time approximately 80 minutes).

There are other stopping services from Paddington with travel times of up to an hour. Reading is also served by twice-hourly direct stopping services from London Waterloo. The typical journey time on this route is 1 hr 25 min and so is only suitable for travellers from south west London.

Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling from anywhere in the UK.

 * Great Western Railway (GWR)
 * South Western Railway
 * Elizabeth line (Crossrail) – Reading is the western terminus of the Elizabeth line to Heathrow Airport, Shenfield and Abbey Wood. As of mid-December 2019, the route from Reading to London Paddington or Heathrow Airport is open providing a relief route.

By car
Reading is served by the M4 motorway (US English: freeway) which runs from London to Bristol and South Wales. It is about an hour's drive from central London. The best junction to use for central Reading is junction 11 and then follow the signs.

If you are visiting for the day by car, consider using the Park & Ride site at Mereoak on the M4 at Junction 11 or the Madejski stadium complex (just north of M4 J11 and well sign-posted) and catching the dedicated express bus from there. An alternative Park & Ride site is found at Winnersh Triangle at the north end of the A329(M).

There are a number of car parks in the town centre, including Oracle Riverside, Oracle Holy Brook, Broad Street Mall, Queen's Road and Garrard Street. On-road parking in central Reading is available only to disabled badge holders and is in the area near Friar Street.

By foot
The central area of Reading is easily traversable on foot. From the main rail station, you will be able to take in the Abbey Ruins, the Forbury Gardens, both rivers, both shopping centres, most (but not all so check) hotels, pubs and restaurants without needing more than shoe leather.

By bus
Buses provide a moderately good way of getting around Reading (say 3–5 miles out), with several buses an hour on most routes during weekdays, and hourly services in the evenings and on weekends. Beyond that distance, bus routes are much less frequent, with often only a handful of buses per day. Route 17 (Earley Wokingham Road—Tilehurst via town centre) runs a 24-hour operation with buses every 7 minutes in peak hours.

Their fares are not particularly cheap, however, if going with a group of people, between 2 and 4 people, you can buy a group ticket for £9 (reduced to £6 in the school holidays or weekends).

Reading's local buses have introduced contactless payments (credit/debit cards or Reading Buses' own payment card) to avoid the issue of having the correct change. When you board the bus, the driver will issue your ticket once the correct fare in coins is inserted into the slot. You can be smart though and buy either single, return, day or group tickets.

For a trip planner see Planning your trip section at the United Kingdom page.

By taxi
There are two sorts of taxis operating in Reading, although only black cabs are strictly allowed to call themselves taxis:

By car
Whilst not as bad as either London or Oxford, Reading's roads can get very congested at peak periods, in particular London Road. Especially if you are not used to driving on the left, central Reading is probably best avoided.

On the other hand, a car is one (possibly along with cycling) of the only really practical ways of seeing a lot of the local countryside and villages. Here the roads are quieter too.

Named after Reading Old Cemetery, the junction of London Road with King's Road/Wokingham Road is locally known as "Cemetery Junction", which is the origin of the name used by the Ricky Gervais film.

By bicycle
The local authority has published a cycle map, which shows off-road and low-traffic routes around the town. In practice, if you are a reasonably confident cyclist you can comfortably use most of the roads in Reading.

That said, there are a few places that may be a little daunting - these are mostly near or outside the edge of town, and include the A33 (especially difficult) and A4 crossings of the M4, parts of the A33 between the M4 and the town centre, and parts of the Inner Distribution Road. If you need to pass these places and are uncomfortable cycling, there are easily-found alternative routes.

The town centre can be confusing. There are a number of one-way streets. Cycling is not permitted in the central pedestrianised areas but if you cycle slowly and give way to all pedestrians it is unlikely anyone will seriously object.

Cycle parking is generally adequate, with "Sheffield" stands in the town centre and elsewhere. The stands around the station are often overcrowded and it may be easier to park around Friar Street and walk back. Make sure your bike is locked as discreetly and securely as possible, as bike thefts in Reading are above the national average, and the number of thefts recorded by the regional police force (Thames Valley Police) is second only to Greater London.

You can rent a Brompton Bike at the railway station.

Central Reading
Reading has several interesting sights to see within the central area.

Surrounding area
There are also many interesting things to see around Reading.

River trips
There are lots of things to do in and around Reading. You could try taking a river trip:

Walks
Or there are many possible walks in the area:

Events

 * Reading Festival is the big one, held on the Rivermead site. The next is 25-27 Aug 2023, and town will be packed out around these days.
 * Beer and Cider Festival in May was cancelled in 2022 and 2023 so its future looks doubtful.
 * Water Fest is kiddy-oriented. It's held along the Kennet Canal. The next is probably 8 June 2024, tbc.
 * Mela celebrates Asian culture, with the next on 5-6 Aug 2023 in Palmer Park.

Sports

 * Reading FC Women also play at Madejski Stadium. They too were relegated in 2023 and now play in the Women's Championship, their second tier.
 * Rugby Union: Rams play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground (capacity 2000) is Old Bath Road in Sonning four miles east of town centre.
 * Rugby Union: Rams play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground (capacity 2000) is Old Bath Road in Sonning four miles east of town centre.

Learn
Reading is the home of The University of Reading which is ranked as one of the UK’s 10 most research-intensive universities and as one of the top 200 universities in the world. The main campus, Whiteknights Campus, is two miles from the town centre and is based on the beautiful 321-acre (1.3 km²) Whiteknights Park, which includes lakes, conservation meadows and woodlands, and most of the university's academic departments and several halls of residences. The university provides a full set of university courses, and enjoys a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise.

Associated with Reading University is Gyosei International College, a Japanese/British bi-cultural institution which has led to Reading having a significant Japanese student population. Around 1988, Gyosei International College's links with the Japan-based Gyosei organisation were broken, and the College became a charitably funded institution called Witan Hall. It appears that this has also failed and Witan Hall has been purchased by the University of Reading, who have closed down student recruitment.

Reading is also host to one of the largest universities in England, Thames Valley University (renamed University of West London). Although the university is spread across the Thames Valley, the campus in Reading serves 20,000 students alone.

Formerly Reading College and School of Arts and Design, TVU merged with the College in 2004.

Reading is also the home of several commercial English language summer schools, including:
 * Padworth College
 * Parkland Language School

Work
Reading is a significant commercial and information technology centre and if you have skills in these areas and the appropriate legal paperwork then finding a job should not be a problem. Reading also suffers from staff shortages in public service areas such as teaching or nursing, and campaigns are regularly run to attract overseas candidates for such posts. Otherwise there is the usual selection of jobs in pubs, restaurants, etc.

Reading has a diverse economy with string clusters in finance, technology, energy, professional services and pharmaceuticals. It is home to UK or European HQs for many large corporates, from Oracle and Microsoft to PepsiCo, Bayer, Thales and SSE.

Shopping
Reading is a major regional shopping centre, with most of its shops clustered in a fairly compact downtown area. Shops are split between those on outdoor pedestrianised shopping streets, of which the principal is Broad Street, and those in indoor shopping malls such as the Oracle Centre and the Broad Street Mall.

There are two major department stores, John Lewis on Broad Street (often still known locally by its old name, Heelas), and House of Fraser both in the Oracle Centre.

One store that should definitely be visited is Waterstones in Broad Street, if only to see the way this old United Reformed Church has been reused as a good bookstore. This store stocks a good selection of local maps and guides.

Eclectic Games on Butter Market is a specialised hobby board-gaming store that does regular game nights. It stocks a wide range of Magic and role-playing materials as well as eurogames.

In general stores open M-Sa 9:30AM–5:30PM and Su 11AM-4PM although many stay open longer on some days and some do not open on a Sunday. The stores in the Oracle Centre are open M-F 9:30AM-8PM; Sa 9AM-7PM; Su 11AM-5PM. The John Lewis department store has now discontinued Heelas's reputation for benign eccentricity and is now open on Mondays and Sundays.

If it's pampering you're after Reading has a great town centre option. Ayurveda Retreat on Friar Street is a medispa offering health and wellbeing consultations as well as therapeutic massage treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures.

Money
Nearly all major British banks and building societies have branches situated in Reading, and most of them are based around the eastern end of Broad Street or around the adjacent Market Place which is also where most of the major financial institutions that make the town their home are based. These branches normally open M-F 9AM-4PM and Sa 9AM-noon.

Most bank and building society branches have 'through the wall' type ATMs that are open 24x7. There are also clusters of stand-alone ATMs in the Oracle Shopping Centre (see above) and the rail station.

Central Reading and Caversham
The following restaurants are all within walking distance of central Reading.

The following chains have branches in central Reading:
 * Burger King (Broad Street Mall and Kings Walk Arcade - this is a little-used shopping arcade with an entrance just beyond the old Debenhams site on the Riverside)
 * Giraffe (Oracle Riverside)
 * KFC (Broad Street)
 * McDonald's (Oracle Riverside and Friar Street)
 * Nando's (Oracle Riverside)
 * Pizza Express (Oracle Riverside)
 * Pizza Hut (Oracle Riverside)
 * The Slug and Lettuce (Oracle Riverside)
 * Subway (Friar Street)
 * TGI Friday's (Caversham Road Roundabout - walkable from the town center, but has its own car park)
 * Wagamama (Oracle Riverside)

Surrounding villages
Many of the villages surrounding Reading have interesting restaurants or country pubs that serve food, and here is a selection. You will probably need to use a car or taxi to get to most of them.

See also the Goring and Streatley article, for details of several other restaurants in these attractive twin villages which are some 8 miles west of Reading on the A329.

Drink
Reading, as a sizeable town, has many and varied pubs and bars. A healthy population (numberswise at least) of students and young city workers makes sure that pubs, wine bars and cocktail lounges are all well represented. The compact centre of town ensures stiff competition between establishments, which works well for the consumer, who has many drinking options within stumbling distance of each other.

Several formulaic wine bars and cafe bars are bunched around the east end of Friar Street and Station Road. These provide reasonably civilised drinking at lunchtime but becoming fuelling stations for binge drinkers in the evenings. Predictably, the area is heaving on Friday and Saturday nights.

The town's waterways provide atmospheric drinking: to the north, the Thames riverside hosts well-established pubs and bars in the well-to-do Caversham suburb. The Kennet runs through the Oracle mall, which hosts chain and independent bars jostling for positions along its banks.

Outside the centre, East Reading used to be largely Quaker and so was dry until the students moved in. A couple of pubs have cropped up since, not to mention the students' union. West Reading is less restrained, edgy and very cosmopolitan. It hosts a lively representation of the global village – there's a Jamaican restaurant, Asian supermarket, and Polish pub! Traditional British drinkers will like it here too: just off Oxford Road is Reading's best pub for real ale.

Sleep
There are a large number of hotels and guest houses in the Reading area, but sadly prices are often akin to those in London and getting a room can sometimes be difficult.

For mid or up market hotels, your best bet is to use one of the online booking services, such as those found in our article on Finding accommodation.

Stay safe
Reading is perfectly safe to visit, and most visits should be trouble-free. That said, Reading has an above-average violent crime rate and incredibly high rates of drug-related crime. Be careful not to get drawn into any confrontations, as these have been known to turn nasty (knife crime being pretty high in Reading). Also be careful if in the town centre on a Friday or Saturday night as binge drinking, with the associated violent crime, is on the rise in the UK, and Reading is no exception.

The riverside area in Newtown (just east of the town centre) is a known trouble spot, especially after dark, so it may be best to stay away. Suburban areas with seedy reputations include Whitley, Coley, Southcote, and Newtown. Of these, Whitley has a reputation for being the worst and should be avoided if possible.

Phone
Reading's area code (for landline numbers) is 0118 when dialled from within the UK or +44 118 from outside the UK.

Mobile phone coverage is generally good within the town and surrounding area; not surprisingly as most UK mobile companies are headquartered in the vicinity.

Internet
If you are travelling with a laptop then you will find broad-band internet access in the rooms of most, but not all, medium to high end hotels. If this is important to you check before booking.

There are also several places that offer web and other internet access if you are travelling without a laptop. These include:
 * Caversham Library, Telephone: +44 118 901-5103, . The library is a Carnegie building which opened in 1907. It is a busy branch library situated in the heart of Caversham. It has a very distinctive clock tower. Internet access. Check out the Costa coffee bar opposite. Open: M F 9:30PM-5PM; Tu Th 9:30AM-7PM; Sa 9:30AM-4PM. Access by bus: Caversham Library can be visited using bus numbers 9, 27,44, 45, 329. By car: The nearest car park to Caversham Library is in Chester Street. Disabled customers may use the car park at the rear of the library. There is a wheelchair ramp at the front entrance.
 * Quarks, Union Street (pedestrian alley between Broad Street & Friar street in town center also called Smelly Alley to the older locals ), . Cybercafe and online gaming centre. £3 /hour. Open M-Sa 7:30AM-9PM; Su 10AM-7PM.
 * Reading Central Library, Abbey Square (eastern edge of city center), . Open M W F Sa 9:30AM-5PM; Tu Th 9:30AM-7PM. Offers (free) web access, although this requires (free) library membership which in turn requires proof of address; not sure if they will take a foreign address, but worth trying.

Maps
If you are planning to do any visiting or exploring beyond central Reading, you will probably want to obtain a decent map of the area. You should ensure that any map you buy clearly shows the national grid reference lines and explains how to use them, as grid references are frequently used to indicate out of town locations. The best maps for this purpose are those published by the Ordnance Survey (Britain's national mapping agency) and the following maps cover all the locations mentioned below: These maps can be found in any good bookshop in Reading (see 'Buy' section below), or can be bought online.
 * Ordnance Survey Landranger 175. This map covers the area around and between Reading and Windsor at a scale of 1:50000 and is best for exploration by car or cycle.
 * Ordnance Survey Explorer 159. This map covers the area around Reading at a scale of 1:25000 and is best for walking.

Go next

 * Bath – a historic resort (spa) town and World Heritage Site (approx 1 hr by train)
 * Bristol – a large port city on the river Severn and the unofficial capital of the west country (approx 1 hr 15 min by train)
 * Caversham – across the river from Reading on the north side of the Thames River. Caversham has been mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the areas where some of the earliest evidence of mankind in England has been found. Be sure to check out the Holy Well if you are a historian or religious. It is to be found, appropriately, on Priest Hill just next to the junction with St. Anne’s Road.
 * Goring and Streatley – a pair of Thameside villages with great views and country walks
 * Henley-on-Thames — a picturesque town "round the corner" of the river, within 15 minutes drive
 * London – only half an hour on a fast train
 * Oxford – a nearby Thameside city with its famous university
 * Swindon – The heart of the Great Western Railway, only half an hour on the train (or an hour by car on A417/A419 trunk road)
 * Winchester – a cathedral city within easy day-trip distance and with many interesting and historical sights
 * Windsor – a nearby Thameside town with a splendid castle and royal residence

title: Reading (England)


text:
Reading (Massachusetts)

Reading is a town of 26,000 people (2020) in Greater Boston. Reading played an active role in the American Revolutionary War. It was prominently involved in the engagements pursuing the retreating British Army after the battles of Lexington and Concord, and has a few sites associated with the Revolutionary Era.

By car
Interstate 93 and 95 runs along the border of Reading, you can take the exits off onto Route 129 or Route 28 to travel into town. Traffic on the highway does get quite heavy during rush hour.

By public transit
The MBTA Commuter Rail (Haverhill/Reading Line) goes through here with a station in the town center. The station is also the terminus of the MBTA's 136/137 bus route.

Get around

The town is very neatly condensed around its main street, so once you're in town, you're pretty close to everything. The streets are in good condition in some places, while other roads are riddled with potholes and other relatively minor problems. The local phone book (not the Yellow Pages) has a map of the town on its back cover. Ask about the phone book at the town hall by the Old South Church in the town square.

Bikers be warned: there isn't much room for cyclists who want to ride on the road, the terrain is hilly, and drivers generally aren't very considerate of cyclists on major roads such as Main Street.

Do
By all accounts, there is little to do in Reading but go elsewhere.

Joking aside, there is the plaza on Walkers Brook Drive; the Jordan's furniture store there has an IMAX theater.

Sleep
No lodging services have been listed. However, neighboring Wakefield and Woburn have a number of hotels.

title: Reading (Massachusetts)


text:
Reading (Pennsylvania)

Reading is a historic city of about 95,000 (2020 Census) in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 35 miles southwest of Allentown and 55 miles east of Harrisburg. It punches above its weight in culture, and its downtown features some iconic buildings, so consider making it a stopover on your way between any of these and other area cities.

Understand
Reading is a very old and historic city. It was once home to one of the largest railway systems in the country (where the familiar Reading Railroad from the Monopoly board comes from) which radiated in all directions from the City of Reading. The construction of the railroad was probably the single greatest factor in the development of Berks County. While Reading has experienced an economic downturn, efforts are being made to try to revitalize the city's downtown area with such projects as the Sovereign Center, the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, the Miller Center, the Goggle Works Center for the Arts, and the Reading Movies 11, which includes an IMAX theater. Today, Reading is a city pulsating with industrial life. It is also well equipped with agencies that represent civilization at its best-churches, hospitals, clubs, fraternal societies, recreational centers, schools and colleges, a historical society, an art institute, and a daily newspaper. Reading claims the distinction of a symphony orchestra, two choral societies, a chamber musical ensemble, a civic opera company, and many other excellent music groups that have contributed to the city's prestige as a center of art and culture. Reading is not only an excellent place to visit because of what it has to offer but also because it is close to other popular destinations. Reading is centrally located, about an hour's drive northwest of Philadelphia, 2½ hours southwest of New York City, 3 hours north of Washington, DC, 40 minutes from the Amish country and about an hour from Hershey Park and Dorney Park, so it offers a lot of opportunities for day trips for tourists staying in the area. Reading also lies only about 2½ to about 3½ hours from some beautiful shore resorts in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

By plane
Reading is close to both Philadelphia International Airport and Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown.

By bus
Reading is served by many major bus services such as Greyhound, and Trailways. Long-distance buses arrive at the at 20 N 3rd St.

By car
Reading is served by US-222, US-422, PA-61, PA-176, and PA-183. From the Lehigh Valley, Northern New Jersey, and New York City, take I-78 west to Exit 54A, then proceed southeast on US-222. From Central New Jersey, head west to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and take exit 298 (Morgantown) to I-176 then US-422 northwest. From Philadelphia, take I-76 west to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, then proceed as above. From western Pennsylvania, take the Pennsylvania Turnpike east to exit 286 (Reading).

Get around
BARTA, the Berks Area Reading Transit Authority, runs buses in Reading and throughout the Berks Region. Base fare is $1.70, transfers are $.25. The central hub for local and regional bus lines is, at 701 Franklin St.

By taxi
There are many taxi cab services that offer 24-hour transportation around Reading.

 * Reading Yellow Cab: +1 610 374-5111
 * Grab A Cab: +1 610 478-1111

See

Every September, the Lions Club hosts an antique car show in Strausstown; Directly off of I-78.

Several attractions can be seen atop Mount Penn, overlooking the city. The fire tower, which has been restored, and the trademark Pagoda, which also houses various artwork. The Pagoda was originally intended to be a luxury hotel. Unfortunately, when the application for a license to serve alcohol was denied the luxury inn never materialized and the building went into the hands of a local bank.

West Reading, across the river, has a thriving arts scene and Penn Avenue is host to many independent cafés and stores.

An Imax theater has been built in Reading. R/C Theaters near the Goggle works on 30 North second street. It offers stadium seating with high back rocking chairs, Imax auditorium, online ticketing, game and party rooms, and free three-hour parking. Reading and the surrounding area of Berks County have a beautiful park system. They have 13 parks to visit and enjoy, including Gring's Mill Recreation Area, the Union Canal Walking & Bicycle Trail, Kaercher Creek Park, Antietam Lake and the Berks County Heritage Center. They offer recreation and educational programs year-round. Whether you enjoy summer concerts in the park, festivals, or historical programs; There is something for all ages!

Do
There are a few sports clubs around, along with the Santander Arena which houses many sporting events including the Reading Royals, the local hockey team and the Reading Express, an IFL indoor football team. It first opened its doors in September of 2001 and began hosting several different events. The center has attracted many famous artists including Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, the Blue Man Group, Matchbox 20, the American Idol Tour, Rod Stewart, Kid Rock, and Clay Aikan. The Sovereign Performing Arts Center also hosts many traveling productions such as the Nutcracker around the holidays and the Reading Symphony orchestra, a surprisingly excellent group given the town it's in.

The Reading Comedy Outlet (cleverly named for Reading's famous shopping centers), at Hiester's lanes Bowling and Billiards, has been serving the Reading area since 1992.

The Reading Phillies, the minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, play out of FirstEnergy Stadium. The stadium is one of the oldest minor league stadiums and is regarded as one of the finest facilities in the nation.

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, a diverse collection of military and civilian aircraft, as well as the active restoration of a World War II P-61 Black Widow. Every June the museum hosts 'WWII Weekend', a traveling collection of wartime aircraft, weapons, and wartime vehicles.

There are also many golf courses in the Reading area. One in particular is The Reading Country Club. It is 18 holes in the outskirts of Reading in Exeter Township. It is a challenging public course measuring 6,1612 yards and a par of 71. The course had been open since 1922 and in 1937 Byron Nelson, a Masters Champion, was the golf pro. Later in 1940 Henry Clay Poe became the golf pro at The Reading Country Club. Many more golf pro's came after them, but these two are memorable enough to have a room named after each of them in the clubhouse, that is now a beautiful restaurant.

The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad offers passenger excursions out of the Reading Outer Station located at Pottsville Pike (Route 61) and Bellevue Avenue.￼

Festivals
Every October the Oktoberfest is held right near the historic Stokesay castle in Mount Penn. The Oktoberfest is put on by the Reading Liederkranz. It is a festival of culture, food, clothing, crafts, and dance.

Each March the Berks Jazz Fest comes to town for 10 days and offers many musical experiences for residents and visitors. Some past performers have included some well known names such as Chris Bottie, Betty Carter, the Dave Brubeck Quartet and Wynton Marsalis.

The Apple Dumpling festival and pageant is held every summer at Willow Glen Park. It includes a craft show, company picnics, food, pageants, and carnival rides.

Every winter Reading hold the Jingle Bell Fest. A light display, Holiday Music, Children's rides, and holiday food. Like the Apple Dumpling Festival it is held at Willow Glen Park.

Every Fall Willow Glen Park holds Shocktober fest: Pennsylvania’s Premier Haunted Scream Park. It offers 4 different haunted attractions: the Toxic Asylum, Biohazard Hayride w/ The SawKill, Prison of the Dead, and Club Shock. According to the Travel Channel it is “one of the scariest places in America”.

Every Spring the Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Reading Pennsylvania is held at the River Place on the Schuylkill. It offers a guided bike ride, Japanese films, and dragon viewings.

Another popular festival is the Kutztown Folk Festival about 15 miles northeast of Reading. The festival is very well known and allows visitors to immerse themselves in the culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

The Oley Valley Community Fair is a unique true old fashioned, down-home, country fair. In 2010, it marked the 64th anniversary. The fair promotes good, friendly competition among friends and neighbors of the surrounding area. Each year you can see a wide variety of local products from the farm and home that are entered in many different categories.

The Duryea Hillclimb, a biannual race held by the SCCA on Reading's famous Skyline Drive; Beginning at Reading Park, around a series of chicanes, and past the Pagoda has been held since 1951.

Another great event to attend in the area would be Reading Earth Day. On this day, there are many eco activities and presenters for people to enjoy. Also, plenty of entertainment, good food, and free activities for kids.

Buy
Reading still calls itself the outlet capital of the world, though the name is a remnant of when it was one of the few cities to boast outlets. Another part of Reading's history is the store named Boscovs. Reading is home to Boscovs first store. Boscov's has grown into a 39 store company throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Boscov's is one of the largest family owned department store chains in the U.S. Boscov's used to sponsor the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade previous to its bankruptcy in August of 2008, but don't let that discourage you because Boscov's is back on its feet and reorganizing to save this family owned store and an asset to the community.

Shopping centers and malls

 * Berkshire Mall is mid-range and Boscov's and Sears serve as anchors. It became world famous a few years ago after a video of a woman falling into a fountain, while pensively texting on her cellphone went viral. Across the street are smaller outdoor shopping centers and restaurants. Berkshire sports a dated 1970s original interior, but the stores themselves are generally kept up to date.

There are also many strip malls and one true mall in the Reading area. Exeter Commons shopping center, in Reading's eastern suburbs, opened in the summer of 2009 and offers Lowe's, Target, Giant, Staples, Petco, Famous Footwear, Sonic, Five Guys, and Red Robin. The Shoppes at Wyomissing opened in 2007 and has slightly higher end shops such as Rack Room Shoes, Justice, New York & Company, Loft, J.Jill, Coldwater Creek, Chico's, Jos. A. Bank, Yankee Candle and Gymboree. Broadcasting Square, in Spring Township in Reading's western suburbs, opened in 2000 and features stores such as Target, Ulta, Dick's, Marshall's, Famous Footwear, Petco, Ross, Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, as well as numerous chain restaurants like Buca di Beppo, Chili's, and Smoky Bones. Some of the stores at Broadcasting Square represent that chain's only store in the Reading market, such as Marshall's and Bed Bath & Beyond. The Berkshire Mall, opening in the early 1970s, is a medium scale mall, and features stores such as Hollister, American Eagle, Wet Seal, Christopher Banks, Pacific Sunwear, Bath and Body Works, and Victoria's Secret. Along Penn Avenue (US route 422 Business) in the separate borough of West Reading, you'll find numerous unique boutiques and restaurants, ranging from basic to urban chic. Specifically, Bella Jules has a great selection of items from different well-known designers along with a fabulous selection of prom dresses. You'll also find restaurants in West Reading that offer sidewalk seating along Penn Ave during the warmer months.

 * Cabelas, situated in Hamburg, north of Reading, at the junctures of Route 61 and I-78 is a popular superstore, and tourist destination featuring large aquariums, animal mounts, as well as a shopping experience catering to those with a love of the outdoors. The business center surrounding Cabelas contains various restaurants and steakhouses, as well as Lowes, Walmart, and smaller strip mall shops.
 * Iron Horse Hobby House

Eat
Until the mid-1990s, Reading was the home of Joe's Restaurant - a humbly named eatery owned by Joe Czarnecki; Whose passion for fine wine and mushroom delicacies created a definitive cook book, "Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery" and transformed the family business into a world renowned institution of fine dining. It was in 1996, after Joe's passing, the family moved the restaurant to the Palmer House in Dayton, Oregon.

Reading has a resurging dining scene with many locally owned ethnic restaurants.

There are many other wonderful dining options including:

 * The Stokesay Castle is a gourmet offering. Notable among the 13th-century Scottish castle's architecture is Andrea Heinly, a Hell's Kitchen contestant and chef on staff.
 * Another excellent option for fine dining is Judy's on Cherry.
 * For Vietnamese food Lang Restaurant at 22 N 6th St is a delicious choice. Privately owned, the restaurant offers well prepared traditional dishes paired with a pleasant atmosphere.

When you leave the city, Penn Street continues under the name Penn Avenues and your dining opportunities do not stop either.

 * Go Fish! is a great seafood market and sushi bar in West Reading. Dine in or take out.  622 Penn Ave, West Reading.

Another great place for a sushi lover to visit is the Tokyo Hibachi and Bar which has a large variety of Asian cuisine options; hibachi, sushi, or traditional Chinese cuisine this restaurant will please everyone.

 * For Mexican food in the more suburban areas you should definitely check out the locally owned chain Alebrije. There are three locations for this restaurant but the most popular is on the 4th street highway.
 * Works at 1109 Bern Road +1 610 375-2700. Traditional American cuisine.  The Works has an arcade, miniature bowling alleys, and real sports inside the restaurant.
 * For Italian food, check out the family-owned G.N.A. Ristorante Pizzeria which offers a large variety of delicious Italian dishes, a family friendly atmosphere and are open for brunch on Sundays.
 * Aladdin is a great option for anyone interested in Mediterranean cuisine.
 * The area also offers many diners that are favorites of the local residents. These include the West Reading Diner, Wyomissing Family Restaurant, Mount Penn Diner, and Exeter Family Restaurant.

Drink
Many corners of Reading house small bars and pubs, if you're feeling adventurous.

 * Winedown Cafe & Wine Bar, 622 Penn Ave, West Reading, has a very relaxed atmosphere for wine lovers. Penn Ave in West Reading.

Bed and Breakfasts
For visitors interested in a more intimate experience Reading offers some very quaint bed and breakfasts which are in close proximity to many of the most visited attractions.

Stay safe
While Reading's crime rate has been falling, it is much higher than the national average. Reading has experienced gang-related crime. The city violent crime rate for Reading in 2016 was higher than the national violent crime rate average by 71.17% and the city property crime rate in Reading was higher than the national property crime rate average by 6.48%.

Go next

 * Allentown, 30 miles northeast, Pennsylvania's third largest city
 * Kutztown, 17 miles northeast, small town home to Kutztown University, the Kutztown Folk Festival, and Crystal Cave.

title: Reading (Pennsylvania)


text:
Real de Catorce

Real de Catorce is a ghost town in San Luis Potosí. The former silver mining boom town has lost over 90% of its population since its heyday in the late 19th century, and only about 1,400 residents remain (2010). Real de Catorce has been designated as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

This old ghost town is very popular with tourists from Texas, especially the Austin area. Many of the old haciendas are being restored to former glory. The surrounding high desert area is becoming a popular area for horseback riding.

Understand
Although a town had been there for many years, silver was discovered in the local mountains in 1772. In 1779 the village was founded. The parish church was built between 1790 and 1817. Real de Catorce's heyday was in the late 19th century, when it had a population of 15,000, with some of Mexico's richest silver mines, a mint, a bullring, and shops selling European luxury goods. It was almost completely abandoned when the price of silver plummeted after 1900; only a few people remained in this ghost town, eking out a living from mine tailings and an annual influx of pilgrims to a reputedly miraculous image of St. Francis in the parish church. Today, its main income comes from tourism.

Several major commercial motion pictures have been filmed in Real including Bandidas (featuring Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz), The Mexican (featuring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts), and some scenes of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (featuring Humphrey Bogart), and of Puerto Escondido, directed by Gabriele Salvatores.

Real de Catorce is benefiting from the renaissance that is sweeping across many of the forgotten colonial gems of the northern deserts.

Climate
Although in the southern range of the Chihuahuan desert, due to its altitude, Real can be very cool at night. Although days, particularly in summer, can be very hot, it is advised to always bring a jacket, even in summer.

By plane
The nearest airport is San Luis Potosí, with flights to destinations in Mexico and the USA. Monterrey Airport, some 379 km away, has additional flights to both Mexico and the USA, as well as nonstop services to Central America and Europe.

From the San Luis Potosí airport it is a 15- to 20-minute drive via bus or taxi to the "Central de autobuses". From the Monterrey airport, a Noreste bus to the Monterrey bus station is M$115 (March 2022).

By bus
Intercity buses from Saltillo, Monterrey, and San Luis Potosí stop in Matehuala. Multiple bus companies like Frontera and Senda serve the route. From Matehuala go the combis of Expreso Vanced to Real de Catorce. They depart at 8am, 2pm and 5pm from the address Altamirano 104 next to the shop Onix Bisutería.

Other intercity buses from Monterrey, Saltillo and SLP go to the village Estación Catorce. The route is served by Frontera. On the website are the departure times shown. From Estación Catorce go 4x4 cars the 12 km to Real de Catorce.

By car
In order to get to Real de Catorce you have to go through a very narrow 11-km tunnel. At the high tourist seasons (Oct and Apr) you will have to leave your car outside the tunnel and take a horse and carriage in to the pueblito.

By taxi
A driver offered direct service for M$9 per km (May 2017). From San Luis Potosí it is about ~250 km which would be around M$2,250 which may make sense for groups.

Get around
Once in Real de Catorce you get around by walking mostly. Cars are not allowed to drive in the city. To get to one of the far away tourist destinations you travel by horse, donkey or mule.

See

 * The graveyard
 * Purisima Concepcion Church
 * Ogarrio Tunnel
 * Palenque
 * Coin House
 * Old Silver Mines
 * Old Silver Mines

Do

 * Walking
 * Hiking
 * Mountain biking
 * Equestrian riding
 * Camping
 * Peyote with a shaman
 * At almost 2,700 m, the city is an excellent training ground for bicyclists and runners.

Buy
Home made crafts... made with minerals found in caves

Eat

 * Gorditas from street vendors
 * Many Italian restaurants

Sleep
There are several hotels in Real de Cartorce.

Houses can be rented in the surrounding small ghost towns (without electricity or running water) for about US$100 monthly, its a popular option for artists and craftsmen.

Go next
Your next destination for staying can be:

To the east:
 * Matehuala 60 km

To the north:
 * Saltillo 280 km
 * Monterrey 350 km

To the south:
 * San Luis Potosí 250 km

title: Real de Catorce


text:
Rebun Island

Rebun-to (礼文島) is an island off the north-west tip of Hokkaido, Japan and a part of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. It features native wildflowers, spectacular landscapes and fantastic hiking for experienced and beginner hikers.

Understand
Rebun-to has a small and easy-to-climb mountain, Rebun-dake (礼文岳), which is 490 m (1,610 ft). The island has many wildflowers, some waterfalls, and unique rock formations.

History
These islands belonged to the Ainu until the migration of the Japanese to Hokkaido began in the 1870s.

Climate
Heavy snow in winter. Summer is the best time to visit.

Tourist Information Site

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate. English Map in PDF is available.

 * The local tourist associations has another Japanese-only joint guide site, covering Rishiri island and Wakkanai City too. (Clicking on "languages" lead to the prefecture's multilingual site.)

Get in
To get to Rishiri or Rebun, take a ferry from the city of Wakkanai. There are also ferries directly connecting Rishiri and Rebun. There are about five services a day during summer, and this is cut back in winter. 2nd class one way tickets to Rishiri or Rebun cost ¥2200. Like many other Japanese ferries, 2nd class has almost no seating inside -- you sit on tatami mats on the floor (after taking your shoes off). There is outdoor seating, weather permitting.

Fees and permits
None required.

Get around
Bus timetables are available at the ferry terminals and on the ferry itself. Roads don't go to the interior of either island, so the best way to see them is on foot. There are hiking trails on both islands that really let you explore the best parts of the islands, and it may be desirable to take buses or taxis to the trailheads. Cars, bikes and scooters are available for rent. It is also possible to book a nature tour by bus on the islands.

See
Wildflowers on Rebun.

Do
Hiking is the main activity that can be done, and there are fantastic trails for beginners and experts alike. Hiking maps are available in English from Wakkanai railway station and the ferry terminals.

Eat
The specialty of Rebun is raw sea-urchin served on a bed of rice, called Uni-don (ウニ丼) and it's wonderful. If "adventurous" for you means trying a new kind of pizza then uni probably won't be your thing, but even compared to uni at high-priced sushi shops in Tokyo or Sapporo this is a world apart. It can be found in eateries surrounding the ferry port terminal at Kafuka, as well as Oshidomari on Rishiri.

Stay safe

 * Water from streams may be unsafe to drink without purification. Try to obtain water from pure sources.

Go next
There are ferries available to Rishiri and Wakkanai.

title: Rebun Island