Wikitravel - Changes related to "Portugal" [en]

Andorra

2013-05-21T09:33:20Z

‎Buy:

Malta

2013-05-21T07:41:15Z

‎By taxi:

Barbados

2013-05-21T07:26:59Z

What is this? Undo revision 2039447 by 98.203.54.236 (talk)

Nicaragua

2013-05-21T04:58:14Z

‎Visa regulations:

Slovenia

2013-05-21T02:27:47Z

Barbados

2013-05-21T01:39:43Z

added listing melanie

Mexico

2013-05-21T01:16:56Z

‎Contact:

Porto

2013-05-21T00:06:59Z

‎Understand:

Australia

2013-05-20T19:28:58Z

Australia

2013-05-20T18:32:31Z

‎Geography:

Lisbon

2013-05-20T16:52:43Z

Restoring removed content.

Lisbon

2013-05-20T16:01:55Z

‎Do: typo corrected

Israel

2013-05-20T00:54:05Z

We use the common English names for localities on the English Wikitravel

Israel

2013-05-20T00:42:34Z

‎Occupied Territories:

Israel

2013-05-20T00:33:38Z

‎Disputed Territories:

Japan

2013-05-19T22:58:16Z

‎Other things:

Greece

2013-05-19T19:56:40Z

‎Cities: Salonica is still well known in English

Madrid

2013-05-19T17:26:39Z

‎Parks:

Serbia

2013-05-19T17:19:44Z

‎By plane:

Rome/Vatican

2013-05-19T16:10:18Z

‎Respect:

Norway

2013-05-19T13:18:42Z

‎Cope:

Norway

2013-05-19T12:57:42Z

‎Cope: - added «mål» (decare)

Hong Kong

2013-05-19T05:02:53Z

‎Internet Access:

Europe

2013-05-18T22:14:31Z

‎By ship:

Europe

2013-05-18T22:10:26Z

‎Regions: Not every country has its own language, eg, Switzerland; rm link to disamb pg

Europe

2013-05-18T18:20:01Z

‎Music:

Greece

2013-05-18T18:15:06Z

‎Water:

Europe

2013-05-18T16:55:37Z

Israel

2013-05-18T13:29:48Z

This is a better image of the flag

Italy

2013-05-18T09:11:56Z

Reverted edits by 79.53.36.219 (Talk) to last version by W. Frank

Finland

2013-05-18T08:44:55Z

‎By phone:

Italy

2013-05-18T07:22:53Z

‎Monuments:

Japan

2013-05-18T07:11:23Z

‎Further reading:

Israel

2013-05-18T02:28:30Z

The same word was repeated 2 times.

Italy

2013-05-17T20:44:22Z

‎By bus:

Italy

2013-05-17T20:35:40Z

Tours can be listed on Wikitravel as long as they constitute a value-added activity. If a traveler could fulfill the substance of the tour on their own, the tour should not be listed! Not sure what kind of added value this listing offers

Italy

2013-05-17T18:20:17Z

‎Monuments:

Croatia

2013-05-17T18:15:53Z

don't exist

Venezuela

2013-05-17T17:47:51Z

‎Stay safe:

Japan

2013-05-17T08:37:22Z

‎Eating vegetarian:

Japan

2013-05-17T08:10:49Z

‎Eating vegetarian:

@@ Line 148: / Line 148: @@
 [[Andorra La Vella]] is a good destination to buy all kinds of cheap goods, due to the country's status as a "tax haven."
-However, do compare the base price with that in your own country or region. Taxe free does not necessarily bring you net lower out of pocket final expense. If you don't just want to buy new releases of brand name luxury goods, which the base prices can be a lot different from the "just arrived" category, Andorra is not the right place for you. Just wander around then, it is also very enjoyable.
+However, do compare the base price with that in your own country or region. Tax free does not necessarily bring you net lower final expense. If you don't just want to buy new releases of brand-name luxury goods, whose base prices can be very different from the "just arrived" category, Andorra is not the right place for you. Just wander around then, it is also very enjoyable.
 ==See==

@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 Malta's white taxis are the ones you can pick you up off the street. They have meters that are uniformly ignored, figure on €15 for short hops and not much more than €35 for a trip across the island. There are now Gov't approved fares for taxis from the airport ranging from €10 to 30.
-For cheaper airport transfers and local taxis try using one of the local "Black cab" taxi firms such as [http://www.activecabsmalta.com Active Cabs]  Taxi by Sean Taxi Service,  Peppin Transport (Cheaper Online Prices), Malta Airport Cabs [http://www.malta-airport-taxis.co.uk] or Malta Taxi Online. Their rates are normally lower than white taxis  but their services must be prebooked (at least fifteen minutes' notice).
+For cheaper airport transfers and local taxis try using one of the local "Black cab" taxi firms such as [https://easyprivatetaxi.com/book/malta/gozo/185 Easy PrivateTaxi], [http://www.activecabsmalta.com Active Cabs]  Taxi by Sean Taxi Service,  [http://www.peppintransport.com Peppin Transport] (Cheaper Online Prices), Malta Airport Cabs [http://www.malta-airport-taxis.co.uk] or Malta Taxi Online. Their rates are normally lower than white taxis  but their services must be prebooked (at least fifteen minutes' notice). The approx. cost of a transfer from Malta Airport to Valletta is €15-18 for a sedan and €17-25 for a minibus.
 If you would like a taxi tour, it is a good idea to book it in advance with an agreed price and arrange to be picked up from your hotel or apartment. The tours are best kept short, around 3 to 4 hours should do it. In a car you will be able to cover [[Mdina]], Rabat, Mosta, Valletta and the Blue Grotto. However, some people say that when visiting historical sights it is best to also hire a licensed tourist guide (who will wear their license while on tour) and accuse taxi drivers of often giving inaccurate information.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:26, 21 May 2013
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	'''10 Saints''' is the first craft beer to be brewed in Barbados. This unique lager is aged for 90 days in Mount Gay 'Special Reserve' Rum casks, combining the rum heritage of the island with a refreshing lager to produce a truly 'Bajan' beer. It is available at bars and shops, throughout the island.		'''10 Saints''' is the first craft beer to be brewed in Barbados. This unique lager is aged for 90 days in Mount Gay 'Special Reserve' Rum casks, combining the rum heritage of the island with a refreshing lager to produce a truly 'Bajan' beer. It is available at bars and shops, throughout the island.
−	*<drink name="melanie" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">it taste so good</drink>
−

	== Sleep ==		== Sleep ==

@@ Line 145: / Line 145: @@
 ===Visa regulations===
-Citizens of the following countries/territories can enter Nicaragua '''without''' a visa: [[Andorra]], [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Bahamas]], [[Bahrain]], [[Barbados]], [[Belgium]], [[Belize]], [[Brazil]], [[Brunei]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Canada]],[[Costa Rica]], [[Croatia]], [[Cyprus]], [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Falkland Islands]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Gibraltar]], [[Greece]], [[Holy See]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Hungary]], [[Iceland]], [[Ireland]], [[Israel]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Macao]], [[Macedonia]], [[Madagascar]], [[Malaysia]], [[Malta]], [[Marshall Islands]], [[Mexico]], [[Monaco]], [[Netherlands]], [[New Zealand]], [[Norway]], [[Paraguay]], [[Panama]], [[Poland]], [[Portugal]], [[Qatar]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], [[St. Lucia]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[San Marino]], [[Singapore]], [[Slovakia]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[South Africa]], [[South Korea]], [[Spain]], [[St. Helena]], [[Swaziland]], [[Sweden]], [[Slovenia]], [[Switzerland]], [[Taiwan]], [[Turkey]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Tuvalu]], [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Vanuatu]], the [[Vatican City]] (Holy See) and [[Venezuela]].
+Citizens of the following countries/territories can enter Nicaragua '''without''' a visa: [[Andorra]], [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Bahamas]], [[Bahrain]], [[Barbados]], [[Belgium]], [[Belize]], [[Brazil]], [[Brunei]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Canada]], [[Chile]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Croatia]], [[Cyprus]], [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Falkland Islands]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Gibraltar]], [[Greece]], [[Holy See]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Hungary]], [[Iceland]], [[Ireland]], [[Israel]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Macao]], [[Macedonia]], [[Madagascar]], [[Malaysia]], [[Malta]], [[Marshall Islands]], [[Mexico]], [[Monaco]], [[Netherlands]], [[New Zealand]], [[Norway]], [[Paraguay]], [[Panama]], [[Poland]], [[Portugal]], [[Qatar]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], [[St. Lucia]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[San Marino]], [[Singapore]], [[Slovakia]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[South Africa]], [[South Korea]], [[Spain]], [[St. Helena]], [[Swaziland]], [[Sweden]], [[Slovenia]], [[Switzerland]], [[Taiwan]], [[Turkey]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Tuvalu]], [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Vanuatu]], the [[Vatican City]] (Holy See) and [[Venezuela]].
 Other tourists can obtain a ''Tourist Card'' for US$10 valid for 1 month to 3 months (depending on citizenship - Canada and USA are allowed 90 days) upon arrival, provided with a valid passport with at least six months to run. There is also a US$32 departure tax which is included in airfares with major airlines (American, Continental, COPA and TACA definitely). The tourist card is valid in the other CA-4 countries, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, although it sometimes requires a discussion with immigration officials that this accord is in effect, since they are quite compelled to sell more tourist cards.

@@ Line 305: / Line 305: @@
 ===Internet===
-Slovenia is covered by over 415,580 internet hosts from several companies, offering services to 1,298 million internet users. Internet cafes are common in cities, and internet access is offered by most hotels and hostels. Wireless internet networks are also available.
+Slovenia is covered by over 415,580 internet hosts from several companies, offering services to 1.298 million internet users. Internet cafes are common in cities, and internet access is offered by most hotels and hostels. Wireless internet networks are also available.
 ===Broadcast media===

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:39, 21 May 2013
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	'''10 Saints''' is the first craft beer to be brewed in Barbados. This unique lager is aged for 90 days in Mount Gay 'Special Reserve' Rum casks, combining the rum heritage of the island with a refreshing lager to produce a truly 'Bajan' beer. It is available at bars and shops, throughout the island.		'''10 Saints''' is the first craft beer to be brewed in Barbados. This unique lager is aged for 90 days in Mount Gay 'Special Reserve' Rum casks, combining the rum heritage of the island with a refreshing lager to produce a truly 'Bajan' beer. It is available at bars and shops, throughout the island.
		+	*<drink name="melanie" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">it taste so good</drink>
		+

	== Sleep ==		== Sleep ==

@@ Line 650: / Line 650: @@
 Some areas have only a few internet cafes; in others, they are plentiful. Common fees vary from 7 pesos/hour to 20 pesos/hour. Currently, most of the internet cafes offer calls to the US for a better rate than a payphone, usually via VoIP.
-If you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card in Mexico and have a local mobile phone number for use in cases of emergency. Telcel provides good coverage throughout the country and you can get a SIM card for $150 pesos with $100 pesos talk time. If you have an iPhone, you should purchase a package of date with Telcel, as pay-as-you-go internet is extremely expensive. [http://bkpk.me/getting-3g-internet-in-mexico/]
+If you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card in Mexico and have a local mobile phone number for use in cases of emergency. ROAMFREE Mobile provides good coverage throughout the country and you can get a SIM card for $150 pesos with $100 pesos talk time. If you have an iPhone, you should purchase a package of date with ROAMFREE Mobile, as pay-as-you-go internet is extremely expensive. [http://bkpk.me/getting-3g-internet-in-mexico/]
 It is often far cheaper than what hotels will charge you and incoming calls may also be free under certain schemes. Mexico operates on the same GSM frequency as the United States, 1900 Mhz. There is an Internet wireless connection in almost every restaurant or hotel in the big cities.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Understand==
-Porto is a busy industrial and commercial center. The city itself isn't very populous (about 250,000 inhabitants), but the Porto metropolitan area (Greater Porto) has some 1,500,000 inhabitants in a 50 km radius, with cities like Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia, and Gondomar.
+Porto is a busy industrial and commercial center. The city itself isn't very populous (about 300,000 inhabitants), but the Porto metropolitan area (Greater Porto) has some 2,500,000 inhabitants in a 50 km radius, with cities like Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia, and Gondomar.
 The city was built along the hills overlooking the Douro river estuary, and its historical center was awarded [[UNESCO World Heritage List|World Heritage status]] by UNESCO in 1996. It has been continuously inhabited since at least the 4th Century, when the Romans referred to it as ''Portus Calle''

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Australia is highly urbanised with most of the population heavily concentrated along the eastern and south-eastern coasts. Most of the inland areas of the country are semi-arid. The most-populous states are [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]] and [[New South Wales]], but by far the largest in land area is [[Western Australia]].
-Australia has an area of 7,682,300 square kilometres (2,966,152 mi²) and the distances between cities and towns is easy to underestimate.
+Australia has an area of 7,682,300 square kilometres (2,966,152&nbsp;mi²) and the distances between cities and towns is easy to underestimate.
 Australia has large areas that have been deforested for agricultural purposes, but many native forest areas survive in extensive national parks and other undeveloped areas.  Long-term Australian concerns include salinity, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 20 May 2013
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	* Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.		* Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.
		+
		+	* International Charter Group: [http://www.barcosbarcelona.com]. Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in Lisbon. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).
		+	*<do name="" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""></do>

	==Work==		==Work==

@@ Line 301: / Line 301: @@
 * Have a picnic in '''Jardim Botanico''' (see details in [[##Jardim Botanico|"See" section]]).
-* You cannot come to Lisbon without exploring '''Alfama''' [http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/districts/Alfama.html] - the city's oldest district. You will enjoy simply getting lost on its labyrinthine streets and alleys with medieval to 19th Century architecture. Highlights include the Castle of São Jorge, Santa Luzia view point, and the medieval Lisbon Cathedral ("Sé").
+* You cannot come to Lisbon without exploring '''Alfama''' [http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/districts/Alfama.html] - the city's oldest district. You will enjoy simply getting lost on its labyrinthine streets and alleys with architecture ranging from late medieval to 19th Century buildings. The area is old and slightly run down, although renovation efforts have been undertaken in the past two decades. There is a wealth of small historical and cultural landmarks and pleasant restaurants, cafés and Fado clubs can be found all over the place. Highlights include the Castle of São Jorge, Santa Luzia scenic view point, and the medieval Lisbon Cathedral ("Sé de Lisboa").
-* Take a walk in the lush gardens of the '''Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation''' [http://www.gulbenkian.pt] and check out the Museum and its classical art collection, the newer Modern Art Museum and the concert hall with a continuously ongoing programme of classical, jazz and world music.
+* Take a walk in the lush gardens of the '''Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation''' [http://www.gulbenkian.pt], one of Europe's most respected cultural institutions. Check out the Gulbenkian Museum (which is also an architectural landmark in itself) and its classical art collection; the newer Gulbenkian Modern Art Museum and the concert hall with a continuously ongoing programme of classical, jazz and world music. During the summer, concerts are held in the Gulbenkian gardens' open-air theatre.
 * If you are on a cultural trip and looking for more concerts, theatre, dance and arts, you can also check the '''Centro Cultural de Belém''' [http://www.ccb.pt] near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and the '''Culturgest''' arts center [http://www.culturgest.pt/] near the Campo Pequeno area.
@@ Line 314: / Line 314: @@
 * Enjoy a jazz concert and drinks at the '''Hot Clube de Portugal''' [http://www.hcp.pt] (''telephone: +351 21 3619740'') - Portugal has a thriving jazz scene, the center of which is the Hot Clube de Portugal - one of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, located in Praça da Alegria, near Avenida da Liberdade. The club's first location was lost in a fire in 2009 but it has since reopened literally next door. Shows and open jam sessions are always on, with both national and international jazz stars performing weekly.
 ==Work==
@@ Line 641: / Line 637: @@
 ===Crime===
-According to Eurostat [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-SF-08-019], the overall crime rate and in particular '''robberies''' are on the rise in Portugal, a possible effect of the current economic crisis and unemployment rate.
+According to Eurostat [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=KS-SF-08-019], the overall crime rate and in particular '''robberies''' are on the rise in Portugal, a possible effect of the current (since 2011) economic crisis and unemployment rate.
-Some areas on the outskirts of Lisbon are becoming more dangerous, but it is unlikely the average tourist will visit these areas. The most common crime against tourists is '''pickpocketing and theft''' from rental cars or on public transport. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them.
+Some areas on the outskirts of Lisbon are becoming more dangerous, but it is unlikely the average tourist will visit these areas. The most common crime against tourists is '''pickpocketing and theft from rental cars or on public transport'''. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them.
-There are some episodes of violent and/or drug related crimes (i.e. robberies/mugging) in places such as ''Bairro Alto'' and ''Santos'', especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached. Young tourists should be wary as they will likely be approached, especially near the Chiado Plaza - usually by drug dealers or scammers.
+Violent and/or drug related crimes are known to take place in areas such as ''Bairro Alto'' and ''Santos'', especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta, or near the Chiado Plaza. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached (young tourists out for drinks are also very likely be approached). These approaches are usually done by drug dealers and scammers and may degenerate into ''mugging''.
-Due to soaring house prices, the "Baixa" area (encompassing Rua Augusta, Terreiro do Paço, etc.) has become depopulated - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area sometimes becomes fair ground for muggers, caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well. Be wary of the Intendente-Martim Moniz area: Intendente is a well known area for prostitution and drug trafficking, and even though the situation has changed in the past couple of years (police now regularly patrol the area), it is still problematic. Martim Moniz is also notorious: at night time, the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, Martim Moniz is quite safe and pleasant.
+Due to soaring house prices, the "Baixa" area (encompassing Rua Augusta, Terreiro do Paço, etc.) has become depopulated - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area becomes fair ground for muggers, caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well. The Intendente area is well known for prostitution and drug trafficking. Martim Moniz is also notorious: at night time, the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, the Martim Moniz plaza is quite safe and pleasant.
-'''ATM / bank machine muggings''' are commonplace in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the "multibanco" and wait until you have entered your PIN. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount  (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid withdrawing money in some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodre.
+'''ATM / bank machine muggings''' are commonplace in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the ATM / "multibanco" and wait until you have entered your PIN. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid withdrawing money in some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodré.
 '''Car jacking''' is also on the rise, usually targeting luxury/top brand vehicles or unescorted female drivers. Always make sure your car doors are locked even during daytime.
 Criminals in Lisbon are witty and continuously come up with new '''scams'''. Examples include:
-- someone approaches you with no apparent reason and distracts you with conversation or begging, while someone else pickpockets you;
+- someone approaches you for no apparent reason and distracts you with conversation or begging, while someone else pickpockets you;
 - someone pretending they need to "borrow" money from you, promising to pay you back in a few hours;
 - another well known scam involves one person offering you drugs, while a second person will suddenly approach you pretending to be a police officer, and asking you to pay a "fine" if you want to avoid "jail".
@@ Line 659: / Line 655: @@
 A firm 'no thank-you' or "não, obrigado", if you're a male; "não, obrigada", if you're female should be enough to deter them. Another possible option is simply walking away and avoiding any interaction from the first moment.
-Finally, when driving, be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: '''"arrumadores"''' - "ushers" or '''illegal parking "assistants"'''. These are drug addicts, petty thieves or simply homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and "help" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the "arrumador" will ask or try to extort money from you as payment for the "service" through begging at best or physical abuse in the worst situations (rare). They might also pretend to be "official" parking space "guards" or "security" and promise to keep an eye on your car - naturally, they will leave as soon as you give them money and walk away.
+Finally, when driving, be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: '''"arrumadores"''' - "ushers" or '''illegal parking "assistants"'''. These are drug addicts, petty thieves or simply homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and "help" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the "arrumador" will try to extort money from you as payment for the so-called "service", through begging at best or physical abuse in the worst situations (rare). They might also pretend to be "official" parking space "guards" or "security" and promise to keep an eye on your car - naturally, they will disappear as soon as you give them money.
-If you are not in a isolated area (i.e. other people / witnesses are around) and decide not to give them money at all you may simply ignore them and walk away after parking your car - should you do so, however, there is a slight risk of having your car damaged or broken into once you are gone, but most of the time nothing will happen and the "arrumador" will move on to other targets.
+If you are not in a isolated area (i.e. other people / witnesses are around) and decide not to give them money at all you may simply ignore them and walk away after parking your car - should you do so, however, there is a slight risk of having your car damaged or broken into once you are gone, but most times the "arrumador" will just move on to other targets.
-Although "arrumadores" are not usually dangerous, caution is always needed: many have been known to use this scam to attack or rob people, and instances of car jacking have been reported, specially when unescorted female drivers are concerned. Generally, the best course of action is park somewhere else (preferably in areas that are not too isolated) or just pay for a place in a private parking lot, which is a bit more expensive but avoids the hassle.
+Generally, the best course of action is to park somewhere else (preferably in areas that are not too isolated) or just pay for a place in an official parking lot - a bit more expensive, but hassle-free.
 ===Walking, Cycling and Driving===

@@ Line 121: / Line 121: @@
 }}
-===Occupied Territories===
+===Disputed Territories===
 {{Regionlist
@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 | region2color=#8E908D
 | region2items=
-| region2description=Two physically separate territories, the Judea and Samaria in the east in the Jordan Valley and the [[Gaza|Gaza Strip]] in the southwest along the Mediterranean coast. Internationally recognized as part of the '''State of Palestine''' by the UN, government services (security, medical service, etc.) are provided by Israel, the Palestinian Authority (as of 2013, The state of Palestine), or a combination, depending on the exact location as a result of the Oslo Accords.
+| region2description=Two physically separate territories, the [[West Bank]] in the east in the Jordan Valley and the [[Gaza|Gaza Strip]] in the southwest along the Mediterranean coast. Internationally recognized as part of the '''State of Palestine''' by the UN, government services (security, medical service, etc.) are provided by Israel, the Palestinian Authority (as of 2013, The state of Palestine), or a combination, depending on the exact location as a result of the Oslo Accords.
 }}
@@ Line 174: / Line 174: @@
 [[Image:BenGuArr.jpg|thumb|Ben Gurion International Airport is the main entry point for most visitors to Israel.]]
-Many countries have a Visa Waiver program with Israel which allows their citizens to visit Israel without a visa arranged in advance.  Before embarking on a trip, visitors desiring to stop in Israel on their way to other destinations must check if they need a prearranged tourist visa.  The list of countries below specifies from which countries tourists are required to present a prearranged visa.  All Visa Waiver Program travelers must present a machine-readable passport at the port of entry  in order to enter Israel without a prearranged visa; otherwise a visa is required.  This applies to tourists arriving with a passage card from [http://www.mfa.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/05664082-4C0C-4C2E-A593-C9D0C0B20C2A/0/VisaRequirements.pdf  countries with a Waiver Program].
+Many countries have a Visa Waiver program with Israel which allows their citizens to visit Israel without a visa arranged in advance.  Before embarking on a trip, visitors desiring to stop in Israel on their way to other destinations must check if they need a prearranged tourist visa.  The list of countries below specifies from which countries tourists are required to present a prearranged visa.  All Visa Waiver Program travelers must present a machine-readable passport at the port of entry  in order to enter Israel without a prearranged visa; otherwise a visa is required.  This applies to tourists arriving with a passage card from [http://www.mfa.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/05664082-4C0C-4C2E-A593-C9D0C0B20C2A/0/VisaRequirements.pdf countries with a Waiver Program].
-If you're in Israel on a tourist visa (B2) and decide to renew your visa for a longer term, you may do so at the [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Consular_affairs/Visas.htm Ministry of the Interior Visa office].  In Tel Aviv, it is located at 125 Derech Menachem Begin on the second floor.  The office opens Su-W 08:00-12:00.  Alternately, citizens from most European and North American countries can renew their visas by crossing into Jordan and returning to Israel at the Arava border crossing near Eilat, or by crossing into Egypt and returning to Israel at the Taba crossing.
+If you're in Israel on a tourist visa (B2) and decide to renew your visa for a longer term, you may do so at the [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Consular_affairs/Visas.htm Ministry of the Interior Visa office]. In Tel Aviv, it is located at 125 Derech Menachem Begin on the second floor.  The office opens Su-W 08:00-12:00.  Alternately, citizens from most European and North American countries can renew their visas by crossing into Jordan and returning to Israel at the Arava border crossing near Eilat, or by crossing into Egypt and returning to Israel at the Taba crossing.
 ===By Plane===
@@ Line 212: / Line 212: @@
 ===By Road===
 There are five border crossings that can be reached by road.  There are two on the Egyptian border and three on the Jordanian border.  There are no border crossings accessible to tourists with either Syria or Lebanon.  All border crossings have extensive security measures in place to ensure the safety of both Israelis and tourists.
 Border Crossings with [[Jordan]]:
-'''Allenby/King Hussein Bridge:''' Is located just north of the Dead Sea, in the center of the country.  This crossing is the the shortest way between the capitals, [[Amman]] and [[Jerusalem]], and is the busiest land crossing.  The crossing is open from 8:00 - 00:00 Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 - 15:00 Friday and Saturday.  The crossing only closes for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice.[http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Borders/Alenbi/]
+'''Allenby/King Hussein Bridge:''' Is located just north of the Dead Sea, in the center of the country.  This crossing is the the shortest way between the capitals, [[Amman]] and [[Jerusalem]], and is the busiest land crossing.  The crossing is open Su-Th 08:00-00:00, and F-Sa 08:00-15:00.  The crossing only closes for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Eid al-Adha, the [http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Borders/Alenbi/ Feast of the Sacrifice.]
 '''Jordan River:''' This crossing is located just south of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias.  The crossing is open from 6:30 - 21:00 Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 - 20:00 Friday and Saturday.  Entry into the crossing for processing will end at 19:00 on Fridays to ensure that the crossing closes on time.  The crossing only closes for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Id al-Hijara, the Muslim New Year.[http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Borders/NeharYarden/]

@@ Line 1,534: / Line 1,534: @@
 * As in [[Germany]], '''World War II''' is a touchy and complicated topic.
-* Like in [[India]] and [[China]], swastikas are Buddhist symbols representing good luck and do not represent Nazism or anti-Semitism. As such, Western visitors should not feel offended seeing a swastika in Buddhist temples or in their host's home.
+* Like in [[India]], [[China]] and [[Taiwan], swastikas are Buddhist symbols representing good luck and do not represent Nazism or anti-Semitism. As such, Western visitors should not feel offended seeing a swastika in Buddhist temples or in their host's home.
 ===Gay and lesbian travelers===

@@ Line 159: / Line 159: @@
 * [[Chania]] — second largest city on Crete surrounded with beaches and the [[Samaria National Park]]
 * [[Chersonissos]] — party capital of Crete in the summer
-* [[Heraklion]] — Crete's largest city and main hub with the archaeological site of Knossos
+* [[Heraklion|Heraclion]] — Crete's largest city and main hub with the archaeological site of Cnossus
 * [[Patra]] — known for the wines it produces
 * [[Larissa]] — the country's fourth largest city
 * [[Rhodes (city)|Rhodes]] — magnificent city with impressive medieval structures, nightlife and beaches
-* [[Thessaloniki]] — the country's prime city in the Macedonia region
+* [[Thessaloniki]]/Salonica — the country's prime city in the Macedonia region
 * [[Volos]] — coastal port city with nice museums and architecture

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:26, 19 May 2013
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	* <see name="Templo de Debod" alt="" address="Paseo del Pintor Rosales 2" directions="Metro: Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10)" phone="+34 91 765108" url="http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/" hours="Tue-Fri: 10AM - 2PM and 6PM - 8PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM- 2PM, closed Mondays and holidays" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">An Egyptian temple, located in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by [[Egypt]] to [[Spain]] for its role in saving the temple of [[Abu Simbel]] from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset.</see>		* <see name="Templo de Debod" alt="" address="Paseo del Pintor Rosales 2" directions="Metro: Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10)" phone="+34 91 765108" url="http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/" hours="Tue-Fri: 10AM - 2PM and 6PM - 8PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM- 2PM, closed Mondays and holidays" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">An Egyptian temple, located in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by [[Egypt]] to [[Spain]] for its role in saving the temple of [[Abu Simbel]] from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset.</see>
		+
		+	* <see name="Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste" alt="" address="Calle Rosaleda 2" directions="Metro: Principe Pio (lines 6 and 10)" phone="" url="" hours="10AM - 7PM" price="Entry is free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">The rose garden of Madrid, located in the same park as the Templo de Debod. If you like roses and are in Madrid when they have flowered, definitely worth a visit. The garden holds an international competition yearly.</see>

	* <see name="La Casa de Campo" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Lago, Batan (line 10) or Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a ''teleferico'' across into the park.</see>		* <see name="La Casa de Campo" alt="" address="" directions="Metro: Lago, Batan (line 10) or Casa de Campo (lines 5 and 10)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a ''teleferico'' across into the park.</see>

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:02, 19 May 2013
Line 1,254:		Line 1,254:

	Free internet terminals are usually available in some Starbucks, Pacific Coffee Company [http://www.pacificcoffee.com] and some shopping malls, the airport, the MTR (e.g. Wan Chai station, Central Station, Tsim Sha Shui Station). The government also offers a big network of free WIFI [http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/wifi/program/index.htm] hot spots in most government premises and public libraries.		Free internet terminals are usually available in some Starbucks, Pacific Coffee Company [http://www.pacificcoffee.com] and some shopping malls, the airport, the MTR (e.g. Wan Chai station, Central Station, Tsim Sha Shui Station). The government also offers a big network of free WIFI [http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/wifi/program/index.htm] hot spots in most government premises and public libraries.
		+
		+	Note that unlike the Mainland China the Internet access is not filtered in Hong Kong. All the web sites which work in the West work in Hong Kong.

	===Telephone===		===Telephone===

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:11, 18 May 2013
Line 356:		Line 356:
	* '''The Streets and squares.''' You could visit Italy's cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from in the northern Po and Adige valleys most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and places to get a good ice cream (''gelato''). Above all, just enjoy the atmosphere.		* '''The Streets and squares.''' You could visit Italy's cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from in the northern Po and Adige valleys most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and places to get a good ice cream (''gelato''). Above all, just enjoy the atmosphere.
	* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.		* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.
−
−
−	~~===Itineraries===~~
−	~~[http://italy-tours.jimdo.com '''Italy Tours''']~~

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:22, 18 May 2013
Line 356:		Line 356:
	* '''The Streets and squares.''' You could visit Italy's cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from in the northern Po and Adige valleys most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and places to get a good ice cream (''gelato''). Above all, just enjoy the atmosphere.		* '''The Streets and squares.''' You could visit Italy's cities, never go in a church, museum or Roman ruin, and still have a great time. Just wander around, keeping your eyes open. Apart from in the northern Po and Adige valleys most of Italy (including the cities) is hilly or mountainous, giving some great views. Look up when walking around to see amazing roof gardens and classical bell towers. In cities such as Rome, note the continued juxtaposition of expensive stores with small workplaces for artisans. Search for interesting food shops and places to get a good ice cream (''gelato''). Above all, just enjoy the atmosphere.
	* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.		* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.
		+
		+
		+	===Itineraries===
		+	[http://italy-tours.jimdo.com '''Italy Tours''']

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:35, 17 May 2013
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	* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.		* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.

−
−	~~===Tour Guide===~~
−	* [http://italy-tours.jimdo.com/ Italy Tour Guide]

	===Monuments===		===Monuments===

@@ Line 191: / Line 191: @@
 * Austrian Airlines [http://www.austrian.com/] ([[Vienna]]),
 * easyJet [http://www.easyjet.com/] ([[Milan]] -Malpensa),
 * flyDubai [http://www.flydubai.com/] ([[Dubai]],
 * GermanWings [http://www.germanwings.com/] ([[Cologne]] / [[Bonn]], [[Stuttgart]]),

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:10, 19 May 2013
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−	+	[[Category: Countries]]
	+	[[Category: Vatican City]]
	+	[[Category: Rome]]

@@ Line 659: / Line 659: @@
 ==Cope==
-Norway uses the '''metric''' system only. A Norwegian mile, 'mil', is exactly 10 km. Land is commonly measured in decares («dekar» or «mål»), and equals 1000 m². There is overall limited knowledge of Imperial or US measures, although most younger Norwegians will be somewhat familiar with US weight and distance measures. Few Norwegians will be able to convert from Centigrade (Celsius) to Fahrenheit, and weather forecasts use metric units. However, many modern cell-phones have conversion programmes which can be used to understand the metric system.
+===Numbers, times and dates===
-In Norwegian there is usually no concept of ground '''floor''' as in the UK (or "Erdgeschoss" in German), instead the entrance level of a building is called the first floor ("første etasje") like in the US. Levels are then counted 1, 2, 3 etc.
+Norwegians use both 24 and 12 hour system; often the 12 hour system when speaking and the 24 hour system in writing. Norwegians don't use am/pm to indicate morning or afternoon. In Norwegian "half ten" ("halv ti") means half past nine, when speaking to a person not fluent in English better not use this form to avoid misunderstanding. Dates can be seen abbreviated in a number of ways, but the order is always DATE-MONTH-YEAR, for instance 12.7.08 (or 120708, 12/7-08 or 12.07.08; the first and latter being the only ''correct'' forms) is July 12, 2008. Monday is considered the first day of the week, while Sunday is the last. In timetables, weekdays are thus often indicated by numbers 1 (Mon) through 7 (Sun). Norwegian calendars will also indicate the number of the week 1 through 53. Timetables for public transport often use the abbreviation Dx67, meaning "all days except Saturday and Sunday".
-'''First time visitors''' not familiar with the country tend plan a trip in Norway from city to city. Although Norway has many nice cities the country's main attraction is the land itself, the nature, the landscapes, the wilderness, as well as a number of man-made sights in rural districts, notably road constructions and cultural treasures such as the stave churches. Unlike many other countries in Europe, a trip to Norway should ideally be planned according to types of landscapes to visit as well as a selection of cities. Norway is wide country with long distances and complex topography, and travelers should not underestimate distances.
+Norway uses the '''metric''' system only. A Norwegian mile, ''mil'', is exactly 10 km. Land is commonly measured in decares (''dekar'' or ''mål''), and equals 1000 m². There is overall limited knowledge of Imperial or US measures, although most younger Norwegians will be somewhat familiar with US weight and distance measures. Few Norwegians will be able to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, and weather forecasts use metric units. However, many modern cell-phones have conversion programmes which can be used to understand the metric system.
-If '''purchasing a house''' and business in Norway do check all legal documents (kjøpekontrakt/takst)and maps (grensekart) are correct. Ask for information in the native language you are used to. Make sure the Estate Agent is registered with NEF.
+In Norwegian there is usually no concept of a ''ground floor'' as in the UK (or ''Erdgeschoss'' in German); instead, the entrance level of a building is called the first floor (''første etasje'') like in the US. Levels are then counted 1, 2, 3 etc.
 ==Contact==

@@ Line 662: / Line 662: @@
 Note that Norwegians use comma as the decimal sign, for instance 12,000 means 12 (specified with three decimal places) not 12 thousand, whereas 12 000 or 12.000 means 12 thousand. Norwegians use both 24 and 12 hour system, spoken often 12 hour system and 24 hour system in writing. Norwegians don't use PM/AM to indicate morning or afternoon. In Norwegian "half ten" ("halv ti") means half past nine, when speaking to a person not fluent in English better not use this form to avoid misunderstanding. Dates can be seen abbreviated in a number of ways, but the order is always DATE-MONTH-YEAR, for instance 12.7.08 (or 120708, 12/7-08 or 12.07.08; the first and latter being the only ''correct'' forms) is July 12, 2008. Monday is considered the first day of the week, while Sunday is the last. In timetables, week days are thus often indiciated by numbers 1 (Mon) through 7 (Sun). Norwegian calendars will also indicate the number of the week 1 through 53. Timetables for public transport often use the abbreviation Dx67, meaning "all days except Saturday and Sunday".
-Norway uses the '''metric''' system only. A Norwegian mile, 'mil', is equal to 10 km. There is overall limited knowledge of Imperial or US measures, although most younger Norwegians will be somewhat familiar with US weight and distance measures. Few Norwegians will be able to convert from Centigrade (Celsius) to Fahrenheit, and weather forecasts use metric units. However, many modern cell-phones have conversion programmes which can be used to understand the metric system.
+Norway uses the '''metric''' system only. A Norwegian mile, 'mil', is exactly 10 km. Land is commonly measured in decares («dekar» or «mål»), and equals 1000 m². There is overall limited knowledge of Imperial or US measures, although most younger Norwegians will be somewhat familiar with US weight and distance measures. Few Norwegians will be able to convert from Centigrade (Celsius) to Fahrenheit, and weather forecasts use metric units. However, many modern cell-phones have conversion programmes which can be used to understand the metric system.
 In Norwegian there is usually no concept of ground '''floor''' as in the UK (or "Erdgeschoss" in German), instead the entrance level of a building is called the first floor ("første etasje") like in the US. Levels are then counted 1, 2, 3 etc.

@@ Line 273: / Line 273: @@
 ===By ship===
-It is still possible, but expensive, to do the classic transatlantic voyage between the United Kingdom and the United States. The easiest option is by the historic, and only remaining Ocean Liner operator, [http://www.cunard.com/ Cunard Line], but expect to pay US$1000-2000 for the cheapest tickets on the 6 day voyage between Southampton and New York done around 10 times per year in each direction. If your pockets are not deep enough for this price range, your only other options of crossing the North Atlantic are pretty much limited to [[Freighter travel]].
+It is still possible, but expensive, to do the classic transatlantic voyage between the United Kingdom and the United States. The easiest option is by the historic, and only remaining Ocean Liner operator, [http://www.cunard.com/ Cunard Line], but expect to pay US$1,000-2,000 for the cheapest tickets on the 6 day voyage between Southampton and New York done around 10 times per year in each direction. If your pockets are not deep enough for this price range, your only other options of crossing the North Atlantic are pretty much limited to [[Freighter travel]].
-Most major cruise ships that ply the waters of Europe during summer (June - September) also do cruises in [[Latin America]] and [[Southeast Asia]] for the rest of the year. That means those ships have a transatlantic journey twice per year, at low prices when you consider the length of the trip (at least a week). These are often called ''positioning cruises''. [http://www.cruisenetwork.com/msc-transatlantic-cruise.jsp MSC has several ships from the [[Caribbean]] to Europe at April and May].
+Most major cruise ships that ply the waters of Europe during summer (June - September) also do cruises in [[Latin America]] and [[Southeast Asia]] for the rest of the year. That means those ships have a transatlantic journey twice per year, at low prices when you consider the length of the trip (at least a week). These are often called ''positioning cruises''. [http://www.cruisenetwork.com/msc-transatlantic-cruise.jsp MSC] has several ships from the [[Caribbean]] to Europe in April and May.
 There are several lines crossing the Mediterranean, the main ports of call in North Africa is [[Tangier]] in [[Morocco]] and [[Tunis]] in [[Tunisia]] (See [[Ferries in  the Mediterranean]] for more details), but there is also a little known option of going via [[Cyprus]] where you can use [http://www.louiscruises.com Louis Cruises] crossings to [[Port Said]] in [[Egypt]] and [[Haifa]] in [[Israel]] as a regular ferry service. Keep in mind though, that you can only do this on routes out of Cyprus, and it requires special arrangements - [http://www.varianostravel.com/Cruises/ferry_service.htm Varianos Travel] in [[Nicosia]] seem to be the only tour agency offering this option.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Regions==
-Europe consists of a diverse set of countries that each have their own identity, language and culture. Below is a rough grouping of these countries into regions:
+Europe consists of a diverse set of countries that each have their own identity and culture.
 {{Regionlist
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 |region12description=Spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes. Finland is culturally distinct as it has a language unlike the Scandinavian languages.
 }}
 Politically, some countries are a member of the [[European Union]], a supranational and intergovernmental union that aims to integrate the states of Europe in a common political framework.

@@ Line 448: / Line 448: @@
 === Music ===
-Despite an ever growing competition from the United States and nations with new found wealth, Europe is still the spiritual home of classical music and Opera, and the various European capitals are home to some amazing 'old world' opera houses, where the hundreds of years of history, often enhances the experience into something otherworldly. But if opera singers give you a headache, and you would much rather head-bang, fear not, Europe has more music festivals than your liver will ever hold up to; the '''Roskilde Festival''' [http://www.roskilde-festival.dk] in [[Roskilde]], '''Sziget fesztivál''' [http://www.sziget.hu/fesztival/?language=en] in [[Budapest/Buda|Budapest]] and finally reigning champion '''Glastonbury''' [http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/] weighing in at 195.000 drunk souls, are widely considered the 3 big ones, but many other ones are not the slightest bit small. Alternatively, there is the revival '''Woodstock''' festival in Poland, [http://www.en.wosp.org.pl/] while it doesn't boast the star-studded line-up of some commercial festivals, is great for those who want to do it on the cheap (there is no ticket to buy) and attracted 700,000 music fans in 2011.
+Despite an ever growing competition from the United States and nations with new found wealth, Europe is still the spiritual home of classical music and Opera, and the various European capitals are home to some amazing 'old world' opera houses, where the hundreds of years of history, often enhances the experience into something otherworldly. But if opera singers give you a headache, and you would much rather head-bang, fear not, Europe has more music festivals than your liver will ever hold up to; the[http://www.roskilde-festival.dk Roskilde Festival] in [[Roskilde]], the  [http://www.sziget.hu/fesztival/?language=en Sziget fesztivál] in [[Budapest/Buda|Budapest]] and, finally, the reigning champion [http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/ Glastonbury] in [[England]] weighing in at 195,000 drunk souls, are widely considered the 3 big ones, but many other ones are not the slightest bit small. Alternatively, there is the revival festival in Poland, [http://www.en.wosp.org.pl/ Woodstock] while it doesn't boast the star-studded line-up of some commercial festivals, is great for those who want to do it on the cheap (there is no ticket to buy) and attracted 700,000 music fans in 2011.
 === Sports ===

@@ Line 434: / Line 434: @@
 ===Water===
-A glass of water is traditionally served with any drink you order; one glass for each drink, especially with any form of coffee. Sometimes you even get a glass of water first an then you are asked what you want to drink! Sometimes you might as well get a bottle instead of just a glass. In touristy areas you might have to ask for a glass of water if you want one. If you don't get water with a coffee you just stepped into a tourist-trap! Also, if you did not explicitly ask for a bottle instead of a glass, and they try to charge you for it you should refuse!
+A glass of water is traditionally served with any drink you order; one glass for each drink, especially with any form of coffee. Sometimes you even get a glass of water first and then get asked what you want to drink! Sometimes you might as well get a bottle instead of just a glass. In touristy areas you might have to ask for a glass of water if you want one. If you don't get water with a coffee you just stepped into a tourist-trap! Also, if you did not explicitly ask for a bottle instead of a glass, and they try to charge you for it you should refuse!
 Tap water in most places a traveler would go today is drinkable; if in doubt, ask your hotel.  But often though technically drinkable it doesn't taste very good, especially on some small islands (as it is imported in and heavily chlorinated), and many travelers, like many Greeks, prefer to stick to bottled water. By law, water prices in shops must remain within acceptable limits (50 eurocents for 1/2 litre), making it much cheaper than in Anglosphere nations.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __TOC__
-[[File:Tour Eiffel Wikimedia Commons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Eiffel Tower in [[Berlin]]]]
+[[File:Tour Eiffel Wikimedia Commons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Eiffel Tower in [[Paris]]]]
 [http://www.visiteurope.com '''Europe''']  encompasses an area of 10,180,000 km² (3,930,000 mi²), stretching from Asia to the Atlantic, and from Africa to the Arctic. European countries welcome more than 480 million international visitors per year, more than half of the global market, and 7 of the 10 most visited countries are European nations.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | image=Jerusalem from mt olives.jpg
 | location=LocationIsrael.png
-| flag=is-flag.png
+| flag=Flag of Israel.svg|Flag of Israel
 | capital=[[Jerusalem]]
 | government=Parliamentary Republic

@@ Line 721: / Line 721: @@
 [[Image:02032008(022).jpg|thumb|Not many of these left]]
-As you'd expect from Nokia's home country, mobile phones are ubiquitous in Finland.  GSM and WCDMA (3G) networks blanket all of the country, although it's still possible to find wilderness areas with poor signal, typically in Lapland and the outer archipelago. The largest operators are '''Sonera''' [http://www.sonera.fi/] and '''Elisa''' [http://www.elisa.fi], a Vodafone partner, but travellers who want a local number may wish to opt for '''DNA''''s [http://www.dna.fi/] Prepaid package, which can cost as little as €6.  Ask at any convenience store for a list of prices and special offers.
+As you'd expect from Nokia's home country, mobile phones are ubiquitous in Finland.  GSM, WCDMA(3G) and LTE (4G) networks blanket all of the country, although it's still possible to find wilderness areas with poor signal, typically in Lapland and the outer archipelago. The largest operators are '''Sonera''' [http://www.sonera.fi/] and '''Elisa''' [http://www.elisa.fi], a Vodafone partner, but travellers who want a local number may wish to opt for '''DNA''''s [http://www.dna.fi/] Prepaid package, which can cost as little as €6.  Ask at any convenience store for a list of prices and special offers.
 Public telephones are close to extinction in Finland, although a few can still be found at airports, major train/bus stations and the like.  It's best to bring along a phone or buy one - a simple GSM model can cost less than €40.

@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 * Culture Shock: Japan (ISBN 1558688528). A part of the 'Culture Shock' series, this is an excellent overview of the culture and lifestyle of the Japanese. A good resource for a long or work-related stay in [[Japan]] or even for interaction with Japanese people.
-* All-You-Can Japan (ISBN 1453666354), by Josh Shulman is a unique travel guide to Japan that offers a wise and economical travel strategy rather than references to various points of interest. The author was born and raised in Japan, and writes this short guide in a casual, easy-to-read language.Yarrak var
+* All-You-Can Japan (ISBN 1453666354), by Josh Shulman is a unique travel guide to Japan that offers a wise and economical travel strategy rather than references to various points of interest. The author was born and raised in Japan, and writes this short guide in a casual, easy-to-read language.
 ==Regions==

@@ Line 187: / Line 187: @@
 Upon departure from Israel, arriving at the terminal ''at least'' three hours before your flight is well advised, as Israeli security procedures can be time-consuming. Bag inspection, both by machine and hand, is routine and should be expected, in addition to an interview about your time in Israel.  The interview is casual, as the security personnel just want to ensure that you are not a potential threat. }}
-Transportation to and from the airport is very convenient.  Visitors can access Ben-Gurion by bus, train, taxi, or Sheirut (shared taxi).  Note that bus and train service are suspended from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.  Buses to all points in Israel receive passengers at Airport City, a location a few minutes from from the airport.  To access this bus stop, take the Line 5 [http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/InformationforTravelers/TransportationToandFromtheAirport/PublicTransport/ Egged bus] from the terminal to Airport City, also known as El Al Junction.
+Transportation to and from the airport is very convenient.  Visitors can access Ben-Gurion by bus, train, taxi, or Sheirut (shared taxi).  Note that bus and train service are suspended from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.  Buses to all points in Israel receive passengers at Airport City, a location a few minutes from the airport.  To access this bus stop, take the Line 5 [http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/InformationforTravelers/TransportationToandFromtheAirport/PublicTransport/ Egged bus] from the terminal to Airport City, also known as El Al Junction.
 To get to:

@@ Line 208: / Line 208: @@
 Italy borders on [[France]], [[Austria]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Slovenia]]. All borders are open (without passport/customs checks), but cars can be stopped behind the border for random checks.
-=== By bus ===
+===By bus===
-With Eurolines [http://www.eurolines.it/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en].  There are regular buses between Ljubljana, Slovenian coastal towns and Istria (Croatia) and Trieste (Italy).  These services are cheap and from Trieste onward connections with the rest of Italy are plentiful. There are also a bus that goes from Malmö, Sweden via Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and then goes through the country and then back to Sweden.
+[http://www.eurolines.it/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en Eurolines] has are regular buses between Ljubljana, Slovenian coastal towns and Istria (Croatia) and Trieste (Italy).  These services are cheap and from Trieste onward connections with the rest of Italy are plentiful. There's also a bus that goes from [[Malmö]], Sweden via Denmark, Germany and Switzerland to Italy.
 ===By boat===

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:20, 17 May 2013
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	* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.		* '''Operas.''' If you are interested in the famous italian Operas[http://www.tourist-attractions-in-italy.com/famous-italian-operas.html], they are on play in various cities: Milan, Verona, Parma, Rome, Venice, Spoleto, Florence, Palermo.

		+
		+	===Tour Guide===
		+	* [http://italy-tours.jimdo.com/ Italy Tour Guide]

	===Monuments===		===Monuments===

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 [[ca:Croàcia]]
 [[de:Kroatien]]
 [[eo:Kroatio]]

@@ Line 215: / Line 215: @@
 Venezuela's currency is the '''Bolivar Fuerte''' (BsF), which replaced the old bolivar on January 1, 2008 at the rate of 1 BsF to 1000 old Bs.
-Due to strict currency controls in place since 2003 bolivars are not easily convertible either in or outside the country. Currently, the official rate (offered by banks and the few bureaux de change) give 6.3 BsF per US dollar, but there is a thriving Parallel Market that trades for higher rates. These unofficial rates fluctuate depending on general demand for foreign exchange, inflation and political instability. Within the "Parallel Market" there are various exchange rates: the tourist, the black market (a bit higher but dangerous and uncomfortable), and the bonds brokerage one (high amounts in government bonds, when on sale). That highest one, which appears as reference on certain internet pages, is the government dollar bonds rate, inaccessible unless you buy thousands of dollars in government bonds through a Venezuelan brokerage firm. This last one determines the rate of the black market one and the tourist one. The black market should be avoided unless you are sure of the honesty of the people changing currency for you. They may be scammers, thieves or even police disguised as traders. The safest parallel exchange is the Tourist Rate which is normally provided by higher-level people in the tourism industry (Hotel managers, posada owners, etc).  The rates vary around Venezuela and from week to week. The tourist rate rarely varies in time. Once you change you cannot change back to euros or dollars unless the tourist operator that exchanged for you is nice enough to take it back. The tourist rate is around 9  to the dollar and 12 for euro.
+Due to strict currency controls in place since 2003 bolivars are not easily convertible by official means neither in or outside the country. Currently, the official rate (offered by banks and the few bureaux de change) give 6.3 BsF per US dollar, but there is a thriving Parallel Market that trades for higher rates that are closer to the real value of the BsF.  The unofficial black market rate fluctuates depending on general demand for foreign exchange, inflation and political instability, and is the rate at which prices of everything in the country are based upon (except those goods that are price-fixed, e.g. sugar, rice, coffee).
-For review the black market price, please go to: www.lechugaverde.com
+Within the "Parallel Market" there are various exchange rates: the tourist, the black market (a bit higher but dangerous and uncomfortable), and the bonds brokerage one (high amounts in government bonds, when on sale). That highest one, which appears as reference on certain internet pages, is the government dollar bonds rate, inaccessible unless you buy thousands of dollars in government bonds through a Venezuelan brokerage firm. This last one determines the rate of the black market one and the tourist one. The black market should be avoided unless you are sure of the honesty of the people changing currency for you. They may be scammers, thieves or even police disguised as traders. The safest parallel exchange is the Tourist Rate which is normally provided by higher-level people in the tourism industry (Hotel managers, posada owners, etc).  The rates vary around Venezuela and from week to week. The tourist rate rarely varies in time. Once you change you cannot change back to euros or dollars unless the tourist operator that exchanged for you is nice enough to take it back.
 Green lettuce (Dollar) = Lechuga verde
@@ Line 223: / Line 225: @@
 Is a funny use of words, because the government said: It is forbidden to speak about black market or parallel market. Then... green lettuce, european lettuce...
 Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, American Express and Diners Club are usually accepted at upscale restaurants, hotels and shopping centers. Merchants always ask for ID before making a credit card transaction (a passport will suffice). ATMs exist all over the country. They hand out only Bolivars and at the official exchange rate of 6.3. Maestro Debit Cards are the most accepted but Visa Debit Cards are often not accepted, and some ATMs also ask for the last two digits of Venezuelans' ID numbers as an added security precaution, causing problems for foreigners with no ID number tied to their bank account.
@@ Line 286: / Line 290: @@
 In the sad event you do get mugged, by all means don't even try to put up resistance and avoid eye contact, most muggers in Venezuela carry firearms and don't hesitate to shoot at the slightest provocation, keep calm and give the mugger whatever he wants, failure to do so is quite often deadly, also, reporting a mugging to the police is seldom worth the trouble, it's best to forget it as muggers are only rarely caught.
-Despite all the issues with insecurity, you may avoid most problems by either staying in the touristic areas or visiting the less touristic areas with someone that lives in the country.
+Despite all the issues with insecurity, you may avoid most problems by either staying in the touristic areas or visiting the less touristic areas with someone that lives in the country.  Most Venezuelans will not advise you to even visit the country unless you have a friend who can help you navigate safely through Caracas and deal with currency exchange.  With the economic situation getting worse and worse, violent crime has branched out beyond the big cities (Caracas, Valencia, Barquisimeto) to more tourist-driven places including Puerto Ordaz, Merida, and Margarita.  Still, most of the natural areas are quite safe.
 Also, Venezuela has an interesting policy towards cannabis. You may possess up to 20gr, but be forewarned that anything more can get you thrown in prison for a long time. Even though this policy is quite liberal by American or British standards, you should keep all cannabis use private, if just to not have unwanted attention drawn towards you.
@@ Line 301: / Line 305: @@
 Most Venezuelans are laid-back regarding racial issues, since white or creole persons blend naturally with natives and Afro-Venezuelans in everyday life (education, living, politics, marriage). So the word "negro" can be used regardless of who's saying it, or who is being referred to in this way. Expressions like "negrito" or "mi negro" are often used as a term of endearment. You could hear someone calling "negra" to a woman, regardless of the race of the person. And in general, Afro-Venezuelans don't find it offensive, as they are simply variations on the Spanish word for "black". Similarly, don't be offended if someone calls you "flaco" (thin) or "gordo" (fat) as these may also be used fairly indiscriminately, and often as a term of friendliness.
-Differences between Brits, Americans, or Europeans are not perceived by most Venezuelans. Hence, you can expect to be called "gringo" even if you are, say, Russian. Don't let this offend you as a non Spanish-speaking visitor.
+Differences between Brits, Americans, or Europeans are not perceived by most Venezuelans. Hence, you can expect to be called "gringo" even if you are, say, Russian.  Any person who looks Asian is automatically "chino" - this is also a friendly term of endearment.  Don't let this offend you as a non Spanish-speaking visitor.
 Venezuelans, like Colombians and Panamanians, have a very amusing way of pointing to objects by pouting their lips and lifting their chin, so don't assume that people are blowing kisses to you when you ask for directions.

@@ Line 1,036: / Line 1,036: @@
 The number of vegetarian restaurants and even vegetarian food festivals (such as the Tokyo VegeFood Festa that takes place in the autumn) are increasing. Some vegetarians have been networking to help each other find suitable places to eat. For example, since 2006, a vegan meet-up group in Tokyo has been holding monthly buffets at local restaurants. Vegetarians in Tokyo or travelers passing through, can find out about the feast at the vegan meet-up page [http://www.meetup.com/vegan-389/]. The Happy Cow is a website [http://www.happycow.net/] that provides information about vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Japan and all over the world. They now have an excellent free app for the iOS and Android systems [http://www.happycow.net/mobile.html].
-[[File:earthdayFOODstalls.jpg]]
+[[Image:earthdayFOODstalls.jpg|center|Food stalls at Earth Day 2013]]
 ==Drink==

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:10, 17 May 2013
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	The number of vegetarian restaurants and even vegetarian food festivals (such as the Tokyo VegeFood Festa that takes place in the autumn) are increasing. Some vegetarians have been networking to help each other find suitable places to eat. For example, since 2006, a vegan meet-up group in Tokyo has been holding monthly buffets at local restaurants. Vegetarians in Tokyo or travelers passing through, can find out about the feast at the vegan meet-up page [http://www.meetup.com/vegan-389/]. The Happy Cow is a website [http://www.happycow.net/] that provides information about vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Japan and all over the world. They now have an excellent free app for the iOS and Android systems [http://www.happycow.net/mobile.html].		The number of vegetarian restaurants and even vegetarian food festivals (such as the Tokyo VegeFood Festa that takes place in the autumn) are increasing. Some vegetarians have been networking to help each other find suitable places to eat. For example, since 2006, a vegan meet-up group in Tokyo has been holding monthly buffets at local restaurants. Vegetarians in Tokyo or travelers passing through, can find out about the feast at the vegan meet-up page [http://www.meetup.com/vegan-389/]. The Happy Cow is a website [http://www.happycow.net/] that provides information about vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Japan and all over the world. They now have an excellent free app for the iOS and Android systems [http://www.happycow.net/mobile.html].
		+
		+	[[File:earthdayFOODstalls.jpg]]

	==Drink==		==Drink==