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Spain Travel

Spain Geography History Politics Culture Transportation Lodging Restaurants Museums and Monuments Nightlife Currency 1. Geography Spain lies in the extreme southwest of Europe, between latitude 36* and 44* north and betweenlongitude 9* west and 5* east. It is bounded by France and the tiny state of Andorra on the west and northwest by Portugal and on the south by the British territory of Gibralter, which is claimed by Spain. The Atlantic ocean is to Spain's north (Bay of Biscay), northwest and southwest (Gulf of Cadiz) to the west of the Straits of Gibralter, only 14 km/9 miles wide, which separate Europe from Africa. The entire eastern and southeastern Spain is bounded by the Mediterranean. Also, part of Spain are the BalearicIslands (Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera and various smaller islands), which lie off the Mediterraneancoast and the Canary Islands (the largest of which are Gran Canaria and Tenerife) off the northwest coast of Africa. The towns of Ceuta and Melilla on the North African mainland and the three small islands ofPenonde Velez, Alhucemas and Chafarinas off the Moroccan coast also belong to Spain (but are claimed by Morocco). The Straits of Gibralter link Spain with Africa. In addition, the Pyrenees in the north have been both geographically and historically, a barrier between Spain and the rest of Europe. Spain lies predominately within the zone of the Mediterranean climate which is characterized by hot,dry summers and mild, wet winters. When to Visit Spain The best time of year to come is in the Spring and Autumn from about mid-March to the beginning of June and from the beginning of September to the beginning of November (in Northern Spain to the beginningof October). 2. History SPAIN AS A WORLD POWER TO THE PENINSULAR WAR (1516-1813): Spain rises to international importance in the 16th century in expansion of its territory in Europeand colonies and is the Center of Counter Reformation. 1618-1648: Spain takes part in the Thirty Years' War on the side of the Austrian Habsburgs. 1640: Portugal dissolves its union with Spain. FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC (1914-1931): 1914-1919: Spain remains neutral in the First World War. 1926: Spain leaves the League of Nations. 1928: Spain is readmitted into the League of Nations. 1931: After a Republican victory in local government elections, Alfonso XIII leaves the country. It's the beginning of the Second Republic. FROM THE SECOND REPUBLIC TO APPLIED ASSOCIATION WITH THE UN (1931-1962): Because various European democracies would not help the new Spanish Republic, not even the SovietUnion believed that Spain was ready for a social revolution. The Republican forces are defeated by the Fascist dictatorship of General Franco with the support from Hitler and Mussolini. After the Second World War, the Franco regime is unable to lead Spain out of its political and economic isolation. Only after Franco's death does liberalization and democratization appear in the country. 1931: Spain receives a new constitution: liberal and progressive in its provisions, separationof church and state, a unified state, regional self-government for Catalonia (1932) and the Basque country(1936) and a limited degree of land reform. 1936-1939: The Spanish Civil War breaks out after the murder of a Monarchist member of Parliament, Calvo Sotelo on July 13 and a military rising on July 17 led by General Francisco y Bahamonde (1892-1975) in Spanish Morocco. 1939: Recognition of Franco's Regime by France, Britain (February 27) and US (April 1). CivilWar comes to an end. Spain leaves the League of Nations. From 1945: Spain is politically and economically isolated as a result of Franco'sauthoritarian regime. It is not a founding member of the United Nations and receives no aid under the MarshallPlan. 1955: Spain becomes a member of the UN. 1959-1960: Spain becomes a member of the OEEC and OECD. 1962: Spain applies for association with the European Community. DEMOCRATIC SPAIN (from 1975-1992): After Franco's death, King Juan Carlos I begins the process of democratization, which continues inspite of attempted coups. Spain becomes a full member of the democratic community of states. 1978: Spain joins the Council of Europe on February 24. 1980: A law of freedom of religion comes into force: Catholicism is no longer the State religion. 1982: Spain becomes the 16th member of NATO on May 30. 1986: Spain joins the European Community on January 1. 1989: Spain takes over the presidency of the European Community. 1992: On July 25, the Summer Olympic Games of modern times are opened in Barcelona. 3. Politics The Constitution: The constitution which came into force in December 1978 makes Spain a parliamentary monarchy committed to the principles of a democratic social state founded on law. The King as head of State has the duties of watching over the government and representing Spain in its relations with other nations. Moreover, he is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The constitution contains a code of basicrights, the establishment of the social state, the assurance of security under the law, the recognition of the role of the parties in developing an informed political opinion, the right to refuse military service, the abolition of the death penalty (except under military law) and the end of Roman Catholicism as the statereligion. Coat of Arms: The flag of Spain is red and yellow, which has been the Spanish colors since medieval times. The coat of arms consists of a shield of four quarters bearing the emblems of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Navarre and Granada. The shield is flanked by the "Pillars of Hercules," which in ancient tradition market the end of the world and are usually identified as the Straits of Gibralter. Along with the motto, "Plus ultra" on an encircling ribbon, they symbolize the history of Spain as a world and maritime power. Parliament: The Spanish Parliament is the Cortes Generales, with two houses, the Congress de los Diputados (Congress of Deputies) and the Senate. The Congress is elected every four years and has a minimum of 300 members anda maximum of 400 members. The electoral system is a melange of direct election and proportional representaion. The deputies elect the prime minister, who is then appointed by the King. A special feature of the parliamentary system is that the prime minister can be voted out of office by the Congress only ifthey elect a successor at the same time. The Senate prepresents the Autonomous Communities (regions), which consist of one or moreprovinces. Each province elects four senators and in addition the parliaments of the autonomouscommunitites elect one senator each, plus additional senators for each million inhabitants. The Senate hasa right to veto on the government. International Relations: Spain has been a member of the UN since 1955, of NATO since 1982 and the European Communitysince 1986. She also maintains close relations with many Latin American states and is a permamentmember of the Organization of American States (OAS)(34). 4. Culture Language: Spanish. It may be usefult to have some acquaintance with the language or know at least a few useful expressions to make your trip a little easier. A Few Important Expressions: Good morning: Buenos Dias Good bye: Adios Yes/No: Si/No Please: Por favor Thank you (very much): (Muchas) gracias Your Welcome: De nada Excuse me: Perdon Do you speak English?: Habla Usted ingles? A little, not much: Un poco I do not understand: No entiendo What is Spanish for. . .?: Como se dici en espanol. . .? To the right/left: A la derecha, izquierda. Straight ahead: Siempre derecho. Business Hours: Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm or 5:30 pm. Restaurants are open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and at dinner time, they reopen at 9:00 pm and stays open to about11:30 pm or midnight. Major stores are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm. Smaller stores take a siesta. They are normally open from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and then reopen at 4:40 pm to 8:00 pm. However,be aware that these hours may vary from store to store. Electricity : Most establishments have 220 volts AC. Some older places however have 110 or 125 volts. Make sureto carry an adapter with you. It's best to carry battery operated equipment. Liquor Laws : The legal drinking age in Spain is 18. Bars, taverns and cafeterias usually open at 8:00 am and many serve alcohol until 1:30 or later. Generally, you can purchase alcohol in any market. Mail: Airmail letters to the U.S. and Canada will cost you 87 pesetas (70 cents) up to15 grams. Tipping: A service charge is included in most restaurant bills. It's usually around 15%. You might want to adda few pesetas to the bill however. 5. Transportation Travellers need a legal passport or visa to enter and leave Spain. A passport will allow a visitor tostay for 90 days if you are a US, Canadian or New Zealand citizen. Australians and South Africans mustobtain a visa to enter Spain. Airports: Airports in Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga handle most international flights. Rental Cars: Rental cars cost a lot less in Spain than other European countries. Be aware however that you mustbe over 21 and have had your drivers license for at least one year to rent a car. MADRID: Bus: The busses in Madrid are quite clean. It costs 130 pesetas per ride. However, if you plan on takingthe bus a lot during your stay, you might be interested in purchasing a 10 ride ticket (billete de diez) for645 pesetas. BARCELONA: Metro: A ride on the metro will cost around 680 pesetas and a ten ride pass will cost around 700pesetas. The metro is open Monday to Thursday from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from5:00 am to 1:am, Sunday from 6:00 am to 12:00 am. Bus: A ride on the bus will also cost 680 pesetas and a ten rid pass will cost around 700 pesetas. Dailybuses and night buses service the city from 11:00 pm until 4:00 am. 6. Lodging SEVILLE: Hostels: Sevilla Youth Hostel(HI): , C. Issac Peral, 2. (tel. 461 31 54) It is currently being renovated andwill beclosed until Semana Santa in 1997. Ask a tourist office when it will be reopened. Hostal Paris: , C. San Pedro Martir. (tel. 422 98 61 or 421 96 45, fax. 421 96 45). It's brand newand clean! There's a bath, air conditioning, phone and TV. It's extremely comfortable and at extremelycomfortable prices too! Singles are 3500 pesetas, doubles are 5000 pesetas. Ask about student discounts. Camping: Camping Sevilla, Ctra. Madrid-Ca diz, km 534. (tel. 451 43 79). It's close to the airport and just 12 km away from town. From Estacion Prado de San Sebastian, take bus #70 which stops at Parque Alcosa. Here, you'll find showers, a supermarket and a swimming pool. It's 450 pesetas per person, percar and per tent. Children are only 350 pesetas. BARCELONA: If you arrive in Barelona without a hotel reservation, there are offices at the airporst and at Estacio-Sants(daily from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm) that will book a place for you to stay for a fee of approximately 100pesetas. The only glich is that you won't have the opportunity to see the room beforehand. For furtherinformation, contact the Barcelona Hotels Association, Via Laietana 47; (tel. 301-62-40). Be aware however, that Barcelona is packed with tourists between the months of July and August soit's wise to book a room ahead of time. It's important to make sure that you see your room before paying for it. Hostels: Continental , Barri Gotic (tel. 93/301-2570, fax. 93/302-7360) There are 35 rooms at the hostel.American Express, Discover Card, Master Card and Visa are all accepted. There are canopied balconiesand the rooms feel like the comforts of home. Convenient location and in the villa (old quarter).Although thereare lots of police patrolling the area, make sure that you hold onto your possessions. Great breakfast buffet. Hostal Terrassa, Junta de Comerc 11. Metro: Liceu. (tel. 302 51 74, fax. 301 21 88). Pricesrun: singles at 1750 pesetas, doubles n/a and triples are 4000 pesetas.Showers are 500 pesetas.Call ahead of time to reserve a room. Hotels for Disabled Travelers: While there are accomodations available for disabled travelers, the hotels tend to be on the moreexpensive side. Here are a couple of places to try: (1) Hotel Balmoral, Via Augusta 5. (tel. 217-87 00, fax. 415 14 21). (2) Hotel Gran Via, Gran Via de les Corts Catalones. (tel. 642 318 19 00, fax. 318 99 97).It's a 19th century mansion and all rooms are with a bath. There's a breakfast room and parking for a fee.American Express, Discover Card, Master Card and Visa are all accepted. Hotels: (1)Meson Castilla Barcelona. (tel. 93/318 21 82). It's in the heart of Barcelona, reasonably priced,well managed with comfortable rooms with large terraces. Breakfast is the only meal that is served.However, checkout the nearby taverns where there is excellent food. (2)Valldoneeella, 508002 (fax. 93/412 40 20). Here you can find 56 rooms with air conditioning. It costs9,500 pesetas ($76) for a double room and parking is 1,500 pesetas ($12). MADRID: Hotels: Pension Luz, C. Fuentes, 10 3rd floor. (tel. 542 07 59). Metro: Sol. There are communalbathrooms and no elevators. However, it's a very nice building with sunny rooms. Singles are 2000pesetas, doubles are 3500 pesetas and doubles which have been converted into triples are 4200 pesetas. Hostels: Valencia , Gran Bia 44 (5th floor) 28013. Metro: Callao or Gran Via. (tel. 91/522 11 15). Thereare 30 rooms all with bath. It's a favorite for North American travellers. Single rooms run for 3,900 pesetas($30), doubles 5,700 pesetas ($43.85) and triples are 7,000 pesetas ($53.85). Master Card and Visa are both accepted. A phone call at the hostel will run you about 3,900 pesetas. Also, there's an elevator foryour convenience!!! Riosol , Calle Mayor 5 (2nd floor) 28013. Metro: Sol. (tel. /91 532 31 42). There are 12 rooms witha shower or tub. A single with a shower will run you approximately 2.800 pesetas ($21.55), a single witha tub is 3,300 pesetas ($25.40), 4,000 pesetas (30.75) for a double with a shower and 4,400 pesetas ($33.85) for a double with a tub. Credit cards are not accepted. Riosol has 2 floors with clean renovated rooms. Although the tubs are small, they're in the room! Prices are also actually lower than posted so inquire within. Albergue Juvenil Santa Cruz de Marcenado (HI) , Santa Cruz de Marcenada 28, 28015. Metro:Arguelles. (tel. 91/547 45 32, fax. 548 11 96).). There are 72 beds here. It's 900 pesetas ($7.50) per person per night for members 26 and under and 1,200 pesetas ($10) for members over 26 years of age.Credit cards are not accepted. Make sure to make reservations in advance because they book up ratherquickly. They require an International Youth Hostel Card which will cost you about 1,800 pesetas ($15).Also, there's a 1:30 am curfew and lights must be out at 2:00 am..Reception is open daily from 9:00 am to10:30 pm. 7. Restaurants Mealtimes: The Spaniards eat lunch at about 2:00pm and in the evening around 10:00pm. In restaurants, lunch is served from 1:00pm to 3:30pm and dinner from 9:00pm to 11:00 or 11:30pm. Meals: Breakfast (desayuno) in Spain is rather simple and is usually taken in a bar. It consists of a cup of coffee and toast or a small cake, or, particularly in the south, churros, deep fried donuts. Hotels in the tourist resorts cater to foreign visitors so will most likely offer a more substanital breakfast or buffet. Lunch (almuerzo) and dinner (cena) are more substantial and the Spaniards like to linger over these meals. Both meals consist of 3 or 4 courses. The tourist menu (menu del dra) is usually a better value than eating a la carte. Spanish Cuisine: Spanish cooking uses an abundance of garlic and olive oil. Egg dishes, rice, seafood and stews arealso typical throughout the country. Restaurant Hours of Operation: Restaurants serve lunch between approximately 1:30pm and 3:30pm and dinner usually from 9:00pm to 11:00 or 11:30pm. For those who prefer something light in the evening, there are the tascas bars which serve a variety of appetizing foods with drinks. RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN MADRID: In Madrid, there is food on every block. Calles Echegaray, Ventura de la Vega and Manuel FernandezGonzalez are the cheapest areas to find food: (1) La Tarterie, C. Cardenal Cisneros, 24;Metro Biebao; (tel. 447 05 54). If you like art, this is the place to be! Come see some of the temporary exhibits and while you're at it, snack on some of their great quiche and salads. Prices run about 650 pesetas and pizza is 775-1000 pesetas. (2) Taberna D'a Quimada, C. Echegaray, 17; (tel. 429 32 63). A restaurant where you can actually seethe sights! Lots of knicknacks from all over Spain. Prices run about 975 pesetas and entrees run between800 to 1500 pesetas. (1) Nabucco, Hortaleza 108 (near Plaza Santa Barbara).Metro: Alonso Martinez Italian.(tel. 91/310 06 11. With spacious high ceilings, this place a fantastic Spanish atomsphere! Nabucco offerspasta and pizza (with paper thin crust) for about 640 pesetas to 910 pesetas ($4.90 to $7). Main courses will run you about 925 pesetas to 1,450 pesetas ($7.10-$11.15). American Express, Discover Card, Master Card and Visa are all accepted. It's open Sunday-Thursday from 1:30pm to 4:00 pm and 8:45 pm to 12:15 am and Friday to Saturday to 1:00 am. (2)Madrid 1, Carrera de San Jeronimo 16 (east of Puerta del Sol). Metro: Sol. (tel. 91/521 90 31).Platos combinados cost 550 pesetas to 800 pesetas ($4.60 to $6.65) and the menus del dia are 975 pesetasand 1,275 pesetas ($7.50 to $9.80). Master Card and Visa are accpeted. It's open daily from 8:30 am to 12:30 am. Come see this Spanish tapas bar with dining room. Sandwiches and burgers are also served.Definitely dependable for day and nightime dining. RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN BARCELONA: For the cheapest meals in Barcelona, look for 850-950 menus in the areas between La Rambla and Via Laietana. (1) Bar Restaurante Los Toreros, C. Xucla, 3-5; (tel. 318 23 25). Open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 1:00am and Sundays from 8:00am to 5:00pm, a meal will run you around 500 pesetas. Enjoy!!! (2)Agut, Gignas 16, (tel. (93) 315 17 09). It's simple, hearty Catalan home cooking. American Express,Visa and Master Card are all accepted. (3) Els Quatre Gats, C. Montsio, 3 bis; Metro Catalunya; (tel. 302 41 40). Enjoy the live music and the menu design which was created by Picasso. Hours of operation are from 9:00pm to 1:00am and Monday to Saturday 8:00am to 2:00am and Sunday 5:00pm to 2:00am. Entrees cost between 110 and 2600pesetas and when there is music, there is a cover charge. 8. Musuems and Monuments MADRID: Museo Lazaro Galdiano. Come see a collection of rare paintings ranging from the Flemish to works created by the Spanish masters of the golden age. Artists include: El Greco, Murillo and Zurbaran. Also,paintings from Goya's "Black Period" and from such English and Italian masters as Constable and Tiepolo. Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado. Take bus 10, 14, 27, 34, 37, 45 or 46 or Metro: Atocha or Banco de Espana.(tel. 91/420 28 36).Admission is 500 pesetas (#.85) for adults, 250 pesetas ($1.90) for students and freefor senior citizens and children under 11 years old. It's also free for everyone on Saturdays from 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Open Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Tuesdays-Saturday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Thyssen Bonemisza Museum. At this museum you can view 700 canvasses that are arrayed inchronological order. Works range from El Greco to Picasso. Palacio Real (Royal Palace); Calle de Bailen.Metro: Opera or take bus # 3,25,33,39 or M4.(tel. 91/ 542 00 59). Although it has not been occupied since the King in 1931, it is used for Stateoccasions. Built in the mid-eighteenth century, it has approximately 2000 rooms and is decorated by Flemish tapestries and ceiling frescos designed by Tiepolo. Admission is 950 pesetas ($7.50) for adultsand 350 pesetas ($2.70) for senior citizens and students. There is a mandatory guided tour. Plaza Mayor; While this used to be an area for executions and bullfights, you can now enjoy atatmosphere of lively cafes and music. Iglesia de San Isidro, Metro: Latina or Bus 17, 23, 35 or 60. A seventeenth century church which was designed by Pedro Sanchez and Francisco Beutisto. It served as the cathedral of Madrid from thelate nineteenth century until 1993 when a new cathedral, (Palaccio Real) was consecrated. Casa de Campo, Metro: Lago or Batan. It's the largest park, pool zoo and amusement park!!! Theadmission price is 345 pesetas and the hours of operation are from Monday to Friday, 11:00am to 2:30pm and 4:00pm to 9:00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am to 2:30pm and 3:30pm to 10:00pm. The amusement park is open Sunday through Friday from noon to 11:00pm and Saturday from noon to midnight. The Madrid zoo is only a five minute walk from the amusement park which is open daily form 10:00am to 9:30pm. Admission is 1440 pesetas. Festivals: Mid-September/Beginning of October: Autumn Festival. There are concerts and operatic, dramatic and ballet performance (classical and modern). Zoo Aquarium, Casa de Campo. Metro: Batan. Take bus # 33 from Plaz Isabel 11. (tel. 91/711 99 50).Admission is 1,570 pesetas ($12.70) for adults, 1.255 pesetas ($9.65) for children 4 to 7 years of age andfree for children under the age of 3 years. The ticket office is closed a half an hour earlier. Estrecho. Although it doesn't compare to the San Diego or Berlin Zoo, it's the best in Spain! There'sa dolphin sho at 1:00 and 5:00 pm that you won't want to miss. Special Tours: Madrid's Vision Bus Tour, It stops at 13 favorite museums, plazas and avenues. The tour lasts foran hour and a half and will cost 1,500 pesetas ($11.55). Departures are Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00am to 6:15 pm. Convenient places to picj up the bus are Prado, Puerta del Sol or El Corte Ingles Department Store. SEVILLE: Palaces Alcazar, the oldest royal residence in Europe. It was built by Peter the Cruel in 1364, seventy-eight years after the Moors left Seville. Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, located in the early seventeenth century, this Andalusian museum is famous for its works by such Spanish masters as Valdes, Leal, Zurbaran andMurillo and Dutch master Breushel. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Admission is 250pesetas. Cathedral de Sevilla; After Saint Peter's in Rome and Saint Paul's in London, this cathedral is the largest in Europe. Among some of its important feautres are the tomb of Columbus, the Patio de los Naranjos, the beautiful Flemish alterpiece, the Giralda Tower and the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel). BARCELONA: Museo Picasso; Carrer de Montcada 15-19; Metro: Jaume I.(tel.93/319-63-10).Admission is 750P ($5.75) for adults, 300P ($2.30) for senior citizens and students and free for children ages 11 and under. If you come the first Sunday of the month it's free. It's the place where you'll find many of Picasso's notebooks which contain several Barcelona sketches. Cathedral de Barcelona (La Seu), Placa de la Seu, Metro: Jaume 1. Take Bus 9,16, 17, 22 or 45.Admission to the Cathedral and cloister is free. However, the Museu de la Catedral costs 55P ($0.40).It's open daily from 7:45 pm to 1:30 pm, and 4:00pm to 7:45 pm. The museum is open daily from 11:00am to 1:00 pm. It was completed in 1450 and represents the spirit of Catal as an empire. Itis located inthe Gothic quarter and is one of the most beautiful museums in the country. Las Ramblas; Here, you'll find various street performances! Come and see the sketch artists,living statues, political activists, lovers and mimes.fun activities such as street performers dancing the flamenco, fortune tellers and plenty of merchants to buy gifts for friends and family. Monument a Colomb; Open June 1-September 24 from 9:00am to 8:30pm and September 25 to March 30 Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm and 3:30 to 6:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:30 pm; April 1 to May 31 Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm and 3:30 to 7:30pm. Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 7:00pm. The ticket offices close thirty minutes prior. The cost is27 pesetas. Las Golondrinas; Sails through Barcelona's harbor, past the Montjuic. Every thirty minutes andruns daily in June from 11:00am to 8:30pm and May and July through September from 11:00am to 8:30pm; April and October 11:00am to 6:00pm, November to March Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 6:pm.A roundtrip ticket costs 380 pesetas. Museu d'Art Modern; 20th century Catalan artists. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to7:00pm. Admission is 300 pesetas but is 200pesetas for students. Estadi Olimpicado Montjuic; home of the 1992 Olympic games. Open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Admission is free! Fundacio Joan Miro; Av. Miramar 71-75, Parc de Montjuic (tel.93/329-19-08).Admission is 600P($4.60) for adults, 400P ($3.10) for students and free for children 13 and under. The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am-7:00 pm and Thursday from 11:00 am to 9:30pm and Sunday and Monday from 10:30 to 2:30 pm. Take bus #61 from Placa de Espanya. This greatplace is a tribute to Catalan lyrical surrealist Joan Miro. And, if you get hungry, there's a restaurant whichis not too expensive. from the top of the Montjuic Funicular, just turn right down to the museum. Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona; Placa deis Angels 1. Metro: Catalunya or Universite.(tel. 93/412-08-10). Admission is 600P ($4.60) for adults, 400P ($3.10) for students and seniors. Themuseum is open Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 8:00 pm, Saturdays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sundays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Bullfighting -Critical remarks are increasingly being raised about this event. However, you won't beable to tell that if you're there. It's still one of Spain's favorite pasttimes. Held on Sundays between March and October. Check the paper for details. Ticketscan be purcahsed at Muntaner 24 (tel. (93) 453 38 21).There are two bullrings in the area: Arenes Monumental, Oran Via Carles I. This arena is a lot smaller and used rarely. There's also a bullfighting museum at the Monumental ring. It's open from March to October daily from10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:30 30pm to 7:00 pm. Ports and Beaches: Port Olimpic, a new complex with dozens of bars and a booming nightlife! Festivals: September/October: Festival Internatcional de Musica. There are solo recitals, choral and orchestralconcerts. Side Trips from Barcelona: Codorniu, (tel. (93) 891 01 25) This place offers the best tours and tastings. Call for hours. Trains rundaily to Sant Sadurni d'Anoia. A round trip fare costs about 600P ($4.60). Shopping: District Passeig de Gracia, Rambla de Catalunya and the Diagnal. Flea Market, Els Encants. It's at the end of Dos de Maig on the Placa Glories Catalones. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 9. Nightlife MADRID: Dance Clubs: Madrid is the place to be if you love to have fun! Many discos have "afternoon"sessions usually going from 7:00pm to 10:00pm with a cover of 250-1000 for teens. But, the crazy fun nightsessions last until dawn. It's very common to see a huge line of people waiting outside the discotecas at 5:30 in the morning still waiting to get in. If you're a woman, chances are you'll pay less than your male friends. Coverwill run around 500 pesetas and usually includes one drink. The hippest clubs are always changing so youmight want to consult the Guia de Ocio or ask around. Eslava, Calle de Arena 11. Metro: Sol or Opera. (tel. /91 366 37 33). The best nights are Friday andSaturday! It's open Monday-Friday from 11:30 pm to 5:00 am and Friday to Sunday from 7:00 pm to 6:00am. Cover is 1,500 pesetas ($11.55). Afterwards, why not check out La Chocolateria de San Gines5 ! Just take Metro Sol! Open since 1894, it makes the best hot chocolate and churros!!! Open Tuesday-Thursday from 7:00 to 10:00 pm and 1:00 to 7:00 am and Friday and Sunday from 7:00 pm to7:00 am. Live Music: Bars and Cafes: El Anciano, Metro Opera or Bus #3/ (tel. 19 559 53 32). Simple, great beer and wines and great tapas.It's a great place to come after visiting the Palacio Real.Open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays,Thursdays, and Sundays and from 5:30 to 12:30 am Friday and Saturday. It's closed in August. Cafe Circulo de Bellas Artes, C. Alcala 42. Metro: Banco de Espana. With ceiling frescos and a great marble style, come check it out! Cover is 100 pesetas. Taberna de Dolores , Plaza de Jesus 4. Metro: Sevilla. It's behind the Palace Hotel and north of Calle de las Huertas. (tel. /91 429 22 43). Open Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 am to 1:00 am and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 2:00 am. Cafe Gijon, Po. Recoletas 21. Metro: Colon. Open daily from 9:00 am to 11:30 am, this terrace bar/restaurant is a great place to bump into famous writers! Coffee is 300 pesetas. Performing Arts: Tortes Bermejas, Mesonero Romanos II, Metro: Callao. (tel. 91/ 532-33-22). Doors usually open at 9:00 pm or 9:30 pm and the show starts at 10:45 pm and ends at 12:30 am. There are seven flamencodancers, 2 or 3 guitarists and 1 or 2 singers all in costume. BARCELONA: Live Music: Palau de la Musica Catalan, (symphonic and choral music), c. Francesc de Paula 2 (tel. 268 10 00).Ask about the free winter concerts on Tuesday nights and the October music festival. Tickets run between800 to 1500 pesetas. The box office is open from June to August, Monday to Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm,September to May, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 3:00 to 9:00 pm andSunday from one hour prior to the concert. Dance Clubs: The club scene goes in two shifts. There's the (1) post siesta shift (around 5-7pm) and the (2) secondshift which occurs after dinner between (9:00 to 11:00 pm. After the bars start emptying around 2:00 am,crowds come to the discos for another 4 or 5 hours of fun!!! If you like to party, Barcelona is definitely thecity to go crazy!!! The nightlife is amazing and it seems as if no one ever gets tired!!! Otto Zutz, C. Lincoln 15. Metro: FFFCCC Muntaner. It's one of the largest clubs in the city with 3 floorsof bars and dance floors. cover will run you about 2000 pesetas with one drink included. It's open Tuesdaythrough Saturday from midnight to 5:00 am. Poble Espanyol, (tel. 93- 424 93 09).This place offers everything from jazz to flamenco. It's a multifloorbar and disco with 12 restaurants, 15 bars, 3 bares-musicales and a large discoteca! On warm nights, check out the open air roof for a great view of the city. The party doesn't begin until 1:30 am and doesn'tstop until 9:00 am. Open Thursday through Saturday. Panini, Moll de Mestra. It's a pizzeria by day and a disco by night. Open Tuesday-Sunday at midnight. Bars: Ticktacktoe, Roger de Lluria 40 (tel. 93 318 99 47). Metro: Urquinaona. It's part bar/part restaruant/part billiard hall. It's open daily from 7:00 pm to 3:00 am. Nick Howanna, Rossello 208 (tel. (93) 215 65 91). Metro: Provenca or Diagonal. This is one of the first designer bars. It's open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am and Sunday from 7:00 pmto 4:00 am. Heydey, Bruniquer 59 Metro: Joanie. It's a gay bar and there's no admission price. Open from 10:30pmto 5:00 am daily. Coctelerias and Champagne Bars: Gimlet, Rec 24 (tel. 93/310 10 27). Metro Jaume I. A great place to relax. Brut, Trompetas 3 in Picasso Museum Area. La Xampayeria, Provenca 236 on the corner of Enric Granadas. Xampanyet, C. Montcado 15. Open tuesday to Saturday from 12 noon to 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm and Sundays from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Come here if you're feeling sophisitcated! Cafes: Cafe de l'Opera, Ramblas 74, opposite of Liceu. It's the ideal place for coffee or any drink at any time of day! Casinos: The Gran Casino de Barcelona, 42 km (26 miles) south of Sant Pere de Ribes. (tel. (93) 893 38 66).Jacket and tie are required. 10. Currency The unit of currency is the peseta (pta). There are coins for 1,5,10,25,50,100,200 and 500 pesetas and notes in deonominations of 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 pesetas. The current exchange rates can be found in national newspapers and may be obtained from banks and tourist offices. The exchange rate is approximately 125.3 pesetas to $1 US. Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 2:00pm, Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm and during the summer months, banks are closed on Saturdays. Money can also be changed in exchange offices, travel agencies and the reception desks of larger hotels. American Express offices offer the best exchange rates for travellers and. . . Madrid: El Corte , Ingles: C. Preciados 3 (tel. 532 18 00). Barcelona: Banks in Barcelona give the best rates. Check out: Banco de Espanya ,pl. Catalunya. Open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Seville: El Cort Ingles , Pl. Duque de la victoria 7 (tel. 422 09 31). Open daily from 10:00 am to 9:30 pmoff season and Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. It is advisable to bring money in the form of traveller's checks. Most internationally recognized credit cards are accepted. What Things Cost in Madrid: Please send your comments to: Jennifer Wolf Also Visit These Travel Pages

Argentina Travel Planner First

Argentina Travel Planner  You are here: About > Travel > South America for Visitors Travel Go South America Essentials Plan Your First Trip to South America Photo Gallery Travel Features - Countries and Culture News and Current Events Reader Participation Requested Articles & Resources Most Popular Destinations Countries and Territories Plan Your Trip Getting There Culture Events, Fiestas, Holidays Languages Geography News & Current Events History Archaeology Sports and Recreation Wildlife / Conservation Guides and Gear Cuisine Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide and Travel Books History and Culture Books Cookbooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the South America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search South America for Visitors click for more images Cerro Aconcagua Aconcagua.com Stay up to date! click for more images Cerro Aconcagua Aconcagua.com Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Argentina Reservation Help Recent Discussions Great Vegas Site, Great Discounts Great Vegas Site, Great Discounts Help..traveling to South America..... Most Popular All Stars 9 Empanada Iguazu Falls Pictures of Chile South America Photo Gallery What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Related Topics Caribbean for Visitors Mexico / Central America for Visitors Spanish Language Adventure Travel Budget Travel Argentina Travel Planner First Time Visitor Travel Help From Bonnie Hamre , Your Guide to South America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Geography of Argentina:   "Second in South America only to Brazil in size and population, Argentina is a plain,rising from the Atlantic to the Chilean border and the towering Andes peaks.Aconcagua (23,034 ft.; 7,021 m) is thehighest peak in the world outside Asia.Argentina is also bordered by Bolivia andParaguay on the north, and by Uruguayand Brazil on the east. The northern areais the swampy and partly wooded GranChaco, bordering on Bolivia andParaguay. South of that are the rolling, fertile Pampas, which are rich in agriculture and sheep- and cattle-grazing and support most of the population. Nextsouthward is Patagonia, a region of cool,arid steppes with some wooded and fertilesections." Comments from InfoPlease.com. General Information:   Art and Culture Touring Practical Information Commentaries and Travelogues Holidays History Geography Getting Around Pictures of Argentina Fact Page Major Cities:   Cities of Argentina Map Cities of Argentina - including Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, Bariloche and other citues Major Attractions:   Attractions of Argentina - including Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Nahuel Huapi National Park and more Travel Articles About Argentina Regions of Argentina:   Chaco Cuyo and the Andean Northwest Mesopotamia and the Northeast Pampas Patagonia and the Lake District Tierra del Fuego Getting There and Staying in Argentina:   Compare and select flights from your area. You can also browse for hotels and car rentals.Whenever, or wherever you go in Argentina, tells us about it. Post a "trip report" in the forum. Buen Viaje!        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour

Taiwan Travel

Taiwan - Wikitravel Taiwan From Wikitravel Asia : East Asia : Taiwan Flag Quick Facts Capital Taipei Government multiparty democratic republic with a popularly elected president and unicameral legislature Currency New Taiwan dollar (TWD) Area total: 35,980 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy water: 3,720 sq km land: 32,260 sq km Population 22,548,009 (July 2002 est.) Languages Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min-nan), Hakka dialects Religions mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5% Taiwan , the Republic of China ( ROC ), is an island of about 36,000 square kilometers located off mainland China . The island is home to more than 22 million people and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities and friendly people, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. In addition to Taiwan island, the Republic of China also governs the Pescadores (Penghu), Quemoy (Kinmen/Jinmen), and Matsu . Table of contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 2.1 Northern Taiwan 2.2 Central Taiwan 2.3 Southern Taiwan 2.4 Eastern Taiwan 3 Understand 4 Get in 4.1 Visa Information 4.2 By plane 4.2.1 Major airlines 4.3 By boat 5 Get around 5.1 Not getting lost 5.2 By Metro 5.3 By bus 5.4 By train 5.4.1 Taiwan Railway Administration 5.4.1.1 Service 5.4.2 Taiwan High Speed Rail 5.5 By taxi 5.6 By scooter or motorcycle 5.7 By car 5.8 By thumb 6 Talk 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 9.1 Water 9.2 Alcohol 9.3 Tea and coffee 9.4 Soft drinks 10 Sleep 11 Learn 11.1 Martial arts 12 Work 13 Stay Safe 13.1 Crime 13.2 Natural hazards 13.3 Traffic 13.4 Emergency Phone Numbers 14 Stay Healthy 15 Respect 15.1 Culture 15.2 Politics 16 Contact 16.1 Getting Online 16.2 Media 17 External links [ edit ] Regions The Taiwan Area can be divided into six regions: The Central Region ( Central Mountains and central western coastal area)- This region includes the scenic Sun-Moon Lake. The East Coast - This area, cut off from the rest of the island by mountains, contains Taiwan's most striking natural scenery, including the famed Tailuge Gorge (Taroko Gorge). The North - There are some great beaches at the coasts here, as well as the Yangming Mountains . The South . This area is more tropical than the rest of the island, with many beaches and coconut palms. The outlying islands of Penghu , Matsu , Kinmen and Green Island . [ edit ] Cities Map of Taiwan Taiwan has many large cities and towns. Below is a list of the most well-known. Other cities are listed under their specific regional section. [ edit ] Northern Taiwan Taipei is the seat of government of the Republic of China and its center of commerce and culture. Taipei is home to the world's currently tallest skycraper, Taipei 101. Hsinchu is a center of hi-tech industry, and one of the world's leading manufacturers of hi-tech componentry. Hsinchu Science Park ( http://eweb.sipa.gov.tw/en/index.jsp ) is the home to many hi-tech companies. Jioufen is a former gold mining town, now a tourist destination, on the northeast coast. Keelung is a center of transshipment in the north. It is located to the northeast of Taipei. Taipei County , an amalgamation of cities and towns. The county of Taipei surrounds Taipei city, and is part of the same metropolitan area. Taoyuan is the location of Taiwan's main airport, CKS International Airport (TPE) ( http://www1.cksairport.gov.tw/english/ ) . [ edit ] Central Taiwan Puli is a mountain town located at the geographical center of the island. Taichung is the third largest city in Taiwan, and has an abundance of interesting cultural amenities and activities. Lukang is the 2d oldest town of Taiwan, still a little 80 000 habitants town, this town is famous for its old houses and streets. [ edit ] Southern Taiwan Kaohsiung is the second-largest city on the island. It is the third-busiest sea port in the world and has the second-largest airport, Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) ( http://www.kia.gov.tw/english/e_index.asp ) . Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and was the capital during imperial times. It is famous for its temples and other historic buildings. [ edit ] Eastern Taiwan Hualien is located near Taroko Gorge, and is considered one of the most pleasant of Taiwan's cities. Taitung is home to many aboriginal people, and is located in one of Taiwan's most unspoilt areas. [ edit ] Understand Taiwan has been populated for thousands of years by more than a dozen aboriginal tribes. Written history begins with the partial colonization of Taiwan by the Dutch and the Spaniards in the early 17th century. (The old name of Taiwan, Formosa , comes from the Portuguese for "beautiful".) Han Chinese immigrants arrived during this period and continued for the next few hundred years. The Qing Empire ceded Taiwan to Japan , which ruled the island between 1895 and 1945, and exerted profound influences on its development. Much of the Japanese-built infrastructure can still be seen on the island today, and has been in fact continuously used up to the present day (e.g. rail-road crossing gates, administrative buildings). In the early 20th century, the Nationalists and Communists fought a major civil war in China. Although the two sides were briefly united against Japan during World War II, they quickly began fighting again after the war was over. Eventually, the Communists were victorious. The Nationalists and hundreds of thousands of their supporters fled to Taiwan. From Taipei, they continued to assert their right as the sole legitimate government of all China. There has been a movement, initially in exile, which seeks to build Taiwan as an entity separate from China, and the current government tends to be independence-leaning. [ edit ] Get in [ edit ] Visa Information Citizens of the following countries may enter Taiwan visa-free for thirty days provided that their passports do not expire within six months: Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Darussalam Canada Costa Rica Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Japan Korea Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malaysia Malta Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland UK USA. For further information check the web site for the Bureau of Consular Affairs ( http://www.boca.gov.tw/english/ ) . [ edit ] By plane There are international flights into the Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) International Airport in Taoyuan, and to a lesser extent, to the Kaohsiung International Airport. The Songshan domestic airport is located in Taipei. Don't make the mistake of asking a taxi driver to take you to the Taipei airport if you actually mean CKS International. CKS International is actually about an hours drive from Taipei, while Songshan is located in downtown Taipei. However, a taxi to and from CKS International Airport from Taipei is probably not the best way, and definitely not the cheapest. A one-way taxi-fare between CKS and Taipei will cost about NT$1000, whereas a chartered bus ride could be as little as NT$150. Taiwan is a place of inexpensive transportation, and the chartered-bus services are both abundant and comfortable. Each terminal at CKS has a bus-service room with several counters, from which you can select which bus company to take, and where to go - all at a fraction of the cost of taking a taxi. CKS International Airport [1] ( http://www1.cksairport.gov.tw/english/ ) ( TPE ) is Taiwan's main international airport. It is located 40km to the southwest of Taipei. Several aforementioned bus companies provide transport links to all major cities in Taiwan. An adult ticket into Taipei city costs around NT$ 150. Songshan Airport [2] ( http://www.tsa.gov.tw/0069/index_e/index_e.shtm ) ( TSA ) in downtown Taipei serves domestic flights only. The Kaohsiung [3] ( http://www.kia.gov.tw/english/e_index.asp ) ( KHH ) domestic and international airports are located in the same complex. Local carriers include China Airlines and EVA Air. Cathay Pacific schedules many flights to Hong Kong as Taiwanese flights have to go to mainland China via a third destination. [ edit ] Major airlines Cathay Pacific - 2715 2333 China Airlines - 2715 1212 Eva Airways - 2501 1999 KLM Asia - 2711 4055 North West - 2772 2188 Singapore Airlines - 2551 6655 Thai Airways - 2509 6800 For up-to-date information on cheap flights, check the advertisement pages of one of the three local daily English newspapers (see media below) There are four domestic plane companies, all of which have business-sized planes and get across Taiwan quite quickly. Flights are frequent, and it is usually unnecessary to book flights in advance. Taipei and Kaohsiung have regular services and links to most other domestic airports; however, it may not be possible to fly from one domestic airport to another. The high-speed rail, scheduled to start in 2006, is supposed to give the plane companies a run for their money, with stops located in all the major cities. [ edit ] By boat There are passenger ferry links between Okinawa in Japan and Keelung . [ edit ] Get around [ edit ] Not getting lost In mid-sized and smaller cities, your main reference point is going to be the train station. Its not easy to find english speaking people. Try looking for college students.Sometimes it is also quite difficult to get around in cities, as not all street signs are in English. Also keep in mind that Taiwan has used four different standard methods to spell Chinese words in the Latin alphabet on its street signs, not to mention some that appear entirely made up. For example, Zhongshan, Chungshan, Jungshan and Jhongshan can be easily the same. So if you check your tourist map, make sure you know about this. [ edit ] By Metro See also: Wikipedia:Taipei Rapid Transit System Taipei Metro [4] ( http://english.trtc.com.tw/ ) , commonly known as the MRT , has three major lines and several new lines are near completion ( route map ( http://home.trtc.com.tw/EINFO/eroutehome.asp ) ). The Bannan (Blue) Line runs from East to West and Danshui-Xindian (Red/Green) Line runs from North to South. The Danshui line also branches off into Danshui-Nanshijiao (Red/Yellow). The Muzha (Brown) Line is a light-transit system running from North to South on the East side of the city. The Muzha line is very pleasant to take, as it is completely elevated above street-level. In addition, the Muzha line features driverless trains! Trains generally run from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, with convenient bus connections outside the stations. You are entitled to a discounted bus connection when you use EasyCard (a smartcard that stores credit) to pay for the MRT fare. The EasyCard also gives you a 20% discount on all MRT rides. Purchase tickets from the ticket machines. Fares are calculated by distance. Most areas are accessible for around NT$20 to NT$30. The maximum ticket price is NT$65. [ edit ] By bus Buses that run between cities and are called ke-yun, as opposed to gong-che which run within the county and city. Buses run by private companies are generally more luxurious (often boasting wide, soft seats, foot-rests and individual video screeens) than those run by government-owned companies. Still, even the government-owned buses are comfortable, punctual, and maintain clean facities onboard. In major cities, bus transportation is extensive. Route maps, however, are almost entirely in Chinese, though the destinations indicated on the front of buses are in English. If you're staying at a hotel, have the clerk suggest some routes for you, and circle your destination on the map. Show this to the bus driver, and he/she will hopefully remember to tell you when to get off. In smaller cities, there is often no local bus service, though the out-of-town buses will sometimes make stops in the suburbs. There are taxi ranks at all airports and bus terminals. Occasionally a bus driver might stop a bus away from the curb at a bus stop. Sometimes it is due to a vehicle illegally parked at a bus stop. (Taiwanese traffic law and regulation prohibit vehicles from stopping or parking within 10 meters of a bus stop.) However, a bus driver might stop a bus away from the curb just because he or she does not want to wait for overtaking traffic while leaving a bus stop. Therefore, be much more careful when getting on or off a bus stopped away from a curb, as many motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles will definitely be tempted to overtake on the right side of the stopped bus where people get on and off! (As traffic drives on the right side of the road in Taiwan, buses have doors on the right side.) [ edit ] By train Taiwan's train system is excellent, with stops in all major cities. In addition, the train system allows you to bypass the highways, which can become extremely crowded on weekends and national holidays. A high speed rail system is currently under construction. [ edit ] Taiwan Railway Administration The TRA runs nearly all the conventional intercity railways in Taiwan. Service is generally efficient and reliable, and is often the most convenient way for visitors to access most cities and towns. Train stations are often located in the centers of most cities and towns and serve as a convenient hub for most types of transportation. You can order up to 6 tickets online - in English - at http://railway.hinet.net 2 weeks in advance, or 1 week in advance if you go directly to a train station. Train schedules, pricing etc can be checked at http://www.railway.gov.tw/e_index.htm ; however, the online services only work between 8am and 9pm or thereabouts. There is a small charge, NT$7, for online bookings. Note that booking online only establishes a reservation as there is no Internet payment option. You must pay for the tickets you reserved at your local train station or post office to actually receive it. Children under a certain height go free, and taller kids get half-price tickets. If you get return tickets there is a small discount. There are also vending machines at the larger stations. Round island tourist rail passes are also available which allow the holder to embark and disembark a set number of times for a fixed price are also available at most larger train stations. A foreign passport may be required for purchase. [ edit ] Service The fastest train is Tzu-Chiang, and the slowest is Pingkuai (Ordinary/Express). There is often little to choose between prices and destination times for adjacent train classes, but the gap can be quite large between the fastest and the slowest. Tzu-Chiang (Tsu-chiang / 自強): The fastest (and most expensive). Assigned seating. Non-reserved (standing) tickets are also sold at full price. Chu-Kuang (Chu-kwang / 莒光): Second fastest. Assigned seating. Fu-hsing (Fu-shing / 復興): Third fastest. Assigned seating. Non-reserved tickets are sold at 80% of original price. EMU (Electric multiple unit / 電車) and DRC (Diesel railcar / 柴客): Short to medium distance commuter train, stops at all stations. No assigned seating. Express / Ordinary (普通): Stops at all stations, no air conditioning, most inexpensive. No assigned seating. Some Express trains (the light blue ones running on West Trunk Line) are air-conditioned while others (dark blue ones) are not equipped with air conditioners. Diesel Express : Only available on East Trunk Line and South Link Line. Mainly serve as commuter trains. No air conditioning. Tickets are the same price as Express and Ordinary. For travel to nearby cities, you can travel on the electric train "dian che" which is something like a subway car on the tracks. These arrive very frequently (about once every ten to fifteen minutes). In addition, "standing tickets" may be purchased on trains with assigned seating that have no available seats. Standing tickets are 80% the original ticket price and may be useful for last minute travelers. The downside is, of course, that you will be required to stand during your entire trip. [ edit ] Taiwan High Speed Rail Taiwan's new high speed rail system similar to the Shinkansen in Japan is currently under construction with completion scheduled for late 2006. The THSR will run along the western coast from Taipei to Kaohsiung. [ edit ] By taxi Taxis are a dime a dozen in Taiwanese cities. The standard yellow cabs scour roads looking for potential riders such as lost foreigners. It is possible but generally unnecessary to phone for a taxi. To hail one, simply place your hand in front of you parallel to the ground. Drivers generally cannot converse in English or read Westernized addresses (Except for special CKS airport taxis). Have the hotel desk or a Taiwanese friend write out your destination in Chinese, and also take a business card from the hotel. Show the driver the Chinese writing of where you are going. Taxis are visibly metered, and cab drivers are strictly forbidden from taking tips. A maximum of four people can ride in one cab, and for the price of one. Relative to American taxicabs, Taiwanese cabs are inexpensive. Of course, not all drivers are trustworthy. An indirect trip might cost you half as much more. Avoid the especially overzealous drivers who congregate at the exits of train stations. From CKS Airport (TPE), buses are a much more economical option but if you want a direct route CKS airport drivers are the best choice. They're quite comfortable and get you to your destination as quick as possible. All the CKS taxi drivers are interlinked by radio so they could be forwarned if there are police. Sometimes, if there are traffic jams and no police around, the driver will drive in the emergency lane. The badge and taxi driver identification are displayed inside and the license number marked on the outside. You must also be wary that the driver turns on his meter, otherwise he might rip you off - in such a case, you aren't obliged to pay; but make sure you can find a police officer to settle the matter. If there are stories of passengers boarding fake taxis and being attacked by the driver, it is best not to be paranoid about it. Drivers may be more worried about passengers attacking them! If you do call a taxi dispatch center, you will be given a taxi number to identify the vehicle when it arrives. Generally, dispatch is extremely rapid and efficient, as the taxis are constantly monitoring dispatch calls from the headquarters using radio while they are on the move. This is also the safest way to take a taxi, especially for females. Taxis are also a flexible although relatively expensive way to travel to nearby cities. They have the advantage over the electric trains in that they run very late at night. Drivers are required to provide a receipt if asked, though you might find them unwilling to do so. Taxi drivers are known for their strong political opinions as they spend all day listening to talk radio. Be careful about your opinions on the cross-strait relations. In addition, if you see blood spewing from the driver's mouth, or him spitting blood onto the street - not to fret, it's merely him chewing Betel Nut (BinLang). [ edit ] By scooter or motorcycle Until recently - 2003 - it wasn't even possible to get a scooter above 150cc in Taiwan. Many of the scooters within cities are only 50cc and incapable of going faster than 60 km/h. The more powerful versions are known as junghsing (heavy format) scooters, are now quite common and can be rented for short-term use, or found for sale used at tealit ( http://www.tealit.com ) if you're going to need it for a while. They are not allowed on freeways even if they are capable of going faster than 100 km/h unless used for certain police purposes, but that just means you have to take the scenic route. If you're just learning to drive a scooter on the streets of Taiwan, it would be a good idea to practice a bit on a back road or alley until you have a feel for the scooter - attempting to do so in the busier cities could easily be fatal. Certainly, things can get pretty hairy on Taiwanese roads and Taipei in particular has narrower more congested roads than many other cities. However if you know what you're doing, it's the perfect way to get around in a city. It should be possible to rent a scooter by the day or week, depending on the city in which you're staying. In Taipei, as of 2005, the only place legally renting scooters and motorbikes to foreigners was the Bikefarm ( http://bikefarm.j321.com/rental.htm ) , run by a very friendly English guy called Jeremy who will show you the ropes and answer all questions. Scooters are easy to rent in most other major cities and many are located near railway or bus stations and you will be approached by touts asking if you want to rent. Most usually require some form of identification even if, in some cases, it consists of your expired Blockbuster video card! Another option is to rent a motorcycle. Many foreigners swear by their 125cc Wild Wolf motorcycles, and a trip around the island on a motorcycle can be a great way to see the island up close. [ edit ] By car VIP Rentals in Taipei is quite happy to rent cars to foreigners, and will even deliver the car to a given destination. Be aware that you need an international driving licence, or a local driving licence (converted from the international) if you are going to drive in inner cities like Jiayi. A deposit is often required, and the last day of rental is not pro-rated, but calculated on a per-hour basis at a separate (higher) rate. Numbered highway system is very good in Taiwan. Most traffic signs are in international symbols, but many signs show names of places and streets in Chinese only. The freeways are in excellent shape with toll stations around every 30 km. Currently a car pays NT$40 when passing each toll station on a freeway. Prepaid tickets may be purchased at most convenience stores, allowing faster passage and eliminating the need to count out exact change while driving. [ edit ] By thumb While Taiwanese themselves don't generally hitchhike , foreigners who have done so say that it was very easy. However, in rural areas people may not recognize the thumb in the air symbol, and you may have to try other ways - flagging down a car might work on a country lane with little or no public transportation, but doing so on a major road might lead to confusion, with the driver assuming that you are in trouble. A sign, especially one in Chinese, would therefore be of great help. The East coast around Hualien and Taidung enjoys a reputation for being especially good for getting rides. Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful, so striking up a conversation with someone at a transport cafe or freeway service station may well see you on your way. [ edit ] Talk A mix of Taiwanese , Mandarin, Hakka and other varieties of Chinese are spoken on the island, as well as many aboriginal languages. Taiwanese is the mother tongue of 60% of the population. In the North where there is a large concentration of Mainlanders, most people speak Mandarin as their primary language (although Taiwanese is spoken in abundance), but in the South of the island, Taiwanese becomes more standard. The Mandarin in Taiwan is a bit different from the official Beijing Dialect. All people schooled after 1945 are generally fluent in Mandarin, although it is sometimes not the first language of choice. Mandarin is pretty popular with young people. Some in the older generation are not fluent in Mandarin as they were schooled in Japanese or not at all. Universally the Taiwanese are very accepting of foreigners and react with curiosity and admiration for trying the local tongue. Generally, most people in Taiwan converse using a combination of Mandarin and Taiwanese by code-switching. Especially in Taipei, many people are bilingual, speaking at least a little English. The children often understand more English than their parents, especially with the emphasis on English language education today. However, attempts to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese will be met with beaming smiles and encouragement, by and large. Speakers of Mandarin or Taiwanese find English very difficult due to the fact that the Chinese language is totally different in history, structure and sound from European languages. For example, in Chinese there is no word directly translating into "do not". Additionally, "bake," "toast," "roast," "barbecue," and "grill," are all translated into one word. Note on Romanization : The Romanization of Chinese used in Taiwan is not standardized. Most older place names and personal names are derived from a bastardized version of Wade-Giles. Though the government mandated Tongyong Pinyin in 2002, local governments are free to override the order. Some local governments, such as that of Taipei City, have converted their street signs to Hanyu Pinyin. This article attempts to use the Romanizations most commonly used in Taiwan (on street signs, buses, tourist maps, etc.). People know Romanisation as 'Roma-Pinyin'. [ edit ] Buy The currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar, known locally as NT or ? (yuan). As of mid-2005, the exchange rate for US$1 had fallen to between NT$31 and NT$32. Taiwan's smallest denomination, the single dollar coin, is worth about 3 US cents. The simplest method of calculating exchange on the run is to multiply by 3, then divide by 100 for US$. Taiwanese currency is fully convertible and there are no restrictions on taking currency into or out of the island. Currency exchange is possible internationally, although you will get a much better rate if you wait until you arrive at the airport to exchange currency at the 24 hour window. Most banks in Taipei and Kaohsiung will also exchange money or offer cash advances on credit or debit cards. You should bring American currency, and additionally, please be sure to bring newer bills, as the banks and exchange-centers (such as in department stores) will only accept the newer bills. They will not at all accept the old-style small-bust bills, and the department stores will not exchange bills older than 1997. Don't forget to show your passport! If you've forgotten to bring any money at all, but have your credit or debit card handy, there's no need to fret. Taiwan's banking system is light-years ahead of most other countries, with the ability to use any of the abundant 24-hour ATM Machines to withdraw cash from anywhere in the world. Additionally, there is no service charge! Certain banks' ATMs will even tell you your available balance in your own currency or in NT$. Most hotels will accept credit cards. Most restaurants and stores will not, and cash is the main form of payment. Because street crime is rare, it is common for people in Taiwan to carry large amounts of cash with them. A meal at a streetside stall may cost NT$50; a meal at a Western fast food restaurant will run you about NT$100; a hotel room at a swanky hotel might cost NT$5000 or more. As in many Asian countries, night markets are a staple of Taiwanese entertainment, shopping and eating. Every city has at least one night market; larger cities like Taipei may have a dozen or more. The most popular night market in Taipei is at Shilin (Jiantan MRT station, NOT Shilin MRT station!), though the most exotic is arguably the Huaxi Street Night Market (a.k.a. Snake Alley) where one can dine on snake meat and try many traditional desserts. Night markets are crowded, so remember to watch out for your wallet! Night markets are open-air markets, usually on a street or alleyway, with vendors selling all sorts of wares on every side. Many bargains can be had, and wherever prices are not displayed, haggling is assumed. In the larger cities you will have a night market every night and in the same place. In smaller cities, they are only open certain nights of the week, and may move to different streets depending on the day of the week. Although Taipei is much larger than Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung's largest night market, Liuhe Night Market is open everyday almost until the sun rises. This contrasts to Taipei's largest night market, Shilin Night Market, which wraps up after midnight every night. Shops selling the same items tend to congregate in the same part of the city. If you want to buy something, ask someone to take you to one shop and there will probably be shops selling similar things nearby. Popular things to buy include: Jade items. Although it can be hard to know for sure if the item you're buying is real jade or not, some beautiful objects are sold. Most cities have a specific jade market dealing in jade and other precious stones. Computers. Taiwan is a center of computer design and manufacture, so some places sell original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) items at good rates. In particular Taiwanese companies produce laptop computers under license to international companies and then sell the same items under different brands locally, effectively giving the same quality for much lower prices. Desktop computers and components however tend to be the same price in Taiwan as in other areas of the world. If you're buying domestic ít's best to go to tourist hangouts to buy your stuff as you might be saddled with Chinese documentation otherwise. Also, especially notebooks are only available with Chinese and English keyboard. NB: In order to protect the environment, a government policy rules that plastic bags cannot be given freely at stores in Taiwan, but have to be bought - bakeries being an exception as the items need to be hygienically wrapped. Re-useable canvas and nylon bags are sold at most supermarkets. [ edit ] Eat Generally speaking, the foods of Taiwan are derived from mainland Chinese cuisines . It is possible to find Szechuan food, Hunan food, Beifang food, Cantonese food and almost every other Chinese cuisine on the island. Taiwanese renditions of these cuisines tend to be somewhat greasy, though, and completely authentic mainland cuisines are rare. This is especially true for the Cantonese cuisine, as demonstrated by the lack of Cantonese speakers on the island. The Taiwanese are also passionately in-love with eggs, as you will discover during your stay on the island. Taiwan also has many of its own local specialties . Perhaps because of its long isolation from mainland China and distance from other parts of the world, most cities and towns in Taiwan are famous for special foods. For example, Ilan is famous for its mochi, a sticky rice snack often flavored with sesame, peanuts or other flavorings. Yonghe , a suburb of Taipei, is famous for its soy milk and breakfast foods. Taichung is famous for its sun cakes, a kind of sweet stuffed pastry. In Jiayi, it's square cookies, also called cubic pastry, crispy layered cookies cut into squares and sprinkled liberally with sesame seeds. Virtually every city has its famous specialties; many Taiwanese tourists will go visit other cities on the island only to try the local foods, then return home. Taiwan also has remarkably good bakery items . Among the chain stores, the 'We Care' bakeries offer some of the better options, such as whole wheat loaves, sour breads and ciabatta. All Mahayana Buddhists, which account for the majority of adherents in Taiwan, aspire to be pure vegetarian in deference to the Buddha's teaching of non-violence and compassion. So, vegetarian restaurants (called su-shr ?? tsan-ting in Mandarin, and often identified with the ? symbol) can be found in abundance all over the island, and they run from cheap buffet style to gourmet and organic. Buffet styled restaurants (called ???, which means "Serve Yourself Restaurant") are common in almost every neighborhood in large cities, and unlike the 'all-you-can-eat' buffets (which charge a set price, usually ranging from NT$250 - NT$350 including dessert and coffee/tea), the cost is estimated by the weight of the food on your plate. Rice (there is usually a choice of brown or white) is charged separately, but soup or cold tea is free and you can refill as many times as you like. NT$90 - NT$120 will buy you a good sized, nutritious meal. However, if you cannot find a veggie restaurant, don't fret. Taiwanese people are very flexible and most restaurants will be happy to cook you up something to suit your requirements. The following sentences in Mandarin might be helpful: Wo chr su - I'm vegetarian, Wo bu chr rou - I don't eat meat. However, as Mandarin is a tonal language, you might need to say both, plus practice your acting skills to get yourself understood. Good luck! NB: If a restaurant refuses your order, don't push the issue. The reason will not be an unwillingness to accommodate your request, but because the basic ingredients of their dishes may include chicken broth or pork fat. Although vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan do not aspire to vegan principles, due to the fact that Taiwanese do not have a tradition of eating dairy products, almost all dishes at Chinese style veggie restaurants will actually be vegan. There are also the standard fast food places such as McDonalds (a standard Big Mac Meal costs NT$109), KFC and MOS Burger. In addition there are large numbers of convenience stores (such as 7-11) that sell things like tea eggs, sandwiches and drinks. The cheapest food can be found in back-alley noodle shops and night market stalls, where you can get a filling bowl of noodles for around NT$35-70. [ edit ] Drink [ edit ] Water The general rule in Taiwan regarding drinking water is that it should only be drunk if it has been boiled (and preferably filtered). The locals do it, and so should you . Water obtained through "special" looking machines that dispense water is also safe to drink. If either case is not possible, then you should buy bottled water. In Taipei , tap water is generally safe to drink once it has been boiled for at least 3 minutes. Outside of Taipei , bottled water is preferable since tap water should be filtered and boiled before drinking. When in Kaohsiung , DO NOT DRINK the tap water, even after filtering or boiling, since the water contains trace amounts of arsenic that is detrimental to ones health. The locals obtain potable water using pumps that look like gasoline pumps that are strewn throughout the residential areas. [ edit ] Alcohol Traditional alcoholic drinks in Taiwan are very strong. Kaoliang is the most famous alcoholic drink. It is extremely strong, usually 140 proof or more, and often drunk straight. Taiwan also produces many types of Shaoxing rice wine, which are considered by many as being some of the best in the world. Taiwanese people enjoy beer on ice. A wide variety of imported beers are available, but the standard is Taiwan Beer , produced by a government monopoly. It is brewed with fragrant penglai rice in addition to barley giving it a distinctive flavor. [ edit ] Tea and coffee Taiwan's speciality teas are High Mountain Oolong (????, Gau-shan wulong ) - a fragrant, light tea, and Tie Guan-yin (???) - a dark, rich brew. Pearl milk tea (????, Zhen-Zhu Nai-Cha ) is a drink, most foreigners like. Its no longer a fad in Taiwan, but can still be found at nearly every coffee/tea shop. Look for a shop where it is fresh made. Just don't expect to see everyone in the homeland of pearl milk tea drinking it. The cafe culture has hit Taiwan in a big way, and in addition to an abundance of privately owned cafes, all the major chains, such as Starbucks, have a multitude of branches throughout major towns and cities. [ edit ] Soft drinks Taiwan is a great place for fruit drinks. Small fruit-juice bars make them fresh on the spot and are experts at creating fruit-juice cocktails (non-alcoholic, of course). zong-he - mixed - is usually a sweet and sour combination and mu-gwa niou-nai is iced papaya milk. If you don't want ice (though it is safe in Taiwan, even at road side vendors) say, chu bing and no sugar - wu tang . Soy milk , or doujiang, is a great treat. Try it hot or cold. Savoury soy milk is a traditional Taiwanese breakfast dish. It is somewhat of an acquired taste as vinegar is added to curdle the milk. Both sweet and savoury soy milk are often ordered with you-tiao, or deep fried dough crullers. There are a lot of pseudo health drinks in Taiwanese supermarkets and convenience stores. Look out for asparagus juice and lavender milk tea for example. [ edit ] Sleep Taiwan doesn't sleep - just look at the number of 24-hour stores out there. But since you have to.... Taiwanese hotels range in quality from seedy to very luxurious. Keep in mind however that hotels which cater specifically to Westerners tend to be outrageously expensive, while comparable and much cheaper hotels are usually available, and most taxi drivers can take you to one. In particular, the airport hotel at CKS International charges about three or four times as much as a hotel in Taoyuan which is a half hour cab ride. Motels can be easily found in suburbs of major cities. A single room with attached bathroom will cost you about 40 to 50 US$ each day. As in much of Asia, hotel beds in Taiwan are generally much harder than in the West. Only in the most upscale Western style hotels will you find beds any softer than a billard table. For the budget-minded, there are hostels in Taipei and most other sizeable cities. [ edit ] Learn [ edit ] Martial arts There are many styles of kung fu taught in Taiwan, largely by masters who came here with the Kuomintang in the late 1940's. Styles include Ba Gua, Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Praying Mantis, Shway Shiao and various weapons systems. Many of the students are westerners in these classes, which has led to the rise of several NHB schools, as well as Ju Jitsu and Akido from Japan. Some of the more famous teachers will provide you with the paperwork needed to extend a student visa twice. Taekwondo is also extremely popular and is often a mandatory part of schoolchildren's physical education. [ edit ] Work The majority of travellers who work in Taiwan pick up temporary jobs teaching English . Jobs teaching other languages (mainly European or Japanese) do exist but have a much smaller proportion of the market. Job requirements - in finding employment with a language school, experience, teaching qualifications and references are not required but obviously help. On paper, a big issue is also made about accents, with the North American English accent being heavily favored over British, Australian and South African accents in many language schools' sales marketing. However, in practice, many schools that advertise 'American English' and claim that their teachers are all from Canada or the USA, actually employ teachers from anywhere. Age is a factor, with applicants in their 20s seemingly being preferred. More than anything, appearance is probably the major factor in finding employment with most schools - Do you 'look Western'? - and reliability and turning up on time for work is then the major factor for keeping your job. Therefore, if you look the part, it is very easy to find a school willing to take you on for at least a few days. This 'look Western' point has quite a bearing. Unfortunately, Taiwan is hardly a great promoter of equal opportunities . In many schools there is a prejudice towards teachers applying for jobs who are not of white Caucasian appearance, seen as the typical Western appearance in Asian countries. This is independent of whether or not the teacher has relevant teaching ability and citizenship of one of the permitted ARC countries. Many parents who send their children to schools to be taught English expect the teacher to look like they are from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and so on, and so the decision on the part of the school managers is mainly about economics. For those affected by this, it's a sad fact of Taiwan that is unlikely to change in the near future. Good employers without such prejudiced requirements do exist, but greater perseverence is needed when looking for them. It is illegal to work without a work permit (called an ARC - Alien Residency Permit), and legal work officially requires a college degree and usually a long (two month+) application process. However, illegal employment is easy to find with many school managers being willing to pay under the table for short durations. Be aware that if caught or reported, you risk criminal charges and could be deported. The government tends to waver from being very lax on this issue under one administration to suddenly taking action under the next. The rules for getting an ARC do change often and each administrative part of Taiwan has its own ways of handling them, so it is best to check the pages of the website Forumosa (see later) and find out what the experiences of others are in your area. Keep in mind, that you can only get an ARC for English teaching if you are a 'citizen of a native English speaking country'. Taiwan's government defines these countries to be only the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. Almost all teachers apply for an ARC through their employers only after starting work and it is tied to their ongoing employment with that school. Therefore, if the teacher wishes to leave their employment, they will have to quickly find an alternative employer or lose their ARC and hence be required to leave Taiwan. Also, very few schools will arrange an ARC without at least a year-long contract being signed. Frankly, with all this inflexibility, it's no wonder so many teachers opt for the non-legal route. That and tax evasion. A lot of the illegal teaching work that the majority of English teachers partake in is simply through private student tuition with payment being cash-in-hand. You can find a lot of private students around universities that have a Chinese-teaching department - look for the areas where all the foreign students will be and check the noticeboards. Because the majority of adult private students want to practise English conversation, you won't need to have any Chinese ability. However, it is definitely a selling point and, if you do have Chinese-speaking ability, it's worthwhile mentioning that in any advertising of your services. Also, once you have some regular students, remember that in Taiwan, as in most Asian countries, 'connections' or 'guanxi' are very important - if your students like you, they will in all likelihood recommend you to their family and friends. Teaching English in Taiwan can be lucrative, as the salaries are very high compared to the cost of living, typically ranging between 500 and 650NT per hour before deductions in most language schools, with anything between 500-1000NT per hour being negotiable for private students. In the past few years, the flow of would-be teachers into Taiwan has increased dramatically, resulting in stiffer competition for jobs as well as a general drop in wages and this trend may continue. On top of this, the Taiwanese dollar has been sliding in value over the past five years, meaning you get less and less for your dollar in foreign currency at the end of the month. There are some excellent internet resources to help you find English-teaching work in Taiwan. http://www.buxiban.com has a list of schools that employ foreign teachers in Taiwan. A unique feature of the site is that present and past teachers can leave feedback ratings of their school. http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan is a community of mainly foreign residents of Taiwan and their comments and practical advice on working and living there will likely prove to be invaluable. http://www.tealit.com is another useful resource. Aside from English-teaching, other common kinds of employment available for mainly native English-speaking travellers include such tid-bits as small acting parts for TV and film, voice talent (video games, dubbing tracks, etc), editing and even writing educational materials. Many of these will be advertised on billboards in Chinese language-teaching institutes and universities, where there are likely to be many foreign students. If after travelling and living there, you find you are serious about working in Taiwan , the most lucrative employment to be had is if you are employed by a multinational company, perhaps in a high-paying country like the UK, US or Australia, and you are sent across to their office in Taiwan. Many foreigners end up doing the same job as their colleagues who were employed in the Taiwan office, but for perhaps 3 or 4 times their pay. [ edit ] Stay Safe [ edit ] Crime Taiwan is extremely safe, even for women late at night. This is not to say, however, that there is no crime, and you should always exercise caution. Unlike in many neighbouring countries, it is very rare to see drunks on the street, day or night. Beggars are also very rare, except a few who congregate in the vicinity of Buddhist temples, with the hope that they will get donations from generous-hearted practitioners. Beggars are generally not aggressive, and one can safely give money to them without being worried about being swamped. Like anywhere else in the world, women should be cautious when taking taxis alone late at night. Although they are generally safe, there was one noted case of a prominent female politician being assaulted and murdered by a taxi driver in Kaohsiung several years ago. If you do need to take a taxi alone, then it's a good idea to arrange to have a friend call you when you get home, and to be seen making the arrangements for this by the cab driver. It also helps if a friend sees you being picked up, as taxis have visible license numbers. Don't tell taxi drivers your exact address but just the street name or section. Many of the Taiwanese taxi drivers are ex-cons and might be interested in what you have at home. Police departments in most jurisdictions will have a Foreign Affairs Police unit staffed by English speaking officers. If reporting a major crime, it is advisible to contact the Foreign Affairs unit in addition to officers at your local precinct. Police stations are marked with a red light above the door. For more information see the National Police Agency website ( http://www.npa.gov.tw/eng/npa_e.htm ) . It is not to say that Taiwan is crime-free, and there will of course be incidences of theft etc, but it is fair to say that the island is generally considered a very safe environment and violent crime, in particular, is still relatively scarce. [ edit ] Natural hazards Taiwan often experiences typhoons during the summer months and early fall. Heavy monsoon rainfall also occurs during the summer. Hikers and mountaineers should be sure to consult weather reports before heading into the mountains. A major hazard following heavy rainfall in the mountains is falling rocks caused by the softening of the earth and there are occasional reports of people being killed or injured by these. Taiwan is also located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means that earthquakes are a common occurrence. Most earthquakes are barely noticible, though the effect may be slightly amplified for those in higher buildings. While the local building codes are extremely strict, general precautions should still be observed during an earthquake, including taking cover and checking for gas leaks afterwards. [ edit ] Traffic Local drivers have a well-deserved reputation for being somewhat reckless. Many motorcycle riders also have a tendency of zipping through any space no matter how tiny. Be extra careful when crossing the road, even to the extent of looking both ways on a one-way street. When crossing at a pedestrian-crossing at a T-junction or crossroads, be aware that when the little green man lights up and you start crossing, motorists will still try to turn right, with or without a green feeder light. [ edit ] Emergency Phone Numbers Police : 110 Fire/Ambulance : 119 [ edit ] Stay Healthy Westerners should be cautious of relatively undercooked food. Many Taiwanese restaurants offer plates of raw, sliced red meat and uncooked seafood that are brought to the table and either barbecued or simmered in a pot of stock. As this constitutes a staple of the Taiwanese diet, any bacteria that may remain doesn't affect the locals, but can wreak havoc with foreigners. The best policy is to make sure you cook the food in a manner to which you are accustomed. Don't drink tap water without boiling it, though it's safe for brushing your teeth. Drugs are freely available for minor ailments at drug stores. The quality of the hospitals in Taiwan is excellent and on par with those found in the West. Long term residents with an 'alien registration card' can avail themselves of the very convenient and efficient national health service, which covers treatment and medication using both Western and traditional Chinese medicine. However, this is not available to short term visitors on tourist visas. [ edit ] Respect [ edit ] Culture Taiwan shares several cultural taboos with other East Asian nations. Sticking your chopsticks straight up into your bowl of rice. This is reminiscent of incense sticks at a temple, and has connotations of wishing death upon those around you. If you want to put your chopsticks down, either put them on the provided porcelain chopstick rest (at fancier restaurants) or rest the chopsticks on the edge of your bowl. The Chinese are very superstitious about anything connected with dying - unlucky things should never be mentioned. Writing people's names in red. This again has connotations of death. When writing someone's English name, this is not a problem, but avoid writing Chinese names in red. There are numerous taboos dictating that certain objects shouldn't be given to others, often because the word for that object sounds like another unfortunate word: Umbrellas, which in Mandarin sound the same as the word for "break up". Friends should therefore never give friends umbrellas. Instead, friends will euphemistically "rent" each other umbrellas for a tiny amount (NT$1, for example). Giving people clocks. "Clock", in Mandarin, has the same sound as the word "to terminate." Watch out for Arnold Schwarzenegger giving away clocks! Giving people shoes. Never ever offer shoes as a gift to old people, as it signifies sending them on their way to heaven. The Taiwanese are certainly not puritanical and enjoy a drink, especially the locally brewed Taiwan Beer and Kaoliang. However, Taiwan does not have a culture of binge drinking and is rare to see anyone drunk on the streets. While over indulging in alcohol is not a social taboo as such (and some people do so at weddings), it is considered a sign of lack of self-confidence and immaturity, and doing so certainly won't gain you any respect among Taiwanese friends. [ edit ] Politics Taiwanese society is rather polarized by allegiance between supporters of the two major political blocks informally known as "pan-blue coalition" and "pan-green coalition", although there are large numbers of people who are either centrist or who don't care. To simplify a complex situation, pan-blue supporters tend to be more favorable toward the idea of reunification with the mainland and pan-green supporters tend to be more favorable toward the idea of establishing an independent Republic of Taiwan, among other differences. Although there are some correlations, it is highly unwise to assume anything about a particular persons political beliefs based on what you think you know about their background. Also, the very brief sketch of Taiwanese politics obscures a large amount of complexity. Unless you know your listener well, it is unwise to say anything (either positive or negative) about the current government, about historical figures in Taiwanese history, about Taiwan's international relations, or about relations with Mainland China. Some figures such as Sun Yat-sen are generally seen positively, but others (Chiang Kai-shek and Lee Teng-hui in particular) arouse very polarized feelings. Some people will get very offended if you imply that Taiwan is part of China. Other people will get very offended if you imply that Taiwan is not part of China. Referring to the PRC as 'Communist China' or 'Mainland China' rather than simply China will tend not to offend anyone. Referring to the Republic of China as a whole as 'Taiwan Province' will draw a negative reaction from most Taiwanese. 'Greater China' may be used in certain business contexts. Keep in mind however, that there are so many subtleties and complexities here that if you are talking about these things, you've already wandered into a minefield. [ edit ] Contact [ edit ] Getting Online Internet cafes are plentiful, although you may have to wander around before finding one. Rather, Internet cafes in Taiwan should be called gaming cafes. Although people do surf the Internet, most people primarly go there for a smooth experience of online gaming. Each hour of Internet access/game play is extremely cheap, coming in at around 20NT$. Some machines in the internet cafes are coin operated. For free internet access in big cities, try out the local libraries. In addition, a wireless internet accessing net covering all of Taipei City and Kaohsiung City is currently under construction, it already works in some huge MRT stations and on some special points. You will need some sort of login. [ edit ] Media Taiwan has a very free and liberal press. There are three daily newspapers available in English: the China Post ( http://www.chinapost.com.tw/ ) , the Taipei Times ( http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/ ) , Taiwan News ( http://www.etaiwannews.com/ ) [ edit ] External links Tourist Bureau ( http://www.tbroc.gov.tw/lan/cht/index/ ) This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow ! Retrieved from " http://wikitravel.org/en/Taiwan " Views Article Discussion Edit History Personal tools My page My talk Preferences My watchlist My contributions Create an account or log in Navigation Main Page Today's Log Recent changes Random page Help Search Toolbox What links here Related changes Special pages Other sites/languages Deutsch Français 日本語 Wikipedia This page was last modified 07:12, 24 Dec 2005 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Ben Caesar , Evan Prodromou , L. Chang , Ian , Colin Jensen , S Chen , Steffen Mokosch , Pat Gunn , Mary Gardiner , Ravikiran , Raiden Thervosky , Paul N. Richter , Mark Jaroski and Yann Forget and Wikitravel user(s) Jpatokal , InterLangBot , PierreAbbat , TransUtopian , Shoestring , Jusjih , Nzpcmad , Bijee , Jiang , Sohcahtoa , Huttite , Nils , Doctor F , Allentchang , Karen Johnson and CIAWorldFactbook2002 . Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 . About Wikitravel Disclaimers

Air Travel Handbook: Learn

Amazon.com: The Courier Air Travel Handbook: Learn How to Travel Worldwide for Next to Nothing (8th ed): Books Your Store Books See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Subjects | Bestsellers | The New York Times® Best Sellers | Magazines | Corporate Accounts | Amazon Shorts | Bargain Books | Used Books | Textbooks Search Amazon.com Books Web Search This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but over a million other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in . 5 used & new from $8.25 Have one to sell? A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . Share your own customer images Look inside this book The Courier Air Travel Handbook: Learn How to Travel Worldwide for Next to Nothing (8th ed) (Paperback) by Mark I. Field (8 customer reviews) Availability: Available from these sellers . 5 used & new available from $8.25 Other Editions: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers: Paperback (7th) 5 used & new from $4.95 Customers who bought this book also bought Air Courier Bargains: How to Travel World-Wide for Next to Nothing (Air Courier Bargains) by Kelly Monaghan Explore Similar Items : in Books Editorial Reviews Book Description By acting as a courier or escort for important packages, travelers can obtain significantly reduced airfare to just about anywhere in the world. This book shows how easy saving money on travel can be. Product Details Paperback: 159 pages Publisher: Perpetual Press; 8th edition (August, 1999) Language: English ISBN: 1881199045 Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces. Average Customer Review: based on 8 reviews. ( Write a review. ) Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #250,002 in Books Yesterday: #162,841 in Books (Publishers and authors: improve your sales ) Other Editions: Paperback (7th) | All Editions Look Inside This Book Browse Sample Pages: Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover Customers interested in this title may also be interested in: Sponsored Links: What is this? Want to Fly as a Courier ? International Air Courier Travel Europe Flights for $97 Round-Trip www.ConsumerTravel.org/courier.htm Free Travel to Europe Travel to Europe with a group of 6 companions and go free! goaheadvacations.com Courier air travel Free Information and Resources About Courier air travel www.Air-Travel.big.com Feedback Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: Out of time and out of place , July 1, 2004 Reviewer: "philipmargolies" (Alameda CA USA) - See all my reviews The author is less than honest with the reader. Here?s why. You cannot travel when you want to because travel dates are set by the courier company, which of course is not practical for the average traveler. Other hassles involve not going directly to your desired destination. For example, if your destination is London you may wind up being transferred first at Amsterdam before going on. Most courier packages are ?one-way? ? and a return flight is not easy to book. If you chose to courier a package you ?must meet a representative upon arrival?, and in some cases this can take hours before the item is ?back-tracked? and deemed ?clear to proceed? (as happened to me once in Ireland); not to mention the many forms that you will be forced to fill out. The author does not bother to mention that most courier companies request that you ?become a member? for an average annual fee of $45. Or the fact that it is next to impossible to travel with a loved one because the odds of finding two packages going to the same place at the same time are astronomical. But the worst is yet to come. Courier packages are not widely available as they were before 911 because private security companies are now picking up the slack. When they are available, they are subject to new and evolving international laws which may bring the courier ?under suspicion?, even though, as the author misleadingly claims, ?He never touches the package?. Courier traveling is based on a gap in international law which authorities are currently attempting to close. Couriers may soon be held liable if it can be demonstrated to some degree that ?proximity? or ?association by proxy? can be established. Many people have been questioned or held ?under suspicion? on Money Laundering charges and some have even been arrested. Many illegal items are shipped through courier packages often not to the knowledge of the courier company, but as a matter of fact to the authorities. The companies themselves are covered by insurance and by various disclaimer laws that do not apply to the courier. Shipping companies courier their packages through customs faster and cheaper as luggage. But this expediency sacrifices security for the sake of saving money. In a post 911 world this simply should not be allowed. Under international law, any given country is allowed to hold packages for hours or days and in some cases for weeks at a time. It is not worth the hassle or the risk! This is the kind of book someone can paste together in a few days, or hours from readily available sources on the Internet. The author is verbose; writes with a hustler?s mentality; and does not bother to give the reader more than a few pages of his own writing. It is a waste of paper. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Out of time and out of place , July 1, 2004 Reviewer: "philipmargolies" (Alameda CA USA) - See all my reviews The author is less than honest with the reader. Here's why. There is the limitation of `luggage allotment' - often not more than one carry-on bag is permitted to a courier. You cannot travel when you want to because travel dates are set by the courier company, which of course is not practical for the average traveler. Other hassles involve not going directly to your desired destination. For example, if your destination is London you may wind up being transferred first at Amsterdam before going on. Most courier packages are `one-way' - and a return flight is not easy to book. If you chose to courier a package you `must meet a representative upon arrival', and in some cases this can take hours before the item is "back-tracked" and deemed "clear to proceed" (as happened to me once in Ireland); not to mention the many forms that you will be forced to fill out. But the worst is yet to come. Courier packages are not as widely available as they were since 911 because now private security companies are picking up the slack. When they are available, they are subject to new and evolving international laws which may bring the courier `under suspicion', even though, as the author misleadingly claims, "He never touches the package". Courier traveling is based on a gap in international law which authorities are currently attempting to close. Couriers may soon be held liable if it can be demonstrated to some degree that "proximity" or "association by proxy" can be established. Many people have been questioned or held `under suspicion' on Money Laundering charges and some have even been arrested. Many illegal items are shipped through courier packages often not to the knowledge of the courier company, but as a matter of fact to the authorities. The companies themselves are covered by insurance and by various disclaimer laws that do not apply to the courier. Also, under international law, any given country is allowed to hold packages for hours or days and in some cases for weeks at a time. It is not worth the hassle or the risk! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 0 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Wrong book , June 1, 2003 Reviewer: chris tran (ashburn, va United States) - See all my reviews I was reading Kelly Monachans book, not this one. Ignore my reviews. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: The straight review. , June 1, 2003 Reviewer: chris tran (ashburn, va United States) - See all my reviews The first poster said: "The 152 pages of large type, photos and unneeded banner separators created the impression of lot of fluff. The same text could be contained in 1/2 as many pages." There is no photos in the whole book. The book is 200 pages not including glossery and index. And its normal type. To set the record straight, this book gives me much more info than is available on the web. Some of it is common sense and fluff but even so you will only get a tenth of the info in this book on the web. The company resources in the book are outdated but this book is printed in 99, resources likely gathered in 98. Take it for what its worth. Go to the library and pay $0 for the book. If your in it for the money its better than $50 for a yearly website membership. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Good Idea for Discount Travel , July 16, 2001 Reviewer: Dane "danehlewis" (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews I originally purchased this book with the idea of traveling from Chicago to Japan to visit my sister who is teaching English in Tokyo. Ten months later and I have done a total of four trips (Japan twice, London and San Paulo, Brazil). This is the best travel secret I have found to date. Although, it takes some planning and flexibility, if you want cheap travel, this is the way to do it. I found the book was well produced and accurately researched. I have only skimmed through the other books on this subject, but I would have no problem recommending this book to anyone. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: What a waste of time! , June 27, 2001 Reviewer: John (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews This book is a waste of time for any reader. Obviously, Mark I. Field could care less about the content. Kelly Monaghan's book was much more useful. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 8 customer reviews... Listmania! Part-Time Travel Agent : A list by "kvetsh" Create a Listmania! list Look for similar items by category Subjects > Nonfiction > Transportation > Aviation > General Subjects > Travel > General > Guidebooks Subjects > Travel > Specialty Travel > Air Travel Look for similar items by subject Air courier service Air travel Airlines Aviation - General Rates Reference - Guides (General) Travel Travel - General i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ... This Book and You Sign in to rate this item Write a Review | Write a So You'd Like To... Guide | Tell a Friend About This Item | Rate This Item Spec tacular Readers Never misplace your reading glasses again with the hip and stylish magnetic readers from CliC . Make a Big Impression Create the perfect keepsake from your trip with a large format print from Shutterfly . Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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