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corpus/acadia/chunks.jsonl

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+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk000", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Overview", "text": "right|350px|thumb|A rocky portion of the coastline in Acadia National Park.\n\n**Acadia National Park** is the only United States national park in New England and the easternmost national park on the mainland. It is on the coast of the Down East region of Maine, near the town of Bar Harbor.", "word_count": 49}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk001", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Acadia NP encompasses more than , 30,300 of which are on Mount Desert Island. 2,728 acres of the park lie on Isle au Haut and 2,266 more on the Schoodic Peninsula in Winter Harbor.\n\nAcadia is one of the smaller national parks in the country, yet it attracts around 4 million visitors per year. It was the first NP established east of the Mississippi River.\n \n\n### History\n\nIt was designated as **Sieur de Monts National Monument** in 1916 by a presidential proclamation by Woodrow Wilson. Congress renamed the park **Lafayette National Park** in 1919. Congress again enacted a name change in 1929 to the name we now use, **Acadia National Park**. The name comes from the former French colony Acadia.\n\nIn October 1947, the park and some adjacent lands were ravaged by fire.\n\n### Landscape\n\nA quick look at any topographical map of Mount Desert Island will indicate the powerful and lasting effects of the last ice age on the island and the current landscape of **Acadia**. As the last glacier receded over 18,000 years ago it left behind the elongated mountains and lakes we see today. The moving ice was also the culprit behind the \"bald\" summits of most of the park's hilltops, scraping off vegetation and leaving the beautiful pink granite underneath.\n\n### Flora and fauna\n\nMore than 273 bird species have been identified in the park, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, blue jays, finches, and chickadees (the Maine state bird). Mammal species include deer, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, porcupines and bats. Other species include garter snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander.\n\n### Climate\n\nAcadia's weather is largely a product of latitude and marine influences. On a daily and annual basis, Mount Desert Island temperatures are more moderate than those of inland Maine. The Maine coastal climate has been ranked second only to the Pacific Northwest in annual precipitation. This moisture occurs in every form at Acadia. Ice storms are regular in winter and early spring, and rain is frequent in every month. Fog is common during June, July, and August.\n\n**Spring** can be foggy with temperatures ranging between and . Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeve shirts, and long pants for protection. Annual rainfall is .\n\n**Summer** daytime temperatures range from to . Evenings are cooler. Dressing in layers is advisable for any boating or hiking activities. Ocean water temperatures range from to . Lake water temperatures range from to .\n\n**Fall** temperatures can range from low 70s during the day to freezing during the night. Come prepared for all types of weather, from sun to fog, from downpours to flurries. Fall foliage often peaks during the first couple of weeks in October. Weather conditions over the summer, such as drought, may alter the time that the leaves peak.\n\nIn the **winter**, due to Acadia's coastal location, snow and weather conditions change rapidly. Temperatures vary from mid-30s to below zero. The park averages of snow annually. For the latest in weather information, call the local weather phone line at +1 207-667-8910 or call the park at +1 207-288-3338.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n Park website\n - Hulls Cove Visitor Center", "word_count": 523}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk002", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Acadia National Park is along the rugged, rocky coast of \"Downeast\" Maine. Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, which is accessible by vehicle. The park is approximately six hours north of Boston.\n\n### By car\n\nFrom Boston take I-95 north to Augusta, Maine, then Route 3 east to Ellsworth and on to Mount Desert Island. \nFor an alternate route, continue on I-95 north to Bangor, Maine, then take Route 1A east to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take Route 3 to Mount Desert Island. By car to the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor: Follow Rt. 1 North/East from Ellsworth to Rt. 186.\n\n#### Distances from other cities\n\nBangor, ME 50 miles, 1 hour\nPortland, ME 161 miles, 3.5 hours\nKittery, ME 211 miles, 4.5 hours\nBoston, MA 264 miles, 6 hours\nNew York, NY 492 miles, 10 hours\nSaint John, New Brunswick 227 miles, 5 hours\nMontreal, Quebec 424 miles, 8 hours\nHalifax, Nova Scotia 500 miles, 10 hours\n\n### By plane\n\n is the closest airport to Acadia National Park, about from the park, but the airport is served by only one small airline. It operates year-long flights from Boston Logan International Airport.\n is the closest airport with significant commercial service. The airport is served by American, Delta, United, Allegiant, and Breeze.\n is the farthest of the three airports, but it has more air service than Bangor International Airport.\n\n### By ferry\n\nThere is no longer ferry service from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth Nova Scotia. \"The Cat\" is no longer in service.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk003", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Entrance fees as of 2020 are:\n $15 Acadia Entrance Fee - Per Person\n $25 Acadia Entrance Fee - Motorcycle\n $30 Acadia Entrance Fee - Private Vehicle\n $55 Acadia Annual Pass", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk004", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Get around", "text": "The free **Island Explorer** bus system, Phone: +1 207-667-5796, can take you through the park, stopping at points of interest. There are bicycle racks on the front and back of each bus if you'd like to combine transport methods as you explore. Island Explorer buses are propane-powered.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk005", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "See", "text": "- Egg Rock Light\n\n- Wild Gardens of Acadia\n\n - Bubble Rock outlook", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk006", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Do", "text": "### Land activities\n\nThere is an extensive network of carriage roads throughout Acadia National Park, which are closed to automobiles and are excellent places to **ride your bicycle**. The carriage roads are mostly paved with crushed stone and, therefore, are best navigated on a mountain or hybrid bicycle. Another option for cyclists is the ~20 mile (32 km) long Park Loop Road, which encircles much of the eastern portion of the park. The road is open to automobiles, but is a one-way, two-lane road for much of its length. The Park Loop Road appears to have been re-paved in 2008, making for a very smooth, pleasant ride. Bikes can be rented in Bar Harbor.\n\nAcadia has the best **day hiking** in the Eastern U.S. Walking the miles of trails is one of the best ways to experience the park. Immerse yourself in the flora and fauna of the island on a number of different hikes of various environment, length, and difficulty. These trails are stunning, with high ocean views, accessible tree lines, steep precipices, stone bridges, etc.\n\nAcadia is a great place to **birdwatch**, with many species calling the park home including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, great blue herons, cranes, ducks, geese, chickadees, woodpeckers, owls, orioles and blue jays can be seen in the park. For an extensive checklist and more info on birdwatching opportunities in Acadia, see the NPS's birdwatching page.\n\nThe park is one of the darkest spots on the East Coast and on a clear night **stargazers** can see the Milky Way in all of its glory. Drive into the park after dark, find a safe place to stop along one of the park roads or parking lots where you're not crowded in by trees or lights, get out and look up. You will not be disappointed.\n\n### Water activities\n\nThe last glacier of 18,000 years ago carved out the incredible and beautiful terrain of the park, leaving behind some of the cleanest lakes and ponds in the country. **Sea kayaking** tours and boat rental services are offered from numerous establishments in Bar Harbor and allow access to Mount Desert Island and other destinations.\n\n**Fishing** is allowed in the park in accordance with the park regulations. While ocean fishing is open to all, fishing in freshwater lakes and ponds requires a Maine state fishing license. Licenses are required for residents aged 16 and up and non-residents 12 and up, and can be purchased at town offices and a few local shops.\n\nSome ponds and lakes are used for drinking water and do not allow swimming; check park office for list of approved swimming locations.\n\n- Sand Beach\n\n- Echo Lake beach\n\n### Tours\n\nThose who prefer a guided experience can choose between free park tours or commercial options.\n\n - Ranger-led Walks\n\n - Carriages in the Park, Inc.", "word_count": 470}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk007", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Eat", "text": "- Jordan Pond House", "word_count": 4}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk008", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Lodging\n\nThere are no hotels within the park borders, but the nearby town of Bar Harbor has numerous options.\n\n### Camping\n\nThe park has three campgrounds:\n\n - Blackwoods Campground\n\n - Seawall Campground\n\n - Duck Harbor Campground\n\n### Backcountry\n\nBackcountry camping is not permitted (and strongly discouraged due to the fragile ecosystem) in Acadia National Park.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "acadia::chunk009", "doc_id": "acadia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "It is unsafe to venture out onto **Maine's coastal waters** without having the necessary equipment and experience. This is true of kayaking, canoeing, sailing or any other kind of boating. The water is cold and hypothermia can set in in a short amount of time. Dense fog often rolls in very quickly as well as the occasional storm.\n\nIf you are determined to go out on your own, it would be foolish and could result in serious fines from the Coast Guard or a Marine Patrol officer to do so without *every single passenger:* \nwearing a PFD **and/or** \nhaving a compass and knowing how to use it **and/or** \nunderstanding how to navigate safely around other boats and water hazards\n\nThere are numerous companies on Mount Desert Island and elsewhere that offer guided sea kayak, sailing, and power boat tours.", "word_count": 139}

corpus/acadia/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "acadia",
+  "title": "Acadia National Park",
+  "type": "park",
+  "continent": "North America",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Acadia_National_Park",
+  "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadia_National_Park",
+  "wikidata_id": "Q337396",
+  "coordinates": [
+    44.35,
+    -68.21666667
+  ],
+  "summary": "Acadia National Park is a national park of the United States located along the mid-section of the Maine coast, southwest of Bar Harbor. The park includes about half of Mount Desert Island, part of Isle au Haut, the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, and portions of sixteen smaller outlying islands. \nThe park contains the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast of the United States (Cadillac Mountain), exposed granite domes, glacial erratics, U-shaped valleys, and cobble beaches. Its mountains, lakes, streams, wetlands, forests, meadows, and coastlines contribute to a diversity of plants and animals. Woven into this landscape is a historic carriage road system financed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. In total, it encompasses 49,075 acres (19,860 ha; 76.680 sq mi; 198.60 km2) as of 2017.\nAcadia has a rich human history, dating back more than 10,000 years ago with the Wabanaki people. The 17th century brought fur traders and other European explorers, while the 19th century saw an influx of summer v",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "kayaking",
+    "wildlife",
+    "cycling",
+    "sailing",
+    "fishing",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "glacier",
+    "birdwatching",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Mount Desert Island"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 1588,
+  "listing_count": 12,
+  "marker_count": 0,
+  "chunk_count": 10,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}

corpus/acropolis/chunks.jsonl

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+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk000", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Athens** (Greek: , *Athína*) is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.15 million inhabitants (2025). It was a major cultural, political and religious centre of Classical Greece, a place that deeply influenced the course of Western civilization. Don't come expecting a philosopher's theme park; contemporary Athens is the graffiti-coated, fast-beating urban heart of the country, where modern Greek culture, business and social life flourish amidst ancient monuments.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk001", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "### Ancient Athens\n\nthumb|The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, in the Ancient Agora\n\nAccording to mythology, the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena wanted to claim the city for their own. To persuade the people to accept them, they granted gifts. Poseidon struck his spear into the ground and produced running water. Athena gave the city olive trees, which provide food and economic prosperity through trade. The people were then asked to vote for the Gods, and Athena won by a single vote, resulting in the city bearing her name.\n\nThe first pre-historic settlements were constructed in 3000 BCE around the hill of Acropolis. According to legend the King of Athens, Theseus, unified the ten tribes of early Athens into one kingdom in around 1230 BCE. This process of *synoikismos* () – bringing together in one home – created the largest and wealthiest state on the Greek mainland, but it also created a larger class of people excluded from political life by the nobility.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk002", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "By the 7th century BCE, social unrest had become widespread, and the Areopagus appointed Draco to draft a strict new law code (hence \"draconian\"). Still, the Draconian laws were a big advancement, as they codified crime and punishment unlike the previous arbitrary judgments of the rulers. When Draco's system failed, they appointed Solon, with a mandate to create a new constitution (594 BCE). This was the great beginning of a new social revolution, which was the result of the democracy under Cleisthenes (508 BCE). When Roman historians wrote the history of their own republic, they fudged the date so that their republic would be older than Athenian democracy, but today's scholarly consensus is that Rome \"got inspiration\" from the Greeks.\nthumb|Evzones marching, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier\nIn the 5th century BCE, Athens reached the peak of its fame. It was the most powerful Greek city-state, and the center of Greek cultural life, claiming many important cultural advances within European history. Fields of study like science, philosophy, history, and medicine were advanced by Athenian scholars in the timeframe between 480 (the battle of Salamis) and 343 (when Aristotle went to Macedonia to assume teaching duties to Alexander the royal heir), known as Athens' \"golden age\" - although political dominance came to an end after the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), most famous because of its *History* written by the Athenian general and scholar Thucydides, the \"Father of Scientific History\".\n\nLater on, Athens became part of the Macedonian empire under Alexander, and still later part of the Roman Empire. While it was decreasingly politically significant, its intellectual reputation gave it a special status, until, in the year 529 CE, Emperor Justinian issued an edict imposing a perpetual silence on all its schools, and the empire's intellectual center moved to Constantinople.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk003", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "Athens was thriving and prosperous during the Crusades, actually benefiting from the Italian trade during this period. However, this fruitful period was short-lived, as Greece suffered badly under the Ottoman Empire, only to recover in the 19th century as the capital of independent Greece.\n\n### Modern Athens\n\nthumb|250px|Old Athens\nAthens was just a small provincial city when it was chosen in the 1830s to serve as the national capital of the modern Greek State. Although it had a prestigious past, the city's political, economic and cultural importance had declined over the centuries, leaving behind only its classical ruins as a reminder of better times. With the decision to move the national capital from Nafplio to Athens, architects and city planners were hired to build a new city next to the classical ruins, with grand neoclassical homes and public buildings, large city squares, green spaces, and wide avenues, making a conscious, decisive turn from the city's Ottoman past. The city regained its importance in Greek civilization, and by 1900 had evolved into a very attractive cosmopolitan city, with abundant neoclassical architecture harking to the nation's past.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk004", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|The National Observatory as seen from the Acropolis\nThe 20th century however, marked the rapid development of Athens. The city suffered minor damage during World War II, and suffered extensive urban planning in the decades that followed, as the nation rapidly industrialized and urbanized. In the 1960s and 1970s, many 19th century neoclassical buildings, often small and private, were demolished to make way for office buildings, often designed by great Greek architects. The city also expanded outward through rash development, particularly towards the west, as its population grew by absorbing job-seekers from the provinces. With the onset of the automobile, public officials reduced the city's public transportation services without foreseeing the traffic gridlock and smog that would menace the city by the 1980s.\n\nBy the late 1980s and early 1990s, the city's reality led to a rude awakening among local and national officials and, coupled with the country's new found remarkable prosperity, large scale projects began to slowly regenerate the city and undo some of the damage of previous decades. Over the course of the next 15 years, money was poured into new transportation infrastructure projects, the restoration of surviving neoclassical buildings, the gentrification of the city's historical center and the renovation of many former industrial areas and the city's coastline. The restoration of charming neoclassical buildings in the city's historical center has been accompanied by the construction of attractive post-modern buildings in newer districts; both of which have begun to improve the aesthetic essence of the city. The Athens urban area has grown to house 3.15 million people, nearly half the population of the entire country.\n\n### 2004 Olympic Games", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk005", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Panathenaic Stadium, hosting sporting events for over 2000 years.\nAthens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. The entire urban area underwent major lasting changes that have improved the quality of life for visitors and residents alike. Aside from the new freeways and rail systems that were completed in time for the 2004 Olympics, the city's historic center underwent serious renovation. Most notable among the city's facelift projects are the *Unification of Archaeological Sites* (which connects the city's classical-era ruins and monuments to each other through a network of pleasant pedestrianized streets) and the restoration of the picturesque neoclassical *Thissio* and *Pláka* districts.\n\nThe men's and women's shot put competition was held at the restored stadium of Olympia, where the ancient Olympic Games took place from 776 BCE to 394 CE. This was the first time in history that women athletes competed in this venue. Olympia is a lengthy but interesting day trip from Athens.\n\n### Climate\n\nSpring and late autumn are the best times to visit Athens. Summer can be extremely hot and dry during heatwaves, but this rarely happens. Winter is definitely low season, with the occasional rainy or snowy day, but also an ideal time to save money while enjoying the city without countless other tourists.\n\nWhilst peak traffic hour can be a bit smoggy on the main roads, on most sunny days the skies are azure blue. The main reason attributed for the pollution of Athens is because the city is enclosed by mountains in a basin which does not allow the smog to leave. The government's ban on diesel vehicles within Athens and the early 1990s initiatives to improve car emissions have greatly contributed to better atmospheric conditions in the basin.\n\n### Orientation", "word_count": 287}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk006", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|Hellenic Parliament by sunset\nThe sprawling city is bounded on three sides by Mt. Ymettos, Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Pendeli; whilst inside Athens are twelve hills [the seven historical are: Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lycabettus, Tourkovounia (Anchesmus)], the Acropolis and Lykavittos being the most prominent. These hills provide a refuge from the noise and commotion of the crowded city streets, offering amazing views down to Saronic Gulf, Athens' boundary with the Aegean Sea on its southern side. The streets of Athens (signposted in Greek and English) now melt imperceptibly into Piraeus, the city's ancient, and still bustling, port.\n\nMany places of interest can be found within walking distance of the city centre at **Syntagma Square** (*Plateia Syntagmatos*), named after the Greek constitution (*syntagma*) proclaimed from the balcony of the royal palace that overlooks the square on 3 September 1843. It has been beautified, and the manic Athenian traffic has been re-routed. It contains a major metro stop flanked by cafes, restaurants, fast food, and airline offices. The square occasionally serves as a rallying place for demonstrations and public celebrations. It is bordered by the districts of Plaka to the south, Monastiraki to the west, Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north.\n\nThe **Acropolis** is the ancient high city of Athens, a prominent plateaued rock perched high above the modern city with commanding views and an amazing array of ancient architecture, mostly from the Classical period of Ancient Greece, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. A visit to Athens is not complete without visiting the Acropolis; hundreds of tourists each day accordingly make the pilgrimage.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk007", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "Gentrified during the 1990s and now very popular with tourists, **Plaka** is a charming historic district at the foot of the Acropolis, with its restored 19th-century neoclassical homes, pedestrianized streets, shops and restaurants, and picturesque ruins from the city's Roman era. **Thissio**, to the west side of the Acropolis, is very similar and now houses many restaurants and cafes. Between the two is **Monastiraki**, a very bohemian district increasingly popular with tourists, with stores selling a variety of items including antiques, cookware, souvenirs, arts and crafts, movie posters, punk culture, funky clothing, and pretty much anything you can think of. Another part of Plaka is **Anafiotika** and is on the northernmost place. There you will find the first university of Athens before it was relocated in central Athens. It's an oasis of calm and quietness, and there are many green spaces which are part of the green space of Acropolis.\n\nPlaka's boundaries are not precisely defined. Clear borders are the Ancient Agora and Plateia Monastiraki on the west, the Acropolis and Dhionysiou Areopayitou street on the south, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Leoforos Amalias on the south-east, and the west part of Mitropoleos street, up to the cathedral on the north (but Mitropoleos street and Leoforos Amalias, though boundaries, shouldn't be considered part of Plaka, since they have a modern and fairly non-descript atmosphere). The north-eastern and eastern boundaries are a bit less well defined, but if you're south of Apollonos street and west of Nikis street you'll probably feel like you're still in Plaka.", "word_count": 256}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk008", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Understand", "text": "**Omonia Square** () is the centre of Athens, and is composed of the actual square together with the surrounding streets, open areas and assemblage of grand buildings that include banks and offices. The neighbouring area of **Exarcheia** () to the north, dominated by the Athens Polytechnic and its famous band of anarchists, is a bohemian district with lots of bars and clubs visited by students, intellectuals and people who are into alternative culture.\n\n**Kolonaki** is near Lykavittos Hill. The district's borders are not very sharply defined; it covers the south and southeast slopes of Lykavettos Hill north of Vassilisis Sofias Avenue. Kolonaki is the posh area of central Athens. Traditionally the home of the in-town rich, it's the location of a number of embassies and several prominent archaeological schools, including The **American School** and The **British School**. It also has the city's greatest concentration of trendy fashion boutiques, and many, mostly upscale, cafes, bars and restaurants.", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk009", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nAthens airport is a major hub in the Aegean, Balkan and East Mediterranean regions. American, Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta, Emirates, Norwegian Air Shuttle and United maintain non-stop flights from North America (some are only seasonal), while a large number of European carriers fly direct into Athens.\n\n- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport\n\nThere is a **tourist information office** on the arrivals level which can provide information about Greek ferries.\n\nThere is also a small **museum** on the top floor with interesting history information about Athens, and a space for temporary exhibits.\n\n- flight by Eurowings\n\n- flight by Sky Express\n\n### By bus\n\n**KTEL regional coaches** connect Athens to other cities in Greece. The fleet of buses has been upgraded, which makes the journey pleasant and safe. For some destinations one can also use the buses of the railroad company (OSE, see next section) that might be international, but can also be used for in-country transport. At times there are collaborations with companies from adjacent countries such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, so it's advisable to ask on both the bus and the train companies about the available options.\n\nThere are two KTEL coach stations:\n\nConstruction on a single consolidated terminal is underway in Eleonas, expected to open in 2026.\n\n#### From Albania\n\nSeveral travel agencies offer bus service between Tirana and Athens, also stopping at several other cities in Albania.\nCost is usually €30 between Albania and Athens (same cost regardless of the city in Albania).\n\n#### From Bulgaria\n\n### By road\n\nThe main approaches to Athens by road are by the A1 motorway (European route E75) from the north and the A8 motorway (European route E94) from the west.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk010", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|You have to run the rail lines to Athens somewhere.\n**Hellenic Train**, the national rail service, connects Athens to other cities in Greece. However, the national railroad system is limited compared to other European countries, in effect having only two lines. One goes south to the Peloponnese. The other goes to the north, connecting Athens with the second major city in Greece, Thessaloniki and Larissa, the capital city of Thessaly region. From there the line continues further to the north and all the way to the east, passing through many other cities of northern Greece and eventually reaching Istanbul.\n\nThere are two types of train; normal, slow, type of train equipped with beds, and the so-called new 'Intercity' type which is more expensive because of a 'quality supplement fee' that grows with distance. For example, travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki by the 'Intercity' type will save one hour at most, but the ticket will be almost twice the price. 'Intercity' tends to be more reliable, yet more 'bumpy' than the normal train.\n\nAs of 2024, the international trains which used to connect Athens with Belgrade and Sofia via Thessaloniki have been suspended.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 195}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk011", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get in", "text": "is the chief sea port of Athens. It is served by many ferries. Cruise ships also regularly visit, especially during warm months. Generally, pedestrian ferry users will be closer than cruise passengers to the Metro station providing access to central Athens; walking distances can vary considerably. Cruise passengers on larger ships usually reach the main cruise terminal by port shuttle bus; otherwise, it can be a non-trivial walk. Smaller ships (e.g., 1200 or fewer passengers) may dock near the terminal, an easy walk. From the terminal, pedestrians face a safe, level walk of over a mile to the Piraeus Metro station; taxis are readily available to go there, but are not cheap.\n\nsouth of city centre and east of city centre act as alternative ports of Athens. They are served by KTEL regional buses.", "word_count": 134}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk012", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Transport for Athens (OASA)** operates public transportation in Athens. Its subdivisions include STASY and OSY. A single ticket allows you to travel on any types of transport, metro, trams, buses, with unlimited transfers anywhere time within Athens for 90 minutes.\n\nIf you do not read Greek, signs on Athens transit always have a transliteration into Roman letters. Transliteration can vary; for example, *Ellinko* and *Helliniko* are both spellings for . English information is abundant and most staff can communicate in English.\n\n### Fares\n\nThe base ticket price is . This covers all OASA routes except for Airport Express lines (Line and Route X80). There are also Daily, 3-Day + Airport, 5-Day and bulk ticket packs. See details on the OASA fare table.\n+\nprice\ntime\nIncludes X80?\n€1.20\n90min\nNo\n€4.10\n1 day\nYes\n€8.20\n5 days\nNo\n€20\n3 days\nYes\n\n*(As of Dec 2025)*\n\n**The standard fare to or from the airport is each way**. This includes the full journey between any point in the Athens public transport system and the airport.\n\nThe contactless payment system \"tap2ride\" is available on all means of transport. Just tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard card or mobile phone (GPay, Apple Pay) on the reader! This will pay for a simple ticket (or the airport fare). The cost is billed at the end of the day and capped at .\n\nDiscounted fares (students, seniors) are only available through a personalised ATH.ENA card, though the hassle and one-time cost of will probably not be worth it for a short stay. Please note that the **ATH.ENA card and ticket are different**: they have different regulation. For example, the **ticket** is the better choice for tourists (easier and temporary) and does not allow to use for Athens Airport.\n\n### By metro", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk013", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|Public transport map of Athens|350px\nthumb|A Line 2 train in Anthoupoli station|300px\nThere are three lines:\n Line : **Piraeus – Kifissia**, the oldest line, connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens (Kifissia station) via the city centre. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line, and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money.\n Line : **Anthoupoli – Elliniko** connects western and southern Athens via Athens centre.\n Line : **Dimotiko Theatro– Doukissis Plakentias – Airport** connects Piraeus and the western suburbs with the eastern suburbs (Halandri and Doukissis Plakentias stations) and the International Airport.\n\nSyntagma (constitution; ), Larissa () station and Acropolis (Akropoli; ) station are the major three stations in this system.\n\nUsually you need to pass a ticket validator before entering, but it is not needed at all exits. The stations run from 5:30 to 12:30.\n\nMany metro stations (e.g. Syntagma) exhibit artifacts excavated during construction. During rush hour, it can become very crowded. In the summer, the air conditioning is not very efficient.\n\n### By suburban railway\n\nThe **Athens Suburban Railway** (Proastiakos/) is operated by Hellenic Train. There are 3 Proastiakos lines:\n From Piraeus to Airport\n From Piraeus to Aigio\n From Athens Central Station (Larissa station) to Chalkida.\n\n### By tram", "word_count": 219}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk014", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|[[File:Tram-Logo.svg|20px]] (2019)\nThe **Athens Tram** connects the city centre with the southern suburbs and has connections with the metro lines. There are three tram lines:\n Line : **Peace and Friendship Stadium – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital** connects Faliro with the southern suburbs and runs along the coastal zone.\n Line : **Syntagma– Neos Kosmos – Peace and Friendship Stadium** connects the city centre with Faliro.\n Line : **Syntagma – Neos Kosmos – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital** connects the city centre with the coastal zone and the southern suburbs.\n\n### By bus\n\nThe Athens Urban Transport Organisation runs a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolleybuses. The price of express (X) bus lines like X93 (Airport - Kifissos Station) is ( for children, teenagers, over 65).\n\nMost central bus stops have smart displays that show bus arrival times and transport announcements.\n\n### By taxi\n\nCanary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams). The starting fee is , after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km (\"rate 1\") or €0.64/km (\"rate 2\"), with a minimum fare of €3.20. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 05:00. Legal surcharges apply for calling a taxi by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full euro.", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk015", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. At busy tourist locations, drivers try to con with a set rate that is ridiculously high (e.g. €20 for a short trip). In these cases, it is best to find another and again insist on the charge shown on the meter. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.\n\nTaxi drivers rarely obey the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight the driver will drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.\n\nTaxis are considered to be fairly cheap in Athens. Therefore, you can expect to share the ride during rush hours if you can find one, and at night after the Metro has shut down. If you hail a taxi which is already occupied (occupied taxis have a brightly lit TAXI sign on top of the car) the driver will ask where you want to go to before letting you in to join the other customers.\n\nStrikes by cabbies and public transit are common, so be prepared and watch the local news. If this puts you in a bind, your lodging host may have some creative solutions for you.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk016", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can rent a car at the airport, where most major international car rental companies have a presence. There are also several large local companies which will deliver the car outside of the airport. There are two rental car lots at the airport, Lots A and B. Keep track of which one you picked up the car at, because that is where you must return it. Both are a long walk from the rental car counters.\n\nRental cars with automatic transmissions are expensive. Collision damage waiver (CDW) with deductible and \"super cover\" to reduce CDW deductible to zero are both very expensive. When you see the scratched-up appearance of many Greek cars, you will understand why.\n\nUnless you plan to stay off toll expressways, you will probably need euro bills or coins to pay cash tolls on the Attiki Odos expressway going to and from Athens. The Attiki Odos company does not have any system in place with Greek rental car companies to automatically pass through tolls from its e-PASS electronic toll system to individual renters' accounts.", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk017", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "Driving in Athens is notoriously difficult. Streets are extremely narrow, corners are blind and often tight, curbside parking is virtually impossible to find, drivers are aggressive, and accidents are frequent. Motorcyclists often split lanes and weave across all lanes in order to filter forward through heavy vehicular traffic. Road signs are small and cryptic. Road markings are often faded and confusing. As with much of Europe, street names are usually posted on signs affixed to building walls (rather than standalone posts at street corners). Certain intersections are configured in ways unheard of elsewhere, such as having a one-way street oscillate back and forth between completely opposite directions with each traffic light cycle to accommodate traffic on a perpendicular one-way street that does not line up with its onward counterpart on the other side (e.g., Agiou Meletiou at Moschonision). Do not attempt to drive in Athens unless you have already acquired extensive experience driving elsewhere in similar conditions in a variety of rental cars.\n\nNumerous Athens traffic lights come with a stop sign on top, to remind drivers to come to a complete stop if the traffic light is not working. Obviously, if the traffic light is showing a green light, that overrides the stop sign.\n\nAthens does not have parking meters or ticket vending machines for curbside parking. In the unlikely event you can actually find a curbside space in Athens, curbside parking requires you to acquire a scratch-off card from a kiosk, scratch off the date and time you started parking, and leave the card on your dashboard. In the alternative, you can pay online through a parking app, which will require data roaming or arranging for a local eSIM for your cell phone.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk018", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most garages in the city centre offer only valet parking. Your car and any objects left inside are at the mercy of the valet staff, and it may end up three or four cars deep inside a tiny garage. If you leave the car for a while, expect a long wait for retrieval since the valet has to move other cars out of the way.\n\nSelf-park garages exist in Athens, but are rare. If you insist on driving in Athens and prefer self-park, research such garages thoroughly and mark their locations in your map app. Most adhere to the common system of requiring you to take a ticket to lift the entrance gate. The notable exception is Klafthmonos Square, where a camera reads your license plate at both the entrance and exit gates, and you must pay by plate number to exit.\n\nThe most convenient self-park garage for visiting the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum is at the Sygrou-Fix metro station. The Klafthmonos Square self-park garage is convenient for visiting Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square. The PolisPark self-park garage at Platia Egiptou is convenient for visiting the National Archaeological Museum. It is one of the few self-park garages which sits outside the Daktylios boundary which is also within walking distance of a metro station (Victoria).", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk019", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "Always discuss with the rental car company whether your assigned vehicle is eligible to enter the Daktylios pollution control area in the city centre whenever that restriction is in effect (usually from October to July). For vehicles not exempt from Daktylios, whether your vehicle's license plate number ends in an even or odd number controls whether the vehicle can enter the Daktylios area on calendar days that are even or odd numbers. In other words, if your vehicle's number is an even number and the current calendar day is an odd number, you cannot enter the Daktylios, and vice versa.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nAthens is not a friendly city for cyclists, as it does not have many bicycle lanes, and the car drivers tend to drive quite aggressively. Nevertheless (or maybe because of this) riding a bicycle in Athens has become lately some sort of a political (counter-)action, especially by young people with an alternative lifestyle. In general, tourists not familiar with the terrible Athenian traffic are not advised to use a bicycle as a principal means of transport. But within the network of pedestrian streets in the historical city centre, rides are safe and can be quite enjoyable. A bike hire scheme is at its fledgling stages; its bike station is in Technopolis.\n\n### On foot\n\nSeveral central streets have been pedestrianized. A mostly car-free archaeological walk starts at Vasilisis Amalias Street, passes in front of the Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Herodion Theatre, Thiseio (Apostolou Pavlou Str), Ermou Street and ends at the popular area of Kerameikos (Gkazi) where there are many bars and clubs. Pleasant walking can also be had in **Plaka**, especially its upper reaches, and in much of **Kolonaki**. The National Garden can provide a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city centre.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk020", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "Away from the touristy streets, walking in Athens is more challenging. Athens traffic can make crossing the street in some areas difficult, and walking down some very urban streets is an unpleasant experience due to noise pollution. The humidity of summer is exhausting, and there are parks to provide an escape from it. Fortunately, much of the traffic-plagued area of the city can be avoided by the use of the Metro, which goes most places a visitor would want to see or walk around in.\n\nWear comfortable shoes with good traction, and make sure that you leave home any high heels or similar shoes. Some sensitive archaeological sites have banned heels because the pointed heels damage the soft, slippery marble that you're walking on.\n\n### Airport transfers\n\n#### Metro and suburban train\n\nAt the airport both metro trains and suburban trains pass from the **same platform**. If you are travelling to some small stations, you should take the metro trains, because there are more stations for stop.\n\nThe airport trains run every 36 minutes. Not all Metro trains from central Athens go to the airport; trains in the intervals turn around at Doukissis Plakentias. Airport trains are indicated on the schedule and by an airplane logo on the front of the train, they are also announced by the signs on the metro platform.\n\nThe airport metro station has a desk staffed most hours by someone who speaks English. They hang the time table of airport train on the window at the shelter (at Syntagma station). It's useful to go to the Metro station the day before, explain to the agent (mostly English can be spoken) when you need to be at the airport, and ask what time you should catch the airport train from that station.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk021", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can buy the ticket from a vending machine with credit card or cash, or tap your contactless credit card at the fare gate.\n\n'''Suburban Railway''' (line A1/A2) from Airport station to Athens Central station (Larissa/Larissis) leaves at xx:07 every hour, passing through Central Athens before heading to Piraeus. Trains to Northern Greece and the Peloponnese depart from Athens central station. From Airport station to Monastiraki station via change at Nerantziotissa. A change at Neratziotissa suburban station (connection to Metro Line 1 \"Neratziotissa station\") can take you to The Monastiraki station. Or change at Doukissis Plakentias to Line 3 (blue) of the metro to get to Monastiraki and Syntagma stations. Suburban trains run more sparsely than the metro.\n\n#### By express bus\n\nIt takes 45 minutes to 1½ hours depending on traffic. Buses, unlike Metro, operate 24 hours a day. When leaving to the airport early from Syntagma (before the metro opens), tickets can be bought at a kiosk next to the bus stop.\n\n#### By bus", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk022", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Get around", "text": "**KTEL Attikis Buses**, the sole transport provider for all long-distance bus lines of Attica, depart from a stop in front of the Sofitel Hotel to Koropi metro station (€1.60, 15 min, as of Mar 2025). Their frequency varies throughout the day, from every half an hour to more than three; see linked schedule (the workers at the express bus stop have no information about KTEL buses). From Koropi Station you can take the metro to the city centre paying the normal ticket price of €1.20, and so avoid the additional fare of €5.50 charged to Koropi from the airport and vice versa. You can also take local bus 308 from Koropi metro for the same price. For getting to the airport, KTEL buses pass Koropi Station 20-30 minutes before the departure times from the airport listed on the above linked schedule.\n\n#### By taxi\n\nIf you take a taxi, you should know that there is a special rule. Taxi rides to the centre cost €40 during the day and €60 during the night. Prices are fixed and includes toll costs.", "word_count": 180}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk023", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Talk", "text": "*Please see this section at the country level for a full discussion*\n\nWhile Greek is the official language in Greece, many Athenians speak English and those in the tourist industry are likely to also speak French and/or German. Almost all signs are written in Greek and English.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk024", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "See", "text": "At first glance, Athens seems entirely to be composed of unremarkable, four- to six-story concrete buildings, lacking character and badly in need of a paint job. But if you look beyond that, you will find little gems tucked in among the grey. The areas at the foot of the Acropolis, Anafiotika, Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are home to many wonderful Neoclassical buildings, trendy and traditional cafes and shops, narrow winding streets, and incredible views of the Acropolis. Little Greek Orthodox churches are tucked in among the concrete, often in the most unexpected places. These are usually beautifully decorated with icons and brass fixtures inside, but make sure you're appropriately dressed (no short sleeves or bare legs is a good rule of thumb, as a mark of respect).\n\n### Acropolis\n\n- Acropolis of Athens\n\nAtop the Acropolis are several dramatic ruins, in various states of restoration:\n - Propylaea\n\nthumb|The Acropolis, the birthplace of Western civilization\n - Parthenon\n\n- Erectheion\n\nThe full ticket is €30, reduced ticket is €15 (see sidebar). Hours are 08:00-20:00 during summer (Apr-Aug). During the winter, closing time tracks sunset, down to 17:00 in Dec. *Last entry is 30 min before closing time*.\n\nMany portions of the site are undergoing significant but badly needed renovations. You will encounter the construction office along the south side of the Parthenon. Some views will be marred by scaffolding, cranes, tracks, and other modern equipment.", "word_count": 233}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk025", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "See", "text": "The Acropolis has two entrances, from the west and the south.\n The main entrance is at the west end of the Acropolis. From the Akropoli metro stop and New Acropolis Museum, walk west along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street and take the first right on to Theorias; from the Thissio metro stop west of Monastiraki, walk west to Apostolou Pavlou Street, turn left on it, and walk south to turn left on Theorias. From Plaka, you can walk south up steep Mnisikleous Street as far as you can go and turn right on Theorias. \n The entrance from the south is near the Theater of Dionysos.\n\nTo comply with European regulations, disabled access to the Acropolis is allowed by means of special paths and a purpose-built lift on the north face of the hill. The lift is *only* for the use of those in wheelchairs. All other visitors are expected to be able to climb and descend the Acropolis on their own, including the very old and very young.\n\nSince 1 April 2024, timed-entry tickets are mandatory. Buying online in advance is strongly recommended. Make sure you are buying from the **HHTicket official web site**. The on-site ticket offices can sell timed-entry tickets, but then you have to stand in a long line to buy a ticket, and in peak season, the ticket offices may not have time slots available for that same day. As for accessing the actual entrance gates, Acropolis staff will not let you into the line to have your ticket scanned until less than 15 minutes before the scheduled entry time on your ticket.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk026", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "See", "text": "Guides can nearly always be found near the entrance gates offering you a private tour of the Acropolis, at a price. As an alternative, ask for the free leaflet published by the Archaeological Resources Fund, which includes a ground plan of the site and valuable information on the various monuments.\n\nAdditional historic sites and artifacts at the foot of the Acropolis are also included with the admission ticket. Most notably:\n - Theatre of Dionysus\n\n- Odeon of Herodes Atticus\n\nThe Acropolis Museum is outside the Acropolis security perimeter, you will need to buy a separate timed-entry ticket for that attraction. Therefore, to see both on the same day, you must estimate how much time you will need for both attractions. Most people need a minimum of one hour to tour the Acropolis. Anyone with a passion for history, classics, or scenic photography will need at least two hours. Opinions vary on which to see first, but most people agree that you should see both. If it's a sunny summer day, you may want to be inside the air-conditioned museum instead of atop the shadeless Acropolis during the peak heat.\n\n- Acropolis Museum\n\n### Archaeological sites\n\nThe Acropolis is the only major attraction where extreme overtourism requires extensive advance planning. Other ancient sites can be seen at your leisure. Nearly all are within 2 km of the Acropolis.\n\n- Pnyx\n\n- Ancient Agora\n\nContains the following sites:\n - Temple of Hephaestus\n\n- Stoa of Attalus\n\n- Church of the Holy Apostles\n\nthumb|right|The Tower of the Winds and the ruins of the Roman Forum\n - Roman Agora\n\n- Kerameikos\n\nthumb|The Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Gate, seen from the Acropolis\n - Temple of Olympian Zeus\n\n- Arch of Hadrian\n\n- The Lyceum\n\n- Plato's Academy\n\n- Hadrian's Reservoir\n\n### Modern sites", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk027", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "See", "text": "- Panathinaiko Stadium\n\n- Lycabettus Hill\n\n- Olympic Stadium\n\n- National Theatre\n\nthumb|right|Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the bottom of the Greek Parliament\n - Syntagma Square\n\n- Hellenic Parliament Building\n\n- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier\n\n### Further away\n\nthumbnail|Dafni monastery\n - Daphni Monastery\n\n- Kaisariani Monastery and Gardens\n\n### Museums and galleries\n\nBecause of its antiquity and influence, Athens is full of museums and galleries. The major ones are the National Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki and Museum of Cycladic Art, the Agora Museum, and the Kanellopoulos and Folk Art Museums.\n\n#### Archaeology museums\n\nthumb|The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient computer.\n - National Archaeological Museum of Athens\n\n- Kanellopoulos Museum\n\n#### Art museums\n\nThe visual arts have a big role in the Athenian life. Next to big institutions such as the National Gallery and the Benaki Museum, many small private galleries are spread across the city centre and the surrounding areas, hosting the works of contemporary visual and media artists. Bar galleries have sprung up, where you can have a drink or a coffee while visiting an exhibition.\n\n- Benaki Museum of Greek Culture\n\nthumb|The Museum of Cycladic Art\n - Museum of Cycladic Art\n\n- National Gallery\n\n- Benaki Museum of Islamic Art\n\n- Museum of Greek Folk Art\n\n- Athens Municipal Art Gallery\n\n- Vorres Museum\n\nthumb|250px|National Historical Museum (Old Parliament)\nthumb|right|250px|Averof ship museum\n\n#### Other museums\n\nthumb|Museum of Ancient Greek Technology\n - Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kotsanas\n\n- National Historical Museum\n\n- Numismatic Museum\n\n- Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments\n\n- National War Museum\n\n- Park of Maritime Tradition\n\n- Hellenic Air Force Museum\n\n- City of Athens Technopolis\n\n- Spathario Museum\n\n- Cultural Centre Hellenic Cosmos\n\n- Hellenic Motor Museum\n\n- OTE Telecommunications Museum\n\n- Michael Cacoyannis Foundation cultural center", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk028", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "See", "text": "- Planetary Evgenidio Foundation\n\n- Onassis Cultural centre\n\n- Epigraphical Museum\n\n- National Museum of Contemporary Art\n\n- Digital Museum Plato\n\n- Museum of Mineralogy and Petrology\n\n- Gounaropoulos Museum", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk029", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Do", "text": "If you're lucky enough to be in Athens for the **Easter Weekend**, you'll see the spectacular sight of hundreds of people making their candlelit way down the hill on Holy Saturday night as part of the Easter Vigil procession.\n If the weather is good, head to the **beaches in south Athens**. Take buses A2, B2 or E22 from metro station Sygrou, or the tram from Syntagma. Just get off wherever the sea takes your fancy. Beach-side cafes can hit you hard with prices of food and drinks. If you are the only person getting on the bus, you must flag the bus down to get it to stop or it will just fly on by. See the articles on Piraeus, Palaio Faliro and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni for more details.\n\n### Parks and nature\n\nthumb|250px|National Gardens\n\nSeveral of Athens' hills - **Lycabettus** and **Pnyx** (see above), , - are planted with pines and other trees, and are more like small forests than typical urban parks.\n\n- National Gardens\n\n - Pedion tou Areos\n\n - Dionysiou Aeropagitou Street\n\n - Parnitha National Park\n\n **Attica Zoological Park** in nearby Spata.\n\n### Sport\n\n thumb | 300px | Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena\n **Football:** The Greek men's national team play home games at Agia Sophia Stadium (capacity 32,500 all seated), aka Opop Arena. Completed in 2022, it's in Nea Filadelpheia 10 km northwest of city centre. The UEFA Europa Conference League final was played there on 29 May 2024.\n Athens has four soccer clubs playing in Super League (Σούπερ Λιγκ), the top tier:\n **AEK Athens** play at Agia Sophia Stadium. \n **Atromitos** play at the 9000-seater Peristeri Stadium 3 km northwest of Syntagma.\n **Olimpiacos** play at the 33,300-seater Karaiskakis Stadium in Neo Faliro, 1 km east of Pireaus ferry port.\n **Panathinaikos** play at the 16,000-seater Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, 1 km northeast of Syntagma.\n Lower placed clubs are Apollon Smyrnis at Georgios Kamaras Stadium 5 km north of Syntagma, and Ionikos at Neapolis Stadium 10 km west.\n\n **Basketball:** Athens teams playing in the Greek Basketball League, the top tier, are Olympiakos at Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro, Panionios and Ionikos at Sofia Befon Palaio Faliro Indoor Hall, Peristeri at Peristeri indoor hall (next to Atromitos) and AEK and Panathinaikos both at Nikos Galis Hall.\n\n### Theatre and performing arts\n\nAthens is home to 148 theatrical stages, more than any other city in the world.\n\n - Athens Festival\n\nIn addition to a large number of multiplexes, Athens plays host to a variety of romantic, open air garden cinemas.\n\nThe city also supports a vast number of music venues, most notably:\n - Athens Concert Hall\n\n### Cultural activities\n\nthumb|View towards Acropolis from Stavros Niarchos Cultural Foundation\n - Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre", "word_count": 449}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk030", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Souvenir shop in Plaka\nthumb|Plaka District\n\nAlthough a huge city, Athens has relatively few shopping malls or large department stores; the small, family run shop still conquers all. Souvenirs are of course available everywhere that tourists go. Other shopping opportunities are antiques, museum reproductions, embroideries and other folk art goods, and Greek food and drink products.\n\n**Plaka** is lined with souvenir shops, most of them selling cheap souvenir knick-knacks, though there are a few higher-quality shops. Prices can be high for good quality items.\n **Flea Market** could refer to two places. The sign next to Monastiraki station at the beginning of Ifaistou Street claims that you are entering \"the Flea Market of Athens.\" The street is lined with second-hand and surplus shops of every description. Few are of much interest to the visitor, though towards the west end of the street there are some interesting shops selling old books, posters, and Greek and other music recordings. The real Flea Market is held on Sunday mornings in Plateia Avissinia at the western end of Ifaistou Street. There is incredible assortment of used objects, antiques, and junk.\n Among all the souvenir and second-hand stores in the area, **Martinos** at 50 Pandrossou () stands out as a genuine antique shop, offering top quality items from Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. Prices are also top of the line, so this is a shop for knowledgeable antique buyers in the market to do some serious spending. Remember that taking antiques out of Greece and into your own country may be subject to the laws of both countries and be sure you're familiar with them before taking anything old home.\n\n**Kolonaki** is the upscale, hip, and artistic shopping area. Kolonaki offers the usual range of shops for an upscale neighbourhood; art galleries, hip clothing boutiques, and antique stores are common. The area is small and along with the small streets north of it, including Skoufa, Anagnostopoulou and the pedestrianized Tsakaloff, are ideal for simply wandering around. (Kolonaki Square) There are also plenty of shops along Patriarchou Ioakim and Haritos streets and their cross streets.\n\nFor a more reasonable price tag, try **Ermou Street**, beside Syntagma Square. Turn right off Ermou at the MAC makeup shop and you'll find yourself on Aghiou Markou and other small streets which have a wide range incredibly cheap shoes, bags, jewellery, gifts and homewares.\n\n**Street vendors,** with their wares laid out on blankets on the pavement, can be found in many places where tourists congregate, especially in Plaka and Monastiraki. Their goods are mostly forgeries, cheap knock-offs, and illegal CDs. A surprising number of them sell large collections of coins, most of them fairly modern, which may be of interest to the numismatically inclined, though anything especially antique is likely a reproduction. These vendors are unlicensed, which is in violation of Greek law, and you may notice them vanishing as soon as a policeman is in sight, to reappear the instant the police have gone. They are best ignored. (This warning doesn't apply to vendors of fruit, nuts, etc., from street carts, who are usually legitimate.)\n\nThe main supermarket chains are Sklavenitis and Masoutis. Most Greek supermarkets are closed on Sundays. If you need to buy groceries on Sunday, you must find one of the rare exceptions which opens for business on Sunday, find a well-equipped convenience store, or simply do without groceries until Monday. \n- Laiki\n\n### Shopping malls\n\n - The Mall Athens\n\n - Golden Hall\n\n - Athens Metro Mall\n\n **Designer Outlet Athens** and **Smart Park** in nearby Spata.", "word_count": 589}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk031", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|right|Traditional restaurants (sing.: taverna, pl.: tavernes) in the side streets of the Plaka district\nThe districts *Kolonaki* and *Plaka* are especially good areas for dining out.\n\n### Fast food\n\nFor a quick, decent and low-budget meal, try a **souvlaki** (σουβλάκι, *soo-VLAH-kee*), meat (usually pork or chicken) grilled on a skewer. They are typically served with tomato, onion and **tzatziki** (τζατζίκι, *tzah-TZEE-khee*), yogurt enriched with garlic and cucumber, wrapped inside a **pita** (πίτα, *PEE-tah*), a thin pan bread. Prices of souvlaki vary according to the confidence and/or nerve of the cornershop owner, but usually cost from €1.70 to €3, and another €5 for drink, salad and French fries for a total no more than €7. Take away is cheaper than if you sit at a table. You can get souvlaki just about everywhere, especially in tourist areas.\n At the end of Mitropoleos, just around the corner from the Monastiraki Metro station, is a trio of famous souvlaki shops — **Thanasis**, **Savvas** and **Bairaktaris** (Μπαϊρακτάρης) — which are, depending on who you ask, the Zeus or the Hades of souvlaki lovers. At any of the three, if you take a seat and ask for a souvlaki, you'll be served a plate with meat, pita and chips for around €9. But, if you ask cashier for a *pita-souvlaki*, you'll get the same stuff in a sandwich to take away for around €1.70.\n- Σουβλάκι Κώστας 1950 συνταγμα (Kostas)\n\n- The 2 Brothers\n\nIf you're interested in a sandwich, cheese pie, spinach pie or the equivalent of a fast snack, try **Grigoris (Γρηγόρης)** or **Everest**, two chains of fast food in most districts of Athens and the rest of Greece. **Goody's** is the Greek equivalent of McDonald's and offers a fair variety of tasty meals, including pasta, different salads, burgers etc. McDonald's is the same like everywhere, but here it has a slight Greek slant.\n\n### Budget\n\nAdrianou, which runs along the north side of the Acropolis from Thissio in the west to Plaka in the east, is packed with tavernas. Many are touristy and a little on the pricy side, so try to pick one that also has locals as customers. Expect to pay a little extra at any place that has views of the Acropolis.\n\nThere are several budget-friendly restaurants in the centre.\n - Vegan Beat Athens\n\n - The Traditional\n\n - Krasopoulio tou Kokkora\n\n - Aspro Alogo\n\n - Atlantikos\n\n - Kafeneio Ivis\n\n### Mid-range\n\n- Lefka\n\n - K Filippou\n\n - Karamanlidika\n\n - Karavitis\n\n - Το Κιούπι (To Kioupi)\n\n - Platanos Taverna\n\n - Zeus Xenios\n\n - Pame Psirri\n\n- O Morias\n\n- Voskopoula (The Shepherdess)\n\n- Τaverna Μanolis.\n\n - Rosalia\n\n - Giántes\n\n - Kostarelos Cheese and Dairy\n\n - Orea Penteli\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Cafe Avissinia\n\n### Kosher dining\n\nAthens has only one kosher restaurant, Gostijo, a Sephardi restaurant in Psiri.", "word_count": 467}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk032", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Cafe in Kolonaki district\nGreeks love to socialize, and Athens buzzes long after its other European counterparts have laid their heads down to sleep. 20:00 is the earliest most Greeks will consider going to eat out, and clubbers start to get ready at about midnight. Many Athens clubs relocate to the beach during the summer months. Cafes spill onto the streets and the sound of lively conversation is everywhere in the evenings.\n\nGo to the **Psyrrí** area (Monastiraki or Thissio station, Lines 1 and 3 and Line 1 respectively) for a number of smart bars and small clubs. It is the area immediately north of Ermou street between these two metro stops.\n\nThere are more and better bars in the area north of Ermou street between Monastiraki and Syntagma than there used to be. Aiolou and Kolokotroni streets offer a fair variety of cafés and bars. **Magazé**, **six dogs**, **Booze** and all the bars on Karytsi square (a small square at the end of Christou Lada street, behind Klafthmonos square on Stadiou avenue) can get very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, with visitors having their drinks even on the streets outside from spring through autumn, when the weather is nice.\n\nThe area around the Kerameikos station, called **Gazi** (Γκάζι, *gas*) has been the gay village of Athens for quite a few years. Since the opening of the metro station, in 2007, the neighbourhood has attracted all kinds of crowds. This is a home to dozens of bars, cafés and clubs, gay or not, and to small theatrical scenes, the latter one especially to the northeast of the area, towards Metaxourgeio.\n - Balux\n\nThe **Plateia Exarcheia** square and nearby streets like **Solomou** have lots of clubs and bars.\n- Taximi\n\n- Rebetiki Istoria", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk033", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Kolonaki Square** (*Plateia Kolonaki;* its official name is *Plateia Filikis Etaireias,* but no one ever uses it) is bordered with cafes whose customers tend to be mature Athenian movers and shakers for whom the area is the traditional in-town home. Most of these cafes serve desserts, light meals and drinks, and most of them are expensive. They tend to be liveliest late at night. One of the best established, and most prestigious, is **Lykovrisi.** Not many foreigners visit these cafes, but the visitor may find they make for interesting people-watching.\n- Showroom\n\n**Oréa Ellás** (\"Beautiful Greece\") with two entrances 59 Mitropóleos and 36 Pandhróssou, Monastiráki (but just a minute's walk from Plaka; the cafe is upstairs) is a combination cafe and gift shop. The cafe, open all day but not after 18:00, offers coffees and alcoholic drinks and a limited range of snacks and sweets, in a wonderful old fashioned setting with stunning views of the Acropolis out the windows. The shop, called Kendro Ellinikis Paradosis (Centre of Greek Tradition) is an excellent place to buy souvenirs, which are more expensive but vastly better than the knick-knacks offered by the cheek-by-jowl tourist shops lining the street outside.\n - Ydria\n\n**Vrettos** at 41 Kydathineon, Plaka is a very atmospheric 100 year old distillery which makes its own ouzo, brandy and liqueurs, and sets up a bar at night where you can order them by the glass. They also offer wine tastings selected from 100s of Greek wines between 10:00-16:00.\n- Costa\n\n- Metamatic_taf\n\n### Cafes\n\nHave a **frappé**, the delicious Greek version of cold coffee. It is nothing like the frappé you find in other countries. Served sweet, medium, or without sugar, with or without milk. Delicious with Bailey's too.\n\n- Playce\n\n- Filion Cafe\n\n### Clubbing and nightlife", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk034", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Drink", "text": "Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week. The choices are plenty and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late: after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 22:00 for dinner at the city's tavernas, Athens Restaurants and bar-restaurants.\n\nHip areas include **Gazi, Psirri, Metaxourgio, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki**. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in **Plaka**.\n\nMany of Athens' hottest clubs and bars are in **Psirri**. **Gazi** has changed tremendously. Most of the galleries, mainstream bars, restaurants, clubs and Greek nightclubs here (featuring live Greek pop singers) are trademarked by their industrial design, as many of them are housed in remodelled—and once abandoned—factories. Gazi is one of the trendiest areas of Athens nightlife. You can get there by metro line 3 at Kerameikos station.\n\n**Plaka - Monastiraki** are two ancient, historic and all-time classic Athenian neighbourhoods popular with visitors, they do not have many big dance clubs and bars, but offer lively, traditional places to enjoy Greek culture year-round, and several rock and jazz clubs.", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk035", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Drink", "text": "You will find plenty nightclubs with live Greek music along **Syggrou Avenue** and at the industrial strips of **Iera Odos** and **Pireos Street** in Gazi. In the summer months, the action moves to **Poseidon Avenue** and the coastal towns of **Glyfada**, **Voula and Vouliagmeni**. **Kolonaki** is a staple dining and entertainment destination, catering to the city's urban working professionals who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars that are open - and busy - until after midnight, even on weekdays. The clubs here are also very chic. **Exarchia** is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Strefi Hill is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many of which play rock music. An alternative option of Athens nightlife.\n\nA 'club zone' is in the coastal district, running to the east- if you go there and you are lucky, you can actually get to listen to non-Greek music. There are also many clubs and pubs in the center of Athens.", "word_count": 178}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk036", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Athens has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels, right up to 5 star luxury hotels.\n\nFor most tourists, the primary question is Plaka or not Plaka. For the latter, the next question is whether to stay just outside of Plaka, or along one of the main routes going to the coast (e.g., Leoforos Andrea Siggrou is home to the Grand Hyatt, Marriott, and InterContinental hotels), or in one of the coastal suburbs like Glyfada or Piraeus. These latter options may allow for staying in more modern hotels or with a scenic coastal view, but then one has to travel to Plaka and back for sightseeing.\n\nFor hotels near the airport, see listings in Spata and Rafina.\n\n### Camping\n\n - Dionissotis Camping\n\n### Budget\n\n - Athens Backpackers\n\n - Athens Psiri Hotel\n\n- Safestay Athens Monastiraki\n\n - Hotel Dioskouros Athens\n\n - Tony Hotel\n\n - Hostel Aprodite\n\n - Orion\n\n - Hotel Elite Athens\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Acropolis View Hotel Athens\n\n - Hotel Acropolis House\n\n - Athos\n\n - Central Hotel\n\n - O&B Athens Boutique Hotel\n\n - Hotel Omiros Athens\n\n - Fresh Hotel\n\n - Periscope Hotel\n\n - Mirabello\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Radisson Blu Park Hotel\n\n - The St George Lycabettus Hotel Athens\n\n - Conrad Athens the Ilisian\n\n- President Hotel Athens\n\n - Royal Olympic Hotel\n\n - Electra Hotel\n\n - Grande Bretagne Hotel\n\n - King George Palace\n\n - Hellenic Vibes", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk037", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Connect", "text": "As of February 2026, Athens has 5G from Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova. Wi-fi is widely available in public places.", "word_count": 19}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk038", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Athens is **generally a safe city**. There are many police officers and security guards around the city. Many places have CCTV. Street crime is rare. Violent crime against tourists is rare.\n\nThere are **pickpockets** on the Metro (especially at the interchanges with the line from the Airport), buses and in other crowded areas, including Plaka. You will notice that natives travel with their hands on their bags and pockets, and keep their bag in front rather than on their side or back, which unfortunately is not without reason. If any pocket, purse, or backpack is visible as you travel on the Metro, assume it will be targeted by pickpockets. Assume that any stranger on the Metro (no matter how well-dressed) is a potential pickpocket and take appropriate precautions. Beware of dense crowds at Metro vehicle doors, especially when a door seems to be broken or jammed.\n\nThe **friendly stranger** bar scam has been reported from areas of central Athens frequented by tourists, including Omonia, Syntagma, and Plaka. There have been some reports of fraud. Usually, someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other men then arrive claiming to be police, showing a badge (obviously a fake one). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other man and then ask for your passport and wallet for verification. While you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet.\n\nthumb|Patission Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Athens", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk039", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "**Demonstrations and riots** are common and accepted as part of everyday life and democracy by most Athenians. (You shouldn't expect any less from the cradle of democracy!) Keep abreast of news of demonstrations, and avoid them if you don't want to risk being arrested or tear-gassed, which often happens near Syntagma. Anarchist groups often clash with police, or target government buildings or perceived representations of capitalism during the night, mainly in Exarcheia (). It is unlikely that tourists would be harmed, as the anarchists usually take care to attack only property and police as opposed to civilians. However, parking in Exarcheia overnight could result in damage to your car. Anti-Israel pro-Palestine activities (such as graffiti) are common seen on the streets.\n\nThe **football rivalry** between local club Panathinaikos and Piraeus-based Olympiacos is notoriously intense, and has on occasion resulted in violent confrontations between opposing fans. To be safe, avoid wearing Olympiacos shirts while you are in Athens, especially during matchday, or it could result in you being harassed or even singled out for violence by opposing fans.\n\nIn the summer, the weather is very **hot**. Remember to drink enough water and apply sunscreen to your skin.\n\nAthens has **poor urban planning**, especially poor road planning. When walking around, the greatest danger is on streets where sidewalks/pavements are nonexistent or too narrow for pedestrians to pass each other. If a car or motorcycle comes around the corner too fast at that very second, someone may get run over.\n\n**In case of emergency, dial 112**. This is the pan-European emergency number that connects to police, ambulance, and fire services free of charge.\n\n### Rough areas", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk040", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Athenians hold negative perceptions of the areas around **Omonia Square**. Locals advise you to avoid these areas late at night. The area is notorious for pickpockets and prostitutes, and there are many people who use drugs in the open, even during the day. Other places to avoid are Vathi square and the area between Agiou Konstantinou and Karolou/Marni.\n\nThe Philopappou Hill area should be avoided at night. The back streets of Piraeus are probably also places where it's unwise to wander around late at night.", "word_count": 85}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk041", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Embassies and representative offices\n\n - Armenia\n\n - Australia\n\n - Austria\n\n - Brazil\n\n - Bulgaria\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Colombia\n\n - Croatia\n\n - Cyprus\n\n - Denmark\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Estonia\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Hungary\n\n - India\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Israel\n\n - Italy\n\n - Japan\n\n - Malta Embassy\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Republic of North Macedonia\n\n - Norway\n\n - Portugal\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Saudi Arabia\n\n - Serbia\n\n - South Africa\n\n - Spain\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Taiwan\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland\n\n - United States of America", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "acropolis::chunk042", "doc_id": "acropolis", "section": "Go next", "text": "### Islands\n\nPiraeus - the harbour of Athens, and Rafina (on the east coast of Attica) are the departure points for a large number of ferry services to the Greek Islands and other destinations in the eastern Mediterranean, including ports in Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Cyprus.\n\nThe closest islands, suitable for a day trip from **Piraeus**, are in the Argosaronic (or Saronic) gulf:\n Hydra\n Aegina\n Poros\n Spetses\n Kea (also pronounced *Tzia*) is a very nearby destination, too, less than two hours from the port of Lavrio.\nEvia, or Euboea, is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete, and in close proximity to Athens. In less than 1.5 hours by bus, train, or car, you can reach Chalkis, or Halkida, the island's capital city and enjoy the local beaches, Ottoman castle on the hill, the promenade with bars & restaurants. From here you can continue to Kymi and take the ferry to Skyros island or choose to explore the islands hidden gems.\n\nIf what you are thinking is an island further away, like Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini or any of the Dodecanese or Northern Aegean isles, consider extra days off Athens because of their distance from the mainland. Flying is also an option to the more distant islands.\n\n### Nearby\n\nSounio, Ktel bus starts from central Athens and also stop in some areas in south Athens. 1 hour from central Athens by car.\n Day trips to the Corinth Canal, the ancient theatre at Epidaurus and to the ancient sites of Olympia, Delphi and Mycenae are easy with a rental car.\n Towns along the Peloponnese such as Nafplion are charming and worthwhile.\n\n### North\n\n Thessaloniki, second biggest city in Greece\n Larissa\n Karditsa\n Trikala\n Kalambaka\n\n### By air\n\nAthens has ultra-low-cost flights to several European countries, to Jordan, Israel, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates.", "word_count": 306}

corpus/acropolis/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "acropolis",
+  "title": "Athens",
+  "type": "cultural",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Athens",
+  "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens",
+  "wikidata_id": "Q1524",
+  "coordinates": [
+    37.98416667,
+    23.72805556
+  ],
+  "summary": "Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland. With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU). The Municipality of Athens (also City of Athens), which constitutes a small administrative unit of the entire urban area, had a population of 643,452 in 2021, within its official limits, and a land area of 38.96 square kilometres (15.04 square miles).\nAthens is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years, and its earliest human presence beginning somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennia BC. According to Greek mythology, the city was named after Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, but modern scholars generally agree that the goddess took her name after the city. Classical Athens was one of the most powe",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "cycling",
+    "photography",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Attica"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Piraeus",
+    "Rafina",
+    "Italy",
+    "Egypt",
+    "Turkey",
+    "Israel",
+    "Cyprus",
+    "Hydra",
+    "Aegina",
+    "Poros",
+    "Spetses",
+    "Kea",
+    "Evvia",
+    "Chalcis",
+    "Kymi",
+    "Skyros",
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corpus/addis-ababa/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk000", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Addis Ababa** (Amharic: አዲስ አበባ) is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It had an estimated population of almost 4 million in 2023 and it is growing very rapidly like many African cities. The city is an important center of diplomacy, and despite being a relatively young city, Addis is a good introduction to Ethiopia and its culture.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk001", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|350px|Equestrian statue of Emperor Menelik II\n\nWhile Ethiopia is regarded as the original home of humans, and there has been several earlier settlements in the region, Addis Ababa was founded only in 1886 by King Menelik II and Queen consort Taytu Betul. Since then, Ethiopia has gone through a lot of events that have left a mark on the city, such as two cathedrals built to commemorate victories over Italians, sites where emperors lived and worked, monuments to them, and a memorial museum to the victims of the red terror during the Derg regime. The museums of the city lets visitors experience much older times too – indeed you can see a replica of the hominoid Lucy at the national museum. In addition, the restaurants and cafés of the city let you sample Ethiopian cuisine, its famous coffee and the national drink tej.\n\nThere are more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. The headquarters of the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) are both in the city. The European Union and the United States both have two delegations in Addis Ababa, one for bilateral relations with Ethiopia and one for the African Union.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk002", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The city is divided into ten boroughs, known as subcities, then further divided into wards (*kebeles*). Suburbs include Shiro Meda and Entoto in the north, Urael and Bole (home to Bole International Airport) in the east, Nifas Silk in the south-east, Mekanisa in the south, and Keraniyo and Kolfe in the west. Many of the wealthiest people live in the southeast (Bole), southwest (old airport), CMC, Ayat and Lamberet parts of town. The city is one of the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to have rail based public transit. The light rail system built with Chinese help is often credited with a rapid change of connected parts of the city. The Corridor Projects have upgraded many trunk roads to international standards, with street lights, bicycle lanes, and bus stops. These projects have also been associated with large-scale relocation of residents and shops.\n\n### Climate\n\nAddis Ababa features a subtropical highland climate (Cwb), a variety of the temperate oceanic climate, with wet summer (comparable to Mexico City). The average highs are between and , the average lows between and . The warmest months are February to May, but not \"hot\" as people imagine Africa; most hotels do not have air-conditioning. Temperatures and climate can vary due to elevation. Addis Ababa has 132 rainy days per year and records of rainfalls annually.\n\nTemperatures in Addis Ababa are remarkably constant from month to month: the annual temperature variation is low with around . However, due to its altitude of , the diurnal temperature variation is high with around difference between day and night in average. It is often at lunchtime and at night; always take a second layer with you during the evening.\n\n#### Seasons", "word_count": 281}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk003", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Understand", "text": "The dry winter season is from October to March. Nighttime lows can drop below +10°C, but daytime highs are comparable to the following summer months. The warm summer season around April and May is almost unnoticeable in Addis Ababa (more visible in other parts of Ethiopia), though the nights are warmer and the likelihood of rain increases.\n\nThe monsoon season is from June to September. Even if temperatures are similar to other months, July and August appear colder and less comfortable due to 80% relative humidity, few hours of sunshine and daily rains: tonsillitis and common cold are frequent. For this reason, most locals call this period the winter and consider the dry season to be summer. Rains also cause mud and make dirt-roads soapy. Floods happens on roads, creating traffic jams, notably at the beginning of the rainy season (end-June), when the water drainage pipes are corked by dust and wastes accumulated during 8 months of dry season.\n\nThunderstorms (short but with heavy rains) are frequent and isolated. For instance, it is not uncommon to go to another area of the city for a 2-hour lunch in Bole and discover wet roads when coming back to Arada. In August, it is also possible to experience some hail.", "word_count": 208}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk004", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|Addis Ababa Bole International Airport\n () is the busiest airport in East Africa. It is the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines. \n\nThere are two terminals. Terminal 1 (the older, smaller one) is for all domestic flights and most flights to cities in neighbouring nations (Djibouti, Nairobi, Khartoum, etc.). Terminal 2 (the newer 2003 building) is for all other international flights of Ethiopian Airlines and most other companies (arrangements may change so check first). Terminal 2 is said to be the largest terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. There are ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard and forex services taking a wide range of currencies.\n\nThere are several Ethiopian ticket offices in Addis; including the main one at Churchill Road near the Ethiopian National Theatre and another one in the Hilton Hotel. By regulation, foreigners must pay in US dollars at these offices as well.\n\n### By car\n\nMost of the major roads are in good condition:\n From Asmara and Dese: Highway 1\n From Axum and Bahir Dar: Highway 3\n From Djibouti and Nazret (Adama): Highway 4\n From Gambela National Park and Gambela: Highway 5\n From Jimma and Giyon: Highway 6\n\nTrans-African Highway 4 from Cairo and Bahir Dar passes through Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi and Cape Town.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### Terminals\n\n \n \n \n\n### By train\n\nthumb|Map of the [[w:Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway|Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway]]\n\nThe railway line connecting Addis Ababa with the port city of Djibouti, via Dire Dawa opened in 2016/17. Journey time is about 6.5 hours from Dire Dawa, a mandatory overnight stay and another 12 hours to Addis and as of 2024 there is a train every second day.", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk005", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Very few streets have names and those that do may not be named correctly on a map; use landmarks to navigate the city.\n\n### By bus\n\n**Blue and white minibuses**\n\nBlue and white minibuses/taxis travel quite efficiently around town. Since they are full with people most of the time, it is very cheap too; usually between a few birr depending on how far you are going. To catch a minibus, stand on the side of the road and hail it. This can be done anywhere it is possible for the bus to stop. The conductor inside will call out the destination, and if that's where you want to go: get on. You pay the conductor when he signals to you that he wants money (which might take a few minutes). To get change. To get out say \"woraj alle\", or just \"woraj\". It is worth having an Ethiopian guide with you if it is your first time using these taxis, since it can be quite chaotic to find out what minibuses go where, and from what places.\n\n**Orange/yellow public buses**\n\nThese buses connect the whole city for a fare of 0.5–3 birr (2016). There are no schedules or maps available, however if you wait on a major street where a crowd gathers you can ask other people or the cashier – which is always in a cabin at the back door – for your destination. Line 31 for example is a convenient line from Meskel Square to the National Museum or Trinity Church. The buses are often overcrowded, so watch your belongings.\n\n### By taxi\n\nthumb|Yellow taxis.", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk006", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Uber does not operate here yet, but there are a number of locally-available alternatives. Ride is by far the most popular ridehailing app, but other alternatives include local competitors Feres, Taxiye, and international entrants Little and Yango. An Ethiopian phone number is required to use the apps. Make sure that the plate numbers match before getting in, and that the driver starts the trip on the app before departure. Competition is fierce, so feel free to shop around for the best deal before calling for a vehicle. Payment is usually done in cash, but you can register a credit card on the app and pay through it as well.\n\nFor safety reasons, it's not advisable to just hail a cab on the street unless you speak Amharic, but if you do choose to hail a taxi on the street try to get one outside major hotels, office buildings or other landmarks where taxis congregate. Taxis have red license plates and are colored yellow, sometimes with stripes or other distinguishing designs depending on the company. Major taxi companies include Five Star Cab and Zé-Lucy Meter Taxi.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk007", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Drivers usually accept trips without looking at the origin and destination, and will call you as soon as they accept your trip to ask where you are. While drivers increasingly speak passable English, there is the possibility of getting a driver who does not, and if you do not speak Amharic they will give up on finding you and cancel the trip on their end. Asking a local to help communicate your location to them helps greatly. Be prepared for the driver to have trouble following the route on the app, as well as finding your final destination. Often they will drive to the general neighbourhood or landmark, and rely on you to get them to the destination (or just call it quits and get off early).\n\nIt is common for locals and international immigrants alike to ask for the driver's mobile number after a pleasant ride, and call them directly for future rides.\n\nAs of August 2025, the base fare for Ride is 150 birr, with an additional 19 birr per km and 240 birr per hour.\n\n### By light rail\n\nthumbnail|Map of the Light Rail Transit", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk008", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get around", "text": "The Chinese built a system of light rail lines (one of the first in sub-Saharan Africa) in the 2010s. There are two lines that cross near Meskel square:\n West–East green line 1 is from *Tor Hailoch* station to *Ayat*.\n North–South blue line 2 is from *Kality* station to *Menelik II Square* station (aka *Piazza*).\nThe fare starts at 10 birr. During peak hours the light rail is so crowded as to be almost dangerous. Pickpocketing and molestation are common, and riders are not used to the concept of letting people off before they get on. As a result, you may need to physically shove passengers out of your way to get off the train – if not, it may be several stops until you can get off! Some stations like Urael have an island platform, meaning that the left doors open.\n\n### On foot\n\nSignificant investment has been put into making Addis Ababa walkable, and major roads now have wide, paved sidewalks not normally seen elsewhere in the developing world. It is possible, for example, to go from the airport all the way to Meskel Square entirely on foot, a distance of 5½ km on relatively flat terrain while walking on good-quality sidewalks. Elsewhere in the city on smaller streets, pedestrian infrastructure is either of poorer quality (narrow or unpaved sidewalks, or both) or non-existent. Bring a good pair of walking shoes.", "word_count": 228}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk009", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many crossings don't have crossing lights nor marked pedestrian crossings, so be careful when crossing the street. Where there are stoplights but no crossing lights, a good rule of thumb is to cross alongside traffic. Cars do slow down for pedestrians but avoid getting hit regardless by oncoming traffic. At night, major streets are well-lit, but this may not be the case elsewhere. Nevertheless, exercise caution while walking around as you would in any major city. Foreigners may be pestered by beggars who will ask for money; ignoring them or saying \"no money\" is usually enough to get them to leave.\n\nAddis Ababa also has a series of (mostly) continuous riverside parks, with pedestrian walkways and bike paths along both sides of the river starting from the area around the Piazza and passing through major landmarks like Friendship Park, the Addis Ababa Stadium, Meskel Square and the National Palace before ending in Bole. The river is polluted and does have a smell, but the walk along the park is otherwise quite pleasant with many benches and other facilities along the route. Keep in mind that as of February 2026 it's possible to still encounter construction work while walking along the river as these parks were mostly built in the last couple of years, and the areas surrounding the parks are themselves undergoing significant redevelopment.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk010", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Talk", "text": "Amharic is spoken by the majority of the population, with other languages (namely Oromo and Gurange) spoken by a minority. For all intents and purposes, learning basic Amharic words and phrases will be enough for any trip, as it is unlikely you will encounter anyone who doesn't speak some Amharic.\n\nIncreasing numbers of young people can speak English, especially those who are more affluent. Be aware that Ethiopians usually speak English with a heavy accent, which can be difficult for an American or British person to understand. In the city centre, most people you encounter will speak English fluently. However, if you venture into residential neighborhoods, especially poor areas, you may find that hardly anyone can speak English well.", "word_count": 119}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk011", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "See", "text": "If you walk along the road from Meskel Square to Sidist Kilo (6 Kilo), you'll probably find it quite entertaining and interesting. You'll see the Africa Hall, the palaces and the Parliament building, the Hilton Hotel, the marvellous architectural adventure of a building hosting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sheraton Hotel, the first modern school (which Emperor Menelik II built in the 1880s), the Trinity Orthodox cathedral, the National Museum, and the Addis Ababa University (which hosts a former palace and museum).\n\nArat Kilo (4 Kilo) Avenue is marked by a statue built in commemoration of the Ethiopian day of victory during the Second World War, while Sidist Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue commemorating some 39,000 residents of Addis Ababa killed by Italian fascist troops. Around Arat Kilo, you will find part of an old town known as Serategna Sefer (literally, the residential area of labourers).\n\nIf you go past Sidist Kilo, the road becomes steeper and many of the attractions will be on the right side of the road. The Entoto college (previously Teferi Mekonnen School) and the US Embassy are on this side of the street. After the Embassy there's an open market called Shiro Meda where traditional craftsmen sell their homemade fabrics, pots and other craftwork. The marketplace is at the foot of the Entoto Mountains, which rise up to 3,300 m (10,827 ft) above sea level.\n\nYou can take a taxi or a bus to the mountain unless you are of a mind to try it yourself. On the mountain, you will find the first churches of Addis Ababa, called Saint Mary and Saint Raguel, and a smaller palace of Menelik II. Walking the mountain, especially between the churches, is refreshing and gives the chance to see rural life, the city, forest and unbelievably beautiful landscape intersected by farmlands and farmers trails. It is from here that Menelik II and Queen Taitu conceived the establishment of Addis Ababa. You can get a sense of the city plan by viewing the city from here.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|The National Museum\n - Addis Ababa Museum\n\n - Ethiopian Railway Museum\n\n - Ethnological Museum\n\n - National Museum of Ethiopia\n\n - The Zoological Natural History Museum\n\n - \"Red Terror\" Martyrs Memorial Museum\n\n### Churches and mosques\n\n - Anwar Mosque\n\n - Gola Saint Michael Church\n\n - Holy Trinity Cathedral\n\n - Medhane Alem Cathedral\n\nthumb|Saint George's Cathedral\n - Roman Catholic Cathedral of Nativity\n\n - St George's Cathedral\n\n - Bata Maryam Church\n\n### Other\n\n - Africa Hall\n\n - Tiglachin (\"Our Struggle\") monument\n\n - Ethiopian National Library\n\nthumb|Lion of Judah of Menelik\n - Lion of Judah of Menelik\n\n - Lion of Judah of Haile Selassie\n\n - Unity Park\n\n - National Palace\n\n - Parliament Building\n\n - Shengo Hall", "word_count": 452}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk012", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|View from Mount Entoto\n - Hager Fikir Theatre\n\n - Jan Meda Race Ground\n\n - Bihere Tsige Recreation Center\n\n - Addis Ababa Golf Club\n\n - Entoto Mountain\n\n - Yewedale\n\n - BailAmor Dance Group\n\nStop by at one of the small (5-7 people) coffee spots / rooms to taste local coffee with tenadam (rue) and have a conversation with locals who hang out there. You can find many of those along the main streets. Price should not be more than 5 birr. Oftentimes you can have local food there too.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk013", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Learn", "text": "**Addis Ababa University** is the largest and the oldest university in Ethiopia. It was originally named \"University College of Addis Ababa\" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975. Although the university has six of its seven campuses within Addis Ababa (the seventh is located in Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres away), it also maintains branches in many cities throughout Ethiopia, leading to the claim of being \"the largest university in Africa.\"\n\nThe government assigns qualified students to these universities upon completion of secondary school. Students also attend other private colleges, such as **Unity College**. Addis Ababa University was founded in 1950 at the request of Haile Selassie by a Canadian Jesuit, Dr Lucien Matte as a two-year college, and began operations the next year. Over the following two years an affiliation with the **University of London** was developed.\n\nThere is also **Theological College of the Holy Trinity**, a theological school of higher education located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It provides religious and secular education to both clergy and lay members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, as well seeking to be a centre of theological and ecclesiastical study for all **Oriental Orthodox Churches** as well.\n\nFounded as a high school by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1942, the college division was added in 5 October 1960, and the elementary education section eliminated on 18 December 1961 and the college became one of the chartered units of this first National University of Ethiopia.", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk014", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Work", "text": "There is a high demand for IT professionals.\n Many start-up companies search for individuals with computer networking and consulting background.\n Addis Ababa has the highest number of NGOs in Africa, and possibly in the entire Third World. They are well known for paying good salaries for their employees.\n The unemployment rate in Addis is low according to the Nazret.com (8% of the population in Addis Abeba were unemployed in 2008).\n Many expatriates work in NGOs and small start-up IT companies.\n Compared to other African cities, Addis Ababa has a high number of big, medium and small computer training schools, governmental and private learning institutions. Many students who attend there hope to land an IT or consulting job in the city's very tight job market.", "word_count": 124}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk015", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Fabric for sale in the Mercato\n - The mercato\n\n - Shiromeda Market\n\n - Friendship Hypermarket\n\n - Edna Mall (closed for refurbishment)\n\n - Dembel City Center\n\n - Getu Commercial centre\n\n - Piassa Shopping centre\n\n - Bambis department store\n\n - Shoa Supermarket\n\n - Novis Supermarket\n\n - Fantu Supermarket\n\n - Laphto Mall\n\n - St George gallery\n\n - Makush Gallery and Restaurant\n\n### Get money\n\nEthiopia traditionally operates a cash economy, however acceptance of cards is increasing. Credit cards are now accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Cash is preferred if the amount is small and there is no guarantee the card machine will be working.\n\n**ATMs/cash machines** are found throughout Addis Ababa. **Dashen Bank** is a principal member of both VISA and MasterCard International and has ATMs. Commercial Bank has ATMs that accept international cards and does not charge a fee. Not all cards are accepted everywhere, Dashen Bank ATMs accept Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and Plus, while Zemen bank ATMs do not accept MasterCard. Most ATM machines have a 4,000–6,000 birr limit per day, but most do not charge a local ATM fee (international or third-party ATM fees from your financial institution may apply).\n\n**Warning:** Some ATM machines are targeted for \"skimmer\" scams, allowing thieves to steal your ATM card information. To protect yourself, the safest ATMs to use are the ones located at the Hilton (Dashen, Zemen, CBE); Radisson Blu (Dashen, Zemen, Wegagen); or Sheraton (Dashen) hotels.\n\nThere is an illegal black market where you can get a slightly better rate, especially if you bargain. Check your money very carefully before you leave and do not allow it to leave your hand after your final count. Most souvenir shops off Churchill Rd and Zambia St do it.", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk016", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Eat", "text": "Food is generally cheap. Make sure you try the national dish *injera* at least once, since there is no other food like it. It is a yeast-risen flat bread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. It is traditionally made out of teff flour. In making injera, teff flour is mixed with water and allowed to ferment for several days, as with sourdough starter. As a result of this process, injera has a mildly sour taste. It's what the locals eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most ordinary Ethiopian restaurants have it, and a serving for 2 people with free refills can be as cheap as 15 birr.\n\n### Budget\n\nAddis has hundreds of cake and coffee cafes. They sell various coffees, tea - black unless you ask for \"machiatto\" - and sometimes fruit juices. There are also juice beits. The cafes along Bole Road and around the Piassa area are of a high standard and relatively inexpensive. Most are very similar to each other.\n\nMost cafes serve the common drink called 'sprice juice' (fruit pulp served in layers in a glass). There are usually three layers from a selection of avocado, mango, papaya, banana, guava etc. The juice is eaten with a spoon. It is colourful and tastes delicious. Single fruit juices are also great, such as orange, papaya, mango, and pineapple - beautifully fresh. 7 birr up to 25 birr in Hilton.\n\n - Purple Cafe\n\n - National Cafe\n\n - Finfine Restaurant\n\n - Yohannes Kitfo Bet\n\nRestaurants that do not have an English menu are cheaper. Example: Connection between Bole Road and Tele-Bole, next to Bole roundabout, at NOC-Fuelstation, close to **German Kantine**. You can have lunch (local food, spaghetti) for less than 20 birr. If you don't have a translator, ordering is a lot of fun.\n\n### Mid-range\n\nthumb|Eating at an Ethiopian restaurant, Addis Ababa\n - Antica\n\n - Bruno's\n\n - 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant\n\n - Lime Tree\n\n - Hanoi Hanna\n\n - Sana'a Restaurant\n\n - Sishu\n\n - Trianon Cafe and Restaurant\n\n - Yod Abyssinia\n\n - Cupcake Delight Bakery\n\n - Rodeo Addis\n\nthumb|In Ethiopia, stews are often accompanied with ''injera'' bread\n - Istanbul International Restaurant\n\n - Asli Mendi Ethio-Arabic Restaurant\n\n - Five Loaves Bistro and Bakery\n\n - Dashen Terara Traditional Restaurant\n\n - Yilma\n\n - Café du Louvre\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Aladdin restaurant\n\n - Castellis in Piazza\n\n - Green-view Italian Restaurant / Pizzeria\n\n - Sangam Restaurant\n\n - Top View Restaurant\n\n - La Mandoline\n\n - Gusto Ristorante\n\n - Jewel of India\n\n - China Bar and Restaurant\n\n - Sky Steak House", "word_count": 413}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk017", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|A glass of tej\nThe national drink of Ethiopia is 'tej', which is brewed from honey. You can also try 'tela' which is similar to beer.\n\nIn addition to places listed below, some of the hotels in Sleep have a bar. \n\n - Black Rose Lounge\n\n - Dome Club\n\n - Gaslight\n\n - Illusion\n\n - Beemnet\n\n - Kaldi's Coffee", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk018", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Budget\n\n - Addis Guest House\n\n - Itegue Taitu Hotel\n\n - Baro Hotel\n\n - Wutma Hotel\n\n - Mad Vervet Backpackers Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\nthumb|Night panorama during a thunderstorm in the rainy season\n\n - Beer Garden Inn\n\n - GT Guest House\n\n - Martin's Cozy Place-German Guesthouse\n\n - Ras Hotel\n\n - Yilma Hotel\n\n - Z Guest House\n\n - Keba Guest House\n\n - Tirago Hotel\n\n - Sheger Royal Hotel\n\n - Marcen Addis Hotel\n\n - C-Fun Addis Hotel\n\n - Cape Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\nthumb|The nave of the Holy Trinity Cathedral\n - Addis Ababa Hilton\n\n - Dimitri Hotel\n\n - Harmony Hotel\n\n - Bole International Hotel\n\n - Jupiter International Hotel\n\n - Panorama Hotel\n\n- Sheraton Addis\n\n - Wassamar Hotel", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk019", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Police officer on a light rail train\n Addis is safer than most cities in Africa. Gang violence and similar serious activities are unusual. However, you may encounter some **pick-pockets** and **con-artists** around and inside Bole Airport, Mercato, Piazza and many other areas. Keep your belongings close, and pay attention to your surroundings. A common tactic is to show you a tray of things to buy with one hand and to try your pocket with the other. The good news is most of these pick-pockets are unarmed and young boys. If they know that you are aware of what they are up to, they may get intimidated and go away. However, some can be quite persistent and even involve older boys.\nWatch out for the spitting scam which happens in Piazza area. Typically it involves someone \"accidentally\" spitting on you, offering a handkerchief / tissue to clean it up, trying your pockets while you are distracted by this \"accident\" and then jumping into a companion's car with your belongings.\nSomeone might also grab your arm and act crazy pretending to kick you as a distraction while his accomplice tries your pockets.\n As most Ethiopians are very welcoming, there is an infamous scam where young locals \"befriend\" tourists and invite them over after a nice day together to celebrate a \"special holiday\". You will get fed a lot of khat leaves, a chewing drug, and have a good time with them, but in the end you will be asked for a tremendous amount of money for the khat as they claim it is a \"special\" quality. Be aware of too friendly locals and ask if there is a price to anything, even if they claim you are invited.\n Be aware of your belongings on Line Taxis: They usually get very crowded – keep your wallet/phone/bag close to you.\n The major and important roads and areas are patrolled by the 'Federal Police' or, as the city residents refer them *Federal*. They have a reputation of being merciless with suspected criminals. In contrast, the Addis-Ababa city police, who most of the time patrol the less important city streets, markets and neighborhoods are more tolerant and less respected police officers.\n For all emergencies . In Addis, major streets are generally safe at night.\n Unlike in other African cities, in Addis-Ababa, police officers *never* approach foreigners to ask them to present a passport, ID or \"legal\" papers. Once you show your passport at the airport, you are free to move around pretty much anywhere. The only time you need your passport or ID is for hotel reservation and other similar and few instances. However, it is important to have your ID with you at all times.", "word_count": 450}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk020", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Cope", "text": "**Watch what you drink** or you can fall **sick**. It is important to remember to only drink bottled water. There are many brands to choose from; **always** check the plastic seal on all bottles before paying any vendor. Visitors are warned against eating vegetables such as those in salads that may have been washed in water. Try limiting fruits and vegetables to those you peel yourself such as oranges, mangos, etc.\n\n**Pollution**. Addis Ababa is badly polluted because of badly maintained diesel vehicles and dust. If you have any sensitivity to this, it is worth wearing a dust mask as is popular in many Asian countries.\n\n**Be prepared for culture shock**. If you take photos of the people, ask first and offer to show them their picture if you have a digital camera with a display screen. Children enjoy seeing their pictures a lot of the time.\n\n**Overwhelmed**. Many first time visitors may feel overwhelmed if they have not experienced this type of culture difference before. Be polite but not intrusive. It is OK to ask questions of the locals, but you should be prepared to be hassled a lot of the time, especially if you are white. Additionally, for foreigners who are black, it may be possibly to \"blend in\", precautions are in order (depending where you are, in Addis on Bole road they are used to seeing foreigners compared to the countryside). If you prepare yourself before arrival, you will be better able to cope.\n\n**Blackouts** and **water outages** are also very frequent, as of 2024, and happen with no warning or pattern. Most higher-tier restaurants, offices, and hotels have their own generators and water tanks which can mitigate their impact, at least for a few hours. In general, they do not last for more than a few hours.\n\n### Embassies\n\n - Canada\n\n - China\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Finland\n\n - France\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Ireland\n\n - Italy\n\n - Kenya\n\n - New Zealand\n\n - Nigeria\n\n - Romania\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Serbia\n\n - Somaliland\n\n - United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland\n\n - United States of America", "word_count": 350}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk021", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Telephone\n\nThe country code for calling Ethiopia is **251**. The city code for Addis Ababa is **011** (or **+251 11** from outside Ethiopia).\n\n### Mobile\n\nEthiopia uses 2G/3G/4G networks operated by Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (Ethiotel) and Safaricom. Ethiotel has decent national coverage whilst Safaricom is rolling out its network with main cities covered as of mid 2024.\n\nRoaming charges are very steep. Your best option for mobile access is to buy a local SIM card.\n\nAn easy option is to buy a SIM card at any Ethiotel/Safaricom shop. They will need to see your passport and to take a photo to register the SIM card. Unlimited data on Ethiotel is 400 birr for one week, and 1300 birr for a month (Oct 2024). There are also packages that include unlimited voice and SMS, but they are generally not needed for foreigners. The more advisable method is to top up a bit of credit and pay-by-use.\n\n### Internet\n\nThe Internet in Addis Ababa has a few issues. One is an unstable international high-speed connection. Another is censorship and throttling of certain websites (see Ethiopia for workarounds). Yet another is the shortage of electricity, forcing daytime blackouts of whole areas for up to a day, which obviously blacks out the Internet.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "addis-ababa::chunk022", "doc_id": "addis-ababa", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|Crocodile in Awash National Park\n Adama and Sodere some 120 km to the southeast are popular weekend destinations for locals. The latter is famous for its hot springs. Adama is accessible by bus and train, from there minibuses go to Sodere.\n Awash National Park, 200 km to the east by road, is a world heritage site where some of the earliest human remains have been found. It's also a good place to see hyenas, and another highlight is the Awash waterfalls.\n Bahir Dar is 550 km to the north, Ethiopia's third largest city and accessible by bus, car or plane. It's next to Lake Tana, and famous for churches and monasteries on islands in the lake as well as the Blue Nile Falls. From there you can continue to other destinations in Northern Ethiopia such as Gondar and Lalibela.\n Dire Dawa is an 11-hour train ride east along the new railway to Djibouti (you can fly here too). It's the only other chartered city in the country. A highlight here is Emperor Haile Selassie's Palace. Further 54 kms away from Dire Dawa is the world heritage listed ancient city of Harar, regarded as Islam's fourth holiest city.\n Melka Awash, with the world heritage listed Paleolithic Melka Kunture excavation sites.\n Tiya, the \"Stonehenge of Africa\" is a world heritage listed ancient burial grounds, 90 km to the south. Accessible by car or bus.\n Ziway, 162 km south is on the shore of an eponymous lake which is home to many species of birds. It's one of the Rift Valley lakes, and if you travel some 40 km further south, there are more lakes with birds in the Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park. Accessible by car or bus.", "word_count": 286}

corpus/addis-ababa/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "addis-ababa",
+  "title": "Addis Ababa",
+  "type": "city",
+  "continent": "Africa",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "safari",
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "beach"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Central Ethiopia"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Adama",
+    "Sodere",
+    "Awash National Park",
+    "Bahir Dar",
+    "Northern Ethiopia",
+    "Gondar",
+    "Lalibela",
+    "Dire Dawa",
+    "Djibouti",
+    "Harar",
+    "Melka Awash",
+    "Tiya",
+    "Ziway",
+    "Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 5317,
+  "listing_count": 123,
+  "marker_count": 1,
+  "chunk_count": 23,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/algarve/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk000", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Overview", "text": "The **Algarve** is the southernmost region of Portugal, on the coast of the **Atlantic Ocean**. It is Portugal's most popular holiday destination due to the approximately of clean beaches, the cool, unpolluted water, and the fact that it is relatively cheap, very safe, and overall welcoming.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk001", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Cities", "text": "The cities of the Algarve are traditionally grouped into **Barlavento** (Windward) and **Sotavento** (Leeward), the western and eastern halves, respectively.\n\n### Barlavento\n\n — the inland Algarve, superb food, nature and views\n — close to famous surf spots\n — town and municipality containing other destinations:\n — near Europe's southwesternmost point\n — narrow, winding streets, quaint shops and wonderful restaurants, with an old inner city inside the remnants of a protective wall.\n — famous for its fresh fish restaurants and its many beaches. The municipality includes:\n — a base for visiting the Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve, with a nice beach\n — popular for its beautiful beaches, modern tourist accommodation, golf courses and cultural heritage. The municipality includes:\n — picturesque fishing village\n — first capital of the Algarve which has a Moorish red stone castle\n — one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Algarve: lovely beaches, very good climate, with many restaurants, bars and pubs\n\n### Sotavento\n\n — the capital of the Golden Triangle. The municipality includes:\n — a wide, clean beach with clean water and a nice promenade\n — the regional capital, a popular sun destination in the summer, and a base for exploring the surrounding area\n — inland town with several sights and numerous bed and breakfasts\n — a city near the Ria Formosa and Faro, the largest fishing port in the Algarve; full of character with Moorish-style houses\n — a city near the Ria Formosa lagoon, one of the most monumental cities in Portugal, with its 37 churches\n — it has a medieval castle, and a popular medieval festival in August\n — on the eastern bank of the Guadiana river which forms the border to Spain\n — landlocked town across from Spain on the Guadiana River", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk002", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|Secluded beaches bordered by rocks near Albufeira\n\nFile:LL-Q5146 (por)-Nelson Ricardo 2500-Algarve.wav\n\nThe Algarve (ahl-GAHR-v(ih), /aɫ.ˈgaɾ.vɨ/) is rich in culture and diversity. If you are looking for fast paced resorts or a calm tranquil setting either is attainable. The entire region is around . Although the number of permanent residents is under 500,000 the area receives more than tenfold that in tourism each year. The busiest times of year tend to be July and August.\n\n### History\n\nFollowing the neolithic period of the regions history, approximately 1000 BC, settlements and trading ports were established by the Phoenicians who were attracted by deposits of copper, manganese and iron. They came from the coastal regions of the eastern Mediterranean of modern-day Syria, Israel and Lebanon. Circa 550 BC Portimão was one of the ports founded by the Carthaginians who came from North Africa. In the 2nd century BC the region came under the control of the Romans as they spread throughout the Iberian Peninsular. Many Roman ruins still remain today throughout the Algarve and can be seen in many areas, but the best to visit are probably at the Milreu ruins, from Faro, where buildings that started construction as a Roman villa later became a Christian Church.\n\nFollowing the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths took control of the Algarve until the invasion of the Moors from North Africa in 711 AD. At this time, the Visigoths who came from central Europe, were defeated in the Battle of Guadalete by a force of invading Arabs and Berbers.", "word_count": 255}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk003", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Understand", "text": "There followed a period of five centuries of Arab rule in Iberia. The Moors conquered the Algarve in 716. Faro, which had been called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, meaning 'the settlement of the Knights'. Even the name of the region owes its origin to the Moors who knew the region as 'al-gharb' meaning 'the west'. There is evidence of the moors throughout the Algarve and Southern Spain, illustrated by chimney stacks, pottery and the Moorish style of architecture, and particularly, the Arabic castle at Silves. The castle was built by Almoravid Arabs in the 11th century out of red sandstone and dried mud and is the best preserved Moorish castle in the country. In the 12th century, King Afonso III, with a little help from English mercenaries, finally evicted the Moors and once again the Portuguese dominated the region, although the area was not fully secure from Moorish attacks until the middle of the 13th century.\n\nBorn in Porto in 1394, Prince Henry the Navigator based himself somewhere around Lagos/Sagres, and is considered to be responsible for many of the 'discoveries' made by the Portuguese in the middle ages sending out expeditions to Africa, the islands of Madeira and the Azores. In 1419 he was appointed governor of the province of the Algarve.", "word_count": 214}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk004", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Understand", "text": "Disaster struck on 1st November 1755, with a huge earthquake whose epicentre was reported to have been 200km South-West of the country and registering 9 on the Richter Scale. The coastal areas of the Algarve were devastated by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The devastation was not only limited to the Algarve, British naval reports from the period indicate the arrival of a huge wave in the port of Lisbon. The damage to Lisbon was almost total, and following huge political turmoil the person responsible for the reconstruction of the city was the Marquis of Pombal, the then Prime Minister.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe Algarve's geographical position on Europe’s south-western tip in the south of Portugal gives it some special bioclimatic features. Although situated by the Atlantic Ocean, it has a temperate climate with Mediterranean characteristics, more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and a low annual average rainfall, mainly during the winter months. Even in the hottest days in July and August a mild breeze from the Atlantic provides relief.\n\nThe Serra in the northern half of the Algarve has a considerable influence on the climate of the region. It forms a physical barrier against the cold winds blowing from the north and the lows from the Northwest, thus giving the Algarve coast an almost Mediterranean climate, with low annual rainfall and mild temperatures in winter. Furthermore, it is also a barrier for the misty winds that come from the South.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n- Visit Algarve", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk005", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Talk", "text": "English is in general used as a business language and is spoken in the tourist areas, where restaurant menus are multilingual. If you are travelling in the interior, then you would do well to carry a pocket dictionary with you, and have Wikivoyage's Portuguese phrasebook at hand. Also in case you unexpectedly have to deal with the police, English may not always be understood. You should be careful with any impolite comments – many Portuguese people have spent some time abroad and may understand you better than you think.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk006", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Get in", "text": "International flights into '''Faro Airport''' () then (1) by bus: national buses run from outside the airport to the bus terminal regularly throughout the day time on weekdays or (2) by taxi: will be under from the airport to the train station.\n\n### By car\n\nThe toll motorway A2 leads to the Algarve from the north. You will need to allow approximately 2 hours for the 240 km drive from Lisbon to the A22 north of Albufeira.\n\nFrom Spain the toll free A49 joins the A22 near Castro Marim in the Algarve after 145 km and about one and a half hours driving.\n\nIn the Algarve the toll motorway A22 *Rua do Infante de Sagres* goes from Lagos in the west to Castro Marim in the east at the Spanish border. Toll tariffs on the A22 depend on the distance and are recorded electronically only. Since the toll was introduced at the end of 2011 the parallel route of the national road EN125 is quite busy during rush hours, because many locals shy away from using the A22 for cost reasons. Cars with a foreign number plate have several options to pay the toll collected by an electronic system on the A22 motorway:\n\n**Toll Card**: this card, valid for one year, can be charged with and needs to be activated by SMS, entering the license number.\n**Toll Service**: you can have unlimited use of the A22 for 3 days after activation, for a one off fee of .\n**Easy Toll**: Payment by credit card (Visa or Master Card), with the toll directly deducted from your bank account\n**Via Verde Visitors**: renting a so called on board unit (OBU), a device that can be used both on roads with electronic or manual toll collection.\n\n### By plane\n\n, the third largest in Portugal, is the main airport for the region. On arrival there is a wide selection of car hire options both at static desks in the airport and also within the terminal at a meeting point.\nFrom Faro airport the train station and bus terminals can be reached by taxi.\n\nOutside the summer season some airlines reduce their direct flights to Faro, so that Lisbon Airport should be considered as alternative.\n\n### By bus\n\nThere are daily bus connections between Lagos, Olhao, Faro (and many other cities) and Spanish cities such as Seville and Huelva. A single ticket Seville-Faro costs with ALSA and the journey takes 2 hr. Flixbus also has a few connections per day for slightly higher prices.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are several daily train connections to Algarve operated by CP. *Alfa Pendular* (*AP*) trains connect Porto and Lisbon with Faro twice (sometimes three times) a day, making several stops on the way, journey time is 5½ hr or 3 hr, respectively. *Intercidades* (*IC*) trains connect Lisbon with Faro as well, they stop at more places and are a bit slower than *AP*. They run three times a day, journey time is 3½ hr. There is also one seasonal *InterRegional* (*IR)* train.\n\nIn Tunes it is possible to change for *Regional* (*R)* train to Lagos, in Faro to Vila Real de Santo António.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere is a ferry service between Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte (Spain). The ferry was once a main mean of transportation although after the construction of the Guadiana International Bridge it is nowadays mostly used by tourists. Naviera Armas operates a ferry to Portimão from Madeira (connecting with Gran Canaria) with a couple of departures per month.", "word_count": 588}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk007", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By train\n\nThe Algarve Railway (*Linha do Algarve*) is a convenient possibility to get around Algarve. It connects Lagos in the west with Vila Real de Santo António on the border with Spain, calling at most towns and cities along the way (Portimão, Silves, Tunes, Loulé, Faro, Tavira, etc.). There is no direct train between Lagos and Vila Real d/S/A. Operated are usually *Regional* trains, between Faro and Tunes also *Alfa Pendular*, *Intercidades* and *InterRegional* trains. Journey from Faro to Lagos takes from 1h30min to 1h45min.\n\nThere is also one part of The Southern Railway (*Linha do Sul*; Lisbon - Tunes), although in Algarve are situated only two stops of this line - Messines-Alte and Tunes. These stations are served by *Intercidades* and *InterRegional* trains.\n\nAll trains are operated by CP.\n\n### By bus\n\nRegional bus companies include '''Eva Transportes''' and '''Frota Azul Algarve'''. Algarve Bus website has a collection of bus information for Algarve region.\n\n### By car\n\nA car is often the best way of seeing the Algarve, owing to the limited public transport services. Cars can be hired at Faro Airport and in other towns and cities in the Algarve. Most car rental companies will stipulate a minimum age of 21. Prices start from about a day for a small car and there is often a wide range of cars to choose from.\n\nThe Algarve has a good network of roads, but be aware that some country roads are little more than dirt tracks. Roads are however generally well maintained, however, road markings may randomly disappear (in this case stick to the right as far as possible - a favourite Portuguese habit is to overtake, still they are mindful). After many years, the A22 (IP 1) motorway was finally completed in 2007, which goes from Bensafrim in the west all the way to Monte Francisco on the Portuguese/Spanish border. The Algarve, like the rest of Portugal and mainland Europe, drives on the right.\n\nPetrol stations are found all over the Algarve. All stations will sell standard unleaded (95 RON) and super (97 RON) and diesel. Some stations sell LPG (*GPL*) as well. Unleaded petrol is known as *gasolina sem chumbo* and diesel *gasoleo*. Petrol prices in Portugal are high in comparison to other European countries; as of August 2009 a litre of 95 RON unleaded costs around a litre, 97 RON super a litre and diesel a litre.", "word_count": 402}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk008", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|right|Marinha Beach (''Praia da Marinha'')\nthumb|right|Benagil Cave (''Algar de Benagil'')\n - Marinha Beach and Benagil Cave", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk009", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Do", "text": "**Beaches** — over 100 different beaches, each unique in its own way. Marinha Beach (*Praia da Marinha*) is one of the most emblematic and was considered by the Michelin Guide as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and as one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world\n **Golf** — If you are a golf lover then you have come to the right place, with over 30 courses dotted throughout the region.\n **Hike** — there are over 30 hiking trails crisscrossing the region\n - Via Algarviana\n\n - [[Albufeira#Q9097845|Zoomarine]]", "word_count": 92}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk010", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Buy", "text": "**Ceramics** - the area is known for its hand-painted pottery and *azulejos* or tiles", "word_count": 14}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk011", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Eat", "text": "The Algarve is famous for its hot and spicy **Piri Piri Chicken**, which can be found all over. Since it has a big and rich coast, it has a very interesting array of wonderful fish and seafood, from sardines to *cataplanas*, and many dry fruit sweets that will make your mouth water for more.", "word_count": 54}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk012", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Medronho** is a traditional fruit brandy, traditionally produced and drunk in The Algarve. Medronho can be fiercely potent and is available in variations ranging from unlabelled local homebrew bottles, moonshine style, to connoisseur tipples at more of a premium price range.", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk013", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Sleep", "text": "**Youth hostels** (*Pousadas de Juventude)* can be found in the following places: Arrifana near Aljezur on the western coast, Alcoutim on the Guadiana river, Faro, Lagos, Portimão and Tavira.\n **Camping grounds**: The Algarve disposes of more than 20 official camping grounds, mostly located on or near the coast.\n **Caravaning**: To improve the service quality and security for auto caravaning, a new route for motor homers (*Network for Motor-Caravanning in the Algarve Region/RAARA*) was launched end of 2015, comprising 22 infrastructures in total.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "algarve::chunk014", "doc_id": "algarve", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Alentejo** — rural plains region to the north\n **Évora** — city full of historic sights\n **Huelva** — province of Spain's Andalusia region\n **Lisbon** — the nation's capital\n **Seville** — closest major Spanish city\n **Fátima** – city of the worldwide famous Marian apparitions with an international catholic shrine", "word_count": 47}

corpus/algarve/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "algarve",
+  "title": "Algarve",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Algarve",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "fishing",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Portugal"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [
+    "Alentejo",
+    "Évora",
+    "Huelva (province)",
+    "Andalusia",
+    "Lisbon",
+    "Seville",
+    "Fátima"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 2477,
+  "listing_count": 4,
+  "marker_count": 27,
+  "chunk_count": 15,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/altai/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk000", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|Mt Belukha, the highest peak of Altai Mountains, on the border with [[Kazakhstan]]\n\n**Altai** (Russian: Респу́блика Алта́й *rees-POOB-leek-uh uhl-TIGH*) is a republic in Western Siberia, which has an amazing variety of landscapes: from boundless steppes to impassable taiga forests.\n\nThe Altai Mountains are the highest in Siberia. The Altai Republic and nearby Altai Krai were very popular hunting, fishing and adventure tourist sites during Soviet times. The region is popular for rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, horse riding, fishing and hunting.", "word_count": 80}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk001", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Understand", "text": "The region borders Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, Tuva to the east, Mongolia to the southeast, China to the south, Kazakhstan to the southwest, and Altai Krai to the northwest.\n\nThe people of this republic are mainly ethnic Altais, a Turkic ethnicity. The following a wide variety of religions including Russian Orthodoxy, Shamanism and Buddhism. Thus, this region is Russia's most religiously diverse.\n\nThe modern Altai economy is based largely upon agriculture, but nowadays the tourism industry has undergone an exponential growth. Despite the rapid growth of tourism, the region is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped places in Russia.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk002", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|300px|Katun River", "word_count": 2}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk003", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|300px|Golden Mountains of Altai\nthumb|300px|Lake Kucherla\nAltaisky Nature Reserve along with the Katun Nature Reserve and the Ukok Plateau Nature Refuge were listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name \"Golden Mountains of Altai\"", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk004", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Talk", "text": "The Altai are a Turkic ethnic group closely related to Kazakhs and speak their own language of Altai. Altai and Kazakh are the official languages, along with Russian, of the Altai Republic. However, Russian is spoken nearly universally.", "word_count": 38}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk005", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Get in", "text": "Altai Republic has no railway and one mid-sized airport in Gorno-Altaisk () (*located* *9 km to the west*). There are regular flights from Moscow and some other Russian cities. \n\nAnother good way is to get a marshrutka or bus from Biysk or Barnaul. Taxi from Biysk is quite cheap too.", "word_count": 50}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk006", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Get around", "text": "Marshrutka is the most common way of public travel there. It is a type of taxi, which goes once it gets full. Information about routes can be found at the bus station in Gorno-Altaisk. Locals don't tend to know information about buses and marshrutkas (May 2021) and it may be difficult travel that way along the Chuysky Highway. \n\nHitchhiking is quite common too. Sometimes you can stop even a child on a horse. Alternatively, you can rent a car in Gorno-Altaisk or Barnaul.", "word_count": 83}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk007", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Border between Altai Republic and [[Altai Krai]]\nLake Teletskoye - one of the largest lakes in Russia, after Baikal.\n77 km away from the capital at the village Kamlak there is the **Gorno-Altaisk Botanical Garden**, situated on the unique natural corner Shishkular-Katail-Chisty lug (Шишкулар-Катаил-Чистый луг). It is a department of Russian Academy of Science and an interesting place to visit. The collected plants range 1535 species from Altai, Siberia, the Far East and even North America.\nKM723-732 from Novosibirsk: A series of ancient (10,000BC) rock paintings and carvings can be seen on the main road that passes through the Altai Republic.\nSeminsky pass - the highest point on the Chuysky Highway.", "word_count": 111}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk008", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Do", "text": "### Campsites\n\nSo far there are three big congregations of private campsites, rest bases and guesthouses, majority of them in the north, where the climate is warmer:\n Northern shores of Teletskoye lake close to Iogach and Artybash villages.\n Complex of campsites along the Katun river, known as 'Biryuzovaya Katun', *Бирюзовая Катунь*, all accessible from Chuysky Highway, which runs parallel to the river.\n Riverside campsites continue south with tributary Chemal and are mostly concentrated in Chemal village.\n\nTo get there tourists buy tours in big cities or call to the owners beforehand and then arrive. One can try their luck and certainly will find a stay on the spot.\n\n### Mountain climbing\n\nFor serious mountaineers and hikers, there are two mountains to consider. Permits must be arranged weeks or months in advance. \n\n Belukha - get there via Ust-Koksa. \n Aktru - get there via Kurai. Blue Lake is accessible from base camp and doesn't require a permit. \n\n### Hiking\n\n Mount Sinyukha near Manzherok\n Mount Sarlyk near the Seminsky pass\n Karakol Lakes near Elekmonar (5 km north of Chemal)\n\nThere are plenty of options for day and multi-day hikes all around the region.", "word_count": 190}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk009", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Eat", "text": "Eat at cafes, which are cheap and quite good. Cafes are common all around Russia, even in small villages.", "word_count": 19}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk010", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be aware of ticks, mainly in summer.\nThe region is prone to earthquakes.", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk011", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Tap water is considered unsafe for drinking, and should be avoided. Being one of Russia's poorest regions, only 60% of the area's population has access to safe drinking water. Sanitize all water, and drink only water that is bottled.\n\nHospitals are well equipped and the staff are well trained, but good quality health care in Altai is virtually non-existent. Most of the hospitals are equipped with neglected technology, and serious operations are seemingly impossible to do here.", "word_count": 77}
+{"chunk_id": "altai::chunk012", "doc_id": "altai", "section": "Go next", "text": "Cross the border into **Mongolia** and visit **Bayan-Ulgii Province**, its capital, Ölgii, has a large Kazakh population living much the same way they did 100 years ago. Also visit Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and Tsambagarav National Park to enjoy large snow-capped mountains, petroglyphs, Turkic Stone Men, and *Kazakh Eagle Hunters*.", "word_count": 51}

corpus/altai/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "altai",
+  "title": "Altai Republic",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Polar / Special",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Altai_Republic",
+  "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altai_Republic",
+  "wikidata_id": "Q5971",
+  "coordinates": [
+    50.85,
+    86.9
+  ],
+  "summary": "The Altai Republic, also known as the Gorno-Altai Republic, is a republic of Russia located in southern Siberia. The republic borders Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, Tuva to the east, Altai Krai to the west, as well as three countries: Mongolia (Bayan-Ölgii) to the southeast, China (Xinjiang) to the south and Kazakhstan (East Kazakhstan Region) to the southwest. It is a part of the Siberian Federal District, and covers an area of 92,903 square kilometers (35,870 sq mi), with a population of 210,924 residents. It is the least-populous republic of Russia and least-populous federal subject in the Siberian Federal District. Gorno-Altaysk is the capital and the largest town of the republic with 65,342 inhabitants and in urban areas, making it the least urbanized federal subject.\nThe Altai Republic is one of Russia's ethnic republics, primarily representing the indigenous Altai people, a Turkic ethnic group that form 37% of the republic's population, while ethnic Ru",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "climbing",
+    "kayaking",
+    "rafting",
+    "fishing",
+    "beach"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Western Siberia"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [
+    "Mongolia",
+    "Bayan-Ulgii Province",
+    "Ölgii",
+    "Altai Tavan Bogd National Park",
+    "Tsambagarav National Park"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 856,
+  "listing_count": 0,
+  "marker_count": 9,
+  "chunk_count": 13,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}

corpus/amalfi-coast/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk000", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|350px|Pastena\nThe **Amalfi Coast** lies in the southwestern region of Campania, Italy. For its extraordinary beauty and its iconic medieval cliffside Mediterranean fishing villages, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk001", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Cities", "text": "*From west to east*\n\n### On the beach\n\n### In the mountains\n\n \nThis is one of the best places you can visit in the summer as it is hot and offers lots of facilities", "word_count": 34}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk002", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Amalfi Coast is a stunning beauty with its steep sloped lemon tree gardens and coloured terrace houses and stunning views and azure sea. It is south east of Naples starting from Sorrento stretching almost to Salerno. Along the coast line you will find places like Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello, each of them stunning beauties with their own flair. Prices are high compared to Naples.\n\n### Climate\n\nThe Amalfi Coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. The winter months are characterized by pleasant daytime temperatures and variable weather. Summers are sunny and dry. Overall, although it gets a lot of sunshine, the Amalfi Coast also receives abundant rainfall, as shown by its lush vegetation.", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk003", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most trips to Amalfi are done by boat, commonly people use Naples as a transit point, but you can also take ferries from Capri, Salerno and Paestum during the summer months. \n\nTaking your car is discouraged because of the road size and lack of parking. During the summer there may be limitations on the road for tourist buses: e.g. sometimes the road along the coast is one way only for tourism buses from Sorrento to Salerno.", "word_count": 76}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk004", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Get around", "text": "Many people rent the ubiquitous scooters, which is an indeed a good option, if you have previous experience, otherwise the heavy traffic and narrow roads makes this a bad place to learn.\nTo reduce traffic, a mandatory alternating license plate system applies on the SS163 road during peak season. Cars with odd ending numbers cannot enter on odd days, and vice versa. Rental cars are included.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are many agencies offering boat excursions along the coast and to Capri.\n\nFerries are also available to access major towns on the coast, including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno. Ferry tickets can be purchased by the docks.\n\n \n \n\n### By bus", "word_count": 110}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk005", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "See", "text": "The Amalfi coast is renowned for its diversity; every town has its own character and interesting sites. The most noticeable places to visit on the Amalfi coast are:\n\n The Duomo (the cathedral) in Amalfi, and its cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso in Italian) \n The church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano \n The churches of San Salvatore del Birecto and of Santa Maria Maddalena in Atrani \n Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in Ravello \n The churches of San Luca and San Gennaro in Praiano and their viewpoints\n The church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini and its viewpoint \n The church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa in Minori\n The Fjiord of Furore with the Mulino Cartiera (Paper Mill) and the \"Monazzeni\" of Anna Magnani & Roberto Rossellini Furore", "word_count": 128}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk006", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Do", "text": "- Sentiero Degli Dei\n\nHiking trips along the mountain paths (see Positano)\nRiding by bike along hill paths\nLocal festivals and events information: Amalfi coast", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "amalfi-coast::chunk007", "doc_id": "amalfi-coast", "section": "Go next", "text": "Visit nearby Herculaneum and Pompeii.\n Climb Mount Vesuvius\n Visit Paestum\n Visit Naples\n Visit Capri\n Visit Ischia, an island outside Naples.\n Visit Praia a Mare, about 150 km south of the Amalfi Coast.", "word_count": 32}

corpus/amalfi-coast/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "amalfi-coast",
+  "title": "Amalfi Coast",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Amalfi_Coast",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "fishing",
+    "beach"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Salerno (province)"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [
+    "Herculaneum",
+    "Pompeii",
+    "Vesuvius",
+    "Paestum",
+    "Naples",
+    "Capri",
+    "Ischia",
+    "Praia a Mare"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 558,
+  "listing_count": 1,
+  "marker_count": 13,
+  "chunk_count": 8,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/amman/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk000", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Amman** (Arabic: عمان *ʻammān*) is the capital and largest city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with a population of about 4 million as of 2020. Amman forms a great base for exploring the country and does, despite popular belief, hold a few items of interest to the traveler. The city is generally well-appointed for the traveller, reasonably well-organized, and the people are very friendly.\n\nAlthough not seen as much when in the air over Amman, the city holds many surprises for the visitor. Anything can be found in Amman if one asks. Visit Amman's Roman Amphitheatre or stay in a luxurious hotel. Shopping malls are abundant in Jordan. With new construction in Abdali, in a few years the high-end traveller could eat in the most high-end restaurant, stay in a five star hotel or shop in massive malls, all a few metres from one another. Much less is being done to cater to the budget traveller, although urban beautification in the city centre (old town) is cleaning it up and making it more pedestrian-friendly.\n\nAmman is experiencing a massive (some would say: reckless) change from a quiet sleepy village to a bustling metropolis, some of whose neighbourhoods seem hell-bent on wanting to imitate Dubai. Amman's roads have a reputation of being very steep and narrow in some of the underdeveloped parts of the city but now the city has state of the art highways and paved avenues. The steep terrain and heavy traffic remains challenging for pedestrians and for the rare cyclist. New resorts and hotels dot the city and there are many things for the traveller to see and do. Use Amman as a staging point for travels to nearby cities and settlements in Jordan.\n\nAmman's ancient roots date its origins to biblical times. Referred to as the City of Seven Hills, the Jordanian capital's cityscape includes a collection of modern-style houses, mosques, souks and ancient historic ruins.", "word_count": 320}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk001", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Understand", "text": "A city built of white stone, Amman's growth has skyrocketed since it was made the capital of Trans-Jordan in the early 1920s, but especially after the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel when hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees settled there. Another wave arrived after the second Iraq war, with Iraqi refugees forming the majority of newcomers.\n\nthumb|Ammonite watchtower\n\nIts history, however, goes back many millennia. The settlement mentioned in the Bible as Rabbath Ammon was the capital of the Ammonites, which later fell to the Assyrians. It was dominated briefly by the Nabataeans before it became a great Roman trade center and was renamed Philadelphia. After the Islamic conquests, Amman became part of the Islamic Empire, until the Ottomans were forced out by the Allies, with the help of the Hashemites, who formed a monarchy that continues to rule until the present.\n\nToday, *West* Amman is a lively, modern city. The eastern part of the city, where the majority of Amman's residents live, is predominantly the residential area of the working class and is much older than the west. While possessing few sites, Amman makes a comfortable base from which to explore the northwestern parts of the country.\n\nAmman is a very diverse city. Palestinian, Iraqi, Circassian, Armenian, and many other ethnic groups reside in Amman. Amman never stops growing.\n\nDespite the common assertion that most Jordanians understand English, that knowledge is quite limited. Charmingly, the most commonly known English phrase seems to be \"Welcome to Jordan\". The only non-Arabic language used in signposting is English, and you will find \"Tourist Police\" near the major monuments. It never hurts to know a few useful phrases and come prepared with a translation book, or to have the names and addresses of places you are going written in Arabic for use with a taxi driver.\n\nRemember if you're travelling during the holy month of Ramadan, it is almost impossible to buy food from sunrise to sundown even for tourists. Big shopping malls like City Mall don't let food stores like McDonald's, Sunset and Starbucks sell food during these hours.", "word_count": 348}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk002", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get in", "text": "*for comprehensive and complete visa details when entering Jordan in Aqaba or Amman, and possibilities to waive your visa fee.*\n\n### By plane\n\n*Early arrival*: If you have an early arrival flight and don't want to pay a full-day hotel for just 4 or 5 hr staying there, you can wait in the baggage claim hall at the airport. There are some 50 seats or so available—not too comfortable but acceptable.", "word_count": 70}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk003", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Getting there and away**:\n **By bus** – The Sariyah Airport Express bus leaves from a marked bus stop on Level 1 (Arrivals) and costs 3.30 JD. It runs *from* the airport around the clock every hour on the hour, with additional half-hourly departures 08:30–17:30. It is necessary to purchase the ticket from a kiosk outside the airport exit—the kiosk is easily identified after exit but often only takes cash and frequently does not have enough change for larger bills. As of 2025, payment by card seems to work. Note that during night time there is no service *to* the airport. Additionally, this service may be run by a minibus with extremely limited seating and space for baggage. For most travellers staying in inner Amman, this is a cost effective option to bring you into the city, where you can then call an Uber or Careem for 1–3 JD to your hotel, or leave at the terminus (Northern Station / Tabarbour) and take the BRT (Bus Rapid Transfer) to the Jordan Museum for 0.610 JD. Beware that taxis tend to crowd the bus stops, especially at the final stop, the North Bus Station. These taxis will generally overcharge and very aggressively attempt to sell to you on arrival, including boarding the bus to tell you they are the official taxi service. They are not!\nThe route is: QAIA – 7th Circle (after 20-30 min) – Six Circle – Fifth Circle – Fourth Circle – Housing Bank Complex – Tabarbour North Bus Station (after 45-60 min).\nFrom the 4th Circle, where the bus will turn north, it is possible to catch a taxi (1-1.5 JD) from the bus stop to your hotel, but beware of taxis drivers trying to rip off the newly arrived traveler. Or just walk the last 1-2 km.\nNote that if you are travelling with luggages, you might not be allowed to go out of the bus wherever you want. With luggages, the only officials stops are 7th Circle and Tabarbour North Bus Station.\n **By ride hailing** – **Uber** and **Careem** operate in the city, and while the fare is usually around 15 JD, rides have to be caught upstairs at the departures level. It can be quite expensive and unpredictable to catch an Uber from the city back to the airport. A ride at certain times of day, such as rush hour in the morning, may cost upwards of 25 JD. Furthermore, a driver may accept the fare, take some time to arrive, and then decline the fare upon arrival after realizing that the destination is the airport. Repeatedly searching for a driver could cause a significant delay to your arrival at the airport for your flight.\n **By taxi** – Taxi transportation from the airport to Amman should cost around 22.5 JD. You can pay by card for a ride at the taxi station booth, making the need to exchange or withdraw money at the airport with its high commission costs unnecessary. Airport taxi fares are fixed. The fare is only fixed from airport to city: the taxi driver might try to secure a ride from you from the city back to the airport, often with a massive inflated price. It is not hard to get a ride from city to airport for 20 JD. If the driver is trying to charge more, make your stand and say no.", "word_count": 556}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk004", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get in", "text": "Very occasionally, regional or charter flights use , centrally located in east Amman a few kilometers beyond the railway station. You may also want to consider arriving and departing Aqaba airport and then continue with an intercity bus—in summer there might be cheap flights there. Also, you may be entitled to a free visa.\n\n### By bus\n\nFrom:\n **West Bank** and **Israel** – For information on coming in via the **Allenby/King Hussein Bridge** border crossing, see Jordan.\n Damascus, **Syria** – JETT runs buses every day \n Baghdad, **Iraq** – JETT runs several buses per week.\n Jeddah or Riyadh, **Saudi Arabia** – As of December 2019 there are no bus services.\n\n### By train\n\n#### From Syria\n\nScheduled services within Jordan and to Damascus have been suspended by Hedjaz Jordan Railway, and they are unlikely to resume. Train excursions run occasionally, as do local services to Zarqa. Neither operate more often than once per week, if at all. Amman's tiny, charming railway station (Mahatta) with its museum is worth a look even if you do not (or cannot) take a train.\n\n#### From Saudi Arabia\n\nTrains do not yet enter Jordan, but you can take a train from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat, from where you can continue into Jordan. For more details, see Jordan.\n\n### By taxi\n\nA taxi from the Palestinian border crossing bridge can cost 25 JD and takes one hour, depending on which of the three border crossing points you use.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk005", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get around", "text": "### On foot\n\nSome areas of Amman are not easily navigated on foot. Be aware when walking through areas of Amman that are not familiar to you because the walkable route might be inconvenient. Unlike other cities frequented by tourists, tools such as Google Maps may not provide an easily traversable route even when used in walking mode. In this case, a walk that appears to be only a few minutes on Google Maps my take half an hour or longer due to unforeseen obstacles. For example, in some areas of Amman you may encounter roads that quickly become highways/expressways, roads up very steep hills, roads that lack a functional sidewalk, roads that have sidewalks but not functional pedestrian crossings at busy intersections, parts of sidewalks that are heavily obstructed by vegetation, and crossings that require the use of an overpass that is far away. It is not impossible to walk in Amman, but some areas of the city are designed primarily for vehicle traffic and it is better to arrange for a ride.\n\n### By taxi\n\nYellow and grey taxis are readily available and can be easily found anywhere in Amman. Hail them in the street as Jordanians do. Taxis for Amman will have a green logo on the driver and passenger doors. The grey ones have an advertisement on top of the car. Resist hailing cabs with another color logo; these cabs are based in other cities and it is illegal for them to pick up fares in Amman. White taxis are shared, and the driver can pick up other fares along the way, which can lead to confusion.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk006", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis in Amman are required by law to use meters and most drivers will reset the meter as soon as a fare is picked up. Most trips within Amman should be under 2 JD, and even a ride from one end of town to the other should not cost more than 5 JD. Taxis are not required to use meters after midnight and drivers often expect double the normal fare for late night trips.\n\n**Beware** of drivers offering to give you a short ride \"for free\" as a \"Welcome to Jordan\", especially if you're walking between the Citadel and the Roman Theater; they will then offer to wait for you to take you to your next stop, and will use the \"free\" ride as an excuse not to start the meter. They will then charge you exorbitantly when you arrive at your next stop. Also, be wary of the private cars posing as taxis around the bus stands and stations. They will offer their services asking you to pay as much as you want but later on insist on pocketing more money from you. In case you get one, insist paying the standard price which should not be more than 2–3 JD, anything more is a rip-off.", "word_count": 205}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk007", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get around", "text": "The base rate for the taxi meter is 250 fils, however, some taxis may use old meters which charge 150 fils, it is legitimate for the driver to ask you for 10 extra piasters (100 fils) on top of the quoted meter fare. Make sure though that you note the initial fare as soon as the driver turns the meter on in order not to have the driver ask you for \"the 10 piasters\" when he has a new meter. Drivers are not normally tipped, instead the fare is simply rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 piasters. Many drivers do not carry much change, so exact change should be given when possible.\n\nIf a driver is pretending he has no change, it is likely that he just wants to keep it, so that you'll have to pay more. If you mind this, ask the driver to find a nearby shop and get change or get the change yourself from a shop or (if you don't mind being rude) look into their money box to find the change yourself.\n\nThe going, negotiated rate for a taxi from Amman to the airport is 20 JD or more, although some drivers can be talked down to 15 JD or even 10 JD (which would be close to the metered rate). All taxis are allowed to take passengers to the airport; only special Airport Taxis may take passengers from the airport into town.\n\nIf you are visiting the Citadel, call it al'Aqal. The driver may try to convince you that the Roman theater is nicer so that he can drop you off there at the bottom of the hill. It's best to be dropped off at the Citadel and walk down the hill to the Roman theater.", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk008", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Uber** and **Careem** operate in Amman in the same way as anywhere elsewhere. It is best to select the Uber option as opposed to taxi, and card payment as opposed to cash to avoid being asked for more money by the driver. Ubers and Careem are quite cheap, and in most of the core of the city will cost just 1–4 JD depending on distance and demand. Consider tipping if you can, especially since both apps tend to price on distance—given the difficult streets in Amman, it can often mean much longer actual routes than it may seem on a map.\n\n### By car rental\n\nThere are several car rental companies located in Jordan some will even give you a driver for free if you book a car rental with them. Some of these are Hertz, Sixt Rental Cars, and National.\n\n### By bus\n\nBig, municipal buses serve many parts of Amman. They are used by low-income workers, working-class youth and foreign workers, but are perfectly safe. As of January 2011, the fare was 380 fils. Pay the exact fare (or overpay); bus drivers have no change! You can also load a bus fare cash card with a few JD and swipe the card past a reader as you enter the bus, but places to buy and recharge the card are rare. As of 2025, you can also simply swipe a MasterCard or Visa. Sometimes it doesn't work if you are in a tunnel for instance. In that case, just wait and the bus will reconnect to the internet network when leaving the tunnel, making the payment possible.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk009", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Get around", "text": "Since a few years, there is a very efficient BRT network (Bus Rapid Transfer) for only 610 fils. With its own roads, it avoid most of the traffic jam. Moreover, it connects the Northern Station to downtown (close to the Jordan Museum), which is very useful if you sleep downtown.\n\nMost buses are numbered; some display their destination in Arabic only. Bus no. 26 conveniently travels between the old town (Balad) and the 7th Circle along Zahran Street. No. 27 goes from the old town towards the posh Abdoun neighbourhood. No. 43 passes near Shmeisani (as does no. 46) and continues along Mecca Street towards Mecca Mall. Many bus stops are marked by bus shelters, but buses also drop passengers at unmarked spots wherever it is safe to stop. Private minibuses shadow the municipal buses. They do not display route numbers, but a conductor usually shouts out their destination.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nBike tours are a good way to see the local scenery and meet local cyclists. There are a couple of bicycling tour firms in Amman.\n\n- Tareef Cycling Club\n\n- Cycling Jordan", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk010", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Roman theater in Amman\nthumb|Umayyad Palace\n thumb | Mosque at the Cave of 7 Sleepers \n\nAlthough the capital of a diverse kingdom, Amman is not what one would call \"packed\" with things to see, making it a great gateway to explorations further afield. Even so, the city does hold a few items of historical and cultural interest (allow maximum 2 days to see them).\n\n### In the city\n\n - Amman Citadel\n\n - Jordan Archaeological Museum\n\n - Temple of Herakles\n\n - Umayyad Palace\n\n - Byzantine Church\n\n - Roman Theater\n\n - Roman Nymphaeum\n\n - Ammonite Watchtower\n\n - Rainbow Street\n\n - Darat al Funun\n\n - Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts\n\n - The Jordan Museum\n\n - Abu Darwish Mosque\n\n - King Abdullah I Mosque\n\n - Al Bishara Greek Orthodox Church\n\n - Cave of the Seven Sleepers\n\n - Royal Automobile Museum\n\n### Around the city\n\n - Wadi al-Seer\n\n - Iraq Al-Amir\n\nDay trips can be done to the Desert Castles **Amra**, **Kharaneh** and **Azraq** in the east, about 30-50 km from Amman around the nearby city of Azraq.", "word_count": 173}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk011", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Do", "text": "See the **sunset** from the view point near the Citadel. But pay also your attention to the time of the muezzin call. If you listen to it from the view point, where the whole city lies before you, you get the unforgettable acoustic impression.\n Due to accelerated growth the past several decades, the styles of living differs considerably as one travels from east to west throughout Amman. Visitors desiring a more exotic and traditional experience should explore \"Old Amman\", the central downtown, or , which features many souqs, shops, and street vendors. Also known as the *Souq* with traditional sights and smells of the spice market, and shop for authentic souvenirs. Take a walk through the narrow alleyways and corners and negotiate (haggle) the price with friendly vendors. A maze of streets with everything from a fruit market to spices, souvenirs, clothes, hardware. Drink a cool glass of Sugar Cane juice, watch the talented young men make artistic sand designs inside the glass bottles, go and smoke a shisha (hubbly bubbly) in any of the numerous street cafes. Enjoy some tasty falafel in the famous Hashem cafe, enjoy a mansaf dish at Jerusalem restaurant or a nice slice of tasty Kanafe from Habibeh sweets. Busy crowded streets with the real taste of Jordan.\n **Abdali**, a section of downtown Amman, is being transformed into a modern center for tourists and natives. The plan includes a broad pedestrian boulevard where visitors can shop, eat, or do numerous other activities. New office buildings and residential hi-rises have been built, and more are on the way. The massive, modern Abdali Mall draws Amman's young and monied.\n The **cultural scene** in Amman has seen some increased activities, notably cultural centers and clubs such as Makan House, Al Balad Theater, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, Remall, and Zara gallery. Around the 1st of September the Jordan Short Film Festival takes place.\n - Amman Waves Aqua Park and Resort\n\n### Learn\n\nThere are many universities one can study in. Irbid, Madaba, and Aqaba also hold many educational institutes for foreigners. Jordan's universities are world-renowned and respected for their hospitality and methods of instruction.", "word_count": 355}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk012", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Buy", "text": "All ATMs charge a relatively high fee for withdrawing money. In Jordan you can withdraw money from your credit card in various currency exchange places. A reliable and low-priced currency exchange service is Alawneh Exchange. They have multiple locations in the city, including downtown. They charge a low percentage fee for withdrawing money from your credit card. Many locals use that agency. You need to show your passport.\n\nthumb|Wakalat Street\nIf it's **shopping** you're after, then the pedestrian offers a wide selection of international brand names to choose from. Furthermore, there are the , Jordan's biggest shopping mall, the older and huge aimed at women (walking distance from City Mall), the (also aimed at women), the , and , for those seeking indulgence and the odd US$500 to spare—all designer names.\n\nAmman has numerous antique dealers littered throughout the city. Those in the western parts of the city will most likely be served by those with a competent grasp of the English language, but you run the risk of the items being a bit overpriced.\n\nthumb|clothes market at bus station\nSome interesting, original *souvenir items* that one may consider taking home are:\n a keffiyeh, the traditional checkered headpiece of Jordanian men\n an antique brass tea/coffee pot, distinctly Middle Eastern with its artistic etching and curved spout\n olive wood carvings of various objects or figures can be purchase nearly everywhere\n hand-crafted Jordanian daggers\n hand-made Bedouin-style embroidered clothing\n spices.\n\nAlso **Rainbow Street** is populated with small antique stores, clothing, restaurants, sheesha tea shops and the well-known Falafel al-Quds, reputedly the \"best\" falafel in the Middle East (some Saudis even financed the opening of one in Saudi Arabia). Further down the street you will find a small park that overlooks the city. Further still on a side street, during the warmer months, is a side-walk flea market. At the end of this street and down some stairs you will find Wild Jordan.", "word_count": 319}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk013", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Eat", "text": "Amman features many different styles of restaurants, from traditional Middle Eastern fare to more familiar Western fast food and franchises. Prices range from ultra-cheap to moderate, depending on one's taste buds. For those on a budget, Arabic food is very affordable and can be obtained everywhere.\n\nArabic food generally consists of several general basic groups. Meat dishes will generally consist of lamb or chicken; beef is more rare and pork is never offered. Shwarma, which is cooked lamb meat with a special sauce rolled in piece of flat bread, is a local favorite. Rice and flat bread are typical sides to any meal. Jordan's specialty, *mansaf*, is a delicious lamb and rice meal, typically eaten with your hands. Arabs serve plenty of cucumbers and tomatoes, many times accompanied by a white yoghurt sauce. Another favorite is chick pea-based foods such as falafel, hummus, and fuul.\n\nOne of Amman's most famous local foods restaurant is **Hashem** in the downtown. This restaurant is one of the favourites of the Royal family and you will see a lot of photographs of the Royal family of Jordan dining in this literal hole-in-the-wall. See the listing below.\n\nIn an alley off King Faisal St. is **Habibah**, which serves traditional east Mediterranean sweets such as baklava, but is most famous for serving a traditional dessert known as *knafeh nabelseyyeh* in reference to its origin from the Palestinian city of Nablus. 800 fils for a \"half quarter kilo\", which is enough for one person (Oct 2018). The original store is easy to spot with the long queue spilling onto the street: if you're just there for the food rather than the vibe, try the new extension that opened 100 m further up on King Hussein St.\n\nDo not forget the good surprises coming from the countless shawarma outlets and other very cheap places.\n\n### Budget\n\nAll these are in the city center:\n\n - Zahret Al Madaen Restaurant & Butchery\n\n - Pizza Roma Cafe\n\n - Rouhi AlAqili Restaurant\n\n - Shahrazad Restaurant\n\n - Auberge restaurant\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Shawermat Reem\n\n - Lebnani snack\n\n **Books@Cafe** - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see. (updated May 2022)\n - Hashem\n\n - Jafra Restaurant & Cafe\n\n### Splurge\n\n - La Maison Verte\n\n - Levant\n\n - Cantaloupe\n\n - Fakhr al Din\n\n - Sufra\n\n - Noodasia\n\n - Kan Zaman", "word_count": 456}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk014", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Drink", "text": "For the coffee lover, Amman's **Starbucks** locations (Swefieh, Abdoun, Taj Mall, City Mall, Mecca Mall, Abdali Mall) offer various mugs, tumblers, and to-go cups with distinctive Jordanian and Middle Eastern flair.\n\nThose who crave **gourmet coffee** have a number of choices along Rainbow St. off of First Circle in Jabal Amman with other shops sprinkled throughout the city.\n\n**Alcoholic beverages** (beer, wine, liquor), can be purchased in liquor stores across the city. Most are distinguishable by an advertisement for Amstel or some like beverage outside. There are also bars up and down Rainbow St. in Jabal Amman and throughout Abdoun. Drinking age is 18 but some bars and cafes might card you and admit 21+ customers only.\n\nJordan's national beer is aptly called **Petra Beer**, and there are many liquor shops and kiosks around Amman where you can find it. There are two types: 'black' and 'red', which have 8% and 10% alcohol percentage respectively. The red is usually slightly more expensive than the black, but you should expect to pay 2-2.5 JD for a can at a shop. You will often find that bars prefer Amstel and other international brands and do not have Petra beer available.\n\nThe local spirit is **arak**, an aniseed or licorice flavoured spirit similar to the Greek ouzo. At 50% alcohol by volume, it is usually served with water and ice, causing the clear liquid to become milky white. \n\nFor **night clubs** and bars visit the cosmopolitan West Amman where many Western and American franchises operate here. The nightlife in Amman is not as vibrant as other Middle Eastern cities like Beirut or Tel Aviv, however, there are a few clubs and bars in Amman.\n\n - Picadelli Pub\n\n - La Calle\n\nthumb|new and old downtown\n - Jafra Café\n\n - Maestro Bar\n\nThe main places people who live in Amman spend time during the evenings are hookah shops.\n - Al-Mawardi", "word_count": 314}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk015", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Amman has the full range of accommodation options from very basic 1-star accommodation to luxurious 5-star facilities.\n\n### Budget\n\n - Cliff Hostel\n\n - Farah Hotel\n\n - Jordan Tower Hotel\n\n - Sun Rise Hotel\n\n - Sydney Hotel\n\n - Normas Hotel\n\n - Zidian Hotel\n\n - Palace Hotel\n\n - Canary Hotel\n\n - Abbasi Palace Hotel\n\n - Al-Harmin Hotel\n\n - Amman Castle Hotel\n\n - Amman Pasha Hotel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Al Fanar Palace Hotel\n\n - Beirut International\n\n - Beity Rose Suites Hotel\n\n - Crystal Suites Hotel\n\n - Gardenia Hotel\n\n - New Park Hotel\n\n - Gallery Guest House\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Bristol Hotel\n\n - Four Seasons Amman\n\n - Grand Hyatt Amman\n\n - Intercontinental Amman\n\n - Kempinski Amman\n\n - Amman Marriott Hotel\n\n - Le Grand Amman\n\n - Regency Palace Hotel\n\n - Le Royal Hotel Amman\n\n - Sheraton Amman", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk016", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Stay safe\n\nCompared with other capital cities, Amman is a very safe place to visit. Jordanian police and the military maintain a tight grip on law and order. Personal safety is high in Amman - it is safe to walk anywhere in the city at any time of day or night. Serious crime is extremely rare. In 2005, some major hotels were targeted by bombers (connected with the conflict in Iraq). Security measures at all major hotels were increased as a result.\n\n**LGBTQ travellers**: While laws criminalising homosexuality have long been repealed in Jordan, before even most of the West, Jordanian society at large remains broadly more socially conservative and LGBTQ acceptance is still rather low. No openly or officially gay bars or clubs exist in Amman as of 2023, and LGBTQ travellers are encouraged to exercise discretion. \n\n### Embassies\n\nMany details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/jordan\n\n - Australia\n\n - Belgium\n\n - Canada\n\n - China (People's Republic of)\n\n - Czech Republic\n\n - Egypt\n\n - Delegation of the European Union to Jordan\n\n - French Embassy\n\n - Germany\n\n - Greece\n\n - Hungary\n\n - Indonesia\n\n - Iran\n\n - Italy\n\n - Netherlands\n\n - Norway\n\n - Philippines\n\n - Romania\n\n - Russia\n\n - Sweden\n\n - Switzerland\n\n - Turkey\n\n - United Kingdom\n\n - United States", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk017", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Go next", "text": "The bus stop at the **7th circle** is less than 100 m south of the circle. This stop serves the airport, Madaba (0.75 JD), Kerak and others. The small yellow \"airport express\" labeled bus is easily recognized and the driver will also stop on other places if you wave at him. To reach the 7th circle from downtown take bus 41 or any headed to Wadi As-Seir and ask to be dropped of at Dawaar As-Saabe'a (7th circle). Many buses going by the 7th circle also take a turn at the 4th circle coming from Trababour Bus Station.\n\nThe **Trababour Bus Station** serves all destinations to the north and to the western border. To get there from downtown, take Serviis (a sedan car that works like a bus) #6 from Raghadan Tourist Service Station (Raghadan Al Seyaha) which is located right next to the Colosseum. The Trababour Bus Station is the last stop on the Serviis' route.\n\nMany budget hotels like Palace or Farah organize day tours for about 16-18 JD which seems a sensible price, but they do not include entrance fees which could be important. These tours are open to people who don't sleep at the hotel. Classical tours are Jerash, Ajlun, Um Qais, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism site, Dead Sea, and Castles.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk018", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Go next", "text": "Cities:\n Madaba — Just 45 min away and known as the 'City of Mosaics' for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at St. George Church. 0.75 JD by bus from the 7th circle.\n Jerash (and Ajlun (Ajloun) Castle) — An ancient Roman City. Besides Petra and Wadi Rum, the most famous site in Jordan. 1 h, 0.75 JD from Trababour Bus Station. Get off right before the Hippodrome, 1 km before the bus station, and enter down the side road through the museum. A private taxi from Amman can be hired for 8-10 JD one-way. Expect to pay as much as 40 JD for a return trip and taxi driver staying on site while you look around. Ajlun Castle is only a short side trip from Jerash, either by bus from the junction south of the Hippodrome or by Taxi.\n Umm Qais — A town north, close to the ruins of the ancient Gadara. Best reached by (rental) car or taxi.\n Dead Sea — Mt. Nebo (1 JD) and Jesus' Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas) on the Jordan River are essentially on the way, so consider them as well if you have your own car or taxi. The Dead Sea Amman City Resort is about 20 JD with free showers and swimming pools, but no lockers, towels or mud. Taxi services for travel to the Dead Sea can be purchased for the day 20 JD if you hail a cab from downtown, down town hotels charge 35 JD for the same service. There are a handful of bus lines that also run from Amman on a daily basis. Bus from Mujaharin bus station to Rame costs 1 JD. A taxi from Rame to Amman Tourist Beach 4 JD or less. JETT offers a daily shuttle from Amman Abdali via 7th circle to the Dead Sea and back for 10 JD one-way, online pre-booking recommended.\n Petra — The most famous site in Jordan. JETT buses, both ordinary and all-inclusive guided tour, connect via the fast (but boring) Desert Highway. It leaves at 6:30 from the JETT bus office at Abdali and in 3.5 hr you'll get to the bus station not even 5 minutes from the entrance of Petra. At 17:00 the JETT bus takes off again to go back to Amman. The price is 8-10 JD one way. Time tables of the JETT Bus: http://www.jett.com.jo/SubPage.aspx?PageId=230{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} Also, from the South Bus Station Petra can be reached by tourist buses: they tend to leave when they are full, from 08:30 onwards (3½ hr, 4-5 JD). Another option, go via Ma'an (7 JD) into Wadi Musa (0.5 JD) (town of Petra). Furthermore, for 75 JD or less (depending on how much you haggle) you may be able to get a private taxi from Amman to Petra and back, including the driver waiting around for 6 hr.", "word_count": 467}
+{"chunk_id": "amman::chunk019", "doc_id": "amman", "section": "Go next", "text": "Countries:\n **West Bank** and **Israel** — For information on travelling directly from Amman using the **Allenby/King Hussein Bridge**, see Jordan.\n\n**Syria** — There were two operators (one of them called Challenge) each providing two daily services to Damascus (Sumariya-Terminal) from Amman for SYP500 (SYP50 student discount). The tour takes at least 4 to 5 hr, depending on border formalities. **However**, considering the current situation in Syria, it is not recommended you head into this direction.", "word_count": 75}

corpus/amman/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "amman",
+  "title": "Amman",
+  "type": "city",
+  "continent": "Middle East",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Amman",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "desert"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Northern_Jordan"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Madaba",
+    "Jerash",
+    "Ajlun",
+    "Umm Qais",
+    "Dead Sea (Jordan)",
+    "Petra",
+    "West Bank",
+    "Israel",
+    "Jordan",
+    "Syria"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 5469,
+  "listing_count": 97,
+  "marker_count": 10,
+  "chunk_count": 20,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/amsterdam/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk000", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Amsterdam** is the capital of the Netherlands. It is known for the canals that cross the city, its impressive architecture, museums and art galleries, its notorious red light district, and more than 1,500 bridges.\n\nThe city has earned the title of *Venice of the North* for a good reason: few other cities have intricate web of canals, exquisite architecture, and a staggering collection of over 1500 bridges weave an undeniable charm. Whether you're here for the rich cultural heritage, the vibrant nightlife, or the serene alleyways, Amsterdam's magnetic pull is universal.\n\nAlthough once an innocuous and humble fishing village during the late 12th century, Amsterdam catapulted into global prominence during the 17th century as a bustling trading hub. The city's evolution birthed iconic districts like Jordaan and the Canal Belt, the latter earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 2010. The 19th and 20th centuries ushered in expansion, punctuated by modernist districts.", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk001", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "With a population surpassing 934,000 in 2025 – and soaring well past a million when you account for the immediate surroundings – Amsterdam unquestionably holds the crown as the Netherlands' largest city. Numbers aside, Amsterdam is the financial, cultural, and creative heart of the nation. English is widely spoken and understood by almost everyone, so language barriers are rarely an issue for travellers.\n\n### Orientation\n\nthumbnail|300px|Corner of Keizersgracht and Reguliersgracht\nThe \"Amsterdam\" that most visitors experience is the city centre, the semi-circle with Centraal Station at its apex. It corresponds to the city as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the Binnenstad: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Singelgracht, together forming the Canal District. Other districts inside the city centre are the Jordaan, a former working class area now popular with yuppies, and Plantage, a leafy and spacious area with botanical gardens and the zoo. The Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade and Mauritskade surround the city centre and mark the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870.\n\nThe semi-circle is on the south side of the IJ, which is often called a river but more exactly is an estuary. Going east from Centraal Station, the railway passes the artificial islands of the redeveloped Eastern Docklands. North of the IJ is mainly housing, although a major dockland redevelopment has started there too.", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk002", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "The river Amstel flows into the city from the south. Originally, it flowed along the line Rokin-Damrak. The dam in the Amstel, which gives the city its name, was located under the present Bijenkorf department store near Dam Square. The original settlement was on the right bank of the Amstel, on the present Warmoesstraat: it is therefore the oldest street in the city. The city has expanded in all directions, except to the northeast of the A10 ring motorway. That area is a protected rural landscape of open fields and small villages considered a part of the Waterland region.\n\nThe radius of the semi-circle is about 2 km. All major tourist destinations, and most hotels, are located inside it or just outside it. As a result, a large swathe of Amsterdam is not visited by the average tourist: at least 90% of the population lives outside this area. Most economic activity in Amsterdam—the offices of the financial sector, the port—is near or outside the ring motorway, which is 4–5 km from the centre.\n\nThe expansion of Amsterdam outside the ring motorway and the expansion of activity outside the city centre is redefining what locals consider the 'central area' of Amsterdam. Zuid, especially with the construction of the Noord/Zuidlijn and the Zuidas, is becoming more and more important in the daily lives of the locals. Its significance for tourists has increased by the now completed reconstruction work on the Museumplein and the adjoining museums.\n\n### History", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk003", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|Begijnhof\nAmsterdam was first referred to as *Aemstelledamme* (\"dam on the Amstel\") in 1204, and known as *Aemsterdam* by 1327. It was first part of Utrecht, and around 1300 Gwijde van Henegouwen, bishop of Utrecht, gave Amsterdam city rights. After his death, the city was inherited by Count William III and became a part of Holland. Two fires swept the city in 1421 and 1452, and few wooden buildings from this period remain. A notable exception is the *Houten Huis* (Wooden House) at the Begijnhof.\n\nIn 1558, the Dutch started to revolt against the Spanish as the local nobility demanded more political power and religious freedom. Amsterdam supported the Spanish, but as it became more and more isolated and trade suffered accordingly, it switched sides in 1578. A relative freedom of religion emerged in the newly established Dutch Republic, and many migrants sought refuge in Amsterdam, including Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, merchants from Antwerp and *Huguenots* (French Protestants). Catholicism could not be practiced openly.\n\nAmsterdam prospered in the 17th century and became one of the world's great cities. A global trading network and overseas possessions made Amsterdam the centre of shipping in Europe and the world's leading financial centre. The arts flourished too, with great painters like Rembrandt producing works that are widely acclaimed as of this day. The city expanded outside of its original boundaries as the Canal Belt was constructed for wealthy merchants and the Jordaan for the working class. Immigrants formed the majority of the population and there was a strong immigration from Lutheran Protestant Germans.", "word_count": 260}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk004", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Dutch Republic was not a unitary state, but a confederation in which the independent provinces and the larger cities were politically autonomous. There was a strong animosity between the Orange faction with its power base in The Hague and the republican faction with Amsterdam as its most outspoken representative, up to the point that the city was beleaguered by the army. The Orange faction supported the idea of hereditary political leadership vested in the princes of Orange as Stadtholders, while the republican faction supported civic independence. This long-standing culture of republicanism and non-conformism against the political elites in The Hague exists to this day.\n\n300px|thumbnail|Royal Palace\nThe 18th and 19th centuries were a turbulent period for Amsterdam. The economy suffered from decreased trade opportunities with the colonies and ongoing wars with the United Kingdom and France. Napoleon's brother Louis was crowned King of Holland in 1806 and took possession of the city hall on Dam Square, from then on referred to as the Royal Palace. The Netherlands was fully annexed by France in 1810, and Napoleon crowned Amsterdam \"third city\" of the French Empire. Prussian and Russian troops liberated the Netherlands, but it remained a unitary state and a monarchy, that now included Belgium.\n\nWhile The Hague had functioned as *de facto* capital of the Republic, Amsterdam (together with Brussels) became the new capital of the Kingdom. The appointment of Amsterdam as the new capital was a conciliatory gesture of the Orange faction towards the city and a recognition of the strong civic and republican basis of the new Kingdom. The Hague remained the seat of government and the political centre of the country. When Belgium seceded in 1830, Amsterdam became the sole capital and got the rights to trade with the country's overseas possessions.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk005", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "The North Sea Canal and Noordhollandsch Kanaal connected Amsterdam's harbour directly with the Rhine and the North Sea. The Industrial Revolution arrived around 1860, which led to strong economic growth, but also to overpopulation as the city could not cope with the sudden demographic surge. The Jordaan was a notorious working class slum in this period, and neighbourhoods like De Pijp were built to provide housing as cheaply and quickly as possible for the lower middle class. Social issues that arose in this period made Amsterdam the centre of social democracy in the country.\n\nIn World War II, German troops occupied the city and more than 100,000 Jews were deported to death camps, most famously Anne Frank. The diamond trade, before the war one of Amsterdam's top industries, almost completely disappeared as these businesses were mostly in the hands of Jews. The cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s changed Amsterdam radically. Soft drugs were tolerated, squatting became commonplace and riots with the police occurred on a daily basis. The coronation of Queen Beatrix in 1980 turned violent as protesters demanded a stop to the housing demolition that took place for the construction of Amsterdam's first metro line.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk006", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "In subsequent decades, Amsterdam has lost some of its revolutionary appeal, becoming a centre for wealthy yuppies. Once poor districts like the Jordaan became upper class districts, and poorer inhabitants moved out of the centre to the outer boroughs and other cities. The city's once progressive ideals have faded as squatting is cracked down on, coffeeshops are increasingly closed and prostitution is outlawed outside of the Red Light District. However, it is still a progressive and tolerant city by international standards. Its culture of republicanism and non-conformism are going through tough times as well, but the ubiquitous \"Republic of Amsterdam\" street signs show that it remains a defining characteristic of the city.\n\n### Climate\n\nAmsterdam is a large city and a major tourist destination, so you can visit it all year round. However, in winter the days are short (8 hours of daylight around Christmas between 08:45 and 16:30), and the weather may be too cold to walk around the city comfortably, let alone cycle. January and February are the coldest months, with lows around and highs around . Snow does occur a few times each winter, but it's often light and rarely stays on the ground more than a couple of days.\n\nIn summer, heat waves (3 days above ) are common, as is a temperature of with rainfall. July and August are the warmest months, with an average temperature of at daytime and at night. Days with very high temperatures above are often followed with nights around or above . Sunsets are as late as 22:00 and sunrise is around 05:30 during the summer.", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk007", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Understand", "text": "Neither summer nor winter constantly have the mentioned values. Always be prepared for rain. On average, it's raining one in every two days, but it might well be raining the full week of your trip if you visit during winter. Gray clouds cover Amsterdam most of the time, but in spring and summer the sun shines six to eight hours a day on average.\n\nKing's Day (*Koningsdag*) is always celebrated on 27 April, unless this date occurs on a Sunday (then it's celebrated the Saturday before). The weather on King's Day is usually quite good, with temperatures hovering around . If it's raining, there will be considerably fewer people on the streets.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- I amsterdam Visitor Centre\n\n- I amsterdam City Card", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk008", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nFlying to other airports than Schiphol could prove cheaper as some budget airlines have their base in Eindhoven or Rotterdam. Buses and trains can be used to get to Amsterdam, and renting a car is also an option. Taxis are not advisable, a ride from Rotterdam costs about and from Eindhoven a whopping .\n\nFrom **Eindhoven Airport** (), take a local bus (Bravo/Hermes bus 400, using an *OV-chipkaart or OVpay* or bus 401, ) to Eindhoven Centraal train station (2025 prices). Both buses have a frequency of four-six times per hour, duration about 25 minutes. From there take a train to Amsterdam Centraal (duration approx 1 hr 15 min, frequency four times per hour, single ) (2026). Combination tickets for bus and train are available as etickets or on the NS vending machines (choose Eindhoven Airport as destination).\n\nFrom **Rotterdam The Hague Airport** (), take a city bus (RET airport shuttle bus 33, duration 25–30 minutes, frequency every 10–20 minutes, using the *OV-chipkaart* or OVpay) to Rotterdam Centraal train station. If you change to metroline E from bus 33 at Meijersplein to Rotterdam Centraal, it will save you 5–10 minutes, (2025). As a trial, bus 533 runs between the airport and Meijersplein between 10:00–16:00, 2 times per hour.\nFrom Rotterdam Centraal, take a train to Amsterdam Centraal (duration about an hour, frequency every 10–20 minutes, single , 2026).\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|300px|The facade of Amsterdam Centraal railway station\n\nMost trains arrive and depart from\n\nOther important train stations in Amsterdam are Amstel, Bijlmer ArenA, Sloterdijk and Zuid. Most international trains run directly to Amsterdam Centraal. The Eurocity Direct from Brussels stops at Amsterdam Zuid.\n\nThere are several options to pay your train fare within the Netherlands.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk009", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)** is the main (domestic) train operator for travel to much of the country. Trains to more distant locales may require change of train in another city or town and may be less frequent. They also offer international service to neighbouring countries in cooperation with Belgian Rail (Belgium) and Deutsche Bahn (Germany). See below:\n The **ICE Berlin** runs 5 times a day and connects Amsterdam with Osnabrück, Hanover, and Berlin (5 hr 51 min). A Bordrestaurant coach is available on each train. Tickets can also be bought via Deutsche Bahn\n The **Eurocity Direct Brussels** runs up to 16 times a day from Brussels (2 hr 8 min) and Antwerp (1 hr 23 min) and takes a bit longer than the Eurostar. However, the prices are usually lower than Eurostar and a good alternative coming from Belgium. Please note: this train stops at Amsterdam Zuid instead of Amsterdam Centraal. Depending on the location of you accommodation, this might be beneficial.\n **ICE International** connects Amsterdam up to seven times each day with Düsseldorf (2 hr 6 min), Cologne (2 hr 20 min), and Frankfurt (3 hr 46 min). There is a BordBistro coach available on each ICE train. Nightjet runs nightly from Zürich, Vienna, and Innsbruck via Basel, Frankfurt and Cologne. Tickets for all are available through Deutsche Bahn (DB).\n **Eurostar** runs a daily high-speed service from London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal. The journey is approximately 3 hr 40 min, and prices start at £35 one way. You should arrive between 90 and 30 minutes prior to departure to clear border control. Passengers travelling from Brussels can also book Eurostar journeys to Amsterdam. Tickets are sold on the Eurostar website.\n **Eurostar** (formerly Thalys) also runs a high-speed service that connects Amsterdam with Paris Gare du Nord (3 hr 19 min), Brussels Zuid/Midi (1 hr 54 min), and Antwerp Centraal (1 hr 12 min). These trains run up to ten times a day. The cheapest tickets are sold early, so book in advance if possible. There is a bar coach available; if you're travelling in first class, a snack and drinks are included in the price. Eurostar also stops at Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam.", "word_count": 344}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk010", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you plan to take a train to Amsterdam, it's advisable to check the train times in the international journey planner. Most tickets are sold online, and often it is cheaper to book tickets in advance. Tickets are also sold at the international ticket offices at Amsterdam Centraal and at Schiphol Airport.\n\nComing from Germany with the **Deutschland-Ticket**, you can take the RE19 e.g. from Düsseldorf/Duisburg to Arnhem. From Arnhem, a direct Intercity leaves every 30 min to Amsterdam Centraal (, 2026); four other connections per hour require a cross platform transfer at Utrecht Centraal. Alternatively, you can take the Flixbus to Amsterdam\n\n### By bus\n\nFrequently served intercity bus stops are:\n\nReachable by Bus 22, tram 19, trains and metro line 50 and 51. The Amsterdam Sloterdijk stop is at the bus platforms at the Piarcoplein, on the north side of Sloterdijk station. Please follow the signs \"Piarcoplein\" in the station.\n International buses share a bus stop with EBS buses on Hoogoorddreef, (\"Hoogoorddreef/Atlas\") which is located outside the busstation under the train and metro platforms. This stop is between the Europlaza tower and the multistorey car park P9.\n\nThere are dozens of daily international bus services. Nearby international destinations in Germany, Belgium and France (Paris and Lille) and London are served at high frequency. Their stops and stations are located at the Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station, the airport and/or another locations:\n\n- RegioJet\n\nThere are only a few long-distance national bus services in the Netherlands, and apparently none to Amsterdam Centraal. Bus 300 connects Haarlem train station with Hoofddorp, Schiphol Airport, Amstelveen and Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA.\n\n### By car", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk011", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get in", "text": "The western part of the Netherlands has a dense (and congested) road network. Coming from the east (Germany), motorway 25px directly leads to Amsterdam. If you're taking motorway A12 from Arnhem, change in Utrecht onto the A2 in the northern direction. From the south (Belgium), follow motorways A16, A27 and A2, in that order in northern direction. From The Hague, the A4 leads to Amsterdam. All motorways to Amsterdam connect to the Ring motorway, the A10. From this motorway, main roads lead radially into Amsterdam (the roads S101 through S118).\n\nIn most cases, you'll want to avoid getting into the area enclosed by the ring road. Traffic is dense and parking spaces are expensive and difficult to find. Instead, when on the A10, follow the signs to one of the '''P+R'''-spots (P+R Zeeburg to the east, P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA to the southeast, P+R Olympisch Stadion to the south, P+R Noord to the north, and P+R Sloterdijk to the west). Here you can park your car and take public transport to the city centre. There is a rate of a day. To benefit from the discounted rate, you need to use a OV-chipkaart or disposable GVB OV-chipkaart: OVpay or QR-tickets are not accepted. Please note: the last check-in or transfer must be within the city centre zone.\nYou can park for free at a few places that have metro or tram stops nearby (e.g. IKEA near metro station Bullewijk).\n\nThe speed limit on Dutch motorways is 100 km/h during the day and 130 km/h during the night, except where indicated. On the A10 ring motorway around Amsterdam, the maximum speed is 100 km/h, and 80 km/h on the Western section. These limits are strictly enforced and there are many speed cameras.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk012", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get in", "text": "The is close to the city centre but is only used for cruise ships. The nearest ferry port is IJmuiden, where ferries from Newcastle upon Tyne dock. DFDS Seaways offers daily overnight ferry services from Newcastle upon Tyne (more specifically, North Shields) in the United Kingdom.\n\nOther ferry services dock at Rotterdam Europoort (ferry from Hull) and Hook of Holland (ferry from Harwich). These are about 70 km away from Amsterdam. Intercity and Intercity Direct trains run direct from Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal every 10 to 15 minutes taking approximately 1 hr 15 min. See the National train operator NS website for booking and information.\n\nFor the Stena Line ferry to Harwich: from Rotterdam Centraal, change for Rotterdam Metro Line B direct to Hoek Van Holland Station where you will be able to walk onto the Ferry. See Rotterdam RET website for tickets and information. For P&O to Hull: there is no public transport however Taxis are readily available at Rotterdam Centraal. P&O offer some coach options via their website.", "word_count": 167}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk013", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Amsterdam's city centre is quite compact, and pretty flat, so you can easily get to most tourist destinations *on foot*. From Amsterdam Centraal, most areas in the city centre can be reached within half an hour.\n\nPublic transport within the city is operated by the **GVB**. The tram is the main form of public transport and there is a metro and dozens of bus routes. Most routes operate from 06:00 (06:30 Saturdays and 07:45 Sundays) until around midnight. There are a few overnight bus routes as well. Regional buses, and some suburban buses, are operated by Connexxion and EBS.\n\n### Tickets\n\nFor many years, an *OV-chipkaart* provided the only way to pay transportation fees in the city. However, as of 2023, fees may be paid at the station or on the tram, bus, or NS train by using a contactless '''credit or debit card''' *(OVpay)* either on a card or on a mobile device. Many travellers find their bank card easier than buying and keeping track of an *OV-chipkaart*, as they do not have to obtain, maintain, and monitor the balance on the contactless card. User procedures (tapping in and out) on both kinds of cards are the same. To travel with a contactless card or an *OV-chipkaart*, you have to check in at the start of your journey and check out at the end by holding the card in front of the card reader.\n\n#### Alternative payment options\n\nBesides using a debit or credit card, you have other options: an OV-chipkaart, an OV-pas or the GVB app.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk014", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Three types of *OV-chipkaart* are available:\n **Personal card** on which you can load money and weekly, monthly, or yearly subscriptions. You can also load GVB hours, day and multi-day tickets on the card.\n **Anonymous card** on which you can load money that can be spent on public transport\n **Disposable card** that can be used for a limited period of time (an hour or a few days)\n\nThe first two types of cards come with no credit included and cost and expires after 5 years. To travel in the city you have to top up such a card for at least before a journey begins. A *disposable* card, on the other hand, already has a *product* bundled with it, but it can not be re-used after this product expires.\n\nAnonymous and disposable *OV-chipkaarts* can be obtained from GVB vending machines in most metro stations (cash only, except on line 52), from the desks at some larger stations (including Amsterdam Centraal) and some shops. Additionally 1-hour disposable cards can be bought on a tram at the tram conductor but only PIN (debit and credit) cards are accepted to purchase them on board. After purchasing disposable cards from the tram conductor, you must check in and check out with that card.\n\nThe OV-pas is being phased in since 2025 as a replacement for the OV-Chipkaart and is only available as a personal card. The OV-pas is slightly cheaper than the OV-Chipkaart and also expires after 5 years.\n\nTickets can also be purchased through the GVB mobile app - just scan the QR code on your mobile at the card reader.\n\n#### Season tickets", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk015", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "For those who stay in Amsterdam longer, one of the *day or multi-day passes* could be a useful option. You can get them for 24 hours up to 168 hours. This allows the holder to travel on an unlimited number of journeys on the tram, metro and bus throughout the validity period of the pass. Travel passes can be loaded on the anonymous cards but existing credit on such cards cannot be applied towards the purchase of a pass. These passes are not valid on buses operated by Connexxion, EBS and Keolis. These passes can be purchased at tourist offices (at Schiphol Airport and just outside Amsterdam Centraal), many hotels and GVB ticket offices. Additionally, a one-day pass can be purchased from the conductor on a tram (but not on a bus).\n\n- GVB cards\n\nIf you stay longer in Amsterdam, you can buy discounted monthly tickets online or at ticket sale points which are cheaper. GVB tickets are not valid on trains or Connexxion bus 197 to Schiphol Airport. You can use them on GVB bus 369 to Schiphol but it's quicker to get there by train.\n\nAlternatively, you can buy:\n - Amsterdam Travel Ticket\n\nOr\n **I amsterdam City Card** is a good option that combines museum entries.\n\nOr even\n - Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket\n\n### By metro\n\n400px|thumb|Amsterdam Metro Map", "word_count": 221}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk016", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "There are five *metro* lines in Amsterdam, including a short underground section in the city centre, that serves the suburbs. It takes 15–20 minutes from Centraal Station to Zuid or Bijlmer ArenA in Zuidoost. However, in practice, M50, M51 and M53 all act as branch lines of M54 (including sharing the same tracks). The 5th metro line, the Noord/Zuidlijn (M52 North–South Line), finally opened in 2018, and the only line to functionally act as a separate line. It's an underground metro line that connects the north of Amsterdam directly with the south of the city through the city centre, hence the name.\n\n### By tram\n\nthumbnail|right|Amsterdam tram & metro system\nThe tram network has 15 lines and it is considered the major carrier in the central area of the city. Amsterdam Centraal is the largest hub of the tram system with 8 tram lines terminating there. is the next largest hub with 7 tram lines passing through. Tram lines 5 and 25 serve the neighbouring municipality of Amstelveen, and tram line 19 serves the neighbouring municipality of Diemen. Many metro stations provide connections with nearby tram lines.\n\nAll tram stops have a detailed map of the system and the surrounding area. You can also get a free public transport map at the GVB ticket office (just outside Amsterdam Centraal).\n\nMost trams these days have conductors, near the rear of the tram. Board by the driver or the conductor. If you have questions, the conductor will be sure to respond to your query. You can buy 1-hour, 24-hour, and 48-hour tickets from the conductors.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk017", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Just like the tram and metro, local buses are operated by the GVB. There are also suburban buses to nearby towns such as Haarlem and Uithoorn; these are operated by Connexxion or EBS (the company name and house style is prominent on the bus side) and can be used within Amsterdam if you travel with an *OV-chipkaart* or *OVpay*. Enter buses only via the front door. Generally, almost all bus routes operate very frequently throughout the week.\n\n### By boat\n\nThere are several **ferry** services across the IJ river, between the city centre and Noord, the most frequent runs every 7 minutes. They all leave from a new jetty on the northern (rear) side of Amsterdam Centraal. All ferries are free of charge and provide nice views of the harbour and skyline.\n\nThe nicest one is the 15-min service to the NDSM-werf, a funky, up and coming, industrial neighbourhood with a nice cafe-bar (IJkantine), restaurant (Noorderlicht), indoor skateboard park, and the Pancake Boat (*Pannenkoekenboot*) which sails many times each week. Ferries leave every 30 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal and from the NDSM-werf. Double frequencies during rush hours.\n\nYou can also hop on the ferry to Buiksloterweg, and then make a short walk to the EYE Film Institute for its architecture and free exhibition in the basement.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nA pleasant way to cover a lot of ground is to rent a **bicycle**. There are approximately 750,000 people living in Amsterdam and they own about 800,000 bicycles. The city is very, very bike-friendly, and there are separate bike lanes on most major streets. In the city centre, however, there is often not enough space for a bike lane, so cars and cyclists share narrow streets.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk018", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Cycling is the main mode of transport for most locals in the city and traffic is high paced. Be mindful of your surroundings and consider that if you don't have much experience cycling, you might be more comfortable using public transport or walking.\n\nCyclists do not have the right of way even though it might appear like that when observing the typical Amsterdammer's cycling behaviour. Be very careful and watch out for other cyclists. Always show other traffic where you're going (e.g. by holding out your hand) in order to avoid accidents and smoothen the traffic flow. If not indicated otherwise by signs, the right-before-left rule applies.\n\nAvoid getting your tyre in the tram rails; it's a nasty fall. Always cross tram rails at an angle. When crossing tram lines, watch out for fast-approaching taxis, which have a rather ruthless driving style. Let none of the above deter you from doing it the Amsterdam way. Rent a bike! There are bike rental shops at railway stations and several others in and around the city centre. Bikes cost about to per day. Bring wet gear.\n\nA good map for cycling routes, repairs, rentals and also public transport is *Amsterdam op de fiets* (a Cito-plan). Bicycles can be taken for free on all ferries across the IJ, on all metros, and on some carriages of tram 26 with a bike supplement fee on the *OV-chipkaart* ( in 2025, not allowed in rush hours). Use the special bike racks, locations indicated by a bicycle sign on the outside of the carriage.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk019", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Make sure to get a good lock (or two), and to use it. Amsterdam has one of the highest bicycle theft rates in the world. If you are buying a bike, prices that seem too good to be true are stolen bikes. Any bike offered for sale to passers-by, on the street, is certainly stolen. There's an old Amsterdam joke: when calling out to a large group of cyclists passing by \"Hey, that's my bike!\" about five people will jump off \"their\" bikes and start running.\n\n- A-Bike Rental & Tours Vondelpark\n\n- Black Bikes\n\n- Frederic\n\n- MacBike\n\n- Rent a bike Damstraat\n\n- OV-fiets\n\nThe bicycle is a good way to explore the surrounding countryside. Within half an hour you're out of town. Go north, take the ferry across the IJ and cycle to Waterland. Or go south, into the Amsterdamse Bos, a giant park, or follow the river *Amstel* where Rembrandt worked. You can also take your bike onto the metro to the end of line station *Gaasperplas*, and cycle along rivers and windmills to old fortified towns like Weesp, Muiden and Naarden.\n\n#### Cycle routes\n\nAmsterdam Highlights by Bike (13 km) - Discover the best of Amsterdam in one cycle tour\n Amsterdam Amstel Cycle Route (54 or 46 km) - Idyllic rivers, villages and forts.\n Marken Cycle Route (51 or 45 km) - Former island on the doorstep of Amsterdam.\n\n### By e-hailing\n\nThe ride-hailing services of Uber and Bolt are available in Amsterdam. With them you can avoid a lot of the problems associated with taking an Amsterdam taxi from busy areas (Centraal Station/Leidseplein) and at peak evening hours.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk020", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Taxis in Amsterdam are plentiful but expensive. Hailing taxis on the street is generally not to be recommended unless you are going to a well-known destination (e.g. Centraal Station or Schiphol). The liberalization of the taxi market in Amsterdam led to an influx of taxi drivers who have little or no clue of where they are going and who drive erratically and dangerously (e.g., driving on bicycle lanes instead of the main road or ignoring red lights). Tourists are advised to stick to public transport if at all possible. Get into a taxi only if you know the route yourself and are able to give directions to the taxi driver and if you know roughly how much the journey ought to cost so you don't get cheated.\n\nSome drivers, traditionally at Centraal Station or Leidseplein, will refuse short trips or will quote outrageously high fares, even though all taxis are metered. Even if you convince the driver to use the meter, he will often take a circuitous route that racks up or more on the meter. For reference, no trip within the historic centre should cost more than or so.\n\nThe Netherlands (and Amsterdam) is in the middle of a huge taxi liberalization scheme which has been jarring to all involved. After many missteps, the government has introduced an unusual pricing scheme. First you feel sticker shock as the initial fare is now . Luckily, that includes the first 2 km of travel and there is no charge for waiting in traffic. If you need to run in somewhere, you need to negotiate a waiting fee with the driver. 50 cents per minute is customary.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk021", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "Unlicensed, illegal cabbies operate mainly in Zuidoost. These aren't easily recognized as such, and most certainly don't drive Mercedes cars. They are known as *snorders* and most easily reached by mobile phone. Rides within Zuidoost (the Bijlmer) range from to , whereas Zuidoost-Centre can run up to . *Snorders* have a shady reputation, so consider their services only if you are adventurous.\n\nStaxi offers fixed fares for every pre-booked taxi ride.\n\n### By car\n\n**Cars** are anything but miserable torture only outside the historic centre; within the historic centre, public transport is by far your best bet. In Amsterdam, a car is generally a liability and not an asset, as traffic is dense and parking spaces are quite expensive and very hard to find. Use a car only if you are going to an obscure location many kilometers out that is not served by public transport, or during the less busy times of the day or week, you may want to park near the Centraal Station and take the tram or walk. Driving here is a pain: many of the streets are narrow, the traffic (and parking) signs are baroque and obscure, and cyclists and pedestrians may get in your way. Plus, petrol is about to per liter.\n\nParking on the street at the city centre can reach as much as an hour (2025)! Luckily there is a cheaper way, specially if you are going to park for more than a couple of hours. Mobypark is a shared parking platform where you can find and book parking in the centre of Amsterdam as well as some great P+R location like RAI Amsterdam", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk022", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Get around", "text": "You can also try parking at one of the secured parking garages, for example under Museumplein, or near Centraal Station, and then walk around the city centre, or get on a tram. Car parking is very expensive in Amsterdam and it's often hard to find a place to park. You can choose to pay by the hour or for the whole day. Parking is free outside the centre on Sunday—there is always a spot available on the Albert Cuypstraat (which is a market during the rest of the week). From there, it is a 5-minute tram ride or 15 minutes walk to the city centre.\n\nYou can park for free in some parts of Amsterdam outside the city centre though this is slowly changing. Parking is still free in some areas in Noord, and you can take metro 52 from Noord or Noorderpark to the city centre. Another option is to park your car outside the city centre at a Park and Ride facility, as described in the Get in section.\n\nPopular car rental chains operate in a smaller capacity in Amsterdam, including Avis and Budget. Free2move has 400 all-electric cars available within and around the city.\n\n### By ice skates\n\nIce skating is a longstanding tradition in the Netherlands, and you will sometimes see locals skating down the canals when they freeze over in the winter. However, the ice has to be thick enough for you to be able to do this safely, and this requires temperatures to stay below continuously for at least 2 weeks. Take the cue from the locals, and only skate when you see large numbers of locals doing so. Also, be particularly careful near bridges as the ice tends to be thinner there. If you see the locals avoiding a particular area, you should too.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk023", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "### Architecture\n\nthumb|300px|Idyllic canals and houses with hoists\nthumb|300px\nAmsterdam has one of the largest **historic city centres** in Europe, with about 7,000 registered historic buildings. The street pattern has been largely unchanged since the 19th century—there was no major bombing during World War II. The centre consists of 90 islands linked by 400 bridges, some of them beautifully lit at night.\n\nThe inner part of the city centre, the Binnenstad, dates from medieval times. The oldest streets are the Warmoesstraat and the Zeedijk in the *Oudezijde* of the Binnenstad. As buildings were made of wood in the Middle Ages, not many of this period's buildings have survived. Two **medieval wooden houses** did survive though, at Begijnhof 34 and Zeedijk 1. Other old houses are Warmoesstraat 83 (built around 1400), Warmoesstraat 5 (around 1500) and Begijnhof 2-3 (around 1425). The **Begijnhof** is a late-medieval enclosed courtyard with the houses of beguines, Roman Catholic women living in a semi-religious community. Beguines are found in Northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and north-western Germany. House number 34 at the Begijnhof is the oldest home in Amsterdam. Entry to the courtyard and surrounding gardens is free, but be careful not to disturb the local community still living here.\n\nOne of the most prominent features is the Canal District, a concentric ring of canals built in the 17th century. The merchant-based oligarchy that ruled the trading city of Amsterdam built canal houses and mansions in the most prestigious locations here, especially along the main canals. Typical for the country are its traditional white draw bridges. The best example has to be the **Magere Brug**, which is over 300 years old and nearly in its original capacity. It is a beautiful place to overlook the river and take in some traditional Dutch architecture.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk024", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "The Jordaan was built around 1650 along with the Canal District, but not for the wealthy merchants. For a long time it was considered a typical working-class area, and included some notorious slums. The name probably derives from the nickname 'Jordan' for the Prinsengracht. Apart from a few wider canals, the streets are narrow, in an incomplete grid pattern (as the grid followed the lines of the former polders located here in medieval times). This district is the best example of \"gentrification\" in the Netherlands, becoming a hip boutique district.\n\nThere are several **large warehouses** for more specific uses. The biggest is the Admiralty Arsenal (1656-1657), now **Het Scheepvaartmuseum** at Kattenburgerplein. Others include the former turf warehouses (1550) along the Nes, now the municipal pawn office; a similar warehouse at Waterlooplein 69-75 (Arsenaal, 1610), now an architectural academy, and the warehouse of the West India Company (1642) at the corner of Prins Hendrikkade and 's-Gravenhekje. The city office for architectural heritage has an excellent online introduction to the architectural history and the types of historical buildings available. The website includes a *cycle route* along important examples.\n\n**Windmills** were not built in urban areas, since the buildings obstructed the wind. The windmills in Amsterdam were all originally outside its city walls. There are a total of eight windmills in the city, most of them in West. However, the best one to visit is **De Gooyer**, which is not far from the city centre, and is being used as a brewery. The only windmill fully open to the public is the **Molen van Sloten** in Sloten, a former village now part of West.\n\n### Museums", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk025", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "250px|thumbnail|Rijksmuseum\nAmsterdam has an amazing collection of museums. The most popular ones can get *very* crowded in the summer peak season, so it's worth exploring advance tickets or getting there off-peak (e.g. very early in the morning). Avoid the museums in the Binnenstad as these are mostly tourist traps. The quality museums can be found in Zuid, the Canal District and Plantage.\nThe museums in Zuid are located at the **Museumplein**, a square surrounded by quality museums. The country's national museum is the **Rijksmuseum**, a must-visit with a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Some artists that can't be overlooked are Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. The most widely regarded paintings are Rembrandt's **Night Watch** and Vermeer's **Milkmaid**. The museum also boasts a substantial collection of Asian art. Reopened after a reconstruction of about ten years, its renewed set-up is absolutely worthwhile, leading the visitor through the ages from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century.\n\nEven someone with little knowledge of art must have heard about Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose work had a far-reaching influence on 20th century art for its vivid colours and emotional impact. The **Van Gogh Museum** has the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world. The **Stedelijk Museum** is all about modern art, contemporary art and design. A newer addition to Amsterdam's already stellar set of art museums is the **H'ART Museum** in Plantage which has affiliations with Centre Pompidou, British Museum and Smithsonian American Art Museum.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk026", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "A major museum is the **Anne Frank House**, dedicated to Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who kept a diary while hiding from Nazi persecution in hidden rooms at the rear of a building in the Canal District (known as the *Achterhuis*). It's an exhibition on the life of Anne Frank, but also highlights other forms of persecution and discrimination. Amsterdam has hundreds of museums about pretty much every topic one could think of. They are described in the city's district articles.\n\nThe **Museumkaart** costs for adults and for those under 18 years old (2025). It covers the cost of admission to over 500 museums across the Netherlands and you can buy it at most major museums. You can opt for a digital or a physical card. Note that if you choose for the latter one and do not buy it in advance, you will be issued a temporary card that is only valid for 5 museum visits over a period of 31 days until you receive the permanent card, which can be mailed to a EU address after being registered. It is valid for an entire year. If you are going to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, those are and (2025) respectively, so this card can quickly pay for itself. The tickets to the major museums, including the audio guide, can be bought early from the tourist information desk at no extra cost. Alternatively, for short stays, you can consider buying the **I amsterdam City Card**, starting at (2025) per day, which includes \"free\" access to Amsterdam museums, public transport and discounts on many tourist attractions.\n\n### Churches and synagogues", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk027", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "Since the Middle Ages, the Netherlands has been a country with a relatively high degree of freedom and tolerance towards other religions and cultures, especially compared to other countries in Europe, with the major exception being the persecution of Catholics after winning the war with Spain and during and after the Eighty Years' War.  Between 1590 and 1800, the estimated foreign-born population was never less than 5 percent, many of them settling in Amsterdam. This led to a large migration of Jews, Huguenots (French Protestants), Flemings, Poles and other people to the city. Jews in particular had a large presence in Amsterdam, notably in the Jodenbuurt, though this quarter has changed significantly after World War II. The most prominent synagogue is **The Esnoga** (or *The Portuguese Synagogue*), built in 1675 in an austere Classicist style.\n\nAs the Netherlands was a Protestant nation, most of the churches are from this branch of Christianity. The oldest church in Amsterdam, the Netherlands-gothic **Oude Kerk** on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal at Oudekerksplein, is now surrounded by window prostitution. It was built in 1306, and became a Calvinist church after the Reformation in 1578. The **Nieuwe Kerk**, at Dam Square, dates from the 15th century and is now used for royal coronations and exhibitions. From the 17th century onwards, four compass churches were built that would serve the areas outside the Binnenstad.", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk028", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "The late-medieval city also had smaller chapels such as the Sint Olofskapel (circa 1440) on Zeedijk, and convent chapels such as the Agnietenkapel on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal 231 (originally 1470), now the University of Amsterdam museum. Later churches included the Oosterkerk (1669) in the eastern islands, and the heavily restored Lutheran Church on the Singel (1671), now used by a hotel as a conference centre. Catholic churches were long forbidden, and built again only in the 19th-century. The most prominent is the Neo-Baroque Church of St. Nicholas (1887) opposite Centraal Station. Also, investigate some of the \"hidden churches\" found in Amsterdam, mainly Catholic churches that remained in activity following the Reformation. A prominent hidden church is **Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder**. Well worth the visit. Two hidden churches still in use are the Begijnhofchapel near the Spui, and the Papegaaikerk in the Kalverstraat (both Catholic).\n\n### Modern architecture\n\n300px|thumbnail|\"Het Schip\", Amsterdam School architecture in the Zaanstraat\nSince there was little large-scale demolition in the historic city centre, most modern architecture is outside of it. Immediately outside the Singelgracht (the former city moat) is a ring of 19th century housing. The most prominent buildings from this period are the Amsterdam Centraal railway station (1889) and the Rijksmuseum (1885), both by Pierre Cuypers. De Pijp is a textbook example of 19th century revolution-build, cheap construction housing. The most prominent in architectural history are the residential complexes by architects of the **Amsterdam School**, for instance at Zaanstraat and Oostzaanstraat in West. The Amsterdam School is a style of Expressionist architecture that arose from 1910 through about 1930. Examples can be found in De Baarsjes in West and the Rivierenbuurt in Zuid.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk029", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "See", "text": "A completely different approach to architecture has been followed in the Bijlmer, a huge architectural project undertaken in the 1970s. A series of nearly identical high-rise buildings were laid out in a hexagonal grid with a strict separation of pedestrian and car traffic. It has been a revolutionary way of thinking in the architectural world, but within a decade the district started to make headlines with crime and robberies. As these high-rises are being torn down, the safety situation has improved, and now modern office buildings are taking their place.\n\nThe 1990s and 2000s also left its mark as a revolutionary time in architectural design. The **Eastern Docklands** is the largest concentration of modern residential buildings. The zone includes three artificial islands: Borneo, Sporenburg, and KNSM/Java-eiland. The latter has been designed as a modern re-imagining of the old Canal District. Across from it is the brand new Piet Heinkade and some adjoining projects. The largest concentration of box-like office buildings is in the Zuidas and in Zuidoost. Some spectacular buildings are Johan Cruijff ArenA (formerly Amsterdam ArenA) stadium and the new Bijlmer ArenA railway station.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk030", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Do", "text": "The locals spend their summer days in Amsterdam uncorking bottles of red wine in the **Vondelpark**. Every district in Amsterdam has at least one park, but the Vondelpark stands out for its size and convivial atmosphere. The neighbourhood best known for its trees and gardens is the Plantage. Besides leafy boulevards and grand mansions it also features the botanical gardens of the **Hortus Botanicus** and has **Artis Zoo** for the kids.\n\nAnother major patch of nature is **Amsterdamse Bos**, which, directly translated, means Amsterdam Forest, but is more like a giant park. Amsterdamse Bos also offers Fun Forest, a climbing trail between the trees, and the Bosmuseum about the forest, which is actually a lot of fun, especially if you're travelling with children. Both are near the main entrance in Amsterdam Zuid. Amsterdamse Bos is on the outskirts of the city, not far from Schiphol, partially in Amstelveen and Ouderkerk, and near Aalsmeer Nieuw Oosteinde.\n\nAmsterdam also has several **city beaches** in West (Zwemstrand Sloterplas), Noord (Pllek), Oost (Kaap and Strand IJburg), Zuid (Strandzuid) and Zuidoost (Gaasperplas).\n\nYou can also watch a film at one of the more than 55 **cinemas**. Rialto in Zuid and Kriterion in Plantage run a selection of art house and alternative films, and LAB111 in West often shows cult movies. The EYE Film Institute in Noord is dedicated to film conservation, but also has screenings and exhibitions.\n\n**Football:** AFC Ajax play soccer in Eredivisie, the Dutch top tier, and often win it. Their home ground is Johan Cruijff ArenA (capacity 56,120) 5 km south of the centre, metro and train station Bijlmer ArenA, which also hosts internationals. Their second-string team Jong Ajax (or \"Ajax 2\") plays in Eerste Divisie, the second tier, at Sportpark De Toekomst near the ArenA.\n\n### Canal cruises", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk031", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|300px|Magere Brug at night\nA **canal cruise** usually lasts from one to two hours. Commentary on the surroundings is given during the route. Departures from Prins Hendrikkade opposite Centraal Station, quayside Damrak, Rokin near Spui and Stadhouderskade 25 near Leidseplein. If it's a warm day, avoid the enclosed boats with glass ceilings—they get hot. You can also cruise the canals yourself with a pedal boat or rented boat.\n\n'''Eco Boats Amsterdam'''. Rent a private and eco friendly boat and cruise the canals yourself.\n '''Canal Motorboats.''' The oldest boat rental in Amsterdam. Rent a boat and drive it yourself. \n - Amsterdam Boats B.V.\n\n- Amsterdam Jewel Cruises\n\n- Boaty Rent a Boat\n\n- Boats4rent Boat Rental\n\n- Boatboys Private Boat Tours\n\n- Canal Company\n\n- Lovers Company\n\n- Sloepdelen\n\n- Amsterdam Boat Experience\n \n - Adam's Boats\n\n- Starboard Boats\n\n### Tram Tours\n\nOn Saturdays and alternate Sundays you can tour the city centre by vintage tram. Tours begin and end in Dam Square by the Nieuwe Kerk, it is not possible to enter or leave the tram at any other point on the route. Tours run every 30 minutes from 11:00 to 17:00 and last for about 30 minutes. Adults , for children under 12 and non-miniature dogs (2025). Due to the historic nature of the vehicles, the tour is not suitable for people with restricted mobility (no wheelchair space, steep steps to enter the car).\n\nFrom Wednesday to Sunday a tram converted into a restaurant departs at 18:30 from Amstel Station (Julianaplein) as The AmsterTram. The fare includes a seasonal five-course menu, served during a 2½-hour loop of the city (€119.95). Advance online booking (at least 48 h) is essential, and steep steps plus limited wheelchair space mean those with restricted mobility should contact the operator before reserving.\n\n### Festivals", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk032", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Do", "text": "Amsterdam is a cultural haven with year-round festivals for every pocket.\n\n**January/February**\n - Chinese New Year\n\n**April**\n - King's Day\n\n- KunstRAI\n\n**June**\n - Holland Festival\n\n- Taste of Amsterdam\n\n- Open Garden Days\n\n- Amsterdam Roots Festival\n\n**July**\n - Julidans\n\n**July/August**\n - Vondelpark Openluchttheater\n\n- Amsterdam International Fashion Week\n\n- VriendenLoterij SummerConcerts\n\n- De Parade\n\n**August**\n\n- Pride Amsterdam\n\n- Prinsengrachtconcert and Grachtenfestival\n\n- Sail Amsterdam\n\n**September**\n - National Restaurant Week\n\n**October**\n\n- Amsterdam Dance Event\n\n**November**\n\n- Museumnacht\n\n- PAN Amsterdam\n\n- International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA)\n\n- Imagine Film Festival\n\n**December**\n\n- Museumplein\n\n**December/January**\n\n- Amsterdam Light Festival", "word_count": 101}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk033", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Learn", "text": "Amsterdam has two universities, both offer summer courses and other short courses (with academic credits). It also has one venerable institute.\n\n - Universiteit van Amsterdam\n\n - Volksuniversiteit\n\n - Vrije Universiteit", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk034", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Work", "text": "Many people will find it difficult to get a suitable job if they do not speak Dutch. However, hostels and hotels in Amsterdam may need bar staff, night porters etc., who speak English and other languages. There are also specialist websites for English and non-Dutch speakers looking to work in Amsterdam and they are often a good place to start.\n\nImmigration matters are dealt with by the immigration service IND. Registration is done by both police and municipalities. Immigration policy is restrictive and deliberately bureaucratic, this is especially true for non-EU citizens.\n\nEuropean Union citizens do not require a work permit. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are afforded a one-year working-holiday visa. In general the *employer* must apply for work permits. Immigration is easier for higher educated (Bachelor's or higher) earning a gross annual salary of over (over for those under 30).", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk035", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Buy", "text": "300px|thumbnail|Tulips from Amsterdam\nThe main **central shopping streets** run in a line from Centraal Station to the Leidseplein: Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, Leidsestraat. The emphasis is on clothing and fashion, but there are plenty of other shops. These are not upmarket shopping streets, and the north end of Nieuwendijk is a bit seedy. English-language books can be found in the shops around **Spui**, and a used book market is held there every Friday. There is a concentration of Chinese shops in Zeedijk and Nieuwmarkt, and flowers can be bought at the **Bloemenmarkt**. However, do not buy bulbs there. They are usually too old to have even a slight chance of growing. Other concentrations of shops in the centre are Utrechtsestraat, Spiegelstraat (art and antiques) and Staalstraat (specialty shops).\n\nInteresting independent shops and boutiques are located in the side streets of the main canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht) and especially in the Jordaan. The **Haarlemmerstraat** and Haarlemmerdijk are claimed as best shopping streets in the Netherlands. The area around Museumplein in Zuid has Amsterdam's upmarket shopping streets. The **P.C. Hooftstraat** and the **Cornelis Schuytstraat** have the finest designer shops in the city. You can find designer shoes, health and well-being specialists, massage parlors, fashion boutiques, designer interiors, designer florists and specialist shops. The partly gentrified neighbourhood of De Pijp—around Ferdinand Bolstraat and Sarphatipark—is slowly becoming the 'second Jordaan'.\n\nStreet markets originally sold mainly food, and most still sell food and clothing, but they have become more specialized. The **Albert Cuyp Market** is the largest in Amsterdam, and the best-known street market in the country. The **Waterloopleinmarkt** is partly a flea market, partly an alternative and second hand clothing and accessories market. It is more oriented towards tourists than to locals. If you're looking for authenticity, visit the **Dappermarkt** in Oost or the **Ten Katemarkt** in West. Both have food, households, flowers and clothing, and have a multicultural flavor.\n\nIn the areas surrounding the city centre, the main shopping streets are the Kinkerstraat, Ferdinand Bolstraat, Van Woustraat, and the Javastraat. The most ethnically diverse shopping street in Amsterdam is the **Javastraat**. There are some toy stores and clothing shops for **kids** in the centre, but most are in the shopping streets further out, because that's where families with children live. Particularly IJburg has a good set of shops for families.", "word_count": 386}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk036", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Eat", "text": "250px|thumbnail|Bitterballen with mustard\nAmsterdam's culinary scene boasts a vibrant tapestry of flavours, offering a rich variety of dining experiences. The city unfolds as a treasure trove for those craving Asian cuisine, albeit catered to the milder local palate. Adventurous taste buds, fear not – it's not impossible to find spicy food.\n\nMost noticeably, a legacy of Dutch colonial history is woven into the dining fabric, evident through the profusion of Indonesian and Surinamese restaurants. Like other cities filled with tourists, Amsterdam's true culinary scene can be found along the quieter byways, where value and authenticity often intermingle away from the bustling tourist centres.\n\nThe Lange Leidsedwarsstraat (just off Leidseplein) has about five Italian restaurants that sell pasta or pizza for among many tourist traps. Many restaurants of all kinds can be found in the Haarlemmerbuurt. Also worth trying is the Van Woustraat in De Pijp, or continue to the Rijnstraat in the Rivierenbuurt. Exquisite but expensive restaurants can be found in the Utrechtsestraat. While there are exceptions, in general avoid restaurants along Damrak and be cautious around Leidseplein—they are well known tourist traps.\n\n### Asian cuisine\n\nAmsterdam's de facto Chinatown is at **Zeedijk**, near the bustling Nieuwmarkt square, where you can find a delightful array of Asian eateries, not limited to Chinese, Thai and Japanese restaurants. It contains many *tokos*, which are small East Asian grocery stores containing Eastern culinary treasures and aromatic spices. Chinatown also contains Indonesian and Indian restaurants, though the latter can get expensive, depending on your budget.\n\nBudget-friendly feasts can be found along the charming lanes of **Damstraat** and **Muntplein**, where many Middle Eastern establishments can be found.\n\n### Surinamese cuisine\n\nAmsterdam may not be your first thought when it comes to Surinamese cuisine, but nobody said you couldn't savour this relatively-unknown culinary delight. The best places to find Surinamese cuisine are Zuid and Zuidoost, especially along the eminent **Albert Cuypstraat**. Local favourites include *roti met bonen*, *moksi meti*, *petjil*, and the sweet finale of *bojo* as a dessert.\n\nA popular drink that you can't not try is *dawet* – it's a unique beverage crafted from milk, coconut and rose syrup, featuring delightful sago balls (kids also ostensibly like it). Although popularised in Suriname, its origins trace back to Indonesia – as such, you can find it in several Indonesian restaurants.\n\n### Local specialities\n\n**Cheese** can be bought at the Albert Cuyp Market, or at specialist cheese shops found around the city centre. Dutch cheese is traditionally firm, made in large wax-covered wheels, and falls into two main categories—young and old. There is a rich variety within these categories. Among the more unusual young cheeses is cumin cheese (*komijnenkaas*), which is particular to the Netherlands. Sheep cheese (*schapenkaas*) and goat cheese (*geitenkaas*) are also common. Old cheese can be made of any sort of milk, and is often reminiscent of Italian Parmesan in consistency and sharpness of flavour.\n\nCheck out **bitterballen**, fried breaded ragout balls, and **kroketten** (the same, but shaped like a cylinder), but take care not to burn your mouth. Also don't forget to try a **traditional herring** or a *broodje haring* (herring sandwich), available from fish stalls around the city. Herring in Amsterdam is usually served with onions and pickles. A good try is the fish stand on the Koningsplein near the Bloemenmarkt. **Syrup waffles** (*stroopwafels*) are made fresh at the Albert Cuyp. If you're visiting in late November or December, you can enjoy **oliebollen**, which are round blobs of sweet fried dough available with or without raisins (sultanas) embedded and dusted with powdered sugar.", "word_count": 592}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk037", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Drink", "text": "300px|thumbnail|''Bruin café'' in Amsterdam\nAmsterdam's famously wild nightlife caters to all tastes and budgets. The archetypical Amsterdam watering hole is the *bruine café* (\"brown bar\"), a neighbourhood bar of sorts with gorgeous dark wood panelling—hence the name—and booths. *Grand cafés* are more grand and spacious, and also serve small food portions. These usually have at least one long table with newspapers and magazines. Lounge and designer bars pop up across the city catering to the city's younger and more trend susceptible crowd. If you're a beer lover consider visiting a beer shop or tasting room in the Binnenstad or the brewery in Plantage. There are some excellent beers you can get from this part of the world such as wheat beer (*witbeer*).\n\nThe nightclubs in Amsterdam are not as rough as one might think. Many of them congregate around **Leidseplein** and **Rembrandtplein** in the Canal District. You can't go wrong at **Melkweg**, **Sugar Factory** and **Paradiso**, three live music venues that usually have large queues on weekends. Paradiso has the best interior, as it used to be a church, while Melkweg feels more like a nightclub. Sugar Factory is a little more intimate and is a multidisciplinary platform for young talent. **Jimmy Woo** is an impressive VIP-room, and a strict dress code applies. There are also some nightclubs in Oost, such as **Panama**, and near the Westerpark. Amsterdam's **gay nightlife** is not as vibrant it used to be, but there is still an active community in the **Reguliersdwarsstraat** in the Canal District. The annual **gay pride** in August is a fun event that can be attended by gays and straights alike.\n\n### Coffeeshops", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk038", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Drink", "text": "right|thumb|300px|\"Hash brownies\", cakes containing hashish, purchased at three different Amsterdam coffeeshops in 2007\nAmsterdam is renowned for its liberal **drug policy**. Coffeeshops (in English, but written as one word; not to be confused with coffeehouses or cafés) are allowed to sell **cannabis** and hash for personal use, i.e. not more than 5 grams. While still illegal, mostly to comply with international treaties, personal use of soft drugs is regulated by the Ministry of Justice under an official policy of *gedogen*. Literally this means *to accept* or *tolerate*; legally it is a doctrine of non-prosecution on the basis that action taken would be so highly irregular as to constitute selective prosecution. The city council of Amsterdam allows coffeeshops to operate only with the provision of set, non-transferable licenses as shown by an official green and white sticker on the window of a coffeeshop. Coffeeshops are to sell only soft drugs such as cannabis, selling of other drugs is not allowed. Also selling of dried hallucinogenic mushrooms is not allowed.\n\nThere are about 250 coffeeshops in Amsterdam, most of them in the Binnenstad. Marijuana is mostly sold in one-gram increments with a maximum limit of 5 grams per transaction. Prices hover around for 1 gram, with the average joint holding around 0.33g. Most coffeeshops are happy to recommend varieties and prepare your joint for you. Some offer vaporizers/inhalers for people who don't want to smoke. Smoking paraphernalia is usually available upon request. It is common practice not to smoke at a coffeeshop without purchasing something from the establishment first, be it coffee, a Coke, or marijuana. All coffeeshops do, indeed, sell coffee as well. ID is requested upon entrance to each establishment, and more often than not the only acceptable ID is a passport.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk039", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Drink", "text": "Many coffeeshops offer a 'smoking lounge' where soft drugs may be used. Despite the confusion on the subject, the country-wide smoking ban applies only to tobacco. However, since the Dutch commonly smoke tobacco mixed with their marijuana or hash, many coffeeshops, especially those unaccustomed to tourists, may require all smoking to be done in a separated smoking section or outdoors. Most central coffeeshops with large tourist clientèles will allow marijuana or hash smoking in their entire space, requiring you to smoke in the separated section only if your joint contains tobacco. Many coffeeshops also provide a non-tobacco herbal filler for those who find pure joints too strong. You may usually smoke joints containing this herbal filler anywhere within the coffeeshop although individual house rules may vary. If in doubt, always ask the staff.\n\nAmsterdam hosts the Cannabis Cup, the most important marijuana related event in the world every year during the week of Thanksgiving. The Cannabis Cup is organized by *High Times* magazine, and offers both tourists and natives the chance to enjoy 5 days of consuming and judging marijuana in different forms. Participants are eligible to pay $199 in advance or at the door to obtain a \"judges pass\", which allows entry to the event for all five days, admission to numerous concerts and seminars held during the event, the ability to vote on numerous awards that are handed out, and free bus tours to and from the event. Day passes are available for for each day, and certain concerts sell tickets at the door provided they are not already sold out.\n\n### Red Light District", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk040", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Drink", "text": "The Red Light District consists of several canals, and the side streets between them, south of Centraal Station and east of Damrak. It is known as *De Wallen* (the quays) in Dutch, because the canals were once part of the city defences (walls and moats). Prostitution itself is limited to certain streets, mainly side streets and alleys, but the district is considered to include the canals, and some adjoining streets. The smell inside can be nauseating especially if you detest the smell of cannabis or even tobacco - keep in mind especially if you're with a group, as it can be very difficult even with a mask on (pre-COVID, at least).\n\nThe area has many sex shops and peep show bars and is a common attraction for bachelors celebrating a stag night, both of which have become an eye-sore for most locals; if you ever get hassled, a firm and loud \"leave me alone\" will work most of the time. The whole area has a heavy police presence and many security cameras. Nevertheless, it is still a residential district and has many bars and restaurants, and also includes historic buildings and museums.", "word_count": 192}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk041", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Amsterdam has over 400 registered hotels of varying standards from budget facilities to some of the most expensive hotels in Europe. Advance booking is recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. Don't expect you'll find an affordable bed once you're here. Most hotels and hostels can be found in the Binnenstad, notably south of Centraal Station, and in Zuid around the Museum Quarter. Charming boutique accommodation can be found in the wealthy residential Canal District, home to the rich and famous and its squares are the prime nightlife spots of the city. The Jordaan is another area for hip boutique accommodations, slightly upmarket, but still for mid-range prices. Some cheaper hostels can also be found in the Red Light District.\n\nA simple bed in a hostel starts around on weekdays in the winter and up to on a weekend in the summer. Hostels often expect you to book at least 2 nights in a weekend. A twin room in a budget hotel, 1-2 stars, might cost around on weekdays in the winter and up to on summer weekends. In a three and four-star hotel, the prices would range from to , depending on season, and five-star hotels can cost between and a night. As a rule of thumb, summer is high season and price can be double compared to winter times. September and October tend to be cheaper months to travel.\n\nDo not expect a wide number of services from cheaper end hostels and hotels. Most of these do not have elevators and have the usual steep staircases; if you suffer from vertigo, do get an assurance that you will be getting a first or second floor room or book a hotel that has an elevator.\n\nIf you are looking for a reasonably priced hostel and cannot find any in whole Amsterdam (especially on summer weekends), check the hostels in Purmerend (Hostel 45, City Trip) and Zandaam (Room Mate, City Trip). They lie outside of the Amsterdam city borders and so aren't displayed if looking for accommodation in \"Amsterdam\" at online travel agencies. Still from all places you reach the centre of Amsterdam in 30min by public transport.", "word_count": 357}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk042", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|The iconic flag of Amsterdam\nIt might surprise some visitors, but Amsterdam is one of Europe's safest cities. It has an overall easy-going, laid-back feel and crime is not common. Amsterdam is female friendly, women can easily travel alone here and feel comfortable and safe. Gay and lesbian travellers also have little to worry about. However, you should take normal precautions against scams, pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate.\n\nWhat looks like a footpath, especially along a canal bank, may be a **bike lane**. Bike lanes are normally marked by red/purple tiles or asphalt, and a bike icon on the ground. However, the colour fades over time, so you might miss the difference. Don't expect cyclists to be kind to pedestrians: some consider the sidewalk an extension of the road, to be used when it suits them. Never stay or walk on the bike path or street for extended periods of time, as you will be greeted only by angry bell ringing. Keep in mind that for many Amsterdammers, the bike is their main means of transportation.\n\nWatch out for **trams** when crossing the street. Taxis are also allowed to use some tram lanes, and even if not allowed, they often use them anyway. If you're driving, always give way to trams unless you're driving on a priority road.\n\n### Canals", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk043", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Amsterdam's canals are picturesque and full of fun - but are also (by far) the single biggest cause of death to tourists in Amsterdam. On average, about 25 people drown every year in the canals, almost all of them tourists. Invariably the victims are male and fall in while attempting to urinate in the canal - often the bodies are found with open fly. Typically, there is a lot of alcohol involved, sometimes mixed with other drugs. There is some speculation that fainting due to dropping blood pressure caused by the combination of relaxation from relieving oneself and sudden exposure to cold may be involved, but generally being blind drunk and completely unstable is a perfectly adequate explanation. So: peeing in a canal is not only unhygienic and antisocial, it's also potentially lethal if you're under the influence. Please pee in the place you are drinking or failing that at an outdoor urinal. If you really can't find one, do it against a tree (risking a fine) rather than in a canal (risking your life).\n\n### Neighbourhoods\n\nThe city centre is generally safe. However, there are differences between the neighbourhoods. For instance, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the tourist traps of Amsterdam. They have relatively high prices with lots of scams. Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat had a reputation for gang violence and riots in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the security situation has improved significantly, and now they are safe to visit.", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk044", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be cautious in the **Red-Light District**. All kinds of people walk around there during the day, including families with children, but the area does attract seedier visitors and vagrants after sunset. As a tourist hotspot, the area attracts a lot of pickpockets. **Do not take photographs of the prostitutes**, you will be yelled at or worse. Groups of women visiting the Red-Light District at night might feel harassed in the aggressive environment, though this is said to be the safest area because of the police presence. Keep to main streets and groups. Although not really dangerous, women might want to avoid the narrow lane north of the Oude Kerk after dark, as the atmosphere can be quite intimidating.\n\nOther areas in the city centre are mostly safe, but can get pretty much deserted after midnight, so you might want to avoid walking alone there at night. This is also true for the Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, even though shops are lit all night.\n\nThe outer boroughs have profound differences in safety levels. Nieuw-West (especially Osdorp) and Zuidoost still have a bruised image regarding violence and harassment. Urban renewal projects have improved conditions, but you should still be aware of the situation. Noord also has some rougher neighbourhoods, but the rural parts are safe. Oost is largely safe, but there are some neighbourhoods east of Oosterpark where some travelers might not feel comfortable. Zuid is perfectly safe, even at night.\n\nNeighbourhoods with a bad reputation might still be worth seeking out, but be cautious at day and avoid at night. As most tourists only visit the city centre and Zuid, they do not have much to worry about except for the usual precautions (e.g. scams and pickpockets).\n\n### Cannabis and other drugs", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk045", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "It cannot be denied that many tourists come to Amsterdam for the coffeeshops. If you're not a smoker, and you really want to try, start with something light, make sure you don't have an empty stomach, and don't combine it with any other drugs or intoxicants, including alcohol. Be forthright with the counter person about your inexperience, they see it all the time. Go with an experienced person if you can. Regardless of the strength, your first experience can be quite a sensation at first, but will quickly decrease in intensity. You may want to plan to return to your hotel and \"hole up\" for a couple of hours until you become comfortable with the feeling. If you do find yourself too strongly under the influence—feeling nauseated, woozy or faint—drink orange juice or eat something sweet like cookies or candy, and get fresh air. Dutch-grown *nederwiet* (a.k.a. super skunk) is much stronger than you might expect, even if you are experienced. The THC level can be as high as 15%, twice the norm.\n\nQuality varies. Coffeeshops aimed at tourists are more likely to have overpriced and poor quality products. A simple rule of thumb is: if the place looks good and well-kept, chances are their wares will be good as well. Don't just enter a coffeeshop being overwhelmed that it's possible at all to buy and consume cannabis openly: be discerning as to the quality. Coffeeshops sell only soft drugs such as marijuana and hash—asking for other drugs is pointless because coffeeshops are watched closely by the authorities, and nothing will get them closed faster than having hard drugs for sale.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk046", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There's a small chance you will be approached by people offering to sell you hard drugs in the street, especially as you are walking through the Red-Light District. Ignoring (or failing that, a firm refusal) is enough—they will not pester you. The selling of drugs in the street is illegal and often dangerous; moreover, the drugs sold to strangers are usually fake. When they invite you to see the goods, they can lure you into a narrow street and rob you.\n\nThe usage of **magic mushrooms** (except truffles) has been forbidden since December 2008. So-called **smartshops** do not sell any illegal products, but a range of dietary supplements, including 'herbal ecstasy'—a legal attempt at an ecstasy pill alternative which is a complete waste of money with various more or less obscure psychedelic herbs and, despite the change in the law, one type of magic mushrooms. It is the latter which causes problems, as people often underestimate their strength. Magic mushrooms have few physical risks attached to them, but can have a very strong short-acting psychological effect, which can either be great or very distressing, depending on your own mindset (e.g. if you are relaxed, have any serious worries, history of mental illness, etc.) and your surroundings (e.g. if you feel comfortable and safe in them).", "word_count": 215}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk047", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The first time you try this should always be in a familiar and trusted environment, not on the streets of an unfamiliar city. If you do decide to try, please get informed first. Conscious Dreams, the company that invented the entire concept of a 'smartshop' back in 1994 does this clearly and responsibly (without downplaying the possible risks just to sell more like some other shops do). Also plan well ahead, make sure you have thought out where you will be. Most recommended is going to a large park like the Vondelpark, the Rembrandtpark or the Amsterdamse Bos where it is quiet, and there is no risk from traffic. Make sure that being intoxicated will not endanger your safety, or that of anybody else. Be sure to make your purchase in a smartshop rather than a coffeeshop. They are better regulated and information is available from the attendants that work there. They are also of better quality and stronger potency than at the coffeeshops.\n\nIf you're not sure of how much to take, take a small dose. Then you'll know what your \"tolerance\" level is. People who have bad trips are those who take a dosage over their own tolerance level. Never take more than one packet of mushrooms—usually half is good for your first time. A good smart shop can give you more information about this.\n\nSince 2023, smoking cannabis on the street is banned in the Red Light District to reduce nuisance for residents.\n\n### Pharmacies\n\nCommunity pharmacies can be found via Apotheek.nl (in Dutch). Most pharmacies close between 17:00 and 18:00. The Leidsestraat Apotheek in the Leidsestraat is open daily until 20:00. Apotheek OLVG West is open 24 hours per day.", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk048", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Some basic OTC drugs can be bought e.g. in Kruidvat or Etos (drugstore/chemist) and Albert Heijn or Jumbo (supermarkets).", "word_count": 19}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk049", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Internet\n\nThe first Internet cafes in the country opened in Amsterdam, but they vanished as quickly as they appeared. Only a few smaller Internet cafes remain in the Binnenstad. Outside of it, you might want to try your luck at one of the phone shops (*belwinkels*) that cater to immigrant communities, but they usually have only one or two terminals.\n\nFree Wi-Fi is provided at **OBA** public libraries and municipal district offices. Library workstations are available for a fee (or for free with an OBA card).\n\nIf you bring a laptop, many hotels in the city offer Wi-Fi for guests, but check in advance as some places still charge high fees, while cheaper hotels and hostels may have no Internet service at all. Several fast food chain restaurants and an ever increasing number of cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi for guests, although you are typically expected to order a drink. Shops like **Albert Heijn** supermarkets also provide Wi-Fi service. Speed and stability obviously differ per place.\n\nAll Dutch providers (KPN, Vodafone and Odido) have wide 5G coverage in Amsterdam. Be advised that you could incur steep data charges when roaming on a non-EU cellular plan.\n\n### Telephone\n\nThe country code for the Netherlands is **31** and Amsterdam's area code is **020**. You only need to dial the 0 if you're calling from within the Netherlands.\n\n**Public phone boxes** have been taken out of service. If you need to make a call and do not have access to a phone, it is best to go to a **phone shop** (*belwinkel*). Phone shops can be found all over the city. Outside the city centre, they mostly serve immigrants calling their home country at cheap rates.\n\nThe major mobile operators are KPN, Odido and VodafoneZiggo. If you have a simlock-free mobile phone suitable for European networks, consider buying a **prepaid simcard**. You can buy these in electronics stores, phone shops or brand stores of one of the three large providers.", "word_count": 329}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk050", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Cope", "text": "Many people choose to visit Amsterdam because of its reputation for tolerance and progressivism. Prostitution is legal and licensed in the Netherlands, so window prostitution is very visible in some areas of Amsterdam. The possession and consumption of small quantities of cannabis and hash, while it is illegal, is tolerated by authorities (the policy of *gedogen*). Coffeeshops are allowed to sell cannabis and hash for personal use, and Amsterdam has hundreds of these scattered over the city.\n\nThis does not mean that you can get away with anything in Amsterdam. In any case, public attitudes and official policy have hardened compared to some tourist perceptions. The number of coffeeshops has decreased significantly and new laws forbid the selling of dried hallucinogenic mushrooms. Window prostitution outside the Oudezijds Achterburgwal is slowly but surely being phased out by the local authorities.\n\nDepending on your viewpoint some people will consider Amsterdam an unwholesome city whereas other people will find the relaxed attitudes refreshing. If you avoid the Red Light District, Amsterdam is an excellent family destination.\n\nSince the 2000s tourism to Amsterdam has exploded and the city now suffers from **overtourism**. As a tourist you might be met with hostility. Avoiding a few faux pas helps diminishing this risk. Don't walk on cycling lanes or cycling tracks but stick to the pavement. Don't go around brawling, and don't drink in public. Avoid the Red Light District, and consider another destination for your bachelor(ette) party. If you're going for the monuments and can't cope with mass tourism, remember there are many smaller but similar cities in the Netherlands, like Utrecht, Haarlem, and Delft.\n\nEven though Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, most embassies are in The Hague, as is the government.\n\n### Publications\n\n - The Amsterdam Spoke Magazine\n\n - Time Out Amsterdam\n\n - Uitkrant\n\n### Religious services\n\n - Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas\n\n - Begijnhofkapel\n\n - De Krijtberg\n\n - De Papegaai\n\n - English Reformed Church\n\n - The Lady of All Nations\n\n - Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk\n\n - Oud-Katholieke Kerk Amsterdam\n\n - Parish of the Blessed Trinity", "word_count": 342}
+{"chunk_id": "amsterdam::chunk051", "doc_id": "amsterdam", "section": "Go next", "text": "Almost any place in the Netherlands can be reached within 3 hours of rail travel. To avoid a big list, day trips have been divided into those close to the city (about 30 minutes by public transport) and those further afield.\n\n### North Holland\n\n Alkmaar — historic town with a cheese market\n Enkhuizen — interesting small town with the **Zuiderzee Museum** that shows how people used to live with the persistent danger of the sea\n Haarlem — the closest of the historic cities, just 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train\n Muiden — formerly a small port at the mouth of the Vecht, it has the **Muiderslot**, the best-known castle of the country\n Naarden — surrounded by a complete ring of 17th-century fortifications\n Hilversum — affluent town known for its magnificent town hall, also offers cycling tours through forests and the heath\n Waterland — picturesque countryside villages that can be reached by bicycle\n Zaanse Schans — historic windmills, tradesmen workshops and an open-air museum\n Zandvoort — closest beach resort to Amsterdam\n\n### Further destinations\n\n Delft — well known for its traditional blue and white ceramics\n Gouda — historic town famous for its Gouda cheese and the cheese market\n 's-Hertogenbosch — traditional southern city that goes crazy during carnival\n Keukenhof — blooming flower gardens, a seasonal attraction in spring\n Kinderdijk — an authentic network of windmills that shows the Dutch countryside at its best\n Leiden — vibrant student town with the country's oldest university and several museums\n Rotterdam — has a history of rivalry with Amsterdam and a completely different atmosphere with modern architecture\n The Hague — political heart of the country with Madurodam, Binnenhof and beaches\n Utrecht — historic city with a somewhat less-ambitious canal system", "word_count": 283}

corpus/amsterdam/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "amsterdam",
+  "title": "Amsterdam",
+  "type": "city",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Amsterdam",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "cycling",
+    "fishing",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "food-tour"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Amstelland"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Alkmaar",
+    "Enkhuizen",
+    "Haarlem",
+    "Muiden",
+    "Naarden",
+    "Hilversum",
+    "Zaanstreek-Waterland",
+    "Zaanse Schans",
+    "Zandvoort",
+    "Delft",
+    "Gouda",
+    "'s-Hertogenbosch",
+    "Lisse",
+    "Kinderdijk",
+    "Leiden",
+    "Rotterdam",
+    "The Hague",
+    "Utrecht",
+    "Enschede",
+    "Muiden",
+    "Groningen",
+    "Almere",
+    "Alkmaar",
+    "Haarlem",
+    "Abcoude",
+    "Amstelveen",
+    "Rotterdam",
+    "Hoofddorp",
+    "Leeuwarden",
+    "Zaandam",
+    "Arnhem",
+    "Vechtstreek"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 13319,
+  "listing_count": 61,
+  "marker_count": 5,
+  "chunk_count": 52,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/andalusia/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk000", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Andalusia** (Spanish: *Andalucía*) is the southern part of Spain. It has a heritage back to the Roman Empire, and a diverse scenery of deserts, beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz and the Sierra Nevada range, with Iberia's tallest mountains, and Europe's southernmost ski resorts.\n\nAndalusia encompasses an area of 87,268 km2 with 8.4 million inhabitants. To the south in the Province of Cadiz at the very tip of Spain lies the British overseas territory of Gibraltar where it is separate from North Africa by just a few miles.", "word_count": 93}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk001", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Provinces", "text": "Andalusia is divided into eight provinces, each having the same name as its respective provincial capital city.", "word_count": 17}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk002", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the heart of flamenco, the capital and largest city of Andalusia\n — lots of medieval remains and fortresses\n — the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the Iberian Peninsula and possibly of all of southwestern Europe\n — used to be the capital of an Islamic caliphate in the Middle Ages\n — home to the magnificent La Alhambra Palace\n — a maritime port town with the oldest football club of Spain\n — the world's capital of olive oil and a booming cultural tourism destination\n — a large harbour city right on the Costa del Sol\n — wealthy resort town on the Costa del Sol", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk003", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "— a beautiful town with an impressive bridge along the deep gorge\n — a Renaissance monumental town of many hills included in UNESCO's World Heritage List\n\n — Andalusia's largest coastal protected area, a wild and isolated landscape with some of Europe's oldest geological features\n — an old spa village above a gorge\n — 53,649 hectares of Natural Park\n — sunny beaches and beautiful villages along Spain's southern coast\n — a small village painted Smurf blue for 2011 movie *Smurfs II*.\n — a mountainous district south of the Sierra Nevada\n\n — the highest mountains in the Iberian Peninsula, excelling for skiing and hiking", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk004", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Patio de Los Leones in the Alhambra. Andalusia is a region steeped in Moorish architecture and the Alhambra in [[Granada (Spain)|Granada]] is widely regarded as the pinaccle of Moorish architecture.\n\nAndalusia has a rich Moorish heritage, including many fantastic examples of Moorish architecture which were built during the eight centuries when Andalusia, as Al-Andalus, was the centre of the Arab population in the Iberian peninsular. The Moorish rule effectively ended in 1492AD when the Christians recaptured Granada.\n\nNowadays, the region is a very popular tourist destination with a lot of British and German package holidayers coming to stay in the concrete resorts on the Costa del Sol. But if you stay away from the concrete resorts you will find lots of culture, amazing scenery and great food.\n\n### Climate\n\nAndalusía has a Mediterranean climate with hot, arid summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Temperatures often surpass 35°C in the summer and average 10.5°C in January and February, the coolest months. Spring warms up gradually, and days in which it is possible to comfortably sunbathe can show up as early as May. Autumn experiences warm temperatures in September, that can possibly extend into October. The region is overall quite sunny, amongst the sunniest in Europe after regions of Italy, Greece and Portugal.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n Andalusia Tourism website", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk005", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Talk", "text": "Like most of the rest of Spain, Andalusia's main language is Spanish. Popular tourist areas like Malaga, Marbella, and Cordoba usually have tour guides and shop owners who speak basic English, but do not expect fluent conversations.", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk006", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Major airports: Seville (Sevilla), Malaga, Almeria, Jerez de la Frontera.\n\n### By car\n\nThe main road routes into Andalusia are\n\nThe E-1 A-49 from the **Algarve** (Portugal) to Seville\nThe E-803 A-66 from **Portugal** and **western Spain** to Seville\nThe E-5 A-4 from **Madrid** to Cordoba and then Seville\nThe E-15 A-7 from **Valencia** and **Murcia** to Almeria and along the coast\n\n### By plane\n\n**Malaga** has the third biggest international airport in Spain, which a lot of discount airlines fly to. From Malaga, the A-7 E-15 motorway runs westwards along the coast to Gibraltar and eastwards to Almeria and beyond. To head north from Malaga, the A-45 motorway runs to Cordoba.\nThere are also airports in Sevilla, Jerez de la Frontera, Granada and Almeria\n\n### By train\n\nSpain's railway network is not as developed as those of many other European countries, but Algeciras, Almeria, Cadiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Malaga, Cordoba and Sevilla are all served by regular train services. Spain's highspeed AVE network connects Malaga, Cordoba and Sevilla to Madrid. Some of the other smaller towns are served by less frequent services, see individual city guides for further details. For more info, see the RENFE website.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk007", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Bus services around Andalusia are provided by\n **Alsa**\n **DAMAS**", "word_count": 9}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk008", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "See", "text": "**Moorish architecture** in Granada, including the Alhambra.\n**Lake Negratin** is situated at the foothills of Mount Jabalcón. As one of Europe's largest lakes, it really is worth seeing not least for the most magnificent lunar-landscape that surrounds it. The rock formations and the colours it produces during different times of the day can be likened to those of the Grand Canyon. There is a manmade beach where you can laze the day away, a number of restaurants dotted round the lake and on a nice day you can swim or take out a pedalo boat, which might lead you to pink flamingos and various other wildlife.\n**Seron** is nestled on the lower slopes of the Sierra de los Filabres and is a picturesque town that cascades down the hillside. Dominated by its Castle, which sits at the very top, Seron is famous for its ham and provides a more traditional experience of Andalusian life. It is a beautiful location to start your exploration of the Filabres, or visit at the right time of year and you might find yourself submerged in a vibrant fiesta.\n**Las Menas**, an old mining village abandoned thirty years ago, makes an interesting stop in the Sierra de los Filabres. You can investigate old ruins crumbling amidst the most breathtaking countryside, stop for coffee and cake at the hotel and even camp for the night.\n Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in andalusia:\nGrazalema\nDoñana\nLas Sierras de Cazorla y Segura\nMarismas del Odiel\nSierra Nevada\nSierra de las Nieves y su Entorno\nCabo de Gata-Nijar\nLas Dehesas de Sierra Morena\nIntercontinental Biospehere Reserve of the Mediterranean", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk009", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Do", "text": "- Andaventur Granada Adventure Company\n\n Long clean **beaches** on the Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz.\n **Walking** and **hiking** in the Sierra Nevada\n- Rock Climbing Company\n\n **Windsurfing and kiting** in Tarifa, Spain's southern tip\n**Horse riding and Spain** go hand-in-hand and with such spectacular mountain ranges at your disposal as the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra Hills; you have a feast of beautiful Andalusian trekking land to indulge in astride your faithful friend. There are several stables situated in these areas, and all offer the option to ride for an hour, a day, or even as long as 7 nights. Accommodation and food are included in prices and the whole experience offers a unique way to see this amazing part of Spain. Prices vary from €25 to €1200 and there are so many options to choose from that you will undoubtedly find something to suit your level and requirements.\n**Flamenco** is the all-Andlusian art with a history stretching back over 3,000 years. The Museo del Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Dance Museum) is the ideal place to learn more about this phenomenon. Shows are offered on Friday and Saturday nights at 19:30, too.\n\n### Events", "word_count": 196}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk010", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Andalusia is a very safe region; cities and villages alike are safe if you are smart and don't do anything stupid. However, places like Malaga, Marbella, Fuengirola, and Seville attract millions of tourists yearly, and as with most heavily touristy places, some foreigners will end up partying like animals, despite the police's efforts to keep the peace.\n\nIn Granada and Cordoba, it is advisable to avoid women offering plants (usually heather). They will offer you a plant for free, and then when you accept it, they will read your palm and demand money. If you refuse to give it to them, they may start screaming at you, and you will generally want to avoid this situation. Aside from this, the area is usually very safe, but one should still take the usual precautions, especially in Malaga, Seville, etc.\n\nDespite the strong agricultural and tourism sectors, Andalusia has some of the poorest towns in Spain; cities like Jerez, Cadiz, Huelva, and Almeria all have unemployment rates well above 20%. As such, opportunistic crimes like pickpockets do occur. \n\nWhile parts of the Andalusian coast have made headlines for scenes of migrant boats landing on beaches, they are not as frequent as the media might suggest, and most of the time, migrants tend to stick to themselves if left alone.", "word_count": 217}
+{"chunk_id": "andalusia::chunk011", "doc_id": "andalusia", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Alentejo** — sparsely populated region in Portugal's southern plains\n **Algarve** — popular beach and resort region in southern Portugal\n **Gibraltar**\n **Morocco**", "word_count": 21}

corpus/andalusia/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "andalusia",
+  "title": "Andalusia",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Andalusia",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "climbing",
+    "skiing",
+    "surfing",
+    "wildlife",
+    "museums",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "beach",
+    "desert"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Spain"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [
+    "Alentejo",
+    "Portugal",
+    "Algarve",
+    "Portugal",
+    "Gibraltar",
+    "Morocco"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 1481,
+  "listing_count": 2,
+  "marker_count": 18,
+  "chunk_count": 12,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/andaman-islands/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk000", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumbnail|Beach on [[Havelock Island]]\n\nThe **Andaman and Nicobar Islands** are a group of nearly 600 islands in the Bay of Bengal. Although part of India politically, they are closer to Indonesia and Myanmar than to the Indian mainland. Most people come here for the beaches and scuba diving, especially on Havelock Island and Neil Island.", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk001", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the laid-back capital of the archipelago and the only entry and exit point. Spend a day or two here walking around and enjoying fresh seafood and seeing a couple of the nearby sites like Ross Island, Viper Island & Bambooflat Island leading to Mount Harriet.\n — the largest town in the far north of the archipelago, it is a base for trips to the nearby Smith and Ross Islands – but check legality and rules of visits.\n — it is around 210 km from Port Blair, connected by boat and Andaman Trunk Road.\n — a relaxed destination, but known more as the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park\n — headquarters of the district, well connected to Port Blair via 240 km of Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). The distance is 136 km by ferry.", "word_count": 133}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk002", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Bakery on Ross Island from the British era\n\nIn 2018, many islands were officially renamed. The new names have not been widely adopted, but are listed below in parentheses.\n\n — Baratang Island is primarily famous due to the limestone caves, which can be accessed via speed boat, and for its mud volcano.\n — the island with the only active volcano in the whole of India. It is a restricted area within the Andaman Islands.\n — great reefs for diving, can be visited with the general permit obtained on arrival in Port Blair, but has no lodging\n — the most visited of the islands, with the most (although still limited) infrastructure. Famous for its beautiful beaches, especially Radhanagar, Elephant Beach and Kalapatthar, and great for snorkelling, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, etc.\n (on the Andaman Trunk Road, between Jarkatang and Mangroove Creek) — visits are illegal and highly inadvisable, as there is a severe risk of outsiders bringing infections to which the locals are not immune, and which thus can be deadly\n — a beautiful island where you can see underwater coral reefs, by snorkelling, or riding on glass-bottomed boats. This island requires prior permission to visit and does not have any food outlets, so pack your own food. Also, plastics are banned in this island. Typically 3–4 ferries from Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, leave daily morning around 9AM and return by 2–2:30PM. Private arrangements are also possible.\n — badly damaged from the 2004 tsunami, the island has recovered but is still among the less visited.\n — great if you're looking for Robinson Crusoe-style camping; no facilities, so you must bring all of your own gear and food, except that camping is illegal on public land and on beaches.\n — a volcanic island that is home to the narcondam hornbill. Normally restricted for tourists by the Indian Coast Guard.\n — A small, beautiful island with amazing beaches like Bharatpur Beach, Laxmanpur Beach and Sitapur Beach and a natural bridge. Snorkelling, jet skiing, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat rides, etc.\n — the former headquarters of the Indian Penal Settlement\n — beautiful mangrove forest and coral reefs welcome you to this little visited and pristine island\n — legality of visits unclear.", "word_count": 369}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk003", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumbnail|Aberdeen Bazar, Port Blair\nthumbnail|G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair\n\n1,400 km from mainland India and 1,000 km from Thailand, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most remote spots on the planet. The original inhabitants are various aboriginal tribes, ethnically Melanesian, who exist more or less out of the mainstream. There are some tribes, most notably the Sentinelese, who have had almost no contact with the rest of the world. Of nearly 600 islands, only 30 are open to foreign tourists, and all of these are in the Andamans.\n\nThe islands exist in India's popular consciousness mainly because they were used as a penal colony during British rule to imprison rebels and freedom fighters, in addition to hardened criminals. The majority of people living on the islands are descendants of migrants from the mainland. Some of them descended from the prisoners.\n\nDuring World War II, the Andamans were the only part of India that was, briefly, occupied by the Japanese. While notionally handed over to Subhash Chandra Bose's 'Free India\", in practice the Japanese held the reins of power. The territory was run brutally — suspected resistance members were tortured and executed, and when food started to run out towards the end of the war, people were deported to uninhabited islands to fend for themselves.\n\nThe islands were just north of the epicentre of the earthquake in 2004 and were the site of dozens of aftershocks. The Nicobars were badly hit by the resulting tsunami, while the Andamans escaped with a few bruises.\n\n### Climate\n\nMid-January to mid-May has the best weather, and often the best diving conditions. The days are mostly sunny at this time of year, and the sea is sometimes flat enough to reflect the clouds. The monsoon usually hits around late May and lasts until the end of July. This is probably the worst time to visit the islands as there are strong winds, frequent rain and low visibility underwater. From August to November there are some occasional showers and slightly rougher seas but diving can still be great during this period of the year. The weather often takes a turn for the worse from the month of December to early January.\n\n### Geography\n\nThe Andaman and Nicobar Islands stretch out almost 500 km in length, with the Andamans in the north and the Nicobars in the south. The main island, aptly known as **Great Andaman**, is divided into three parts: North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman. The capital Port Blair is on South Andaman.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n Andaman and Nicobar Islands Tourism", "word_count": 428}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk004", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Talk", "text": "The main spoken languages are Hindi, Tamil and Bengali. Telugu and English are widely understood by the inhabitants of the islands that are open to tourism. **Nicobarese** is the mother tongue of the Nicobar Islands and is understood by the tribes.\n\nForeigners can hire a guide to communicate with local people. Most of the guides work as volunteers and have been serving tourists for many years.", "word_count": 66}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk005", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|Port Blair Airport\n\nSince 2018, foreigners except citizens and former citizens of Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Pakistan can visit 30 islands in the Andamans, including basically all of those commonly visited by tourists, without a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). This includes South Andaman Island, Middle Andaman Island and Little Andaman Island (except tribal reserves), Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island, Diglipur, Baratang, North Passage and islands in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (excluding Boat Hobday Island, Twin Island, Tarmugli Island, Malay Island and Pluto Island). Overnight stays in the park are with permission only. Citizens and former citizens of the aforementioned three countries must still obtain a RAP to visit any part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.\n\nIndian nationals do not require a permit to visit the Andamans. However, permits are required to visit the Nicobar Islands and other tribal areas, which are rarely given. Application on an official form should be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District, Port Blair.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe primary way to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by air is from the Indian mainland to Port Blair. As of 2025 the islands have no direct international flights.\n\nThe main airport of the islands is **Veer Savarkar International Airport** () in Port Blair. A new, modern terminal capable of handling 5 million passengers per year was opened in 2023. There are no night flights as the airport is handed over to the Indian Air Force after 3PM.\n\n### By boat\n\nIt's possible to take a ship from Kolkata (c. 60 hr), Chennai or Visakhapatnam (almost 4 days) to Port Blair. It is less expensive at only ₹1961 (as of November 2011). Facilities are basic, though and many prefer to sleep on the deck rather than in the cramped bunks. The ferries can take up to five days to arrive depending on weather and various other variables. This can be quite frustrating for many. The Bay of Bengal is not calm, and those who get seasickness easily should consider flying, instead.", "word_count": 343}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk006", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumbnail|Baratang, Andamans\n\n### Between islands\n\nthumbnail|Science Centre, Port Blair\nThe Andaman and Nicobar is a vast archipelago, and aside from some erratic, infrequent helicopter shuttles, **passenger ferries** are the only practical way to move between the islands. Both government and private operators serve the main routes between Port Blair, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep).\n\n#### Government ferries\n\nThe government-run **Directorate of Shipping Services** (DSS) operates two kinds of vessels: small \"tourist\" ferries and larger \"local\" ferries. Fares are affordable at ₹150–500 one way from Port Blair to Havelock Island, making this the cheapest option. However, government ferries are slower (3–4 hours vs 1.5–2 hours for private ferries), and tickets must be purchased at the Phoenix Bay jetty counter in Port Blair — no online booking is available.\n\nTourist ferries seat about 100 people in padded bucket seats in a notionally air-conditioned cabin (which can still get sweltering hot). While you can access the top deck, there are no seats, shade or shelter outside. Local ferries are considerably larger, seating up to 400 in two levels: padded \"bunk\" or \"luxury\" seating upstairs, and plain old benches on the \"deck\" downstairs. Neither class is air-conditioned, but ocean breezes keep temperatures tolerable, and a canteen dishes out chai, samosas and bottled water. Due to their larger size, they are more stable in heavy seas, but take about twice as long as tourist ferries.\n\n#### Private ferry operators\n\nFour private operators run air-conditioned catamaran services on the main inter-island routes, with journey times of 1.5–2.5 hours:\n\n **Makruzz** — The most established private operator. Runs Port Blair–Havelock and Havelock–Neil Island routes. Offers Premium, Deluxe and Royal class seating. Tickets from ₹1,200–2,800 one way.\n **Nautika** — Premium catamaran service on the same routes as Makruzz. Known for comfortable interiors. Tickets from ₹1,200–2,800.\n **Green Ocean** — A budget-friendly private option with lower fares. Primarily runs the Port Blair–Havelock route.\n **ITT Majestic** — The newest operator. Runs the Port Blair–Havelock route.\n\nPrivate ferry tickets can be booked online through the operators' websites or through ferry comparison platforms. During peak season (October–February), demand often exceeds supply, so book at least 2–3 days in advance. Services may be changed or cancelled at short notice due to inclement weather, notably cyclones in the Bay of Bengal.\n\n### Within the islands\n\n **Auto-rickshaws** are available in Port Blair and on Havelock Island.\n **Taxis** are available in Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island. All kinds of vehicles except for high end luxury vehicles are available to rent in the islands. Cab bookings can be done inside the airport on arrival from dedicated travel counter approved by the Airport Authority of India.\n **Scooters and motorcycles** used to be available for rent in Port Blair and Havelock. In Havelock Island two-wheelers are the best option to get around, especially to Radhanagar beach. 2-wheeler rental will cost ₹400-500 per day excluding petrol and security deposit.", "word_count": 482}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk007", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "See", "text": "The only place with historical attractions of note is Port Blair, which houses British-era colonial buildings, including the notorious Cellular Jail, and a few World War II bunkers dating from the brief Japanese occupation.\n - Indira Point\n\n - South Sentinel Island", "word_count": 41}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk008", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Do", "text": "thumbnail|Clown Fish in the Andaman Coral Reef\n\n Scan corals reefs in **glass bottom boats** off Jolly Buoy Island, at the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor, 29 km from Port Blair.\n See the only **active volcano** in India on Barren Island, but make sure it's smoking before you start on the overnight boat journey. The island is protected by the Indian Navy, and it is not possible to visit the Barren Islands.\n Don't take the **Andaman Trunk Road.** The ride is long, and the journey that takes you through some gorgeous reserve forests and up to Maya Bunder and beyond.\n Spot some sea cows and moon-bathe with plankton in a phosphorescent sea.\n **Sea walking** is a popular activity that allows visitors to explore the beautiful coral reefs and marine life of the Andaman Islands. The activity involves walking on the sea floor while wearing a special helmet that supplies air. This allows visitors to see the coral reefs and marine life up close without the need for diving or snorkelling.\n\n### Scuba diving\n\nHavelock Island is the main dive destination, but the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park has reopened. South Cinque Island is another possibility, enquire at **Anugama Resort** at Wandoor.\n\nThe best dive sites in the Andamans are in remote locations and are impossible to get without a private yacht charter. The dive sites around Havelock are actually very ordinary by Andamans standards. The best diving in the Andamans is: Barren Island (an active volcano), Narcondam Island (an extinct volcano), South Sentinel Island (uninhabited coral reef) Invisible Bank (an extensive seamount about 160 km southeast of Port Blair) and 4 spectacular but unnamed sea mounts off the west coast. There is also a good wreck dive just south of North Brother Island. There are a small number of companies that operate live aboard diving and adventure charters in the Andaman Islands. Be aware that many companies that advertise Andaman Islands trips have never been there before.\n\n### Snorkelling\n\nSnorkelling is a fun, popular activity done at North Bay, MuaTerra Beach and Havelock Island. The equipment is cheap, and can be bought or rented.\n Surfing was possible on Little Andaman Island, but the island was devastated in the 2004 tsunami. \n\n### National parks\n\nthumb|View of Wandoor beach from Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park\n\n - [[Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park]]\n\n - Middle Button Island National Park\n\n - Mount Harriet National Park\n\n - North Button Island National Park\n\n - Rani Jhansi Marine National Park\n\n - Saddle Peak National Park\n\n - South Button Island National Park\n\n - Campbell Bay National Park\n\n - Galathea National Park", "word_count": 431}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk009", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Buy", "text": "In Port Blair, you will find main shopping centre offering variety of seashell and coral souvenirs. Aberdeen Bazaar is considered as a prime commercial centre which houses various government approved shops such as Khadi Udyog outlets and Cottage Industries Emporium.\n\nApart from the main shopping centre, some other shopping places to explore include Prem Nagar, Machi Lane, Delanipur, Goalghar, Phoenix Bay and Junglighat. All these spots are within the range of 3-4 km from Aberdeen Bazar.\n\nThe local furniture, made from local wood and mother of pearl jewellery, is well-known. Handicrafts made from cane, ashtrays walking sticks and some eye catching lamp shades created from coconut shell are ideal best souvenirs. Other popular souvenirs are:\n Nicobarese mats\n Straw hats\n Palm crafts\n Dried coral crafts\n Bamboo crafts\n Wood crafts made of paduk\n Beaded jewellery\n Mother of pearl artefacts like key chains and some other decorative items\n\nThere are a plethora of cafés and restaurants, private and government shops.", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk010", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Tandoori fish at Lighthouse Residency, [[Port Blair]]\n\nSeafood is the order of the day. From upscale restaurants in Port Blair to local dhabas on Havelock, fish abounds. Be prepared to pay a little more for good fish and seafood dishes than for standard Indian food, but it's well worth it. Basic Indian food is also available, and as cheap as on the mainland in most of the small dhabas. Resort restaurants on Havelock can also whip up a limited set of more or less Western dishes, but the resort restaurants are pretty expensive by Indian standards.", "word_count": 96}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk011", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Drink", "text": "Fresh coconuts are popular and widely available.\n Alcohol is available in some restaurants and at 'English Beer & Wine Shops' in Port Blair and on Havelock Island. The beers will not be cold except in local bars.\n Local bars are dingy and poorly lit, giving them a very eerie feel.\n There is no pub culture or nightclubs.", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk012", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are a variety of hotels around the islands which are run by Andaman & Nicobar Tourism. You can book all A&N tourism hotels in person at A&N tourism in Port Blair, by phone on , or by email on accomodationand.nic.in (but they do not have access to email). Hours are 8:30-11AM, 2-4PM.", "word_count": 53}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk013", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The Andamans are a fairly safe destination. Tourism is still in its early stages which makes it almost hassle free. \n\nThe Andaman Islands are, however, the home of some of the last uncontacted tribes of Eurasia. These tribes have resisted becoming a part of the globally connected world for a long time. The most famous example is the Sentinelese tribe, whose home is North Sentinel Island. They maintain their sovereignty over the island, and reject contact with the outside world. They have killed people who tried to contact them, and may shoot arrows at approaching boats.\n\nTravellers visiting Barren Island, which features the only active volcano in India, should stay alert to official advisories, as access is restricted during periods of unrest. Boats are required to keep a safe distance from the island, and eruptions can release ash or gases that make the surrounding waters hazardous.\n\nSaltwater crocodiles are found throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and frequently attack people. While saltwater crocodiles generally remain within the rivers and coastal mangrove swamps, they do occasionally travel within the open ocean where most human encounters occur. The main crocodile populations are around Little Andaman Island (Northern and Western sides), Interview Island and in the narrow straits that separate the main islands MacPhearson Strait, Andaman Strait, Homfrey Strait and Austen Strait. Crocodiles also inhabit many of the Nicobar Islands.", "word_count": 227}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk014", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Andaman and Nicobar are malarial, although generally not more than mainland India.", "word_count": 12}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk015", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Connect", "text": "The Indian country code 91 applies, and the area code for the entire Andamans is 3192. So, from outside India, you dial +91 3192xxxxxx. Within India, you dial 03192xxxxxx (by mobile phone you can use the international format also locally).\n\n**Mobile phone** coverage used to be poor on many islands but is now much improved. State-owned BSNL, and private operators Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are the operators providing mobile services there. Landlines are frequent in Port Blair but more erratic as you move around the islands.\n\nInternet access is slow but tolerable in Port Blair. BSNL EVDO sticks on CDMA technology works best with speed up to 1 Mbit/s. BSNL 3G gives a speed of around 100 kbit/s and ADSL is un-serviceable most of the time. Private players like Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vi offer internet access through GPRS & EDGE which is pathetically slow. A project for the interconnectivity of the islands with an underwater international Chennai-Singapore marine cable is under construction.\n\nThe mobile data network is weak whichever provider you choose to use. Free Wi-Fi is available in big hotels and restaurants.", "word_count": 185}
+{"chunk_id": "andaman-islands::chunk016", "doc_id": "andaman-islands", "section": "Respect", "text": "Tourism is still relatively new in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and as such the visitor has a special responsibility in guiding its development. Remember that this is India — local women are very conservative in their attire, and if you'd like to show sensitivity to their feelings, consider dressing conservatively yourself.\n\nAlcohol should be consumed on the premises of your hotel only. The quiet and peacefulness of the islands are one of their best assets; help to maintain these.", "word_count": 80}

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+  "doc_id": "andaman-islands",
+  "title": "Andaman and Nicobar Islands",
+  "type": "island",
+  "continent": "Asia",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "snorkeling",
+    "diving",
+    "skiing",
+    "surfing",
+    "kayaking",
+    "sailing",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "beach",
+    "volcano",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Southern India"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
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+  "word_count": 3214,
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+  "marker_count": 18,
+  "chunk_count": 17,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/angkor-wat/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk000", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Angkor Archaeological Park**, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.", "word_count": 20}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk001", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Understand", "text": "Stretching over 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The most famous are the Temple of **Angkor Wat** and, at Angkor Thom, the **Bayon** Temple with its countless sculptural decorations.\n\nAngkor Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. At the same time, it was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to looting, a declining water table, and unsustainable tourism. UNESCO has now set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.\n\nAngkor has no accommodations and few facilities; the nearby town of Siem Reap, 6 km south, is the tourist hub for the area. You will likely be **refused entry** to certain sites, such as the highest tier of Angkor Wat, if you are deemed not to be dressed appropriately. This means your shoulders and knees should be covered: a scarf over your shoulders may not be accepted.\n\n### Symbolism\n\nthumb|350px|Prasat Bayon, the central temple of Angkor Thom", "word_count": 186}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk002", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Understand", "text": "The temples of Angkor are highly symbolic structures. The foremost Hindu concept is the **temple-mountain**, where the temple is built as a representation of the mythical Mount Meru: this is why so many temples, including Angkor Wat, are surrounded by moats, built in a mountain-like pyramidal shape and topped by precisely five towers, representing the five peaks of Mount Meru. The *linga* (phallus), representing the god Shiva, was also critical and while the lingas themselves have largely gone, linga stands (carved, table-like blocks of stone) can be found in many if not most rooms in the temples. There was also a political element to it all: most kings wanted to build their own *state temples* to symbolize their kingdom and their rule.\n\nWhile early Angkor temples were built as Hindu temples, Jayavarman VII converted to Mahayana Buddhism c. 1200 and embarked on a prodigious building spree, building the new capital city of **Angkor Thom** including Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and many more as Buddhist structures. However, his successor Jayavarman VIII returned to Hinduism and embarked on an equally massive spree of destruction, systematically defacing Buddhist images and even crudely altering some to be Hindu again. Hinduism eventually lost out to Buddhism again, but the (few) Buddha images in the temples today are later Theraveda additions.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk003", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Understand", "text": "One element that continues to mystify archaeologists is the **baray**, or water reservoir, built in a grand scale around Angkor: for example, the West Baray is a mind-boggling 8&nbsp;km by 2.3&nbsp;km in size. While it has long been assumed that they were used for irrigation, some historians argue that their primary function was political or religious. Not a single outlet has been found, either by eye or by NASA imaging. The moat around Angkor and the West Baray still contains water, but the rest have dried up.\n\n### Motifs\n\nAs you tour the temples, you will see certain mythical figures and other motifs cropping up repeatedly.\n\nImage:Apsara Double Close.JPG|'''Apsara'''<br>''Celestial nymphs, always bare-breasted and usually dancing, representing an ideal of female beauty.''\nImage:Carving Kala.JPG|'''Kala'''<br>''Monstrous face without a lower jaw, often found on temple gateways, meant to guard against evil.''\nImage:Statue Naga.JPG|'''Naga'''<br>''Many-headed mythical serpent. The most famous Nagas' in Angkor can be found on the guardrails of each entrance to Angkor Thom.''\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|240px|Fierce battles in the reign of Jayavarman VII, Bayon\n\nAngkor is hot and sticky throughout the year, but the peak season is November to February, when the weather is dry and temperatures are coolest (25-30&nbsp;°C)(77-86&nbsp;°F). The flip side is that the temples are packed, especially around Christmas and New Year's, and hotel rates are at their highest. March to May is brutally hot, with temperatures reaching 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F). June to October is the rainy season, and outlying temples and the roads leading to them can turn into quagmires of mud. However, this is also when the temples are at their quietest, and it's still often possible to do a good half-day round of sightseeing before the rains start in the afternoon.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk004", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|240px|Central tower, Angkor Wat Temple\n\nAngkor is about 20&nbsp;minutes to the north, by car or motorbike, from central Siem Reap. See the Siem Reap article for details on getting to the town. See \"Get around\" below for details on getting from the town to the Angkor.", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk005", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Non-Cambodian visitors must purchase an **Angkor Pass** to enter Angkor Archaeological Park. 1-day (US$37), 3-day (US$62), or 7-day (US$72) passes are available (prices as of Mar 2024). You can pay by credit card or by cash (US dollars or riel, though the exchange rate provided isn't attractive: 156,000 riel for the 1-day pass in 2018). The 3-day pass is valid for any 3 days within a week, while the 7-day pass is valid for any 7 days within a month. Children under 12 may enter for free by presenting their passport; ID is not requested of visitors paying the full fee.\n\nMake sure you purchase your Angkor Pass only at the official APSARA ticket office just off the highway from Siem Reap a couple of kilometers from the southern park entrance. If you enter the park on the road from the airport (east checkpoint) or Banteay Srei (north checkpoint), only 1-day passes are available. For convenience, passes can now be bought online on Angkor Enterprise website.\n\nFor any pass, a photo is taken and printed on your Angkor Pass, so do not purchase one second-hand from someone else. Passes are checked at almost all sites within the park, including even some washrooms, so make sure you carry it with you at all times. And don't lose it, or you'll have to go back to the ticket booth to buy another.\n\nPasses issued after 17:00 each day can be used to enter the park without counting as use of a day on your pass, as they are valid for the next day. However, the sale of Angkor Passes end at 17:30.\n\nCambodian citizens and holders of K visas (for people born in Cambodia or with a Cambodian parent) are allowed to enter the park for free (but K visa holders may still have to check in at the ticket office). Guides and drivers who are Cambodian do not need a pass as they can enter for free.", "word_count": 326}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk006", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Get around", "text": "Generally speaking, two half-day tour options are offered, sun-rise (ends at the hottest time of day) and late morning (which includes sunset). Both last 4-6 hr depending on your tour.\n\n**Tour buses** feature guided, air-conditioned comfort but also are subject to large crowds and lack of options. Be sure you know which temples are being visited as some of the larger buses only go to the 2 or 3 main tourist attractions, and leave out important \"secondary\" sights. The cost is US$25–70/day including driver and guide.\n\n**Cars with drivers** can be hired for single or more days. While all drivers are familiar with the area and happy to suggest good routes, most speak little English and are not actual tour guides. For an actual licensed tour guide, the charge varies from US$45–50/day for a driver and English-speaking guide. It is customary for the drivers to ask for US$5–10 extra for trips to further temples such as those of the Big Circuit, Banteay Srey and more for remote sites like Beng Mealea.", "word_count": 171}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk007", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Motorbikes** (with drivers) can be arranged through any guesthouse for about US$6–8/day. Again, drivers might ask for more to visit remote ruins. Some drivers can speak a bit of English, and can give you information about Angkor and Cambodian life. Drivers are required to be licensed and must wear their gray numbered vest while travelling within the confines of the Angkor park. The rental of motorbikes without a driver to foreigners in Siem Reap is discouraged and if stopped by a police officer, he or she will inform you that renting a motorbike is prohibited. This is not completely true. Motorbike rental places do exist in the city and their numbers are increasing. The rate varies depending on the engine size. The cheapest motorbike rental is around US$6 per day for an electric-powered. Gas-powered motorbikes start at around US$8. Always use a helmet because it is required by law and riding without it will give a police officer a reason to flag you down. Not all locals use helmets, but they do avoid being visible to police officers on duty.\n\n**Tuk-tuks** can be arranged through guesthouses, offering space for 1-4 travellers. Figure on ~US$15 for the main Angkor temples, and US$20–30 for outlying temples. Like the motorbike drivers, they must be licensed, may speak some English and must wear grey numbered vests while travelling within the park. Some drivers will add a US$3 extra fee if you would like to see sunrise at Angkor Wat (start the tour at 05:00 instead of 08:00).", "word_count": 253}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk008", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Bicycles** are a very convenient option to visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the little circuit or even the big circuit - depending on time you have and how big fan of Khmer temples you are. Renting a bike in Siem Reap is easy and cheap (US$3-4 per day, in most of places you aren't even asked to leave your passport, locks for bikes are provided, check the bike before and ask for some amendments if needed, e.g. pumping air, oiling the chain). Most bike rental shops seem to open at 07:00, so if you want to get a really early start, rent a bike the day before, or arrange it with your hotel or hostel. It is about 6 km from the city to Angkor Wat (if you go first time, make sure you go by the Visitors Centre which is the only place where you can buy passes, and isn't on the main road to the temples). In the little circuit most places are at most 15 minutes away from each other by bike, so it is actually not a problem for a regular tourist (without much biking experience) to visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and spots on the little circuit in one day. If you are willing to get up early and start your trip at 06:00 it won't be a problem to visit all above plus the big circuit (where spots are 30 minutes away each other by bike) in one day. Take into account your shape and visiting preferences. If you bike a lot at home - you can easily get around much quicker. If you enjoy Khmer architecture more than the typical Angkor visitor, it is recommended you reserve at least 3 days for the trip (it doesn't matter if you go by tuk-tuk or by bike). It gets *hot*, so be prepared to sweat buckets! It is a good idea to take a lot of water with you, rent a bike with a basket, but not a big problem if you run out of it during your trip. Around every temple in Angkor park you can buy some food and drinks (it's just more expensive than in the city, about US$2 per big bottle of water in the park). Cycling in Angkor Park is safe (traffic is low), pleasant (nice views and shady trees) and, last but not least, it saves you a lot of hassle of dealing with tuk-tuk drivers. You can't bring the bike onto the island of Angkor Wat, so expect to still be doing a fair amount of walking.", "word_count": 430}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk009", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Electric cars** will take you to certain areas for a round-trip price of only US$2. They can be found in front of Angkor Wat and the Terrace of the Elephants.\n\n**Helicopter flights** are another way of seeing Angkor Archaeological Park. You can also visit outlying temples like Banteay Chhmar, Boeng Mealea, Koh Ker, Rolous Group, Phnom Bok & Tonle Sap floating village. **Helistar Cambodia** have prices starting from US$90 per person for the basic Bangkeng Mountain, Angkor Wat. Sras Srang, Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon and Ta Som 14-minute tour. Flights depart daily from the Military Apron, Siem Reap International Airport. Bookings essential and can be made through hotels or travel/tour agents or direct on .", "word_count": 115}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk010", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "400px|thumb|Map of temple locations in Angkor Archaeological Park\n\n**Guides** can be hired for about US$20 a day and are available for most major languages. Hiring a guide for at least the first day can help you get orientated to the temples and are particularly useful for finding and explaining the bas-reliefs, which can otherwise be rather overwhelming and/or difficult to understand. Guide books are also useful.\n\n*Ancient Angkor*, a guidebook that is hawked at every temple, is surprisingly good. Particularly if you are interested in the carvings on the walls and towers, the book will keep you occupied for hours. If you don't want to pay money to hear a local tell you about the temples in broken English this is a good option. Authored by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques, the cover price is US$27.95 at bookstores. Brand new copies are sold by vendors for US$14 but you can easily haggle to US$6 or US$7, and the price amazingly drops to US$1 by the end of the day, even in peak season.\n\nThe , beside the ticket office, is closed (Feb 2020) because of international sanctions against North Korea, which built and operated the museum.\n\nBe sure to get to the temples *early*. You can enter the park beginning at 05:00; the temples open at sunrise. There are fewer visitors early in the morning, and the sun isn't at full force. Arriving at the temples at 08:00 instead of 09:00 can make all the difference in staying one step ahead of the crowds.\n\nThe temples can broadly be categorized into four groups:", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk011", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "**Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom**, Angkor Wat is the grandest temple and north of it lies the royal complex of Angkor Thom, which includes Bayon, Bauphon, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King\n **Little Circuit** (*Le Petit Circuit*), this includes both Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom complex, along with the temples east of Angkor Thom (Ta Kao, Ta Phorm, Banteay Kdei, Sras Srang and Prasat Kravan) \n **Big Circuit** (*Le Grand Circuit*), This includes the major sites north and further east of the Angkor Thom complex and includes Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup\n **Roluos group**, 15 km east of Siem Reap along National Hwy 6. It includes Bakong, Lolei, Pareah Ko and several other temples \n **Outlying temples**, consists of several temples located at a radius of 80 Angkor Wat \n **North:** Banteay Srey and Kbal Spean (37 and 45 km respectively from Siem Reap), this can be clubbed with a visit to the Peam So Hoh Waterfall \n **East:** Banteay Samre (just east of Angkor complex) and Beng Mealea (80 km from Siem Reap). Beng Mealea can be clubbed with a trip to Koh Ker\n **South:** Phnom Krom (12 km from Siem Reap) can be clubbed with can be clubbed with Tonle Sap Lake \nYou can, of course, mix and match freely, but as distances are fairly long, it makes sense to plan ahead and pick sites connected by road. Most car, tuk-tuk or moto drivers will have an itinerary ready if you don't have one in mind, and their expertise may come in handy for arriving at sites a step ahead of the big tour groups.\n\n### Angkor Wat\n\nthumb|240px|Central courtyard, Angkor Wat\nthumb|240px|Plan of Angkor Wat\n- Angkor Wat\n\n#### History", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk012", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "Located 6 km north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is one of the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple's balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.\n\nThough \"wat\" is the Khmer (Cambodian) word for temple, the westward orientation of the structure is atypical of temples. Scholars believe that the architecture and sculptures are that of a temple where Lord Vishnu was worshipped but it was also built as a mausoleum for the king after his death.\n\n#### How to explore\n\nDo your homework first. To enjoy the ruins, read articles on the sites, not just the history but also the spatial relationships and the hierarchy of importance of the ruins. The JASA Office (Japan Apsara Safeguarding Authority, a Japanese government agency) has an information office, the Bayon Information Center in Siem Reap along Sivatha Blvd (at the back of Hotel Le Meridien Angkor). It provides a bird's eye view of the story of Angkor Wat via DVD screenings and display storyboards in English for US$2 and for another US$5, a handy, concise and very enlightening graphic booklet (in color and perfect professional-level English) is available.\n\nThe size of the monuments makes it look overwhelming when one encounters it for the first time. The following is one of the suggested plan to explore Angkor Wat. Enter through the west entrance. When you reach the entry tower, walk to the right to get a glimpse of all the five towering gopuras.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk013", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "Passing the tower and the libraries on both sides of the walkway, climb down the steps towards the left side and get to the water basin. You can catch a glimpse of the temple and its reflection in the water. Go past the basin and reach the left end of the temple.\n\nYou would by now have reached the starting point of the famous bas reliefs depicting scenes from various mythological stories and historic events. Walking from left to right you will come across scenes from battle of Ramayana, battle of Mahabharata, army of Suryavarman II, scenes from judgment by Yama (the supreme judge), churning of ocean by demons and gods to get Amrita — the nectar of immortality, Vishnu's victory over demons, victory of Krishna over Bana and other scenes of battle between gods and demons.\n\nClimb the steps to reach the second tier. You can reach the third tier and the central courtyard within by climbing a set of wooden steps with a handrail on the eastern side. All other stairways to the third tier are closed. You will likely have to wait in line if there are a lot of other visitors present, and you will *not* be allowed entry if your shoulders are exposed or your shorts or skirt are seen as too short. Placing a scarf over your shoulders is not accepted, but you're of course very welcome to buy a T-shirt from the vendors just outside the temple on the northwest side.\n\n#### When to visit", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk014", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "The sight of the grand monument towering over the landscape is breath-taking at any time of day. However, to maximise the effect, make your first trip to Angkor Wat in optimal lighting conditions, usually around 13:00-14:00. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is an also great sight to witness, so most of the tourists tend to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then explore other ruins in the morning and return to Angkor Wat later in the afternoon. The sun rises behind Angkor Wat and the best colors are seen just before the sun climbs into view. As the position of the sun as it rises varies according to the time of year, position yourself accordingly. For example, in November–December when you are facing Angkor Wat, the sun rises on your right hand side. Grab a place to the extreme left of the entry tower to see the sunrise. Sunset at Angkor Wat is best viewed either on the top tier or outside the main temple structure.\n\n### Angkor Thom\n\n- Bayon\n\nthumb|Two of the many enigmatic faces of the Bayon\nthumb|240px|Plan of the Bayon\n\n##### History\n\nBuilt in the latter part of the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is one of the most widely recognised temples in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers of Bayon. There are 54 towers of four faces each, totaling 216 faces. There is still a debate as to who is being depicted in the faces. It could be Avalokiteshvara, Mahayana Buddhism's compassionate Bodhisattva, or perhaps a combination of King Jayavarman VII and Buddha.\n\n##### How to explore", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk015", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "Bayon's plan can be divided into three levels — the first two are bas-reliefs and the uppermost consists of the central sanctuary. The outer gallery depicts scenes from everyday life and historical events, while the second inner gallery depicts mythical figures and stories. In total, there are more than 1 km of bas-reliefs to be viewed in the Bayon.\n\nEnter Bayon from the east. The outer gallery comes into view first. The second gallery is on the next higher level. The third level is where you will encounter many of the famous faces (and tourists). The fact that these stones are exposed to direct light makes it easy to shoot pictures throughout the day, though mid-day sun eliminates shadows. You will find fewer tourists too during this time of day.\n\n##### When to visit\n\nThe surrounding and the tall towers makes Bayon a bit dark and flat for study and photography near sunrise and sunset. Hence, it is best to visit Bayon when there is plenty of light. 10:00 to around 16:00 is the stretch most people prefer.\n\n- Baphuon\n\nTo the northwest of the Bayon, the Baphuon is supposed to represent Mount Meru (sacred to Hinduism), and was one of the largest and grandest structures in Angkor. Built into the western face of the Baphuon is a giant reclining Buddha, added in the 16th century after the region converted from Hinduism to Buddhism.\n\nArchaeologists had dismantled the Baphuon to perform renovation when they were interrupted by the civil war; the records for piecing the temple back together were subsequently lost or destroyed. Today the reconstruction work is done, so visitors can now walk up to the topmost tier.\n\n#### Other Angkor Thom sights", "word_count": 284}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk016", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "See", "text": "The Bayon and Baphuon temples form only part of the giant ancient city of Angkor Thom, once thought to hold a population of one million.\n\nIn addition to the Bayon and Baphuon temples, the ancient city of Angkor Thom holds a number of other sites of interest:\n - The Terrace of the Elephants\n\n- The Terrace of the Leper King\n\n**Five entrance gates**, one at each ordinal compass point and the **Victory Gate** in the east wall. The west and the north gates are free from tourists. Each of the gates is topped by the face of Avalokitesvara. There is a path on top of the walls, and one along the outside wall, that can be followed to walk from gate to gate. The total walk is around 13&nbsp;km, about 3.5&nbsp;hours long. As of March 2012, the path has been closed due to collapses in the walls.\n - Phnom Bakheng\n\n### Little Circuit (beyond Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom)\n\nClockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the Victory Gate:\n\n- Ta Keo\n\nthumb|240px|The famous empty doorway of Ta Prohm &mdash; there's usually a queue of people lining up to be photographed here!\n\n- Ta Prohm\n\n- Banteay Kdei\n\nthumb|240px|Banteay Kdei Temple Complex.\n\n- Sras Srang\n\n- Prasat Kravan\n\n### Big Circuit\n\nthumb|240px|Crushed by the weight of history, Preah Khan\n\nIn clockwise order, exiting Angkor Thom by the North Gate:\n\n- Preah Khan\n\n- Neak Pean\n\n- Ta Som\n\n- East Mebon\n\n- Pre Rup\n\n### Roluos group\n\nThe ruins here are from the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, dating from the late 9th century and thus predating Angkor.\n\n- Bakong\n\n- Lolei\n\n- Preah Ko\n\n### Outlying temples\n\n- Banteay Samre\n\n- Banteay Srey\n\n- Kbal Spean\n\n- Beng Mealea\n\n- Phnom Krom\n\n### Beyond Temples\n\n- Phnom Kulen Waterfall", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk017", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Buy", "text": "Souvenirs are also sold in front of all temples. Bargain, but not too hard: many souvenir sellers live within the park and, being banned from farming on their own land, have to resort to this to make a living. Please do not encourage children who pester tourists in the temples themselves to give money or buy postcards. Spread your tourism dollars around—most temples have the same offerings, so buy your souvenirs and gifts for friends back home from several shops, from several temples if possible, especially the less-visited ones.\n\n*Ancient Angkor*, a guidebook that is hawked at every temple, authored by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques; the cover price is US$27.95 at bookstores. Brand new copies are sold by vendors for US$14 but can be sold for as little as US$1 in the afternoon without haggling. Alternatively, the book is available for rental online for free through the Internet Archive. The guidebook is detailed, and remains the best introduction to the temples that you can find. \n\nThere are several decent souvenir shops around the old market. One of the shops called \"Black Garuda\" has some original key holders and mobile straps and they donate some of your purchase to land mine victims.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk018", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Eat", "text": "Despite a ban on development and commercial activity, dozens of small noodle and snack shops have sprung up near the major attractions of **Angkor Wat** and **Angkor Thom**. The listed prices are high (US$4–7 for mediocre food), but shopkeepers may be willing to bargain. During summer low season, you can bring the price of a good lunch down to as low as US$1 for a dish and US$0.50 for a drink. Their flocks of five year old emissaries aren't likely to hold price-cutting authority. However, avoid hard or aggressive bargaining, either because the odd dollar is nothing to you but can be significant to a local, and also it is unwise to offend or upset anybody before they prepare your meal! You'll also find some local people selling fresh pineapples and mangoes (beautifully cut) and bunches of little bananas for about US$1 a piece. Also try the seasonal toddy palm fruit, a hollow sack as soft as jelly at 4 pieces for US$1 sold at the roadside to Bantay Samre and at temple refreshment stalls.\n\nIf a tuk-tuk driver brings you to a restaurant, he gets a commission – which means you'll be paying more for the meal and it won't be easy to bargain. Try to find a restaurant yourself and it'll be much easier to get an inexpensive meal.\n\n The modern **Angkor Cafe** lies just outside Angkor Wat's main entrance, and also doubles as a crafts shop, with fine works from the Artisans d'Angkor shop, where they train locals in the arts. Their prices are on the high side for Cambodia, but very reasonable for Western pockets (mainly US$3–5) with excellent food, nice decor and air conditioning.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk019", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Drink", "text": "Soft drinks are hawked by stalls in front of practically every temple. As you might expect, prices are inflated: US$1 for a can of soft drink look to beer, or two cold 500-ml bottles of water is more or less standard; $2 is not uncommon (Feb 2020).\n\nIn warm weather, the temples are extremely hot and it may be worth buying and carrying large bottles of water.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk020", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Sleep", "text": "There are no accommodations within the park, and camping is not permitted. Like most tourists you will find yourself staying in Siem Reap, with a multitude of options ranging from grubby little guest houses to upmarket hotels and villas. See Siem Reap for more details on accommodation options.", "word_count": 48}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk021", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "By local regulation, motorcycle and tuk-tuk drivers must at all times wear a numbered vest when on the job, which goes a long way towards preventing hassles and scams. However, a disturbing number of rapes continue to happen, especially after dark and in the more secluded temples, so it's advised that women not travel alone.\n\nVisiting the temples, beware of **off-duty police officers,** in uniform, who start walking beside you and start showing you around the temples. At this point either say that you would like to see the temples yourself, or agree on a price at the start. Several people have been charged a fee of over US$10 at the end of the temple tour and you are not going to argue with a member of the police force. The official wage for a police officer is very low, so they can easily double their salary by being tourist guides.\n\nBeware of anyone offering you incense. They will hand you the incense and then \"teach\" you a blessing. They will then ask for a donation (generally about US$10) for the monks and the upkeep of the temple. None of the funds will make it to either of these causes, so it's best just to say a quick \"No thank you\" when they try to give you the incense in the first place.\n\nTourists mulling over whether to rent a tour bike: have no fear. Parking is never a problem and not in the warden's wildest dream that a bike parked besides an attraction will get lost or stolen, locked or not. In small temples it surely is easy to park and leave. Bikes are parked across the west entrance and vendors will even compete for your attention to babysit your bike. During biking trip be aware of children standing by the roads in Angkor Park and raising their hands to give you high fives. Stay on the safe side and just wave your hand, as sometimes they try to take a ring off your fingers when you give them a high five.\n\nBe prepared for vast numbers of peddlers who linger around temples. It may feel difficult or rude to ignore the constant come-ons to buy souvenirs, photocopied guidebooks, T-shirts, and assorted junk, but it can be necessary in order to enjoy your visit in semi-peace.", "word_count": 387}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk022", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "Touring the temples is a hot and sweaty job, so bring sunblock and keep yourself well hydrated. Some of the temples, notably the uppermost level of Angkor Wat, require climbs up *very* steep staircases and are best avoided if you suffer from vertigo or are not fully confident of being able to keep your footing.\n\nMalaria is not endemic around the temple complex; however, it is recommended to seek medical advice before you travel as conditions may change.\n\nDon't feed or approach the monkeys who lurk around some sites: many are ill-tempered and will bite at the slightest provocation, and will often attempt to steal anything they can get their hands on. If a monkey jumps on you, stay calm, and do not make any sudden movements until it climbs off you, as moving rapidly is a great way to get bitten.", "word_count": 142}
+{"chunk_id": "angkor-wat::chunk023", "doc_id": "angkor-wat", "section": "Respect", "text": "Some of Angkor's sites were built as Hindu temples, while some were built as Buddhist temples, and yet others were converted over the years. Today, most of Angkor's major temples house at least a few Buddha statues (nearly all added later) and draw a steady stream of monks and worshippers. You may be approached for donations, but these are likely to be scammers, as genuine Theravada Buddhist monks are not allowed to touch money or solicit donations.\n\nBecause these are still holy spaces for Cambodians, you are asked to follow the dress code that the Cambodians follow when visiting any temple or holy space, meaning \"long trousers or skirt, and covered shoulders.\" As of May 2019, a ban on exposed shoulders is being strictly enforced for the uppermost level of Angkor Wat, and possibly in some other spots too. Covering your shoulders with a scarf is not accepted, but you are of course welcome to buy a T-shirt from vendors just outside the temple. In other locations very near to active shrines of worship, you may be politely asked to leave if you don't conform to the dress code, but in most areas of the park, no one will say anything.", "word_count": 201}

corpus/angkor-wat/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "angkor-wat",
+  "title": "Angkor Archaeological Park",
+  "type": "cultural",
+  "continent": "Asia",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Angkor_Archaeological_Park",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "cycling",
+    "photography",
+    "museums",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [
+    2,
+    11
+  ],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "North-western_Cambodia"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 5284,
+  "listing_count": 25,
+  "marker_count": 1,
+  "chunk_count": 24,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}

corpus/antarctica/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk000", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Antarctica** is the coldest and driest place on Earth, and surrounds the South Pole. Tourist visits are costly, demand physical fitness, can only take place in summer (from November to February), and are largely limited to the Peninsula, Islands and Ross Sea. A couple of thousand staff live here in summer in some four dozen bases mostly in those areas; a small number stay over winter. Inland Antarctica is a desolate plateau covered by of ice. Occasional specialist air tours go inland, for mountaineering or to reach the Pole, which has a large base. Wildlife needs access to the sea and is confined to the coasts.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk001", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Regions", "text": "*All dots on the map represent inhabited research stations.*", "word_count": 9}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk002", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb | 300px | Transantarctic mountains\n\n### History\n\nAbout 15 million years ago, the mountain chain connecting South America to Antarctica sank under the ocean, and a new continent was born. Cold sea currents now enclosed Antarctica completely and its climate became intensely cold.\n\n18th century explorers probed the dangerous southern oceans only to encounter a vast barrier of ice: they could hardly tell what was islands, what was a larger land mass, and what was just ice. The first sure sightings of the mainland were in 1820, by Russian, British and American ships all at about the same time. Whaling and sealing vessels began to hunt in the seas here, and explorers mapped the coast. In 1897, a Belgian expedition overwintered in Antarctica and this was the start of the \"Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration\", culminating when Roald Amundsen and his crew reached the South Pole in December 1911. Robert Scott arrived a month later but never made it back to the coast.", "word_count": 163}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk003", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Understand", "text": "Nations began setting up bases and claiming parts of the continent, while conducting scientific work. There was a particular effort at collaboration in the \"International Geophysical Year\" of 1957/58, and this led to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The Treaty makes the continent a scientific preserve, suspends all territorial claims, and prohibits military activity here. This Treaty has stood the test of time, and today Antarctica has no border controls, mines or quarries, missile silos, fish canneries, or any settlements beyond small collections of prefabs. Some four dozen bases are occupied year round or seasonally by a transient population, numbering a few thousand in summer and perhaps a couple of hundred in winter. Only 10% could be described as \"researchers\"; the great majority are support and logistics staff to make the research possible. A couple of settlements style themselves \"towns\" and children have been born there. One base, McMurdo, even has a bus service; its route passes close to where Scott and his men perished in 1912.\n\n### Climate", "word_count": 169}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk004", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Understand", "text": "Antarctica is a desert: the winds are cold, so they carry little moisture, and inland precipitation averages 50 mm (2 inch) a year, the same as the Mojave in California. And yet Antarctica is covered in ice 2–3 km thick. In a warmer climate the snowfall would run off in streams or evaporate, but here it just builds and builds. As Antarctica also has the strongest and most persistent winds of any continent, the snow (or bits of ice small enough to be carried by wind) is constantly moved around and as research stations act as artificial impediments to the free movement of air and snow, there is always the danger of those becoming \"buried\" by snow, requiring various techniques to avoid or at least delay this process. The bedrock beneath the ice is mostly low-lying (though there are several mountain ranges) – in fact some of the rock is actually several hundred meters below the sea – but add all that ice and most of the continent is at high altitude; the South Pole itself is 2835 m (9301 ft) above sea level. This makes a very cold climate colder still, with inland summer highs of -15°C (5°F) and winter lows below -80°C (-112°F), and thin dry air. The icecap is moving, very slowly on the plateau, faster as it descends to the coast to form glaciers and floating ice sheets which calve into county-sized icebergs.\n\nThe coast, especially the Peninsula and its nearby islands, have a slightly less harsh climate, which means their seas are not frozen in summer. This is crucial for wildlife: penguins, seabirds and seals all depend upon open water. It also means that ships can approach, bearing supplies and tourists, from November through February.\n\n### Read", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk005", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb | 300px | Amundsen checks that he's at the South Pole \nFilms and TV documentaries show Antarctic scenery and wildlife, but don't get you into the minds of the early explorers. The following are all available to order online.\n\n*Alone: The Classic Polar Adventure*, by Richard E Byrd, 1938.\n *At the Mountains of Madness* by HP Lovercraft, 1936. The earliest science fiction/horror story to take place on the continent, detailing the adventures of a geological expedition to Antarctic Mountains, where the researchers discover something so inconceivable that they lose their minds.\n *Antarctica*, by Kim Stanley Robinson, 1997. Science fiction account of 21st-century Antarctica and the impact of global warming.\n *Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage*, by Alfred Lansing, 1959.\n *Endurance*, by Caroline Alexander, 1998.\n *A First-Rate Tragedy: Robert Falcon Scott & the Race to the South Pole*, by Diana Preston, 1999.\n *Mawson's Will*, by Lennard Bickel, 1977.\n *North Pole, South Pole: Journeys to the Ends of the Earth*, by Bertrand Imbert, 1992. \n *Scott's Last Expedition: The Journals*, by Robert F. Scott and Beryl Bainbridge, 1996.\n *Shackleton*, by Roland Huntford, 1975.\n *South Pole: 900 Miles on Foot*, by Gareth Wood and Eric Jamieson, 1996. \n *The Worst Journey in the World*, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, 1922.\n *Terra Incognita*, by Sara Wheeler, 1997.\n *South*, by Ernest Shackleton, 1919.", "word_count": 213}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk006", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb | 300px | Taking off at Union Glacier \nAntarctica has no immigration or border controls, but visitors to any land or sea south of 60°S need permission from an Antarctic Treaty member country. Your tour / cruise organiser will take care of this but those travelling independently should apply six months in advance.\n\n### By plane", "word_count": 57}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk007", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "Only five places in Antarctica can handle large, wheeled aircraft suitable for intercontinental flights in potentially hazardous conditions:\n **Villa las Estrellas** () on King George Island, 200 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula. This has a gravel, all-seasons runway, and receives 2-hour charter flights from Punta Arenas between December and February. These flights require clear skies, but nearly all proceed as scheduled (98% as of January 2025 according to Lindblad, up from 85% previously). This is a common transfer point for visitors joining small-ship cruises of the islands and Peninsula.\n **Marambio Base** is on Marambio Island in the Weddell Sea, some 100 km south of the tip of the Peninsula. It's open year-round, though it's prone to fog in December and January. This large base acts as the support centre for all the Argentine stations in the region. \n ** McMurdo Station** on Ross Island has two such airfields, receiving flights from Christchurch, New Zealand that take four hours, but the strips are only open in November and December. It was intended that the newer \"Phoenix\" airfield would have a longer season than the \"Ice Runway\", but this hasn't worked out. McMurdo is a transfer point for visitors from Australia and New Zealand heading to the South Pole, using ski planes from its third airfield \"Williams\".\n **Union Glacier** is a privately-run summer airfield on the desolate plateau of West Antarctica. It receives flights from Punta Arenas and from Cape Town. Most visitors are transferring to and from the South Pole, but this airfield is also a base for climbing Mount Vinson and for the Antarctic Marathon.\n **Wolfs Fang** () is a privately-run summer airfield in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica, which receives medium-sized business jets from Cape Town. Guests transfer via Whichaway Camp to ski-aircraft to the Pole and elsewhere.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk008", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "In 2023, there are no standard commercial flights to any of these airfields, but see their details above for flight package tours. Onward flights into Antarctica use various small to medium aircraft such as the Twin Otter. All the bases have access to a ski runway or at least a helipad.\n\n**Sightseeing overflights** from Australia by Antarctica Flights spend three hours over the continent. Prices range from AUD for first-class down to for a centre economy seat with no guaranteed window access.\n\nThe Qantas regular flight between Sydney and Johannesburg passes close enough for a glimpse of Antarctica.\n\n### By ship\n\nthumb | 300px | 100-passenger icebreaker in Grandidier Channel\n\nShip is the most common method of visiting the Antarctic, with a sailing season Nov-Feb. The vessels are usually ice-strengthened rather than icebreakers; the latter are stronger but round-bottomed, so they heave about more in the massive waves of Drake Passage, typically 4 meters (12 ft) high, sometimes up to 12 meters (40 ft). Most itineraries are to the Antarctic peninsula and nearby Antarctic islands, and they often also take in more northerly islands such as South Georgia and the Falklands.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk009", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "Smaller ships (less than 100 passengers) can go where the big ships can't, getting you up closer to the nature and wildlife. Larger vessels are less prone to rough seas but have more limited landing options; both will use RIBs (powered dinghies) to get you ashore or close in among the ice floes. Big ships may have 1000+ normal capacity but be limited to 500 on Antarctic trips. IAATO rules say that at most 100 people may be ashore at any one time: that's mainly so that everyone can be swiftly plucked to safety when (not if) conditions turn dangerous. Larger ships therefore have to segment their landings, so those passengers might only get a couple of hours per day off ship. Smaller ships can get their shore parties out and back in one operation then move on to visit a second location same day. Everything is very dependent on the weather: an onshore breeze (which in these climes will be going on a gale) will send furious breakers pounding onto the landing beach. About a third of landings have to be called off.\n\nEven on a cosy cruise ship, you need warm clothing just to stand on deck let alone get ashore: boots, hoods, glove, water repellent pants, parka, and warm underwear. Most of these items can be bought or hired in Ushuaia, but they might not have your size. So bring whatever you can from your own stock.\n\nMany shipping companies also offer fly/cruises, so you fly one-way or round-trip from mainland Chile. These cost more but save a couple of days each way upchucking across the Drake Passage.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk010", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "As of 2023, a couple of dozen companies offer trips to Antarctica: others simply act as agents, selling you on to another company and charging a mark-up for their labours. Those listed here are understood to be direct operators, though they may be hiring the vessel with crew and sharing it with other companies. Supply outstrips demand: there is a lot of last-minute availability, but don't be *too* last-minute as even reaching the port of departure is a major trip in its own right. These companies all sail from Ushuaia unless otherwise noted:\n thumb | 300px | Lake Fryxell in Victoria Land \n Abercrombie & Kent sail on *Le Lyrial* (200 passengers max). \n Antarpply Expeditions on *Ushuaia* (90).\n Aurora Expeditions on *Greg Mortimer* (126).\n Bark Europa on *Europa*, a square-rigged sailing ship.\n Cheesemans Ecology Safaris: flying into King George then onto the 12-passenger *Hans Hanson*. \n https://en.ponant.com/destinations/antarctica on *Le Soleal*, *Le Boreal* and *L'Austral* (all about 260 max). \n Expedition Cruise Specialists on *Expedition* (134) and *Sea Spirit* (114), also from Invercargill on *Spirit of Enderby* and *Spirit of Shokalskiy* (both 50), or flying into King George then onto 100-passenger *Magellan Explorer*. \n G Adventures also sail on *Expedition*. \n Heritage Expeditions also sail from Invercargill on *Spirit of Enderby* and *Spirit of Shokalskiy.* \n Geographic Expeditions sail from Ushuaia or fly into King George or to the South Pole. \n Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on *Bremen* (155), and from 2021 on *Hanseatic Nature* and *Hanseatic Inspiration*.\n Hurtigruten sail from Ushuaia and Punta Arenas on *Roald Amundsen* (500), *Fridtjof Nansen* (500), *Fram* (250) and *Midnatsol* (500).\n Intrepid Travel on *Ocean Endeavour* (100). \n Quark Expeditions also on *Ocean Endeavour*.\n National Geographic Expeditions on *National Geographic Explorer* (148), *NG Orion* (102) and *NG Endurance* (126).\n Lindblad Expeditions sail on the same vessels. \n Oceanwide Expeditions sail from Ushuaia and Bluff NZ on *Plancius* (108), *Ortelius* (108), *Janssonius* (170) and *Hondius* (170). \n Polar Latitudes on *Hebridean Sky* and *Island Sky*, plus *Seaventure* from 2021.", "word_count": 321}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk011", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By sailboat\n\nAbout a dozen charter sailboats, many of them members of IAATO, offer three to six-week voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula from South America. Most offer \"expedition style\" trips where guests are invited to help out, although usually no prior sailing experience is required. Yachts take individuals on a \"by the bunk\" basis and also support private expeditions such as scientific research, mountaineering, kayaking, and film-making. Compared to the more popular expedition ships, a small yacht can be more work and significantly less comfortable, but typically allows more freedom and flexibility. For the right people, this can be a far more rewarding experience.\n\n**Ocean Expeditions**. Expedition support yacht *Australis* purpose-built for high latitudes. Specializing in private or commercial expeditions involving film making, scientific research, adventure activities, wildlife enthusiasts or just an intimate experience of the Antarctic.\n **Expedition Sail**. Sailing yacht *Seal* is a purpose-built expedition sailboat offering private expeditions, support for research, filming, or climbing projects, and also offers \"by the bunk\" trips for individuals.\n **Spirit of Sydney**. Australians Darrel and Cath own and operate *Spirit of Sydney*, an expedition support yacht for film crews, mountaineers, skiers and snowboarders, sea kayakers, dry suit divers, scientists, sailors of all experience levels, and whale watchers. They typically carry kayaks on board and offer private charters and group trips for individuals.", "word_count": 220}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk012", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb | 300px | Zodiacs get you ashore \n\nSkis, snowmobiles, tractors, snowcats, helicopters and ski planes are all used to get around Antarctica, and McMurdo on Ross Island even has a bus service. Cruise ships use RIBs / zodiacs (sturdy inflatable powerboats) to ferry tourists between ship and shore; bases close to open water also use these. Bring your own fuel!\n\nThe last of the pony- and dog-sled teams retired in the 1980s. It would be neat to bring a few teams over for a \"heritage\" run, but given the logistics and paperwork necessary, it would probably be simpler to run an old steam locomotive here.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk013", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "See and do", "text": "Antarctica is an amazing place just to look at, with its enormous calving glaciers, icebergs the size of cities, penguin colonies and towering snow-clad mountains. But even just standing there looking is going to involve exertion on your part, elaborate preparation, and a degree of risk. The distinction between seeing and doing is a fine one in many locations, and here it vanishes altogether.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk014", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "See and do", "text": "In that spirit, the prime thing for you to do in Antarctica is **come home safe**. Don't do anything, not even just standing there, without having that in mind. How are the sea conditions and the weather? How is your body faring? What about the other people in your group, is everyone accounted for? And what if, what if, what if?\n ** The southern aurora**, but not in summer. You need full darkness to see it, but in summer the sky is bright even if the sun has briefly dipped below the horizon. You may have more chance on the homeward sailing, as your latitude decreases and the nights lengthen. The same applies to other dark sky sights such as meteors. \n **The midnight sun** in midsummer, but only within the Antarctic circle; most of the Peninsula and all of the Antarctic Islands lie north of it. Actually you're going to get fed up with the sun, since it's broad daylight at 02:00 when you need your sleep. \n **Deception Island**, one of the South Shetland Islands, is a remarkable natural amphitheatre with an equally remarkable show within. It's an active volcano, last erupting in 1970, and the deception is that it looks like a normal mountainous island. But its flanks are just the rim of a great flooded caldera, entered via the narrow channel \"Neptune's Bellows\" into a sheltered natural harbour. Its main sights are the scenery, a large colony of chinstrap penguins, geothermal hot springs (so you can swim in Antarctica), and the remains of an old whaling station and bases wrecked by eruptions. thumb | 300px | Entering Lemaire Channel \n **Lemaire Channel** is a spectacular section of coastline along the Peninsula. It narrows to 1.6 km, and cruise ships sail through a canyon of cliffs and towering ice. Its waters are remarkably still and populated by whales. It's close to other attractions such as Port Lockroy, Cierva Cove and Paradise Bay so it's on many cruise itineraries, but the channel is sometimes blocked by icebergs, so the ship has to back up and seek another route.\n **Old camps and bases** that have been abandoned. Some (such as on Paulet Island) were refuges built by shipwreck survivors, others (as on Deception, above) were summer camps for whaling and sealing. Port Lockroy on the Peninsula was the main British base until they moved to Rothera. It's been converted into a museum. There's a particularly rich collection on Ross Island, as this was historically the main base for exploration towards the pole.\n **Penguins** are the signature beasts of Antarctica, yet most penguin species live much further north. \n Emperor penguins (*Aptenodytes forsteri*) are the 1.2 m creature that stays and breeds here during the harsh winter. Its habitat is stable pack ice within waddling distance of open water - though they may waddle for over 100 km. The largest colonies are on mainland sites that are hard to visit, but there's a small but accessible colony on King George Island, and a larger one at the tip of the Peninsula. \n Adélie penguins (*Pygoscelis adeliae*) are the ones 50-60 cm tall in badly-fitting tuxedos. They live at the edge of the ice and forage for krill, but in spring (October) they move to ice-free land to breed. Their largest known colony is in the Danger Islands at the tip of the Peninsula, with 1.5 million birds. \n King penguins (*A. patagonicus*) are about 70-90 cm tall, like a slimmed down Emperor with bright orange cheeks, but the biggest difference is their habitat. King penguins are sub-Antarctic not continental, and only nest on dry land, so you're most likely to see them on South Georgia. thumb | 300px | Leith whaling station, South Georgia \n Gentoo penguins (*P. papua*) are 60-80 cm tall with a distinctive white band on the head and trumpeting call. They're mainly sub-Antarctic but are found on the Peninsula. \n Chinstrap penguins (*P. antarcticus*) are 70 cm with an obvious chin-strap and harsh stroppy call. They're mainly sub-Antarctic but are found on the Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. \n Tangerine penguins 50-60 cm high, are they Adélies? There are penguin colonies all round the Antarctic coastline, but viewing them from close-up needs a colony near a safe landing beach; so these attract a stream of visitors. You'll smell them first and hear their grating *kra-kra kraa?* before you see their orange line along the shore. Then as the boat draws closer you realize the orange things are *traffic cones*. They are there partly to show you the trail (you may be trying to return in poor visibility), but mostly to indicate the line that you must not cross to avoid disturbing the colony. Expect grief if you transgress, and if you do so in January when the eggs are hatching and the chicks are most vulnerable, you'll be busted off further shore trips.\n No penguins at all at the South Pole, or anywhere on the remote plateau.\n **Other wildlife** includes Humpback, Minke, Blue and Orca Whales; Crab-eater, Weddell and Leopard Seals; and Blue-eyed Shag, Southern Giant Petrel, Cape Petrel, and Kelp Gull.\n **Climb an active volcano,** Mount Erebus at 3794 m on Ross Island. It's a Stromboli-type volcano so it erupts continuously but without great violence, so you can reach the summit crater with its lava lake.\n **Climb the Seventh Summit**, Mount Vinson at 4892 m. The \"Seven Summits Challenge\" is to climb the highest peaks of all seven continents. The list of seven is disputed: which continent does Elbrus belong to, and does Puncak Jaya in Indonesia supplant the Sunday afternoon stroll that is Kosciuszko? What is universally agreed is that Everest is the highest in Asia and Vinson the highest in Antarctica, and that these two are the most difficult and perilous. Vinson is much less of a technical challenge, you spend little time in the \"death zone\" above 4000 m, but it's the isolation, the logistics, and the literally perishing cold.\n While virtually no traveller ever visits Antarctica for its religious buildings, there are several **churches in Antarctica**. Some tours will stop at one of them.", "word_count": 1014}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk015", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Buy", "text": "There isn't much to buy in Antarctica, and most of the shops are small gift shops and souvenir shops. The largest shop is McMurdo's General Store, which would probably provide you with just about anything you will need in Antarctica.\n\nComing to the Antarctic marks you as a high-roller; at the very least you'll get some surprising junk-mail and pop-ups. Some cruise passengers have experienced \"presentations\" that were just pressure-selling of flaky investments, fine wines the quality of filling station Chardonnay, and kitsch artwork and antiques. This is not common on Antarctic cruises, whose passengers are more savvy than most, but as ever *caveat emptor*.", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk016", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb | 300px | Don't eat penguins, that's the leopard seals' job\n\nTake advice from your trip organizer on what supplies to bring. You need sufficient and some spare, but not excess which creates deadweight. Take suitable nutritional advice before extended shore trips. The main risk to the average cruise passenger is pigging out at the ship's buffet. If you're living and working on land, though, you'll find you have quite an appetite; the extra manual labor and cold temperatures result in average calorie intake nearly double of normal.\n\nMost food at bases is frozen, dried, canned, or otherwise preserved. It's all ordered in advance and delivered just once a year around January. Fresh produce is limited, and is typically flown into bases weekly for around two months (around Nov-Dec). A large station may have a cook who can work wonderful variations on the same old pasta; small places may just have a microwave. A few bases are experimenting with indoor greenhouses where they grow fresh produce to prepare future long-term space missions or the supply of Moon or Mars bases. While the food produced is a very welcome break from the same-old for the crew, it's far too little to last the winter.\n\nIn the field, food must be carried or otherwise transported. It needs to be compact, energy-rich, and dry; anything liquid will freeze solid. Re-hydrating it may be a bigger challenge than heating it. Large campsites may be set up with a makeshift \"kitchen\" using camping equipment, or even more complete facilities including a range, oven, and even a grill; food at these will be improvised but still pretty decent. The smallest campsites and mobile teams will have to subsist on camping rations including energy bars, pemmican (a dried paste of meat, fruit, and animal fat), and highly-coveted chocolate bars.\n\n**Don't eat the wildlife:** penguins, seals, bird's eggs, anything... even if it was already dead when you found it. It's illegal due to the treaty, which seeks to protect Antarctic wildlife after 200 years of over-hunting and environmental damage. Equally, don't feed them, however woebegone-cute they look, though there's no rule against leopard seals (*Hydrurga leptonyx*) eating you. It's very rare for them to try, what they're more likely to do is attack and puncture the pontoon floats of your RIB, mistaking their cylindrical black shape for seals.", "word_count": 391}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk017", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb | 300px | \"Any note you can sing, I can sing higher\" \n\n**Drinking water** requires forethought. In summer near the coast there may be freshwater lakes, but they're full of bird poop plus the odd decomposing penguin. Most of the continent is covered in snow and permafrost, but it must be collected and thawed, both of which take a lot of energy. Meltwater is low in minerals and tastes very flat; you may prefer yours with a dash of salt or syrup.\n\nAs in any cold climate, **never drink alcohol until you are safely in shelter**. It's notorious for generating a false glow of warmth and well-being while your core body temperature ebbs away. Rules for alcohol vary by base, but it's usually available at bases' general stores and bars.", "word_count": 131}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk018", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Antarctica has very long summer days, 24-hour long within the Antarctic circle. Try to maintain regular sleeping hours, as this continuous daylight disturbs the body clock. There are no hotels or lodges, and research bases won't house tourists. Most visitors sleep aboard their ship, while inland trips (e.g. to the Pole) have camps set up.", "word_count": 55}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk019", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Work", "text": "It is possible to obtain employment with scientific expeditions and research bases in Antarctica, but there's stiff competition for the small number of posts, only open to citizens of the relevant country. Posts are fixed-term contracts with induction and training before departure for Antarctica. Most positions are summer-only, and less than 10% of staff stay on over winter. \n\nStaffing agencies include Antarctic Support Contract for the US, the Australian Antarctic Program for Australia, British Antarctic Survey for the UK, Antarctica NZ for New Zealand, and South African National Antarctic Programme for South Africa. They also recruit for Subantarctic sites such as South Georgia, Gough and Macquarie.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk020", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb | 300px | Eruption of Mount Erebus \n\nAntarctica is an extreme environment, and accidents are unavoidable. Weigh up the risks and your own abilities before committing to a trip.\n\n**By sea** is how most visitors arrive. The southern oceans are never calm, and often very rough even in summer, with hurricane-force winds and 20 m / 70 ft waves. The ship is designed to handle this so your main risks are three days of upchucking, being thrown about, falling down a stair well, or having heavy doors or items crash into you. Always have one secure handhold, and in severe weather stay in your cabin. Trips won't venture ashore in poor weather but it may deteriorate: be extremely cautious when returning in a zodiac and follow crew instructions on when to hold still and when to cross onto the landing stage. If you fall in, your survival time in these waters is less than a minute. \n\n**It's cold** even on the continental fringes where most visitors go. Most cruises focus on the Antarctic Peninsula and only travel during the warmest months (late October to March). Temperatures are typically around freezing and can drop much lower, so be prepared. Standard cold-weather gear won't suffice for polar conditions: it needs to be thermally protective, wind- and water-proof, yet still allow good mobility. Seek advice from the trip organiser, and don't assume that anything will be available on ship. But conversely, the operator may prefer to issue everyone with standard kit that they know is reliable. Keeping feet warm is important on a cruise, especially when taking zodiac cruises where you won't be moving very much, taking plenty of wool socks is recommended.\n\n**It's even colder and at high altitude inland**, even if you're not mountaineering: the South Pole is at 2835 m / 9301 ft. \n\n**Intense sunlight** and no shelter from it: you need sunglasses and 40+ factor sunblock. \n\n**You need to be healthy and moderately fit.** If you have a long-term condition such as diabetes it needs to be very well controlled: you're going to be in a stressful environment with lots of disruption to diet, activity, and day / night cycle. A medical evacuation could take days to effect and costs could approach US$1 million.\n\n**Altogether, it's hazardous yet safe**, so to speak. For sure you need adequate travel / medical insurance, and an annual multi-trip policy is often the best value. This should cover a cruise with shore trips, but might exclude anything beyond. Travel insurers are generally relaxed about standard Antarctic tourist trips - indeed in 2020 one insurer offered the chance to win such a trip if you took out a policy with them. So they're not seeing many claims. Antarctic travellers are healthy and switched on, they pay attention to safety briefings and are not befuddled by alcohol, herbal tobacco or hormonal bravado - altogether they're a safer group than the average ski chalet party.", "word_count": 490}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk021", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Respect", "text": "thumb | 300px | Mount Vinson, the \"seventh summit\" \nAntarctica has a **very fragile environment**. Penguins live at the very limit of what is survivable and are especially vulnerable in the brooding / hatching season. Some habitats have extra protection and you may not enter these. **Interfering with wildlife** is illegal and discouraged. Unless you're a trained researcher, don't approach wildlife closely, and even when viewing from a distance try not to surround animals which might confuse or frighten them. At the same time, **don't feed or help animals** even if they would die without your help; if you did, it would interfere with the \"survival of the fittest\" and would have negative long-term consequences.\n\n**Leave no trash.** Antarctic treaties require the equivalent of leave-no-trace camping. Waste disposal and sewage facilities ashore are severely limited and restricted to permanent bases; researchers in field campsites must pack everything out, including human waste. Practice good hygiene and follow any bio-security advice given, e.g. on boot washing. There's scant risk of introducing a blight upon the Antarctic apple harvest, but you don't want to be trailing penguin poop back to the ship's buffet, or catching norovirus in the washrooms.\n\nThe International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is a voluntary organization of tour operators which promotes safe and environmentally responsible tourism in Antarctica. It publishes standards for its members on responsible conduct of visits.", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "antarctica::chunk022", "doc_id": "antarctica", "section": "Connect", "text": "The top-level Internet domain for Antarctic sites, **.aq**, is assigned to organizations that conduct work in Antarctica or signatory governments to the Antarctic Treaty. Generally, its servers are hosted elsewhere as **Internet access in Antarctica is quite limited**. There are no undersea cables to Antarctica; all Internet is provided by satellites, which have limited bandwidth and high latency. Bandwidth is prioritized for scientific research (and even so, for large scientific uploads it's faster to mail a thumb drive), leaving even less for personal use. All websites are slow (especially social media sites, which are throttled because they're in such high demand). Uploading selfies is okay, but video calls, streaming video, and most online gaming is impossible.\n\nOnly a few sites in Antarctica have **mobile phone service**. Argentina's Marambia Base has 4G LTE, while the Chilean, Uruguayan, Australian, and Finnish bases have 2G GSM. Everywhere else, you would have to rely on satellite phones. Along parts of the coast, some services like Inmarsat would work, but as you get further inland, most satellites drop below the horizon. At those latitudes, Iridium satellite phones are the only ones that will work, and they should work excellently since the poles are where the orbits of every satellite overlap. Globalstar does not work (as of 2020) as its satellites can only relay to a nearby ground station, of which there are none close enough to the South Pole; even coverage near South America has been out of commission since 2015.\n\n**Post offices** are few and far between, but you can send home a postcard (with a truly unique postmark) from the Chilean town of Villa Las Estrellas on King George Island, or from the former British base of Port Lockroy, or from the US or NZ post offices at McMurdo on Ross Island.", "word_count": 299}

corpus/antarctica/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "antarctica",
+  "title": "Antarctica",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Polar / Special",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Antarctica",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "climbing",
+    "kayaking",
+    "safari",
+    "wildlife",
+    "sailing",
+    "museums",
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "glacier",
+    "geothermal",
+    "volcano",
+    "whale-watching",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 5303,
+  "listing_count": 0,
+  "marker_count": 0,
+  "chunk_count": 23,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/arctic-russia/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk000", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Murmansk Oblast** is the northernmost region of northwestern Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, which borders Finland's Lapland to the west, Norway's Finnmark Region to the northwest, the Barents Sea to the north, the White Sea to the southeast, and Karelia to the south.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk001", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|300px|An iron ore pit mine near [[Kovdor]]\nMurmansk is the only major city on the Kola Peninsula; it is Russia's main merchant and fishing port on the Arctic Ocean. \n\nThe region's smaller cities mostly owe their existence to mining and mineral processing: Monchegorsk was founded at a copper and nickel mine (which is now exhausted, but the associated metal refinery keeps operating, using ore from Norilsk), Olenegorsk and Kovdor mine iron ore, Kandalaksha has an aluminum refinery. It is not too hard to guess that Apatity processes apatite (the source material for phosphorous fertilizer, mined in nearby Kirovsk), while Nikel (and nearby Zapolyarny) mine and process nickel ore.\n\nA special permit may be required for visiting the naval harbors (Severomorsk, Polyarny, etc.) and air bases in Kola Fjord north of Murmansk, or elsewhere in the region.\n\nBesides Russians, the peninsula also has an indigenous population of Sami people. Many of them live in the Oblast's Lovozero District, and are engaged in reindeer husbandry.\n\nMurmansk Oblast is of interest to a tourist mostly for its novelty value—it is in Russia's extreme north, above the Arctic Circle, and is relatively easy to get to from Saint Petersburg. The highlights of a Murmansk Oblast trip are its capital and perhaps also an adventurous trip out to Kola. To heighten the novelty value of your trip, try to come around the summer Equinox, when the sun moves around the sky but never sets, or the winter Solstice, when the sun never rises and the region is plunged into blackness. The winter is cold, but it is also the best time to see the Northern Lights.\n\nEach year, Murmansk Oblast plays host to the Festival of the North, known as Prazdnik Severa, a 10-day annual sporting event in 20 winter sports.", "word_count": 296}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk002", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|300px|A view of Murmansk's harbor\n — the capital and largest city is an important naval base and has a large sea port which remains ice-free year round; the world's largest city north of the Arctic Circle\n — mining town on top of one of the richest mineral deposits on the planet, a paradise for rock and mineral collectors\n \n — a large town with the world's northernmost botanical gardens and a ski resort in the Khibiny Mountains\n — the peninsula's oldest town boasts its original fort, the Cathedral of the Assumption (the first stone building in the region), and a museum of local culture\n — a nickel mining town and border post at the Norwegian border\n — a closed town, one of the region's oldest, on the Murmansk Fjord; it is now a site for decommissioning nuclear Soviet and Russian submarines\n — a closed city, the region's second largest city, and the main administrative center of the Russian Northern Fleet\n — historic coastal town at the White Sea shore, with plenty of tourist attractions\n — mining town best known for the science project", "word_count": 182}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk003", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|300px|In the Khibiny\n\n — on the coast and islands of the White Sea\n — in the Monche Tundra mountains west of Monchegorsk\n \n — the region's highest mountain massif, around Kirovsk", "word_count": 30}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk004", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Talk", "text": "As with elsewhere in Russia, Russian is the main language in Murmansk Oblast.\n\nThis is part of the Sámi homeland, but the Sámi are a small minority and even among them most only speak Russian. Traditionally Skolt, Kildin, Ter and Akkala Sámi were spoken here, all of which are eastern Sámi languages, not mutually intelligible with e.g. Northern Sámi. The languages now have few speakers, with Lovozero being one of the few places where one of the languages is still widely spoken.", "word_count": 82}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk005", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nthumb|300px|St Tryphon Monastery in [[Pechenga]], world's northernmost monastery\nThe easiest way to get in is via Murmansk's airport (), which is served by flights from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk. There are also flights from northern Norway and, seasonally, from Helsinki in Finland.\n\nA smaller airport operates in Apatity/Kirovsk, with flights from Moscow, St Petersburg, and a few other destinations.\n\n### By train\n\nA single railway, constructed during World War I, connects Murmansk with the rest of Russia. On the way to Murmansk, trains stop in most other cities of the province (Kandalaksha, Polyarnye Zori, Apatity, Olenegorsk [for Monchegorsk]), Kola).\n\nSeveral trains a day run to Murmansk from Moscow (at least 28 hours) and St Petersburg (24 hours); on the way to Murmansk, they also stop in Petrozavodsk and other towns of Russian Karelia. \n \nThere is also a train to Murmansk from Vologda. During the summer holiday season, additional trains are scheduled between Murmansk and popular resort destinations in southern Russia.\n\n### Overland from Finland or Norway\n\nFrom Finland, take the overnight train departing about 19:00 from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Continue from Rovaniemi by bus in the morning, transfer in Ivalo in the early afternoon (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and be in Murmansk 22:50, spending about the same time on the journey as from Saint Petersburg (including some hours in Rovaniemi and Ivalo). There is probably also a bus from Rovaniemi via Kemijärvi and Salla to Kandalaksha.\n\nThere are roads with border crossings from Kirkenes in Norway and from Ivalo and Salla in Finland.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk006", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most of the region's population centers are located in the north-south valley between Kandalaksha and Murmansk, along which both the St Petersburg–Murmansk railway (with several trains a day) and St Petersburg–Murmansk highway (with several buses a day) run. Buses on the highway run via Kandalaksha, Monchegorsk, and Olenegorsk, with Apatity and Kirovsk on a branch road. Trains run east of Lake Imandra, between Kandalaksha, Apatity, Olenegorsk, and Murmansk.\n\nThe highway and railway from Murmansk toward the northwestern Pechenga District and the Norwegian border have much less frequent service.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "arctic-russia::chunk007", "doc_id": "arctic-russia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Kirovsk ski resort\nKirovsk has a small ski resort open from mid November to mid June. There is also cross country ski infrastructure.\n{| class=\"wikitable\"\n!Name||Email||Altitude||30px / 30px / 30px||30px / 30px / 30px\n|-\n|Kolasportland|| Рейтинг@Mail.ru ||390-852 m||7 Lifts: 0 / 1 / 6|| 30 km Pistes: 15 / 14 / 1\n|}", "word_count": 53}

corpus/arctic-russia/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "arctic-russia",
+  "title": "Murmansk Oblast",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "Polar / Special",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Murmansk_Oblast",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "skiing",
+    "fishing",
+    "museums",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "northern-lights"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Northwestern_Russia"
+  ],
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+  "listing_count": 0,
+  "marker_count": 15,
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+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/argentina/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk000", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Overview", "text": "*\"AR\" redirects here. For the U.S. state, see Arkansas.*\n**Argentina** is a large country in the southern part of South America. It offers a great diversity of climates and landscapes from jungles in the north, great grass plains in the center and frozen mountains in the south.\n\nWith a history of mass immigration dating from the 1800s - mostly from Europe and other South American countries - Argentina is a \"melting pot\" of cultures.", "word_count": 74}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk001", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|[[La Plata]] — the capital at the shores of the Río de la Plata, occasionally called *Capital Federal* to distinguish it from the province of Buenos Aires\n — second largest city, in the heart of the Pampas region, known for its university and near a beautiful mountain range\n — the capital of Buenos Aires province, known as \"the perfect city\" for its tracing; just look at a map of the street pattern of the city\n — well known for its extensive and high quality wine production. It is also near Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas\n — on the Paraná shore, known for beautiful neoclassical architecture\n — in the Northwest, known as 'La Linda' due to its old city and the beautiful surroundings\n — in the foothills of the Andes with lots of facilities for skiing and trekking. Known for its picturesque snow-covered landscapes and the European style of its buildings\n — a center of quality wine production\n — the largest city in the northwest, near a subtropical jungle region", "word_count": 172}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk002", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "Argentina has 35 national parks preserving a variety of ecosystems and showcasing some of the country's most impressive natural wonders.\n — the main destination when visiting the *Glaciers National Park*; advancing to the Perito Moreno Glacier is a must when visiting Argentina\n — a nature reserve of 13,000 km2 in a large swampland region with unique wildlife, with its eco village Colonia Carlos Pellegrini right in the heart of the reserve\n — awesome falls right in the north-east corner of the country\n — at the foothills of the Andes mountains with lakes, rivers, waterfalls, peaks, glaciers and forests\n — a narrow valley in the arid mountains of Jujuy province, including famous colourful mountains and magnificent desert landscapes", "word_count": 116}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk003", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "Argentina, officially the **Argentine Republic** (Spanish: *República Argentina*), is in South America, and is the eighth-largest country in the world. The highest and the lowest points of South America are also in Argentina: At 6,960 m, *Cerro Aconcagua* is the tallest mountain in the Americas while *Laguna del Carbón*, at 105 m below sea level, in Santa Cruz Province is the lowest point in South America.\n\nAt the southern tip of Argentina there are several routes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans including the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and the Drake Passage – as alternatives to sailing around Cape Horn in the open ocean between South America and Antarctica.\n\nThe name *Argentina* derives from *argentinos*, the Ancient Greek diminutive (tinos) form for *silver* (argentos), which is what early Spanish explorers sought when they reached the region in the 16th century.\n\n### Climate\n\nBuenos Aires and the Pampas are temperate; cold in the winter, hot and humid in the summer.\n\nThe deserts of Cuyo, which can reach temperatures of 45°C, are extremely hot and dry in the summer and moderately cold and dry in the winter. Spring and fall often exhibit rapid temperature reversals; several days of extremely hot weather may be followed by several days of cold weather, then back to extremely hot.\n\nThe Andes are cool in the summer and very cold in the winter, varying according to altitude. Northwest Argentina's climate varies by altitude with lowland areas experiencing hot summers and mild winters while icy conditions prevail at the highest altitudes. Salta and San Salvador de Jujuy are in valleys and are characterized by a pleasant climate year-round.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk004", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "Mesopotamia to the northeast has a humid climate with abundant rainfall year-round and high temperatures. Patagonia is cool (in the south and the west) to warm (in the center and north-east) in the summer and cold in the winter. Much of the region is a desert except in the extreme west where rainfall is higher, supporting forests. The rainfall changes a lot within a small distance ranging from more than 1,000 mm (39 in) to just under 200 (8 in) less than 100 km (62 mi) away to the east. One defining characteristic of the climate is the strong, persistent winds that blow across the region, making the temperature feel much colder than it is. Extreme temperature shifts within a single day are common here; pack a variety of clothes and dress in layers.\n\n### Terrain\n\nThe central region of Argentina is the rich plain known as *La Pampa*. There is jungle in the extreme northeast and some valleys in the Northwest. The southern half of Argentina is dominated by the flat to rolling plateau of *Patagonia*. The western border with Chile is along the rugged *Andes* mountains, including the *Aconcagua*, the highest mountain outside the Himalayas. The western *Cuyo* regions at the base of the Andes are mostly rocky desert with some poisonous frock trees.\n\nArgentina national parks protect the natural resources and landscapes throughout the country. There are 35 national parks in Argentina, including wide-open grassy savannahs, rocky mountainous terrain high in the Andes mountains, rainforests and wetlands in the north, and glaciers and the rocky, inhospitable coastline of the southernmost outposts.\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk005", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "Argentina covers an area of , making it the world's eighth-largest country, the second-largest country in South America, and the fourth-largest country in the Americas. Argentina is slightly larger than Kazakhstan, and is nearly 17 times larger than South America's smallest country, Suriname.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Gauchos (Argentine \"cowboys\") resting in the Pampas, painted in 1846 by Johann Moritz Rugendas\nFollowing independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals. In the first decade of the 20th century, Argentina became the richest nation in Latin America, its wealth symbolized by the opulence of its capital city. During the roaring twenties, Argentina was one of the world's richest countries, with a GDP higher than that of major European economies such as France, Germany and Italy. European immigrants flowed into Argentina, particularly from the northern parts of Italy and Spain; by 1914, nearly 6 million people had come to the country.\n\nAfter World War II, Juan Perón came to power and instituted a form of populism, commonly known as Peronism. Under Peron, Argentina instituted a protectionist economic policy that heavily restricted foreign trade. While such policies led to the overwhelming popularity of Peron and other Peronist politicians among the masses of working-class Argentinians, they also led Argentina's economy to stagnate. Peron was overthrown in a U.S.-backed military coup in 1976.", "word_count": 224}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk006", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "After waging an unsuccessful war with the United Kingdom over the Islas Malvinas (*Falkland Islands*) in 1982, the military leadership lost power, and democracy returned in 1983. A painful economic crisis at the turn of the 21st century devalued the Argentine peso by a factor of three and ushered in a series of weak, short-lived governments along with social and economic instability. However, later in the decade Argentina seemed to find some new stability and has a much better economic outlook, albeit with the eternal problem of high inflation. Argentina is the third-largest economy in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico, and a member of the G20 group of major economies.\n\nDue to widespread dissatisfaction during Argentina's hyperinflation crisis, anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei was elected president in 2023. His proposed reforms focus on drastically reducing government spending, including cuts to welfare programs, alongside the mass privatization of state-owned enterprises. Milei has also announced plans to eliminate the Argentine Central Bank, phase out the Argentine peso, and adopt the U.S. dollar as the national currency. On the international stage, he has shifted Argentina's foreign policy toward stronger ties with the United States and Israel. Despite initial criticisms of China, he has taken a more pragmatic approach to maintaining trade relations. While his policies aim to stabilize the economy and combat inflation, their impact on the lives of ordinary Argentines remains uncertain as his administration works to implement these ambitious changes.\n\n### Cultural diversity\n\nBetween 1850 and 1930, the country received millions of immigrants from all over the world. 98% of the population is of partial or full European ancestry.", "word_count": 267}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk007", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "Italians are the largest ethnic group in the country, with 60% of Argentines (30 million people) claiming Italian ancestry. Italian influence in the country is profound and well documented; Argentine cuisine has been strongly influenced by Italian cuisine, Italian settlements helped to form the backbone of Argentine society, the Argentinian dialect of Spanish exhibits strong Italian influences, and many Argentines are Italophiles.\n\nDuring the 1800s, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the British Isles moved to Argentina. English immigrants are credited with introducing the sport of football to Argentina, which has since become the country's national sport, and there are several Welsh-speaking towns in Chubut province.\n\nArgentina has one of the world's largest Jewish populations and houses the largest Jewish community in South America, most of whom are of Ashkenazi extraction.\n\nOther significant ethnic groups:\n Spaniards — the second largest ethnic group and they have been in the country since the 16th century. \n Germans — it is believed that 8% of Argentines are of German descent.\n The French — it is believed that 17% of Argentines are of French descent.\n Russians — it is believed that 1-3% of Argentines are of Russian descent.\n Ukrainians — they make up 9% of the population in Misiones. \n Poles — it is believed that 3% of Argentines are of Polish descent.\n\n### Electricity\n\nArgentine electricity is 220 V, 50 Hz. Adapters and transformers for North American equipment are readily available.", "word_count": 236}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk008", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "The best way to use imported electrical equipment in Argentina is to purchase an adapter once there. These are available in the Florida shopping area in Buenos Aires for around US$2 or less in hardware stores outside the city center. Buildings use a mix of European and Australian plug fittings. The Australian-style plugs are IRAM-2073, which are physically identical to the Australian AS-3112 standard (two blades in a V-shape, with or without a third blade for ground). However, the live and neutral pins in the Australian fittings are reversed. Therefore, Australian equipment may be incompatible despite the apparent plug-compatibility. This is not a problem for battery chargers for devices like laptops and mobile phones.\n\nEuropean standard CEE-7/7 \"Schukostecker\" or \"Schuko\" outlets and the non-grounded, but compatible, European CEE-7/16 \"Europlug\" outlets may still be found in some older buildings. US and Canadian travellers may want to pack adapters for these outlets as well.\n\nMany sockets have no earth pin. Laptop adapters should have little problem with this. If your laptop adapter requires an earth pin you will need a plug adapter that takes three pins from the laptop and requires only two from the wall socket. This does work but may reduce electrical safety or affect your warranty.", "word_count": 207}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk009", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Understand", "text": "Some Argentine sockets accept North American plugs, particularly ones on power strips. This does *not* mean that these sockets supply 110 volts. Make sure that your equipment can handle 220 volts. Simply changing the shape of the plug with a US$2 adapter will not allow 110 V equipment to operate on 220 V Argentinian voltage, unless the device is specifically designed to work on both 110 and 220 volts, **irreparable damage and even fire can result**. Most laptop power adapters and many portable electronics chargers are designed to work on either voltage; check the specifications for your equipment to be sure. If your equipment cannot accept 220 V voltage, you can purchase a '220-110 V' transformer for approximately US$6 in most Argentinian electronics shops. This is much heavier and bulkier than a small adapter. There are two types of these transformers. One supports heavy loads for short durations, for example a hair dryer. The other supports light loads for long durations, for example an inkjet printer.\n\n### Holidays\n\n**January 1** — New Year's Day\n **March 24** — Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice\n **2 April** — Malvinas Day\n **25 May** — Day of the First National Government\n **June 17** — Anniversary of the death of Martín Miguel de Güemes\n **June 20** — National Flag Day\n **July 9** — Independence Day\n **August 17** — Anniversary of the death of José de San Martin\n **October 12** — Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity\n **November 20** — Day of National Sovereignty\n **December 25** — Christmas\n **December 31** — New Year's Eve\n\n### Visitor information\n\nargentina.travel (official tourism website)", "word_count": 266}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk010", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visas\n\nthumb|Map showing the visa policy of Argentina.\n{{legend|\nPassport holders of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Argentina when the purpose of the visit is tourism for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted): Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica (30 days), Japan, Kazakhstan (30 days), Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia (30 days), Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela.\n\nCitizens and residents (if their nationality is mentioned under visa exemptions applicable to normal passport holders) of the following countries can enter with their National ID card: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.\n\nCitizens of India and China (including Macau) who also hold a valid visa issued by the United States or a Schengen visa can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (AVE) at a cost of US$50 prior to travelling to Argentina. The validity of Schengen or U.S. visas must be more than 3 months. The processing time is 10 business days.\n\n#### At arrival", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk011", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "You may bring in goods worth US$300 without paying duties. If you are just changing planes at the same airport and not entering the country you will *still* be given a customs form to fill in but as of May 2014 nobody asks for it at the airport and you can keep it as a souvenir. \nThose persons not required to obtain a visa to enter the country are still required to provide the address of their first nights accommodation - not documentary evidence just the details - so remember to have it to hand.\n\n### By plane\n\n**Aerolíneas Argentinas** and **LATAM** offer connections between Buenos Aires' international airport Ezeiza and many cities throughout South America, as well as North America, Europe and Australia. Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland. **Qantas** no longer offers direct flights from Sydney to Buenos Aires, instead flying to Santiago, home of its OneWorld Partner LATAM, where people can connect onto multiple destinations in Argentina.\n\nThere are international flights to other airports, such as to Mendoza with LATAM from Santiago Chile", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk012", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "If you're flying in or out of Argentina, Buenos Aires is the most common point of arrival and departure. The city has two airports, **Ministro Pistarini International Airport** () some 40 km southwest of central Buenos Aires and the more centrally located **Aeroparque Jorge Newbery** (). The former is for intercontinental flights and a few domestic ones (mostly to Río Gallegos and Ushuaia), which leave early in the morning but if you're continuing to another location in Argentina or to nearby international destinations (one flight hour away or so) by plane you'll in most cases have to travel from Ezeiza to Jorge Newbery. There are cheap shuttle buses which take you there in about an hour, but travel time varies greatly depending on traffic. Also, there are some flights to Jorge Newbery from three other important South American hubs, namely São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Santiago so if you have a changed planes at those airports, your connecting flight might arrive at (or leave from) Jorge Newbery. Take an extra look at your ticket and **ensure you are at the right airport.**\n\nYou should be able to ride a motorcoach or hire a service taxi from the booth after you clear customs. The rate for a pre paid taxi from Ezeiza international airport to Buenos Aires is AR$50,000 as at 2026. Getting a taxi at the rank is much cheaper but the prepaid taxis are safer and more convenient. You can now also ride an Uber from Ezeiza, the fare is sometimes dynamic and lower than a taxi, and is recommended to send an SMS or call your driver, since they may need to coordinate the pick up spot with you.", "word_count": 282}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk013", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "If visiting another city there are a number of airports throughout the country. Many find it far easier to travel to a neighboring country and then take a short distance hop to the smaller airport. All major cities in Argentina and major tourist destinations like Mendoza, Perito Moreno and Iguazu Falls have airports nearby. There are several national airlines, with different levels of service. In general flying gets you everywhere quickly and cheaply (relatively). Although the buses in Argentina are among the most comfortable in the world and are reasonably priced, travelling takes a lot of time because of the distances and slow road travel involved.\n\nPassengers leaving Ezeiza Airport no longer have to pay the \"departure tax\" of US$29 (US$8 to Uruguay and domestic flights) after check-in, as they are now included in the prices of the tickets.\n\n### By train\n\nThere are no long-distance international services to Argentina, only a short-distance train from Encarnación (Paraguay) to Posadas. Coming from Bolivia, the border towns of Villazón and Yacuiba can be reached by train. A connection between Chile and Argentina is under construction.\n\n### By bus\n\nthumb|Ticket booths at Buenos Aires intercity bus station\nInternational coaches run from all the neighbouring countries.", "word_count": 202}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk014", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "Retiro Bus Terminal: +54 11 4310-0700\nThe Retiro bus terminal is large and hidden behind Retiro train and Subte stations. For long-distance buses it is advisable to buy a ticket several days in advance of your trip. Arrive at least 45 minutes before your departure and always ask at an information desk if your gate number is the same as the one printed on your ticket. You will be given a range of possible gate numbers (for example 17-27). Watch your belongings carefully at Retiro as it is often crowded and there have been reports of thefts and even muggings at night. Travelling by bus is one thing you won't regret. You will come across the best customer service and world class seats. Comparing Argentinian coach buses to those in the United States would be insulting to Argentina, for they have much higher standards than those like Greyhound.\n\n### By boat\n\nRegular catamarans routes link Buenos Aires with Montevideo and Colonia in Uruguay.\n\nThe **Buquebus** ferry service operates between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and both Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, Uruguay. Some services are even from Punta del Este (via bus). For the Buquebus-Ferry between Buenos Aires and Colonia del Sacramento there are two options, one takes three hours and the other one hour to get there. Generally, Buquebus seems a little more expensive than Colonia Express.\n\n**Colonia Express** operates between Buenos Aires and Colonia by one hour ferry. In addition, you can add a bus option between Colonia and Montevideo. Ticket prices from/to Montevideo or Colonia are between US$25–50, depending on the day of week and time.\n\n**Seacat Colonia** also operates between Buenos Aires and Colonia by one hour ferry, also offering a combined bus option between Colonia and Montevideo or even Punta del Este.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk015", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get in", "text": "There is also the directferries.com/.co.uk website, which offers those trips and ferries, although at inflated prices. In addition, it sometimes requires you to book business seats, which adds even further cost. In the end prices can easily be threefold for a simple one way ticket.\n\nFurthermore, there are two companies (Cacciola and Líneas Delta) that link the city of Tigre with Carmelo and Nueva Palmira in Uruguay, respectively. Trains to Tigre depart from Retiro (one of Buenos Aires' main train stations) every ten minutes. The trip costs AR$1.1 and takes 50 min.\n\nTo a lesser extent, Grimaldi Freighters run freighters which carry up to 12 passengers from Hamburg, London, Antwerp, Le Havre, and Bilbao to Montevideo (Uruguay) every 9 days. They also carry cars and you drive your car on and off — unlike other freighter services. More information can be found on the website.\n\n### By car\n\nArgentina has many border crossings with its neighboring countries Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil, which are easy to use.\n\nSome ferries between Buenos Aires and Colonia also carry vehicles. However, taking the land border crossing can be convenient for a more complete route including Salto, Paysandú and Carmelo and the cities on the Argentinian side on your trip between Argentina and Uruguay.", "word_count": 210}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk016", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "Argentina is a colossal country. With a land area of , travelling from one region to another can take a lot of time.\n\nIt is a government requirement that travellers produce identification when buying plane or long distance bus tickets. You are always asked for for identification when buying bus tickets and many bus drivers ask again to see your passport as you are boarding.\n \nSome of the provinces have restrictions on the transport of fresh fruit and vegetables. Police will occasionally search buses and check the luggage of plane passengers when they disembark.\n\n### By bus\n\nArgentina boasts an outstanding short and long-distance bus network however long distance buses often run late. It is not the end of the earth if your overnight bus is a few hours late but can be a problem if you join a long distance bus mid route for what should be a 3 hour trip and find that it is 4 hours late. Try to book short distance buses for shorter trips, if you must join a long distance bus mid route give yourself as much leeway as possible for connecting services. Since regional train service is limited and plane tickets are more expensive, bus travel is the most common way to travel from city to city within Argentina. It is not as cheap as it was before, with about US$4-5 for each hour of travelling (Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires about US$100).", "word_count": 240}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk017", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "In Buenos Aires, a city bus is called a *colectivo* or *bondi* while a long distance, intercity bus is called a *micro* or *omnibus*; this is not always true though, usage varies somewhat in provincial areas.. The hub of this network is definitely Buenos Aires' *Terminal de Omnibus de Retiro*; it has up to 2,000 bus arrivals and departures per day, and multiple companies serve most destinations. Buses arrive and depart from a total of 75 platforms, and in order to buy your ticket you will have to choose between about 200 ticket booths situated on the upper level of the terminal.", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk018", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "The more expensive buses generally offer high-quality service, and for distances longer than 200 km, it is common to have food served on board. There is generally a good amount of legroom, and many buses have seats that recline horizontally into beds (*called camas*) making them a lot like travelling business class on a plane. The best category with completely reclining seats is normally called *cama suite*, but other names such as *tutto letto*, *ejecutivo* , *cama vip* or *salon real* are also in use. Somewhat cheaper seats only recline partially (*semi-camas*), or not at all (*servicio común*). Every service belongs to one of five official comfort classes with minimum requirements that are prescribed by law in order to facilitate comparisons. The better buses will provide everything you need, while for the lower categories it may be a good idea to take drinks and food with you, as well as toilet paper and ear plugs. If the trip is really long *e.g. more than 12 hours* it's definitely better to spend a few more bucks and pay for a better bus service. If travelling with a large bag or suitcase bring a handful of coins to tip the porter that heaves your pack in and out of the taxi and bus.\n\nRemember that, although buses usually *arrive* at their destination a little late, they almost always *leave* on time. Do not think that the relaxed approach carries over to bus departure times!", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk019", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "More information on bus schedules and fares is available on the webpages of the online ticket resellers Plataforma 10, Central de Pasajes. To buy tickets and to really have a choice to different bus companies you may visit Ticket Online or VoyenBus . For buses departing or arriving in Buenos Aires, you can consult the webpages of the Terminal Retiro in Buenos Aires. A second bus terminal in Buenos Aires is situated in the Liniers neighborhood, but it is smaller and less accessible than the one in Retiro. Major bus companies are Andesmar, Flecha Bus and Expreso Singer.\n\nFor city buses in Buenos Aires you should check BA Cómo Llego (In English, also an app for smartphones) and Omnilineas (in English).\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|200px|Argentina rail passenger services {{nowrap|([[ShareMap:public/Railways in Argentina|interactive map]])}}\nThe history of rail transport in Argentina is one of many ups and downs. While in the 19th century the rail network rivaled that of the US or many European countries in density, speed and quality as befitted a nation among the richest in the world, the declining fortunes of Argentina in the 20th century hit the railway, too. The railways were nationalized during Juan Domingo Perón's first term and remained state-owned until they were privatized under the government of Carlos Menem. However, the railways have since made yet another U-turn and a new state-owned railway was created in 2015. The government has promoted the re-establishment of long-distance passenger trains, but after Milei came to power in 2023, the train network suffered yet another sharp decline.", "word_count": 258}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk020", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most lines operate at a low frequency (couple of departures weekly), some others (including trains to Tucuman and Córdoba) are announced as closed \"temporarily\" with no plans for reopening them. So, the rail network is very limited, and intercity buses offer better service and faster rides. The website is a bit hard to navigate and Spanish only. Train fares can be *very* cheap, often only a quarter of the bus fare, though for long-distance routes they may be similar in price to the cheapest bus services, which taking much longer.\n\n**Local travel** in the Buenos Aires province is by bus and by local trains, with fast trains being the quickest way to get through the city's traffic. The three largest train terminals in Buenos Aires are Retiro, Constitucion and Once. Retiro is a group of three train stations alongside each other with the main long-distance bus (or \"micro\") terminal behind the furthest of the train terminals (from the city center).", "word_count": 160}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk021", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "One of the major **long distance** train operators is Trenes Argentinos, which departs from Retiro-Mitre (Buenos Aires) to Junin and Rosario, from Once to Bragado, and from Constitución (Buenos Aires) to Mar del Plata. These routes aren't very frequent - some only run several times a week. See also Satélite Ferroviario, an independent train enthusiast website, for up-to-date information on trains and services (*in Spanish*). Tickets can be bought online with a 5% discount and with credit card. Although it does not allow for the selection of a foreign passport ID when buying a ticket, you can enter your number (and letters) under *DNI*, which will be accepted in the train. For getting the needed online account, you cannot enter letters for your ID number, but just put anything, since you will be asked anew for each purchased connection. You can also purchase tickets in person at designated ticket offices, which are open roughly during normal business hours - these are often located at the train stations, and a map of all locations with their hours can be found on the Trenes Argentinos website.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk022", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "As mentioned above, long-distance train routes are much slower than the corresponding bus lines, and they often run a few hours behind schedule too. In addition, the seats in the train aren't as good for sleeping, only reclining a little bit and lacking the leg rest that even the low-end \"semi-cama\" buses do. The advantage of the long-distance train (besides potentially being cheaper), is that you get a more relaxed and interesting experience. The ride is much smoother, there are full-service toilets, hot and cold drinking water, and often a snack bar, and you can stretch your legs any time. You also get very close-up views of the natural landscapes as well as the less-pretty side of Argentina, like trash-covered outskirts and squatter *villas* (extremely poor neighborhoods similar to Brazilian favelas). The passenger experience can also be more interesting: Especially in the basic cabins (*Primera Clase*), you're riding with working class Argentinians in what can be a downright festive atmosphere, where everyone is chatting and someone's often playing lively music (people usually quiet down at lights-out, around 10pm).\n\nOn Trenes Argentinos, there are three passenger classes:\n\n**Primera Clase**: Though is sounds fancy, this is the most basic, cheapest class. Seats are similar to economy-class airplane seats, with a bit more leg room and wider aisles.\n**Pullman**: Almost the same as Primera Clase, but with wider seats, a wider aisle, and only three seats per row (that is, one third of the seats are arranged in single file with no one next to them). Less availability than Primera\n**Camarote**: A private cabin with two bunk beds in it - very limited availability, and costs significantly more", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk023", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "All the Primera and Pullman class train cars have half of the seats facing one direction and the other half facing the other direction, with a table in the middle where the two halves meet. So be aware that you have a 50-50 chance that the train will be moving \"backwards\" relative to your sitting position (though this can sometimes change during the journey).\n\nAn amazing (but quite expensive) train ride is the ''Tren a las nubes'' (Train to the Clouds) in the northwestern province of Salta, but some people may get altitude sickness. This service, which has experienced suspensions, recommenced in August 2008. The train line no longer crosses the border into Chile.\n\n### By plane\n\nDomestic flights are available within Argentina, but tickets are pricey, and most domestic flights pass through Buenos Aires' domestic airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. The main carriers are **Aerolíneas Argentinas**, **Aerolíneas Austral** (a subsidiary of Aerolíneas Argentinas) and **LATAM Argentina**. Aerolíneas Argentinas' subsidiary Austral, shares its parent's fleet, and tickets for both can be booked at the same office. The prices for tickets are double for non-residents, so be careful with publicized ticket prices.\n\nThe cut price carrier Flybondi has been operating since 2018. It offers flights at about half the price of the major airlines and has seized a large share of the market. It has had many safety incidents, but no deaths or serious injuries and is notorious for delaying or cancelling flights and sometimes even brings flights forward (too bad if you didn't get the text). Despite these problems it is heavily patronised by Argentinians.", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk024", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "An exception to passing through Buenos Aires for domestic flights is Aerolíneas Argentinas' \"Great Circle Route\", going both ways Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays BA-Bariloche-Mendoza-Salta-Iguazu-BA (and reverse on another flight both days). In similar fashion Flybondi operates a Calafate - Cordoba - Salta flight.\n\nIf you fly on your international trip to Argentina with Aerolíneas you sometimes can get discounts on domestic flights. Sometimes you even get free flights with your international ticket but keep in mind that you probably already paid for this with the inflated price of your international ticket.\n\nAlways plan to arrive at your final destination before your flight home 2 or 3 days in advance, as Argentina, like most Latin American countries, experiences more delays and cancellations in travel than most areas of the world.\n\nAdditional smaller carriers offering domestic flights are:\n - Andes Líneas Aéreas\n\n- Avianca Argentina\n\n- Líneas Aéreas del Estado (LADE)\n\n- Norwegian Argentina\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|National road 7 near Mendoza with the Andes in the background\nTravelling by car allows you to visit locations that are hard to reach by public transportation. Patagonia, in the South of Argentina, is a popular driving location among tourists due to the breathtaking views across many miles of open land.\n\nArgentina generally recognizes valid drivers' licenses from foreign jurisdictions. Drivers must be over 21. Car rental is readily available throughout Argentina, though it is a bit expensive compared with other forms of transportation.\n\nTraffic regulations in Argentina are generally the same as in Europe and the U.S., but the locals often ignore the regulations. On roads and highways it's mandatory to have car lights on, even during daytime.", "word_count": 274}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk025", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "Highways are limited to the areas around large cities. Most of the country is connected by paved unlit two-lane roads (*rutas*) shared by buses, cars, and large trucks. Some places are accessible only by gravel or dirt roads. Indeed, some main roads in southern Argentina are unsealed, leading to 4x4 vehicles being more popular. This is particularly the case in the south. It is important to travel with a good map, and to be well informed about your route distances, road conditions and the estimated travel time.\n\nIn many small towns, particularly in the north, they may ration gasoline to ensure they have enough to sell until the next refuelling truck arrives. It's advisable to fill your tank at regular intervals when the opportunity arises.\n\n### By thumb\n\nThe hitchhiking club Autostop Argentina began in Argentina in 2002, inspired by clubs in France, Germany, Italy and the United States. As a result, hitchhiking has become more acceptable among the younger generation, and raising a thumb at a highway is a symbol most people understand.", "word_count": 174}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk026", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "Hitchhiking in addition is a great and inexpensive way to get to know the real Argentina and its people. If you do get a ride, you will in general be treated with much generosity: Argentinians are very friendly and interested. Due to the lack of budget accommodation in remote regions and even larger cities off the touristy routes, as well as because of the large distances, it is advisable to carry a tent with you. There are many opportunities along the main highways to put it up—sometimes a little search is necessary. This way you can discover Argentina (at least its south) even with the most limited budget: €300 for 4-5 weeks is possible and still see the interesting and picturesque sights.\nthumb|Street in Cachi\nEverything south and including the La Pampa Province is comfortable and easy to hitchhike. Only infrequent traffic (through the center), other hitchhikers (near El Chaltén, El Calafate and especially El Bolsón) or bad weather might set you back. Hence, always have a backup plan (bus, tent, hike, etc.) and simply stay confident. You might in addition take a route which might seem longer, but is in the end much faster, i.e. Ruta 3 is very easy due to the high traffic and few competitors, but Ruta 40 has far less traffic, more competitors and is generally slower due to its conditions. Either way, many helpful tips can also be found in the hitchhiking guide of Wikivoyage.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk027", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Get around", "text": "Nevertheless, near Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Cordoba it is considerably more difficult to hitchhike, and the thumb of a woman is significantly more successful than the thumb of a man. A single man should count on long hours of waiting or simply luck in these regions. Just try it once or twice to find out whether it is possible where you are. Nevertheless, even though as woman it might be more successful, be cautious and vary especially as a solo woman: and never fall asleep and remain on the main roads.\n\n### On foot and navigation\n\nArgentina is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, both in the western Andes, southern Tierra del Fuego and the wide Patagonia, providing many interesting trails. However, due to the often remote nature of these trails, it is important that you are well prepared and have a proper and reliable map with you. In addition, using GPS navigation adds an extra layer of safety, both in cities as well as the countryside. For reliable (offline) maps and comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk028", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language is Spanish. Generally, most people speak Spanish using a local dialect, *Castellano Rioplatense*, which is subtly different from both the language of Spain and that of Central America. Most notably, the pronoun \"tú\" is replaced by \"vos\", and the you plural pronoun \"vosotros\" replaced with \"ustedes\", the latter being common throughout Latin America.\n\nPeople from each city pronounce words differently as well. People from Buenos Aires speak differently compared to those from Spain and other Spanish speaking countries; example: *chicken* in Spanish (*pollo*) is pronounced *PO-zhO* or *PO-SHO* by the \"Porteños\" (residents of Buenos Aires), with the *SH* sound harder than in Spanish; unlike most other Spanish speakers of South America who pronounces it *PO-yo*. All Argentinians learn standard Castilian Spanish in school.\n\nRioplatense Spanish is also heavily influenced by Italian, even frequently being mistaken for it, a result of the large influx of Italian immigrants. Hand gestures derived from Italy are extremely common, and many colloquialisms are borrowed from Italian (for example: instead of saying \"cerveza\", which means beer, youngsters find \"birra\" cooler, which is in Italian). Most locals can readily understand most Spanish dialects, as well as Portuguese or Italian (especially due to its similarity to the local Spanish).\n\nEnglish is mandatory in high school and usually understood in at least a basic level in tourist areas. German and French can be understood and to some extent spoken by a few. A few places in Patagonia near Rawson have native Welsh speakers.\n\nThe interjection \"che\" is extremely common and means approximately the same thing as English \"hey!\". It can also be employed as a phrase known to someone you don't remember their names. Ex: \"Escúchame, Che,....\" Sometimes it is peppered throughout the speech, similar to the English phrase \"yo,\" as in \"What's up, yo?\" Nonetheless, communication will not be a problem for any Spanish speaker.\n\nArgentines will communicate with each other using lunfardo, a street dialect or slang. It is used together with Spanish by replacing nouns with their synonyms in lunfardo. As opposed to changing the original meaning, it just makes the phrase more colorful. An important aspect of lunfardo is that it is only spoken. For example, one knows the word dinero (money), but may use the word \"guita\" in order to refer to the same things. Lunfardo is composed of about 5,000 words, many of which do not appear in the dictionary.", "word_count": 400}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk029", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "See", "text": "For many visitors, Argentina as a country has the same seductive appeal as the tango for which it's famous. Just like that iconic partner dance, Argentina embraces you, constantly moving to the rhythm of the streets and improvising every step of the way.\n\n### Urban life\n\nIts large cities all bustle with life. The famous capital, **Buenos Aires**, is the most visited city in South America and a place like no other. Of course, there's fancy cosmopolitan boutiques, top of the line nightlife and gourmet cuisine. However, it's the classic, unpolished side of the city that makes it a worldwide traveler's magnet. The downtrodden but colorful neighborhoods where crazy traffic sounds drown out distant accordion tunes, the pleasant **street-cafés** and *parillas* (steak houses), busy outdoor markets and the lovely **old centre** with its European colonial architecture. San Telmo is the oldest neighborhood of the city and a good place to indulge in the city vibe of cafés, street artists, tango parlors and antique markets in a colonial surrounding. \nthumb|Argentine National Congress, located in the city of Buenos Aires\nThe atmosphere is perhaps Buenos Aires' biggest attraction, but some of the main sights include **Recoleta's cemetery** and the **Plaza de Mayo**. Argentina's other big cities share the energetic buzz of BA, but have a distinct character of their own. **Mendoza** is a lively yet laid-back town, characterized by broad avenues. It's famous as a wine capital far beyond the borders of Argentina and a perfect starting point for the **Argentina Wine Route** along the hundreds of wineries in the area. As it's close to the Andes, it's also a good base for winter sports and other outdoor activities.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk030", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "See", "text": "The old university city **Córdoba** is known for its particular musical culture with the *cuarteto* as its number one music style. The city also boasts some of the best colonial heritage sights in the country. **Bariloche**, also at the base of the Andes mountains, is a major tourist destination, popular for its skiing opportunities, lovely beaches and chocolate shops.\n\n### Natural wonders\n\nthumb|The [[Iguaçu Falls]] are one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world, as viewed from the Brazilian side.\nFascinating as Argentina's urban life may be, the country's mighty natural attractions are at least as good a reason to come. The landscapes are incredibly various, from the high peaks of the Andes and the famous Perito Moreno Glacier to cacti-filled deserts, sandy Atlantic beaches and biodiverse wetlands.\n\nWith some 30 national parks in the country, there's always a good place nearby to see some of the country's natural wonders. A highlight in the subtropical north are the spectacular **Iguaçu Falls**, easily one of the most impressive waterfalls on earth. Argentina's wildlife includes flamingos, penguins, caimans and capybaras, sea lions and -at times- even whales. Especially when you're visiting in autumn, the coastal town of Puerto Madryn is a must. From there you can easily make your way to **Punta Tombo** and **Peninsula Valdes** to go whale-watching and meet up close and personal with some of the million penguins who come to Patagonia each year to nest and raise their young.", "word_count": 243}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk031", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "See", "text": "Head to El Calafate to organize your tour to the highly popular **Los Glaciares National Park** and see the famous glaciers and the icy **Argentino Lake**. Be amazed by the many colors and remarkable rock formations of **Quebrada de Humahuaca**, a mountain range in the north that extends far over the Bolivian border. Drive through and spot traditional villages and indigenous women and their goat herds. Other great destinations for nature lovers include the **Ibera wetlands** (with the most diverse fauna in the country) and **Talampaya National Park**, a primary site for archaeological and paleontological finds.\n\nGenerally, Argentina is a country that charges excessively for its natural wonders and touristy sights, like the one mentioned above. And especially as a foreigner you generally pay twice as much as locals, even though costs of living do not differ much between Argentina and Europe. This can make Argentina an expensive destination and barely interesting for someone on a shoestring. However, there are great alternatives that require little money and are equally interesting, like '''El Chalten''' and the Viedma Glacier (the largest in Argentina), **El Bolsón** with great hiking options (even into Chile), (Lake) '''Epecuén''', '''Cerro de La Ventana''', San Antonio Oeste with the popular Las Grutas beach resort town and the picturesque **Playa Las Conchillas** and Playa Piedras Coloradas, **Pinguinera Cabo Dos Bahias** near Puerto Madryn, '''Bosques Petrificados''' (de Jaramillo), the colorful hills of the **Quebrada de Humahuaca** in Jujuy and other impressive rock formations in the '''Salta Province''', and many more. In addition, relying on hitch-hiking and travelling with a tent can bring down costs.\n\nThe website www.argentina.gob.ar has a list of destinations, Ruta de las Estrellas, that pertains to astrotourism.\nthumb|Countryside in Alta Gracia\n\n### Some other highlights", "word_count": 288}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk032", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "See", "text": "The **countryside** in general is a most pleasant part of Argentina; laid-back and with a taste for life close to nature. Rural villages are a breath of fresh air compared to the country's hectic big cities and a nice way to experience traditional culture. The north is as South-American as Argentina gets. Its **wine regions** are famous throughout the world and an increasingly popular tourist destination. If the bustle of Buenos Aires is too much for your taste, Mendoza and **Salta** are an excellent choice. They also make for a good base to explore the scenic regional vineyards and friendly villages with the Andes mountains in the background. Salta is also the starting point for the **Train to the Clouds**, a heritage railway that seems to be running solely to provide some unforgettable panoramas for visitors.\n\nThe **Traslasierra Valley** is a pleasant green valley and one of the many places where you can enjoy a world class **spa**, as hot springs naturally occur around here. Finally, if you like a day at the beach, Argentina has plenty to offer for you. **Mar del Plata** is one of the top destinations for beach resorts.", "word_count": 193}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk033", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Do", "text": "### Hiking and trekking\n\nthumb|[[Mar del Plata]] is a major Argentinian beach destination\nArgentina is a great country to seek out the nature, glaciers, lakes and mountains for a couple of days with a tent, sleeping bag and cooking ware. Many of the above-mentioned sights are spotted with beautiful hiking trails of varying quality and level, like El Chalten, San Carlos de Bariloche, or El Bolsón—read there for more information on specific trails. Often you will have to climb up a mountain to see a glacier or a lake, just to return later—in that case consider leaving your (heavy) luggage where it cannot be found and enjoy the trail without the burden, but remembering where you left your backpack before.\n\n*Also, see the general Hiking and Wilderness backpacking guidelines of Wikivoyage.*\n\n### Walking tours\n\nBuenos Aires has a number of walking tour options. They include the typical tours you may find in any city, as well as interesting options including free walking tours, downloadable MP3 walking tours, and even running tours.\n\n### Skiing and snowboarding\n\nthumb|Ski village at Las Leñas in Mendoza province\nThe Andes mountain range runs through western Argentina where a number of ski resorts offer Downhill snowsports between the months of June and September (sometimes longer, depending on snowfall and temperatures that year). Die-hard skiers from northern countries often travel to southern hemisphere countries like Argentina in an effort to practice their favorite winter sports all year round. Some of Argentina's ski resorts are:\n\nLas Leñas\n Catedral Alta Patagonia\n Cerro Bayo\n Cerro Castor\n Chapelco\n La Hoya\n\n### Sports", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk034", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Do", "text": "The most popular sport in Argentina is football (soccer), and it is often said that football is not just a sport but a religion. If you come to Argentina, you shouldn't miss the chance to experience a professional match live. Argentina's top professional football league is the **Primera División**, and the fans are very passionate. The Argentinian national team is also one of the world's footballing powerhouses, having won the FIFA World Cup 3 times (in 1978, 1986 and 2022), and matches against Brazil and England in particular are very charged affairs.\n\n#### Football teams\n\nFive teams, all from Buenos Aires and its immediate area, are the historic elite of Argentine football and collectively known as \"Los 5 grandes\".\n Boca Juniors – famous stadium \"La Bombonera\" where Diego Maradona played.\n River Plate – Stadium \"El monumental de Nuñez\" where Argentina won the 1978 FIFA World Cup.\n Racing Club – The first Argentine team to win the Club World Championships.\n Independiente – won the most *Copa Libertadores*\n San Lorenzo\n\nOther prominent teams include:\n Rosario Central – Stadium: \"El gigante de Arroyito\". Rosario is about 300 km/190 mi by road from Buenos Aires.\n Newell's Old Boys – Rosario Central's crosstown rival, where Gabriel Batistuta played. Lionel Messi played in its youth program before moving to Spain as a teenager.\n Vélez Sarsfield (European South American Cup Champion in Tokyo 1994). Another Buenos Aires-area club.\n Estudiantes de La Plata – World Champion '68, Champion of America 1968 - 1969 - 1970 - 2009. Still another club in greater Buenos Aires; Juan Sebastián Verón played here.\n Colón de Santa Fe – team with the largest number of supporters; based in the city of Santa Fe, about 170 km/100 miles up the Paraná River from Rosario", "word_count": 290}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk035", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Do", "text": "The rivalry between the Buenos Aires clubs of Boca Juniors and River Plate, known as *El Superclásico *, is by far the most intense in Argentina, with rioting and even stabbings between fans of the two clubs being a regular occurrence.\n\n#### Other sports\n\nRugby and basketball (*básquet*) are also popular. Bahía Blanca in particular is regarded as the hotbed of Argentine basketball, producing more than its share of the country's top players, most notably Hall of Famer Manu Ginóbili.\n\nArgentine polo is famous throughout the world, and the country is home to all of the highest ranked players today. Introduced by British settlers in the 1870s, skillful gauchos adopted it and the passion caught like wildfire. The Argentine Polo Open, usually played on early December every year, is a must for polo fans from all over the world. The sport's governing body is the Asociacion Argentina de polo and its webpage lists all the official tournaments held each year. Argentina is also well known for the many polo clinics held on clubs and farms around Buenos Aires.\n\nTennis has been growing in popularity with the Argentina's steady production of top players since the 1980s.\n\nField hockey has also became a popular sport, especially among women. The National Women's Field Hockey Team, Las Leonas (*The Lionesses*), has grown in the past years and developed into a now competes against the best in the world.\n\nCar racing is popular too: The main leagues are Turismo Carretera (Ford vs Chevrolet), TC2000 (Touring Cars) and TopRace. The most important racetrack in Argentina is in Buenos Aires is Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk036", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Do", "text": "Golf in Argentina is an increasingly popular sport thanks in part to the success of Argentinian players such as Ángel Cabrera, Andrés Romero and Eduardo Romero. There are around 280 courses in the country, most around Buenos Aires and including such well-known names as the Jockey Club, Olivos and Hurlingham. On the Atlantic coast in Mar del Plata are a couple of courses that have held international events, and Patagonia has excellent resort courses such as Llao Lloa, Arelauquen and Chapelco (a Nicklaus design), as well as the 9-hole course in Ushuaia.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nTren de las Sierras\n National Route 40 (Argentina)", "word_count": 102}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk037", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe currency exchange situation is quite complicated, much more so than in say south east Asia or most other countries of the world. It may drive you crazy when you visit but spare a thought for the locals who don't get a choice. Since 1969 thirteen zeroes have been dropped (a factor of ten trillion), the peso has been revalued again and again, and its name changed.\n\nOn the black market, the rate for US dollars is 1,510 pesos in January 2026. Blue Dollar has current rates.\n\nThe official currency of Argentina is the peso (ISO: code: **ARS**), denoted by the symbol \"**$**\". It is divided into 100 centavos. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos. Banknotes are issued in values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. The most common banknotes in circulation in Argentina are 1,000, 2,000, 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. Be prepared to receive small change in the form of *golosinas* (candies/sweets), especially in Chinese supermarkets. Because the largest banknote is 20,000 pesos (roughly US$20 as of late 2024), cash payments often involve carrying stacks of banknotes.\n\n#### Inflation\n\nIn December 2023, the peso was devalued by 50% against other currencies. Any **price information** must be treated with a lot of caution and is probably unreliable. Most accommodations post their prices in US dollars online—prepare yourself for discussions on the corresponding price in pesos.\n\n#### Banks\n\nBanks are generally open from 10:00 to 15:00 and only on weekdays.\n\n#### ATMs", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk038", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "ATMs are a convenient but on the other hand very expensive source of cash. In general, ATMs in Argentina charge very high additional fees when using a credit card, independently of your credit card conditions at home. ATMs should be used only in banks or ATMs that act as the banks' branches. Just like in most cities, independent ATMs (not affiliated with any bank) are considered less safe. *RedBrou* ATMs have been good bets.\nSometimes the machines also dispense US dollars for international bank cards that are members of the Cirrus and PLUS networks. Visitors from Brazil can find many Banco Itaú agencies all over the city.\n\nATMs strictly limit withdrawals on foreign cards. Most machines have a withdrawal limit of around AR$100,000 and a fixed fee of around AR$16,000 (February 2026). This 16% commission on top of the normal commission explains why no one uses the row after row of ATM's in the banks fronting Plaza de Mayo and yet Florida Street has throngs of people changing money. It also explains the conveys of armoured vehicles leaving the major banks heading for Florida street.\n\n### Western Union", "word_count": 188}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk039", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "Western Union is the best option for changing money if you do not have US dollars or Euros. Many money exchange places only accept US dollars or Euros and those that do accept other currencies usually offer derisory rates. \nYou can send yourself cash via Western Union online. Western Union uses a US dollar-to-peso exchange rate that is similar to the MEP (foreign credit card exchange rate). Western Union's Australian dollar to peso rate is about 10% higher than the MEP rate and without the extra 16% commission that an ATM takes. For the US dollar it is a far better rate than the official exchange rate, but not as high as the highest black market rate. On the other hand, with Western Union, you do not have to fear getting counterfeit ARS currency.\n\nYou will get an email confirmation within a few minutes allowing you to collect your Argentinian pesos at their nearest office or shop. You must set up an account to send yourself money, it is easiest to set this up before you leave for Argentina as it's a bit tricky to use the app the first few times.\n\n#### Money exchange\n\nCash exchange rates for US dollars are very competitive, and it may be more advantageous to bring a large sum of US currency, considering the high fees of ATMs. It is easy to stack up US dollars in Uruguay because its ATMs do allow US dollar withdrawals at no or a low fee. However, of course then you will also have to watch this money all the time. So, a mix of both, US dollars and ATM, is probably the best.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk040", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "Exchange rates at official *Bureau de Change* in Argentina are very competitive with rates being barely 1% off the official interbank rate. Also, many of the larger banks (like *Banco de la Nación Argentina*) exchange money at competitive rates, even euros. As of 2019, expect to lose 10-20% when buying Argentenian pesos with Chilean pesos as most banks do not exchange them. The bigger the city the easier it gets to exchange money, even the oddest currencies—see Buenos Aires. You might need a passport with banks though.\n\n**Black market** currency dealers, called *arbolitos* (\"little trees\") and operating from *cuevas* (\"caves\"), can be found yelling \"Cambio\", with Florida Street in Buenos Aires being particularly notorious. At so-called \"blue dollar\" (*dólar blue*) currency exchanges you can get up to AR$1,200 as of January 2025 (roughly 20% more than the official rate). The black market is illegal, so take all possible precautions to avoid getting ripped off, and remember that your money may be confiscated if you are busted by the police.\n\nHostel owners will sometimes be willing to exchange US dollars. Check the notes received and the current and up-to-date rates.\n\n#### Credit cards\n\nThe situation for foreign travelers using non-Argentine credit cards changed dramatically at the end of 2022. In short, the Argentine government established a new exchange rate for such transactions, called the \"MEP\" rate. As of December 2022, major international credit cards such as Visa began to process transactions at the new MEP rate. At the end of January, when the black market exchange rate was about 375 ARS/USD, Visa processed transactions at 330 ARS/USD. In addition, foreigners using foreign credit cards at hotels in Argentina are not charged the 21% VAT charged to Argentines.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk041", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "Credit cards are used less commonly in Argentina than in the USA or Europe. Many businesses in the city accept them and you can expect any major chain — supermarkets, fast food, clothing stores, etc. — to also accept them. The standard 10% tip in restaurant is often expected to be paid in cash, even when you pay the bill by credit card. Bear in mind, tipping is only expected when the establishment does *not* already charge you for \"cubiertos\" (literally, utensils. In practice it means \"table service\").\nPIN cards were the most common ones and should be accepted anywhere, as well as magnetic band cards. PINs should be accepted but if not, the shop attendant will ask you to sign the invoice. Contactless credit cards began to be accepted as of 2023 and are probably now the most used. Sometimes shops want you to sign the receipt.\n\n#### Traveller's checks\n\nThey are rarely used and may be difficult to exchange, but there is an American Express office at San Martin Plaza in Buenos Aires that will take American Express' Traveller's Checks. Also, Banco Frances will cash them with proper identification.\n\n### Tipping\n\nThere is no obligation to tip in Argentina although it is considered customary. Some restaurants already charge customers with \"cubiertos\" (table service). In these cases tipping is not expected. Sometimes rounding up or telling them to \"keep the change\" is enough on small checks, deliveries, gasoline tenders, etc. Leaving at least a 10% tip is considered kind and polite at restaurants, cafes, hotels, beauty parlors, barbers, ushers and car-washes. Tipping bartenders is not customary. Leaving no tip when feeling unsatisfied is not an uncommon gesture, and it's interpreted as such. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk042", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "Another local custom is to tip the ushers in theatres and opera houses when they're also in charge of handing out the programes; one may request one without tipping, at the risk of being considered cheap.\n\nService fees are included in most upscale hotels and restaurants, usually around 15%. These fees can appear in the menu as \"valor del cubierto\", \"servicio\", or simply \"cubierto\". By law it is mandatory that this item is represented in the same text size as the rest of the menu items.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|Shopping in downtown [[Córdoba (city, Argentina)|Córdoba]] \nThe fashion and art scenes are booming. Buenos Aires' signature European-South American style overflows with unique art pieces, *art deco* furniture, and antiques. Local fashion designers, who are becoming a source of inspiration for the U.S. and European high-end markets, compose their collections based on lots of leather, wools, woven fabrics and delicate laces with a gaucho twist. At times, the exchange rate can present good value for international tourists.\n\nFashionable clothing and leather products can be found in most commercial areas; jackets, boots and shoes are easily available. However, Buenos Aires has a relatively mild climate, so truly cold-weather gear is harder to find here. Long coats or heavy gloves may not be in stock; similarly, jeans and other basics have a thin construction compared with those in cooler countries. The Andes regions and Patagonia are considerably colder in the winter, so thick clothing is much easier to find here.\n\nElectronics are not cheap, as they are subject to heavy import tariffs. The price of music, books, and movies lags slightly behind changes in the exchange rate and can offer a bargain if the volatile exchange rates are in your favor.", "word_count": 286}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk043", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Buy", "text": "Most free-standing shops in Buenos Aires are open 10:00-20:00 on weekdays, and some of them also Saturdays and Sundays, depending on what area of the city they are in. Enclosed malls, however, set their own hours, and are also open on the weekends.\n\nMost places outside of the city of Buenos Aires, where most stores remain open during a siesta, still observe a siesta from approximately noon until 16:00; almost all businesses are closed during this time. The precise closing hours vary from store to store, according to the preferences of the owner. Shops and offices generally open again in the evening until 21:00 or 22:00.", "word_count": 106}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk044", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Bife de chorizo\nArgentinian breakfasts are somewhat light compared to what those from English-speaking countries are accustomed to. Typically, it consists of a hot drink (coffee, tea, milk) with some toast, medialunas (croissants, literally \"halfmoons\") or bread.\n\nHotels typically provide a free buffet consisting of coffee, tea, drinkable yogurt, assorted pastries and toast, fruit and perhaps cereal. These kinds of breakfasts are also readily available in the many cafes.\n\nLunch is a big meal in Argentina, typically taken in the early afternoon. Lunch is so big because dinner is not until late: 20:30 to 21:00 at the earliest, more commonly at 22:00 or even later. Most restaurants do not serve food until then except for pastries or small ham-and-cheese toasted sandwiches (tostados), for afternoon tea 18:00-20:00. Tea is the one meal that is rarely skipped. A few cafés do offer heartier fare all day long, but don't expect anything more substantial than pizza or a milanesa (breaded meat fillets) or a lomito (steak sandwiches) outside of normal Argentine mealtimes. Dinner is usually eaten at 22:00 and typically consists of appetizers, a main course, and desserts.\n\nNorth Americans should beware that Argentinians use the term \"entrée\" to refer to appetizers. This is common outside of North America but can surprise some Canadians and most Americans. In Argentina the main dish is a \"plato principal\".\n\nThe appetizers in Argentina typically consist of empanadas (baked pastries with a meat filling), chorizo or morcilla (meat or blood sausage), and assortments of achuras (entrails). For a main dish, there is usually bife de chorizo (sirloin or New York Strip steak) and various types of salads. Dessert is often a custard with dulce de leche and whipped cream topping.", "word_count": 283}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk045", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Eat", "text": "Beef is a prominent component of the Argentine diet, and Argentine beef is world-famous for good reason. Argentina and Uruguay are the top 2 countries in meat per capita consumption in the world. Definitely check out Argentine barbecue: asado, sometimes also called parrillada, because it is made on a parrilla, or grill. Food in Argentina is virtually synonymous with beef. The beef is some of the best in the world, and there are many different cuts of meat. Lomo (tenderloin) and bife de chorizo are excellent. \"Costillas\" (ribs) is considered by locals the real \"asado\" meat cut and is very tasty. North Americans will see that costillas are different to those at home. Argentinians cut ribs perpendicular to the bone. Having a parrillada dinner is one of the best ways to experience Argentine cuisine; preferably with a bottle of wine and a good amount of salads. In some popular areas, parrilladas are available from small buffets, or street carts and barbecue trailers. Skewers and steak sandwiches can then be purchased to takeaway.\n\nGiven that a large portion of Argentines are of Italian, Spanish and French descent, such fare is very widespread and of high quality; pizzerias and specialized restaurants are very common. A convention observed in Argentina is to treat the pasta and sauce as separate items, with each charged separately.\n\nCafés, bakeries, and ice-cream shops (helader��as) are very popular. Inexpensive and high-quality snacks can be found in most commercial areas, and many have outdoor seating areas. Empanadas (turnovers) containing meats, cheeses, or many other fillings can be bought cheaply from restaurants or lunch counters. The Alfajor is a must try snack of a two cookies (biscuits) with a dulce de leche filling and can be purchased at any local kiosco.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk046", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Eat", "text": "Smoking is now prohibited in all of Buenos Aires' restaurants and all of Mendoza's restaurants. In most cities, it's forbidden in all public buildings (cafés, shops, banks, bus stations, etc.), so it's better to ask before smoking anywhere.\n\n**Signature/national dishes**\n **Asado** (barbecued meats)\n **Empanada** (baked pastries with a meat, cheese and/or vegetable filling)\n **Milanesa** (breaded meat fillets)\n **Humita**\n **Chorizo** (sausage) and **Choripán** (with bread)\n **Tarta de Jamón y Queso** (baked pastry crust with ham and cheese filling)\n **Guiso Criollo** — with meat, vegetables and fruit\n **Pizza** — Due to the large number of Italian immigrants, Argentina has its own unique style of pizza.\n\n**Desserts and snacks**\n **Dulce de leche**\n **Alfajores**\n **Helado**\n **Flan con Dulce de Leche**\n **Torta de Ricotta**\n **Facturas**", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk047", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Bottle and glass of Malbec wine\n**Yerba mate** (pronounced in two syllables, 'MAH-teh') is a traditional Argentine herbal drink, prepared in a hollowed-out gourd which is passed around in a social setting and drunk through a metal straw. Although usually drunk hot, *mate* can also be served cold, usually known as \"tereré\"; the version that is preferred in Paraguay and Mato Grosso, Brazil. Mate contains less caffeine than coffee, but contains other vitamins and minerals that give it a stimulating effect, particularly to those who are not used to it. It is naturally rather bitter, so it's not uncommon to add sugar, though it's polite to ask before adding sugar to it. The drinking of mate with friends is an important social ritual in Argentina. The informal tea ceremony is led by a \"cebador\" or server and people arrange themselves in a \"rueda\" or wheel.\n\nArgentina is renowned for its excellent selection of **wine**. The most famous wine region is Mendoza, whose terrain seems to complement the European grape varietals with interesting notes not present when produced in other climates. The best way to experience and understand the selection of Argentine varietals is one of the many tasting events.\n\nThe legal drinking age is officially 18, although most establishments will serve anyone approximately 16 or older. Most restaurants serve a broad range of **liquors**. **Beer** is offered in drought form in a *chopp* (small glass) or served in bottles or cans, and is typically a light, easily drinkable lager. The most popular locally made brands of beer are Quilmes, Isenbeck, Schneider and Brahma (although it's Brazilian). Widely-available imports include Warsteiner, Heineken, Budweiser and Corona. There are now many small pubs and bars in Buenos Aires that brew beer on premises, but most of these offer a poor quality product compared to what is widely available in parts of Europe and the USA. In the Buenos Aires area, the Buller Brewing Company in Recoleta and the Antares Brewery in Mar del Plata offer excellent handcrafted English-style ales. Ask if there are \"cervezas artesanales\", locally hand crafted beers.\n\n**Fernet** is widely consumed by Argentinians, especially in Córdoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires. It came from Italy, and is a very bitter drink made from herbs, with 40% alcohol and dark brown in colour. Due to its bitter taste, it is usually mixed with Coke (served in bars, pubs, clubs), and if you go to an Argentinian house they will have Fernet and Coke to offer you. Also, Fernet is usually served as a digestif after a meal, but may also be enjoyed with coffee and espresso, or mixed into coffee and espresso drinks. It may be enjoyed at room temperature or with ice.\n\nCider (*sidra*) is the typical drink at celebrations, especially at Christmas. On other important occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or weddings, sidra is the drink chosen for the toast.\n\nCafés often have fresh-squeezed **fruit juices**, which is otherwise hard to find.", "word_count": 492}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk048", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|There are hotels everywhere, ranging from luxury to budget \nIt is a government requirement that travellers produce identification when checking in to their accommodation. \n\nA wide range of accommodation possibilities are available in Buenos Aires and the rest of the country, from student hostels to homey bed and breakfasts to trendy boutique hotels in the city to luxurious palaces and modern five-star hotels. There are also many beautiful lake-side lodges in Patagonia, and fabulous regional farms (*estancias*) outside the cities.\n\nMany vacation **cabañas** (cabins or weekend houses) are available for short-term rent directly from the owners in the mountains, seaside, and in rural areas. Drive around and look for signs saying *alquiler* (\"rental\"), or check the classified section of any major newspaper.\n\nArgentina is a vast country and **camping** is possible at many places (free or including amenities), especially near the beach. In addition, many villages and towns offer inexpensive \"municipal camping\". However, consider that many grounds are private property, so you should not camp here. Consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use, to find places which have been tagged by other people as possible camping sites.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk049", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|Tango is never far away when you're wandering through Buenos Aires\nEducation in Argentina is free for everyone, no matter the level, and it has a good quality. Argentina is a popular destination for University students, especially from neighboring countries (such as Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). The most prestigious university of the country and one of the most important universities of Latin America is the **University of Buenos Aires**. It has excellent undergraduate and postgraduate programes and are internationally recognized, with exchange programes with various universities in many countries around the world.\n\nApart from Buenos Aires, Mendoza is another popular and excellent place to take Spanish lessons for those who want a more idyllic setting (see the entry for Mendoza for details).\n\nThere are also a lot of public and private quality institutes who give Spanish lessons, and many more for Tango lessons, Argentinean art and literature and architecture.", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk050", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Work", "text": "**Volunteering** (and learning Spanish at the same time) is big in South America and thus also in Argentina. General information on the South America article.", "word_count": 25}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk051", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Cope", "text": "Facebook has an Argentina & Chile Backpacker / Traveler group where you can find other travelers and up-to-date information on the country. In general, also see South America.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk052", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|Argentina police \nBecause it is well known that tourists bring hard currency to Argentina to avoid the official exchange rate, tourists can be targets of crime. Exercise extra caution here, don't go to Western Union alone, be careful changing on the street, and bring a lock for your bags, take the $1-2 Uber instead of walking at night. The 500 or so dollars you may bring represents 3 months at the minimum wage, so be careful.\n\nArgentina has a relatively high traffic mortality rate, with about 20 road deaths per day, and with more than 120,000 injured people each year, including tourists. Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. Do not jaywalk if you do not feel comfortable, and be careful crossing even when allowed.\n\nThere is plenty of activity and foot traffic throughout the night. Nice areas have a very thorough police presence, perhaps one officer per 3 blocks, plus store security and auxiliary patrols. Public security in all major cities like Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Rosario is handled by the Federal Police and the National Gendarmerie or the Naval Prefecture, especially in the Puerto Madero area of Buenos Aires.\n\nAs in any large city, certain particular neighborhoods in Buenos Aires and other cities are very dangerous. Some shady neighborhoods include Retiro, Villa Lugano, La Boca and Villa Riachuelo. Ask trusted locals, such as hotel desk staff or police officers, for advice. Pay attention to your environment and trust your instincts. If an area seems questionable, leave.", "word_count": 246}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk053", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Many people in the street and in the subway hand out small cards with horoscopes, lottery numbers, pictures of saints, or cute drawings on them. If you take the card, the person will ask for payment. You can simply return the card along with a *no, gracias.* or simply in silence if your Spanish is not good. Persistent beggars are usually not dangerous; a polite but firm *no tengo nada* (\"I don't have anything\") and/or hand gestures are usually enough.\n\nMost crimes involve petty theft (pickpockets) in the subway and on crowded city streets, and especially inhabitant from Buenos Aires have a story to tell, which is also why many people carry their bags in front of them. In most cases, if your wallet is stolen, you won't even notice until hours later. However, paying attention to your stuff, will mostly prevent this from happening. Never hang your purse or bag from the back of your chair in a cafe or restaurant—stealthy theft from such bags is common. Keep your purse or backpack on the floor between your legs while you eat. Petty theft is common but seldom, like in a few other European cities like Paris or Naples. Violent robberies are uncommon, and mostly only happen where you would expect them, at night in a lone street in the wrong quarter. In the unlikely event that you are confronted by a mugger, simply hand over your valuables; they are replaceable and the muggers may be on drugs, drunk, have a knife or a gun.\n\nPopular demonstrations are very common in Buenos Aires, and are best avoided by tourists as these demonstrations sometimes grow into violent confrontations with the police or National Gendarmerie, particularly as they approach the government buildings in the city center.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk054", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Since 2005 the government has cracked down on illegal taxis very successfully. Petty crime continues (like taking indirect routes or, less commonly, giving counterfeits in change). Taxis that loiter in front of popular tourist destinations like the National Museum are looking for tourists. Stay away from them. Your chance of falling prey to a scam increases in these situations. Stopping a taxi a block or two away on a typical city street where others locals would do the same is good choice. Also having small bills will help you avoid issues mentioned, as well you will often find taxis that don't have change for 100 peso notes.\n\nCarry some ID with you, but not your original passport; a copy (easily provided by your own hotel) should be enough.\n\n'Villas' or ghettos, usually composed of wooden or steel plate shacks, should also be avoided due to the high crime rate in these areas. Should you want to visit one of these, you should only do so as part of a guided tour with a reputable guide or tour company.\n\nDrug use is frowned upon by most inhabitants. Alcohol is generally the vice of choice here. *Paco*, a crack-like mix of by-products from the cocaine manufacturing process, is a serious problem in poor neighborhoods, and its users should be avoided at all costs.\n\nIt was reported in 2007 that security workers at airports were stealing electronics, sun glasses and jewelry from checked luggage. This has not been reported since but it is always wise to keep all valuables in carry-on luggage.\n\nPolice officers will often ask for a bribe during a traffic stop, although it is reported they are not overly pushy.\n\n#### Natural disasters\n\n##### Tornadoes", "word_count": 285}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk055", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The central and northern Argentinian provinces (including La Pampa, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Córdoba, Corrientes, Misiones, the north of Río Negro, south of San Luís, central and eastern regions of Formosa and southeast of Santiago del Estero and Chaco provinces) are part of the **South America Tornado Corridor**, the second most tornado-prone area in the world (behind the United States Tornado Alley). Monitor local media notices and if you see that the sky is dark, the light take on a greenish-yellow cast or a loud sound that sounds like a freight train, this could be an indication of a tornado. Find shelter immediately.\n\nRefer to the tornado safety article for analysis of the issues here.\n\n### Emergency numbers\n\nAmbulance (*Immediate Health Emergency Service*, SAME in Buenos Aires): 107\n Firemen (*National Firemen Corps*): 100\n Police (*Argentine Federal Police*): 911 mostly, might be 101 in some smaller cities\n Tourist Police: +54 11 4346-5748 / 0800 999 5000", "word_count": 157}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk056", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|San Ignacio Miní, one of the world heritage listed Jesuit missions in the north of Argentina\nVisiting Argentina doesn't raise any major health worries. Certain **vaccinations** may be necessary for visitors, depending on what parts of Argentina you plan to visit. Yellow fever vaccinations are recommended for those visiting the Northern forests. If you missed your vaccination at home, it is possible to receive a free yellow fever shot in Argentina, in one of the bigger cities. This can be of advantage if you travel further to other Amazonian countries. However, be prepared to be queued at the very end—first the locals are treated. Also, there are specific days of the week when the vaccination takes place.\n\n**Dengue**, a mosquito borne illness, is a serious and potentially fatal illness. Mosquito bites should be prevented at all costs, where they have many bug repellents, from lotions to sprays, as well as citronella candles, and 'espirales' (a spiral shaped incense). These are purchasable at most kiosks or pharmacies.\n\nDifferent **climate** conditions might take your body by surprise, so be aware of the weather before you arrive. An upset stomach is the most you're likely to have to worry about as your body adjusts to local microorganisms in the food.\n\nIt's also best to ease yourself gently into the local **diet** – sudden quantities of red meat, red wine, strong coffee and sweet pastries can be very unsettling for a stomach used to gentler repasts – and though **tap water** in Argentina is safe to drink, if sometimes heavily chlorinated, you may prefer to err on the side of caution in rural areas in the north of the country.\n\nAlthough **oral contraceptives** are sold over the counter, without a prescription, a woman considering taking them is well advised first to consult a wise and licensed physician about their proper use, as well as possible contraindications and side effects.\n\n**Hospitals** are free, and won't charge you for treatment. However, it is customary to offer a contribution, if you have the means. In public/state run hospitals, it is illegal for hospital employees to ask for payments. It does not include private health care facilities, or medicines.\n\nHeat rash, dehydration, and sunburns are common for first time visitors, in particular in the hotter months. Therefore, it is recommended that you use '''Sun block''' in Argentina.", "word_count": 389}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk057", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Respect", "text": "Generally speaking, Argentines are expressive and emotive conversationalists.\n\n### Communication style\n\nCompared to other South American nations, Argentines are often seen as more direct and forthright in their communication style. Try not to be offended by the way they speak; in most cases, they *rarely intend* to make you feel bad or uncomfortable.\n\nArgentines tend to be very inquisitive and curious; it is common for them to ask people, even those they have just met for the first time, personal questions. If someone asks you personal questions, it is expected that you answer or share in return. Don't be put off by this; Argentines are not trying to interrogate or investigate you.\n\nArgentines interrupt others and shout while conversing. What may seem like a shouting match in public may actually be a passionate, engaging discussion.\n\nArgentines, in general, are notorious for their regular use of profanity. Don't be put off by this, as people don't intend to make you uncomfortable in any way.\n\n### Greetings\n\nCheek kissing is very common in Argentina, especially in bigger cities, among and between women and men. People make contact with right cheeks, and make a light \"kiss sound\" but not touch the cheek with their lips (only once, two kisses -right and then -left is very rare). When two women, or opposite sexes, first meet, it is not uncommon to kiss. Two men will first shake hands if they do not know each other but will probably kiss when departing, especially if they have spoken for a while. Male friends cheek kiss every time when greeting; it is like a sign of trust. Trying to shake hands when offered a kiss will be considered odd but never rude, especially if you are an obvious foreigner.", "word_count": 291}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk058", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Respect", "text": "In the rest of the country, regular handshaking applies. Also, women will greet by kissing as described above, but it's reserved to other women and to men they are acquainted with.\n\n### Football\n\nthumb|As in much of South America, many consider football more than just another sport\n\nFootball is the most popular sport in the country and many Argentines are passionate, die-hard fans of the sport. Iconic players like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, along with successes in FIFA World Cup matches, further fuel their love for the sport.\n\nWhile discussing the sport may be an icebreaker, be aware that praising or wearing jerseys of rival clubs or national teams (especially Brazil and England) may attract negative attention, rude remarks, or even lead to physical confrontations. To be on the safe side, only wear an Argentine national team jersey and discuss highlights of the Argentine national team.\n\n### Punctuality\n\nArgentines have a casual and flexible view of time; the pace of life in Argentina (outside of always-hurried Buenos Aires) is slow, many activities (plays and concerts, for instance) rarely happen as scheduled, and it is normal for Argentines to be late for casual appointments and social events. However, punctuality is expected for business meetings.\n\nLong-distance Buses and flights usually leave on time, but in local public transportation delays are common, especially in big cities.\n\n### Sensitive issues\n\nThe Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a sensitive topic in Argentina, especially among older generations. Locals refer to them as \"Malvinas,\" and discussing the Falklands War or using the English name might lead to discomfort or strong reactions. It’s best to approach the topic cautiously or avoid it altogether.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk059", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Respect", "text": "There is a degree of distrust and resentment towards the United Kingdom (not its people), particularly among older Argentines, especially due to the Falklands War. Avoid wearing any English and British symbols due to the above-mentioned reasons. English and British flags, as well as English national football (soccer) tops (who are rivals of the Argentine national football team during the World Cup), are definitely to be avoided. Although no assaults on people wearing them have been recorded, people might be very upset about them, and you are very likely to receive very icy looks and treatment from the population. However, this should not be taken as a hostility towards British citizens discrimination against British travellers is essentially non-existent but you should avoid these subjects regardless as to not cause offense or argument.\n\n**Domestic politics** are highly polarizing and sensitive. Argentina has had a long history of political instability since the 1930s, and most ordinary folk are incredibly frustrated with their government and political leaders. The Perón years and the military juntas are particularly sensitive subjects. While it's not a social faux pas to discuss politics (Argentines tend to be vocal about political issues anyway), do not share your opinions on Argentine politics, even if you know a thing or two about the country's political landscape ― your opinions will not be welcomed, and it may cause your Argentine counterpart(s) to think you are meddling in their country's affairs.\n\nDo not compare Argentina with Brazil and Chile, because they are considered rivals, especially in the economic sphere.\n\nAvoid comparing regional foods. This too can be a sensitive subject, as recipes and key ingredients vary from province to province.", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk060", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Respect", "text": "Beef is a point of pride in Argentina, and traditional accompaniments like salsa criolla or chimichurri are preferred. Adding ketchup or barbecue sauce to a steak is seen as disrespectful.\n\n### LGBT\n\nSame-sex marriage has been legal in Argentina since 2010, and cities like Buenos Aires are renowned for their vibrant LGBT scene, earning the title of \"gay capital of Latin America.\" Urban areas and tourist destinations host inclusive events like Pride celebrations and offer a welcoming atmosphere. In smaller towns or conservative northern regions, public displays of affection between same-sex couples may surprise or discomfort some, especially older residents. While strong legal protections exist, being mindful of cultural nuances in rural areas is advisable.\n\n### General\n\n**Religious sites:** Visitors are not required to cover their heads when entering churches or temples, as Argentina generally has a liberal attitude toward religion compared to many of its Latin American neighbors. However, modest attire is appreciated, and wearing shorts or miniskirts when visiting religious sites might be considered inappropriate.\n\n**Beaches:** While sunbathing topless is uncommon in Argentina, changing clothes discreetly on the beach is generally acceptable.", "word_count": 184}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk061", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Connect", "text": "### By phone\n\nthumb|Cybercafé with public phones in Rosario\nYou can get a prepaid Movistar / Claro / Personal SIM card for a few pesos / free at phone shops, all you pay is about ARS20 (about US$5) for your initial credits. Inserting the SIM card into your unlocked mobile phone should work, although to register the SIM you might have to enter your passport (or any 9 digit) number. You then have your personal Argentinian phone number, which is very useful to keep in touch with other travellers, either by calling or by writing text messages. Calls cost around ARS1 per minute. Still, having to register the SIM card is extremely rare.\n\nReceiving calls is usually free, **except for international calls**, and some cross network / inter-city calls. Hence, buying a SIM card purely to keep in touch with people overseas may not be worth it.\n\nTo reload you can buy small cards with secret numbers at many kiosks, but the easiest way is just to ask for \"Recarga Virtual\" and tell the shop assistant your Phone number and company, and the amount of pesos you want to recharge.\n\nNot related to mobile phones, there are similar cards with credits for international calls. You get them at so called *locutorios*, where you can also use the phone booths. You dial a free number to connect to the service, then your secret number for the credits, and then the international phone number you want to call. Using these cards, a one-hour call to Europe will cost about 10 Pesos (3 US-Dollars). Don't call without such cards or even from your hotel — it will be way more expensive.\n\nThe phone numbering plan in Argentina is hopelessly complicated for foreigners. Do check out the Wikipedia article about it to find out more.\n\n Directory Listing (*The White Pages*): 110\n International Operator: 000\n National Operator: 19\n Collect National Calls: 19 from regular phones, *19 from public phones\n Mobile phone numbers start with 15 or 11\n Regional code for Buenos Aires: 011\n\nOther useful phone numbers include:\n Official Time: 113\n Consumer Advocacy: +54 11 5382-6216 or 6217\n\nAll 2 and 3-digit numbers are free, except the official time service (113).\n\nAll 0800 numbers are toll-free numbers, except if you call from a mobile phone.\n\nLong-distance calls from Argentina:\nYou may use calling card, ARS0.18/min or ARS0.59/min for calling from Argentina to the United States.\n\n### By internet\n\nMost cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi with an advertisement in their windows. All you need to do is buy a coffee and ask for the password. Public Wi-Fi is also very common in Buenos Aires with great speeds. The network name will be BA Wifi", "word_count": 449}
+{"chunk_id": "argentina::chunk062", "doc_id": "argentina", "section": "Go next", "text": "Argentina borders Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, Chile to the east, and Bolivia and Paraguay to the north.\n\nThe capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, is just an hour away by ferry from the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires. Porto Alegre, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, is a 14-hour drive from Buenos Aires. A popular summer vacation destination for many Argentines is Florianópolis, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, a 19-hour drive away or by flight from Buenos Aires.", "word_count": 82}

corpus/argentina/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "argentina",
+  "title": "Argentina",
+  "type": "country",
+  "continent": "South America",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Argentina",
+  "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina",
+  "wikidata_id": "Q414",
+  "coordinates": [
+    -34,
+    -64
+  ],
+  "summary": "Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country located in the southern cone of South America and with a claimed portion of Antarctica. It covers an area of 2,780,085 km2 (1,073,397 mi2), making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourth-largest country in the Americas, and the eighth-largest country in the world. Argentina shares the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, and is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is a federal state subdivided into twenty-three provinces, and one autonomous city, which is the federal capital and largest city of the nation, Buenos Aires. The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system. Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "skiing",
+    "wildlife",
+    "sailing",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "rainforest",
+    "glacier",
+    "wine",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "South America"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Brazil",
+    "Uruguay",
+    "Chile",
+    "Bolivia",
+    "Paraguay",
+    "Montevideo",
+    "Buenos Aires",
+    "Porto Alegre",
+    "Florianopolis",
+    "Santa Catarina"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 14699,
+  "listing_count": 4,
+  "marker_count": 14,
+  "chunk_count": 63,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}

corpus/armenia/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk000", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Overview", "text": "*\"AM\" redirects here. For the Brazilian state, see Amazonas.*\n\n**Armenia** (Armenian: Հայաստան *Hayastan*) is a landlocked country in the Caucasus. Once the centre of an empire, this former Soviet republic straddles the line between Europe and Asia. Armenia has a rich, ancient history, and it is most famously known for being the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion.", "word_count": 64}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk001", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Cities", "text": "— the capital, and by far the largest city\n — home of Sanahin Monastery and nearby Haghpat Monastery, in the stunning Debed Canyon.\n — popular forest resort known as the \"Little Switzerland\" of Armenia.\n — the spiritual capital of Armenia, home to the Armenian Catholicos, is a \n — picturesque town near old cave cities, abandoned cliff villages, and the famous Tatev Monastery, on the tentative list of \n — Armenia's 2nd largest city which once dwarfed Yerevan. The old town area still shows earthquake damage from 1988, but is undergoing a rapid revival.\n — famous for its mineral waters, which come out at very high temperature and can be enjoyed at the spas.\n — Armenia's main ski destination.\n — Armenia's 3rd largest city with a large Soviet square and slower pace of life.", "word_count": 132}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk002", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "### History\n\nArmenia has been around for at least 3,000 years. Armenians have historically inhabited the \"Armenian Highlands\", a vast section of mountains and valleys across eastern Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus. It is here that the biblical mountain of Ararat (and today's eponymous cognac brand) can be found. Armenia is the world's first Christian country, ever since the king officially adopted Christianity in 301 AD.\n\nVarious vassal states (Hittites, Hayasa, etc.), principalities, Armenian kingdoms of Orontids, Artaxiads, and Arsacids rose and fell in different parts of this highland during history. They were unified once, just before the time of Christ, in the empire of Tigran the Great (95-55 BC), which stretched from the Caspian to the Mediterranean Sea.\n\nMuch of the region's history has since been spent under the dominion of whichever great power was *à la mode* at the time: Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Ottomans, Persians, Russians and Soviets have all come and gone. These empires often fought their wars on Armenian territory, using Armenian soldiers. Despite rarely being politically independent, Armenians have consistently kept their language and their church. Its location on the silk road allowed Armenians to forge a link in the great network of merchant communities that extended from Singapore and Malaysia to Venice and Amsterdam.\n\nThe modern independent state of Armenia only comprises part of the traditional Armenian lands. It includes much of what was historically known as **Eastern Armenia**, while the historical **Western Armenia**, in which Mount Ararat, the holiest site in the world for Armenians, is located, is today part of Turkey. Western Armenia was largely ethnically cleansed of its Armenian population during the Armenian Genocide.\n\n#### Modern history", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk003", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Russians and Ottomans dominated Armenia's modern history. Ottoman control was established early, upon the fall of the Byzantine empire in the fifteenth century. Russia's presence was established later, in the 1820s, after a series of wars with the Persians.\n\nIslamic Ottoman rule was, for much of the time, largely benign. The Armenians' religious autonomy was bought through their higher taxation. However, relations soured in the late nineteenth century which saw various massacres of Armenians. This culminated in the Ottomans' reputation being thoroughly ruined during the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923.\n\nThe late 1980s and early 1990s saw a devastating earthquake in northern Armenia, Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, the first Karabakh war, and the imposition of a blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan. The economy collapsed to nearly nothing, before it began to grow again rather quickly, with help from the large Armenian diaspora. Corruption and oligarchic rule however still was a large problem. The **2018 Armenian Revolution**, also dubbed the Velvet Revolution, brought Nikol Pashinyan to power as prime minister, and large strides were made in reducing corruption and the grey economy, as well as bringing rule of law to those who had been previously above the law. Pashinyan has also pivoted Armenia's foreign policy away from Russia towards the United States, with a view to eventually join the European Union and NATO. In 2024, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution that Armenia is eligible to become a member of the EU, provided it meets requisite democratic standards and sufficiently distances itself from Russia.\n\n##### Armenian Genocide\n\n250px|thumb|The {{convert|44|m|ft|adj=on}} stele, part of the Tsitsernakaberd memorial to the genocide, [[Yerevan]]", "word_count": 273}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk004", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "During the First World War, the Ottomans fought the Russians. The Christian Armenians on the Ottomans' Russian border were considered liable to side with Russia and so they were treated as an enemy. The Ottomans attempted to kill or deport the entire Armenian population. Even the Ottomans' defeat in 1918 did not stop the persecution, which continued until 1923 and led to the deaths of 600,000–1.5 million people.\n\nThe genocide led to the huge Armenian diaspora community that exists all over the world today and the ongoing diplomatic hostility between Turkey and Armenia, since Turkey continues to deny it was a genocide, and resents Armenia for bringing up the topic internationally. On the other hand, Armenia has friendly ties with Iran and most of the Arab countries, due to the fact that many Persians and Arabs protected Armenian refugees from the Turks during the Armenian Genocide.\n\n##### Soviet Armenia\n\nAs was the case in other Soviet republics, Armenia saw great industrial growth and widespread increases in education. Yerevan mushroomed from a dusty garrison town of 20,000 to a metropolis of 1 million and the Soviet culture machine, within strict limits, churned out heavily subsidized cultural education and activities. Since independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia had largely been an ally of Russia, though that changed with Armenian Revolution in 2018.\n\n##### Karabakh Conflict", "word_count": 226}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk005", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "After oppression and anti-Armenian pogroms, the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, a culturally Armenian region in the then Soviet Azerbaijan, held and passed a referendum to gain independence from the then Soviet Union. During and prior to this time ethnic Armenians elsewhere in Soviet Azerbaijan were being ethnically cleansed. As the Soviet Union fell apart in the early 1990s, the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh subsequently fought for independence from Azerbaijan, and later with support from Armenia, and the Armenian diaspora. The war was won militarily, and the local Azerbaijanis were ethnically cleansed from the region, but no diplomatic solution was reached. The ceasefire line of 1994 for twenty six years represented a *de facto* national boundary and Nagorno-Karabakh was in an odd circumstance of unrecognized statehood. While the fighting on the ground stopped, with only minor exceptions, diplomatic tensions remained high. The Armenian/Karabakh borders with Azerbaijan remained closed, and anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan is so high that entry is prohibited not only to Armenian citizens, but also to all ethnic Armenians regardless of country of birth or citizenship. Turkey also closed its land border with Armenia in support of its Azeri-Turk kinsmen. In September 2020, Azerbaijan launched a massive attack against the Armenians in Karabakh during the second Karabakh war, which the Armenians lost. Russian peacekeepers were brought in to separate the sides after a ceasefire, but they proved completely unable to protect locals or Armenia proper from constant Azerbaijani aggression and a large-scale attack by Azerbaijan in September 2023 after blockading the Armenians there for the better part of a year caused the government there to capitulate, and all of the Armenian inhabitants to flee to Armenia as soon as the Azerbaijani government finally opened the border again.\n\n250px|thumb|[[Lake Sevan Region|Lake Sevan]] and the 9th century monastery of [[Sevanavank]]\n\n### Geography", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk006", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "A small and mountainous, landlocked country, Armenia almost never fails to surprise visitors. The mountain passes, valleys and canyons make it feel much larger, and Lake Sevan provides a welcome sight, with endless water visible from its southern shores. Given the geographic variation, there is also much variety of climate — there are barren lunar landscapes, forests, snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes.\n\nFive percent of the country's surface area consists of Lake Sevan (*Sevana Lich*), the largest lake in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range.\n\n250px|thumb|[[Echmiadzin]] Cathedral, [[Central Armenia]]. Mothership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, built in 301 AD\n\n### Culture\n\nGiven its proud claim to being the world's first officially Christian country, there are countless monasteries and churches, which are set in some places of incredible natural beauty. The monasteries at Tatev, Noravank, Haghartsin, Haghpat and Geghard are well worth a visit just for the landscape even without the impressive, millennium-old monasteries found there.\n\nArmenia is at the fascinating crossroads of Europe and Asia and its culture draws from both. While most Armenians consider themselves European, their social conservatism in some realms sets them apart from western Europeans. The new world faced by Armenians after the fall of the Soviet Union has seen great social changes especially in the capital, Yerevan. The small and very homogeneous (about 99% Armenian) population is strongly family oriented. The people across the land are very hospitable, and place a lot of pride in their hospitality. Show up in a village without a penny, and food and a place to stay will flow - along with drinks and endless toasts.\n\nPolitically, Armenia had aligned itself with Russia and against its Turkish and Azeri neighbours until 2018, but since the Armenian Revolution has largely aligned itself with the United States.", "word_count": 294}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk007", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Understand", "text": "Armenia also has lots of road signs in English, and there are a fair number of English-speaking Armenians in general, and you get the distinct feeling that tourists are welcome. Police does not appear to be too crooked, at least not in Yerevan, and in general the country appears to be both reasonably safe and well-organised.\n\n#### Religion\n\nThe predominant religion in the world's first Christian nation is not hard to guess: 97% of Armenia's population belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Oriental Orthodox Church.\n\n### Tourism\n\nThe official tourism website and the commercial Guest Service are great sources for information.\n\n### Read\n\nMichael Arlen, *Passage to Ararat*, an autobiographical account of an American-Armenian's first visit to Soviet Armenia.\n Vasily Grossman, *An Armenian Sketchbook*, a Soviet journalist, novelist and dissident, on his visits to Armenia.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk008", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "thumb|375px|Countries in dark green and turquoise can travel to Armenia without a visa, and countries in light green can get a visa on arrival or an eVisa. All other countries will need a visa in advance.\n\nArmenia's visa policy is remarkably open. Most people can obtain a visa on arrival or visit the country without a visa.\n\n### Visa requirements\n\n#### Visa-free\n\nCitizens from the following locations can travel to Armenia visa free for 180 days per year: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, China (PRC), European Union, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Macau, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nagorno-Karabakh, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Vatican City.\n\n#### Visa on arrival\n\nFor all others (except a handful of mainly African countries; see below), 21-day tourist visas are available upon arrival at Yerevan airport and at some land crossings at the price of 3,000 dram for 21 days and 15,000 (Armenian) dram for 120 days.\n\nAt Yerevan airport, there is currency exchange and an ATM located before customs and immigration. There is a hefty surcharge of approximately US$10 for changing traveler checks, which in general are not widely used in Armenia.", "word_count": 211}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk009", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "At some land crossings, border guards will take other currencies but only at lousy rates. Try to have Armenian dram before arriving at the border. Some travellers have been charged as much as US$20 (the approximate equivalent of three times the official price), but as of August 2015 you will be charged US$10 for a 21-day visa at the Bagratashen-Sadakhlo border crossing. Border guards and customs officers will not be able to change a US$100 note, so check the current exact amount and have some spare small-value notes. As of 2022, not all land border crossings allow for visa on arrival. You may be denied entry and turned around at the border, which, if you've come by marshrutka/minibus, means that you will be stranded until you are able to find a new bus or hitchhike back to Tbilisi. If in any doubt, get the E-visa in advance.\n\n#### Visa in advance\n\nA slightly more expensive option (officially at least) is the '''e-Visa''' (US$10 for 21 days; US$40 for 120 days). These e-Visas are processed completely online and take up to two business days to be issued. They allow entry into Armenia through Yerevan Airport and the following land border crossings: from Georgia, Ayrum railway station, Bavra, Bagratashen and Gogavan; and from Iran at Meghri.\n\nA 21-day visa obtained in advance from an embassy (not online) costs US$8.\n\nThe unlucky few that cannot obtain a visa on arrival must apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate before arriving and need an invitation.\n\n#### Special requirements\n\nCitizens of Azerbaijan must have a **special entry permit** to visit Armenia.\n\n### By plane\n\n**Zvartnots International Airport** () http://www.zvartnots.aero/, 10 km west of Yerevan is the main airport in the country.\n\nSome West Asian airlines (Syrian, Iranian, etc.) serve the airport.", "word_count": 297}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk010", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "There are very frequent flights from across the Commonwealth of Independent States. Russian airlines include: Aeroflot, S7, Ural, Polet, Tatarstan, UTAir and Yamal. Others include Belavia (Belarus), Dniproavia (Dnipro, Ukraine) and SCAT (Kazakhstan).\n\nSeveral European airlines also serve Yerevan: Czech Airlines, Air France, Austrian, LOT.\n\n**Shirak Airport** () in Gyumri has a few flights from Russia.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|240px|Sanahin Monastery in [[Northern Armenia]].\nIn fall, winter and spring the overnight train #371 runs every second day from Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, leaving at 20:20 and arriving at 06:55 the next morning.\n\nIn summer the overnight train #202 runs daily from Batumi, Georgia via Tbilisi to Yerevan, leaving Batumi at 15:35 (Tbilisi at 22:16) and arriving at 07:25 the next morning.\n\nSee the official timetable for details: www.railway.am\n\nThe train links with Turkey and Azerbaijan are severed.\n\n### By car\n\nIt is possible to drive to Armenia via Iran or Georgia. Local travel agents can arrange transport to the border; some Georgian agents can arrange transport all the way through to Tbilisi. Although more expensive than a train or a bus, a private car may be more comfortable and combined with sightseeing along the way.\n\nIt is impossible to enter via Turkey and Azerbaijan; the borders with those two countries are closed.", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk011", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Coming from Georgia, there are **warnings**, e.g. from the German Federal Foreign Office, not to use the eastern route (via Noyemberyan) that passes by the Armenia-Azerbaijan border only a few dozen metres, due to the ongoing conflict and the minor clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan army that happen from time to time in this region. However, the route via Alaverdi is said to be maintained badly. An option might be via Tashir. More convenient, if you travel Georgia before, can be to continue into Armenia after visiting the supposedly dead end region of Samtskhe-Javakheti including Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia.\n\n### By bus\n\n#### From Georgia\n\nThere are marshrutkas from Tbilisi to the border for about 17 lari to Yerevan. From Tbilisi to Yerevan they take this same route and cost about 35 lari. It is also possible to get out at Alaverdi (closest major town to Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries).\n\nAlso, several marshrutkas leave daily from Akhalkalaki into Armenia (Gyumri). Akhalkalaki is conveniently located when visiting Samtskhe-Javakheti including Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia. Marshrutkas pass through Ninotsminda, so it is possible to jump on there. The associated border crossing near Bavra is quick, though the condition of the roads on the Georgian side is appalling. However, minor restoration is taking place (May 2019).\n\n#### From Iran\n\nThere is daily modern bus service to Yerevan available from Tehran or Tabriz for about 23 USD from Tabriz to Yerevan (bought at the Tabriz bus terminal). Check travel agencies for that.", "word_count": 247}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk012", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get in", "text": "Otherwise, the only Iran/Armenia land border at Nuduz/Agarak is very badly served by public transport. On the Armenian side, you can get as far as Meghri by one Marschrutka a day from Yerevan. In both directions, marshrutka leaves quite early in the morning. Kapan and Kajaran are more frequently served by marshrutkas, but it is a long and mountainous (and therefore expensive) stretch to the border from there. From Meghri, it is around 8 km to the border and hitching or taking a taxi is the only option. On the Iranian side, the closest public transport can be found around 50 km to the west in Jolfa, so a taxi (around US$10-15) again is the only (commercial) choice. The border is not busy at all, so when hitching, you have to mainly stick with the truck drivers and Russian or Farsi helps a lot here. Consider for yourself whether this is a safe option.", "word_count": 152}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk013", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|240px|Noravank Monastery in [[Southern Armenia]].\n\n### By bus or marshrutka\n\nPublic transportation is very good and inexpensive (about 100 dram/10 km) in Armenia, with timetables here and connections here. Use google translator if you do not read Armenian. It can also be tough to get to more remote sites outside of populated areas. The system could be described as a hub and spoke system, with each city offering local transportation to its surrounding villages and each city offering connections to Yerevan. Most inter-city travel is by 14-seat minibuses or buses. Yerevan has several bus interchange stations that serve the whole country, so depending on where you want to go, you should find out which bus interchange station services the area of your destination. Unlike many countries in Eastern Europe, many Armenian marshrutkas do not sell tickets beforehand, and do not issue tickets at all. However, in some larger cities/towns there will be a ticket office where you must buy a ticket beforehand. This is more likely to be the case for longer journeys, but if in doubt ask the driver. Otherwise, you pay the driver, at any point in the trip (though some will collect at the beginning). Exact change is never required, but a 20,000 dram note for a 1,000 dram ride might present a problem. Tips are unheard of on public transportation. Be aware these buses are usually overcrowded and do not have AC in summer.\n\n### By train", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk014", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most trains in Armenia are Soviet-era stock. Two lines have new faster trains: the international Yerevan-Tbilisi (+Batumi in the summer), and the Yerevan-Gyumri line that runs Friday-Saturday-Sunday. All other trains are slow but incredibly cheap (1,000 dram Gyumri-Yerevan). There are several daily trains towards Gyumri and one to Yeraskh at the closed border with Nakhichevan. On summer weekends, one daily train operates from the northern Almast station to Lake Sevan, all the way to Shorzha on the far side (unavailable as of May 2019). See the official timetable for details: www.railway.am\n\nThe only station north of Gyumri that is officially accessible to passengers is Vanadzor, where the Georgia-bound train stops. North of Vanadzor there are only technical stops to which tickets can not be bought (Pambak, Shahali, Sanahin, Ayrum). One can still try to enter/leave the train though and ticket inspectors may allow this.\n\n### By thumb", "word_count": 147}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk015", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Not as common as in the days of the post-Soviet collapse, hitchhiking is still perfectly safe and acceptable, and travelers hitchhiking are not an uncommon sight on the main routes. Drivers often do not expect anything in the way of compensation, but offer anyway and sometimes they will take the mashrutka fare. Flag cars down by holding your arm in front of you and patting the air; this is how taxis, buses and mashrutkas are flagged. Pointing your thumb outwards is also acceptable, which will make it obvious that you are a traveler. Do not be too surprised if you befriend a driver during your ride and eventually end up staying at their house for a few days with the family - though this would largely be dependent on having a certain level of Russian. You might be lucky enough to be picked up by an English speaker, but do not bank on it - you will be surprised by how little English is spoken outside of Yerevan (there are many people who are mono-lingual Armenian speakers).\n\nA popular route for hitchhikers is Yerevan/Goris. This route is heavy with traffic going to and from Iran, and you stand a very good chance of being picked up by an Iranian truck driver who might want some company for the long journey. From Goris you can go onwards to Tatev, and the Iranian border.\n\n### By taxi", "word_count": 235}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk016", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "For the average Western European tourist, you can hire a taxi to go most anywhere in the country on very short notice. If you have decided to travel heavy by bringing big bags, then going by taxi will be the best option. Prices are 100 dram/km, and often taxi drivers will just point to the km counter, meaning they will multiply the final km with 100. Since most taxis do not have meters though, you can negotiate a price before you leave.\n\nShared taxis leave from the main bus station in Gyumri to Yerevan. A seat in a share taxi will cost you 2,000 dram. Simply arrive and ask around and you will be pointed in the direction of a car, which will leave once full. This is probably a better option compared to the bus as there is a good chance the car will be air-conditioned.\n\nThe Yandex.Taxi and gg ride services are very popular in Armenia, especially the cities. Also, they are excellent to negotiate a price. Nevertheless, some drivers will go especially slow or take detours to increase the price calculated by the app. So, you are probably better of agreeing on a fixed price (for the whole car not each passenger, and in dram not US dollars).\n\n### By rental car\n\nYou can rent cars in Yerevan. Driving in Armenia for the average tourist will be different than at home, though roads are getting better and better and driving style is quite good in general. If you decide to rent a car, there are a growing number of car rental companies, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo, National and others throughout the central Yerevan.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk017", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Get around", "text": "Most main roads around Yerevan are in decent to fair shape with some being in unusually good condition. When you travel north (Dilidjan) or south (Jermuk), roads are less maintained and rather bumpy and you can feel it especially when using public transport! (Minibuses are often in bad condition too) Pot holes are very much a part of the experience and can test your driving skills. Consider an all wheeled vehicle or sport utility if available.\n\nAvoid driving during the night, since unexpected pot holes, stray dogs, and the lack of street lighting and lane markings can make driving quite dangerous.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nDue to mountainous location and hills, bicycling is not such a common mode of transport in Armenia, as it is in the rest of Europe. Otherwise, it is a great way to see and experience much of the countryside if you can handle the inclines and the sometimes terrible condition of the roads.\n\n### By plane\n\nArmenia has only two working airports (Yeveran and Shirak) but there are no internal flights between them.\n\n### By tour\n\nOne of the most convenient but not necessarily authentic or exciting options for getting to the major tourist sites—some of which have infrequent public transport—are the many day tours advertised throughout Yerevan. Starting at US$6, you can choose from a variety of half to full day trips which include a good number of the country's major attractions. Some of the more remote and exotic destinations, such as the Petroglyphs of Ughtasar and many of the caves, for example, require special planning.\n\nAside from the plentiful day tours, you can take a package tour of Armenia.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk018", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Talk", "text": "**Armenian** is the official language of Armenia. \n\nArmenian forms its own branch within the Indo-European language family and it has its own alphabet, in use since 405 A.D., with an extensive set of letters (approximately 38). It is widely regarded as a very difficult language to learn. \n\n**Russian** is widely spoken as a second language in Armenia. It is taught in all schools as a compulsory subject. \n\n**English** is gradually gaining popularity, especially among the younger generation. Outside Yerevan, English is not that widely spoken. English is usually a third language, rarely a second language, for those who have studied it.\n\n**French** is studied in Armenian schools and the country has the largest French-speaking university in a non-French speaking country. You're likely to find a French speaker in Yerevan.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk019", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "See", "text": "thumb|Khor Virab against the backdrop of Mount Ararat\nArmenia lies at the root of the Christian faith, as it is known as the first country that was evangelized by two of Jesus' own disciples. Today, there is still a wealth of religious heritage to see. Beautiful churches and monasteries are omnipresent, and some are up to 1700 years old. A few of the most important ones are listed on Unesco's World Heritage list. To start, there is the **monastery of Geghard**, carved out of a mountain slope and dramatically situated between the stunning cliffs of the **Azat river gorge**. Once you are there, the **Garni Temple** with its Roman temple is just a quick stop downriver. The **Etchmiadzin Cathedral** in Vagharshapat is the headquarters of the Armenian Church and has parts dating back to the 5th century, making it considered the oldest cathedral in the world. The **Monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat** are just across the tops of the Debed Canyon from each other, which is full of great hiking trails. Both date back to the 10th century. The 7th century **Zvartnots Cathedral** is now in ruins, but considered of great archeological value.\n\nIf you are up for some of Armenia's oldest churches, consider the ancient basilicas at Yereruyk, Odzun, Byurakan or Aparan. Some heritage sights sit in beautiful valleys. The monastery of Noravank is a good sight in the lovely brick-red Amaghu Canyon, while the monasteries of **Tatev** and **Tatevi Anapat** sit in the Vorotan Valley - a gorgeous area with great landscapes and dotted with churches and abandoned cliff-side villages.\n\nUnlisted but surely beautiful is the monastery of Khor Virap. It offers great views of **Mount Ararat** which is in Turkey, but is nonetheless seen on the Armenian coat of arms.\n\nAnother hot spot for travelers is **Lake Sevan**. In summer, the beaches of this massive high-altitude fresh water lake (one of the largest in the world), are a popular destination for anything from day trips to camp site vacations and resort holidays.\n\nThis famous mountain can be seen (weather permitting) from the nation's capital, **Yerevan**. Yerevan is Armenia's cultural center, with plenty of **opera** and **theatre** to go around. The **Museum of Armenian History** has an excellent collection and the **Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum** has a sad but worthwhile story to tell. For a more casual activity, visit the lively **Vernissage Market** or climb the massive hillside stairway of the **Yerevan Cascade**, which is densely dotted with an incredible modern art collection.", "word_count": 416}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk020", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|240px|Roman temple, built in the first century AD, [[Garni]], [[Central Armenia]].\n **Hiking** – Armenia has an endless amount of hiking trails and peaks to discover. South of Lake Sevan Region, around Garni, up and down the Debed Canyon, and Southern Armenia are just a few of the highlights. For reliable maps and comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd (comprehensive with many add-ons) and MAPS.ME (simple but limited).\n **Cycling** – ''Bike Armenia Tour Route'' has a great route mapped out to see Armenia by bicycle.\n **Events** – A list of upcoming events can be found on the official tourism website.\n Otherwise: rock climbing, wind surfing, sun bathing, camping, and even skiing", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk021", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe Armenian currency is known as the **dram**, sometimes denoted by the symbol \"**Դ**\" (ISO currency code: **AMD**). Wikivoyage will use *dram* in its articles to identify the currency.\n\nCoins of Armenia are issued in denominations of 10Դ, 20Դ, 50Դ, 100Դ, 200Դ and 500Դ. Banknotes of Armenia are issued in denominations of 1,000Դ, 2,000Դ, 5,000Դ, 10,000Դ, 20,000Դ, 50,000Դ and 100,000Դ.\n\nThe dram is accepted everywhere, and in some rare cases US dollars will be accepted for larger purchases, though the dram is the only legal currency for commerce. US dollars, euros and Russian rubles can be exchanged almost anywhere in the country, with other major currencies also easy to exchange. Exchange booths and commercial banks do not charge a commission and rates are almost always quite competitive. The exchange rates for local banks and exchange points are available at rate.am\n\nATMs (Bankomats) are widely available in larger towns; though outside of Yerevan, you should have a major system such as Visa or MasterCard on your card for it to work.\n\nCredit cards are not widely accepted outside Yerevan.\n\n### Shopping\n\nthumb|240px|Carpets for sale at a [[Yerevan]] market.\nArmenian carpets, cognac, fruits, handicrafts and Soviet memorabilia are some of the most popular things people take home from Armenia. Most of these are plentiful at Vernissage, a seemingly never-ending weekend flea market next to Republic Square with the more touristy stuff in the back half, further from Republic Square.\n\nThere are several shopping malls in Yerevan, as well as many supermarkets and small stores and boutiques. Most shops and restaurants are open every day and offices and schools are open Monday to Saturday. Mornings are usually slow, and places do not tend to open early, or even on time.\n\n### Bargaining and tipping", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk022", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Buy", "text": "Bargaining is uncommon in Armenian stores, though when purchasing expensive items or bulk, they may be amenable to it. In markets, however, bargaining is a must!\n\nTipping is increasingly common in Armenia, especially at cafes and restaurants. Many Armenians will simply round up their checks, or leave ten percent. Some café staff are only compensated in the tips they earn, though you cannot always tell by the service they provide. Many restaurants have begun to charge a **10% “service fee”** which they usually do not share with the waiters, and it is not clear for what it is used. This fee is often not clearly stated on the menu, so you should ask if you want to know. Tipping is usually not expected in taxis, but again, rounding up is not uncommon.\n\n### Markets\n\n**Vernisage Crafts and Flea Market** - every Saturday and Sunday near Republic Square, there is a huge open market with great shopping for tourists and locals alike. There are large sections for old carpets, intricate wood carvings and backgammon boards, paintings, souvenirs, old porcelain and old housewares, with smaller sections for needlework and embroidery, stone work, books, military surplus and countless other random things.\n\nThe **GUM Shuka farmers market** is a large covered market near the Tashir Mall near the intersection of Tigran Mets Ave and Movses Khorenatsi Street. Inside are fresh fruits and vegetables, great dried fruits, and a butcher section and dried herb section. Outside on one side are more butchers and on the other more fresh fruit and vegetable vendors, next to a row of hand made metal wood-burning stove stalls.\n\nFor more of a flea market with cheap used things, from tiny car parts to Soviet stuff to used clothes, head to **Krchi Bazaar** on weekends, by the entrance to Hrazdan Stadium.", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk023", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Buy", "text": "For Armenian- and Russian-speaking visitors, a visit to the **used book market** can be quite interesting. In a park near the corner of Abovyan and Moskovyan Streets, close to the Yeritasardakan Metro Station, vendors sell thousands of books. You may try to bargain.", "word_count": 43}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk024", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Harissa\n\n### Main dishes\n\n**Khorovats** – A barbecue which can be chunks of pork, lamb, chicken or beef (called Shashlik in other post-Soviet countries). Usually, it is flavored with onions and other Armenian spices. Tomatoes, eggplant and bell peppers are also part of the khorovats meal. Kebab is the ground-meat version of khorovats, and is cheaper.\n**Harissa** – A kind of homogeneous porridge made of previously stewed and boned chicken or lamb and coarsely ground soaked shelled wheat. The dish dates back many centuries, and is traditionally served on Easter day. It is considered a national dish of Armenia, and is widely prepared by Armenians around the world.\n**Borscht** – A commonly served Ukrainian vegetable soup. It is traditionally made with beetroot as a main ingredient, which gives it a strong red color. It is usually served warm with fresh sour cream.\n**Khash** – A traditional dish, originating in the Shirak region. Formerly a nutritious winter food for the rural poor, it is now considered a delicacy, and is enjoyed as a festive winter meal. Made from less commonly used parts of animals, most visitors consider it an acquired taste.\n**Dolma** – Stuffed grape leaves; varieties with stuffed cabbage leaves, or bell peppers and aubergines also exist.\n**Byorek** – Consists of phyllo dough folded into triangles and stuffed with cheese, spinach or minced beef, and the filling is typically spiced. A popular combination is spinach, feta, cottage cheese (or pot cheese) and a splash of anise-flavored liquor (such as raki).\n**Ishli kufta** and **Kufta** – Best described as *when bulgur meets meat*. Very delicious and a must-try.\n**Jingalov Hats** (Lavash bread stuffed with herbs) – A specialty from Karabagh, and best tried fresh from the afternoon market in Stepanakert.\n\n### Desserts and snacks", "word_count": 293}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk025", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Gata** or **Nazook** – A flaky pastry with a sweet filling.\n**Alani** – Pitted dried peaches stuffed with ground walnuts and sugar.\n**Kadaif** (ghataif) – Shredded dough with cream, cheese, or chopped walnut filling, soaked with sugar syrup.\n**Anoushabour** – Dried fruits stewed with barley, garnished with chopped almonds or walnuts (a traditional Christmas pudding).\n\n**Ttu lavash** – flat thin sheets of dried fruit, often made from plum, apricot or sour cherries\n **Manti** – A type of dumpling\n\n### Various\n\nArmenian **fruits and vegetables** are special. One should definitely try them and will never forget the taste of Armenian apricot, peach, grapes, pomegranate, etc. Especially the watermelons in Armenia and neighboring countries with similar altitude and climate are of superior taste.\n\nArmenian **bread** is very tasty. There is a wide range of different types of bread, including black, white lavash (a soft, thin flatbread), and matnaqash. Variants of Georgian *shotis puri* are widely available as well, since both countries have adopted the *torne*/*tonir* baking oven centuries ago.\n\nDo not miss trying **milk products**. Along with ordinary milk products, there are some traditional and really tasty and refreshing ones. *Matsun* (yogurt) is a traditional Armenian dairy product that has centuries of history. It contains a number of natural microelements, which have high biochemical activity. It's really refreshing, especially when you try it cold during hot summers. Diluted with water or whey (or both) until drinkable, it becomes *tan*, and is sold in bottles. *Okroshka* is cold soup with *tan*, cucumber and dill; it is a healthy and refreshing dairy product. *Spas* is a really tasty hot *matsun* soup with grains in it.", "word_count": 271}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk026", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Eat", "text": "**Café culture** rules in Armenia, and the best places to have a cup of coffee and people-watch are sidewalk cafés. Any place near the Opera is certain to be jumping late into the summer nights. A popular chain is \"Jazzve\" (several locations throughout the city, including near the Opera and off Mesrop Mashtots Avenue), which offers many varieties of tea and coffee as well as great desserts.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk027", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Coffee with a view, [[Garni]]\nAlcoholic: Vodka, tutti oghi (mulberry vodka), honi oghi (cornelian cherry vodka), Tsirani oghi (apricot vodka), local beer (Kilikia, Kotayk, Gyumri), wine (can also be made of pomegranate), and brandy. Respected wines include Karas, Karasi, Kataro, Armenia and some new wines hitting the market. Many are made with Armenian grape varietals not being grown anywhere else in the world. Areni is one of the most popular grape sorts which the largest number of red wines are made from, and the name of Armenia's wine country, while khndoghni is a variety grown in southern Karabakh that the Kataro wine is made from.\n\nOther: Tan (yogurt combined with water and salt), Jermuk (mineral water), masuri hyut (rose hip juice), chichkhani hyut (sea buckthorne juice), bali hyut (sour cherry juice), Armenian coffee, and herbal teas.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk028", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Across Armenia, you can find bed and breakfasts that are pleasant and will give you a true taste of Armenian culture. The language barrier will be significant in the rural areas of Armenia if you do not speak Armenian or Russian, but if you take a phrase dictionary with you, you should have no trouble, as people are patient. Any effort to utter an Armenian phrase or term will be met with a friendly smile. \n\nIn Yerevan, there are a couple of hostels. Outside Yerevan, there are a few main recreational areas that offer very reasonable accommodation, but you will be required to live without some conveniences. At the high end are some hotels on Lake Sevan and in Northern Lori Marz (50 km from the Georgian border). Here you will miss nothing, but you will pay Western prices for the accommodation. Around Lake Sevan, there are numerous types of cottages and hotels. Prices are reasonable and start at about US$10 per day for a cottage with electricity and within walking distance from Lake Sevan. The city of Sevan, due to its proximity to Yerevan, is the most popular place on Lake Sevan but the history, culture and non-Western European feel of the accommodation change as you go south on Lake Sevan.\n\nTavush Marz, the northeast province of Armenia, is a popular place to summer. Dilijan and Ijevan are wonderful towns in which to be based, with day trips to the many ancient churches that pepper this remote region. Dilijan is known for its sanatoriums from the Soviet era, and has become home to a big restaurant scene. \n\nLori Marz, with the stunning Debed Canyon, is one of the most beautiful areas of Armenia. It has numerous churches, monasteries, medieval bridges and monuments. The Debed Canyon and Stepanavan areas are great for hiking, wild camping, historical monuments and interesting and unusual attractions such as the Tumanyan Matchbox Label Museum. Small hotels and B&Bs are available in the area of Stepanavan, Odzun, Tumanyan, etc.\n\nTsaghkadzor is a well-known winter retreat. It has many lovely hotels and is popular year round. Check with a travel agent to find the best deal depending on what activity you are looking to undertake. Jermuk, made famous by the bottled water of the same name, is a wonderful get away, with accommodation for every type of traveler, hot water treatments and spas.", "word_count": 396}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk029", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Learn", "text": "thumb|250px|The French University in Armenia\nEducation is highly valued in Armenia, and there is an abundance of learning opportunities in the country. \n\n### Universities\n\nArmenia has many universities and institutions of higher learning and some conduct classes in English. Knowing Armenian, Russian, or both can open many doors for you. \n\nThe most notable universities:\n**Yerevan State University**. Armenia's oldest and most prestigious university. Most courses at the university are taught in Armenian. \n\n**American University of Armenia**. The first American accredited institution in the former Soviet Union. It is affiliated with the University of California. Conducts classes entirely in English.\n\n### Armenian language\n\nSince Armenians are very proud to be the first nation to adopt Christianity as the state religion, nearly everyone is an 'expert' on Armenian history, which goes back to 3000 years. \n\nMuseum of Ancient scripts, \"*Matenadaran*\", which is in central Yerevan is a place, where one can learn about history and witness ancient (really ancient) manuscripts. http://www.matenadaran.am", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk030", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Work", "text": "Career Center has job listings. For volunteer work see these links: http://www.armenianvolunteer.org, http://www.birthrightarmenia.org/, http://www.fullercenterarmenia.org/.\n\nMembers of the Armenian diaspora are often encouraged to move back to and invest in the country (the Armenian economy relies a lot on remittances from abroad). If you are fluent or can \"get along\" in Armenian, you are in good hands: you're way ahead of most foreigners applying for jobs in the country. Knowledge of Russian will also come in handy. \n\nAlthough Armenia's economy enjoys the strong backing of its large and influential diaspora, Armenia's economy is weak and highly vulnerable, due in large part to its position in an unstable geopolitical environment; unemployment is high, rates of pay are low, and there's general lack of market competition in the country. Inefficient bureaucracy and high levels of corruption complicate things further.", "word_count": 136}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk031", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "thumb|240px|Sevanavank in [[Lake Sevan Region]].\nArmenia is a very safe country, so you shouldn't worry about walking around late at night. People leave you to your own devices. \n\nOverall, Yerevan is also safe, though **theft and pickpocketing** are not unheard of, particularly targeting foreigners. Use common sense and usual precautions when walking on the street at night, especially after drinking.\n\n**Female travellers** should be aware that unaccompanied women are an unusual sight after dark. In the outskirts of the city, a single woman walking alone at night may attract attention—though this attention may not be as malign as other parts of the world.\n\nThe biggest problem you may encounter in Armenia are crooked **taxi drivers**, especially in Yerevan. See the Yerevan article and included warning to read all about it. You can almost always avoid any problem by using either GG or Yandex taxi apps. If you cannot, always agree a price in advance, and if they are reluctant to agree, do not take the ride. If they pretend that your understanding was other than what you agreed to, refuse to pay and if need be involve other locals or police if they are trying to gouge too much.\n\n### Corruption\n\nSince Armenia had a velvet revolution in 2018, corruption of the type that tourists might encounter has largely been eliminated. Do not offer a bribe, as it may actually land you in trouble.\n\n### Racism\n\nArmenia is, to a significant extent, a highly welcoming country. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Armenian culture and Armenians consider it shameful to not give a guest a warm welcome. Travellers are unlikely to experience or face overt racism.\n\n### LGBT travellers\n\nWhile Armenians are generally not accepting of homosexuality, and most have **very negative opinions**, there is a little more leeway with foreigners, although open displays of LGBT behaviour may result in contempt and/or possible confrontation. If you are LGBT, it is **strongly recommended** that you do not exhibit your sexuality in public.\n\nThere are no laws in place to protect the rights of LGBT people and same-sex marriages are formally banned in the country. This said, same-sex marriages that have taken place in other countries are recognised by Armenia.\n\n### Dual citizens\n\nArmenia has recognised multiple citizenship since 2005. \n\nIf you are Armenian – being a dual national or having an Armenian parent – having another passport **will not** exempt you from mandatory military service or grant you access to consular protection if you get detained or arrested. \n\nAll Armenian males between 18 and 27 must fulfil military service obligations. Military service typically lasts for two years. Evading military service, or attempting to, is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, a fine, or both. If you're in doubt, talk to someone at an Armenian diplomatic mission before travelling to Armenia.\n\n### Warfare\n\nFor a long time, Armenia has been in either hot or frozen conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani attacks along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border have not been uncommon, therefore it is best to avoid the border with Azerbaijan. As of 2023, it is unclear how the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh will affect the relations.", "word_count": 526}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk032", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "If you are dining with Armenians, they will feed you until you cannot eat any more. The food is generally safe, even from the roadside khorovats stands.\n\nThe **tap water** is generally safe, as it comes directly from mountains. Tab and spring water is available virtually everywhere, especially at churches and monasteries. This means that you do not need to carry a lot of water with you, just a 0.5 L bottle should be enough.\n\n### Smoke\n\nDespite one of the highest rates of smoking in Europe, Armenia has very restrictive non-smoking laws in restaurants and bars. It is illegal to smoke indoors, or even in patio areas of such establishments. The indoor smoking ban is followed well, especially in Yerevan, but some places ignore the outdoor smoking ban.", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk033", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Armenians are like any other Europeans in their manners and lifestyle, though very much on the traditional end of the spectrum. In contrast to Western Europe, Armenia remains deeply religious, and women occupy a place in society that Western Europe has not seen for a number of generations.\n\nWomen are traditionally treated with chivalry. Female travellers should not be surprised or alarmed if their male Armenian friends take the initiative to pay the bills at a restaurant, give up their seat on public transportation for them, open every door in front of them, and/or help them carry items or objects. Male travellers should understand that these nuances will be expected by Armenian women, even if they're not in a romantic relationship with one. The \"ladies first\" rule is considered important.\n\nMany Armenians believe that Russian rule saved Armenia from complete Turkish extermination, and many Armenians are Russophiles. Almost every Armenian has relatives in Russia, Russians as individuals are very well received, and Russian continues to be widely spoken as a second language (although Armenians still may not necessarily support the Russian government unconditionally, so it might be a good idea to avoid talking about them unless you know the person you are talking to well enough). Similarly, Armenians are generally grateful to the Arabs and Persians for protecting many of their kinsmen from the Turks during the Armenian Genocide.\n\nStaring is quite common in Armenia; People, both old and young, are likely to stare at you simply for being a foreigner, though this doesn't happen as much in Yerevan as it does in other cities/towns and in out-of-the-way places. Do not be surprised if such curiosity doesn't extend beyond a stare. Staring does not indicate hostility; it indicates curiosity.", "word_count": 289}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk034", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Respect", "text": "The **Armenian Apostolic Church**, part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, is the state religion and adhered to by about 95% of the population, though freedom of religion is generally respected. When visiting churches, you are expected to dress modestly (i.e. no shorts, miniskirts, sleeveless shirts/tops), men are required to remove their hats, while women are required to cover hair with a shawl or veil. Since entrance is free, lighting a candle can be a nice, but completely optional gesture.\n\nDirect personal questions (based on your personal life, salary, education, and lifestyle) are commonly asked. To Armenians, it's not considered impolite, there is just no societal stigma in sharing what some cultures consider personal information.\n\n**Respect for elders** is important in Armenia. It's common for Armenian parents to be intimately involved in the life choices of their children, and on buses and trains, you are expected to give up your seat to someone much older than you. Do not say or do anything that would make an older person or an authority figure feel challenged.\n\nIn Armenia, **family** nearly without exception takes priority over everything else. Do not be surprised if Armenians attend to family matters and end up coming late to something.\n\nWhen conversing with Armenians, it is customary to engage in \"small-talk\" before getting straight into something, i.e. asking about how they are feeling, their family, and the like. Immediately diving into something may be seen as impolite.\n\nIt is not rude to discuss Armenian history, Armenian politics, and Armenian culture. As a matter of fact, they are popular conversation topics and Armenians love to talk about them!\n\n### Home etiquette", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk035", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Respect", "text": "If you've been invited to an Armenian home, **do not show up empty-handed**. Bring your hosts a small gift as a form of respect. Simple gifts such as chocolates and flowers will suffice. Very expensive gifts are absolutely unnecessary and are not an expectation.\n If you've been invited over for a meal, your hosts will encourage you to take second helpings ad infinitum. Try not to outright refuse something being offered to you as it can get your host(s) to think that you do not appreciate their hospitality. Leaving a little on your plate can be a signal that you're done.\n If you are staying over at an Armenian person's home, make an attempt to socialise with your hosts - even a few small exchanges with all the generations; in Armenia, the home is a place where people are expected to co-exist with one another. Being aloof or spending too much time alone is considered rude.\n It's common for Armenians to turn up to a place unannounced. When this happens, stop what you are doing and attend to your guests. Similarly, you can show up to a friend's house at any point in time. It's completely normal, though it's become less common with the universal spread of mobile phones.\n\n### Sensitive issues", "word_count": 212}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk036", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Respect", "text": "Given Armenia's long history of enduring turbulent, painful events, you should tread upon the following topics lightly: \n **Armenian Genocide** — every Armenian person around the world has a relative among the millions who were murdered by the Ottoman Turks. The event is remembered with great pain and is still an open wound in the national consciousness. \n **Avoid praising, mentioning, or talking about Turkey.** Many Armenians express feelings of bitterness and hatred towards Turkey, mainly because Turkey continues to deny the role it played in Armenian Genocide. Some even extend such feelings towards Turkish people. Calling someone a \"Turk\" is often used as an insult in Armenia.\n **The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict** — Armenians generally have strong views about it, and some may react acidly if you insist that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. Bringing up the **Khojaly massacre** is sure to ignite a fierce, passionate, heated discussion.", "word_count": 144}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk037", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Connect", "text": "thumb|Beeline store in Yerevan\nYerevan is full of cafes with free wifi. These are beginning to pop up in a number of towns outside of Yerevan as well. Many hotels and cafes provide WiFi for their guests. International calling is available through prepaid mobile phone cards using a landline. Mobile phone companies often offer special prefixes to dial before the number to use VoIP, which is extremely cheap, and a good quality call. Short-term mobile phone rental is also possible. Regular calls can always be made from the post office, and is cheap within Armenia, but a bit expensive for international calls. Try to find a phone office that uses the internet for much cheaper rates. Local calls can be made from kiosks or the rare payphone.\n\nPhone numbers in Armenia are of the form +374 312 57659 where \"374\" is the country code for Armenia, the next 2-5 digits (starting with a 1, 2, 3 or 4 in the case of land lines) are the area code and the remaining 3 to 6 digits are the \"local\" part of the subscriber number that can be called from within that particular area code using abbreviated dialing.\n\nArea codes starting with **6** have been assigned to Internet telephony service providers to provide non-geographically based numbers. **Mobile phone** numbers have two digit mobile prefixes denoting the original network and all begin with a **9** (Nagorno-Karabakh mobile networks that used to start with a 7 have now been re-numbered to 97).\n\nYou must dial \"0\" in front of the geographic area code from outside that particular area code (but when still within Armenia).", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk038", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Connect", "text": "Mobile numbers in Armenia must always be dialed with all digits (including a \"0\" prefixing the \"9n\" from within Armenia), no matter where they are being called from. The **9n** is a mobile prefix, not an \"area code\", as such and the second and sometimes third digits (the *n* part) des the original mobile network assigned. As is the case with most mobile numbers, they can also be called within or outside Armenia using the international format. Most Armenian toll-free numbers and Premium Rate Numbers can **not** be called from outside Armenia. These numbers have the format 800-23-456.\n\n### Mobile phone providers\n\nThere are three GSM service providers operating in Armenia. It is strongly advised to acquire a temporary prepaid SIM card as they are cheap and convenient, allowing both local and international calls, no charge for incoming calls and no monthly fee. Mobile internet and UMTS are also offered from all companies, as are the normal full range of wireless services.\n\n**VivaCell MTS** has booths offering free SIM-Cards to incoming visitors at the airport. The majority of foreign visitors find their unlocked mobile phones compatible with Armenian SIM cards (GSM 900/1800). GSM coverage maps of Armenia.", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk039", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Connect", "text": "**VivaCell MTS** is the leading GSM service provider in Armenia and offers quality service at reasonable rates (owned by the Russian giant MTS). They have the best coverage outside of Yerevan. A VivaCell MTS pre-paid SIM card (\"ALO\" card) costs 1,100-7,000 dram, depending on how much starting credit you want. At their flagship store off of Republic Square, VivaCell MTS is very helpful to foreigners and will make sure that you understand everything in English, French or Russian. They offer very low prices for international calls from your phone via a VoIP (be sure to dial 77001+country code+the number!); in fact, it is much cheaper per minute to call the US or Canada (13 dram) or Russia (30 dram) than it is to dial Armenian networks.\n**Ucom** is a local provider offers a pre-paid card called *U!pre-paid*. (Aug 2017)\n**team (Telecom Armenia)** (formerly BeeLine) offers a pre-paid card for 1,000 dram.\n\nVivaCell MTS and Beeline claim to cover 90% of the Armenian population with 2G services and up to 60% with their 3G services. All of these networks are rapidly growing and expanding their coverage of both 2G and 3G services.\n\nVivaCell MTS has a **4G (LTE)** network.", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "armenia::chunk040", "doc_id": "armenia", "section": "Go next", "text": "The land border can be crossed to Georgia (north) and Iran (south).", "word_count": 12}

corpus/armenia/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "armenia",
+  "title": "Armenia",
+  "type": "country",
+  "continent": "Asia",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Armenia",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "diving",
+    "climbing",
+    "skiing",
+    "surfing",
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples",
+    "beach",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Caucasus"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Georgia (country)",
+    "Iran"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 9006,
+  "listing_count": 0,
+  "marker_count": 9,
+  "chunk_count": 41,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/atacama/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk000", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Northern Chile** is among the driest parts of the world. It includes the regions of Arica-Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo.", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk001", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|350px|[[Coquimbo]]'s plaza\n — a relaxed mining city with lots of leisure activities and a large car industry\n — the \"city of the eternal spring\" offers beautiful beaches, and a very dry, mild climate\n — \"copper capital\" of the country with the giant mine of Chuquicamata nearby\n — gateway to Bahía Inglesa, a picturesque and lovely beach to just enjoy the sun\n — gateway to Bahía Inglesa and Desierto Florido\n — includes the Union Flag of the UK in its coat of arms\n — a seaside city with long beaches and a picturesque city centre\n — gateway to the Pisco Valley\n — famous for the national schnapps produced here, Pisco\n — gateway to the National Humboldt Penguin Reserve to see Humboldt penguins, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, sea otters, and many types of seabirds\n — gateway to Lauca National Park\n — gateway to popular attractions such as Salar de Atacama, El Tatio Geysers and Valle de la Luna\n — supposed to be best stargazing in the world, but nowadays just a regular town on the way to Pisco Eqlui", "word_count": 177}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk002", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "– in the Andes with large volcanic mountains, and its neighbour **Las Vicuñas National Reserve** just south.\n – home to Llullaillaco Volcano.\n – an impressive dry desert landscape.", "word_count": 28}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk003", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Understand", "text": "Northern Chile has been thriving on the mining industry since the middle of the 19th century. It started with saltpetre which came to an abrupt end at the beginning of the 20th century when the synthetic production of nitrates was invented. The remains of the old production sites are still impressive and provide an insight into the hard life of the workers. Nowadays copper has taken over the role of Chile's main export good and is mined in giant open pits. Furthermore some minerals like lithium are produced in the salt lakes.\n\nMany visitors come to see the spectacular landscape of the Andean Highlands. Snow-covered mountains more than 6,000 m high contrasting with blue lakes, mountains showing all shades of red and brown due to their volcanic origin, and a number of geothermal areas with hot springs and geysers are among the natural attractions of the region.\n\nOn the more relaxing side, Arica and Iquique offer long sandy beaches at the Pacific coast.", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk004", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\nAirports in this area with several flights daily from Santiago:\n **Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport** () in Antofagasta – also connections to/from Peru\n **Chacalluta International Airport** () in Arica – also connections to/from Bolivia\n **El Loa Airport** () in Calama\n **Diego Aracena International Airport** () in Iquique – also connections to/from Bolivia\n **La Florida Airport** () in La Serena\n\n### By car\n\nThe national highway #5 (Panamericana) is the main artery of the region connecting central Chile with Antofagasta, Iquique, Arica and Peru. Access from Bolivia (La Paz and Oruro) is via highway #11 passing Lauca National Park and Putre towards Arica. The alternate route from Oruro via Colchane and highway #15 towards Iquique is less used and thus in better condition (at least on the Chilean side). Access from northwestern Argentina (Salta) goes along Chilean highways #23 or #27 to San Pedro de Atacama and Calama.", "word_count": 150}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk005", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By car\n\nThe highways outside of the highlands are generally in good condition as are the main highways through the highlands to the neighbouring countries. Other roads in the highlands can be very rough. Before moving along such roads individually it is best to enquire locally about road and weather conditions.\n\n**Renting a truck or 4WD** in Antofagasta or Calama is a great idea if you are 3-5 people and want to explore the region around on your own. This will save you a lot of money on expensive tours in San Pedro de Atacama, and rental cars are much cheaper in Antofagasta or Calama. But due to the rough terrain, it is strongly recommended to get a 4WD or truck, instead of a regular, unless you plan to stay on proper roads.\n\n### By bus\n\nBuses connect all cities and also provide connections to neighbouring countries. There are no longer any passenger trains in Northern Chile.", "word_count": 158}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk006", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "See", "text": "- Atacama Desert\n\n - Bahía Inglesa\nthumb|150px|Bahía Inglesa\n - Rocas Negras\n\n - Desierto Florido\nthumb|200px|Desierto Florido\n - Gigante de Atacama\n\n - La Portada\nthumb|250px|La Portada\n - Mano del Desierto\n\n - Oficina Humberstone\n\n - Parque Paleontológico Los Dedos", "word_count": 37}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk007", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Do", "text": "- Isla Damas\n\n - Parque Nacional Fray Jorge\n\n - Nevado Ojos del Salado", "word_count": 13}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk008", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Be aware that you can easily get up to more than of altitude on normal roads. Get accustomed to this by getting higher in reasonable steps. If you join one of those one-day excursions from Arica to Lauca National Park then you are very likely to suffer from altitude sickness which must be taken seriously.\n\nIn the mountainous areas, mobile phone coverage is usually limited to the vicinity of towns. If you set out on a track road other than one which connects towns or popular tourist attractions then it might be a good idea to take a satellite phone with you. Filling stations are rare so make sure you know your options.", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "atacama::chunk009", "doc_id": "atacama", "section": "Go next", "text": "nl:Antofagasta (regio)", "word_count": 2}

corpus/atacama/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "atacama",
+  "title": "Northern Chile",
+  "type": "region",
+  "continent": "South America",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Northern_Chile",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "geothermal",
+    "volcano"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Chile"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 861,
+  "listing_count": 12,
+  "marker_count": 16,
+  "chunk_count": 10,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/australia/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "australia",
+  "title": "Australia",
+  "type": "country",
+  "continent": "Oceania",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Australia",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "snorkeling",
+    "diving",
+    "climbing",
+    "skiing",
+    "surfing",
+    "kayaking",
+    "rafting",
+    "wildlife",
+    "cycling",
+    "sailing",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "desert",
+    "rainforest",
+    "wine",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Oceania"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 36158,
+  "listing_count": 50,
+  "marker_count": 27,
+  "chunk_count": 149,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low",
+  "listings_aggregated_from": [
+    "sydney",
+    "melbourne",
+    "brisbane",
+    "kakadu",
+    "daintree",
+    "great-barrier-reef",
+    "great-ocean-road"
+  ]
+}

corpus/austria/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk000", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Overview", "text": "**Austria** (German: *Österreich*) is a landlocked German-speaking country in Central Europe. Austria, along with neighbouring Switzerland, is the winter sports centre of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the Alps. With more than 30 million arrivals (2023) and only about nine million inhabitants, it is one of the most visited countries in the world.", "word_count": 72}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk001", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Regions", "text": "Austria is a federal republic comprised of nine states (*Bundesländer*):", "word_count": 10}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk002", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Cities", "text": "thumb|View of Innsbruck\nthumb|Graz\n (*Wien*) — the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre\n — famous for the annual summer music festival of Bregenzer Festspiele\n — historically the seat of the Eszterházy Hungarian noble family that gave the town its aristocratic feel\n — known as Austria's culinary capital and student city\n — the cultural, educational and economic centre of Western Austria directly in the heart of the Alps\n — scenic town very close to the Wörthersee\n — a vibrant music and arts scene and a beautiful historic core\n — the birthplace of Mozart; a cultural city with an attractive setting and scenic Alpine backdrop\n — beautiful *Altstadt* surrounded by the Alps and various lakes", "word_count": 120}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk003", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Other destinations", "text": "thumb|Salzkammergut\n (*Bodensee*) — a large lake situated in Vorarlberg and shared with Switzerland and Germany\n — part of the Europa Sport Region\n — one of the most ancient settlements of the North Tyrolean Ausserfern, on the border with Bavaria and a short walk or drive to the famous castles of King Ludwig\n — a stunning cultural landscape among mountains and lakes\n — a popular ski resort in the shadow of the Patscherkofel mountain near Innsbruck\n — home to the world's oldest mountain railway.\n — the great spas of Styria, an easy daytrip from Graz or Vienna\n — one of Austria's warmest lakes\n — one of the most important alpine tourist towns in Austria", "word_count": 113}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk004", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "*Österreich* literally means \"the Eastern Realm\" or \"Eastern Empire\" in German.\n\n### History\n\nthumb|Night view of Hofburg (the former imperial palace), Vienna\nToday's Austria is what was once the German-speaking core and centre of power for the large multiethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire with its imperial capital in Vienna. This empire stretched eastwards from present-day Austria through much of east-central and south-central Europe. It included the entire territories of modern-day Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and portions of Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland and Italy, and also had a small colonial possession in Tianjin, China. While Prussia united the German states to the north into one \"German Empire\" in 1867-1871, Austria remained oriented eastwards towards its diverse empire. However, from the start of the 20th century, the political history of Austria has been closely linked to the misfortunes and disasters of modern German history, mainly the First and Second World Wars and their terrible aftermath.", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk005", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "The modern republic of Austria came into being in 1918 as a result of its defeat in World War I. In its wake, the empire was split into many components. They included Austria's current borders, an independent Hungary, lands given to Italy (South Tyrol, Trieste and Trentino), lands given to southern Poland (which also came about from lands taken from the Russian and German Empires, lands which those three empires had taken from Poland in the three \"divisions\" that erased Poland from the map for over a century), an independent Czechoslovakia and the northern and western half of Yugoslavia. Interwar Austria was an unstable state with pro-German fascists, pro-independence clerical reactionaries and left wing social democrats fighting over control, sometimes violently and ultimately descending into the \"Austro-Fascist\" dictatorship of the 1930s. Following an unresisted invasion and annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, Austria more or less functioned as a part of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Most of the population supported Hitler (who was himself born in Austria) and Austria's incorporation into Germany, and Austrian soldiers also fought in the Wehrmacht. Cities were bombed heavily by the Allies and concentration camps where the Holocaust was perpetrated also existed on Austrian soil (such as Mauthausen near Linz).\nthumb|Salzburg\nIt was not until the end of the war that the mood changed and that Austria tried to distance itself from Germany. In 1945, Austria was divided into zones of occupation like Germany. However, unlike Germany, Austria was not subject to any further territorial losses. A treaty signed in 1955 ended the Allied and Soviet occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade future unification with Germany. A constitutional law of that same year declared the country's \"perpetual neutrality\", a condition for Soviet military withdrawal, and thus saved Austria from Germany's fate as a divided nation with a divided capital. However, the South Tyrol Question (South Tyrol had been part of Austria Hungary before World War I and the German speaking inhabitants felt alienated by the Italian government) took Austria and Italy to the UN in the post-war era and international brokered mitigation found a suitable solution for both countries by the late 1980s. This official neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995.", "word_count": 396}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk006", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "It took quite a long time after the war for re-examining Austria's Nazi past to become large-scale and accepted as commonplace in the media. After the war, Austria had sought to portray itself as \"Hitler's first victim\", although Hitler himself was Austrian. This blatant denial of historical fact is now called \"the original lie of the Second Republic\" by many leftists. A high-profile case of Austria's denial of its past came to the fore when Austrian president and former UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim was embroiled in a scandal in the early 1990s due to having been a member of the SA during the war. To this day, Austria has a harder time being frank about its Nazi past than Germany and far-right Burschenschaften still play an important role in the politics of FPÖ and to some extent ÖVP leading to occasional scandals.\n\nPost-1945 Austrian politics were dominated by \"grand coalitions\" between the \"red\" centre-left SPÖ and the \"black\" centre-right ÖVP. This meant that important posts in government and the civil service were shared out according to *Proporz* (~proportionality) among \"red\" and \"black\". Whatever the faults of this system, it helped prevent the extremely violent and unstable politics Austria had had to endure in the interwar era when \"reds\" and \"blacks\" were pitted against each other in open hostility. With the 1999 coalition between the ÖVP and the far-right FPÖ, this consensus-oriented way of making politics started to crumble, and Austrian politics has since become a lot more like the politics of other European countries.", "word_count": 254}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk007", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999, and the euro currency replaced the schilling in 2002. Austria is also part of \"borderless Europe\", resulting in many students from all over the European Union studying in Austrian universities and vice versa. As the rules for entry to Austrian universities are different from those in Germany, many German students of subjects such as medicine have gone to Austria to study in the last couple of decades. This may from time to time cause friction, but this is mostly tongue-in-cheek and not all that serious.\n\nAustria is one of the most popular summer and winter holiday destinations in Europe and has the tourist industry to match it.\n\n### Culture\n\nthumb|Men in traditional Tyrolean dress\nAustria is a federation. Each of its nine federal states has a unique and distinct culture.\n\nAustrians aren't easy to categorize. In fact, the main reason Austrians stand out from their European neighbors is that they don't stand out from the rest for anything in particular. Austrians are moderate in their outlook and behavior. Being at Europe's crossroads, their culture is influenced from several sides. The stereotype of the yodelling, thigh slapping, beer-swilling (schnitzel-eating) xenophobe may apply to a few individuals but it certainly doesn't apply to the majority of Austrians.", "word_count": 216}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk008", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "The average Austrian on the street is likely to be friendly yet somewhat reserved and formal, softly spoken and well mannered, law abiding, socially conservative, rooted, family-oriented, conformist and somewhat nepotistic, a Roman Catholic at heart, not particularly religious but a follower of tradition, well educated if not as cosmopolitan as some of his/her other European cousins, cynical, and equipped with a dry, sarcastic sense of humour. Austrian social life, in general, seems to be less reserved than its northern European counterparts, yet Austrians exhibit a slightly more introverted disposition. Austrians love to socialise and celebrate together, though not in an overly exuberant or overly public manner.\nthumb|Especially in western Austria, and similar to Bavaria and Switzerland, there are many cultural folklore events and traditions.\nthumb|These folk customs often stem from the hard life in the mountains and the annual cycle. Nowadays, however, they are often presented in a touristy way.\nthumb|But there is also a distinct classical culture...\nAustrians generally like to define themselves merely by what they are *not*. Tourists often make the mistake of classifying Austrians as Germans, which despite being a common language (well, at least on paper), they are not. Arguably, Southern Germany, especially Bavaria, is a close cultural relative of Austria in many ways. Indeed, the regions of Austria are all similar to their neighbours, so you will not notice you have crossed a border, whether it be into South Tyrol in Italy, north to Bavaria or east to Hungary.\nthumb|...and alternative culture.\nAustria and Germany are sister nations and enjoy warm relations, but Mozart was Austrian, or a Salzburger for the record, not German! For most of its history, Austrians have a hard time defining their own nation; they face perhaps the most media influence from Germany but have a very different culture, especially from northern Germany. The historic minorities and individual cultures are valued, yet they have to struggle to survive. An important minority are the Carinthian Slovenes, who surprisingly voted to stay part of Austria (rather than become part of the newly formed Yugoslav state) after World War I. While this \"heroic\" act of \"national self-preservation\" was much mytholygised in the past, Jörg Haider of the far-right FPÖ got his start in politics in Carinthia by catering to SS veterans and calling into question the right of Carinthian Slovenes to have bilingual town signs in places where they form a significant part of the population.", "word_count": 404}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk009", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "Austria has a long history of being a multicultural country: a glance at the Vienna phone book is all you need to discover this. Ironically, it is Germany to the north that is paving the way regarding the integration of foreigners into society in Central Europe. Austria, with the exception of Vienna, remains a largely conservative country. On the other hand, in comparison to other Central European countries, it is still relatively liberal with modern social policies (such as gay marriage, assisted suicide, and immigration laws). Indeed, the cultural conflicts and national identity are as complicated and difficult to understand for many Austrians as they are for visitors! The level of personal awareness and views on this vary greatly from person to person but are generally subject to a particularly Austrian avoidance of the subject. It is best to try to see the diversity and enjoy the variety than to jump to conclusions.\n\nHence many Austrians derive their identity from their region or *Bundesland* (state). For instance, typical inhabitants of Carinthia would say that they are Carinthian first and Austrian second and maybe European third. Asking what state someone is from is normally the first question Austrians ask when meeting for the first time.\n\nThe fact that Austrians dislike demonstrations of national identity can, however, also be explained partly by the historical experiences Austria had during the Third Reich and especially due to the violent use of national symbols in the growing Austrofascist movement and by the far-right Freedom Party. It is also because the current state of Austria is a relatively young and loose federal republic of just 8 million people.", "word_count": 272}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk010", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "However, the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center rates Austria as the 5th most patriotic country in the world. So Austrians do very much love their country but are unlikely to be flag-wavers. Perhaps Austria's ascendancy to the EU in 1995 and its adoption of the euro and the border-less Europe have given it a stronger sense of importance and self-worth in the greater context of Europe.\n\nMost Austrians like to enjoy the good life. They spend a lot of time eating, drinking and having a good time with friends in a cozy environment, and are therefore very hospitable. Members of the older generation can be conservative in the sense that they frown upon extremes of any shape and form and, in general, are adverse to change. They enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world and want to keep it that way.\n\nAustria has no well-defined class system. The regional differences tend to be greater than in neighboring countries. Generally, the further rural you go, the more socially conservative people are. Due to tourism, rural areas are still quite open and rich compared to other countries.\n\n### Politics\n\nAustria is a parliamentary federal republic consisting of nine federal states (see list below). The head of the state is the **federal president** (*Bundespräsident*), who is elected directly by the people for a term of six years. His/her function is mainly representative, however, and the **federal chancellor** (*Bundeskanzler*), elected by a majority of the lower chamber of the parliament, runs most of the day-to-day politics.", "word_count": 257}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk011", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "The Austrian parliament consists of two chambers, the *Nationalrat* (National Council) as the main chamber, and the *Bundesrat* (Federal Council). The members of the National Council are elected every five years by popular vote, and the members of the Federal Council are elected by each of the state parliaments for 4- to 6-year terms. The composition of the Bundesrat changes after every election to a state's parliament.", "word_count": 67}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk012", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "There are three major parties in Austria: the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), the (conservative) Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), and the (right-wing) Freedom Party (FPÖ). Historically, SPÖ and ÖVP were the two dominant forces in Austrian politics. Between the re-emergence of the Austrian Republic after World War II and the late 1980s each party usually got between 40% and 50% of the votes and governed either alone or together in 'grand coalitions' (interrupted only by a brief SPÖ-FPÖ coalition between 1983 and 1987). During that time they also divided up practically all positions of influence in Austria between them (*Proporz*). From 1990 onwards, this system began to crumble due to people's dissatisfaction with 'politics as usual' and the rise of the FPÖ under its leader Jörg Haider who introduced a new brand of anti-foreigner populism to Austrian politics. After the 1999 elections in which both SPÖ and ÖVP did dismally and the FPÖ reached second place, a new coalition was formed between ÖVP and FPÖ. As the then first and only government to include right-wing populists in the European Union, the new Austrian leadership was shunned by the heads of government of the other fourteen EU member states. In the following elections the FPÖ did badly due to internal squabbles and the fact that the reality of government could not live up to its promises. Between 2006 and 2017 Austria was again governed by a series of SPÖ-ÖVP coalitions.", "word_count": 238}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk013", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "After elections in 2017, the ÖVP under its new leader, former foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, formed a coalition with the FPÖ. Both parties had increased their share of the vote, promising a tougher stance on migration and supposed 'Islamisation' following an influx of refugees and migrants into Austria in 2015. A corruption scandal in the FPÖ led to the early breakdown of the coalition and snap elections in 2019, after which Chancellor Kurz formed a coalition with the Greens.\n\nIn the 2024 elections, the FPÖ reached first place, however, the president decided to give the instruction to form a government, for the first time in the second republic, to the party with the second to most mandates - the ÖVP - instead. After ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS failed to form a coalition, the FPÖ was supposed to form a government. Talks with the ÖVP were started, but ended without success. In a second try, ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS managed to form a coalition with Christian Stocker as the new Austrian Chancellor.\n\n### Geography\n\nthumb|250px|Dürnstein/Wachau\n\nContrary to popular perceptions, Austria is not all about mountains. While the Alps do cover 3/4 of the country dominating the provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, Upper Austria and Carinthia, the eastern provinces of Lower Austria, the Burgenland and the federal capital of Vienna are more similar to the geography of the neighboring Czech Republic and Hungary. This diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area of size. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes can be found in Austria.", "word_count": 268}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk014", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "One quarter of Austria's population lives in Greater Vienna, a European metropolis, located where the Danube meets the easternmost fringe of the Alps, not far from the border with Slovakia and its capital Bratislava.\n\nVirtually all government, financial and cultural institutions, as well as national media and large corporations are based in Vienna, due largely to history and geography. Thus, the capital dominates Austria's cultural and political life and is clearly a world unto its own. It has little to do with the rest of mainly rural Austria and outside of Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Linz there really are no other large scale cities in the country. There is a playful joke told in Vorarlberg province regarding the dominance of Vienna regarding national affairs that reads, \"the people of western Austria make the money and Vienna spends it.\"\n\n### Climate\n\nAustria has a temperate continental climate. Summers last from early June to mid-September and\ncan be hot in some years and rainy in others. Day-time temperatures in July and August are around 25°C (77°F), but can often reach 35°C (95°F). Winters are cold in the lowlands and very harsh in the Alpine region with temperatures often dropping below -10°C (14°F). Winters last from December to March (longer at higher altitudes). In the Alpine region large temperature fluctuations occur all year round and nights are chilly even in high summer. The northern Alps are generally a lot wetter than the rest of the country. The South East (Styria and Carinthia) is dry and sunny. The area around Vienna often experiences strong easterly winds.\n\n### Electricity", "word_count": 264}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk015", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Understand", "text": "Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230 V 50 Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 \"Schukostecker\" or \"Schuko\" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 \"Europlug\" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travellers should pack an adapter and a converter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Austria.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Tourist information website", "word_count": 60}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk016", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get in", "text": "### Visa\n\nOne of the best ways to stay in the country for longer than 90 days is to study on a study visa, for example by studying on a TEFL course.\n\nAs of 2026, travellers entering via Slovenia (and sometimes Hungary) are subjected to border checks by the Austrian Police. This is a temporary measure, though be prepared to show relevant ID/documentation when entering.\n\n### By plane\n\nThere are six airports in Austria with scheduled flights. The most important international airport is Vienna Airport () which has connection to most major airports of the world. In the neighbouring town of Schwechat, it's the hub of Austrian Airlines, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa. There are smaller international airports in Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburg which mainly offer connections to European destinations.\n\nFor traveling to Western Austria it may make sense to fly into Munich Airport () and Memmingen (). From Munich airport there are regular train connections and Flixbus connections to the state capitals Salzburg and Innsbruck. While Bratislava () does not have nearly as many connections as Munich or Vienna, it is only about 70 kilometers from Vienna and there is a direct bus service. The most common airports to visit Vorarlberg are Altenrhein () via Austrian, Friedrichshafen () and Zürich ().\n\nIf visiting Austria for winter sports, choose the airport considering cost and duration for the whole trip (plane and transfer). Vienna is a 4-hour drive from the nearest medium-sized ski resort. *See more in the Get In section of Winter sports in Austria.*\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk017", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get in", "text": "The bus is not always the cheapest way to travel, though impressive discounts for advance bookings exist for long-distance travel (as far as from Warsaw for ). The bus may also be the cheapest option if you want to travel at short notice or if you have large amounts of luggage. Bus travel is especially interesting for those coming from the East as there are many buses into Vienna and they are often faster than trains. Information about their assorted services and pricing is can be found in that section. **Flixbus**, the major player in most of Europe serves a number of cities in Austria. Most of the companies that run Intercity buses in Germany serve major Austrian cities as well.\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|Europabrücke (Europe bridge) on the A13/E45 motorway between Innsbruck and the Italian border, an important north–south route across the Alps\nAustria and all its neighbouring countries are Schengen members so in theory there are no hard border controls (however, temporary border checks with Slovenia are present as of 2026). For using the *Autobahnen* or *Schnellstraßen*, a vignette, or tax sticker, must be purchased. You can either purchase a digital vignette online from the ASFiNAG website or a physical vignette, which must be affixed to the inside of the windscreen, on the top left-hand edge or behind the rear-view mirror. Costs are (as of July 2025) for one year, for 2 months, for 10 days, or for a single day. Physical vignettes can be purchased at most service stations before the border and at the border. Some major tunnels or sections of motorway have an additional toll of between and (as of July 2025).", "word_count": 277}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk018", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get in", "text": "On some Saturdays in July and August expect traffic jams on the motorways between Germany, Austria and Italy when millions of German tourists head south at the beginning of school vacations. A delay of about 2 hours is not unusual. The motorway A10 between Salzburg and Villach is especially notorious. It's best to avoid those Saturdays.\n\n#### From Germany\n\nMotorway A8 from Munich to Salzburg.\n Motorway A93 from Rosenheim via Kufstein to Innsbruck, Tyrol.\n E43 (A96) from Leutkirch via Wangen to Bregenz, Vorarlberg.\n Motorway A3/E56 from Regensburg via Passau to Linz, Upper Austria.\n\n#### From Italy\n\nMotorway A23 to Villach, Carinthia.\n E45 via Brenner to Innsbruck, Tyrol.\nConsidering the overall limited distances, it is very easy to drive to Austria from Northern Italy. From Bolzano, Innsbruck is only 1½ hours away, while it takes about 3 hours to reach Salzburg from either Bolzano or Udine. Vienna is a little further away; about 5½ hours from Bolzano, 6 hours from Venice and 8 from Milan.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk019", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get in", "text": "Some of the Italy-Austria border crossings are famous among cycling enthusiasts and admirers of alpine scenery, such as the Resia pass, the Rombo pass and the Vizze pass, while the borders between Friuli and the Austrian region of Carinthia are less traveled: they are the Monte Croce Carnico pass, the Pramollo pass and the Coccau pass, near Tarvisio, where the A23 motorway ends. In detail, the active crossings throughout the year between Italy and Austria are: Brenner Pass, along the A22 motorway (or the state road 12), connecting Bolzano to Innsbruck; Passo Resia, starting from Merano, leads to the border between Austria and Switzerland along state roads 38 and 40; Passo del Tarvisio, along the A23 motorway and once in Austria the A2, connects Udine to Villach; Passo di San Candido which connects Dobbiaco to Lienz via the state road 49; Passo di Monte Croce Carnico, along the SS 52bis it connects Tolmezzo with Mauthen; Passo di Pramollo, reachable by exiting the A23 in Pontebba. There are also two seasonal passes, usually closed from November to May, namely: Passo Stalle connects the Anterselva valley with the Defereggental in East Tyrol; the Passo del Rombo, north of Merano, along the provincial road 44bis.\n\n#### From Slovenia\n\nE61 from Ljubljana to Villach, Carinthia (via Karawankentunnel).\n E57 from Maribor to Graz, Styria.\n\n#### From Hungary\n\nMotorway M1 (E60) from Budapest to Vienna (Hegyeshalom-Nickelsdorf Border Crossing)\n\n#### From Slovakia\n\nMotorway D4 (E58) from Bratislava to Vienna (Jarovce-Kittsee Border Crossing)\n\n### By train", "word_count": 248}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk020", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get in", "text": "*See also* Rail travel in Europe\nthumb|130x130px|ÖBB railjet\nAustria is very well connected by rail. Every neighbouring country (yes, even Liechtenstein) has trains to and from Austria at least hourly. Many (Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland) even more frequently. Vienna is the largest rail hub, but day and night trains from most Central European countries travel to many destinations across Austria (particularly Innsbruck, Villach and Graz).\n\nThe **ÖBB** (Austrian federal railways) operate high-speed *RailJet* trains in cooperation with railways of neighbouring countries like Deutsche Bahn or Česke Dráhy from cities like Zürich, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Prague, Venice, Verona and Budapest. *Eurocity* trains are the next fastest trains available, comparable to the *Intercity* trains connecting the bigger Austrian cities. Additionally private train companies '''Westbahn''' and '''Regiojet''' also offer international train connections at sometimes cheaper prices than ÖBB.\n\nSleeper trains from ÖBB now cover several European countries (even some far-off points) at competitive rates under their Nightjet brand. ÖBB is also acquiring new rolling stock to expand its night train service. While these are much slower than day trains, they can save you a night's accommodation while delivering you to your destination. There is also a sleeper train from European Sleeper in winter season to Tyrol.\n\n### From Slovakia\n\nThere's a pontoon bridge for pedestrians and cyclists only just south of the Austrian-Czech-Slovak border tripoint, between **Hohenau an der March** (Austria) and **Moravský Svätý Ján** (Slovakia). \n The urban traffic company of Bratislava (DPB) runs a cross-border bus line no. 901 between **Hainburg an der Donau** (Austria) and **Bratislava** (Slovakia), with a stop also in the Austrian town of Wolfsthal. In Bratislava, the terminus is the stop *Nový most*.\n There's a pontoon ferry accessible to car-drivers and pedestrians between **Angern an der March** (Austria) and **Záhorská Ves** (Slovakia). Open 05:00-22:00.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk021", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By train and bus\n\nthumb|ÖBB Railjet train\nthumb|Westbahn\n\nTrains are the best and most common form of mass transport in Austria. Comfortable and moderately priced trains connect major cities and many towns; buses serve less significant towns and lakes. The two forms of transport are integrated and designed to complement eqach other, and intercity coaches exist but don't provide anywhere near the level of intercity rail service. Between Vienna, Linz, and Salzburg trains run every 30 minutes or even more frequently. Trains between Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and Bregenz operate at least hourly. The 2½-hour train ride to Graz takes you along one of the world's oldest mountain railways (Semmeringbahn). 14 tunnels and 16 viaducts were built to cross the Alps. ÖBB-operated trains, especially trains between Vienna and Graz and ICE trains to Linz and between Salzburg and Carinthia, may use coaches owned by other countries' national operators, just check the train number.\n\nRailjet (RJ or RJX) trains **to Vienna Airport** are split at Vienna Main Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), with only one half of the train going to the airport and the other half going to Budapest. **Be careful to board the correct part of the train!**", "word_count": 197}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk022", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "Austrian trains are operated mostly by state-owned company ÖBB. The Raaberbahn (GySEV) provides some trains across the Austrian-Hungarian border and there are some short private railways with tourist trains which supplement rather than compete with the ÖBB. The only competitor to ÖBB is **WestBahn.** Westbahn has connections from Vienna to all states except Burgenland. Instead of Wien Meidling and Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Main Station) stations, it serves Wien Hütteldorf and Wien Westbahnhof (Vienna Western Station), which are otherwise mainly served by commuter trains. It depends, but the price is generally a little cheaper than with ÖBB. \nthumb|Semmeringbahn\nLong-distance bus connections are not as common as train travel in Austria. The main operator is FlixBus, but there are also a few connections from Eurolines.\n\n#### Tickets and reservations\n\nthumb|At Salzburg main rail station. To the left, a German DB train, to the right an Austrian ÖBB train\nTrain tickets can be purchased via the ÖBB website and ÖBB ticket app for Android and iOS. There are also ticket machines at all sizable train stations and onboard some regional trains. When boarding regional trains you are required to have purchased a ticket before boarding, if it is possible to buy a ticket via railway office or vending machine at the station you are departing from. On long-distance trains (RailJet (RJ and RJX), Intercity-Express (ICE), Intercity (IC), Eurocity (EC), Interregio) you can also buy tickets from the conductor on board, but the price is much higher. In general, you don't need to make a reservation for trains in Austria, even on long-distance services. However, reservations are recommended on peak times (mainly at weekends) due to high demand and in some rare cases are mandatory due to very high demand. For reservations and train capacity check the ÖBB website or the ticket app.", "word_count": 299}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk023", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "Always compare the fares of the Westbahn with those of the ÖBB and the departure railways in other countries (Magyar Államvasutak, České dráhy, Deutsche Bahn,...) or even the railways of the transit countries, as there may be price differences even for the same train. ÖBB has discount offers based on dynamic pricing called \"SparSchiene\" tickets. There are a limited number of tickets at this price. Additional offers are available to all countries in Central Europe, although some cannot be booked online. The ÖBB sell domestic tickets using a price based only upon distance traveled, regardless of when you buy the ticket and which train you take. Base fare is rather expensive, but OBB offer some interesting discounts.\n\n### Local transport\n\nthumb|Postbus\nLocal and urban transport in Austria is very good, with a high density of connections and networks. Public transport is particularly good in the cities. Vienna, Graz, Linz, Innsbruck, Baden and the town of Gmunden have tram systems and in Vienna you will also find a metro system. Tourist towns in the countryside have also invested a lot of money in building up a transport network that can often be used free of charge (ask at the tourist office). In sparsely populated areas, connections are less frequent. Regional bus lines are mostly organised by province:\n\nVorarlberg: Vmobil\n Tyrol: VVT\n Salzburg: Salzburg Verkehr\n Carinthia: Kärntner Linien\n Upper Austria: OÖVV\n Styria: Verbund Linie\n Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland: VOR\n\nYou can buy local transport tickets from ticket machines (also from ÖBB ticket machines) or through the ÖBB app for the whole country.\n\n### Public transport planning", "word_count": 265}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk024", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "There is a route planning app called *ÖBB Scotty* available as web app and for Android and iOS, which takes into account all forms of public transport in the country and all international connections (even private operated train connections).\n\nWhen using regional bus lines, the apps/route planning services of each integrated transport systems are usually the best choice (e.g. VOR AnachB - you can select English in the menu on the left).\n\nIn the biggest cities, you can find information on fares and restricted lines using the websites and apps of the operator (e.g. Wiener Linien for Vienna).\n\n### By car\n\nthumb|The Grossglockner High Alpine Road\n\nSparsely populated regions in Austria are easier to explore by car as bus services can be infrequent. Many popular spots in the mountains are accessible only by car or on foot/ski. Renting a car for a couple of days is a good way to go off the beaten track. Driving in Austria is normally quite pleasant as the country is small and the roads are in good condition, not congested and offer fantastic scenery.\n\nTravelling on Austrian motorways (*Autobahnen*) or *Schnellstraßen* means you have to pay tolls. You have to buy a *Vignette* toll pass at any petrol station, at the border, or online through the ASFiNAG website. *Vignetten* can be bought for validity periods of a single day, 10 days, 2 months, or a year. Vehicles heavier than 3500 kg must instead purchase a *GO-Box*, a transponder which deducts tolls. Additional tolls are payable on certain roads, especially mountain passes, which you need to pay in bank notes (not coins) or with credit card at toll stations or online through the ASFiNAG website.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk025", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "The speed limits are on Autobahnen and on Schnellstraßen and Bundesstraßen. Expect limits otherwise of . Headlights should be switched on at all times.\n\nTake special care when **driving in winter**, especially in the mountains (winter lasts from September to May in the higher parts of the Alps and snowfall is in general possible at any time of the year). Icy roads kill dozens of inexperienced drivers every year. Winter tires are mandatory between November 1 and April 15. During winter season most rental cars are equipped with winter tyres, an additional fee may be charged.\n\n### By plane\n\nAlthough you'll miss out most of the stunning Austrian Landscape, it is possible to travel by plane within Austria. However, due to the country's small size and excellent train network, the total journey time by air is unlikely to be shorter than by rail, or even by bus.\nthumb|Embraer 195LR from AUA, the standard aircraft for national flights\nDomestic flights normally cost in the region of return, Austrian Airlines offers limited tickets for (Redtickets) but they have to be booked usually 2–3 months in advance. As a matter of fact, even Austrian Airlines now codeshares with ÖBB for some \"feeder flights\". In other words, fly only if you are on a business trip.\n\nThese domestic airports are served by airlines like Austrian Airlines (AUA):\n Graz (Thalerhof), servicing eastern Styria and southern Burgenland\n Innsbruck (Kranebitten), servicing Tyrol\n Klagenfurt (Wörthersee-Airport), servicing Carinthia\n Linz (Hörsching), servicing Upper Austria\n Salzburg (Wals), servicing Salzburg and Berchtesgaden (Bavaria)\n Vienna (Schwechat), servicing Vienna and Lower Austria\n\nIn addition, the following cross-border airports also serve western Austria:\n Altenrhein Airport (Switzerland), servicing Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein, Eastern Switzerland, and Lake Constance area\n Friedrichshafen (Germany), servicing Vorarlberg, Baden-Württemberg and Lake Constance area\n\n### By e-hailing", "word_count": 292}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk026", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Get around", "text": "As of 2024, the most popular ride-hailing services in Austria are Uber, Bolt and Free Now.", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk027", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Talk", "text": "The national official language of Austria is **German** which, in its national standard variety, known as **Austrian (Standard) German** (Österreichisches (Hoch)deutsch) is generally identical to the German used in Germany, with some significant vocabulary differences, mostly the names of food and things around the home, and a rather distinct accent. Most Austriacisms are loanwords from Austro-Bavarian, even though languages of the neighbouring countries have influenced as well. Other languages have some official status in different localities (e.g., Slovenian in Carinthia, Burgenland Croatian and Hungarian in Burgenland).\n\nSome examples for different vocabulary in Austrian German:\n Austria\n Germany\n English\nder Jänner\nder Januar\nJanuary\n der Topfen\n der Quark\n the curd\n die Marille\n die Aprikose\n the apricot\n die Fleischhauerei\n die Metzgerei\n the butcher's shop\n das Obers\n die Sahne\n the cream\n der Erdapfel\n die Kartoffel\n the potato\n der Polster\n das Kissen\n the pillow\n\nThe every-day language of almost all Austrians, however, is not Standard German, but instead local dialects of **Austro-Bavarian** German (*Boarisch*), which is also spoken as a first language by many in Bavaria, Germany and South Tyrol, Italy. However, in Vorarlberg it is replaced by **Alemannic** (*Alemannisch*), which is very close to Swiss German. Both these dialects belong to the Upper German family, but in extreme cases are only partially mutually intelligible to each other and Standard German, and especially in the larger cities almost everyone will be able to communicate in Standard German as well, if only when speaking to foreigners, (including Northern Germans). Most Austrians can understand another region's dialect but have the hardest time in Vorarlberg because it's Alemannic-speaking.\n\nEnglish is taught for at least five years at school so it is very widely spoken. The only area most tourists have linguistic problems with is in translating menus. In rural places, however, older people sometimes don't speak English, so it can help to learn a few basic German phrases if travelling to such places.\n\nIn the parts of Austria bordering Italy like Tyrol some people are also speak Italian. In South Tyrol (which belonged once to Austria) the common language is German (well, Austro-Bavarian in practice), except in Bolzano.\n\nAs a result of post-World War II immigration to Austria, in the large cities you will certainly encounter native speakers of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and Turkish.\n\nIn general, when speaking German, Austrians tend to pronounce the vowels longer and use a pronunciation which is regional, yet genuine, elegant and melodic; and some even regard it as the beautiful form of German. Also, the \"ch\", \"h\" and \"r\" are not as harshly pronounced as in Germany, making the accent much more mild in nature.", "word_count": 431}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk028", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "See", "text": "While Austria may be in the very heart of Europe, the country has plenty of attractions to see. There are scenic backdrops, traditional music, visual architectural styles and an ethnically homogenous culture in its range. \n\nSummer and winter, large flocks of tourists are drawn to Austria's **mighty mountainous scenery**. With no less than 62% of the country at an altitude of 500m or more, it's hard to miss the stunning snow-covered peaks and green valleys. Depending on the season, you'll find green mountain meadows or white landscapes as far as you can see, but either way, you won't be disappointed by the grand views. Highlights include for example the **High Mountain National Park** in the Zimmertal Alps, with peaks up to 3476m, narrow gorges and steep cliffs. **National Park Thayatal** combines beautiful valley landscapes with a variety of castles and ruined fortresses. The country's highest peak is called Grossglockner and is located on the border between Carinthia and East Tyrol. To get a good view, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with its gorgeous panorama's comes highly recommended. At the feet of mountain peaks you'll find luscious valleys, including the lovely **Villgratental**. The river Danube created some beautiful valley landscapes, where you'll now find famous vineyards. **Wachau** and **Dunkelsteinerwald** in Lower Austria are fine (and protected) examples. To make the image complete, the valley landscapes and hillsides are dotted with countless **picturesque villages**.\nthumb|230x230px|The famous Graben Square in [[Vienna]]\nBesides all that rustic, tranquil nature and countryside, Austria has a whole other side too. As one of Europe's former great powers, Austria boasts a wealth of majestic architecture and historic structures. As it was long a centre of power in the Holy Roman Empire, you'll find not only palaces and magnificent city architecture but also grand cathedrals, monasteries and churches. **Vienna**, the country's capital and most popular destination, is packed with Medieval and Baroque structures. **Schönbrunn Palace** with its 1441 rooms is the absolute highlight, and every little girls' princess dream. Its zoo, **Tiergarten Schönbrunn**, is the oldest in the world. The 12th century **St. Stephen's Cathedral** is the most prominent religious building. The same goes for **Innsbruck**, at the heart of Tyrol. The **Mariazell Basilica** in Mariazell is one of the country's most visited attractions and an important pilgrimage destination. Similar to Schönbrunn Palace is **Schloss Esterházy** in Eisenstadt, which is situated in the most eastern province. It's said to be one of Austria's most beautiful baroque castles. Neusiedler See, a national park, is also worth seeing in this region.\n\n**Salzburg** was the birthplace of Mozart, and combines delightful Alpine surroundings with a beautifully preserved historic centre. It was also the home of the Trapp Family singing group, which inspired the 1956 film *Trapp-Familie* (watch it on YouTube), and the 1965 film *The Sound of Music,* which introduced the English-speaking world to the Austrian Alps, but was poorly received in Austria itself.", "word_count": 482}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk029", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|420x420px|[[Lech and Zürs am Arlberg|Lech]], a famous village and ski area in Vorarlberg\n\n### Skiing and snowboarding\n\nAustria is a traditional destination for downhill snowsports, as well as other winter sports. Winter sports is especially in western Austria part of the local identity.\n\n### Cycle touring\n\nAustria is well known for its scenic cycle routes along its largest rivers. Though Austria is a mountainous country, cycle routes along rivers are flat or gently downhill, and therefore suitable even for casual cyclists. The most famous route is the Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna, one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, drawing large crowds of cyclists from all over the world each summer. Other rivers with well-developed cycle routes are the Inn, Drau, Moell and Mur. Most routes follow a combination of dedicated cycle paths, country lanes, and traffic calmed roads, and are well suited for children.\n\n### Music", "word_count": 151}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk030", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|The Big Hall at Wiener Musikverein, the site for the traditional New Year concert\nMany visitors come to experience Austria's musical heritage. Salzburg and Vienna offer world renowned opera, classical music and jazz at moderate prices, but performances of high standards are also widely available throughout the rest of the country. There are dozens of Summer festivals for all tastes, the most famous being the avant-garde Salzburg festival (*Salzburger Festspiele*) but because they're aimed at tourists prices can be high. Austria's strong musical tradition is not confined to classical music alone. Austrian folk music (*Volksmusik*) is an integral part of rural Austria, and is said to have influenced many of the nation's big composers. In the Alps almost every village has its own choir or brass band (*Blasmusik*), and you'll often see groups of friends sitting down to sing *Lieder* in rural pubs. Traditional Alpine instruments are the accordion and zither. In Vienna a type of melancholic violin music known as *Schrammelmusik* is often performed in Restaurants and *Heurigen*.\n\n### Arts and culture\n\nthumb|The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most famous art museums in the world.\nAustria is a country with a very rich culture and there are events throughout the year: folklore events, festivals, concerts, markets, fairs and other programmes. The best way to find out is to check the tourist information website. Due to its history Austria also has a lot of famous museums with some world-famous ones in Vienna; they are perfect for rainy days.\n\n### Motorsport", "word_count": 251}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk031", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "Watch the **Formula One Austrian Grand Prix** in the August-September window. Usually comes right after the summer break. The track is also known to have the most qualifying lap times deleted because of it wide turns and is the quickest track average at 1:04:23. Book early and it is recommended to carry an energy drink, because it can be very hot at a specific time.\n\n### Movies\n\nAustria has quite a special kind of cinematic culture, that is worth taking notice of as a tourist. Many films star celebrities from cabaret, a kind of staged comedy popular in Austria. Most of these movies are characterized by their rather cynical and sometimes bizarre black humour, usually portraying members of Vienna's lower or middle class. Josef Hader, Roland Düringer, Reinhard Nowak or Alfred Dorfer are among the most outstanding actors here. Recommendations include *Indien* (1993), *Muttertag* (1993), *Hinterholz 8* (1998), *Komm, süßer Tod* (2000) and *Silentium* (2004). Popular directors are Harald Sicheritz, Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl. Haneke received positive international praise for his films *Die Klavierspielerin* (2001), based on the novel by nobel-prize winning author Elfriede Jelinek and *Caché* (2005). Seidl received various awards for his drama *Hundstage* (2001). Also, the 1949 classic *The Third Man* was shot in Vienna, and is regularly shown in Vienna's Burg Kino.\n\n### Hiking\n\nthumb|Scheibelalm, Styria\nIt is normally safe to hike without a guide in the Austrian Alps, as there is a dense network of marked trails and mountain shelters. However, a few lethal incidents do happen every year as a result of carelessness. Walkers are strongly advised not to stray off the trails and not to hike in bad weather or without suitable equipment. Before setting off, always check with the local tourist office whether the trail corresponds to your abilities.", "word_count": 298}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk032", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "Also, check the weather forecast. Sudden thunderstorms are frequent and are more likely to happen in the afternoon. A rule of thumb is that if you haven't reached the summit by noon, it's time to give up and return to shelter.\n\nThough the scenery is by all accounts majestic, don't expect an empty wilderness. The Alps can be very crowded with mountaineers, especially in high season (there are even traffic jams of climbers on some popular mountains). Littering is a no-no in all of Austria, but especially in the mountains, and you will enrage fellow walkers if you're seen doing it. If you really want to show respect, pick up any litter you happen to see in your path and dispose of it at the end of your hike (it's a bit of an unwritten rule). Long-distance trails are marked with the Austrian flag (red-white-red horizontal stripes) painted onto rocks and tree trunks.", "word_count": 153}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk033", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "Most trails and mountain huts are maintained by the Austrian Alpine Club. Some are run by other equivalent organizations, such as the German, Dutch and Italian Alpine Clubs. Mountain huts are meant to be shelters, not hotels. Though they are normally very clean and well-equipped, standards of accommodation and customer service are basic. Blankets are provided, but bringing a thin sleeping bag is mandatory for reasons of hygiene. During the high season (August), it's a good idea to book in advance. Mountain huts will not turn anyone down for the night, but if they're full, you'll have to sleep on the floor. Prices are usually around a night to stay in a mattress room (half price for Alpine Club members), but meals and drinks are quite expensive, as everything has to be carried up from the valley, often by helicopters or on foot. For the same reason, there are no trash cans in or near huts. Electricity and gas are also hard to transport, so hot showers will incur a fee if available at all. Some huts even lack running water; they will have pit latrines. As mentioned above, mountain huts are very useful for hikers, they mostly have a heated common room and they are very romantic, but there is nothing more than necessary.\n\nDetailed hiking maps showing the location of marked trails and shelters can be purchased online from the Austrian Alpine Society.\n\n### Lakes", "word_count": 237}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk034", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|Seebensee lake, Tyrol\nAustria has many lakes, many of which have designated camping areas. Normally they are very clean, so you can swim in them. In winter you can use them for ice skating. Sometimes you have to pay a fee to access the lake. Near the grass fields you can often find a little shop with snacks, ice cream and drinks. At bigger lakes you can also find *Wasserrettung* (water life-savers) who can help you in case of emergency or other problems. Lakes are a great way to spend your leisure time. Austrians normally spend the whole day at the place.\nSome popular lakes are the Wörthersee, Wolfgangsee, Attersee and the Neusiedler See.", "word_count": 114}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk035", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nAustria is a cash-oriented society, and while acceptance of credit/debit cards is on the rise, many shops are still cash only.\n\nThe best rates for changing money are offered by banks. Some banks will only exchange money for their account holders, and they usually add an exchange fee ranging from €3 to €6, or more when changing large amounts. Withdrawing money from the ubiquitous ATMs is also a viable option, especially if large amounts of cash are needed.\n\nThe Austrian schilling was replaced by the euro in 2002. If you have any from previous trips, they can be exchanged at the Austrian Central Bank (ÖNB) indefinitely.\n\n### Prices\n\nThe prices are comparable with Western European countries, they are very similar to Germany and a little bit more than in Italy. The general sales tax of 20% is included in prices but lower sales taxes applies to certain services and mainly food. A can of Coke in a supermarket will cost you about , a mid-range meal . Prices in tourist areas (Tyrol, Vienna, Salzburg, Zell am See) can be higher than the averages. B&B accommodation and traditional restaurants in towns and rural areas are comparatively cheap.\n\n### Shops", "word_count": 200}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk036", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|Gift shop in [[Graz]]\nShops are generally open from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays (noon in rural areas) and closed on Sundays. On Sundays only gas station shops (expensive), shops in railway stations and restaurants are open. Some smaller shops also may be closed between 12:00 and 15:00 on weekdays. Paying by credit card is not common like in the rest of Europe or United States and Canada but all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club) are accepted at almost every gas station and at bigger shops, especially in shopping malls. In smaller towns and villages you normally find one or two small shops or bakeries, which carry nearly everything, called \"Greißler\", although they are under threat from bigger shopping centers.\n\n### ATMs\n\nATMs in Austria are called **Bankomat**. They are widespread and you will find them even in smaller, rural villages. Many shops (and some restaurants too) offer the service to pay directly with an ATM card. The majority of ATMs accept cards from abroad. All Bankomats in Austria can easily identified by a sign showing a *green stripe above a blue stripe*. Usually no fees will be charged, but the company Euronet charges per withdrawal.\n\n### Tipping\n\nIn Austria, tipping is common and, although legally not mandatory, often considered as socially obligatory. Giving 5% to 10% of the total amount is common; more signals exceptionally good service. Rounding to a multiple of a Euro is common, for low sums the amount paid is often a multiple of 50 cents (i.e. a bill of can be paid as or ).", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk037", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Buy", "text": "Tipping is not practised when the goods are exchanged over the counter (i.e. in fast-food restaurants or at street stalls). Traditionally, the owner of a restaurant does not receive a tip. A tip is known in the German language as *Trinkgeld*, which literally translates as 'money for drink'. It is also common practice to tip other service employees, like taxi drivers or hair dressers. Attempting to tip any kind of government employee may be perceived as a bribe and will get you in trouble.\n\n### Bargaining\n\nBargaining is not common throughout Austria except at flea markets. It may be okay to ask for a discount, but accept No as an answer.\n\n### Gifts to take home\n\n**Eiswein** (ice wine)—see Drink section\n **Marillenmarmelade** (Apricot Jam)\n **Pumpkin Seed Oil** a speciality from the southern region Styria\n **Manner Schnitten** Popular sweets in pink package available almost everywhere.\n **Salzburger Mozartkugeln** chocolate balls with marzipan in the middle\n\n#### For children\n\n**Haba** wooden toys", "word_count": 159}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk038", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Wiener Schnitzel with potatoes\nAustrian food is distinctive and delicious, and is traditionally of the stodgy, hearty \"meat and dumplings\" variety. **Wiener Schnitzel** (a bread-crumbed and fried veal escalope) is something of a national dish, and **Knödel** are a kind of dumpling which can be made either sweet or savory according to taste.\nIn Vienna the **Tafelspitz** (boiled beef with potatoes and horseradish - it's classier than it sounds) is traditionally served on Sundays, and is normally accompanied by clear broth with dumplings and herbs. Apart from these, Austria is renowned for its pastries and desserts, the most well-known of which is probably the **Apfelstrudel**.\n\n**Bread** (*Brot*) is taken seriously in Austria. Almost every village has its own bakery, offering a large choice of freshly baked sweet and savoury rolls daily from 06:00. Rye bread (**Vollkornbrot**, **Bauernbrot**) is the traditional staple food among peasants. If this is too heavy for you, try the common white bread roll (**Semmel**). Somewhat surprisingly, it is easier to find good bread outside of Vienna, where the baking industry hasn't yet come to be dominated by industrial scale chain shops.\n\nSome Austrians have a habit of eating sweet flour-based dishes (*Mehlspeise*) for a main course once a week. Varieties include *Kaiserschmarren*, *Marillenknoedel*, and *Germknoedel*.\n\nThe best advice is to dive into the menu and give it a go - there are no nasty surprises!\n\n### Restaurants", "word_count": 231}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk039", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you want to try out traditional Austrian food go for a *Gasthaus* or *Gasthof*, which serve traditional food for reasonable prices. Usually they offer various options of set lunch including a soup and a main dish and in some cases a dessert too. They are typically priced at (except for very touristy areas). Menus are written in German, though some of the restaurants have English menus as well. Keep in mind that tipping is expected throughout all restaurants in Austria. Rounding up the price given on the bill is usually enough tip.\n\n#### Paying\n\nIn Austrian restaurants you must ask to pay. Get the attention of your server and say: \"zahlen, bitte\" (the bill, please). They will then bring you the check, or tell you the amount of the bill verbally. Then, the proper way to pay in Austria is to give your cash and say the amount you wish to pay, including tip. To tip it is appropriate to round up, or to round up by 50 cents or of the cost for each person (should equal about 5-10% for a full meal). Servers are not dependent on tips, and it is not appropriate to tip a large amount. Saying \"danke\" (thank you) when paying, means keep the change! Alternatively, you can say the amount of the bill plus your tip and you'll only get change above that amount (for instance, if you pay with a bill, the amount is and you say \"Siebzehn Euro\" (seventeen euro), the server will give you change and keep the as tip).\n\n### Local specialties", "word_count": 263}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk040", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Eat", "text": "If you have the chance to try **Kletzennudeln** you should definitely do it. They are an exceptional Carinthian specialty you can very rarely get anywhere: sweet noodles filled with dried pears and soft cheese. The best Kletzennudeln are handmade with minced dried pears, rather than the lower quality versions which use pear powder.\n Salads can be made with **Kernöl** (green pumpkin seed oil), a Styrian specialty. Even though it looks frightening (dark green or dark red, depending on lighting conditions) it has an interesting nutty taste. A bottle of good, pure Styrian Kernöl is very expensive (around per litre), but maybe one of the most Austrian things to take home. Try it on salads, pumpkin soup, or on bread. Beware of cheap Kernöl, sometimes sold as \"Salatöl\". Be sure the bottle is sealed well as the oil expands when warmed and leaves *non removable* stains (although some people swear that bright sunlight can remove them). Kernöl is also available online.\n\n### Desserts", "word_count": 162}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk041", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Eat", "text": "thumb|Sachertorte at Café Sacher\n **Strudel** is a sweet layery, pastry filled with fruits, most commonly apples.\n **Sachertorte** is chocolate torte with chocolate icing and filled with apricot jam. It should be served fresh with freshly beaten, lightly sweetened cream, which the Austrians call \"Schlagobers\". The original is available in Vienna in the Cafe Sacher, but similar cakes are very common in many other Viennese Cafes. Cafe Sacher is a bit of a tourist trap owing to its fame (one example of this is the compulsory coat check) and their cakes are not always the freshest.\n **Eszterházy**: Austrian torte.\n **Malakhoff**: a delicate cake made with milk and rum\n **Manner Schnitten** are a very Viennese sweet specialty, but just the square form factor and pink packaging are really unique. You can buy them everywhere. (Maybe you've already seen these as a product placement in some Hollywood movies or for example in \"Friends\" and wondered what they are.)\n **Milchrahmstrudel**: milk and curd cheese strudel, served warm\n **Powidl** is a type of savoury prune jam with alcohol, another specialty from Vienna. It makes a good present as it tastes exotic and is hard to find anywhere else in the world.\n\n### Vegetarians", "word_count": 198}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk042", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Eat", "text": "Vegetarianism is slowly gaining ground in Austria, especially in bigger cities. Austrians aren't as carnivorous as the rest of their Central European neighbors; 47% of the country reports having a diverse diet with only limited amounts of meat. Most restaurants don't cater for vegetarians specifically, but you're almost certain to find meals on the menu containing no meat. As an alternative, there are vegetarian restaurants in every major city, as well as harder to find vegan or vegan-friendly places. You can get vegetarian and vegan products (e.g. tofu, soy milk, lactose-free products) in nearly all supermarkets across the country (in rural areas as well) and in many health-food shops.\n\nIn more traditional or very rural restaurants, you may be viewed as eccentric if you say you are vegetarian, and it's possible that not a single meal on the menu is meat-free. This is especially true for restaurants serving traditional Austrian cuisine which relies heavily on meat—even apparent vegetable dishes such as potato salad or vegetable soup often contain meat products. Sometimes, also food clearly labeled as \"vegetarian\" contains fish, as vegetarianism is often equated with pescetarianism. If unsure, ask the staff if there are any animal products in the dish you're about to order. Some traditional meals that are guaranteed to be vegetarian are *Kaiserschmarren* (sweet pieces of fluffy pancake with fruit compote), *Germknödel* (sweet dumpling with sour prune jam), and *Kasnudel* (similar to ravioli).\n\nAustria's Vegan Society maintains an updated list of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly eating places: original and translated version", "word_count": 252}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk043", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Drink", "text": "thumb|Almdudler\nVienna is famous for its **café** culture, and there are coffee houses all over the city, many of which have outdoor terraces that are popular in the summer. Visit them for coffee (of course), hot chocolate and pastries. Most famous is Sacher-Torte.\n\n**Soft drinks:** Austria has also a national soft drink called *Almdudler*. It is lemonade with herbs. North Americans will find it similar to, but not exactly like, ginger ale. Other typical Austrian soft drinks are *Holler* or *Hollundersaft*. It's a soft drink made of elderberry blossoms. The globally popular energy drink *Red Bull* is a license produced localisation of Krating Daeng from Thailand but is often seen as an Austrian invention and is sold everywhere. Austrians often mix sparkling mineral water 50:50 with fruit juice which is then qualified with the adjective **gespritzt.**\n\n**Alcohol** consumption in Austria is quite high and part of everyday life, so it is normal to have a drink in parks or on the street. Beer and wine can be bought at 16, everything else at 18. There are several popular drinks:", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk044", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Drink", "text": "Austria has some first class **wines**, mostly whites, slightly on the acidic side. Due to its climate, \nthumb|Bottle and glass of StrohAustrian reds will often be made from grape varieties such as Zweigelt or Blaufränkisch which are not familiar to many wine drinkers from outside the country, but are definitely worth trying. Wine can be drunk mixed with mineral water, called \"G'spritzter\" or \"Spritzer\". The best place to do so is at the \"Heurigen\" in the suburban areas of Vienna. Originally the \"Heurigen\" were open only in summer, but now you can have your \"Spritzer\" throughout the year with a little self-served snack. Locally produced wine is often inexpensive - it's easy to find a perfectly passable bottle for less than in a supermarket. *Sturm,* or young wine, similar to *federweißer* in Germany, can be found in early autumn. It's cloudy in appearance, and while not as high in alcohol as normal wine, can be easy to overdo because it's fairly sweet and fizzy.", "word_count": 164}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk045", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Beer** in Austria is largely ubiquitous with *Märzen* Lager. The quality is generally very good but varies greatly between breweries, as in many other Central European countries. The best options are from a modest number of remaining regional breweries not yet bought up by Heineken. Visitors accustomed to the selection common in most larger towns in the US or UK may be underwehlemed by beer lists, even in upscale bars. There are a small number of micro-breweries around the country, offering more exotic brews such as stouts. Beer culture in Austria is not widespread, many Austrians have strong brand loyalty but don't know the difference between pilsner and lager, so don't be surprised if a bartender or server struggles to answer your questions.\n **Lagers**: decent classic \"Märzen\" lagers commonly available include Stiegl, Egger and Zwettler. The quality of many others including Gösser, Puntigamer, Schwechater, Wieselburger and Zipfer all now under the Heinicken umbrella has debatebly dropped.\n **Pilsners**: are normally noted with *Pils* or *Spezial*, most common is Hirter Pils.\n **Dunkles**: is a rich dark brew offered by most breweries.\n **Weiße**: is wheat beer. There are several breweries and many imports from neighboring Bavaria, though it's rarely found on tap.\n **Zwickl**: is unfiltered lager and the pride of several breweries.", "word_count": 209}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk046", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Schnaps** is a type of fruit brandy served in many parts of Austria, usually after a meal. The most popular flavours are pear, apricot, and raspberry, though dozens of other flavours are available.\nThere are three quality tiers of Schnaps: distilled, infused, and flavoured. The distilled variety is the highest quality; several brands of Austrian fruit Schnaps rank among the best in the world, but are accordingly expensive: a half-Liter bottle can cost up to .\n\"Real\" Schnaps is made from real fruit (either distilled or infused). Beware of the cheap stuff sold in large bottles in supermarkets; this is often of the \"flavoured\" type - nothing more than ethanol, water and artificial flavouring. If you want the real thing, go to a deli or upscale bar (if you're in a bigger city) or a *Buschenschank* (farmhouse) if you're in the countryside. However, be careful with Schnaps: store-bought stuff is around 40% ABV, while farmhouse schnapps can be 50% or above!\n\n**Eiswein** is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. Eiswein is generally quite expensive due to the labour-intense and risky production process. Your best bet is to buy eiswein at Naschmarkt for for 375 ml or 500 ml; more chances to find it there on weekends. Just to give an idea of prices elsewhere, ice wine sells at *Wein & Co* near Naschmarkt at for a 375 ml bottle, and Vienna duty-free shop sells it for as well.", "word_count": 249}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk047", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Drink", "text": "**Stroh** is possibly the best known Austrian spirit drink. It is classified as a kind of rum, although it's not produced of sugarcane molasses like the Caribbean \"real\" rum is. Coming in five versions (the strongest one having an alcohol content of 80%!), Stroh is often used as a component in cocktails like *Jagertee* and as a flavoring for cakes and pastries.", "word_count": 62}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk048", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|Cozy guesthouses can be easily found in smaller cities and towns\nAlthough hotels can usually even be found in smaller cities they are quite expensive (even more so in bigger cities) cheaper possibilities in big cities are youth hostels and in smaller towns you can often find families renting flats in bed and breakfast style (look for *Pension* or *Zimmer Frei* signs) for . In the countryside many farmers will rent out rooms for a couple of nights, both officially and unofficially. To find a place to stay, simply knock on the door of a farmhouse and ask - if they don't have a room they'll probably know someone nearby who does.\n\nYou can also find a lot of camping grounds (some of them are open the whole year round) but while they are exceptionally clean and often provide additional services, they are also a bit more expensive than in other countries in Central Europe.\n\nAustrian law requires anyone to **register** at their resident address, even if it's only for one night and even if it's a campsite.\n\nHotels will therefore ask to see your passport or driving license and may refuse to give you accommodation if you don't have any ID on you. If you stay in private accommodation for longer than about two weeks, you should obtain a document of registration (*Meldezettel*) from the local registration authority (*Bezirksamt* or *Meldeamt*), usually located in the town hall. This document needs to be signed by the owner or tenant of your accommodation. Failure to present this document upon departure could cause difficulties if you have stayed in the country for more than two or three months.", "word_count": 276}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk049", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Learn", "text": "Austria has many great universities, the majority of which are located in Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck. A development in tertiary education is the Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences), vocational colleges that typically focus on engineering and business education with less emphasis on research than traditional universities, but a stronger view toward practice.\n\nIf you plan to study in Austria, read the requirements. If you need advice, you can contact the National Students Union.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk050", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Work", "text": "Citizens of European Union member states or EFTA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway) may work in Austria without any restrictions. Everyone else, however, needs a work permit to work in Austria. \n\nWith an unemployment rate of 5%, finding a job in Austria should not be difficult for those with the right qualifications and skills. Bear in mind a lot of jobs in Austria require a good knowledge of German. Graduates of Austrian universities have an edge in the Austrian job market. \n\nQualified non-EU and non-EFTA citizens may apply for a **Red-White-Red Card**, which enables someone to stay in Austria for **two years** and work at a specific company. \n\nThere is plenty of unskilled work available in the tourism industry. As long as you have a work permit, finding a job can often be as easy as simply turning up at a hotel and asking. *Seasonal* work in large ski\nresorts is the most promising option.", "word_count": 156}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk051", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "Austria is one of the safest countries in the world. According to the OECD Factbook of 2006, levels of robbery, assault, and car crime are among the lowest in the developed world, and a study by Mercer ranks Vienna as the 6th safest city in the world out of 215 cities. \n\n**Violent crimes** are extremely rare and should not concern the average tourist. Small towns and uninhabited areas such as forests are very safe at any time of the day. Like everywhere else in Europe, Austria has also seen a rise in violent crime and sex crime since 2015, but crime is still low in comparison to other western European countries. In Vienna, for example, there are some problems with gangs of young migrants in working-class neighbourhoods, which have also been widely discussed in public and in the media. Although you are safe anywhere at any time, follow standard safety precautions and use common sense when walking alone at night in quiet areas of large cities such as Vienna, Linz or Graz: Be careful and keep a distance to shady people. Beware also of **pickpockets** in crowded places. Like everywhere in Europe they are becoming increasingly professional. **Bicycle theft** is rampant in bigger cities, but virtually absent in smaller towns. Always lock your bike to an immobile object. \n\nThere is a federal police and in some few towns there is a municipality police. If you have a problem, the federal police (just **Polizei**) is your place to go. They are working very professional and will help you in any cases. \n\n**Racism** can be in some rare cases a problem and may make your stay an unpleasant experience. Just like anywhere else in Central Europe, there might be instances of glaring or hostile looks. However, racism is almost never seen in a violent form. There is nearly no violent crime on the countryside and in cities people are used to foreigners. In more remote parts of Austria, non-white people are a rare sight. If you see elderly locals giving you strange looks there, don't feel threatened. They are probably just showing curiosity or a distrust of foreigners and have no intention of doing any physical harm. A short conversation can often be enough to break the ice. Muslim visitors should note that the *burqa* and *niqab* are **illegal** in Austria. Anti-Semitism has increased since October 2023 and is more of a problem in the cities, but infringements are lower compared to Germany and there is a fairly zero-tolerance policy in law.\n\nDo not walk on the **bike lanes** (especially in Vienna) and cross them like you would cross any other road. Some bike lanes are hard to recognize (e.g. on the \"Ring\" in Vienna) and some cyclists drive quite fast. Walking on bike lines is not only considered to be impolite, but it may also happen that you are hit by a cyclist.", "word_count": 482}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk052", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Stay healthy", "text": "thumb|A rescue helicopter at a ski piste in Annaberg\nAustria has an excellent healthcare system by Western standards. Hospitals are modern, clean, and well-equipped. Healthcare in Austria is funded by the *Krankenkassen* (Sickness-funds), compulsory public insurance schemes that cover 99% of the population. Most hospitals are owned and operated by government bodies or the Krankenkassen. Private hospitals exist, but mainly for non-life-threatening conditions. Doctor's surgeries on the other hand are mostly private, but most accept patients from the Krankenkassen. Many Austrians choose to buy supplemental private health insurance. This allows them to see doctors that don't accept Krankenkassen and to stay in special hospital wards with fewer beds (which often receive preferential treatment).\n\nIf you are a traveller from the EU, you can get any form of urgent treatment for free (or a small token fee) that is covered by the Krankenkassen. Non-urgent treatment is not covered. Simply show your European Health Insurance Card and passport to the doctor or hospital. When going to a GP, look out for their signs: \"Alle Kassen\" (all Krankenkassen accepted), or \"Keine Kassen\" (no Krankenkassen accepted), in which case your EHIC is not valid. Supplemental travel insurance is recommended if you want to be able to see any doctor or receive specialist treatment.\n\nIf you are a traveller from outside the EU, and have no travel insurance, you will need to pay the full cost of treatment up-front (with the exception of the emergency room). Medical bills can be very expensive, though still reasonable when compared to the USA.\n\nAustria has a dense network of helicopter ambulances that can reach any point in the country within 15 minutes. Beware: Mountain rescue by helicopter is *not* covered by your EHIC, or indeed most travel insurance. If you have a medical emergency while you are in the mountains (e.g. you break a leg while skiing), the helicopter will be called on you *regardless* of whether you ask for it or not, and you will be billed upwards of . Mountain sports insurance is therefore highly recommended; you can obtain this from your health insurer or by becoming a member of the Austrian Alpine Club ( for one year of membership, automatic insurance for mountain search-and-rescue costs up to ).\n\nCertain regions in Austria (Carinthia, Styria, Lower Austria) are affected by tick borne encephalitis. For those who plan on doing outdoor activities in spring or summer a vaccine is strongly recommended. Also be aware that there is a small, endangered population of sand vipers in the south.\n\n**Tap water** is of exceptional quality and safe to drink in Austria (except in some parts of lower Austria, where it is recommended to ask about the water quality first!). The quality of water in Vienna and Graz is supposedly comparable to that of Evian.", "word_count": 465}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk053", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Respect", "text": "Austrians take formalities and etiquette seriously and good manners (*Gutes Benehmen*) can take you a long way in a social situation.", "word_count": 21}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk054", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Respect", "text": "When entering and leaving public places Austrians always say hello (*Grüß Gott* as formal greeting and a normal *Hallo* as a semi-formal greeting) and goodbye (*Auf Wiedersehen*). When entering a small shop, one should say \"Grüß Gott\" to the shop keeper when entering and \"Wiedersehen\" when leaving (the \"Auf\" can be left off). Phone calls are usually answered by telling your name, and finished with *Auf Wiederhören*. \n If you want to greet people in an informal way, use *Servus*. This greeting is used among friends and also in the countryside (for example, when meeting people at hiking). Servus is also used to say good bye and is common not only in Austria but also in Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and southern Germany. Although standard German greetings such as \"Tschüss\" or \"Hi\" are used in cities, most Austrians prefer to be greeted with Austrian greetings.\n Do not raise your voice, lose your temper, or shout in public; in Austria this is highly frowned upon. \n When being introduced to someone, always shake them by the hand, keep the other hand out of your pocket, say your name and make **eye contact**. Failure to make eye contact, even if out of shyness, is considered condescending.\n Some Austrians have a custom of kissing the cheeks twice when friends meet, except for Vorarlberg, where people kiss each other three times as in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Fake air kisses work too. When you're not sure whether this is appropriate, wait until your counterpart starts the greeting.\n When drinking alcohol you don't drink until you have toasted (\"anstoßen\"). Say \"prost\" or \"cheers\" and most importantly **make eye contact** when toasting.\n Smoking is prohibited in most indoor venues and certain outdoor spaces as well. Since 2019, there is a complete smoking ban in gastronomy (restaurants, bars, cafés, etc.) as well as hotels, certain public areas, government facilities, public transport (as well as e.g. train stations, which may offer \"smoking areas\") etc.\n If you have drunk all your wine and want more it's okay to pour some more into your glass, but *only* after you've kindly asked everyone around you at the table if they need any more.\n If you really want to show your manners while eating, let your unused hand rest on the table next to your plate and use it occasionally to hold your plate while eating, if necessary. Austrians use generally European table manners, that is, they hold the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left hand, eating with both utensils. It is polite to let your wrists or hands rest on the table, but not your elbows.\n In most Austrian households it is customary to take off one's shoes.\n Older Austrians really love to use honorific titles. Many books have been written on the subject of Austria and its **Titelwahn** (title craze). There are over nine hundred titles from many categories such as job descriptions, academic degrees, honorary titles, official titles, etc. People who think of themselves as being respectable always expect to be addressed by their proper title, be it Prof., Dr., Mag. (Master's), Dipl.Ing. (Master's in Engineering), Ing. (Graduate Engineer) or even B.A. This is especially true of older people. Younger people are generally much more relaxed in this regard. The **Titelwahn** is something to be aware of but it is also often a subject of satire and self-deprecating humour so it should not be taken too seriously. Foreigners are not expected to understand or care about (all of) it.\n In German, you should normally use *Sie* when speaking to strangers or older people. The informal *Du* is mainly reserved for friends, relatives and family. However, it is also generally used in the countryside and mountains, even when talking with tourists, and it is no real problem to use the Du there. The Du form is particularly common in western Austria. Misuse of these forms is considered inappropriate in formal situations (especially in cities like Vienna), although people will probably understand that as a foreigner you don't know any better. Switching between the forms can be very irritating to English speakers, but it is good to use the right form for the right situation. However, if you slip, people will excuse that as due to your limited language skills.\n Perhaps surprisingly for a rather conservative nation, Austria's attitude towards **nudity** is one of the most relaxed in Europe. The display of full nudity in the mainstream media and advertising can be a shock for many visitors, especially those from outside Europe. It is not uncommon for women to bathe topless in beaches and recreational areas in summer. Though swimming costumes must normally be worn in public pools and beaches, when bathing \"wild\" in rivers and lakes is normally OK to take one's clothes off. Nudity is compulsory in Austria's many nude beaches (*FKK Strand*), health spas and hotel saunas. Like in Germany, do not wear bathing suits into saunas.", "word_count": 820}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk055", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Respect", "text": "### Helpful hints\n\nAustrians are their own people; referring to them as \"Germans\" is incorrect and may cause offense. The customs of Austria differ from those of Germany and other German-speaking nations.\n In business settings, business communication tends to be more formal and political. Your Austrian counterparts will normally be very careful about what they say.", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk056", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Calling Austria\n\nThe international code for Austria is +43.\n\n### Phones\n\nPhone boxes are getting rare. Phone boxes usually operate with prepaid cards which can be obtained from postal offices and kiosks (German:*Trafik*).\n\nPhone numbers have an area code followed by the phone number itself. Toll-free numbers are denoted by 0800, service lines priced like local calls are setting off with 0810 whereas numbers starting with 0900, 0901, 0930 or 0931 are expensive service lines charging up to per minute. 05 is \"shared cost\" (usually a bit more expensive than landline/mobile), beware of the exception 05133 though which is the Austrian federal police prefix. 0720 is VOIP/virtual - usually billed at landline rates regardless of location.\n\n### Cell phones\n\nAustria has good GSM and 3G (UMTS) network coverage of nearly 100%. Be aware that some remote areas (especially mountainous areas) do not have network coverage, though this rather the exception than the rule. Even the Vienna underground lines do have coverage.\n\nAustria has three network operators: A1, Magenta and Drei. Also, there is a big number of providers, which will operate in one of these three networks.\n\nThe cheapest (discounted) providers are HoT, spusu, bob and yesss.\n\nYou may often purchase a prepaid SIM card for Austria before you depart from an online vendor http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?PRODUCT_ID=LSIM-AT01 which can be convenient as you get instructions in English and your cell phone number before you depart.\n\n### Internet\n\nInternet cafes are common in bigger cities. Hotels in cities do normally have internet terminals, more expensive hotels provide internet access directly in the rooms. There are many free WiFi Hotspots (\"Gratis WLAN\"), each McDonald's has free WiFi (unlimited Time and Traffic) and there is also free WiFi at most of the trains and railway stations.\n\n**Mobile broadband** providers in Austria are some of the cheapest and fastest in Europe, and 4G coverage is excellent most populated areas. Several providers offer pay-as-you-go plans that are open to non-residents, don't require registration, and can be topped up with vouchers available in stores, at the ATM, or online.\n\n**Bob** offers a SIM or Micro-SIM with 1 GB of traffic on a pay-as-you-go plan. Additional traffic can be booked on a data plan (\"Datenpaket\" http://www.bob.at/bobdatenpaketwertkarte at a rate of per GB. Beware of higher rates for traffic (/MB) if no data plan is booked. Available at all post offices and some supermarkets. (Ask for \"Bob Breitband Startpaket\", ). SIMs come with a working cell number, and are also available bundled with a USB Modem without a contract. (2011)\n\n**Yesss** (an A1 subsidiary) offers SIM or Micro-SIM-cards with 1 GB of traffic for and a pay-as-you go plan. Additional traffic can be bought for for 2GB. Available at Hofer Supermarkets (ask for \"Yesss startpaket\" at the cashier). SIMs come with a working cell number, and are also available bundled with a USB modem without a contract. (2011)\n\n'''A1''' offers mobile internet prepaid data SIMs — Internet mit Wertkarte — via their webshop for delivery to any address in Austria. (pickup at your hotel) Payment can be made using credit card and they also provide package tracking. Prices start at for 3GB/30 days with 4/2 Mbit/s. (2013)", "word_count": 528}
+{"chunk_id": "austria::chunk057", "doc_id": "austria", "section": "Cope", "text": "### Toilets\n\nPublic toilets are free in most cities. In more touristy areas and train stations, however, fees are normal. Prices range between and , which must either be handed to a toilet attendant or inserted into a slot. Public toilets can always be found in city centers (normally on the main square), in train stations, and near major tourist attractions.\n\n### Laundry\n\nHouseholds without washing machines are almost unheard of in Austria. As a result, laundrettes are few and far between, and may be completely absent from smaller cities. However, most hotels, youth hostels, campsites and even B&Bs normally offer laundry facilities for a small charge.\n\n### People\n\nPeople in Austria are friendly and helpful. Most Austrians are very polite, hospitable and treat tourists well.", "word_count": 126}

corpus/austria/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "austria",
+  "title": "Austria",
+  "type": "country",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Austria",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "skiing",
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "nightlife",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "glacier",
+    "wine",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Central Europe"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "outline",
+  "go_next": [],
+  "word_count": 13479,
+  "listing_count": 1,
+  "marker_count": 18,
+  "chunk_count": 58,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/azores/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk000", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Overview", "text": "The archipelago of the **Azores** (Portuguese: *Açores*) is an autonomous region of Portugal. This group of islands of the Atlantic Ocean is an ultra-peripheral area of the European Union.\n\nLatest census data reports just over a quarter of a million residents live on these islands but with a diaspora of more than two million living overseas, primarily in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and mainland Europe. In the Channel Islands they have for long formed a substantial minority so that public phoneboxes feature dialling instructions in the Azores dialect.", "word_count": 89}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk001", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Islands", "text": "The Azores consist primarily of 9 main islands:\n\nThe islands form three groups; travel between groups is more difficult than within them:\n Western islands: Corvo and Flores – small, sparsely populated, secluded\n Central islands: Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, and Graciosa – easy to travel between, vineyards\n Eastern islands: São Miguel (biggest island) and Santa Maria", "word_count": 56}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk002", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Understand", "text": "File:LL-Q5146 (por)-Nelson Ricardo 2500-Açores.wav\n\nAçores (uh-SOH-r(ih)sh, /ɐ.ˈso.ɾɨʃ/)\n\nThese nine volcanic islands are situated in the northern Atlantic, about from the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula and about from North America. Seismic activity, though rare, still occurs on occasion.\n\nThe Azores have three cities recognized as \"capitals\":\n Ponta Delgada — Presidency of the regional government, economic capital\n Angra do Heroísmo — Representative of the Portuguese Republic, historic capital\n Horta — Legislative Assembly\n\nHigh season is summer — late June, July, August — when the weather is warm and children are on school vacation. Middle season (shoulder season) is spring and fall — April, May, early June, and September, October — when the weather is cooler and it is less crowded; this is a very good time for hiking. Low season is winter — November through March — and some places are closed.\n\n### History\n\nWhile ancient and medieval legends tell about Atlantic islands which could have been the Azores, the first known inhabitants were Portuguese, who discovered and settled them in the 15th century. The Azores became an important waypoint during the Age of Discovery.\n\n### Climate\n\nthumb|250px|The Pico mountain as seen from São Jorge\nThe weather is mild, but frequently changing. It never gets very hot or very cold, but it can easily go from sun to rain and back in a day. It is often windy, sometimes very windy. A light rain jacket is advisable most of the year.\n\nThe archipelago is spread out in the area between 37° N and the parallels of latitude that pass through the Lisbon area (38° 43' / 38° 55' N), giving it generally a tepid, and oceanic climate, with mild annual oscillations. Daily maximum temperatures usually range . The average annual rainfall increases from east to west, and it ranges annually on average, reaching on Mount Pico, the highest Portuguese mountain at . The Azores high, an area of high atmospheric pressure, is named after the islands.\n\nYou should be warned, if what you are searching for is a beach holiday with plenty of sun, the Azores are not right for you. The temperature never gets very hot, the ocean waters are always rather chilly, and pools are generally unheated, so it is not a good destination for a beach or pool focused vacation. However, if going to the beach is just one of the activities you will do, it should be just perfect.\n\nIn the winter, though the temperatures are mild (cool, not cold), it can be very rainy, foggy, and windy, to the point that it is dangerous to go outside, and especially dangerous to hike.\n\n### Visitor information\n\n - Visit Azores", "word_count": 442}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk003", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Talk", "text": "The official language in Azores is Portuguese, which is spoken by the native population with a very particular accent, which varies a bit from island to island. English is widely spoken though, one reason for it being the growing importance of the tourism sector, but also because of high numbers of Azorians having migrated to the USA and Canada, which is why you can nowadays find many people with family ties in North America or older people who have even lived there and therefore speak English surprisingly well.", "word_count": 88}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk004", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Get in", "text": "The Azores are part of Portugal and therefore of the European Union and Schengen Area.\n\n### By plane\n\nThe main entry point is Ponta Delgada Airport ()—also called **João Paulo II Airport**—on the island of São Miguel. However, international airports are also on Faial (), Flores (), Santa Maria (), Terceira () islands. Also Pico airport ().\n\nConsider an “open jaw” ticket – returning from a different airport than your arrival one – so that you can see more islands without needing to circle back.\n\nWhen leaving, remember to leave plenty of time to clear passport control ″after″ security!\n\n#### Free connecting flight from SATA\n\nResidents of the Azores and students flying from mainland Portugal, or Funchal, are eligible for a free connecting flight to any of the islands. The free flight must be arranged at least 7 days in advance and can be booked through the SATA Air Açores website.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe Azores are a common stopover for small craft crossing the Atlantic, especially when crossing from west to east. There are facilities for small craft at least in Lajes das Flores on Flores, in Horta on Faial, in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, in Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória on Terceira, and on Santa Maria (all of these ports of entry). It may be possible to join a crew for the voyage.\n\nThe Azores are also a waypoint for many cruise ships on transatlantic routes.", "word_count": 241}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk005", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Get around", "text": "**Renting a car** is by far the easiest way to get around the islands. In paid parking areas (main towns), use *coins* in the pay-and-display machines.\n\nFor getting between islands, planes are the fastest way. Ferries are cheaper but much slower, though convenient for traveling between the central islands.\n\nIf you want to explore several islands, easiest is the central group, which features five islands in a tight group, either by plane or ferry. Also consider flying into Terceira and out of São Miguel, or the other way around, and optionally including other islands.\n\n### By plane\n\nSATA Air Açores offers flights between each of the islands. The cost for each flight is capped at around by the authorities. Flights are faster but more expensive than the ferry, and are the only way to travel between the eastern, western and central island groups during low season. Flights are more tolerant of storms (causing choppy seas) than ferries and will be stopped later as the weather gets worse.\n\n### By ferry\n\nFerries connect each of the islands and are operated by **Atlanticoline.** There are several lines that operate:\n\nAzul (blue): Faial - Pico\n Verde (green): Faial - Pico - São Jorge\n Rosa (pink): Corvo - Flores\n Lilás (purple): Faial - Pico - São Jorge - Terceira\n Branca (white): Faial - Pico - São Jorge - Graciosa - Terceira\n\n#### Youth discount on ferries with the Interjovem Card\n\nThe Interjovem Card limits the cost of any ferry trip to making the ferry by far the cheapest way to travel between islands. The card is available to anyone between the ages of 13 and 30 and costs . Buy it from:", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk006", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Get around", "text": "The official app - available from the Play Store on Android\n Azores Youth Hostels\n Atlanticoline\n RIAC (Integrated Network for Support to the Citizen) service points\n Travel agencies\n Clube Naval da Horta\n Academic Association – University of the Azores\n\n### By hitchhiking\n\nAzoreans readily pick up hitchhikers. Given the poor bus service on the islands hitch-hiking is often the easiest way to get around for those without a car.\n\n### By car\n\nRenting a car is the easiest way to get around the islands, with companies providing cars and scooters on every island. Given limited inventory, make sure to reserve ahead of time.\n\n**Parking** is mostly free: parking lots or the side of the street (use side streets, pull over, don’t block traffic or garages, don’t park on yellow lines). In main towns, there is paid parking, with pay-and-display machines, and some paid lots. **Warning**: use coins only! *Do not* insert a card into the machines (on Terceira at least): as of 2025, they do not work and in most machines, the slots are blocked, but some are open and you risk losing your card when it drops inside! The iParque app & website are very difficult to use: to pay by credit card, you need to use the website (with PayPal; in the app you need a Portuguese bank account); you need to add a minimum of ; and your balance is tied to a single town (“entity”), so you need to add or transfer money if you go to multiple towns or islands. Save yourself the hassle and use coins.", "word_count": 261}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk007", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Get around", "text": "Alternatively, just pay the fine if you get a parking ticket. The fines are quite low (maybe ), and you can easily pay online by scanning a QR code and using a credit card via PayPal. Make sure to only pay your fine (“pagamento deste aviso”), not all existing fines (“pagamento de todos os avisos”), if any.\n\n### By bus\n\nOn most islands there are bus services, crossing the main villages. On the smaller islands, however, the buses may have only a few runs per day or none at all on certain days (Sundays, holidays).\n\n### By taxi\n\nTaxis are centrally regulated throughout the islands so visitors pay the same rate as locals. In São Miguel (2015), it costs about between the two ends of Ponta Delgada; out of town trips are or to the farthest parts of the island.\n\n### By bicycle\n\nCycling around the islands is possible if you are in great shape, and don't mind a lot of hill climbing. This is more an option if cycling is the purpose (cycling enthusiast), rather than for transportation.", "word_count": 179}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk008", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "See", "text": "See the Regions section above for points of interest in each island.\n\n### Itineraries\n\n#### São Miguel and other islands\n\n Start in São Miguel Island\n From Ponta Delgada (in São Miguel), fly to Faial. Do a whale watching tour.\n Take the boat to Pico Island. Do a whale watching tour. Climb Pico mountain if you are in good shape.\n Take the channel boat to São Jorge Island. Fly to Terceira Island.", "word_count": 71}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk009", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Do", "text": "Many activities and sights are accessible only through private tour companies. Half-day and all-day tours start at and can cost upward of . The tours are generally very high quality and worth it.\n\nYou can **hike** on every island but it's best in Flores, Sao Jorge and Sao Miguel.\n\n**Whale and dolphin watching**. Every town with a marina offers whale watching. They take you out on small boats and often get you within ten yards of the whale. **Futurismo** is a recommended provider for whale watching tours.\n**Off-road mountain bike circuits**\n** Moto 4 Rides**\n** Bird Watching**\n** Donkey Rides**\n** Fishing**\n** Sport Fishing**\n** Ferry**\n** Yachting**\n** Rental Bike**, riding bike is a great way to get to know the islands.\n** Guided Tours,** the best way to get to know the islands is to take a guided tour. \n**Volcano Climbing at Pico island**\n**Hiking**", "word_count": 149}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk010", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Buy", "text": "### Money\n\nThe euro (€) is the currency of the Azores. Restaurants and shops usually can't take MasterCard or Visa cards, however ATMs are widely available.\n\n### Shopping\n\n**Handcraft** from all the islands is very good.\n\nThe Azores is the only place in Europe that produces **tea**.", "word_count": 47}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk011", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Eat", "text": "There is a \"meat and potatoes\" mentality when it comes to the cuisine and vegetables can sometimes be hard to come by.\n\nFresh fish and local grass-fed beef are very good. One of the main dishes is *Bife à Regional*, a steak with a delicious local sauce.\n\nSao Jorge island is famous for its cheese and must be tried. Fresh pineapple from Sao Miguel island is unbelievably good.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk012", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Drink", "text": "As in Portugal generally, wine is the main drink. Local wine from the Azores is widely available, mostly dry white wines from Pico, and smaller quantities from Terceira (DOC: Biscoitos, meaning “biscuits”) and Graciosa. Wine from the Portuguese mainland and other islands are also widely available, including Duoro, vinho verde, and others. Wine from other European countries, especially Spain and France, are also often available.\n\nBeer is mostly the major Portguese brands **Super Bock** (everywhere) and **Sagres**. The oldest local brewery is Melo Abreu, whose main beer is a macro lager called **Especial**. There are a few microbreweries, including Cerveja Brianda (Terceira), Korisca (São Miguel), and Vulcana (São Miguel).\n\nThere is the usual Portuguese coffee, best consumed with pastries.\n\nThere is also the only tea grown in Europe, Gorreana (São Miguel); you can also visit the farm.\n\nYou can also ask for local sodas \"Kima\" and \"Laranjada\". More recent is \"Bananika\", a banana cider (alcoholic)!", "word_count": 155}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk013", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Sleep", "text": "### Camping\n\nCamp-sites are available on every island. They are typically well equipped and cheap or free. The VisitAzores website provides an up-to-date list of the available camp-sites.\n\n### Hostels\n\nThere are few hostels outside of Ponta Delgada, and these become fully booked during high season so book ahead of time.\n\n### Hotels\n\nHotels are available on every island.", "word_count": 59}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk014", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "There is very little crime in the Azores. What little crime exists is mostly drug-related. There are no reports of crimes against tourists.", "word_count": 23}
+{"chunk_id": "azores::chunk015", "doc_id": "azores", "section": "Go next", "text": "Flights within other islands, plus Funchal, Madeira (), Lisbon (), Porto ().", "word_count": 12}

corpus/azores/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "azores",
+  "title": "Azores",
+  "type": "island",
+  "continent": "Europe",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Azores",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "cycling",
+    "sailing",
+    "fishing",
+    "shopping",
+    "spa",
+    "beach",
+    "volcano",
+    "whale-watching",
+    "birdwatching",
+    "wine",
+    "camping"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Islands of the Atlantic Ocean",
+    "Portugal"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": null,
+  "go_next": [
+    "Funchal",
+    "Madeira",
+    "Lisbon",
+    "Porto"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 2218,
+  "listing_count": 1,
+  "marker_count": 0,
+  "chunk_count": 16,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "low"
+}

corpus/bagan/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk000", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|351x351px|View from the Law Ka Ou Shaung temple in Bagan at sunrise\n**Bagan** (Burmese ပုဂံ) is an area and archaeological site in the Central region of Myanmar, inscribed as a .", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk001", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Understand", "text": "thumb|right|350px|Bagan area as seen from Shwesandaw Pagoda\nBagan, also spelled *Pagan*, on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world, many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. The shape and construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component taking on spiritual meaning.\n\nWhen comparing this immense archaeological site to other archaeological gems of Southeast Asia, the Angkor sites, an analogy with food is apt: savouring the Angkor sites is like a Chinese Lauriat banquet where the temples are presented in grand and exquisite servings and takes a long time (about 10 to 15 minutes) to get from one to the next. Bagan is served up Spanish tapas-style, in small bite size servings, often in frequent intervals and near to each other.\n\nWhat makes the temples look romantic is the process of graceful ageing. There are no windbreaks and occasional whirlwinds spawn loose dust particles that sandblast the temples. This has eroded the stucco coatings of the temples to reveal the underlying bricks, reddish, and golden brown when bathed in sunlight.\n\nErosion is a significant threat to this area, not only the wind chipping away the buildings' parging, but also water from the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River threatens the riverbanks. Strong river currents have already washed away half of the area of Old Bagan. It used to be a rectangular-shaped piece of enclave protected by a perimeter wall. Now the remaining triangular eastern half is exposed to the river.\n\nBagan has three main cities that draw the majority of tourists, (southwest of the main sights), (northeast of the main sights) and (just northwest of the main sights).\n\n### History\n\nBagan became powerful in the mid-9th century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 temples and stupas once stood on this 42km2 plain in central Myanmar, and Marco Polo once described Bagan as a \"*gilded city alive with tinkling bells and the swishing sounds of monks' robes*\". Approximately 2,200 temples remain, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. All sites are considered sacred, so when visiting, be respectful. Remove footwear and socks before entering or stepping onto them.\n\nBagan's golden age ended in 1287 when the kingdom and its capital city was invaded and sacked by the Mongols. Its population was reduced to a village that remained among the ruins of the once larger city. In 1998, this village and its inhabitants were forcibly relocated a few kilometres to the south of Bagan, forming \"New Bagan\" where accommodation is a handful of cheap, quaint, clean hotels, and religious centres.\n\nDespite the majesty and importance of Bagan, UNESCO did at one conference opt to not include it on its World Heritage List, because some temples were rebuilt in an *un-historic* fashion. Nonetheless, the site is perhaps as impressive as the pyramids of Egypt: a dry, vast open landscape dominated entirely by votive architecture. Bagan was finally listed in 2019.", "word_count": 527}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk002", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get in", "text": "Most incoming travel for Bagan, except for some ferries, is through Nyaung U.\n\n### By bus", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk003", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get in", "text": "From specific destinations:\n Mount Popa – 50 km southeast, local pickup, 1½ hr, 1,000-1,500 kyat.\n Mandalay – Many comfortable bus links from Mandalay are available, many in the morning between 06:00 and 10:00, but there are also minibuses in the afternoon. 5-8 hr, 7–8,000 kyat. Private taxis can be rented for US$80-100.\n Yangon – From Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station morning and evening buses are available. Book sufficiently ahead, because this is a popular tourist route. 9-11 hr, 13–18,000 kyat (VIP 2+1 bus are about 20–33,000 kyat). Go at least 2 hours in advance from Yangon city centre (Sule paya) to Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station by public bus number 36.\n Inle Lake (Nyang Shwe) – Air conditioned buses are available for around 14,000 kyat and take 9 hr. In case no direct buses are available, try to catch the Taunggyi bus from the junction 12 km north of Inle at around 07:00. The same buses go through Kalaw; 7 hr from there.\n Taunggyi – Buses from Taunggyi (06:00) go by (12 km) but not through **Inle Lake** (Nyang Shwe), but also through **Kalaw** (7 hr). 10 hr.\n Pyay – Due to the new and direct highway between Yangon and Mandalay, it has become harder to catch a bus to Bagan from Pyay. However, there is one at 17:00 for 11,000 kyat or more, which takes about 10 hr to Bagan. You can also take one of the more frequent buses to Magway, and onward travel to Bagan from there for a similar price.\n Magway – 6 hr, 4,000 kyat.\n Mrauk U – There are no direct buses available, you will have to take a bus to Magway (09:00 & 12:00, 16 hr, 24–27,000 kyat) or to Mandalay (08:00 and 10:00) and get off at Magway or (19 hr, same price as Mandalay). From there it should be easy to catch onward transport, pickup/van or another bus. Check the bus does goes through there (Kyauk Padaung), especially when entering the bus in Mrauk U. Often the ticket seller and the bus are different companies, because passengers are shuffled around depending on the availability of buses. The Kyauk Padaung route is preferable, because Kyauk Padaung is very close to Bagan and you can visit **Mount Popa** on the way, to enjoy the sunrise in the temple on top of the cliff. 20 hr, 28,000 kyat.", "word_count": 394}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk004", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By train\n\nthumb|On the train from Mandalay to Bagan\n\nIt is sometimes rough, smelly, slow and full of insects. Those train tickets are worth their prices. It can make for a nice story if you survive the night.\n\nFrom specific destinations:\n Yangon – Overnight trains run daily, departing about 16:00 in Yangon and arriving about 09:00 in Bagan the next day. Fares are: upper class sleeper (16,500 kyat), upper class seat (12,000 kyat), ordinary class seat (4,500 kyat).\n Mandalay – There are two direct train service running to Bagan daily, one departing at 07:20 and arriving at 18:45, and one departing at 21:00 and arriving at 04:59 the next day. Only the night train, which might not operate in the low season, has 1st class so check in advance. otherwise you will have limited room to store your stuff and uncomfortable seat in an incredibly crowded train. Tickets are available at the railway station for 1,800 kyat (1st class) and 1,300 (ordinary seat).\n Pyay – The situation about the train from Pyay is unclear, and it may be seasonal only. Pyay is not along the regular Yangon to Bagan route. Prices should be around 5–7,000 kyat for upper class. However, there are three daily trains from Yangon (Kyemyindine or central) to Pyay for 3,900 kyat upper class.\n\n### By boat\n\nThe boat from and to Mandalay is at , 1.5 km northeast of Nyaung U market. Another point for ferries is the , 350 m northeast of Bu Paya.", "word_count": 250}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk005", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Mandalay**\nAn (almost daily) \"express\" ferry service runs down the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) from Mandalay to Bagan taking about 9-12 hr (or something like 30 km/h). Prices are US$35/40. It is more of a slow pleasure cruise than a rush express trip thanks to the priceless river views and fresh air, the glimpse of country life with locals waving at you. Keep in mind that the Ayeyarwady is an enormous river over a mile wide, so your views of the countryside may not be what you expect. Some travellers report disappointment in this regard. *MGRG Express Ferry* leaves Gawwein jetty in Mandalay at 07:00 and arrives in Bagan at 17:00 for US$45. River travel is not possible during the low water months of April to June. Bookings can be made through website, hotel, any travel agent, MTT (government tourist information) or the IWT office on 35th street in Mandalay a few hundred metres from the river.\n\nA (very) slow local ferry covers the same route less frequently and costs 18,000 kyat. Takes between 14-17 hr, but is a great opportunity to mix with the locals. Apparently only runs Sunday and Wednesday, so check ahead. Plastic chairs are available to rent on board. Otherwise, bring something to sit on and a cover for the early hours (leaves around 05:00) and evening. Locals will be grateful to share theirs if you ask or if they see you shivering. Tickets are available directly on the boat or through any travel agent.\n\nThe boat disembarks at a jetty in Ngaung U. Just after leaving the jetty, there is the toll station to pay 25,000 kyat for the Bagan entry ticket.", "word_count": 275}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk006", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get in", "text": "**Pyay**\nEvery Saturday at 05:30 there is also a local ferry from Pyay. It arrives Tuesday at 17:30 (48 hr) and costs 20,000 kyat. However, the arrival times seem to vary widely, so check ahead.\nthumb|Nyaung U Airport\n\n### By plane\n\nFrom the airport to New Bagan takes about 15–20 min by car, and usually this will cost around 7-10,000 kyat. Most mid-range and luxury hotels will provide free pickup from the airport.", "word_count": 73}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk007", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Fees and permits", "text": "Before entering Bagan, if travelling by bus, you will be taken directly to a **ticket booth** (directly at the airport or on the road between the Highway Bus Terminal and the airport road junction, about 1 km from the Bus Terminal) where you present your passport and purchase a **ticket to the whole archaeological site** valid for 5 days from the day of purchase. The price is either **US$20 or 25,000 kyat** as of June 2019—you can choose either currency. The tickets are mostly only ever checked at Htilominlo Temple and Shwesandaw Temple. Some people believe that the money is not used for the site but goes directly into government pockets. If arriving by bus late at night, the driver may bypass the ticket booth.", "word_count": 125}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk008", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Get around", "text": "thumb|right|350px|Horse and Carriage\n - Walking\n\n - Shared pickups\n\n - Bicycle\n\n - E-bike\n\n - Horse and Carriage", "word_count": 16}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk009", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "See", "text": "### Introduction\n\nNobody can be expected to visit more than 20 of these structures, let alone all 2,000. One day in Bagan is enough (even with a bicycle) to see all desired temples and sights if started at sunrise and finishes at sunset. A second day can be used to concentrate on specific sights or dos, like Mount Popa, a cruise across the river or just a relaxed hang-around somewhere in Old Bagan.\n\nMost of the major temples have signs in English and are large enough to see, but a GPS may be required to find smaller temples.\n\n\"Disgraceful tourist behaviour\" is banned and officials are becoming stricter. To the disappointment of some tourists **climbing the \"venerated\" pagodas for the terrific views of the Bagan area is prohibited**. Many locals find such activity to be disrespectful, and it risks damaging the fragile structures. As of May 2016, this restricts entry to the top in many of the pagodas except five. As a kind of compensation large dirt banks have been constructed for tourists to climb and see sunrise and sunset. There is also an enormous viewing tower.\n\n### Understand\n\nThe three basic building blocks of typical Bagan temples are *stupa*, *block base*, and *vestibule*. With a little practice, you can deconstruct the structures into their basic elements.\n\nThe simplest structure starts with a stupa shaped like a chess pawn. It holds a tiny sacred piece of human remains, relics of the Buddha, or a simple commemorative votive piece. Some stupas have a single pierced niche housing a Buddha icon, which can be viewed by the devotee from the outside.", "word_count": 269}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk010", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "See", "text": "As complexity increased the niches became bigger and no longer fit in the stupa, so a cube block base was introduced to accommodate the enlarged niche, which eventually became a cell. With the cube block casing the cell now fully defined, the stupa became its topping. Then, the cube's cell's entrance developed a vestibule, while the cell increased to two (back to back), eventually completing all the sides, one for each cardinal compass point (north-south-east-west), and eventually as it became bigger, a dark claustrophobic ambulatory connected all four cells.\n\nBecoming more articulate and intricate, the cube's top taper into two to three tiers and are decorated with smaller corner spires on each while the vestibule protruded further and further out, the doorways decorated with pediments, some with upturned, others with downturned, teeth-like decoration. In others, the tiers became prominent to resemble a stepped pyramid. Meanwhile, the stupa became more elaborate as mouldings multiplied and sets of tiers and niches were introduced. From a simple gourd-shaped stupa, it evolved into a complex structure.\n\n### Itineraries\n\nWhen planning for the best way to see Bagan, read all the comments and descriptions below, choose the sights you want to see and at what time, and put together a tour using the map view available at the top right, where all temples are listed based on their GPS marker. If you use an app like OsmAnd for your smartphone, you can transfer the GPS markers for offline use.", "word_count": 244}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk011", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "See", "text": "The following five sights are recommended to avoid the crowds but still have a lasting experience of Bagan: *Law Ka Ou Shaung Temple* (best for sunrise at 05:00), *Old Bagan* (just after sunrise before the crowds tramp in), *Gawdaw Palin Temple* (epic temple nowadays blocked by little shops and no 1st floor option anymore, but with a great view from the small forgotten temple to the south across the road), *Pathada Temple* (with a Buddha facing sunset, great opportunity to catch a Buddha outdoor in this area), *Myauk Guni Temple* (one of the best sunset view, find the hidden passage that lead to the 7th floor).\n\nThe following nine sights are a subjective but recommended selection of worthy and beautiful Bagan temples: *Sein Nyet Sister Temples* (very calm and uncrowded), *Shwesandaw Pagoda* (after sunrise when the crowds have dissipated), *That Byin Nyu Temple* (uncrowded and great view onto Ananda Temple), *Ananda Temple* (bypass Disneyland and enjoy the quiet courtyard), *Sulamani Temple* (very picturesque and great illumination by the sun), *Thambula Temple* (very bright, great for pictures), *Dhamma Yangyi Temple* (possibly largest, mysterious temple with a juicy gory history), *Pyathadar Temple* (great for sunset).\n\n### Main temples\n\nthumb|right|350px|Ananda and That Byin Nyu behind\n - Ananda Temple\n\nthumb|right|350px|Dhamma Yangyi Temple\n - Dhamma Yangyi Temple\n\n- Manuhar Pagoda\n\n- Htilominlo Temple\n\n- Shwe Gugyi Temple\n\n- Shwe Zigon Temple\n\n- That Byin Nyu Temple\n\n- Shwesandaw Pagoda\n\n- Gawdaw Palin Temple\n\n- Myazedi Pagoda and Gu Byauk Gyi temple (west)\n\n### Other temples\n\n- Law Ka Ou Shaung Temple\n\n- Pathada Temple\n\n- Dhammayazika Pagoda\n\n- Bu Paya Stupa\n\n- Sulamani Temple\n\nthumb|right|350px|Sein Nyet Ama (left) & Sein Nyet Nyima (middle)\n - Sein Nyet Ama & Sein Nyet Nyima\n\n- Pyathadar Hpaya\n\n- Myauk Guni Temple\n\n- Bulethi\n\n- Gu Byauk Gyi Temple", "word_count": 300}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk012", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "See", "text": "- Upali Thein Ordination Hall\n\n- Mingala Zedi Pagoda\n\n- Mahazedi Pagoda\n\n- Thambula Temple\n\nthumb|right|350px|Paya Thone Zu\n - Paya Thone Zu\n\n- Somingyi Kyaung\n\n- Pagoda Ruins (Viewpoint)\n\n- Lone Buddha\n\n- Bagan Archeological Museum\n\n- Buddhist Initiation Rites\n\n- Monks and nuns\n\n- Murals", "word_count": 46}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk013", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|250px|right|Hot air balloons over Bagan\n - Balloons over Bagan\n\n - Rent a chauffeured car\n\n - Bagan Nan Myint Tower\n\n - Lacquer-ware making tour\n\n - Tant Kyi Taung Pagoda\n\n - [[Mount Popa]]", "word_count": 31}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk014", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|right|250px|Lacquer ware\nBagan offers lacquer ware, cloth paintings, T-shirts, and other handicrafts. It is considered \"friendly\" to grant a customer 10% off, but it is common for initial prices to be double what you can get with bargaining. If you haggle, remember to keep it friendly.\n\nStaff at the **ticket booths** sell pirated copies of George Orwell's *Burmese Days* for around US$5, though if you negotiate you can get them down to US$1. **Maps** are also sold for 1,000 kyat, although they are available free from hotels and guest houses. You can always ask for one even if you aren't a guest there.\n\nThere are several ATMs available in Nyaung U and New Bagan.\n\n - Ananda Books\n\n - Jasmine Family Lacquerware\n\n - Myinkaba Village Market\n\n - Mani Sithu Market", "word_count": 129}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk015", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Eat", "text": "There are many places to eat in Old Bagan serving the traditional Burmese dishes, especially noodle soup. Some of the buffets are excellent; for about 1,500-2,000 kyat you can eat to your heart's content from dozens of different traditional dishes.\n\n - South end of Bagan-Nyaung U, Lanmadaw 3 Rd\n\n - Restaurant Row\n\n- Black Bamboo\n\n - Mahar Bagan\n\n - The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant\n\n - The Golden Emperor\n\n - Star Beans\n\n - Weather Spoon's\n\n - Khine Wah Tea House", "word_count": 78}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk016", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Drink", "text": "Too many options exist to list them all, and they are very volatile. Just looking around in the guest house and restaurant areas is the best option.", "word_count": 27}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk017", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Sleep", "text": "thumb|New Bagan\nMany accommodation options are available in New Bagan (around the roundabout) and Nyaung U (along the northern main road) - just walking around will give you plenty of options to choose from and to compare. Find many locations in OpenStreetMap (OsmAnd) or Google Maps. Most backpackers prefer New Bagan over Nyaung U. In Old Bagan, only some government-involved, luxury hotels remain. However, the latter is the one closest to most sights.\n\nBook ahead in high season or during holidays; it can fill up quickly. In case you are unlucky, try Eden Motel II, they often make dorm-like room for mattresses on the second floor, when Bagan is very busy. Otherwise, in case you have a travel mattress and sleeping bag, opt for a night under the stars on the roof of (squared temple) 1-2 km outside of Nyaung U on the right side of the road west towards the temples - the staircase is in (one of) the outer walls to the north.\n\nPrices can vary widely, even if quoted below, depending on the time of year and how you do the booking (email, website, direct). Certainly, the best option is to simply walk in at low season, ask for the price and see the room.\n\n### Old Bagan\n\n#### Splurge\n\n - The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate\n\n### New Bagan\n\n#### Budget\n\n - Mya Thida Hotel\n\n - Mya Pyei Sone Guest House\n\n - Ostello Bello Bagan\n\n - Northern Breeze Guest House\n\n#### Mid-range\n\n- Kaday Aung Hotel\n\n - Crown Prince Hotel\n\n - Areindmar Hotel\n\n - Manisanda Hotel\n\n#### Splurge\n\n - Shwe Yee Pwint\n\n - Thazin Garden Hotel\n\n### Nyaung U\n\n#### Budget\n\n- Inn Wa Guest House\n\n - Shwe Taung Tan Guest House\n\n - Eden Motel II\n\n - Eden Motel\n\n - Pan Cherry Guest House\n\n - Pyinsa Rupa Guest House\n\n - Aung Mingalar Hotel\n\n - Saw Nyein San Guest House\n\n - Lux Pillow Hostel (City Center)\n\n#### Mid-range\n\n - Thante Hotel\n\n - Zfreeti Hotel\n\n - WEStay @ Bagan Lotus Hotel\n\n - Amazing Bagan Resort", "word_count": 336}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk018", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Stay safe", "text": "The best footwear to go about in this site is a pair of sandals. You'll want something easy to slip on and off as you go from temple to temple. Wearing socks and laced shoes is a hassle. Wearing shoes or socks in the temple and pagods grounds is disrespectful in Buddhism.\n Be careful when you climb the stairs of less-visited temples, as bees sometimes make hives on or in the temples.\n Headgear and sunscreen against the sun is also important. A wide brimmed hat is recommended or pack a collapsible umbrella like the locals.\n Bring a bottle of water and when empty, refill it at the nearest travel agency or bank branch. If not squeamish, refill it at the water stations (with local ceramic jars as water containers) ubiquitously and strategically placed all around the town. Water in these temple jars is safe, as it is distilled water, and the jar keeps the water cool because it allows some evaporation. At less popular temples, check the water first to make sure that it is fresh.\n Bagan is not for those with respiratory illnesses as the air is full of dust.\n When using an e-bike, be careful of the sand. You can easily hydroplane on the loose dirt and crash, or get your bike stuck on hills. Go slow.\n If you are using a bike for your personal tour, when you leave it by the gate, it is most likely that your bike will still be there when you get back. Bagan is a family-village setting and anyone who does harm to anybody will be known and humiliated, if not prosecuted.\n Souvenir vendors, young and old, some as young as 6 years, are pros. They manipulate the heartstrings of the tourists using subtle and psychological techniques. They initially act as your bike minders, then guides, eventually revealing their true intentions. They sometimes even offer to visit you at your hotel if you aren't decided or you have no available cash. Don't fall for their friendliness, and be firm in your refusal before they get too attached to you even if you insist that you are only a tourist on budget. They are hard to shake off and will persist.\n Do not fall for the \"your hotel/guest house does not exist anymore\" trick of many taxi drivers. They are just trying to drop you off at their friend's guesthouse or hotel where they will get a commission.\n When you need to hire a taxi to get from the bus station to your hotel, make sure you get a good reasonable estimate of the price from a trustworthy source, such as your hotel, before you arrive. The drivers start by double or triple quoting the price for tourists, and this is especially so if you are arriving at an odd timing (22:00 - 05:00). The better option would be to ask your hotel to arrange transport.\n Village children - If you stop on your e-bike to look at your map, be aware that children may approach you and twist the bike's accelerator, causing the bike to lurch forward. In addition, children have started to sell postcards that they've drawn. **Do not buy from children:** the more you buy the more you keep them out of school.", "word_count": 544}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk019", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Go next", "text": "For questions regarding travel and potential restrictions, see in No.6 Quarter, Aung Myay Thar Ward, Nyaung U (+95-9-5019088).\n\n### By road\n\nMany buses leave from **Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal** south of Nyaung U into all directions. Best compare prices of the travel agents south of Nyaung U market or book directly at the Bus Terminal, try *JJ express bus Nyaung U*. Seldom buses are not full, and consequently do not allow for spontaneous travel, in which case you may want to try one of the many minibuses or vans, which can also be booked near Nyaung U Market with similar prices.", "word_count": 103}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk020", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Go next", "text": "Mount Popa – This attraction is a temple on a cliff and a mountain and crater, which can be climbed for an even better view. From Mount Popa or Kyauk Padaung respectively, onward travel to Mandalay (via Meiktila), Pyay (via Magway) or Mrauk U (via Magway) is possible. Taking local transport southeast from Nyaung U by the Highway Bus Station, the price is about 1,000-1,500 kyat one-way for the 50 km.\n Meiktila – This is more a transport hub for onward travel to Kalaw, Mandalay or Naypyidaw. The bus there costs 5,000 kyat.\n Monywa – Famed for its two giant Buddhas (Boddhi Tataung), one standing and one lying, and the 500,000 Buddha sculptures Thanboddhay Pagoda. Local (non air-con) bus cost 3,000 kyat at the bus station (that is the locals' price so haggle) At hotels, they charge about 5,000 kyat. They can pick you up along the main road. The bus starts at 07:30, 09:00, 10:30 and 12:30. and takes about 3–4 hr, including several stops.\n Mandalay – Famous for the U Bein Bridge, the Buddha face washing, as well as the nearby mountains by train. Buses to Mandalay leave at 08:00, 08:30. and in the afternoon, takes 6-8 hr and costs 7,500-15,000 kyat, bargain hard.\n Kalaw, Inle Lake, Taunggyi – Inle Lake is one of the most famous sights in Myanmar, a giant lake only a few metres deep with many local villages around and in the lake. \"Hiking\" tours are very famous (but also very touristic) between Inle Lake and Kalaw. There are several daily buses (07:30 & 19:30) and at least one minibus at 20:00 to Kalaw and Inle Lake (Nyang Shwe) which cost around 12,000 kyat and take around 7-8 hr to Kalaw and a few more to reach Inle. Some do only stop along the highway, 12 km away from Inle Lake, and go further to Taunggyi (10 hr). The bus should pick you up from your hotel in Nyaung U. The ride up into the hills to Kalaw is steep and scenic, and the road quality is normal for Myanmar.\n Pyay – Famous for the nearby and ancient Pyu city. The bus from the Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal leaves at 13:30 and takes about 10 hr. From 11,000 kyat.\n Magway – A transport hub for Mrauk U and Pyay. The bus from Bagan to Magway leaves the bus station near the airport at 10:00,12:30 and 23:30. Takes 6 hr and costs 4,000 kyat.\n Mrauk U (& Sittwe) – Mrauk U is famous for its ancient sights of the last great kingdom and its traditional, surrounding Chin Villages. Starting from Bagan, you have to take a bus to Magway or Kyauk Padaung (southwest of Mt. Popa) and switch to the bus to Mrauk U (or Sittwe). In Magway, catch the bus near the bridge across the Irrawaddy river or in front of the K.H.M. Fashion store. In Kyauk Padaung, along the east to west main road. The bus from Magway or Kyauk Padaung to Mrauk U or Sittwe is about 25–27,000 kyat and takes 16-22 hr.\n Yangon – Night buses to Yangon leave in the afternoon and arrive early in the morning. There is one day bus that departs Bagan at 09:00. Try to buy directly at the bus station or compare travel agents, prices at hotels can be higher. 13–18,000 kyat, 13 hr.", "word_count": 561}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk021", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Go next", "text": "### By train\n\nIt is rough, smelly and slow, and sometimes full of insects: however it's worth it.\n\nYangon – Overnight trains run daily, departing about 17:00. from Bagan and arriving about 10:30 in Yangon the following day. This route does not go through Pyay but by Naypyidaw and through Taungoo. Fares are: upper class sleeper 16,500 kyat, upper class seat, 12,000 kyat, ordinary class seat, 4,500 kyat.\n Mandalay – There are two direct train service running to Mandalay daily, one departing at 04:00 and arriving at 15:55 and one departing at 07:00 and arriving at 14:30. Apparently, only the night train, which might not run in low season, has 1st class. So check ahead. Otherwise, you will have limited room to store your stuff, as well as cramped, uncomfortable sitting conditions in an incredibly crowded train. Tickets are 1,800 kyat (1st class) and 1,300 (ordinary seat).\n Pyay – The situation about the train to Pyay is unclear. It could be seasonal, but there are reports of people that have used this train in the near past. Nevertheless, there are three daily trains from Pyay to Yangon for 3,900 kyat upper class. So, you could take the bus to Pyay and continue from there.\n\nFor more details see Seat61.com, or ask directly at the train station where you also will have to buy your ticket in advance.\n\n### By boat", "word_count": 230}
+{"chunk_id": "bagan::chunk022", "doc_id": "bagan", "section": "Go next", "text": "**Mandalay**\nAn (almost daily) \"express\" ferry service runs up the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) from Bagan to Mandalay taking about 12 hr. Prices are US$35/40. It is more of a slow pleasure cruise than a rush express trip thanks to the priceless river views and fresh air, the glimpse of country life with locals waving at you, acknowledging your presence unobtrusively, and the overall soothing and relaxing atmosphere detached from misery and distant from poverty. *MGRG Express Ferry* leaves Nyaung U Jetty in Bagan at 06:00 and arrives in Mandalay at 18:00 for US$45. Bookings can be made through website, hotel, any travel agent or MTT (government tourist information).\n\nA (very) slow local overnight ferry covers the same route less frequently and costs 18,000 kyat. Takes about 22 hr, but is a great opportunity to mix with the locals. Apparently only runs Monday and Thursday, so check ahead. Plastic chairs are available to rent on board. Otherwise, bring something to sit on and a good cover for the night. Tickets are available directly on the boat or through any travel agent.\n\nSome have been disappointed by the views along the river due to the distance to the riverbank and the scenery in general.\n\n**Pyay**\nEvery Sunday at 17:30. there is also a local overnight ferry from Nyaung U Jetty to Pyay, arriving at 10:45.", "word_count": 222}

corpus/bagan/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "bagan",
+  "title": "Bagan",
+  "type": "cultural",
+  "continent": "Asia",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bagan",
+  "wikipedia_url": null,
+  "wikidata_id": null,
+  "coordinates": null,
+  "summary": "",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "hiking",
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "spa",
+    "archaeological",
+    "temples"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": 1,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Central Myanmar"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "guide",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Mount Popa",
+    "Naypyidaw",
+    "Monywa",
+    "Mandalay",
+    "Kalaw",
+    "Inle Lake",
+    "Taunggyi",
+    "Pyay",
+    "Mrauk U",
+    "Sittwe",
+    "Yangon",
+    "Yangon",
+    "Pyay",
+    "Naypyidaw",
+    "Taungoo",
+    "Mandalay",
+    "Pyay"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 4827,
+  "listing_count": 80,
+  "marker_count": 12,
+  "chunk_count": 23,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}

corpus/baikal/chunks.jsonl

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk000", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Overview", "text": "thumb|300px|Church colors, Irkutsk\n**Irkutsk** (Russian: Ирку́тск; *eer-KOOTSK*) is the capital of the Russian province of Irkutsk Oblast in Eastern Siberia. The historic centre of Irkutsk is included on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.", "word_count": 35}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk001", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Understand", "text": "Irkutsk was founded in 1661 as a settlement for trading gold and furs. It was connected to Europe via a road constructed in 1760.\n\nAfter the Decemberist Revolt of 1825, many Russian artists, officers, and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the revolt against Tsar Nicholas I and in the late 1800s, 30% of the population of the city were exiles. Irkutsk became the major centre of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage is a result of these exiles. Many of their wooden houses, adorned with ornate, hand-carved decorations, survive today in stark contrast with the surrounding Soviet apartment blocks. Around 1900, the city was nicknamed the \"Paris of Siberia\" due to its wide streets and ornate, continental architecture, but travellers today will find little resemblance with Paris.\n\nDuring the civil war that broke out after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917-1922, Irkutsk became the site of many furious, bloody clashes between the \"Whites\" and the \"Reds\" (aka Bolsheviks). A number of city landmarks remain from that era. In 1920, Kolchak, the once-feared commander of the largest contingent of anti-Bolshevik forces, was executed in Irkutsk, effectively destroying the anti-Bolshevik resistance.\n\nToday, Irkutsk is the 6th largest city in Siberia, with a growing population of more than 590,000 people. It's home to several universities and a major branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, due to its proximity to Lake Baikal.\n\n### Climate\n\nIn July, the average temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a bit of rain, but by January, the temperature plunges in typically Siberian fashion to -19°C (-2°F). Early September finds the local foliage at its finest.", "word_count": 279}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk002", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Get in", "text": "### By plane\n\n \n\nBuses, trams, and minibuses run frequently between the airport and Kirov Square (near the Angara Hotel) and other points in the historical center. A trip via public transport costs approximately . Taxi services are available via mobile application or phone, Yandex and Maxim are the most common. I-Way transfers taxi service may be the choice for business travellers and guests (booking via website or app in advance). Private drivers offer their services at the airport but you must be careful, there is some risk of fraud.\n\n### By train\n\nthumb|300px|Irkutsk train station\n\n - Irkutsk-Passenger Railway Station\n\nMost travellers arrive in Irkutsk via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Irkutsk is about halfway between Moscow and the two eastern terminus cities, Vladivostok and Beijing, making it a good place to break the trip, if only to stretch your legs and buy provisions. The Baikal-Amur Mainline, connecting with more northerly cities, also runs nearby.\n\nApart from Moscow there are also direct carriages from most cities in Russia such as Saint Petersburg (86 hours), as well as from Minsk (94 hours) and Warsaw (113 hours).\n\nOther popular destinations include Vladivostok, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Khabarovsk, Severobaykalsk, Ulan-Ude, Neryungri, Blagoveshchensk, Ust-Ilimsk, Novokuznetsk, Penza, Kislovodsk and Abakan.\n\nBe wary of the taxi-drivers at the station if arriving on a late-night train. A taxi ride to the centre of town should only cost . Unlicensed taxis will overcharge you. If there is a disagreement, ask your hostel/hotel owner to come to the taxi and arrange the correct fare.\n\n### By car\n\nIrkutsk is not only on the railway across Russia, but also on the 11,000 km Trans-Siberian Highway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.", "word_count": 278}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk003", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Get around", "text": "### By foot\n\nThe historical center of Irkutsk is relatively compact and walkable. Traffic congestion is not bad for a city of nearly 600,000 people.\n\n### By public transport\n\nFor those who want to save time or travel between one side of the river and the other, the public transit system is a good option. Knowing at least how to read the signs on the buses and bus stops is helpful, and on the minibuses, one must call out to the driver to request a stop. Oddly enough, the names of major bus stops are posted on kiosk roofs parallel to the road so that the names are not often visible from inside the bus. Bus and minibus (\"marshrutka\") fare is usually . Local etiquette is to pay the driver when exiting the bus and trolley (therefore you can exit it only through the front door). In trams tickets should be purchased from driver, then stamped in the machine on board.\n\nA map of tram lines and a map of trolleybus lines are available.\n\n### Tourist information\n\n- Tourist Information Office\n\n### Bike rental\n\nSkiwalker, Kultukskaya Ulitza #15, offers bicycle rental.", "word_count": 191}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk004", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "See", "text": "Among the Soviet concrete monstrosities, Irkutsk features many of atmospheric, decaying **wooden buildings**. Most of these are either abandoned or still used as private residences and add to the atmosphere of the city.\n\n### Museums\n\nthumb|200px|The Europe House (Shastin's House), Irkutsk\nthumb|200px|Sukachev Art Museum\n\n - City History Museum\n\n - Irkutsk Regional Museum\n\n - Sidorov State Mineralogical Museum\n\n - Sukachev Art Museum\n\n - Eksperimentary science museum\n\n - History Museum of JSC Irkutskenergo\n\n### Estates\n\nthumb|right|200px| Shastyna House, a typical wooden building\n\n - Irkutsk Museum of Decembrists (House-Museum Volkonskiis)\n\n - Trubetsky House-Museum\n\n - Antipina Estate\n\n - Atafonova Estate\n\n - Basnina Estate\n\n - Belyaeva Estate\n\n - Sukachev Estate\n\n - Volkonskiy House\n\n - House of the Military governors\n\n### Religious buildings\n\nthumb|200px|Epiphany Cathedral (1718–46)\nthumb|right|200px| Prince Vladimir Monastery\nthumb|right|200px| Our Lady of Kazan Church (1885–92)\nthumb|right|200px| Synagogue\nthumb|200px|Holy Trinity Church\nthumb|200px|Transfiguration Church\n\n - Epiphany Cathedral\n\n - Our Lady of Kazan Church\n\n - Znamensky Monastery\n\n - Knyaze-Vladimirsky Monastery\n\n - Prince Vladimir's Church (Church Litvintsevskaya)\n\n - Neokesariyskovo Gregory Church\n\n - Vladimyr Church\n\n - Jerusalem church (also Church of the Entry into Jerusalem)\n\n - Znamenskaya church\n\n - Synagogue\n\n - Irkutsk mosque\n\n - Holy Cross Church ''Krestovozdvyzhenskaya tserkov''\n\n - Michael the Archangel Church\n\n - St. Nicholas Church\n\n - Church of the Intercession\n\n - Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary\n\n - Church of the Assumption\n\n - Harlampievskaya Church (Church of Archangel Michael)\n\n - Transfiguration Church\n\n - Trinity Church (Holy Trinity Church)\n\n - Church of the Saviour\n\n### Other places\n\nthumb|200px| Ice-breaker \"Angara\"\n\n - Ice-breaker \"Angara\n\n - Dam and hydroelectricity plant\n\n - Irkutsk-City business-center\n\n - Nerpinary\n\n - Kirov Square\n\n - Babr Sculpture\n\nthumb|right|200px| Irkutsk Philarmony\n\n - Irkutsk Philarmony", "word_count": 270}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk005", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Do", "text": "thumb|right|200px|Drama Theater\n - City drama theater\n\n - Angara embankment\n\n - Statue of famous Russian writer A. Vampilov\n\n - Central park in winter\n\n Walk down **Ul. Uritskovo**, a pedestrian street with shops and cafes.", "word_count": 33}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk006", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Learn", "text": "Alliance française.\n Irkutsk state university.", "word_count": 5}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk007", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Buy", "text": "thumb|200px|Kamusi\nWood carvings, birchwood boxes, and lacquer boxes are typical souvenirs of Siberia. A few hotels have souvenir stalls in the lobby, and the Regional Museum at Ul. Karla Marksa 2 has a decent selection in their gift shop as well.\n\nKamusi are winter boots used by native Siberians made out of deer, elk, or other fur. One place to buy is at a small shop across from the bus station at Ul. Oktyabrskoi Revolyutsii 20B called \"Aikhal\". It is in a courtyard behind some kiosks, so it takes some searching. They have kamusi for men, women, and children, with prices starting at about .", "word_count": 105}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk008", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Eat", "text": "For a local speciality, Omul, Sig and Kharius are local fishes found in the lake Baikal (available in many restaurants). Cold smoked kharius is good with beer. Hot smoked kharius you can find in Listvyanka or Kultuk villages near Baikal lake. Price depends on fish size and is usually about for one. In the Central or New market (Noviy Rinok) you can buy kharius and sig caviar - tasty.\n\nNational Buryat big dumplings (boozy, pozy) can be found in **Amrita** cafés. It's a special Buryat fast food chain with some cafés in the middle of town. Cheap, tasty. Pozy is a steamed meat (beef with pork) big dumplings that must be eaten using only hands.\n\n### Budget\n\n **Cafe Shokolad** at Ul. Dekyabrskikh Sobytii 102 behind the wedding palace, is a clean, modern cafe with good salads, reasonably-priced main courses, and, as their name suggests, sumptuous desserts. A bit outside the historical center (near the TANK bus stop), it is a good place to relax after an excursion to the Sukachev Estate down the street.\n **Pizza Domino** with no relation to the US chain, is at Lenina 13A across from the Lenin Statue. They do pizzas, soups, and other quick meals. Very cheap, and open 24 hours.\n **Pizza Pinocchio** near the Angara Hotel on Kirov Square and other locations; quick and inexpensive pizzas that are sometimes reheated in a microwave.\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Kochevnik\n\n - Seul\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Figaro", "word_count": 239}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk009", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Drink", "text": "Liverpool — Is a somewhat Beatles themed restaurant which is also a nightclub with young beautiful Russian hipsters and 2 dance floors. Not much on out of season.\n - Broadway\n\n - Club ''Megapolis''\n\n - Club ''Stratosfera''\n\n - Panorama\n\n - Yefimich\n\nBalsams *Buryatia* and *Amrita* are very nice Buryat alcoholic drinks (costs about each ). Balsam *Buryatia* was consecrated by Dalai-Lama XIV, as it says label on the bottle.", "word_count": 68}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk010", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Sleep", "text": "Many locals have rooms for rent and services such as Airbnb are popular ways of finding accommodation.\n\n - 52°17' Travelcenter & Hostel\n\n - Baikal Hostel\n\n - Magic Hostel\n\n - Nerpa Backpackers Hostel\n\n### Mid-range\n\n - Angara Hotel\n\n### Splurge\n\n - Courtyard by Marriott Irkutsk", "word_count": 44}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk011", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Connect", "text": "### Consulates\n\n - China\n\n - Lithuania\n\n - Mongolia\n\n - South Korea", "word_count": 11}
+{"chunk_id": "baikal::chunk012", "doc_id": "baikal", "section": "Go next", "text": "thumb|right|200px|Wooden Church at Taltsi\n Listvyanka is the closest village to see Lake Baikal. Purchase bus tickets online or at the bus station at ulitsa Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii, 11.\n **Irkutsk port** serves boats to Ust-Barguzin, Nizhneangarsk, Bolshoye Koty, Listvyanka and port Baikal on the Circum-Baikal Railway.\nCircum-Baikal Railway and the southmost village on the shore Slyudyanka.\n - Lake Baikal\n\n - Architectural-Ethnographical Museum 'Tal'tsy'\n\n - Olkhon island\n\n - Cherskiy mountain range\n\n - Arshan Resort\n\n Daily trains to Mongolia arrive after 36 hours to Ulaanbaatar.", "word_count": 81}

corpus/baikal/metadata.json

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+{
+  "doc_id": "baikal",
+  "title": "Irkutsk",
+  "type": "park",
+  "continent": "Polar / Special",
+  "wikivoyage_url": "https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Irkutsk",
+  "wikipedia_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irkutsk",
+  "wikidata_id": "Q6576",
+  "coordinates": [
+    52.2892,
+    104.28
+  ],
+  "summary": "Irkutsk is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. With a population of 587,891 as of the 2010 Census, Irkutsk is the 25th-largest city in Russia by population, the fifth-largest in the Siberian Federal District, and one of the largest cities in Siberia.\nLocated in the south of the eponymous oblast, the city proper lies on the Angara River, a tributary of the Yenisei, about 850 kilometres (530 mi) to the south-east of Krasnoyarsk and about 520 kilometres (320 mi) north of Ulaanbaatar. The Trans-Siberian Highway (Federal M53 and M55 Highways) and Trans-Siberian Railway connect Irkutsk to other regions in Russia and Mongolia.\nMany distinguished Russians were sent into exile in Irkutsk for their part in the Decembrist revolt of 1825, and the city became an exile-post for the rest of the century. Some historic wooden houses still survive. When the railway reached Irkutsk, it had earned the nickname of \"The Paris of Siberia.\" The city was the center of bitter f",
+  "activity_tags": [
+    "cycling",
+    "museums",
+    "temples",
+    "beach"
+  ],
+  "best_months": [],
+  "price_tier": null,
+  "is_part_of": [
+    "Irkutsk Oblast"
+  ],
+  "wikivoyage_status": "usable",
+  "go_next": [
+    "Listvyanka",
+    "Lake Baikal",
+    "Nizhneangarsk",
+    "Listvyanka",
+    "Circum-Baikal Railway",
+    "Slyudyanka",
+    "Lake Baikal",
+    "Ulaanbaatar",
+    "Novosibirsk",
+    "Angarsk",
+    "Ulan Ude",
+    "Slyudyanka",
+    "Ulan Ude",
+    "Slyudyanka"
+  ],
+  "word_count": 1639,
+  "listing_count": 72,
+  "marker_count": 0,
+  "chunk_count": 13,
+  "license": "CC-BY-SA-3.0",
+  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/",
+  "metadata_quality": "medium"
+}