One of the definite drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic is that various cultural and historical landmarks are no longer accessible for visiting. In Egypt, tourism is an important contributor to the overall economy of the country. However, as the government has taken on various measures to prevent the sharp increase of COVID-19 infected cases, most touristic venues have been indefinitely closed off, for sanitization purposes as well. Nonetheless, with many abiding by social distancing measures, museums, touristic and archaeological sites have become accessible through technology and the internet. On the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, Egyptian Streets present various sites that van be visited virtually. 1. Tomb of Ramses VI The tombs of the ancient Egyptian rulers were intricate and impressive, which is why they have repeatedly attracted millions of visitors. One particularly fascinating one is KV9, in which Ramses VI was buried. One of the sons of Ramses III,
There are wonderful, and really useful for professionals as well as virtual tourists. Well done, Egypt.
It’s the great lakes escape: Take the plunge and try a refreshing wild swim in breathtaking British waters, from Lake District classics to distant Welsh wonders Thank you anon, I added the drone tour for the realism. Watch fullscreen and bathe your soul in beauty.
Things to Do Before You Die : Take a Helicopter Tour
There are many ways to take to the skies in Yara - seems no one needs a pilot license nowadays. If you are feeling bold but not bold enough to fly by yourself, you can take a short but worth it Helicopter Tour off the coast of Conuco in El Este. The tour will take you along the Sombra River, over the village of Maldito, over to Schaub Pass and off the coast.
Pick up is at Carbonell Farm - It's a coconut farm - South East of Concepción. Your pilot's name is Calixto Alba. He's a former FND pilot but he'll tell you all about it. At the end of the tour, the pilot can either take you back to the farm or you can parachute down to a ship below. Your call, but remember, in life, you only regret the things you haven't done. Happy flying!
Watch the short clip below for a sample of the tour and don’t mind the chatter. Fellow looooves to chat.
Aerial view of downtown Verdera, Lozanía, Madrugada.
Verdera is a small one horse town located in the province of Lozanía in the rural region of Madrugada. There isn’t all that much to do up there but it was still worth getting a paycheck for the day so we went there and I am writing this article anyway.
Verdera is from “verde,” meaning green. A well-suited name for a town nestled in a valley surrounded by lush green hills.
Main Attractions
Town square and Church
In the middle of this tiny dot on the map of a town stands the Church of Verdera. We searched everywhere for the actual name of the Church, but even the locals simply refer to it as “la Iglesia de Verdera.” Like many small towns around the world, the town square is the main hub where many public events, live music performances, etc, take place.
La Iglesia de Verdera and town square.
Public performance schedule: Friday: Tres and Trumpet. Saturday: Mambo Night. Sunday: Church Choir.
You will often see Yarans set up pop up “garage sale” types of shops in the town square to try and sell items of very little value to tourists. But before you purchase someone’s broken kitchen appliance or a used toothbrush, why not donate a couple of pesos to these hard working men and women of Yara instead.
Don't buy someone's used toothbrush for the love of...
Back to Content Index
And if random basura is not your thing, there is also a farmer’s market nearby where you can buy fresh produce and various meats.
Farmer's market in Verdera.
Visiting the Church
You can, but remember to keep your visit brief and be respectful of parishioners. Additionally, the church is often patrolled by FND (Fuerzas Nacionales de Defensa) soldiers who may or may not approve of your presence there depending on your conduct. For more information on the FND, consult the “Things to Know Before Visiting Yara” section or ask a VisitYaraToday agent.
Inside the Iglesia de Verdera.
Where to Stay
We think this might be a bed and breakfast but you should think of Verdera as more of a day trip location.
Where to Eat
The best and probably only place to eat in Verdera is a cantina which offers your usual fast food items (pizza, hamburguesa, etc) but it also features an outdoor terrace where meats are grilled right in front of you and served with the best local cerveza.
Como dicen los estadounidenses: Awwhhh yiiehhh
Worth mentioning
There’s a Radio Verdad station in the town. You can’t really visit it but it is worth mentioning since it is the only officially recognized radio station of Yara.
Radio Libertad. I mean Radio Verdad!
The town is very rural
Cows and chickens wandering around, tractors on the main road, people slaughtering pigs, all part of everyday life in Verdera and what makes its charm.
Oh, there's the one horse.
Verderanos doing Verderano things.
Areas to Avoid
Campo de Béisbol
There is a baseball field. Do not go to the baseball field. It is.. closed for.. maintenance.
Campo de Béisbol closed for.. repairs. Indefinitely.
We hope that you enjoyed this virtual tour of Verdera and as always, for more information on activities, places, events, and all things Yara, come back and visit this page often and follow us on Tumblr!
Editor's Note:
Are we not going to talk about public executions that are regularly held in that town square? It’s no secret. They are filmed and broadcasted live on Yara’s public tv network. These events are usually announced a day or two in advance over the public service announcement system, so if you are squeamish, come back when it’s all over.
Driving around Yara can be quite pleasant, but to get the most out of your experience, there are a few things you should know before hitting the road.
Yarans are CRAZY drivers!
Life is short and Yarans have places to be so aggressive and reckless driving is the norm. If someone needs to pass you, they will honk and pass you at high speeds. You'll get used to it. Just stay in your lane and try and avoid cussing them out.
A water utility vehicle involved in a crash.
Road Rules
In short, there are none. There are no Stop signs and traffic lights are not a thing. The only road signs you will see in Yara are speed limits and even those are more of a guideline than an actual rule and no one follows it.
A Yaran woman riding at the back of a truck, Madrugada, Yara.
Checkpoints
One thing that is NOT a suggestion however and you most definitely need to pay attention to are checkpoints. Checkpoints are set up along the main roads all across Yara to ensure the safety of all Yaran citizens and visitors to our country. They help limit the movement of dissidents, contraband, among other things, and allows for Yara to be safe and under control.
Upon approaching a checkpoint, you must slow down and present valid documentation, identification, and whatever the FND agent may ask you to provide.
Types of checkpoint signs encountered along Yara’s main roads.
If you think you are in a hurry somewhere, you’re about to miss your flight or are thinking about skipping the checkpoint bureaucracy just this one time? Think again. Failure to reduce speed will result in your tires being blown out by road spikes and then you will most definitely miss your flight. Because you will be in custody. So do take the checkpoints seriously.
A dissident Yaran about to have a very bad day.
"Liberated" Checkpoints
Back to Content Index
From time to time, local groups of dissidents might temporarily take control of a checkpoint. You will recognize the checkpoints that are no longer under FND control by blue flags erected and various acts of vandalism committed such as spray painted pictures and anti-governmental slogans.
Checkpoint under temporary dissident control.
You may still pass through but avoid lingering for your safety as these areas can be unpredictable without FND guidance.
A citizen caught in a skirmish. If you think you needed a cadaver warning here, Yara may not be a suitable destination for you. Perhaps consider vacationing in the Bahamas instead.
Military Presence
Yara being under martial law, it is normal and expected to encounter military vehicles of various types on the roads. The Fuerzas Nacionales de Defensa conducts regular, even incessant patrols of all major roads in Yara. Expect to see military personnel traveling in Jeeps with or without turrets, Armored Military Vehicles, tanks, even on horseback. Stay cool. Give them space and it’s as if they aren’t even there.
FND soldier riding on horseback. Tanks share the road.
Gas/Petrol Stations or Gasolinera
Getting gas in Yara can be tricky at times. There ARE gas stations, however, some are guarded by military personnel. This is to ensure gas is only utilized by law abiding citizens, or “True Yarans,” for lack of a better term. If a soldado is guarding the pumps, be polite, ask nicely and also remember that offering bribes goes a long way in Yara. ;)
FND soldier guarding a gasolinera.
Obstacles/Wildlife on the road
Yara’s beautiful and vast expanse of jungle and many farms means a lot of wildlife and animals running around including across roads. Be vigilant, especially at night when visibility is reduced.
Why did the chickens cross the road?
Random shit
From dogs, livestock, wild coyotes, idiot joggers, just always be ready for anything and everything to jump out onto the road. Poison spills, broken down cars, upturned vehicles are also more frequent than we would like them to be so don't take your eyes off the road. Texting and driving is just one more thing that can and will kill you in Yara.
The type of bull encountered while driving in Yara.
Follow these tips and your next road trip in Yara will be a breeze!
For more information on activities, places, events, and all things Yara, come back and visit this site often!
Back to Content Index
Editor's Note:
You might be thinking: all this sounds too crazy, why don't I just take the bus instead? Surely they have public transit in Yara. There are bus stops, but, don't wait for the bus. You might be there for hours, days, who knows! The taxis don’t even stop at the bus stops.
People come to Yara for its breathtaking beaches, but did you know that beneath those perfect waves, the waters are teeming with life from stunning blue tangs to stinging jellyfish. In this article, we will talk about marine life and ocean safety. Our golden safety rule when it comes to the ocean is ¡Mira antes de bucear! : ‘Look before you dive,’ and you will see why.
Why are there crunchy crabs everywhere?
When you get to the beach, one of the first things you might notice is the crabs. They’re huge and they’re everywhere so they are hard to miss. The good news is, you don’t have to worry about them. They’re harmless. They feed on dead fish and dead.. well they are good beach cleaners. Just try to avoid stepping on them. It's messy. Especially barefoot.
Red crabs. Serpentino Park, Costa del Mar, Madrugada.
Things that Aren’t Trying to Kill You
Contrary to popular belief, not everything in Yara’s waters is trying to kill you. I mean, a LOT of things in Yara’s waters are trying to kill you but let’s take a look at what isn't.
Squirrelfish - They’re edible so they don't eat you, you eat them!
We think these are Powder Blue Tangs which are not generally common in the Caribbean as opposed to Blue Tangs but hey, we are not Ictiólogos.
Flying fish! This author’s personal favourite non-deadly sea creatures in Yara.
¡Peligroso!
Back to Content Index
There is no way around it, yes, there are sharks and barracudas in Yara’s waters and lots of them. Sometimes, they do come quite close to the coast so swimmers will need to exercise caution. You may encounter signs that prohibit swimming in certain areas. Yes, more signs. Yara is big on warning signs, but do heed those ones. They are there for a reason.
¡Sharks!
There are two main species of sharks that frequent Yara’s coastal waters: Reef sharks and Bull sharks. Pay closer attention to Reef sharks as they are more aggressive and more likely to bite humans. You can find pamphlets at some local gasolinerías with precise locations where sharks are more frequent and avoid swimming in those areas.
A massive bull shark off the coast of Barrial, El Este.
A battle-scarred Reef shark, Sirena Bay, Aguas Lindas, Madrugada.
Barracudas
They are fast and they are nasty. Best to just stay away from them.
A mid-sized barracuda, Yara.
Lionfish
Lionfish, Aguas Lindas, Madrugada.
Now this thing won't eat you but its sting hurts like a puta and it hurts for a long time. You can generally see them swim in groups close to the surface as they feed. What did we say? 'Mira antes de bucear.' That's it. Don't jump on them and you won't bring back a raging red rash to your home country when you leave.
More Stinging Things
A staple sight in the Caribbean and Yara is no different; jellyfish abound. We have two main types and I am tired of Googling fish.
The long tentacled fuckers.
The short blobby fuckers.
Oh and they are also found in underwater caves for extra creepiness points. (I hate medusas. They hurt, just stay away from them.)
¡Mira antes de bucear!
Now that you are good and traumatized with everything lurking in the ocean, let us drive home the importance of paying attention to your surroundings.
You could be merrily swimming in the ocean, minding your own business..
When BAM! The barracuda strikes and now you are having a bad day.
Consider carrying a machete or a large hunting knife if you travel by boat further off the coast, to defend yourself should you fall in the water. Just make sure not to openly carry such items in cities where it is prohibited to do so. Don’t worry, we have signs for that too. ;)
All this being said, do not let all of this marine life deter you from enjoying Yara’s wonderful beaches and waters. With the right amount of precaution, you can enjoy the ocean safely and bring back memories not injuries.
As always, to learn more about activities, places, events, and all things Yara, come back and visit this page often. We try and post twice monthly.
Editor's Note:
Honorable mention to these little guys with a nasty bite. These are gars and were not included because they are mostly found inland in the rivers and not in the ocean. They are also delicious so eat them before they eat you! It’s you or them!
