Villa La Angostura, Neuquén, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

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Villa La Angostura is a town in the province of Neuquén, at 780 meters over sea level, in Argentina, and the capital of the Department of Los Lagos. The city is located in the South of the province, in Northern Patagonia, on the northwest shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake. It’s in the northern sector of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, surrounded by lakes, forests and mountains, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Andean Patagonia. It’s a few kilometres from Cardenal Samoré, which allows to cross the border with Chile and with other nearby towns such as San Carlos of Bariloche and San Martín of los Andes, it forms a popular tourist corridor both in summer and in winter. The city is bordered by mountains : Bayo (1,782 m), Inacayal (1,840 m) and Belvedere (1 992 m). It has an average annual temperature of 8 ° C, although the variation between summer and winter is remarkable, with a maximum of 30 ° C and – 15 ° C respectively. The summers are hot and dry. The humid climate of the Andean Patagonia generates significant snow in July, August and September. The geography of the place enables a wide variety of sports and well-defined activities according to whether it is in the summer or winter season. During the winter the most practical are the skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering; during the summer: water sports, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. Sport fishing, occupies a very important place ifor the tourism and is recognized internationally (trout and salmon).

Tips

You can stay in the city and visit different interesting places nearby like Villa Traful (about 7km), the border with Chile (42km), San Carlos de Bariloche (87km), San Martín de los Andes (92km). You can rent a car or go on excursions with local tourism companies.
If you like hiking, go to Port Angostura (town port) which gives you access to the Mansa Bay and a beautiful beach. From there, you can go on a trip to get to the wood of Arrayanes.
If you go in February, there is a 3- day festival ‘ Provincial festival of gardens’ that rewards the most beautiful gardens of the city and the winner is exempt from property tax. There are parades of cars, street performances, circus, music, a craft fair and a gastronomic fair with tasting of regional products.
If you go in winter, every Friday, you can see the ‘ Torches’ falling’ organized by the local ski school. It is a group of skiers going down with torches lit from the main runway of the Bayo Mount. At the program: hot wine and music.

San Marino

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San Marino (or Repubblica di San Marino) is the 3rd smallest state of Europe, after the Vatican and Monaco. Enclosed within Italy, the state counts with a little more than 30,000 citizens (including 5,000 foreigners). It is an integral part of the historic Montefeltro area. It is a small fortified town on top of a hill with a medieval ambience. There is a small university and many museums, the most important of which is the State Museum which is located in the Pergami Belluzzi Palace; it houses thousands of rooms that allow us to know the history of the republic which has become a place highly appreciated by tourism. The state has no natural resources.

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes because the paths and streets are sloping. If you want to visit the 2 towers which are the main tourist attraction of the republic, you can do it in a half day. There is a path that connects the towers but you do not have to wear heels because the towers are 750 meters and the slopes are marked. At the top, you will have an excellent view of the surroundings.

If you like photography, San Marino is a place where you will be glad but if your visit is just passing from one to another Italian city, take at least the time to stay until sunset because your view and your photos will be breathtaking. If ancient weapons interest you, go to the building called Second Tower where you will find the Museum of Ancient Arms exhibiting more than 1500 pieces that go from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. Another interesting museum is the Museum of Wax and Torture Instruments. It has more than 40 historical scenes and a hundred remarkable characters. There is a special section devoted to melodrama as well as to all the instruments of torture of the time.

 

Milan Central Station, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

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Milan Central Station, is an Italian railway station, terminus, located in Duca d’Aosta square in the center of the city of Milan, capital of the Lombardy region. It is the first station of the city and second Italian station with a passing average of 120 million passengers per year, around 300 trains and approximately 320,000 passengers per day. It is served by the Frecciarossa and Frecciargento, Italian Intercity and Eurocity to Switzerland, Thello joins it to Paris-Gare de Lyon and of course, regional trains Trenord to Tirano and Bergamo. It was officially opened in 1931, replacing this way the old station 1864 because it could not support the traffic of the time. The first stone was laid by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1906 but construction began in 1912 and due to the First World War and the crisis, it proceeded too slowly. When Benito Mussolini became head of government he decided that the station should represent the power of the fascist regime. Its facade has 200 meters wide, the ceiling is 72 meters, has 24 docks and large steel arches. The station has several floors accessible by stairs, elevators or escalators. There are many shops selling a different range of products even as cafes and restaurants.

Tips

If you are traveling to Milan Central, you will find everything you need while waiting. If you are traveling with the Freccia, you have an exclusive waiting room for Freccia customers.
As there is always a lot of people, try to go with enough time to catch your train because there are long walks to do in it depending where your train leaves from.
Try to have coins with you to go to the bathroom that are paid because the exchange machines are not always functional.