the strand [Lore] Baltimare

[Bellosh]

Baltimare - Gateway to the Ocean

 

Baltimare may not be the industrial kingpin that Stalliongrad is, and it’s surely not as prestigious as Canterlot or Manehattan. Regardless, the city of Baltimare is one of the most economically vital centers in all of Equestria. Strategically nestled on the delta of the Galloping River, this city serves as one of Equestria’s premier commercial and cruise liner ports, and consequently is one of the more affluent locations within the realm.

 

The Port District - Much of Baltimare’s livelihood comes from the volume of freight that passes through the port each day. Each day, hordes of dockworkers ceaselessly strive to load and unload cargo from all around the world; sugar from the Gallopocus Islands, apples from the Equestrian Heartland, rare herbs from Unyasi, and so on. In other waterfront areas along the delta, shipyards of all sizes operate to build all sorts of ships, from humble tugboats and sloops to mighty freighters and majestic cruise liners. Shipwrights, dock hands, warehouse workers, and sailors alike all bond with one another in the rowdy pubs and inns surrounding the port facilities, and these hard-working folk sure know how to party hard.

 

The Residental Districts - Owning to the fact that Baltimare is the port of entry for most travelers from Unyasi, a substantial zebra community also calls the city its home. Descended mostly from sailors and merchants, many of Baltimare’s zebras have lived their entire lives in Equestria, but they also maintain strong ties to their ancestral homeland. Visitors to the city can scour its outer neighborhoods for Equestianized-zebra cuisine along with cozy shops stocked with goods from the southern continent.

 

The Boardtrot District - For most out-of-town visitors, the Port’s main attraction will be the Baltimare Boardtrot, a two-mile stretch of beachfront property on the city’s southeastern end overlooking the scenic Seasaddle Bay. The Friendship Express terminates at the Boardtrot, enabling vacationers to debark right at the oceanfront district. Along the Boardtrot, ponies can find hotels, restaurants, upscale stores, penny arcades, and other tourist traps. The east end of the Boardtrot is reserved for the seaside resort’s world-famous amusement parks, where ponies of all ages can indulge in roller coasters, dark rides, and tofu dogs. And of course, the beach itself is a famous landmark; on an average clear day, beachgoers can spy the skyscrapers of Manehattan from across the bay.

 

The Cruise-liner District - Finally, the opposite end of the Boardtrot leads into a port complex tailored specifically for recreational use. The west half of the complex is a marina harboring simple sailboats, luxurious yachts, and every other small vessel in between. The east half houses a large cruise home port, where cruise liners stock up on supplies in-between disembarking and embarking. Baltimore is essentially de-facto cruise capital of Equestria; that along with the Boardtrot ensures the Port’s place as an important hub for tourism.

~Hitchhiker's Guide to Equestria