text: # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
  """
  ==============================
  Add a Natural Earth background
  ==============================
  
  An alternative to Google Static Maps
  """
  
  import salem
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  # get the map from a predefined grid
  grid = salem.mercator_grid(transverse=False, center_ll=(16., 0.),
                             extent=(8e6, 9e6))
  smap = salem.Map(grid)
  
  # Add the background (other resolutions include: 'mr', 'hr')
  smap.set_rgb(natural_earth='lr')
  
  # done!
  smap.visualize()
  plt.show()
  