Shine Out Vaсation

Even the most inveterate individualist who got used to travel along only original routes prepared independently, is sometimes ready to merge with crowd to visit it. "It" has different names. In English by analogy with common “must-have” there appeared a new term - “must-visit”. In Russia we say «one must see it» even if it’s simply «for a tick». However, some of such places are not so well-known. We have devoted this Shine to those points on the world’s map that are included into every possible must-visit list, but only few people know about them. These are discoveries that we did not expect.

Trip to mounting skiing resort may appear the only chance to enjoy real winter during current whims of a climate. And yet snow is not the only attraction here. In case of improper weather for skiing as well as for those who always can arrange a day-off, we surveyed vicinities of some resorts and have found out a lot of unexpected places. It appeared, for example, that skiing is appropriate to trip around Pushkin’s places. However, more expected, taking into account the landscape, the most high-mountainous railway or city in Europe are also noteworthy.

Why do we travel somewhere to celebrate New year? Why don’t we stay at home and celebrate this holiday by traditional feast with family and close friends? Reply can be a paraphrased quotation from old Soviet song: «we go to make our fairy tale come true». During New year even adults believe in fairy tale, and, it seems that in distant and not so distant countries unprecedented miracles, magic transformations and incredible gifts are waiting for us there. The most surprising thing — it’s true. The most important is to find the right place, may be a square of a small town somewhere in Europe, or may be a palm tree with leaves covered with hoarfrost — it also happens.

It is a thankless task to give recommendations what hotel to choose. Some don’t care where to sleep, they just need cleanness and conveniences in room. Some value local color, others consider the best recommendation if hotel belongs to a well-known international chain. Some adore modern design, others can’t stand it. We decided not to search for «companions in taste and color », and have chosen different hotels, but comfortable, with good location and excellent service. And what else is necessary for a tired traveler?

When we decided to touch upon ecological and agrotourism, we expected it to be extensive. But we did not even suspect how emotional this subject is. Almost every article is excessive with emotions. We have come to the conclusion: a civilized person is mostly impressed by the very simple things. Pure natural environment, quiet rural life, contact with pets, work on land, or even just walking on the ground, an opportunity to watch ordinary natural processes and, besides that, deliberately careful attitude to all this. But it’s attitude that turns so-called adventure travel into ecological tourism — one of the most actual and advanced ways both to rest and travel around our planet.

Our century is a century of design. It creates reputation to cities and countries, evokes new viewpoints on traditional art and architecture and dictates laws for modern art. Design has also changed the style of travel. City environment is literally penetrated with modern art, there are no «low genres», and we examine with identical interest such grandiose multimedia museum complexes as Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Viennese incinerate factories. In Stockholm we search for clubs with unusually organized space or we explore how the history of the country was embodied in mixture of architectural styles, like in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

Good film — is always a reason for travelling, as film-map of the world is wide and various. In this SHINE issue, that by the way is already the 20th, we have collected film-routes and divided them «according to interests» for your convenience: film festivals, shooting stages, routes of film-characters, and, finally, hotels marked in world cinema. Just choose! In any case if a film makes you feel like travelling, it will be interesting!

«Wherever you step, you step on kingdom land», — one skeptic used to say, wandering around Germany in the middle of XIX century. The same concerns not only Europe. Any plot of land where people ever stepped, was under the reign of a monarch. Kings left precious inheritance to us: fortresses, castles, palaces, the whole cities, that we’ll travel around.

Some people treat visiting park of amusements as dull and troublesome, but necessary one. The victim, sacrificed to kids, who thirst to enjoy the pleasures of Disneyland or Legoland. But it’s not worth treating parks of entertainments and attractions unfavorably. In many of them there are a lot of things that could entertain even the most skeptical individual, who feels sick already at the sight of Roller coaster. But if you feel categorically against, there exist attractions especially for you. Contemporary industry of leisure and entertainments easily converts into attraction any pastime, from fish catching to hiking in jungle. Nevertheless traditional park of amusements can impress us in different way: to strike by technical perfection, to bewitch by giddy turns and drops from record height, and, finally, to pleasantly astonish by concept and atmosphere.

Travel across wine-making regions is absolutely unique way of rest that proposes a trip to places with very good and healthy climate, ancient culture, and abundant gastronomic traditions. An inquisitive traveler will find the most beautiful places — valleys with blissful climate, magnificent castles, cozy country houses. These oases one can visit in many parts of the world. And everywhere there are its interesting peculiarities: in France — legendary Chateau, in California — households named after movie stars...

When there is one more day added to a standard weekend, it’s a holiday! You are able to do a lot during a long weekend: visit any European capital, «explore» unknown city, have a rest in resort, loose weight or, on the contrary, arrange a short, but sated gastronomic landing. Everything is possible. But don’t think that short travel is too difficult to arrange, that it is tiresome and rest will be not profound. On the contrary, effect from successful long weekend is amazing. Short trips invigorate and freshen, give possibility to explore places for future longer voyages and even raise your self-esteem — giving you the reason to think you are able to keep up with the times and trip «galloping around Europe» is usual for you.

Romantic perception of the world — it’s a formula of eternal youth. Romantic attitude makes impressions brighter, inconveniences — unnoticeable, and recollection — magic. Sometimes romantic impulse may grow into a real discovery. All great travellers and discoverers were romantics, and it means, the genre of romantic journey — is the most right one.