03/2010 FRANCE, ROUEN

Flaubert liked and hated Rouen. That is why the plot of his main novel "Madam Bovary" is developing in this very city. Up to this day it was considered that his ideal Elisa Schlesinger and lover Louise Colet inspired Gustave for describing love scenes. However Flaubert's correspondence with Gertrude Tennant was found last summer ...

Claude Monet's paintings opened to us the crucial moments of his biography. five points on the map, five canvases, five plots based on painter’s life.

In France there are two Versailles. The first is designated in all guidebooks, the second is known mostly to those who confidently sit in saddle. It’s the oldest in France horse-breeding centre Le Pan. This year it will celebrate 365-year anniversary.

Rough, painful love affair between Erich Maria Remarque and Marlene Dietrich has turned a chimera for both. However for us it turned into stirring book - «Arch of Triumph» that has opened and glorified «a drink of meeting and parting» - Norman Calvados.

How can one get rid of psychological problems by means of travelling without turning it into escaping from oneself? Known psychologist Julia Burlakova will not only answer these questions, but for the first time in the history of “Vsemirny Sledopyt” magazine will present to our readers unique exercises one should perform getting ready for a trip...

The main world record of past Winter Olympicс Games is related to … oysters. On the 14th of February, 2010 Vancouver swallowed up half-million precious mollusks. When indeed but during St.Valentine's day people should eat this sexual delicacy?!

Alexandre Dumas- descendant of Rurik … Having learnt about it, I was not at all surprised. Who can be more Russian than the author of " Three musketeers"? Probably that was the reason why he was so aspired to go to Russia and in 1858-1859 has travelled from St.Petersburg to the Caucasus

Ethiopia - is ideal country to check up if you are really interested in genuine Africa. There are no Kenyan or Republic of South Africa five-star reservations, but at the same time the risk to be involved in revolution or slaughter here is minimal. Tourists in Ethiopia are fewer than in Nepalese Himalayas, you can still find pathless places here...

People always settled near water. And water gave life and determined destiny of city, character and temperament of its inhabitants.And as well - events taking plac there today that make us go there. So, in this Shine section: Cambridge, with its, probably, the most elegant in the world rowing regatta, Plymouth, from where the pirate sir Frensis Drake and well-known scientist James Cook set sailing, Ottawa where river divides the city into English and French parts. Bangkok with its floating market shall stand for exotic countries. Our collection also has Bratislava with its well-known bridges, well-known Amsterdam and, finally, such traditional directions like Riga with elegant quarter in art nouveau style, and Finnish Porvoo - town of clean water...