Alessandra блог

This awesome Pragu

I continue to publish a series of guides that will be useful if you come to the city for the first time or, conversely, were in it more than once. In this issue — Prague without Charles bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral.

1. Riegrovy Sady

Prague is primarily a city of beautiful views. Lithospheric plates and time gave the area in which the capital of the Czech Republic, an incredible relief. The hills enhance the city, making it a space volume. Therefore, the locals like to gather where higher, and enjoy the view of the red roofs and sharp peaks of the towers. Such places are really a lot: for example, Petrin hill, where the Cathedral of St. Vitus pierces the sky, and nearby stands a small copy of the Eiffel tower. But the main place to view the sunset is the slope in Riegrovy sady Park. This is a Park where people come to drink beer or wine, walk each other or your favorite dog and, of course, for the thousandth time to admire the panorama. On the approaches to the Park there are shops with food, and in the gardens — a bar and a beer garden. Be sure to bring a blanket.

2. Bar U koně Trojského

"The Trois horse" (not to be confused with the Trojan) is a bar, gallery, outdoor area for creativity, theater, cinema and a meeting place for nice people. All this under the open sky. Located on the Bank of the Vltava river in the area of Troy, near the Prague zoo (where, by the way, locals buy tickets for a year to several times a month to visit polar bears, elephants and other inhabitants). Remember the name "Trois horse" — and you will not be mistaken when you look for it: a wooden horse with a height of ten meters will miss only the blind.
Homemade lemonade, beer, wine or something stronger can be ordered on site to relax after a walk. If you sit too long, ask the owner of the institution to call you a taxi, as to get to the center is not so close. Do not be lazy to look at how close to the river athletes train: there is a corridor of obstacles, artificially creating a mountain stream for kayakers.

3. La Casa Restaurant

Czech cuisine is on three whales: beer, dumplings, pork. If you eat this set every day several times, there is a high probability of getting an inversion of the intestines. It is no wonder that the Czechs themselves have long been moving away from their traditional dishes in the direction of a simple and light cuisine. There are two trends in this trend: Italian cuisine and burgers. Talk about first. It's hard to believe, but in the Czech Republic you can try delicious food made from Italian products according to Italian recipes.
Therefore, if the traditional tourist options do not climb, feel free to go to the restaurant La Casa for a Mediterranean dinner in a cozy atmosphere. On weekdays, the institution is very popular among office workers who come there for lunch (usually the price of a set of "soup + second" does not exceed 150 crowns).

4. Cinema Výletní kino Smíchov

In Prague, a lot of theater venues and cinemas. You can watch a performance or a movie in any part of the city. There are rooms, tickets to which you need to buy a few months. In the warm open cinema under the open sky. The most popular among them — Výletní kino Smíchov. Its viewers watch films on the Bank of the Vltava river overlooking the famous Prague gingerbread houses. Screenings are held in English. On weekends, it is better to come in advance to buy tickets, have a few Beers at the local bar and enjoy the panorama.

5. Embankment Of Naplavka

In the Czech Republic there is no sea, so the atmosphere of the seaside promenade of Prague compensated by the space of Surfacing at the Vltava. This is a favorite place of local youth. On the kilometer-long section there are concert venues and bars, barges and ships in which they dance and dine. For those who until morning walking in Friday, in Saturday is a farmer's market, on which can be recharged vitamins with Czech plantations. From October to April, one of the ships offers a sauna. The steam there is not the strongest and there are no brooms, but the view of the city from the glass steam room is fascinating. Be prepared for the fact that in the Czech Republic men and women steamed in the same room. Most of all — naked.

6. Market Farmářský trh Jiřího z Poděbrad

The fashion for healthy food, vegetarianism and raw food diet is gaining momentum in the Czech Republic. More and more shops, bakeries and cafes are opening in Prague, where only local products are used. Farmers ' markets operating in different parts of the city are very popular. The closest to the centre is on Jiřího z Poděbrad square. Fresh produce from the neighborhood is delivered every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at eight in the morning. It is not necessary to come to the opening — closer to ten o'clock you can not only buy vegetables, fish, sausages, cheeses and pastries, but also try something from street food, drink beer from an unknown brewery and try wine from Moravian cellars. The average check for this lunch for two will be 200-400 crowns.

7. Bar Pivní Klub 300

In Prague, it is very easy to distinguish a tourist place from the one where there are often local. This difference lies in two main parameters: the distance from the sights and the availability of menus in different languages. The bar Pivní Klub 300 menu in Czech, so that tourists are not waiting in the first place. Prague residents come here to try a new beer and just meet old friends. The owner of the institution, he is a bartender, always friendly and happy to talk in detail about each beer that is in stock. As an appetizer try the pickled hermelín cheese nakládaný.

8. Průhonice Park

Traffic is not about Prague. In this city the automobile communication is thought over with a Bang. The public transport network covers the whole city, so many motorists use the famous Soviet-era red trams. But Friday night to get from the center to a remote area becomes more difficult. After work, local loaded into the car bicycles, rollers, skis or snowboards and go out of town.
Those who can not afford two days of rest, go on a day tour. The closest place for a day trip — the Park of Pruhonice, located just outside the city. The entrance fee is CZK 60 symbolic for nature, fresh air and a beautiful castle. The Park has several routes for walking from 1-2 to 10 kilometers.

9. Cross Club

Cross club is a place where impressive underground parties take place. The owner and his team are literally turned on steampunk, which was reflected in their invented space interior of the institution. This is not a place where you can go with a girl in search of romance - here go to sweat. All local fans of hardcore and punk know the schedule of concerts and parties by heart. But even those who are far from these areas, go to the Cross Club, just to see what is happening.

10. Cabaret Darling

Prague is often called the second Amsterdam not for similar architecture and water channels, but for very free manners in the field of adult entertainment. In the evening on Wenceslas square a lot of black guys who do not need to be afraid: they only invite passers-by to look at the light in the club. But if local and decide to go somewhere, then go to the Darling. This Prague "Moulin Rouge" is known for spectacular shows, angelic beauty dancers and not the most affordable prices for drinks — you need to look carefully at the menu before you make an order. The street, where the club is located, has been famous for its nightlife for many years, where Prague people go out every night.

15 life hacks you need to know while traveling

Always read reviews

The hotel on its resource will write about itself only good. Reviews from several sites will give a more objective assessment and help you make the right choice. If you are not one of those travelers who always study reviews when choosing a hotel, it's time to follow their example. Moreover, many resources give a breakdown by criteria — such as cleanliness, location, quality wi-fi and more.

Book directly

Online booking systems are now used by most travelers, and 80 % of reservations are made through them. It's really easier, faster and more convenient. But few people know that if you contact the hotel directly, you can negotiate the best price. The fact is that hotels pay quite a large Commission to online agencies, so it is much more profitable for them to give you a discount and get a loyal guest. This method of booking everything else will allow you to get an individual approach, especially when it comes to a small hotel or guest house.

Join the loyalty program

There are hundreds of loyalty programs, including those developed by the world's largest hotel chains. One of the most famous programs — the hotel chain Mariott. It is a cumulative system with several levels — from basic to platinum. You can join the program absolutely free of charge, and the accumulated points can be used for further bookings in all hotels of the network, as well as spend on pleasant bonuses — for example, for room upgrade or Spa treatments. Also, participation in the Marriott Rewards program helps to get discounts when buying tickets.

For new experiences choose boutique hotels

Personally, I prefer boutique hotels. In a chain hotel you always know what to expect. This is a guarantee of comfort and quality, but at the same time you are unlikely to see something new. Independent boutique hotels try to be as original as possible due to the unusual interior design, service organization, interesting "chips" in service. I am glad that in Russia this trend is gaining momentum and there are more and more conceptual boutique hotels. Among the latest interesting projects — Akvarel Stoleshnikov and Moss Boutique Hotel in Moscow and Riviera Wellness Resort & Spa in Belgorod.

Are you celebrating? Don't forget to tell us about it

If your trip is timed to a significant date or event (birthday, anniversary, honeymoon), do not forget to inform us at the time of booking. As a compliment, the hotel can provide you with Breakfast in the room, a bottle of champagne, a fruit basket, perhaps even a discount on one of the services — for example, Spa treatments. I note that good hotels do this by default — and this practice exists not only in the five-star.

Feel free to ask for phone chargers

Each of us at least once forgot to take a trip charger for your phone or adapter. Most likely, the hotel reception will be happy to help you — you just have to ask. Some hotels have gone even further and provide guests with free chargers for any gadgets for the duration of their stay.

Express your wishes when booking

When booking for your fix is not a concrete number, as many think, and room category. Rooms of the same category may differ in different details: the level of sound insulation, the view from the window, the distance from the Elevator. At the time of booking, you can specify your wishes and they will be taken into account.

Use the pillow menu

If you are the traveler who needs to try all the pillows, then this service is for you. W Hotels will provide you with a whole menu of pillows of different shapes, hardness and purpose. In many hotels this service is free. There are hotels where guests can even pre-book the desired pillow through the mobile app.

Make profitable trips around the city

Most four-or five-star hotels have their own transport, which is used to organize transfers, meeting important guests or trips around the city. Hotel transport can be more comfortable and safer than a city taxi. And sometimes it is cheaper. Check the information at the reception, compare prices and choose a convenient option for you.

Don't skimp on the tip

Tips in hotels are the rule and an integral part of the hotel industry. They should be left not only to concierges, waiters and taxi drivers, but also maids. After all, the maid monitors the cleanliness of the room, the presence of bathrobes, towels, jars of shampoos. From tips the number of all these little things can increase. The size of the tip and the traditions of payment vary from country to country. In Russia, it is customary to leave 100-200 rubles for tea, in Europe — one or two euros. It is better to tip the maids on the pillow or on the corner of the bed, otherwise they will not be taken. In some hotels in the rooms there is a so-called tips box (box for tips).

Take toothpaste and other hygiene products at the hotel

Many five-star hotels offer them for free. Sometimes you may not find toothpaste or mouthwash in the room, but you only have to contact the receptionist and you will get everything you need. In addition to basic toiletries, guests are sometimes offered shaving cream and dental floss.

Enjoy your TV in the hotel

No boring channels in the room — now you can watch the latest episodes of your favorite TV series: many hotels stream videos of services like Netflix. The pioneers here were the hotels of the Mariott chain. The partnership with Netflix allowed Mariott to provide its guests with access to personal accounts of the streaming service and watching their favorite TV shows.

No one will kick you out of the hotel at 12:00 sharp

The accepted check-out time is 12:00. However, if you need another hour or two to stay in the room (for example, waiting for your flight), the hotel is likely to meet you halfway. The only thing — you need to ask for it and extend your room key, as it is like a carriage, ceases to operate at exactly 12:00

Be polite to the staff

Elementary courtesy has not been canceled. Although staying at the hotel and involves the maximum care of you by the staff, showing a little courtesy, you can get a lot of nice bonuses. With the trust and support of the hotel staff, you can find excellent advisors who will tell you what places should be avoided, and what, on the contrary, is worth a visit, and how to save money. For this you need only praise and a positive assessment of the hard work of the staff.

Feel free to leave complaints

Another life hack is comments about your accommodation. Do not hesitate to leave them to the hotel staff, for example, at the reception. In many modern hotels CRM (customer relationship management system) works very well, and all the wishes, comments and complaints of guests are considered at the highest level. No need to abuse it, however only your comments allow the hotels to get better. I assure you, there will be an immediate response to your request.

10 ideal countries to travel alone

A lot of people like to travel alone. They say that in this way they can get to know the world and themselves better. And besides, you do not need to adapt to anyone: you want to spend the whole day on the beach and not go anywhere — please, suddenly decided to go to explore the ruins — but at least right now!

The main thing is that your travels leave only good impressions and be safe. That is why this collection includes 10 countries with the highest rates of the Global peace index and the International happiness index.

Norway

10th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
22nd place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

The best way to get to know Norway is to take a ride on Board one of the steamers that sail along the coast of the country, passing through some of the most beautiful fjords and stopping at dozens of seaports along the way. Or go on a multi-day hike along the fjords, staying in hotels and mountain huts. Northern lights will be your bonus.

Switzerland

5th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
30 place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Arm yourself with good Hiking boots and go explore the expanses of Switzerland. Fortunately, there is a very well developed transport structure, so to every interesting place there is a tram, train or steamship. Visit Zurich and then head South to the shores of lake Geneva, to Montreux and Lausanne, where you will find plenty of entertainment: restaurants, Nightclubs and luxury hotels.

Vietnam

45th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
2nd place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Vietnam is a colorful city, rich markets and smiling locals. You can combine a beach holiday with an educational one in Phan Thiet. This resort is one of the most attractive in Asia. But for entertainment is better to go to Hanoi.

New Zealand

4th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
24th place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Inspiring landscapes, glaciers, rainforests, mountains — this place is just magical. Fabulous landscapes like retouched in photoshop. You go and don't believe it's real. Active guests can try bungee jumping, boating and Hiking on the legendary Milford Track — the most popular walk of the nine new Zealand Great Walks.

Austria

3rd place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
42nd place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Small and compact, Vienna is one of the most suitable European cities for single travel. Many concert halls, dozens of museums and cafes where you should stay. Salzburg, where Wolfgang Amadeus once lived, is even smaller, but no less worthy of a visit. And to the cleanest lakes and hot mineral springs go to the charming Carinthia.

Japan

8th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
48th place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Spend a few days in the fascinating metropolis of Tokyo, take a high-speed train ride past mount Fuji and enjoy the tranquility of old Kyoto. As for the number of attractions and museums — this is all right: Japan will find something to surprise even experienced tourists.

Chile

30th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
19 place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Chileans are friendly and welcoming, which will be a big plus for lovers of solo travel. Chile is 3000 km of deserts, mountains and endless coast. You can go to the North, where you will find the magical Atacama desert, or to the South, to the Islands of Chiloe or Patagonia. It is worth visiting Santiago, the largest Chilean city. Chileans are very hospitable — so you can easily join the family barbecue and become part of the Chilean family for a while.

Sweden

11th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
45th place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Stockholm is an ideal option for our way of travelling. It is quite compact and it is difficult to get lost. Want entertainment? Kayaks? You're welcome. Would you like to spend the whole day exploring the city parks by Bicycle? Easy as pie. Open-air cafe with stunningly delicious dishes, art treasures of the Museum of modern art, shops of Swedish designers, as well as amazing hotels and vibrant nightlife. All attractions are easily accessible on foot.
costa rica
45th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
1 place in the ranking of the International happiness index.
Many travelers who have visited the happiest country in the world, call it the most beautiful in the world. This is a favorite place for surfing and rafting on the river waters. There are endless mountain ranges covered with rare forests, numerous national parks, reserves and volcanoes, exotic beaches with black and white sand, noisy waterfalls and much more.

Indonesia

54th place in the ranking of the Global peace index.
5 place in the ranking of the International happiness index.

Temples, yoga on the beach, cheap food, lodging and massage. One of the favorite places of spiritual seekers. All this Bali — the most popular place for travelers in Indonesia. Here coffee plantations are replaced by emerald terraces, the purest sacred lakes — volcanic lakes. If you prefer a more or less popular tourist destination, visit Lombok, an island off the coast of Bali.

14 striking facts about Finland that you probably didn't know

You probably know this country as the birthplace of Santa Claus. You may also be aware of the fact that in this cold region, statistics show that for every two citizens there is a sauna. But how much do you really know about Finland? Test yourself with these 14 amazing facts about the unique Scandinavian nation.

The loser in life is the winner in Finland!

The eccentric Finnish sense of humour is further strengthened by the annual Failure Day of 13 October. The tradition started in 2010. Since then, the day has been a celebration of bad news and all kinds of failures as a way of teaching and preparing for future challenges. Luckily next time, losers!

Setting records in their blood

Finland is called a country of thousands of lakes, but this number was not even close to the actual number of natural water bodies. In fact, there are 187,888 lakes in the country, which is more than in any other country in the world. If you are more comfortable on foot, the 179,888 Finnish islands offer a wide range of opportunities for exploration.

How to get out of the Matrix?

There is no way to get out of the Matrix in Finland.In a country that connects people ("Connecting People") with Nokia mobile phones, you won't find a single pay phone. Not a single one within Finlan.

Their sports are probably the strangest

If you are looking for an exotic pastime, Finland is your absolute champion.

The strangest thing about local events is the World Wife Carrying Championships. It takes place every July in Sonkaiärvi and represents the passage of an extreme obstacle course. This annual event has become a real international hit: every year the championship attracts couples from Denmark, Hong Kong, Australia and other no less remote parts of the world. Sometimes the spouses come to the country for thousands of lakes just to take part in the competition. A rather strange honeymoon... But who are we to judge? Other exotic sports with annual World Championships in Finland include mosquito hunting, mobile phone throwing, swamp football, rubber boots throwing and the World Air Guitar Championship.

Here you can sleep, swim, fish and pick berries anywhere

Like many Nordic countries, Finland boasts a great deal of "freedom of movement". You can pitch a tent, pick up a wild lingonberry or catch a pike-perch in a lake for free and without the hassle of the official authorities.

They invented the first custom browser

Many countries claim to be the originators of the Internet. And the Finns were the first country to come up with the idea of bringing it to the attention of the general public.Created in 1994 by three students of technological universities, Erwise became the world's first Internet browser with a user interface (UX). Despite the fact that it was approved by the creator of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the graduates could not find the necessary funding to continue the development of the project. So Erwise became a legend. Just a few months after this story, Mosaic and Internet Explorer were born, and the rest of the story is a web search history.

By the way, they invented many other cool things

Finland is an amazingly innovative country for its relatively small population of five million people. Finnish inventions include lifeguards, heart rate monitors, salty liquorice, Linux, skates, Angry Birds, Molotov cocktail, SMS and, of course, sauna (by the way, this is the most commonly used Finnish word outside the country).

Weather in Finland pleases with unexpected tricks

It is no secret that winters in Finland are dark and gloomy. However, in the summer the country is transformed to finally meet its nickname "Midnight Sun Land". Visit the north of the country in June or July and you'll see that the sun really never slips over the horizon.

They make the best pizza in the world

Finland's nourishing dishes have both loyal fans and irreconcilable enemies. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi threw a small pebble in the garden of Finnish cooks in 2005, noticing that Parma ham is much better for pizza than local venison. In sum, Berlusconi described his entire culinary experience in Finland as a "stamina test.However, revenge is a dish that is served cold. Three years later, the Finns struck back and won an international pizza competition, beating Italy. The victorious creation had the bold name of "Pizza Berlusconi". Its signature component? Of course, venison. The dish has become so popular that you can still order it from Kotipizza, Finland's largest pizza chain.

Finns like coffee the most

You can forget all these Italian espressos and Australian flute wites! When it comes to real life, Finns have no equal! They don't just cook it the best - they also set records for consumed volumes. On average, one resident drinks up to 12 kg of refreshing drink every year. It is impossible to say exactly how many cups of coffee Finns drink on average a day. But I bet that's definitely more than the doctor says. Unless, of course, he is a Finn or a coffee addict.

And they love milk more than anyone else

It is not surprising that Finland has the highest annual milk consumption in the world: about 1 liter per person per day. Thus, Finns' teeth are yellow from coffee and strong from milk. These figures, however, are puzzling, as according to statistics about 17% of the population suffer from lactose allergies.

Speeding tickets will leave you with a broken trough

You're fast, brave and very rich, too? Then you'd better not fall for speeding in Finland. The amount of the traffic fine is calculated on the basis of the driver's annual income. One unlucky and mega rich "schumacher" was once fined 200,000 euros for one single violation.

Finland is the undisputed home of heavy metal

Finland is a reserved and business country... It is not surprising that the highest number of heavy metal groups per capita is here. Such bands as Children Of Bodom, Nightwish and winners of the Lordi Eurovision Song Contest literally rumble all over the world. They all come from Finland, and they are all able to reflect the dark and wild side of the nation in their music

Finns are crazy about tango!

You don't have to go to Montevideo or Buenos Aires to plunge into tango euphoria. 13,000 km from sunny South America, the northern nation preserved and carried through the years the tango fever that arrived on these icy shores in 1913.The golden years came in the mid-sixties, when local tango melodies were easily bypassed in The Beatles' hit parades. Today, tango fans from all over the world come to Finland to perform a passionate dance at the legendary Tangomarkkinat festival in July, as well as to visit a local museum dedicated to the old ballroom dance.

20 real-life places which look like they came out of fairy tales

These places and landscapes are as if they came out of fairy tales and stories of our childhood. Their existence is hard to believe, but they exist in reality! Well, plunge into a fairy tale?

1. Mont Saint-Michel Castle, France

Castle Mont Saint-Michel — one of the most popular attractions in France, striking in its unusual and literally fabulous views! After all, the monastery on a rock sticking out of the water abyss, just can not look stunning.

2. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein castle is a treasure of the Alps and the most recognizable castle in the world. When you first look at this castle it seems that someone has forgotten his toy here — so unreal seem tower Neuschwanstein ivory floating on a background of dark green firs. Although if you come closer — a sense of fabulousness is unlikely to let go, because you will see hundreds of little things that do not fit into the reality of the Alpine slopes.

3. Wisteria Tunnel

This tunnel is located in a garden of flowers Kawachi Fuji, Japan. Being in it, you plunge into a truly unreal atmosphere! At different times of the year and depending on the lighting, it is painted in different colors.

4. Landscape Danxia

Tourists from all over the world come to Gansu province, China, to admire the unusual landscape. The main attraction here is the unique mountainous terrain, called "landscape Danxia".

5. Dark alley in Ireland

These beautiful beech trees grow about 300 years old near the village of Armoy in the County of Antrim (Antrim) of Northern Ireland. Because of the closely intertwined branches of beeches locals called the tree tunnel "Dark hedges" (Dark Hedges), which in Russian is more correct to say "Dark alley".

6. Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of the most popular places in Vietnam. Landscapes shock and create the impression of unreality of what is happening.

7. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

The most photogenic railway bridge in Scotland is known far beyond the UK. Fans of books and films about the wizard Harry Potter associate this viaduct primarily with the Hogwarts Express. After all, it was on it that the famous train passed in the film "Harry Potter and the secret room".

8. Batu Caves, Malaysia

Batu cave system is a place of pilgrimage for thousands of Hindus. The complex consists of several cave halls turned into temples. To the main Temple cave (Temple Cave) is the famous staircase of 272 steps, which should climb every pilgrim. Some do it on their knees or even crawling.

9. St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia

Description, I think, is excessive. Painted in fabulous colors Cathedral on red square gives the impression of a fairy-tale Palace, it is for the photo of the Cathedral on Red square go hundreds of thousands of tourists.

10. Cave of giant crystals

An underground world full of wonders! These amazing cave, called the Cave of crystals (Cueva de los Cristales), located in the Mexican desert at 300 meters depth.

These formations were created by nature for several million years.

11. Colmar, France

Colmar — a picturesque Alsatian town with well-preserved historical quarters, which plunge you into the middle ages. The city has a huge number of amazingly beautiful buildings that were built in the middle Ages and during the Renaissance.

12. Pamukkale, Turkey

The waterfall is known for its beautiful white slopes, it is one of the geological wonders of Turkey. Thermal springs, spouting from the mountain for many hundreds of years, have formed beautiful terraces with ponds of different depths.

13. The Palace Of Versailles, France

Versailles — this name is associated worldwide with the idea of the most significant and magnificent Palace, built by the will of one monarch.

This is probably the most famous Palace and Park complex with beautiful gardens and interior decoration.

14. Taj Mahal, India

What could be more fabulous than the Taj Mahal. This is the first Association that arises at the mention of Oriental tales.

15. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the main target of 99.9% of all tourists coming to Cambodia. The largest temple complex in the world and one of the most beautiful creations of mankind in its history.

16. The temple Paro-lhakhang, Bhutan

Paro lakhang, also known as the tiger's Den, is a famous Buddhist monastery located on a rock at the top of the Paro valley in Bhutan. Often being in the clouds and fog, leaves an unforgettable, mystical experience.

17. Peles Castle, Romania

Elegant Peles castle found its refuge on the banks of the mountain river of the same name, near the city of Sinai. The castle seems magical, as if descended from fairy-tale pages, and the overall mysterious atmosphere complements the dense forest with the singing of birds and the rustle of the leaves of trees.

18. Park, Zhangjiajie, China

Chinese Park Zhangjiajie has long gained popularity among tourists. First, it is here, among the rocks of Wulingyuan, which inspired James Cameron to create "flying mountains" in the movie "Avatar", is mount Tianmen, and in it — the legendary cave of Heaven's gate.

19. Petra, Jordan

Starred in dozens of films the famous temple of Peter, carved into the rock. What could be more mystical and mysterious?

20. Baobab alley, Madagascar

The baobab alley is located on a dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of Western Madagascar. The stunning scenery attracts travelers from all over the world, making it one of the most visited places in the region.

15 things to do in Valencia

Valencia has many of the things that attracts tourists to Spain, all in one place: The city has a vibrant old centre, with a knot of little streets and splendid medieval buildings like the UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda.

Valencia is also right on the Mediterranean, so you can laze on broad sandy beaches and tuck into delectable cuisine that draws on the sea. This is the home of paella, surely the most famous Spanish dish of all. There are also ultra-modern visitor attractions at the City of the Arts and Sciences, and it all goes to make Valencua one of Spain’s most complete destinations.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Valencia:

1. City of the Arts and Sciences

It can be difficult to wrap your head around the City of the Arts and Sciences. The attraction is a staggering ensemble of ultra-modern structures that are given an ethereal quality by the reflecting pools that surround them.

The whole thing was started in the mid-90s and the finishing touches were made in 2005. Within these gargantuan buildings are cultural venues and first-class family attractions like L’Hemisfèric, a planetarium and IMAX Cinema, or the breathtaking L’Umbracle, a botanical collection of plant species native to Valencia. Book ahead to avoid queues.

2. Oceanogràfic

The star of the City of the Arts and Sciences is this cutting-edge oceanarium that opened in 2003. With 45,000 individual animals from 500 different species, you won’t find another attraction on this scale in Europe.

The aquarium is organised by ten zones, each synthesising a distinct environment, and using real seawater pumped from Valencia’s waterfront. So at the Arctic tank you’ll get to see beluga whales swimming in a spacious and thoughtfully designed tank.

Elsewhere you can spot sand tiger sharks, penguins, walruses, dolphins and sea lions. It all adds up to a day out adults and little guys won’t soon forget.

3. La Lonja de la Seda

This majestic late-15th-century building is a UNESCO site and held as the masterpiece of Valencian gothic architecture. La Lonja de la Seda is the finest a monument to Valencia’s golden age, when the city was one of Europe’s main centres for trade and culture.

The name means “Silk Exchange”, where traders from far flung pats of the Mediterranean would meet and make deals. Inside you can marvel at the dainty twisting columns of the main hall (sala de contratación) and look up at the incredible detail of the vaulted ceilings. Its tough-looking crenellated outline sits right in front of the city’s central market.

4. Valencia Cathedral

The city’s solemn gothic cathedral dates to the 13th and 14th centuries, with renaissance, baroque and neoclassical modifications made over the next few hundred years. Go inside to see 15th-century renaissance paintings by artists such as the Valencian, Jacomart as well as several from Rome commissioned by Pope Alexander VI.

But the most fascinating part, and perhaps controversial, is the Chapel of the Holy Chalice. At the altar is one of a few chalices claimed to have been used by Jesus to institute the Holy Eucharist at the last supper. This agate vessel has been dated by archaeologists to between the 4th century BC and 1st century AD, but no scientific analysis as yet been made.

5. El Miguelete

The cathedral’s octagonal bell-tower graces many postcards sent home from the city. It’s a Valencian gothic construction begun in 1381 and completed just under 50 years later. Originally it stood completely alone from the cathedral, but extensions in the late-1400s brought the two structures together.

If you’re feeling spritely, it’s possible to climb the 207 steps up a slightly precarious stairway to the top for great vistas 50 metres above the city. The big sight at the top is Miguel, the famous bell cast in 1432 and weighing over ten tons.

6. Casco Histórico

Like most historic centres in Spanish cities the heart of Valencia is made for wandering. All of the must-see sights in this part of the city are just couple of minutes away from each other.
Between each landmark is a maze of little streets with cafes, restaurants and local amenities or artisan shops.

To beat the heat in summer stop off at a square like Plaza de la Virgen for a cool glass of horchata, a drink made with ground almonds, tigernuts and a variety of grains and flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla.
On the southern side of the old-town seek out the Neo-Mudéjar Plaza de Toros (bullring) and the spectacular ticket hall of the Estació del Nord.

7. Barrio del Carmen

The northeast side of the old-town is the youngest and most bohemian part of the city. El Carmen took shape in medieval times, situated outside of the 11th-century Moorish walls but within the Christian ones that went up in the 14th-century.

What’s great about this place is the way the palaces next to these cool, shaded alleys have been converted into hip boutiques, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Calle de Caballeros, which begins at Plaza de la Virgen, is where many nights out in Valencia will end up.

You can also see fragments of Valencia’s late-medieval defences, at Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos.

8. Jardín del Turia

This astounding park brings you fresh air and relaxation right in the middle of the city. It came about in the 20th century after the River Turia burst its banks in 1957 causing great damage to the city.

The river was diverted and in the 80s its riverbed in the city was turned into nine kilometres of verdant green space. A total of 18 bridges still cross the riverbed, the oldest dating back to the middle ages, and are now just another part of the unusual scenery in the park.

Several landscape architects were drafted in to build these gardens, creating a scene of pine forest, orange groves, palms and paths that lead past sports facilities, play areas and fountains.

9. Central Market

Opposite the Silk Exchange is another prized landmark, the cavernous and palatial Central Market building. Even if you’re just sightseeing here you’ll love the building’s art nouveau metal and glass design.

Despite dating to the early-20th century it blends perfectly with the historic architecture in this part of the old city. And if you do feel like doing some shopping at the market you’ll be in foodie heaven. There are 400 small traders at the market, with 959 selling farm and sea-fresh produce at the best prices in the city.
If there’s a Spanish delicacy you love, like chorizo, jamón ibérico or manchego cheese, this will be your El Dorado.

10. Malvarrosa Beach

Within minutes of the old-town you could be sunning yourself on a Mediterranean beach. Malvarrosa is a wide strip of golden sand that stretches for a kilometre along the city’s seafront.

The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag for all the amenities it provides, from lifeguard towers , a medical station, drinking fountains and showers, to its easily-navigable ramps and footpaths.

The great news is that won’t have to trudge far for a cold drink or bite to eat as there are permanent restaurants right on the promenade next to the beach.

11. El Saler Beach

Mavarrosa is a fine urban beach, but it might be that you want a more natural setting for you day next to the Mediterranean. In which case El Saler is the way to go: the beach starts some way south of Valencia’s port, which you’ll be able to see in the distance.

At 2.6 kilometres in length this beach means peace and privacy as you relax on white sands on the coast of La Albufera Natural Reserve.

Behind you will be little more than sand dunes and pine trees and in front moderate waves and a wash that shelves gently into the sea.

12. Hire a bike

Riding a bike on Spanish roads might seem like a hair-raising experience, but it’s perfectly safe in Valencia’s web of narrow streets, pedestrianised squares, parks and seafront promenades.

You’ll have the freedom to zip around Valencia’s top sights, head to the beach or take easy rides through the Jardín del Turia.

In 2012 the city implemented the Valenbisi bike sharing network, which is subscription-based and aimed mainly at Valencia’s residents. Still, there are numerous rental companies across the city, ilike PassionBike in Carrer de Serrans.

13. Paella

If you want best paella in Valencia, get off the beaten track and go to restaurants frequented by Valencians. There are plenty around Malvarrosa, and if possible it will always pay to make reservations.

Paella is probably Spain’s most famous dish, and it was first created right here. Everything that goes into it is local, from the rice grown in vast fields north and south of the city, and even the saffron that flavours the rice.
If you didn’t already know, the dish’s name comes from the large iron pans that it’s cooked and served in. You can pick from the traditional meat variety, with rabbit and snails, or go for the seafood version, with prawns and squid.

14. Parque Gulliver

If you’re walking the Jardín del Turia with little ones then make a stop at this imaginative attraction close to the City of the Arts and Sciences. It’s inspired by the classic work, Gulliver’s Travels, written by Jonathan Swift in the 18th century.

At the park you’ll feel like a Lilliputian, and kids while have a whale of a time scrambling over the giant figure of Gulliver prone on the ground.

There are slides, ramps, stairways and all kinds of little interactive features. Also part of the attraction is a skating area, giant chessboard and a mini-golf course.

15. Las Fallas

This celebrations that take place in Valencia in the build up to St. Joseph’s Day on the 19th of March could be the noisiest and most colourful of any fiesta in Spain.

Las Fallas marks the beginning of spring, and in the past the city’s carpenters would hold bonfires on the night before the 19th in honour of their patron saint. Slowly it developed into the awesome spectacle you can see today, with something special to see every day.

For example every day at two in the town square you can see the La Mascletá, an ear-splitting firework display. And throughout the week “Ninots”, huge cardboard sculptures with satirical themes, make their way around the city streets and are eventually burned in the Cremà, massive fires on the night of the 19th.

10 mysteries of history that can not be solved yet

History harbors a lot of mysteries over the solution of which not one hundred scientists are fighting. For centuries people have been lured by history, and people wanted to know what happened when they were not in this world. Yes, to know everything in the world is not an easy task, and few people can boast that they know everything, and that is why for the expansion of horizons and their own knowledge, people are so eagerly trying to unravel the secrets of history. Next you will find 10 mysteries of history, which historians still can’t unravel.

Tomb of Genghis Khan, Central Asia

As soon as Genghis Khan let out his last breath in 1227 at the age of 65, several legends about his death were born at once. Some have suggested that he died after falling from a horse or during a battle with the Chinese. Others believed that he did not survive pneumonia or lost too much blood after castration (there is also such a legend). Not only that the cause of the death of Khan is a secret, still have not found his final resting place. According to the will of Genghis Khan, he was to be buried in a secret place, and those who had buried him were killed so that they would not reveal the secret to anyone.
Legends make this mystery even more mysterious. Some claim that the riverbed was specially changed so that it would pass over the grave of the great commander so that no one could find it. Another story says that 1000 horses were driven out of the grave to cover all tracks, after which trees were planted above it. Search for the tomb of Genghis Khan continues, despite technical difficulties, such as poorly studied terrain and the huge size of the desert terrain.

Lost City of Kalahari, South Africa, Namibia

In November 1885, Guillermo Farini (aka William Leonard Hunt) wrote a report about the strange and mysterious city that he stumbled upon in the Kalahari Desert. He presented this data to the Berlin Geographical Society, and in 1886 to the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain. Farini even published a book in the same year in which he described the discovery in detail. In the book, he described the mysterious rock formations, which, as he was convinced, were the ruins of an ancient city.
The traveler claimed that the city was built in the shape of an arc, with some of its parts hidden under the sand, while others could be considered quite well. Since Farini could not find any inscriptions on the ruins, he suggested that the city is several thousand years old. Over the years, this information about the ancient city right in the center of the Kalahari, which is now completely covered by desert sand, has been overgrown with rumors.

Interestingly, even the local goggentot tribes stated that there used to be an ancient city that was not built by them. Historian Gustav Prelude also claimed that the goggentots were ready to lead him to the ruins in the north of the region and to a place further away where gems were once discovered. Many expeditions were carried out to find the ruins of the city and try to prove that the history of Farini is true. However, all searches did not lead to anything, and the mystery has now become a myth.
Professor A.J. Clement tried to investigate the theory of Farini and concluded that the traveler never reached the Kalahari Desert, but instead went the other way, where he discovered natural rock formations consisting of dolerite, which can appear artificial during erosion. In 2016, another expedition to the Kalahari was conducted, and scientists finally managed to find walls and rocks that corresponded to the original description of Farini. However, it is still unclear whether these structures are artificial.

Spiral Staircase of the Loretto Chapel, USA, New Mexico

In the late 1870s, the architect of the Loretto chapel in American Santa Fe died unexpectedly during construction, when most of the church was completed. And only then the builders suddenly realized that there was not a single staircase leading to the choir in the building. It was impossible to install a standard ladder, given the small size of the chapel, and carpenters did not understand how to “get out of the situation”. Then the nuns in the church began to pray to St. Joseph and did this for nine consecutive days.
On the tenth day, a strange-looking man appeared at the door of the chapel. He told the nuns that he could build a ladder that would fit in the chapel, but they would have to give him complete confidentiality for the time needed to complete the task. Therefore, the man worked alone in the chapel for three months, using only the simplest tools that he brought with him: a saw, a square, warm water and wood.

When the staircase was completed, the man disappeared, without even telling anyone his name. The spiral staircase was 6.7 meters high and made two turns, rising to the choirs. What is most incredible is that there was not a single nail or even a central bearing column in it, so it simply did not have to withstand the weight of people climbing along it.

Ten years after this strange incident, a railing was added to the stairs. In subsequent years, the keeper of the chapel decided to check the wood from which the stairs were made, and it turned out that this was an unknown species of spruce that was not found in the area. The nuns at the time attributed the construction of the staircase to the most holy Joseph and insisted that it be declared a miracle. Who this man was and how he was able to build a ladder that simply “should not work” using only basic tools remains a mystery.

Tomb in Pomorie, Bulgaria

Near the town of Pomorie in Bulgaria among the vineyards and gardens you can find a man-made secret. Called the Thracian Tomb in Pomorie or the Dome Tomb, this structure is a semi-cylindrical vault with a hollow column in the middle, which gradually expands to the top and eventually passes into the outer walls. It is estimated that the tomb was built between the second and fourth centuries of our era. There are also signs that previously there was a spiral staircase inside the column.
The experts could not establish the real name of the structure and how it was built with such precision thousands of years ago. When the study of the tomb began at the end of the 19th century, the Czech archaeological brothers Karel and Hermann Skorpil made several drawings and notes on this structure. They suggested that it was a tomb, like most historians. However, some researchers believe that this is actually a mausoleum, built as a monument to the hero of those times. Research continues to establish the true purpose of the ancient structure and who built it.

Mummies San Bernardo, Colombia

Surrounded by the Andes Mountains, the city of San Bernardo in Colombia became famous for its strange mystery, which scientists can not explain. In 1957, the local cemetery was washed away by a stream of water, after which the workers moved the remains to a new place. Looking through the remains, they were amazed that many of them did not show signs of decay and decomposition, although they had already been in the ground for a very long time.
One of the undertakers, Eduardo Chifuntes, reported this to the authorities, and a subsequent examination of the corpses showed that they were not only mummified in some natural, inexplicable way, but their clothes were also well preserved. From the other corpses in the cemetery, only bones remained, but the data of several mummies remained intact, despite the fact that there was no evidence that they were embalmed.

Theories of the causes of this phenomenon range from the diet of the locals, which includes the unique fruits of guatila and balu, to the climate and the high mountain location of this region. However, this does not explain why the clothing of the corpses is also in good condition and why San Bernardo is the only city in the area where the mummies were found. Some of these bodies are now exhibited inside glass cases in the museum. Although there are no measures in the museum to preserve corpses, the mummies of San Bernardo still do not rot and do not decompose.

The Lost Tombs of the Maccabees, Israel

Almost 150 years ago, the search began for the lost tombs of the Maccabees. Scientists, experts, travelers, etc., took part in the search, but they all ended in nothing, and the graves are still being searched for. In 2015, archaeologists found that they found tombs in the town of Gorbat Ha Gardi near Modiin, but this turned out to be wrong. The family, which aroused such interest among experts all over the world, consisted of a Jewish priest named Mattathias and his five sons, who rebelled against the pagan domination of the Hellenistic Empire Seleucid Empire

When the priest died, his son Judah led the struggle, and eventually successfully freed Judea from the Seleucids, returning the Jerusalem temple to the Jews. During the restoration or re-consecration of the temple, the holiday of Hanukkah appeared. After the temple was redone, the five sons of Mattathias continued to fight for the expansion of the liberated territory, but each of them died one after the other after conquering the throne. It is their lost tombs that still remain the subject of searches of archaeologists.

Winchester Rifle 1882, USA, Nevada

At the end of 2014, employees of the Great Basin National Park in the US state of Nevada made a routine detour and stumbled upon a strange find. On the tree hung a rifle, which even outwardly seemed far from new. But the staff were amazed to learn later that the weapon is more than 130 years old. It was found that the rifle was a model in 1873 and it was made in 1882. From 1873 to 1919, more than 700,000 such rifles were manufactured.
All this information, unfortunately, could not explain who could own these weapons or why and how it turned out to be in the park. There is a theory that the rifle may have belonged to a cowboy or a gold digger who hung it on a tree and forgot it. But this means that the rifle has hung on a tree in the park for over 130 years, and most people consider this theory implausible. According to experts, it is more likely that someone inherited a rifle and decided to leave it in the park for unknown reasons.

Manuscript Sibiu, Romania

In 1961, someone discovered a document called the Sibiu Manuscript. The document contains 450 pages and dates back to the 1500s. Especially in the eyes of experts rushed that the document describes the technical characteristics relating to artillery, ballistics and ... multi-stage missiles. The manuscript also details the successful launch of a multi-stage rocket in front of thousands of witnesses in the city of Sibiu in 1555. The author of the manuscript, Conrad Haas, presented the drawings of the rocket, which he designed and built.
It is believed that the Sibiu Manuscript is the first document that describes rocket science in detail. Haas also spoke in detail about modern spacecraft, rocket fuel, liquid fuel and deltoid wings. As it turned out, someone had studied rocket science 400 years before using this technology in the 20th century. Who it was remains a mystery.

Red Queen, Mexico

In 1994, the archaeologist Arnoldo González Cruz and his team discovered a burial chamber in Temple XIII in the ruins of Palenque (southern Mexico). Inside the chamber they found a sarcophagus and an intact tomb. On one side of the sarcophagus lay the skeleton of a boy, and on the other, the skeleton of a thirty-year-old woman. It is believed that they were sacrificed to accompany the woman in the afterlife, whose remains were found inside the sarcophagus. The skeleton inside the sarcophagus was covered with red dust, which is why it was called the “Red Queen”. Cruz and his team also found a collection of jade and pearl items.
Around the skull lay a diadem of jade beads, as well as the remains of what might have been a funerary mask. Unfortunately, nothing indicated the identity of the woman. Studies of the remains showed that the woman was about 60 years old when she died, and that she loved to eat meat. She is believed to have been an important person, since her burial chamber was located near the grave of Pacal the Great. The remains were returned to Palenque, but attempts to establish the identity of the Red Queen continue.

Tomb of Alexander the Great

According to one version, the body of the commander was placed in a golden coffin, which was taken to Memphis, and then to Egyptian Alexandria, where he disappeared with the end of the period of antiquity.
It was believed that the so-called Alexander sarcophagus was found in Sidon (Lebanon). He is so called and still because of the image on him of a warrior in a lion's helmet, which resembles a commander's helmet. But in reality it turned out to be the sarcophagus of the Sidon king Abdolanim.
In 2014, a skeleton was found in the tomb of Amphipolis (Central Macedonia), and archaeologists believe that this may be Alexander. Confirm or refute this assumption will be possible only after carrying out DNA analysis and careful research.

5 shocking misconceptions about world attractions

There are countries in the world that are shown to us from various sides so much that it seems as though we have already been there. This also applies to the attractions of these countries which in fact are not as simple as it may seem at first glance.

There isn’t star-striped flag on the moon

Many have seen the famous snapshot of the lunar surface, where a bright star-striped flag flutters next to Nile Armstrong as a symbol of the achievements of the American space industry.
Buzz Aldrin, who took part in the famous flight with Armstrong, said that the Apollo mission had delivered six flags to the moon and one of them was placed too close to the launch site so that it was blown away by the Apollo 11 engine.
The rest of the flags now look quite different from the picture: over the years, the fabric has completely faded under the rays of the scorching sun - there is no atmosphere on the moon, so the stars and stripes have given way to pure white color.

Druids did not build Stonehenge

Mysterious stones of Stonehenge have been stirring the minds of researchers and visionaries for centuries. The construction looks like giant children's blocks that unknown gods decided to play with. Argued that these ancient boulders here brought the Druids to perform here their mysterious rituals, but this is not true.
Scientists subjected the stones to radiocarbon analysis, which showed that Stonehenge was erected for several hundred years: the first stones were delivered here between 2400 and 2200 years BC. e., and completed construction was about 1600 BC. Oe., so that the Druids in this could not participate - they still simply did not exist.
The spread of this legend was promoted by the English archeologist and theologian William Stuckeley, who lived in the 18th century. Stackley studied the history of the Celts and even conducted ceremonies along with his wife in the image and likeness of the Druids, and, apparently, his enthusiasm convinced everyone that the Celts had a hand in Stonehenge.

The bridge, which everyone calls London, is not London at all

One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, the so-called London Bridge actually bears a different name. Even the Google search engine is mistaken in this matter by displaying an image of another structure to the corresponding request, which people well-versed know as Tower Bridge - this is the same as seeing the picture of the Catherine Palace instead of the Hermitage.
The real London bridge connects two urban districts - City and Southwork, separated by the main English river Thames. The modern bridge was opened in 1973, its predecessor stood here since 1831, bridges were erected in this place before (according to some data, even in the times of Ancient Rome), and they always had the same name - London Bridge .
It remains unclear when there was a confusion with the names, but it so happened that the Tower Bridge became the “face” of the capital of Great Britain.

What made the French give the USA the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty has always been a symbol of hope and freedom for Americans; it is also believed that it patronizes travelers traveling to the country, wanderers and destitute, as evidenced by Emma Lazarus’s poem, engraved on a pedestal plate. These are the famous lines:
"Leave, the lands of the ancient, praise the centuries to yourself!"
Silently. "Give me your weary people,
All eager to breathe freely, abandoned in need,
From the narrow shores of the persecuted, the poor and the orphans.
So send them homeless and harassed, to me,
I raise my torch at the golden gate. "
However, initially the statue had nothing to do with tired wanderers and asylum-seeking outcasts.
"Lady Liberty" was created by the French, dissatisfied with the authoritarian regime of Emperor Napoleon III. The huge sculpture, presented to the United States in honor of the centenary of independence, seemed to hint that in France itself, everything is not so bright.
The construction of the statue was not funded by the government of Napoleon III, but by the French people: voluntary donations came from all over France.
Interestingly, some Catholics opposed the installation of a huge statue, considering the Statue of Liberty to be a pagan idol, and they were not far from the truth, because it is nothing more than the image of the Roman goddess of freedom, Liberta.

The Eiffel Tower was built as an exhibit

The French authorities decided to arrange a world exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution (1789). The Paris city administration asked the renowned engineer Gustave Eiffel to make a proposal. At first, Eiffel was a little puzzled, but then, rummaging in his papers, introduced for consideration the drawings of a 300-meter-high iron tower, to which he had paid little attention before.
The initial contract with Eiffel was about dismantling the tower 20 years after construction. The Parisian intelligentsia, indignant, called this tower ugliness, that it would spoil the general style of the city that had developed over the centuries, which angry pisma wrote to the city mayor’s office. Guy de Maupassant was an ardent opponent of the building of the tower but regularly dined in a restaurant on the first level of the tower (now the restaurant "Jules Verne"). When asked why he does it, if he does not like the tower, the writer replied: "This is the only place in all of huge Paris where it is not visible from."
From dismantling the tower was saved by a radio station mounted inconsiderately on the tower itself. Thanks to her, Eifel was able to extend the lease of the tower for another 70 years. Soon Radio Communication In 1914, radio interception allowed General Galeni to organize a counterattack on Marne during the First World War. In 1921, the first direct broadcast from the Eiffel Tower took place. Broadcasting has been broadcast, made possible by the installation of special antennas on the tower.
Thus, the "Parisian freak", with an exhibit turned into a radio tower, and then already in the world sights, a distinctive feature and pride of France.

12 mystic places on the Earth

1. Devil's tower, USA

The so-called Devil's Tower is actually a natural rock of surprisingly regular shape and consists of columns with sharp corners. This is a truly mysterious place, which, according to research, for more than 200 million years is located in the United States in the modern state of Wyoming.

The size of The devil's Tower is several times greater than the pyramid of Cheops and resembles a man-made structure. Due to the unreal size and unnaturally correct configuration of the rock became the object of attention of many scientists, and the locals say that it was built by Satan himself.

2. The Cahokia mounds, USA

Cahokia or Cahokia (Cahokia) – abandoned by the inhabitants of the Indian city, the ruins are located near Illinois, USA. This place is reminiscent of how ancient civilizations lived, and its complex structure proves that this area was inhabited by highly developed people 1500 years ago. The ancient city is striking in its scale, on its territory preserved a network of terraces and 30-meter earthen mounds, as well as the huge size of the solar calendar.
It is still unknown why an almost 40-thousand society left their settlement, and which the Indian tribes are the direct descendants of Cahokia. Despite this, the mounds of Cahokia is a favorite place of many tourists who come here in the hope to unravel the mystery of the ancient city.

3. Chavinda, Mexico

This mystical place, according to the beliefs of the aborigines, is the center of the intersection of the real and supernatural worlds. That is why there are incredible things that are difficult to understand modern man.

In Chavinda lives a little more than 6 thousand people.
Chavinda is interested in many treasure hunters, because according to legend, this area hides unprecedented wealth. Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to find the treasure. Their failures would-be treasure hunters often attributed to supernatural forces.

4. Newgrange, Ireland

Newgrange is the oldest building on the territory of modern Ireland and is about 5 thousand years old. It is believed that this long corridor with a transverse room is a grave, but for whom, scientists have not yet been able to determine.

It is still unknown how ancient people were able to build such a perfect design, which for five millennia not only was lucky to survive, preserving the primitive appearance, but also to remain completely waterproof.
The stones at the entrance to the tomb are decorated with a spiral pattern.

5. The Pyramids Of Yonaguni, Japan

Mysterious underwater pyramids near the Western Japanese island of Yonaguni cause a lot of controversy among modern archaeologists and surveyors. The main question is whether the buildings are a natural phenomenon or they were created by the hand of ancient man.

Only divers can see the city of Yonaguni.

In the course of numerous studies it was found that the age of the pyramids of Yonaguni is more than 10 thousand years. Therefore, if Yonaguni monuments created a mysterious unknown civilization, then human history should be rewritten.

6. The Geoglyphs Of Nazca, Peru

Nazca geoglyphs in Peru is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. They were discovered in the middle of the last century and are still actively discussed by scientists who can not say for sure what ancient people wanted to Express these giant drawings of animals and for what purpose they were used.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to ask the creators and now scientists offer 2 main versions: some, leaning to the cosmic theory of the origin of geoglyphs, believe that they are reference points for alien ships, others argue that these are giant lunar calendars. In any case, the rock paintings of Nazca is proof of the existence in the territory of modern Peru of the ancient and mysterious civilization that lived here long before the famous Incas and had a high level of development.

7. Black bamboo hollow, China

Dell black bamboo or Heijo represents, perhaps, the most terrible place on Earth. The locals called it the valley of Death, and for any money do not want to even get close to it. One thing about the hollow makes them strong horror.
Hajo is one of the strongest anomalous zones of the planet.

They say that here children and Pets disappear without a trace and it has a lot of documentary evidence. Scientists have been interested in the black bamboo hollow for more than a decade, who managed to prove that the valley in the Chinese province of Sichuan is an abnormal area with a severe climate and sharply changing weather conditions, which together provokes the subsidence of the soil, which, according to scientists, are the reasons for the loss of people.

8. Giant's Trail, Ireland

The trail of Giants, or the Road of Giants in Northern Ireland – an amazing coastal area, formed many centuries ago as a result of a volcanic eruption. It consists of about 40 thousand basalt columns, resembling giant steps.

The natural attraction is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. This place deserves admiration, so it is visited annually by more than one thousand tourists from all over the world.

9. Circle goseck, Germany

Circle goseck is an ancient Neolithic structure in the German district Burgenlandkreis. The circle was accidentally discovered in the early 90-ies of the last century when reviewing the terrain from the aircraft.

The original appearance of the building was returned only after a complete reconstruction. Scientists have little doubt that the Gozek circle was used for astronomical observations and calendar. This proves that our ancestors also studied cosmic bodies, their movement and followed the time.

10. The Moai monuments on Easter island

Easter island is known all over the world thanks to the giant statues of Moai, located throughout its territory. Each such megalithic figure is a large monument created by the masters of ancient civilization in the crater of the local volcano Rano Raraku.

In total, about 1,000 remains of such man-made monuments were found on the island. Most have already gone under water.

Today, the vast majority of the statues are once again placed on platforms facing the ocean, from where they continue to welcome visitors to the island and remind of the former power of the ancient people who inhabited these expanses.

11. The tablets of Georgia, USA

Georgia tablets are 20-ton polished granite slabs with inscriptions in the eight most famous languages of the world. The inscriptions are commandments for future generations, how to rebuild civilization after the global cataclysm. The monument was erected in 1979, the customer is listed in the documents under the name Robert C. Christian.

The height of the monumental structure is a little more than six meters, and the plates are oriented in the direction of the four sides of the world and have holes. In one of them you can see the North star at any time of the year, in the second - the Sun during the solstice and equinox. A few years ago, the monument was vandalized and damaged by paint, which has not yet been removed.

12. Rishat (Eye Of The Sahara).

Mauritania In the territory of modern Mauritania, the largest desert in the world hides an amazing natural phenomenon of the Proterozoic period, whose name is Rishat or the Eye of the Sahara.

This object has an incredibly huge size (up to 50 kilometers in diameter), so it can be seen even from space. The structure has several ellipsoidal rings formed by sedimentary rocks and sandstones about 500 million years ago.

The secrets of New Zealand: what is it like in reality

New Zealand is a faraway country. There are a lot of rumors about it: the citizens eat people here, or New Zealanders live like savages, and even the ozone hole is located right above this island. And it’s useful to figure out what is true and what is still a misconception in order not to get into a trouble in a conversation with an erudite.

New Zealand is somewhere in Australia

Better not say it with the New Zealanders. Never. New Zealand is a completely independent country and consists of two islands: North and South, separated by the Strait of Cook. It’s more than 2000 km by sea from here to Australia.

New Zealand is a small country where everyone knows each other.

In fact, New Zealand surpasses the UK by area, and the country's population is almost 5 million inhabitants. And although the New Zealanders themselves say there works “the theory of two handshakes” instead of “six” as in the rest of the world, of course, everyone cannot be familiar with each other

New Zealand is full of dangerous animals

Most likely, you again thought about Australia. In New Zealand, there are no dangerous animals, except perhaps the sheep (if they suddenly frighten someone). Once on the South Island lived a huge Haast eagle, which did not shun human flesh, but this species became extinct around the 15th century.

But there are many amazing and rare animals which can not be found anywhere else in the world. For example, the kiwi bird, the unofficial symbol of the country, is a long-beard creature, unable to fly. She is nocturnal and therefore to meet kiwi in nature is not so simple. Today New Zealand has about 70,000 kiwis, but every year the population of this rare bird is declining. Another species living exclusively off the coast of New Zealand is the miniature dolphin of Hector, whose length does not exceed 1.5 m. You can recognize it by its characteristic rounded fin on the back. Alas, the Hector dolphins are also endangered. In the country, you can also find the Red-book Alpine Kea parrots, blue penguins, the lizard of the tavern (or tuatara), the New Zealand bird of Tui and the unusual cuckoo iglopee owl.

People are eaten in New Zealand

We will not deny: in the distant times of tribal wars, Maori cannibalism existed, but modern New Zealand is a modernized country. Most services, including banking, accounting, reporting and even business registration, have long been available online. It is very rare for local residents to carry cash, as almost all payments here are made by card.

The urban infrastructure is not far behind in terms of technology: it is easy to meet here “smart” public toilets, which politely greet and say goodbye to the user’s voice, automatically turn on the lights or even the music. Another example of environmental initiatives is garbage bins with a built-in compressor, powered by solar energy. Due to the automatic compressor the volume of garbage is five times less than in a normal urn!

In New Zealand, there are no wild tribes living in the jungle and waiting for not too vigilant tourists. Modern Maori representatives have adapted to Western culture and, along with other populations, live in cities or villages.

Today, this national symbol can be found almost everywhere.

New Zealanders prefer to walk without shoes

Annually, on December 2, New Zealanders celebrate the National Day of Slippers. It is believed that it was in New Zealand that this familiar and comfortable footwear was invented in 1957.

Right. This may seem strange to someone, but people walking barefoot can be found almost everywhere: in supermarkets, bars or restaurants. At first, this can cause different feelings - from surprise to rejection, but one can quickly get used to unusual features.

It is difficult to say where this habit came from, but it was laid in New Zealanders from childhood. Even in large cities it is very clean, so it never occurs to anyone that walking barefoot can catch any infection. Some are shod in houses, because they are really cold, but kiwis are resistant to cool weather: it is absolutely normal in winter to meet a man without shoes, in shorts and ... in a down jacket.

Everyone speaks English in New Zealand

Both yes and no. There are three official languages in the country: English, Maori (the national language of the indigenous people) and sign language for the deaf and dumb. However, if you think that everyone here speaks British English, you are mistaken. This is especially true of Auckland, a city of immigrants, where completely different accents are heard in speech. In addition, Kiwi and Maori use specific slang, which sometimes complicates communication between foreign travelers and local ones.

To speak like a kiwi, replace the sound e with i. So, eggs will be iggs, and six turns into sex. The phrase yeah nah can mean “maybe,” “never,” “sometimes,” “probably,” “of course,” or all of the above. Or another example: the word сhur is used for “hello”, “bye”, “cool”.

New Zealanders call themselves Kiwi

True! And this nickname does not come from the fruit of kiwi, but from the above-mentioned bird. Kiwis began to call the New Zealand military, who wore identification marks depicting birds. They first appeared on the army uniform at the beginning of the 20th century, during the Second Anglo-Boer War

Kiwi are engaged exclusively in agriculture and live on farms

Well no. Despite the fact that Europeans did come here to develop new lands, modern New Zealanders live in cities (there are 16 of them in the country) and are not much different from the inhabitants of the Old World. And even farmers with might and main use the benefits of civilization: TV, mobile phones, the Internet. You can also hear that kiwi do not work at all and sunbathe under palm trees all day long while sipping coconut water. This is certainly not the case. Just New Zealanders prefer to live in a measured way - to lead the so-called Kiwi lifestyle, which is to respect the balance between work and personal life. One of the important aspects of the Kiwi lifestyle is working in a team of like-minded people. In employment, preference will most likely be given to a candidate whose personal qualities and interests coincide with the team, they must be on the same wavelength.

Here it is customary to separate work and life - after the end of the working day, everyone goes about their business: spend time with family and friends or go to a barbecue. They generally talk little about work - often people who have been playing on the same sports team for years may not know what their playmates do. And this is completely normal. It is also normal, for example, to fish in the morning before work. And this is also part of the Kiwi lifestyle.

New Zealand is a tropical country where summer is year round.

Those who consider New Zealand to be a resort country with a hot climate are mistaken. The average annual air temperature is +10 ° С for the south and +17 ° С for the north of the country. In general, the climate is considered to be temperate - there are no severe frosts or intense heat. In the summer months (December-February), the air can warm up to +30 ° C, which pleases beach lovers. Most of the beaches of New Zealand are suitable for a relaxing holiday, and for a more active pastime. Those who want to catch a wave on the surf, you can choose the beaches of Raglan, in the west of the North Island.

The northeastern part of the North Island will appeal to fans of healing mud and thermal springs. One of the most famous and unusual beaches is Hot Water Beach, located on the Coromandel Peninsula. Often you can see people who settled in small pits with water - all because of underground hot springs that break out.

On the South Island it is better to choose the beaches in the suburb of Dunedin - they will like lovers of scenic views and a relaxing holiday. Kitesurfing in windy weather is perfect sandy beach Kiteering Beach in the national park Abel-Tasman.

In winter, the temperature on the North Island ranges from 0 ° C to +15 ° C, but rarely reaches minus values. But going to the South Island, it is better to capture warm clothes and a down jacket - in the central and southern parts, you can easily catch a minus. The coldest thing is in the mountainous regions of the South Island. In July, the average temperature can drop to –12 ° С. Comfortable minus and snow cover will delight lovers of skiing - in May you can ride on the slopes of Mount Hutt. The trails are equipped to high standards, and therefore the world stages of alpine skiing competitions are often held here.

There is an ozone hole above New Zealand.

Yes. New Zealand has high rates of skin cancer. As a rule, elderly New Zealanders with white skin are subject to it. The appearance of the ozone hole over the Antarctic is to blame for this, resulting in excessive ultraviolet radiation. And although by now the hole has become smaller, and the panic around it has subsided, you should not be in direct sunlight for a long time, you should also use a cream with a high level of SPF, wear sunglasses and a hat. Note also that the average life expectancy in New Zealand compared to other countries is quite high and is more than 81 years.

New Zealand has nothing to do

Myth. In New Zealand, there is literally something for every taste. For example, lovers of outdoor activities can be advised to go trekking, there are excellent conditions for this in the country. Passing on well-groomed paths, travelers can enjoy the views of the majestic mountains, waterfalls and lakes, forests and stretching for miles of sea coasts.

Those who prefer to spend time in the city should go to parks and gardens. A pleasant feature of almost all parks is the presence of playgrounds and barbecue areas, one of the favorite leisure activities of citizens. In the evening, there are often film screenings in the open.

But for cultural impressions it is better to go to major cities: Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. In addition to exhibition spaces and museums, New Zealand regularly hosts music and thematic festivals, such as jazz or contemporary music.

Also, New Zealanders have an incredibly popular sport - from widespread rugby and football to badminton and tennis. We should also highlight water sports, primarily surfing, kite and windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, kayaking, diving. Fans of extreme rest will not get bored either - it is likely that kiwis compensate a measured lifestyle by adrenaline rush during skydiving, paragliding, and snowboarding. Auto and motorcycle races are also very popular: in New Zealand a lot of competitions are held in different categories - both for amateurs and professional racers. And for those who are far from extreme, the sport will be more relaxed - for example, golf. The benefit of the field for him are located near every major city.

10 important sights of Bulgaria every tourist must visit

Known for its cuisine, friendly atmosphere, ancient ruins, villages, soaring mountains and sunny beaches, Bulgaria is undoubtedly included in the list of the best tourist destinations in Europe. In addition to the bright sun and warm sea, Bulgaria is rich in sights and monuments of the cultural heritage of the whole world. Some of them will be discussed below.

Natural and archaeological reserve at Cape Kaliakra

Location: 12 km east of the town of Kvarana, 60 km north-east of Varna.

Kaliakra is a long narrow cape in the southeastern part of the Dobrudzhansky plateau. The coast of the cape is distinguished by steep cliffs almost vertically hanging over the sea - their height reaches 70 m.
Kaliakra is a natural and archaeological reserve where you can observe dolphins, cormorants and pinnipeds in their natural habitat. It also presents the remains of fortified walls, running water, baths and the residence of the ruler of the Dobrudzhansky despot Dobrotitsa, who once moved the capital from Kavarna.
The eponymous fortress of the end of the 14th century became a symbol of this place after it played a decisive role in the naval battle of 1791 between the Russian and Turkish fleets. This battle determined the success of Russian soldiers in the Russian-Turkish war.
Also at the very tip of the cape is a small chapel of St. Nicholas.

Interesting Facts: The destroyer of the Russian Imperial Navy was named “Kaliakria” in honor of the victory won by Admiral Ushakov over the Turkish-Algerian fleet during the Russian-Turkish war.

The main fortress Tsarevets medieval capital - Veliko Tarnovo

Location: Veliko Tarnovo.

In the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom from 1185 to 1395 Bulgaria was the largest and most powerful state in Southeast Europe, and Tsarevets was the main fortress of the medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo.
During the first centuries of Roman rule, the ancient settlement was deserted, but, according to archaeological data, it was inhabited as early as the 2nd millennium BC. After a long desolation, this place became a strongly fortified early Byzantine city by the 5th century.
In the XII century on the tops of the foundations of this early Byzantine city and was erected a medieval fortress. Partial restoration is taking place here these days, although the entire fort has already been well studied. Visiting tourists can easily observe how the fort, consisting of massive stone walls, gates and towers, was able to survive many different periods throughout its history.

Interesting Facts: On the territory of the fortress were the royal chambers and the Palace of the Patriarch of the Bulgarian church.

The Medieval city of Nessebar

Location: 37 km north of the city of Burgas.

Located on a rocky peninsula, on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, the ancient city of Nessebar, which has more than 3000 years of history, was originally a Thracian settlement of Mesebrias.
At the beginning of the VI. BC. settlement becomes a Greek colony. The remains of the city, which mainly belong to the Hellenistic period, include the acropolis, the temple of Apollo, Agora and the wall of the Thracian fortifications. Other most valuable historical monuments - the Basilica of St. Sophia (the Old Metropolis) and the fortress itself - belong to the Middle Ages, a time when it was one of the most important Byzantine cities on the west coast of the Black Sea. Wooden houses built in the 19th century are typical of the Black Sea architecture of the time.

The city is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and tourists can get here only along a narrow isthmus 400 m wide.
Interesting Facts: Almost half of the ancient city went under water. In 1983, the area of the old town of Nessebar was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Monument of Slavic cultural identity of the Bulgarian language - Rila Monastery

Location: 117 km south of Sofia in the valley of the Rila River.

The Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St. John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and grave became holy places and turned into a monastic complex, which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. Being a characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance, the monument symbolizes the awareness of Slavic cultural identity after centuries of occupation. During the Ottoman rule, the monastery acted as guardian of the Bulgarian language and culture.
Nowadays, the Rila Monastery is the largest Stavropegic Monastery of the Bulgarian Church. For tourists, this place will be especially interesting due to the local monastic museum, which houses the famous Cross of Raphael - a unique example of woodcarving, which depicts 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures.

Interesting Facts: On the territory of the monastery is also located a natural national park famous for its landscapes and interesting tourist routes.

Rock formation of curious outlines and forms - Belogradchik cliffs

Location: near the town of Belogradchik, on the western slope of the Stara Planina mountain.

The Belogradchik Rocks is a unique natural phenomenon, claiming to be one of the new 7 wonders of the world. The height of the rocks reaches 200 m, but their main feature is this indicator and curious outlines and forms, thanks to which almost every rock formation has got its name. Here, tourists can meet the “Madonna”, “Horseman”, “Monks”, “Bee Stone”, “Momin Rock”, “Zbegovet”, “Camel”, “Goddess Bendida” and many other fancy rocks. Some really resemble someone's faces, others look like giant sphinxes, and others look like domes of mosques.
All rocks are divided into five groups depending on location. Most of them were formed over many hundreds of millions of years, being under the influence of erosion, denudation, growth of moss and lichen, and other natural factors.
Nowadays, these places are the main tourist attraction of the region, along with the city of Belogradchik and the eponymous fortress.

Interesting Facts. The length of the rock complex is almost 30 km from west to east.

The center of land use of classical antique era - Villa Armira

Location: 4 km southwest of the city of Ivaylovgrad.

Villa Armira is one of the earliest and best-preserved samples of a suburban Roman villa in Bulgaria. It is an outstanding architectural monument with more than 2000 years of history.
This is a luxurious private house (and in fact - the palace) of the classical ancient era, discovered in the Bulgarian lands. The villa was the center of land use, founded by a Thracian rich aristocratic family. The excavation of the mound near the village of Great Svirachi in 2001-2002. made a great contribution to the evidence of the Thracian origin of the villa; its first owner was the successor to the Thracian king. He received citizenship for cooperation with Rome and, thus, the authorities allowed him to create a farm and build a villa in the years 50-70. I century AD
Of particular value to the villa gives a well-preserved mosaic floor with Roman, Greek and Thracian elements.

Interesting Facts:The villa has been inhabited for at least 300 years.

The center of theatrical performances as well as for gladiatorial and hunting games - ancient theater

Location: in the old town of Plovdiv.

Located on the southern slope of the Three Hills, in the saddle between Taksim and Dzhambaz, discovered by archaeologists from Plovdiv and reconstructed in the early 80s of the 20th century, the ancient theater "Philipopolis" is one of the most well-preserved ancient Roman theaters in the world.
The long-found and decoded inscription on the monumental pedestal proves that the theater was built in the 90s. I century AD, when Philipopolis was ruled by Titus Flavius Kotis - the heir to the Thracian royal dynasty, the high priest of the province of Trakia, a representative of the capital's court and the person responsible for the construction sites.
The area of the auditorium of this ancient theater includes 28 concentric rows of marble seats surrounding the stage orchestra, which has a horseshoe shape with a diameter of 26.64 m. In addition to theatrical performances, this location was used for gladiatorial and hunting games, as well as the venue of the General Assembly Roman province of Thrace.

Interesting Facts: The theater was used for its intended purpose until the end of the 4th century and contained about 6,000 spectators.

Natural beauty and unusual names are characteristic of seven Rila lakes.

Location: the nearest town is Sapareva Banya.

The group of lakes of glacial origin, located in the north-western mountains of Rila, and is the most visited attraction in Bulgaria.
The popularity of the lakes is due to their natural beauty and unusual names, each of which is associated with a characteristic feature of a particular lake. The highest - "Tear" - is about 2500 m above sea level. It received its name because of the purest water, which allows you to see far into the lake. The lowest is called “Lower Lake” (not surprisingly) and is located at an altitude of 2100 m. Between them are “Twins” (the largest lake in area), “Eye” (in form represents an oval), “Kidney”, “Fish Lake” (the smallest) and "Shamrock" (with the correct form and low shores). The Eye is the deepest lake in the group, reaching a depth of 37.5 meters. “Kidneys” occupies the largest area.

Interesting Facts: To the lakes you can climb the cable car or walk from the Rila Monastery.

The summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria and the Botanical Garden are combined into an architectural and park complex

Location: Balchik.

The palace and botanical garden in Balchik have united into an architectural and park complex, which is a real paradise and an overpowered tourist attraction on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The complex was designed as the summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria (1875-1938).
The palace was designed by Italian architects; construction work began in 1924. One of the first buildings to be built was the queen’s villa “Tenha Yuvah” (“Lonely Nest”). In the following years, new villas, an Orthodox chapel, a nympheum inside Parisian patios, a traditional Renaissance house and fountains decorated with small marble images of mythological characters were erected.
During the construction of the complex used a combination of different architectural styles.
In 2007, archaeologists discovered here a well-preserved temple, built in 280-260 years. BC. Phrygian goddess of fertility Kibele.

The complex of churches, chapels, monasteries, cells, carved into the rocks, near the village of Ivanovo

Location: 21 km south of the city of Ruse near the village of Ivanovo.

In the valley of the river Rusensky Lom in northeastern Bulgaria near the village of Ivanovo there is a famous complex of churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the rocks. It was here, starting from the XII century, the first hermits began to cut their cells. A total of about 40 churches, chapels, monasteries, and about 300 cells were carved into the rocks.
Fragments of local frescoes of the XIV century also testify to the exceptional skill of local artists belonging to the Tarnovo school of painting.

Interesting Facts: The five churches of the complex preserved frescoes of the XIII-XIV centuries, which are a unique example of the medieval Bulgarian murals.

History on fire

Today we will talk about the most famous landmarks of the world affected by fires. Some of them could not be replenished, others had rebelled like a phoenix.

"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet

This picture and its owners had no luck from the very beginning. One of the late works of impressionist Claude Monet, which depicts the peaceful expanse of the pond and flowering lilies, went through several fires and gained mystical glory. Almost immediately after the canvas was finished, the workshop of the artist himself caught fire. The picture did not suffer and later decorated the cabaret in Montmartre, but not for long - after a few weeks it burned to the ground. Miraculously preserved "Water Lilies" acquired the French collector Otto Schmidz. A year later, such a fire broke out in his house that only one wall remained of the building - the one on which the infamous masterpiece hung. The Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1957 risked buying it. But a year later, on the second floor, flames flared. On that day, an air conditioner was installed in the building, and during the break, workers smoked in cans of paint, sawdust and cloth, which covered the canvases. Presumably, this led to a fire. This time the lilies did not manage to get out of the fire unharmed: the five-meter canvas was completely lost, and little work from the same series suffered greatly. She tried to recover within three years, but to no avail. An employee of the museum died in the fire, several firefighters suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Assumption Church in Kondopoga

One of the most beautiful wooden churches of the 18th century died in fire last August: only ashes remained from the Assumption Church on the shore of Lake Onega in Kondopoga. The monument of architecture of Zaonezhsky which survived the Soviet years completely burned out in just three hours. The fire broke out inside and quickly swept the 42-meter structure - one of the highest in Russia. The fire destroyed the last authentic interior of wooden churches in Russia: the five-tier baroque iconostasis and the iconic ceiling-sky with the composition Divine Liturgy, restored in 2006. The “sky” was divided into 16 faces, in each of which an angel was depicted, in the center - the image of Christ, in the corners - the holy evangelists. The last church service was held in 2015, the next three years the museum of local lore was working in the room. According to the main version, the cause of the tragedy was the careless handling of tourists with fire. Karelian officials claim that the hipped temple can be restored.

National Museum of Brazil

The three-storey palace of San Cristovan in Rio de Janeiro caught fire in September 2018. It housed the National Museum of Brazil: of the 20 million exhibits, only a few were saved. The fire started in the evening, after closing, so there were no casualties. 80 firefighters extinguished the fire until the morning: the hydrants were out of order, and they had to go to get to the nearest lake to get water. The flames destroyed large paleontological and archaeological collections, ancient Egyptian artifacts, Greek and Roman sculptures. You can no longer see the 12,000-year-old skeleton of a woman in South America and the dinosaur skeleton. The fire did not survive the largest meteorite that fell in Brazil, and the fresco from Pompeii, which survived the eruption of Vesuvius. These and other invaluable exhibits scientists collected over 200 years. Now the museum is undergoing restoration work.

Moscow Manege

Manege stood in the center of Moscow for almost 200 years: a covered parade ground for military parades and parades was built after the fire of 1812 on the site of a burnt-out wooden building according to a unique project of Spanish engineer Augustine Betancourt. The huge building without columns survived three revolutions and two wars, but in March 2004 a fire broke out here. The wooden structures of the ancient structure flashed instantly. After half an hour, almost the entire roof was burning, the flame rose to a height of 50 m and in an hour covered an area of 2000 m2. The fire burned from nine in the evening until two in the morning: by the morning of March 15, only the walls remained.

The fire was given the highest category of complexity, it was extinguished by more than 60 fire brigades. During the elimination of emergencies due to the collapse of the roof killed two firefighters, one was seriously injured. Trolleybus wires on Mokhovaya, parked cars and crowds of inquisitive passersby prevented the extinguish of fire. Therefore, they could only localize the fire by midnight, when the building was almost completely burnt out. A year later, the building was restored, adding new underground floors. But the original solid beams of larch replaced with glued, so many architects and art historians called Manege replica.

Namdaemun Gate in Seoul

South Korea lost its main character in February 2008: a strong fire destroyed the ancient Namdaemun gate (Great South Gate) in Seoul. The firefighters arrived at the scene almost immediately, but could not reach the source of the fire: for this they needed to disassemble the roof or wall of the historical monument, and no one decided to do this without the permission of the authorities. While negotiations were underway, the wooden part of the construction of the end of the 14th century burned to the ground. Later it turned out that the 70-year-old Korean had set fire to the Great South Gate. So he decided to take revenge on the authorities who paid him too little compensation for the building of his land. The ancient monument was restored almost five years and opened at the end of 2012. The gates were restored according to old drawings, they worked on the wooden part by hand, and paints for painting were brought from Japan. A large-scale project cost the country $ 22 million.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The main Catholic church in Paris and the symbol of the French capital erupted on Holy Monday, the evening of April 15th. The cause of the incident is only establishing, but according to the preliminary version, wooden scaffolding around the church caught fire (restoration work was going on in the cathedral). During the fire the roof, the spire and the clock collapsed, the supporting structures and the left tower burned, but the complete collapse of the building was prevented. All night, 400 firefighters were extinguished by Notre Dame de Paris, and only by the morning of April 16 were they able to contain the fire. From the island of Cité, on which the temple stands, all residents and tourists were evacuated. Parisians were on their knees, crying and praying. According to French media reports, one of the firefighters and two policemen were seriously injured in the course of fire fighting.

Some of the relics were saved: some paintings and statues, an altar, an altar cross and the main shrine of Notre Dame — the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ — were not injured. He was kept in a special safe: it saved him from fire. But the degree of preservation of stained glass windows, three bodies and the bell is not yet known. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the cathedral would be restored. According to preliminary estimates of experts, it may take up to several decades. Immediately after the fire, the state fund for the preservation of the cultural heritage of France began to raise funds for the restoration of the temple. During the first day they collected more than half a billion euros.

Barcelona - the city of color

What do you know about one of the most iconic cities in Spain - Barcelona? The thing witch I’m sure at is that she will meet you with a gentle sun and an incomparable Catalan flavor. And if Madrid is the head of Spain, then Barcelona is its heart, which is ready to love you hot and tender, and squeeze to your chest like a child.
Barcelona is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia, the largest industrial center of Spain and it employs 1,615,908 people. It is the second city in Spain in terms of population after Madrid and the tenth in the European Union.

It is impossible not to fall in love with this city, it is completely different from other European cities. The mild Mediterranean climate, delicious cuisine, warm sea and an endless number of attractions for anyone, even the most fastidious tourist. The narrow streets of the Gothic quarter, the architectural masterpieces of Gaudi, the cheerful hubbub of La Rambla, the singing fountains of Montjuic, stunning views of Tibidabo, the eccentricity of Salvador Dali and Picasso's impressionism are all here at your feet. You will not have a minute of free time, Barcelona will devour you entirely.
It is impossible to know Barcelona in one visit and you will definitely come here again and again. To be surprised, to rejoice, to find something new, to leave this city with regret and sadness. To miss and miss in separation, to revise old photos, to dream of a meeting, to one day once again open our arms to the friendly Spanish sun and say: Hola, Barсelona!

SPANISH CUISINE

The cuisine of Barcelona is a combination of Mediterranean cuisine, consisting of fresh fish and seafood, Spanish cuisine, as well as something special, Catalan. Start with tapas, they can be completely different: with slices of cheese, with olives, with fish, with finely chopped pieces of meat, with nuts, etc.

Try the classic tortilla - a delicious potato casserole, filled with eggs and well flavored with cheese.

As a main dish, take a Catalan paella - with an abundance of seafood. Dare to arroz negro (black paella) with sea cuttlefish ink and do not be afraid of the unappetizing appearance of this dish, it tastes much better than the classic one and doesn’t miss this culinary delicacy.

And complete the dinner with a wonderful local Crema Catalana dessert (creme brulee). Add to everything listed a jug of cold Sangría (sangria) with fruit pieces and you will remember this day in Barcelona for a long time!

Of course, this is not all, and you should definitely appreciate Catalan sausage Butifarra - traditional Catalan sausages. This dish is usually served with beans, but at the present time the version with salad and french fries is common.
Between the sea and the mountains (Mar i Muntanya) - a dish with an interesting name, implies an unusual combination of products: chicken and shrimp on the same plate with tomato, onion and garlic sauce. In many restaurants, you can also find combinations of this dish from different types of meat and fish;

Spanish knives (Navajas) are originally cooked marine creatures, in shape they resemble knives, they can often be seen in large aquariums;

Panellets - the original Catalan dessert made from almond nuts and sweet potatoes;

Turron - the traditional sweetness of Catalonia, made from almonds, honey and sugar. This is a very sweet and hard delicacy, which is well brought as a traditional souvenir. There are several different variants of Turron, a softer version is prepared with the addition of olive oil. Instead of almonds, you can also add hazelnut. In many sweet shops, you can try small pieces of Turron before buying;

Churros - sweet roasted custard pastry.

! Advice on choosing a restaurant: if possible, observe where the local population eats, the more local people eat / eat in a cafe, the higher the quality of the dishes offered and the lower their cost.

As for the sights, they need to highlight the whole story, but a couple of them are worth highlighting.

1. Park Guell

It would be good to start exploring the sights of Barcelona with the Park Guell, but not because it is the main "business card" of the city. Just there really is something to see here.
The park is literally filled with the works of the famous architectural genius Antonio Gaudi. Miracles begin already at the entrance, which is decorated with gingerbread houses of bizarre wavy shape, and then more: the famous mosaic lizard - the symbol of Barcelona, the column hall, the long parapet-bench of the same winding form - it feels like everything is from another planet.

2. Gothic Quarter

Be sure to visit this labyrinth of narrow old streets, located between Las Ramblas and Laietana street - this is where the true spirit of old Barcelona soars!

You can not only sit in a cozy cafe or go shopping, it is also a free open-air museum: every building from the XIV-XV centuries is worthy of attention.
Be sure to find here the best squares of the quarter - Saint-Jaume Square, Reial Square and Del Rey Square - and, of course, do not forget such popular architectural masterpieces as the Cathedral and the Archbishop Palace. The nearest metro stations to the Gothic Quarter are Liceu and Jaume I.

3. Hill of Montjuic

Perhaps, all the most interesting sights of Barcelona (well, or most of them) are collected here: the best museums of the city (National Art Museum of Catalonia, Joan Miró Museum, Spanish Village), buildings of the World Exhibition, many parks, gardens (among them botanical, for example, Jardins de Mossen Costa i Llobera) and shady paths and, of course, the eponymous castle and the famous Magic Fountain. An excellent choice for walking, what to say! In addition, the hill offers a very beautiful view of Barcelona.

4. Old port

Formerly unsightly, today the Old Port has become one of the most favorite places for walking. Besides the fact that this is perhaps the most popular place for shopping in the city, it is from here that water tours of the port and the docks begin and the funicular to Montjuic goes.

Be sure to take the time to stroll along the Moll de la Fusta or Moll d’Espanya promenade, look at the ancient schooner Saint Eulalia and, of course, do not forget to try the delicious waffles in Barcelona, which are baked only here.

5. Picasso Museum

Undoubtedly, one of the most popular museums in Barcelona. Here you can not only learn about the creative path of the founder of cubism, Pablo Picasso, but also see his works created during the most different periods of creativity (there are even children's drawings). And do not hesitate, you will not be bored - more than 3500 works of the great artist are collected in the museum.

6. Rambla

There is no doubt that it is the most famous street in the city. The Rambla Boulevard stretches from Plaça Catalunya to the Old Port (right up to the monument to Christopher Columbus) and is just crammed with all sorts of interesting things: flower sellers, souvenir shops and pastry shops side by side with stately theaters and museums, and real mimes entertain the public on the bridge. No wonder there is always a festive atmosphere and sparkling fun!
And most importantly, it is in the Rambla you will discover the most famous sights of Barcelona: the Royal Square, the Boqueria Market, the Liceu Theater and the Virrein Palace.

7. Magic Fountain

Walking through the evening Barcelona, do not miss the chance to see one of its best treasures - the Magic Fountain. The fabulous show of light, water and music takes place every Friday and Saturday in the Plaza of Spain and leaves no one indifferent. The best view opens from the terrace of the National Museum, but it is worth considering that the fountain starts at 19:00, and the museum closes at 20:00.

8. Museum of Catalan art

The main museum of Barcelona and one of its most recognizable buildings, the Museum of Catalan Art is located on the hill of Montjuic at the end of Avenue Juda de la Reina Maria Cristina.

Here is a paradise for a lover of painting: the museum contains works of art of the Romanesque and Gothic styles, the Baroque and Renaissance eras. Drawings and engravings, coins and medals, paintings and even a library of art history - in the halls of the museum, you can not "disappear" for one hour.

9. Tibidabo Hill

The best place to admire the panorama of Barcelona from above is the Tibidabo hill, however, it will interest you not only by this. Here you can have a great time walking along the wooded slopes, go to the CosmoCaixa Museum of Natural Sciences, or find a way out of the Laberint d’Horta landscape maze. And of course, do not forget the main pearl of the hill - the temple of the Sacred Heart, crowning its summit.
Getting to Tibidabo is most convenient on the FGC metro trains (Avinguda de Tibidabo station), from where there is a bus to the top of the hill. On weekends and holidays between the Plaza Catalunya and the Tibidabo Square there is a “tibibus” T2. The fare is € 2.60.

10. Spanish Village

If you do not have time to travel all over Spain, feel free to go to the Spanish village on the Montjuic hill, where skilled architects erected exact copies of buildings from different regions of the country.
Here you can see all the main buildings of Spain: medieval fortress gates from Ávila, and buildings from Castile and Aragon, and also Andalusian, Basque, Valencia and many other “thematic” quarters.

Now, I think you are convinced that Barcelona is definitely worth your attention. The country of color, music and tortilla - that's what paradise is!

Italian paradise: the secrets of Tivoli

The picturesque old town of Tivoli located 24 kilometers from Rome in the province of Lazio is incredibly attractive for those who is interested in history and architecture. As for architectural landmarks of Tivoli in Italy, there are fabulously beautiful villas with gorgeous gardens and waterfalls. Tourists who come to Rome often prefer visit more popular attractions of the Italian capital to Tivoli. And only true connoisseurs know that this city is really worth visiting.

For those who are interested in subject, I had made up a list of the most amazing places in Tivoli which you can’t ignore.

Villa Adriana in Tivoli

About 5 kilometers from the historic center is Hadrian’s villa, which has saved worse than the rest. This villa was built in the II century, it belonged to the emperor Hadrian who often rested here with his retinue.

The country residence occupied a large area on the bank of the river on which, besides the main palace, were theaters, temples, a library, baths, as well as numerous ponds and pools surrounded by a picturesque park.

In the II century the villa belonged to the emperor Adrian

In the Middle Ages, this villa fell into decay - the locals used it as a source of building materials for their homes. In the XV-XVI centuries, archaeological excavations were carried out on the territory of the Villa Adriana, which discovered many sculptures, mosaics, reliefs, which are now kept in museums and private collections.

It was here that the famous Disco-ball was found, as well as the Capitoline Antinous and Diana of Versailles. At the end of the XIX century, the state took the villa under its wing - the Main Square, the Emperor's Hall, the Maritime and Greek Theaters, the temple complex, the library were partially restored.

Villa Gregoriana

Villa Gregoriana is a landscaped park, known for its man-made grottoes, waterfalls, tunnels and other waterworks. All this magnificence was created in the 19th century under the leadership of Pope Gregory XVI, who decided to protect the city from destructive floods by building tunnels that divided the Aniene River into two branches leading to the outskirts of Tivoli.

Villa Gregoriana is a landscaped park with grottoes, waterfalls and tunnels.

As a result of the architectural and construction work carried out according to the design of Clemente Folkie, cascading waterfalls, streams, ponds appeared on the villa’s territory, and the once wild gorge became the favorite resting place of the Romans. The most popular attractions of the villa are the famous 120-meter high waterfall, Neptune and Siren grottoes, as well as the Miollis Gallery - a tunnel cut through the rocks at the direction of the French general, who was the governor of Rome during the Napoleonic wars.

Today, for the convenience of visitors, sightseeing routes have been laid on the territory of the villa, named after Pope Gregory, and observation platforms have been equipped. Excursion to the villa of Gregorian in Tivoli is considered one of the most interesting in the metropolitan region of Lazio

Villa d’Este

The third and perhaps the most impressive villa of the Tivoli architectural parks is Villa d’Este, located on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. The magnificent palace complex surrounded by a magnificent landscaped park, belonged to Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, who was appointed governor of Tivoli in Italy in 1550.

There are about 500 fountains in the park of Villa d’Este

The construction of the governor’s residence was entrusted to the architect Pirro Ligorio and the engineer Alberto Galvani, the finishing works were done by Livio Agresti, Federico Dzcarro and Girolamo Muziano. It is curious that part of the building materials used in the construction was removed from Hadrian’s villa.

The main building of the villa looks rather succinctly, but this rigor is fully compensated by the luxurious interior. The greatest impression is made not by the governor’s palace, but by the extraordinary beauty of a park with majestic staircases decorated with antique statues, picturesque alleys and magnificent fountains. All the fountains, and there are about 500 of them here, are completely different - the Ovoto fountain is crowned by a statue of Sibyl, the Draghi fountain is dragons, the Bikierone fountain is made in the shape of a sink, and the Organ is in the form of a huge organ that once produced wonderful musical melodies created by water streams, passing through the pipes.

The Fountain of Organa, in its time, published wonderful musical melodies.

It is worth noting that Villa d’Este served as a prototype for the construction of Versailles in Paris. And Russian Emperor Peter I was so impressed with the visit to the villa that after visiting here he decided to build Peterhof.

Papal Fortress in Tivoli

Papal Fortress, also known as Pius Fortress, is a special landmark of Tivoli, located 600 meters from the Communal Square - the central square of the city. The defensive structure was built in 1461 in honor of the transition of the city under papal authority. The construction of the fortress was led by Pope Pius II, followed by expansion - Sixtus IV and Julius II. From the end of the 19th century until 1960, the fortress was used as a prison. After this, the building was transferred to the city authorities, who organized a large-scale reconstruction.

The fortress of Pius is a powerful square-shaped structure, the corners of which are fortified with round towers of various heights. It often hosts various exhibitions and other cultural events.

Religious Sights

There are many churches and basil in Tivoli that deserve attention. Many of them contain unique works of art - ancient frescoes, icons and sculptures of historical and artistic value.

The fortress of Pius was built in 1461

In the Cathedral, located on the Cathedral Square, you can see the work of Vincenzo Manenti, Petro Lukatelli, Guido Reni, in the church of St. Anne - frescoes of the XV-XVIII centuries, in the church of St. Vincent - the frescoes of the XIV century, depicting Christ the Almighty and Holy Simforoz. Of no less interest are the Temple of Sibyl and the Temple of Vesta, which are located on the territory of the ancient acropolis of Tivoli.

And it’s really not the end. For more info, check out my page - there you can find photos and videos of the places I told about. Be sure that Tivoli won’t leave you indifferent- the beauty of it makes my heart beat faster.

Love ya!

Aokigahara - a suicide forest in Japan

The terrible thoughts about Japan have already been with us - this is why Codocusi do not pay for gas, but it turns out that this is not all.

Aokigahara (Jap. 青木ヶ原?, "Plain of Green Trees"); also known as Jukai (j. 樹海?, “The Sea of Trees”) is a forest at the foot of Mount Fuji on the Japanese island of Honshu. The forest, which lies right at the foot of the volcano, is the complete opposite to the beauty and majestic tranquility of these places.

The total area is approximately 35 square meters km. The relief of the forest includes many rocky caves, and the location features in particular the density of the forest and the lowland provide “stunning” silence. It is also alleged that there are vast deposits of iron ore underground in the forest areas and it apparently explains the fact that compasses are not functioning in Aokigahara. The land which the forest is located on is a volcanic rock that is rather dense and can not be processed by tools such as hoes and shovels.
Aokigahara is considered a young forest because it was formed about 1,200 years ago. The last major eruption of the volcano Fuji occurred in 1707 and for some reason did not cover one of the slopes of about 3000 hectares of land with lava. Later this site was overgrown with dense forest of boxwood, pines and other conifers. Trees are almost a solid wall.

But the terrible thing is not this ...

Aokigahara’s fauna includes wild foxes, snakes and dogs.
Aokigahara is a national park, along which several tourist routes are offered, offering ascent to Fuji along the northern slope, as well as walks through the beautiful forest area. Because the forest is close to Tokyo and offers many different ways to spend time outdoors, Aokigahara is a popular place for picnics and weekend walks.
Among the attractions of the park "Ice Cave" (jap. 氷穴 hyo: ketsu?) And "Wind Cave" (jap. 風穴 fu: ketsu / kadezeana?).

In 864, there was a strong eruption of the volcano Fuji. An unbroken lava flow descending along the northwestern slope formed a huge lava plateau of 40 square meters. km, which took root very unusual forest. The soil is dug, as if someone was trying to uproot the age-old trunks. The roots of the trees, unable to break through a solid lava rock, go upstairs, fancifully intertwining over the rocky debris ejected once from the mouth of a volcano. The relief of the forest is riddled with fractures and numerous caves, some of which extend underground for several hundred meters, and in some of them the ice never melts.

With the onset of dusk about this place they begin to speak only in a whisper. The disappearances of people and frequent suicides - this is it, the real face of Aokigahara. Tourists are strictly punished not to turn off the main paths deep into the forest because it is easy to get lost here. A magnetic anomaly makes the compass a completely useless object, and a similar terrain does not allow finding a way out from memory. On the many ghosts that live in the forest, has long been legend. This place became notorious in the Middle Ages, when in the years of famine, the desperate poor brought their aged and frail relatives to the forest and left them to die there. The groans of these unfortunates could not break through the dense wall of trees, and no one heard the moaning of those doomed to painful death. The Japanese say that their ghosts await lonely travelers in the forest, wanting to avenge their suffering.

There was a rumor that here among the trees you can see the white ghostly outlines of the Yurais. According to Shintoism, the souls of those who died their death, are connected with the spirits of their ancestors. Those who have committed a violent death or committed suicide, become wandering ghosts - yurayami. Finding no peace, they come to our world in the form of legless ghostly figures with long arms and eyes burning in the dark. And the oppressive death-silence of the forest is disturbed at night by their moans and heavy breathing. Those who decide to visit Aokigahara should have strong nerves. It happens that the branch crunched underfoot turns out to be human bone, and the strange outline of a person in the distance is the corpse of another hanged man.
Only two varieties of people voluntarily enter the depths of the “forest of death” - members of special brigades of police and firefighters who are combing Aokigahara every autumn in search of the remains of suicides, and even suicides themselves.

Nowadays in Japan, no one suffers from hunger, but Aokigahara continues to play her ominous role even now. The mystical landscape and the ringing silence of the legendary forest attracts those who choose to voluntarily leave this life. In terms of the number of suicides committed each year, Aokigarahara gives in to this eerie palm only to the Golden Bridge in San Francisco. Since 1970, the police officially began to search for the bodies of the dead, for which special funds amounting to 5 million yen are annually allocated from the treasury. Once a year, the police, along with a large group of volunteers (about 300 people), are combing the forest. It is reported that from 30 to 80 bodies are found during such raids. This means that, on average, every week someone enters this “sea of trees” so that they never return ... In three nearby villages, which are charged with collecting this terrible harvest, there are facilities for storing unidentified remains.

The surge in the pilgrimage of suicides to the Aokigahara forest caused the “Complete Guide to Suicide” written by the writer Wataru Tsurumi, published in 1993 and immediately becoming a bestseller: more than 1.2 million copies were sold in Japan. This book provides a detailed description of the various ways of suicide, and the author described Aokigaharu as "a great place to die." A copy of Tsurumi’s book was found near the bodies of some of the suicides of Aokigahara. Local authorities worried about the endless wave of suicide
On the forest paths posters were installed as follows:
“Your life is a priceless gift from your parents. Think of them and your family. You do not have to suffer alone. Call us on 22-0110”

Local shops don’t sell funds (pills, ropes) that could be used to reconcile accounts with life. In the vicinity there are special patrols that catch those who want to get into Jukai on the approaches. It is easy to calculate those who decided to go to the forest: most often they are men in business suits.
It is impossible to say for sure how these words reduce the number of victims, but every year dozens of new bodies are found in the forest. Of course, they do not find everyone: there are those who settle accounts with life in a completely unsociable wilderness. There, the remains of the weak in spirit take away predatory animals forever making them part of this forest.

In 1960, the book of the Pagoda of Waves (Jap. 波の塔 Nami but that) was published in Japan by the writer Saite Matsumoto, which told about a woman who had once committed suicide in Aokigahara. Later, based on this novel, a television series was staged, which received extraordinary popularity in Japan.
Why do the Japanese, who seem to be living in such a prosperous country, come to one of the first places in the world in the number of suicides? More often than other reasons, is called the loss of workplace. Many say that the Japanese have become too pragmatic, and the lack of money means too much in the modern world. But here, perhaps, not the last role is played by the mentality that has developed many centuries ago, when the loss of social status is perceived as the worst of evils and can push you to commit suicide.

Also, from ancient times, another terrible ritual has come down to us, called in Japan “suicide by collusion”. It means voluntary departure from the life of two lovers, who for some reason cannot be together in this world. The belief that simultaneous death will unite them in the other world is still very strong. "Suicide by conspiracy" is still so common in Japan that when the bodies of a man and a woman are found, the police usually do not conduct a thorough investigation, considering the matter obvious. One of these cases is described in the detective novel of the same author, Seyte Matsumoto.

In 2005, the documentary “The Sea of Trees” (Jap. 樹の海 Ki no umi?) Was released, in which director Tomoyuki Takimoto tells the story of four people who decided to kill themselves in Aokigahara. At the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival, the film won the Best Film Award in the “Japanese Cinema. Your look.
The Japanese metal band Screw recorded the song “The Sea of Trees”, the video clip was based on the footage shot in Aokigahara.

The most unusual natural phenomena

Nowadays people have discovered a lot of things and even some nature miseries are not puzzles for us anymore, but some of them are so astonishing and unusual that it is hard even to believe it can be real. So here you are a list of several natural phenomena, which change your understanding of the world at once.

BROKEN GHOST

Broken ghost - an unusual natural phenomenon, which is observed in the highlands. It is also called the mountain ghost.
The Broken Ghost is an observer's shadow located on the surface of the fog or on the clouds in the opposite direction from the sun. To see it, you need to look down from the side of a mountain. You can see the ghosts of Brocken from the plane. Often there is a great distance between the ghost and the person, so perhaps the proportions of the human body vary slightly

Sometimes the brokerage ghost is surrounded by gloria (multi-colored rays). It happens due to the diffraction of light. In the east (in Japan and China), gloria is called the “light of the Buddha.”

It happens that the brokerage ghost stirs. It occurs under the influence of the movement of clouds and changes in their density.
According to legends witches gather during Walpurgis Night (from April 30th on May 1) here. It is a dark place and, to emphasize it, you can show up on the mountain in the shirt of your favorite rock band, buying it here. An affordable choice will appeal to connoisseurs of various types of heavy music.
For the first time the Broken ghost was noticed by the scientist and theologian Johann Zilberschlag in 1780

In addition to the ghosts of people, the Brokensky ghost can appear in the form of a plane that its passengers see.

CLOUD ASPERATUS

Even thunderstorm clouds can look beautiful, but there is a kind of clouds that simultaneously leads to admiration and horror. This phenomenon is called asperatus (Undulatus asperatus), which is also known as the worst clouds. In Latin, their name means wavy-brownish or rough. And indeed, their form is very similar to foaming sea waves, only located high in the sky.

It is not precisely known when such clouds were recorded for the first time. But it is known that in the XXI century their appearance began to be celebrated much more often. This prompted the scientists of the World Meteorological Organization in 2009 to isolate them into a separate type of clouds and include them in the “International Atlas of Clouds”.

The nature of their appearance scientists do not know, but they had found that the clouds contain a lot of water vapor and energy. Perhaps the reason lies in the collision of warm and cold air. They appear most often in the morning in calm weather.

They are more often fixed over mountains and hills when air moves from west to east. Due to the vertical and horizontal movement of air, asperatus clouds form and form. They can be stored in the sky for a long time - enough to capture asperathus clouds on the photo.

They are the most terrible clouds that cause tension. It seems that they carry a hurricane or, at least, heavy rains, but in fact they are harbingers of thunderstorms are not, for example, biconvex clouds

MOON RAINBOW

Moonlight rainbow is not only a Soviet science fiction film, but also an unusual natural phenomenon. Its feature is that it is formed at night and is generated by the moon. It differs from the solar rainbow only in lower brightness.
It is located always on the opposite side of the sky from the moon. The colors of the lunar rainbow are hard to see because of the peculiarities of the cones and wands, because the rainbow seems white. But pictures with long exposure allow you to see the whole range of colors.

The lunar rainbow is especially clearly visible when our satellite approaches the full moon. To see it, it is necessary that the Moon must be at an angle of less than 42 degrees in the sky, the sky should be dark, and it should rain opposite the satellite. Because of this, to see the moon rainbow is quite difficult. You can see it near the waterfalls.

You can see it near the famous Victoria Falls, Kentucky, Hawaii, famous not only the volcanoes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa and the Caucasus. You can see the moon rainbow in Yosemite Park and Yamal.

BLOODY RAIN

There are many unusual and even frightening natural phenomena on the planet. One of them was the "bloody rain", which was witnessed by residents of the Indian state of Kerala. Here it rained for a whole month, the color very much like blood. For the first time here this phenomenon was recorded from July 25 to September 21, 2001. And they claimed that people saw rain of other shades (yellow, green and black). The bloody rain has repeatedly dropped above different regions, therefore the recent bloody rain in Kerala is not a single phenomenon.

After research in Kerala, it was discovered that the cause of the red rain was the spores of red algae that were mixed with water.
However, there are other versions of the origin of the bloody rain: paint butterflies of haws or sending from space, because unfamiliar objects were found among the analyzed particles from Kerala. According to scientists, they are associated with the Red Square Nebula, located 2300 light-years from Earth.

Moreover, in 2012, a similar phenomenon in India repeated - a bloody rain fell over the town of Kannur.
And on the planet there is a bloody waterfall in Antarctica.

PARHELION

Pargelium is an unusual natural phenomenon, which manifests itself in the appearance of several suns in the sky. During parghelia, in addition to the usual sun, several false suns can be observed in the sky. There is such an unusual phenomenon due to the refraction of sunlight in ice crystals, which soar in the atmosphere.
Ice crystals are located either in cirrus clouds at a height of 5-10 km in the upper troposphere, or in frosty weather, crystals can be close to the earth's surface.

If they are oriented randomly (randomly), then just a solar halo will be observed, which in itself is also a rather interesting phenomenon. If the crystals have a certain orientation, then we will see a false sun. Where can the orientation come from, what does the crystals order?

It's simple, they "drown" in the air and during this process they line up vertically. Crystals work like a prism, they reflect and refract sunlight. Therefore, parhelium (false sun) has a reddish color on the side nearest to the sun. A prism decomposes sunlight into a spectrum and a semblance of a rainbow forms.

ICE POINT OF DEATH

This "Ice Finger of Death" kills all living things it touches, turning everything into ice. This can be clearly seen on the extraordinary video provided by the BBC channel. This icy stream of salt water reaching the bottom spreads and freezes everything in its path. All oceanic animals (starfish and other oceanic organisms) trapped in this ice trap freeze and die.

One of the most interesting phenomena that can be observed in the winter under the Antarctic ice is the formation of ice stalactites. These hollow tubes of ice grow from icy surfaces like icicles. But, despite some visual similarity, the mechanisms of formation of ice stalactites and ordinary ice icicles are significantly different. For a long time this process remained poorly understood - mainly due to the difficulties of observing ice stalactites. Only in 2011, the process of forming one of them was filmed on video by the BBC film crew.

The process begins under ice, where salty sea water freezes, and salt, for which there is no place in the crystal structure of ice, is released, further increasing the salinity of the water contained in its voids - and reducing its freezing temperature.

If the ice cracks, this concentrated solution will flow down as its density is higher than that of the surrounding sea water. And since its temperature can be below the freezing point of water, an ice “pipe” is formed around it.

Mount Kailash - The Mystery Of Tibet

For many years, various disputes have been circling around Kailash. Mount Kailash is a mountain range that rises above the other peaks. Kailash has a pronounced pyramidal shape, and its faces are oriented to all sides of the world. At the top of the peak there is a small snow cap. Fans of climbing, I note that Kailash has never been conquered, not one person has been at its top. The mountain Kailas is in Tibet.

Mount Kailash - The Mystery Of Tibet

According to scientists, Kailas is a huge pyramid. All faces of its tops are clearly directed to the cardinal points. Scientists claim that Mount Kailash is not a mountain at all, but a giant pyramid. And all the other small mountains are small pyramids, so it turns out that this is a real system of pyramids, which is much larger in size than all those we previously knew: the pyramids of Egypt, the oldest Chinese pyramids, the underwater pyramids of Yonaguni. Mount Kailash (Tibet) is very similar to the big pyramid, so read - is the Himalayan apex of natural origin really?

Each of the mountain slopes is called a face. South - from the top to the foot, is cut by an even straight crevice neatly in the middle. Layered terraces form cracks on the walls of a giant stone staircase. At sunset, the game of shadows creates on the surface of the south side of Kailash an image of the swastika sign - the solstice. This ancient symbol of spiritual power is visible for dozens of kilometers!

Exactly the same swastika is at the top of the mountain.
Here it is formed by the Kailash ranges and the beds of the sources of four great Asian rivers originating on the glacial head of the mountain: the Indus from the north, the Carnapi (a tributary of the Ganges) from the south, the Sutlej from the west, the Brahmaputra from the east. These streams supply water to half of the entire territory of Asia!

Most scientific opinions converge at one point, Mount Kailas is nothing more than the largest point on Earth where energy accumulates! A unique feature of the Kailaksykh Mountains is that Kailas is literally adjacent to various kinds of concave, semi-circular and flat semi-stone structures. In Soviet times, the development was carried out to implement the "time machine". These are not jokes, they really invented various kinds of mechanisms with the help of which people would be able to overcome time at the end. One of our compatriot-genius, Nikolai Kozarev, invented such a thing, a system of mirrors, according to Kozarev's system, the time machine is a kind of concave aluminum or mirror spiral bent clockwise in one and a half turn, there is a person inside it.

According to the designer, such a spiral reflects physical time and at one time focuses different types of radiation. According to the results of all experiments, the time inside this structure proceeded 7 times faster than outside. After the experiments conducted on humans, it was decided to close further development, people began to see various ancient manuscripts, flying saucers, and much more, because you and I will not tell everything.
But the results were overwhelming, people saw the past as if they were in a movie on mirror reflections; moreover, it turned out that with the help of this system of mirrors people can exchange ideas at a distance. Conducted a very interesting experience, the people placed inside the spiral should have betrayed the image of the ancient tablets to other people who were once at Stonehenge.

And moreover people not only received and were able to reproduce what they saw, but in addition to this, they also grabbed a few previously unknown ancient tablets, which are not possible to invent. One way or another, but the Soviet authorities were afraid of something and the development was closed. The same principle of action we can see here!

The Kailash system is almost the same only in scale, just imagine a copy 1.5 km long and half a km wide. In the system of the mountains of Kailash, in the center of the whole spiral from the various mountain ranges is Mount Kailash. The deformation of time near the summit is confirmed by many priests and Buddhists, well, everything is clear with them, they always believe in sacred places, but there was one case with the Soviet expedition. By the way, Kailash among all the peoples living here is considered a sacred place. As well as many other Buddhists and believers Kailash is a great mountain.

A group of researchers who went to Kailas, coming close to the mountain, began to make the "Koru". The bark is a sacred detour around the whole mountain, after which, according to legend, a person is completely cleared of bad karma he has accumulated over several lives. And so all the participants who made the "Kora" for some 12 hours, which they walked, aged for the whole two weeks. All participants grew two weeks of beard and nails, although they walked only 12 of our hours! This suggests that the biological activity of man in this place at times proceeds faster. You may not believe, but people come here so that their lives flew by in a short time.

Many yogis spend here their amazing meditations for several days. Surprisingly, if you meet such a person, then endless kindness and light sparkle from his eyes, it’s always a pleasure to be around such a person and you don’t want to leave at all. We can assume that Kailash is a structure created by someone artificially, for collecting and concentrating the energy of the future (from space) and the past (from the earth). There are suggestions that Kyle is built in the form of such a crystal, well, that is, the part that we see on the surface continues as a mirror reflection in the ground. When Kailash could have been created is also unknown, in general the Tibetan Plateau was formed about 5 million years ago, and Mount Kailas is quite young, its age is about 20 thousand years.

Not far from the mountain there are two lakes: the previously mentioned Manasarovar (4560 m) and Rakshas Tal (4515 m). One lake is separated from another by a narrow isthmus, but the difference between the lakes is huge: the water from the first can be drunk and bathed in it, which is considered a holy procedure and clears of sins, and it is forbidden for monks to enter the water from the second lake, because it is considered to be cursed. One lake is fresh, the second is salty. On the first one there is always a lull, and on the second there are winds and storms.
The region near Mount Kailas is an anomalous magnetic zone, the influence of which is noticeable on mechanical devices and is reflected in the accelerated metabolic processes of the body.

Mount Kailash: The Mystery Of The Number 6666

In some places, Mount Kailash has such a kind of plaster. One can see the detachment of this kind of coating, the strength of which is not inferior to concrete. Behind this plaster, the solidity of the mountain itself is clearly visible. How and by whom these creations were erected remains a mystery. Who could create such huge palaces, mirrors, pyramids to create from stone is not clear. Like it was whether this terrestrial civilization, or the intervention of unearthly minds. And perhaps all this was created by some clever civilization, possessing certain gravitational knowledge and magic. All this remains a deep mystery.

There is a very interesting geographical feature associated with Mount Kailas! Look, if you take and hold the meridian from Mount Kailash to the legendary pyramids of Egypt, the continuation of this line will go to the most mysterious Easter Island, and Inca pyramids will also be on this line. But that's not all, it is very interesting that the distance from Kailash Mountain to Stonehenge is exactly 6666 km, then the distance from Kailash Mountain to the extreme point of the North Pole hemisphere is exactly 6666 km. And to the South Pole exactly two times on 6666 km, notice no more no less than exactly two times, and what is most interesting - the height of Kailash is 6666 meters.

All this is not very similar to a coincidence. Perhaps, inside Mount Kailash is hollow and all the greatest sages who have been sent to Earth to us are in deep meditation, this is Jesus Christ, Buddha and others. Perhaps there will be a new era of people for whom all these secrets remain unsolved. If you believe the manuscripts of different nations, this new, sixth civilization will appear, and will differ in the level of intelligence, well, you and I have nothing left but to enjoy life. Feel free to comment on your thoughts.

Good luck!

Rich history of Chateau de Chambord

The largest and most magnificent castle of the Loire is Chambord. From the very history of this castle, it blows romance, because Chambord was built by Francis I so that the king could be closer to his lover - the Countess of Turi, who lived nearby - and at the same time able to receive guests in the royal residence Chateau de Chambord in France.

It is surprising that it took only 29 years to build such a giant (from 1519 to 1547) - by medieval standards it took very little time. But such a pace of construction became possible only because one of the largest construction sites of the Renaissance epoch was deployed here, where almost 2,000 workers worked daily.

In addition to the scale, the difficulty of construction work should also be noted, because the castle was erected on a marshland, because of which the workers had to drive the foundation piles into the ground by 12 meters, and many builders who worked here died from a marsh fever.

During recent preventive excavations under the castle, remains of a round, sandstone-like tower from the castle of the Duke of Orleans (Louis XII), destroyed by Francis I for the construction of his hunting castle in the Italian Renaissance style, were found.
It is quite possible that Francis I's favorite, Leonardo da Vinci, who lived in the castle of Clos-Luce, but who died just before the construction of the residence, had a hand in the project of the castle. The likelihood of his participation is great, if only because the king tried to use the unprecedented talent of Leonardo almost everywhere.

Chateau de Chambord (France): architectural features

Chateau de Chambord is one of the most recognizable castles in France and is considered one of the clearest examples of Renaissance architecture. The facade of the castle stretches for 156 meters, its width is 117 meters, and in 426 rooms you can easily get lost

Although Chambord was not intended to repel enemy attacks, it was built on the model of the most fortified strongholds of that time - this is why the outer walls of the castle surround the central donjon.

Donjon consists of 5 floors, each of which has 4 square and 4 round rooms

Later, the king expanded the castle and settled in its eastern wing, in the direction of Jerusalem - with this unusual gesture Francis I wanted to show that he was the ruler of the spiritual authority of France.

The appearance of Leonardo is clearly manifested in the form of the central staircase of the castle. The huge double-way spiral staircase is designed in such a way that both its parts turn in a spiral in one direction, without intersecting once, so that people who are rising do not come across those who decide to go down and vice versa.

The staircase leads to the terrace, also designed by Da Vinci, by which you can slowly bypass the entire donjon around the perimeter, admiring the Renaissance capitals and chimneys.

The donjon is crowned by a turret, reaching a modest height of 32 meters, which, nevertheless, allows it to rise above all other turrets and chimneys of the castle. An interesting feature of the tower is that at its very top there is not a familiar cross, but a royal lily.

The ceilings of the second floor of the castle are decorated with the emblems of Francis I (crowned with a crown monogram F and a salamander) accompanied by a cord in knots — the emblems of his mother, Louise of Savoy. It is also interesting that the monograms of the stairs at the level of the terraces are turned, “so that God could see the royal power from the height of the sky”!

Francis I himself, after the completion of construction, visited Chambord only a few times - mainly to hunt and show off in front of Spaniard Charles V, showing him his wealth and greatness. After the death of Francis I, the castle was abandoned altogether, and after a while Louis XIII presented it to his brother Gaston of Orleans.

The next king of France, Louis IV, ordered a little to rebuild the interior of the castle as Versailles (to connect the four living rooms of the northern vestibule of the second floor into a suite of royal chambers) and build a new roof for the chapel
By the way, it was in the Chambord castle that on October 14, 1670, the first theatrical production of the play by Molière “A bourgeois by nobility” took place.
Later, the overthrown Polish monarch Stanislav Leschinsky lived in the castle, then the barracks of the Moritz regiment were located here, after which the castle’s premises were completely devoted to the chemical laboratory of Count Saint-Germain
Chambord Castle (France) suffered during the French Revolution - all the furniture went under the hammer, and the castle goes hand in hand, not staying in the possession of someone for a long time and only in 1930 did the French government finally buy it from the then owner Elia of Bourbon for 11 million gold francs

The castle survived the Second World War tolerably - only in 1945 the roof of the southeastern donjon partially burned, and from 1947 large-scale restoration work began, subsequently turning Chambord into an important tourist site, which still attracts crowds of tourists.

By the way, the Chambord castle park is today Europe’s largest fenced forest-type park - an area of 5,441 hectares (of which 1,000 hectares are open to the public) is surrounded by the longest wall in France, 32 km long! In 1981, Chambord Castle, along with the adjacent park, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sometimes the facade of the castle is turned into a colossal light installation - at such moments it is an amazing and incomparable spectacle ...

History of the Black Sea. About banks and rivers

The shores of the Black Sea make up an almost unbroken line like lakes have. Such seas are called closed, or internal - they are closed within land, surrounded by it with all sides. This vast sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea and, through it, to the Atlantic Ocean by two narrow straits. The first strait, the Bosphorus, is a 30-kilometer water corridor separating Europe and Asia, it leads from the Black Sea to the small Sea of Marmara. The second strait - the Dardanelles, through which you can get out of the Sea of Marmara into the Mediterranean. The Dardanelles are a fairly wide and free waterway, but the Bosphorus is a narrow one - there is even a bridge across it - and a shallow (less than 40 meters in the smallest place) strait. Therefore, there is no free exchange of water, mixing, between the Black and Mediterranean seas. But nevertheless there is a current in the Bosphorus Strait - it is noticeable in the rubbish floating near the shore - there is a lot of it, because the huge ancient city of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus shores (the former capital of the Byzantine Empire - Constantinople).

Flowing rivers

Where does this current come from? What force pushes water from the Black Sea? This can also be understood by examining the map - see how many rivers flow into the sea. There is no other inland sea in the world into which so much fresh water flows in - it is brought in by the largest rivers of Europe, the Danube, the Dnieper, the Bug, the Dniester, the Don, the Kuban, the Rioni, and thousands of small rivers and streams. Total - 350 cubic kilometers of river water per year. The earth's surface from which the rivers collect this water is 5 times the area of the Black Sea itself.

Black Sea History

Satellite photo of the Bosphorus region: the length of the strait is 30 km, the smallest depth is 32 m, the smallest width is 750 m. In this place, the coasts of Europe and Asia are connected by a bridge. More than 15 million people live around the Bosphorus, this is the city of Istanbul and its suburbs

The Danube is the second largest river in Europe after our Volga. It begins in streams in the alpine glaciers, and then the Danube and its tributaries flow through the territory of 17 European countries, there are several capitals on its banks, and it alone brings more than half of the water to the Black Sea. A particularly powerful stream of fresh water falls on the northwest "corner" of the sea.

Black Sea Salinity

A very large river flow is a key physical factor determining the properties of the waters of the Black Sea and its biological structure. What happens to the water in the sea, if it is almost closed and many rivers flow into it? The inflow of ocean water through the Bosphorus is small, and the rivers bring fresh water, which dilutes the sea water. As a result, there is 2 times less salt in the Black Sea water than in the ocean or in the neighboring Mediterranean Sea. 33–38 grams of salt are dissolved in a liter of normal oceanic water, and 16–18 in the Black Sea. To indicate salinity there is a special icon% o - ppm, in Latin - thousandths.

The main share in sea salt is table salt - sodium chloride, there are others, and their ratio is quite constant in different seas. Actually, all the salt in the salt shakers on our tables is made of sea salt. Just do not try to salt the food with sea salt - those present in it, in smaller quantities, other salts, such as sulfates, really do not like your stomach :).

It is easy to see sea salt - splash water from the sea into the recess of some stone heated by the sun on the beach - in a few minutes the water evaporates, and the salt ions combine to form sparkling crystals. The more salt dissolved in water, the harder it is. Therefore, when light water flowing from the Black Sea with low salinity encounters heavy ocean water in the Bosporus, it rises above it. Part of the heavy marble-sea water flows along the bottom of the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, increasing the salinity of its depths. This stream is called the Bosporus countercurrent, it is 2 times weaker than the main, surface current directed to the Sea of Marmara.

Sea currents

Below 200 meters the salinity in the Black Sea is already 20%, and at the bottom of the sea, at a depth of 2 kilometers, it can reach 30%. Two currents in the Bosphorus Strait opened in the XV century, the Italian merchant Marcilla - trade was his business, and his passion and vocation were the exploration of the seas. He lowered a lot from his boat - a load on a string, serving seamen to measure the depth, in the waters of the Bosporus and noticed that if the lot was shipped deeply, it was blown towards the Sea of Marmara, and if the load was suspended above the bottom, the string deviates to the Black Sea . Centuries later, hydrographic research in the Bosphorus was continued by Russian scientists under the leadership of Admiral Stepan Makarov.

The main Black Sea current (BSA) is counterclockwise around the entire perimeter of the sea, forming two noticeable rings (Knipovich glasses, named for one of the Russian hydrologists who described these currents).

At the heart of such a movement of waters and its directionality is the acceleration imparted to water by the rotation of the Earth — Coriolis force. However, on such relatively small water area, like the Black Sea, the direction and strength of the wind are no less important, and for this reason - the main Black Sea current is very changeable; sometimes it becomes poorly distinguishable against the background of smaller-scale currents (those that create wind above the sea), and sometimes the jet velocity of the main Black Sea current reaches 1 meter per second. This current extends only to the upper layer of the sea - no deeper than 100–150 meters. In the coastal area, whirlwinds of opposite PFB directivity are formed — anticyclonic gyres, especially expressed at the Caucasian and Anatolian coasts (they are shown on the map). Local longshore currents in the surface layer of water are usually determined by the wind, their direction can change during the day - these currents are easily seen from the coast.

Beautiful under-the-radar beaches in Cornwall

White sand, bright sun, emerald sea, and lush vegetation …what is it? The Caribbean? Seychelles? The Maldives? No, this is England. Cornwall County drastically differs from the rest of the United Kingdom. Forget the rains and the gloomy weather. The Cornish Riviera offers endless possibilities for a beach holiday that are on par with the best Mediterranean resorts and some fantastic Cornwall holiday cottages to stay in. It has a great variety of beaches to satisfy every taste, from world-renowned tourist attractions to small secluded sandy coves. I’ve picked up the best beautiful under-the-radar beaches in Cornwall that are well worth going a little off the beaten track for…

Lantic Bay

Lantic Bay has nestled in a cut of a rocky cliff between Fowey and Polperro. This beach is not easy to find from land but if you are lucky enough to discover this hidden gem, you will want to come back here again and again. You can reach Lantic Bay in two ways – by walking through the field and then descending along a steep cliff or by boat. Whichever way you choose, a worthy reward awaits you – a wide strip of sand dotted with huge boulders and framed by craggy cliffs with emerald caps. Strictly speaking, Lantic Bay is two beaches that emerge at low tide. This secluded bay is an excellent place for relaxation and swimming but be careful because the current is quite strong and unpredictable.

Fox Cove

This small half-mooned inlet can only be found at low tide, the rest of the time it shyly shelters under the turquoise water. You can uncover this secluded sandy beach about halfway between Treyarnon Bay and Porthcothan. You should be very attentive to spot Fox Cove hidden between steep cliffs. Look out for a landmark shaped like a long ridge peeking out of the sea, which cuts the bay in half. The path to the bay passes through a cliff and it is quite strenuous. But when you are down and have already caught your breath, you can boldly head for more wonderful discoveries. The remains of the shipwrecked steam tanker ‘Helmsley I’ rest at the bottom of the bay. You can snorkel to see the boiler and what is left of the bow. You may also hunt for mussels which are in a huge variety here. Fox Cove has one more surprise in store for you at the golden hour – the beach facing the Atlantic Ocean promises breathtaking sunsets.

Pedn Vounder

This is another picturesque beach that has found refuge among inaccessible rocks. Indeed, if you look down from the top of a cliff, it will seem that there is no path to go down. However, the path steeply runs along the towering rocks and you will have to half-walk half-climb to conquer it. At the bottom of a cliff, you will find the velvety sand and gentle leisurely waves. If you are not a fan of extreme hiking, you can reach Pedn Vounder from the nearby Porthcurno beach but the path along the shore is only accessible in spring during low tides. Despite the challenging approach, Pedn Vounder attracts more and more tourists. It became known after featuring in one of the episodes of Poldark. Another thing you should know about Pedn Vounder is that it’s a popular place for nudists. If sunbathing in the birth suit is not exactly to your liking, you can go in search of the Logan Rock, famous 70-ton rocking stone.

Porthcurno Cove

This neighbour of Pedn Vounder is more suitable for a family beach holiday. It is located in the lowland between two verdant hills rising to the sky at 60-70 meters. The hills are carved with walking paths so that you won’t have much difficulty getting to the beach. The vicinity of Porthcurno coastline is recognized as one of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes it a must-see place in Cornwell. Families with children will be delighted with this beach. Little ones will enjoy the stream on one side of the bay where they can paddle. Adults may dare to conquer the mighty waves on a surfboard or just admire the endless blue sky and azure waters when the sea is calm. The highlight of this place is the open-air Minack Theatre, carved into rock and opened in 1920. Along with Pedn Vounder, Porthcurno beach also has become a set for Poldark’s episodes.

Kynance Cove

Located on the western side of the Lizard peninsula, Kynance Cove is considered to be one of the most photogenic and romantic places in Cornwall. The contrast of golden sand pointed rocks crowned with green caps, and crystal clear turquoise water attracts artists and photographers from all over the world. The bay became popular in the Victorian era when creative people from the entire country started visiting this place looking for inspiration and a dose of fresh sea air. Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, has often come round to admire the fascinating view. Kynance Cove is also known for its unique serpentinite rocks, which are a popular material for crafts.

Prussia Cove

The name of this scenic cove has nothing to do with the prominent German state. It was named after John Carter, one of the most dangerous pirates of the Cornish coast. He received the nickname “The King of Prussia” for courage and charisma. He captured the local bay Port Legh (the former name of this place) to smuggle goods from France. Pirates used it to store an arsenal of weapons, as well as stocks of rum, brandy, and gin. The granite bed of the bay still keeps the crushed tracks from the carts carrying smuggling from the ship to the stash. Prussia Cove is connected with two other bays by natural underground passages which can be explored by snorkelling enthusiasts. The top of the cliff houses a number of cottages which accommodated soldiers of the royal guard in the 19th century who protected the bay from pirates.

Bosahan Cove

Bosahan Cove is strikingly different from other beaches on our list. Instead of majestic rocks, this lovely beach is surrounded by dense woodland. Although you can get to Bosahan Cove in three different ways, it remains a secluded place, and you can often enjoy its magnificence on your own. You can sail here by boat, take a one-mile walk along the coast or go through the Bosanan Estate. We strongly recommend the latter option because it includes a stroll across the sub-tropical gardens of Bosanan, known as ‘the most Cornish of all Gardens’. Bosahan Cove is settled at the mouth of the Helford river so you will not find surfing opportunities here. Instead, this peaceful place is ideal for relaxing and observing white yachts gliding along tranquil waves.

Lansallos Cove

This small secluded stretch of coast, also known as West Coombe Beach, is located on the outskirts of the Lansalllos village. It will take you 20 minutes to reach the beach from the village but this walk through a shady valley along a stream promises to be filled with incredible views. After passing through a quirky cut in the rock, you’ll wind up on a cosy beach in the shape of a crescent. The cove is smothered with white sand mixed with quartz shingles which give way to a rocky sea bed coming into view at low tide. Lansallos Cove is fenced off by cliffs with fancy folded rocks. The highlight of this place is a small waterfall called Reed Water that once has fed a small water mill.

origin:

https://globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/uk/beautiful-under-the-radar-beaches-in-cornwall/