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Manhattan Skyline Cruise

ifindal — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:54:54 +0000

Manhattan Skyline Cruise

A cruise to see several of New York City’s most popular sights

Instant confirmation

On this 90-minute cruise, you’ll sail down the Hudson River to see New York City’s skyline and several of its most popular landmarks. During the cruise, a guide will entertain you with interesting facts about the city. You will also have the chance to relax, snap photos and use the on-board WiFi.

To begin the tour, the boat will take you along Manhattan’s coastline to Liberty Island, where you will get an up-close look at the Statue of Liberty. Afterwards, you’ll be able to see some of the city’s famous bridges including the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge.

Departure point

Pier 83 – West 42nd Street at West Side Highway, New York, 10036

Why Visit

A chance to get views of New York City from the water
See the Statue of Liberty from 98 feet away
Professional guide

What’s Included

Cruise ticket
On-board WiFi
Guide services
Food and beverages

What You Need to Know

Visitors can download a free app with narration and enhanced content, available in seven languages.

A discounted ticket option is available for children aged two years and under.

Please note that no food or beverages are sold onboard.

Please wear face masks for the entire duration of your visit.

Please maintain a distance of 1–4.9 feet between each other within the premises.

Visitors are encouraged to use paperless ticketing if possible, in order to facilitate social distancing.

Please note that you will be required to submit an email or mobile phone number for contact tracing purposes.

Audio guides are available in these languages: English (UK), Italian, German, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese.

Operated by Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Cancellation policy

It’s not possible to cancel or make changes after you book

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Albania

ifindal — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 12:47:37 +0000

Albania. More than a single country in Europe does not go so many myths, fears and conjectures. The first time I saw Albania from the top of a mountain in Macedonia, I imagined Muslims with wild eyes sitting in bunkers in ambush, with Kalashnikov over his shoulder, and even felt a chill running down my back. And then my Macedonian friend offered to ride through Albania to the sea and promised me exceptional beauty and safety. Surprisingly, it turned out that way. Albania is a completely distinctive and self-sufficient country with incredible nature. For a long time she was the most closed country in Europe, during which time many legends were born about her.

Today, the crime rate in Albania is much lower than in other European cities. I never had a shadow of doubt before leaving home late alone, especially in coastal cities. Albanians are tolerant of all religions – churches and mosques here are adjacent to each other. Locals are very patriotic, they call themselves skippers, and their country Skipper – a country of eagles and are very hospitable. Once, having broken a wheel near the village and turned to the first people who came across for help, despite the language barrier, we were invited to the house for a vacation, and after the owner’s son spent half a day with us until we were again with four whole wheels and, in addition to “Thank you,” he couldn’t deliver anything.

Today, Albanians have visa-free entry to Europe, build new roads, houses, cafes and restaurants, destroy bunkers – a legacy of the era of Khoja.

Not everything is still established, transport links with the country and within the country is a sore point, despite new roads being actively built. Many mountainous areas are in disrepair. The south of the country and the coast develop much faster than the rest of the territory, but every year Albania changes, it becomes more convenient and understandable for visiting tourists. In Albania, I always have the feeling that life around is being built and is actively transforming.

A variety of food, archaeological and nature reserves, incredible nature – the Albanian Alps, two seas at once – the Adriatic and Ionian, lakes and rivers and hospitable Albanians who are delighted with the guests, make Albania truly worth exploring and traveling through it.

How to get there

By plane

In Albania, there is one operating international airport named after Mother Teresa, located 17 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana.

Touristic Regions

Albania is divided into four tourist regions:

The central and northeastern part of the country, including the Albanian Alps. A lot of Europeans come here to hike along unpopulated trails and the coolness of mountain rivers and lakes. As a starting point for exploring these places, the city of Kukes is located near the border with Kosovo.

Adriatic coast. From the Vlora to the very border with Montenegro stretches the sandy beaches of the Adriatic. The sea is shallow at the entrance and warms up quickly, which is especially good for families with children. To the north of Durres there are few places with tourist infrastructure, but to the south you can find options for every taste.

The Ionian coast, the so-called Albanian Riviera, from Vlora to the border with Greece. There are rocky beaches, the sea and mountains are adjacent, and the color of water is all shades of blue and green. Small cozy towns and various attractions. Albanians themselves spend their holidays here, and the coast is actively developing.

The southeastern part of the country, including the coast of Lake Ohrid . The influence of neighboring Greece is felt right up to the lake. Many Christians live here, grow olive trees and delicious figs, beautiful nature and many ancient monuments. It’s good to travel to these places by car, as, indeed, throughout Albania.

I usually look for hotels on Booking – here , you can check if there is a better price somewhere.

Top cities

Albania is a small country, but very diverse. Both nature and historical sites will impress.

Tirana is the capital of Albania. A small but pleasant center where a mosque and a church coexist in the main square, reflecting the essence of the attitude of Albanians towards religion. View of the city opens from the observation deck on Mount Dajti, where you can climb on a lift.

Kruja is a small town located on the top of Sari Saltiki Mountain near Tirana. Albanians love and revere Kruja, there is a fortress and a museum of the national hero Skanderbeg. In Kruja, it’s very calm, people are unhurried, and beautiful views open from observation platforms.

Berat. It is called the city of “thousands of windows” or “white city”. The historic center of Berat, along with the fortress, where people still live, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are many museums, including the Onufri Museum, which is most interesting to visit. Here you should try homemade dogwood brandy.

Saranda is the pearl of the Albanian Riviera. A city located opposite the Greek island of Corfu. The clear sea and many attractions around. Butrinti Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Blue Eye Nature Reserve, and the most beautiful beaches of Albania in the town of Ksamil are half an hour away by car from Saranda.

Vlora – the city itself will not impress, but it is here that the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet and you can track how the color of the water and the seabed change. Vlora is an excellent base for visiting attractions in the area, for example, the Llogara Nature Reserve or Illyrian Apollonia.

The islands

Albania owns several small islands in the Ionian Sea. The islands are very small and basically they have nothing but vegetation.

On the largest summers, cafes are built and open airs are held. You can get on a free shuttle boat from the beach in the town of Ksamil, not far from Saranda, as well as on a rented catamaran or even swim.

Another island of Albania is Sazan. The island is part of the Vlora region. Previously, it housed a military base, which Sazan formally considered to this day. In 2015, the Albanian government announced big plans related to changing the status of the island and its improvement for tourists. While on Sazan there is no drinking water and it is closed to the public.

Top Attractions

Butrint is an archaeological museum in the south of the country. Surprisingly well-preserved building of the ancient Greeks, Romans, the construction of the Byzantine period, surrounded by beautiful nature.

2. The Blue Eye is a karst spring that spills deep from the ground. The Blue Eye is located in a large nature reserve near Saranda.

3. Apollonia Illyria is a once ancient Greek port in Illyria. Aristotle wrote about her, in her honor the asteroid 358 Apollonia was named. Apollonia is located near the town of Fier . For a visit it is better to choose a non-hot day, since most of the excavations are located in the open air and the scorching sun.

4. Berat. The White City, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the territory of the fortress of Berat, as many centuries ago, people still live. Here are unique museums and ancient churches.

5. Well-preserved ancient fortresses are found throughout Albania. One of the most interesting to visit is the Rozafa fortress in Shkodra, a city on the border with Montenegro, built by the Illyrians in the 3rd century BC.

Weather

Most of Albania has a temperate Mediterranean climate.

Closer to the coast, the temperature is higher and the air is drier. Winters are warm and mild; snow can rarely fall and melt immediately.

In the Northeast of the country, in the Albanian Alps, the climate is more continental, and in summer there is a lot of rainfall, and winters are cold and snowy.

The best time to travel around Albania is April-May or September-October.

The holiday season in Albania begins in May, and on September 1, all Albanians disappear from the coast and, despite the fine weather, the tourist infrastructure is gradually completing its work.

Only in the south of the country the holiday season lasts until mid-October.

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Scientists have discovered why stones move on the surface of the moon

ifindal — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:58:57 +0000

Astronomers have repeatedly noticed on the lunar surface the movement of large boulders. This phenomenon caused a lot of questions, but had no reliable explanation. One hypothesis was replaced by another, until scientists finally figured out what was the reason for the mysterious movements of the stones.

Photos of moving stones on the moon are very reminiscent of the movements of stones in the American desert Death Valley . As in the case of the desert, scientists for a long time could not understand the reason for such an unusual behavior of large pieces of rock. For decades, astronomers have compiled detailed maps of those places where the movements of stones on the lunar surface were recorded, and proposed various hypotheses of what is happening. The theory of lunar earthquakes was considered the most plausible, which explained the movement of stones by deep processes inside the satellite. But astrophysicists from Switzerland and Germany suggested that external forces also influence the movement of stones, more so than internal forces.

Moving stones on the moon

During this large-scale study, astronomers studied more than 2 million images of the moon, which were taken during the entire time of studying our satellite. Based on these data, a map of the surface of the Moon with the places of rockfalls plotted on it was compiled.

The movement of stones on the moon

A detailed map, which was compiled with the help of artificial intelligence, made it possible to re-evaluate the scale of rockfalls and come closer to unraveling this phenomenon. Sometimes these were craters and steep slopes; in other cases, movements were observed in relatively flat terrain. In total, such strange cases, scientists counted more than 130 thousand! Moreover, among the moving stones dominated by objects with a diameter of 7-10 meters.

Cracks on the surface of the moon

Scientists believe that the reason lies in external influences, in particular in collisions with asteroids. About 80% of all movements of boulders are associated with attacks of various asteroids, which provoke movements. Moreover, instability can be observed not only at the time of the collision, but also for a long time after it.

Cracks on the moon

It turns out that an asteroid impact not only causes a concussion, but also sometimes provokes the formation of cracks on the surface of our satellite. These cracks, arising as a result of the impact, continue to expand, causing shaking of the surface of the moon and rockfalls. Of course, part of the boulders also moves under the influence of lunar earthquakes, but there are about 20% of the total number of moving stones.

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Antigua and Barbuda

ifindal — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:41:58 +0000

I went to the island of Antigua and Barbuda as part of my trip to the Caribbean. I arrived at Dominica airport, got on a plane of the local airline LIAТ and after 40 minutes landed at the anti-Guan airport.

The state consists of several small and two large islands – Antigi and Barbuda . Yes, it is Antigoy that the locals call the main island. Barbuda is usually called Barbuda, but I am more familiar in the English manner. The third largest island of the state is the uninhabited Redonda .

I can’t say that I wanted to be on Antigua. Rather, I flew at it to the heap, since I went to the other side of the world to Barbados and Dominica. Sin was not to capture another Caribbean country. The choice fell on this former British colony.

Who should go to Antigua and Barbuda?

Antigu differs from other Caribbean countries that I visited.

Barbados is such a Caribbean Mecca , where there is something to see, and where to swim, and where to come off. Tourism there is designed for independent travelers from Europe aged 20 to 45.

Dominica is a godsend for lovers of eco-tourism. Holidays in this country are suitable for wealthy Americans and Europeans, fed up with white beaches, who are afraid of the abbreviation GMO, like hellfire. They go to Dominica for the sake of its pristine nature and the complete lack of infrastructure – environmentally friendly products, environmentally friendly air and nothing to do.

Antiga is different.

Locals say there are 365 beaches on the island – one for each day of the year. I don’t know if this is true or not. But this clearly describes the country’s main wealth. I would say the country’s only wealth. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday on a white sand beach, then you are in Antigu. If you are tired of the bustle of life in a stone jungle, then you are on Antigua. If you are not interested in adventure, exoticism and thrills, then you are on Antigu. If for you the poorly developed infrastructure and the almost complete absence of public transport does not matter, then you are in Antigu. If you are not a backpacker and not an adherent of budget holidays in the Asian style, then you are also to Antigu.

In short, Antiga is such a disco for those over 60.

Who should not go to Antigua and Barbuda?

Little is known to Russian tourists about Antigua and Barbuda. It seems that this is a closed island, which is difficult to reach. And if you already get it, then you will find a Caribbean fairy tale and colonial flavor.

The Caribbean tale is, of course, about Antigua. And then with a reservation. After all, many of the beaches on the island are occupied by corporate hotels from the all inclusive series. Personally, I was not particularly pleased to sunbathe on the beach, combed by rake, where Europeans are lying next to sunbeds, while locals serve them with colorful cocktails. Somehow it all looked too much in the style of the Regency era.

And the Caribbean flavor – not almost about this island. If you want a cultural shock, then it is better to choose a trashy Jamaica or still exotic Cuba . Yes, every third traveled to Cuba and every fourth to Jamaica. But they are truly distinctive unlike Antigi.

Do you want to see new landscapes every day, immerse yourself in an unusual culture, try wild products for the Russian language? On Antigua and Barbuda all this is not. Holidays on this island will appeal to those who want to rent a hotel or a villa on the Caribbean Sea, sit on the veranda with a bottle or two of cool beer and enjoy the sunsets. Antigas will appeal to those who most of all want to turn off smartphones and laptops and turn into a seal for a couple of weeks. For everyone else, Antiguah will be a boring torture.

Google MAPS

How to get there

Do you think that getting to Antigua and Barbuda is difficult? Don’t you think. It is not only long and expensive, but also dreary.

You can’t get to Antigua either by bus or by train. This is another part of the world. The only way available is by plane. Add the consular fee for the visa of the country in which you will be transplanting to the cost of tickets.

By plane

Top cities

There are only 19 cities on the small island of Antigua. There are only 1 in Barbuda. All the cities of Antigui are similar to what we call rural villages in Russia. These are villages where they built rows of houses around the local church. In front of the houses there are flower beds, and their walls are painted in all kinds of colors: pink, green, yellow, blue, orange. I admit, I would be glad if we borrowed this idea from cheerful anti-Guans. Imagine, our typical high-rise buildings suddenly became multi-colored.

I lived in the tiny town of Liberta in the south of the island. Nearby was a ruined church, one-story houses with kindergartens and something like a boat parking near the water. Despite the fact that the city of Liberta looks very modern, it has historical significance for Antigua. It was here that the first freed slaves settled. They acquired land from the ruined white masters and cultivated it. The owner of my guesthouse proudly talked about this when she drove me home from the airport. But there is nothing to be done in this, quite frankly, village. And so it is everywhere. An exception is the state capital St. John’s.

St johns

This city is home to 22,000 anti-Guans. As befits the capital, it is the cultural and political center of the whole country. Here is the largest port of the island and major retail outlets. Do not think that you will find huge shopping centers here. Instead, there are small malls, multi-brand boutiques, souvenir shops with Chinese consumer goods and shops with jewelry from local jewelers. Many of them work on the Dutu free system, allowing foreigners to save up to 50% of the purchase price.

Do not expect to find nightclubs and noisy pubs here. In this country, it is not customary to have parties in the style of Ibiza. And if people want to have fun with dances and dances, then he goes to Shirley Heights. Everything in this town is decent in a Christian way. Unless the guys in wide trousers and knitted rasta-caps will balamute the water.

In 1632, the government appointed by the Crown selected this territory – St. Johns – for the construction of the residence. The settlement was expanding: the British nobility settled here, a church and parliament were built. In 1981, Antigua and Barbuda gained independence, and the city of St. John’s remained the capital of the state.

You need to go to St. John’s if you are tired of a beach holiday and want to go out to “people”: go around the store and sit in restaurants. There is even a colorful Chinese restaurant Shanghai Restaurant with antediluvian fan and non-English speaking staff. If you want to enjoy colonial cuisine, head to Redcliffe Street and Thames Street. They have the most restaurants and cafes that cook according to traditional anti-Guan recipes.

On Friday and Saturday in the morning in the south of the city there is a farmer’s market. Householders from all over the island come here. They sell fresh fish, meat, vegetables and fruits from the garden. If you can’t bring a guava home, it’s unlikely that you will get guava jam with ease. How cool it is to drink tea with such jam in Russia in winter, brewed by the caring hands of an anti-Guan granny. Fans of souvenirs in the national style will find in the market handicrafts and jewelry in the colonial style.

Getting lost in St. Johns is very difficult. In terms of design, it resembles New York – the streets in it intersect at an angle of 90 degrees. There are two bus stations in the city – the east opposite the Antigua and Barbuda Public Library and the west next to Valley Road.

The islands

The state of Antigua and Barbuda includes two main islands and several small ones.

Highlights: Antigua, Barbuda.

Small: Prickly Pear Island (Island Prickly Pear), Long Island (Long Island), Guiana Island (GYANA Island), Green Island (Green Island), York Island (Island City ), Smith Island (the island of Smith), Maiden Island (Island Maiden) and a few very tiny uninhabited islands, which do not even have names on the map.

And oh yes, I almost forgot about Redonda Island. Although it is a state, it is still virtual. Owned by Antigua and Barbuda. There is practically no information about the islands that I categorized as “small”. If, for example, in Thailand, it’s normal practice to transport tourists by boat to small oases in the middle of the sea, then here you will not find such a service. Most of the islets are privately owned, so landing on their beaches is illegal.

Why go to Barbuda?

The calling card of this poor island is its pink beaches. The sand seems so because of shells living on reefs. After the death of the mollusk, they turn into tiny fragments, and then into sand grains. Then the waves bring them ashore – it turns pink sand.

From the northeast Barbudo is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. There are wild beaches, not suitable for a relaxing swim. There are a lot of snags and sharp stone ledges in the water and on the shore. On the southwest coast the opposite is true. Here, calm aquamarine water, a pleasant entry into the water, clean beaches. Nature has created ideal conditions for high-quality snorkeling in this part of the island. Remember to grab the mask, snorkel and flippers if you go to Barbuda. Here you can really see turtles, barracudas, stingrays, sharks and many other types of tropical aquatic inhabitants.

Barbuda is not the place to look for nightlife and a large number of tourist attractions. This is an island where they seek unity with pristine nature. Its flora is practically not disturbed. Its fauna is also of interest. Here lives the world’s largest colony of frigates. Their habitat is a protected area. You can’t try to sail here in a private boat – it’s illegal. The only way to get to the nesting place of frigates is to hire a local four-seater boat, which will cost a tourist 50 USD + 12 USD per person for a guide. By this link you will find the addresses and phone numbers of all the guides and taxi drivers who work on the island.

Great Bird Island

It is a tiny uninhabited island 3 kilometers northeast of Antigua (No. 2 on the map above). Its area is only 81 square meters. It is even smaller than most city parks in Russia.

The island did not just get its name. The first sailors who landed on it were struck by the number of birds that lived here. This is a small eden for birds. However, the island is open to tourists. It is often included in the tour program. I think you can get to it yourself if you pay a transfer to some fisherman on a motorboat.

There are a couple of picturesque beaches. But the main value of the island lies in its inhabitants. Rare Griswold amyves live here – these are such large lizards, similar to monitor lizards. American brown pelicans, Cuban whistling ducks, and red-billed phaetons nest here. Only here lives the anti-Guan racer – a unique kind of snake. Be sure to bring food and bottled water with you – there is no shop or cafe on the island.

Top Attractions

Antigua is not rich in attractions. But what to do to the poor tourist who was fried on the beach to the state of boiled cancer, and bedsores have already appeared on his gods? Use all the entertainment options available in this former English colony. The British heritage here is not as diverse as in Barbados, but there is still something to see.

For history buffs

Fort James was built by the British in the 18th century to guard St. John’s Harbor. They expected an imminent French invasion. Then, soldiers in red uniform ran around this very land. At the disposal of 75 fellows there were 35 guns. The greatness of the fort has long sunk into oblivion – every year the fort’s condition is increasingly deplorable. All that remains of the past is 11 rusted cannons with monograms and the foundation of the fort. The main value of this place is the spectacular view that opens from it to the harbor.
Fort Barrington appeared on the territory of Antigua for a reason. In 1779, Admiral Barrington ordered the construction of a giant semicircular fort on the approach to St. John’s Harbor. It is located in Deep Bay in St. John’s County. I advise everyone to visit this place. If not in order to look at the decently preserved walls of the fort, then for the sake of a bewitching view that opens from the observation deck to the Caribbean Sea and the whole island from a height of 90 meters. The climb up time is about 30 minutes. Believe me, it’s worth it. And here goats run everywhere, so look under your feet while climbing – sneakers can be dirty.
Nelson’s Dockyard – This naval base was built by the British on this south side of the island to watch neighboring Guadeloupe. At that time she was a French colony. At the end of the 18th century, Admiral Nelson commanded here. In honor of him, the shipyard, and the port, and the naval base in one bottle and bears its name now. Today, this well-groomed territory. Just walk along the path and enjoy the views. I had the feeling that I was in a film studio, in the scenery of which the next film by Jane Austen is being shot .
Admiral’s House Museum – Admiral Nelson’s house museum. Located in a single Nelson’s Dockyard complex in English Harbor. I think even those tourists who are interested in history will be disappointed with the atmosphere of this museum. The quality and quantity of its exhibits leaves much to be desired. Exhausted by termites and turning dark from time to time, they do not cause any feelings except longing. And for those who like me, are not fan of history, giving money for an admission is generally contraindicated.
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda – the collection of this museum consists of exhibits from different eras. They tell visitors about the times when the island was just forming, and about modernity. There is a bit of Viva Richards cricketer adored by anti-Guans, and a full-size replica of the Arawak home. Arawaki are the indigenous people of the island, the Indians. The museum is located in the center of the capital St. John’s. If you do not want to visit the museum itself, find it anyway. The stone building in the traditional English style is beautiful in itself – a feast for the eyes.

Walking around St. John’s, be sure to stumble upon Cathedral of St. John the Divine . This is a magnificent cathedral that belongs to the Anglican church. The British built it in 1745 from solid brick. On the territory of the church is an ancient anti-Guan cemetery. Modern descendants of slaves working in nearby offices come here for lunch. Without malicious intent, they sit on the stone gravestones of English aristocrats of past centuries and eat their sandwiches. What an irony.

Entertainment

Shirley heights – This is the main party of the island, which takes place every Sunday evening. This place is definitely worth a visit for several reasons. Shirley Heights offers incredible views of the entire island. Come here at 4:30 to take places on the observation deck and take a picture. If you go there to 7, then most likely stick out in a traffic jam. And the parking lot will be difficult to find. Tourists from all around come here to take a photo card against the backdrop of the island, burning in the rays of the setting sun. With the onset of darkness, locals have a grand barbecue. They cook meat, fish, burgers, side dishes. Behind separate racks, bartenders pour a drink. I advise you to be careful at these racks – many pour so much alcohol into themselves that it is not known how they will behave in the next second. Entrance fee is 8 USD.
There is a dangerous place in Devil’s Bridge in St. Philip County . The Devil’s Bridge is a cliff on the east coast in the Indian Town Point National Park. The whole area is a wild rocky landscape. There are no trees. Only desert cliffs and huge waves of the Atlantic Ocean. For thousands of years they sharpened ledges of rocks and formed holes in them. When the next powerful wave breaks on the rocks, water passes through these holes and breaks out into the air, as if from a geyser.

Mother Nature has tried on the appearance of Antigi. Another place with the religious name of Hell’s Gate . Hell’s Gate – a huge arch sticking out of turquoise water. In fact, the Hell’s Gate is a separate island. It is located northeast of Antigua and can only be reached by motor boat. He often falls into the program of sightseeing tours.
Antigua’s Donkey Sanctuary – be sure to come here if you are relaxing with children or just love animals like me. Important: this is not a zoo, but a shelter for donkeys. This is surprising, but the island has a problem of orphaned donkeys and goats. For example, brought down, infected with parasites, bitten by dogs, old, blinded animals are brought to the shelter. To date, the farm has more than 150 goals. Entrance ticket costs 25 US dollars. Employees are allowed to stroke and feed the inhabitants of the shelter. If you wish, offer help – volunteers will not give up a couple of extra hands: throw hay, feed newborns from the bottle. Donkey Sanctuary is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Weather

I flew to Antigua and Barbuda in August, and the calendar summer in the Caribbean is off-season. Before the trip, I studied Runet and looking for grains of information about Antigue. Articles scared showers, hurricanes, lead clouds, which did not stop all the low season. I was distrustful of the articles written by those who had never been to the Caribbean, and turned to the encyclopedia of geography. I learned that it’s not the season in the Caribbean – it’s not when it rains and clouds, but when the temperature rises from +25 degrees to +33 degrees in the sun.

In summer, Antigu really has more rainfall – a couple of times the rain caught me by surprise. Clouds appear in the sky from nowhere, are filled with dark weight, and then whip for five minutes. After that, as if they hadn’t happened – the sky turns blue again, the sun immediately peeks out. It quickly dries all the moisture. The downside of such weather incidents is becoming stuffy. Otherwise, I did not find any disadvantages of the off-season. In addition, I can stand the heat very well, so uncomfortable by Caribbean standards +33 degrees did not become a problem for me.

Why in the Caribbean there is no significant difference between season and non-season

We know that, for example, in warm India it is good in winter and monsoon rains in summer. Not everywhere, of course, but in Indian resorts – yes. Antigua and India are located in the tropics, but in one country there are pronounced differences between high and low seasons, and in the other not. Why?

It’s all about the trade winds. Trade winds are winds blowing in the tropics throughout the year in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The trade winds do not spoil the life of tourists, because they differ in a small amount of sediment. Only occasionally small rains occur. Exception: Indian Ocean. There the trade winds turn into monsoons, but this is due to the outlines of the mainland. That is why tourists have nothing to do in the Indian Ocean during the summer.

In the Caribbean there is no prolonged rain. But remember that this is not a desert. And rains from time to time happen even in high season.

Why is it more profitable to go to Antigua in the off-season

Wealthy Germans, British and Americans work sweaty year-round in their stressful positions and do not want to sweat in the 33-degree heat during the holidays. Therefore, they occupy hotels, hotels, guesthouses in cooler winters. Booking at this time, budget by local standards, housing is almost impossible. Therefore, if you want to Antigu in the winter, book your accommodation and redeem plane tickets for 5-6 months. In winter, there are more white travelers on the island than in summer. This is an occasion for local IP-people to pull up the price tag for housing, food and taxis.

In summer, the tourist flow is not so aggressive. You can find inexpensive housing with a kitchen near the sea during this period 2-3 months before the proposed vacation. On the beaches, it’s freer, more comfortable, and the locals are becoming more merciful in the matter of payment for services. You can compare housing prices here , and book using Bookings .

Language and Communication

The official language of the state is English. It is used during business negotiations, in the media, in government agencies, during official speeches. But among themselves, the locals are moving to the Antiguanian patois. It is an explosive mixture of English, Portuguese, French and African.

In the years leading up to independence, standard English was more common in relation to the anti-Guanese patois. But then the anti-Guan Creole began to be considered by the islanders as an important aspect of their culture. The education system rejects the use of this dialect, and training is conducted in standard English.The Barbudian accent is slightly different from the anti-Guan one, but this is only noticeable locally. You will not feel the difference between the anti-Guanese patois and the Barbudian patois. Both that, and another will seem to you equally gibberish.

Locals understand that it is hard for foreigners to get their specific English with inclusions from other languages, strange abbreviations, intonations and interjections. As a rule, the upper and middle classes avoid Antiguan Creole. Therefore, they try to speak standard English with strangers.

Food and drink

Residents of Antigua are still lovers of good food and drink. Creole cuisine does not indulge in variety, and it certainly cannot be called exotic.

Food

Antiguan breakfast usually includes salted cod (yes, like our roach), eggplant, eggs and lettuce. For lunch, locals like to eat pasta, rice cooked with local spices and beans, vegetables, salads, corn porridge, baked potatoes, plantains (large vegetable bananas for heat treatment), pasta-pie (pasta pie). The main dish is cooked with fish, chicken, pork, and beef.

Popular desserts: ice cream, fruit pies, shugarkeyki (translated as a sweet cake, but there is no analogue of this dish in Russia), fudge and cakes.

During the annual carnival on the streets in large vats they cook something like a stew of pork joints, legs, tails with lots of onions and spices. Still locals love black pudding. In fact, it is a well-aged black pudding. The composition in addition to blood includes rice and meat.

The drinks

On Antigua, it’s a sin not to try the juices of the wildest tastes from local plants: juice from saersop, from guava, from passion fruit, from hibiscus, from mango, from raspberry, tamarind and cherry. They also make a maibu drink, ginger beer, malt beer and rum.

Rum is a different story. As in any other Caribbean country, here this drink is considered national. Ponche Kuba is very popular. This is such a high alcohol sweet creamy liqueur. In appearance – thick and creamy. Sold in elongated bottles.

5 dishes to try

Dukanoo – dumplings made from sweet potatoes, grated coconut, sugar, flour, coconut milk, grated nutmeg. Flavor with salt and vanilla extract. All ingredients are kneaded in a deep bowl until the mixture begins to adhere densely to the spoon. Then it is all wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled for about 25 minutes, until the mixture sets. The dish is eaten hot with salted cod, or cold, thinly sliced.
On the streets of St. John’s often sit grannies with homemade braziers of small size and roast corn . A great way to have a budget snack while exploring city streets.
Mauby is a popular drink in the Caribbean. Boil from the bark of the tree of the same name, adding sugar in the cooking process. Sometimes put spices and anise. I first tried this drink in Barbados. I did not know what it was and what to expect from taste – I took it because of an unfamiliar name. It tastes a specific thing – with bitterness. It’s hard to drink from a habit.
Be sure to buy fried pork, chicken or beef in jerk marinade made from local spices. Take the plantaines for a side dish . It will be a 100% anti-guan style dinner.
Roti is a thin tortilla (pita bread in our opinion), which is used to wrap meat stewed in curry sauce and boiled potatoes. Insanely delicious stuff!

Shopping

If for you to go somewhere and not bring home a ton of purchases is a crime, then for you the good news is that Antigua is a wonderful shopping experience. In St. John’s, there are entire streets with multi-brand boutiques operating on the Duty free system. When shopping, don’t forget to bring your passport and return ticket with you. It will come in handy when filling out documents.

What you need to know about shopping in this country

On Antigu you can buy both cheap Chinese consumer goods and luxury products: watches, clothes, jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics. Local also create goods for sale: souvenirs, jewelry, textiles, coffee, rum, interior and exterior decoration elements. It seems to me that the last category is the most interesting. But Gucci and Gabana always have time to buy.

Top Cities for Shopping

All shopping streets and malls with luxury goods and local artisans, jewelers and artists are located in the city of St. John’s in the heart of the city.

Village Walk Shopping Center is an entire street with luxury brands. Boutiques are open from 12 noon to 9 pm every day.
Redcliffe Quay – similarly. Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday from 10 in the morning, on Sunday from 11 in the morning until 6 in the evening. What they sell: cigars, cigarettes and alcohol, paintings by local artists, branded Italian bags, diamonds, souvenirs on the marine theme. In the Rasta Pasta shop, they sell rasta-themed products. Also on this street with colored houses in the colonial style there are many cafes, restaurants and bars. Everything for people.
Heritage market. Be sure to go to the grocery market in St. John’s. Only on the market can one truly learn the life and customs of the country to which he arrived. The market is located on West Street and is open every Saturday from early morning. Merchants will fight for your East Caribbean dollars. They will show you their fruits and vegetables, like a matador red bullcoat bullfighting. A smaller market is adjacent to this food market. It sells craft goods.

What to bring from this country

Jewelry made by local jewelers, beautiful Caribbean-style clothing sewn by local designers. Where to get:
- Zenergy Boutique, Corner Complex, Dockyard Drive, English Harbor, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The Goldsmitty, Redcliffe Quay? from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They sell luxurious jewelry with black opals, imperial topazes, tanzanites, tourmalines and other exotic stones in 14- and 18-carat gold.
For tourists who have a limited budget – souvenirs made in China. Where to get:
- Vendors’ mall, St Mary’s Street and Redcliffe Quay. Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days except Sunday.
Luxury accessories. On Antigua, a paradise for those who collect watches. Where to get:
- Sterlings World of Watches, Heritage Quay, from 8am to 6pm.
- Vendor’s Mall is a shopping center. Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days except Sunday. Here you can buy watches from Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer, Gucci, Raymond Weil, Tissot, Longines, Carl F. Bucherer, Frederique Constant, Rado, Cross Pens, Swarovski, Michael Kors, Fossil, Hamilton, Shinola, Emporio Armani, Swiss Army / Victorinox, Ice, Guess and many other brands.

Vacation with children

If you plan to rent a car, then rest with children in Antigua will appeal to you. Just do not forget to take out medical insurance, take a frameless car seat and a few liters of cream with SPF 60.

If you want to travel on your two and minibuses, then rest on Antigua with a child will turn into hell. It is a bad idea. Public transport here goes horribly, there are long distances between stops, and a taxi is expensive.

In all other respects, Antiga is perfect for family vacations: it is quiet, safe, clean, there is where to go with the children (remember about the shelter for donkeys?) And a comfortable entry into the water on the west coast.

Safety

Antigua and Barbuda is safe in the traditional sense of the term. That is, of course, if you shake a pack of green at night in the gateway, then most likely the gopniks will want to grab the money. If you leave the car in the field, and there will be bags and equipment on the seats, most likely the windows will be knocked out. Just stay within the framework of common sense.

Popular types of fraud

If there is fraud on Antigua and Barbuda, then I have not encountered one and have not even heard stories about such unpleasant things. The only thing that seemed impolite to me was the desire of taxi drivers to get more money out of tourists.

Only at the end of my stay on the island did I find out that taxi prices are fixed. And then by accident. So, all this time I was ripped off as sticky, evaluating how much I can lay out. Here a priori, if you came to Antigua, then you have money. Take it out and put it down, please.

The imposition of services. Once I took a taxi, asking the driver to take me to one distant beach. We agreed on a price and drove off. When I arrived and began to give money, he refused to take it, saying that he would wait for me. I replied that I would be on the beach all day and did not need to wait for me. I immediately imagined how much this “kindness” would fly into me. He continued to refuse money. I thought. Ok, these are your problems, man . After 7 hours, he was still standing in the parking lot and waiting for me. The insolent told me that he would bring me home, but I owe him 80 USD. I was stunned by such a turn. What more? Pay three times the original amount? Well, I do not. I said goodbye, leaving him completely without money, but with an infinitely sad look after me. Be careful with taxi drivers.

5 things to do in this country

Today you learned a lot of new and a lot of truly truthful about the mysterious country of Antigua and Barbuda. You decide which places to visit on the island and which to delete from the list of visits.

But here are a few things you have no right not to do here:

Be sure to meet the sunset at Galleon beach.
Go to the donkey shelter and feed the eared guys. They will be glad to loving friends from Russia!
Drive to Barbuda for a day. But only on a catamaran: you will bounce on the waves for 90 minutes, and then sunbathe on the deserted pink beaches.
Go to the Shirley Heights party, meet the sunset there, take a photo on the background of the whole island and dance with the locals to jazz.
Bring home a huge sink. Local fishermen take them from the bottom and pick out mollusks from them, and throw shells out. I found a mountain of these, I chose more decently and brought home. Now I remember about my anti-Guanan holidays every time I look at her.

Money

In 1981, 7 Caribbean countries merged into the Organization of East Caribbean States. They set out to create an economic and monetary union. Thanks to him, the inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the islands of Anguilla, use the same currency – the East Caribbean dollar.

Most coins have their own shape – these are polygons with different numbers of sides. This is due to the high illiteracy of the inhabitants of these countries. In circulation, banknotes for 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins for 1 dollar, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. Since 1976, the East Caribbean dollar has been pegged to the US dollar in a ratio of 2.7: 1. That is, for 1 US dollar you get 2.7 East Caribbean dollars.

US dollars can be paid in duty free shops. In all other places, only local currency is accepted. Although taxi drivers also accept American Washington, Hamilton and Jefferson.

The post Antigua and Barbuda appeared first on iFind.al.

Austria

ifindal — Sun, 31 May 2020 10:01:38 +0000

When I arrived in Austria, or rather, in its capital, I saw nothing special. I did not take my breath away; I remained completely indifferent to another European country. After two weeks, I characterized Austria as a young girl who is well versed in art. She has something to surprise you, but she will not go out of her way for this. It is interesting and partly impregnable.
At the end of the trip, I made a simple conclusion: it is a tourist-developed country. Everyone will be able to find a reason to come here. For active and sports recreation there is a ski season, for art and music lovers there are many museums and, of course, the Vienna Opera. If you want to relax, enjoying nature, then be subdued. And the gothic beauty and architecture of its cities are as if created for long walks.
You can fall in love with Austria, or maybe it won’t sink into your soul, but you need to see it!

How to get there

Of course, the easiest way is to get to the capital of the country, there are more flights there, and trains run more often. Therefore, consider this option.

Seven cities have airports: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Linz and Klagenfurt. The largest, of course, in the capital. Schwechat Airport is 19 kilometers from Vienna.

The airport map shows taxi, bus and train stops. Look at the arrivals area (the airplane icon, which is pointing nose down). And here is the Vienna airport website to help you . There is an online scoreboard, bus and train schedules (very convenient).

Taxi

The trip will cost 35-40 EUR at least. The distance is not at all great, so it’s worth saving and getting there by train or bus.

Bus

Buses “Viena Airport Lines” run every half hour to Schwedenplatz metro stations in 20-25 minutes, Westbahnhof (Vienna West Station) in 45 minutes and Donau Zentrum (shopping and entertainment center), the journey takes about 40 minutes.

A train

CAT express trains run to Wien Mitte Station (U3 and U4 subway lines) in 16 minutes.

Google MAPS

Touristic Regions

Austria is the most tourist developed country, in my opinion. It is extremely difficult to divide the country by type of recreation.

In each of the nine federal states you can enjoy art and history, almost in every ski or swim in the lakes, heal and relax in the thermal waters, and much more. Each federal state has its own center and almost every airport has its own.

Lower Austria (Lower Austria on the map)

If you want to get acquainted with world artists, listen to one of the best operas in the world, enjoy gothic architecture – the best option is Lower Austria, it includes the capital of the country – Vienna (it is also an independent federal state, it turns into a nested doll – federal state inside the federal state) . A scattering of sights and various museums. By the way, in Austria, only an Austrian who has passed a special exam can conduct excursions. So all that is said to you is usually interesting and super-credible.

I also want to mention Baden. Incredibly sweet city, in which the royal people regained their health. Baden also has a completely magical forest. I was there in the winter and, walking along the paths, easily imagined myself in a children’s fairy tale with adventures and fairies. But most of all, Baden is famous for its Casino. Especially gambling await there.

Tyrol. Styria (Tyrol and Styria on the map)

In winter, you can and should go to Austria to conquer the mountains. For this there is Tyrol and Styria. The best resorts for extreme people and lovers of comfort at the same time. Alps, snow and ski areas equipped with ski lifts. Major centers are Graz and Innsburg, which have airports. However, many tourists prefer to travel by train with their equipment. Skis or a board can be put on the third shelf of the compartment and save on rent in the resort itself. Saturated days on the slopes you can always dilute with pleasure from visiting the castles in Styria – the second largest federal state in Austria. And in Innsburg, for example, you can drop into the museum of the legendary Swarovski crystals.

Carinthia. Burgenland Voralberg (on the map Karinthia. Burgenland. Voralberg)

If Austria has no access to the sea, this does not mean that there is no place to swim in the hot summer season. Lakes and rivers stretch across the country. The water here is really very clean, and these are not just words, but the purest truth. The incredible beauty of nature will keep company with quiet gatherings by the lake, diving (yes, yes, do not be surprised. Aquaculture mixed with sunken medieval structures will impress you), kitesurfing, rafting and canyoning. If you are for water sports, then here you are – Lake Wörther See, Ossiacher See, Millstater See and Weissensee.

Salzburg

The federal state of Salzburg, whose center is the city of Salzburg , where Mozart was born. Get to know the homeland of a great genius, whom he did not like so much, from which he always wanted to escape. Poor-poor Mozart in this beautiful and calm city, he will remain forever in the windows of souvenir shops, the names of cafes and many other places where tourist groups lead.

Top cities

Do you know how you can choose the cities worth visiting in Austria? Open a map of the country with the division into federal lands, pick up several darts and, without looking, throw them into the map. Because each city of this country is interesting, each has its own history and its castles, monasteries, museums and famous names. The second option is to choose the capital of all nine lands. If you do not plan to stay in Austria for so long, then here is my list of cities that you definitely need to see.

Vein

The first and most favorite of mine (and not only mine) from Austrian cities. Majestic. Interesting. A bit mysterious. Sometimes fabulous. Filled with great creators and their works of art. Vienna is a city for walking: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hovburg. Full of interesting museums: Albertina, Leopold Museum, Freud Museum. And lovely cafes where you can eat coffee with strudel. In Vienna, think of a clear list of what you want to see, otherwise you will not have time. Moreover, I advise you to make a walking route, the city is not so big, you can walk through all the sights without using public transport. But get down early on the subway, where you can find interesting things in souvenir shops.

Salzburg

According to local guides, this is the only city in Europe that has not hit the plague. That’s because the water came directly from the mountains, clean and uninfected. If you are not going to conquer the Alps on skis, then you must look at them in all its glory. Take a stroll around the UNESCO-listed old town. In this city, everyone can get to the mayor, no matter if you are a tourist or an Austrian citizen. Unfortunately, in fact, I could not verify this. When we arrived in the city, it was already five in the evening, the working day in Salzburg was over. But we freely entered the city hall building, walked along it and, having greeted the cleaners, went on. You can learn more about this historic city here .

Graz

The second largest student city in Austria. As it’s not hard to guess, it’s worth going there for the nightlife – a lot of clubs, bars and cafes are scattered throughout the city. It is more residential, less historical, in comparison with Salzburg, for example. Read more in this article .

Baden

You know, in every country there is such a small tourist city, which stands out by any one feature. And you think that going there is not so necessary. It seems interesting, but it seems not. But Baden is worth a visit to get a complete impression of Austria. This city is a casino, the city is thermal springs, the city is calm. In Baden it is not necessary to linger for a long time, a day is enough. I advise you to take a walk in the Vienna Woods if you are not interested in the thermal springs.

Eisenstadt

The center of the federal state of Burgenland. This city was for a long time under the rule of the Turks, after which it passed into the possession of the Hungarian principality. Following the First World War, he became Austrian. This small town is more Hungarian than Austrian. So here you need to visit the famous Esterházy Castle, which still belongs to representatives of the Hungarian princely family of the same name. The castle constantly hosts festive events. Afterwards, take a walk along Hauptstrasse, which is full of historic buildings, shops and restaurants. Do not miss an important detail – the land of Burgenland is the best region of winemaking. I was not disappointed, I also brought home.

The islands

In the very center of Vienna there is an artificial island Donauinzelfest, or “as it is in Russian” – an island on the Danube. It was made in order to protect the capital from flooding. In fact, this is a strip of land on which discos are currently taking place, there are bars and a beach. This place is popular, so getting there is not difficult. The closest metro stations are Donaumarina (in the west) and Donaustadtbrücke (in the east). From them there is a bridge directly to the island.

Top Attractions

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

When I first went there, I got goosebumps. Perhaps from a special grace, or maybe from the fact that it was frozen. This is a cover, business card, chip, face of the country. Call it what you want, this magnificent cathedral of beauty and magic will not lose its.

And no matter how much it was restored, repaired after the destruction, he still stands and looks at the city from high. But you can also try. Every day from 9:00 to 17:30 there is an opportunity to climb the south tower and capture with your eyes the panorama of Vienna. If you are lucky and you will be there in sunny weather, you will get great pictures. But provided that you place the camera lens between the rods of the grid, which is there for security. Although my made in the gray sky were not so bad.

Albertina

The museum has more than a million exhibits (of course, not all are on display). Often there are thematic exhibitions. For example, I visited an exhibition called from “Monet to Picasso.” Until now, I have not received as much aesthetic pleasure as at this exhibition. In a calm and quiet environment, you pass from room to room, epochs change, and you almost forget about the outside world. This is not a small merit of the museum. There are no our beautiful grandmothers watching your every breath. There are no frantic lines and people who are not able to perceive art. Albertina as an island of happiness for lovers of peace and beauty. In addition to temporary exhibitions, one of the largest collections of graphics is collected there, I saw Dürer’s paintings “The Hare” and “Hands of the Prayer”, and also the “Madonna and Pomegranate” by Rafael.

There are several rooms in Albertine with contemporary art.

Vienna Opera

Here you can stand nearby (preferably in the evening, the building is very beautifully illuminated), but after enjoying the appearance, go forward to the ticket office. One and a half hours before the start of performances, tickets cost 2-4 EUR. They are on standing places, even if it doesn’t sound very good. But imagine that you managed to buy a ticket to Bolshoi for 200 rubles? I think you don’t even have to think. Go ahead to conquer the Vienna Opera, in vain or something. I thought the same thing, and happy went to conquer her. But she was late. It’s about six hours to come to buy these wonderful tickets. Because there are a lot of such smart classical music lovers.
You can buy tickets for seats, the sale begins in two months. There is an opportunity to buy online.

Belvedere Gallery

To my shame, before traveling to Austria, I did not know a single work of Klimt, except for the painting “Kiss.”

Fortunately, I went there with a friend who is well versed in art. Even before the trip, she firmly decided – Belvedere Gallery is the first on the list. It contains the largest collection of paintings by the famous Austrian artist. Gustav Klimt is the founder of Austrian Art Nouveau and a very interesting personality. The main focus of his painting was a female body. However, I liked his landscapes more than the paintings of the Golden Age. By the way, in 2006 the Gallery lost four of Klimt’s paintings, including Adele’s Golden Portrait, due to a lawsuit with the heirs of the same Adele Bloch-Bauer.

Baden Casino

You know, it seems to me that every country should have such a nice and small tourist town. When you enter Baden, the last thing you think about is that there is a casino here that can accommodate 1000 visitors at a time. Because few people walk the streets, and only tourist groups create the crowd.
Once on the site of the casino was the oldest thermal Roman spring, but now the healing waters have changed to green cloth tables. And no one complains.

Salzburg Old Town

Walk along Getreidegasse to the house where Mozart was born. Exit to Residenzplatz – the oldest square in the city, climb the cable car to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which is visible from anywhere in Salzburg. Enjoy the view of the whole city and the beautiful Alps.

Green Lake Styria

This is a must see! Emerald-colored water, cozy benches under the trees, flower beds, lovely bridges. You’ll think nothing special, but there it was! Presented a picture? Now fill it all up with water. With spring thawing, the lake is filled with water, so summer dresses for walks are not suitable. Wear a diving suit, wear cameras in waterproof cases and go for the best shots and experiences.

Swarovski Museum in Wattens

And again, this must be seen, with words there is little that can be conveyed. The museum does not bear great historical value. But the beauty is indescribable. I would advise you to go there, if only because of how everything is arranged there. You go from room to room like in a fairyland. There is the well-known melted clock of Dali here, and the largest and smallest crystals, and a small path like a kaleidoscope and crystal rooms of immense size.

Nordkette cable car

I am a fan of climbing higher and a little bit to enjoy the view from above. If you are the same, then appreciate this type of vacation. In fact, it is a funicular that will take you up to the mountains to a height of 3000 meters. Universal at any time of the year (but I advise you to carefully read the time when the road does not work on the official website ). And nothing else will prevent you from enjoying the cleanest air, nature and walking along mountain paths.

Weather

In Austria, the seasons are pronounced. So it all depends on the purpose of the trip. If you want to ski, you certainly need winter. She’s cold in Austria. The cost of a ski pass does not depend on time at all, and in the busiest season and the deadest it will not change. So focus only on snow, and it is the most pleasant for skiing in the Alps from December to February.

Off-season is ideal for cultural enlightenment. Of course, you cannot avoid rains and a little slush, but this is not so critical. And if you go, for example, in October, November or in March, April, then housing prices and flights will be lower. So it’s more profitable to get acquainted with the culture of Austria.

In summer, it is hot to walk around the cities, so you should return to the Alps again and conquer them on foot or by bicycle. Or maybe you want to go climbing.

Moving around the country

The most popular way to get from city to city or the nearest cities of neighboring countries is by train.

Here on this site there is an opportunity to buy tickets in advance. And you can do it at the box office or machine at stations. I ask you to carefully read all the displays on the platforms. They are there for our convenience (honestly, I was convinced myself). From one platform trains can go in several different directions + during the trip, some cars are unhooked. So do not panic and carefully read where you sit. All tickets are checked by the controller, it’s impossible to ride with a hare. But you can find a profitable option. For example, for 28 EUR you can buy a ticket for one day, from which 2 to 5 people will travel.

You can, of course, and ride a rented car. But it will be more expensive. Gasoline and toll roads will create difficulties. And do not forget about international rights. The minimum deposit when renting a car is from 200 EUR, and this is in the best scenario.
So take the train and travel in comfort, well, this is my personal advice.

Communication

A wifi network is developed in Austria, I felt quite comfortable using it only. Buying local SIM cards is not so profitable if you are traveling for a short time, and Russian operators, as everyone knows, are ripping off at exorbitant prices. But if wifi does not suit you, carefully read all the rules of your Russian operator. Or buy a local SIM card, for example, the operators “A1”, “T-mobile” or “3 Drei Austria”. Will catch in the mountains. The cost of tariffs is from 10 EUR. Although, I repeat, in almost every cafe, hotel, museum there is wifi. It’s more profitable to use it.

Language and Communication

The official language in Austria is German. A resident of Germany will easily understand a resident of Austria and they will all understand a Russian resident who studied classical German. But to me, as I did not learn German, that is, only by ear I heard the Austrian dialect seemed more pleasant and softer. English is understood in Austria no worse, tourist English (using simple times, seasoned with gestures) is also understood here, so do not worry.
I spoke only English, but when you insert German words, the Austrians smile pleasantly.

The phrase “I am from Russia” I will not offer you to learn, this is usually clear to everyone. But here are a few simple expressions of a tourist:

Guten morgen – good morning – guten morgen.
Ich verstehe nicht – I do not understand – theirs.
Sehr gut, dunke – thanks, good – zer gut, danke.
Offen – open – offen.
Geschlossen – Closed – Gishlossen.
Wieviel kostet es – how much does it cost? – bethil costet eu.
Konnen sie mir helfen – could you help me? – Gyeongnan-zi world of Helfeng.
Wo ist – where is it? – to the zind.
Ich bin vegetarier – I am a vegetarian – their bean is a vegetarian.
Sprechen sie English – do you speak english? – sprechan zi english?

Mentality features

By mentality, the Austrians resemble Germans. True, you should not compare these two nations too much, the Austrians do not favor it. But they respect personal space and are very polite to others. Not one of those who, when meeting, rushes to hug or smile for no reason. Residents of Austria are like their country, its full reflection. Sometimes it seemed that these people were cold and closed. But don’t let this scare you, they are friendly and helpful with tourists.

Food and drink

The first and most delicious thing I want to start with is the Vienna Manner waffles. I did not know about them before coming to Vienna. And now these are my favorite waffles. When I found them in Moscow, happiness knew no bounds. But they cost much more in Moscow, and they are presented only in one form. So as you will in Austria, run faster to shops, buy them up. But seriously, this is a small business card of Austria. Manner wafers are sold in many stores + this brand has its own stores where you can walk around in the selection.

Waffles are waffles, but I want to eat tasty and good. Since Austria has no access to the sea, the emphasis is on the other; Austrians cook meat best of all. And it is true. A huge number of meat dishes. However, with all the variety of delicacies from meat, in Austria there are vegetarian cafes, although not in the largest quantity. Nobody will be hungry.

In many places in Vienna, and indeed in any city in Austria, you will find a wide variety of meat dishes. Start with the Vienna Schnitzel.

Usually they bring a huge plate with a large portion. I thought it would not fit in, but it was always very tasty, so I did not leave the crumbs.

When you think about meat, wine comes to mind, preferably red semisweet. Vienna residents probably thought the same thing. Because the peculiarity of the city is heurigers – wine taverns on the outskirts. It is a wonderful atmospheric place. Go down to the cellar in the Gothic style or a couple of levels down to the basement and enjoy the wine (and do not forget to order meat).

One of the most famous hoigers is Mayer Am Pfarrplatz. Here he came up with his ninth Beethoven symphony. You can get to Heuriger from the Heiligenstadt Pfarrplatz Underground Station by bus 38A. Lunch will cost you about 25-40 EUR.

Also, small cafes with delicious pastries are scattered around the city. The smell in such establishments is sweet, but pleasant. If you are going to go to Austria in the fall or in the winter, such gatherings should not be neglected. Be sure to try Viennese waffles in the bite with Viennese strudel, stick it all with Sacher’s cake and season with Viennese coffee.

So that you don’t get sick from such a quantity of sweets, divide the pleasure into several days and try goodies in different cafes and bakeries.

5 dishes to try

Wiener Schnitzel.
Viennese coffee.
Original Mozart sweets.

Wine Stum (young and sold without cork, just sealed with foil, on sale from September)
Strudel.

And as a small bonus, I would recommend Austrian sausages. This is street food, small stalls are scattered throughout Vienna (and in some other cities of the country) and offer a wide selection of sausages with all kinds of sauces. Tasty. The most is for a snack between museums.

Shopping

“Expensive, rich,” I thought after I was visited by the thought of shopping in Austria. My opinion is that it is pointless to go to Austria for big discounts. There are no interesting seasonal discounts for you, there is no serious price collapse. In the cities themselves, a large number of designer brands, especially in Vienna at high prices that are not inferior to Moscow. And outside the city there are outlets where you can find the same designer things (except that the collections are not new) for an interesting price (but these are not Spanish discounts).

What you need to know about shopping in this country

In principle, I would not recommend going to Austria exclusively for shopping. This may be a small bonus to the trip. Walking around Vienna, buy a luxury item or spend a day (it doesn’t work out differently) for shopping in the outlet.

The choice is much greater than in Moscow. Collection “fresh.” Almost every interesting designer whose name is known has his own store in the Austrian capital.
Go to Austria for luxury items – watches, jewelry.
Winter and summer discounts begin and end in the same way as in the whole of Europe. Summer is from the last days of July to the end of August, and winter is from mid-December to the end of February. Moreover, the Christmas sale will be most interesting.
And it is very difficult to leave Austria without a Swarovski crystal, so do not forget about their jewelry.
The most interesting outlets are located in the vicinity of Vienna. For example, in the first place – Parndorf.
Outlets are like small towns. On weekends there are a huge number of people, so plan on shopping on weekdays. Get ready to have to work hard to find the best deal and the right size.

Top Cities for Shopping

Perhaps only Vienna and its environs can be distinguished. I can’t advise you on specific cities anymore. However, in almost every city there are shops where you can find interesting things. As I already wrote, the choice is much wider than in Moscow.

To make a bargain, visit McArthurGlen Parndorf or simply the Pandorf Outlet, located at Straße 1. From the main entrance to the Vienna Opera every day, except Sundays, buses run directly to Pandorf (Friday and Saturday every hour). Round-trip tickets cost 11 euros for an adult and 4 euros for children from 3 to 6 years. The brands represented in the outlet can be found on this site.

What to bring from this country

In Austria, of course, there are all standard souvenirs – from t-shirts to magnets. But what is interesting to bring as a gift or buy a loved one?

I would recommend candied cornflowers, the favorite treat of Empress Sissy, which all Austrians adore so much (you will often see her image in all kinds of souvenir shops). In fact, these are the petals of cornflowers in sugar. The taste is unusual, you can’t eat a lot, but for the present it’s the most. They are sold in small and cute bags. Well, of course, I will advise you Manner wafers, they can be bought in different tastes and in different packages – a great option for friends.

Walking along the tourist streets, you will see t-shirts with the inscription ‘No kangaroos in Austria’ more than once. Also an interesting souvenir. This phrase appeared from the fact that Austria is often confused with Australia, even at an official level. And as a souvenir you can buy any image of the Empress Sissi (postcards, magnets), but this is more likely for yourself or history lovers. Because it is unlikely that a magnet with an empress unknown to a Russian person will be a good souvenir. But the picture with the image of St. Stephen’s Cathedral will fit perfectly into the collection of architecture connoisseur. Postcards, paintings painted or simply printed that are enlightened by this beautiful work of art are also enough.

Of course, you can not ignore the candy Mozart, but there is a small nuance. Those sweets that you will see at every step, in red with gold packaging and the image of Mozart in profile are not original candies. This is just for export, they too, like waffles, can be found, for example, in Moscow. Original sweets are many times tastier, but you can buy them only in Salzburg, in the network of small shops Fürst. In general, this is the oldest cafe and pastry shop in Salzburg. Here you can enjoy delicious desserts, and at the exit you can buy those same, original Mozart sweets as a gift. They are sold in a blue and silver box, tied with a blue ribbon. Taste and beauty – such a souvenir can be brought to the closest and dearest people or to your beloved.

If you like fine art and Klimt or one of your friends, there is a great option. In Austria, you can buy bags, t-shirts, notebooks, pocket mirrors, mugs, lighters and much, much more with reproductions of paintings by this artist, especially with his famous painting “Kiss”.

After all purchases, weigh your luggage. Its weight should not exceed 50 kilograms. Here wine and liquor can be taken out as much as you like, unlike perfume – not more than 250 ml.

And a fairly standard point – you can not take out things that have historical and artistic value.
Also pay attention to tobacco restrictions. 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250 kg of tobacco.

You can apply for Tax free, provided that you bought in stores where there is a blue and white Tax free sign for at least 75 EUR per day. After making a purchase, ask the seller for a receipt with a Tax free envelope. When you leave Austria, you must stamp it at customs by presenting a check, an original invoice and the goods themselves. Only with this customs stamp is it possible to receive a refund. At the airport, train station, at border points, which will be indicated on the very envelopes that they gave you in the store. Plan your time so that everything is in time. Often, a queue is collected at Tax free points.

Vacation with children

You can take your children too. Austria offers several options from zoos to family expeditions. Some museums have excursions on weekends that are aimed exclusively at children. There are even exclusively children’s museums such as ZOOM. Here your child can try on different professions – from a musician and animator to a builder and a sailor.

Family holidays in Austria I would divide into:

Amusement parks.

There is in every federal state of Austria. And each in its own way is unique and interesting. There are archaeological and parks where you can find prehistoric creatures, and fight dragons (of course, real ones). I would single out Pilahtal Adventure Country Park. There you can find treasures on the map, solving puzzles along the way. Small (but not so) children will be interested.

Thermal resorts.

For the smallest in all resorts with thermal springs there is a corner. For example, water slides of different heights. Some are equipped with beaches so that sand castles can be built. Therme Oberlaa resort has many attractions and slides for children, where the water in the pools undergoes a special treatment for the sensitive skin of children. There you can “pass” your child to carers for entertainment programs, and relax yourself.

Family expeditions in nature.

In fact, these are expeditions to the most untouched natural places of the country. Want on a canoe, want on foot. For example, in the Valley of Emeralds, children can try their luck and participate in the extraction of emeralds immediately after the tour with a story about mineralogy. This, of course, is more for children who are always exploring something. And you can go to WilidnisCamp with your whole family – the children will learn to chop with an ax, behave correctly in the forest, make a fire and other pranks.

Safety

This is a safe country, but caution will not hurt. Do not carry large sums of money in bags; put documents in pockets with fasteners. Do not carry expensive phones in your pockets. For all my stay in the country, I have never encountered anything like this. So don’t worry much.

Popular types of fraud

There are no frauds characteristic of this particular country. So keep your wallets closer and strangers away. For example, when you are asked to take a photo, follow the usual precaution.

It is important to know: real Austrian policemen behave very politely, there is no reason to just check your personal belongings, so do not open your bags and do not show documents to everyone in a form reminiscent of law enforcement officers.

5 things that are definitely not worth doing

Carry large amounts of money in a bag.
Keep phones (small and expensive items) in open pockets of a jacket / bag.
Easily accept verification of personal items / documents.
Do not behave, rowdy.
Smoking in public places. Fine about 250 euros.

5 things to do in this country

Drink Viennese coffee with Sacher cake.
Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Take a look at the Mozart House Museum in Salzburg.
Take a ride on the slopes of the Alps.
See Gustav Klimt’s Kiss.

Nearby countries

Austria is surrounded by Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and, of course, Hungary and has no access to water. But it has a well-developed railway network, a ride in the neighbors is easy and simple. All of them, like Austria, are in the zone where a Schengen visa works without problems, so go on to adventure.

I’ll start with a romantic and tasty Italy. The cult of food is their idea (if suddenly you are from another planet and did not know this). It does not make sense to list all the advantages of Italy again and again, so here you will get to know her better. In Italy, you can ride to Venice. For example, from Graz. The most convenient way to get there is by car, it says how.

In principle, it is possible to travel from Austria to any neighboring country by car with comfort. Roads in Europe are good, but do not forget, they are mostly paid. And car rental in Austria is high. So it’s better to preoccupy this issue in advance, otherwise only cars with a manual transmission will remain, and we are people who are used to the machine for the most part.
Other neighbors are easily and easily accessible from Vienna Central Station to major cities of interest. Tickets can be bought at the station itself at ticket offices / machines, or on the official website . But he works in German, even when you switch to English, he often flies and returns to German. And the site itself is a bit complicated to use.

You can choose Switzerland to your liking, read about it here , and about Hungary here . In Germany it is worth getting to know the colorful Bavaria, and how to do this can be found here .

I especially advise you to the beautiful Czech Republic . For a ride, drive to Prague, it will not disappoint you, I promise. Although I may be biased, I admit, this is one of my favorite cities. I fell in love with its red roofs at first sight. I advise you to visit the Old Town Square, it was with her that the Czech Republic began (I think, not only for me). Without exaggeration, the most popular place in the Czech Republic. Here are the famous Prague chimes, or astronomical clocks.

You can also look into Slovenia and check the box “I was here.” For example, all from the same Graz drive to Maribor. It takes only an hour with a little. Read more about this country in this article .

Money

Euros are accepted everywhere here, I have never had any problems. Everywhere you can pay by card, even in gift shops. I already operate a trip according to one scheme, I take cash with me, 30% of the planned trip budget, the rest is on the map. Master card and Visa are accepted everywhere in the country. Remove from the card at the rate on the day on which the purchase is made.

The post Austria appeared first on iFind.al.

The beauty of a Chechen girl with albinism and heterochromy delighted netizens

ifindal — Sat, 23 May 2020 13:27:34 +0000

Beauty is a complex concept, and each person is beautiful in his own way. But very rarely you can meet people so beautiful that they take their breath away. It is such an attractive beauty that the eleven-year-old girl Amin Ependiyev from the Chechen town of Kurchaloy has.

Amina has two rare genetic abnormalities: heterochromia and albinism. The first mutation is responsible for the unusual color of the girl’s eyes: with heterochromia, the shade of the iris differs, which makes the eyes completely dissimilar or one eye may have some blotches. This happens when there is an overabundance of melanin in one iris compared to another: that is why the girl has such amazing eyes. Albinism is the absence of melanin, which is responsible for the color of hair and skin. These mutations combined in Amin very harmoniously, and only emphasize her special appearance.

The girl was found by local photographer Amin Arsakova, and it was she who showed her to the world. The pictures of a small model of amazing beauty gained a huge amount of comments from people from different parts of the world: everyone was struck by the unearthly beauty of a teenager. True, not everyone believed that the girl really looked like this: someone suggested that Arsakova used Photoshop, and the girl had colored lenses. But among the users there were residents of Kurchaloy, where the 11-year-old beauty lives, who confirmed that Amina is real and in life she is even more beautiful.

The young model does not yet use social networks, so it’s hard to believe that she really looks so magical, but with such beauty we will probably see Amina Ependieva and hear much more about her when she grows up.

The post The beauty of a Chechen girl with albinism and heterochromy delighted netizens appeared first on iFind.al.