Kseniia

The time has stoped long ago in here. Ingrid Bergman was walking down the streets together with Alfred Hitchcock few years ago and now Maria (or Anna) walks daily to the supermarket, where she works, and Lars (or Eric) drinks his morning coffee with pastry before going fishing. Names change, but nothing really changes. Every day in Fjallbacka is just like it was yesterday: slow, sleepy and provincial. Tomorrow, in a year, in 10 and probably even in 100 years. And you suddenly don’t care about all your plans at all, when you only get to the balcony of Stora Hotellet Bryggan hotel, bouncing into a picturesque rock on one side and into the sea – on the other. You now understand, why 859 locals are not looking forward any changes. And all you’re doing till the end of the day is sitting there and imagining your delicious dinner with 4 or 5 types of cooked lobster (fishing season!).

I’m pretty sure, it’s impossible to not miss snowboarding during the summer period after only 5 or so winter months. Well, personally I definitely failed even after visiting 3 different ski resorts in 2016:) Luckily, there is no need to wait, because you can also return to the snowy mountains even in summer. First of all, thanks to the glaciers, that are located in Switzerland, Austria, Italy and other countries. And secondly, because when it’s summer in here, on the other hemisphere of Earth is a perfect winter. In my opinion, a feeling of actually going into the winter and not only into a cold weather, makes this experience even more exiting. So where to go for summer skiing and snowboarding?

Sightseeing in Helsinki is, hmmm, interesting, but far from being really exciting. To explore the pure beautiness of this place, you will have to take a 15 minutes ride by a ferry to seven islands of Suomenlinna forthress, that faces cold waters and is situated on a rocky cliffs. Funny, that one its name (Suomenlinna) translates as “Finnish fortress” and the other (Sveaborg – official as well) – as a “Swedish forthress”.

I can hardly believe, that at least four of my friends do have their own books now! But only "Stylish travels" by Anna Sharlay was literally born in a real time. I’ve followed all the process on Facebook:) Without too much enthusiasm, freankly speaking, cause was quite convinced, that there’s nothing new about travels and packing to be told to me and Alesha. But even with that attitude, I’ve read "Stylish travels" twice before sharing my emotions! 

District of Antonias, Albert and Strelnieku streets has many names: ambassadorial, Art Nouveau, Jugendstil. But the name doesn’t change the meaning – it’s one of the most beautiful places in Latvian capital (probably, after an Old City). That district is a place, where most of the buildings are decorated in Art Nouveau style and also where an Art Nouveau museum is located.

I was really surprised to understand, that we have already visited this district once. The thing is, I had no idea it was it:) But this fall, inspired by my Jugendstil hotel Mercure on Elizabetes, 21a, I decided to have a look around once again.

Best moment of the last winter? An opportunity to see the real winter. White fairy tale of Lapland. Honestly, before our trip to Finland I couldn’t even imagine, that snow level can be higher than a human. Just imagine, walking a narrow path in between, seeing nothing except for the snowdrifts around and a tiny piece of the world ahead.

Sometimes you just don’t want to go too far away, but would really love to have a little rest and reload the batteries. What do we do in that case? Jump into our car and visit nearest cities, like Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Borovsk, Chekhov or Suzdal (a video from where is already on YouTube!). But this year began with a wonderful weekend in Radisson Resort, Zavidovo. I’ve seen a lot of pictures from there and imagined that lazy days on white sheets, in a jacuzzi or in a romantic grill restaurant. But as it always happens, reality way as far as possible from this:) All I was doing is jumping on a trampoline like crazy and snowboarding back and force on a frozen lake.

I’ve mentioned those buses so many times, that some people decided, I’m paid to do so. No! And don’t even get a discount:) Though you won’t need those, when traveling with Lux Express, cause it’s probably the cheapest way to see Europe so far. And so comfortable as well, that you would definitely want to repeat the experience:) Trust a person, who tried them while suffering from a serious food intoxication and totally recovered during the trip!

Don’t know why, but we more often visit Russian cities in winter than in summer. Especially those of the “Golden Ring”. A year ago we went to Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Yroslavl, and last December I visited Suzdal after an invitation of our partners – Kiehl’s, who invited me to be a photographer, videographer and a DJ in their press-tour.

There is a very special magic in traveling around our country in winter, cause this season is probably the most authentic for Russia. Seriosly, ask any foreigner, what he knows about our country, and he will probably name winter and cold weather among the main stereotypes.