Category: travel

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Check out the Gorgeous Subways of the Former Soviet Union

I visited Russia for ten days in 2003, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Standing in Red Square, walking around Saint Petersburg, it was truly incredible.

One thing I noticed was how elaborate and beautiful some of the subway stations were in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Soviets built incredible subway and train stations (some of them very far below ground). During the peak years in the Soviet Union, only 30 out of 1,000 citizens owned cars, so it was imperative to have a top-notch subway public transit system.

Even the more modern stations are pretty breathtaking. It’s a matter of priorities.

Here are some of the best.

1. Chernaya Rechka (Black River), Saint Petersburg.

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Как вы воспринимаете себя? Когда вы – это действительно вы, а не общественно удобный вариант вашей личности? Когда вы рассказываете о себе, вы хотите показаться лучше? Немного потока сознания на эту тему. 🎩 Я часто рассуждаю о том, какой я на самом деле. Принимаю ли это я решение, или навязанный стереотип быть "сильным", "становится лучше" и "преодолевать себя" заставляет делать меня то, что по настоящему мне не нужно? Например, взбираться на гору, учиться водить машину, стричься, делать физические упражнения, есть здоровую еду, не пить алкоголь. Это я или не я? Может, моё внутреннее я на самом деле хочет сесть за компьютер и погрузиться в RPG на неделю. Может настоящий я – там? 🎩 Нам всё время отовсюду твердят о самосовершенствовании. Поэтому "не развиваться" как-то стыдно. В то же время, общество не любит тех, кто "прыгает" слишком высоко. И поэтому часто приходится показывать себя несколько хуже, чем ты есть. Например, в СССР долгое время принято было быть скромным. И после распада это обернулось тем, что скромность наоборот стала пороком. Общественные установки меняются чрезвычайно быстро. Курить в школе считалось крутым, сейчас "курение убивает". Трудоголизм также постепенно сдаёт свои позиции, работать без отдыха уже считается неправильным. Отдых также имеет какие-то требования для вашего круга общения. Например, много где тех, кто ходит в пешие походы считают "экстремалами" или "бомжами". В среде походников же обычные отпуска иначе как "тюленьими" и не называют. 📱 Желание построить крутой образ себя, необычного и успешного, сильного и волевого, развивающегося и успешного, часто загоняет истинные мотивы и импульсы внутрь. Я люблю находиться на природе, люблю испытания, но не меньше я люблю залипать дома и заказывать еду, чтобы смотреть фильмы. Фильмы вообще для меня дают нисколько не меньше, чем путешествия за пределы квартиры. Мне нравится анализировать их, погружаться в миры, и иногда представлять свои. Навряд ли человека, который просто смотрит кино, можно назвать успешным и развивающимся. Многие вообще видят в фильмах жвачку для мозга. Но мне плевать. Я люблю фильмы. Я настоящий раскрываюсь как зритель и переживаю этот опыт один или с кем-то.

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2. Look at the detail.

3. Narvskaya Station, Saint Petersburg.

4. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

5. A newer station in Moscow.

6. Elektrozavodskaya Station, Moscow.

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The most incredible subway in the world 🚇 🌟 🌎

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7. Taganskaya Station, Moscow.

8. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

9. Cold and lonely walkway.

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Вчера Петербургский метрополитен 🚇 работал без перерыва. Так он выглядит в 2 ночи. По моему очень здорово. #метро #эстетика #урбанизм #петербургскийметрополитен #sybway #russiansubway #spb #saintpetersburg #санктпетербург #ночь #следущая_станция_автово #переход_на_3_линию #конечнаястанция_девяткино #маяковская #площадь_мужества #площадь_александра_невского #новочеркасская #площадь_восстания

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10. A grand station in Moscow.

11. A station in Yekaterinburg.

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🚉🍯🐝 My nearest underground station В период моей жизни в Англии мне пару раз доводилось общаться с моими international friends касательно темы российского метрополитена, в частности московского. Те, кому удавалось посетить столицу РФ (из полусотни наберется едва 3 студента), отмечали архитектуру станций (не всю подземку в целом) как одну из лучших. Кстати наша британская подруга Андреа тоже под впечатлением. Действительно, большинство станций московского метро выглядят как картинные галереи. Если будете в Москве, обязательно прогуляйтесь по самым, по-моему мнению, прекрасным галереям московской подземки: – Комсомольска (кольцевая); – Киевская (кольцевая и Арбатско-Покровская линия); – Новослободская; – Таганская; – Парк Культуры (кольцевая) и другие. Кстати станции Лондонского метро не особо впечатляющие, хотя некоторые – в стиле Hi-Tech. Именно такой стиль мне нравится больше. Станций Екатеринбургского метрополитена не много, но каждая из них стилизована под конкретную тематику. Например Чкаловская – в честь советского летчика Валерия Чкалова (в честь него названы район города и одна из улиц). А Ботаническая (на фото выше) в стиле пчелиных сот. Кстати она мне нравится больше всех. #метро #underground #ботаническая #русскоеметро #yekaterinburg #history #fact #russiansubway #russiantube #россия #therussianfederation

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12. Nizhny Novgorod. Futuristic.

13. Art in Saint Petersburg.

14. Mayakovskaya Station, Moscow.

15. They are beautiful, indeed.

Have you been to Russia and visited some of the train stations?

Share your favorite with us in the comments!

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An Airline Now Features a Booking System That Shows Where All Babies Are Seated on Its Flights

I don’t get super frustrated and freak out when a baby by me is crying hysterically on a plane. That’s why you always bring earplugs AND headphones when you travel, so you don’t really have to hear anything at all except the music you’re listening to. (Pro tip: this means you also don’t have to talk to anyone, which is always nice).

But let’s get to the point of the story. Some people really do get upset about screaming, fussy kids on their flights. So leave it to the innovative Japanese to come up with this idea.

Japan Airlines unveiled a booking system that allows customers to see exactly where babies are seated on flights. Genius!

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Spot the difference on this particular seating chart. @japanairlines_jal and Korean Air are now showing where infants are sitting so you can choose your seat accordingly 🤔. . . Whats your take on this, is this a helpful perk, parent shamer? Or do you think they’re going to charge more for seats in the long run.. “bidding for seats, far away from babies” . . —- #fatmentravelling #bigandtallfashion #plussizemenswear #instago #instavacation #menofsize #passportready #travelblogger #fatgirlstraveling #travelblog #babyonboard #babyonflight #travelhustler #travelisthenewclub #flyfluffyandfabolous #bearsofinstagram #cubsofinstagram #pointsandmiles #travelholic #bigguys #fatgirlstraveling #bodyposivity #plussizetravel #fatgirlstraveltoo #instatravel @british_airways @lufthansa @virginatlantic @easyjet @ryanair @thomascookairlinesuk #travelnoire #effyourbeautystandards #baby #iamsizesexy #travelgoals2018 @bbc_travel @theellenshow @travelnoire @holidaypirates @travel_con @blacktraveljourney @travelandleisure @travelchannel

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Once you’ve booked a flight on Japan Airlines and it’s time to check in, you’ll see a seating chart of the plane with baby icons showing where little ones are seated on that particular flight. The airline’s website says: “Passengers traveling with children between eight days and two years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen. This lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there.”

That means you need to select your seats as early as possible to avoid sitting next to screaming, puking children, if that kind of thing bothers you.

One other thing to keep in mind: sometimes the baby icon might not appear on seating charts. Examples include if a block of seats is booked for a tour or with award tickets, if tickets were selected in places other than the Japan Airlines website, or if for some reason the aircraft was changed at the last minute.

Still, that’s progress, right?

I have a feeling this feature will become very popular and other airlines will start doing this and they’ll make it even more streamlined. Hooray for innovation!

And remember: don’t forget your earplugs and headphones.

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The Loch Ness Monster Might Just Be a Giant Eel

Nessie fans, pay attention.

The first sighting of the rumored monster swimming in Loch Ness dates back to the 6th century; since then, scientists and regular people alike have been searching for answers.

Sturgeons, trees, elephant trunks, dinosaurs and just about everything else you can think of has been blamed at one point or another, but one New Zealand scientist is claiming he’s come up with the most plausible answer – an oversized eel.

Neil Gemmell of the University of Otago made the assertion after a recent environmental DNA project analyzed the genetic material of everything living in the loch. Gemmell and his team collected 250 water samples from various spots in the lake – no small feat given that the lake is 23 miles long and 788 feet deep – and came up with 500 million gene sequences.

They then compared the sequenced DNA with global databases of known organism, and found nothing to suggest there’s anything new or unknown in the lake. Their findings also ruled out some previous guesses, like Greenland sharks, catfish, and sturgeon.

What they did find, however, were unusually high amounts of eel DNA.

“The remaining theory that we cannot refute based on the environmental DNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel,” the project’s website reads. “Eels are very plentiful in Loch Ness, with eel DNA found at pretty much every location sampled – there are a lot of them.”

We also know that the British Isles are home to some pretty large eels. Conger eels can grow up to 10 feet or longer in length, and in 2001, two 7-foot eels were discovered on the loch’s shores. Gemmell and others maintain that an eel near the surface could be easily mistaken for the back of a larger, bulkier “monster.”

The evidence, while compelling, doesn’t prove anything conclusively, which means believers are still likely to traipse out to the lake in search of the elusive and enduring mystery of Nessie.

That said, the eel theory is pretty interesting…

Just not as exciting as a mythical monster emerging from the depths and stunning tourists year after year.

Sometimes the mystery is better than the truth.

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This Is Why Airplane Engines Are Never Painted on the Front Edges

Look closely at the engines on the planes at the gates next time you’re at the airport. All of them will have an unpainted band near the front edge. As sleek as this kind of paint job may look, the reasons behind the styling goes beyond just looking trendy.

Photo Credit: Needpix

YouTuber Mentour Pilot, who runs a channel about everything to do with being an airline pilot, created a video explaining why the front edge of the engine is never painted when the rest of the aircraft is.

It’s something I’d never have thought about in a million years, but someone clearly did.

The first explanation is because of the heat the engines generate. Ice can form quickly on engines and wings when flying through clouds, creating a real safety hazard. Planes use the heat already coming from their engines to keep dangerous ice from accumulating.

Small holes in the unpainted ring of the engine, as well as on the wings, help the ice melt. If this part of the engine is left naked, then the metal heats best for minimized ice formation. Paint would only protect the ice from heat by creating an intermediate layer.

Not safe.

Another reason is that eventually the paint on the intake would begin to degrade, and chips of paint could get sucked into the engine. As this happened, the uneven coats of paint would affect how air flows into the engine, creating mini vortices and disrupting overall efficiency.

Photo Credit: YouTube

He also touches on why most planes are painted white or predominantly white. This one’s a little easier to guess: white paint reflects heat. If a plane is painted white, the air-conditioning system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the interior cooled – thus better engine efficiency.

Painting an aircraft white is also faster and cheaper, and airlines can place and replace branding as needed without repainting.

If this is interesting, deifnitely check out more of Mentour Pilot’s channel – aside from his cool airplane knowledge, he wears his uniform, has a great accent and an adorable apricot poodle-ish dog, and generally makes you feel good about who is at the controls of these high flying tubes.

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Denmark Dominates the World Happiness Report Rankings Year After Year. Here’s Why.

America, let’s get it together. I don’t know if it’s arrogance or ignorance, but some Americans think that we are hands-down the best, the happiest, the “number-one” at everything imaginable.

I love living in the United States, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else (permanently), but I have to admit that a lot of people here aren’t necessarily happy.

But in Denmark, folks are incredibly happy. In fact, the country ranks at or near the top of the World Happiness Rankings year after year. So what’s behind the happiness in that Scandinavian country of just under 6 million people?

The rankings are based on statistics including crime, income, health, and civic engagement. People were also asked questions about how often they experience positive and negative emotions.

But there’s more than that when it comes to figuring out why Danish people are so happy. They have access to good health care and education, they have a stable government, and they happily pay the highest taxes in the world because they believe this helps create a better society.

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Beautiful Copenhagen 🇩🇰 ⠀ How many bicycles do you see on the photo? 🚲😄 _________ ⠀ Сколько велосипедов вы видите на фото?🚲 ⠀ Дания поистине страна велосипедистов 🚴 По статистике их здесь в два раза больше, чем автомобилей, представляете?🙈 ⠀ Я уже второй раз за год в этом чудесном городе, и каждый раз он мне нравится всё больше ❤ ⠀ К тому же нам дважды везло с погодой, а как вы знаете, Скандинавия в этом плане очень непредсказуема 😅 Вы были в Копенгагене?)

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But there’s something else in the character of the Danish people that makes them so happy: it’s known as “hygge.” The word is sometimes translated as “cozy,” and Danes value it highly. It basically means having comfortable, high-quality social interactions with family and friends and being content with enjoying the simple things in life.

A hygge evening could consist of a family playing board games, having coffee with a friend in front of a fireplace, or eating a quiet, easygoing meal with someone. Hygge is so important to the Danish character that the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen called it “a defining feature of our cultural identity and an integral part of the national DNA.”

Places can also be described as “hyggelige”, such as a person’s home, which is obviously a compliment and means that it is cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. Danish people use hygge to combat everyday stress and to build camaraderie.

I don’t know about you, but I love this concept.

FYI, in the 2019 World Happiness Rankings, Denmark came in second place and was edged out for #1 by Finland. The U.S. sits at #19.

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Take a Look at the World’s First Cheese Conveyor Belt Restaurant

I remember my first sushi experience like it was yesterday: it was in San Francisco, and the little plates went around on a conveyor belt, and you could just grab off whatever you wanted and then pay at the end.

I thought it was amazing; my 15-year-old mind was well and truly blown!

Well, now it looks like I’ll need to make a trip across the pond to England to check out a place called The Cheese Bar. Located in London’s Camden Market, the restaurant specializes in fine cheese that is delivered to customers on a conveyor belt, making it the first cheese conveyor belt restaurant in the world.

Customers can choose from 25 different cheeses off the moving belt while they sip wine. The plates are color-coordinated by price, and customers are encouraged to gorge until they are content.

The restaurant also offers grilled cheese sandwiches and, for dessert, blue cheese soft serve.

Wow, never heard of that one before, but it sounds amazing.

The founder of The Cheese Bar, Matthew Carver, said, “We want to show that cheese and wine bars don’t have to be boring and can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you’re dropping in for a quick plate of British cheese and a glass of something unusual, or settling in for a cheese flight and a bottle of natural wine.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m on board with this idea. I can’t get enough of the stuff, even though I know I should cool it on my dairy…

Pass the cheese, please! All of it!

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You Can Now Stay at Downton Abbey Through Airbnb for One Night Only

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

I have a feeling this place will be booked up for a while…and quick. Highclere Castle, the main filming location for the Downton Abbey TV series and recent feature film, is now available for guests through Airbnb.

This has to be a dream come true for fans of the show. I know how excited I’d be if a room opened up in the Psycho house, so I can feel their excitement.

This actually sounds like a hell of a deal. You get dinner and drinks with Highclere’s Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and you get waited on by a butler (a personal dream of mine). You also get a tour of the grounds and a stay in a private bedroom.

The gist? It’s for one night only and only for two people.. Guests will be able to stay at Highclere on November 26 only, at least for now. Reservations go on sale on October 1 at 12:00 pm BST (British Summer Time), so, if you’re an American, be sure to set an alarm early that day to book your spot.

The pricing starts at $159, which is actually WAY less than I thought it would be.

Here’s how the Airbnb page describes the visit:

“Lord and Lady Carnarvon will welcome guests into their home on arrival, and after settling them into their bedroom, will ask the guests to join them for cocktails before dinner. Throughout the stay, Lord and Lady Carnarvon will immerse the guests in the rich history and heritage of Highclere Castle with a private tour of the Castle, the Highclere Estate.”

If this is a big hit (which I’m sure it will be), maybe more dates like this will open up and you’ll have other opportunities to live in style…at least for one night.

What do you think? Are you going to try to get in on this action?

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You Might Want to Check out These 15 Underrated Travel Spots in Europe

I’ve traveled to Europe a couple of times, but there are still quite a few places I haven’t been able to go to yet: Spain, Greece, and the Czech Republic to name a few I’d love to visit.

And although the most well-known places in Europe are wonderful (London, Amsterdam, Paris, etc.), there are a lot of places you probably haven’t thought to see.

Throw together all the amazing cities and small towns that dot the continent and you can make an enormous list of underrated spots to visit.

Here are 15 places in Europe that might fly under the radar but are definitely worth your time and attention.

1. Gdansk, Poland. Architecture and history lovers, this one is for you.

2. Durmitor National Park, Montenegro: Much quieter than other European national parks.

3. Rovinj, Croatia: Wineries and adorable seaside towns.

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#relaxing at the #harbour in #rovinj #croatia

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4. Himarë, Albania: Gorgeous and uncrowded beaches.

5. High Tatras, Slovakia: Hiking, water sports, and skiing abound.

6. Riga, Latvia: Thriving art scene and great nightlife options.

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Most instagrammable restaurant of Riga 🐄😍⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Restorans 1221 is located in the historical center of Riga, next to Dome Square in Old Town. This blue building was once a medieval building, but currently a high-class restaurant with very tasty food! Getting a table during high season is really challenging. The year 1221 was very significant in the history of Riga as many events had taken place during that time. The first street appeared where the first building was built which is now called as Restorans 1221. ⁠🥘⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠🍸🥘 🇱🇻 5 PLACES TO EAT/DRINK AT RIGA⁠: ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠✓ Skyline Bar – Amazing view of the city over some cocktails ⁠🍸⠀ ⁠⠀ ✓ Black Magic – The best place to try Black Balsam; the famous national liquor and delicious desserts in the coziest medieval themed cafe. ⁠🥃⠀ ⁠⠀ ✓ Street Burger – Have eaten one of the best falafel burgers here!⁠ 🍔 ⠀ ⁠⠀ ✓ Fat Cat eklērnīca – A very cute cafe with delicious eclairs for quick bites in old town. ⁠🍩⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠✓ Riviera – A delicious seafood restaurant with latvian twist in the art nouveau district. ⁠🦞 ⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Which countries are your favourite for food? 😋🥘 ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⠀ 📷@sudeepkbanerjee & @globetrottingsu⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #abmlifeiscolorful #Visitlatvia #rigastories #living_europe #topeuropephoto #lpfanphoto #todolistguide #damestravel #balticstates #youmustsee⁠⠀ ⁠

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7. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic: A small-town gem without the hustle and bustle.

8. Taormina, Italy: A Sicilian slice of paradise.

9. Ohrid, North Macedonia: Great restaurants, clubs, and beautiful trails around the lake.

10. Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: A great base to explore the nearby Black Forest.

11. Ghent, Belgium: Beautiful canals and pedestrian-only streets in this charming city.

12. Innsbruck, Austria: A beautiful city at the foot of the mountains.

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look at this

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13. Bucharest, Romania: The capital city is charming and bustling with museums and cafés.

14. Ronda, Spain: A mountaintop town with beautiful architecture.

15. Piran, Slovenia: Beautiful winding streets and well-preserved Venetian architecture.

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Ostatnimi czasy wszyscy uważają mnie za młodszą niż jestem. Prawdę mówiąc odejmują mi prawie 10 lat! To trochę zabawne, bo w wieku 16 lat słyszałam pytania „gdzie mam męża i dzieci” (w domyśle, że jestem grubo po 30). Może dopiero po latach uaktywniają się geny mojej mamy, która nadal wygląda na 20latkę, a może ja skacząc i śmiejąc się robię takie wrażenie?! Nie zmienia to faktu, że dobrze mi z tym co mam i nawet bardzo lubię to moje rozbrykane, wewnętrzne dziecko. Dokarmiam je co jakiś czas, by się nie uspokajało. Spełnienie marzenia o Piranie dokarmiło moją wewnętrzną radość. Jak głupia skakałam po murach obronnych, zachwycając się widokami. To miasto jest malutkie, ale i zachwycająco położone na wysuniętym w morze cyplu. Od lądu odgradzają je wzgórza, a od trzech innych stron zalewa woda. Dla mnie to jedno z bardziej uroczych miasteczek, szczególnie gdy patrzy się na nie z wysoka. #piran #slovenia #visitslovenia #ifeelslovenia #dametraveler #sidewalkerdaily #wearetravelgirls #wearetravelladies #citizenfemme #femmetravels #girlswhotravel #thetravelwomen #slovenia_ig #topsloveniaphoto #destinationhunting #traveldeeper #sheisnotlost #beautifuldestinations #podrozemaleiduze #marzeniasięspełniają #marzenia #traveloverpl #girlsdreamtravel

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Oh, I forgot to mention I also need to visit Scotland, Croatia, Austria, Norway, Denmark, etc. A lot of places on the bucket list!

What are some of your favorite underrated places in Europe? Share them in the comments!

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You Can Get Paid $770 a Month to Move to a Beautiful Region in Italy

Packing up your entire life and moving to a small village in southern Italy might sound kind of intimidating. But what if you were getting paid $770 a month to do so?

Molise, Italy, just started a campaign to pay newcomers $770 per month for three years, under one condition: You must establish a business in one of its underpopulated villages. The initiative is designed to boost Italy’s decreasing population numbers.

“If we had offered funding, it would have been yet another charity gesture,” Donato Toma, the president of Molise, told The Guardian. “We wanted to do more; we wanted people to invest here. They can open any sort of activity: a bread shop, a stationery shop, a restaurant, anything. It’s a way to breathe life into our towns while also increasing the population.”

Photo Credit: iStock

Towns must have fewer than 2000 residents to be eligible. Those towns will also receive about $11,000 to build infrastructure and promote cultural activities so that newcomers have a reason to stick around.

Photo Credit: iStock

“It’s not just a matter of increasing the population. People also need infrastructure and a reason to stay, otherwise we’ll end up back where we started in a few years,” Donato explained.

There are already some great reasons to move to Molise. The mountainous area has gorgeous, idyllic olive groves and cliffside views.

Photo Credit: iStock

The area has suffered from a massive population decline, however, as young people leave the region to pursue job opportunities elsewhere. Italy’s population as a whole is also on the decline — the number of Italian citizens fell by 677,000 between 2014 and 2018.

And that is non buono.

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A Utah Ghost Town Is Welcoming Artists for a Month-Long Residency

Do you feel like you need a new direction in life?

Okay, what if you moved to a ghost town in Utah for a month to make art?!

Yes, that’s a real possibility.

The town of Cisco has been uninhabited for decades except for one resident: Eileen Muza. A visual artist, she’s lived in the town alone since 2015. Now, with the help of her sisters Renée and Margaret, Eileen is starting a residency for artists. Her goal is to preserve the character of Cisco while also bringing more creative people to the area.

“I find this to be a good spot for an artist residency is because it is so unique,” Eileen told Atlas Obscura. “All eras of history are represented here in different states of decay. Many people might come through and just see a garbage dump, but I see layers and layers of human life.”

Photo Credit: YouTube

Home of the Brave is a three- to five-week nonprofit residency. Only one artist will attend at a time, twice a year. The workspace is at least an hour away from any other towns.

“It’s a really good place for solitude,” Eileen said. “It would provide a unique opportunity for someone who is not used to rural living.”

Photo Credit: YouTube

As a ghost town, Cisco is a truly special place. There are approximately 100 abandoned buildings, only seven of which are fully intact. One of them is Eileen’s log cabin.

“When I first came through Cisco I could not believe all the things left behind and even had trouble believing it was a ghost town at all,” Eileen said.

Artist residents will live in a rehabilitated Winnebago Brave camper at the heart of Cisco. The isolation of the workspace does have some downsides — for example, there’s no running water in the town, so artists will have to drive 40 minutes away to shower at the community center (or maybe there’s a well you can pump from?). There is, however, electricity and Wi-Fi provided.

On the plus side, you can enjoy complete solitude in the high desert of Utah. Surely, there’s no place like it!

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