Winter time

I suggest you to admire for snow winter in different corners of Europe and the USA.

Children play with snow in New York. (REUTERS)

Deer in park Knoul, Kent, England. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Sofia, Bulgaria. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)

Here such weather in Quebec, Canada. (REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger)

Loh-Ness monster, Brighton, southern England. (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Steps of the Madrid cathedral of Almudena. (REUTERS/Susana Vera)

"Walrus". (REUTERS/Vladimir Nikolsky)

Tourist photo "I and a hill" at Exhibition ICE! In the Fort Washington, Merilend USA. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Kiev, Ukraine. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)

The white House, Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Venice, Italy. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)

The central park, New York. (Alex Ogle/AFP/Getty Images)

Richmond park in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Mildkhem, England. (AP Photo/John Giles/PA Wire)

In London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The central park in New York. (DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Celebrating of New Year in Murmansk

The warm countries it is good, but is too simple. Therefore we also have decided to go with friends to celebrate New year to Murmansk, and it more than 2200 km of road, or two days by train.

Murmansk is far in the north and is the largest city in the world, located for polar circle. And it means that in the winter there polar night, a long-term frozen ground, the polar lights and a heap of snow...

At entrance to Murmansk there is a monument with instructions of width and a longitude of an arrangement of a city: 33°4 ′ northern width and 68°5 ′ east longitude.

Murmansk is constructed on hills from which top points the fine kind on a city, ports and rocks of other coast opens:

Murmansk is the regional centre. Despite the young age, hardly more than 95 years, and the small sizes, the city population - 311,2 thousand persons.

Because of a severe climate of the house above sixteen floors in Murmansk do not build.

There is Murmansk at rocky coast of the river of the Kola, in 50 kilometres from Barents sea. A river mouth wide enough and deep to accept transatlantic vessels.

Murmansk - one of the largest seaports of Russia. It is simple to assume, than the city - basically this fishery and fish-plants, sea transport, ship repair, sea transportations etc.

Usually the temperature keeps much more below zero, therefore snow there much in the winter. It would Seem that it strongly should complicate road conditions, however average speed of a traffic not more low, than in EU, despite the snow not cleaned from roads.

By the way, as to road and foot movement in a city, it in general a separate theme which is necessary for studying to the tourist coming to Murmansk. To probably motorists to understand all peripetias of light regulations in Murmansk movement easier, but to a descent it will be difficult to EU pedestrian to understand all nuances at crossroads.

Interesting feature of a city - fires of projectors are directed upwards. Initially we have assumed that they designate a coastal line, but from the top points columns of light starting with the central city districts are visible:

In local port the first-ever nuclear ice breaker "Lenin" which has become already by a museum is moored.

According to local residents, from Murmansk on opposite river bank of the Kola the longest bridge in Russia.

In northern part of a city, on a hill in height of 173 metres, there is a memorial "to Defenders of the Soviet Polar region in days of the Great Patriotic War" ("Alyosha"):

Here, by the way, the interesting fact. Directly New Year we have decided to meet on the area at the main fur-tree. Also imagine our amazement when, having come into place for half an hour about New year, we have seen only three (!) persons. For the sake of justice should tell that the people are closer by the half-night were tightened, but meanwhile it is far not that we expected to see.

Impressions of a city remained different and ambiguous. Like and it is beautiful, but not how many a city, how many a rock and mountain. Like and it is cold, but in Murmansk you put on more warmly in any case, therefore the difference in weather especially is not felt.

P.S. Unfortunately, the polar lights it was not possible to see. According to local residents, in a city it in general to see difficult.

Abkhazia - the soul country!

Some years ago I'm was in Abkhazia. This summer I'm try to go there. It has been shaken by the nature of extraordinary beauty, the cleanest sea but practically absence of any services. Abkhazia, in an Abkhazian way Apsny, - the soul country. To reach Abkhazia it is necessary to reach at first to Adler (Russia): either train, or plane. In Adler on a minibus to the Russian-Abkhazian border which is called as Psou. The kind of border does not impress. On all border of only 4 booths (a so-called check point). 

On border with Abkhazia, by the way, anybody checks nothing. It is necessary to pay only the insurance in cost in 10 RUR from the person a day. And the insurance at departure abkhazian don't forget to check up. And if the wrong quantity of days of stay is specified, - you will not let out, yet will not pay in addition!

We get to Abkhazia. From border again on a minibus, but already to whom where: Gagra, Pitsunda, New Athos, Suhum. The Most popular cities for rest is Gagra and Pitsunda. That has shaken in Abkhazia is extraordinary beautiful nature. Through Abkhazia passes the main Caucasian ridge... A lot of the different Here grows: pomegranates, tangerines, a persimmon, water-melons, melons, grapes, a filbert, a fig, etc.

Gagra - the most beautiful place in Abkhazia. In Abkhazia a damp subtropical climate, therefore a heat to transfer there it is heavy.

In a city many the destroyed and not completed buildings which have remained from war of 1991. But the most surprising are mountains.

Have found guide Ashta. He has an own car UAZ - Russian jeep (at them there at all such cars who is engaged in excursions) and carried us. The first trip on the Alpine meadows...
The road was awful. Was more true than it at all. Ashot puts 2nd drive - we go ahead.

Have risen on height of 1850 metres. In some places it was necessary to close eyes - below breakage, and ahead it is ostensibly expensive. But, when have arrived on destination, the kind has opened the shaking.

In mountains there live people in the summer, graze sheep and cows. People live in the sheds upholstered with roofing material. In the winter all brings snow.

Lake Ritsa in mountains at height about 1000 m above sea level.

Further: a mineral source of Audhara – 2 500 m above sea level. Gegsky falls (a stream thawed glaciers form).

Jupsharsky gorge and other very beautiful, very beautiful kinds... And you would pass it the bridge? I have passed!
If not to pay attention to absence of service - from rest in Abkhazia it is possible to receive weight of impressions!