Archive for March, 2010

Exploring Iceland in the Summer: 5 of The Best Activities

Posted in Holiday Tips, Iceland | by admin
March 29th, 2010

See Reykjavik

Reykjavikcredit

No visit to Iceland is complete without a visit to the northernmost capital city in the world. This dynamic city is full of cultural attractions. Reykjavik during the summer experiences also constant daylight, so that you can enjoy the city’s energetic nightlife while Iceland is still bathed in sun.

During the summer, you should also take advantage of your opportunity to participate in some of Iceland’s outdoor activities. Leaving all of Reykjavik’s attractions can be difficult, so make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to explore this unique city before you leave to experience some of Iceland’s other amazing attractions.

Relax In A Bath

Sundlauger Reykjavikurcredit

Once you have your fill of Reykjavik’s museums, shopping, and dining, refresh and unwind at the volcanically heated swimming facility located in the city, known locally as Sundlaugar Reykjavíkur. For an even more unique experience, you should visit the Blue Lagoon. This man made lagoon is now a famous spa, and it is Iceland’s most popular tourist attraction. The mineral waters of the Blue Lagoon are known for being beneficial to the health of bathers.

Climb To The Top Of A Mountain

Sunset behind Mount Esjacredit

Mount Esja is located right outside the city of Reykjavik. The climb to the summit is relatively easy, and offers stunning views. If you are an experienced hiker and would like more of a challenging climb, you can choose to follow an expert path. Along the way you will be able to see some of Iceland’s beautiful summer flora. On your hike, expect to meet many native Icelanders. The hike to the top of Mount Esja is particularly popular with Reykjavik locals.

Watch The Whales


 Humpback Whalecredit

Whale watching excursions allow you to see some of the majestic creatures that call the waters of Iceland home. Whale watching tours are very popular with locals and visitors alike. There are many tour boats that depart from the Reykjavik area, but no matter where you stay in Iceland, most coastal cities offer whale watching opportunities.

Visit a National Park

Jökulsárlón Lagooncredit

Iceland’s extraordinary natural resources can be best appreciated by visiting one of the country’s national parks. Within the parks you can hike, camp, and fully take in the beauty and grandeur of the Icelandic landscape. Vatnajökull National Park is the largest national park in Europe, and the park makes up 11% of Iceland. This park is home to both glaciers and volcanoes. Within this park you will be able to witness why Iceland is often known as the island of fire and ice.

Four Things You May Not Know About the Moscow Subway System

Posted in Finland, Russia | by admin
March 15th, 2010

They say you can tell a lot about a city and its culture by its underground. Nowhere is this more the case than with the Moscow subway system, also known as the ‘Metro’. From the stunning architecture to the styles of trains to the sheer enormousness of the grid, this urban commute is a genuine reflection of Russia’s capital.

Komsomolskaya Metro Station, Moscowcredit

1) The Moscow Subway System is Home to Astonishing Art Piece, Architecture and Decor

The first thing you’ll notice when stepping down in to the Moscow metro is just how beautiful it is. For instance, Komsomolskaya station is more reminiscent of a royal palace with its ornate design. Large chandeliers light up the hallways, which feature baroque detail from floor to ceiling. Other stations feature more modern Socialist Realist art, which makes it easy to remember the country’s communist history.

Novoslobodskaya Metro Station, Moscow, Russiacredit

The eight-car trains that glide to from each station are modeled after the same ones that nearly all ex-Soviet Eastern European systems have been using. Although they’re not quite as ornate as the stations themselves, they still add to the classical feel of the subway.

2) Half of All Moscow Subway Stations Were Designed as Nuclear ‘Fall Out’ Type Shelters

Because Moscow is such a sprawling city, it takes an ambitious train system to get the job done. The subway system, in all, covers 180 stations. Interesting note: about half of them are deep-level stations.

Due to the constant threat of nuclear attack during the cold war, it was decided that the subway should double as a nuclear fall-out shelter.

The system features 11 lines in total, including the Koltsevaya line which circles the capital. This line is key to dispersing the massive amounts of daily commuters.

Moscow's Commuterscredit

3) It’s Actually Reasonably Cheap To Travel on The Moscow Subway

If there’s one aspect that may not perfectly correlate with the rest of the city. it is that the subway in Moscow is not very expensive. Twenty-six rubles (about 60p) will get you a single trip ticket. In 1998, this city was actually the first in all of Europe to switch to Smart Cards. Now it currently accepts magnetic cards known as “Contact Cards.”

Moscow Metro Cardscredit

4) The Moscow Metro is the Second Most Heavily Used Subway System in the World

Considering this Moscow train system only started running in 1935, over 70 years after the London Underground, it’s really quite impressive how fast it has developed into one of the most intricate and efficient in the world. In 2009, the Moscow Metro is estimated to have transported 2,392,200,000 passengers on its  292.9 kilometre-long system. This is second in terms of usage and passengers only to Tokyo’s subway system.

While most visitors use undergrounds to get from place to place, the Moscow subway system is a destination in itself.

The Best Places to Go Fishing in Russia

Posted in Russia, Travel Tips Russia | by admin
March 10th, 2010

If you are looking for an exciting, exotic destination to take a fishing holiday, you might want to consider visiting Russia. While it may not be the first location you think of to do some fishing, Russia has a number of bodies of water suitable for getting some great fishing done. Below are some of our favourite spots in the country to go fishing:

Volga River

Volga Rivercredit

The Volga is the longest river in Europe. It passes through more than half of the largest cities in Russia, including Moscow. Many consider the Volga to be Russia’s national river. Pike, perch, burbot/eelpout, and catfish can be caught in the Volga near the capital. Some fish have been caught here that weigh over 100 kilos!

Volga Delta

Volga Deltacredit

In addition to the river itself, there is some fantastic fishing to be had in the delta of the Volga. All of the above fish can be found in the Volga delta, as well as tench, zander and asp.

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikalcredit

Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake on the planet, and second only the Caspian Sea overall. Hucho taimen, grayling, and many other types of fish are found in the lake, but many come seeking the Omul whitefish, which is only found at Lake Baikal.

Kamchatka Peninsula

Kamchatka Peninsulacredit

If you are looking to catch Pacific salmon, then look no further than the Kamchatka peninsula, on the eastern side of the country. The variety of salmon available here make it a suitable spot for both the amateur and professional fisherman. King salmon, pink salmon, cherry salmon, and over a dozen other varieties of salmon spawn in the rivers here.

Caucasus Region

Sevan Lake in the Caucasus Regioncredit

The Caucasus region in south Russia near the Georgian border is an out of the way experience for the true outdoors enthusiast. The area is famous for its brown trout availability. On a good day, dozens of trout can be caught in the waterways in the region.

With such a large and diverse geographic area, you are almost certain to find the perfect fishing holiday waiting for you somewhere in Russia. The next time you plan an international fishing vacation, give Russia a look. It will be an experience you definitely will not soon forget!