island’s territory
MOTHERLAND OF THE RIGHT DRAGONS: TRAVELING TO SOUTH KOREA
Images of dragons can be found throughout Asia. At first glance, it is rather difficult to determine the origin of the fairy-tale reptile. However, in Korea there is an old legend: in immemorial times, all dragons had four fingers on each paw. But whenever the magic monster flew to the northeast, he lost a finger, and when to the southwest, his fingers, on the contrary, grew. Therefore, the dragons of Japan have three of them, while the Chinese have five. And only the Korean have the “correct”, original set. This legend is worth remembering whenever someone starts to compare China, Japan and Korea. It is not so much about the number of dragon fingers, but about national identity. Continue reading
MEDIEVAL CHARM OF LUBEK
The tour bus smoothly passes the Holstein Gate, which has been guarding the entrance to Lübeck since the Middle Ages, and arrives at the city moat. It looks like an ordinary bus, but a duty ring is fixed in the cabin. Why is he here? This will become clear in a moment, when the bus suddenly slides out into the water, turns around and swims along the Trave along the cafes and shops, from which the gentle aroma of marzipan spreads along the embankments. The little boy on a scooter will freeze in surprise and drop the ice cream, without even noticing the loss. Continue reading
5 MOST BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN VILLAGES OF EUROPE
Italian artist Giovanni Segantini once called his winter residence in the Alpine village of Soglio – La soglia del paradiso, translated into Russian “gateway to paradise”. And this really appropriate description – a picturesque settlement overlooking the chestnut forests, located on a sunny terrace in the Bregaglia valley, can be called a great place for hiking routes. Neat houses, narrow streets and rose gardens give this place the look of an ideal mountain village. Only 300 people live here, the official language is Italian, but many speak German. In 2015, the media called the village the most beautiful in Switzerland. Continue reading
