Summer is always, to some extent, a time for missed opportunities. Just because the period in which it is customary to set high hopes is so short. We are discussing something like this: it will be summer (no, we are not quoting Sergei Shnurov) and then we will go to the places we dreamed of, walk for hours under the moon, read 25 new books, take apart the pieces. balcony, and most importantly – visit the sea. Such a canon to spend this summer – you definitely need to go to the sea. For the report, for the photos, so as not to be worse than the others.
And now we have to see what we got this summer. It would seem that we have much less opportunity to realize the main thing – a recreational trip. The world has shrunk a little. The Cote d’Azur used to be accessible to a few people, but now it is almost inaccessible even to those who own yachts, with houses with wine cellars and maids there roughly equal to a small Moscow research institute. Spain was more accessible, but never objectively cheaper, Portugal was more sophisticated, but you still have to fly there. Italy with its Sicily was an ideal choice, although the summer is a bit hot and in September everyone is already busy. All these are now memories and let’s not lose hope for the future.
Currently, there is Turkey, where literally everyone flies, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, where it is impossible to stay in the summer, and part of Southeast Asia at pre-pandemic prices, the Cote d’Azur most. luxury version.
And here the eye clings to the seemingly impossible to miss: for the largest state in the world – its Russia. I’ll try to talk a little about the late President Kennedy: Don’t ask if Russia is ready to accept you, ask yourself if you are ready to accept Russia.
If you need the sea, then this is in the Crimea. By train or car through the Kerch Strait, which no one but experts believe, but they took it and built it and have been driving on it for three years. Planes aren’t flying to Simferopol yet, but that might not be bad. This means that housing will be cheaper and there will be more secluded places where Crimea is so beloved. There will be fewer people in the Vorontsov Palace and in the Crimean wineries, and the Crimeans will rejoice at every guest like their own, and the fruits will be fresher and sweeter. Also, as we know, water now flows uninterruptedly into the Crimea.
Someone likes Sochi, but it is so obvious that you do not even want to talk about it, and besides, you can not save that much money.
But what is the sea? After all, there are many seas that Russia has access to. For example, the White Sea. Yes, it’s not as romantic as the warm seas but actually all that romance is for the pampered wimps. And we live in Russia – we live life at a very serious level of complexity. So, you should go to Solovki. Drive first, swim later. Rather, until Solovki was eventually transformed into a thematic Orthodox amusement park with affordable prices and crowds. While still wandering around the untouched nature and monastic sketches, you can dive into the vibrant and clean White Sea.
There is also the Baltic Sea. No one has canceled Kaliningrad and the Curonian Spit yet. This pleasure is quite special – a mix of old German and late Soviet, warm sun and cool wind, good roads and Prussian paving stones, relatively affordable prices and very good hotels. Yes, now you can fly to Kaliningrad with a crazy transfer only in Dubai, but trains run daily, and even taking into account transit, Russian citizens can travel to the Kaliningrad region.
There is also a majestic sea – holy Baikal. This is often the only place of its kind in the world – the largest body of freshwater. You won’t find anything like this anywhere else. Yes, many people recommend going in the winter, but there is something to do there in the summer. Especially if you bring enough mosquito repellent with you. Riding Buryat horses, swimming in crystalline waters that can be seen a hundred meters deep. And another unique pastime – kumiss vodka. Yes, for an amateur yes extreme but certainly not memorable.
Then you can go deeper into the Far East, where there is even a surf school, beaches, islands, art clusters, campsites, paragliding and breath-taking nature.
But I will say the main thing: In the years of the pandemic, Russia and its tourism industry are strong, and most importantly, quickly pulled themselves up. In all noteworthy spots, you can eat and live. And it won’t be a disappointment. And most importantly, these points are achievable. Yes, there will be a very special transport somewhere. After all, you probably didn’t take the metro to Etna, Sicily. Those who started to travel around Russia discovered a very important piece of information: It turns out that you can never leave here. At least for a while. Until everything works out.
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the editors’ position.