NYC Island Gal

City Mukachevo (Map plan Mukachevo) has a long and glorious history. This is one of the most interesting pages in Transcarpathia. 1108 years have passed since the first written mention of the city. Mukachevo founded at the crossroads historically formed trade routes in the XIV century it was granted city status. The main attraction of the town is beautifully preserved and maintained in order Palanok castle (XIV-XVII centuries). The name of the castle comes from one of its fortifications.

In the ancient castle hill surrounded by a water moat, over the inner shore of which rose a palisade of sharpened logs – palankas. In 1633 the former residence of Prince Koryatovicha passed into the possession of princes Rakoczy. This is where the ideologue of the Hungarian independence, Ferenc II Rakoczi in the XVIII century. led a revolt against the Austrian emperor. His "city apartment" Ferenc II arranged in the center. Palace "White House" (XV-XVIII centuries) are easy to find in the tourist district.

His masters were the last column Schoenborn. This respected German race has left a noticeable imprint on the history of the region. For two centuries, until the arrival of Soviet power, he owned vast lands and palaces and major industrial enterprises. In particular, Count Friedrich Schonborn lifted and made famous in the whole of Europe Mukachevskiy brewery Podgoryanah. Pearl legacy Shenborn located in the mountains above the village Chinadievo that close to Mukachevo. This picturesque area they have chosen for his country residence. Sometime in the lush surrounding forests organized hunting, which attracts know with all the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and now live here visit the sanatorium "Carpathians". Inside the building, which has become one of the dormitories have been partially preserved the rich interiors. In the middle of the park – man-made lake. A small lawn in shade of oaks, it seems specifically designed to roll about on them in the autumn sun. Near the town of Mukachevo, Mount Red Hill is the northernmost area in the world where they grow tea. And by the way, the origin of the name the city Mukachevo: from the word 'flour' (as people suffered in the construction of the castle 'Palanok') from the word 'flour' (on the river Latoritsa was a huge mill at the time), the words' earth Munkacsy Pan "(Hungarian version of this title the city).

CARAVAN – Sarah In general, only in the center of Orenburg, I counted at least three mosques, one of which caravan – shed (Karuanharay), historical and architectural complex consisting of Bashkir folk houses and mosques. It was built in the first half of the 19th century by the architect A. Briullov. Caravanserai was built on the popular contributions as an inn for merchants and pilgrims, but immediately after opening the authorities began to use the building for their own purposes. It is Russia's only mosque building, designed by the Asian model.

Unfortunately, minaret and a spiral staircase, which once raised imams are now under restoration. It is expected that the building will be decorated 6 thousand tiles made especially for this monument. Historians believe that at the end works Caravanserai will be the most beautiful building in Orenburg (at least, so says 'omniscient' press). But even now, covered with forests, caravan – shed leaves a lasting impression. As always, the main hidden beauty inside. The octagonal domed mosque with a complex occupies a central position. The architectural ensemble is unique in the Orenburg region.

This explains the appeal of the author of the project to the heritage of oriental architecture: originality of the decoration the mosque arch facades, the types of ornament, color prayer hall (a combination of blue and gold). TRIBUTE. PARK FRUNZE But not only the 'legends of old times' cherish Orenburg, and the living memory of the victory in World War II. Not far from the pedestrian zone, 300 meters from the Gostiny Dvor is a park Frunze, where you can see the exhibition "Salute, victory!" (Free admission) – Technology wartime, 19 units of authentic military-historical monuments: planes, tanks, artillery guns. I'm a little technique that I understand my attention a little house with posters (something like the village council), next to the booth performance of socialist competition (still alive in our socialist past), and the distance – a figure close to the boy's cart, loaded with grain, with a placard 'Bread – Front'. The park is very clean, many colors, I think the kids there expanse. HOTEL 'ORENBURG' That's about all I managed to see in Orenburg, in the few hours that I was given destiny. About the house museum of the family, I will write later Rostropovich, and finally something about a hotel 'ORENBURG', in I've lived. The halls of each floor differed from one another on the third floor, for example, was finishing in style reminiscent of Baroque, and in the lobby on the second floor are a few works on historical themes: dioramas 'Clink of Orenburg "," Cossack patrols' and 'defeat of the White Cossacks'. The impression is that you are in the museum. In general, the memories of the town were very happy (and excited), maybe that is the lot of small towns? Although Of course, not so small and Orenburg, traces of globalization in the form of 'McDonalds' or retail chain 'Subway' there. Or, maybe it is spring with its warm weather, bright sunshine and tulips helped to keep only good memories?

Nevertheless, the Stockholm Old Town of course give 100 points ahead of Helsinki, Oslo and a similar new building north. At the end of the tour saw the changing of the guard at Royal Palace – the ceremony actually worked through and it looks very atmospheric and the old regime, after which the prize sat with Sasha in a coffee shop in the basement of a medieval house – they say that it is doing there best in town chocolate. Chocolate was really good. In the evening stroll around the city themselves, went to a restaurant gondola next to our hotel – restaurant is suspended from the bottom to lift the famous Catherine and enough high-class. Ate there a traditional Swedish dish – syrosolenuyu salmon under different sauces and cheese. Published for two of about 100 euros with wine. The next day we had planned to visit open-air museum Skansen and the children's museum Junibacken. It was fantastic! Our fine all the time shrieking with delight, the first in Yunibakene, then at Skansen. First – it's as animated world of fairy tales by Astrid Lindgren (which, incidentally, was a Swede), home of Pippi Long Stocking-, Karlsson on the roof, and so on. Honestly speaking, I got no less pleasure from the museum, maybe because I still remember the Soviet cartoons tales of Lindgren Skansen – is a huge encyclopedia of Norse life in full-scale, there collected more than half hundreds of homes, entire city blocks from the 18th century, museum staff are working in the bakery, baking bread on old technologies, which can be right there to try.

Start all over again (at least for myself) is not the first time. "Let's go" – the words of my famous namesake. Getting proverb says: "I do not have a hundred rubles, and a hundred friends!". So I very quickly found the basis for his idea to explore the area: just met with my friend and asked him to expand his service to the firm, disposing a base camp in a clearing Edelweiss under Lenin Peak. It was and is Victor Artamohin. He gladly agreed to be the organizer of the expedition to the area to meet the needs of paragliding.

Started simple, but such necessary work for the organization opening event. To be fair to say that from the paraglider I also received the support – both moral and material. Alexander Smolin as a holder of "our" site has agreed to information support, as well as just a friendly help and fought for my undertaking. I should mention my friend and partner of the Austrian Pierre Gasteygera – Paragliding shop owner in the picturesque town of Kessen, who helped me with the acquisition snaryagi. Next – a lot of friends who helped one way or another. A start, especially since so many people interested in this project, and more importantly – to believe in the viability of flights in the area of Big Mountain. As an example, Victor brought the story of the heli-skiing in Uzbekistan: once, when he and his partners decided to organize helicopter skiing, almost nobody wanted to come, but now reality is that all skiers lined up for two years in advance, and many eminent freeriders chosen our winter mountains.