In Japan, there is a national tradition, which involves admiring cherry blossoms - hanami ("flower watching"). The history of hanami began at the imperial court, when the nobles spent all day long under the flowering trees, chatting and writing poetry.

Fighting mechanisms, the rattle of iron, sparks, smoke, enthusiastic screams of the crowd and quiet, concentrated adults and children who control their robots: such a combination is not often seen. But for robot competitions, this is a common thing: in the USA, robotics is not only the work for many people but also a hobby. Tens of thousands of enthusiasts from around the world come to chat with like-minded people, and what is most important, to try their hand at robot tournaments. Similar events take place in different states of America. Travellizy Team will tell you, what can be seen during such competitions. Blockbusters such as "The Pacific Frontier", as well as television shows, make guided combat vehicles more popular. The most famous of them is “Robot Wars” and “BattleBots”. In North America, there is a large selection of events, where you can see with your own eyes the battles of mechanisms of different complexity and purpose, get to know their creators and even purchase the necessary spare parts for your own robot. Such events are especially interesting for family activities: your children will be delighted to see robots created by other children. The project should not be breakthrough or high-tech: a well-functioning robot that can correctly find the path without human intervention, or overcome an obstacle is an excellent project. At some events, tournaments are combined with competitions in which children and adolescents take part. They prepare in advance, conduct research, study the selected area. The purpose of such competitions is to captivate children, to give them a chance to prove themselves in robotics. This is a complex science, it requires not only a creative idea but also good logical thinking or engineering skills. Competitions require long preparation, but sometimes last a few seconds, such as, for example, the ancient Japanese sumo wrestling performed by robots. The players' task is to program their robot so that it is able to push the opponent out of a small arena independently. In competitions, girls and boys compete on equal terms. But do not be upset, if your child is bad at logic and physics: this does not mean that robotics is not for him or her. Since the project in the form of a robot or mechanism must not only be created but also demonstrated, the children decide which of them will best cope with this role. The most talkative and friendly will be the “face” of the project. So if your offspring loves to communicate and find a common language with people, he (or her) will be welcome in the team, and they will come to victory together! You can become a participant in this exciting event without being a US citizen: everyone is invited, regardless of nationality or place of residence. Sometimes the organizers even pay scholarships to the participants, as well as provide technical support. In America, they take care of people with disabilities and instil such an attitude from childhood. Competitions of robots are no exception: here you can see how such children carry out simple tasks, participate in organizations or control robots. One of the spectators' favourite categories of competitions is hockey. Robots controlled by the players move quickly around a small field, trying to grab the puck and drive it into the opponent’s goal. The mechanisms are heavy, colliding with others, they lose detail and fail quite often. The team may try to quickly fix their iron "partner". Or here’s another duel: small robots move in a miniature city quarter. The people who control them can see what is happening only through miniature video cameras mounted on the robot. The purpose of such a competition is to destroy the enemy. The brightest, in every sense, part of the robot competitions is the tournaments of large mechanisms. They weigh more than 100 kg and are armed so that any gladiator would envy: electric saws, jacks, pincers, stun guns and even flamethrowers! With such an arsenal, the battle is not for life, but for death: it means a state where one of the robots loses the ability to respond to attacks. For such a show, special mini-hangars are equipped, in which battles take place. To protect the audience, the walls of the stand are made of durable plastic, the ceiling is reinforced with metal structures, and attentive observers are always ready to put out the fire. Information about the competition is available on the Internet, for example, on the NASA website. You can become either a guest or a participant. You can also take this opportunity to join the shooting of the TV show about the BattleBots robot tournaments! To do this, plan your visas and flights to Los Angeles in advance, as well as buy a ticket for starring a TV show in advance. The cost of visiting television in 2020 is low: from 10 to 40 dollars for a standard ticket. If you want to learn as much as possible about the program and get acquainted in detail with what is happening behind the scenes, then you can buy a VIP ticket for $ 70. The price includes a tour, a good seat, convenient parking, you can also enter an hour earlier than with a standard ticket.   Every year, robotics technology develops and robot fights become more and more spectacular and exciting. Travellizy Team will be happy to help you visit unforgettable futuristic competitions in the USA!

The time has come for the long-awaited vacation, and here you are at the airport. Check-in for a flight and get a boarding pass for your plane. What are your next steps? Of course, you can try to examine the ticket and understand where to go for boarding - what is the exit number, your seat on the plane... However, you see a lot of different numbers and letters on the ticket, which makes it possible to get confused, not fully understanding what exactly this information is. Despite the fact that ticket form and design may vary depending on the airline. All information on the boarding pass is always the same and contains clear notation. In this article, Travellizy will tell you in detail how to navigate these marks and easily read a ticket.   Make sure how simple it is: ● Passenger's First Name and Last Name (Name) It is indicated in Latin letters only, like in a passport. The data must fully coincide with the passport. According to international standards, up to 3 mistakes are allowed in the name that does not distort the pronunciation. However, it is worth remembering that any typo is considered as a mistake, and the traveler may be denied a flight because of it. Gender is also indicated here: MR - male, MRS / MSS - female. ● Departure Date (Date) is The Flight Date for This Boarding Pass. ● Airline Code (Carrier) and Flight Number (Flight) The code on the ticket is indicated as the two-letter code of the airline carrier in the IATA system (International Air Carrier Association). The following is a three-digit number, which is the flight number. By flight number, you need to look at the status of the aircraft on the airport display. ● Departure City (From) and Arrival City (To) The English spelling of the names of cities and airports is used on the ticket. If there are several airports in a city, the name of the city is followed by three-letter airport code. A stopover is a special indicator in which, as a rule, X/O is indicated (yes or no). This indicator shows the presence or absence of a temporary stop (connecting flights), that is, a transit point. If at this point, there is a stop on the route for more than 24 hours, then this field is empty or "O". If this is a transit point, then there is “X” opposite. ● Gate Number (Gate) All passengers should expect boarding at the indicated gate. Typically, the boarding gate number is an abbreviation of a letter (zone) and one or more digits (for example, D 2 or G 12). Sometimes the exit number may change, so carefully monitor the information on the electronic display in the departure area.   ● Boarding Time Boarding begins at this time, most often it is 30 minutes before the plane takes off (departure time). When boarding ends, the gate closes. So, you should always listen carefully to the announcements about the start of boarding or follow the information on the airport board. ● Booking Class (Class) These are examples of Latin letter coding for a class of seats on an airplane: F, P, A - First Class J, C, D, I, Z - Business Class W, S, Y, B, H, K, L, M, N, Q, T, V, X - Economy Class.   ● Row and Seat Number on The Plane (Seat) On airplanes, the number is a row, and the letter is a seat in a row. In the cabin, all seats are indicated above the seats. ● Departure Time Please note that all tickets always indicate the local time of the point of departure and arrival. While boarding the plane, airline employees tear off a large left part of the ticket. The passenger has only a tear-off spine, the right side of the boarding pass. This is the reason why all information is duplicated on this spine. Make sure to keep this spine until the end of the flight. It can come in handy during baggage claim, passport control or filling out a migration card.   And What Is Actually An Electronic Ticket? An electronic ticket (e-ticket ET) is a contract with a unique booking number. This number is included in the Global distribution system. It is the electronic ticket that you receive from the airline when buying an air ticket. And only after registration, you receive a paper boarding pass. We recommend you to print out an electronic ticket, although this is not necessary. Practice shows that printing a ticket is very convenient to have all the necessary information about the flight in front of you. If it is not possible to print out a ticket, you can download it to your smartphone. By electronic ticket, you can verify the flight details and, if necessary, show it at the check-in counter at the airport. The designations on an electronic ticket, as well as on its paper version, are passenger's personal data and all information about his/her flight. What else you should definitely pay attention to before the check-in is the weight of the luggage indicated in your electronic ticket. Be careful and make sure that your baggage does not exceed the number of seats declared on the ticket, as well as weight and size. Otherwise, you will have to pay extra for the overweight, which at the check-in counter will be much more expensive than with advance online payment. There is no single cost for excess baggage. Each carrier gives its own norms and tariffs. They depend on many factors, one of which is the destination country, the airliner size and the prestige of the airline. If you are able to read a paper boarding pass, it definitely wouldn't be hard for you to understand the information on an electronic ticket, since their designations are identical. It’s very easy to deal with all this stuff. And don't let the fear of the unknown stop you from travelling. Read Travellizy's blog, book tickets and discover new countries, because so many wonderful things are about to happen!

It’s hard to find someone who wouldn’t like balloons. And if we talk about dozens, hundreds of balloons and even those you can fly on? Balloon festivals are held around the world and attract a huge number of tourists, balloonists every year. This is an incredibly large-scale, colourful and romantic sight. Travellizy Team picked up for you 3 festivals that you can visit.   Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Date: October 3-11, 2020 In 1972, the first festival was held in New Mexico, when only 13 hot air balloons took off. It was rather fun, without any organizational aspects and territories. But it so delighted those around that the very next year they held the first aeronautics competitions and by now the balloon festival in Albuquerque has become one of the largest and most important in the world. Its territory occupies approximately 54 football fields, and the number of hot air balloons soaring in the air reached a record 1,100 units. Every year, about 100,000 spectators gather to admire the spectacle or to fly in baskets above the ground themselves.   Features: The festival's highlight is the parade of hot air balloons of an unusual shape. Balloons in the form of famous cartoons characters, computer games and comics rise into the sky during it. The fantasy of designers is not limited, so this is a completely unique parade every year. The second feature is night flights. It is in Albuquerque that the night part of the festival takes place when the balloons are highlighted with bright colours, so they illuminate the night sky. The entrance fee to the festival is $ 60, and for those wishing to ride with a breeze on a hot air balloon, the price will be $ 275 per hour. The event takes place at Balloon Fiesta Park.   Cappadocia International Hot-Air Balloon Festival Date: June 6-11, 2020 Although there is no sea in central Turkey, the number of tourists in this region never decreases. After all, it is here that the fantastic landscapes of Cappadocia are located. Every year, a 6-day hot air balloon festival is held here. A variety of services and excellent stable weather make this festival one of the favourite for connoisseurs of aeronautics. The price depends on the number of passengers in the balloon and starts at $ 140. The most budget option is a basket for 20-35 people, so the smaller the more expensive. Balloons for two are also active in demand, where you can romantically propose to your sweetheart against the backdrop of the stunning dawn of Cappadocia. Another interesting feature of Cappadocia is that flights on balloons take place not only during the festival but almost every day. Therefore, you can come and enjoy aeronautics at a convenient time for you.   International Balloon Festival “Podolia Cup” Date: October 2-4, 2020 Sometimes it’s not necessary to go to the other side of the planet to get what you want. Ukrainians and guests can admire the balloons and fly on them in Kamianets-Podilskyi. This is one of the most romantic festivals in Ukraine and a fairly budgetary way to get the first ballooning experience. The number of balloons simultaneously floating in the air is more modest than at other festivals - about 15, but this creates a peculiar feeling of solitude with nature. A distinctive feature is the beautiful view of the medieval city. Prices start at $ 140.   Useful advice Many people believe, that when flying in a hot air balloon, it will be quite cold and actively insulated. However, in reality, the opposite is true. The heat from the burner in a hot air balloon warms the passengers, so it’s worth remembering, that during the flight, it is always warmer than down on the ground, and do not take warm clothes with you to the basket.

The west coast of the United States attracts motorists from all over the world with its picturesque roads along the Pacific Ocean. When travelling along the scenic Highway One, which is about a thousand kilometres long, travellers will find inspiring views, seafood, and the opportunity to see with their own eyes the northern elephant seals. Travellizy will tell you where to see these beautiful animals.    What Do Elephant Seals Look Like And Where Can You See Them In Nature? This is the largest mammal predator that can be observed on the shores of the western coast of the United States without diving into ocean waters and without visiting the aquarium. And even in the aquarium, the elephant seal is a very rare guest. Due to the extremely complex lifestyle and method of reproduction, keeping it in captivity is almost impossible. The elephant seal is a real giant, as the name suggests. Males can reach a length of 4-5 meters and a weight of up to 2.5 tons. Females are also not babies, although they are much inferior to males in size: the length of the body is 2.5-3.6 m and the weight is 400-900 kg. Speaking about males, their nose grows up to 30 cm long, which gives it a resemblance to the land elephant. To make it easier to imagine the power of these animals, just remember that their weight and length are approximately equal to a regular off-road car. In the Pacific Ocean, there is a predator that is larger than the elephant seal in size, it is a killer whale. This ruthless hunter is ten meters long and weights five tons, you wouldn't wish such an enemy on anyone. But the killer whale does not leave the ocean, while elephant seals spend up to 20% of their lives on land. On land, elephant seals look funny and inactive, but in water, despite their enormous weight and size, they behave like real killing machines. They hunt in deep waters, cleverly catching squid, sometimes fish and crustaceans. Diving for food lasts up to two hours, and the depth at which the elephant seals provide themselves with food reaches one and a half kilometres. It is amazing that such a busy rhythm of life and nutrition alternates with interruptions when elephant seals do not eat anything for three to four months. It is at this time when they move to the beaches of the West Coast of the United States, so thousands of nature lovers seek to watch elephant seals. There are two popular places in California where you can do this. They vary in format, but in both cases, you can satisfy your interest in biology.   Ano Nuevo: Winter Excursions The best option for observing elephant seals is a tour of the Año Nuevo Natural Reserve. They don't offer independent walks, so you need to sign up for a guided tour. Tours are carried out only in the winter season from December to March because the beaches will be empty at other times: elephant seals get fat in the water column thousands of kilometres away from California. Having thoroughly eaten, they will move inshore to comfortably accommodate on the Pacific coast. Tours are held daily and they last approximately two hours. If you think that you can just come and buy a ticket, then alas, this does not always work out. Ano Nuevo is a popular local attraction. Many families with children love to come here on weekends, and groups are small. Therefore, if you want to secure your entry ticket at a convenient time for you, you must reserve a place on the park's website in advance. There are almost always tickets on weekdays. Booking for the next season begins in October, but keep in mind that elephant seals will leave the shores of California by the end of March, and instead of thousands of animals you will see a couple of dozen. The tour route is chosen by the volunteer guide. Since sea elephants sometimes block passages, guides constantly inform each other by walkie-talkie about changes. Sea elephants are not considered to be dangerous to humans, but humans are dangerous to them. Due to uncontrolled whalers' catch, these ocean colossi were almost completely eliminated at the end of the 19th century and even declared as extinct. Only the fact that they spend most of their life in the water column saved the species from extinction: a small herd of 100 animals found refuge on an island remote from civilization near California. It is this herd that is the ancestors of all the living descendants, which number is more than 200,000. But scientists continue to take care of the safety of these cute predators: there is a strong possibility, that due to genetic restrictions, they will not survive changes in living conditions or epidemics. During the tour, you can’t get food and drink anything except water. In any place where the group passes, animals can also pass, which means that the ecological cleanliness of the reserve depends on visitors. During the walk, beautiful views open: The behaviour of elephant seals on the beach depends entirely on their biorhythm. Males come in November-December and secure sections of the beaches. What happens here resembles a war zone in an aviary. Militant screams, fights, blood and wounds - this is what the battle for survival looks like. Only the strongest and most courageous males will be able to form their harem, the number of females in which can reach up to a hundred. But groups are usually much smaller. When pregnant females arrive, the beach is already divided. Having looked around, they give birth to charming cubs and feed them for four weeks. They do not hunt mothers at this time, which means they do not eat or drink. Is it hard to become an alpha male? To answer this question, you just need to think a little: only one percent of elephant seals will be able to have a harem and offspring. Many babies will be crushed by nestmates, or they will be washed away by the surf. Some of them will become the feast to predators, but others will not be able to learn how to hunt and die from exhaustion. But even in adulthood, sea elephants are not very happy: most of them will not be able to defeat alpha and will simply swim alone for years. Sad weak males weekly hang around near the beaches, where their more successful nestmates live. Lonely, inactive, they make sluggish attempts to get closer to someone else's harem from time to time. But sensitive mothers immediately begin to yell, attracting the alpha male's attention. He defends his harem, often does not even use physical force: a threatening roar and posture is enough for the loser to crawl to a respectful distance. In winter, it is very windy near the ocean or cold on cloudy days, it may rain as well. The tour is held in any weather, so you should definitely take warm clothes with you, preferably a waterproof jacket or windbreaker. On a rainy day, you will not be allowed to open the umbrella in order not to disturb the animals.   Piedras Blancas: A Large Nesting Area If you are not sure that you are ready to spend 2-2.5 hours familiarizing yourself closely with the nuances of elephant seals' life, but you want to make unusual shots and see them live, then the Piedras Blancas Rookery observation point is at your service. It is located near the small town of San Simeon halfway from San Francisco to Los Angeles. This is a conveniently located platform for observing the giant nesting of elephant seals. Many tourists who visit Hearst Castle come here to observe at the elephant seals, so to speak, without SMS and registration. The entrance to the site and parking is free. And there is definitely something to see: up to 18,000 individuals live on the six-kilometre stretch of coast. They come here throughout the year, but peaks occur in January, April and October. This place is believed to be the most convenient in the world for observing elephant seals: next to the highway, there is a beautiful track, free parking, no entry fees, no need to reserve places.   A Popular Meme: Homunculus Loxodontus, or The One Who Waits A curious fact: a few years ago, Homunculus Loxodontus or The Elephant Man made by the Dutch artist Margaret Van Brefort became a super-popular meme over the Internet. Many people have been fallen in love with this cute fat man, who is humbly waiting near the doctor’s office. As you can see, the elephant seal became his prototype. If you are fond of animals and curious, you will enjoy watching the elephant seal colonies in California. These chubby giants and their cute cubs with big eyes will win your heart forever!

Looking through the latest news on the Internet, we more frequently see offers to sign up for a retreat. Advertising struggles to insist on the need for retreat and assures us that a modern person can’t do without this mysterious action.   So what is it and what is its importance?  Let's start with the definition. Retreat (from the English retreat - "solitude", "removal from society", "shutter") is an international designation of pastime dedicated to spiritual practice. Retreats can be solitary and collective. At the collective ones, people are most often trained in the practice of meditation and relaxation. Speaking in a more familiar language, retreat is a kind of sanatorium where our grandmothers used to go to improve their physical health, and the retreat tidies up the mental. True, we are often overcome by stress and anxiety in connection with the fact, that we live in a difficult information period. We simply forgot how to relax. Life in big cities dumbfounds us, so we don't have enough time to look around, and we are already busy with our work 24/7 - our thoughts are overloaded and anxiety becomes a common state. Obviously, we definitely need a vacation. Yes, we are used to the fact that relaxation is evenings spent with TV or computer, but this is far from the best way to relieve emotional stress, it is rather a kind of illusion of relaxation. From a physiological point of view, this method is not suitable for dealing with stress, because for the full recovery of mental forces, it is necessary to activate the natural reaction of relaxation of the body. A range of special techniques exist for this purpose, only professionals will tell you in detail about them. That is why retreat centers have been created. You can get some privacy and study yourself, it's possible even with other people, who come here for the same purpose.   Where to go for a retreat? The first retreat center was opened in 1936 in New Zealand. For the sake of prolonged meditation, people sought solitude away from civilization and worldly fuss. However, this type of recreation began to gain real popularity only now. Today, specialized centers open their doors to a large number of guests. Travellizy is ready to tell you in more detail about the most picturesque places of solitude. We offer a unique selection, top 5 places where you can get acquainted with the practice of retreat and as a result achieve spiritual growth and self-development:   ● Bali, Indonesia Airport: Denpasar International Airport Retreat Center: Blooming Lotus Yoga Address: Br. Mawang Kaja, Lodtunduh, Ubud, Bali 80571 Price: from $ 800 for a weekly program (includes all practices, accommodation and meals) The incredible Bali attracts travellers from all over the world with its exotic and incredible nature. Endless beaches, jungle, volcanic slopes - everything here contributes to relaxation and moral reboot. One of the best retreat centres on the island is Blooming Lotus Yoga. It is located in the depths of the tropical jungle near Ubud. The centre offers four or seven-day yoga retreats that should revitalize and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. If you wish, you can sign up for a course of breathing exercises. It is definitely worth combining practice classes with getting to know the island, so sign up for an excursion to cultural attractions.   ● Goa, India Airport: Dabolim International Airport Retreat Center: Little Cove Yoga Retreat Address: Little, Cola Beach Road, Canacona, Goa 403702 Prices: from $ 70 per day (all practices, accommodation and meals are included) India is the birthplace of yoga. The choice of centres here is very large. One of the most comfortable is Little Cove Yoga Retreat. You will be settled right on the beach in an eco-friendly house in the middle of coconut trees. Twice a day, you will be fed a hearty Indian vegetarian dish. Stunning landscapes and nature will certainly contribute to the speediest gain of peace of mind.   ● Koh Samui, Thailand Airport: Koh Samui International Airport Retreat Center: Samahita Retreat Address: 55 / 20-24 Moo 4 T. Namuang, Koh Samui Surat Thani 84140, Thailand Prices: $ 1200 for a weekly program (all practices, accommodation and meals are included) The wellness centre is located right on the beach. Samahita Retreat offers retreats for every taste and preference. Depending on your goals, the centre can choose a retreat for healing, for relaxation, and even for weight loss. Would you like to cleanse not only thoughts but the whole body? Sign up for a detox program at Samahita.   ● Aurir, Morocco Airport: Agadir Al Massira Airport Retreat Center: Surf Maroc Address: Center Villa Mandala, Km 12, Aourir ، N1, Agadir 80020, Morocco Prices: from 813 € per weekly program (all practices, accommodation and meals are included) Do you like adrenaline, but at the same time want to find peace of mind? Surf Maroc has the perfect deal for you - a surf yoga retreat. Imagine how great it would be to spend a vacation doing yoga in a fully equipped rooftop class overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. And in between practising surfing. This retreat is suitable for both beginners and professionals. The village where Surf Maroc is located is surrounded by banana plantations. The waves are perfect for surfing, and the atmosphere is peaceful. Yoga and surfing are a great combination; come to Morocco and see for yourself.   ● Kathmandu, Nepal Airport: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport Retreat Center: Kopan Buddhist Monastery Address: Kathmandu 44600, Nepal Prices: $ 150 for a 10-day introductory course (all practices, accommodation and meals included) The atmosphere of this place is just incredible. It’s calm here, not crowded, exactly what you need for privacy. This retreat is quite a budget option, but it has a very interesting local colour. In the Buddhist monastery of Kopan, monks teach various techniques of meditation. There are many people who want to attend such a retreat, so we strongly recommend you to book the course in advance. Just think for a second, how long have you really rested? Perhaps it's time to relax, get to know yourself again, find answers to important questions. Retreat centres are one of the best ways to find peace, get invaluable unique experiences. Don't hesitate, take the path of absolute relaxation and reboot!

Sea. Rock. Monastery. There are millions of photos with this view all over the world, made by tourists and professional photographers. But this is a place worth seeing with your own eyes. So, let's go to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.   What is Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey and where is it located The abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is located in France on the border of the French regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is built on the granite island of the same name, a rock, towering in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel (Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel). A few kilometres from the abbey, there are two small rocky islands - Tombelaine and Mont Dol. They can be reached on foot at low tide. The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is a symbol of Normandy, one of its main attractions, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the bay. In ancient times, the rock was surrounded by forests, where the Celts used to live. Time has passed. The sea gradually stepped on land and, together with the rivers flowing into it, destroyed the soil. Forests were slowly dying. Millennia have passed, the rock turned into a rock-island, and the forest landscape became a sandy one. And then one day, the archangel Michael appeared to one bishop in a dream and ordered to build a temple on a rock. The church minister did not respond to the dream, and the Archangel appeared again, and again. The bishop had to start construction. It may be a legend, it may be true, but a chapel was built in the VIIIth century on the Grave Hill (Mont Tombe), as the rock of Mont-Saint-Michel used to be called. At different times of 13 centuries of history, monks used to live in the monastery, and pilgrims, including kings, visited the abbey, prisoners were kept here. Mont-Saint-Michel survived fires, raids, destruction, reconstruction. Nowadays, a few dozen people live here, including several monks. And tourists may attend the daily service.      How to get to Mont-Saint-Michel Fly to Paris. And then it all depends on whether Mont-Saint-Michel is the only destination in your trip to France or is it part of the route. If you plan to go directly to the abbey from Paris, there are several options. For example, buy a one-day tour. But, if you want to go on your own, then you have a choice: rent a car, buy a train or bus ticket. By car. Get ready to drive 360 km and pay for some autobahns. By train. There is no direct connection between Paris and Mont-Saint-Michel. You need to travel with transfers: by train from the Gare Montparnasse station to Rennes or Dol De Bretagne, and from there -by bus to Mont-Saint-Michel. Another option is from Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard Station to Vildieu-les-Poêles, then by bus. You can travel from Gare Saint-Lazare Station via Caen to Pontorson and transfer to the shuttle to the Abbey. You can find timetables and prices here: https://www.sncf.com/en/booking-itinerary/book-tickets, http://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie https://www.oui.sncf/article/le-train-du-mont-saint-michel-82724 https://www.ouigo.com/ By bus. Flixbus buses depart from the La Defense district of Paris from Thursday to Sunday. If you are lucky enough, you can buy a one-way ticket for 12 euros. From Monday to Thursday you have to go with a transfer. Here are the schedule and prices. The total one-way journey time by train will take at least 4 hours. By bus - about 5 hours. Therefore, a visit to the abbey is best combined with a trip to Normandy or Brittany. The way from Caen or Rouen is a bit longer than from Rennes or Saint-Malo.   How to navigate in Mont-Saint-Michel All buses and cars coming to Mont-Saint-Michel stop in a car park 2.5 km from the rock. The cost of car parking is 9-14 euros per day depending on the season. If you arrive by bus, which will take you back, write down its number. Otherwise, you will have to look around for a long time - there will be dozens of buses in the parking lot. There is a tourist information centre near the parking lot. Now, you have to walk another hundred meters to Navette Square, where a free bus leaves to Mont-Saint-Michel from. From the parking lot to the cliff, it takes 40 minutes to walk, 10 minutes to get by the free shuttle Le Passeur or in a horse-drawn carriage for 6 euros and 20 min. In any case, you need to walk on foot the last few hundred meters on a 350-meter bridge connecting the mainland with a rock island. Carriages will bring you closer than buses. Shuttle Le Passeur runs from 7.30 a.m. to midnight. There is a hotel located inside the abbey, and parking No. 3 is reserved for its guests. No matter how quickly you reached Mont-Saint-Michel, but finally, here is the foot of the mountain.   Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey Walk Steep cliffs, quicksand, considerable speed of the tidal wave - this is a great place to live in solitude and not let strangers in. There were many attempts to capture the abbey. But it withstood. Even during the Hundred Years War. But we will not attack the rock. We will just go through the Main Entrance Gate. This can be done daily from 9.00 to 19.00 (the schedule is slightly different depending on the season).   Mont-Saint-Michel Entrance Fee Entrance to the rock itself is free, but in order to get to the monastery, which is located on the top, you need to buy a ticket (you can pre-book on the Internet) for € 11 (it is free for up to 18 years). An additional € 3 must be paid for an audio guide. A booklet with must-see places is for free. Guided tours through the bay are also for a fee. Tickets can be bought at the box office near the entrance, and in front of the monastery itself. If you want to visit one or all the museums of Mont-Saint-Michel, you will have to pay for tickets separately. A single ticket will cost less. There are a lot of different and interesting things in museums: paintings, sculptures, ship models, weapons. There are several days of the year, when the entrance to the abbey is free for everyone: during the European Heritage Days (3rd day off in September) and 1st Sunday of the month (from January 1 to March 31 and from November 1 to December 31). Walking along the old streets, be prepared for the fact that there will be no monastic solitude, as many people want to see Mont-Saint-Michel - it's more than two million people a year. The only period when there are fewer tourists is from November to February. The information bureau, where tickets are sold and audio guides are rented, where they answer all your questions, where you can buy souvenirs, is located to the left of the entrance, in the Corps de Garde, the premises where the guard was located. Entrance to the small town of Mont-Saint-Michel, located at the foot of the abbey, is through the Royal (Porte du Roy) and Boulevard Gate (La Porte du Boulevard). Main Street (Grande Rue) starts behind them. It has many cafes, souvenir shops, museums, medieval houses. The town has a town hall, a parish church, a functioning cemetery, and an old post office. From here, you can send your friends or yourself a message in an envelope with the stamp of Mont-Saint-Michel. And, while the card is sent to the addressee, we continue to approach the “Miracle” slowly but surely.   Chapel of Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre “Miracle”(in French "La Merveille"). That is what the upper part of the abbey complex is called because to think up and create a multifunctional structure on an uneven rock, that would attract thousands of pilgrims in those and subsequent centuries is not an easy task. The abbey was built for several centuries. The oldest part of the monasterнy, the Notre-Dame-sous-Terre chapel, was built in the X century. Later, at the top of the cliff, a large church was erected at an altitude of about 80 m above sea level. It was installed on crypts (vaulted underground rooms), forming a platform that can withstand the weight of a building 80 meters long. A 32-meter spire crowned with a gilded statue of St. Michael was added in the 19th century. For several centuries, monastery buildings appeared on the rock, as well as the Merveille complex, a three-level Gothic building. On the first floor, there was a cellar for storing food and rooms for overnight pilgrims. On the second floor, there was a dining room with fireplaces, so especially important guests were invited here. There was also a scriptorium, where the monks used to read and copy manuscripts. Mont-Saint-Michel was even called the "city of books". The monks used to live and eat at the upper level. For prayers and solitary thoughts, they used to go to the covered gallery in another wing. There is a medieval garden in the centre of the monastery with boxwood trees surrounded by damask roses, flower beds with medicinal plants, aromatic herbs and flowers. But you still have to get to the "Miracle". 350 steps along the Grand Staircase (Grand Degree) is a "small" physical prelude before visiting the abbey. Outside terraces on top of the cliff offer stunning views of the bay. You can see sheep grazing on land, two granite islands Mont Dol, Tombelaine, the Chausey archipelago, from where granite was imported for the construction of the abbey. The abbey’s plan is very complicated. If you don’t take an audio guide or a plan diagram with a detailed description, you can get lost and wander from building to building, from level to level.   Tides of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel But you will be lucky if you find yourself in the bay at the right time - you can cross it over quicksand. During high tides, the sea retreats from the cliff to 15 km. Many tourists walk at low tide around it, they are looking for something. True, if you want to go along the bay towards the islands of Mont Dol and Tombelaine, this can be done only with certified local guides. They will not only guide you through the bay but also tell you a lot of interesting things. The language of excursions is English and French. The duration is from 1 to 6 hours. There are tours for children. Use the ebb-tide schedule when planning your trip to Mont-Saint-Michel. The days of the largest tides are highlighted in red.   Where to eat and stay in Mont-Saint-Michel You can have a snack or dine in Mont Saint-Michel in cafes, bars, restaurants. Prices are touristic. Signature Mont-Saint-Michel dish is Omelette de la mère Poulard, which is served in a restaurant of the same name. It is cooked while you are watching, in a copper bowl on wood, over an open fire. While waiting for a snack, you can get a performance. This woman managed to create a whole omelette cult from several chicken eggs, butter, milk and salt. The legendary dish was tasted by members of royal and imperial families, presidents and prime ministers, writers, artists, and singers, bankers and industrialists. Their photographs have been hanging on the walls of the restaurant for over a hundred years. Omelette de la mère Poulard became the gastronomic symbol of Mont-Saint-Michel. A portion costs 40 euros. But the famous Frenchwoman is known not only for the omelet. As a gift from the trip, you can bring the famous biscuits of Mother Poulard in a box (biscuits de mère Poulard). If you wouldn't eat them on your way home. People who tasted the fillet of a young lamb (l’angeaude pre-sale) say that the meat has a salty taste, because local sheep graze in flood salt meadows. And seafood lovers prefer to try the mussels from the bay (moules de bouchot de la baie de Mont-Saint-Michel). But you can do without luxury - drink coffee and buy takeaway sandwiches or snacks. Or "accidentally" find a bottle of cider or calvados and a piece of camembert or livaro in a backpack.     If you plan to spend the night in Mont-Saint-Michel to see the sun go down and the abbey lights turn on gradually or take a walk along the still deserted Main Street while the sun rises, there are several small hotels on the rock and in the neighbouring village of La Caserne. The price for a double room inside the abbey is, on average, 100-260 euros per day. In the village, it is a little cheaper. Although, you might find rooms in the range of 200-500 euros everywhere. In Pontorson, which is about 7 km from Mont-Saint-Michel, the hotel can be rented from 40 to 240 euros per room.   Tips before visiting Going to Mont-Saint-Michel, put on comfortable athletic shoes because you will have to climb to the monastery, and maybe wander around the bay at low tide. Although in warm weather, you can stay barefoot.     - There are strong winds in the Mont-Saint-Michel area, so a windbreaker or jacket will not hurt. And do not forget about a hat, if you are traveling in the summer.     - Mists fall sometimes onto the bay, but the photos are mysterious in this case.     - Try to go to Mont-Saint-Michel without the extra baggage. Due to the increased security measures, the left-luggage offices located in the tourist information office do not work.     - If you see groups of school children running up and down the rock with sheets of paper and pencils in their hands, do not be surprised, as they perform some tasks. While playing, children get acquainted with the history and architecture of their native land. Now, you will have such marvelous photos too: sea, rock, monastery. Now, watching “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”, you will no longer think what reminds you of the fortress of Minas Tirith. And Travellzy Team moves further, towards Brittany.

In 1971, the Hanover authorities came up with a thing, the Red Thread that connects all the most important sights of the old city. This is how one of the most famous European tourist routes appeared, and it connects 36 interesting places today.   Welcome to Hanover! Hanover is the country's largest transport hub. It is believed that this is a city of business tourism, as once a month, they organize some major industrial or agricultural exhibition, which attracts participants and visitors from around the world. Hanover Airport accepts the second number of airlines after Munich. But you can come here also from Berlin. On a high-speed train, the journey takes only two hours. The city has a very convenient city transport system consisting of tram metro lines and buses. But they are not needed for a walk along Threads.   Red Thread The route is 4.3 km long and will last for 2.5 hours. You can get a route map in the tourist centre, download it, or install the application - you won’t get confused (Der rote Faden). It starts and ends at the tourist centre, which is located near the main railway station in the city. The route passes through the city centre and, following it, you will see the entire cultural heritage of the city: the monument to Leibniz and his house, the opera house and the church destroyed during World War II, which was not rebuilt as a warning for descendants, New Town Hall and Marienburg Castle. And of course, you will not pass by typical German houses, whose age will cause a quiet (or perhaps stormy) delight. There is just one moment: if you will follow the line without a card, do not be afraid, if it is suddenly interrupted. Take a close look around. The fact is that due to multiple reconstructions of streets and squares, the line periodically disappears. Then it is restored again, but while construction work is underway on the streets, it might be lost. But it's not a big deal. In the end, in search of a route, perhaps you will find something for your liking.   Blue Thread Here is another route complementing the previous one. Many new attractions were built during the existence of the red route. And the city council decided not to complement the old route, but to create a new one. As a result, the Blue Thread appeared. Unlike the previous one, this line is not marked on the sidewalks. You can find a route map only on Wikipedia or on a special website. The Blue Thread consists of 38 knots. Despite two routes, which are very rich insights, there are places in the city that are not covered by the Red and Blue Threads, but it is definitely worth a visit. Hanover Zoo is a menagerie founded in 1865. In size, it is significantly larger than the Amsterdam Zoo or the Paris Zoo. Flea Market gathers every Saturday on the Laine River embankment, and every second Saturday of the month on the Balhofplatz. Botanical Garden was laid out like a vegetable garden for the palace kitchen, and the first greenhouse appeared there in 1689, it is impressive, isn't it? In spring, these 12 hectares turn into a place of pilgrimage for both local residents and tourists. Lake Mash (Maschsee) is a man-made lake, on which a boat goes in summer. It's a favorite vacation spot for children and adults. There are recreational facilities, bicycle paths along the lake. Sprengel Museum is Hannover Museum of Modern Art, located on the shores of Lake Mash. It's a large cultural center where events, meetings, and a library work. Here you can see Picasso, Chagall, Nolde. The entrance fee is lower than in the capital's museums, it's 7 EUR, and on Fridays, visitors can enter it free of charge. But if you are not interested in contemporary art, do not be discouraged, as there are still about 40 museums and galleries in the city. Eilenriede Park, or we'd rather call this park a forest. Although, it doesn’t fit in one’s head, that there may be a forest in the city center. But not in Hanover. This, indeed, is a forest, which is called the Hannover Inner Forest of a huge area. All conditions for recreation are created here - special places and glades, sports grounds for athletes. At the edge of the forest, there are luxurious villas of the late XIX and early XX century. Herrenhausen Gardens. Again, this is not a park, but gardens. Magnificent gardens, royal! They were laid down in 1640. They consist of several parts, which are very difficult to walk around in one day. And although they are open all year round, you should visit them in the warm season. The cost of visiting is 8 euros. You also need to pay another 4 euros, if you want to look at the working fountains and evening illumination Bissendorf - This inconspicuous village is located 18 km from Hanover. You can get there by car or by train from the central railway station of Hanover in 20 minutes. What is remarkable about this place? The fact that the musicians of the Scorpions live here. They say that they can be found in a local bar. And also in the village, there is a museum where some things of the legendary group are stored. But to get there, you need to call the museum by phone 05130 7101 and make an appointment from 15:00 to 18:00. Museum information.

Hong Kong is rightfully considered to be one of the world's most expensive cities. But, in addition, it is also a very interesting city-state, as well as a convenient transfer point on the way to Southeast Asia. In order to see the megalopolis of the future and not leave a couple of monthly salaries there, Travellizy has prepared several life hacks to save money.   Save on housing Expensive and not the most comfortable housing - this is Hong Kong's feature that can‘t be avoided, so try to perceive the cramped living conditions as a kind of adventure. For € 30-40, you can rent a room, which has a capacity just for you and your two large suitcases, but hot water and Wi-Fi are everywhere. If you are not going to live in the anthill city and plan to come to the hotel only to spend the night between walks in Hong Kong, then this is a good option. Speaking of Wi-Fi, it is free on the streets and in the cafe, but very often, it's either for 30 minutes with access by code on the check or generally only for local SIM card owners. If you are in the city for 3 days or more, then it makes sense to obtain such a card. You can stay in Hong Kong for free if you use the website Couchsurfing.com, where people from all over the world host travellers. But keep in mind that in this case, the request must be submitted in advance, preferably a couple of months before you plan to visit the city. The most budgetary areas are Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, they have the most budget cafes, and the main attractions are the easiest to get from here. But your hotel neighbours will most likely be poor workers from Southeast Asia. And make sure to check before booking if there are windows in the room, as this is a common catch of Hong Kong housing.   Save on food Food in Hong Kong is simpler than housing, but you need to know the place. Paphos restaurants of European cuisine should be visited only with a very good budget, and to save money, there are always local establishments, Chinese soup restaurants and other unpretentious-looking places. Outside, they may not look particularly attractive, but it is usually very clean inside, with a great variety of dishes and, most importantly, prices are very good. And do not be afraid that the waiter will not understand your order, instead of the menu they offer profiles where you just need to check the boxes next to the dishes. The best friend of a budget traveler in Hong Kong is promotions and special offers, it's when you can take a meal and a drink at a 50% discount, and after 19:00, there are substantial discounts in the departments of cheap products in many supermarkets. Another budget option in Hong Kong is street food. This is a great opportunity to join the local culture, and the way to eat enough for € 2-3. Drinking water supplies can be replenished from special fountains right on the street if you carry a reusable bottle. Do you know that you can eat very cheaply in Hong Kong... in a Michelin-starred restaurant? Tim Ho Wan, which is located in the subway passage, was awarded a Michelin star, while the prices in it are very proletarian, from € 2 per dish. True, first you have to stand in a rather big queue, there are always a lot of people who want to eat cheaply in a well-known institution. Aren't you squeamish about fast food and snacks? Then the stores of Circle K or 7/11 chains will be for your services. They even have ready-made meals heated in the microwave. And if you rent a house with a kitchen, then the most profitable option is to buy food for cooking in the local market, there are many even in the centre.   Save on transport The transport system of Hong Kong is very developed, very confusing for an unaccustomed tourist and very expensive. Except for a taxi, the most expensive way to travel is the subway. Stations are divided into zones, and a ride to three stations located in different zones can cost more than five in one zone. Travelling by bus is a little cheaper, and the cheapest way is by double-decker trams, it's less than € 0.5 per trip. While sitting in a tram, it is very convenient to view the surroundings, but there is one catch - they go only along a couple of streets of the island part of Hong Kong. Cash in Hong Kong public transport is not accepted, only transport cards, and there is also a nuance here. There are two types of Octopus cards - with or without a deposit. A regular Octopus costs € 17.6, and a tourist one is € 4.5. You can return the usual one at the end of the trip and get a € 7 deposit in cash on hand, but it's impossible with a tourist one. By the way, Octopus is not just a transport card, it can be used for payments in stores, and it serves as a pass to some attractions. An alternative to the Octopus is the Tourist Day Pass. For € 7.6 you get the opportunity to ride trams and subways 24 hours for free. But there are some nuances too. This card does not allow you to travel on MRT buses, on the metro from the airport and at the stations bordering China. And, of course, the most economical way is walking, but this entertainment is not for everyone. The pedestrian zones of the city are the same anthill, but the most interesting part starts when you need to cross the road. First, you need to find the entrance to the elevated passage, and it can easily be located on the third floor of the bank, minus the second floor of the shopping centre or at the entrance of a residential building. In general, if you see on the map that the distance is only 1-2 kilometres, then keep in mind that you will have to go another 1-2 kilometres.   Save on sightseeing Some of the attractions in Hong Kong are free, for example, the botanical garden, most monasteries and temples. By the way, Wong Tai Sin and Chi Lin are the most colourful temples. You can walk for free around the unique museum-prison in the Mid-Levels area, and at the same time take a ride on the world's longest escalator. For those who can't get enough of one museum, the Museum Pass comes in handy for € 5.8, and you have free access to any 7 museums in your pocket. It is most convenient to visit the Big Buddha on the way from the airport or back. It’s most economical to go to Victoria Peak by bus rather than by tram funicular, although the views from the latter are still more picturesque. An option for fans of long walks uphill is to climb the peak on foot, fortunately, there are equipped paths for this. The light show from the Avenue of Stars can be admired for free. Discounted tickets to many attractions can be found on the website called Klook, admission discounts are often available for students. Hong Kong is an expensive city, but it is quite possible to visit it wisely. Think in advance of the route around the city, book your accommodation a few months before the trip, get acquainted with information about transport and museum maps, google popular walking routes. And remember that the main value of any trip is impressions, and you can get them in Hong Kong just by walking between sparkling skyscrapers.

Sardinia is a dream island. Many Italians come here on vacation for the whole of August to swim in the crystal clear water and sunbathe on the best beaches. This special region doesn't miss foreigners' attention, because although Sardinia is part of Italy, the locals proudly call themselves sardi and speak the local dialect. In the summer months, it’s more difficult to meet local residents among a huge number of tourists, but what happens on the island during other seasons? Travellizy Team has figured it out.   How to get to Sardinia Sardinia is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and it will be more convenient to get to the island by plane from European cities or by ferry from the popular cruise port of Civitavecchia (about 80 km from Rome). The three main cities where tourists begin their journey through Sardinia are Cagliari in the south, as well as Alghero and Olbia in the north.   How to navigate around Sardinia The most perfect way to travel around the island is to rent a car or arrive with your transport on a ferry, but such a ticket will cost much more than a usual one. Car rental will cost from € 50 per week during the off-season, but if you add insurance, gasoline, toll roads and parking costs, the amount can increase up to 10 times, so you should consider this when planning your budget. What to do, if you don't have the opportunity to rent a car? When drawing up the route, consider other types of transport, for example, combine a train and buses. There is a railway on the island, so you can comfortably travel from south to north and back, but it is better to study the map of local routes in advance and be prepared for the fact, that regional trains can get out of schedule and not always succeed in following the plan. Unfortunately, getting to the most beautiful places in Sardinia without a car will be quite difficult and long, so you risk spending most of your vacation in cities.   What to see in Cagliari Let's start the route from Cagliari. It’s a cozy port city, so we recommend you immediately walk along the promenade, admire the sea and snow-white yachts, and if you are lucky enough, you can even see dolphins near the coast! Climb the stairs to the Bastion of San Remy, one of the main attractions of the historical center with the best view of the city, take a walk past the Cathedral and the Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria. At sunset, there are completely different, but no less magical views. If you look for a true local atmosphere, come for lunch or dinner to Trattoria Lillicu. The institution operates according to the time traditional for Italy: from 13:00 to 15:00 in the afternoon and from 20:30 to 23:00 in the evenings, and it specializes in fish dishes and seafood. For those who love hiking, we recommend a walk to Cape Sella del Diavolo and be inspired by the fabulous panorama, which is breathtaking. Fans of nature, history and archaeology will especially like it, because there are the remains of a small fort built during the Second World War on the top of the cape as well as the tower of St. Elias, built back in 1292. If you look for beach activities, go to Poetto Beach, Cagliari's main city beach with an eight-kilometer coastline. In the off-season, you will have the opportunity to see this beach in all its beauty, because it is crowded with vacationers in summer, which is not surprising. Poetto Beach is perfect for those who want to combine a beach holiday with an active pastime - boat rental, diving, surfing and kitesurfing lessons, a sailing school, kayaking, beach volleyball - all this is available for vacationers. Another amazing place in Cagliari is the Regional Park of Molentargius, which was the richest Sardinian basin for the extraction of sea salt. The uniqueness of this place is in the presence of reservoirs of both fresh and salt water. About 230 species of birds are registered in Molentargius, but the most famous inhabitants, for the sake of whom travelers from different parts of the world come here, are pink flamingos. The park is open from 07:00 to 18:00 from October 16 to February and from 06:30 to 21:00 from March to October 15. The entrance is free. Hiking, beaches or cities with a historical heritage - whenever you decide to visit Sardinia, you won’t be bored!