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72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part II)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. This is Part II of my blog post on Oslo, following earlier Part I. Day…
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8 Soviet New Year Celebration Traditions I Love
As I have already described here, growing up in the Soviet Union was far from the ordinary. With religion being forbidden and no Christmas celebrations allowed until the 1990s, New Year has become the biggest and most exciting holiday of the year with large-scale celebrations that last for days. Even though the times of the Soviet Union are long gone, many countries that once made USSR still hold on to some of its New Year celebration traditions which I am sharing in this post. 1.New Year Tree The New Year (not Christmas!) tree is the center of New Year’s celebrations at every home. Lovingly decorated with glass baubles, tinsels and…
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72-Hour Guide to Norway: Oslo (Part I)
Besides the Christmas walks and fun experiences around London that I have written about earlier, one of my favorite things to do each December before Christmas is visiting Oslo. My husband and I have discovered Oslo first time in 2014 in search of a snowy destination and have been going back every year since then. The city fits the bill for winter holidays for many reasons: there is lots of snow (which we love!), there is plenty to see and do both sporty and culturally, it’s efficient and safe, and it’s very cosy and welcoming. As you know, 2016 has been a year of ‘hygge’ – a new word/concept that has…
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Weekend Getaway: Bath Christmas Market
As I continue the series of Christmas-related posts on what to see and do in London during the festive season, today I wanted to talk about Bath Christmas market. Bath (or more accurately Bath Spa) is a small but very beautiful and cosy town in Somerset and a UNESCO Heritage site, just 1.5 hour away from London. It’s very popular among the Brits and visitors, thanks to its renowned Roman baths, beautiful Georgian architecture, nearby world attractions such as iconic Stonehenge and great options for shopping, entertainment and eating out. I have been to Bath few times, but this trip was special as I ventured out to see Bath Christmas market.…
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London Gems: Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea
There are things you can do in London that are very similar to other major tourist destinations, like shopping, sightseeing or checking out latest trendy bar or restaurant. And there are experiences that are very specific to Britain and afternoon tea is one of them. You probably already know that tea is a big part of British culture and should not be treated lightly! Just Google ‘aftenoon tea London’ and you will end up with over 3 million search results! Personally, I am a huge fan of the afternoon tea. There is something very refined and classy about the etiquette of the British afternoon tea: from serving exotic tea blends in exquisite tea…
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Weekend Getaway: Windsor, UK
This week my husband and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary and when we thought of the best place for a quick getaway, Windsor came at the top of our list. Located just an hour away from London, it’s a perfect destination for a weekend break. Windsor is a top tourist attraction thanks to the Windsor Castle and it’s cosy and compact town center that is easy to cover in a short period of time. But our mission was to relax and celebrate our special occasion. Things to do Shopping After checking into the hotel, we dropped off our bags and decided to venture out and take a walk around…
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Growing Up in the USSR: 15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Soviet Upbringing
Did you ever wonder what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union behind the Iron Curtain? With the Cold War still on, I was growing up in Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic, one of 15 republics that made up a Soviet Union. It was a different reality that taught me and my peers a certain way of thinking and behaving. Today, I am going to take you on a virtual historic tour to my Soviet upbringing and share top 15 features of what it was like to grow up and live in the Soviet Union. So, imagine: 1. From a very young age, you are used to the fact…
