How do Russians and Americans travel, what's the difference? Tourist trips are getting shorter, but more regular. Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov

The great Russian travelers, whose list is quite long, pushed the development of maritime trade, and also raised the prestige of their country. The scientific community learned more and more information not only about geography, but also about the animal and plant world, and most importantly, about people who lived in other parts of the world and their customs. Let us follow in the footsteps of the great Russian travelers their geographical discoveries.

Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov

The great Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov is not only a famous adventurer, but also an artist, an honored master of sports. He was born in 1951. From childhood, he could do what would be quite difficult for his peers - swimming in cold water. He could easily sleep in the hayloft. Fedor was in good physical shape and could run long distances - several tens of kilometers. At the age of 15, he managed to swim across the Sea of ​​Azov using a row fishing boat. Fedor was significantly influenced by his grandfather, who wanted the young man to become a traveler, but the boy himself aspired to this. Great Russian travelers often began to prepare in advance for their campaigns and sea voyages.

Konyukhov's discoveries

Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov participated in 40 trips, repeated Bering's route on a yacht, and also sailed from Vladivostok to the Commander Islands, visited Sakhalin and Kamchatka. At the age of 58, he conquered Everest, as well as the 7 most high peaks in a team with other climbers. He visited both the North and South Poles, on his account 4 round-the-world voyages, he crossed the Atlantic 15 times. Fyodor Filippovich displayed his impressions with the help of drawing. Thus he painted 3,000 paintings. The great geographical discoveries of Russian travelers were often reflected in their own literature, and Fedor Konyukhov left 9 books behind him.

Afanasy Nikitin

The great Russian traveler Athanasius Nikitin (Nikitin is the middle name of a merchant, because his father's name was Nikita) lived in the 15th century, and the year of his birth is unknown. He proved that even a person from a poor family can travel so far, the main thing is to set a goal. He was an experienced merchant who, before India, visited the Crimea, Constantinople, Lithuania and the Moldavian principality and brought overseas goods to his homeland.

He himself was from Tver. Russian merchants traveled to Asia to establish ties with local merchants. They themselves carried there, mostly furs. By the will of fate, Athanasius ended up in India, where he lived for three years. Upon returning to his homeland, he was robbed and killed near Smolensk. The great Russian travelers and their discoveries remain forever in history, because for the sake of progress, brave and courageous wanderers often died on dangerous and long expeditions.

Discoveries of Athanasius Nikitin

Afanasy Nikitin became the first Russian traveler to visit India and Persia, on the way back he visited Turkey and Somalia. During her wanderings, she took notes "Journey Beyond Three Seas", which later became a guide for studying the culture and customs of other countries. In particular, medieval India is well described in his notes. He crossed the Volga, Arabian and Caspian Sea, Chernomorie. When the merchants near Astrakhan were robbed by the Tatars, he did not want to return home with everyone and fall into a debt hole, but continued his journey, heading to Derbent, then to Baku.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho-Maclay

Miklouho-Maclay comes from a noble family, but after the death of his father, he had to learn what it means to live in poverty. He had the nature of a rebel - at the age of 15 he was arrested for participating in a student demonstration. Because of this, he not only ended up under arrest in Peter and Paul Fortress, where he stayed for three days, but was also expelled from the gymnasium with a further ban on admission - so the opportunity was lost for him to get higher education in Russia, which he subsequently did only in Germany.

A well-known naturalist, drew attention to an inquisitive 19-year-old boy and invited Miklouho-Maclay on an expedition, the purpose of which was to study marine fauna. Nikolai Nikolaevich died at the age of 42, while his diagnosis was "severe deterioration of the body." He, like many other great Russian travelers, sacrificed a significant part of his life in the name of new discoveries.

Discoveries of Miklouho-Maclay

In 1869, Miklukho-Maclay, with the support of the Russian Geographical Society, left for New Guinea. The shore where he landed is now called Maclay Coast. After spending more than a year on the expedition, he discovered new lands. The natives learned from a Russian traveler how pumpkin, corn, and beans are grown, and how to take care of fruit trees. He spent 3 years in Australia, visited Indonesia, the Philippines, the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia. He also convinced local residents not to interfere with anthropological research. For 17 years of his life he studied the indigenous population of the islands Pacific Ocean, Southeast Asia. Thanks to Miklukho-Maclay, the assumption that the Papuans are a different kind of person was refuted. As you can see, the great Russian travelers and their discoveries allowed the rest of the world not only to learn more about geographical research, but also about other people who lived in new territories.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky

Przhevalsky was favored by the emperor's family, at the end of the first trip he had the honor to meet Alexander II, who transferred his collections to the Russian Academy of Sciences. His son Nikolai really liked the works of Nikolai Mikhailovich, and he wanted to be his student, he also contributed to the publication of stories about the 4th expedition, granting 25 thousand rubles. The Tsarevich always looked forward to letters from the traveler and was glad even for a short news about the expedition.

As you can see, even during his lifetime, Przhevalsky became a fairly well-known person, and his works and deeds received great publicity. However, as sometimes happens when great Russian travelers and their discoveries become famous, many details from his life, as well as the circumstances of his death, are still shrouded in mystery. Nikolai Mikhailovich had no descendants, because having understood in advance what fate awaited him, he would not allow himself to condemn his beloved to constant expectations and loneliness.

Discoveries of Przewalski

Thanks to Przhevalsky's expeditions, Russian scientific prestige was new push. During 4 expeditions, the traveler traveled about 30 thousand kilometers, he visited Central and Western Asia, the territory of the Tibetan Plateau and the southern part of the Takla Makan desert. He discovered many ridges (Moscow, Zagadochny, etc.), described the largest rivers in Asia.

Many have heard of (subspecies but few people know about the richest zoological collection of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish, a large number plant records and herbarium collection. In addition to animals and flora, as well as new geographical discoveries, the great Russian traveler Przhevalsky was interested in peoples unknown to Europeans - Dungans, northern Tibetans, Tanguts, Magins, Lobnors. He created How to Travel Central Asia, which could serve as an excellent guide for researchers and the military. Great Russian travelers, making discoveries, always gave knowledge for the development of sciences and the successful organization of new expeditions.

Ivan Fyodorovich Kruzenshtern

The Russian navigator was born in 1770. He happened to be the head of the first round the world expedition from Russia, he is also one of the founders of Russian oceanology, admiral, corresponding member and honorary member of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. The great Russian traveler Krusenstern also took an active part when the Russian Geographical Society was created. In 1811 he happened to teach at the Naval Cadet Corps. Subsequently, after becoming director, he organized the highest officer class. This academy then became a naval academy.

In 1812, he allocated 1/3 of his fortune for the people's militia (the Patriotic War began). Until that time, three volumes of the books "Traveling Around the World" were published, which were translated into seven European languages. In 1813, Ivan Fedorovich was included in the English, Danish, German and French scientific communities and academies. However, after 2 years, he goes on indefinite leave due to a developing eye disease, which complicated the situation and a difficult relationship with the Minister of the Navy. Many famous sailors and travelers turned to Ivan Fedorovich for advice and support.

Krusenstern's discoveries

For 3 years he was the head of the Russian expedition around the world on the ships "Neva" and "Nadezhda". During the voyage, the mouths of the Amur River were to be explored. For the first time in history, the Russian fleet crossed the equator. Thanks to this journey and Ivan Fedorovich, for the first time, the eastern, northern and northwestern shores appeared on the map sakhalin island. Also, by virtue of his labors, the Atlas South Sea”, supplemented by hydrographic notes. Thanks to the expedition, non-existent islands were erased from the maps, the exact position of other geographic points was determined. Russian science learned about the trade wind countercurrents in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, water temperature was measured (depths up to 400 m), its specific gravity, color and transparency were determined. Finally, the reason why the sea shone became clear. Also, data appeared on atmospheric pressure, ebb and flow in many areas of the World Ocean, which were used by other great Russian travelers in their expeditions.

Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev

The great traveler was born in 1605. A sailor, explorer and merchant, he was also a Cossack chieftain. He was originally from Veliky Ustyug, and then moved to Siberia. Semyon Ivanovich was known for his diplomatic talent, courage and ability to organize and lead people. His name is geographical points(cape, bay, island, village, peninsula), premium, icebreaker, passage, streets, etc.

Dezhnev's discoveries

Semyon Ivanovich 80 years before Bering passed the strait (called the Bering Strait) between Alaska and Chukotka (completely, while Bering passed only part of it). He and his team opened a sea route around the northeastern part of Asia, reached Kamchatka. Nobody had known before that about the part of the world where America almost converged with Asia. Dezhnev passed the Arctic Ocean, bypassing the northern coast of Asia. He mapped the strait between the American and Asian coasts, and after the ship was shipwrecked, his detachment, having only skis and sleds, traveled 10 weeks before (while losing 13 out of 25 people). There is an assumption that the first settlers in Alaska were part of the Dezhnev team, which separated from the expedition.

Thus, following in the footsteps of the great Russian travelers, one can see how the scientific community of Russia developed and rose, knowledge about the outside world was enriched, which gave a huge impetus to the development of other industries.

Iota and Roland joke that they are 144 years old between them, and believe that retirement is best time for travel to . Read about how they traveled half the world and half of Russia in a camper in our material.

Such trips are not typical for the Germans, we are rather isolated representatives. We travel alone, on our own, by car. Many come here in groups and with a guide who goes everywhere with them, tells them what to do, where to go and where to go to the toilet! We are able to do it ourselves (laughs). This is our first campsite in Russia. We were on Lake Baikal, in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, then again in Kazakhstan. (laughs) We even speak a little Russian. We stop for the night at various parking lots, sometimes on the streets or in the mountains. We arrange a halt wherever you like.

We never buy food, like tomatoes, on the street!

It's better to go to the supermarket. Seeing that we are foreigners, sellers can overcharge, but we do not know how much it really costs! Many Russians calmly buy something in street stalls. We don't understand this.

There are no campsites in Russia, only truck stops. They are called campsites, but this is not at all the case. Terrible places.

We are lucky: there were no unpleasant situations. No one stole anything from us, did not break anything at night while we were sleeping. Whenever we wanted to stop, I approached the people in this place (hereinafter in Russian, Roland's quote is given verbatim): “Hello! Can you sleep here? What do you think? Ah, that's good! And this? It's not possible here. Okay, I'm going there!"

There are 2 types of Russian people, in fact, as elsewhere, the same is true here in Germany - educated and not.

Many are hospitable and open, you can approach any of them and say (hereinafter in Russian): “Hello! My name is…". And they will answer you with a smile! I always ask if they know German. We find a common language, start a conversation, talk about children... There are, of course, language difficulties. In Moscow, this is not a problem, but in the south, almost no one speaks English or German.

We have been traveling in motorhomes for over 15 years! Traveled through Germany, Great Britain, Italy. Germany is the best for camping (laughs), but we also like Austria. About 20 years ago we didn’t have a camper, we took a tent with us, stopped on the banks of the rivers, Baltic Sea. At that time, we still took children with us, and we did not have enough funds for camping by car. Now people sometimes come up to us and ask: “Can I have a look? I really want to see. Great! You have a toilet here too! You are an amazing people, the Germans!” But I think what's surprising?

What strikes people the most is that we are pensioners.

The question is often asked: “What is your monthly salary?” And if I say 500 euros, they will think that it is impossible to live and travel with this money, I will say 2,000 - they will consider the Germans millionaires. Therefore, I try to call the average number from 1,000 to 1,500, for example. And I think, I think, I think. (laughs)

Tell me, do Russian pensioners also travel if their means allow?

While you are young and working (or studying), you simply do not have free time for this! Three weeks in the summer is not much. In Germany, many people say: “How can you go to Russia? How is this possible? It's so far from Germany! Stay, you better stay! Or go to France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy!”. And I answer them: “I can go to Europe at least every day! It's very close. Russia is another matter." I don't know when I'll be able to drive thousands of kilometers on your roads again.

In the eastern part of the country, the tracks leave much to be desired, the same can be said about the Golden Ring. (further in Russian) Horror, horror, horror!

We like to get acquainted with your culture, look at your churches. We love to attend ballet, opera. On the way to Baikal, for example, we listened to a symphony orchestra in Irkutsk, in Krasnoyarsk we attended Tchaikovsky's ballet. And what picturesque landscapes! We like to observe how people live, to look at ancient buildings. We take a lot of photos. It seems to me that in 5-10 years it will be difficult to find some dilapidated building here. Everything will disappear! Every day new houses and skyscrapers are built, new streets appear.

1. Traveling is expensive

Television managed to impose on the majority of Russians that a trip abroad is, in any case, a very expensive affair. I saw with my own eyes a program where it was calmly stated that two weeks in Thailand would cost a person at least 3,000 euros! Fiction masquerading as truth!

On the picture: Russians think that trip abroad- it is very expensive

From personal experience : You can travel with different budgets. Especially in Asia, especially in Thailand, where housing, transport and food can be easily found on any budget - housing costs from $10 per day, food from $1 per serving, and flights within the country from $20. It all depends on your plans and requests. A normal Russian person can easily, without interfering with glamor, fashionableness and high cost.

2. They say on TV that it's dangerous abroad

In the photo: a demonstration of the “reds” in Bangkok

The Russian media take pleasure in scaring people by showing copious amounts of crashing buses, killer sharks, maniacs killing Russian tourists, angry demonstrators and other crap.

From personal experience : EVERYTHING goes smoothly in the world, however, for a safe trip abroad, it will be quite enough for Russians NOT to jump from balconies into pools, NOT to climb barricades with a bottle, NOT to paint on mustaches on portraits of the local king, etc. I personally was in Bangkok when on TV they showed “terrible street fights”. I don’t deny that in some areas the Thais staged their showdowns, but as a traveler I didn’t go there, and even received bonuses from the situation - there were incredible discounts in Bangkok hotels at that time :)
Abroad, you have to be much more afraid of banal poisoning, a cold or a fracture. No more dangerous than at home, only the cost of treatment will be many times more expensive. Therefore, you should always take it with you when traveling.

3. Locals always cheat Russian tourists

In the photo: sellers in Indonesia are happy to serve tourists

Russians are accustomed to constant deceit in their homeland, so they tend to expect the same when traveling. It seems to them that everyone literally only thinks how to harm them.

From personal experience: usually tourists are welcome everywhere, lead with tourists honest business more beneficial for the locals. Ironically, Russians abroad are deceived mainly by Russians. I often saw, for example, that excursions offered by our tour operators are many times more expensive than those offered by locals.
Stop being a gullible Tourist, become a thinking Traveler: prepare in advance for trips, study traveler reviews, compare prices, learn how to bargain in the markets - this is why our club “We Traveled-Know” exists to help each other, to always be in the know , join in Facebook or Vkontakte or Classmates

4. Air travel and climate change are bad for health

In the photo: real travelers are not afraid of anything

The favorite excuse of those who do not allow themselves to travel. For some reason, the Russians are sure that air travel causes “deadly” pressure drops, and humidity and heat immediately kill already at the exit from the airport.

According to travelers: a Russian person easily adapts to a tropical and subtropical climate, it takes a day or two. The main thing is not to forget about sunscreen, drink more fluids and do not overdo it with sunburn. In addition, you can always travel to countries with a similar climate to Europe or for example.

5. “There is complete unsanitary conditions!”

Persistent stereotype about "third world countries". It is generally accepted that a Russian tourist immediately getting off the plane finds himself in sewers with bacteria, surrounded by crowds of unwashed natives ... Sheer stupidity.

From personal experience: the world is full of both dirty and so. Learn to choose routes correctly, follow hygiene rules, drink bottled water and not get hung up on garbage dumps and everything will be OK. In Asia, for example, there is a lot of delicious street food, and yet no one dies. So, abroad, you just need to learn not to interfere with unsanitary conditions.

6. Unfamiliar food causes frustration

In the photo: street food that tourists and tourists enjoy eating locals

Russian tourists are always wary of exotic food, but they are always determined to try everything.

From traveler reviews: disorders come from sudden changes, mindless mixing of all kinds of food, and from unwashed hands. Do not attack everything unfamiliar at once, eat familiar dishes at first or in cafes adapted for tourists.

7. You can't travel without knowing the language

In the photo: it is not necessary to know the language, you can also communicate with gestures

Russians usually speak mostly Russian on trips. And they are a little surprised when the locals do not understand them. That is why ours are strongly “attached” to “their” tour operators, guides, etc.

From personal experience: it is better, of course, to learn at least a couple of dozen phrases, - English language now known almost everywhere. However, you can always communicate with gestures or, at worst, draw something or show pictures - this is quite enough for short trips. Well, for flights, for this now you don’t need a language at all - everything is done via the Internet, printed out and shown.
By the way, I recently found out about interesting service– you can order unusual excursions from Russian-speaking people living abroad. More interesting than typical excursions, and those who are afraid to be abroad for the first time - they can meet you at the airport and see you off, and show you everything. Very comfortably. Talked about it.

8. Easy to get lost and lost

In the photo: a map and a guide always help out a traveler

In most countries, locals simply will not let a lost Russian traveler go to waste, because for them this is both an attraction and a matter of honor. Use all kinds of paid and free maps, navigators in mobile phones, special ones, always carry your hotel business card in the local language, and you will never get lost. In addition, there are always special travel agencies abroad dedicated to supporting independent travelers.

9. Everything is stolen from hotels

Russians abroad are initially determined to be vigilant about hotel staff and their luggage. Our typical soviet stereotypes say that everything acquired by overwork will sooner or later be stolen by someone ...

From personal experience: for many years independent travel never encountered this, even staying in the most budget hotels where there are no safes. I admit that anything happens, so elementary safety rules must be observed. Book hotels either according to reviews of friends or on the Internet, or away from tourist spots, where the “packagers” (those who go on tour) are accommodated. Do not carry a lot of cash with you - in all tourist cities there are ATMs, and in developed countries they accept cards almost everywhere. Do not forget to put documents and valuables in a safe - most hotels, boarding houses and guesthouses have it.

10. Russians are not liked abroad

In the photo: foreigners do not like Russians?

I will tell you a secret, when you travel, no one cares whether you are Russian or Honduran. Sometimes no one understands where Russia is. You will be perceived abstractly, regardless of your "past" merits or statuses. That's what makes traveling enjoyable. It all depends on your personal mood, friendliness and sociability. Smile!

Each of us from time to time asks the question - where to spend a vacation, which country to choose for the next trip? The very word "journey" is very strongly associated with foreign countries, but not with Russia. We think about traveling around the world, around the planet, about traveling to Mars, but not about Russia…

This is how our thinking is formed. In Soviet times, people thought differently - domestic tourists did not know foreign resorts, countries. All routes were the same and no one really complained - travel within the vast USSR ...

Was it correct and who was better off from these internal restrictions - the traveler or the state? These questions were relevant for that time. The state provided available cheap vacation, and domestic resorts and sanatoriums were always full ...

For example, my grandfather is a teacher, traveled the floor of the "union", adored Caucasian mountains- he was everywhere he had time to visit and all his travels were within the bounds of a huge country. Since 1991, the avid traveler has not been able to fly anywhere else ... I think now, he would sadly prefer traveling abroad to Russia. Cheaper.

Today, the limit of teachers' dreams is a vacation in Egypt or Turkey, because these are more accessible than domestic resorts. In addition, we, the Russians, have one peculiarity - when relaxing in Sochi or in the Crimea, we are damn tired of each other, and therefore, when choosing a foreign hotel from tour operators, we will definitely ask if there are many “ours” there ...

So why do most Russians strive to see the world, not wanting to take a closer look at the beauties of their country? Why, since 1991, domestic tourism has still not been able to get stronger and offer the domestic consumer something attractive and affordable. The very opportunity to relax is cheaper than in Egypt for the same teachers (who are not businessmen) and miners, for doctors and representatives of other professions, whose salaries, to put it mildly, are negligible - this opportunity would be a pleasant surprise ...

But today, with domestic tourism in Russia, everything is somehow sad. Instead of cheap and affordable tickets, there are resort fees that are about to take effect. Here is an excerpt from the local media:

So, the state took the path of developing the domestic tourism industry through the next collection of funds from the population. And instead of trying to lay routes outside the promoted "Golden Ring", instead of supporting domestic tourism, the state, as if deliberately alienates the domestic consumer from the vast expanses of our Motherland.

Today at the state level develop the most popular destinations, such as - Sochi, Crimea, Krasnodar. Other areas are more actively pursued by professional photographers, travelers and bloggers. It is they who offer to go on a trip around Russia, to those places that Rostourism has not even begun to develop and popularize. For example, the following destinations are popular with bloggers: Yakutia, Kamchatka, Magadan, Altai, Novosibirsk, Teriberka, Irkutsk… While Rostourism only plans to actively promote travel to Baikal.

What does it all say? - About the fact that specialized types of tourism are very poorly developed in Russia - spiritual, extreme, ecotourism, phototourism, ethnic, gastronomic, cinematourism ... Why does the Ministry of Agriculture not develop agrotourism? Why agritourism flourishes in Italy, Israel, Australia and other countries, where travelers tired of megacities are offered to become a farmer, fisherman or beekeeper for a week... There are many ideas. And if you don’t have your own ideas, there is nothing shameful to “lick off” (learn from experience) from those countries that have succeeded in this, and implement it in those regions where it will be in demand.

Key Development Issues domestic tourism in Russia:

1. Weak development of provincial tourism

We live in an era when tired residents of megacities are looking for bear corners to relax. A wooden house with a garden, a bathhouse and a barbecue area is much more attractive for them than a pretentious hotel with a conference room, elevators and a jacuzzi in the room. But the most picturesque Russian towns and villages are completely unprepared to receive guests. Meanwhile, even from the most ordinary village, it is possible, with an effort, to make an object attractive to travelers.

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The other day the editor of the most interesting site "Traveling Without Borders" (http://www.natasmirnova.ru/?p=631) Natalya Smirnova invited me to answer the questions of the interview, which she would like to publish in her virtual edition. I agreed with great pleasure, because, as you know, I love to travel madly! I bring to your attention this material, perhaps it will seem interesting to you.

- Hello Irina! Introduce yourself, please, who are you in life and profession?

My name is Irina Scarborough. My surname, after my last husband, is now Scottish, although I live in America. In Ukraine and in Russia, before moving to the USA, I was Zhigareva, Mansurova and Selezneva. All her life in her homeland she worked in newspapers, although she is a philologist by education. In a word, I am a journalist by life. However, having married an American and moved to the States, I had to retrain here and look for another job. Russian-speaking reporters in South Texas, alas, turned out to be unclaimed. But I was not very upset, and, having made some efforts, I received a certificate of a mid-level health worker here and for many years I have been working in this honorable and well-paid industry. But of course I keep writing. First, because I love this business. And secondly, I have a lot of readers who like my first-hand stories about travel and life in America. And I just can't leave them to their fate. For them, dear ones, I created my own website and now we all travel together, both to fashionable world resorts and to the outbacks of the same Mexico or the Wild West. So join our fun company.

- Have you ever lived abroad? If so, what unique experience did you gain abroad?

As you understand, I not only had to live abroad, but I continue to live in it. The most unique experience is the English that I learned here. Now I can communicate with the people of almost all countries of the world. Of the material achievements - US citizenship, which opened the door to almost all corners of the planet. As you know, Americans travel without visas everywhere except for a few countries, including... Russia. And it's sad. Although you can always open a visa. And we're going to do it somehow. Of course, at one time I traveled around the territory of the USSR and the satellite countries to my heart's content. But my husband doesn't, but he really wants to. So we decided to fill this unfair gap.

How did your passion for travel begin?

Craving for travel, it seems to me, is our national trait. We the peoples Soviet Union have been behind the Iron Curtain for decades. And it is not surprising that as soon as it collapsed, we massively rushed to move around the world. I noticed an interesting detail among Russian immigrants in America: as soon as they have an extra penny, they immediately go on a trip. Native Americans also travel a lot, but they are far from us. However, the world today is very fragile and restless, so people prefer to sit at home and relax nearby.

What country was your last trip to? What one word would you describe this country?

My last trip was to Mexico. I have been there 5 times in the last 10 years. This is very beautiful country with original culture and history, wonderful nature and good even for winter holiday climate, friendly and smiling people and original cuisine ... In a word, we can say that Mexico is a continuous Fiesta. That is, an endless holiday, festival, carnival ...

- Could you destroy any well-known stereotype about one of the countries you visited?

Easy! Everyone knows that America is big village! But few people know that in this country unique nature. Here you can find all natural areas, from the desert to the mountains ... And amazing canyons! After all, this is nowhere else in the world! I think rich nature, numerous parks and reserves, a well-developed tourism and entertainment industry also play a role and keep Americans within their own country. Why are there countries - one state. For example, the same Texas area equals six Hollands. You won't go for years.

- What is the most unique feature that characterizes Americans as a nation?

Americans are characterized by benevolence, readiness for positive contact, loyal attitude towards "foreigners".

- Which of the countries you have visited would you like to return to and why?

I have been to many countries and there is not one that I do not like. But for some reason, I miss Poland the most. Probably because it was my first abroad. I will definitely go back there sometime.

- Which of the countries you visited is closest in mentality and temperament to Russia?

It seems to me that those close in mentality and temperament to Russia are the Czech Republic and Slovakia. But the closest, I affirm with full responsibility, are the Americans. I have been living here for more than 10 years and I see how far they are from the stereotypes that are spreading in the post-Soviet space. Just as far as the assertion that bears walk the streets in Russia. You won't believe it, but the Americans are just as reckless, even "reckless" as we are.

- What traditional features of the country, first of all, form your idea of ​​the country?

Of course, this is primarily culture, architecture, service. A significant role is played by how hospitable the people are and even what they feed you, that is, their cuisine. In my opinion, one of the most friendly and hospitable nations in the world is the Mexicans.

- Irina, what do you think is the difference between a traveler and a person who has never gone anywhere?

In principle, I do not think that people, in general, are very different from each other. You can be an intellectual, sitting all the time in a taiga hut, or you can be Fonvizin's Mitrofanushka, endlessly cutting through the waters of the oceans on a snow-white liner. But traveling, of course, broadens one's horizons and teaches communication, which is very important in modern world. And yet it is a great pleasure and joy.

- Thank you for your answers. What would you wish to the readers of our club - "Travel without Borders"

Many thanks to you too. It was very interesting for me to answer your questions and share my thoughts. I wish the readers of the club health and material well-being. As soon as this is done, I'm sure they will immediately go on a trip. And happiness and amazing adventures will certainly find them there.