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WHAT IS IT: The so called “Golden Ring of Russia” is a symbolical ring connecting historical towns and cities to the North-West of Moscow. They represent 1,000 years of rich Russian history written in stone and wood, from a 850-year old church in Rostov to a 19th-century log house in the Suzdal’s open air museum. Each of the “golden” towns once played an important role in the history of Russia and was conected in one way or another with famous historical figures such as Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and many others. If you would like to see true, patriarchal Russia, to experience the grandeur of nature and the magnificence of ancient towns then a Golden Ring tour is well worth taking. It is one of the most popular routes among Russian and foreign lovers of old Russian history and architecture.

WHAT TO SEE: The cities and towns of the Golden Ring are listed here in alphabetical order:

Aleksandrov (founded in 1530, population 68,000) – The town is situated 100 km from Moscow on the crossway of ancient roads from the largest historic centers of Russia – Vladimir and Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. In 1564- 1581 the town was the residence of Ivan the Terrible. In Aleksandrov the tsar proclaimed the establishment of his select, terror-inspiring corps, the Oprichniki and signed the harsh conditions of the truce with Poland and Sweden after losing the long war with Livonia. From Aleksandrov Ivan the Terrible led his army of Oprichniki to strike at the big trade centres of Novgorod, Pskov, Klin and Tver. Here the cruel tsar killed his son in a rage and soon after that left Aleksandrov forever coming back to Moscow. The very first in Russia publishing house was established in Aleksandrov in 1576. One of the leading textile manufacturing centres in Russia in the 19th century.

Bogolubovo (founded in 990, population 4,000) – a tiny quiet town near the city of Vladimir. The town was named after the Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky (God-loving) who built the first fortified settlement here in 1165. It was a strategically important point overlooking the Kliazma River. Tourists can see remains of the Andery Bogolubsky’s residence including some residential chambers of the 12th century and the beautiful Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl (1165) which is considered to be one of the finest specimens of old Russian architecture.

Gorohovets (founded in 1239, population 30,000) – The town was founded under Vladimir prince Andrey Bogolubsky. The town is picturesquely settled on the high bank of the Klyazma River. Played role as a fortified forepost until 1600-s. Reached its developmental pick in the 17-th century as a local centre for blacksmithing, textile-making and making of leather and also as an agricultural trade centre for grains and flax.

Gus-Khrustalny (founded in 1756, population 80,000) – Over 200 years ago a merchant built here the first workshop of glass casting. Today the town is one of the district centers of Vladimir region, well-known in Russia and abroad as the national center of glassmaking. The name Gus-Krustalny can be literally translated as Chrystalline Goose. The old part of the town is a workmen’s settlement of 1900-s. with its own Church of St. Joachim of 1816.

Kholuy (founded 1650, population 1,000) – The village of Kholui did not begin producing lacquered miniatures until the 1930s, and though iconography had been an important trade in the region in previous centuries, Kholui was never bound to any particular artistic tradition. Rather, Kholui miniatures share some traits with both Palekh and Mstera art, yet maintain a distinctive lyrical quality of their own. As in Palekh and Mstera, Kholui artists use egg tempera paints. Kholui paintings tend to be brighter than Mstera’s, though like Mstera, the pigments used are opaque and the background is usually fully painted. Sometimes, as with Palekh miniatures, Kholui miniatures will include some fine gold and/or silver ornamentation within the painting, and Kholui artists can create fantastic border ornaments on par with those of Palekh. Since 1960-s products of Kholuy’s 200 artists have been widely represented and promoted internationally.

Kostroma (founded in 1213, population 300,000) – In the past Kostroma was known as “the flax capital of the north”; it supplied Europe with the world’s finest sail-cloth. The city has been also called as the “cradle of the Romanov dynasty”. Mikhail Romanov, the first of the Romanov dynasty, left the Ipatievsky Monastery for Moscow in 1613 to become tsar of Russia. During the Polish intervention in the turbulent years of the early seventeenth century Kostroma was a significant stronghold for the resistance movement. The city is spreaded on the left bank of the Volga river. Nowadays Kostroma is an important industrial center (textile, metal works), a capital city of the Kostroma province.

Mstera (founded in 1628, population 6,000) – the town takes its name from the little Msterka River, which flows through it merging with the Kliyazma. It is in Vladimir Region, but not far from the border with Ivanovo Region, south of Palekh and Kholui, in breathtakingly beautiful countryside – the one that forms the backdrop to its paintings. Mstera was a respected center of icon production until the trade was banned after the Revolution of 1917. Since then its artists has been creating world-famous masterpieces in the form of lacquered miniatures. In keeping with the traditions of iconography, egg tempera paints are still used. The landscape is of central importance to the painting with people and objects integrated to the setting. Mstera paintings are frequently larger than those from the other schools but some fine miniatures are also produced and because of their rarity are highly prized. Typical themes include exquisite floral designs with lacy gold ornamentation, the traditional fairy tales, traditional activities and events such as a winter festival, and sometimes portraiture.

Murom (founded 862, population 145,000) – one of the oldest Russian cites stretched along the left bank of the Oka river. The town’s name originates from “muroma”, one of the Finno-Ugric tribes lived here 15 centuries ago. Every Russian knows the name Ilya Muromets. He was a mythical epic hero defending people of Russia and later became a synonym of superior physical and spiritual power and integrity, dedicated to the protection of the Homeland. There is a monument to Ilya Muromets built on a river bank of the Oka river in Murom. The town survived three Mongol invasions. In the 17th century Murom became an important centre of various crafts – building, painting, sawing. There are three working monasteries in Murom.

Palekh (founded 1600, population 6,000) – the village is situated about 400km (250 miles) from Moscow in the Ivanovo region. In the 15th century it was one of the first centers of icon drawing trade. After the 1917 communist coup, when the icon business went down, Palekh masters tried to decorate wooden toys, dishes, porcelain and glass. But the most interesting way turned out to be painting black-lacquered boxes made of papier-mache. These days the name of Palekh is nearly synonymous with the art of Russian lacquer. Palekh artists are generally regarded as the most highly trained of the Russian miniature painters. Famous for highly detailed miniatures with elaborate ornamentation, the village of Palekh has a long artistic tradition. Like their icon painting forebears, today’s Palekh artists use egg tempera paints and paint in the Byzantine style. Favored themes are the Russian fairy tales, the famous Russian troika (three horse sleigh), and scenes of life in the countryside. The art of Palekh miniatures expresses the true national character. Many examples of Palekh art have received recognition at international exhibitions and have become world-known.

Pereslavl-Zalesskiy (founded in 1152, population 45,000) – one of the oldest Russian towns, the birthplace of the famous Russian prince Alexander Nevsky, who defeated an army of German knights in 1242. Zalessky means “behind the woods”. That is where, behind the dense forests, ancient Slavic tribes retreated seeking refuge from hostile nomads coming from the South-East. The town is situated on the shores of the huge Pleshcheyevo lake. The town is also connected with the name of the famed Russian tsar-reformer Peter the Great who in 1680-s practiced his skills in ship-building making over 100 boats and sail vessels, who entertained himself with first Russian navy exercises on the Pleshcheyevo lake.

Ples (founded in 1410, population 4,000) – this quet little historical town is located on the bank of the mighty and beautiful Volga river. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible Ples was one of the largest river firsh suppliers to the kings’ court. In the 18-19th centuries the town became known as a popular resort and was often called “Russian Switzerland” for the beauty of its scenery. Numerous Russian artists including the famous master of landscapes Levitan used to come here to work.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great, founded in 862, population 40,000) – another pearl of ancient Russian culture. In old Russia only two towns were called veliky (great). One was Novgorod, the famous trade centre of the Russia’s north, the other Rostov. The Principality of Rostov-Suzdal-Vladimir was one of the strongest political divisions of Kievan Rus. It controlled all the major rivers in northeast Rus including the Moskva, Oka, Kliazma, and Volga. In the 12th century Rostov grew to equal Kiev and Novgorod in size and importance. It was made the seat of an Orthodox Metropolitan (Head of Russian Church) in 1587, and served as an important commercial center in the 16-19th centuries, one of the wealthiest in the country, so it could afford to hire the very best builders, decorators and stone-cutters. Modern Rostov is a sleepy old town with some magnificent buildings next to the shallow Nero lake.

TravelMake.com – one of leading online discount travel agencies, a source of useful travel information. For more information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, some photographs and useful links about Russian history please visit us: http://www.travelmake.com

After a solid year end quarter, Motorola Cell Phones No Contract plans to keep on staking its claim to the smartphone market by releasing an unparalleled twenty smartphones in 2010. The company did very well last year making No Contract Cell Phones such as the Droid for Verizon Cell Phones and the Cliq for T-Mobile Cell Phones. With the 20 cell phones slated to come out this year includes a Google device that’ll be sold right to clients as opposed to one sold through the carrier. This has changed into a more favored move in recent years, take the Google Nexus One for example and Motorola Cell Phones was fast to leap on board with the idea.

Yes, the portable gizmo market is rebounding and many or even all firms expect great things in 2010. But to get profits they are going to need products and it appears as if Motorola Cell Phones has no shortage of those. We the consumers might think about 2009 as a “testing the waters ” kind of year for Motorola Cell Phones. Well, after a positive reception from the overall public, the company wants to go from “testing the waters ” to taking a market chunk of the smartphone industry. In other words, they feel they’re ready to rule the market. But 20 cell phones in a single year, is this oversaturation, over impressive, generally a bad idea.

Likely it’s not. Why do you ask? Well, think about what 20 cell phones can accomplish in a single year. The company can focus a few phones on the business demographic, another couple on multimedia aspects for a young audience, one or two camera phones, some cross over devices ; basically, a touch of everything. But they will be able to explore new ideas, explicit niches, get a grasp on different technologies, dip a toe in the water with leading edge ideas while still turning a good profit with already proved devices. With 20 phones in a single year they can permit a flop or 2, but imagine if some of the more experimental ideas don’t flop, instead they are great success stories? Well, then they’ve done probably as well as they can expect. And I assume this is the logic behind the launch of so many devices. So expect that a wide range of phone within that 20, not just twenty almost matching devices.

It is now reasonable to say that the market for cell phones is essentially just a smartphone market. There are few basic handsets left and that’s why there’s such a scramble to create a name for a company in the changing market. It is now or never. This may well be the year that decides which cell phone makers will be a force in the coming years and what companies will focus on other projects totally. Actually it feels as though Motorola will stake its claim among the big dogs of the industry.

HTC Cell Phones No Contract have been around for some time, but without recognition, however, these No Contract Cell Phones were able to scatter throughout the market. Google, being the smart and powerful business they are , have decided to launch a service for selling electronic books that may be read at once on conveyable handsets like the HTC Cell Phones with android software. They’re expecting to have some half-million books in electronic form and ready for sale at the time of writing this article. They consider themselves to be more of a book distributor or wholesaler and little more ; they are the middle man between the electronic book and the tech-savvy reader.

The Google division is commonly known as Google Editions and is offering a substitute for the popular Amazon Kindle. Rather than having books that may be read on a device that has got to be bought readers are now able to have a books come to the device which they already own, the HTC Cell Phones and other smartphones. It is another idea which is steadily increasing the dominance of Google in electronics in total. What started with a search website has suddenly blossomed into a corporation that has a competitive smartphone on the market, popular smartphone software on the market as well as possession of many notable web firms today.

The neatest thing about the Google Editions books is that they should be available on HTC Cell Phones, or any phone with a browser for that matter, but in addition to those devices these e-books should be available on any desktop computer, portable, netbooks as well as the smartphone. So anyone that purchases a book may read on a number of devices and so isn’t limited. Similarly the reader will not need to carry around a hulking book around when traveling as now the book can be accessed on any amount of devices, if that device is the one in your pocket or the desktop at a library, the choice is yours alone.

These breakthroughs continue to surprise and we wonder what may come of all this technology a year from now. If we continue to have a formidable product released week in and week out this writer can only speculate at what’s going to be available by the end of 2010. Either way, the wait is certainly part of the fun as is the expectation and guessing. What we will think is that it will not stop shortly but instead will continue for a great while longer. And that will only mean more incredible products for us lucky consumers. Keep it coming, guys!

Own a diner? Having well-appointed wine racks will nearly certainly help your business. The New York Times recently reported on the curious case of a Chinese restauranteur in Berlin, Germany whose business took off after a television celebrity chef stopped by his establishment on account of a bottle of wine shown in the window.

It’s not known in the article whether Wu Jinhua, the owner, uses any wine racks, but it’s almost a certainly that he does since he is a wine connoisseur, meaning that he must own lots of bottles and must want to proudly display them, as he happened to have done that fateful day when his life changed completely.

According to the New York Times article, Herr Wu was just another unsuccessful restauranteur, purveying though he was fine Chinese food, “cooked with fresh vegetables and sophisticated ingredients,” in the Fatherland’s most cosmopolitan city. Nonetheless, it was a fine bottle of German wine which Christian Lohse happened to have noticed on a table as he passed by, and a customer – and a friendship – was born. The day after Herr Lohse’s television crew went to the restaurant, business has been brisk ever since, with reservations almost de rigueur.

Alas, the otherwise fine article did not detail all the samples to be found in Herr Wu’s wine racks, though it is clear that he is most enchanted with Mosel riesling. “Riesling and Chinese food, it works,” he is reported to have pronounced. The Chinese food, by the way, is, specifically, “Szechuan and Shanghai-inspired.”

Okay, so not everybody is going to be a Wu Jinhua with a Christian Lohse strolling amicably by. But the story just goes to show how essential it is to create the right impression, just in case. And even if you aren’t a restauranteur, it’s incontrovertible that just as most any meal will be enhanced with the right wine, most any wine will with be enhanced with the right rack!

Disposable shoe covers are employed by workers of different industries, from food production to microchip fabrication. These handles may be considered as protection supplies that mandates the safety of shoes overall, no matter what kind of germs there may be lurking around. Though contamination through footwear is mostly neglected by some, others do know how diseases can travel and this is really one of the most dangerous of ways. Since shoes are always touching the ground, there’s trillions of tiny harmful organisms waiting for the right break to make its move.

Wearing disposable shoe handles not only helps protect their own shoes from contamination, but also, perhaps a lot more importantly from the company’s point of view, the goods from their shoes! It’s easy to determine why inside the case of both food production and microchip fabrication: after all, who wants foreign particles in their food? And when it comes to electronics, even dust poses a problem and so not just are shoes covered but practically all else, too.

Disposable shoe covers are easy to put on and take off and meant to be thrown away so as to ensure a clean work environment. They are also employed in other settings besides industrial ones. Realtors for upscale residences will frequently require prospective buyers or renters to don such covers so as to not dirty the fine flooring. In fact, their extremely presence, the very requirement itself, can create an impression of affluence and quality, akin to the effect that white gloves will have on an occasion.

Depending on the circumstances, even disposable covers might be reusable. Most are tough sufficient to see much more than just a day of service. But as with most so-called throwaway items, they are accessible in only two sizes, a universal one-size-fits-all model and one more for those rare cases that call for something much larger!

Other kinds of shoe addresses are utilized for recreational activities for example mountain biking or bicycle touring. Also known as “booties,” these covers aren’t developed to guard any floor or avoid contamination but meant instead to further protect the wearer’s feet from the elements, above and beyond the minimal protection already offered by his or her personal footwear. Such specialty covers typically resist water and provide a little bit of insulation for warmth and may offer useful features like reflective piping or strips for visibility at night and miniature cargo pockets for carrying small items.

As seen so far, a wide variety of covering choices exist for footwear and floors. Most are designed with very specific purposes in mind, for example all those handles which bear treads to offer grip and avoid skidding. Others are general-purpose, useful for most settings. Either may be disposable. Then there are all those created to go with a particular pastime, like cycling. Whatever the precise will need, a excellent variety of inexpensive solutions are now obtainable.

Wine is an alcoholic refreshment made from fruits, grains, or even other fermented foods like milk, potatoes, or ginger. Most often, nonetheless, the phrase refers to that made from fruits, and grapes in particular. Many varieties exist, with specific regions achieving fame on the basis of their output, giving rise to labels such as “Napa Wine” and so forth. In recent years, however, fruit wines have become significantly popular, while in Asia, drinks made from fermented grains have always been imbibed. The nomads of Mongolia even drink fermented horse and goat milk!

All wine comes about by means of a multi-step process of cultivation. In the case of grapes, which is the most widely drunk type of all, some steps are missed, since the natural chemical formula of the fruit allows for self-fermentation, without the element of sugars, acids, or enzymes. Yeast is still used, however; it is added to crushed grapes to convert the sugar into alcohol. Distinct strains of yeast is used on different kinds of grapes to produce all the numerous kinds of wine found on the market today.

Having said all that, nonetheless, it should be noted that the word “wine” is in fact protected by law in many countries. Depending on the jurisdicition, there may be a number of regulations governing just what is allowed to be marketed as wine. And within the industry itself or among connoisseurs, there are differences of opinion regarding what is real wine and what is merely labeled wine. For example, the starch-based grains used to make alcoholic beverages in many parts of Asia, such as rice wine and sorghum wine, is often considered more like beer and spirits than actual wine. The word “wine” in such cases is considered more an adjective than a noun, used to refer to nothing more than the higher alcohol content rather than the production process..

Lots of GSM and CDMA cell phone service providers nowadays have plans that provide a feature that basically works like a VIP list of your contacts. Usually these CDMA and GSM cell phones enable five to ten other numbers to fill this list, with which you are able to talk and/or text indefinitely. Verizon calls it Friends & Family. Alltel used to call it My Circle. What ever the provider, I like to refer to it simply as “My Posse”. Now lots of people find these kinds of plans enticing. They are a sweet deal, but they also come with a lot of emotional baggage that you might not expect. GSM cell phones are demanding that way. Little do you realize in signing up for these plans, that you have just asked yourself to make one of the most agonizing decisions one can be expected to make: Which five people get to be a part of your posse?

This is an important decision. In fact, it is probably the most important decision you will make all week. Or at least until you find yourself very hungry when you find a KFC and a Popeye’s right across the street from each other. That’s right. For all your GSM cell phones and fancy smartphones with apps that can analyze the local weather and advises on how to prepare your hair, there still isn’t an easy way to prioritize your friends and loved ones. However, there are many points worth taking into consideration when the time comes.

The first step is simply to think about who you regularly talk to for the longest duration of time; this way at least your aunt isn’t wasting your minutes, blathering on about the rude guy in line at the bank or whatever it is aunts talk about. In fact, there’s an excellent choice right there. You know she’s going to call you anyway, and even if you don’t pick up, she’ll still complain to your mother about it. You cannot win. So for that reason, aunts make a good candidate for your Five. If they’re going to talk you to death, it should at least be free.

Another good addition to your Five would probably be somebody you already have designated as an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact. This should not be the above mentioned aunt as she lacks the pragmatism and urgency required in an emergency, and will probably faint at the sight of blood if you’ve fallen down the cellar stairs or something. Instead, it’s probably better to have someone responsible on there whom you are able to rely on to save you when feral dogs have broken into your apartment, again. The last thing you want is having to call your ICE contact after you discover a lump only to find that you’re out of minutes.

While we’re on the subject of life-or-death situations, provided you have sold your soul to marriage, or are otherwise shackled to a woman, your significant other must always be in your Five. Not necessarily so you’ll be able to call them (although if you don’t, you risk being the victim of a witch hunt), but rather so they can see it. That’s it really. They just have to be there. It doesn’t sound like a good reason, but you’ll wish you did when she’s going through your phone and sees that she isn’t on your Five, but that Chinese place up the block with the really good egg rolls is. If you aren’t single, then omitting your partner is basically just making a huge withdrawal from the First Bank of Pain.

But seriously, if you aren’t romantically doomed, you might want to keep the number of that Chinese place in your top Five. I call that place up at least ten times a week.

Are you interested in planning a trip to Hawaii? If you are, the travel plans that you have to make may seem overwhelming, especially at first glance. The good news, however, is that planning your dream trip to Hawaii is actually a lot easier than it originally sounds.

The first step in making your Hawaii travel plans is to decide on a location. Hawaii is filled with a number of beautiful islands, all of which make great vacation destinations. Maui is one of the most popular choices for travelers, like yourself. However, it is important to remember that you do have other options. These options include Oahu, Kauai, Big Island, Molokai, and Lanai.

Once you have decided on a location, you will want to start examining your overnight accommodations. This is important, as it may open up a world of opportunities for you, as well as save you money. Hawaii hotels are popular. If you choose to stay at one, you may be able to find affordable, moneysaving vacation packages. These vacation packages, although they do come in a number of different formats, may allow you to book your hotel, flight, and car rental all at the same time and for one affordable price.

In keeping with your overnight accommodation options, Hawaii hotels are nice, but you should know that they aren’t your only options. You should also examine Hawaii vacation rentals. What is nice about Hawaii vacation rentals is that they include so many different property types. These properties include homes, cottages, condos, villas, and apartment rentals. When making your choice, be sure to examine and compare rental fees, features, and convenience.

Whether you choose to stay at a Hawaii vacation rental or a Hawaii hotel, it is important to make your reservations well in advance of your trip. Hawaii is a popular vacation destination. This means that you will likely face some competition. Early reservations help to ensure that you get your first choice accommodations and that your Hawaii vacation is just how you imagined it would be.

As previously stated, if you book your Hawaii vacation in the form of a package, you often get to make your flight arrangements and car rental reservations all at the same time. If you opt for a private Hawaii vacation rental, you may need to make your reservations separately. The good news is that most online travel websites will let you do so.

Speaking of your other Hawaii travel arrangements, it is important to decide if you would like to get a Hawaii car rental. When making this decision, examine your overnight accommodations. Hawaii vacation rentals are often centrally located, but they may not be on the route of public transportation. That is why you should also examine Hawaii car rental companies. For a reasonable and affordable rate, you should have the ability to come and go as you please.

Your airline reservations also need to be made and well in advance of your trip. If you would like to book a stay at a private Hawaii vacation rental, it is a wise idea to make your airline reservations later. This is important, as some vacation rentals have limited availability dates. You do not want your flight to arrive in Hawaii two days before your vacation rental is available for you. To help you save money, be sure to price compare. There are a number of airlines that service Hawaii; therefore, you will want to take the time to find the best deals.

It is also a good idea to preplan your Hawaii vacation activities. Do you already know what you want to do and see when in Hawaii? If so, you are at an advantage. In all honesty, there is so much for you to do and see while vacationing on a Hawaii Island that you may not have time to do it all. That is why you should first create a list. What Hawaii attractions are must visits for you? Which Hawaii activities have you always dreamed of participating in, like learning how to surf?

As a reminder, an important part of planning the perfect Hawaii vacation involves making your travel arrangements well in advance of your trip. Whether you are interested in booking a private Hawaii vacation rental or staying at a hotel, visit HawaiianBeachRentals.com to start making your travel plans today.

HawaiianBeachRentals.com specializes in helping those planning Hawaii trips. Examine their large selection of affordable Hawaii vacation rentals and Hawaii vacation packages today.

Disney Japan has come out with an idea to place Disney movies on MicroSD cards for purchase at the users’ convenience. The movies will be fully loaded onto the MicroSD Card at point of purchase and will be available and compatible for any terrestrial digital broadcasting handsets, also known as DVB-H. In addition they will able to be placed in your CDMA Cell Phones No Contract and car navigation systems, perfect for the kids in the car on a long road trip. Even some of the newest No Contract Cell Phones may not be compatible.

The hope is to launch at this very time. The genius behind this is of course that CDMA Cell Phones are gaining the technology to stream movies onto phones with the potential for rentals, too. However those you cannot own and if you do own a movie that it will take up a lot of space on the CDMA cell phones. Enter the Disney Japan movie MicroSDs. These will allow users to carry very portable movies with them that can be taken in and out of the cell phone at the users’ leisure. Thus it will not take up any extra space on the phone nor is it a burden to carry around. So users will have no trouble getting movies at their discretion.

Clearly because this was done by Disney Japan, the movies will be by Disney. And this of course means that the movies will be mostly viewed by children. So these are great things for parents, families, babysitters and anyone else who is involved with children. Now the kids can be involved in a cinematic adventure during long car rides and even while running errands around town. There is no limit to how these are used it is all about creativity. For example, in a home with one television set, the parents can allow their child to watch a movie on their CDMA cell phones while the parents can watch the evening news. With a little effort there are thousands more ideas like that just waiting to be used with this piece of technology.

It is truly amazing to see just how far we have come in terms of technology. We went from VHS tapes to movies on microSD cards that can be placed into cell phones in a matter of 15 years! That is remarkable and it will continue to get better and better. But for now this is very acceptable. And hey, there are Disney movies that adults can enjoy too, so at this juncture, it looks like everybody wins.

Sergiev Posad (founded in 1345, population 115,000) – the spiritual center of Russia, residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, where the remains of the first national saint, Sergei Radonezh, rests. In the heart of Sergiev Posad is a well-preserved splendid architectural ensemble of over 50 historical buildings, as well as magnificent art collections including old Russian painting and the treasures in the vaults of the former Trinity Monastery.

Suzdal (founded in 1024, population 12,000) – this little quiet town is a real gem, one of the most beautiful in the Golden Ring collection of citeis and towns. In the 11th century Suzdal became the very first forepost of Christianity in the North-Eastern Russia and significantly affected the religious life in Russia until the end of 19 century. The town was destroyed by Mongols in 1238. Later Suzdal became the capital city of Russian prince Yury Dolgoruky who is considered to be the founder of Moscow. The second destruction of the town came with the Polish invasion in the 17th century. Here you can find over 100 church and secular buildings dating from the mid-12th to the mid-19th century crowded into a area of 9 square km.

Tutaev (founded in 1283, population 45,000) – is an old little town sprawling on both banks of the Volga river. Tutaev (formerly known as Romanovo-Borisoglebsk) is divided by the Volga river into two parts. The former town Romanov is located on the left high bank of the river, the former town Borisoglebsk is on the right sloping one. Romanov was called after the Russian prince Roman of Uglich who was the founder of this town, Borisoglebsk got its name in connection with the Church of St. Boris and St. Gleb erected there in the 15th century. The towns were united under the new name Romanovo-Borisoglebsk in 1822. In 1918 the town’s name was changed to Tutaev in honour of the Red Army hero who was killed during the Civil war .

Uglich (founded in 937, population 38,000) – the town was built on a major trade route. In its history Uglich has survived destruction by the Mongols and lived through the devastation of fires and plagues. Uglich is famous for Russia’s darkest secret – the death of young Prince Dimitri, son of Ivan the Terrible who is often called Tsarevich (a heir to the throne) Dmitry. The Tsarevich, a sickly boy, was the last of the Rurik dynasty. While playing with a knife in the yard he stabbed himself by accident or was stabbed by an assassin allegedly sent by Boris Godunov, his competitor for the throne. The center of the town also is a historical and architectural landmark. The streets are wide, with various churches standing side by side along the road. These churches vary in size and have domes and belfries of different shapes and designs, all of which add to the charm of this small town. Uglich is known in Russia for simple-designed and reliable watches. The local factory, which makes beautiful women’s watches decorated with special “Finift” paintings on porcelain which are incorporated into the bands of the watches.

Vladimir (founded in 1108, population 400,000) – one of the oldest Russian cities, was founded by the Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh on the banks of the Kliazma river. The city really blossomed in the 12th century during the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky, who strengthened its defences, welcomed architects, icon-painters, jewellers from other countries, built new palaces and churches so magnificent that travelers compaired them with the ones in the “mother of all Russian cities”- Kiev. Until the middle of 14th century the city had been an administrative, cultural and religious center for North-Eastern Russia. During the Mongol invasion in the 13th century Vladimir was beseiged, looted and almost totally destroyed. Presently the city is a capital of the Vladimir province.

Yaroslavl (founded in 1010, population 600,000 ) – as the legend goes it was founded by the famous Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise as a fortified settlement on the Volga river. After a huge fire of 1658 that turned most of the city into ruins, Jaroslavl was rebuilt in stone and reached the peak of its architectural development with palaces and churches richly decorated with beautiful frescoes and ornaments thus earning the title “Florence of Russia”. The first Russian professional theater was established here by Volkov in 1750. Since the 18th century Jaroslavl has been an important industrial center. Today it is a quiet metropolitan city, one of Russia’s largest regional centres, a capital of the Jaroslav province and one of the most beautiful cities of old Russia.

Yuriev-Polsky (founded in 1152, population 20,000) – was founded by the Prince Yury Dolgoruky (who also founded Moscow in 1147) and named after himself. The second word “Polsky” means “among the fields” as it is situated in the heart of fertile and flat Suzdal land. These beautiful landscapes inspired the great painters and writers such as Repin, Tyutchev, Odoevsky, Soloukhin. Local textile centre since the 18th century.

HOW TO GET THERE: By plane to Moscow. From Moscow you can travel the cities and towns of the Golden Ring either by a tour bus or by a river cruise ship. The last option limits the number of towns that you can visit as they have to be situated close to the Volga river. We recommend you to take a bus tour for 3 to 10 days depending on your stamina and level of interest in Russian history. A typical 3-4-day tour from Moscow covers up to 7 cities and towns of the Golden Ring. You travel during the day time in a comfortable bus with a well-trained English-speaking guide and spend nights at hotels with Western-class service (usually- 3 star). The Golden Ring tour can be perfectly combined with 2-3 day program in Moscow. Almost every major travel agency in Moscow sells Golden Ring tours and it is much cheaper to buy them on the spot in Russia then to purchase a tour included into a vacation package from Europe or overseas. Communication is not a problem, these days all personnel in respectable agencies in Russia speak English.

WHEN TO GO: The best season to travel to Russia is summer, from June to August, the warmest time of the year there. Rains are usual during summers, do not forget to pack your umbrella. Weather can be unpredictably cold, even in the European part of Russia, so take some warm clothing. You can check next week weather forecast for Moscow here.

TRAVEL TIPS: A passport and a Russian visa are required to travel in or transit through Russia. To learn more about how to obtain Russian visa please visit Russian Embassy website. Without a visa, travelers cannot register at hotels and may be required to leave the country immediately via the route by which they entered, at the cost of the traveler. Russian customs officers strictly follow document regulations so travelers are advised to have all papers in order. It is also recommended that additional copies of passport and visa be kept in a safe place in case of loss or theft. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash/dollar payment for health services at Western rates so supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage is very useful. Travelers should be certain that all immunizations are up-to-date, especially for diphtheria and typhoid. Quality of tap water varies from city to city but normally is quite poor. Only boiled or bottled water should be drunk throughout Russia. Crime against foreigners in Russia continues to be a problem, especially in major cities. Pick pocketing, assaults, and robberies occur. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around night clubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Be aware that public washrooms are difficult to find, and usually you have to pay there. To use a public phone you will need a token or local card. International calls can not be made from street phones. Your mobile phone will work in Moscow and Saint Petersburg but seldom in regional cities. Taxi fee must be discussed with a driver before a journey. In the major cities you can rent a car if you do not mind fairly rugged road conditions, a few hassles finding petrol, getting lost now and then and paying high rent price. Public transport in Russia is quite good, cheap and easy to use though sometimes overcrowded. Restaurants seldom have a menu in English. Tipping is expected but not mandatory. Signs in English are common on the streets of Moscow and other big cities. In large cities it is not hard to find a passerby who can answer your questions in Engish. Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the two-pin thin European standard.

We wish you a safe and nice trip!

TravelMake.com – one of leading online discount travel agencies, a source of useful travel information. For more information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, some photographs and useful links about Russian history please visit us: http://www.travelmake.com