Who could have expected that November-December time of 2017 would pass under the sign of Japan culture and history? It did ( Read more... )

Il treno arriva in tempo alla stazione Terontola da Roma. Il cambio dura 20 minuti, questo periodo é sufficiente per prendere un caffè o birra in una bottiglia appannata nel piccolo bar, controllare l'orario e il binario da dove alle 15:41 deve partire il treno per Passignano sul Trasimeno.

( Read more... )

Three late November days in Vienna flash up like a dream. Imperial Vienna… Aristocratic, magnificent, sophisticated.. At this time of the year you can see everywhere your glance reaches glittering fir trees and garlands. Bright Christmas markets are spread in the central parts of the city: glass and wooden colored toys, red, silver, golden Santa ( Read more... )

The New British Film Festival is back to Moscow and a lucky catch of the week is a film about the English painter William Turner.

His ultimate period of life is portrayed in rambling brushstrokes; the same the painter used himself creating another masterpiece. Turner-artist and Turner-personality arouse diverse (I’d even say quite opposite) feelings ( Read more... )

A friend of mine Andrey told me an amusing story which happened to him this morning. He’s a nice guy, Andrey, and I suspect that in addition to all his other merits, he’s definitely got a subtle feeling for the beauty and style. I’m sure that’s what guided him to purchase a red Alfa Romeo some time ago. Here is his story.

I’m driving in my car along ( Read more... )

How can one describe the lucky mixture of magic New Year atmosphere and certain magnetism of commercial success reigning in GUM together now? A small non-lyrical digression should be made at once: despite great amount of brands-placement which will follow below, these humble observations haven’t been ordered by anyone. But let’s put aside the ( Read more... )

New British film festival has just finished in Moscow. Obviously it was the point of honor to see at least smth from its diverse program. I can’t say it was an easy choice: “Diana” by German director Oliver Hirschbiegel was shown only once on the opening day, so considering that I learned about the festival after it had actually begun, there were ( Read more... )

Sometimes in order to clear one’s head it’s sufficient to break slightly smth in everyday routine. It’s enough just to take a walk when the working day is over instead of jumping habitually into underground or into the car. May is at its height now and the weather especially favours such spontaneous strolls. Maybe someone would prefer to cover long ( Read more... )

Do you remember your first English text-books? I’m not speaking about those glossy Oxford/Cambridge editions of A4 format which flood our modern bookstores, no. Only if such names as Shaverneva L.I., Bogoroditskaya V.N. , Khrustaleva L.V. or Happy English (the one with white lilies on the cover!) ring a bell, you’ll understand my warm feelings.


( Read more... )

It seems that everyone is tired of such a prolonged winter which occurred this year. Though I do agree that it’s quite strange to watch a heavy snowfall in the last days of March or the 1st days of April, on the whole every time winter comes to the end there is a strong feeling that smth grand is over…

There will be no need to dig your car out of ( Read more... )