Country of a thousand islands. Adventures

Which country is called the “Country of 1000 Islands”? and got the best answer

Reply from Ђ@nyushka[guru]
INDONESIA
The country in question is the largest island nation in the world, often referred to as the "Land of 1000 Islands". Rabindranath Tagore said about this state: “I see India everywhere, but I do not recognize it.” (Indonesia).

Answer from 1 [active]

Answer from HANKA[guru]
Republic of Indonesia (Republik Indonesia) is a state in South-East Asia, on the islands of the Malay archipelago and the western part of the island. New Guinea(Irian Jaya). In the north it borders with Malaysia, in the east - with Papua New Guinea, on the island of Timor - with East Timor.
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. It consists of more than 13,676 islands: 5 main and 30 small archipelagos. The largest islands are New Guinea, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatra, Sulawesi (Celebes) and Java. The remaining islands have a much smaller area. The country stretches 5,120 km between the Asian mainland and Australia. The equator separates the Pacific and Indian Oceans here.
The ethnic composition of the population is Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Badui, Tengger, Indonesian Malay, Balinese, Minangkabau, Ache, Banjar, Dayak, Makassar, Bugis, Minahans, Galela and others.
The majority of believers are Muslims (about 90%).
Indonesian language belongs to the Indonesian branch of the Austronesian family of languages. Developed from the Malay language. Writing based on the Latin alphabet.
National Motto: "Bhinneka Tunggal lka - Unity in Diversity"
Anthem: "Indonesia Raya (Greater Indonesia)"
Date of independence August 17, 1945 (proclaimed)
27 December 1949 (recognized) (from the Netherlands)
Official languageIndonesian
Capital Jakarta
Largest city Jakarta
Form of governmentRepublic
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Territory
Total
% water surface 15th in the world
1,919,440 km²
4,85
Population
Total (2005)
Density4th in the world
241,973,879 people
116 people /km²
GDP
Total (2004)
Per capita15th in the world
$801,432 million
3500 $
Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Internet domain. id
Telephone code+62
Time zonesUTC +7 … +9

Reply from [guru]
Thailand, if I'm not mistaken.

Answer from Unixaix CATIA[guru]
Country of a Thousand Islands

Answer from Amorph Morg[active]
There are two options))
Croatia and Canada

Answer from Irina[expert]
Bermuda, it seems.

Answer from Moscow Moscow[guru]

Answer from Irina[guru]

Answer from DORZ[guru]

Answer from Irina[expert]
Bermuda, it seems.

Answer from Moscow Moscow[guru]
most likely the PHILIPPINES or INDONESIA

Answer from Irina[guru]
Indonesia. Republic of Indonesia is the largest Island state in the world. According to the latest data, Indonesia consists of 18,108 islands, of which about 1,000 have a permanent population.

Answer from DORZ[guru]
KRABI is the most beautiful province of Southern Thailand - a country of 1000 islands, discovered by the great Sinbad - a brave sailor and adventurer

Answer from Amorph Morg[active]
There are two options))
Croatia and Canada

Answer from Valentina Smirnova (Akhmatova)[guru]
Thailand, if I'm not mistaken.

Answer from Unixaix CATIA[guru]
Country of a Thousand Islands
The tower clock showed exactly 11.40. Surprised, I glanced at my wristwatches: 19.10. She mentally quipped: “The city of happy people - they don’t watch the clock.” The guide, apparently guessing my bewilderment, said: “This clock stopped during the earthquake in 1667.” Under the motionless arrows on the narrow white-stone streets, life was seething, mixing centuries.
You must enter ancient Dubrovnik through the Pila Gate, a semicircular tower with a sculpture of the city’s patron saint, St. Vlaha. His gilded statue - Vlah holding a model of the city before the earthquake - stands in the altar of the church that bears the saint's name. The steps in front of it, polished by millions of feet, have long been inhabited by tourists. In the evenings there is music booming here. A pulsating laser, tracing bizarre figures in the dark sky, now and then stumbles over ancient walls. The sharp beam freezes for a second, dissolving in the dim light of the ancient lanterns, like the walls. Materialized connection of times...
Surprisingly, it was in Croatia that I felt the absolute concreteness of this concept, somewhat worn out from frequent use. IN small towns scattered along the Adriatic coast, behind blind shutters that tightly cover the loophole windows, people live in fortified houses that have retained their appearance unchanged since ancient times and received the status of architectural monuments. Children, devoid of any reverence for hoary antiquity, jump in the “hopscotch” drawn on the stone pavements of the 17th century. Just like many centuries ago, the heavy doors of shops open, filled with a variety of goods - local and overseas.
We, a group of journalists, were invited to Croatia by the Moscow tour operator"Danvita", which has chosen this country on the Adriatic as one of the main directions of its activities. More precisely, that part of it that is called Dalmatia, which has so far been less developed than others by the Russian tourism business.
By the way, Croatia is a country with old tourist traditions. Historical chronicles contain information that the first hotel for merchants and other visiting business people was built in Dubrovnik back in the 16th century. However, the real tourism boom began in the 19th century - with massive construction railways. In 1840 in Opatija, in Istria, on the largest peninsula Adriatic Sea the first one was built tourist hotel. And its closest neighbors poured into Croatia - the Austrians and Hungarians, who were the first to appreciate the healing local climate, the beauty of nature, and the opportunities for varied and healthy recreation. Everyone is at ease here - modern Robinsons those dreaming of solitude (they say that even if the country is filled with vacationers, they will not feel crowded: for everyone there is a personal cove or island, where any boatman will gladly take you “from the mainland” on the cheap), climbers and yachtsmen dreaming of an “elastic wind”, for lovers of scuba diving and blessed thermal springs. And, of course, for gourmets - the best varieties of fish (and there are about 400 species in the local waters), lobsters, and oysters come to the table fresh, bypassing the refrigerator.
Croatia is a country where you want to return. The reason, perhaps, is in the harmony and beauty, which here for some reason turned out to be beyond the control of the harsh age of scientific and technological progress.

Answer from 1 [active]
Such old countries can be called Greece, Thailand, Indonesia and a couple of other countries

Which country is called the “Country of 1000 Islands”? and got the best answer

Reply from Ђ@nyushka[guru]
INDONESIA
The country in question is the largest island nation in the world, often referred to as the "Land of 1000 Islands". Rabindranath Tagore said about this state: “I see India everywhere, but I do not recognize it.” (Indonesia).

Answer from 1 [active]

Answer from HANKA[guru]
The Republic of Indonesia (Republik Indonesia) is a state in Southeast Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western part of the island. New Guinea (Irian Jaya). It borders on Malaysia in the north, Papua New Guinea on the east, and East Timor on the island of Timor.
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. It consists of more than 13,676 islands: 5 main and 30 small archipelagos. The largest islands are New Guinea, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatra, Sulawesi (Celebes) and Java. The remaining islands have a much smaller area. The country stretches 5,120 km between the Asian mainland and Australia. The equator separates the Pacific and Indian Oceans here.
The ethnic composition of the population is Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Badui, Tengger, Indonesian Malay, Balinese, Minangkabau, Ache, Banjar, Dayak, Makassar, Bugis, Minahans, Galela and others.
The majority of believers are Muslims (about 90%).
Indonesian language belongs to the Indonesian branch of the Austronesian family of languages. Developed from the Malay language. Writing based on the Latin alphabet.
National Motto: "Bhinneka Tunggal lka - Unity in Diversity"
Anthem: "Indonesia Raya (Greater Indonesia)"
Date of independence August 17, 1945 (proclaimed)
27 December 1949 (recognized) (from the Netherlands)
Official languageIndonesian
Capital Jakarta
Largest city Jakarta
Form of governmentRepublic
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Territory
Total
% water surface 15th in the world
1,919,440 km²
4,85
Population
Total (2005)
Density4th in the world
241,973,879 people
116 people /km²
GDP
Total (2004)
Per capita15th in the world
$801,432 million
3500 $
Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Internet domain. id
Telephone code+62
Time zonesUTC +7 … +9

Reply from [guru]
Thailand, if I'm not mistaken.

Answer from Unixaix CATIA[guru]
Country of a Thousand Islands

Answer from Amorph Morg[active]
There are two options))
Croatia and Canada

Answer from Irina[expert]
Bermuda, it seems.

Answer from Moscow Moscow[guru]

Answer from Irina[guru]

Answer from DORZ[guru]

Answer from Irina[expert]
Bermuda, it seems.

Answer from Moscow Moscow[guru]
most likely the PHILIPPINES or INDONESIA

Answer from Irina[guru]
Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia is the largest island state in the world. According to the latest data, Indonesia consists of 18,108 islands, of which about 1,000 have a permanent population.

Answer from DORZ[guru]
KRABI is the most beautiful province of Southern Thailand - a country of 1000 islands, discovered by the great Sinbad - a brave sailor and adventurer

Answer from Amorph Morg[active]
There are two options))
Croatia and Canada

Answer from Valentina Smirnova (Akhmatova)[guru]
Thailand, if I'm not mistaken.

Answer from Unixaix CATIA[guru]
Country of a Thousand Islands
The tower clock showed exactly 11.40. Surprised, I glanced at my wristwatches: 19.10. She mentally quipped: “The city of happy people - they don’t watch the clock.” The guide, apparently guessing my bewilderment, said: “This clock stopped during the earthquake in 1667.” Under the motionless arrows on the narrow white-stone streets, life was seething, mixing centuries.
You must enter ancient Dubrovnik through the Pila Gate, a semicircular tower with a sculpture of the city’s patron saint, St. Vlaha. His gilded statue - Vlah holding a model of the city before the earthquake - stands in the altar of the church that bears the saint's name. The steps in front of it, polished by millions of feet, have long been inhabited by tourists. In the evenings there is music booming here. A pulsating laser, tracing bizarre figures in the dark sky, now and then stumbles over ancient walls. The sharp beam freezes for a second, dissolving in the dim light of the ancient lanterns, like the walls. Materialized connection of times...
Surprisingly, it was in Croatia that I felt the absolute concreteness of this concept, somewhat worn out from frequent use. In small towns scattered along the Adriatic coast, behind blind shutters that tightly cover loophole windows, people live in fortified houses that have retained their appearance unchanged since ancient times and have received the status of architectural monuments. Children, devoid of any reverence for hoary antiquity, jump in the “hopscotch” drawn on the stone pavements of the 17th century. Just like many centuries ago, the heavy doors of shops open, filled with a variety of goods - local and overseas.
We, a group of journalists, were invited to Croatia by the Moscow travel company Danvita, which chose this country on the Adriatic as one of its main areas of activity. More precisely, that part of it that is called Dalmatia, which has so far been less developed than others by the Russian tourism business.
By the way, Croatia is a country with old tourist traditions. Historical chronicles contain information that the first hotel for merchants and other visiting business people was built in Dubrovnik back in the 16th century. However, the real tourism boom began in the 19th century - with the massive construction of railways. In 1840, the first tourist hotel was built in Opatija, Istria, on the largest peninsula of the Adriatic Sea. And its closest neighbors poured into Croatia - the Austrians and Hungarians, who were the first to appreciate the healing local climate, the beauty of nature, and the opportunities for varied and healthy recreation. There is plenty for everyone here - modern Robinsons who dream of solitude (they say that even if the country is filled with vacationers, they will not be cramped: for everyone there is a personal cove or island, where any boatman will gladly take you “from the mainland” at a cheap price), climbers and yachtsmen who dream about the “elastic wind”, for lovers of scuba diving and beneficial thermal springs. And, of course, for gourmets - the best varieties of fish (and there are about 400 species in the local waters), lobsters, and oysters come to the table fresh, bypassing the refrigerator.
Croatia is a country where you want to return. The reason, perhaps, is in the harmony and beauty, which here for some reason turned out to be beyond the control of the harsh age of scientific and technological progress.

Answer from 1 [active]
Such old countries can be called Greece, Thailand, Indonesia and a couple of other countries

The tower clock showed exactly 11.40. Surprised, I glanced at my wristwatches: 19.10. She mentally quipped: “The city of happy people - they don’t watch the clock.” The guide, apparently guessing my bewilderment, said: “This clock stopped during the earthquake in 1667.” Under the motionless arrows on the narrow white-stone streets, life was seething, mixing centuries.

You must enter ancient Dubrovnik through the Pila Gate, a semicircular tower with a sculpture of the city’s patron saint, St. Blaise. His gilded statue - Vlah holding a model of the city before the earthquake - stands in the altar of the church that bears the saint's name. The steps in front of it, polished by millions of feet, have long been inhabited by tourists. In the evenings there is music booming here. A pulsating laser, tracing bizarre figures in the dark sky, now and then stumbles over ancient walls. The sharp beam freezes for a second, dissolving in the dim light of the ancient lanterns, like the walls. Materialized connection of times...

Surprisingly, it was in Croatia that I felt the absolute concreteness of this concept, somewhat worn out from frequent use. In small towns scattered along the Adriatic coast, behind blind shutters that tightly cover loophole windows, people live in fortified houses that have retained their appearance unchanged since ancient times and have received the status of architectural monuments. Children, devoid of any reverence for hoary antiquity, jump in the “hopscotch” drawn on the stone pavements of the 17th century. Just like many centuries ago, the heavy doors of shops open, filled with a variety of goods - local and overseas.

We, a group of journalists, were invited to Croatia by the Moscow travel company Danvita, which chose this country on the Adriatic as one of its main areas of activity. More precisely, that part of it that is called Dalmatia, which has so far been less developed than others by the Russian tourism business.

By the way, Croatia is a country with old tourist traditions. Historical chronicles contain information that the first hotel for merchants and other visiting business people was built in Dubrovnik back in the 16th century. However, the real tourism boom began in the 19th century - with the massive construction of railways. In 1840, the first tourist hotel was built in Opatija, Istria, on the largest peninsula of the Adriatic Sea. And its closest neighbors poured into Croatia - the Austrians and Hungarians, who were the first to appreciate the healing local climate, the beauty of nature, and the opportunities for varied and healthy recreation. There is freedom for everyone here - modern Robinsons dreaming of solitude (they say that even if the country is filled with vacationers, they will not be cramped: for everyone there is a personal cove or island, where any boatman will gladly take you “from the mainland” at a cheap price), climbers and yachtsmen dreaming about the “elastic wind”, for lovers of scuba diving and beneficial thermal springs. And, of course, for gourmets - the best varieties of fish (and there are about 400 species in the local waters), lobsters, and oysters come to the table fresh, bypassing the refrigerator.

Croatia is a country where you want to return. The reason, perhaps, is in the harmony and beauty, which here for some reason turned out to be beyond the control of the harsh age of scientific and technological progress.

It’s amazing: being just a few hours’ drive from the center of Europe and enjoying all the benefits of civilization, Croatia has managed to preserve untouched the beautiful corners of wildlife - the one that most of knows the continent only from old photographs,” Danvita director Nina Senchenko enlightens me while we are waiting for our charter at Domodedovo airport. Three hours will pass and I will see everything with my own eyes.

Woven from the sea, sun, greenery, islands, coves and rocks, nature itself, like a brilliant architect, embodied on this earth the law of the “golden ratio”, in “divine proportion”, as it was called in the Renaissance, measuring out its share to forests and water and drier. “The gods wanted to glorify what they had created, and on the last day they created Kornati from tears, stars and the breath of the sea,” this is how Bernard Shaw described the piece of Croatian land that captivated him - a necklace of islands thrown into the sea. Probably, each of the 1,185 islands, each of the thousands of bays and coves that indent the coast of Croatia deserves such words. Here European kings and heirs to the throne took a break from great state affairs, whose lists include the German Emperor Wilhelm, the Austrian Franz Joseph, even the Japanese Hirohito and other titled persons.

Shakespeare settled the heroes of his comedy “Twelfth Night” on this land. Over the years, her charm was inspired by the romantic Lord Byron, the Italian witty comedian Goldoni, the courageous American Jack London, and our compatriots Chekhov and Yesenin. Agatha Christie, wise in life and experience, chose Croatia for her honeymoon after the second marriage. “Under the window of our villa,” wrote the famous dancer Isadora Duncan, while relaxing in 1902 at the Villa Amalia in Opatija, “there grew a palm tree that attracted my attention. Never before had I seen a palm tree growing in freedom. Every day I looked, how beautifully its leaves sway in the morning wind, and from her I took this light swaying of the shoulders, arms and fingers.” This is how she conquered the world.

The Croatian land witnessed one of the most romantic stories of the 20th century - the love of the British king Edward VIII and the American Wallis Simpson. Having sacrificed the crown to his feelings, the crown bearer took refuge with his beloved in Dalmatia - although there are so many beautiful places on earth! - delighting some of his compatriots with his courageous act and causing indignation among others with what was regarded as outright neglect of the throne. But the scandal attracted the attention of the then British and American press to the beautiful land on the Adriatic. Clothes stylized as the national Dalmatian costume appeared on the catwalks and streets of New York. Curious tourists rushed to Dalmatia from the British Isles and overseas. And everyone considered it their duty to visit Dubrovnik, which was immediately dubbed “the heart of Dalmatia, the pearl of Croatia, its calling card.” Connoisseurs compared it with Venice and assured that it could well compete with the “beautiful Italian” for the right to be called the most beautiful city Mediterranean and Adriatic.

We, too, did not change the traditions and, as soon as we stepped on the ancient stones, we plunged into the extraordinary atmosphere of Dubrovnik - scorched by the sun, intoxicated by idleness, cheerful and relaxed. Let me note right away: there is probably no other land where so many treasures taken under UNESCO protection could fit on a tiny piece like Croatia: Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir, Plitvice Lakes and more, more...

We were lucky: we were introduced to Dubrovnik by a scholar-historian, a native of the city, who knew all its nooks and crannies and spoke as if he himself had witnessed the events of centuries ago. Together with Leiko Jovic (“a lion according to you,” he introduced himself), we walked along the main street of Stradun, every now and then deviating into the side “scalinades”, narrow - as wide as an arm's length - streets, steep stairs climbing up along the ancient houses, up, up.

In some places the flight of stairs is interrupted, resting on the street-terrace, as if hanging over the houses. Nowadays these terraces are home to many tiny - two or three tables - restaurants serving excellent Dalmatian wine and seafood delicacies. The restaurants smoothly flow into one another, and the border can only be determined by the color of the tablecloth and serving. The owners are right there, persistently, but not intrusively, inviting guests, convincingly describing the merits of their cuisine. The competition is huge, so you have to spin around, using all your ingenuity to come up with something especially attractive. And they come up with it. Cheerful fat man Marco, whose funny cartoon portrait decorates the menu board among images of sea life, offers potential clients a taste of homemade wine. His competitor neighbor demonstrates a picturesque dish with fish, which can be baked, fried, boiled, stewed - whatever the guest wishes. The charming Polish lady Helena, whom her parents brought to Dalmatia as a girl, and she settled here, sets the table in the middle of a round aquarium vase with a goldfish. And everyone will add a plate of cheese, salad or a glass of wine to their order. "Compliment" is called...

As if having rested on the terrace-square, the staircase-street runs higher, to the next “square”.

The location, height and width of buildings, the slope of roofs for drainage, the slope of streets, the size of windows and thresholds - all urban construction was regulated to the smallest detail by the Constitution of the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1272, says Leiko Jovic. “By the way,” he said, “this Constitution, supplemented by minor amendments, lasted until the fall of the Republic in 1806, after the invasion of Napoleon.” So, if the owner of the house made the threshold even an inch larger, crawling out onto the sidewalk, and the door was wider or shorter than prescribed, he was punished. It doesn’t matter whether he was a nobleman or a commoner.

Learning the history of the free Republic of Dubrovnik, I mentally projected many of its institutions into our lives. It turned out interesting. “Forget personal matters, attend to state affairs” - this inscription, carved above the entrance to the Great Assembly and preserved to this day, was read by the “deputies” who gathered for their meetings. And God forbid that you break this commandment from the moral code of the “fathers of the republic” and take advantage of your “official position”! They paid, as the chronicles testify, not only with expulsion from the honorary meeting, but also with a reputation that was valued more than gold. In the Republic of Dubrovnik, complete “harmony of the estates” prevailed - and only this allowed it to avoid social unrest for centuries.

She did not create idols and did not erect monuments in honor of her celebrities - was it because she did not want the next generations to tear them down? The only one to whom, by decision of the Republic in 1638, a monument was erected in the courtyard-lobby of the Princely Palace was Miho Pretsata - a navigator, a citizen who donated all his property to the city. The Republic valued artisans and encouraged science, literature, and art. The first pharmacy in Europe was opened here - and now it is carefully preserved as a museum, where you can see flasks and instruments over which someone similar to Doctor Faustus conjured. And in the Sponza Palace, where there was the first school in the Republic, then the most famous society in the Balkans, the Academy of Scientists, now houses one of the most valuable archives in the world. The first documents from 7000 volumes of manuscripts date back to the 12th century, the last ones date back to our century. Maritime historians especially value “professional materials”: ​​all records relating to ships and their routes have been stored here in perfect order since 1278. Including lists of crews and passengers.

Even during the construction of the fortress walls (and they were rebuilt during the 11th-17th centuries), what we would call “national interest” was taken into account. When erecting, for example, the Lovrenac fortress, three walls were laid from 3 to 12 meters wide, and one was only 60 centimeters wide. This was one of the wise precautions: if one of the commandants of the fortress decided to encroach on power over the free city-republic, he would be immediately “neutralized.” And it is probably no coincidence that one more of Dubrovnik’s moral postulates is engraved on an ancient stone just above the entrance to Lovrenac: “Freedom is not for sale for all the gold in the world.” They conquered the city, but could not conquer it.

After the fall of the republic, the fortress turned into the barracks of the Austro-Hungarian occupiers during their 100-year wars, then - as soon as the guns fell silent - into a restaurant, then into a meeting place for the International PEN Club. During World War II there was a Nazi prison here. And now Hamlet is being played in Lovrenac. To this day, the ancient walls, in the scenery of which the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark unfolds, remember one of the best performers of his role - the great Laurence Olivier. And in the summer, the fortress, like 32 other attractions of old Dubrovnik, turns into stage venues for the famous arts festival, which has been held here every year for half a century from July 10 to August 25. Even the attack in 1991 by the Serbs, who could not accept Croatian independence, did not force the city at the foot of Srdzha to take an “intermission”.

We were preparing gifts for the children in the courtyard of the Sponza Palace, when suddenly the sky over the city darkened and a rain of grenades and shells fell on it,” said the owner of the boat on which we decided to sail around Dubrovnik. An experienced sailor, he now calls himself an “old coaster,” and he takes tourists on his own boat, serving as a guide at the same time. The income earned during the season is enough for the winter. True, in order to put on shoes, dress and pamper three sons, a wife and a daughter, one still has to work hard at a construction site. Our new acquaintance is happy with this.

The main thing is that it should be calm, without war. Like now,” he says. - And that day - December 6, 1991, St. Nicholas Day, we call it that - the day of fear and horror. Then a truce was declared, we thought there would be a ceasefire, as promised. No. The ships blazed like torches. Houses, churches, streets were shaken by gunfire. It was scary when the cross fell on Srdja. It's like the end of the world has come. And six months later, on May 31, 1992, there was a new raid. Then entire villages burned down. It’s a real pity for the Arboretum park in Trsteno. They say it was one of the most beautiful in Dalmatia. For several centuries it was grown by the Guchetichi, the famous aristocratic family of the Republic. There were poets, artists, experts and nature lovers. And in one fell swoop everything was destroyed. There are only two plane trees left,” our captain sighs. - Thank God, it's all over now. Only on the houses can you still see war wounds. But we'll patch it up. But tourists are coming to us again. There are, however, not enough Russians yet. Mostly Germans, Italians, Austrians. Many guests from Holland and Belgium. Recently the Poles have appeared.

Later, the tourism department told me that tourism in Croatia was gaining momentum again. The number of holidaymakers is already approaching ten million a year - twice the country's population. It's not just Europeans - they come from all continents. They hope that by 2003 the “golden” pre-war level will be reached, when Croatia was considered almost the most visited corner of the world. There are reasons for optimism. Nice hotels, good quality, environmentally friendly cuisine, almost zero crime. The Blue Flag has been flying over the maritime area for the third year now - the European Evaluation Commission awards it for quality services, cleanliness of the sea, improvement of beaches and piers. “Dubrovnik and its surroundings belong to the cleanest sea of ​​the entire Adriatic,” Jacques Cousteau once wrote. And you can trust him.

The island of Brac, where we went by ferry from Dubrovnik, looks like a huge ship anchored in the azure sea. Mitko, the driver of the minibus at our disposal, immediately informed us that Brac is famous for its stone quarries. “The White House in Washington was built from our stone and marble,” he declared proudly and immediately suggested a trip to the quarries. We did it. But a little later, having walked around the charming villages scattered around historical center islands - the town of Supetar. It grew up around a small harbor and its main inhabitants are fishermen. Like many centuries ago, they come here in the morning, moor their schooners and boats, dry their nets almost on the embankment, and they themselves sit in coastal restaurants - konobas, order a cup of strong coffee, leisurely exchange a couple of terse phrases - about life, about the catch and go to trade this very catch. Life here flows slowly, measuredly, checking, as in the old days, by the sundial on the wall ancient temple.

On the way to the quarry we stopped at another village (Mitko really wanted to show off the most famous places on the island).

This was Napoleon’s headquarters,” he pointed at the solid, strong building.

And now?

And now nothing. There is nothing at all in this village. Once upon a time we lived

4 thousand people, 11 left. During the war, everyone dispersed: some went abroad, others went to big cities.

The abandoned village looked unexpectedly elegant: no dilapidated houses, no boarded up windows. There was a telephone booth near the ancient temple. It turned out that you can call anywhere using the card. I took advantage of this and called Moscow. While we, dumbfounded, were discussing this abandoned village, out of nowhere, the grandfather, the local old-timer, appeared. Grandfather was cheerful and sociable. It was easy to talk to him - he understood Russian words well, and we understood Croatian words. The grandfather said that he was 71 years old and that he did not want to leave his home when his children and their neighbors left here. “They will come back anyway,” he said confidently. “Some are already returning.” Suddenly something rattled in his pocket. Groaning, he took out... cellular telephone. We were speechless.

Before leaving for the “mainland” we were invited to lunch at a hotel, which, we were assured, was famous for its cuisine. Entering the hall, we must admit, we were confused. The walls were covered with posters reminiscent of our civil defense visual aids. On one of the tables lay a disassembled gas mask, next to it were instructions for using inflatable vests, approximately the same as those laid out on airplanes. Boxes of...board games were stacked high. In a separate box there were some tubes piled high in khaki-colored packaging. We couldn't resist and started looking at them. It turned out to be a cream. One is against mosquitoes and flies, the other is against strong sun.

Suddenly, young, healthy, tanned guys burst into the hall in a noisy crowd. Looks like it's from the beach. Seeing strangers, they apologized and quietly walked through the open doors and into the building. We were told that British soldiers from the peacekeeping forces stationed in Bosnia were now living in the hotel. Every six months they come here for “rehabilitation,” which is combined with military training, then they go on vacation, home, and then return to their place of service. Six months before the next vacation. They take care of the guys here - they are soldiers, after all. “We cook their food according to English recipes,” said cook Maria, who also fed us.

Then we met an even larger group of peacekeeping soldiers on leave from Holland at the Medena Hotel. There were many girls among them. They looked unusual in camouflage. But their uniforms did not stop them from having fun at the night disco...

And towards the end, Croatia gave us another meeting - in the tiny village of Sebet near Trogir, not far from the Medena hotel, where we lived. The village itself is typically Croatian - clean, neat, with a temple and a square in front of it, paved, like in all ancient cities white stone, a couple of narrow straight streets, where the windows of the houses look into each other's eyes. And of course, with the remains of an ancient fortress wall. In a word - Trogir in miniature. Or Split. Or Primosten - you can name a dozen cities, similar as twins, but also different as twins, with their own character, with their own special feature.

A special feature of our village was its art gallery. We saw it right away: at the open doors there were pictures - flowers, the sea, barges, sailboats, islands, rocks. Everything we saw while traveling around Croatia suddenly came to life on canvas. They blazed with bright colors, bold nervous strokes betrayed the irrepressible temperament of the author. The hand felt strong, clearly masculine. Above the door was written "Miliyada Barada". After looking at the pictures, we moved on. But we hadn’t taken even a dozen steps when we ran into a sign “Mino Barada Street”. Intrigued, we returned to the gallery. We saw a marble memorial plaque on the house that had not been seen before. She reported that the famous historian, member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences Mino Barada, who was also a writer and a prominent public figure, was born and lived in this house. The dates of his life were amazing: 1889 - 1989. One hundred years! We looked into the gallery again. A pleasant female voice called out to us from the second floor and asked what brought us here. “Curiosity,” we explained. The woman put down the brush she was holding in her hand and came down to us. Graceful, dressed smartly and elegantly, as if she was expecting guests. Introduced herself. Miliyada Barada, artist, poet, gallery owner. Heiress to a famous name and an equally famous house.

Look - this corner was once part of the fortress wall. It is more than 500 years old. “She proudly shows the ancient masonry and niche that has been preserved for a long time. - The spirit of my ancestors hovers here, I feel it.

Miliyada herself was born far from here - in Australia: Croats have long been scattered all over the world, there are especially many of them in Canada and on the Green Continent. She returned to her historical homeland very young - something was pulling her. Although there were still a brother and sister there. Now lives in Zagreb. He writes a lot - poems and paintings. I have been drawing since childhood and knew for sure that I would be an artist. Her paintings are bought by private collectors and museums different countries. They also decorate the Vatican collection. Miliyada didn’t even think about poetry. Rhymes and rhythms began to emerge unexpectedly. And they turned into 8 books. Poems, like paintings, are about the sea, about flowers, about native land. “About my roots and my element,” says Miliyada.

When she comes to Sebet, people flock to her. Fishermen talk about their catches and look at her paintings. They like them, only the men are surprised how she, a woman, manages to so accurately capture the multifaceted character of the sea. Women talk about children. She's interested in listening. She knows all the local people. Yes, this is not difficult: there are only 500 people in the village. They live in abundance, and this makes Miliyada happy. She does a lot of charity work. He has been a member of UNICEF for 26 years. Organizes humanitarian aid children of Africa suffering from wars, poverty and disease, refugees from neighboring Bosnia and other countries. Fortunately, her compatriots no longer need emergency help - they are standing firmly on their feet.

As a farewell, Miliyada gave me a book of her poems. One of her paintings is reproduced on the dust jacket. A thick tree, through whose branches the sea shines blue. The tree has been growing for more than a hundred years near the house where her ancestors lived and where her grandchildren will live...

Already at the airport I realized what I was still missing in Croatia. Dalmatians! I imagined that elegant spotted dogs originally from Dalmatia would be seen there at every step - just like in the famous Disney film "101 Dalmatians". Nothing happened. In Moscow, these expensive dogs can be found much more often than in their homeland. When I pestered local residents with the question - where are the Dalmatians, they answered laughing: in the Franciscan monastery in Zaostrog. In the painting of 1724, a Dalmatian was depicted there for the first time. We should take a look...

Elena Bernasconi

The depth of the straits between the islands is up to 65 meters. Moreover, these straits are replete with underwater rocks that did not become islands purely by chance. Naturally, the river bottom is simply strewn with shipwrecks. The Thousand Islands are considered the world's best freshwater diving sanctuary. The length of the Thousand Islands zone is about 80 kilometers. Naturally, both banks of the river have been dismantled into dachas, hotels, motels and beaches. Believe me, this is an amazing resort. By the way, the Thousand Islands meat sauce, which almost everyone has seen and even tried (McDonald's, Subway, Wendy's, Burger King), was invented and advertised in 1912 in one of the local hotels. What is most striking is that here it is called Russian sauce, but in Europe it will be called American sauce.

Thousand Islands National Park was included in the UNESCO list of unique biosphere phenomena in 2002.

One of the most beautiful bridges in the world, connecting Canada and the States. I drove along it in winter and was amazed by the views from the car window. “Bah,” I thought, “Thousand Islands! You have to come here.”

According to legend, some supreme Indian god was saddened by the strife between people and descended to earth. He brought with him a beautiful garden, which he left for the little people so that they would not be too hostile to each other. The people admired the garden, but did not stop their destructive activities. Then the angry god gathered the garden into his large string bag and flew back to his sky. And the string bag broke right over the St. Lawrence River. Where pieces of the garden woke up, an island arose. And so it was, or somehow differently, now no one knows. But people now have another reason for contention. For a long time, Canada and the United States shared jurisdiction over these islands, and during low-intensity wars they were used as strategic outposts. But at the end of the 19th century, everything calmed down, and the area began to attract exclusively fishermen, summer residents and yachtsmen. The islands began to be sold for very modest money even at that time. Gradually, each piece of land acquired its owner. And the owners in this part of the world are very good. They usually take care of their property. And so we sail on the boat and look around. The day was good at first, but as soon as we boarded the boat, the weather suddenly deteriorated. So the photos could have been better.

There are many legends surrounding the islands and island buildings. For example, this bridge is considered the smallest border crossing in the world. They claim that big Island is located in Canada, and the small one is in the USA. The owner of a dacha can supposedly cross the border countless times a day without customs formalities. In fact, this is pure fiction: both islands are Canadian on paper.

This is a fairly large island, it is called Oleniy. In 1876, one man bought this island for $175 and donated it to the most secret Masonic lodge called “Skulls and Bones”. Conspiracy theorists claim that it is this dark organization that controls the world through a Judeo-Masonic conspiracy. Apparently, the threads of control lead to this deserted cottage. The lodge itself is based at Yale University. Entry to the island is prohibited to anyone, and lodge members have no right to tell anyone anything. But there are rumors, supported by aerial photography, that there are ruins of two or three more manor houses on the island, surrounded by disused tennis courts that are now overgrown with gooseberries and wild rhubarb. The fact is that the Yale Masonic lodges have hidden funding for the university, and in the last hundred years this funding has left much to be desired. This is the only reason why the Judeo-Masonic conspiracy cannot spread its wings, otherwise it would not seem enough to anyone. But freedom-loving nations still cannot check what is happening behind the walls of the only remaining cottage, because the island is controlled by the American Border Patrol. By the way, although the above paragraph seems complete nonsense, everything except the Judeo-Masonic conspiracy in it is pure truth (and maybe he too). Members of the really very secret Masonic lodge “Skulls and Bones” do own the island and indeed sometimes visit their property, but the cottage still does not legally belong to them. Some trust fund pays the property taxes, and it also maintains this house in order.

During the excursion, one thought tormented me: suppose the owner of this hacienda invited friends. And there wasn't enough booze. How long will it take them to run out for more?

This is the most famous, smallest and neatest cottage. By the way, all buildings on the islands are connected to electricity, landline telephone network and sewerage. The operation of the most complex engineering networks is carried out by a special energy company.

On an island behind a bush, out of sight from here, there is a summer canopy.

The buildings rising from the water, reminiscent of ancient casemates, evoke thoughts of castles. Indeed, there must be a castle here. Hello castle!

Multimillionaire George Boldt, having arrived in the States from Germany penniless, began his career as a waiter and ended as the owner of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. He unusually liked the nature of the Thousand Islands, and as soon as he could, he bought a decent-sized island, which he called Heartfelt (as we know, the Germans are prone to simple sentimentality). Boldt dedicated the castle on his island to his beloved wife. At the height of construction in 1904, the wife died suddenly of some illness. Boldt sent a telegram about the completion of work, fired three hundred staff and left here forever. He never saw his castle again. Unfinished ruins spoiled the landscape for a long time, until in 1970 the American government bought Heart Island and completed construction. Now the castle is a luxurious museum. However, not just anyone can enter the castle. The island is naturally plagued by US immigration enforcement. They won't let you in without a visa. Everything was fine for me, but my mother, with whom we rode along the roads and waters of Ontario this time, had no chance. Without a doubt, this is the strangest US immigration point in the world. But it is equipped in all respects as expected. In principle, of course, ships land on the island from both banks of the river, and one can imagine how an attacker who dreams of illegally washing cars at an American gas station makes his way from one ship to another, bypassing the US Immigration and Border Protection Service. But they are on the alert and do not allow any encroachments.

In the foreground is the castle's power plant. So what? Why doesn't the noble don make himself a power plant based on an individual project?

We sail around the island, going around it clockwise. Power plant... it can't be. However, this is exactly it.

Pier. The wooden booth is American customs.

I came up with a lot of comments for this photo, but then I decided to leave them all behind the scenes. The appearance of the castle speaks for itself.

The crumbling tower in the foreground is called Alster Tower. Its purpose is unclear and unknown to me. I think it was preserved in the same state in which the island was transferred to the US government almost forty years ago.

The picture shows the entire Heart Island. The power plant is on the right, the unfinished tower is on the left. In the house opposite the island, Boldt planned to make a yacht club for his friends. In the background is the Canadian span of the International Bridge. The photo, naturally, was found on Wikipedia.

Antique mansion Casa Blanca (White House, obviously). Inside there are 26 rooms, decorated in Victorian style. I don’t understand why all the articles about this house focus on 26 rooms. The house was built as a very fashionable hotel. It opened its doors in 1903. I found an old New York Times print advertising summer rest in this house. Rooms are still available there today.

New construction is noticeable in these two shots.

And the last frame, unfortunately, is not mine either, I found it on the same Wikipedia. Very beautiful...

Croats love their country very much, so don’t be surprised if you hear from the lips of local residents, for example, this a beautiful legend. They say that when creating the planet, God gave one from a bag of treasures to each country, but over Croatia the bag broke and the wealth scattered. That's why here you will find all the most wonderful things that exist in nature: the cleanest sea, high mountains, rich plant and animal world. And if you add here ancient temples and picturesque medieval cities, then the charm of Croatia will be limitless, Natalia ORLOVA, manager of the office of the Relax travel club at 33 Pervomaisky Prospekt, is sure.

If you want to thoroughly get to know Croatia, remember one more of its names, unofficial, but extremely beautiful - the Country of a Thousand Islands!

— In fact, there are 1185 of them. Rarely a country can boast such an abundance of picturesque untouched corners of nature, which is why the islands are considered the hallmark of Croatia,- notes Natalia Orlova. — Ecological cleanliness is the main wealth of the country: in Croatia
8 national and 11 natural parks. One of the national parks, Plitvice Lakes, is included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. Now let's talk in more detail about some of the thousand Croatian islands.

Brac. If you dream of sunbathing and high waves, best beach You won't find anything better than the Golden Horn in Croatia. Protruding into the sea like the tongue of a giant lizard (though not as rough), this strip of land several kilometers long, located at the very edge of the island and blown by all the winds, is a real miracle of nature. This is very a good place for classes aquatic species sports such as surfing, paragliding, scuba diving, water scooters and catamarans. All this against a crystal background clean water produces indelible impression! Pay attention to this interesting fact: Not only Diocletian’s Palace in Split, but also the Parliament building in Budapest and the White House in Washington were built from stone from the island of Brac.

Hvar. It is called the Croatian Ibiza for the abundance of bars and noisy youth parties, which, however, after 11 pm move to desert island next door so as not to disturb local residents. This is just part of what Hvar, an island of winemakers and farmers, is rich in. Just look at the beautiful archipelago of atolls right opposite the Old Town bay! Even for this reason it is worth sailing to Hvar.

Pag and Lastovo. The most popular places for gastronomic tours are the islands of Pag and Lastovo. At the first of them, traditional page cheese is made - a unique product with a unique taste, made from the milk of local sheep. If you are a fan of edible shellfish and crustaceans, you definitely need to visit the island of Lastovo. Lobsters, oysters, clams and even lesser-known crustaceans are served with a variety of sauces and side dishes in the many taverns along the coast, which are decorated in traditional Serbo-Croatian style.

Mljet. The island is famous for the fact that it is home to mongooses, which were brought in in the Middle Ages to fight poisonous snakes. The latter were defeated in this war and gradually completely disappeared from the island, but the mongooses multiplied and became a living attraction of Mljet. The island is an ideal place for lovers of pristine nature and walks through pine forests.

One of the most mysterious sights of this paradise- Cave of Odysseus. According to legend, the wandering Greek king spent seven years on the island with the beautiful nymph Calypso. It's a pity that modern lovers cannot afford a romantic trip of seven years, but even seven days spent on any of the 1,185 Croatian islands will be remembered forever.

Lyudmila Bazhenova

Images used: Shutterstock/Fotodom