Image taken on 2005-12-20 05:52:04 by AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker.
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Mstyora is a very old center of lacquer miniature near Vladimir and Suzdal.
This settlement was mentioned in the chronicles for the first time in 1626. In the reign of Peter I the settlement belonged to Prince Fyodor Yurievitch Romodanovsky, companion-in-arms of the tsar and head of the Preobrazhensky department, and was called the Bogoyavlenskaya Sloboda.
Since the 18th century icon-painting became the leading trade of this village. The icon-painting style of Mstyora was determined by the tastes and demands of the old believers not of the Moscow region alone, but also of the Urals, Siberia, Zavolzhie (the Volga region) and Pomorie (coast area). Different groups of the old believers had different style requirements which made Mstyora masters imitate various icon-painters.
In the 19th century the settlement was named Mstyora. The indigenous inhabitants claim that the name derives from the Russian word “mastera” – masters.
Local master-craftsmen made icon mountings for churches and monasteries. It laid the groundwork for the local jewelry art employing the technique of filigree known in the time of the Kiev’s Russia.
Many talented artists lived here in the 1700s, so many different kinds of folk art arose here such as an icon painting, gold and silver embroidery and engraving. Artwork with a delicate miniature pattern was developed in Mstyora before the revolution, along with the famous Vladimir stitch with a massive ornament.
Now, Mstyora is center of Russian folk handicraft of lacquer miniature painting, which is done with tempera paints on articles mostly made of papier-mache.
The Mstyora miniatures usually represent scenes from real life, fairy tales, folklore, literary and history works. Special place in Mstera painting takes icon painting. As it has some specific features. This tradition was held by Byzantine art, the successors of which were first and foremost the Vladimir and Suzdal icon painters.The Byzantine technique of painting with flux and Byzantine icon painting was preserved in Mstera for many centuries, right up until the start of the 20th century.
Carpet decoration, variety and refinement of picturesque tinges, which contain with general tone of all composition are typical peculiarities of Mstyora’s miniature painting. Warmth and gentleness of colors, depth of landscape backgrounds (often with blue dales in the back), small size and squatness of human figurines, and subtlety of framing pattern done in gold are typical for the Mstyora miniature. Colors gamut of Mstera’s artists is blue-silver or yellow-red. Sometimes artists of Mstera are painting their works by only one ornament (pattern from grass, leaves and fruits). Masterpieces of Mstyora artists are well-known around the world. They were awards by Gran-Prix, the gold and silver medals on the world exhibition. The Art of Mstyora is represented in the collections of the biggest museums in Russia (Russian Museum, Tretyakov Gallery) and in the world. Our online present collection of art propose to you such birthday or anniversary present ideas as icons, lacquer miniatures, wood vases and art tableware.
Shopping In Germany
Germany has a reputation for craftsmanship and this is reflected in the quality of locally-made goods. Traditional German buys include porcelain, handicrafts, toys, timepieces, beer steins, nutcrackers and cutlery, not to mention Mercedes and BMW cars.
Shopping In Berlin
Berlin has cast off its image as a drab center of intrigue to emerge as a shopping centre for fashion, antiques, furniture and home accessories. The most august shopping locale is Kurfurstendamm (Ku’damm). Most of the city’s premier clothes shops, boutiques and department stores are located on this famous thoroughfare.
A parvenu to the upmarket Berlin shopping scene is the new Friedrichstrasse. It’s a mile long thoroughfare which features a lot of design shops, car shops, coffeehouses (with the inevitable Starbucks) and the Galleries Lafayette. The nearby Unter den Linden features several boutiques, located mainly between Friedrichstrasse and the Brandenburg Gate.
A must-see is a legend from the cold war days, the Kaufhof on Alexander Platz. Once the haunt of communist bigwigs from Moscow and other soviet bloc countries, nowadays it’s just a big old department store.
Kreuzberg with its many shops and flea market is the place to browse junk items, second-hand books, and second-hand clothes. For more offbeat items, the second-hand stores and art boutiques around Hackescher Market are the places to go.
Shopping In Munich
The shopping scene in Munich has revamped recently. Modern Munich is a place where you’ll find celebrated brand names and designer goods alongside traditional Bavarian crafts such as beer steins and Tyrolean hats. Hyper modern shopping malls such as the Fünf Höfe have given the city an edgy modern glitter. However the old die hards such as Beck and delicatessen Dallmayr and Kafer still attract legions of faithful customers.
Munich downtown’s pedestrian zones are the best places for a shopping adventure. The major one is the Kaufingerstrasse, a two-kilometer pedestrian zone running from the railway station to Marienplatz and north to Odeonsplatz. All the chain stores are located here. For a more interesting shopping experience, the streets around the Marienplatz offer some small stores, while the pedestrian zone between Marienplatz and Karlsplatz offer the famous brand name clothing and shoe outlets. For international luxury items, head for Maximilianstrasse. Celebrated local fashion designer Rudolph Moshammer also showcases his creations here.
If you want to escape the Bavarian chill, head for the Olympia Shopping Center in the Northwest of Munich close to the Olympic Stadium. This is Munich’s biggest mall and it features lots of clothes stores, shoe stores, general department stores, drug stores, music shops and food courts.
Schwabing, north of the university is the place to peruse Bavarian antiques. The small shops around the Viktualienmarkt and at Türkenstrasse, Theresienstrasse, and Barerstrasse are very interesting and you may get lucky.
The Sunday flea market at Kunstpark Ost is a great place for second hand bargains.
Most stores in Munich are open from 08:00 – 18:30 from Monday to Friday and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays.
There is a wide variation of hotels in Germany . Check out the internet for cheap hotels in Berlin or hotels in Munich .
Bucket shops, or “travel consolidators,” are travel agencies who have arrangements with specific airlines to sell international tickets for considerably less than the airline’s published fares. You can indeed save money on bucket shop fares, and experience a completely successful trip abroad. However, this segment of the travel industry contains enough landmines that you should use bucket shops only if you follow the tips given in this article. Although financially secure vendors like Priceline may match or exceed bucket shop international discounts, and provide you with a more comfortable purchasing experience, the bucket shop option is still worth exploring. Their tickets often permit you to change your destination or dates for a fee, which Priceline “Name your own price” tickets, for example, never allow. But, study these guidelines and proceed with caution! How to find a reputable bucket shop: You may see ads for bucket shop airfares in major newspapers and on the Internet. However, even though the newspaper or website may have a good reputation, the bucket shop which advertises there could be at best, disorganized, and at worst, downright dishonest. Over the years, I have heard many tales of fly-by-night, shady bucket shops (and have had run-ins with several myself), and so I use these only if I have a solid recommendation from: • a friend who has used the same bucket shop over time, • a report from the Better Business Bureau, or • an article in a respected travel journal, such as Frommer’s Budget Travel. One of the best sources for a reliable bucket shop referral is a friend from the same ethnic group as your destination. If it’s comfortable, ask your friend to obtain the price quotation. On many routes, travelers whose families originally came from the destination country get the lowest quotes. A Cautionary Tale: Follow these tips before using bucket shops: • If you are reside in the U.S., just use American bucket shops. It could be very difficult to pursue a transaction that turned sour if you use a foreign travel consolidator. • Shops tend to specialize in specific countries. The one you use for Australia is not necessarily the one you want to use for Kenya. • Bucket shop discounts excel at Asian, Australian, Middle Eastern, eastern European, and African destinations. Discounts are less competitive to western European cities, such as Amsterdam and Paris, because airlines frequently publish specials to these destinations. • Realize that bucket shop advice may often be biased. Airlines that give bucket shops special deals expect them to push business their way. A bucket shop may not tell you if another shop sells a cheaper or more convenient itinerary. • Request that quoted fares include all taxes and fees. Extra fees can be a way for a sketchy bucket shop to amp up the price considerably. So get the total price before making a reservation. • Savings tend to be greatest when you deal with a company that writes its own tickets, instead of an agency that orders tickets from somewhere else. Confirm this with the agency. A good question is, “Can I pick up my ticket today?” • Pay with a credit card. If the bucket shop turns out to be a scam, you may be able to stop payment with a credit card, but you can’t with cash. • Ask to have their rules for canceling or changing flights in writing. These can be emailed or faxed to you if you cannot get to their office. Some bucket shop tickets may allow you to change flights and dates, others may not. Also, fees for changes may vary considerably. • Try to buy travel on one airline (or its partners), with as few connections as possible. Any time you increase your number of connections or airlines, you increase your risk of complications, especially if you’re traveling with separate tickets for each airline. Suppose you’re flying to Delhi via Moscow on separate airlines. If you miss your Delhi flight because the Moscow flight was late, the Delhi airline in Moscow may tell you it’s not responsible for re-booking fees, a hotel overnight, etc. • In addition, bucket shop tickets are often marked “non-endorsable.” This means that if you miss a connection, you can’t be rerouted on another airline. On top of that, you may not have the visa required to leave the airport terminal if you have to wait a day or two. So it’s always best to fly with as few connections and airlines as possible. • If possible, pick up your ticket at the bucket shop, instead of having it sent to you, so that you can examine it carefully before leaving the store. Make sure that you have coupons for each flight, correct dates, etc. Have I scared you off? Some bucket shops are reputable and some are not. I am not promoting them, nor am I saying to stay completely clear. I just want you to be armed with the best strategies for protecting yourself and setting up a comfortable trip when you find a reputable one. (And, remember – the best source is a trusted friend who has used the same bucket shop many times.) Let’s say better safe than sorry, rather than better save than sorry! Don Nadeau, president of http://www.BidonTravel.com, loves helping people travel economically. He specializes in helping people find great last-minute airfares and hotel discounts. |
Moscow
September 9, 2010, 3:32 am
 Clear 7°Creal feel: 9°C
current pressure: 1026 mb
humidity: 81%
wind speed: 0 m/s CLM
wind gusts: 0 m/s
sunrise: 6:49
sunset: 20:03
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