Holiday


via Lonely Planet

Moscow has its collective panties in a bunch over Lonely Planet's unflattering if accurate portrayal of the city as a where "criminals, Aids and mites are raging in Moscow and shops are full of fake vodka."

St Petersburg gets a better review: "St Petersburg's streets are as safe or dangerous as any European city - most say safer."

What we wondered is how a dung heap like Mexico City compared:

"The main risks to travelers to Mexico are food-borne diseases, although mosquito-borne infections can also be a problem. Most of these illnesses are not life-threatening, but they can certainly have a significant impact on your trip. Besides getting the proper vaccinations, it's important to take simple precautions like using a good insect repellent and exercising enormous care in what you eat and drink."

Sounds like fun.

*****

In time, summer travel to the Mediterranean will be a distant memory as the climate warms further still and the need to go south to stay warm will wane.

"More people will stay in their home country, particularly Germans and Brits," said Richard Tol at Hamburg University. Germans are the most travelled nation with 72m international tourists and the UK is third with 53m. Both are rich with unreliable weather and close neighbours. But as the weather heats up, the model predicts more will stay within our borders."

Blackpool 2012, anyone?



Somehow, fish n chips in 35 degree heat don't seem appealing.

*****

Wooden houses in Vilnius:


via The Guardian.

*****

Meanwhile, between Poland and the Ukraine, travelogue Easy Rider notes:

"Upon arrival at the border between Lithuania and Poland, it's the same old routine. Rummage around for passport, find passport, then find the wedge of unused banknotes from the country you are leaving.

Apologise to border guard, get passport back, turn around and head for the nearest place to spend aforementioned cash."