The magic of slow travel: how it can affect the quality of relaxation. Slow travel enriches your impressions and relieves stress

The main condition for slow tourism is to relax without haste: to ride on your own two, on a bicycle, horses or donkeys; live in a tent, houseboat or on farms; get to know the local culture, customs, buy products and souvenirs “0 km” (locally grown and produced, not Crimean avocados from quinoa or Chinese magnets from around the world). A tourist is no longer a tourist, but a traveler.

Nothing, of course, is new under the moon of vacation: it’s not that hiking, unhurried tourism with a backpack behind you was invented yesterday. But since trips around the world became available not only to the very top of the social pyramid, the race “around the world in 80 days” has ceased to be interesting, and the traveler begins to choose not the most expensive, but one that brings both pleasure and benefit.

The same thing happened with plastic bags: in my childhood I had to go shopping with my grandmother's string bag, then plastic bags appeared in supermarkets, and my grandmother's bags disappeared as unnecessary. But twenty years passed - and cellophane bags became an attribute of philistinism, and then unconsciousness, environmentalists sounded the alarm. It turned out that the granny knew a lot about eco-shopping, and canvas bags can be quite a fashion accessory.

Comparison of mass tourism with a threat to the Earth could be an exaggeration, but no: the world cultural heritage really suffers from an uncontrolled flow of travelers, local residents, flora and fauna, ecosystems are destroyed in the process of building another giant hotel or amusement park, water bodies are polluted, etc. .

One of the goals of a slow trip is not vacation that is environmentally traumatic, but it should not be confused with ecotourism. The main purpose of a slow trip is cognition, calm, rejection of the usual frantic rhythms.

From food to travel: how to procrastinate

The first slow movement originated in one of the most leisurely countries in Europe - the cradle of Dolce Vita Italy.

In 1986, Carlo Petrini founded the cultural association Arci Gola in the small town of Bra (Arci is an abbreviation of the cultural association, Gola - « pharynx ”or“ gluttony ”), opposing the fast food system. The aim of this movement was to preserve local enogastronomic traditions, revive unique, endangered products, stop intensive and monocultural agriculture, preserve biodiversity and create food services with the philosophy of slow food. In them, visitors do not throw a plastic cheeseburger on the run, but enjoy healthy food and dishes prepared according to local traditional recipes.

Together withslow food   in Italy a movimento slow was born, “Slow motion”, which called for not to rush, to live calmer and more conscious. Slow philosophies began to emerge slowly: in 1999, the Slow City was born in Italy, cittaslow ; wanted to become slow andthe science , andeducation , and reading, and aging, and - not least - vacation.

So it is not surprising that the leisurely way to travel received the widest resonance precisely on the Apennine Peninsula. 2019 has been declared the year of slow tourism in Italy: the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism has launched a portal with a map of the main routes for slow travelers.

In the atlas were only those paths that correspond to the wholeseries of criteria   : for example, they must be safe, be controlled by human rights bodies, be asphalted by a maximum of 40%, and places with food and an overnight stay should be located no further than five kilometers from the road.

The map also shows bike paths between cities, the most interesting towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical cemeteries and many other interesting sights.

Another Italian site - genteinviaggio.it - \u200b\u200bpublished 10 commandments of a slow tourist, which quickly became immutable rules on all portals on the topic:

1. Choose rural tourism, eco-hotels or scattered hotels.
2. Avoid or too popular places.
3. Get around on a bike, eco-car, horse.
4. Wherever you are, clean up and recycle the garbage properly.
5. Do not use plastic utensils.
6. Explore the local culture. Learn a few words of the local language and tradition.
7. Adapt to any situation.
8. Buy only local products to boost the economy of your destination region, organic products, or clothing made from natural materials.
9. Do not harm local animals and do not purchase endangered animals.

And finally, the good old:

1. Smile

Is there slow tourism in Russia

In Russia, slow tourism has been developing gradually in recent years, but rather weakly and unevenly: there is no centralized system for route safety, a system for tracking travelers and weather conditions, warning systems or sports fees.

The number of people choosing this type of recreation can be judged only by the statistics of accommodations in collective sports facilities (for example, remaining after the Olympic Games): according to Rosstat, 36.8 million Russian citizens were accommodated in the first nine months of 2017, for the same period in 2018 year - 41.6 million. There is no rating among the regions of the Russian Federation.

Slow Tourism in Europe: Following Italian Pilgrims

In Europe, slow tourism is developing much more actively, but also not everywhere. The most developed are the directions that have long been trodden by pilgrims. Spiritual tourism and religious sites began to attract not only adherents of religion, but also connoisseurs of tracking, cultural heritage and historical monuments.

Associations operate on many routes, the tasks of which include security control, cleaning, first aid and transportation of travelers' luggage from the point of yesterday's overnight stay to today.

One of Europe's most famous religious routes is the Franks Road from Canterbury to Rome.

According to a recent study by Touring Club Italia, already in 2015, only 10% of travelers following the trail of pilgrims were motivated by religious reasons, the remaining 90% traveled this path with completely different goals. For example, 25% walked for cultural values, 17% just wanted to try a different holiday format. Three quarters of vacationers walked, the rest rode a bicycle.

The average duration of the whole journey is 80 days. However, a rare tourist passes it in its entirety: many are limited to small sections of the route (average trip duration is 10 days), bearing in mind that the main purpose of their trip is rest, and not overcoming any obstacles at all costs.

Whether you came for religious purposes or not - do not forget to first get (issue via the Internet or ask at the tourism office) your pilgrim passport ( la credenziale in Italian, aka la credencial, or lacréanciale) and receive significant discounts with him in the overnight places, public catering and transport companies when you are planning to return home.

Way of St. James: Via France, Spain and Portugal

Italy, of course, is not limited to the atlas of slow travels. Religious sites in France attract about 51 million visitors every year. About 327 thousand travelers traveled in 2018 the Way of St. James, which begins in the south of France or Portugal (there are several routes), and most of it passes through Spain.

Apparently, pilgrims prefer this route to the Franks Road: only 10% of visitors crossed the Way of St. James with exclusively cultural and non-religious goals.

Offers of slow and contemplative tourism and various eco-destinations can be found in any country, you just have to make a request in a search engine, but most of the information will be in Italy, Spain and France, which is not surprising: this trio has firmly established itself in the leading positions in the lists of the most popular countries in the world.

Slow vehicles: legs and bicycles

The usual vehicle for slow travelers is on their own. Judging by the statistics of different routes, approximately 89% of tourists in 2018 moved on foot. Many people make their own routes, collect backpacks and download applications to a smartphone with GPS sensors, but if you are not a very experienced slow traveler, you may not take into account various important nuances, and it would be easier and safer to join an organized group.

The number of tourists choosing a bicycle is much less: a two-wheeled friend is still not only a means of transportation, but also a luxury. Equipment and bicycle accessories cost money, and not everyone can cope with vehicle breakdowns in traveling conditions. Moreover, the bike is more traumatic than the legs, and more bulky - if the tourist decided to change the route and travel part of the way, say, by hitchhiking, this can be an obstacle.

While gender equality prevails among pedestrians, cyclists dominatemen , women often refuse such a vehicle, considering it

By the time I started to “get to know the world” through abroad, my first trip was an 8-day tour in Europe. We traveled by bus in 5 countries.

I could say whether I liked this trip or not, I could only a week later upon arrival home. When the "roof" fell into place from the sights seen and kilometers traveled.

Principle: to get around and see everything or, more simply put it, a gallop across Europe worked 100%.

I don’t want to rest like that anymore. Not because everything is fast, fast and many, many, but due to the fact that you really do not have time to understand and digest one information, a new tour begins.

We will introduce you to the site with a new direction in tourism and the type of travel - slow travel. This is a slow and unhurried acquaintance with the traditions and customs of other countries and the maximum immersion in a new culture.

  Has it ever happened to you like this: are you coming from vacation more exhausted and tired than you were before you left?

Resting is one more stress: one excursion is replaced by another, you need to have time to see all the palaces and ruins, sights and waterfalls, do not forget to buy souvenirs ...

The slow pace of life is becoming increasingly popular and even gaining momentum.

I’ll tell you a secret: not all people live according to the principles “... faster, higher, stronger ...”.

Work work both after work and on weekends, depend on a smartphone, social networks and the Internet ... to be in time yesterday.

This is what the Slow Movement offers: to live today and now, to solve issues without the all-knowing Google, to make decisions, as prompted by the heart and experience.

The magic of a slow type of travel is when the emphasis is not on excursions, but on leisurely trips around the country.

Life (even for a week) will slow down in a small rural cottage, you will love going to the local farmers market for groceries, meet your neighbors and allow yourself trips to the nearest cities (for one day). Stress will disappear and the budget will not suffer.

You can travel slowly: for several years or two days off

How did this trend in tourism appear?

In Italy, in the 1980s, a protest began against the opening of the McDonald’s network in Rome. Slow food resisted fast food. Family leisurely meetings in cafes and pizzerias, the traditional way of life of Italians defended their right to exist.

Slow travel means renting a small cottage for several days or a week and exploring the surroundings by car or on foot. Cycling through nearby villages along dirt country paths, abandoning highways and highways.

Slow motion

Best places for slow travel

Europe is the most popular place for such trips. Car and housing rental is developed and accessible to everyone, public transport works without failures, historical sights at every turn, English is understood everywhere.

Slow travel is not for everyone

How to plan slow travel

Renting an apartment is more economical than a hotel for longer stays. Reservation must be done in advance.

This can be done on the following sites:

• Airbnb
• Homeway
• Tripadvisor

There is a practice of sharing homes. This is an alternative for long stays in another country. You can arrange a rental car for your exchange partner. The most popular site for this is HomeExchange.com.

View profitable housing options right now.

Food is also "slow"

Find local markets and try the cuisine of the town where you went.

A small bakery and nearby you will enjoy fresh catch and fragrant pastries for breakfast ...

Slow travel is not for everyone

If you are used to living in a rhythm, hurry to go around all the countries of the world and are charged with indefatigable energy, then this type of tourism may seem boring.

If this is your only trip to Italy or you should think carefully about what is more important: merge with the culture and the locals or see as many attractions as possible.

You can travel slowly over several years systematically, or over two days off. The main thing is to change the attitude to rest.

It is possible to do less, but not more - this is the first step to Slow travel, especially if time is short.

This is also interesting:

How not to forget things at home - emergency list What to take on vacation or collect the right suitcase 8 useful things to travel in comfort

This is when you come somewhere and live without thinking about time, instead of constantly moving from city to city, like in a round the world.

Adventure seeker and journalist Jonathan Engles, similar to Tom Hardy in Mad Max, recently posted an article on slow travel. He claims that they are much cooler than any circumnavigation.

You should stretch the feeling of time on the journey, savoring tastes and smells, absorbing juicy colors with your eyes, without taking out the camera. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and then listen to the songs of crickets. A slow journey allows you to get lost, dive into the alluring bar and watch the locals flock to it.

Characters

The experts

About saving

Ivan Morgunov. Obviously, it’s more economical to stay in one place. Unless, of course, this is London.

About whether to slow down

Mila Demenkova. All round the world and speed racing is an entertainment for boys, who will then measure with tomatoes. If you want, you slow down, if you want, you jump from place to place.

About Travel Fatigue

Alexander York. The right strategy is to use a specific place as a base for traveling around the neighborhood.

The moment with transport

Anna Egorova. Kilometers of track can be boring for hiking. If I had a car, I would choose it.

About dating on travel

Alexander York. In places where there are a lot of interesting people, I want to get acquainted and communicate constantly.

Have you ever returned from a vacation feeling more exhausted than before you left? Many travelers live a hectic, busy life, and the crazy pace continues during the trip, when they rush from one tourist attraction to another. But there is a mass movement, which quietly arose as a solution to the problem of the combustion of tourists: a slow journey.

What is slow tourism?

Slow Travel is an offshoot of the slow food movement that began in Italy in the 1980s to protest McDonald's in Rome. The slow food movement aims to preserve regional cuisine, local farming, communal dishes and traditional cooking methods. the initiative has since evolved into a whole way of life, known as the “Slow Motion”, which emphasizes communication — communication with food, communication with families and, in the case of travel, communication with the local population and culture.

Slow travel is not so much a special mode of transport as a way of thinking. Instead of trying to squeeze as many attractions or cities as possible into each trip (“4 cities in 3 days,” for example), the slow traveler takes the time to carefully examine each destination and get to know the local culture. In keeping with the philosophy of slow travel, it’s much more important to get to know one small area than to see only a few different areas - so you will have something to see on your next trip.

A slow trip can mean:

• renting a cottage or apartment for a week at a time and exploring your immediate surroundings on foot or by car,
• a bike ride from one village to another on country roads, not on the highway,
• crossing long distances by train, not by air, so you can see the landscape along the way.

But no matter how you do it, the journey slows down and makes the most of every moment of your vacation.

Benefits of Slow Travel

It allows you to form a closer connection with the place you are visiting, and you will feel much less in a hurry. With a “slow” route, you will not be stressed by trying to break a new path in your guidebook. Instead, you will stay in one place long enough to get to know your neighbors, shop at local markets and choose your favorite coffee shop. Slowing down in other countries not only allows you to avoid your own busy everyday life, but also naturally plunges into the pace of another culture.

Another less obvious advantage of slow trips is that they are much safer for the environment than other types of travel. While airplanes have been identified as key contributors to global warming, trains are a much more environmentally friendly alternative, like bicycles and, of course, your own legs! And even traveling by car becomes less harmful to the environment when you travel only short distances.

Slow rides are more economical. Staying in one place for a week or more reduces your transportation costs, and renting a home is often more profitable than in hotels, because it allows you to cook your own food, rather than eating in cafes and restaurants. If you choose a home exchange, you will save even more.

One thing to keep in mind: although the slow pace of travel can be leisurely and laid-back, getting to know the new culture closer is much more difficult than just getting to the main tourist destinations. Part of the reward for slow trips is to overcome language barriers, customs differences, and other potential stumbling blocks to connect with the new people you meet.

Best places for slow travel

Europe is the most popular destination for slow travelers because vacation rentals are plentiful, public transportation systems are efficient, historical sites are relatively close to each other, and English is widely spoken.

Nevertheless, slow travels are a way of thinking, not a destination, and with simple planning you can relax almost anywhere.

Accommodation. Slow travelers tend to live in holiday apartments, which are more economical than hotels for longer stays, and are also more spacious and comfortable. Be sure to book your rental accommodation in advance and keep in mind that many properties must be booked from Saturday to Saturday. House exchange is another good alternative for extended stays. Your home exchange partner will meet friends and neighbors, making you immediately feel like part of your new community. You can even use the machine of your exchange partner while in his house.

Food. In the spirit of slow food, find local ingredients and sample the cuisine of the place you visit. Cook for yourself? In the morning, join the locals at the fish market to pick up a fresh catch for dinner, or head to the bakery for a baguette right from the oven. If you eat out, give preference to local cafes and restaurants.

Transport: Traveling by rail can be a relaxing and often luxurious way to explore the countryside, especially in places like Canada and Europe. Trains in these regions are convenient and efficient, and there are many payment options available to help you reduce costs.

Other “slow” alternatives include cycling, river boats, walking and even jogging.

When “slow” is not an option

While slow travels are becoming an increasingly popular option for people who want to enrich their travel experience, this is not for everyone. If you visit many attractions every day, you feel excited and energized, then you can find the more laid-back pace of life disappointing or boring. If you think that this may be your only trip to Italy (or New Zealand, or Morocco), then you need to decide what is most important for you: traditional excursions or cultural experience.

Upon returning from vacation, many are haunted by the feeling of an unfulfilled program: for a couple of weeks there was not enough time to visit, experience, photograph everything that I wanted. Such regrets are unknown to Clive and Jane Green, who went to. On their yacht, the couple traveled 51 thousand nautical miles and visited 56 countries. Thanks to media reports, millions of people around the world have learned about them. But before you sigh about the impossibility of such a long rest, it is worth understanding the essence of an amazing campaign. From the unusual experience of the Green spouses, you can still draw some ideas for your modest two-week vacation.

Not downshifters or champions

The greens did not seek to set a record and did not plan to escape from their native Wales in search of a better life; they are not contenders for a line in the Guinness Book of Records or downshifters in the classical sense of the word. The idea of \u200b\u200ba British cruise was based on the concept of slow travel (slow travel).

Take your time and see everything

The concept of slow travel is not new. She got a second wind in the bustling 21st century, but was quite popular in the 19th century. The French poet and traveler Teofil Gauthier (1811-1872), for example, was two centuries ahead of modern supporters of slow tourism, arguing that the world needs to "slow down." The same opinion was shared by the Swiss researcher and writer Isabelle Eberhard (1877-1904), who also insisted that the most important thing on the trip was to better know the life of people living in the country.

Slow travel is a trendy trend all over the world. His main idea is not only to abandon standard tours, but also from hasty tourism, which most modern people as a whole have chosen for themselves. Fans of slow travel believe that it is better not to see the famous attraction, but to get a lot of small and unique experiences that really allow you to learn a new place and relax your soul.

To do this, it is recommended to literally join the everyday life of the locals, neglect the hotel in favor of a rented apartment and not try to see too much in a short period of time. Excursions and sightseeing are not prohibited, but the bet is still made on non-standard impressions and refusal from guidebooks.

In July 1998, Clive and Jane Green went on a cruise on their 35-foot yacht from Abergavenny, Wales. They traveled for 16 years, 1 month and two days, although at first they were only planning to spend a week in Spain. Tourists were in no hurry and made long stops on the route: they lived with tribes in the Asia-Pacific region, swam with seals, helped save the mollusk crop, and were frightened by pirates on the eastern coast of Africa.

The road is already a vacation

Some fans of slow tourism believe that airplanes deprive the traveler of one of the main pleasures - anticipation of arrival at their destination. Just a few hours, and the move "from A to B" comes to an end. This, in the opinion of many "slow travelers", is fundamentally wrong. Among the adherents of the slow-travel, however, there are those who believe that it is a sin not to use the benefits of technological progress.

Nevertheless, both opponents of aircraft and their opponents recognize the charm of long trips by car or train, if they fit into the time allotted for the trip. For example, traveling along transcontinental routes, such as Route 66 and Lincoln Highway in the USA, are considered cultic for supporters of the idea of \u200b\u200bslow travel.

Eco, but not that

Some ideas of slow travel have something in common with ecotourism (for example, a complete or partial refusal of air travel). However, the motives of the adherents of these movements are slightly different: ecotourists are worried about environmental problems, and “slow travelers” are not satisfied with modern methods of moving in space, to a greater extent from a philosophical point of view.

Manifesto of the "slow tourist"

Despite the fact that fans of slow-travel disdainful of guides for vacationers, even they have a set of rules. They are curiously described by the Manifesto for Slow Travel. An article with that title was published by Hidden Europe and is considered useful if you want to try slow tourism.

10 rules for a slow-tourist

Fans of slow tourism are sure that it is not necessary to quit work for a slow journey. With a standard vacation of 7-14 days, you can also successfully apply the rules of slow travel.

It is better to stay in one place and study it well than to see many cities in fits and starts. For example, Italy can be better known by renting a house in the countryside, rather than wandering around the country in an attempt to see Rome, Florence and Venice in one week.

Try couchsurfing, or exchange vacations.

Visiting local markets is very exciting. And for those who are going to cook their own meals in rented apartments, seductive rows with local specialties are just a godsend.

Even those at home scornfully turning away from shawarma and fried donuts should try local street food.

Have a picnic in the park like a real city dweller.

You can sign up for local courses in drawing, diving, salsa - whichever seems interesting.

You definitely need to attend a concert of a popular local pop or rock band. Visit a purely local festival that no one has ever heard of. Visit the local sports championship, the results of which will not be reported on television news.

Everything in the world can be done slowly

Slow tourism is only a small part of the global movement to slow the pace of modern life Slow Movement. To learn more about this lifestyle, it’s best to read the 2004 book “In Praise of Slowness” by Carl Honore. At one time, The Financial Times compared the significance of this work for adherents of the slow movement with Karl Marx's “Capital” for supporters of communism.