1. Paris based on The Da Vinci Code
Before a trip to Paris, you can watch the legendary movie about Professor Robert Langdon, but if you want to leisurely “examine” the architectural masterpieces of the city, it is better to read the original source. In the story, the professor does not come to Paris for croissants. Jacques Saunière, the museum’s curator and Langdon’s longtime friend, was killed at the Louvre. Together with the granddaughter of the deceased, the hero will have to unravel many terrible secrets, clues to which will be given by the city itself.
Things to do in Paris
- Take a couple of selfies at Place Vendôme. It is there that the famous Ritz Hotel is located, where Langdon stayed.
- Break into the Louvre to touch the inverted pyramid and find the room with the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Look into the Church of Saint-Sulpice, enjoy the beautiful stained glass windows and see the prime meridian line.
- Take a walk through the Bois de Boulogne, a huge public park where Parisians love to relax.
- Visit the Chateau Villette estate. In the book, this is where Lee Teabing, an expert on the Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion, lived. In reality, the castle is a historical landmark with a luxurious park complex.
2. Thai holiday in the spirit of the movie “The Beach”
If you’re going to Thailand and don’t want to spend your entire vacation in the hotel pool, watch this movie. In it you can admire not only the young DiCaprio, but also enjoy the scenery of the pristine and empty Maya Bay.
The film begins with a young American, Richard, flying to Thailand in search of adventure. In a Bangkok hotel, he meets a man who gives him a map of the island and promises that there the hero will find “heaven on Earth.” Having enlisted the help of new friends, the guy goes on a search. And although most of the filming took place on the resort islands, going to the capital and walking through iconic places is a great idea.
Things to do in Bangkok
- Visit Wat Pho temple and see the huge statue of the Reclining Buddha. This is what DiCaprio was looking at at the beginning of the film.
- Walk along Khao San Road at night. This crazy street met a young hero, and it seems that nothing much has changed there since then.
- Head to the country’s oldest snake farm at the Queen Saowabha Memorial Institute. You are unlikely to be offered to drink blood, like Richard in the alley of Khao San, but you will be able to look at a variety of reptiles.
3. Indian holidays like in Shantaram
Gregory Roberts’ book is good, but, perhaps, to get to know India in absentia, it is better to watch the series. And although most of it was filmed in Australia, the filmmakers were quite able to convey the atmosphere, bright color and even the feeling of the sticky Indian heat.
The novel takes place in the 1980s. The journey of Lindsay Ford, the main character of the work, begins with an escape from an Australian prison to the Indian city of Bombay, now known as Mumbai. At the station he meets a boy who will become his guide to the difficult life of the Indian slums. Here Ford will work as a doctor, become close to the local mafia, fall in love, find and lose friends.
If you’re planning a trip to India, add Mumbai to your itinerary. A contrasting and incomparable city, in which fabulous luxury coexists with terrible poverty, is capable of turning the minds of any traveler upside down.
Things to do in Mumbai
- Spend an evening at the iconic Leopold Cafe in Colaba. Yes, it really exists and welcomes guests!
- Take a peek inside Asia’s largest open-air laundry, Dhobi Ghat. For newcomers, watch the hard work of workers from the overpass. For experienced people, go down into the thick of things.
- Bargain at Chor Bazaar and buy antiques, incense and masala.
- Act as an extra in a Bollywood movie. Just like the hero of Shantaram. The pavilions are open to tourists, and it’s easy to meet an agent in that same Leopold.
4. The Russian North as in the film “How I Spent This Summer”
Domestic tourism is a great opportunity to experience new sensations without bothering with visas and long flights. Thus, according to a survey by the NAFI Analytical Center, more than half of Russians are planning travel this year. You can choose not only the usual Black Sea coast as a destination. The Russian North is also capable of surprising. And you can admire him in the drama “How I Spent This Summer.” In the story, intern Pavel ended up on an island in the Arctic Ocean. His watch is coming to an end, but the hero has not experienced the adventures for which he went to the Arctic. Rugged landscapes, wild shores and the charm of the desert tundra – this movie is truly capable of inspiring those who dream of a trip to the North.
The film was filmed at the Valkarkai weather station, but you won’t be able to get there just like that. Instead, you can take a closer look at other places in the Arctic. For example, trips to Murmansk are gaining popularity among tourists.
Things to do in Murmansk (and surroundings)
- Take panoramas of the Kola Bay. In winter it looks especially brutal.
- Climb aboard the nuclear icebreaker “Lenin” – first in the world surface vessel with a nuclear power plant.
- Go to the tundra. Be amazed by its beauty, and at the same time look for cloudberries.
- Go out to sea in search of whales. Most often, tourists are transported from Teriberka, which is several hours away from the city.
- Take a walk along the beaches of the Barents Sea. For example, on the territory of the Teriberka Natural Park there is the famous “Dragons’ Eggs” beach, which is dotted with huge and absolutely round boulders.
5. New York weekend based on “Sex and the City”
This series is a real almanac of New York social life. The adventures of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte cannot be imagined without this city. American travel agencies offer ready-made tours to iconic places from the series. However, the price range is quite impressive: from $60–70 for a three-hour excursion to $900 for a private limousine ride. If you are determined to visit New York someday, here are a couple of ideas that you can implement on your own.
Things to do in New York
- Try cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery in the West Village. It appeared in the series for only a few minutes, but quickly became a place of pilgrimage for its fans.
- Drive to the Brooklyn Bridge, where Miranda is reunited with Steve. Perhaps this is the only reason to visit this troubled area.
- Visit the Church of the Transfiguration, also known as the Little Church Around the Corner. It was there that Samantha met a priest whom she unsuccessfully tried to seduce.
- Shop for a new sex toy at Pleasure Chest in the West Village. There Charlotte found her “Rabbit” in the fourth season.
- Drink a cosmopolitan. In fact, it doesn’t really matter which establishment you do it at.
6. Family holidays in London with The Adventures of Paddington
Michael Bond’s tales about Paddington Bear have already become classics of children’s literature. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to London, then do not ignore their film adaptations. Behind the naive adventures of the hero, you can see many interesting locations.
Things to do in London
- Find the bear sculpture at Paddington Station. Don’t forget to rub your bear’s nose for good luck.
- Check out Mr Gruber’s antique shop on Portobello Road. In reality, the store is called Alice’s, but tourists can easily recognize it by its bright red windows.
- Take a walk through Primrose Hill Park and go to the neighborhood of the same name. The Brown family’s house was rented here.
- Try a marmalade sandwich and understand why smart bears always hide it under their hat.