The scientific and technological progress
of the 20th century has allowed people to overcome time and distance, to cover
in the twinkle of an eye the vast expanse of our planet. The whole world is
open now. The limits and frontiers of the previous period have stopped to
exist.
Modem life is impossible without
travelling. It is necessary for all humanity. Why do people travel? Some people
travel on business, others - for pleasure. Travelling develops our imagination
and gives us moments of joy and happiness which are so necessary in our life.
One of the aims of travelling is going on search of beauty. It is always
interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different
people, to try different food, to listen to different rhythms. Besides, there
is also an unforgettable feeling of coming back home. For some people
travelling is their profession, e.g. drivers, pilot, sailors, stewards and so
on.
There are many means of travelling
nowadays. We can go to the place of our destination by train, by plane, by sea
or by car, and even riding a bicycle or a horse. Some people prefer travelling
on foot. Everyone chooses the way he or she likes best and finds more
comfortable or more entertaining or just faster.
Those who prefer speed and comfort travel
by air. But there are some disadvantages in this kind of travelling. Flights
can be delayed due to the weather. And we shouldn't forget that tickets are
rather expensive. Travelling by train is not so fast as it is by plane, but it
gives an opportunity to watch picturesque scenery out of the windows of
carriages and just to have a rest busily doing nothing. Many people are fond of
travelling by sea. It is a very romantic kind of travelling, of course if you
don't have seasickness. Travelling by car is the most popular way nowadays. You
can drive as slow or as fast as you want, you can stop at any place you like,
swim in the river or lake or just have lunch under the trees at any time.
As for me I must say I am a passionate
traveller. When I was 8 I travelled for the first time. Then my family and I
went to Moscow.
It was such a wonderful trip. Out train passed towns and villages, rivers and
lakes, forests and fields, we crossed bridges. And I was not tired at all when
we arrived to Moscow.
In Moscow I
visited many places of interest. Especially I enjoyed museums where I learnt a
lot of useful things.
My next trip took place in autumn two
years later, when I was 11. That time we went to St. Petersburg to visit my aunt - my mother's
sister. This city struck me by its beauty. We walked a lot along the streets,
wandered in the parks and squares. I admired beautiful statues in the Summer Garden.
Of course, we went to the Hermitage museum and travelled to the famous St. Petersburg suburbs
such as Gadchino-Pavlovsk, Petrodvorets, and Pushkin. As our trip took place in
autumn, at the beginning of September, I can't help saying a few words about
the nature of that period. It was Indian summer. Russian people call this
beautiful time Golden Autumn. And sure enough it is not without a reason -
leaves become yellow and red like gold, golden apples and fruits grow in the
orchards. I was very happy at be in St.
Petersburg in September.
One of the ways of travelling I like best is
hiking. To my mind going on foot is the most democratic way of travelling. It
costs practically nothing. You have such an exciting opportunity to communicate
with your best friends and to enjoy absolute freedom.
If we are fond of travelling, we see and
learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may
read about (hem in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The
best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and
understand the people is to meet them in their own homes
| 
