Parable: FREEDOM.

Once a young man came to the teacher: "Tell me, what is this - freedom?"
"What kind of freedom?" - Asked his teacher.
"The first freedom is stupidity.




It is like a trotter, which throws off a rider with a rider.
The stronger he feels then the latter he has a grip.

The second freedom is repentance.

It is like the helmsman that remains on the wreckage of the ship after the crash, instead of landing in the lifeboat.

Vladimir Kush The three Graces
The third freedom is understanding.



It comes after stupidity and repentance.
It is like a stalk, that even though it swayed in the wind it bows, but it's worth it, because it yields where it is weak. "
And the disciple asked: "Is that all?"
To which the master replied: "Some believe that they themselves are looking for the truth of their soul.
But the Big Soul is thinking and seeking through them.

Homemade Cocktail

Tale of the hedgehog

There was a hedgehog in the forest. He was very prickly and he had neither enemies nor friends.
There were no enemies, because no one wanted to get involved with such prickly things, and his friends ... could not keep a hedgehog for prickles.
Approach a hedgehog someone, and they immediately stick out and begin to prick.
Anyway, they were, a friend before the hedgehog or an enemy. And as the hedgehog did not try to persuade the thorns, it does not stick, they do not
Obeyed.
It was sad for the hedgehog from this, and he decided to shave off the thorns one day. Absolutely. Not a single one can leave.
He decided so and went to the barber shop. And a completely different hedgehog came out from there.
A little pink skin glows through the gray fluff ...

At first the beasts thought that a large mouse had come to them in the forest.

But then someone found out the hedgehog. At first they laughed at him, and then offended the steel.
The hedgehog began to hide.

One day he hid in the library, and he found the word "orator" there, which meant the one who spoke.

Although he was scared, he left the library and walked through the forest.
And the fox is coming towards him. And already she was going to offend the hedgehog, as the hedgehog got up straight, looked into her eyes and spoke.

He spoke for a long time, and the fox listened and listened. Even then, when the hedgehog went to his house, she stood and
Listened.
That's how the animals learned that even a shaved hedgehog can not be offended.

And even just do not go by.
Speak. Probably even to death.

Dmitry Melnikov

I'll tell you an amazing dream,
Who once dreamed of a hedgehog:

He fell asleep this hedgehog in the spring under a bush.
And it's scary to say what happened next -
Under a cloud of white he opened his eyes,
And then it turned out that he was a dragonfly,
That thin wings rustle on the back.
But the hedgehog did not understand what a dream it was!
He began to lose height in fright,
And quickly flew to a small bush.
And so, ahead of the angry flies,
He made the final BUCH in the bushes!

Friends, guess what happened then ...
... Then he woke up under the same bush!
And he stroked the needles, trembling with happiness-
After all, life is good at the hedgehog!

Julia Lesnaya

by Vladimir Kush South America
And a little hedgehog kingdom.))

Black in white Paris

Luxurious city of the Sun King and Napoleon.
The city, along the promenades of which Sartre and Camus strolled, pondering the subjects of new books.
The city in which Madame Pompadrur worked in the boudoir, and Coco Chanel created a fashion ...

In this city, the smell of freshly brewed coffee is mixed with the bright colors of flowering petunias.
Here each house is a small architectural masterpiece, and each street is a unique collection of masterpieces.
Quarters and sights of the city differ from each other, like Mars from Venus, but together they create a single whole - the unique image of Paris.
The French call it Ile-de-France - the center of France, and everything else - the province.

Paris has long ceased to be just a French city.
However, through the bustle of the international metropolis, sometimes the true Paris appears, in which its extraordinary atmosphere is felt.
And since Paris is not that city, for understanding which the riot of colors is important, in this collection it will appear before you in black and white.
And snowy!

Many-sided and colorful this city does not leave anyone indifferent.
But ... there are disappointments.
In order for this not to happen in order to enjoy Paris in full, you just need to perceive this city as it is, without comparing it to the cliches about "high fashion mecca", "city of lovers" and other popular phrases.
All the same, Paris will be different, unexpected and even more beautiful than could be imagined from films and books.

by Cao Yong art for sale

CAPRI. The island of sirens is the temple of the goddess of nature.

"Capri is a queen of rocks clothed in amaranth and white lilies"
Pablo Neruda

Capri has long won the fame of the "fairy", "magic" island.
"Island of the Sirens" - as Turgenev called the island of Capri, located at the southern entrance to the Gulf of Naples, next to the Sorrentine coast in the west of Italy.
In the history of world culture, Capri has remained an island of sirens.
Many legends, myths, legends were associated with him. Past Capri, according to legend, the ship of Odysseus swam, and here the hero withstood one of his ordeals - opposed the sorcerous, invocatory singing of sirens, coming from the island.
The Homeric hero told his companions to tie themselves to the mast of the ship, so as not to succumb to the temptation of the sweet-haired singing of the sea naiads who took a fancy to the island and not dive into the blue depths.
Widely known and the legend of the island inhabited by terrible one-eyed creatures - cyclops.
Here Odyssey accomplished his other feat - blinded by the cyclope Polyphemus.
History was not inferior to mythology. Very old and too stormy for such a tiny piece of land and a small population.

Capri, as a favorite child, has several names.
Homer called it "blooming earth". The emperor Augustus is "the land of sweet idleness", the ancient Romans are the "mermaid island".
This small fancy island, an area of ​​only 10 square meters. Km, towering above the blue sea, striking beauty of its rocky landscape, it is distinguished by its natural beauty, mild and healthy climate, clean air, a cap of lush Mediterranean vegetation, crystal clear sea, the bottom of which is seen at a depth of 8-10 meters.
The island of Capri has long been captivated by its charms, not without reason it is called "an island of magic dreams."

Here is how Capri described Ivan Alekseevich Bunin in his story "The Island of Sirens":
"... Capri" rises from the bosom of the sea like a lying sphinx "or a drowned ship, as others say.
Byron likened Capri to a wave driven by a storm. But, to put it more simply, it is a giant rock sticking out of the sea, wild in appearance and sometimes completely vertical, the ridge of which forms almost in the middle of its deep saddle, which has sheltered the small town of Capri, its olive orchards and vineyards. "

The appearance of the first settlements on Capri dates back to the Paleolithic. Here are preserved traces of the Phoenician and Greek civilizations.
Since 326 years BC. The Roman period began. Capri then belonged to the Neapolitans.
In the year 29 BC. Delighted with the beauty of the island, the Emperor Augustus suggested that the Neapolitans exchange Capri for Ischia.
Emperor Augustus called Capri Apragopolis - "the city of sweet idleness," a "paradise of idleness."
The island, remote from domestic stress, seems created to discover the beauty of local nature, history and art: the deep emerald sea, marvelous panoramas, picturesque villages, the ruins of Roman villas, temples and monastery, castles, palaces, countless private cottages, towers, grottos.

The Roman emperor Tiberius loved to spend time here. In 866, Louis II gave the island to the maritime Republic of Amalfi.
In 1528 the island was bought by J. Pellegrino.
In 1534 almost all the cities of the island were destroyed by pirates.
Owners of the island and historical epochs changed, but the beauty of the local landscapes remained unchanged.




The etymology of Capri's name is unclear, it can either ascend to Ancient Greece.
The ancient name of the island - Caprea - in Greek meant "wild boar"
But it can also result from Latin capreae (goats).
Remains of wild boars were found on the island during excavation, which may indicate the correctness of the first assumption of the origin of the word - "kapros", but on the other hand, the Romans called Capri "Goat Island", which may indicate the correctness of the second option.
Especially if you look at these heights, according to which you must jump like a mountain goat. ))

The island of Capri is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea and is located just 5 km from the coast of Sorrento and 36 km from the port of Naples.
The communication between Capri and Sorrento or Naples is ferry.
The island is small - 11 square kilometers, with a population of 13 thousand inhabitants.
Capri has a reputation as a chic resort and a favorite holiday destination for celebrities from around the world.
In the tourist season, the population of Capri is increased to half a million!



Landscapes of this resort are unique.
View of the Bay of Naples with the outline of the volcano Vesuvius strikes the imagination.
Here grows more than 850 species of various plants and trees.
But the most remarkable thing about Capri is the sea!






Crystal-transparent, very clean, piercing blue: it was because of him came to the island of Capri Roman emperors, Arab sheikhs, Hollywood beauties, industrial magnates and famous stylists.