Living on an island is a dream for many, and we have made it happenyou a selection of the 5 most unusual islands where dreams come true It is easy to fly off to the islands for a holiday, but much more difficult to return: you want to enjoy the romance of life on the coast as long as possible. Why not extend the pleasure, say, forever? Take a risk and move, like the heroes of the new season of the program "Life on the Islands", which began on September 12 and will be on Mondays at 22:55 (MSK) on the Fine Living lifestyle channel.
Once a bold decision is made, before it is implementedThere is only one step left to turn your dream into reality — finding the perfect home, with which professional real estate agents are ready to help participants. And only after the deal is completed does the real island life begin — the life of those who once preferred the endless peace and solitude of the islands of the American coast to the dynamics of big cities. Well, for those who have not yet dared to move, the Fine Living TV channel has compiled a selection of facts about life on the most unusual islands in the world.
Family Life - Palmerston, Cook IslandsOn Palmerston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, the expression “being in the family circle” is taken literally: all 60 residents of the island are descendants of one man, Englishman William Masters. In 1863, an enterprising ship carpenter landed on the island in the company of three Polynesian women, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Palmerston had increased to 134 people. A hundred years later, the isolation of the atoll, located more than 3,000 km from the mainland, periodic problems with food supplies and regular hurricanes have reduced the population by half. However, even when leaving Palmerston, most of its residents remain islanders, they just choose slightly less isolated points on the map.
Life on a Volcano - Sao Miguel, Azoresislands The residents of Sao Miguel are familiar with another expression - "living like on a volcano". The largest island of the Azores archipelago is of volcanic origin, which determines the specifics of the life of the locals: if desired, food can be cooked on a couple of geysers, and on weekends they can relax on the long beaches with black sand. Non-native islanders feel a distinct smell of hydrogen sulfide in the first days of their stay on Sao Miguel, but soon stop paying attention to it. But they begin to hear whales, of which there are quite a lot in the coastal waters, despite the fact that a couple of centuries ago whaling was in full swing here. Since then, little has changed on the island, especially in the mentality of the inhabitants: here, as before, no one is in a hurry, preferring to enjoy every moment.
Life in the epicenter of tourism - Cyprus SWith the end of the holiday season, life on the islands usually comes to a standstill, but Cyprus is a happy exception, and all thanks to the islanders' love of life. More than anything else, Cypriots value family values, the ability to always be "busy" and measuredness. Many residents are employed in the tourism industry, where the peculiarities of the national mentality have been transferred - friendliness and a sincere interest in the interlocutor. Communication continues even when, by island standards, it is deep night. And even the language barrier does not become an obstacle: those who come to Cyprus not to rest, but to live, at first communicate with gestures, and the locals are more actively learning Russian.
Life at the Crossroads of Different Cultures - Mauritius,Mascarene Islands Small Mauritius has preserved the best examples of colonial heritage, added traditions borrowed from Africa and seasoned them with Asian brightness. They speak adapted French here, and pay with adapted rupees. In tourist brochures, Mauritius appears as a typical beach destination, but in practice it turns out that the locals are absorbed in work and rarely go to the coast. New Year is celebrated here several times, Hindus celebrate Muslim holidays, and Muslims participate in Hindu ones. At the same time, they work side by side with each other and numerous Chinese who came to develop the textile industry. In general, moving to Mauritius is inevitably accompanied by a crazy mix of expectations and reality, which will appeal to everyone who is not alien to exoticism.
Life in the North - Aland IslandsSituated at the crossroads of the Baltic Sea trade routes, the archipelago has historically had an important strategic significance, and therefore has been the subject of interstate disputes. The final word was left to Finland, but it was spoken in Swedish, which remains the official language of the Åland Islands. Apart from constant territorial claims, life in the archipelago's only city, Mariehamn, flows in Scandinavian calm: residents are engaged in yachting, transport problems are non-existent, and the functions of entertainment centers have been taken over by ordinary supermarkets. And the Åland Islands are also considered the sunniest point in the Baltic, so there is no need to fear all the "advantages" of the north.
About Fine Living Fine TV Channel HostsLiving — innovative designers, lifestyle gurus, fashion experts and chefs from around the world — are full of unconventional ideas for all occasions. Italian cuisine expert Giada De Laurentiis, outstanding interior designer Vern Yip and other presenters of the channel help viewers add new colors to their usual way of life. The Fine Living program consists of shows dedicated to the modern pace of life and the world of design.
Live on the island: the 6 most unusual dream islands
