The summer is ideal for enjoying in races and travelling of all kinds. You may choose, from slowest to fastest: donkey race in Croatia, Birdman in the United Kingdom, balloons in Utah or MiG over Moscow.
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Dugi Otok, Croatia
August 7 - 9, 2009
Sali is the biggest city on Dugi Otok (Long Island), situated in Zadar archipelago, Croatia. Every year at the beginning of August the citizens of Sali indulges in three days madness. And we really mean madness. All starts in the late afternoon with Donkey Music Band consisting of traditionally dressed young men with ox horns whose boarding boats to Zadar are blowing their horns to invite the people of Zadar to come to Sali games.
The following night everyone gathers by the port in Sali to cook and enjoy traditional Dalmatian dishes, while Croatian famous singers take care that guest have a good time. The second day is reserved for a range of sporting competitions. The highlight of the festival is Sunday when the donkey racing takes place.
By the request of an Animal protection society and lovers of a singing birds competitors are not allowed to use "illegal methods" like cinnamon, vanilla, pepper and similar to "convince" the stubborn animal to move. It's not unusual for some of the donkeys to find itself offended and decide to go back home, or to start to run like hell and finish in the sea.
At the end of the race, if it ever finish, the first donkey to manage to cross the finish line is awarded with big prosciutto and a vine while the laziest donkey got a bag of grass. Music, dancing and fun continue until early morning when the boat arrives to transfer guests back to Zadar.
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Weekly
For those in need for speed the fighter plane is the best they can get. For all of you who dreamed of being a fighter pilot or just want to experience the huge amount of adrenaline, the words to remember are MiG and Nizhny Novgorod. The third largest city in Russia is home of Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Plant Sokol, the place where the best planes and pilots are made.
The flight centre has all military venues, Air Museum, and a guest lounge with a TV, billiards and table tennis. MiG adventure lasts five days. The first day is reserved for arrival to Moscow and then you'll get a cell phone programmed with the numbers of staff in case you need anything. On the second day, after short tour around Moscow, you'll pack your bags and be heading for Nizhny Novgorod - in train, first class. After a good rest in a luxury hotel the third day is The Day! It begins with meeting with the best fighter pilots in Russia, then you'll be briefed about flight plan, meet the doctor, and then learn about the pilot equipment.
After that - you are in cockpit while MiG's engines are roaring. From now on, you'll do just two things: enjoy the flight producing adrenaline like never before. The speed of MiG and acrobatics will make the experience you won't forget and you'll get a glimpse of real fighter pilot's life.
Eden, Utah
August 14 - 16, 2009
Do you know what Utah is famous for? No? It is famous for famous people. Trust but verify, this is our favourite proverb, so we went to check it. Robert Redford, Jack Dempsey, Johnny Miller, J. Willard Marriott, and Roseanne Barr are some of the names whose either live or have lived in Utah. One of the U.S Senators from Utah and the first sitting member of Congress even went into space 1985. So, the most logical thing that rises of that is to visit Utah, more closely Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort in Eden and see what's going on.
The Annual Ogden Valley Balloon Festival & Artist Festival is Northern Utah's largest balloon event which happens every August. Needed equipment: a camera for taking balloon pictures, sunglasses, a pair of gloves in case you get desire to help a balloonists to pilot, and the will to wake up early. A flight last about half an hour depending on weather conditions. You will most probably land on someone's field so pray that field is home of some small animals with short legs.
A "chase" vehicle will take you back to the Festival field and when that happens then it's time to let children play, musicians will take care for a good atmosphere, painters will paint, and after they finish their creations a Silent Auction will take place. Will some of the famous people be at the event? No.
Worthing, United Kingdom
August 22 - 23, 2009
There are two reasons why it is worth to visit Worthing in West Sussex. The first reason: business. For three years in a row the town was voted the most profitable town in Britain. The second reason: fun. Maybe you know, maybe don't (one can't know everything), but Oscar Wilde, famous playwright, novelist, blah, blah.., used the name "Worthing" as a surname for his character Jack in his social comedy "The Importance of Being Earnest".
This year's The Worthing International Birdman competition takes place during the weekend 22nd and 23rd on Worthing Pier. For that to be done 45 flyers classified in three classes must to charm audience and judges with: a) funny costumes b) entertainment value and distance c) funny jumps. Who will win this year: flying penguins, Ninja Turtles, hot-dogs, donuts or whatever, it's up to you to find out. If we are informed well, 82.5 metres distant flight is still unbeaten. We hope that weather conditions will be favourable to flyers.
"Pray don't talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. And that makes me so nervous." - Oscar Wilde - The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 1. ■
