Navahrudak Castle. Illustrative photo. Photo: “Nasha Niva”
“All I know about Belarus is that they have delicious chocolate, many blondes, and you need to wear reflective elements on your clothes; it also seems clean on the streets. Is there anything in Belarus that is worth seeing?” the girl wrote.
In the comments, they discussed stereotypes about the appearance of residents, the quality of chocolate, and what is worth seeing in the country.
About blondes
Some users doubted the widespread stereotype about the large number of blondes in Belarus.
“Blondes? Belarusians? Never heard of it. I thought mostly brunettes. At least, that’s what I’ve always seen. There are certainly very few light-haired guys left,” one user wrote.
“Agreed, a very old stereotype. Belarusians are mostly fair-haired. Various tones,” another girl replied.
“Well, listen, fair hair is generally more characteristic of Slavs, especially northern ones,” someone else added.
Павялічыць
Illustrative photo. Photo: pexels.com
“There are a lot of light-blondes. My statistics: my son’s karate competition. I look from the stands at several hundred children. All in white uniform. My light-blonde is literally like everyone else, very difficult to pick out with the eye, a few redheads, dark-haired, and more blondes,” another person shared.
“I don’t know where you live in Belarus, but from what I see, probably 90% of people here have light brown hair — from light-blonde to dark-blonde. Blondes are indeed very few, but brunettes are even fewer,” another wrote.
About chocolate
Belarusian chocolate also sparked much discussion.
“They’re lying about the chocolate,” one user wrote.
“Chocolate is already dead, cross it out,” another added.
“The chocolate is completely off the mark. No European will be delighted with our chocolate, which has become like plasticine. There’s a lot of good chocolate in Europe. Who would like ‘Kommunarka’ after Lindt chocolate?” the girl noted.
However, not everyone agreed with this opinion.
“My mom brings me our chocolate and marshmallow. Belgian has become boring. I want our ‘Kuznechik’,” wrote one of those who replied.
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Photo: irecommend.ru
“Tastes differ. For example, I don’t really like Lindt, and even less so when I see the prices. Some crazy prices for chocolate. It’s good that I’m not a fan of sweets,” another user wrote.
“I confirm! Our chocolate, unfortunately, is tasteless. And lately, it has become impossible to eat at all. I’m not a big fan, but I used to buy certain candies and chocolate sometimes,” another noted.
“Chocolate used to be delicious. But in pursuit of cheapness, it got worse. For example, at the Third Minsk Bakery, there was a cake ‘Leningradsky’, very tasty, I was ready to sell my soul for it. But then something changed, they made ‘Leningradsky Novy’ — it became rare crap,” was another opinion.
What to see
The country’s tourist opportunities were also discussed. Some commentators wrote that there are not many bright tourist attractions in Belarus, and generally “there is nothing to see.” Many disagreed with such statements.
“We don’t have pyramids,” one user noted.
However, many recommended specific places for travel: Narach, Braslav Lakes, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Grodno and Brest, as well as Belarusian swamps. Ready-made guidebooks for the country were also recommended. Bicycle routes were also discussed.
About tourism and detentions
They also recalled the detentions that occur in the country.
“If you are not afraid to be jailed for some trifle, you can go. But if you are in England, you will not be surprised by castles and fogs. Flatland. Many lakes. Roads are worse than in Europe. But there are cameras everywhere, especially in Minsk. Fines are extracted from the population,” the commentator listed.
Павялічыць
Old town in Grodno. Photo: Hrodna.life
At the same time, many users still noted that the country has its own special character.
“Belarus is very interesting, despite the fact that tourism is poorly developed. There are many cool places. Beautiful nature, wonderful people. I love it, in short,” one commentator wrote.
“Belarus is a wonderful country if you go beyond shopping malls and Zara,” another noted.
“If you ask such a question, then you have a lot of crap in your head. Absolutely any country has tourism potential just from the point of view that it has its own history, customs, and culture. If you mean the sea — it’s not there. No mountains. No sandy beaches. But Belarus is a peculiar world. It’s calm and unhurried here. No, there are no untouched forests here, but they are beautiful in their own way. Swamps. There are castles, churches, cathedrals, monasteries. Even if not many. Any of them in any country has its own atmosphere. I wouldn’t want to live in another country. Belarus is wonderful, calm, and there is something to see,” a Belarusian uniquely summarized what was said.