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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Sep 09, 2011 02:00 PM To the second Lake of Siberia
I am still in the Russian Altai. It is worth to turn from M52 highway to Chemal - 36 kms each way. This small village is beautifully located on the high bank of the rapid Katun River. There is a little orthodox chapel built on the rocky island and the Altai Cultural Center located in the traditional ai houses. They charge 150 roubles for entry in the center but it is worth...
In the afternoon I decided to go via Gorno Altaisk to Lake Teletskoye - second lake in Siberia after Baikal. The bus ticket from Gorno Altaisk to Artybash on the lake costs 270 roubles. Unfortunately the weather is changing. I was still lucky to have such a sunny period before.
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Sep 08, 2011 02:00 PM M52 highway to Mongolian border
Altai Republic. Few kilometers south of Aktash I saw for the first time snow-capped peaks of the Altai. It was Mt Aktru - 4044 m above the sea. The views here remind me Canadian Rocky Mountains. The mountains are in the beautiful autumn foliage. What a colours!
After some 60 kms from Aktash the landscape changes - it converts to the steppe, with herds of sheep and horses. Finally we reached the last Russian settlement before the Mongolian border - Kosh Agach - dusty place, with gravel side streets and granite Lenin monument. "End of the world" - this is the feeling here. Why they drink so much? - this is the second question related to the local people.
I decided to turn back - there is nothing interesting before the border... We made a little detour (8 kms each way) from Aktash to Krasnye Vorota - the stone gate on the bumpy, gravel road to Ulagan. Quite nice place. But the local people say that the Ulagan area is last safe in all Altai...
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Sep 07, 2011 02:00 PM Rivers, rapids, great mountains
Russian Altai... What a lovely sun! I was driving up the Katun River enjoying the panoramic views.
I recognized that the driver has a gun with him. Why? Altay is famous for the armed people. It is safer to be armed - he said.
Walking to the gorges for the great pictures, enjoying meetings with a local people. It was 6 pm when I found an overnight stay in the private house by the river in Aktash. I prefere such accommodation to the hotel. Not only because it is cheaper - it gives me a chance to socialize with the locals, to understand better their life.
Tea, the Russian bath - banya. An the rest...
What a day!
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Sep 06, 2011 02:00 PM Gorno Altaisk
Long distance bus took me from Barnaul to Gorno Altaisk (almost 5 hours, 450 roubles). It was lovely, sunny day when I reached the capital city of Altai Republic. They still call the main street Kommunisticheky Prospekt! The cheapest "Hotel Magistralnaya" recommended in the LP guidebook does no exist! I found abother one: DoMostStroy - opposite to Park Pobedy. It is cosy, but crampy mini hotel - I pay 500 roubles for the bed in the twin room. So far I am alone...
In the afretnoon I took a local bus (47 r) to Aya Suspension Bridge on Katun River - great landscapes remind me Polis Pieniny Mountains. Tomorrow I plann to rent a junk car with local driver and head to Chuysky Trakt. I have great weather!
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Sep 05, 2011 02:00 PM Four buses and two flights - I am in the far Siberia!
Early morning I took a bus from Gdansk to Kaliningrad (still 50 zlotys) From the Kaliningrad station (do not be confused by the Moscow time on the clock - Moscow time is I hour ahead) I took the city bus 144 to the KGD airport (36 roubles, 40 minutes). The flight to St Petersburg took me slighly more the an hour. Second flight to Barnaul took 4,5 hours. We landed at 4 am local time. 6 deg Celsius only! First city bus to the town goes at 6.30 am (25 roubles). I am again in Siberia!
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Sep 04, 2011 02:00 PM New voyage!
My old backpack is ready! I go solo to Russia - a country whose tourist value are still little appreciated. My new route can be described as "two in one": first I go to the little-known Russian Altai Mountains, and then - via Moscow by low cost flight, crossing The Arctic Circle to Murmansk. After that I plan to move by train to Karelia, with the intention of getting to the infamous Islands Solovetsky in the White Sea. Maybe it will be also possible to visit the manasteries on Ladoga and Onega Lakes... Travel route is shown on the map. The weather will be very important in this journey. So please my friends: keep your fingers crossed, lets sun shine there for me!
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Sep 01, 2011 02:00 PM The traveller in Wojtkowka
Among the guests who have visited Wojtk?wka this season I had distinguish Gdansk-based traveler, geographer, africanist and organizer of many high-altitude mountains expeditions - Mike Kochanczyk. His broad knowledge of the world makes our discussion very interesting. We were talking about the expeditions to the farthest corners of the globe. Mike is a very kind and well-wishing man who, like me, willing to help others to prepare for their trips around the world.
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Aug 31, 2011 02:00 PM End of the summer in Wojtkowka
I still enjoy my flowers and fresh vegetables in Wojtkowka. But the nights are already cold - 10 deg only. It is time to work on the new travel projects... I buy inexpensive air tickets - the first expedition will be to the east, then I have a chance to visit Mt Athos. In November/December will be the good time to come back to the warm Caribbean... There are still beautiful islands to see!
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May 31, 2011 02:00 PM New friend - captain Jerzy Wasowicz
I had a great pleasure to meet in Gdansk Marina the outstanding Polish sailor - captain Jerzy Wąsowicz.
Years ago he converted old fishing boat to the oceanic sailboat
"Antica". Then it took him 6 years to sail around the globe. But this voyage was only a little part of his adventures. Great man! We were talking aboard "Antica" about the distant places we visited like Cocos Island or Rodrigues. Jerzy offered me his two books with a special, warm dedication. I hope to meet him again...
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Apr 24, 2011 02:00 PM Pleasure to meet the another toptrotter...
Harry Mitsidis found me on the internet... Citizen of Greece and Britain he is also a passionate traveler. He visited already all countries - members of the UN (and more)... "The toptrotter" - that's how I call such a outstanding globetrotters.
Harry arrived to Gdansk - my hometown - on his way to Kaliningrad. It was lovely, sunny afternoon when we met in the Gdansk Old Town.
I found Harry as a very nice and interesting person. We spent few hours talking and sharing our travel experience. Harry saw a lot around the world and it was a real pleasure to disscuss with him travel plans. Perhaps we will travel toogether to the new, fascinating places?...
See our picture in front of the Solidarity monument in Gdansk.
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