17/07: What does it take? (to travel around Russia)
I use to say that KTP is a bunch of (lonesome) heroes, because travelling around Russia can be filled with surprises, often unpleasant. Last Saturday I've got a nice example of this.
Last week I played soccer and finished with a hand in plaster. Other KTP guys were on their big trips (Alex Fetisov heads to Pripolyarny Ural, Wsewolod S.Putnik is somewhere near Baikal now etc.), so I decided to go to Serpukhov town by myself and ride a local ship line there.
Serpukhov is less than 100 km from Moscow, so could I expect any surprises?
I took a local train and arrived to Serpukhov station at 2PM. According to local newspapers, the ship named 'Zusha' was supposed to take 5 or 6 rides during the day, so I felt I had a lot of time.
First I asked locals where the landing stage is. They were not too much sure but said that it's near small station named Oka, near the bridge over Oka river. I went there. Buses were cruising only 2-3 times per hour, so I had to wait for a while.
I arrived to Oka (station building is probably one of the most beautiful in Russia, take note), but found there only beach, no ships. I asked locals again, but they didn't know anything. I went along the bank and suddenly saw 'Zusha' coming from small Nara river that mouthes to Oka.
It stopped at the other shore. 50 meters from me! But no boats around and my hand in plaster. Later I thought I should have stayed and find a boat somehow, but first I called my friend Igor. Igor seems to know anything about Moscow region and a couple of others.
- Listen, the landing stage is now almost at the center of the city, at Nara, not Oka...Well, it the last stop of bus number... two... yes. number two, I think. Beyond the monastery (said Igor).
I took a bus back to the city and on the way saw Vysotsky monastery standing on Nara. But it turned out to be not the right monastery (there are three in Serpukhov). I returned to the center, took the bus number 2 and reached the end of route. It was on Nara, but there was no monastery around and no boat.
It took almost an hour to understand that Igor explained everything right, but just mixed the bus numbers. Bus number 4 goes to the port, and it's on the other side of the town.
When I reached the port and the monastery, downpour started. It was 6 PM. According to the timetable, the voyage should have been at 6:30, but when 'Zusha' arrived, the woman on board said: 'Oh, no, nowadays we don't go at 6:30. Just 8PM'.
Being showered by rain, I decided to return to Moscow. Now I'm thinking - whether I should return next Saturday or get depressed about it all?)
Last week I played soccer and finished with a hand in plaster. Other KTP guys were on their big trips (Alex Fetisov heads to Pripolyarny Ural, Wsewolod S.Putnik is somewhere near Baikal now etc.), so I decided to go to Serpukhov town by myself and ride a local ship line there.
Serpukhov is less than 100 km from Moscow, so could I expect any surprises?
I took a local train and arrived to Serpukhov station at 2PM. According to local newspapers, the ship named 'Zusha' was supposed to take 5 or 6 rides during the day, so I felt I had a lot of time.
First I asked locals where the landing stage is. They were not too much sure but said that it's near small station named Oka, near the bridge over Oka river. I went there. Buses were cruising only 2-3 times per hour, so I had to wait for a while.
I arrived to Oka (station building is probably one of the most beautiful in Russia, take note), but found there only beach, no ships. I asked locals again, but they didn't know anything. I went along the bank and suddenly saw 'Zusha' coming from small Nara river that mouthes to Oka.
It stopped at the other shore. 50 meters from me! But no boats around and my hand in plaster. Later I thought I should have stayed and find a boat somehow, but first I called my friend Igor. Igor seems to know anything about Moscow region and a couple of others.
- Listen, the landing stage is now almost at the center of the city, at Nara, not Oka...Well, it the last stop of bus number... two... yes. number two, I think. Beyond the monastery (said Igor).
I took a bus back to the city and on the way saw Vysotsky monastery standing on Nara. But it turned out to be not the right monastery (there are three in Serpukhov). I returned to the center, took the bus number 2 and reached the end of route. It was on Nara, but there was no monastery around and no boat.
It took almost an hour to understand that Igor explained everything right, but just mixed the bus numbers. Bus number 4 goes to the port, and it's on the other side of the town.
When I reached the port and the monastery, downpour started. It was 6 PM. According to the timetable, the voyage should have been at 6:30, but when 'Zusha' arrived, the woman on board said: 'Oh, no, nowadays we don't go at 6:30. Just 8PM'.
Being showered by rain, I decided to return to Moscow. Now I'm thinking - whether I should return next Saturday or get depressed about it all?)
Total Votes: 1 - Rating: 5.00
Del.Icio.Us
Digg.Com
