World War II museum opened in Sochi this weekend. According to vesti.ru, the museum is featuring one of the most complete collections of WW2 awards. All Soviet medals and decorations were donated to the museum by owners or their heirs, and the awards from the foreign countries were purchased in auctions. Among other items are ammunition and paintings from the collection of the businessman Victor Baturin.

The museum is located on the territory of the Sanatorium «Krasmashevsky».

In front to the museum is new statue of Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt meeting in Yalta (another Black Sea coast city, now in Ukraine). The author of the statue is Israeli architect Frank Meisler. Here a couple of pictures from the rian.ru and a video news clip (in Russian) from ntv.ru

Read the rest of this entry »

With rising interest for the Eastern European destinations among Australian tourists, Expedia Australia (Expedia.com.au) compiled a list of top 10 ‘hidden corners’ of Eastern Europe. I’ll just quote #2 on that list:

2. The resorts of the Black Sea Coast - The Black Sea Coast washes up on the shores of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine and offers a warm climate, sandy beaches, historical monuments, vineyards and luxurious resorts. Entertainment facilities and sanctuaries; home to hundreds of bird, fish and plant life, also line the coast offering an exciting yet relaxed seaside holiday. With entertainment, food and accommodation at reasonable prices, the Black Sea Coast provides a cost-effective alternative to the well-worn French Riviera. Worthwhile Black Sea resorts include Varna (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania) and Yalta and Sochi in Russia.

Source: prleap.com

As reported by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS about a week ago, Russia and Ukraine have reached the agreement to build a bridge connecting Russia’s South and Crimea. I’ve written an article about plans for the Kerch Strait Bridge when they were announced by Ukrainian officials last year.

That announcement came short after Russian gov’t officially pledged to develop Sochi as round-year resort no matter how the Olympic bid goes. Many believe having this bridge will help Ukraine get some of the money Russia will pump into the south over the next decade. Anyways, both Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers have confirmed the agreement, and Ukrainian PM, Yulia Timoshenko, announced that the work on this project will start within days.

The first Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Krasnodar Krai and Crimea was built back in 1944, but was destroyed within a year by sea storms, and was never rebuilt. There are several projects for the new bridge in existence, valued between $700 million and one billion dollars.

As a separate, transportation related, piece of good news for Russia’s south - Russian government allocated extra money for reconstruction and maintenance of Russia’s roads. And the largest part of it - 86.7 billion rubbles ($3.7 bln), instead of originally planned 27 billion ($1.1 bln) just this year alone - will go into “Olympic” roads: М4 “Don”, connecting Moscow and Novorossiysk, and М27, Dzhubga - Sochi. 

Source: lenta.ru

A year ago, around the time International Olympic Committee’s visit to Sochi, several direct flights from Austria were launched to Sochi mostly to “impress” the IOC members. Now, when Sochi has become an official 2014 Olympic host city, Austrian Airlines launched regular direct flights from Vienna to Sochi.

The schedule Vienna-Sochi-Vienna:

VIE - Vienna International Airport code
AER - Sochi Airport (also know as Adler Airport, by the name of the district where airport is located.)

Austrian’s booking site is here »

I saw 660€uro round trip tickets on their website for May. Could be cheaper, but it will certanly be more going by transit through Moscow or Krasnodar (where they also have direct regular flights).

* Sochi mayor Viktor Kolodyazhny resigns to become head of «Olympstroy» corporation owned by state which will control all Olympic related construction in Sochi, and, of course, the money flow. You can read more on this in The Moscow Times. The acting mayor for now will be Vladimir Afanasenkov — Vice Governor of Krasnodarsky Krai. He too was previously involved in Sochi’s Olympic bid.

* Russia launches Olympic brand protection campaign:

“Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and Russian authorities today began the first ever mass intellectual property protection campaign to safeguard the Olympic brand in Russia.
 
… Under Olympic Law , the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and all related stakeholders have an obligation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its sponsors to protect the Olympic intellectual property that make up one of the most successful and instantly recognisable brands in the world. The campaign will see Sochi 2014 engage in extensive dialogue with the public to promote understanding and respect for the rights of the Olympic and Paralympic brands. A new outdoor advertising campaign has been launched in Sochi, with thousands of posters aimed at drawing attention towards the problem of counterfeit products using Olympic symbols.
Today, a free phone line has also been launched to respond to all queries related to brand protection, such as the use of Olympic and Paralympic symbols; the rights of Sochi 2014, the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC); and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic brands. The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee will also use the phone line to gather feedback on how the brand protection campaign is enhancing public understanding.”
—press-release

* IOC Coordination Commission Arrives in Sochi for First Official Visit. The Sochi2014 published official press release on this.

“Jean-Claude Killy of France, a former Olympic ski champion, said he and other commission members were impressed by the initial preparations they have seen in their first visit since the Black Sea resort city was awarded the Games last year.” —The Associated Press

Quick fact: The population of Sochi is around 400,000 people. The surrounding, Krasnodar region (aka Krasnodar Krai), is home to 5.1 million people, and is the third largest Russian region.

This is continuation of the photoset from the Gazprom’s new ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana. These photos are from the top of the ski-lift first stage at the Psekhako Ridge. You can find photos of resot’s base here.

Mountain Resort (second stage)

Gazprom carries out engineering and preparation for the second stage of Mountain Resort construction. The second construction stage includes pistes, ski stadium and other facilities at the Psekhako Ridge. Said facilities will be used during the Olympic Winter Games in 2014. Construction of the Olympic Ski Stadium with operating facilities will be finished in 2010.

The second construction stage also includes 4 ropeways, ski lifts, summer sports facilities, multilevel car parking, 300 and 180 room hotels, Cultural Center with waterpark, conference halls, restaurants, cafes and trading area.
- from press release

So, here we go, the photos: Read the rest of this entry »

Here are several photos from brand spanking new «Laura» resort (official name “The mountain-ski center «Gazprom»”) launched this winter season!

At present Gazprom constructs a Mountain Resort in the Achipse River valley and at the Psekhako Ridge. Gazprom finishes the first stage of construction including 8 ropeways, ropeway lower station with utility rooms, ski lifts, 220 room hotel, 32 villas, guest house for official delegations, volleyball playground, tennis courts as well as energy supply, security, communication facilities and other operating and auxiliary facilities. In the end of 2007 Gazprom plans to commission all facilities of the first construction stage.

- from Gazprom’s press release

See map and all 15 photos: Read the rest of this entry »

By far the most common way (the only way?) to enter Abkhazia from Russia is through Sochi. For a while foreigners (except Russian citizens and members of UN) were not able to enter Abkhazia. I don’t know when it has changed, but it is not a problem now — just make sure you have multiple entry Russian visa. The only way out of Abkhazia is back to Russia, as transit to Georgia is not permitted by Abkhazian government. Actually, I’ve heard of charter boats between Abkhazia and Turkey, but I don’t know what’s the deal there.

This good information shared Sergei Bagapsh, the President of Abkhazia during an interview to the Russia’s biggest online news source Lenta.ru

Sergei Bagapsh: Citizens of third countries can enter Abkhazia with out any problems. If a tourist has multiple entry Russian visa, he can come to Abkhazia with it as well. Many foreigners visit Abkhazia these days.

Link on topic: Official website of the President of Abkhazia.

This is sort of vulgar entertainment story, if you want to skip it it’s just fine :)

While Bush’s visit to Sochi was pretty boring (Sochi’s all about pleasure, not business, you should know it by now :)), Life.ru brings us a wonderful story - with video - from the roof of Sochi’s airport. Literally.

American presidential security boys have arrived a day early and settled in around Sochi’s airport to ensure safe landing of their president. When the time came, while Air Force One was on its way down, one US sniper, located on the airport’s roof, “took it out” and emptied his bladder. Here’s a photo, and you can watch the video on this life.ru page.

Air Force One has landed today in Adler airport, marking the beginning US President’s first visit to Sochi on his two days work trip. It will most likely be the last time George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet as presidents, as Putin’s second presidential term will end in May.

There was no official word on what will be discussed during the meeting, but there sure are a lot of issues to be discussed between the US and Russia. Like Kosovo, anti-missile defense (many believe this one will be the main topic), NATO expansion, the Russian-U.S. relations and many other. «The Times» reports that Putin will officially propose the tunnel between Alaska and Russia’s Far East. And Russian media reports about possibility of signing a “strategic framework” document — sort of “road map” of the Russia-US relations, the guide for Next Russian and US Presidents (the next Russian President will take office in May and the presidential elections in the USA will take place in the end of this year).

The US delegation has 700 people, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and US Ambassador to Russia William Burns. Russian delegation will include all their counterparts, and president-elect Dmitry Medvedev.

The first day is over now and there was no official “business” talks, it was all about pleasure: Putin gave tour to George and Laura Bush of future Olympic areas, presented scale models of Olympic projects, sea shore walk and sunset watch (how romantic *rolling eyes*), fancy dinner with a concert in presidential residence “Bocharov Ruchei”.

Other non-political plans for Bush and Rice this weekend includes Read the rest of this entry »

I didn’t know this, but Elena Vesnina, Russian tennis player, member of Russian FedCup team, lives in Sochi!

Russia is currently ranked number one in FedCup rankings. Number one, baby! :-)

«Professional partnership London - Sochi» program took its start in the end of January in Sochi. The program provides for delegation exchanges between colleges and education establishments.

On January 22, professors from three London universities met with pedagogues from the «Black Sea humanitarian academy». During their week-long visit, guests from UK will have specialised seminar on teaching medical English, and will share their experience in organizing short term language courses for hotels’ personnel.

The point of this visit was to establish contacts and find common interests of two Olympic capitals in experience exchange of preparing staff for the Olympic Games. Educational consulting firm from London also plans to monitor knowledge level of English language among Sochi residents, students, and hotels’ personnel. Meanwhile city administration has set difficult goal for city’s teachers - to teach all residents at least one foreign language! Currently, out of 400 000+ residents only 10% know foreign languages in adequate level.

Sochi teachers will visit London in April, after which a document will be signed between two cities on educational tourism.

My friend Arkasha, who works in Krasnaya Polyana, sent me recently a few photos he took there with his mobile phone. Check ‘em out:

Larger images inside. Also, “Aibga” Hotel fire photos » Read the rest of this entry »

Tender will be announced for the constructtion of the high speed railway between Sochi and Moscow in the near future. «Russian Railways» in partnership with Canadian Bombardier and Italian Finnmechanica announced that will compete for this project. Their $19.6 bln plan is to modernize existing infrastructure, and have trains going with max speeds of 200 km/h (125 m/h) and reaching final destination in just 15.5 hours. Night time rides will be setup, so passengers could get on the train in the evening, and arrive to Sochi next morning.