06-08-2019, 08:56 AM
Sorry for the lack of photos but I have many things to do - normal services will resume shortly! Ruairidh
He’s only a little bit mad…
by celebratethe7
An explanation is required. The fake news story posted this morning about Chris being held in a psychiatric hospital came about because he and Ilya did actually spend the night in a hospital! Yesterday they met a colleague of Ilya's, called Dima, who runs a private dental hospital. As they didn't have any patients last night they had spare beds - never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say.
They were also shown around the amazing facilities.
They obviously have too much time on their hands, planning spoof videos.
So apologies to anyone who hoped that he had finally been locked up! They were back on the road bright and early and headed straight into more adventures...
Getting to Know You
by celebratethe7
Chris meeting the Locals
Getting to Know You – Meeting Local People Chris is passionate about people. One of his objectives in setting out on the epic adventure was to build bridges between ordinary people in Russia and the UK. The theme that he has used to achieve this is the sport of Rugby Union. This connection has helped him plan the journey and connect with local people. In the video, Chris and his co-pilot Ilya Zlotnikov stop at roadside produce vendors and are invited to visit the garden and wooden house of the people.
Cheboksary Marina
Cheboksary
This short video was shot when they arrived at Cheboksary and features the marina beside the mighty Volga and some local church bells.
Another day, another dentist!
by celebratethe7
Thanks again to Ilya's social network! Chris and Ilya arrived in Vladimir yesterday and were welcomed by Yuri, a dentist. He took them for a meal, and then to meet the local Russian orthodox priest who is French and lives in the monastery. He had heard that Chris speaks French and used to be a choirboy.
After looking at the car, tea was served by one of the nuns - brandy and biscuits! Chris was presented with a copy of the Russian icon of St Christopher, and he and Ilya were blessed by the priest. They are happy to accept help for the journey from any source.
Apologies if you thought you'd heard the last of Chris singing! He sang in the private chapel, quite an honour really.
This is not Chris.
Yuri showed the team around his surgery, it's very impressive but couldn't persuade Chris to have a check-up. He hates going to the dentist...
1st August
Life in a Russian Monastery
by celebratethe7
The Journey is Blessed
Chris and Ilya are blessed by the Priest at the Monastery of the Lord's Transfiguration in Cheboksary.
2nd August
Heading for Kazan
by celebratethe7
The team set off from Cheboksay early, with the intention of getting to Kazan today. Unfortunately sections of the road were appalling, and even the lorries were slowing down to avoid potholes! Several Russians have asked us what we think of the roads - now we know why!
Now we know why everyone keeps asking what we think about Russian roads!
On the way to Kazan, Chris and Ilya stopped at another branch of the garage franchise that was so supportive in Moscow. They were given some stickers to put on the car, and very kindly put the car up on ramps so that Chris could do some checks. He tightened the brakes, checked all the nuts and bolts that he could see, changed the oil filter and the points. During another stop, they went into what looked like a car bric-a-brac shop only to find the very oil filter that fits on the car! As usual people gathered around the car to find out about it. Then out came food from an Uzbekistani restaurant, filled pancakes and cola - superbly generous and very timely!
•
•
Chris continues to be amazed by the tidiness and cleanliness of the places that he has seen - including the public toilets.
Kazan, blend of cultures
by celebratethe7
On arrival in Kazan Chris and Ilya were met by another colleague of Ilya's. Marat took them on a road tour of Kazan - wide clean streets, beautiful buildings, and a kremlin. A kremlin is a walled city, not just the seat of power in Moscow - in Kazan many parts of the city were rebuilt after being destroyed by Ivan the Terrible.
Road tour of Kazan
•
•
•
•
•
Chris was intrigued by the mix of architecture, including a mosque and a church inside the kremlin. It seems that Catherine the Great allowed Muslims and Russian orthodox to rebuild their places of worship side by side. Marat, a local Tartar man, explained that there is no friction between the two cultures, both living happily together - mixed marriages are accepted and there is harmony there.
History lesson from Marat, a local Tartar man
Chris explains what he's learnt
At last Chris experiences the pleasures of a banya, a Russian sauna, thanks to Marat.
Banya beating
Cold shower
Marat then took Chris and Ilya for an evening meal. The dish had an oriental twist - pancakes filled with prawns and soy sauce, and delicious!
Many thanks to Ilya for arranging to meet so many interesting and very generous people, and special thanks to Marat for an amazing experience.
Take that..
by celebratethe7
3rd August
Sunflowers, tea and a balalaika
by celebratethe7
Chris says that this was one of the more bizarre days so far. They were driving along and saw a field of sunflowers and decided to pull over. A couple had also stopped, and of course came over to look at the car. It turned out that they make herbal tea, and were on their way to a market with stocks of their tea to sell. The man, Peurto, then got out his balalaika and played a tune which he then tried to teach Chris. Peurto and Svetlana decided to treat Chris and Ilya to some of their tea, so changed into their market costumes, boiled water and served tea and biscuits on the bonnet of the Austin! After a walk through the sunflowers, accompanied by the music of the balalaika, Peurto and Svetlana gave Chris and Ilya some boxes of their tea. As Chris says, a "sevendipity" moment!
Peurto and Svetlana, serving tea and biscuits
A little further on, they passed an interesting looking place that had several old vehicles outside. It turns out that a Tartar man runs a small museum and amongst the various items had 12 vintage Russian cars and 2 model T Fords. He has set it up to look like the olden days, including a wood fired oven in which they make traditional pancakes! Of course Chris and Ilya had to try them, it would be rude not to. One of the visitors was Italian and played an accordion whilst they ate their meal. The owner was so taken with the car that he offered to buy it for cash, £15,000. Understandably Chris gently refused, although he did accept a generous gift of a pair of traditionally woven slippers. Again, such generosity and friendliness - thank you.
•
•
•
•
•
They are now driving through a more predominantly Muslim area. As ever, a passing motorist films as he overtakes. Less usual is that the motorist then flags them down and pulls what looks like bottles of wine from the boot of their car! It's actually a homemade fruit squash (Muslims don't drink alcohol) which they insist on serving for Chris and Ilya!
So, the day now lost, the intrepid pair decide to camp rather than spend time looking for a hotel. They drive down a few lanes and find a small wooden mosque. Everyone from the surrounding houses came out to look, and said of course they could camp, behind the mosque. Some of the villagers then brought boiled eggs, milk and bread for supper. Chris is, again, totally amazed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the people he meets. He wasn't so positive at 4am in the morning when Ilya woke him up - cold, he didn't have a sleeping bag.
He’s only a little bit mad…
by celebratethe7
An explanation is required. The fake news story posted this morning about Chris being held in a psychiatric hospital came about because he and Ilya did actually spend the night in a hospital! Yesterday they met a colleague of Ilya's, called Dima, who runs a private dental hospital. As they didn't have any patients last night they had spare beds - never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say.
They were also shown around the amazing facilities.
They obviously have too much time on their hands, planning spoof videos.
So apologies to anyone who hoped that he had finally been locked up! They were back on the road bright and early and headed straight into more adventures...
Getting to Know You
by celebratethe7
Chris meeting the Locals
Getting to Know You – Meeting Local People Chris is passionate about people. One of his objectives in setting out on the epic adventure was to build bridges between ordinary people in Russia and the UK. The theme that he has used to achieve this is the sport of Rugby Union. This connection has helped him plan the journey and connect with local people. In the video, Chris and his co-pilot Ilya Zlotnikov stop at roadside produce vendors and are invited to visit the garden and wooden house of the people.
Cheboksary Marina
Cheboksary
This short video was shot when they arrived at Cheboksary and features the marina beside the mighty Volga and some local church bells.
Another day, another dentist!
by celebratethe7
Thanks again to Ilya's social network! Chris and Ilya arrived in Vladimir yesterday and were welcomed by Yuri, a dentist. He took them for a meal, and then to meet the local Russian orthodox priest who is French and lives in the monastery. He had heard that Chris speaks French and used to be a choirboy.
After looking at the car, tea was served by one of the nuns - brandy and biscuits! Chris was presented with a copy of the Russian icon of St Christopher, and he and Ilya were blessed by the priest. They are happy to accept help for the journey from any source.
Apologies if you thought you'd heard the last of Chris singing! He sang in the private chapel, quite an honour really.
This is not Chris.
Yuri showed the team around his surgery, it's very impressive but couldn't persuade Chris to have a check-up. He hates going to the dentist...
1st August
Life in a Russian Monastery
by celebratethe7
The Journey is Blessed
Chris and Ilya are blessed by the Priest at the Monastery of the Lord's Transfiguration in Cheboksary.
2nd August
Heading for Kazan
by celebratethe7
The team set off from Cheboksay early, with the intention of getting to Kazan today. Unfortunately sections of the road were appalling, and even the lorries were slowing down to avoid potholes! Several Russians have asked us what we think of the roads - now we know why!
Now we know why everyone keeps asking what we think about Russian roads!
On the way to Kazan, Chris and Ilya stopped at another branch of the garage franchise that was so supportive in Moscow. They were given some stickers to put on the car, and very kindly put the car up on ramps so that Chris could do some checks. He tightened the brakes, checked all the nuts and bolts that he could see, changed the oil filter and the points. During another stop, they went into what looked like a car bric-a-brac shop only to find the very oil filter that fits on the car! As usual people gathered around the car to find out about it. Then out came food from an Uzbekistani restaurant, filled pancakes and cola - superbly generous and very timely!
•
•
Chris continues to be amazed by the tidiness and cleanliness of the places that he has seen - including the public toilets.
Kazan, blend of cultures
by celebratethe7
On arrival in Kazan Chris and Ilya were met by another colleague of Ilya's. Marat took them on a road tour of Kazan - wide clean streets, beautiful buildings, and a kremlin. A kremlin is a walled city, not just the seat of power in Moscow - in Kazan many parts of the city were rebuilt after being destroyed by Ivan the Terrible.
Road tour of Kazan
•
•
•
•
•
Chris was intrigued by the mix of architecture, including a mosque and a church inside the kremlin. It seems that Catherine the Great allowed Muslims and Russian orthodox to rebuild their places of worship side by side. Marat, a local Tartar man, explained that there is no friction between the two cultures, both living happily together - mixed marriages are accepted and there is harmony there.
History lesson from Marat, a local Tartar man
Chris explains what he's learnt
At last Chris experiences the pleasures of a banya, a Russian sauna, thanks to Marat.
Banya beating
Cold shower
Marat then took Chris and Ilya for an evening meal. The dish had an oriental twist - pancakes filled with prawns and soy sauce, and delicious!
Many thanks to Ilya for arranging to meet so many interesting and very generous people, and special thanks to Marat for an amazing experience.
Take that..
by celebratethe7
3rd August
Sunflowers, tea and a balalaika
by celebratethe7
Chris says that this was one of the more bizarre days so far. They were driving along and saw a field of sunflowers and decided to pull over. A couple had also stopped, and of course came over to look at the car. It turned out that they make herbal tea, and were on their way to a market with stocks of their tea to sell. The man, Peurto, then got out his balalaika and played a tune which he then tried to teach Chris. Peurto and Svetlana decided to treat Chris and Ilya to some of their tea, so changed into their market costumes, boiled water and served tea and biscuits on the bonnet of the Austin! After a walk through the sunflowers, accompanied by the music of the balalaika, Peurto and Svetlana gave Chris and Ilya some boxes of their tea. As Chris says, a "sevendipity" moment!
Peurto and Svetlana, serving tea and biscuits
A little further on, they passed an interesting looking place that had several old vehicles outside. It turns out that a Tartar man runs a small museum and amongst the various items had 12 vintage Russian cars and 2 model T Fords. He has set it up to look like the olden days, including a wood fired oven in which they make traditional pancakes! Of course Chris and Ilya had to try them, it would be rude not to. One of the visitors was Italian and played an accordion whilst they ate their meal. The owner was so taken with the car that he offered to buy it for cash, £15,000. Understandably Chris gently refused, although he did accept a generous gift of a pair of traditionally woven slippers. Again, such generosity and friendliness - thank you.
•
•
•
•
•
They are now driving through a more predominantly Muslim area. As ever, a passing motorist films as he overtakes. Less usual is that the motorist then flags them down and pulls what looks like bottles of wine from the boot of their car! It's actually a homemade fruit squash (Muslims don't drink alcohol) which they insist on serving for Chris and Ilya!
So, the day now lost, the intrepid pair decide to camp rather than spend time looking for a hotel. They drive down a few lanes and find a small wooden mosque. Everyone from the surrounding houses came out to look, and said of course they could camp, behind the mosque. Some of the villagers then brought boiled eggs, milk and bread for supper. Chris is, again, totally amazed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the people he meets. He wasn't so positive at 4am in the morning when Ilya woke him up - cold, he didn't have a sleeping bag.