Аннотация: Two youth trips: to the Black Sea and around Central Asia. (In university). Autobiographical story.
Two youth trips: to the Black Sea and around Central Asia. (In university). Autobiographical story.
The desire to get to know each other better and to try our luck prompted a group of seven first-year students and studentesses to head to the seaside for the May holidays with a tent for four people.
We made this trip with our own money.
We got off the train at random, at some station, seeing that we were already driving along the Black Sea coast.
The railroad tracks ran next to the sea, so we easily found a place on the rocky shore and settled down in this deserted area.
The Sun was shining, summer was approaching. During the day time it was warm enough.
The water was cold for swimming.
But nevertheless, we went into the water, splashed sea water on each other, and someone tried to submerge in the sea water and to swim several meters.
The problems started at night.
If even we had air mattresses with us, they did not hold the air. So in a tent for four people, seven tourists tried to save their sides from the hard influence of coastal stones.
We stayed there for several days. We walked along the shore and on sea water (without going deep into the sea), gained an understanding of comfort during a half-sleep at night in a crowded tent and on hard stones.
Having bought return tickets, we waited for the train.
The train to Moscow was rushing by. It appeared to be red in color and looked comfortable.
A man stood at one of the windows.
I waved my hand to him. With a touch of condescension, he waved in response.
Soon we returned to Rostov.
In general, it was not so bad. We were in a good mood.
A year or two later, I (already at the expense of youth funds) plunged with a company of youth activists on a trip around Central Asia.
We covered part of the way by plane, part by train.
I started my acquaintance with Central Asia from the toilet at the airport in the city of Frunze (now Bishkek). There the plane made an unscheduled stop for some reason.
I was just getting signs of food poisoning. Apparently the unfresh airplane food had an effect.
The toilet played a positive role. By inducing vomiting, I regained my ability to continue the journey.
On the train on the way to Alma-Ata, we met a middle-aged local with a touch of a huge life experience and a touch of conspiracy style. Perhaps he was involved in entrepreneurship.
In secret, he gave us advice: next to Alma-Ata there is Medeo stadium, and at this stadium you can visit an entertainment establishment and watch a striptease.
It was strange to hear such advice, having covered many thousands of kilometers. I had no desire to watch a striptease at the Medeo skating rink. Firstly, this sight itself was not interesting for me. Secondly, it was irrational to spend money on striptease at the Medeo skating rink.
The Medeo stadium itself and the city of Alma-Ata did not remain in memory. But I remember the polite meeting: some local youth leader watched over the placement of us in the youth hostel. There was some kind of polite conversation, and perhaps a modest treat initiated by the host.
This is all that remains in the memory after Alma-Ata.
The program included Samarkand.
In Samarkand, I was impressed by the Registan Square, the majestic ancient buildings on it, as well as the lack of water in the hotel.
Among other things, we also visited the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat.
There was no working sewage system in the student dormitory here. Accordingly, one can imagine the state of the toilet. I will not describe the details ...
I remember a beautiful park in the center of Ashgabat with fountains. The park was especially beautiful at night.
In general, it was a useful trip, which made it possible to understand that living in European Russia in the 80s of the 20th century was not such a bad option.
Would I have lost a lot by not going on this journey?
How to gain experience and a grain of relative wisdom without spending time and efforts?
To do this, you need to be a natural philosopher of a special type, to have or receive a "pre-experienced" knowledge, to "see", to have an intuition ...
Still, the Registan Square (in Samarkand) remained in my memory ...
August 18, 2021 20:14
Translation from Russian into English: August 18, 2021 21:29.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Две молодёжные поездки: на Черное море и в Среднюю Азию. (В университете). Автобиографический рассказ'.