Go back to Russia.
Go back to Moscow. Anadyr.We reached Anadyr at mid-day and, after a thorough check of our passports and entry permits, were met at the airport by our fixer, Alexander. Did I mention his perfect, accent free English? The airport was originally built as a military installation and so it is separated from the town of Anadyr by a two kilometer wide estuary. It’s a ~25 minute ferry ride in the summer, an ice drive in the winter or a helicopter flight (possibly hovercraft) during shoulder seasons. We burnt the afternoon walking around the town – not bad, especially for an Arctic frontier town. Alexander proposed some unorthodox sightseeing for the following day and so we found ourselves back on the ferry crossing the estuary once again the next morning; pretty interesting in itself with tons of beluga whales and some seals. Things did not go exactly according to plan and we were asked to leave by two heavily armed soldiers. Oh well – such is the life of a tourist wanker trying to see some of Chukotka’s highlights. We had to satisfy ourselves with a small hike and touring an abandoned radar facility which included a climb of a 30 meter, rusted out tower; that and a nice waterside barbeque along with some fresh salmon roe.
Photos
Long, pretty uncomfortable flight to Anadyr courtesy of Utair (July 2018).Welcome to Chukotka. Anadyr airport. Waiting with the only other foreign visitors from the flight (a trio of anthropologists from Denmark) for our paperwork to be checked and our passports to be returned (July 2018).Anadyr airport with Alexander leading the way (July 2018).The car barge that will take us across the Anadyr Estuary and into the city (July 2018).Panorama of Anadyr from the airport side of the estuary (Aug. 2018).Arriving at our hotel in Anadyr (July 2018).Not only were the people of Russia warm and welcoming to us but so were their canine companions (July 2018).Anadyr (July 2018).Anadyr (July 2018).Strolling through Anadyr with Alexander (July 2018).Residential Anadyr (July 2018).The industrial port of Anadyr (July 2018).Anadyr sights (July 2018).Strolling the streets of the pretty nice Anadyr with our fixer Alexander on our first evening there (July 2018).Shirley admiring a Lada car (July 2018).Trinity Cathedral in Anadyr (July 2018).Main street in Anadyr (July 2018).Alexander and Shirley outside of the hotel (hostel?) we stayed at in Anadyr (July 2018).Queuing up for the passenger ferry (July 2018).Belugas simulbreaching. Click for a video (July 2018).Our ride, The Kamchatka (July 2018).Beluga (July 2018).Beluga whale (July 2018).The other water activity on the estuary (July 2018).Anadyr as seen from the ferry (Aug. 2018).Belugas putting on a show. Clicky clicky for the video (July 2018).Soaking up the Arctic sun on the ferry (July 2018).On the ferry. Alexander’s photo game also captured a breaching beluga (July 2018).Watching beluga whales form the docks (July 2018).Ferry terminal. The ubiquitous Russian made UAZ is on the right (July 2018).Our ride on the other side with the friendly driver named Elbrus (July 2018).On the airport side of the estuary (July 2018).Start of a few kilometer long coastal hike with Alexander (July 2018).A pair of gravestones overlooking Anadyr (July 2018).Flowers and Anadyr in the far background (July 2018).Heading down to the narrow beach. Anadyr is visible across the estuary (July 2018).Hiking along the beach (July 2018).We love you too Chukotka (July 2018).The beach vanished for a handful of meters (July 2018).More salmon (roe) harvesting (July 2018).Salmon being taken for their roe (July 2018).Salmon roe (July 2018).We wait while the driver buys some salmon caviar (July 2018).An abandoned village on the airport side of the estuary (July 2018).The people were resettled in the concrete buildings (July 2018).A swarm of seagulls and Anadyr (July 2018).Near the ferry terminal with some serious salmon roe harvesting operation going on in the background (July 2018).Cool little UAZ – would not mind owning one but I think the cost of repairs (parts!) would kill us (July 2018).The Kamchatka in Chukotka (July 2018).Alexander and Shirley on the ferry back to Anadyr (July 2018).The car ferry (or barge) in Anadyr (July 2018).Some of the four legged denizens of Anadyr (July 2018).The colorful Anadyr (July 2018).A drive through coffee shop in Anadyr (July 2018).Mikhail Hill outside of Anadyr (July 2018).You sure about this?Alexander coming up (July 2018).I swear the thing was swaying in the high winds. Shirley was smart enough to stay earthbound and took these photos. Alexander & I are somewhere near the top (July 2018).Abandoned radar installation. Click for a quick video (July 2018).Aleksander and the tower (July 2018).More sightseeing (July 2018).Outskirts of Anadyr (July 2018).Rescue helicopter I believe (coastguard? July 2018).Outskirts of Anadyr (July 2018).Missed a full set by about 3 seconds (July 2018).Looking for the right spot (July 2018).A barbecue with Alexander on the shores of the estuary. One of the many highlights of our trip (July 2018),Anadyr specialty (July 2018),Beachside picnic in an on and off drizzle. Clicky clicky for a video (July 2018).
