• Dennis Dal Santo
  • Dennis Dal Santo

Russia FIFA World Cup.

Titled 'The Life is fleeting, death is long tour', two baby bombers who met in kindergarten set off in pursuit of (watching) sporting expertise. Czytaj więcej
  • Ust-barguzin to Ulan-Ude

    7 lipca 2018, Rosja ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Our town, Ust-barguzin on a Saturday morning.
    Last night was a homestay so in the morning Nina our host a retired Cooking Teacher whipped up a traditional Russian breakfast of kasha with sultanas, fried bread buns with cheese and cold meats.
    Then off. Matt has to check out some possible hotels for clients, then onto Olga's for lunch.
    Olga is the French speaking daughter of a former soviet politician so enjoys her summer house with family.
    Olga often entertains foreign tourists and is bit of a story teller.
    Next and final stop, Ulan-Ude and visit Russia's most sacred Buddhist site the spiritual capital if Buddism in Russia. After decades of persecution Stalin approved its initial construction in recognition of the contribution made by these people in The Great Patriotic War.
    Tonight we are under the stars. 5 Star ie, and the view west as Lake Baikal's biggest tributary the Angara River flows to its delta.
    England is leading Sweden 1-0 in World Cup Quarter Final. Wait. It's now England 2 Sweden 0.
    Czytaj więcej

  • Ulan-Ude: All day

    8 lipca 2018, Rosja ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Ksenya and our driver Serg, meet us 8am to begin a busy day.
    The task today is to check out local pkaces of cultural importance in this predominantly buddhist, Buryat society.
    Buryatia, The Buryat Autonomous Republic, with a population of one million are warm, hospitibal and distinctly Asiatic.
    Agela is our first host who teaches The Ankle Bone Shooting game and Horse Racing using the knuckle bone of sheep. I think we used the same in the game of 'knuckles' when we were kids.
    Next stop is to the township of Old Believers.
    A Christian sect exiled to Russia in the 15th Century for not adoptimg new practices in the Orthodox Church and marched 5000 kms east to exile and to establish communities in the then Siberian wastelands.
    They entertain us with food, song and dancing and of course we participate. Olga's father fought in the Great Patriotic War but was exiled in 1947 for a bresch of discipline (kindness rather) and not released from the gulag until Stalin dies.
    Yet there is a photo of Stalin in their home; though its treated as a museum piece rather than anything else.
    A final look at Ulan-Ude and the largest statue of Lennon in Russia and its onto the Trans Siberiam railway.
    Czytaj więcej

  • Vladivostok

    11 lipca 2018, Rosja ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    After 67 hours in the train (a journey not to be missed) we arrive in Vladivostok and are met by Svetlana our guide and a driver who immediately take us for a late lunch in ine if Vladivostok's finest seafood restaurants (on tbe company of course). They p ride themselves on quality seafood, our chef prepares seacucumber for us and though we know we shouldn't we do and its really nice. A softer texture than abalone with a light oyster flavour.
    I do intend to leave all other seacucumber when th hey belong cleaning up the ocean floor.
    Its our duty then to be driven around the city with an expert guide (but after 67 hours in the train its a bit tiring)
    Fortunately I secombe to a crook tummy and leave them to it and check into the motel.
    I am sure vodka is the cure. I will let you know.
    Czytaj więcej

  • Harbour-Kamchatka

    14 lipca 2018, Rosja ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We've now been waiting 2 hours for port officals to get clearance from the Russian navy to leave port. Submarine exercises are far more important.
    Today is a boat excursion, deep sea fishing, seal sighting, crab catching and most importantly eating and probably vodkaing.
    We have met Illya who has struck up a deep conversation with Matt on history and politics. The views of the historian and citizen have been amicably debated with Matt being invited to Illya's home near Rostov-on-Don in the west of Russia.
    Well I have caught a fish in Russian waters but not the one on display. It came via her friends boat but ot still tasted superb.
    Czytaj więcej

  • Heading Home

    15 lipca 2018, Rosja ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    What an incredible journey.
    To visit Russia with my old mate Brownie and support our national team was a great experience in itself. Amazingly we only had one blue but Russian beer is a great therapy.
    Then to meet Matt 5000 kms away in Central Siberia at Irkutsk and traverse Lake Baikal (holding 20% of the Earth's freshwater supply) as few others have done, meet the indigenous people of Ulan-Ude, stay in their homes and join them for meals and reflect on their history; soviet and other.
    The Trans Siberian Railway to Vladivostok, feel the pride of it's citizens in its significance to Russia, its food and history in the Pacific Ocean.
    Kamchatka should be on everybody's to do list, don't leave it to the bucket list its too wild and beautiful.
    Russian conservation in this part of the world is in good hands.
    We visit the Valley of the Guysers by helicopter visting three conservation areas over 6 hours.
    Fish the waters and enjoy the catch pan fried.
    Ride the dog sled and feel the enthusiasm to their task. Pick me, pick me! they yelp when they realise the harnesses are being prepared. 120 mallamut huskies begging to be included in the team of six.
    Matt has envisaged an amazing journey and made it work.
    Thanks, Matt, for asking me.
    Thanks to Rhon for encouraging me.
    You should join us when we go you won't be disappointed.
    Czytaj więcej