A Travellerspoint blog

Northern Caucasus (Chechnya, Ingushetia ...)

... North Ossetia-Alania, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachai-Cherkessia, Stavropol, Adygeya, Krasnodar, Abkhazia

Early 2010. Invited by President Ramzan Kadirov. Flew Moscow to Grozny in Yak 40 by Grozny Avia. Very friendly reception. Totally rebuilt from war devastation. On the way to becoming a modern UAE-style emirate. Impressive leadership. Unique Nakh culture. Very macho. Many Rambos carrying big guns. Beautiful women chants and dances. Sophisticated conversation partners. One of my most intense and favourite encounters with peoples. Got President's escort from Grozny to Sochi. Ca. 1.000km through beautiful Caucasus. Many police checkpoints, especially in Ingushetia, but no problem for us in President's car. Quick entry into Abkhazia from Sochi (ca. 10km only).

P.S.: To get in the right mood, read the quote from Lonely Planet:

"Traveling independently in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan is like walking on the moon without a spacesuit"

-

Visiting President Ramzan Kadyrov in Grozny with best friend Harald

Visiting President Ramzan Kadyrov in Grozny with best friend Harald

At the Palace

At the Palace

DSC00709.jpg

Best Hotel in Grozny in 2010: Hotel Arena City *****

Basic reception area. Good gym. Very good rooms with luxury steam showers. Fantastic restaurant. Previous guests included Roberto Cavalli and Mike Tyson.

Hotel Arena City Restaurant

Hotel Arena City Restaurant

Chechen War Memorial

Chechen War Memorial

Traditional Chechen fighter ...

Traditional Chechen fighter ...

... and dancers

... and dancers

The Elders are highly respected

The Elders are highly respected

Grozny Dinner Stage with beautiful Chants and Dances

Grozny Dinner Stage with beautiful Chants and Dances

(Example below. Source: youtube)

-

Tamila Sagaipova: Chechen Nr. 1 hit in 2010

-

Special Protection

Special Protection

Driving onward through Nazran, Ingushetia

Driving onward through Nazran, Ingushetia

Magas, the artifical new capital of Ingushetia

Magas, the artifical new capital of Ingushetia

Ingushetian War Memorial with typical Nakh Tower (behind)

Ingushetian War Memorial with typical Nakh Tower (behind)

Harald with crazy but friendly Ingushetian border guard singing "Cemberli, Cemberli"

Harald with crazy but friendly Ingushetian border guard singing "Cemberli, Cemberli"

Our navigation system seemed so out of place ;-)

Our navigation system seemed so out of place ;-)


(here magnified)

Drive in the night ...

Drive in the night ...

-

1.000 km through the Caucasus

-

View the style of our Presidential Escort on youtube. MUST WATCH !

Posted by LuxuryRogue 02:51 Archived in Russia Tagged overland adventure luxury danger speed

Email this entryFacebookStumbleUpon

Table of contents