Country Vacations & Resorts

Where is this? Can you guess?

Photo Courtesy: Krasnov Travel Agency

If you are like me and haven’t been able to visit, you may be surprised to find this is Russia and the beautiful city of Perm.

If you rely on the media and Hollywood, you might think Russia, as a country, is cold and bleak. This is as inaccurate as saying that Vermont, USA is always cold with 12 inches of snow. Of course it is not.

Russia is a vast country with diverse climates and seasons. In terms of territory, Russia is the world’s largest with a total area of 17,075,200 kilometers (6,592,735 square miles).

Hard to relate these numbers?

Russia covers about one-eighth of the world’s land surface, and is 60 percent larger than the world’s second-largest country, Canada. Think of the area of Texas times 25! As in Canada, much of Russia’s territory is located above the 50th parallel, where subarctic and arctic weather conditions are prevalent. Russia has a population of approximately 142 million and the area is so large, it covers eleven time zones!

But we aren’t going above the 50th parallel…we’re heading south to visit the Ural Region of Russia and the capital city of Perm, territory of Perm krai.

Where is Perm?

Perm, formerly known as Molotov and located on the Kama River basin, is one of Russia’s largest cites, and is a major rail junction connecting Siberia and the Far East with the European part of the country. Perm is located on the Trans-Siberian Railway line which crosses the city and region, from east to west . There are direct flights to and from Perm to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and many other Russian cities. Bolshoye Savino, in Perm, is an international airport with airlines such as Lufthansa, and Aeroflot providing ready access.

A flight from from Moscow to Perm takes just under two hours. If time is not of the essence, consider train travel (21 hours, plus or minus), to enjoy the countryside and the views. When traveling by air, make sure that both flights use the same airport since Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo International Airports are located on opposite sides of Moscow. This problem arose for me in Washington, DC…planned to land at Dulles, ended up at National (now Reagan). Not fun.

Flights from the US to Russia and to Perm are expensive. It will pay to take advantage of some local assistance for info on flights, tickets, trains and scheduling. A good place to start is with the Krasnov Travel Agency. There is a lot of useful and detailed info on their web site to get you started planning your trip to Russia and to Perm.

The scenic Kama River
Photo Courtesy: Krasnov Travel Agency

The Kama River itself is quite extraordinary. It merges with 200 minor rivers, and is one of Russia’s largest. Via this 1805km, (1125m) river and it’s canals, the city of Perm gains valuable access to the Caspian, Azov, Black, Baltic, and White Seas.

Why visit Perm?

City of Perm

Ice, Dr. Zhivago, and “Russian till the bone.”

How about Perm’s Annual Ice Festival?

One of Perm’s most unique and interesting events has to be the Ice Sculpture Festival, even in Russia – held in Winter.

Ice “artists” from all over the world come to Perm’s Gorkovo Park to construct their ice and snow sculptures and structures, turning the park into a proper ice village. Each year’s festival is given a different theme in which teams of artists do their “iciest” best! And in 2010, the winner was…

“St. George the Victorious”
“Victory is our Heritage”

Congratulations to the 2010 winning team -
Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

Speaking of Winter and ice…what about the climate in Perm?

Continental – which means different things depending on how scientific you care to get. The temperatures one particular Winter in Perm dipped as low as -50 C (-58F). Not so sure this is great news – even for the Ice Festival artists!

-15 to -20C (-4 to 5F), is nearer the norm in Winter. Average depth of snow cover is 55 cm (22in). Summer temperatures exceed + 20C (around 70 degrees F). Plenty of warm weather time for enjoying the clear streams and cool mountains of the Ural Region of Russia.

Perm – Variety, growth and a progressive economy…

Perm is a multicultural and growing city. Walk through the central bazaar and find Russians, Georgians, Armenians, and Tartars selling everything from kabobs, fruits, and vegetables, to a nearby kiosk selling jewelry and another selling antiques. Dining will take some thoughtful decision-making between Russian, Uzbek, Georgian or Caucasian cuisine.

Perm’s location away from larger cities like Moscow also means a chance to discover the more typical Russian culture, traditions, and way of life. The City of Perm is made up of many colorful and classic 3-storied mansions and fine examples of Soviet architecture, many currently under preservation and renovation. No ultra-modern, glass city here!

Artillery and Rocket Museum, Perm
Photo Courtesy: Krasnov Travel Agency

Museums and history, culture, dining, architecture, the great outdoors and scenic beauty, all at the heart of a progressive and fast-growing city that is also a transportation hub…

What more could you ask from your Russian vacation?

Some additional facts about Perm:

- Boris Pasternak wrote Dr. Zhivago in Perm.

-Alexander Stepanovich Popov, the inventor of radio, was born in Perm.

- Ballet impressario Sergei Dyaghilev was born in Perm. See a Gymnasium held (2006) at his home in Perm below.

- Perm is home to the Chaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre

- The Khokhlovka, overlooking the Kama river and nearby villages, offers a collection of structures as they existed or were used in the 17th century.

- Perm is a “Twin City” with Louisville, Kentucky.

- Forests prevail over all other types of flora in Permsky krai, covering about 70% of the territory of the region.

- Permsky krai is one of the most economically developed regions in Russia.

- Interesting information about Perm’s economy