August 09, 2006
My Petropovlovsk
This post is part of our series, "My Hometown." These posts will feature the hometowns and local connections that our employees have with the ports that our small-ships visit. This week's post is submitted by Elena Lassal, our ship's agent in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia.
Q: What is your connection to Petropavlovsk? A: I was born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and live here all my life.
Q: Do you have a funny story or little known fact about Petropavlovsk you'd like to share? A: It is interesting (to my mind) that inside our town there is a seal rookery (in winter time, as in summer they go to Japan). Several years ago it was a fish plant, now it doesn't work. I live about 2 km within that rookery and at night, when it is calm in the street, I can hear the roar of seals. It's really cool.
Q: What is your favorite time of year in Petropavlovsk and why? A: Summer, because we have little sun and warm here. Winter lasts about 8 months. As the first snow falls in October and melts in May.
Q: Is there a particular food or song that reminds you of Petropavlovsk?
A: King Salmon, red caviar, Kamchatka crab and Kamchatka beer are visit card of Petro. Yes, there is one nice song that in Kamchatka the weather is bad for half a year.
Q: What is on your "must see" list for visitors to Petropavlovsk? 
A: The valley of geysers, volcanoes, Nalicheva valley, beautiful nature - in Kamchatka. But in the town - several nice monuments (to St. Peter and Paul, Vitus Bering (founder of Petro), Chapel,etc); Orthodox church; Local Lore and Military Museums, view point.
Q: Do you have a favorite area of the city?
A: Yes, view point, city beach, the Hill of Love (favorite place for young couples)
Q: Is there a favorite activity that you enjoy in Petropavlovsk?
A: Mountain biking, diving, walking in summer and cross-country and down-hill skiing, snowboarding in winter.
Q: Is there a particular restaurant that you'd recommend for visitors?
A: "Russkaya gornitsa" (in Russian style), "Vechera na hutore" (in Ukrainian style).
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Citizens of Petro prefer to spend their summer holidays outside, making shishkobab, sunbathing, swimming in warm lakes, picking mushrooms and berries. I also like to go to the ocean to watch beautiful waves and killer-whales or make round the Avacha bay tours.
The Spirit of Oceanus calls on "Petro" as part of our Ring of Fire cruise. If you'd like to learn more about Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy consider taking a look at the Wikipedia entry on the region.
Next week, we'll be on the other side of the Pacific, exploring Seattle, WA through the eyes of the most important person in our company, Susan Holland, Payroll Coordinator.
Posted by Elena on August 9, 2006 6:33 PM
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