Cruise Book by an UrFU Graduate

10:23, May 11, 2023

Alexander Zhestkov tells the story of the ancient cities and the secrets of the river fleet

A book about the most popular cruise line in Russia has been published in Moscow. The album guide "Collection of Impressions. A Cruise Moscow - St. Petersburg" is the first publication about the route in ten years. It contains up-to-date information and historical facts about cities, villages, monasteries, rivers, lakes, landscapes and useful travel tips. Details of the river fleet, unknown to the majority of people, have been published for the first time. The book's author, journalist, writer, traveler Alexander Zhestkov, presented the book on the eve of the cruise launch. In 2000 he graduated from the Department of Journalism of the Ural State University (nowadays - UrFU).

"One book contains the complete cruise experience: new cities, architectural and historical landmarks, museums, sunrises and sunsets on the water, gastronomic details. To introduce travelers to unknown aspects of life on the cruise fleet, I've interviewed experienced riverboarders. The readers will learn how to become a captain, what omens the crews believe in, why the liners sometimes change the route, and where they spend the winter", - said Alexander Zhestkov.

The album guide "Collection of Impressions. A Cruise Moscow - St. Petersburg'' suggests what to pay attention to in the capitals and where to stop on the way: in Tver, Dubna, Kimry, Kalyazin, Uglich, Myshkin, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Cherepovets, Goritsky, Belozersk, Kizhi, Petrozavodsk, Sortavala, Staraya Ladoga, Veliky Novgorod, Valaam Islands, Konevets and Shlisselburg Fortress. Separate chapters - about Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Monastery and Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. The Soviet heritage is also focused on the Moscow Canal and the Volga-Baltic Waterway. 

The culmination is two islands in Karelia: Kizhi on Lake Onega, whose monuments are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Valaam on Lake Ladoga, with its famous monastery.

The author also tells about the movies that were filmed in places along the route, the paintings of great artists, and music. Also, the readers will appreciate quotations from famous poets and writers.

The album guide is also designed for those who take weekend cruises from Moscow and St. Petersburg. The book contains all travel information. It also gives advice on how to choose a ship and a cabin according to your needs and gives an overview of the risks during traveling.

This book opens a new series of travel guides to Russia by Alexander Zhestkov. The guide "Collection of Impressions. A Cruise Moscow - St. Petersburg" will be published in electronic form. In May-June a compact gift edition on coated paper in a hardcover also will be available.

Reference 

Alexander Zhestkov is a journalist, writer and traveler. From 1997 to 2017, he was a columnist and broadcaster of federal TV channels such as Russia 1, NTV, REN TV and MIR. From 2019 to 2022 he was a head of the press office of Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNH, Moscow). Alexander Zhestkov is the author of books and television programs on architecture, history, urbanism and transport.

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office. 
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