About the Network | News | Opportunities | Previous Visits

Russian Scouting | Group Contacts | Documents | Photos

Contact Us | Homepage | Web Links | Merchandise | Multi-International Aid 

Torbay's Russian Links

A group of Scouts from Torbay have had links with Scouts in Russia for a number of years starting with the first National Russian Jamboree in 1994; Steph Roberts (see below - 2nd from left, front row) went with the UK service crew and was hooked on the country and it's people.

2nd Jamboree Service Crew

In 2000 the first all Torbay contingent visited Russia to attend the 3rd National Russian Jamboree near Saratov. You can read the report by one of the participants and see our pictures.

Contingent Presentation with the Mayor - see also cheque presentation of surplus funds

At the jamboree we linked with the Zubri Scout Group from Solikamsk, part of the Perm Region Scouts. In 2001 Perm Scouts visited Torbay; read the news article and see the pictures.

Summer 2003 Visit to Perm

This year we actually made a proper visit to the Perm region; our 18 day tour also took in St Petersburg and Moscow.

I'd like to say it all went as planned but we got caught up in the British Airways fiasco. The overnight coach got us to Heathrow on time (a good inexpensive way to arrive for an early morning flight) and we checked in and waited in the departure lounge... and waited... until they cancelled all the flights! I'll spare you the chaos that ensued; we found ourselves at BP house and spent two days in London taking in the sights and enjoying a very nice restaurant near by (Texas Lone Star - tex-mex food).

48 hours after the first attempt to get out of the country we tried again and some 12 hours later we found ourselves at the Losevo campsite we we enjoyed the hospitality of Paul Findlay's Scouts and his St Petersburg friends (see also Winter Expedition) and the luxury of dips in the lake. An excursion to Приозерск took us to an old fortress and to a facility for playing a Russian game called "Cities" and a campfire rounded it off (with the classic "Kissing" game).

After two days we were back in St Petersburg, staying at the Vyborgskaya hotel (Черная Речка tube stop); quite comfortable, nice restaurant, but few other amusements. We did the usual tour and also Catherine's Palace.

Then the real adventure started with the 36 hour train trip to Perm where we met and chatted to other Russian passengers and enjoyed the food and movie entertainment in the restaurant car. Our first sight of Perm was at midnight. Home hospitality whisked us off to various places. We enjoyed a tour of Perm (river, monastery, former armorments factory) and a visit to the Kungur Ice Cave before leaving for Solikamsk.

After several bouncy hours on a bus, we met our friends from Zubri troup. First activity, tour of the salt mine (actually going underground) which is the industry that formed the town. After an evening party and more ho-ho, another drive took us to the start of our raft camp (read more & pictures).

Another train to Moscow for our final two days, staying in the Россия, the best hotel for tourists. Our trip ended as it began with the BA plane nearly two hours late meaning we missed the overnight bus - maybe Aeroflot next time!

You can  all the pictures.

Scouts & Mayor at the Perm 03 presentation evening

You can find-out lots more about the perm region on this excellent website. See also the Perm Children's Fund.