Turns out in some seas one can swim
ABRAMOVICH'S GOLD
A plane carrying the children of Chukotka left Anadyr and landed in Raduzhny. Our border guards were supposed to stamp the passports, for the children were flying abroad, to the Crimea. The guards were already completing their formalities, when it suddenly became known that all children had been sent to the southern resort by Abramovich. My God, the effect it had! Children's backpacks, clothes, bags — all was emptied and checked many times. «Oh, come to your senses! What are you looking for?» Ida Ruchina, Vice President of the Pole of Hope Foundation was really indignant. Flat fell the answer: «Gold». «You better check this gold on the way back when it puts on some weight!» said Ida. But the guards went on with their inspection.
However, the children made it safely to the Yevpatorya-based sanatorium Brigantina, and then they saw roses. «Are they real?» the kids were asking. «Can we touch them?» But there were many surprises still in store: jelly-fishes, hedgehogs. Sasha Kukin from Lorino village said hedgehogs had blunt bristles. Whereas Zhenia Paat, 13, saw an elephant for the first time in her life. People were photographed, seated between its two humps. «But then it was a camel», said I. Zhenia got upset.
Children from Chukotka were not just swimming in the sea and basking in the sun. They were also receiving medical treatment: baths, mud, inhalation, had their teeth looked after. «They were feeding us with a clock precision», owned up Denis Rultyneut from Anadyr. Children ate everything up. Only a pile of plates licked clean was left on the tables.
This group of 158 kids was resting up for a month. Although many, immediately upon arrival, got home-sick, missing tundra, berry-picking and fishing.
All in all, Roman Abramovich arranged vacations for 2700 children. They spent time in Yevpatoriya, Anapa, Ivanovo. When I asked them whether they knew who was spoiling them rotten, all gave this name. But in answer to the question about his post, they came up with multiple answers: governor of Chukotka? President? Representative? But it does not really matter. The most important thing is they will remember this hot summer for long, they will see it in their dreams during the long polar night.
Next summer there will be twice as many children who are as lucky.
Yury FEKLISTOV
Photo(s) by author