Our plane begins its descent and as it punches through the crowd layer my breath is taken away by the range of black volcanic mountains streaked with snow. As we draw closer to the city of Petropavlovsk cone shaped volcanoes come into view. Then my heart sinks and I suddenly begin to wish I had undertaken some more serious training for this as one of them towers over the rest, Mt Korayakskaya. As it turns out I later breathe a sigh of relief that we are not actually climbing that one but the much more squat looking one beside it. I can manage that one!
The flight is uneventful apart from a couple of minor turbulences after which I catch the faint whiff of vomitus and then see a couple of passengers move out of the row 4 rows up leaving the hostesses to deal with the mess and th punter left continuing to vomit everywhere. Just a routine flight really but I have never before been in a plane that erupts into spontaneous applause as the plane hits the tarmac. Maybe these guys knew something I didn’t know.
Off the plane the row of massive volcanoes dominate the view. Its off to the single baggage conveyor situated in a dark blue perspex igloo like building.
The city itself is very ugly and has a bit of a wild west feel (or is that redesignated “wild east” for here. All around are ugly old and poorly maintained soviet apartment blocks all framed by a most magnificent backdrop. Such a shame. Our hotel is more of the same but it is not that that I am here for and the prospect of getting among these awesome volcanoes very soon is mouth watering.
