The speaker documents their travel experience from St. Petersburg to Grozny, Chechnya, detailing their overnight stay at a capsule hotel in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport due to the lack of direct flights. They describe the hotel's amenities and pricing, expressing dissatisfaction with the value for money. Upon arrival in Grozny, they explore the city's architecture, meet notable figures, and visit significant landmarks including the largest mosque in Europe. The speaker also comments on local businesses, food, and cultural aspects, concluding with a trip to the mountain lake Kezenoy-am and reflecting on the region's history and development. The narrative is interspersed with personal observations and experiences, providing a nuanced view of travel in Chechnya.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker is traveling to Grozny, Chechnya.
2. There is no direct flight from St. Petersburg to Grozny, so the speaker has to transfer in Moscow.
3. The speaker spent the night at a hotel capsule in Sheremetyevo airport.
4. The hotel capsule cost 1,700 rubles for 6 hours, which is approximately 300 rubles per hour.
5. The speaker arrived in Grozny and checked into a hotel in the city center.
6. Grozny has a population of around 250,000 people.
7. The speaker visited the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, which is the heart of Chechnya.
8. The mosque is built in the Ottoman style and has a capacity of up to 10,000 people.
9. The speaker tried some local fast food, including "Baxter" and "Crispy Fry Chicken".
10. The speaker visited a local market, where they saw various shops and stalls.
11. The speaker took a trip to the mountains, where they visited a lake and saw some ancient ruins.
12. The speaker visited the residence of Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya.
13. The speaker learned that the region is still being restored after the Chechen war.
14. The speaker mentioned that the taxes of their parents' generation were used to destroy the region, and now their money is being used to restore it.