Andrew Jordan

Photographer

On a retro train to a happy past

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Location: Krasnodar, Russia

Nationality: russian

Biography: Photographer from Russia Andrew Jordan, born 28.08.1976, lives in the Krasnodar region near the Black Sea coast. After 20 years of working as an office lawyer, Andrew decided to leave the office and take up creative photography, which he had long... MORE

Focus: Photographer, Photojournalist, Street Art, Travel, Sports, Still Life, Fashion, Fine Art, Luxury, History, Photo Assistant, Documentary, Style, Photo Editor, Creative Director, Photography, Art Director, Portraiture, Stock, Lifestyle, Events, Art, Culture, Arts & Culture, Freelance, Life, Lawyer, Artist, Photoshop Artist, Senior Photo Editor, Magazine, Photo Shoots, Storyteller, Visual Artist, Law, Arts & Culture Writer, Arts Journalism, Celebrity Journalism, Lifestyle Journalism, History and Culture Desk, Photo Coordinator, Photography Manger, Wildlife, Wildspaces, Outdoor adventure, Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Studio Photographer

The South of Russia, the resort...iet state and its achievements.

The South of Russia, the resort city of Sochi, August 2020.
So, the starting point of the route from Russia is the railway station of the resort city of Sochi, located on the Black Sea coast.
This railway station is a beautiful historical architectural structure in the style of the "Stalinist Empire of the 50s of the XX century" takes the baton of classical antique architecture with its colonnades and porticos, symbolizes the former power of the Soviet state and its achievements.

A tourist train arrives at the ...local brass band. A great show!

A tourist train arrives at the station platform, which is a restored retro cars of the 80s of the last century, which is greeted by bravura melodies of marches performed by a local brass band. A great show!

The crowd at the train station ... to another country looks chic.

The crowd at the train station is cheering. After six months of being locked up in quarantine, when all life activities were reduced to the level of a plant and the fulfillment of natural needs in the conditions of their living space, the offer to go on a special train on a tourist trip to another country looks chic.

At the railway station, the pre... to create conditions for this.

At the railway station, the press interviews railway bosses, representatives of local authorities, the mayor of Sochi, the head of the state Russian railway company. They report on the beginning of a large interstate tourism project. Of course, this is a very correct decision, because you can not live only with thoughts about the crisis and diseases, people want to rest in the summer, which means they need to create conditions for this.

Train conductors, in compliance...n sea coast overcomes all ills.

Train conductors, in compliance with protective measures, meet passengers at the doors of the car with balloons in the color of the holiday.
By the way, Sochi is one of the most tolerant, free and loyal to non – compliance with cruel anti-covid measures, the city. Here, even at the height of the mass influx of tourists in the summer season, no one arranged a military curfew, mass events continued, and this practically did not affect the growth of the disease in any way, probably because proper rest on the southern sea coast overcomes all ills.

The opportunity to go by train ... Sea coast, Russia and Abkhazia

The opportunity to go by train to Abkhazia from Sochi turned out to be very convenient for vacationers in the south of Russia – in fact, in a short time and with minimal effort, they can see and visit the largest resorts of two whole countries located on the Black Sea coast, Russia and Abkhazia

The retro style of the entire t...n the former state of the USSR.

The retro style of the entire tourist project was expressed in following the Soviet aesthetics –a bright scarlet color burned with fire against the background of a summer blinding white color, these are the colors of memories of the former socialist paradise in the state of workers with the ideology of communism.
This train was supposed to give a feeling of returning to a happy childhood for people from the older generation born in the former state of the USSR.

Despite the retro ideology of t...hing you need for a short trip.

Despite the retro ideology of the tourist project, the car itself is very modern and comfortable from the inside, soft and comfortable folding shelves, air conditioning in each compartment, wi-fi access point, electrical outlets, fresh press and drinks –everything you need for a short trip.

All the passengers have taken t...ting it from the Sochi station.

All the passengers have taken their seats, the train is moving and a dance group of long-legged girls is escorting it from the Sochi station.

When traveling, positive emotio...estaurant on the tourist train.

When traveling, positive emotions from meeting the new and unknown are very important, and in order for the upcoming pleasure to have enough strength and impressions to be happy, you must definitely eat delicious food, since there is a spacious restaurant on the tourist train.

When you are young and travelin... and every minute is priceless!

When you are young and traveling, there seems to be no greater happiness and every minute is priceless!

While the train is moving from ... - complete freedom, as before!

While the train is moving from Russia to Abkhazia, and seascapes with the evening sun setting directly into the water are floating outside the compartment windows (the railway goes right along the sea coast), I will tell you a little about the new reality of traveling on this train.
The retro aesthetics of this train is such that there is practically nothing in it that reminds of today's time. When entering the train, no one requires any vaccination certificates or medical tests, no one notes electronic passports and QR codes, even the obligation to observe the mask regime applies only to conductors and service personnel, but not tourists - complete freedom, as before!

Abkhazia, by the way, is one of... corrupt government…

Abkhazia, by the way, is one of the few countries in the world that did not impose any restrictions and bans on visits, did not close borders, did not require certificates and tests.
In Abkhazia, as in North Korea, it is as if there is no newfangled disease that has engulfed the whole world. Probably, the residents of Abkhazia and without new misfortunes are not happy living in a country that is ignored by the whole world, has been in a state of war for its independence for several years, has a destroyed economy, agriculture and social infrastructure.
The public mood in Abkhazia is very complex, residents have an explosive Caucasian temperament and a lot of illegal firearms in their property, high criminal danger, very weak and corrupt government…

At the same time, Abkhazia is c...egends about the Golden Fleece.

At the same time, Abkhazia is called the "country of the soul", because it is located among the divine tropical nature between the Caucasus mountains and the Black Sea.
There are crystal clear alpine lakes, plantations of tropical fruits (tangerines, feijoa, lemons, oranges, kiwi, figs...), hot thermal springs and pine forest on the seashore, the deepest underground caves and glacial caps of mountain peaks.
There are hospitable (if you are lucky) and strong men, graceful girls in the dance and the rich culture of ancient Colchis, known even from ancient legends about the Golden Fleece.

My advice for those who stayed ...s not built for this."

My advice for those who stayed too long in stuffy comfort or in conditions of lack of freedom, who are ready to take a risk, because sitting in quarantine, he realized that life is one and no one will return the time you missed, who is ready to experience new and unpredictable emotions and is open to adventures full of surprises-take a tourist train from Sochi to Abkhazia and follow your interesting (from this moment) fate!
For, as someone clever said: "The ship is safest to stand in the harbor, but it was not built for this."

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Thumbnail of The South of Russia, the resort _viet state and its achievements.

Thumbnail of A tourist train arrives at the s_ local brass band. A great show!

Thumbnail of The crowd at the train station i_p to another country looks chic.

Thumbnail of At the railway station, the pres_d to create conditions for this.

Thumbnail of Train conductors, in compliance _rn sea coast overcomes all ills.

Thumbnail of The opportunity to go by train t_k Sea coast, Russia and Abkhazia

Thumbnail of The retro style of the entire to_in the former state of the USSR.

Thumbnail of Despite the retro ideology of th_thing you need for a short trip.

Thumbnail of All the passengers have taken th_rting it from the Sochi station.

Thumbnail of When traveling, positive emotion_restaurant on the tourist train.

Thumbnail of When you are young and traveling_s and every minute is priceless!

Thumbnail of While the train is moving from R_s - complete freedom, as before!

Thumbnail of Abkhazia, by the way, is one of _d corrupt government…

Thumbnail of At the same time, Abkhazia is ca_legends about the Golden Fleece.

Thumbnail of My advice for those who stayed t_as not built for this."

Public Story

On a retro train to a happy past

Date of Work Aug 2020 - Aug 2020

Updated Dec 2021

Location Sochi

Topics Editorial, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Reporting, Travel, Vacation

The whole of Russia is surrounded by a wide and extensive network of railways. In the context of the pandemic, when countries closed their borders from each other and interstate air traffic was practically stopped, and domestic flights were rare and unprofitable due to the high cost of tickets, trains (in addition to personal transport) became the main carrier of Russian tourists.
The largest state-owned Russian railway company "Russian Railways" has launched a project to develop domestic tourism on its trains in various directions. One of such destinations for tourist trains from Russia was a trip to Abkhazia-not very popular today, politically unstable and economically underdeveloped, but divinely beautiful territory with a tropical climate, magnificent beaches of the Black Sea and high mountains of the Caucasus. During the Soviet era, 50 years ago, Abkhazia was the most expensive and popular seaside resort for Soviet people and this new tourist project is based on the idea of a wonderful return on a retro train to a happy past.