A meeting between the representatives of the Chuvash Republic Branch of the Russian Geographical Society and the crew of the yacht Russian Ocean Way of the expedition "Following the paths of Russian explorers" Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin took place in Cheboksary on October 5. The circumnavigators talked about the highlights of their trip and shared their experience of "people's diplomacy" – communicating with residents of different countries during the voyage. Local geographers, in turn, introduced the guests to I. N. Ulyanov Chuvash State University as well as to the projects of the RGS that are being implemented in the region.
The meeting took place at the Department of Physical Geography and Geomorphology of Chuvash State University. The activities of the republic branch of the RGS were presented to the participants of the circumnavigation by its chairman Inna Nikonorova. Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin also saw graffiti recently unveiled as part of the project of the Russian Geographical Society dedicated to the traveler-orientalist Nikita Bichurin, visited the exhibition "The Most Beautiful Country", where you can see the works of Chuvash photographers.
“The crew virtually immersed themselves in the hospitality of activists of the republic branch of the RGS and the Department of Physical Geography and Geomorphology of the university. For two hours, Chuvash geographers and Siberian travelers were sharing their knowledge and impressions of the world. We drank tea and coffee with sweets, enjoyed educational discussion,” Evgeny Kovalevsky warmly commented on the meeting.
At the end of the day, the crew of the circumnavigation conducted a small tour for the hosts. Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin showed them the yacht on which they came to Russia from Australia, and now continue their journey along the Russian rivers to Kronstadt.
After a stop in Cheboksary, the circumnavigation expedition of the Tomsk Regional Branch of the RGS headed for Nizhny Novgorod, where meetings with local geographers are also planned.