Tchaikovsky



Tchaikovsky

Name: Maria Plotnikova

Age: 32

Profession: Photographer

City: Perm Krai

How long have you been doing photography? Since 2006.

What style or genre most interests you? From a professional point of view I am interested in documentary photography, and news and sports reporting. But my true love is street photography.

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for? The city of Tchaikovsky in Perm Krai was named after the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who was born in the neighboring town of Votkinsk. In 1955, they began building a massive hydroelectric station on the Kama River, and on the outskirts of the construction site a workers' village rose up. By 1956 it had already attained the status of a city, and the name Tchaikovsky was proposed by the residents of the city themselves. At present, the population of the city is about 80,000 persons.

Tchaikovsky is known for its winter sporting traditions. The city has an Institute of Winter Sports, an alpine ski center, the biathlon center, Snezhnika, and a ski-jump complex where international competitions are held.

What are some things that only locals would know about the city? Tchaikovsky is located on the border with the Udmurt Republic. Just outside Tchaikovsky is a small village called Novy ("New"), the residents of which all work in Tchaikovsky. Yet there is a one-hour time difference between the Udmurt Republic and Perm Krai, and a two-hour difference between Moscow and Udmurtia. So it is that the residents of Novy must rise one hour earlier, in order to get to work on time, even though it is just a five minute drive away.

The most interesting twist happened in 2010, when the administration of the Udmurt Republic decided to change over to Moscow Time. Thus, for a few years the unlucky residents of Novy were forced to live in a parallel world: on the one hand, their village was living on Moscow Time, on the other, their work/study/daytime world in Tchaikovsky was two hours ahead. Luckily, a few years ago, Udmurtia returned to its previous time zone and so the difference returned to just one hour.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city?  Central Square, Tchaikovsky Square, Snezhnik Biathlong Complex, the city beach, the Park of Culture and Rest, the embankment and pier.

Website: mariaplotnikova.com

Instagram: @mplot



Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955