Excursions around Polotsk region can now also be taken by boat
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"There is no river more beautiful than ours," is confident Viktor Khvastovsky, captain of the motor ship "Vitebsk," who has dedicated over 40 years to service in the river fleet. Since the beginning of April, the passenger vessel has been operating for residents and guests of Polotsk, and from May 1, it will begin offering water excursions for Novopolotsk residents as well."
"Finally! A great idea – now we can relax with family and take guests for a walk," – this is how Polotsk residents speak about the new entertainment. Nostalgia for navigation is in their blood, as the ancient city was once a crucial center on the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. It is not for nothing that the proposal to organize the routes was immediately supported by the district administration.The motor ship is operated by the Vitebsk state enterprise
"Gordormost." At the initiative of Oleg Pashkevich, head of the passenger transportation section, the vessel moved to the Polotsk region until mid-June, and if there is demand for excursions, then until the end of summer. It will only return to the regional center for a short period to celebrate City Day.In the area of the monument to the 23 Guardsmen-Grigoryevtsy, from where the
"Vitebsk", people are constantly gathering now. They take pictures, look around, and communicate with the crew, consisting of a captain and four motorman-sailors.– In warm weather, we worked non-stop. We can make 10-12 one-hour trips a day to the border with Novopolotsk and back. We are ready to fulfill any whim of our clients, – said Viktor Khvastovsky.
He joined the river fleet at the age of 16, thoroughly learned the secrets of the profession and the capricious nature of the Western Dvina. It is, by the way, the most difficult for navigation: rocky and winding. To comfortably carry passengers, you need to know every turn and all the shallows. But the main thing is to love your job as Viktor Viktorovich loves it. You should hear with what admiration he speaks about the most beautiful river in Belarus! He is sure that river trips give a person a huge charge of positivity, and therefore they will definitely be in demand. Especially in Polotsk, where not only picturesque landscapes but also beautiful views of ancient monuments are opened to the gaze.
On board
"Vitebsk" you can organize an excursion or a celebration: a wedding, a corporate event, a banquet. The wedding ceremony looks especially colorful when a special arch is installed for the newlyweds, and the ring holder is made in the form of a sailboat under scarlet sails.Larisa Malashenya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"