Russian journalist "MK" spent six days in the round-the-world journey with Hollywood superstar Ewan McGregor
06.05.2004
Stanislav Komarov

Note: the original Russian text was translated using Alta Vista's Babel Fish. The translation was clumsy and some words did not get translated. If anyone speaks Russian and can help us fix up the text, please contact us. The original Russian text is here.


Several days ago the Ukrainian- Russian boundary through KPP Of "novoshakhtinsk" in the situation of a strict secrecy crossed an uncommon automobile column: In front dispatched two super-powerful motorcycles "BMW", accompanied their pair not less imposing extra-roads builder of "Mitsubishi". Even the frontier-guards and customs officers was surprised how well equipped this cavalcade was. Motorcycles and jeeps were literally nashpigovany with an enormous quantity of unique remote control equipment, by the strategic reserves of supplies, by the spare parts, different by tourist equipment. But most of all they were struck by who sat at the control of the first motorcycle. After looking intently at face of this person, they revealed that before them one of the most popular Hollywood actors, the star of "Star Wars" and "Moulin Rouge," Ewan McGregor. Thus began the Russian section of the round-the-world journey the "long journey around the Earth", direct witness of which became journalist "MK" Stanislav Komarov, who conducted several days in the very sediment of the improbable adventures.

We already said, that the publishing house "Moscow Komsomol member" became the exclusive partner of round-the-world journey "long journey around the Earth" in the territory of Russia. In the middle of April from London on the motorcycles left two friends - actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Borrmans. They were decided neither much nor to little overcome on their motorcycles more than 20 thousand miles, to cross Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, to cross on the aircraft in Alaska, to pass Canada and USA and to complete their journey in New York.

... when during March in the editorial staff "MK" they appeared two producers - David Aleksanyan the scatterings of malkin - and shared with journalists with their idea, we acknowledge, this undertaking seemed us by that by practically not realized. But to remain apart from unprecedented event "MK" could not be, and we also were set in operation. In this year "MK" will be carried out 85 years, and our participation in it was timed to this anniversary. According to preliminary understandings "MK" it had to prepare official papers into the State Customs Committee of Russia and boundary service RF under the conditions of the passage of check points, ensure visa support, and also with the forces of our regional editorial staffs as needed render aid to travellers in the territory of the country. And here journalist "MK" with the entire heap of official letters will go to Kharkov, where it must transmit documents to the hands and soak to travellers cross Russian boundary.

Day One

Ewan McGregor comrades originally wanted no attention to their trip. In Europe they stopped in the small particular hotels, trying not to attract the special attention of those surrounding. The same small hotel was selected, also, in Kharkov, in the very outskirts of city. Was called it "mercury", and precisely there journalist "MK" had to bring papers and await the arrival of column. Charlie and Ewan on the motorcycles arrived first already toward the evening. It seemed from the side that into the internal court of hotel they entered to inoplanetyane. Their powerful motorcycles are equipped with satellite communication, newest navigation instruments, which make it possible rapidly to be oriented at any point of peace. All-weather motorcycle suits are supplied with the systems of the maintenance of the necessary temperature, into the helmets are vmontirovany the video cameras. After being greeted with the dumbfounded masters, motorcyclists were removed in order to bring themselves into order. The jeeps of tracking appeared after a certain time.

Here and entire command in the collection. Producer David Aleksanyan affably mashet by hand. I become acquainted with remaining participants in the path. James Simak, American, young Hollywood operator, in his command everyone calls not otherwise as Jimmy. Vasiliy Ivanovich Nichipenko, the doctor of krugosvetki, on it lies entire responsibility for the health of crew members. All validly name its dock. Sergey Grabovets, jack-of-all-trades: bodyguard, driver, translator. No one of the foreigners knows the Russian language, and Sergey - their only connecting link with the external peace. We reap all together. At the table complete democracy, the assuming side drinks vodka the fault, McGregor is limited to Coca-Cola. For entire journey he did not touch alcohol, although it on the tables there was always the sea razlivannoye. To didzhey places its Heath Nicolas Kidman from "Moulin Rouge", McGregor at ponimayushche smiles, it thanks for supper and is moved away to the rest, and the members of expedition remaining themselves at the table discuss the troubles of path.

According to them, the first serious puncture occurred on the Slovakian- Ukrainian boundary - it did not prove to be some important document to the motorcycles, and their 14 it was hour they held on the custom-house. However, there were then more pleasant recollections about Kreshchatike and cutlets on -Kiev.

Day Two

In the morning Ewan and Charlie settle into the motorcycles and they rolled forward. Emkovets will go together with the Americans: by producer and by operator. Unexpectedly four hours after their departure rings satellite telephone. Alarming voice Ewan McGregor: "we are detained at the post by Ukrainian militiamen, documents require, come quickly". We in the complete bewilderment, producer in the shock. Situation becomes clear only deeply toward the evening, when we at long last find fugitives in the outskirts of Ukrainian miner town anthracite. They already obustroilis' in the enormous particular house, in the drawing room was covered the table, at which feasts large company -, also, among them our heroes.

It occurs, passed past the post TRAFFIC CONTROL the friend of owner recognized in them popular actors and in the literal sense took out them of the tenacious paws of Ukrainian traffic cops. In the large house of the businessman of Igor Vaytsekhovskiy we spent the night, all together sleeping to vpovalku on the comfortable garret directly on the floor in their spal'nikakh. But thus far Ewan and the owner of the hospitable house alternately of Paley under the guitar of song, McGregor - English ballads, and Vaytsekhovskiy - "eyes black" and the song Of vysotskogo. The wife of businessman demolished herself: "I will say indeed to friends, no one will believe: McGregor is my guest, on my kitchen itself after itself removes dirty dishes ". During the celebratory meal Vaytsekhovskiy, most former miner, proposes to conduct excursion to one of the local mines and to go down into the face - indeed we in the very heart of Donbass, the center of the coal-mining industry of the Ukraine. Idea of vstrechena with the enthusiasm by all participants in krugosvetki.

Day Three

In half of the eleventh morning we already drive up to the winches of legendary mine "partisan". This is one of the oldest working mines of entire of Donbass. Our descent under the earth is prepared with entire carefulness: the travelers change into miner clothing, they carry out instruction through safety engineering, supply with all necessary individual rescue facilities. Hot heads propose to go down at the depth itself, where occurs the active development of carbon it is stratified; however, doctor categorically against this undertaking. The health of the Hollywood star above in all, yes even descent are there engaged not less than one-and-a-half it was hour. As a result us on most usual miner trolley are lowered on the diagonal drift at depth 80 it is meter into one of the already worked out faces, used for technical purposes. But even here becomes zhutkovato from that thickness of terrestrial sky, which presses by its entire power to you on top.

Hour excursion into the netherworld concludes without the excesses, To Ewan McGregor and to Charlie Borrman the management of mine presents special diplomas about the fact that they became the honorable miners of Donbass. But we hurry further and, poproshchavshis' with the hospitable house, which gave to us lodging for the night, we are prepared for crossing of Ukrainian- Russian border. KPP Of "novoshakhtinsk" satisfactorily remains behind, in front - Volgograd. However, we understand, that during the light day to us no longer to cover sufficiently imposing distance to the hero-city. It is necessary to search for lodging for the night in the way. In the administration of the Rostovskaya province, with which we support telephone communications, to us they recommend to stop in the small town to white Kalitva. This is the former Cossack village, by which in 2003 was 300 years old, and precisely in these places, as historical chronicles assert, the decisive battle of Prince Igor with the Polovetss occurred.

Day Four

At the doors of hotel us already in the morning meet the chieftains Donskoy of Cossack troops with entire parade and regalias. McGregor and Borrman await excursion to the highest point of the city, where the Cossack watch post stood, and are now opened small museum, exponential appearances of cossacks on the horses and, certainly, present Cossack semidesyatigradusnyy home-brew to the path. Ewan very attentively listens to translator, who tells about the history of Don cossacks, with pleasure he tries on a raritetnyy uniform, and he also joins in singing to devil-may-care Cossack songs. Here white Kalitva remains behind, and we wind sequential kilometers to Volgograd. However, before dostich' its outskirts, we teach to vlyapat'sya into the extremely unpleasant adventure. On one of the servicing Charlie Borrman does not manage the hose from the gasoline pump, pistol with the lashing gasoline escapes in it from the hands, and poisonous liquid falls on face Ewan McGregor writhes from the pain - gasoline fell to it into the eyes. Glory to god, doctor occurs it hereabout and instantly renders him first aid. All downright are frightened, but Ewan calms the members of expedition - he is ready to go further independently.

It is decided to settle travellers in the quiet place, the former obkomovskoy residence in the very center of city. This residence, as assert old residents, was constructed specially for Nikita Khrushchev. The four-room Presidential suite, which McGregor settled into, had been inhabited by Iosip of Broz Tito, Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin and Alla Of pugacheva. In the "house of guests" there is the Russian bath, which the tired travellers without delay visited, and dock from the soul steamed by their oak brooms. Completed day by holiday supper, black caviar and interminable conversations about the fact that such interesting to see in Volgograd.

Day five

In the morning, two additional people join our company: operator Klaudio Dale Ponto and the producer scatterings of malkin. We decide, that today we roll along the Volga river, organize a picnic, we catch fish and we arrange "rashen Boundary- with" on go-carting. Three hours by motorboat with the honorable guests will move away from the moorage of river port. On the lower deck everything is already prepared for the picnic: boiled sturgeon, boiled cancer, tsarist of ear. It is explained, that McGregor knows how to eat cancer, he knows sense in the catching of fish, and although for it was impossible to catch anything this day, the controlled it byvalye fishermen estimated his skill to be turned with the spinning.

..Voobshche of dzheday leaves a very pleasant impression. He isn't arrogant and doesn't have any manifestations of star disease, He is simple and pleasant in contact, much he knows how to do things for himself, he learns rapidly, he listens attentively to people, he is stable and tediously transfers burdens and deprivations of march life. After the jaunt along the Volga the restless company is moved to the improvised autodrome. As children chase adult peasants on usual go-carting, squeezing out of the old machines last horsepower. None of the rounds so revealed absolute conqueror, combat no one's was declared.

Day Six

In the morning journalist "MK" said goodbye to the participants in the unique motor run. Going along as far with the travellers as Astrakhan, it was necessary for him to return to Moscow. The final group photo with participants in the project, Charlie and Ewan left for "MK" autographs, stuck on their motorcycles and machines souvenier stickers of "Moscow Komsomol member" and they rolled onward. Much the more complex sections of the way are in front in them: hot and roadless Kazakhstan, uninhabited and unknown Mongolia and again hospitable Russia. About how it will pass this unique round-the-world journey, we will describe in the following materials.


Source: Moscow Komsomol

Thanks to Angelvelvet for the heads up!