Like any resident of a resort town, I seldom visit its places of interest, except when guests arrive. I recently visited one such place in Pyatigorsk - the Proval cave. Over the last few years this place has changed fundamentally.
A bronze statue of Ostap Bender has appeared to attract tourists with their cameras. The famous Lion sculptures are now painted black, to discourage youngsters from writing on them. But in spite of all efforts to improve it, Proval still remains a purely Russian tourist attraction with rubbish, crowds and ill-tempered and impolite people everywhere. Unfortunately we still are very far from Europe.
Lada Ledeneva, Pyatigorsk. Exclusively to VK.
