The local driver we tralel with yesterday was so sweet and enthusiastic: I will take you tomorrow to Ingushetia, you will see there the old, traditional stone towers! We agreed to pay for that another 3000 rou.
At 8 am he was already waiting at the gate. We started new trip. First – on the main road heading to Tbilisi, enjoying the sun an mountain views. Then, in the village of Chmi he turned left to the bridge on Terek river. We crossed the river, nobody was there. Ome 80 m onward I saw monumental gate with the sign “Ingushetia”. The soldier opening the gate asked for the passports and… the drama began. He took the passports away and told us we must wait for “nachalnik”. 20 minutes later nachalnik came and announced that we broke the low because we – the foreigners entered border zone without special permit. Our sweet driver said that he didn’t know about because crowds of Russians are going up and down through the gate without any permits. I said that we are sorry for that and we will be happy to go back.
No, no, no! You will be investigated! They took us to the room. The soldier with big suitcase of equipment took all fingerprints and couple of pictures. We responsed long list of questions from two officers. 8- pages protocol was written and printed. It took 3,5 hours… They said that now we are in FGB database of the people who broken Russian law.
What was the point? The border of Ingushetia is on the river. The driver took us 80 m further – to the post in the gate. There we were informed that foreigners need a permit. – Next time you will be punished! – they said and let us go… Very frustrated we returned to Vladikavkaz and the unhappy driver took us 120 km away to the primitive mountain resort of Tsey. They have there two chair lifts going up the valley to the level of 2445 m.
Round trip journey cost me 200 rou – like 4 USD. It is great deal – wha a views!
