Posts Tagged ‘Tomas Van Houtryve’
I visited one of the most improbable places on Earth, the little-known Republic of Kalmykia
Tomas Van Houtryve about Kalmykia. Russian version
Earlier this year, I visited one of the most improbable places on Earth, the little-known Republic of Kalmykia.
Located on the arid steppe south of Volgograd, Kalmykia is Europe’s only Buddhist republic.
It also bills itself as a Mecca for chess players. It is the headquarters of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), and a suburb has been built near the capital, Elista, expressly for holding tournaments and offering vacation homes to former champions. The game is mandatory for all Kalmyk school children. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 
