Skal’kovskii K.A.: New Travel Impressions

Title

Novye putevye vpechatleniia, Sankt-Peterburg 1889

New Travel Impressions

Keywords

Summary

The book is divided into four parts: “Across Europe”, “A Few Days in Warsaw”, “London and Paris”, and “Spain and Morocco”. Chapter five (p. 249-266) of the fourth part is devoted to a trip to Tangier, which the author reaches by steamboat departing from Spain. In Tangier, the author stays at an Italian hotel, Hotel Continental, located on the seaside. He describes a fascinating view of the landscape and cityscape. He notes the presence of a Jewish community that, despite not being particularly friendly with the Arabs, enjoys a safe life, much like the Christians. The author observes the rapidly growing European community and acknowledges that the land is very interesting for European colonists due to its climate, which is almost like Spain’s. Nevertheless, the city retains a typical Arab appearance with its labyrinth of narrow streets. The author hires a Jewish guide and visits the city, exploring some cafes and listening to local musicians, whose music reminds him of the Romani songs one can hear in Russia. The next day, the author takes a steamboat to Algeciras.

Bio

Konstantin Skal’kovskii was a mining engineer, historian, journalist, and ballet expert. In 1863, after graduating from the Institute of the Corps of Mining Engineers, he remained to work at the Main Directorate of the Institute. He then worked in the Mining Department, where he conducted geological research. He also studied the economy and statistics of mining factories. Additionally, he made several trips both in Russia and abroad on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, to collect information on industry and trade and to observe the technology of mining in Western Europe, Turkey, the East Indies, the USA, China, and Japan. He published several travel notes following these journeys. Skal’kovskii wrote many articles devoted to mining engineering, but he also authored books and articles on ballet, which appeared in periodicals such as “Sankt-Peterburgskie vedomosti” and “Novoe Vremia”, sometimes using the pseudonym “Balletoman”.

Sources

V. Kartsev, “Skal’kovskii, Konstantin Apollonovich”, in Entsiklopedicheskii slovar’ Brokgauza i Efrona v 86 t., t. 30, Sankt-Peterburg 1890-1907, p. 172;

M. Dommes, Konstantin Apollonovich Skal’kovskii (1843-1906) inzhener, puteshestvennik, pisatel’, baletoman, “Iz glubiny vremen”, 2000, 12, p. 137-146.

M.E.