Unfinished Business in Sochi Mountains -- On the Scene

Tourists posed for photos and skiers hit the slopes on a beautiful day in Gornaya Karusel amid construction of unfinished hotels and restaurants meant to be used in the mountains for the Sochi Olympics just days away.

In the base village of the resort – referred to as Level 540, which is home to the Mountain Media Center foe Sochi 2014 – workers on Gornaya Karusel Street busily scurry trying to put on the final touches with the Games just five days away.

Take the Cableway VIII from the Level 540 base village and in roughly 10 minutes one arrives at the scenic Level 960 village. Here, it appears that construction of media hotels is behind schedule with the opening of the Games in five days.

Large cranes still occupy the streets, numerous crates of goods sit untouched, and welders continue to work, one right above the entrance to a hotel. Numerous workers sweep dirt off the streets. While tourists pose for photographs near the cableway with stunning views of the Caucasus Mountains, few make their way onto Mountain Street, the main thoroughfare.

The Gorki Grand Hotel remains unopened. Down on Level 540, a woman at reception at its partner Gorky Gorod Hotel says she is unsure when it will open for business. In contrast, the hotel where she works will have 1,500 occupied rooms during the Games.

On Level 960, the Rixos Krasnaya Polyana seems to be doing alright. Rahmi Karale, a cook from Turkey, has been at his job for 10 days now since the hotel opened.

"The best meal is quesadillas – it is a Mexican kitchen," says Karale. He also advises that 2,000 Turkish workers are still at work, mostly construction, in and around Gornaya Karusel.

Another pedestrian on the street says she is going to her new waitress job at one of the neighborhood restaurants. "We haven’t opened yet, but we are trying our best," she says.

Unlike the Rixos, the Swissotel on Mountain Street has yet to open its doors. Peering through the window into the hotel lobby, one sees uncovered furniture, an unattended front desk and no one in sight. Two large cranes block the main pedestrian thoroughfare in front of the hotel.

A small group of Russian journalists arrive, departing the gondola, but linger on the adjacent steps with luggage, seemingly hoping that their hotel is ready.

Back down at Level 540, in Gorki Plaza, the mood is much livelier on the gorgeous mountain afternoon. Small vendors have set up shop and souvenir stands are open for business. A lady sells corn on the cob for 130 rubles (about $3.70) and seems to be doing very well, particularly considering the large number of busy workers nearby. It seems as if there is optimism in the air.

Regarding the unfinished hotels at Level 540, final construction will come right down to the wire.

Aleksandra Kosterina, Sochi 2014 head of communications, said six of the nine hotels are open for media. The other three hotels, she said, "are being tested and will be completed in the near future."

If media arrive and their housing is not available, Kosterina said they will be upgraded or given equal accommodation.

Written by Brian Pinelli and Karen Rosen in Sochi

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