Valday 1 - the hilly upland of glacier origin between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

Although the distance form Moscow to Saint-Petersburg is only 700 km, the trip from Moscow to Saint-Petersburg by car may take from 10 to 14 hours. All because of horrific traffic jams first in Moscow, then - in Vyshny Volochok, less - in Saint-Petersburg. The highway connecting the two capitals is surprisingly narrow - only three driving lanes.

However, driving along the M 10, the connecting highway, is relatively safe. One can get a better understanding of Russia, enjoy the views and, the last but not the least, visit  the Valday Hills.

Serpukhov 1

Serpukhov   is a town with the population of about 120 thousand people, like most Russian towns, bears the imprint of the country's exuberant history. Monasteries, churches, some museums are all there.

It was founded in 1339 by Ivan Kalita. Since then it has always been the administrative centre of the nearby area. Now it's the centre of Serpukhovsky region(the sub-division of oblast').

The town is situated in the south of Moscovskaya oblast' ( Moscow region, the larger sub-division of the country) so it used to be the military outpost in the time of the Golden Horde. It's history has some relation to the Kulikov battle, the turning point in the history of Russia under the Golden Horde; Boris Godunov's march of 1598 forced to acknowledge  him as the Tsar of Russia in the Tatar influential circles.

After the October Revolution of 1917 the monks were turned out by the Bolsheviks. The Monastery was transferred into the quarters for the Latvian Riflemen.  After 1931 the Monastery was turned into a prison where massive executions were carried out.

Vysotsky Monastery founded in 1374

Last weekend's Saint-Petersburg

Saint-Petersburg, my hometown.

The Dostoyevsky's related sights. 

The area of Sennaya Ploshchad' (Sennaya Square) and Vladimirskiy Prospect are the places densely inhabited by Dostoevsky's characters. He himself rented the apartment where he died near Vladimirskaya underground station. The apartment now houses his memorial museum.  Location of the museum here. 

The supposedly Raskolnikov's house where he plotted the murder is not far from Sennaya Ploshchad' station. Actually, if you start walking from Sennaya Ploshchad' towards Nevsky Prospect along the Griboedov Channel you will see the setting of Dostoevsky's novels.

Nowadays Sennaya Ploshchad is the city centre. However, in the 19th century it was a remote area where working class people or poor intelligentsia settled. The tiny crooked street (pereulok Brinko) adjacent to the square, mentioned in the novel Crime and Punishment,  was inhabited by prostitutes and low working class. Raskolnikov used to go there to feel even worse.

On my way from Sennaya Ploshchad' to Saint-Isaak Cathedral. 

Lions' Bridge (suspension)  over the Griboedov Channel.

Bolotnoe Delo: case of 6th May, Repressions in Russia

On the 22 of April in the Concert Hall of the Moskva Hotel the results of public investigations of Bolotnoe Delo are being presented. Everyone is welcome.

Vladimir Putin has been enforcing the system of repressions and that is not a secret. The system in which people can't speak their mind unless their mind is completely the same as what is officially declared.

What's happening now gives an impression of surreal performance, only the difference is that real people are involved in this seemingly impossible for acting play.

Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot and many more. Last year on the 6th of May there was a demonstration, the one in a row of demonstrations after the State Duma elections (Russian Parliament) which had been shamelessly rigged.

There was a fight between the police and the demonstrators. Since the 6th of May some demonstrators have still been kept in prison without a verdict. Most of them are young people of about 20 years old:students, office managers, etc. They have been kept there as if they are killers or thieves , they are not allowed home detention.

An absolutely respected actor Alexander Philippenko is speaking in defence of one of the suspects, Stepan Zimin. Stepan, 21 years old, is a student of the Historical Department, is fond of historical reconstruction performances.

Ice rain in December, Moscow: crystal park

It was ice rain last year in Moscow region. The trees were all in ice crust. Lots of them broke under the weight of ice. You can still see them bent in the forests.

Restaurants in Moscow

We've recently been to a very interesting restaurant, Oblomov.

 Oblomov is a famous Russian character of a novel by Ivan Goncharov. Like most Russian literature, "Oblomov" novel (1859) is very versatile and profound. However, in a nutshell, the protagonist, Oblomov,  is a symbol of dwindling and lapsing into idleness  Russian nobility.

The three-floored mansion in the city center houses the restaurant. There are 3-4 rooms designed in the 19th century style. Having entered Oblomov, you're immediately find yourself in the atmosphere of the 19th century. They tried so hard to restore the atmosphere that they succeeded. Being there is an unforgettable experience. Which I would not apply to the food.

Part 3 Uglich fashion and regular houses

There is the Museum of the town living in the center on Uspenskay (Assumption Day) Square. It's small but interesting and has some entertaining exhibits which show vividly how people used to live.
The Museum of Uglich's Kremlin also houses armory, clothes, shoes, cutlery that date back several ages.

Dushegreya (soul-warming clothes, sort of)) was worn since 17th century. I think it used to be a warm comfortable clothing article for a working woman. The climate in Russia is severe and women needed warm clothes, that would not tie them up or restrict movements. This kind of clothes seems to be the suitable one.

Do bears really waddle about in Russia?

Nowadays, when industry and agriculture have almost been completely destroyed by the present regime, wild animals get closer to dwindling amounts of people on the outskirts of the country. It used to be unheard of in the past.

The fields were abundant in crops and harvested every year so people expanded their influence on the area. Factories were scattered all over the country. Nowadays, farms are rare. Factories are mostly destroyed.

Wild animals come closer to towns and  villages due to decreased human activity in all areas of life.  WWF activists rejoice!

Part 2 Uglich Cats

Well, I am trying to compose a post about Uglich's sights which is not easy since they are plenty. So far I 've  just been able to make the one about Uglich's cats.

Part 1 Uglich, the Golden Ring, hotels and restaurants.

The history of the city has been connected with the death of the last ancient Rurik dynasty heir, Dmitry, the son of Ivan the Terrible,  at the age of 8.

Nothing of such scale has happened in Uglich since then. As one of my colleagues remarked, "They(Uglichans) seem to still remain under the impression of the death of the prince Dmitry. "

The Transfiguration Cathedral 

The whole "accident" happened on 15th of May, 1591 in Uglich, since, after Ivan the Terrible's death,  Prince Dmitry with his mother and a wet-nurse had been sent away from Moscow by the boyar Boris Godunov, a claimant to the Russian throne then.  Boris Godunov has still been suspected to have ordered the assassination of Prince Dmitry.