Sunday, April 26, 2015

Yekaterinburg / Екатеринбург: History, Blood And Borders

Hello girls!!! I was missing you all so badly and today got the right mood to write and be here, with you. I was on holiday (Easter holiday) for almost 3 weeks and usually, when I am on holiday I have no time for blogging, but I do share things on my INSTAGRAM very often, so if you have an Instagram account feel free to follow me there. I would be happy to follow you, my darlings. Thank you for those who have already started following me. 
So, I stayed in Russia for 10 days, 3 days in Yekaterinburg (Екатеринбург) with my second sister, Zina, another day in train while we travelled to sister's city Nizhnevartovsk (Нижневартовск) and the last 6 days I spent wonderful time with some of my family members (my mum, elder sister - Maria and her family, second sister Zina and her family and other darling friends) in Nizhnevartovsk. My sisters live in the same city and mum lives in Central Russia, but we had the great opportunity to see each other in the same place. 

Me and my sister - Zina had a great time seeing many parts of the city and around it and below I will write briefly and share pictures of all those destinations that we visited and liked in Yekaterinburg. 

"About Yekaterinburg: it is the 4th largest city in Russia after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and is the capital of the Urals region. It was founded in 1723 by the order of Peter the Great as the metallurgical factory and by the 20th century it had become one of Russia's largest and most important financial, industrial and cultural centers. Between 1924 and 1991, the town was known as Sverdlovsk (Свердловск). The city is often said to be situated on the border of Europe and Asia (on the Asian side) and (at least) three symbolic monuments of this can be found near the city (Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Yekaterinburg)." 
1. Church on the Blood and Museum of the Sacred Imperial Family
I really loved the design of the church. It is amazingly beautiful, but has a terrible history. Church was consecrated on 16th of July 2003. The Upper Church is in the name of all Saints Resplendent in Russian Land, the Lower Church in the name of Holy Royal Martyrs. Holy thing of the Cathedral is the former basement where the whole Romanovs family was terribly killed (Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Tsarina Alexandra and their five children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei). Museum is next to the Church on the Blood and it is allow to visit the museum only accompanied by their guide, which is free and I don't know if they got an English speaker guide. Here are coming lots of visitors and for sure it is a must to visit place. 

2. Large Temple Chrysostom
The Church is situated in the heart of the Yekaterinburg city centre. I haven't been inside but really loved it and couldn't go ahead without taking few pictures. It is very beautiful in the night time. 

3. Vysotsky Business Center
Fantastic 360 degree views of the city especially at night night time. I would say it is worth it to be 52 floors up looking down at the city. The building is very modern and became the face of the city, it is something like "The Shard" in London. 

4. Promenade along the Iset River

Very calm, charming place of the city, it is a great spot to go for a stroll. Along the way there are youngster enjoying their time with their skateboard and I am sure that this is the main meeting spots. 

5. Yekaterinburg State Academical Opera and Ballet Theatre
It is a very lovely Theatre and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to visit such an amazing place. We watched an amazing Ballet, Theatre was extremely beautiful with lots of people, mostly Russian, the dancers are so talented, and the orchestra were great. Excellent atmosphere. It is really easy to walk to from City Center, it is located next to Vysotsky Business Center on Lenina Ave. 

6. Ganina Yama Monastery
This is the place I love the most, it is very peaceful and unique site. This is the place where the remains of Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and children were found after their murder by the Bolsheviks. There are 7 churches that marked the site and all are extremely beautiful. This is a wonderful place to visit, especially in the winter. I would definitely recommend visiting this monastery if you are in Yekaterinburg.

7. 1905 Square
It is a huge Square and it is located in the City Center. Statue of Lenin stands on the center of Square. You cannot go to Russia and not see at least one statue of Lenin, in every single city and village there is Lenin's bust. I really liked The City Hall which is combined with a communist style. 


8. The Europe and Asia border

Ekaterinburg is situated almost on the border between Europe and Asia, border has become a major tourists spot. There are 2 Europe-Asia border - the new one and the old one. We have visited the new one as it is closer to the city, only 17 km away from the city of Yekaterinburg. 
Have you ever been to Russia? if yes, what cities have you visited and what is the one you liked the most?

Keep yourself happy!!!
Much love
Liuba G
xxx

20 comments:

  1. Dear Liuba,

    First of all, I am very happy to see you ...welcome back! I absolutely love your photos. I do not have an Instagram account, but I do hope you will keep blogging, as I think you are a lovely person and a great blogging friend! You look beautiful in all the photos, and I really enjoyed the tour you are sharing here, thank you so much! Hugs. :)

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    1. Dear Linda,

      Thank you for your encouraging words, you are always so sweet to me. I am so glad you did enjoy the tour. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday. Kisses and hugs :)

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  2. Draga mea Liuba multumesc in primul rand pentru vizita si gandurile tale, mereu prilej de bucurie.
    In Rusia nu am fost niciodata, nici macar pana in R. Moldova, iti multumesc astfel pentru incursiune. Mi-a placut in mod deosebit manastirea, ceva ce nu am mai vazut niciodata, arhitectura, culorile, nu stiu daca e unicat. Granita dintre continente, chiar daca sentimentul e diferit, deosebita mi se pare si experienta, indiferent ca nu e prima oara, teatrului si operetei. Aici e ceva inaltator.
    Multi pupici si duminica placuta! ♥

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    1. Mihaela, scumpa mea, multumesc foarte mult pentru comentariul tau. Mi-a placut si mie manastirea cel mai mult, nu am mai vazut nici eu asa manastiri frumoase si am uitat sa mentionez ca e manastire pentru barbati. Eu ador baletul rusesc si cred ca multi il adora :)

      Te pup si eu si iti urez o duminica frumoasa!!! xXx

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  3. I really want to visit Russia it looks so beautiful. I am glad you had a wonderful time beautiful pictures Lucy x

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    1. Dear Lucy,

      Thank you very much for all your comments you've written on my posts.

      If you want to visit the whole Russia you can go with Trans Siberian Railway and visit Saint Petersburg on June when they got white nights. St Petersburg is fantastic - my favourite :)

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  4. Pretty, pretty, pretty! Love all the pictures!

    much love x Leah

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  5. Liuba, ma bucur ca ai avut o vacanta minunata din cate vad si ca ai petrecut-o alaturi de familia ta. Ce frig pare acolo :D aici este foarte cald. Din pacate eu nu am fost niciunde in afara de Romania, dar mi-as dori sa merg peste tot si cine stie, poate ca intr-o zi o voi putea face.

    Multumesc penru vizitele pe care mi le faci pe blog, apreciez si imi pare rau ca eu nu reusesc sa te vizitez la fel de des :(

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    1. Lavi, scumpa mea, nu era asa se frig doar ca mai era multa zapada, in Ekaterinburg nu a fost asa frig, dar in orasul unde traieste sora mea era foarte frig, e undeva 1000km departare mai la Nord de Ekaterinburg :)

      Multumesc frumos pentru comentariu si vb frumoase.

      P.S. O sa ai ocazia sa vizitezi, Domnul iti vede dorinta.

      Te pup

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  6. If you've gone to places as beautiful as these with your family, you have all the reasons to stay away from blogging for a while. :)

    Glad to see you back though. Lovely photos, dear.

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    1. Ahhh Lux, my darling, you all the time coming up with such lovely comments, which I love them :)

      Thank you for all your thoughts and kindness!!! Liuba x

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  7. Liuba, ti-am citit postarea imediat ce-ai publicat-o, abia asteptam sa vad cum ai petrecut in Rusia. Dar a venit vacanta peste mine si n-am apucat sa-ti scriu aici cateva vorbe :)

    Nu stiu mare lucru despre Rusia si ma bucur ca am reusit sa descopar o particica din ea in postarea ta! Cel mai tare mi-a placut locul de la granita, poate pentru ca l-au facut asa frumos si colorat?

    Vad ca te-ai simtit bine alaturi de familie, numai oameni frumosi vad in poze!

    Acum astept outfit-uri de vara!

    Pupicei!

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    1. Ira, scumpa mea, iti multumesc mult pentru mesajul tau. M-am bucurat mult sa stiu ca ti-ai facut timp sa stai aici, cu mine :)

      Noi nu am avut internet aproape doua satamani si nu am putut sa fiu asa de activa de pe telefonas, ca nu imi e comod.

      O sa vina si outfit-urile :) Te pupic scumpic!

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  8. I wondered why you disappeared from blogging, but now I see that you've been busy having fun! Very beautiful photos. It's always good to go home for a while, isn't it :))

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    1. Dear Lubka, you are so kind!!! Thank you for stopping by. I had no internet for almost 2 weeks, from today will try to be more active :).

      I loved being with my family and had spent wonderful time there.

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  9. This post is full of so many interesting places! Thank you so much for sharing them with us...and it's awesome to see your family!

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    1. Beth, darling, thank you very much for your kindness. I am super glad you enjoyed it :) Kises, Liuba x

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  10. Cate informații. .mulțumi ca le.ai împărtășit cu noi. Nu am fost în Rusia, prin prisma pozelor tale cred ca ar fi o experiență deosebita.
    Cred ca a fost frumos sa iti vezi familia:)

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    1. Mona, A fost super fine sa fiu cu familia si imi e foarte dot de toti ai mei. Ma bucur mult ca ti-a placut sa calatoresti cu mine, asa, virtual :)

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