Ekaterinburg, third biggest city in Russia: city view
Vikulova Street, Ekaterinburg – a typical residential area of a big city. The vast majority of Russians live in flats in such blocks.
This is what Russians are used to call “a private house” – a small wooden construction, most often without water connection or sanitation.
Statues of Lenin still can be found in almost every Russian city or town; this one is proudly standing on the central square of Ekaterinburg, the Square of 1905 year (formerly the Cathedral Square), named in memory of the first Russian Revolution of 1905.
City Council, Ekaterinburg (1947-1954) – built on the place of the Cathedral Temple (demolished in 1930), it looks right in the eyes of bronze Lenin statue.
Hotel “Tsentralnaya” (1926), Malysheva Street (formely Pokrov Anenue) – this is the hotel where I stayed during my visit to Ekaterinburg. The name of the hotel means “central”, and it is in fact situated in the historical heart of the city.
Entrance to the hotel “Tsentralnaya”
Fountain “Stone Flower”, the Square of Labor, Ekaterinburg. The small church was built in late 1990’s, and is now open to the public. Until 1930’s the church – the Temple of Martyr Ekaterina, was on this site but it was demolished by Stalin’s administration like many others.
The Palace of Merchant Sevast’yanov, Lenina Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia (architect Paduchev, 1860-1863). This eclectic 3-storey building is situated in the historical center of Ekaterinburg, right of the dam. Sevast’yanov wanted to plate the roof with gold but the city mayor prohibited it. Sevast’yanov then applied to the Tsar but was told that only church roofs were plated with gold, “So the Lord could notice them more often”. For his arrogance Sevast’yanov had to go to church every day in iron shoes and ask forgiveness. Luckily the church – the Temple of Martyr Ekaterina, destroyed in 1930’s – was across the road.
The Dam (“Plotinka”) – the historical center of Ekaterinburg and the popular place of leisure. Ekaterinburg was founded in 1724 according to the directive of Peter the Great.
The monument of Genin and Tatischev – the founders of Ekaterinburg, Plotinka. During the Soviet times only one of them was known – the Russian Tatischev. German Genin was not considered by the Soviet propaganda as an appropriate person for the fame of the city founder. The monument was built for the 275th anniversary of the city (1999), facing the Dam.
The buildings of 1950’s facing the Dam from the other side
Palace of Merchant Rastorguev (1794-1795), Vosnesenskaya Hill, Lunacharskogo Street. In 1935-1937 the palace was reconstructed and became the Palace of Pioneers – the recreational center and school of arts for children.
Artists’ exhibition in the park in the city center; Lenin Avenue, between the Square of 1905 Year and Khokhryakova Street. Open daily.
Lenin Avenue, Ekaterinburg – The number of cars in Russia multiplied by 10 in the past 15 years, which created problems for most Russian cities that have not been built to handle such traffic. The Russian style of driving is different; they are used to taking chances but at the same time very skillful. Speed limit in Russian cities is 60 km (37 miles) per hour.
Square of Labor, Lenin Avenue, Ekaterinburg – Nevertheless, most Russians still do not own cars and use public transport, which I must admit is quite good. Buses, trolleybuses and trams are available and inexpensive.
Street Studencheskaya, Ekaterinburg, Russia – this is the building where Elena’s office was situated. Ekaterinburg is a very green city, with many trees and flowers on the streets and many well maintained parks inside and outside the city.
Wooden church at the graveyard (Uralmash, Ekaterinburg)
At the entrance to the graveyard, close to the church, there was an alley of graves with huge (1,5-2 people’s heights) tomb stones picturing young men. When I asked Elena who they were, I was shocked to learn that it were the graves of Mafia. The full length portraits on the black marble were state of the art, and the graves were thoroughly maintained. I looked at the live flowers and the dates on the stones; most of the men left this world very early, between the age of 20-35 years.
One should not be concerned about Russian Mafia when visit Russia; they do not care about foreign tourists as well as about ordinary Russian people. Russian police is effective and you can apply to them in any difficult situation, when you got lost, for example.
Orthodox cross and Muslim crescent together on one of the graves. The spiritual connection between people is more important for Russians than the religious differences. Russians do not have separate graveyards for different religious confessions, which reflects their great religious tolerance. Russia was officially atheistic until the Perestroyka (1987).
Russian Orthodox cross (“the eight ends cross”) on the place of the execution of the last Russian Tsar Nicolay II and his family; Vosnesenskaya Hill, Lunacharskogo Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia. Vosnesenskaya Hill is the highest place of the city.
The old wooden chapel (1998) on the place where the House of Engineer Ipat’ev was situated on Vosnesenskaya Hill, in the basement of which the Tsar’s family and 2 devoted servants were shot at night 16 July 1918. For many years the building served as the museum of the revolution with the room of execution as the main attraction. The building was destroyed in 1977 according to the secret directive of Politburo.
The new wooden chapel replaced the old one (1999). It is planned to build there “the Temple on the Blood in the Name of All Russian Saints”. The city administration is currently trying to collect money for the building.
The queue to the Vosnesenskaya Cathedral during the ceremony of reburial of the remains of the Tsar’s family (16 July 1998, 80 years after their death). The Cathedral is situated right in front of the place of Tsar’s execution. During the Soviet time the Cathedral was the museum of natural sciences, and was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church only in the middle 1990’s.
During the ceremony of reburial of the Tsar’s family (16 July 1998).
Interesting, it was a warm sunny summer day in the morning, there were not even clouds in the sky. Closer to the time of the ceremony, some clouds appeared from nowhere, and covered the sun.
At the moment the coffins were taken outside the church, it thundered and started raining.
By the end of the ceremony (which took about 45 minutes), the sun looked through the rain again. The coffins were placed in the cars, and left for the airport, to be transported to the last resort of former Tsars – St Petersburg. It was still possible to hear the sirens, when the rain stopped. Tell me it was not symbolic.
The Black Cross close to Ekaterinburg at the civil victims monument (Moscow highway). Its height is approximately 11 meters (12 yds)
The monument of civil victims (Moscow highway, outside Ekaterinburg)
The names of tsar Nicolay II and his family were just a few names on this huge list at the monument of civil victims outside Ekaterinburg
