6 June (ctd)
In front of the station, taxis at Yekaterinburg were not willing to negotiate, 400 roubles was the best price we could obtain, rather than the 150-200 roubles suggested by Maxim. We were greeted by Maxim (after the taxi delivered us to the wrong gate). Thank goodness for phones with Russian SIM cards. It is three flights of stairs up to Maxim’s apartment, but it is very impressive. Better than suggested in the photos. Maxim instructs us via a translation app on his smartphone. He is a man of few words.
Before dinner, we went for a walk past the Church upon the Blood, and the Romanov martyrdom site. Golden domes rise over memorial statues and photos of the executed royals. A steady stream of the faithful pray in the chapel beneath the memorial, attended by a posse of green robed priests.
We chose to take dinner at Pashtet (No. 1 on Tripadvisor). It is only a short walk from the church. We both choose a rabbit dish, with Georgian wine for me. A tasty meal (1600 roubles, $25). On the way back to the apartment, we strolled through Armies Square, where a brutal monument commemorates the USSRs misadventures in Afghanistan.
7 June
The day dawns sunny, and after breakfast we set off on a day of sightseeing. At the top of a low hill behind our apartment stands the Ascension Church – a Wedgewood church in blue and white. Inside prayer is in progress, grass on the floor, live choir and lots of green robed priests, intoning in deep voices
We take another look at the Church Upon the Blood. The upper church seems not to be open. In the crypt is a chapel to the murdered Romanovs many of the faithful are paying their respects. More green robed guys and a live choir complement the scene. Priesting seems to be the go to job in this town for young men of little obvious ability. There are 6 of them helping out here.
In the park down toward the city Pond, the Peter & Fevronia Monument was thronged by schoolchildren mugging for a photo opportunity. As is traditional, there are accompanying tulips in the garden beds. Walked alongside the City Pond, viewing the skyscrapers on the other side as the city expands out from its historic core.
Where ul. Lenina crosses the Isset River, a dam holds back the City Pond. On the corner is the wedding cake in turquoise pink and white of the mansion of N.I. Sevastyanova. I had a stroll up to Ploschad 1905, whilst Minuk rested on a park bench and watched the art students sketching and painting. Lenin watches over the square, the Passazh Shopping Mall and the Ekaterinburg Government building, with red star topped spire, and preserved communist iconography stands across the busy street.
Meandered back to collect Minuk, then through the underpass beneath ul. Lenina to the Plotinka. Fountains dancing, school groups sketching.
We took a look at the Yekaterinburg Fine Arts Museum. Would not sell us a family ticket (350 R, vs 2 x 250 r). No idea why. The most interesting displays were the Kasli Iron pavillion, made for the Paris Exhibition of 1900, and a very impressive gemstone and jewellery exhibit. Afterward we walked down beside the Isset River, where the smell of freshly slashed grass was in the air.
It was lunch time, and we were hungry, so headed for Grinwich shopping Mall. Enormous. Got lost. Eventually found our target restaurant, Schastye. Enjoyed Khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) and calamari salad (Cost with drinks 800 roubles, $20). Used the free wifi to check out a tram route home. Then did some shopping for tomorrow’s train ride in the swank basement supermarket.
Unfortunately, closer inspection of the tram routes showed no direct tram, so we decided on the longish walk. This wore Minuk out thoroughly, but the little supermarkets near the apartment did not stock freshly prepared food. So instead, after a rest walked down to the Pelmeni Club, and dined on duck and goose, and pike pelmeni. These are meat filled ravioli, and were quite tasty with the sour cream sauce we chose. A hint of wasabi was very pleasant. With drinks, 1080 roubles ($26).
Back to the apartment, Minuk makes chicken sandwiches for lunch tomorrow. Afterward to bed after packing.
In front of the station, taxis at Yekaterinburg were not willing to negotiate, 400 roubles was the best price we could obtain, rather than the 150-200 roubles suggested by Maxim. We were greeted by Maxim (after the taxi delivered us to the wrong gate). Thank goodness for phones with Russian SIM cards. It is three flights of stairs up to Maxim’s apartment, but it is very impressive. Better than suggested in the photos. Maxim instructs us via a translation app on his smartphone. He is a man of few words.
Before dinner, we went for a walk past the Church upon the Blood, and the Romanov martyrdom site. Golden domes rise over memorial statues and photos of the executed royals. A steady stream of the faithful pray in the chapel beneath the memorial, attended by a posse of green robed priests.
We chose to take dinner at Pashtet (No. 1 on Tripadvisor). It is only a short walk from the church. We both choose a rabbit dish, with Georgian wine for me. A tasty meal (1600 roubles, $25). On the way back to the apartment, we strolled through Armies Square, where a brutal monument commemorates the USSRs misadventures in Afghanistan.
7 June
The day dawns sunny, and after breakfast we set off on a day of sightseeing. At the top of a low hill behind our apartment stands the Ascension Church – a Wedgewood church in blue and white. Inside prayer is in progress, grass on the floor, live choir and lots of green robed priests, intoning in deep voices
We take another look at the Church Upon the Blood. The upper church seems not to be open. In the crypt is a chapel to the murdered Romanovs many of the faithful are paying their respects. More green robed guys and a live choir complement the scene. Priesting seems to be the go to job in this town for young men of little obvious ability. There are 6 of them helping out here.
In the park down toward the city Pond, the Peter & Fevronia Monument was thronged by schoolchildren mugging for a photo opportunity. As is traditional, there are accompanying tulips in the garden beds. Walked alongside the City Pond, viewing the skyscrapers on the other side as the city expands out from its historic core.
Where ul. Lenina crosses the Isset River, a dam holds back the City Pond. On the corner is the wedding cake in turquoise pink and white of the mansion of N.I. Sevastyanova. I had a stroll up to Ploschad 1905, whilst Minuk rested on a park bench and watched the art students sketching and painting. Lenin watches over the square, the Passazh Shopping Mall and the Ekaterinburg Government building, with red star topped spire, and preserved communist iconography stands across the busy street.
Meandered back to collect Minuk, then through the underpass beneath ul. Lenina to the Plotinka. Fountains dancing, school groups sketching.
We took a look at the Yekaterinburg Fine Arts Museum. Would not sell us a family ticket (350 R, vs 2 x 250 r). No idea why. The most interesting displays were the Kasli Iron pavillion, made for the Paris Exhibition of 1900, and a very impressive gemstone and jewellery exhibit. Afterward we walked down beside the Isset River, where the smell of freshly slashed grass was in the air.
It was lunch time, and we were hungry, so headed for Grinwich shopping Mall. Enormous. Got lost. Eventually found our target restaurant, Schastye. Enjoyed Khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) and calamari salad (Cost with drinks 800 roubles, $20). Used the free wifi to check out a tram route home. Then did some shopping for tomorrow’s train ride in the swank basement supermarket.
Unfortunately, closer inspection of the tram routes showed no direct tram, so we decided on the longish walk. This wore Minuk out thoroughly, but the little supermarkets near the apartment did not stock freshly prepared food. So instead, after a rest walked down to the Pelmeni Club, and dined on duck and goose, and pike pelmeni. These are meat filled ravioli, and were quite tasty with the sour cream sauce we chose. A hint of wasabi was very pleasant. With drinks, 1080 roubles ($26).
Back to the apartment, Minuk makes chicken sandwiches for lunch tomorrow. Afterward to bed after packing.