minats_zone

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Hey there, We've just returned from Belgorod where we stayed for 4 days at Belyi Gorod Hotel. It's not a bad hotel as it has been just built and has modern rooms and design. Slava arranged an ex-classmated reunion as almost all of them turned 60. The stay was nice and memorable as we visited some good places and felt the atmosphere of an old Russian(Soviet) city which is clean, neat but a bit boring. Their theatre is closed for summer and parks are very Soviet. Have a look at some pics. LOve and hugs to all:))

Hey there. Today I've been to a marvellous exhibition, which has been prepared for five years by British Council Pushkin Museum, Tate Gallery etc. It shows a special period of the development of art - Master Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They appealed to the period of the Middle Ages, the time of the basis of Renaissance art. I've never been so much impressed by any exhibition at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts but this one is a MUST. They impressed me so much that now I want to buy the book about this Brotherhood. Look at some pics I made there.We went to the exhibition with Alla,a friend of mine since MSU times. It was outstanding!!! Have a look at this site and you'll get some moments. Love and hugs...

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Hey there,This week has been the most memorable week of all times. Two great birthdays one after another took place. First was Yana, our first B-grandgirl born in Sf by Olia on June 28th at 8pm. A pretty creature weighing 3400gm and 49cm long. Good job, Olia! Second was our Dad's 60s jubilee on July 3d, which was celebrated both at his University office with colleagues, guests and students and at dacha - with only our nearest and dearest - Marina, Kostya, Stepa. Both events were really warm and memorable. Not only presents, gifts and flowers but songs and many good words addressed to Slava. He is really popular with his colleagues and numerous students and he really worth all this attention...I wish all of us were together during this great week but we are so far away now...Anyway, you're still with us in your and our thoughts and this is the point! Love and hugs to all...:))

Hey there, here am I, just got back from Yerevan trip on ESOL business. It was almost a 3 day stay there so I had the first day completely devoted to the Etchmiadzin city and the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Its first church dates back to the times when Armenia became one of the first officially Christian country in the world (4th century). Then the patriarch gave the church and the city the new name of Echmiadzin. Now it is a centre for preparing Armenian church leaders and it is very grand and gives the impression of something very strong. Many young people come there to see young religious students and leaders. The apricot trees are full of rape fruit and they are very sweet and juicy. Yerevan is a good-looking and warm city too with many pink buildings and small yards which reminded me about my childhood in Tbilisi. It is only 400km away from Yerevan, very close actually but behind the mountains. Have a look at some pics... Love and hugs to all of you...

Hey there, I'm here at my dacha writing about Minsk where I was on 12,13 June for CAE exam. I lived in the central hotel Yubileiny where I could enjoy a splendid view of the central area of Minsk. It's really wonderful - green, neat, tidy and well organized. However, my iPhone5 camera was out of order for no reason at all(or I don't know the reason) so I was able to take only one photo. Overall Minsk is a very European city but many things make it very Soviet (people's faces, restrictions on internet access, shops etc). Anyway, I liked it as I could remember some places in the centre where I was in the late 70s with a group of tourists... Bye for now and have many hugs from me... PS - today we celebrated Stepan's Birtday. He is 4 years old now!!! No pics:((

Hey there. Now I can say that Surgut where I was with CIU on CAE session did not disappoint me, unlike Kemerovo, which appeared to be pretty impersonal and freezing. Surgut was unusually clean, modern, energetic and relatively warm (15-16C) where sunny spells were really nice. I was impressed by their very modern Surgut university with a fabulous library and good facilities. Churches of old and new Surgut impressed me too. Have a look at some pics. Love and hugs to all...

Hey there, It's sunny and warm weather in Moscow but I've just got back from freezing Kemerovo(at 8:15am). There I was since Friday and it was really cold there (+2C - 6C) by day and on Saturday in the morning (June 2) it was snowing heavily for half an hour. Amazing and really uncomfortable as I was supposed to do my job there but my clothes were not warm enough for going out of the hotel. In Moscow it has been +25-27C for the whole week!. Anyway, I did my job and went on a short stroll along Tom' river. It's very clean and green there and I really enjoyed the view. Well, Kemerovo changed for better, roads are better now, many good buildings have been built etc. People are nice and friendly but "sorry for them", the summer has not reached Kuzbass this year and they look miserable as warm water has been switched off too (for summer profilactic!!!).Have a look at some pics. Next week I'm flying to Surgut and then to Minsk. I'm a traveller this summer. ...

Hey there, Here I am in Moscow. So busy that can hardly remember rest at Creta and all the bright days there. Now almost every day I examine as exams are growing in popularity in Russia. They are mostly YLE and KET/PET. But from time to time - FCE or BEC. I don't complain as YLE I really love and the kids are so funny and sincere. They are from Rublevo Uspenskoe, Minskoe shosse and other posh areas of Moscow. Today I examined in Mitino and was pleasantly surprised how beautiful metro carriages have become on this metro line in Moscow. There are very good pictures in every carriage specially lit and in a good wooden frame. It's a luxury! In the evening we went to Mayakovsky theatre where we enjoyed "Amurs in the Snow" play. Well love and hugs to all of you...