KAZAN

The Water Sports World Championship is currently held in the city where I live at the moment.

Allow me to point few clarifications regarding what I'm blogging about. I write and post about happenings, culture notes, my personal experiences from interaction with the local folks, the city, architecture, food and other stuff that I think matters.

Very often I mention the word KREMLIN. I would like to point out that in the whole Russian Federation, there is not only one Kremlin, which the world knows about - that one in Moscow. Kremlin in Moscow is the Kremlin of the country. But Kremlin which I often mention is the Kremlin in Kazan - the fortress of Kazan. KAZAN is considered to be the third largest city in Russia in terms of economy. Kazan city is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Here I'd like to share 2 links which can give more details about the city and the Republic.

KAZAN - Lonely Planet
KAZAN official site

I do not want to confuse you with the way the Kremlins look like. So here are pictures.

my picture
Kazan

picture credit: internet
Moscow

photo credit: internet
Moscow

photo credit: internet
Kazan

photo credit: internet
Moscow

my picture
Kazan

If you pay closer attention, you'd notice that in Kazan Kremlin, there are two flags. Russian flag and the flag of Tatarstan Republic.

Thank you for taking interest in my blog. I am very glad to hear from you and I am more than happy to visit your blogs too.

To my previous readers and blogger friends, I am sorry for my long absence. I have been tied up with work and other significant personal stuff. Now I'm back and will be happy to exchange thoughts with you again.

Hello there again ... :)

Spring in the City

Let me take you to a short walk from inside the Kremlin to the streets and views around it.

The pillars are portraits and stories of prominent artists - painters, musicians, singers, composer, writer, poets, playwright, actors & actresses who served and one of those considered heroes in the WWII. The posts are dedicated to commemorate them in connection with the Victory day celebration.

Outside Kremlin is the statue of Musa Dzalil who was a poet and a resistance fighter against fascists. He was caught and beheaded. 

Musa Dzalil's story of Bravery

Starting spring the carriage that goes around the Kremlin is now out ready for tourists.

The Kremlovskaya street is just across the gate of Kremlin. It goes down to the Kazan Federal University.

Standing on the Kremlin grounds you will see a view of the main roads where all public transports passes by to get to another point. 

Although the day was partly cloudy, the sky was still beautiful especially at the end of the day. A grand flock of birds flew by above me - it was wonderful!

After a bit of showers, I still manage to see the sunset. I was a bit late to catch the huge sun in its way down but I  was still lucky to witness the sky changed from day to evening.

Some of you might be already familiar with this dragon. It is the same dragon I've posted in winter. It is the symbol of the city located just outside and below the Kremlin wall.

I'm linking this post to:

Scenic Weekend

Our World Tuesday

Look Down for Views

Since I already have posted the Ferris wheel and told you that I was once up there. I thought that I'd continue with the views down the wheel. Like I said I didn't  really look down. I was just sitting very still looking at what's on my eye level. But thankfully, I was with a bear... a kind of special Bear and he took all these pictures in this post.

 

There's  the road going to the city center. The Kremlin, commercial building, some residential and the beach Kazanka. 

Last time I've posted a sign that forbids people from swimming and some of you asked why it is forbidden. Well, you see there is a road that spans at the middle. Fumes, dust and maybe something else are brought about by every passing vehicle. The water is not really dirty. I have been there several times in summer and in winter too. There are no rubbish nor sewege from factories. There are no factories in the city. It's just not considered good for swimming. But you know some people still try like in those people in the previous post I've written about.

The Ferris wheel is a part of entertainment in Kurlai. It's  an amusemrnt park. I like being there in summer, not to take rides but to eat cotton candy :) 

Nah, I just like places where people go to enjoy. Kids, a lot of kids and their families could be seen in this place. 

Farther you can see a UFO. They land in Russia from time to time. Didn't you know that Russia and aliens are allies? 

:)

Of course I'm  joking. That's  a circus. I haven't been there. Another paranoia I've got is that animals could go wild and get loose...you know what happens next. (I'm  sorry I've got weird imaginings sometimes).

This is right below us. You can probably even see the shadow of the wheel on the umbrellas. It's a BBQ place by the way. They also have good kebab. Yum! Summer, hurry up please.

The park isn't open yet. They close from late fall to early spring. As soon as snow is gone, they'll  open again.

The river is still frozen, everything's covered with snow. Although it is already spring, our temperature today's nearly -10. 

Tomorrow's  gonna be -17...hopefully not. It is March 8 - it's  Women's  Day and I already mentioned to you before  that this day is widely celebrated in Russia. I am planning to go out and see around, make pictures if I  get a chance and later tell you about it.

I'm  linking this post to Scenic Weekends

Is it Spring yet?

Is it really? Come with me and let's have a look at the city center.

The dragon of Kazan has been cleared from snow. It melted, yes. But a bit stayed on the dragon's crown.

The view from where the dragon was. Part of the main street and further is the river, still frozen though. The beach is still covered with snow. There are no signs of green yet.

The entrance to Kremlin has much less snow. Asphalt can now be seen. 

Ah asphalt - you have no idea how much I have missed you. :) It is much easier & lighter to walk now. Now I  can walk faster without falling or struggling.

Across Kremlin is the National Museum. No more thick snow on the roof or ice mountain alongsides. Asphalt, it is nice to see you here  too. :)

So what do you think? Has spring really come to us?

I wish you Happy March and warmer days.

Please click the links below yo see what's  going on around the world:

Our World Tuesday

WATW

Kazan Kremlin

Let me give you a tour to the city I live in. It is the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Tatarstan is one of the many republics in the Russian Federation. It is located in the heart of Russia, 800 kilometers from the country's  capital - Moscow.

Kazan, the third largest city was founded in 1005. The territory  of Kazan is a region of beautiful forests, rivers and lakes. Kazan's history is closely connected with history of civilisation of the East and the West.

Let's  begin from the most important part of the city - the Kremlin.

Kremlin means a fortress, a citadel, a fortified complex housing the official resident of the president (the Republic's president) and several other important institutions of the city.

In the year 2000, Kazan Kremlin was included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural heritage.  

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There are two languages spoken in the city. Tatar, which is the national language of the republic, and Russian - the country's  national language. You will notice that every edifice with a name, the name is written in both languages.

Standing big and tall, this is one of the pillars of the fortress. 

One side of the big wall.

One of the entrances.

The Kremlin from afar.

Next time I'll take you inside and show you what and how it looks like.

Note: The pictures are taken from different times. All of the shots personally taken.