Dinosaur

Spring is the time of year when dinosaurs come out and luxuriate in the sun.

More Numbers

This photo was taken at Moskovsky Bus Station, see also this post.

Theme Day: Numbers

234567 is the number of km hit by a car of one of Minsk citizens... me :). The photo was taken about a week ago.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Children's Railroad

This is a railway station building of the children's railroad. It's a narrow gauge railroad loop passing through one of Minsk parks. This railroad is fully operated by teenagers.

Passage In Blue And Yellow

Free parking, anyone?

This shot was taken far from the center of Minsk, next to the city's biggest marketplace ("Zhdanovichi"). If you don't want to pay for a parking lot, here is a place where you can leave your car for free.

Museum Of Samovars

Holocaust Memorial

This memorial is known as "The Death Pit". In 1942 Nazi killed 5000 Jews at this same place. The number of Minsk ghetto prisoners killed during WWII is about 100,000. The marble obelisk was built in 1947. It was USSR's first monument to Holocaust victims. The sculpture was added in 2000.

Bikers

These two guys where quicky manoeuvring among cars on the main street of Minsk - Nezalezhnasti avenue ("Independence avenue"). They were so fast!

Old Winding Stairs

I noticed this stairs in the backyard of the Palace of Arts. It looks so old I wouldn't risk going upstairs.

Ceiling

A nice ceiling in a shopping mall. It is too nice compared to the rest of the interior.

Church of Holy Trinity

A.k.a the Church of Saint Roh.

The present brick cathedral was built in the 60s of 19th century. During the post-WWII period it was used as a book depository, and the cemetery on Zolotaya Gorka (where the church is located) — the biggest and most famous catholic necropolis in the city — was destroyed. In 1976 the bulding was restored and partly repaired, then the chamber music hall of the philharmonic society was accommodated there. In 1991 the catholic church was renewed, and under the agreement with the philharmonic society the masses took place in it again. In 2006 the church was fully returned to believers.

Easter Orthodox Fair (Part 3)

Young bell ringer and a little girl (they look so much alike, I presume she is his sister).

This is the last photo from this event, I promise.

Easter Orthodox Fair (Part 2)

Easter Orthodox Fair

The 6th annual Easter Orthodox exhibition/fair opened today in Minsk. There're more than 80 participants from Belarus, Greece, Israel, Russia and Ukraine. Here one can see (and kiss) famous icons, listen to lections and participate in discussions on spiritual subjects, talk to priests, attend masterclasses on bell ringing and folk arts, buy books and souvenirs.

Moskovsky Bus Station

Observatory

Hydrometeorological observatory, built in 1934. This building definitely has balls!

Brand New Park

This picture was taken in a new park (created in 2006) in the eastern part of the city. Most of the trees are still so small that they can barely be seen in the photo. I think this DNA-like stucture symbolizes science.

Legendary Car

This is a famous Soviet car "Volga" GAZ-21. It was manufactured in 1956-1970 at Gorky Automobile Plant. This car model won the Grand Prix of the Brussels international car exhibition in 1958.

Department Store

This is one of the department stores located in the center of the city. The name of this store is "Na Nemige".

A View Through An Arc

A view through an arc towards Kozlova street. I liked the lighting of the building on the opposite side of the street, the tree shadows on the arc is a nice perk.

Train Ticket Office

I like the design of the ceiling.

Inside The Library

Some time ago I posted a photo of the National Library of Belarus and I was asked for a view inside the building.

A high-rise part of the structure (the "diamond") is the main stock-depository, so only the staff can get inside of it. A low part is the three- and four-storey capacity (the stylobata). Vestibules, reference-information area with general and reading catalogues of different types both for students and doctors of science as well as administrative and technical are accommodated here. Here is the view of the main vestibule.

P.S. The columns and the man to the right are actually standing upright. I had to shoot with wide angle from where I was standing.

Swan Feeding

I'd like to show you that Minsk is not only about Stalinist architecture to amaze visitors and citizens, or multiple blocks of flats built mainly in sixties-eighties to accommodate as many people as possible (Minsk has been almost completely ruined during the WWII).

The shot was taken in the nothern part of the city, at Tsnianskoe water reservoir.

Theme Day: Water

Yep, that's water. Bluish color on top and on the left is the sky reflection.

There are 178 blogs participating in this theme day:

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Gordio, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

Spring Came To Minsk

Tsnianskoe water reservoir. This place is far from the center of Minsk, so I don't think that it's ever visited by tourists.

A Street Interview

Shine Your Light

"Shine your light" is a line from a song by Roxette that came to my mind when looking at this view.

The building in the middle is the recently restored (in 2003) 18th-century city hall. To the right is the Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary built by the Jesuits in the beginning of 18th century. To the left is a part of the Freedom Square.

The Past And The Future

The buildings in the bottom half of the picture were built in sixties of the 20th century. A lot of people still live in such houses.

Sunset

Well, a spectacular sunset is not something unusual to show in a photoblog, but it is something that can rarely be seen in Minsk at this time of the year.

No Politics. Just The City.

I have to disappoint those of you who expect to see photos of "anti-democratic horrors" happening in Minsk, like yesterday's event. I'm sure if you search the internet you'll find dozens of sites that publish photos on this subject. But this blog ain't one of them. So here is my very neutral photo of the day. Enjoy the spring!

The Gates Of Minsk

View from the Central Railway Station towards the two buildings known as the Gates Of Minsk.

I took this photo without a tripod, but the result turned out to be ok even though exposure time was 1/8 s.

Winter Is Back

Well, no doubt this is beautiful. But c'mon, why now? Where was all this snow most of the winter this year?

Still Cloudy

This year's winter was unusually warm. In fact, it was the warmest Belarus winter so far in my entire life. Daily temperatures were often abnormally high and snow was scarce. Then there was a very promising beginning of spring - more sunny days and no snow at all. But on March 19, the day I started this blog, this changed. Clouds and wind with little sunlight became a norm since then. But I'm optimistic that such weather won't last!

Sneak Preview

This is Tolbuhina street, which is under construction right now. It's going to be a nice boulevard in a couple of months. I'm looking forward to summer to see walking people and blooming flowers here.

Snow Cleaning

Snow cleaning in front of the Trade Unions Palace. Although there's very little snow on the ground, apparently it's enough to start cleaning it in public places like this one.

Is everything alright with my vehicle?

I took this shot in the very center of Minsk, at the October Square.

The National Library of Belarus

Though it is such a cliche to put one of the most recognizeable sights of Minsk as the very first post to this blog, I couldn't miss this shot. The weather is exceptionally changeable today - one minute it's cloudy and windy and it even snows(!), the other minute you can see the sun and almost clear blue sky. But in my opinion such clouds form a very interesting background for photos.

A photo of the inside is here.