Hacienda

Have you ever watched Brasilian TV series Escrava Isaura (The Slave Isaura)? About the life and tragedy of a XIX century Brazilian slaves? When the main character was a beautiful lady with one quarter of African American blood living and a big hacienda? Ooo, in the Soviet Union it was the very first TV series! It was 1989 and all population was mad about it! Since then, people started using word hacienda for telling about their summer houses. :) This is Lisichonaks hacienda. Hand made. :)) All constructed by my farther and planted by my mom. That's the place where i rarely go. But this time i even got burnt a bit. That's the punishment for violating my own rules. :))

GUM... Belarusian version

The same type of the store it was originally designed: GUM. Государственный универсальный магазин. The store to satisfy all needs. :) Much smaller than in Moscow, nevertheless it was a symbol of Minsk being a kind of elite cities in USSR. It was built in the first half of 50th last century. Actually, was constructed by prisoners-of-war, by Germans. But we usually don't mention this fact in city tours. :)
If to compare to Moscow, our GUM is a kind of the same store. There are no boutiques or separated shops, but the only integrated system. All-in-one. :)
When a kid i loved to buy different stationary there: they had the biggest variety among all the shops i knew those days. So it was the place to buy the nicest notebooks and pens. Btw, i guess, all my personal notebooks in 2002-2008 i bought there. Hehehe, a life-time shop! :))

My favorite...

My favorite (Catholic) church. St. Symon & Alena Church. It is situated at the central square of Minsk, its heart. Was built in 1910. IN the Soviet period it was used as a Museum of Cinema! I remember that when at school we had a visit there, though i can't recall anything! But when we got independence it was, i guess, one of the first church given back to the Christians. This church has a nice concert hall and meeting hall beneath, downstairs where cultural events take place. For a long time there was a Theater-of-One-Actor based there. (I wonder whether it is active yet?) I have been downstairs only once: at the reception on the Sweden's Independence Day. :)

And this is a picture of a statue in front of the church. "To defenders of God, Faith and Christianity" is written on it. If i am correct, it is an Archangel Michael.

One more sight...

And this is Belarusian KGB building. The main office. The one were i was inside when they arrested me. Inside of the building is the dramatically famous KGB prison where they had put and still do political prisoners. Nowadays until the court proceedings. So, when i saw where we went, i was sure it will be a prison for me. But fortunately i was wrong and didn't experience that kind of stuff. :)

And this statue is just in front of the KGB building. Of Felix Dzerzhinsky - the founder of the secret service in the USSR. Let's say Grandpa of the KGB. Newly introduced Belarusian agents give their solemn promises to serve the country and the president at the base of the Felix's house. A kind of continuity of tradition :) Btw, that parc zone behind the statue has been always a nice place. :)

Minsk statues...

There are some statues in Minsk. Here and there.In parks and squares. Some of them became pretty famous and could be a kind of symbolic. Here goes the first one. Girl with an umbrella. In little close to railway station and to the main square of the city. Do you like it? ;)

Famous coffee shop

And this is most probably the cafe that is most close to european way of coffee shop! It has very cozy interior and a lot of books in different languages visitors could read while enjoying coffee. (To say the truth, i still have never been there :) ) And the name of place: London - did you notice Big Ben over there? :)

A piece of Serbia....

Look what i found! :)

Did you find what impressed me? :))