Leaving on a Jet Plane..I don't know when I'll be back again

[ecr844]

A well trodden pedestrian path



Here's how the city removes the leaves the army of gvt laborers rakes up in different areas of the city every day. Looks like a 'cushy' job compared to what some of the others have to do.


A neighborhood Magazine


A place to buy fake funeral flowers


An 'old school' house in the middle of the city.


An afternoon on the street


I visited one of the other markets in the city that i had not been to before. I got there late in the afternoon and apparently everyone is closing up shop for the 3 day weekend.


Did you ever wonder what happens to all those stalls at night or when the market closes?




One of the few non-orthodox churches here


The other side of the train station



Just as in most FSU Cities the bus and train stations are adjacent



A small wooded area near the bus station waiting for the leaves to be cleaned up

[ecr844]

On the way home and ready to start the weekend


One of the cities ambulance stations



A walkway through the center of one of the large streets















Locals fishing


Street shot

[ecr844]

The Farm police????? :smokin: :scared0005:








Nah, they use them as a towtruck

[ecr844]

One of the ubiquitous wedding convoys that appear on fri-sun when most people get married
here




Just remember the FSU has all shapes, sizes and flavors and who knows. Your very own FSU bride could look like this






They aren't all small skinny stacked smokinghotkova's folks....I bet that sq km of dress cost someone a fortune



The neighborhood central committee for gossip and 'what's going on' is deep into it's daily session


Catching a nap


Will your wife turn into this?

[ecr844]

Monday is a holiday commemorating the Octobrist revolution and most folks have the day as this is a long weekend. The city turned on all the lights at night to 'commemorate' the event.

[ecr844]

It's been cold here the last few days. Woke up this morning to be greeted with snow flurries. Although you can't see them in the second one all that well.




Some other pics

[ecr844]

Preparations and the beginning of holiday season decorating is in progress. The city has started to make the 'Novogodnaya Yulka' in Victory Square.

[ecr844]

Took a ride out 'to the village' today with my wife, SIL, FIL, and nephew to visit the Dacha and a new cafe in 'Dolje'. Apparently the village is anyplace that is not in the center of whatever city the 'local' doing the talking lives in. Of course any Russian from a major capital or larger city will promptly refer to the other cities and villages as 'villages'; and so on... But I digress.

We had a wonderful meal in a small cafe that had a great atmosphere and a warm roaring fireplace. I'm sure it'll be quite popular in the summer as well. They also had an outdoor 'shashlik' area for the restaurant where they had someone cooking even today. Here are some pics from outside the restaurant, names 'Anya' in Belorussian, and it'll give you an idea of the weather <cold, rainy, cloudy and about 30F>.

[ecr844]

Well that pretty much brings us up to date and although the original story that begun here has climaxed. We've moved on to a new chapter. Where we'll go from here.....?

Who knows.

[Vaughn]

A nice Sunday morning stroll in Belarus !!
 
Thanks. I enjoyed that very much....
Are you looking for a job over there?
 

[ecr844]

A nice Sunday morning stroll in Belarus !!
 
Thanks. I enjoyed that very much....
Are you looking for a job over there?

Thanks Vaughn! I'm currently employed so need to look for a job anywhere.

[Vaughn]

The market photos are particularly entertaining for me. My wife dislikes markets as she found it necessary to work summers in one while school was out - she was a schoolteacher years ago. One day I came home with a small load of wrapped fresh fish that cost me nothing. The ladies staffing that kiosk were delighted that I could speak their language and started showering me with freebies. Not be outdone by one another, others began chipping in "gifts." We took pictures, and I returned two days later with copies for them.
I find market folks so down-to-earth and friendly.

[Daveman]

Congratulations on the wedding Mr. and Mrs. ecr!


Very interesting photos.. thanks for sharing!  How would you say Belarus differs from Ukraine or Russia (aside from the current political atmosphere)?  Pretty much the same traditions, cuisine, etc?  How difficult was it to obtain a resident visa so that you may live there?


and BTW, why carry those water bottles home from the supermarket?  Can't you order the big 20L bottle service and have them delivered right to your flat? (That what I always do on any extended type of visit.. buy the little manual pump for the top of the bottle and you're good to go)... of course, one day I may find out that they were filling those enormous bottles right from the river or something.. heh

[JohnDearGreen]

... of course, one day I may find out that they were filling those enormous bottles right from the river or something.. heh

You want to avoid the local fish also:
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Fish-in-sewage-blamed-for-Ukraine-cholera-20110606

[ML]

Great pics.  Thanks for sharing.

[2tallbill]

Congratulations Eric !!

[calmissile]

Congratulations Eric.  You left us hanging in the 'Train Wreck' room on the other forum and I had no idea the story continured over here.  The photos and story is fantastic.  I wish you and your lady the best.

[oldernotwiser]

Congratulations, and thank you for sharing the pictures. 

[ecr844]

Congratulations on the wedding Mr. and Mrs. ecr!

Thanks 'Daveman!'

Very interesting photos.. thanks for sharing!  How would you say Belarus differs from Ukraine or Russia (aside from the current political atmosphere)?  Pretty much the same traditions, cuisine, etc?  How difficult was it to obtain a resident visa so that you may live there?

There appear to be many subtle differences and small things. The overall culture and 'general feel' they are very similar. Really to me the atmosphere here seems to be a lot like how things must have been during 'soviet times' but with far more access to goods.

As far as a 'residence visa', I wouldn't know I don't have one . The type of visa I do have that was relatively easy and pain free to get as long as your lady fills out the paperwork completely and provides all of what is asked. We had no issues whatsoever and that part of the process has been easy.

and BTW, why carry those water bottles home from the supermarket? 

The wife thinks it's good 'exercise' and thinks it continues to build 'character'. 

She also says that she'll ask about the 20L bottles and see how much they cost, etc... I wish I had known about them sooner, as I've not encountered them in my travels here yet.

of course, one day I may find out that they were filling those enormous bottles right from the river or something.. heh

Egads I hope not! There are sure to be lot's of extra toxins and chemicals one would be exposed to if that were the case here!

[ecr844]

Congratulations Eric !!

Thanks Bill!

[ecr844]

Congratulations Eric.  You left us hanging in the 'Train Wreck' room on the other forum and I had no idea the story continured over here.  The photos and story is fantastic.  I wish you and your lady the best.

The TR wasn't started in the 'Train wreck room' there. It was moved there by a staff member who thought they were being 'clever'. Thanks for your congratulations and I wish you the best with your fiancee and new family as well.

[ecr844]

Congratulations, and thank you for sharing the pictures.

Thanks 'Older'!

[Eduard]

Congratulations, Eric!

[Kineo]

 
Congrats Eric!
 
Great bunch of pictures. It is nice to see and hear about a country other than Ukraine or Russia.
 
-Eric

[ecr844]

Congratulations, Eric!

Thanks Ed