9th February 2022
The train arrived on time in Yekaterinburg and I was ready for the first set of local tours. I was met by a fascinating and knowledgeable guide, Vadim and his wife Marina and the next few days had the most wonderful and informative set of tours in the company of two lovely and warm people. Vadim had his own tour company prior to Covid but had to close it due the collapse in the travel business and I was his first visitor since Covid. A well-known photographer and historian, I was really lucky to have had him take me on the tours and give me a wealth of information about Russian history in that region of Russia.
They made a big impression on me and I quickly relaxed in their company, although I became aware of not wanting to talk too much and when I did my voice was quiet and calm. I liked this new Michael.
Delivered to a comfortable hotel, a bath and bite to eat was the order of the day and dirty washing was put in the laundry bag ready for the following day. This was now my routine on arriving in a fresh hotel.
Yekaterinburg tours
10th February
This was the main tour day, very active with 4 tours rolled into one over a 12-hour period. a bit intensive but I was looking forward to a mixture of sightseeing, history and general information overload and I knew that it was going to be very intense and compact with lots of information along the way, but I was up for it, even though it was now minus 20°C and snowing most of the time.
The first part of the day was a trip around the city to get an over view as well as a visit to the Yeltsin Museum and other major sights. Yeltsin is still a well-respected person in Yekaterinburg as he originally was the governor there and the museum certainly highlights this clearly. His wife and family are now heading a number of charities and organisations in his name and memory.
The train arrived on time in Yekaterinburg and I was ready for the first set of local tours. I was met by a fascinating and knowledgeable guide, Vadim and his wife Marina and the next few days had the most wonderful and informative set of tours in the company of two lovely and warm people. Vadim had his own tour company prior to Covid but had to close it due the collapse in the travel business and I was his first visitor since Covid. A well-known photographer and historian, I was really lucky to have had him take me on the tours and give me a wealth of information about Russian history in that region of Russia.
They made a big impression on me and I quickly relaxed in their company, although I became aware of not wanting to talk too much and when I did my voice was quiet and calm. I liked this new Michael.
Delivered to a comfortable hotel, a bath and bite to eat was the order of the day and dirty washing was put in the laundry bag ready for the following day. This was now my routine on arriving in a fresh hotel.
Yekaterinburg tours
10th February
This was the main tour day, very active with 4 tours rolled into one over a 12-hour period. a bit intensive but I was looking forward to a mixture of sightseeing, history and general information overload and I knew that it was going to be very intense and compact with lots of information along the way, but I was up for it, even though it was now minus 20°C and snowing most of the time.
The first part of the day was a trip around the city to get an over view as well as a visit to the Yeltsin Museum and other major sights. Yeltsin is still a well-respected person in Yekaterinburg as he originally was the governor there and the museum certainly highlights this clearly. His wife and family are now heading a number of charities and organisations in his name and memory.
Whilst being housed in a very modern centre surrounded by brash modern buildings, the Yeltsin centre was not a common designed building and it was clear that the majority of buildings were pre-Soviet or post-soviet designs and structures as shown below.
On the way to the border between European Russia and Asiatic Russia we passed a monument to victims of the Stalinist purges of the 1930’s where many educated and academic people and families simply disappeared and after torture and execution. Thousands are buried in the area of the memorials , many of them Jewish , most were denounced by neighbours and friends trying to save themselves .
Part of the awful history of this time in Russia and a very thought provoking memorial to the memories of those who disappeared and highlighted another period of turmoil and death under Stalin and was a theme repeated during the trip at various points. It also underlined that this city and region has a history of murder and death including the murder of the Romanov family which I would learn more about during the day . I found this whole history very unsettling and thought provoking. What would make citizens denounce their neighbours and relatives who were innocent of anything and then the perpetrators of the torture and killing live afterwards . “Following orders “ as a theme came to mind . it was just awful to consider and reflect upon and has had an impact on the way I view history and the current world situation.Something that I had never considered in the past bit definitely part of my views now.
Part of the awful history of this time in Russia and a very thought provoking memorial to the memories of those who disappeared and highlighted another period of turmoil and death under Stalin and was a theme repeated during the trip at various points. It also underlined that this city and region has a history of murder and death including the murder of the Romanov family which I would learn more about during the day . I found this whole history very unsettling and thought provoking. What would make citizens denounce their neighbours and relatives who were innocent of anything and then the perpetrators of the torture and killing live afterwards . “Following orders “ as a theme came to mind . it was just awful to consider and reflect upon and has had an impact on the way I view history and the current world situation.Something that I had never considered in the past bit definitely part of my views now.
Next onto the Black Tulip memorial to Russian soldiers who fought and died Afghanistan in the 1980’s is very prominent in the city close to the various ministries of defence and government offices. The Black Tulip memorial is named after the nicknames of the flights repatriation the bodies of fallen soldiers. We often forget that Russia was there prior to ourselves and lost many men. It is a simple but solemn memorial and very touching
We then drove to the monument marking the border between Europe and Asia. It is really a small simple is marked by a simple monument on the main road to Moscow surrounded by forests. I was surprised about this monument’s simplicity and small size, not really what I was expecting but it was a place to visit and mark my journey with a certificate.
Unfortunately , Yekaterinburg is really the last scene in the story of the Romanovs dynasty and family. It is where they were taken to and executed and also the place where there has been great controversy regarding the exact location of the resting places of the family themselves.
Vadim and I visited a number of beautiful cathedrals, churches and buildings related to the Romanov history and last days and I have been left with a sense of grief for the family in the way that they were misled and murders and the way the daughters were tortured after being shot but not killed. How terrified they must have been in their last moments. Then to find that their remains were dumped and then secretly reburied only to be found decided later by dedicated researchers and workers is just so moving and sad. Now at least they rest in peace in St Petersburg all together with their servants.
I was also told about the man who led the execution team and how he boasted about his place in history and when he died his grave was covered with red blood paint and graffiti noting him as an evil man. Why has the world not learnt about this and why does this continue to happen? I do not understand the mentality and ignorance of people.” Following orders” and lack of humanity. Unless people learn the lessons, this sadness will continue again and again. This is one of the messages from my trip to Yekaterinburg.
Only in recent years, has the dedication of one man and his small team of investigators and historians found the bodies and got them identified by DNA analysis and they are all now reinterned in St Petersburg. The last remains that were found was of the young son and his carer whose bodies were burnt but were identified finally a few years ago.
The issue is that the Russian orthodox church decided that the final resting place of the family was in a wood near a disused copper mine shaft and subsequently consecrated the ground and built a number of churches on the spot as well as a small monetary and memorial. It was the wrong place and in 2022/2023 there will be a synod to accept the final resting place is in another location, which is simply marked by a small memorial placed there by the man and team that finally found the resting places.
Vadim and I visited a number of beautiful cathedrals, churches and buildings related to the Romanov history and last days and I have been left with a sense of grief for the family in the way that they were misled and murders and the way the daughters were tortured after being shot but not killed. How terrified they must have been in their last moments. Then to find that their remains were dumped and then secretly reburied only to be found decided later by dedicated researchers and workers is just so moving and sad. Now at least they rest in peace in St Petersburg all together with their servants.
I was also told about the man who led the execution team and how he boasted about his place in history and when he died his grave was covered with red blood paint and graffiti noting him as an evil man. Why has the world not learnt about this and why does this continue to happen? I do not understand the mentality and ignorance of people.” Following orders” and lack of humanity. Unless people learn the lessons, this sadness will continue again and again. This is one of the messages from my trip to Yekaterinburg.
Only in recent years, has the dedication of one man and his small team of investigators and historians found the bodies and got them identified by DNA analysis and they are all now reinterned in St Petersburg. The last remains that were found was of the young son and his carer whose bodies were burnt but were identified finally a few years ago.
The issue is that the Russian orthodox church decided that the final resting place of the family was in a wood near a disused copper mine shaft and subsequently consecrated the ground and built a number of churches on the spot as well as a small monetary and memorial. It was the wrong place and in 2022/2023 there will be a synod to accept the final resting place is in another location, which is simply marked by a small memorial placed there by the man and team that finally found the resting places.
A sad story that still needs completion and finalisation and Russia needs to come to terms finally with the effects of history on actions.
Another lesser-known fact is that in 1960, Yekaterinburg was the city where the USAF U2 reconnaissance plane was shot down and the pilot, Francis Gary Powers captured and there are monuments in the city marking this.
The day was very intense and also the amount of information that I was given was really significant. I could have done with a recording, but it was my first side trip and I was grateful to Vadim and Marina for everything that they did not me and the friendship they showed me during the time that we were together.
The day was very intense and also the amount of information that I was given was really significant. I could have done with a recording, but it was my first side trip and I was grateful to Vadim and Marina for everything that they did not me and the friendship they showed me during the time that we were together.
