There are many marvellous Bazflyer benefits inherent in flying Comanche ZK-BAZ round the world. Among them includes visiting places with challenging unpronounceable names. At least challenging for Bazflyer1 and the city of Yekaterinburg or Ekaterinburg is one such example. This is not only Russia's fourth-largest city, it is like a fusion of conceptual art with a fascinating historical subtext.
The location of Yekaterinburg at the foot of the mineral rich Ural Mountains and on the doorstep of Asia perhaps belies it’s geographic importance. But it was Yekaterinburg‘s unique connection with Russia’s long history that caught the Bazflyer attention.
Prominently dominate in the city’s centre is the massive Byzantine-style Church upon the Blood. A relatively new construction it raises on the site where Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and children were murdered by Bolsheviks on the night of 16 July 1918. And so ending 300 years of Russian rule by the House of Romanov and the ascent of the Communist State, initially lead by Lenin and later followed by Stalin. Yekaterinburg is also irrevocably connected to a man of vision and dedication to the Russian people, a man who in 1991 became the first Russian President, a man known simply as Boris Yeltsin.
The nineties were a turbulent time for Russia. After the downfall of the Soviet Union, the economy collapsed. Yeltsin had the support of the entire world, but at home the economic state was in chaos and topped off with uprisings by members of his Parliament. However, being a man of destiny and born for his time in history, Yeltsin successfully established a democratic system for Russia comparable to European democracy.
Perhaps eclipsing this surprisedly amazing city is the Yeltsin Centre Housed in a stunning architectural masterpiece, it showcases the time-line of Russian history and highlights it from the perspective of an ordinary citizen. Look around the city of Yekaterinburg, observe people going by, have a conversation with the young generation, and as the Bazflyers did the echo of Boris Yeltsin‘s words can be clearly heard....“Russia will now never go back to the past”.
Flight from Moscow to the city of Yekaterinburg deep inside Russia
Church upon the Blood...
...and inside the church
Yekaterinburg is a modern city...
...and a proudly growing city
Love love me do...street art abounds round every corner
Some of the street art even has an aviation theme
Sitting with Boris at the Yeltsin Centre
Barry, are you and Yeltsin related? From the eyes down to the chin, you two could be brothers.
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