Chelyabinsk, Russia 2009

Chelyabinsk is a Russian city just to the East of the Ural mountains, near the border with Kazakhstan. Its population numbers just over a million people. A small provincial town before the completion of the Samara-Zlatoust railway that connected it to Moscow in 1892, it grew rapidly and had 70,000 people by 1917.  It again had a surge in residents in 1941 when Joseph Stalin decided to move several enormous factories here to keep them out of the way of the Blitzkreiging Germans.  

15 Februrary 2013 was a special day in Chelyabinsk.  A large asteroid exploded over the city knocking out windows and scaring the life out of the citizens. 

South Ural State University

The nicest building in Chelyabinsk is this University. Home to more than 50,000 students it is considered one of the best schools in Russia. There is a large park behind this building. 

1970's Russian Firefighters

I got this picture from a girl named Anya that I met in the park behind South Ural State University. Her father is the middle man in picture. She took me to meet her father who was working that day at the fire station. He showed me their equipment and gave me one of his uniforms. We talked a bit with Anya translating as he didn't speak English. Sadly, firefighters in Russia are not as well off as American firefighters. 

1970's Russian Firefighters Part Deux

New firefighter recruits training. Notice the stereotypical Russian hat on the man in the foreground. 

My friend Anya 

Unhappily wearing the Russian hat her father gave to me.  She had never worn one in her life and made it perfectly clear that no modern Russian wears them, which is a shame.  Soon after we met she moved to San Francisco and married a.....Russian she met there.  I will always be amazed how the world works.  

Chelyabinsk Center

Kirova Street, the main pedestrian street of Chelyabinsk. Quite busy with locals in the Summertime. I did not see another tourist during my time there or any English letters.  In 2013 the city became host to a very rare event. A Meteor strike. On 15 February a meteor about 60 feet in diameter exploded about 15 miles above the city. It weighed more than the Eiffel Tower and is the largest object to hit Earth since 1908. My friends from my Chelyabinsk trip were working that day and told me it was the scariest thing that had ever happened to them. I can imagine. They said there was a bright light, the earth shook, and windows exploded.  One believed it was the apocalypse, but alas, it was not. They shouldn't have been scared considering the city has enough firepower on display to destroy anything, even foreign invasions of rock.  

Common Russian flat(apartment)

My flat for the first part of my visit to Chelyabinsk. I moved to a hotel next to South Ural State University after I was attacked and robbed by two men here. Chelyabinsk is the only place I have ever been attacked in my travels. In Moscow and other cities I have been robbed but never attacked. My experience fits in quite well with the American stereotype and opinion of Russia. 

Stairwell and door of my flat

The stairwell where two men were waiting for me to come outside. It was an ambush. I guess I had not blended in very well and made my presence quite obvious. We had a little fun where I put up a decent fight. A babushka(grandmother) stood by and watched us completely ignoring my pleas for help.  I guess because of the language barrier she thought we were just friends dancing in the stairwell.  I got out with a few bruises and a torn shirt. They also got a few bruises and nothing of value from me.  

The City

Chelyabinsk is an ugly central Russian city. Mostly a concrete jungle of ugly blocks of flats and sad looking parks. With more than a million in population it is a large city, but offers nothing for tourists except tanks. In World War II it was nicknamed Tankograd(Tank City) as Stalin built several massive factories constructing tanks and heavy rocket launchers here. 

Concrete City

There is almost no redeeming quality to Chelyabinsk. The streets are ugly. The trams ancient, dirty, and ugly. The buildings depressing. The men are all drunks and rude. The one saving grace is the women. They were all very friendly, pretty, educated, and helpful. 

Model show

Every city, even the most pitiful, has time to show off beautiful women to distract the public. This was a fashion show on Kirova Street.

Destruction vs. Construction

Tankograd, famous for making the tanks for the Russian front, still has many on display as monuments. 

American with Soviet tank

What to do with surplus, outdated tanks. Make them monuments for children to play on of course. 

Lenin monument

I believe the number one product the Russian people make are monuments. They seem to be a requirement everywhere. You can not swing a cat, dead or alive, in Russia without hitting a monument of statue of some kind.

Church in a park

A much needed park to rest the eyes after viewing the drab city of Chelyabinsk. This is quite possibly the only color in the whole city. 

An unknown building

Two of the few modern buildings in Chelyabinsk. I am harsh on the city but it actually does quite well for being an industrial city and having its roots in war. 

Tanks Tanks Tanks

A city that does not forget its past. 

Monuments Monuments Monuments

Did I mention that Russia likes monuments?

Marshrutka

A Marshrutka is the preferred way to get around Russia. It is a sort of combination taxi and minibus. They follow routes but will stop and pick you up on the side of the road if you flag them down. It is quite an experience, especially when they are full with people hanging out the windows. The city also has buses, trams, and a subway system. 

What?

Either handicapped Russians are as strong and fearless as a bull or the government has issues. Who can use this ramp besides extreme stuntmen?

Parade Ground

Another Staple of every Russian city is the parade ground. I have never seen one in person, but I'm sure the military parades are quite a sight. Never get in a land war with Russia seems like sound advice. Note the statue of Lenin overseeing the front of the grounds. 

Fountain

A fountain in the large park behind South Ural State University. This is where I met Anya, the firefighters daughter. She is the photographer.

My favorite headpiece ever

I love the Russian hat, but sadly nobody wears them anymore. They are only for tourists. They have switched to more Western wear of baseball caps and beanies. Sometimes I hate globalization. The world is becoming too alike. I want to be stunned and amazed when visiting foreign lands, not reminded of where I come from.

Two Pretty Russians

Anastasia and her niece.  We had a wonderful time in the city together, going to an amusement park that was probably the scariest thing I have ever been to, not because the rides were designed to be scary, but because the metal of the rides was completely rusted with a few holes here and there.  Not exactly what you want to see or think about as you go a hundred feet into the air.  Just a hint to that amusement park, a few hundred rubles worth of paint properly applied would get you many more customers.