From Russia with Love...anyone familiar with that old classic James Bond movie?
I will be taking you on a walk through the city of Orenburg in Orenburg Oblast (region), Western Russia, courtesy of my youngest son who currently finds himself stranded there in lockdown; yep some anxious moments for Mother Hen!
He fortunately is staying with Russian friends since their lockdown started, was due to fly back next week but that is no longer on the cards. He will have to return with a repatriation flight once their borders open due to our strict Covid19 regulations!
The Pedestrian bridge between Europe and Asia is located in this city.
HISTORY
Orenburg, formerly known as Chkalov was founded as a fortress and was the military centre of the Ural Cossacks.
The city is situated on the Ural River at the Sakmara confluence.
Today the city has a large number of engineering industries producing heavy-industrial and agricultural machinery. It further has gas-processing facilities and also manufactures foods and consumer goods. Orenburg has teacher-training, medical as well as agricultural institutions.
ORENBURG - A TYPICAL RUSSIAN CITY FULL OF CHARM
My son started his adventure early in February, volunteering at a private school and has fallen in love with Russia; hence the opening lines!
No wonder as this typical Russian city has a unique charm with no western influence whatsoever.
There was heavy snow when he arrived at his lodgings, must have been quite a shock coming from a hot South African summer.
Let's take another look at the pedestrian bridge over the Ural River; I still cannot fathom why they say the bridge is between Asia and Europe yet it does not appear to be on the border when I look at the maps; some say it feels quite unreal walking across without a passport!
First photo taken at night.
These photos were taken when they were in semi-lockdown with many people still walking around.
We'll go for a walk through the city along lovely wide pedestrian walkways and admire the typical Russian architecture.
The first photo is of the beautiful stately Government building.
The snow had started melting here.
MONUMENTS OF FAMOUS RUSSIANS
The first human to travel into outer space hails from Orenburg, and that of course is the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who achieved a major milestone in the space race.
My son did not manage to see the statue that stands proudly in his honour.
He did get to visit the imposing statue of the Russian revolutionary Lenin, the first leader of the USSR and the government that took over Russia in 1917.
This statue is of Peter the Great who ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from 1682 until his death in 1725.
The next artwork is that of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov.
The Obelisk which is near The Eternal Flame War Memorial with names of dead soldiers during the Second World War and the Eternal Flame.
Day trip to Kuvandyk Ski Resort.
Enjoying good food in an Orenburg restaurant.
So we come to the end of our walk through Orenburg, but not before I share with you a little of their Fish Market; the people of Russia eat a lot of fish!
I will also share a short video taken by my son so you can get the feel of this busy fish market.
Fish Market in Orenburg
This has been my contribution to 
Video and photos taken by my son Warren, who before Covid19 spread its tentacles worldwide, said he would not need a face mask; hubby thankfully thought otherwise and slipped a couple into his luggage.
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