旅人る - Tabibito

 

Belarus. Vitebsk

 

The capital city of the northeastern region of Belarus. Nearly all of the churches in the downtown were demolished in 1936-1937 during the atheism campaign and restored in 2000s.

 

The catholic church, however, stayed intact.

 

Western Dvina river which makes its way down to Latvia and Riga.

 

Pedestrian zone in the downtown.

 

Marc Chagall was born in a small village near Vitebsk, so the manhole covers are painted with avant-garde.

 

A grave for the cigarette butt and a beer bottle.

 

The railway station.

 

Stalinist architecture around the station.

 

This building near the station used to be a postwar cinema but it was heavily rebuilt in early 2000s.

 

A little piece of the old Vitebsk has been preserved at the backyards of statlinist avenues.

 

Sumac is especially beautiful in autumn.

 

Former electrical plant.

 

An evicted two-storey building on Gagarin Street. Apparently, they do not want to demolish it, but there is no money for reconstruction. All the windows and doors were walled up and even painted in one color.

 

Vitebsk is one of four Belarus cities with tramway systems.

 

Trolleybus.

 

A cat.

 

The situation in the country is eloquently indicated by the fact that anti-theft magnets have begun to be hung on sausage sticks in supermarkets. It was not a case just few years ago.

Getting in (as of November 2022): about 7 hours drive from Moscow or 3:30 hours from Minsk. This is the only major city in Belarus not connected with capital by means of a fine highway. If traveling from Minsk consider the night train which will make its journey in 9 hours in a solo compartment for mere $30.

Where to eat: The Vasilki restaurant on Moskovskiy avenue.

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