Got down to breakfast at 08:30 having slept like a log, filled up then out. It was hot and sunny, Google said 20c but it felt more than that.
Walked through the train station which was still being built, but was clean and modern, then took a photo of the Gates of Minsk.
Past the university and then crossed underground and found ourselves in a shopping mall so had a look around.
Came out to the Saint Simon and Saint Helena Church, an impressive red brick building. Had a look inside, then carried on down the main road, an impressive sight, very wide and lined by huge, grand buildings.
Everything was very clean, no rubbish in the streets, the buildings very well maintained, and no graffiti.
Turned down another main street and walked to Trinity Hill, part of the old town on the edge of a lake with cobbled streets and old buildings. It wasn’t very big so didn’t take long to see, popped over a bridge to the Island of Tears, a memorial to soldiers lost in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989.
Walked across the road to go to the old town but spotted a park with a fountain and large building through the trees so decided to take a diversion. There was a brass band playing and a large crowd milling around and some TV cameras. The band stopped playing, a lady in a formal dress made a speech, everyone clapped and some young girls released balloons into the air to oohs and aahhs.
Everyone headed into the building which turned out to be the National Opera and Ballet Academy.
It looked like it was some kind of open day for the public, and since we are technically members of the public we followed the crowd and went inside.
Lots of marble, red velvet, chandeliers and gold trimmings abounded. There were a couple of string quartets playing familiar classics.
We went and sat in the upper area to relax, took some photos. There were mini events going on, we saw several women in wheelchairs ballroom dancing with able bodied men, something you don’t see every day.
Left the hall and walked through the park and towards a Paul bakery for lunch.
Very impressed with Minsk so far, I’d imagined a dull, grim ex-soviet state but it was clean, open and vibrant.
Had a sandwich each, a cake each, a coffee and 3 cold drinks in Paul, cost 37 AUD.
Finished up and went next door to the cat museum. Yes, the cat museum.
There were 16 adult cats and 3 kittens wandering around, you were allowed to touch them and play with them but you couldn’t pick them up. There were pictures of cats, paintings of cats, statues of cats and the unmistakable smell of cat’s piss. Well, it made a change from visiting churches. The guy who ran it was not sad at all, just like the people who visit, and the cats were all homeless, he took them in, got them desexed and vaccinated and they were available for adoption – over 100 in 3 years.
Left the cat museum and walked around more of the old town – old buildings and cobbled streets, quite a few bars and restaurants.
Went back to where we first arrived because Song wanted to look at some antique shops we didn’t spot before, but stopped off at a small market to pick up the compulsory fridge magnet.
Found one shop but it only sold furniture and clocks, so decided to call it a day and go back to the hotel. Went to a bus stop and asked a few people which one went to the main station, which was near the hotel and eventually someone helped us out (the number 53 in case you’re ever in Minsk and need to know). Got on the trolley bus and sat on it as it went past the road we thought it would turn down, so got off and discovered a supermarket which we wanted to visit anyway so bought some provisions.
Walked towards the hotel but both of us were hot and sweaty so hopped on another trolley bus and got off at the train station. We saw a 53 bus, so obviously they have the same numbers but go in different directions in a ploy to fool tourists.
Walked back to the hotel, had a shower and collapsed.
Neither of us fancied going out again so just watched some TV and had some snacks.
Another full day in Minsk tomorrow, haven’t planned anything but it doesn’t include another visit to the cat museum.
