A visit to Stalingrad

[Felix]

A Soviet Generals uniform.

[Felix]

In the top of the museum one understands why it is called the Panorama museum. It is round top where a painting of the war scence strecthes a 360 degrees. It is very vivid and beautifully done.

[Felix]

More of the panorama painting. This picture with the small valley and the soldiers was so well painted that it was close to a photo. Very alive. The river Volga is seen in the background.

[Felix]

Good old Lenin is also there.

[Felix]

Internal view of the museum.

[Felix]

Volgograd train station – I still can feel how warm these early summer evening was in Volgograd. The whole city has a laid back atmosphere as one would expect from a southern town. Much more relaxing and pleasant feeling than busy Moscow. Of course the size of the city also matters.

I believe the train station was part of the serious battles, although in modern times totally rebuilt.

[Felix]

Hrmm, thats me at the centre, at the water front in Volgograd. A poor Scandinavian viking in Volgograd.

[Felix]

River Volga – busy with boats in the summer and many tours for tourists. A lot of discos and amusements for people just at the water front.

[Felix]

Going on a boat ride “guided tour"

[Felix]

Water front of west bank as seen from Volga.

[Felix]

Party on the boat – this group of girls finished off a few bottles of Russian champanski and got quite drunk in the end. If I hadnt had my “guide” I would have joined their party. However you shouldnt throw good money to get bad money. There was also a spontane disco dancing on the boat. Viva la Russia!

[Felix]

A memorial out in the water for the soldiers who transported equipment across the river to the bridge heads on the west bank. East bank is the back ground, and it just seem to be not very populated, strangely enough.

[Felix]

Panorama museum seen from the boat (round building in the centre). The crappy hotel where I and my mate spent the first night is just to the right. (high building)

[Felix]

Mamayev Kurgan and the statue of Mother Russia (in the centre) seen from the boat.

[Felix]

Industrial areas – quite likely has seen some bitter fighting in those areas.