The Planetary Museum, also known as Planetarium Museum was another place I visited.  Located in Volgograd, the museums interior is well decorated with paintings, and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  I was particularly impressed with the mosaic of Stalin. 

As you enter, there is a board with information about Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, along with other important breakthroughs.  Through the next doors, you enter the forum where the mosaic of Stalin is hanging directly in front of you.  With the walls painted on either side, and models of Spudnik and various probes hanging from the ceiling.  The interior was truly awe inspiring. 

View Photo Album: Volgograd Planetary Museum

Natasha and I paid for the tour, which was only 30 rubles, if I remember right.  Along with the tour came the lecture in the planetarium casting up the star field.  The lecture was fascinating, but I wasn’t too impressed with how they represented the constellations.  The museum displayed mythological drawings of the constellations, but didn’t show which stars they represented.  Obviously the trained eye knows when looking up, but I only knew about 8 of the constellations.  I wish they would have brightened the stars which made the constellation, so it would be obvious.  Everything else about the tour and planetarium lecture was great!

Don’t forget to check out all the paintings hanging around the building, as all are works of art, and must be appreciated.

On one day, Natasha and I headed out to Volgograd to see some other sites I hadn’t seen yet.  We walked around stopping at lots of places, including the Volgograd State Panorama Museum.  Located next to the Old Steam Mill and across the street from the Pavlov House in downtown Volgograd, it stands with remarkable architecture.

During the half year battle in Stalingrad, the entire city lay in ruins.  The Old Steam Mill, built by two German Businessmen and destroyed in 1942 by the Nazi Germans, is the only building saved as a memorial to the fierce battle and the victory of Stalingrad.

The Pavlov House was originally an apartment building, named after the Junior Commander and his men.  Pavlov and his squad were the first to fortify the building and later, more men defended with them and mines were placed around the building.  Nazi German Maps marked this location as a fort.  This building stands as a memorial.

The Volgograd State Panorama Museum was amazing.  As the name suggests, on the top floor there is a panorama painting which completely surrounds you on the wall of the building.  Painted by seven painters working together to depict one day of fighting in Stalingrad.  The Panorama is absolutely unbelievable and you have to see it to believe it.  You are allowed to take pictures for you memories of being there, but you have to see it with your own eyes.

Also located there are some of the most prized items during that time.  One of my personal favorites was to see the actual sniper rifle used by Stalingrad War Hero, Vasily Zaitsev.  There is by far too much to see there, and I cant talk about all my favorites.  If you have the opportunity to go, it’s a must see!

That evening, after returning from the Motherland, we had an absolutely delicious dinner!  We drank more red wine and beer.  Talking about what I saw, and liked the most about the Motherland was one of our topics, I didn’t really have an answer, after all, the entire site is a great place to visit. 

A couple of Natasha’s friends met us outside her house and we walked down to the Volzhsky Square, where Lenin’s Monument was located, along with the secret of this particular statue has.  Our first stop when we arrived was the Christmas tree with lights in the square.  We took some pictures with her friends camera in front of the tree.  I forgot my camera on this occasion.  The one and only time I forgot it.  I hope her friend sends me the pictures.  Seeing Christmas lights was awesome, since these Christmas trees in Volgograd, and Volzhsky were the only light I was able to see.

After this, we walked to Lenin’s Monument and Natasha showed me the secret, I was laughing so hard when I saw it.  If you want to see it, check out a future photo album of Volzhsky.  The rest of the night we walked around the square, talked and on our way heading back, we bought some food and tea to enjoy before going back to Natasha’s house.  It was indeed a very relaxing time, and unfortunately, I never saw these friends of Natasha’s again during my visit.

Natasha and I headed out to the Motherland.  We walked to the bus stop, paid our fair and set out for Volgograd.  We left Volzhsky, crossed over the hydro-electric damn that links the two cities, and into Volgograd.  When we arrived, and exited the bus I was confronted with an amazing site.

A gigantic statue amongst an enormous monument dedicated to those who fell during the defense of Stalingrad against the Nazi regime, as well as the victory during World War II.  It was here the Soviet Red Army broke down the German Wehrmacht and showed the world that Hitler could be stopped.  Many of the men who lost their lives in defense of the Motherland at this location are still buried on the hill, and if investigated underneath the surface, many relics as well as human remains would be found.  The same hill the memorial park is build on is the site of one of the most important battles of Stalingrad.  This hill changed hands between Germany and Russia many times.

When it came time to build a monument, Stalingrad was of the utmost importance.  The walk up the hill takes you past many pieces including Crying Mother, a statue of a mother clutching her dead son.  You enter the Hall of Valor where a hand holds an eternal flame.  The names of the soldiers who lost their lives are written on the wall as you start the way up and around the outside edge and outside above.  The centre piece is Rodina “Motherland” holding her sword in one hand to fend off enemies while her other hand reaches out in invitation to her sons and daughters to follow in the defense of Russia.  There is also an Orthodox Church build in the honor of those who lost their lives as well.

The visit was amazing with lots to see in every direction.  Grave stones are located there as well as you walk to the base of the Motherland, including the soldier which will not be named.   I couldn’t help but take lots of photos during my visit, and I also got to witness the changing of the guards in the Hall of Valor.  This site is definitely a must see. 

It felt great to arrive into Volgograd, and above all, to be with Natasha.  I had been traveling for 20 hours, although I was surprised I wasn’t tired.  It was cold in Volgograd, enough to make my shiver, but there was no snow on the ground.  The temperature change from the Middle East was dramatic, and my body was feeling it.

The taxi driver took us to Hotel Volgograd, where I registered, and informed them I would be staying somewhere else.  They took care of all the necessary paperwork.  For anyone interested in the hotel, and visa assistance, I suggest going through this hotel.  The hotel seemed really nice and the employees are extremely helpful in every aspect.  I would stay there anytime. 

Now that this was done, we headed to Natasha’s house in Volzhsky.  Driving through Volgograd was great.  I felt I had returned to civilization.  We drove by the Volgograd Train Station, which the architecture was amazing (Picture will be posted later in conjunction to a future blog), along with lots of other great sites.

We pulled into Volzhsky and we passed the Lenin Monument.  Every city in Russia has a Lenin Monument.  The Lenin Monument in Volzhsky has a secret it shares.  Perhaps I will share it with everyone later.

After arriving at Natasha’s house, I showered and got into more comfortable cloths.  The choice for wine was red or white.  Not a hard choice, I chose red to go with dinner, ha ha.  We toasted to my arrival and talked into the night.  The food at Natasha’s house was always great!  It was so nice to have a home cooked meal for a change.  We talked a bit about plans for the next day as well, and then we retired for the night.

The third and final flight was with Aeroflot Airlines from Moscow to Volgograd.  After being dropped off at Sheremetyevo 1, I found that I had 2 hours to kill before checking in.  I went to the restaurant and ordered my first meal outside of Saudi Arabia.  Salmon and potatoes were my choice, and it was absolutely delicious!

We took off from Moscow heading for Volgograd, and the flight was very smooth.  Since I ate at the airport, I chose not to have the meal on board, so I can’t tell you what the food tasted like.  I did have to relieve my bladder and after entering the restroom, I found the toilet seat on the aircraft to be made of plywood.  That was weird.  I don’t want to know what the rest of the aircraft was made of, ha ha.

Landing in Volgograd was an adventure.  The pilot made a great approach and after crossing the thresh hold he blew the landing by floating over half the runway.  Once the aircraft finally touched down, the pilot layed on the brakes so hard, I thought the tires were going to blow from heat build up, or go off the end of the runway.  Luggage and other miscellaneous items tumbled down the isle toward the front of the aircraft.  What a wild landing!

We departed the aircraft and headed to the terminal.  We were dropped off in front of a gate and I found Natasha and her father immediately.  Claiming baggage in Volgograd was really strange.  They bring the bags on a trailer being towed by a farming tractor, where everyone dives into a room where you grab your bag off the trailer and head out.  As you leave, someone checks your tag to make sure you have the correct bag.  After retrieving my baggage, Natasha, her father and I headed for the taxi waiting for us.