Tomsk on a map

and in photos

There are three things you can look at forever: fire, water and women’s parking. If you see me parking, you can even laugh, and I don’t mind. People say that laughter prolongs life.

Maps International designed by Lovell Johns Limited

However, I have something to add to this list – a map, and preferably a large map.

I’ve been honest with you, I’ve said a few times that I don’t know geography. I don’t know what it was: a way it was taught to us, or i didn’t see an opportunity to use the knowledge. I had a good grade, but didn’t know much.

Now the world has changed. I’ve met people from different countries. We are getting news from different places. I became curious about geography.

I mentioned to my husband a few times that I wanted to have a big, no, huge map and … Daniel bought it! I have to tell you, both my husband and the map are so cool!

But you have to be careful, well, I have to be careful – viewing the map can be time consuming.

Another day I saw Tomsk on the map (when I was just passing by)), then my gaze shifted to Novosibirsk, and then… I ended up in the Aleutian Islands.

Today I would like to write about Tomsk. I may repeat myself, but I am going to add some photos. My friend Marina sends me lots of them, and she lets me share them with you.

Here we go,

Geographically Ural Mountains separate the European part of Russia from Asia, which includes Siberia and the Far East.

My hometown Tomsk is located in the Southern part of Siberia (not far from the Trans-Siberian railway). My husband likes to say that his wife lived just above Сhina and calls me Asian woman.

You may be surprised but Russians were not always the originals of Siberia.

Siberian Tatar were the indigenous Tatar population of the forests and steppes of South Siberia. They lived in areas stretching from somewhat east of the Ural Mountains to the Yenisei River in Russia. The Siberian Tatar call themselves Yerle Qalyq (“older inhabitants”), to distinguish themselves from more recent Volga Tatar immigrants to the region.

Tomsk (fortress city) was built at the request of local Tatar-Eushtins led by Prince Toyan, who sent an embassy to Moscow with an appeal to take them “under the arm” of the Russian tsar (Boris Godunov).

Tomsk was established in 1604. It just celebrated its 418 birthday. Tomsk got his name from the name of the river on which it is located.

Since that time Tomsk went through a lot: developing, decline and reinvention.

Tomsk is famous for its architecture and universities. Wooden architecture is the hallmark and highlight of the city.

Some wooden buildings are declared architectural monuments. The fate of others can be seen in the photos.

Tomsk is also famous for its universities and is often called Siberian Athens.

This weekend*, a festival of folk crafts is being held in a park near Tomsk, called the Axe Festival. Its traditional program includes a competition of carpenters and wood carvers, ceramicists and blacksmiths.

I’ve never been there, I don’t even know why. A friend Marina sent pictures.

To be continued…

*By the time I am writing, the weekend is over in Tomsk.