Oct 31, 2007 - БРЭСТ - Brest

It all went a bit Pete in Brest, if there is a more godforsaken city on the planet then I hope I don't find it. ... I took a detour via the main street of Brest to check it out - it looks like Minsk during World War II, I guess they must be upgrading it but at the moment the whole street, which has to be a kilometre long has been dug up, with craters, potholes and piles of rubble everywhere. ... Why couldn't the first one make it so obvious? 18:30 was nearly 6 hours away and I was thoroughly bored with Brest so I came back to my room and had a few hours kip (I'm full of cold yet again - all say ahh) and watched some Belarusian TV. ... At 18:30 prompt I reappeared at the booking office and relief, the god one was still there, she remembered me and booked the ticket straight away, my sigh of relief was huge, I had visions of being stuck in Brest forever and having to commit some crime to get myself deported. ... I escaped unscathed this morning, I thought I might have problems with customs (no customs declaration form on entry) and problems with Immigration (no visa registration in Brest). ...

Oct 29, 2007 - МЙНСК - Minsk

Minsk is a huge snarling Doberman. ... Everything I've seen or read about Minsk and Belarus scares me slightly. ... I'd already decided I was going to photograph "monolithic" Minsk in monochrome, then what better than arriving in thick fog for the classic black and white moment of Minsk station. ... Minsk station left luggage lockers are amazing and should really be in a museum somewhere. ... To get my main pack back I took the longer route via Independence Boulevard, the main thoroughfare of Minsk, with most of it's major sites shopping and eating. ...

Jun 30, 2007 - Yartsevo to Minsk

This morning when we got up most people were feeling pretty rough, although by some strange, yet lucky, twist of fate I wasn't feeling too bad. We continued through Belarus, and made our way to Minsk! Here we had a city tour, and I was amazed to see how beautiful the city is! I really didn't know what to expect in Belarus, but I was thinking it would probably be fairly run down and dirty and grey. ... But it was the opposite! Everything was clean and beautiful, and for some reason reminded me of the song "Shiny Happy People Holding Hands"!! On the tour we saw the KGB building, Independence Square, October Square, and we stopped at the Island of Tears for some photos.This morning when we got up most people were feeling pretty rough, although by some strange, yet lucky, twist of fate I wasn't feeling too bad. We continued through Belarus, and made our way to Minsk! Here we had a city tour, and I was amazed to see how beautiful the city is! I really didn't know what to expect in Belarus, but I was thinking it would probably be fairly run down and dirty and grey. ... But it was the opposite! Everything was clean and beautiful, and for some reason reminded me of the song "Shiny Happy People Holding Hands"!! On the tour we saw the KGB building, Independence Square, October Square, and we stopped at the Island of Tears for some photos....

Jun 18, 2005 - Minsk, Belarus

Minsk was another one-night stop over, so we didn't see too much here. ... But here's what we did see!! Who knew Lee Harvey Oswald lived here???? It is tradition for new brides and grooms, just after exchanging their vows, to visit a national memorial site and leave flowers.Minsk was another one-night stop over, so we didn't see too much here. ... But here's what we did see!! Who knew Lee Harvey Oswald lived here???? It is tradition for new brides and grooms, just after exchanging their vows, to visit a national memorial site and leave flowers....