It’s about time to invite you all on a quick tour of my native town. Shadrinsk (I actually can’t believe that someone was kind enough to create the Wikipedia page for it:) is a small town lost somewhere by the border between Europe and Asia. As one of my school instructors said, if you close your eyes and throw a dart in the map of Russia, it ‘ll be somewhere there.  Founded in 1662, it was a trade point during the monarchy.

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?q=shadrinsk&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Shadrinsk,+Province+of+Kurgan,+Russia&gl=us&ei=LYidTNraF4mqsAO38e3VAQ&ved=0CBgQ8gEwAA&ll=56.0877,63.636089&spn=53.548555,180.527344&z=3&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

But what I really like and miss the most is the nature: lush forests, rivers and lakes, mineral water.

What I really wanted to focus on the most during my last visit is the architecture. Nothing major there but we do have a few buildings left from the 19th-early 20th centuries, which really give the town its charm. These brick beauties as if still carry the pride and honor of their once wealthy trade masters. I really wanted to capture the buildings before they turn into these… It makes me so sad to see the history being abandoned while instead we are rushing to build the faceless concrete boxes.

Anyways, what you really want to look for when visiting a small Russian town is the window legend. Literary, old windows have some legends. Look at these incredible woodwork which is unique and made by hand. So if you ever in that area – drop me a line, my mom is always happy to meet the guests.

<images via me>