In Gagarin: go!

Who among us has not dreamed of in childhood to become an astronaut? Being boys, many of us have enthusiastically followed the achievements of our (and not just ours!) Astronauts and secretly representing myself in their place. Jealous of Gagarin, who opened for us earthlings, flights into space. Envied Leonov, the first cosmonaut carried out the spacewalk. Jealous of Armstrong, the first of the earthlings, walked on the moon - even if the satellite home planet, yet another body in our solar system. Nowadays there is no one "space race" was observed between the USSR and the United States from the 60's to 80's of XX century. Profession astronaut strongly podrasteryala its romantic appeal, giving place to the financiers, singers, actors and other managers. However, fortunately, we still remember and honor the heroism of the first astronauts who risked their lives, and, of course, still marvel at the feat of Yuri Gagarin. In 2009, Yuri Alekseevich would be 75. Unfortunately, he died at 34 years of age, and it was so young, he will live forever in the memory of mankind. We shall not recount his official biography - the older generation has been known since childhood, and younger, if not know, delve into the sources. Describe only as forwarding "Avto.ru" on the eve of the 48 th anniversary of manned space flight visited the home of the first cosmonaut of the Earth - the city Gzhatsk (now - Gagarin) and village Klushino in which the family carpenter and Pig was born the third child - a boy George. To travel was chosen car Mazda CX-7 - comfortable enough for it not to be tedious, and at the same time, with sufficient cross, if necessary, do not look around sober tractor driver. Of course, the route of M-1 and a small portion of it before Gagarin's concerns did not cause. But from the city to the village road would present a number of surprises, so that the four-wheel drive could be an opportune moment. Way from Moscow to Gagarin length of about 180 km overcome quickly and without incident, it is not surprising, after all the M-1 - one of the best if not the best in Russia. Of course, big enough crossover - one of the most suitable for autotravel cars, and Mazda CX-7 with a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine is well suited for this purpose. No complaints at the time of travel (on the other we will talk about later). The only negative - the lack of soundproofing in the cabin. However, for those who want more detail to find out directly about the car, be sure to test drive the Mazda CX-7 on our website. But back to the trip. Armed with a navigator with maps "AVTOSPUTNIK, we have identified the route. Departure from Moscow in the early morning was in "normal mode", but at the entrance to Gagarin, we realized that with the weather we're out of luck. It was windy, the snow was pretty strong. This is despite the beginning of April. Way back was not, moreover, is hardly the weather could become a serious obstacle. In the end, not on the same beach driving. The first mention of Gzhatsk refers to 1719, when the decree of a small settlement of Perth I was transformed into a trans-shipment dock. Already in 1776 by decree of Catherine II Gjatsk suburb was transformed into a county town Gzhatsk, which became the emblem of the boat, laden with bread on the background of a silver field. The city retains its title until the tragic death of Yuri in 1968. Since then, he bears the name of the first cosmonaut of the Earth. Arrived at the Gagarin in the early morning and immediately began to search for House of astronauts. Unfortunately, no indicator we have not noticed. It is clear that a small town and get lost in it hard, but make at least a couple of large, visible from a distance of stands showing the road to the main attractions of the city it would be possible. And even need. The more so because the central area of ??the city is full of posters and banners with the portrait and the name of Gagarin. Of course, you can always ask for directions from local people, we later used (about this below), but ... So, clicked the camera shutter on the central square and found the same Kazan church in 1743 with harassing gypsies at the entrance, we decided not fundamentally ask your way to the museum, and find it yourself. From the square turn right, and slowly moving the car, shook his head in all directions in search of goals. It may seem strange, but we found the staging point of our trip to ... the car "Volga". The same one which went to Yuri Gagarin. Agree that not every car was honored to be placed in a glass pavilion. So we found a memorial museum complex YA Gagarin, consisting of the House of Cosmonauts, house-museum parents who home-school years and the museum ... a car, donated by Gagarin in 1961, employees of the Gorky Automobile Plant. By the way, "Volga" for security costs now on supports - was a case where someone climbed hand hijack this rarity. Fortunately, he was almost immediately found. But the only place in the complex where we were not able to get - it's house-museum parents (one-story building green), which was built in a short period of building blocks. He is currently closed to visitors due to the repair and restoration work. Will not serve tours and retell what we heard and saw. Believe in the word - there is, what to see and hear that. That only cost the pen wall newspaper Alexei Leonov, drawn and signed personally or gramophone records, marked the young Gagarin! The next and final point of the trip was the house where he was born Yuri. Here we have used the tip of museum staff. I must say that the road to the village Klushino and, more importantly, to the very small house, standing on the edge, could be more obvious signs - still a place not unknown. Also on nautical charts to find it we did not, so we had to go to the tip guide. Autotourists, followed by our footsteps, it should be easier because we recorded track travel and plan to put it on the website of our partner - "AVTOSPUTNIK. So, the Museum Gagarin family member directly from home to the crib and dugouts, which moved the family during the Great Patriotic War. By the way, older residents say that as a child Jura was, to put it mildly, restless boy, and often devote their energies to the invaders by piercing them-wheel cars. For which he was once whipped with a belt of local Fascist administration. So that Yura had to make their own, albeit small, contribution to the victory over fascism. We left from Gagarin's with an indescribable sense of pride in the fact that the first cosmonaut of the Earth was our compatriot. And what thoughts we visited. How often we do not know what to do with myself at the weekend, where svozit children, where to gather with friends? And sometimes do not notice that right next to the house you can find many wonderful places. One of them - the birthplace of Gagarin. And no need to go there on the day of astronautics. Workers Memorial Complex, and Houses-Museum Gagarin family will be happy to tell you about his famous countryman, at any time. It would be the desire.