On sheep for miracles

Ignoring a cool slogan: "Protect the Motherland - a rest abroad!" We have planned a series of expeditions in the cities of the Volga Federal District in order to show our readers how many interesting places you can visit in this relatively close location of the Moscow region. To do this requires several important elements: a good car, a modest amount of money and an overwhelming desire to get an unforgettable experience. This is an update of our expedition in Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Izhevsk car Dodge Nitro R / T. Route length was 1200 km (one way). As of the objects were selected Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, Kul-Sharif Mosque and the Museum and Exhibition Complex named firearms, MT Kalashnikov. The journey from Moscow to Nizhni Novgorod pleased with the relatively small workload (compared to Moscow's traffic jams) and good quality coating. It was on this section of our route, we were able to appreciate the possibility of engine capacity of 4 liters with single overhead camshaft (SOHC). V-shaped six-cylinder engine with an angle of 60 degrees and the collapse of four valves per cylinder develops maximum power of 191 kW (260 hp). Pickup us once rescued and the other sections of the route. Having entered the Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow highway and crossed over to Kanavinsky bridge located at the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers, we approached the first goal of our journey. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin called the most ambitious and magnificent medieval fortress, preserved in the center of Russia. As acknowledged by experts, the Kremlin is one of the most advanced engineering and fortifications of its time. Construction of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin in its current form was started in 1500 and lasted 15 years. During this time, were built almost two kilometers of fortifications, reaching 20 m, and thirteen towers up to 30 m. Nizhny Novgorod fortress allows to reflect the numerous raids of the Tatar hordes in the first half of XVI century, and the stone Kremlin was never conquered by the enemy. The most beautiful and bold hypothesis, which explains the perfect engineering and architectural design Novgorod Kremlin ascribes to participate in the development of this project ... most of Leonardo da Vinci. Certain space imagination in this regard makes the fact that the identity of the chief architect is little known. The chronicles say that for construction in Nizhny Novgorod in 1509, was issued an Italian architect who at the Russian manner called Peter Frenchushko Fryazin (Fryazin - Italian). Whether he was a pupil of Leonardo, It is not known. Architect and Restorer Svetoslav Agafonov, who gave the Kremlin a second life and restore it from the ruins, noted that the outline of the device wall towers Leonardo "surprisingly reminiscent of the towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin plans. Stroll through the castle wall and enjoy the magnificent panorama of the city with a bird's eye view overlooking the Volga river, we realized that in the near future, get down to it the historical center more time. The more so than most directly in Nizhny Novgorod, in the field is something to see. This year began working museum-tourist complex "Golden Khokhloma in the city of Semenov. In 2009, opens its doors to the City of Masters of Gorodets. Planned to build an optical theater "Kitezh" Resurrection in the village of Vladimir region, museum-tourist complex "Mininskaya Sloboda", which will include Provincial estate and salt barn in Balakhna. In order to implement the features of eco-tourism as one of the most promising species in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the Resurrection district created the first natural park Voskresenskoe Povetluzhe. Leaving the hospitable Nizhny Novgorod, our Dodge began to measure dvadtsatidyuymovymi wheels of the M-7 in the direction of the capital of Tatarstan. Impressions of this path segment were not the best - mostly narrow road to two lanes and a high workload (kilometers are columns of truck). Accordingly, there are difficulties with overtaking. Add to that the repaired areas and reverse the movement of traffic lights, and everything will be clear. However, with all these difficulties, testing the car handled well. Powerful engine to quickly disperse two-ton mass of iron and can quickly make overtaking maneuver and soft long-travel suspension with confidence "to develop" more bumps. However, at a fairly sharp changes in the trajectory of the body significantly heels and swaying like sea boat, but the salon, despite the rather cheesy plastic interior, did not publish any uncomfortable noises. Kazan met us cloudy weather, but it did not affect the enjoyment we received from the inspection of the main attractions of the city - the Kremlin. Modern fortress was built after the capture of Ivan the Terrible, its wooden predecessor in 1552. Get into the Kremlin may be a few towers, but the main fare is chetyrehyarusnaya Saviour. The tower's height - about 46 meters, its spire is decorated with gilded star with a diameter 2,7 m. way to photograph our car at the Spassky Tower, took the resolution of the local militia. Caught in the Kremlin, just pay attention to the towering mosque Kul-Sharif. It is named for the chief priest of the Kazan Khanate, diplomat, theologian and poet. He died in 1552 during the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. At the same time the ground was burned Mosque. In the Muslim world, it was famous as a center for religious education and the development of the sciences of the Middle Volga region. Impressed by their magnificence, elegance and rich library. But by a remarkable mosque, proudly stands on the crest of the hill, there is not even a stone. Revive the mosque in the mid-90's of last century conceived Mintimer Shaimiev. Architects originally designed the Kul-Sharif as the main mosque in Tatarstan and the Tatar diaspora. Its main dome is shaped like a "Kazan cap" - the crown of Kazan khans, which was taken to Moscow after the fall of Kazan, and now exhibited in the Armory. Turquoise minarets and marble finishes outside of religious buildings, according to the authors of the project, give the mosque bright image. The interior decoration - carpets, colored glass chandelier with a diameter of 5 m and a weight of 2 tons, stained glass, moldings, mosaics and gilt - the temple adds grandeur. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside the mosque, but believe our word for it - it is very beautiful. Of course, we could devote more time to Kazan, but we waited for the third destination of our expedition - Izhevsk. The road was less loaded, so is particularly unpleasant to no avail. Museum and exhibition complex of small arms to them. Mikhail Kalashnikov began operations on Nov. 4, 2004 in Izhevsk, its opening was timed to the 85 th anniversary of the designer. Select the city is not accidental: this world-renowned inventor of the machine has lived and worked for more than half a century. Museum exposition tells about the world's arms as such, the history of the Izhevsk arms factory and, of course, about the life and inventions of genius designer. For the first time in Russian practice, the exposition of the museum, "speaking from first-person." This effect is achieved through the connection author's comments and documentaries, exhibits and electronic installations. The exhibition consists of three sections. The first section is devoted to a life designer, the second - the history of the machine, the third - the place that took the name of Mikhail Kalashnikov in world history. The creators of the museum sought not only to present the chronology of the life and inventions of a particular person, but also show the personality of Mikhail Kalashnikov, its image in the context of the era. Kalashnikov here have a special place of honor, but not as a world-recognized attribute of the war, but as a relic, a legend, a symbol of valor. In Izhevsk Kalashnikov came in 1948, and the first experimental batch of the automaton in the number of 1500 samples was produced at the Izhevsk Motor Plant. In 1949, the production machine has been transferred to the Izhmash. In the same year, the automaton was adopted by the Soviet Army, entitled "7,62 mm Kalashnikov model 1947 (AK-47), and Senior Sergeant MT Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin Prize. After years of work at the plant Kalashnikov has gone from private to chief designer of small arms. In addition to the halls of the complex includes a showroom, information center, public reception of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the library and even a souvenir shop. At this formal part of our expedition was over, we waited for the journey back home in Moscow. And you are waiting for our next story about the expeditions across the expanses of the Volga Federal District. Material provided by the magazine FotoTravel