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 slightly adjusted my plans to come here, mainly as I've sen photographs of the fortress before and been impressed enough to want to come and see it. I did have a slight fear about the limited train options out of here but thought I would find something to get me back on my intended route to L'viv and on to the Crimea. How wrong I was! I went back to the station after checking into my hotel last night. Incidentally the hotel is...

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. I'd pre-chosen the Express Hotel as it's just outside the station in a fairly convenient location. I eventually found it and rolled up to reception, on asking if they spoke English I got that Doberman snarl and the "no vacancies" sign was suddenly slammed...

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. After breakfast we all got on the bus and went to a church just outside of Yartsevo. About a mile from the church we pulled over and met Dodgy Michael who we could buy t-shirts, vodka, and porn from. After everyone had purchased everything they wanted we continued to the church. The church was really nice, and apparently had just been renovated and re-opened for the public to view. The priest didn't...

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. The memorial that we visited probably had about 20-25 newly married couples visit in the short time we were there.