Why Smolensk is important for Russia? | Staying with a local family & exploring the city

[@fdoguerrasanles]

I have widowed recently and tragically so I have fallen into terrible depression. Watching your videos is a true therapy for the soul.. They really bring me back to life, is a real wonder. Thanks you so much for being here.

[@ТимофейЗ-н4д]

Да утешит Вас Господь!😢 Будьте благословенны, мир Вам!❤

[@marcused8317]

Hope you are having better days now ❤

[@elwira.el66]

Держитесь! Надо жить!!!!

[@TCOliveira2481]

I love watching these videos about Russian culture. When I visited Russia, I was suprised with a lot of fancy, good restaurants and cafés. Always with good food and delicious desserts! Time to come back, now with my daughter who loves Masha and the bear :)

[@tukituki7680]

💖🧸👍😸

[@-omg123]

I am from Sri Lanka and studied in Smolensk state medical academy 10 years ago. Studied for 6years and Had a great time there. Was really happy to see you travelling to such provincial towns on Russia and give ur viewers the taste of true Russia outside big cities. Ruski dvor was my favourite restaurant, we use to eat a lot of blini so sirom there and hope u enjoyed the food. We use to roam a lot along the dnepr, krepostnaya Stena and ryadovka, even when it was freezing subzero cold in winter. Want to visit the city again but due to time constraints i am unable to visit. I would love to have one of ur postcards from Smolensk if it's possible. Again thanks for ur blog, feeling nostalgic. Smolensk good geroi.

[@сергейстаровойтов-з8л]

приезжай к нам назад в гости, я живу в Смоленске всю жизнь

[@НатальяБервинова-ю7л]

Напишите ваш адрес и я постараюсь выслать вам сувениры из Смоленска, можно по вашему желанию.

[@sandeepatheekshana1471]

Yee broo next month I planned to go Smolensk state university for Russian language course what you think it's good or bad can I easy to find small job for cover my living cost

[@sandeepatheekshana1471]

@@сергейстаровойтов-з8л can I connect you after coming to Smolensk?

[@stickman7921]

больно тебя ждут тут в смоленске

[@greyjay9202]

Westerners can have a very distorted view of life in Russia. Videos like this, help to break through the clutter of misinformation, and give us a more complete picture of life in the Russian Federation. Thank you, Eli, for your wonderful videos.

[@ShaneBowers33]

I have been fascinated with Russian culture and love watching every episode of yours. You are an absolutely genuine and incredible person doing this and very good at it, please never stop.

[@akshayjadhav5001]

I am from India and i love to visit Russia one day. The diverse land with the glimpses of the past history and of course the soviet and pre soviet architecture. ❤️from Indian state of Maharashtra 🇮🇳

[@VVojtas10]

Soviet architecture 🤣🤣🤣

[@dominicozuna2976]

I’m from Arizona, I like to learn about different cities in Russia and Soviet history. Thank you for your channel! I always enjoy your educational videos

[@drevildog1]

This was an amazing post. You 2 ladies are the best ambassadors of Russia. The more I watch, the more get the urge to visit Russia. Спасибо

[@tasse0599]

What are you talking about? Andrew carried the video, what a beast, man

[@keith2515]

I am happy to see Alona and Eli together doing videos. They have such good vibes! Alona is an AWESOME Russian teacher and did great teaching our group! 👍

[@keithmorfett671]

Happy New Year Eli, keep up the great content.🇬🇧

[@alexche5614]

Всё бы ничего, если б всё наше культурное наследие Смоленска берегли и держали в сохранности... А то на крепостную стену больно смотреть да и на здания конца 19в...(

[@MrShket-hk1ed]

В этих зданиях торчи сидят

[@МаринаШалина-п2ы]

Какая у нас красивая страна! Но совершенно заброшены исторические памятники! У Смоленска такая история! Там должно быть много музеев.

[@aldoushuxleysghost]

@@МаринаШалина-п2ы Russia has come so far in just 30 years. Everything is so clean and beautiful. Love and greetings from United States

[@georgeorwell4931]

Love these tours! Always learning the history and some Russian. Andrew is a star!

[@anaburgos2002]

Eli, your video is very nice, well done and your English is perfect. Your country is amaizing, thank you for sharing!

[@wolfgangfinke8649]

When I want to relax I look your videos. I love how you present the people of the places you visit. It feels for me like a personal encounter.

[@ashimkumarchatterjee9092]

Thanks Devoska ❤ u took me 32years back my memories stay safe at Moscow, Russia 🇷🇺 USSR Sometime March 1989 to July 1994.

[@trevaperes5343]

Another awesome video Eli and your friend Alona. Thank you. There are many here in Australia who love Russia, including me.

[@stevegandalf4739]

Спасибо большое from England. You really know how to inform, educate and entertain your audience.

[@alexandermenzies9954]

Alyona's smile is so lovely and instantly ready; she is a lot of fun and a great member of the 'team'.

[@BulletDiscipline]

✌been watching Russian Blogs the past several years especially the last 6 months you do great videos shots out to the whole Eli channel crew 👏 👍

[@terrytartu]

My gosh! My mother had one of those washing machines when I was a child in the late 1950's right up to the mid 1960's. It did not break down as often as the newer models that replaced it through the years. She tried to get an old model from a store that sold antiques and such machines, but them man told her that the model she had all those years ago is rarely given up. People keep them as stand-by machines as the newer models will inevitably break down.

[@oskardominguez9597]

My grandpa was from Smolensk and he’s last name was Shlimovitch , Best regards from USA

[@rudobohl5116]

Thank you again for your videos 🙏 love to watch them! You make Russia's culture visual in its great diversity! 💗 Lots of love from Holland

[@jeroen1158]

Thanks for showing us around the city of Smolensk. I had a great time watching it. Thanks for packing in all of this useful vocabulary as well!

[@spenmac]

I believe I have watched this video about 4-5 times now. The laughing and giggling is a joy to watch and hear and shows some types of humour are universal. But poor Andrew lol, he took it like a gentleman though :-) Fav word "достопримечательности"

[@kuldeepchoudhary7153]

your video content, cinematography, and stories all are superb 👏 👌

[@richardtennant2237]

Hello Elina & and also to your Friend - Greetings from Florida. Great video and very interesting to see some sites around Smolensk. It is 80° F. here, but with a lot of rain - so we may also have a 5-Star puddle in our neighborhood! Wishing you both a Happy New Year.

[@nadapetersen7851]

I liked very much when you walk the streets and see things and explain in russian what you see. It is very usefull in learning russian. Please make some videos in that way where you speak mostly russian with english titels and some important words on screen.

[@ShiranVyasa]

I love the architecture of Smolensk. It has a nice cozy feel to it and the people seem laid back. Barsik was the star of this video.

[@akelaaussie]

very entertaining video💖😍 God bless u and your family. Thank you for making us happy and smiling... Keep rising and shining... sending lots of Love and care 💕from Sydney, Australia.

[@juliansisneros6897]

Hi Eli from Albuquerque NM USA I appreciate the knowledge I get from your videos especially the history of Russia, and it's cities and towns, thank you for your informative videos I really enjoy following you 👍😉👍😉

[@gabriellagirardi4741]

How cute and a little bit shy is Andrew! Thank you very much for this awesome video as usual, which focuses on the beauty of this city and on the Russian language. You are really nice and very skilled.

[@tobymayhew1437]

Я изучаю русский язык в Кембридже и в следующем году я собираюсь прожить в Москве 5 месяцев! Я люблю все твои видео и мне не терпится познакомить с городом и с людьми! ☺️

[@ЕленаВасильева-н7щ]

🌹🌹🌹

[@bomb245]

Русский- сложный язык для изучения, вы молодец

[@СтройДевелопмент]

Будем рады вашему визиту.

[@govorianya]

Желаю хорошо провести время и познакомиться со страной, её обычаями и культурой, насладиться архитектурой (в России много интересных мест, это я как историк пишу). Попробуйте блюда русской кухни, страна многонациональная, так что и выбор блюд большой😉 И, конечно, желаю встретить друзей здесь! Добро пожаловать!

[@МаринаШалина-п2ы]

Как хорошо вы знаете русский язык, грамотно написали. Добро пожаловать в Россию!

[@Rockfire71]

Thank you for this Smolensk tour. Showing us the city and meanwhile learning viewers some Russian. Nice to see the cooperation with Alonya.

[@peterescalante1207]

I don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to visit your country in person but your videos are like having family there showing me around. It seems like such a lovely country and lovely people. Thank you and God bless!

[@goognamgoognw6637]

Eli and Alyona are my Russian friends online and i am very happy to watch your beautiful videos. These are the best videos from a foreign country presented by people from that country. Your are hospitable and interesting. Love to Russia with its beautiful architecture and food traditions. Thank you Alyona for the colorful guide of useful sentences.

[@AlterMann57]

Eli, I love the videos you make with Elina. I love her ability to teach Russian words, and her pronunciation is perfect. This was a great video, spasiba bolshoi!

[@hollyeberle2470]

Thank you so much for this one! I don't comment on KZbin much but this was neat. My grandfather's uncle died at the battle of Yelnya near Smolensk in August 1941 during Operation Barbarossa. His body is still in Russia, allegedly buried in Filatki according to the Killed in Action card. It was SO cool to see you at the museum, even though my family was fighting for the wrong side (I myself am an American since my grandfather immigrated to the USA from Germany in 1960). Maybe someday I'll have to stop by....

[@1Rene9Night5cart0]

Thank you, Eli, for this wonderful glimpse of Smolensk with your equally brilliant and beautiful friend Alena ! Being older now, (from Gulag USA?!) I will never see your wonderful Russia in 3-D but these wonderful and informative videos are the next best thing.

[@mhirst16]

Great video Eli and Alena! Smolensk looks like a great place to visit...lots of incredible history there. Your videos always inspire me to head to the Wikipedia page to learn more about the regions you travel to!

[@Scrat335]

I have been to Smolenck many times. It's my favorite city in Russia. The deer in the park is a European Red Deer, rare nowadays but coming back these last few years. I met a girl busking with her friends on Lenin street one day in May. She had a beautiful voice and the next day she and her friend took me on a tour of the city. I bought them lunch and we had a great time. My wife loved the city too and the restaurant in the park is a really nice one but a little pricey. The city has a great history. It has bad roads all over though.

[@frankeichel1604]

Lovely city,, wonderful video. All the best in 2022, Eli!

[@gkschick6804]

Great video and introduction to Smolensk, a city I had no knowledge of before now. You and Alina complement one another very well. Your pleasant outlook on life is infectious! Would like to make it to that museum some day. Most westerners like me have little knowledge of what happened on the eastern front during WW2 compared to what we know about the western front where our countries participated. Like many countries, Russia paid a huge price. 25M deaths is simply Incredible. Thank you for helping to bridge the gap between Russia and the west. There are many stereotypes that need to be put to rest and your videos are a big help with that.

[@ИмперияДобра-е9с]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaK5hKFmjrGlbJY

[@gkschick6804]

@@ИмперияДобра-е9с Спасибо!

[@mbayatab4326]

Just to correct you: it was the whole Soviet Union made of 15 republics (including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asia and South Caucasus) that lost 25-27 mln lives during WWII

[@КириллКухаренко-щ4н]

Спасибо, приятно слышать от вас такие теплые слова!

[@gkschick6804]

@@КириллКухаренко-щ4н Не стоит благодарности!

[@bobgoodall1603]

My mother's first washing machine 1958? was quite similar to the machine in the museum. It had an "agitator" at the bottom which moved the clothes clockwise then anticlockwise every few seconds and "wringer" to squeeze the clothes dry. The next one was also a vertical machine, but it had spin drier. Before that I think it was a scrubbing board and huge fore arms🙂....and never argue with a woman with eight children with clean clothes.

[@marcelocortez3312]

I'm falling in love with Russian cities with these videos. I always liked russian and even I tried to learn russian many years ago. Nowadays I still like Russia and I will keep trying learning a bit of russian, even though I'm from far away (El Salvador). I definitely would love to live in Russia.

[@donjoaoresort8565]

Man, it’s too cold. Except June to September the cold is unbearable

[@patriciafinelli1656]

It's so interesting to know different peoples and cultures! Keep on doing the good work! Thanks Eli, Aliona and Andrey for this lovely tour! Hugs from Brazil! 🇧🇷

[@tanmay5664]

Thank you so much Eli. M coming for medical studies in Smolensk.. Thankyou for sharing such a lovely video...

[@Quiquerez1808]

I can't wait to visit Russia again. I lived there when I was in elementary school and was last here 13 years ago, but sometimes when I watch these videos it seems like yesterday. I really hope that soon I can take a month to visit all the beautiful places and my old street where I lived in Moscow.

[@craigosborne3260]

Very good Video… love all of them. It is great to learn the different regions, as we know very little about Russia in Australia. Your videos are a breath of fresh air.

[@КириллКухаренко-щ4н]

Спасибо! Это мой город! Так неожиданно и приятно видеть его вашим взглядом. Спасибо и людям в коменнтариях потому что любят Россию.)

[@harrydecker8731]

Another terrific video! How you add music works very well. Such interesting history there. Love the reindeer statues. The humor about the puddle is truly funny! When you interview people, that really adds a nice human touch to your videos. It's interesting to see many foreigners visit and live in and go to school in Russia, and to get their opinions. Please explain how one jumps off that old tower.

[@DespaceMan]

What a treat an Eli video with her friend Alena, wonderful stuff ladies loving the content & historic tours of Smolensk ❄🥶🥶❄❄ If we don't see a new post before the new year, Happy New year in advance 🥳🎉🎉

[@Vlda2393]

Love the language lessons! ❤

[@haloknight1]

It is always great watching your videos! I enjoy learning about the many different places in Russia and the culture

[@RubenBustosC]

Very interesting, amazing, educating and entertaining video Eli, as usual

[@peterhalloumis9291]

Eli, I wish I could hit a million likes for your videos. They are always interesting, informative and entertaining.

[@dank3998]

Great tour of the city, big difference in weather compared to your other videos. Can't believe how neat and clean everything is no matter where you've gone. Love you're work keep it up.❤

[@gregblake2635]

I just discovered your Channel,and I am learning ALOT about Russia. You do such a great job of explaining things. In the USA their is much negativity towards Russia, created by politicians because it fits their agenda. Too many people just believe what’s told to them, and do not find out for themselves. I see many similarities between life in Russia and the USA. Russian people seem a lot more accepting of people from different countries and backgrounds than Americans do. Based on your videos, I would visit Smolensk and your hometown of Perm. Learning Russian would be a challenge though. Thank you for doing these videos, your giving us a much needed education on Russia. Sincerely, Greg.

[@ЕленаВасильева-н7щ]

💖💖💖🌹🌹🌹

[@marinazw1775]

Спасибо Вам за Вашу непредвзятость и интерес к России. 😊🤗

[@govorianya]

It's nice that people are interested in Russia, despite prejudice👍 Smolensk is a small town with a huge history. Welcome

[@SyifaAdriana]

What a helpful video to teach Russian phrases, Eli! I am planning to start learning Russian in 2022 and will be joining into your courses hopefully. Congrats on your channel's growth! Excellent progress you must be proud of yourself ❤️🙏

[@tmac2b]

Great vid! I thought Alena brought a really good dynamic. What a personality!! The teacher always teaching!! You guys need to travel more together. Fun!

[@y077er]

I love watching your video's, you ladies bring beauty to any part of Russia you visit.

[@navinasimoes]

Thank you so much 🙏❤ You brought back my childhood memories during my stay in the upland

[@gurpreetsingh-zg3km]

I like Russian girls

[@mymessymidlifecrisis]

I love your videos. I have been watching all of your past videos. I just found your channel about a month ago. Im so glad that I did. I love seeing all the beautiful places in your country.

[@thomastroub4563]

This was a lot of fun to watch. I follow a few other channels about Russia, and I appreciate all of them very much. Great job, Eli! 😃

[@yoomegy1396]

I enjoy your videos. Been learning russian language on youtube, you and alyona help add some more to my notebook. Spasiba!

[@alro1957]

Thanks for taking us around Smolensk. Great city great food. And thanks to Alena for keeping company. and the gift. Happy holidays!

[@michelledesjadon1476]

I absolutely LOVE your videos!!! They are so interesting and informative!! I learn a lot and I'm very entertained by them. Thank you so much for sharing all of them!! I'm a fan for life🥰

[@trevmacc]

great seeing a nice historical town like Smolensk and being able to learn some basic words that would be helpful there touring the town,love the humor with the statues ,thanks for sharing it with us have a safe and happy new year on your travels

[@pakko7416]

Great video! Thank you!

[@borisj4054]

Russia looks so nice now. It was a rough difficult place for tourists in the Nineties. An adventure and why I went there and spent almost a year.

[@UCR2eBQ]

Eli, thanks so much for sharing the beauty of Russia and its people in 2021. It's been a great trip and looking forward to more in 2022. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas :))

[@rolandocastaneda4429]

I am so happy watching another video of Russia and Russian culture. I can't stress enough how important it is to open our hearts to reach out and discover what is beyond our borders. I would be willing to visit Smolensk if I had a guide or friend. Elina or Alyona if I come will show me around again? Thank you!

[@bob1784free]

Great tour. We in the west should not forget the sacrifices the Russian people made to defeat the Germans during WW2. So nice to see your beautiful city.

[@VVojtas10]

Lol. If they made a step back, they got shot in the head. The so called "liberators" raped every woman on their path. Soviet occupation during WW2 was worse even than German on Polish areas.

[@szymonrucinski7529]

sfu

[@jeffforbess6802]

We also should remember that if Stalin and communism hadn’t weakened the CCCP (starvation, destroying the Kulaks in the Ukraine, arresting millions…) in the decades prior, Hitler would have never attacked.

[@Shurikova666]

@@jeffforbess6802 When modern people start talking about communists and Stalin, they noticeably turn into idiots. 1840, 1873, 1880, 1883, 1891. These are the years of mass famine in Russia. And where were Stalin and the Communists here? Europeans forget that Russia has a very poor climate for growing bread, and the population is very dispersed. A German peasant can harvest two crops a year. And the Russian peasant is forced to stay at home in winter and not work in the field... However, it doesn't matter to the Internet-corrupted idiots and I'm wasting my time....)))

[@Shurikova666]

Thank you. And we still need to clarify. why Smolensk is important for Russia. Historically, Smolensk was an advanced fortress that protected Moscow from invasions from the West. This was also the case in World War II - the defense of Smolensk thwarted Hitler's plans to defeat the Red Army in four months. One German general said: "We wanted to swallow Moscow bread, but we almost choked on the Smolensk humpback."

[@westernwanderer8397]

Funny, some people do not know about those old dial telephones. I remember we had one when I was a kid. I think I would really enjoy that military museum.

[@michaels3474]

Hi Eli or as you are now known as #1Blogger! I see that I would have to learn Russian letters first, some words I can guess but others I have no clue. The phrases will be a good help to start. Thank you for the tour. Yes, I would visit Smolensk if I had the chance...

[@amielaberilla1299]

🤗I'm enjoying listening how Andrew's react to in every response of your query. Thank you Eli for such a beautiful content! Happy New year to you and to your family. Happy Holidays too! 🎄🎀

[@suethorne9667]

Really enjoying the views from this city. The culture is fascinating.

[@lessparks9388]

Andrew did a great job!

[@vdhazer]

Nice to know more about new places, cities and towns.

[@elreyjeje]

Очень интересно! I hope one day I can visit Smolensk! As always, great video :)

[@matt_aviz]

Not just anyone can present in front of the camera lens while simultaneously drawing in the viewers as if they are welcome. Both of you do it admirably, so naturally. If I ever make it to Smolensk on one of my trips, I'm heading straight for that cafe as first order of business❣

[@MsBole123]

I love watching your video's Eli. Russia is definitely on my bucket list. Happy holidays to you and your family as well.

[@brianeggar]

Nice video. Lets hope 2022 is better than this year. Smolensk has featured a lot in history as various marauding armies have passed through on their way to Moscow.

[@ВладимирАлымов-т4в]

Красивые люди из Индии.. )) Хорошая прогулка.. Спасибо 🙏💕

[@frankmuller6791]

Thanks for the wonderful video, you are such great people.

[@user-jq8wr8ru2s]

Great video. Really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thank you

[@oliverfisher4773]

Great video, very useful for Russian learners! Здравствуйте с австралия :)

[@betsyross2.065]

I'm going to have my granddaughter start watching this channel, she will learn so much...

[@williams9859]

Спасибо большое! The one thing that amazes me is your editing skills! I think editing is 10x harder than me trying to learn Russian (which has been hard)!

[@sirvientedenoble1085]

but you are really no 1 blogger in the world. seeing how much you enjoy doing these records, the way you inform us and the amazing shots… just everything about your content is a proof of that

[@cmmwiebe]

Absolutely delightful! And informative! And a great invitation to visit!

[@allennorfad2649]

This is the 2nd time i got a glimpse of Smolensk. Elina and Alena are so beautiful. This time i am learning Russian phrases. Maybe later on fulltime study of the Russian language. Elina thank you for this well edited video.

[@aizawl2007]

It's interesting to learn about places I'm not familiar with. Beautiful narration!

[@us6570]

thank you Alyona for the Special gift

[@christiangeber1750]

Снова вот такое чудесное видео из твоей родной страны- спасибо тебе и Алёне огромное за этот забавный и одновременно содержательный тур по Смоленску! Очень понравилось и снова и снова радуюсь твоих путешествий. Тоже и Алёна очень симпатичная и красивая. Оставайтесь здоровы пожалуйста и уже вам и своей семье С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ!

[@buckshot704]

Love the channel. It’s much more enjoyable than nearly all the travel guides I’ve seen.

[@alkberg2140]

I love the language lesson, Alena. Andrew was fun to watch- he made me smile.

[@hershellacey9405]

When Eli smiles I smile.

[@gusrui]

Thank you so much for the video! It feels like a very interesting place to visit! It is the gateway to Moscow after all! Happy new year!

[@RetosSpace]

Wow ,what an awesome city,when I get out of lockdown ,I'll definitely visit this city and other Russian cities,greetings from Cape Town South Africa,banging channel with solid content!! Spasiba

[@Swordsmith100]

I've just discovered these videos. I wish they could become a series on the main media channels. I was in Smolensk in 1984, and in Kaliningrad in 1997. A huge difference between the USSR and Russia! I love your presentation style, and I'm amazed how you keep your nerve when that woman is obliterated by a shotgun just on your left at 16.27!