Life in the Russian exclave Kaliningrad | German heritage, Russian people and Soviet buildings

Let's see how people live in the westernmost region of Russia - Kaliningrad. We will visit the capital of the region (former Konigsberg), see the attractions and talk to the locals.
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Time codes:
0:00 Welcome to Kaliningrad!
1:27 Let me take you for a walk in the city
2:37 Is life here different from life on the mainland?
5:04 What are the prices in Kaliningrad?
6:39 Typical soviet architecture?
7:23 The museum of marzipan
10:36 The mystery of the lost Amber chamber
14:00 Do the locals like to live here?
14:57 The westernmost part of Russia
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[@christianphilipp7110]

My father was born there when it was still called Koenigsberg. Thanks for this video❤

[@naturestone3148]

My dad was born there too.😊 In 1940.

[@christianphilipp7110]

@@naturestone3148 So they were born in the same year

[@krisjustin3884]

My great great grandparents were born there! Sad to see a well-regarded lost culture, but nice to see it coming back to life like this.

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

1/3 of Germans can trace their families back to the lost territories that are now Poland and part of Russia. This is only 80 years.

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Ja der krieg. Konigsberg. Kant. Alles weg. Danzig. G. Dans k

[@getthepointx]

I have to remind myself sometimes that this is not a film crew, but a one person production. You're very skilled with both filming and editing. I'm grateful that you spend your free days grinding out videos for your channel. I really enjoy your videos.

[@silverkitty2503]

i never knew she owned a drone

[@Lokalny123]

Kreml money

[@michaelgratton1767]

@@Lokalny123 Yes, sadly she is a pro putin propagandist who supports war criminal putin.

[@nnnnnn3647]

free days? it's her job.

[@justinsmith5338]

No-one stops to think that this is another conquered/stolen country the same as Russia is trying to do with Ukraine, Belarus,and has done to georgia, Japanese Islands, Moldova,(Transistia) Chechnya, Parts of Finland and more. They are in the same league as Hitler - evil people.

[@BlackBear15909]

As a person who appreciates all cultures, I've been watching your videos and enjoy being taken along your journeys. As a side note, my german grandmother was born in Königsberg and always told me of her life in East Prussia. One day I hope to visit.

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

Oma. Muttie. KONIGSBERG und Tilsit.........

[@annicarosander2074]

​@@dagmarvandoren9364Tilziter Käse?

[@ajjoshi9232]

You make the videos so well. It makes me feel I have known you all my life though physically and culturally, we are poles apart. My hats off to you Eli.

[@khecke]

I went to Königsberg (now Kaliningrad) in Fall of 1942 and also to Tilsit and went there to school for a few month, before I returned to Silesia.

[@creighton8069]

1942, so you must remember the Second World War then?

[@sarunas3483]

Are u sure about date..

[@dannyarcher6370]

Sure you did.

[@EaNasirSellsBadCopperNGL]

With someone that old on the internet with such fluency in typing... I believe you

[@LAKHWINDERSINGH-rk4mb]

I am a resident of India and studying in Russia it I have a. Student visa. For one year. can I travel in kaliningrad.

[@darellnewsome4459]

Awesome video Eli and I learned a lot from it. Thank you for sharing!

[@msotil]

There is absolutely no mystery as to the whereabouts of the Amber Room. Like Eli says, the Germans careful dismantled the fragile amber pieces to take them back home. They mounted the delicate pieces in wooden frames especially constructed for the move. It should be mentioned that before the Germans removed the Amber Room (the content, the amber pieces), the Soviets tried to dismantle the Amber Room for safekeeping and preservation from the war. However, they only succeeded in breaking many of the pieces and gave up attempting to dismantled the room and abandoned it to its fate. The Germans dismantled the Amber Room, packaged the wooden frames holding the amber pieces in crates and started the train journey to western Germany. The rail lines were under constant attack and bombardment by allied planes so the train with the amber cargo could only make it to Köningsberg, where the crates were unloaded and stored in the castle until another train became available. Trains had more urgent war cargos to move - personnel, the wounded, weapons, supplies, etc. - and space was not readily available. The Red Army arrived before the crates could be further transported. The Red Army soldiers, as it was the norm in those days, gave themselves to drinking, pillage, rape and destruction of the city and the population. It wasn't long before drunken soldiers were shooting up everything and setting buildings on fire. Unbeknownst to the Soviets that the Köninsberg castle held the Amber Room, they also set it on fire. The fire consumed the crates with the amber, a material that is highly flammable and burns like dried cotton (amber is pine resin, much like turpentine). When the fire was out, the only thing left in the room where the amber crates were deposited, were ashes and the steel hardware that had been used to make the wooden frames to mount the amber pieces. Is for the special mounting hardware that we know for sure the fate of the amber. However, the Soviets were not about to waste the opportunity to press demands on Germany for the return of the pieces they knew no longer existed. Much less were the Soviets to admit that their own soldiers had destroyed the Amber Room. After the war, West Germany undertook the project of meticulously reconstructing the Amber Room from photographs, using amber from the Baltic.

[@billbaird2273]

Great video. We visited Kaliningrad in 2018 for the World Cup and I agree people there are so friendly and accommodating. Actually we found people to be very friendly everywhere we traveled in Russia, hope this war is over soon so we can visit again. Kaliningrad is very interesting, there are only a few structures left from the former Königsberg (apart from the cobbled streets), there are a few places from the old walls 2 gates, one of which has been turned into a museum, very interesting. I think they must get a lot of German tourists (or did get), as you see souvenirs in most shops with Königsberg on them.

[@eaglee4010]

You see, they are supposedly nice people, but they harass others. You realized that Russians are bandits.

[@edelweiss-]

so sad that are less structures are left from Königsberg. The history and culture there just got erased away? it never was an slavic place. so many parts towards Königsberg. So less people know, that Germany never was as tiny as its today.

[@pomodorino1766]

Thanks Eli! Beautiful video as usual! The place looks amazing also!

[@brysonboehl6590]

Thanks for the tour, Eli! Amazing part of the world! Superb video editing also.

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

It's an amazing place, I hope to visit soon too.

[@BECKER_21]

Willkommen in Kaliniingrad! Hoffentlich hat es dir bei uns gut gefallen!)

[@marTn3]

Königsberg*

[@barry7608]

I'm in love!....with marzipan of course. Love your vids best wishes from Australia. Take care, also great choice of music to finish with.

[@ingvarahlekristenssen6721]

Eli, always interesting things from you, Kaliningrad, so close, and far a way, from Sweden. Keep it up with your nice little documentaries.

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

Have you ever thought about visiting?

[@user-sh5xs1rt2w]

Come on. From Sweden to Kaliningrad 450 kilometers across the Baltic Sea. From Kaliningrad to Moscow is three times more.

[@pamelahalstead]

For folks who want to deny there is a war of aggression being perpetrated by these happy, “peaceful” people who don’t have to worry about nightly terror bombing. A tour de force for the gigantic propaganda machine that is the Russia of today. This piece was concocted a year into Russia’s genocidal war against a free country. Though I fully expect that my entry will be suppressed by the very people I am talking about I had to say it. At least they may have to read it before they eliminate it (like so much else).

[@TheVigilant109]

Wonderful video Eli. Many thanks for taking me on another visit to a part of Russia. Fascinating

[@mecha1gold]

Marzipan is actually of arab origin and it was introduced by the arabs along with almonds themselves to Spain and Italy when they controlled the south of these countries, today you can find marzipan even made in the continent of America in the country of Mexico by the influence of Spain but made of Peanuts instead of Almonds since indigenous people in Mexico grew peanuts.

[@DeemaZiad]

I became addicted to your videos Eli . Even start to learn some few words in Russian .. I wish you make more videos .. Wish you the best

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

Great vid guys thanks for sharing your time with us 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico Yucatan peninsula sending you support cheers ✌️🥂🥰🙏

[@robert9ish]

Excellent content lately, Eli. I'm glad to see that you're managing to get more of it uploaded for us at a fast pace, too. Thanks! Oh, and I hate marzipan, though I've never tried any from Kaliningrad. Lol...

[@juavi6987]

High quality Marzipan from Lübeck -as far as rember the taste the East Prussian marzipan is comparable, and many marzipan-makers did also relocate there after the war, - is does taste quite different to the over sugared stuff you often get (which I never liked as well, especially as a child. Maybe tryin it out?..

[@robert9ish]

@@juavi6987 Thank you! I'll give it a try. I used to hate olives and wouldn't eat them for a long time. One day, I tried again and I loved them. Maybe it will be the same with a good quality marzipan. Have a great day!

[@johnsmith1474]

Too much time wasted making believe there is something interesting at some concrete rooms under an old fort.

[@robert9ish]

@@johnsmith1474 Good thing it's not your time to waste as you choose then, isn't it? Pfft...

[@jameswalker4225]

@@robert9ish nobody said a tool who uses a name like John Smith for YT commenting has more than 45 chromosomes in play.

[@movalodh]

Excellent, Eli from Russia! Outstanding quality in all areas. I found it informative, interesting and entertaining.

[@tildarusso]

Super love your narrative style and contents, informative, peaceful and soothing. Love your smile even more.

[@TheDoe53]

Always first class videos. Thank you for sharing your country to the viewers!

[@stevenhandorf3145]

I am watching your channel for the first time in several months. I stopped only because of time considerations, not for political reasons. Your blogs are always so professional and so enjoyable to watch!

[@lucasrem]

she is German, she just never went back in 1945, no politics please. She, i meant Grandmother/family etc...

[@Hopazz]

@@lucasrem politics please. Prove that.

[@joecool3332]

Hi Eli, I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@aelyslohr9353]

Only yet: thank you Eli for this interesting video: my ancestors are from this region. I will go there one day. Greetings from Austria

[@rhubarbpie5232]

I grew up as a boy of German parents living in Canada and later, the US. I love the German Christmas traditions....except for Marzipan! You are right, Eli. There is no middle ground when it comes to Marzipan. You either love it or hate it. Perhaps the Kaliningrad Marzipan might change my mind. Thank you for the history of Marzipan! I never knew this.

[@frostflower5555]

I can't imagine how anyone can not love marzipan.

[@MMAptou]

You never had this DDR Marzipan ? Forgot its name..but its delicious, wraped in choklade..Marzipan is juts smashed Almonds, some add other stuff and mess it up, but basicly its like peanutbutter !

[@RonSommar]

@@MMAptou In fear I must add that Eastern Germany was forced to replace almonds by cheaper apricot ingredients. Nevertheless, today they returned to almonds and the original recipe. Give it another try 😊

[@rogink]

@@frostflower5555 I'm not usually a sweet eater, but I love marzipan, as much for its smell as the taste. Mmmm...

[@maxsonthonax1020]

But don't you miss Königsberg/Kaliningrad?

[@Randy_Gayler]

Always excited to see a new video from you Eli. Your production values are just excellent, professional quality in my opinion. And you do what we need more of, spread some people to people goodwill around the world. Stay your lovely and charming self and I look to see more of you in the future! 💖

[@alexandercheremisin3371]

@@ElifromRussia Ты прокадыркина пропагандистка, даже не знаешь, чем Хрущёвка от Брежневки отличается. Татарва тупая. Ещё этого типа у этого типа американца интервью брала. Ну вот кто ты после этого?

[@paulsdancing5429]

Randy, thank you for putting in writing my feelings about Eli. In Canada, we would say about Eli that she is the girl that every father would wish to have for a daughter. She is the product of her people. Of her's Euro-Asian culture. A culture that has to survive, if the World will survive

[@cfneal1459]

@@ElifromRussia Travelogue and historical, these video remind me of our common humanity, and for the possibilities of peace the world over. So I pray, in Jesus name, amen. Thank you for you service!

[@VernCrisler]

Be careful though. Some bloggers from a country I won't mention say she is KGB. Their proof was mainly Tim the Talker. ;-)

[@cfneal1459]

@@VernCrisler KGB kaput these three decades. Whatever it is NOW, she who have no place in Putin's manly intel agency. j/s

[@daleb1852]

Здорово! Я собираюсь впервые в жизни посетить Калининград и нашла ваше видео. Вы молодец!!! ❤

[@kpasax]

Thanks for the English subtitles 👍 Btw great video!

[@mikep.9371]

Thanks for sharing your day off Eli. You are quite the explorer and always show us interesting places and things.

[@alanfox4914]

Hi Eli from Russia. Every day's a school day. I love learning about your beautiful country and the people within it🥰

[@carlossaraiva8213]

Everyday i learn what her beautiful country is doing to the beautiful country of Ukraine. It aint pretty, i tell you. By the way, Kal8ngrad is not russia, its a conquered part of Germany - East Prussia to be exact - with some polish territory as well. Yeah!

[@alanfox4914]

I'm pretty sure that she didn't start the war. government's start wars 💔

[@user-qc3um7zj8y]

@@carlossaraiva8213 Поменьше лживую западную пропаганду слушай.

[@franklynlohr1060]

@@carlossaraiva8213 move on

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

Hi Alan, it's very refreshing to read such a comment. I'm so tired to read negative comments and this one made my day.

[@hereandthere6863]

Having lived in Germany for four years I love Marzipan. Thank you for sharing this information and providing us with a tour.

[@FYLUBO1]

Its hard to imagine that both Gdansk and Kaliningrad were rival cities with similar number of people and how it looks today... Gdańsk/ Danzig was heavily destroyed during WW2 but luckily rebuilt by Poles(lets say 40-50% of historical city was brought back to life the rest was gone)... In Kalingrad whole city center looks like empty desert with one church remaining in the middle of nothing plus some 90's and 2000's added buildings... its such a big pity that Russians didn't decide to rebuilt this city. This cobbled stone roads are probably older than whole Russia there, and it is sad when people say that they like this european architecture there but generally it was destroyed in 90% of its previous state. Kalingrad would be in one list with turistic Tallin Riga Gdansk and for example Lubeck...

[@cheezycrackers8677]

The Russians bulldozed whatever was left. Their intent was to completely eradicate all signs of the city's German past.

[@erichamilton3373]

The Poles have an emotional connection to Gdańsk (Danzig) so they were interested in showing it's history. The Russians replaced Königsberg with Kaliningrad...as they had no historical relation to that place.

[@wizzzard_kgd]

@@erichamilton3373 Danzig was less destroyed than Koenigsberg, since Koenigsberg was bombed by British aircraft, where thousands of bombs were dropped a day and the entire center was completely destroyed, and Danzig was taken by storm by the Soviet army and then Danzig was restored with the money of the European Union. What could have been restored and what hadn't was cleared.

[@wizzzard_kgd]

@@erichamilton3373 and the Poles never had any connection with the datsik, until 45 it was the territory of Germany, and before that it was the territory of the state of Prussia, but in 1918 Germany enslaved it. And Prussia had more connections with the Russian Empire than with the Poles.

[@zdzisawdziegiel2154]

@@wizzzard_kgd It is not good when blindness with national propaganda obscures the historical truth. Gdańsk belonged to Poland from the 13th century and was founded by Polish kings. It was owned by Germany after the treacherous partition of Poland in the second half of the 18th century (by Russia, Austria and Prussia) until 1945 and returned to Polish possession! And Kaliningrad (formerly Królewiec with an area called East Prussia) was the territory given to the Teutonic Order for eternal exile by the Polish king Stefan Batory. This fact is known in history as the Prussian Homage, when the Teutonic Order, after the final defeat of the Polish-Lithuanian Union by the army, had to humble itself before the Polish King.

[@StevoBolgakov]

I am in team love Marzipan, great video on Kaliningrad!! It is a place I think most of us don¨t know much about

[@Nastiazik]

*Greetings from a Russian blogger to a Russian blogger🇷🇺😂* Thanks for the wonderful video, Elli)

[@asdrdffad]

🔥🔥🔥

[@AuraCraft]

you're a propagandist :p

[@Nastiazik]

@@AuraCraft a propagandist of sound opinion?

[@AuraCraft]

@@Nastiazik go talk to people in donbas and see if your opnion changes

[@ultonian63]

@@AuraCraft and you’re a bot.

[@hollybeckermeyer7072]

I want to visit here. My family is from this area, fled in 1945. I am very interested in putting together family heritage locations and do a family heritage rendition. I hope to make this happen one day. I love this video.

[@Wolcik3000]

no hard feelings?

[@edelweiss2971]

Let's call it Königsberg, because this belongs to Germany or at least Poland and Lithuania. There was no post war migration. Germans and Baltics were forced to leave. Otherwise they were killed, and the is just what happened to several Germans. That was what we today call ethnic cleansing, and exactly what the russian government are doing in Ukraine today. Königsberg is surely going to taken back to the Western countries sooner or later. Please do not relativize the abuse against German people. Those civilians were not responsible for what the Hitlers nazi regim did, in the same way Eli are not in response of what Putin and russian government are doing right now.

[@user-sh5xs1rt2w]

It is a pity that there was a resettlement of Germans from Kaliningrad in 45. Although at that time local Germans and immigrants from the USSR would not get along together, despite the political situation after the war. But I think it would be an interesting experience of local Germans and Soviet citizens living in the same region. Even in the context of the region being part of the USSR, as it was. Anyway. Alas, there is little left of the German heritage. But we are looking forward to seeing you in Kaliningrad. Welcome!

[@neilfox3208]

My family is also from there but migrated to the US in the 1880s

[@siegfriedkroeger2038]

Vor einigen Jahren hatte ich Königsberg oft besucht. Da begann man dort bereits die deutsche Vergangenheit durch politische Aktionen wie Zerstörung deutscher Friedhöfe etc. zu beseitigen. Aber obwohl viel deutsches Kulturgut vernichtet wurde und 1945 ja Königsberg von den Russen zur Plünderung freigegeben wurde, hat man es trotz zahlreicher hässlicher russischer Bauten wie dem "Haus des Rates" und der Umbenennung der Stadt nach dem Banditen Kalinin nicht geschafft der alten deutschen Stadt ihr Image zu nehmen denn Königsberg ist eine deutsche Stadt !!!

[@Frank-el3fy]

Eli, There are mainstream media film crews that do not produce such quality videos. I’ve learned so much from following your travels. God Bless…

[@retrogamestudios6688]

Eli, glad to see u again. East coast USA is waiting for your visit....well someday I hope. Be safe, glad your well. Keep up the good work.

[@paulbuning690]

Thanks Elli for the very interesting documentation! A few years ago, as Germans, we visited Kaliningrad when times were not that complicated. Really worth seeing! You didn't mention one important fact: Immanuel Kant, one of the most important philosophers, spent his whole life here!

[@phillipproussier3723]

She didn´t mention Immanuel Kant, but it´s still in the video. It´s written in the museum part.

[@NoMady688]

Um pouco antes da morte Kant escreveu ou falou isso: “A vida é um fardo para mim, estou cansado de carrega-lo. E se o anjo da morte decidisse vir esta noite e me levar daqui, ergueria minha mão e diria: Deus seja louvado” ... Está escrito na bíblia que quem se matar irá para o inferno. As vezes, eu penso "Que triste... Agora.... Eu tenho que viver... "

[@NoMady688]

"A guerra é má, por originar mais homens maus do que aqueles que mata”. By Kant Bem interessante. A guerra repercute em anos e todos que leem sobre ela, muitas vezes gostariam de estar presente e isso muitas vezes produzem mais monstros do que guerreiros. Gosto bastante dos alemães. Ditado alemão "Pai Rico Filho humilde Neto pobre" 🤭🤭🤣🤣

[@phillipproussier3723]

@@NoMady688 = 🤡

[@NoMady688]

@@phillipproussier3723 eu acho que você errou no seu julgamento... Deixe-me explicar o ditado. Pai Rico (muito sábio e ensina o filho tudo sobre a vida e como ser feliz.) Filho humilde (ele aprende tudo com o pai, mas repassa toda a sabedoria aos amigos.) Neto pobre (agora todos sabem o que o pai ensinou sobre a vida, mas o neto não é mais sábio, não aos olhos do mundo, pois todos tem o mesmo ensinamento)

[@MimiBeeswing]

Thank you for covering this area .My family history and relatives are from this region, left in 1945 . I enjoyed seeing the area in your doco. ❤

[@Abcflc]

We need a special military operation in Kaliningrad given that it is historically not Russian... 🧐

[@fumeztheengine6321]

Зубы не сломай. Первый пойдешь в бой? Тебя тут встретят геранью, не переживай🤣

[@sergiy01]

Who are you?

[@JM-ig4ed]

So interesting - thank you so much for continued excellent videos about life there.

[@abas9393]

@@ElifromRussia 😭😭 😭 I love and miss your lovely videos in Perm; 😂specially when you show us the crazy Bania😂😂😂😂❄️❄️❄️♥️♥️ Keep your videos simple like that one 😅😊

[@krunoslavkovacec1842]

This is why exclaves and enclaves are some of the most interesting places on Earth. The combination of cultures and the historical heritage is incredible.

[@Keithyoung420]

россия древний город вы найдете кучу красивых вещей тоже старые здания и большой океан

[@johnsmith1474]

What is why? You stated no object.

[@sandor7594]

Enclave? No! Occuped territory!

[@krunoslavkovacec1842]

@@sandor7594 In terms of history, yes. In terms of geography, it's an exclave

[@MartinMohelnik]

Nazi exclave with nazi people

[@velalivre]

Thanks for your nice work promoting freedom, knowledge and peace among human beings. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Speaktruthabsolutely2023]

I just love how these videos can be colorized now with CGI. It almost looks real. It looks so different from the black and white motherland. Great job 👏👏👏

[@tuaniskandar9621]

The travel videos you produce are always impressive, Eli. I'm so provoked to want to visit Kalingrad, especially when in summer it looks very beautiful. Thanks a lot for the information. And keep making interesting videos about Russia, so that the world community understands how unique and beautiful Russia is.

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

It's great to see that people are still interested in Russia!

[@nomadclient4047]

Here is a link to a great Russian KZbinr channel that explains Russia very well. It's one of the most popular! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2e3pIOBnaaWZq8

[@thermofisherru7259]

Hi , This is some interesting video about Eli and Russia kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4exdn97f8iKi8k

[@doug307]

the TRUTH is, Prussia is NOT Russia, never was and never will be. It is still an occupied territory but there will come a day when Russia will have to leave it and justice will be restored. The time may come very soon.

[@vvaldez0221]

@@SamsRussianAdventures Russia is a great country with beautiful people but unfortunate, politicians and military expansionist make people forget about the beauty and culture of Russia.

[@gerhard6105]

In 2016, i was in Kaliningrad. I drove to that area with my own car. I am from the Netherlands. We stayed in Zelenogradsk for a week. It was very nice. The tiny hotel was 150 m from the sea. We also visited the dancing forest, Dune Elau (62m) and the bird watch on the Curonian Spit, Kurische Nehrung. We went to Kaliningrad city by train. We had a volunteer guide, a young student girl. She asked us if we wanted to go to the zoo. I said that we have a nice zoo in Amstedam too and that i wanted to go to the General Lasch war museum, under the university garden. She did not know it existed. So we went there. After that we walked along the former Schlossteich to the Amber museum. It was very nice. After that we went to the Historical Museum, next to the Schlossteich. We also drove one soviet city bus and later we drove a new city bus with airconditioning. She offered us a lunch and we went to a model kit shop somewhere else in the city. An other day we wanted to go to the militairy show in Baltysk, but we did not arrange the permit in time. On the last day we drove via the castle ruine of Schaaken and then southwards via a more scenery route to the Polish border. We liked our stay very much and everybody was unselfish helpfull ( the hotel gardener walked us all the way to the postoffice and the girl from the souvenir marketstand ran after us because we had forgotten to take one of the items we bought from her). We gave the guide loads of Rubels that she did not want. I just put it in her pocket. We hope to go there once again and visit Georgenburg, and the Elk region, Sovetsk and other nice places. Yes, we bought Amber items ther. A necklace with hanger and a silver with amber letter opener. I hope the old buildings in the centre of Zelenogradsk/Cranz will be restored. The highway ( 100km/h) was brandnew and there were several roadworks to modernize the infrastructure. My car had a good place on the guarded hotel courtyard. And the benzine was only €0,55 per liter. Yes, we would like to go there again, once......

[@user-wz6yb6cp7o]

Hello from Kaliningrad. It will be joy to see you again in our small region. One day, when all this current nightmare would be over. Zelenogradsks has changed a lot in recent years. Now it is branded for tourists by cats, a lot of cats everywhere.

[@eriklaken1025]

Sound very nice and safe to go, i can,t wait to go :)

[@Lokalny123]

@@user-wz6yb6cp7o When russia ends this nightmare and stops occupying free Ukraine.

[@fresatx]

The shelves in Kaliningrad are better stocked than USA. 🤷

[@ulisirius9027]

Russia has a lot of beautiful places with moderate or even subtropical temperatures. Sotchi, Krasnodar, Crimea, Mariupol, Odessa...

[@barbarabanks3216]

Thanks for sharing your culture! As for marzipan… I agree folks either love it or hate it! I was able to visit Russia a few years ago and one of my ‘tourist’ photos was of a Ritter Sport dark chocolate and marzipan candy bar with a Cyrillic label. Clearly I am in the ‘love marzipan’ group.

[@trekpac2]

Eli, I just love your exploration of Russia. Some day, I’d love to see you do a river trip along the Volga, dropping into some of the settlements along this amazing river.

[@ghlscitel6714]

What you said is wrong. Only certain goods are blocked to pass Lithuania due to sanctions. Most goods, especially food and medicine and also private travel are NOT blocked.

[@ludivari3307]

one of you is lying

[@sabinereynaudsf]

A train carried cement from Russia to its Kaliningrad exclave Tuesday (26 July), the governor said, in the first such trip since the European Union said Lithuania must allow Russian goods across its territory. Goods are moving, food and medicine were never blocked.

[@haroldcruz8550]

Almost all goods are blocked , only medicine and a few goods are allowed. Blockade is an act of war, Lithuania should not complain whatever comes to them after this.

[@ghlscitel6714]

@@haroldcruz8550 Killing people is an act of war. The reaction to that (sanctions) is an act of defence. Please get your wordings straight.

[@haroldcruz8550]

@@ghlscitel6714 Lithuania and Russia is not at war. Whatever you feel about the Ukraine conflict Lithuania is not directly part of it. They should be looking after their own citizen than embarking on an adventure that may end up them being at war.

[@ds-ov9yi]

I'm glad you keep posting & showing the warmth and goodness of the common Russian people - thank you

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

Great comment, glad to see people are interested to learn about Russia.

[@argon8908]

@@SamsRussianAdventures who are these people you speak of? all we hear is that the west wants to destroy Russia and its people. I wouldnt be surprised if the west will invade Kaliningrad at some point

[@stevan2399]

Anyone who really wants to learn about Russia should go to the many Tussian KZbinrs who have fled so they can speak free. Dari Step, Sophie Clare, Zach the Russian, A+ Russian, Stellanity Life, Niki Proshin. Also, Depressed Russian, and Natasha's Adventures give very honest straight forward info about life jn Russia.

[@argon8908]

@@stevan2399 imagine fleeing Russia thinking they will be accepted by the west lol. Western people will see them as worms and war supporters just because they are Russians, and in Russia they are considered as traitors lmao tough life

[@Cairol58]

@@stevan2399 So true! This one here, Eli or whatever her name is, only acts to spread the underlying foul propaganda of the current Russian regime!

[@marmar7255]

I absolutely love your all videos of Russia. My FAVORITE ones.🤩

[@juliojames5986]

Eli, Great tour . The Amber museum is interesting . Thanks so much. 😍💐 🇺🇸🇷🇺

[@carltongirl95]

What an unusual city Kaliningrad is in some area's it really does look German and the rest like Russia thankyou for sharing Eli I'm loving your stories about your homeland 💜

[@petermolnar8401]

This happens when Russia consume some civilized beutiful city or country. Practically , Königsberg is now a military base of Russia . they can reach Europe even with simple missiles. If they use hypersonic , London just 5 min.The same fate waits for Odessa . Because of the same strategic reason. I wondering how they will rename it and erase from their alternate history :S ....

[@krissdev6301]

@Peter Molnar omg what?) we have no alternative history, it was renamed just because kënigsberg so hard to pronounce for simple Russian it’s not looks like Russian language but everyone know the history of the city🙄 and also if you didn’t knew -Odessa was founded by Ekaterina II and was part of Russian empire for hundreds years, so its not needs to rename it 🙄🌝 Before that it was turkish fortress or little military town And also if you think we have no acces to the internet and world history sources you absolutely incorrect. And also if you think you r more smart than other whole country - your not enough smart for understand the reality🙄 we r not North Korea with separated internet and closed borders🙄

[@petermolnar8401]

@@krissdev6301 Even Humgary and Romania has their own alter history ... nationalism work like that. I think about Holodomor for example...was that a lie too? Some nation just can't learn or change their agressive nature. I respect those Russians who dare to speak freely even if they can go to jail for a word like "war" they are the real heros of Russia. Not the orcs looking for nazis in Ukrain. XD That is where brainwash starts.

[@VHSKacceta]

@@petermolnar8401 You're a victim of propaganda. Do you know what the law "the law of war" says? as it is called in the West. No. Because all you know is that Western propaganda has poured into your brain through its media. The law on fakes is called, there is no such "law of war" in Russia. One of the points of this law states that the media that use the word "war" as a special operation in Ukraine will fall under the article about fakes. The law on fakes applies only to the media (Bloggers in Russia also fall under the category of mass media). If an ordinary citizen calls a special operation in Ukraine a war, nothing will happen to him for it, no matter where he did it. The law provides for fines against the media and only after malicious, repeated violations of the law on fakes, restriction of human freedom is applied. So far, not a single person has been imprisoned for using the word "war" in relation to Ukraine in Russia. Although many liberal bloggers in Russia still allow themselves to repeatedly call the situation in Ukraine a war and they do nothing for it. The West took the law when it was brought into consideration in Russia and turned it upside down, distorted it for propaganda and gave it to you fools, and now you run everywhere and poke it everywhere as an example of dictatorship, it looks ridiculous and stupid. And it only proves how stupid people in the West are and are susceptible to propaganda.

[@petermolnar8401]

@@VHSKacceta it is clear now. So the protests on the Russian streets , the recorded videos when police put the peacefully people in cars because they say no war , was the best CGi animation ever creeated? :D wooow !

[@ultimatetruth3647]

Dear Eli ,Russia is so huge I think it will take one's lifetime to be fully covered by travel and explore the entire country. Best wishes and best of luck ❤.

[@doug307]

Ultimate truth, the TRUTH is, Prussia is NOT Russia, never was and never will be. It is still an occupied territory but there will come a day when Russia will have to leave it and justice will be restored. The time may come very soon.

[@FalconsEye58094]

Very fascinating video, I might like to visit it because its such an interesting geopolitical situation and it seems to have such an identity of its own a mix between Russian and European

[@mr.g2195]

Thank you for the video. This is the first time I see life in Kaliningrad and it is amazing.

[@Joseph-le5zk]

Thank you Eli this was another of ur wonderful videos I am not Russian but I have a few friends here in Portland, Oregon and I share these videos with my Russian friends

[@doug307]

the TRUTH is, Prussia is NOT Russia, never was and never will be. It is still an occupied territory but there will come a day when Russia will have to leave it and justice will be restored. The time may come very soon.

[@bgould72]

Hello Elina, Greetings from USA. My favorite channel on KZbin.

[@CarterKey6]

Agree I’m constantly checking for new videos and today is Kaliningrad even better

[@sergiy01]

@@CarterKey6 As regards the city of Kaliningrad, it looked its best during the second half of the 1970s.

[@dweamy1]

Just wanted to let you know that the roads are made with 'cobble stones' not paving stones. PAving stones are what you have on the pavement :-). Kaliningrad is beautiful !

[@Mikeb8134]

Once again another stolen property that doesn't belong to Russia and will be returned when that awful country collapses.

[@ganjinfly]

По-моему, правильно она говорит. Брусчатка это камень прямоугольной формы, которым выкладывают улицы и тротуары. На сколько заметил, там дорога выложена как раз квадратным или прямоугольным камнем (во всяком случае на 2:32).

[@brianlam1663]

This was Koenigsberg. My family came from here. This is Occupied Territory!

[@llllllina]

Nazis got what they deserved😘

[@esvedra2419]

blame Hitler

[@deadcatbounce3124]

Very interesting look. My German ancestors are from the Konigsberg area, I think it's safe to say that there wouldn't be any relatives still living there now.

[@Doiran-co8md]

yep the russians take good care to ensure no living german will stay there

[@deadcatbounce3124]

@@Doiran-co8md The Poles too.

[@Doiran-co8md]

Yep them too

[@martinlomsater9660]

Beautiful location ☺️😊 thanks 🙏

[@aggimania7901]

I think a behind the scenes video would be cool, too... how you do all the research, planning, traveling, cutting, etc.

[@KeekCat]

Eli, I love your videos!!!! I started watching it yesterday when I was searching for Bashkirs. So glad you still keep making vids despite what's going on politically.

[@annab2717]

Thank you Eli for recognizing that Konigsberg was part of Germany before. I am German and after the end of the war we had to deal with many refugees from that part of the world. Some of my best friends as far away as Mexico came from there.

[@user-tj3km3nv2h]

Russia never said, that Kaliningrad wasn't German before. Everyone know it

[@alxnd_r6345]

You should also thank them for not taking your complete country. You deserved it.

[@elliotgirl3921]

it's not a secret.

[@jubanumidia8460]

@@user-tj3km3nv2h meanwhile polish and Czech denied the truth about German lost territories

[@PascalKorver]

Konigsberg should be independent, or be returned to Germany. Just like Donbas. Russian ruined it with those ugly residential buildings

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! Thank you for visiting Kalleningrad! I want to go too! That was not sausage but soup! The swedes makes soup and pack them like that. Keep up the good work!

[@juavi6987]

No, it was Jelly-meat (Sülzwurst or Aspik in German), I suppose.

[@simonsmatthew]

Such high quality videos, good choice of music too.

[@irmakalember3709]

Eli u are great. Thanks for sharing x

[@RoyalOui]

Thank you for the beautiful video, Eli! I was happy to see the name of one of the most influential thinkers in recent centuries appear in the video: the philosopher and polymath Immanuel Kant, often called "The Sage of Königsberg" :) (His name appears for a moment, engraved in stone in this video.) It is hard to overstate his importance in the intellectual history of the western (and to an extent the eastern) part of the world. He exerted a significant influence on Einstein, among many, many other great thinkers. It is often said that Kant never traveled further than 10 miles from his home town of Königsberg, and that his daily walks were so regular, that the townspeople could set their clocks by them. His "Categorical Imperative" is considered one of the great ethical principles in history: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law" is, perhaps, the most common version one sees. Among my favorite quotes from Kant is "“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.” It is said that this is engraved on his headstone (?) Thank you again, Eli, for sharing this exciting adventure! Best wishes always. And may Peace prevail on Earth and between Russia, Ukraine, and all the World.

[@newsunderfoot]

On the tombstone of Kant at the wall of the Cathedral (the cathedral was restored in 2005), only his name and years of life are written. In the cathedral itself, the Kant Museum (with a library) occupies three floors. There are many exhibits and materials about the life and work of the philosopher. In the memorial hall of the museum there is a copy of Kant's death mask.

[@thermofisherru7259]

Would you say during WWII to nazi German tour guide "Best wishes always. And may Peace prevail on Earth and between Nazis and Jews, and all the World" Russia is fascists' country now I can't understund why you support it?

[@xrisc131]

Thank you for sharing this! The beautiful people, beautiful trees, beautiful architecture. May God have mercy on us all.

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

Russia is a country of huge diversity!

[@xeonxeonko4265]

@@SamsRussianAdventures sure, 150 nations colonized!

[@deniskosian2934]

@@xeonxeonko4265 I wouldn't use word colonized. It has negative connotation of western colonization.

[@xeonxeonko4265]

@@deniskosian2934 it's even worse - it's still going on, after all those caucasian wars

[@notsaying543]

Annexed then

[@gabrielasmoje2355]

Eli, your voice is very pleasant to hear. Your English is very good too. Yo do a great job. 👏👏👏

[@piersp38]

Congratulations Eli , very nice movie . Wishing to visit It once as well ! Also thanks to refresh my Memory about the Marzapane origin ....I really did forget It ...Greetings from Italy and may God bless all the good people of Our World

[@Lumpacio]

Hi EIi, great video again ! I didn't know about the Kaliningrad Marzipan! Now, probably the most famous German Marzipan comes from Lübeck, which is also located at the Baltic Sea. I love Marzipan! Much love from Hamburg, Germany Michael

[@user-wz6yb6cp7o]

From Kaliningrad with love. Mmm... I wonder to taste German Marzipan one day. Have tasted Italian once, but it was too sweet. I went to Hamburg a couple of years ago, Miniatur Wunderland is totaly amazing!

[@tomjut9761]

Cool to see the cobble stone paved roads, you find the same in the older parts of Helsinki, not so far away. Not great for a comfortable car ride though...😂 Great video as always, keep it up!

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

I've seen some places that have mainly cobbled streets, I'm guessing they have lasted the test of time better than asphalt.

[@masp441]

Great vlog. Keep up Eli, you are great.

[@ronaldbrunjes5379]

My grandfather lost his home in Königsberg, I would love to see if it's still there after WW2. Just a beautiful city, thank you for the video.

[@statusdisarray9598]

The fish in the grocer looked so health in the clean tanks. Our live fish area or crab or lobster tanks are horrific dirty sometimes dead fish with live . Omg a marzipan museum??? I need to go ! I love love marzipan!

[@manoftheworld1000]

I must not travel to Kalinigrad if I don't want to eat tons of marzipan and get fat😟/LOL!

[@robertspencer7498]

Eli, so glad I am still able to see your posts. Your videos teach me so much about the different parts of Russia that I am eager to learn.

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

Were you worried about her channel being blocked? I know a lot of channels which don't criticise Russia often are blocked by google.

[@nicholasboncardo]

Very nice video! My family was from Königsberg; I always wanted to visit Kaliningrad one day!

[@skyguyxninja5650]

The entire old town is destroyed not much to seen today and nothing was rebuilt

[@retroas2683]

​​@@skyguyxninja5650lmao. Do you even watch the video? What a failure

[@edelweiss-]

@@skyguyxninja5650 traurig...

[@sergiy01]

Unfortunately, you can forget about that for a long, long time.

[@Loli_fillings]

Hello from Kaliningrad! The video came out very interesting. I wish you to continue your vlog💗😺

[@plrc4593]

Greetings from 🇵🇱 , neighbours. You should be an independent country.

[@user-bq3ch1ps8q]

Sollte deutsch sein

[@jakeearley3842]

My great-grandfather boarded ship at Koenigsberg when he left Germany. That was around 1880. The German meaning of Koenigsberg is King's Mountain. Thank you for posting this video. Your work has very high quality.

[@wokewokerman5280]

...Agreed, Eli did a great job on this video, her interviews were very good, and in whole very informative...

[@rodjarrow6575]

This land has a bloody history! In the three-hundred-year period of the Northern Crusades against the Baltic Slavs (12-15 centuries), the lands of the ancient Prussians were captured by the Teutons, so that in the end only the name Prussia remained, and the people of the ancient Prussians were exterminated by the sword and fire of the Teutons. So that today it is unknown what language the ancient Prussians had. The ancient Prussians fell victim to greed, because this Baltic coast was rich in amber, which was highly valued during this period of history.

[@lisanalgaib555]

@@rodjarrow6575 There are traces of their Language recorded. They are in the same language Family like Lithuanians and Latvians. The conquest of the land by the Teutonic Knights weren't much different, than the conquest of North America by the white settler. Duke Mieszko I from Poland wasn't able to conquer the land and turn the Prussian into Christians. So, he asked the Teutonic Nights for help in exchange for land. The Prussians where not totally exterminated, they where turned into Christians and assimilated over the next centuries.

[@rodjarrow6575]

@@lisanalgaib555 Indeed, the modern Kaliningrad region is partially located on the lands of historical Lithuania Minor upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Etnoregionai.png/1280px-Etnoregionai.png

[@tzarcoal1018]

@@rodjarrow6575 it is not unknown at all!!! The last speaker of the language is beliieved to have died in the 17.hundreds...It was a baltic language. The story that there were suddenly exterminated is also a slight dramatisation of history, people love that shit, the real story is more boring. Many people survived and the original culture over time faded away due to cultural assimilation. Today there are Germans which have Baltic lastnames, because their families where from the area and they have roots in the old Prussian population. Former Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit is one example, idk enough about baltic languages to know if Wowereit is actually an old prussian name.

[@michaelciarla3836]

Awesome video Eli! I thoroughly enjoyed the history lessons and sights, and looking forward to seeing more. Positive vibes baby, positive vibes!! 👍👍☺️

[@vitomikelionis7783]

well, she forgot to mention that Stalin intentionally ordered to level the beautiful city, burned it to the ground, expelled all people, and renamed all places till there was nothing left. and now they pretend like it is their land. they claim "historical lands" in Ukraine so maybe it is time for them to leave Konigsberg.

[@kevinwaite6725]

Wow what a great video Eli super enjoyable and professional. You have beautiful handwriting! Oh I have to go to bed I've work tomorrow. I wish I could see some of these places in person, especially St.Petersburg winter palace.

[@DaveBP2187]

Yeah, I knew about the famous Amber Room but I didn't knew that there were still some parts of it. If it still exists and is found it would be the greatest archaeological discoveries of the century, for sure. I remember some years ago when in the sea of my country was discovered the so called "Holy Grial of shipwrecks", San José Galleon of the Spanish Armada when we in Clombia were a colony. I was in the Navy by the time of its confirmed discovery and it was almost a revolution for all of us. Naturally, because is the "Holy Grial of Shipwrecks" its precise location is higly classified. So, if a relatively unknown (but really valuable) shipwreck could be called "A Holy Grial", imagine how the discovery of that famous Room could be given the mistery, value and the fact that it is far more famous than San José.

[@Right0202]

The Russians got tired of looking for the amber room, and they made an exact copy of it using photographs.

[@watching99134]

@@Right0202 I was going to say, I saw an amber room somewhere in Russia, I forget where (small palace outside St. Pete's I think).

[@franziskafischer9400]

Many thanks Eli for the wonderful and very, very interesting videos. Многие приветы из Германии - Herzliche Grüße nach Russland 👍❤️🍀🇷🇺

[@Cairol58]

Aha, wieder jemand der das nazistische Putin Regime vom komfortablen Deutschland aus unterstützt, ekelhaft!

[@SamsRussianAdventures]

So near to you! Does it look like Germany?

[@haileselarsi7420]

bist du deutsche? weißt du nicht, was die russen grade in der ukraine anstellen? wie kannst du so was hier nur supporten? das ist ja wohl echt nicht die richtige zeit für sowas! schäm dich!

[@Cairol58]

@@haileselarsi7420Who are you to tell me what I am supposed to support or not? Looks like you are a disguised pro-Putin troll trying to con people with your nonsense 🤣. Shame on you!

[@batessdd]

Спасибо Eli ! Kalingrad seems like a city worth visiting indeed.

[@olivermiller2013]

I was 1993 there and the changes are really nice. The church you started the video was without roof and you saw the sky entering it. On the right side there was a small room with a relief of old Königsberg and in front of the church two construction worker building the top of the tower. This was an EU project. By the way: This nice park didn´t exist at that time and it was the place for the University till 1945. You showed the Emmanual Kant monument, which was placed 1992. Besides the Königsberger Marzipan and the Amber (I visited the musuem as well) there are Königsberger Klöpse (dumplings). You should try them, if you have the possibility. They are very nice. Hope you enjoyed your stay there.

[@edelweiss-]

its still known in Germany, the Königsberger Klöpse :). it went known trough whole Germany and since 1945, nobody would know anymore what Königsberg is

[@SeanLawlorNelson]

Happy to watch the video. I just love amber; just a wondrously vibrant stone; and some amber with fossils is also neat for jewelry and such. I've never tried the chocolate bar you're discussing but I'm fascinated by history like that: that shows you that even in hard times people find a way to bake bread. I like your videos and want to learn Russian but I still have hopes of progress with my current Russian course with Nastya of Moscow. I mean; it's not perfect I would describe myself as a contented student so I don't want to take on another Russian course; But I would love to learn Russian phrases as part of these videos.

[@Marco-pi5rc]

Hello! It is very interessting how Kaliningrad looks nowadays. My grandfather was born and raised in Königsberg. I would love to visit someday. Greetings from germany!!

[@hellothere1123]

Dirty Stlalinist russian regime DEPORTED innocent German civilians from Koenigsberg and imported Russians… Exactly the same Russia plans to do in Ukraine!!!

[@tylerbozinovski427]

@rafwroc How can it be Russian with no land connection to Russia? Oh wait that's right Putin wants to re-conquer the Baltic States.

[@alanlietzke5738]

@rafwroc East Prussia and its capital, Königsberg were separated from West Prussia and Germany by the Polish Danzig corridor from 1919, until Hitler invaded Poland (1939).

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@rafwroc belarus and ukraine should give territory back to poland and poland its territory back to germany

[@fgvfgv5976]

@@AbuHajarAlBugatti seems kinda fair but Poland will never give their territory, and this is impossible.

[@user-su1es3wm1e]

An intriguing tale of Kaliningrad by Eli from Russia. Love it all ❤.

[@LUISA-rj8oe]

Thanks from Italy, Eli !

[@demetriusvolkodav4923]

Hi again Eli! “Trru Roshah" hahahaha. Ummm, Marzipan is awesome! Anyway, you joining the Russian Geographic Society has really highlighted your filming and production talents and you are a natural in front of the camera! Watching you is like watching a PBS or BBC program, except much more honest 😁. Together with your Russian Speaking Club, both have really given your future an unlimited ceiling! I’m really glad that the algorithm has allowed me to discover your channel and keep up the great work!

[@doug307]

the TRUTH is, Prussia is NOT Russia, never was and never will be. It is still an occupied territory but there will come a day when Russia will have to leave it and justice will be restored. The time may come very soon.

[@jorgruthschilling]

This transparent sausage is called "Aspic" it is very popular in Germany (Sülze) . But it is also part of baltic cuisine and many other European countries. But if I search on yandex image search for "Холодец" it seems it is also in large regions in northern Russia known. Food geography is really a very interesting topic and it shows us how strong cultural interchange has been over centuries.

[@maxim.j22]

Да, похоже на холодец

[@solo19yt]

This was very educational and well done!

[@abhishekmahanta1112]

Beautiful as always Eli, it's hard to believe you are a one man or rather women production. 👍

[@dn8598]

I'll never understand this underlying, subconscious Russian fascination with Europe in a way that everything is better there than in Russia...I'm European and every time I go to Russia I find it most amazing, vibrant, cool, friendly country more than anywhere I've been in the world.

[@MisterPyOne]

My russian neighbors and my Piano teacher who both come from Siberia told me that it's very harsh there and little economic oppurtunity and very corrupt.

[@MisterPyOne]

My Uncle's wife which is from Moskau though thinks russia is very economically advanced which Moscow is of coarse.

[@elliotgirl3921]

В России есть пословица "Хорошо там, где нас нет". ))))

[@owenswabi]

I mean, a lot of their Tsars were Germanic, and Kievan Rus was founded by germanics

[@johanngm6846]

I agree totally . russian are all dreaming of taly , spain for the warm weather but they are totally unaware of how people can be unfriendly and badly intentioned.

[@raideveloper]

Your channel is awesome, and you're posting very often! Nice to see Kaliningrad as a beautiful place, a nice architecture city, and not like many media in my country says: "just a potential source of geopolitical problems"

[@manoftheworld1000]

Oh, we know the true source of geopolitical problems ...!

[@haroldcruz8550]

To the United Sanctions of America, any place that doesn't have a US military base is a potential source of problem.

[@thermofisherru7259]

It was more beautiful before Russians annexed it. They only add soviet architecture.

[@EUenjoyer]

​@@thermofisherru7259 Just see what they have done also to Finland regions they still occupy as Konigsberg

[@katuha_prezidentovna]

Родные места, люблю свой город💗

[@raylt7]

WOW. JUST CAME ACROSS YOUR TRAVEL VIDEOS TODAY- THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (Ray in Dallas, TX)