peacetraveler22 | Snapshot from Tatarstan

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Snapshot from Tatarstan

I don't know much about the Tatars, but I began to go through old photos I took in Kazan last year and noticed I have a lot of shots of locals walking the streets. I guess their appearance is highly unusual to me, even exotic to some extent. Here's just one example. About this girl (woman?), I know nothing, but find her intriguing. :)

What do I need to know about the Tatars, and this Republic of Russia? My host in this city spoke very little English, so it was difficult to learn a lot about the region from the native showing me around. Please share any interesting facts or insights. I struggle to understand why cities like Kazan are so much nicer than other parts of Russia? Is it because the region is rich in oil, and has more resources? Kazan is now my second favorite city, only Peter is more aesthetically pleasing. Both have very friendly locals, and Kazan has more English speakers than any other city I've visited. I guess because there are so many young students there, but it makes navigation in the city much easier for a foreign tourist like me...

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info_infanterie referenced to your post from Snapshot from Tatarstan (http://info-infanterie.livejournal.com/5617405.html) saying: [...] Originally posted by at Snapshot from Tatarstan [...]

там промышленность есть, должны деньги водиться. ну и шаймиеву не пофиг было на регион

Edited 2016-04-25 14:03 (UTC)

Sabantui. And mafia.

There is money and power in Moscow, but Kazan is still more beautiful and friendly. :)

Mafia? Somehow readers think the mafia is everywhere, except in Moscow.

No, what does it mean?

I was in Kazan at early 80-ties. It looked like most of industrial cities of USSR, slightly better. They won some more control over income they generate after perestroika and used it properly. Also, they have some oil and industry (auto and avia to name a few), good educational level, a tradition of multicultural coexistence, while maintaining sufficient independence. Climate is a bit drier than in Moscow area, more sunny days. Also, my observation is that Tatars have a very positive life attitude, but that's may be just my limited generalization. The girl on the photo is very likable, and if I were young, I would be easily attracted to one like this without thinking about her ethnicity, in fact , it had happened, really. BTW - they are great housekeepers (generalization again)

So cold "Kazan phenomenon". Have you ever heard about it?

Edited 2016-04-25 14:38 (UTC)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_phenomenon

"The Slavic gangsters of the city banded together to fight this emerging threat, and eventually forced the Tatars out of St Petersburg"
This is bullshit. Kazan gangs are completely multinational.

An unknown girl came out of the crowd and improvised with street musicians.

I honestly don't know if this female is young or old, and it's irrelevant. :) I think she's lovely. Yes, locals are very friendly, and actually one young man probably saved me from breaking my leg near the university. I was trying to take a pic of the young Lenin statue, and there was a sheet of ice all around it. I lost my footing and was on the way to disaster, but he caught me, and I immediately said an enthusiastic and grateful "thanks!!" in English. He began to speak to me perfectly in the language. :)) I cannot tell the difference between this woman, and an Uzbek for instance. They look similar to me...

Cool! :) What is she singing about? I cannot understand the words.

Faces could be tricky however as I saw it, Tatars are recognizing "their's" easily. It's like accents in language.

It's impossible to recognize an "American," at least for me. The country is too multi-cultural.

My boyfriend again got involved in bad things,
Fight, I swallowed some turbidity.
He took me, and I drove it.
Now I want such as Putin.

Such as Putin, full of strength,
Such as Putin, not to drink.
Such as Putin, so as not to offend,
Such as Putin, so as not to run away.

I saw him yesterday in the news,
He said that the world is at a crossroads.
With this, it is easy and at home and away,
Now I want such as Putin.

Such as Putin, full of strength,
Such as Putin, not to drink.
Such as Putin, so as not to offend,
Such as Putin, so as not to run away.
Such as Putin, full of strength,
Such as Putin, not to drink.
Such as Putin, so as not to offend,
Such as Putin, so as not to run away.
Such as Putin, full of strength,
Such as Putin, not to drink.
Such as Putin, so as not to offend,
Such as Putin, so as not to run away.
Such as Putin, full of strength,
Such as Putin, not to drink.
Such as Putin, so as not to offend,
Such as Putin, so as not to run away.

Before 1917 Kazan was famous by its Univesity, which was in some disciplines better than St. Petersburg's University. By the way V. I. Lenin studied in Kazan's University.

Oh my! Is this a real song? :)) Or, something she improvised?

I visited the university and saw the statute of a "young Lenin" there. :) Lots of young students in the city. It's good, and makes the atmosphere more lively.

My boyfriend got in trouble again evil deeds ,
Fought , swallowed some dregs
So he got me , and I drove it ,
And I want this now , Putin !

Such as Putin - full of energy ,
Such as Putin - not to drink ,
Such as Putin - not to offend ,
Such as Putin - that did not run away !

I saw him yesterday in the news
He said that the world is at a crossroads,
With this , it is easily at home and away ,
And I want this now , Putin !

Such as Putin - full of energy ,
Such as Putin - not to drink ,
Such as Putin - not to offend ,
Such as Putin - that did not run away !

Well, he is still single, right? :)

Tatarstan swimming in money for same reason Chechnya does - separatism. Russians and Tatars don't like each other (no real hate, but still. For example GULAG camps was guarded by Tatars - Uncle Joe was smaaartazzz) And after USSR collapse Tatarstan was number one candidate for independence. It was cured by unprecedental level of autonomy and very favorable fiscal policy. Even now, after 15 years of Putin' centralization policy Tatarstan boss is only one exept Poo who name yourself "President", and have ability to sign international agreements like sovereign. You maybe know - Russians always have worse living standarts compare to other etnicities of Empire. Georgia is another example. Georgians was a shadow business tycoons in USSR and synonym for richmen. Simply put, Russia is a land empire, and our yday enemy is today neighbour or even part of the state. So we cannot afford to treat em like Sea Empires did with their colonies. Conquer your enemy, grab his lands, give him all he want, make him friend - Unite&Rule vs yours Divide&Conquer.

Kazan is great.It was tax exemptions for Tatarstan for a long time. Someone think that tax exemption for tatarstan duied through threatening of tatar separatism. During regulation of region by Menteimer Shamiev Kazan became one of sport and financial center of Russia.
Did you like Kul Sharif and Kazan Kremlin

It's real. The caricature image of Putin, created in Western media reality is not what many Russians see in their reality. The truth is somewhere in between. Some neighbors hate him, just because they wish to have one like him as their own leader, but they don't have one, and many women would like to have a strong person like ... you know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk_VszbZa_s - I think this is the original

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Snapshot from Tatarstan

Snapshot from Tatarstan

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Рахим Итыгез!

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A recent video from Kazan :)

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Re: A recent video from Kazan :)

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Re: Do not take for policy :)

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Re: A recent video from Kazan :)

Re: A recent video from Kazan :)