Vladimir

Russia

27/02/12

Dear Hannah,

Thank you for your last letter, I was glad to receive it.

You asked me to describe my birthplace and you also wanted to know if I am patriotic. So you can find in my letter answers to all your questions and I also decided to count reasons of my love to Vladimir.

Sure the dearest place for me is my house. "My home is my castle” says a wise English proverb.  I agree with it! And this is the first reason.

Not far from my house you can find my school. I and my friends often call it "our second home”. I’m a real patriot of this place because you’ll find such classrooms, pupils and, of course, teachers as nowhere else! Actually all the funniest moments which  I can remember are closely connected with my school and classmates - they’re the merriest guys I have ever met! So this is the second reason.

By the way, young people in Vladimir, who already study at universities, are very active in politics. In my opinion, it’s very good when the government gives them a chance to rule the town and realize themselves. It’s also very modern and rather rare in Russia and this fact makes me proud of my town! Here is the third reason.

There are also many places to relax after offices, schools and universities in Vladimir, they are  skating rinks, parks, cinemas, theatres and what not. Our class often watches performances in Vladimir Drama Theatre and enjoy films and popcorn in the cinema. We like to spend spare time together as we have become such a small funny family during six and a half years of studying. So all yards, skating rings and other such nice places are dear for me because only there I have a possibility to hang with my friends!To rest with them is best for me! Places where I can spend spare time with friends- is the fourth reason.

My classmates also enjoy sports, drawing, singing, dancing. You can find many talented people in Vladimir. Yukin and Britov, wonderful painters created Vladimir Painting School.You know,   sports are also developed- sportsmen known in all over the world such as N.Andrianov and A.Prokurorov are from my town! The most popular sports in Vladimir are skiing, swimming and gymnastics. There is also a large stadium "Torpedo” where our town football team often trains and plays matches. All boys from my class are real fans of Torpedo team. Well, may be my classmates will become great sportsmen or wonderful painters? We’ll see. Sports and art development is the fifth reason for me to love my town.

  There are many historical and cultural places, old buildings, memorials, museums, theatres, churches in the centre of my town. Different exhibitions are often held and it is never boring here. Yes, there is an active cultural life in my town! You know, Vladimir is like one large museum because it is very old and people who live in it are very proud of their birthplace rich history. You can learn much interesting about Vladimir from historical books, for example, many centuries ago Vladimir used to be the capital of Russia! And, of course, it’s one of hundreds interesting facts about my town. It’s very interesting history is the sixth reason.

These great times didn’t pass for Vladimir uselessly: tourists from all over the world come to see striking buildings that are few hundred years old. But not only their age attracts people: these churches and cathedrals are very beautiful since Russian architects were real professionals in their job. Actually, if you want to see the symbol of my town you should go to the centre of Vladimir-right to the Golden Gates. It’s sure the most famous Vladimir attraction, historians from the whole world are interested in it. This striking building is made from white stone and has a gold dome on the top. Many years ago the Golden Gates used to be the entrance to Vladimir and a fortress during the wars. Now inside it you can find a very interesting museum where you’ll be told all the history of this remarkable place. The Golden Gates - the seventh attraction of Vladimir for me.

But it’s not the only sight of Vladimir. The Cathedral of Dormition and the Cathedral of St Demetrius are also widely known all over the world. Tourists from different countries come to see them and I understand why: such typical Russian buildings are worthy for admiration! They are also few hundred years old and are built from white stone. For me these majestic witnesses of the ancient times are really touching and I always use every possibility to visit them. And so do all my friends! As we are from Vladimir, love to the sights of our town is in our blood. I really admire these constructions and this is the eighth reason. 

Recently, a monument to Prince Vladimir has been created. It’s situated in a cozy park with cute benches and many trees. If I and my friends come to the centre of Vladimir for shopping or just to have fun, we always walk in this park and it’s one of the best places to stroll in the town for us.  There is a spot in this park where you can see the railway station and trains coming to Vladimir, the river Klyazma with a bridge across it, another part of the town and picturesque fields and forests. They look wonderful in every season: in autumn you can see bright yellow, red, orange and brown colours. In winter all the snow on the fields reminds me of a large soft blanket. In spring all the nature is waking up and it’s very pleasant to watch fresh leaves on the trees. And in summer I can see sunshine everywhere, in every tree, in every leaf! So when I stay there and look so far away, I feel that my town is really the best in the world and I love it so much!

Now I think you understand that I love Vladimir just only because it’s my birthplace and everything here is so dear for me. In my opinion, it’s the main, ninth reason.

 I hope I could tell you that I am a patriot of my town and why I love it so much.

 I’d like to ask you the same question: are you a patriot of your place? I am looking forward to your letter.

With best wishes,

Kira 

сочинение ученицы 7 класса Легут Киры

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