On the essay competition.

Kondrativa Daria
School №29 , class 10 «a»

Dear Ann,
I hope that this letter will find you are doing fine. It has been a long time since we last met. A lot of things has changed, and I believe we both have what to talk about.

I remember my summer holidays at your place, how wonderful we spent time together. I have already thanked you many times in person for our splendid holidays and your kind invitation to visit your birthplace but I would like to describe my fantastic impressions of what I saw in London once again.

I could not imagine that my visit the capital of Great Britain and one of the most beautiful European cities. But with you, my friend, all my dreams came true! I am so thankful to you for showing the famous Trafalgar Square and the National Portrait Gallery. You knew that I am fond of painting and museums and galleries would definitely appeal to me. The priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures and famous library of the  British Museum made unbelievable impression on me.

But I was so impressed to find London quiet and charming in Regent’s Park and Hide Park. Your favourite places in London have become mine. I loved our early morning walks when all we could hear were the birds singing. It was hard to believe that we were in the heart of a big city. And it was the right place and time for me to understand how much I missed my Motherland and the Russian language, my native town and its green parks, my family and my friends. No wonder «East or West – HOME is best». You have done everything possible to make me feel home and not miss my nearest and dearest, but I believe almost every Russian misses the Russian unsurpassed nature, the Russian cold and merry winter with its funny games, the Russian magnificent food and of course the Russian soul. A lot of books have been written to express and explain to foreigners what this notion "Russian soul” means; many pictures have been painted to show the beauty of the Russian nature; many songs have been composed to sing about the famous Russians. But, my dear Friend, the best way to understand Russian people is to come and visit Russia. As my native town Vladimir is one of the oldest Russian cities and one of the best-preserved other cities of the Golden Ring, you will have the opportunity to have a good  into the rich history of my Motherland and see the beautiful nature of Vladimir situated in the heart of Russia.

Let me first tell you some words about the history of my native town. Vladimir was founded by the Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh on the banks of the Kliazma river. The city of Vladimir really blossomed in the 12th century during the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky, who strengthened its independence, welcomed architects, icon-painters, jewellers from other countries, built new palaces and churches so magnificent that travelers compaired them with the ones in the "mother of all Russian cities"- Kiev. Until the middle of 14th century the city had been an administrative, cultural and religious center for North-Eastern Russia. During the Mongol invasion in the 13th century V Let me first tell you some words about the history of my native town. Vladimir was founded by the Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh on the banks of the Kliazma river. The city of Vladimir really blossomed in the 12th century during the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky, who strengthened its independence, welcomed architects, icon-painters, jewellers from other countries, built new palaces and churches so magnificent that travelers compaired them with the ones in the "mother of all Russian cities"- Kiev. Until the middle of 14th century the city had been an administrative, cultural and religious center for North-Eastern Russia. During the Mongol invasion in the 13th century Vladimir was besieged, looted and almost totally destroyed. But thanks to the deeds of the local population the city was restored and now the city is a capital of the Vladimir province.

ladimir was besieged, looted and almost totally destroyed. But thanks to the deeds of the local population the city was restored and now the city is a capital of the Vladimir province.

Vladimir is rich in history and culture, with a lots of museums, churches, theaters, and monuments to visit.  One needs to spend a lot of time on cultural excursions to scarcely scrape the surface of the city’s sights. They even say that nine weeks truly don’t allow to take everything in. If would be better to start with the visit the splendid Assumption cathedral that survived the Mongol invasion. This cathedral dominates among other buildings in the Vladimir Kremlin. Can you imagine that the oldest frescoes in the building dated 1161!? In 1408 its murals were repainted by Andrei Rublev, one of the greatest of medieval Russian painters . The cathedral is richly decorated with sculptures, frescoes and gilt and a tall bell-tower of the 19th century arising next to it. Cathedral of St. Demetrius is a simply-designed church building with walls richly covered with splendid carvings of saints' and kings' figures, animals, birds, plants and compositions on mythological and religious topics. The Golden Gate in Vladimir built as a replica of the Kiev's Golden Gate is the only remaining structure of that kind in Russia. The white-stone massive building survived 800 years of history and still looks impressive. It was rebuilt in the 18th century. The wealthy Nativity Monastery is also worth visiting. Alexander Nevsky, Russian national hero and saint, a warrior-prince was buried at the monastery in 1263. Another place to see in Vladimir is the Assumption Cathedral in the Knyaginin Monastery. Its frescoes are real masterpieces of the 17th century. There are hundreds of less valuable buildings of the 16-19th centuries in the historical centre of Vladimir. These are only some of the places that are worth visiting in Vladimir.

I would to like to show you our green parks where I like to spend my free time with my friends and dream of our future together. You know Vladimir is not a big city and I have always envied the dwellers of big cities such as Moscow, Paris and London. They have so many opportunities to enjoy themselves. Theatres, cinemas, circuses, concert halls, art galleries are at their disposal. And I have always wanted to move to a bigger city for better opportunities. But now I believe that the best place for living is where a person can feel good, where a person can admire beautiful nature, where a person can have the opportunity to meet his or her close people and relatives and where a person can say: "My Home is my Castle!”

I sincerely hope that my short story about my native town will show you at least tiny part of my love to my birthplace and you will come and visit me in the nearest future. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Truly yours, Dasha