Let me lead you through the streets of Moscow

by Anni Pelmeni

Leninsliy Prospect is one of the main avenues in Moscow with a plenty of important establishments. Here is the main building of Russian Academy of Science with a super chic restaurant on the roof terrace . And right in front of the Academy building there is Gagaran's monument.

This place used to a historical place over the last 200 years. In 18-19th centuries there used to be Kaluzhskaya zastava - a gate into Moscow. In 1812 Napoleon used this gate to leave Moscow. In the post WWII time two prominent buildings of Soviet Empire style were constructed here. The side wings of these building are supposed to represent a gateway into the city center.

In 1960s the space adventures became much closer to us and the square was renamed after Yuri Gagarin. The first Soviet (and actually of all humankind) cosmonaut is one of few Soviet heroes who are still popular and respected even in the capitalistic Moscow. This square will keep the name of Gagarin despite all political changes .

On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin was first to make a space trip around the earth which took him 108 minutes. On the 20th anniversary of this even Moscow has opened a new monument dedicated to Gagarin. The bases is about 33 meters high and it is made of the space material - titan. On the base there is something that reminds a football's ball, but it is actually an exact model of the space ship Vostok that is explained on the sign (though only in Russian). So do not mistaken Gagarin for a football player.

Stumbe it!