I would bet money that you probably have not heard of Cheboksary. It is not frequently mentioned in guidebooks, etc. Even the travel agency that helped me procure my train tickets does not list the city. It is one of those places that are overlooked unless you have a specific reason to visit. I would equate to a city like Cleveland, USA. How many international visitors flock to Cleveland every year?
So, out of all the cities in Russia, how did I end up with a ticket to Cheboksary? Well, people I meet on my travels frequently invite me to visit them in the future. I do my best to not disappoint. Anna, a friend I made on my previous trip in Russia, invited me to visit her hometown. Like I said, I aim to please!
Cheboksary is a convenient 13-hour or so overnight train ride from Moscow. I gave the Russians sharing my compartment a good laugh in the morning. What I thought was a complementary tea bag that came with our previous nights dinner was actually a wet wipe! Their gracious Russian hospitality, after a good laugh, kindly provided me with a tea bag.
Contrary to its tea bag like appearance, this is a wet wipe!
This was my first time having someone pick me up from the station. I find it fun disembarking in an unfamiliar city, however the first hour or so of orientating can often be demanding. Not having to pull out my iPad and prep Google maps was a welcome break from my routine. Finding a familiar, smiling face at the station to greet me was pleasant. If only I was always so lucky.
Cheboksary has a few famous citizens from the surrounding region. These include the early space pioneer Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev and Red Army Commander Vasily Chapayev. Both have monuments to honor their place in Soviet History and of course nearby there is the compulsory Lenin monument.
Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev
Red Army Commander Vasily Chapayev
It would not be a Russia City without a Statue of Lenin.
Anna also introduced me to some of her friends and even one of her young students that she tutors English. They joined us as we went to the highest part of the city overlooking Downtown Cheboksary and the Volga River. Here the city has laid out a memorial park that not only commemorates those lost during The Great Patriotic War (WWII) but also those who perished from conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya. The park also has an area of military equipment on display.
View of Downtown Cheboskary
Eternal Flame that honors those who died during the Great Patriotic War (WWII)
We saw a wedding at the park!
Mary (left) and Anna (Center) with me!
Anastasia(left) and Den(right)
Anna and Mary having fun on some of the military equipment!
I am continually impressed by how much reverence is given to those who gave their lives to Mother Russia in cities throughout the country.
Anna and her friends also took me to a museum to learn about Chuvash people (the ethnic ground found in the region) and their culture. I was struck in particular by their charms and formal clothing. Some of the charms reminded me of pieces I had seen from other cultures, including cultures from over 25,000 years ago. The fertility one was almost the identical to the one at the American Natural History Museum in New York City. The only difference was that the fertility charm for the Chuvash represented the fertility of land unlike the one in NYC which is believed to represent the fertility of women. The headdresses that women wore was comprised of actual monetary coins to convey wealth. I had never seen anything similar.
Some of the charms.
Chuvash formal clothing.
Anna and myself discussing my interest in the Charms.
My entourage 🙂
I definitely could not have accomplished seeing so much in Cheboksary in a single day on my own. Plus, having company and interpretations at the museum added a great deal of value to my visit.
// Oliver