The Gurzuf Dream

We can say that this is a kind of continuation of the idea of The Pines of Rome blog, since in the mentioned blog it was interesting to reflect on how probably even a minor detail can be irreplaceable and valuable for the culture and life of an entire country. It's the same here!

What would you remember if you were asked about Russian cities? Of course, we will all immediately name Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russians will immediately name Yekaterinburg, Omsk or Chelyabinsk, foreigners will easily remember Sochi or Volgograd. We will be asked further and further: Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Barnaul.... and when will it come to Gurzuf, if it comes?

But the city is simply charming, and moreover, it is simply impossibly important (have I already said this?) . Well, let's at least find out what it is!

Of course, the village has a long and glorious history: it was founded on a very beautiful date — 555. It was founded by the Byzantines. After the Byzantines, the Khazars (by the way, one of the few Jewish civilisations) managed to visit here with the Genoese (they called it in the Italian manner: Gruzui), but for most of its history it belonged to the Ottoman Empire. You can see for yourself — readers from Turkey will see familiar townscapes:

It is not difficult to guess that Gurzuf has been turned into the main resort of Taurida. Moreover, it was made an exemplary resort: many compared it then with foreign resorts. Of course, the XIX century was the heyday of Gurzuf!

For the cultural society of that time, treatment at resorts was a typical thing, so almost all artists, artists, singers and writers of that time came to Gurzuf.

It will be difficult for you to find a Russian artist who did not paint Gurzuf. See for yourself:

Chaliapin was generally more connected with Gurzuf than others. In Gurzuf, he performed, lived and even wanted to realize his cherished dream — to build his own theater, and right on the rock, but the October Revolution did not allow it. However, Chaliapin's name was assigned to this rock — now it is Chaliapinskaya.

Without going far from the master, let us recall another business card of Gurzuf — the White islets, Adalars.

This is one of the main landmarks of Gurzuf, which makes its landscapes simply unique and even more beautiful (don't you think that the village already has too many of these business cards?).. However, not everything is so rosy, because Chaliapin wanted to prepare a sad fate for them.

One day, sitting on the veranda with his friend Korovin, he suddenly announced that he wanted to purchase these rocks. Korovin's objection followed, saying how to live on bare rocks. Of course, the genius did not take long, and Chaliapin replied:

"And I'll blow them up. I'll run the water, I'll bring the chernozem. I'll make a garden, you'll build me a villa. And I'll bring the fluff so that no correspondents bother. That's what life is going to be... "

It was serious intentions, or a joke, we won't know. But, unlike the theater, I am very glad that the plans remained plans!

In general, now Gurzuf is considered a satellite of Yalta (well, I think, everyone knows this city), where the famous Artek children's camp is located. And in this camp there are frightening stories about the inhabitant of Ayu-Dag mountain, which is nearby Gurzuf.

"На горбатом Аю-Даге в вышине

  В абсолютно абсолютной тишине

  В старом дереве нашел себе приют

  Бородатый и усатый Абсолют..."

If you believe the inhabitants of the camp, the Absolute is hiding in one of the hollows of many trees on Ayu- Dag.

Every night he comes to the camp, to the children. But there is one "but". He appears only when the child falls asleep, and only then does the Absolute begin its business.

Why such a strange name and habits? The answer is simple: the absolute is called sleep time in the camp! Well, how else to interpret incomprehensible words — only with the help of    i-m-a-g-i-n-a-t-i-o-n.

Well, here it is, a wonderful village of Gurzuf. I think he can't help but win the heart of each of us, even though the blog doesn't tell a tenth of all the interesting things about Gurzuf. But I hope you learned something new and exciting from here, and felt the charm of this small but wonderful, significant village. Thanks for reading!