Blog
Today, I visited the pool and plan to go every week, training with my personal coach. My goal is to improve my swimming skills, especially with the breaststroke and freestyle, and also practice diving and underwater swimming.
Yesterday was an interesting day! I met someone who impressed me not only with their personality but also with their language skills. This person speaks 6 languages fluently: English, Almanian, Spanish, French, Turkish, and, what is especially pleasant for me, Tatar! It was amazing because it’s rare to meet someone who knows our native language at such a level. This person lives outside of Tatarstan, and despite that, she speak Tatar remarkably well. She also interested in Tatar culture and have created a website to help people learn the Tatar language.
Today was a warm day, with the temperature in the car fluctuating around -1°C and 0°C. The roads were slushy and muddy, and the snow hadn't melted yet. According to the forecast, temperatures are expected to stay below freezing.
Yesterday, I wrote a post about how there’s no snow and when it will finally come, but unexpectedly, today the snow has piled up. Everything around is covered in white, pristine snow. Even the trees have snow on their branches, like little snowflakes. It feels like winter arrived suddenly!
There is no snow in Kazan yet, and it’s unclear when it will come, or if it will come at all. The temperature is between -3 and -5 degrees, the sun sometimes comes out, but the days are short — it starts getting dark at 3:00 PM.
I arrived in Kazan, the flight took about 7 hours. I flew from Mersin — Istanbul — Kazan. Here I am, home at last, though the journey was long. As soon as I landed, I immediately felt the familiar atmosphere.
Today's day has been busy, I packed my suitcase and bought the last few things I needed. Tomorrow, I’m leaving Mersin and go to Russia, to Kazan. Tonight is my last night in Turkey, so I decided to take a final walk along the embankment before leaving. It was my last chance to enjoy the sea breeze and beautiful views, and I couldn’t miss it.
A few days ago, I went to capture the sunrise over the sea, when the sun’s rays broke through the clouds and lit up the surface of the water. On the horizon, there were ships waiting for their turn to enter Mersin port. If you notice these ships at night, you might ask yourself what they are, because at night you can only see the lights and might think it’s land.
During today's walk, I noticed a pharmacy with its entrance door decorated in a New Year style. These decorations really stood out among other shops and pharmacies, attracting a lot of attention. Naturally, they caught my attention too.
In the morning, I walk 5 kilometers – this is my time to think. The city is just waking up, the air is fresh, and my steps set a calm rhythm. Sometimes I find quiet places where I want to stop and enjoy the moment. It helps me organize my thoughts and get energy for the whole day.
This morning in Turkey was windy and partly cloudy, with active waves on the sea, reminding that winter is coming soon. At 9:05, the whole country observed a minute of silence: cars and public transport stopped, people on the streets paused as the siren sounded, paying their respects. It was at this exact time in 1938 that the president and founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, passed away.
This happened in France. I was walking on the French streets, enjoying the European atmosphere and taking nice photos to remember it. The streets were full of life: street musicians were playing music, and cafes smelled of fresh pastries. Every corner felt special, and I couldn’t resist taking pictures of everything.