Minsk is one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in Belarus. Located in the center of the state, the city is its capital. Today Minsk is an economic, historical and cultural center. A guest of the capital can visit such sights as Trinity Suburb and the Island of Tears with their sad history, Victory Square, Stele, Khatyn - monuments erected to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, Nemiga - the site of the battle on the Nemiga River. And also - the palace of sports, the palace of the republic, Minsk-Arena - the cultural centers of the city, which will surprise with their wealth and beauty. And one of the diamonds of Minsk today is the National Library.
Almost every summer I visit my grandparents there. This summer was not an exception. In June and July I stayed in the country. There I enjoyed fresh air, pleasant views of the surrounding nature. I helped my grandma and grandpa about home and in the garden. I watered plants and weeded the garden, mowed the long grass.
Besides my grandparents, I have some friends in the country. This summer we went fishing and camping together. It was fun to play ball on the grass! Also we liked lying in the sun and bathing in the river. In the evening we went boating on the lake. We went to the forest and gathered raspberries. It was a real pleasure to stay out of town!
In August I stayed in the town reading books, preparing for school.
So, I spent my holidays very well and had a good rest!
Minsk is situated on the river Svisloch and occupies an area of 200 square kilometers. Its population is about 2 million people. During the Great Patriotic War Minsk was destroyed by German invaders almost completely. Minsk lay in ruins. The people of Belarus rebuilt the city. Victory Square, the Eternal Flame at the monument commemorates soldiers, underground fighters, partisans who fell in the battles for freedom f our motherland. The names of many streets of the city commemorate many heroes.
The industrial enterprises of Minsk include: the Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Computer Works, Ball-Bearing Plant, Refrigerator Plant, Watch Factory, and others. Industrial enterprises produce tractors and automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, TV sets, radio-sets, watches and refrigerators, electronic computers, textile, footwear, food and other goods. It is also a big traffic center with a large network of railways, roads, air lines and two Metro lines. The Minsk Metro is the newest and very beautiful. Each station has some associations with historical events of the country or reflects the peaceful efforts of the people. Minsk is also known as a city of science and students. There is the Academy of Sciences and 16 higher educational establishments there, the biggest of which are the University and the Polytechnic Academy.
The city is noted for it's varied interesting cultural life. In Minsk there are 6 theaters, concert halls, a circus, dozens of cinemas, many places of culture, libraries, clubs. The most famous theaters are the Opera and Ballet theatre, the Yanka Kupala Theatre, the Gorky Russian Drama Theatre. Among the most interesting museums one can mention the Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, the Art Museum and Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas Museums. The Art Museum is a real treasure-house of fine arts.
Minsk is a city of sports. There are good recreation and sports facilities: tennis courts, playgrounds, swimming pools in various parts of the city. The main sports structures are: the Dynamo Stadium, the Palace of Sports and Water Sports Centre.