Kazan

Last week, my longtime dream of visiting Kazan – the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan – came true. I have always been fascinated by this “Third Capital of Russia” because of its bipolar identity. The city, with its Russian and Tatar influences, is somewhat caught in a limbo state between Orthodox Russia and Muslim Tatarstan. Perhaps more fascinating is the fact that Muslims and Orthodox Christians, as well as ethnic Russians and Tatars, are living side-by-side in relative harmony. So, needless to say, I had very high expectations for the city. Thankfully, Kazan went above and beyond my expectations. The privilege of sharing this experience with two of my friends made the experience even better.

On Thursday (October 18th) evening, Rachel, Yohan (our new friend from Sweden), and I boarded a train from Moscow to Kazan. It took us 13hr (9pm to 10am) by train to reach Kazan. The train ride itself was an experience. On the way to Kazan, we chatted with two individuals who lived in Kazan. They were fascinated by us simply because we chose to study abroad in Russia. Then a fight broke out between ten or so guys at the other end of the car. Earlier, I noticed that they were drinking on the train; therefore, I assumed that alcohol was to blame. Two female crew members rushed to the back of the car in an attempt to settle the dispute. Another lady, who was sitting a few seats away from us, rushed to the other side of the train in tears. Finally, a young man of Central Asian descent was led to a holding area near the restrooms. What happened?! Our two new friends from Kazan informed us that the man had a knife and threatened to kill everyone on the train for the glory of Tatarstan. Soon after, the train came to a stop, and two Russian police officers entered the train, arrested the man, and then escorted him off of the train. It was 3am by this time. So I decided to climb to my overhead bed and get some shut-eye.

Upon arrival in Kazan, we took a bus to our hotel to check-in and free ourselves from our luggage. Then we headed to the Kazan Kremlin. Words cannot even begin to describe the beauty of the Kremlin. It’s something that you have to see to experience for yourself. I was particularly in awe of the Qolshariff Mosque, which is the largest mosque in all of Europe (that is, if you exclude Istanbul from this list). The rest of the trip was filled with exploration of the city by foot, trips to a Tatar and WWII museum, strolls through Victory Park, and meals at Uzbek and Turkish restaurants.

In the end, I loved Kazan. It’s a beautiful, clean city with several museums and a surprisingly decent nightlife scene. I was sad when we had to catch our Sunday evening train back to Moscow. But once again, the train did not fail to bring enjoyment. I chatted for hours with a man named Abdukadir, who is a doctor from Tajikistan. He told me all about his life in Tajikistan and how he decided to flee to Kazan when the 1992 civil war began in Tajikistan. He has lived in Kazan with his wife and three children ever since. He ended up buying me tea and giving me his contact information so that I can contact him whenever I decide to return to Kazan or visit Tajikistan.

Lastly, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between Moscow and Kazan. For starters, Kazan is much cheaper than Moscow. Although that isn’t saying much simply because Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world, my wallet still appreciated the temporary change of scenery. I would certainly advise you to visit Kazan because it doesn’t break the bank like Moscow does. It’s certainly a great place to buy souvenirs for family and friends! Finally, the people in Moscow and the people in Kazan are certainly different. As I stated earlier, Kazan has a huge mix of Russians and Tatars. But unlike the people of Moscow, who always put on a “stone face” and never smile, the people of Kazan weren’t afraid to smile at strangers. Furthermore, the people of Kazan – whether that be on the train, in a restaurant, at a museum, or on the streets – were not afraid to strike up a friendly conversation with a complete stranger. The people of Moscow, on the other hand, tend to keep to themselves when they are on the streets. Although Moscow holds a special place in my heart, my arrival in Kazan was a warmer, more welcoming experience compared to my initial arrival in Moscow. Perhaps this is because Moscow’s social standards are different than those of Kazan.

In conclusion, if you have the opportunity to visit Kazan, then go! I know that I will return to Kazan again someday……

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