Capital of the Urals ready to welcome the world
(4 Jun 2018) LEADIN:
As the FIFA World Cup approaches, Russian cities are preparing to welcome thousands of fans and guests from around the world.
Yekaterinburg, the Capital of the Urals and home to former Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, is no exception.
The city witnessed one of the most crucial moments of Russian history and proudly serves some impressive pelmeni dumplings too.
STORYLINE:
It's known as the Capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg is getting to ready to play its part in Russia's 2018 World Cup.
Located in the heart of the Ural Mountains, opposition-minded Yekaterinburg has played a role in many crucial moments of Russia's history.
In 1918, the last Russian Czar, Nicholas II and his family were executed here.
Today, at the execution site, the Church on Blood - as it's known - stands as a monument to the event.
Built in 2003, on the ground floor it houses a restored basement, popularly known as the Shooting Room.
The history of the Romanov dynasty ended right behind us, explains historian Sergei Sokolov.
Here was the house of the engineer Ipatiev, located in the beginning of the 20th century, where Bolsheviks brought the last emperor and his family from Tobolsk in 1918.
Here they spent a few months, from April to July, and in mid-July, on night of the 16th, the whole family and servants were executed in the basement of this house.
The original Ipatiev house, where Nicholas II and his family were executed, was demolished by another historical figure, Boris Yeltsin, in 1977.
At that time, Yeltsin was the leader of the Sverdlovsk communist party, just starting his career.
Around 14 years later, he became the first president of a new, democratic Russia.
Yeltsin was born in the tiny village of Butka, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Yekaterinburg.
He held a deep emotional connection to the region until his death in 2007.
To pay tribute to him, the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, one of the largest and most modern museums in Russia, was opened in 2015.
It exhibits not only explore the period of Russian history under Boris Yeltsin, but also Russian history as a whole.
Among other rarities exhibited in the center is this nuclear briefcase.
Boris Yeltsin was from here, from the Ural region, explains director Dina Sorokina.
He started his career here, in Sverdlovsk, as Yekaterinburg used to be known then, during the Soviet times.
And the beginning of his career certainly takes roots here, in the Ural region, in Sverdlovsk. However, there is also an emotional connection to it.
Yekaterinburg's restaurants specialise in dumplings - or 'pelmeni,' as they're known in Russia.
Historians say dumplings came to the Urals from China, but residents claim the Urals is actually home to the world-famous dish.
Nowadays, pelmeni come with many different fillings, but meat-filled dumplings are the most popular.
The classic recipe of pelmeni is quite simple - mincemeat of pork and beef is wrapped in thin, unleavened dough.
(Ural) people are working class. We work here, especially men, they work hard, explains chef Larisa Sychyova.
There are a lot of factories, that is why the priority is meat, meat, and meat. That is why in the Urals and Siberia (pelmeni) is our priority.
Ural dumplings can be found in almost every café or restaurant. It's claimed they're especially good with vodka.
For a late-night drink, there are dozens of bars and clubs located around the city centre.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia runs 14 June - 15 July.
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