The Peter and Paul Fortress - 2 Hello, everybody again! :) I listened this text and wrote it. Listening is my weakest skill, and this text contains mistakes. I listened it many-many times, but I'm not sure I understood everything correctly. Can you specify me on my mistakes? (you can listen to the original here: http://www.visit-petersburg.ru/en/audioguide/2/) The Peter and Paul Cathedral, story means, is tallest building in St.Petersburg. It is one hundred twenty two and half meters tall and the elegant spire is crowned by angel with the cross. It soars above the city and is the keeper of St.Petersburg. There is believed that so long the angel soars above the city, St.Petersburg will be safe. Even during the lengthy blockade the angel remained there. It was not taken down from the spare but was cover with a camouflage net. Thus St.Petersburg is only capital in the world that is not surrendered to the enemy. And the city was not captured. Nevertheless the fortress last its military properties rather quickly. The Swedes retreated and St.Petersburg was not longer under threat. Gradually the fortress standing a political prison, a kind of Russian Bastille, the most terrible political prison Russia. No escape from it, from this prison and so set dwellers us to say at there only three roads from Peter and Paul fortress – hard labor, the cemetery or mental hospital. Inside the prison were Decembrists, Petrashevsts and even members of the provisional Russian government for a kept. The first prisoner of the Peter and Paul fortress ever was the Prince Alexey, Peter`s poor son. Now within the fortress is museum and its dark walls don`t seem quite of gloomy the people anymore. On a beach in front of the bastions people of St.Petersburg sunbathing and jokingly call self prisoners of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Its ones of reigning silhouette has became one of the main symbols of the city St.Petersburg.

The Peter and Paul Fortress - 1 Hello, everybody! :) I listened this text and wrote it. Listening is my weakest skill, and this text contains mistakes. I listened it many-many times, but I'm not sure I understood everything correctly. Can you specify me on my mistakes? (you can listen to the original here: http://www.visit-petersburg.ru/en/audioguide/2/) The Peter and Paul fortress is consider first building of the city. The date was founded May 27 1703 is considered to be the birthday of St.Petersburg. The place for the fortress was very fortunate. It is clearly visual on a map what here the Neva River divided to two branches and then falls into the Finnish gulf. This mean, around whichever arms a warship put into the Neva it would be merely fired self under the fire of cannons from The Peter and Paul fortress. Peter the First was there on a first stone at the fortress was laid. The tsar wasn`t afraid to get his hands dirty. He took a spade himself and started digging. Then the first stone was laid a miracle happened – an eagle come down from the sky. It`s soaring over the island for a walk and everyone around saw a good omen. The tsar Peter cut down two young birch trees tied their tops together and stuck them in soft soil. At the place was to build the gate at the fortress. The soaring eagle flew down and sat on the wooden arch. Peter was rather pleased by this and so he took the eagle from the birches, ties his claws with a handkerchief and lay down to his arm. Point of view eagle’s story is just a beautiful fable. Eagles are not often found in these areas. But many people suppose there was a tame eagle which had perhaps escaped from defeated Swedes. And when it saw people building this fortress, and trustingly come down to them. One way or another this is one of beautiful legends about the city. The fortress meanwhile continued to build. The main building on its territory was the Peter and Paul Cathedral founding it in 1712. The date wasn't chosen accidentally. It was that year when St.Petersburg officially became the capital. And the capital city need the Cathedral. Domenico Trezzini was appointed the architect - the first architect of St.Petersburg. Peter did not live to see Cathedral finished as he died January 1725 and was buried in the unfinished Cathedral. It was later consecrated of Anna Ioanovna in 1733. The Cathedral became the burial vault for Russian monarchs. The emperors and members of them families are laid to rest.

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. In last week I started to read "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. And it is one of my favorite books. It is tragic story of fatal and destructive love. I reread it many times in Russian but now I`m reading it in English the first time. So I read very slowly and I stay on Chapter III. The novel begins with the fact that a young man whose name is Lockwood look for solitude and rents Thrushcross Grange is miles away from any town or village. He visited his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff. Heathcliff is very rude and he is not happy to see guests. He gave Lockwood a cold meeting. But Lockwood interested and decides to pay him a second visit. During it he met with other tenants of Wuthering Heights: an old servant Joseph (Lockwood was familiar with him already), a young Heathcliff`s daughter-in-law and a young man called Hareton Earnshaw. The relationship between them is very cold. Lockwood wants to leave, but he forced to stay because the weather worsened and no one of the owners do not wants to accompany him. The housekeeper Zillah take him upstairs to a bedroom which no one used. She said he to be quiet because Mr. Heathcliff will be angry if he discovers which bedroom Lockwood is sleeping in. But she does not know why. In the bedroom Lockwood found a diary of Catherine Earnshaw. He read it with interest. Soon his eyes were beginning to close and he fell asleep. He was woken by a knocking of a fir bough on the window. He broke the glass and stretched out his arm to seize the bough. But instead a little ice-cold hand clung to his fingers and a melancholy voice cried , 'Let me in! Let me in!' In this place I'm staying but I will be happy to read more… :)

My usual day I'm on maternity leave now and my one day is like another. My son wakes up at 7 am. I wake up with him. We wash up, have breakfast and go for a walk. This is warm and my daughter has school holidays so we walk a lot. Near our house there are two beautiful parks where we go almost every day. Sometimes we go away from home to the river and relax on the beach. My daughter swings on a swing or plays with other children, my son sleeps in his stroller and I read books or listen audio books. Then we go home, have lunch and I do the housework. In the evening when my husband comes home we have dinner and go for a walk all together again. When it is raining we stay home, watch TV, read books or play board games. At the weekend we go to the village or travel around the Moscow region or in the neighboring area. There are many beautiful ancient cities, where we bring impressions and souvenirs.

My favorite film "Everything Is Illuminated" is one of my favorite films. This film is based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Safran Foer. This is story about a young American Jew whose name is Jonathan. He goes to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during the Second World War. In search of helping him, a young man - a translator who does not know English, his grandfather-antisemitic , and a mad dog named Sammy Davis Jr., Jr. At the way the characters get into different comical situations. However, the film affects a tragic theme of war and genocide. And it ends tragically. This is a very beautiful film. It is hilarious and sad at the same time. But after watching remains a slight light feeling.

The countries in which I would like to live Probably I was a nomad in a past life. Because I can't sit on one place in this life. I can't name any one country where I would like to live permanently but there are many countries where I wanted to live some time. To explore the traditions, culture and history of these countries… To hear their languages and perhaps learn a few phrases… Take a walk through the streets of cities and enjoy nature… To eat national food and a ride on local transport… And move on. I would like to live in Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Romania, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Poland… I like St. Petersburg, but even there I would not want to live permanently, I like to go there sometimes. And even Moscow, my native city, I love because I can leave and return again.

My profession When I was little I don`t know who I want to be when I grow up. I wanted to try many professions. Sometimes I dreamed of becoming a doctor, a teacher, a veterinarian or a ballerina. I even dreamed of becoming a train driver. But sometimes I dreamed of becoming an animal. It would be an interesting experience. I didn't like when adults asked me about what I want to be because I wanted very much but had no talent and they laughed. My parents wanted me to become an artist. They believed that it is easy. But I didn't love to draw. And they're very upset because they were afraid that I don't find their place in life. But it so happened that my place found me. In my childhood I never thought that I would become a planner. I project electrical and information networks. It is not the most creative work, and some people think it is boring but I like it. In addition, thanks to work I travel a lot around the country and visit places where I would never have gone.

The persons who are important for me. I have not one person who is important for me. I have three persons. They are my husband and children. My husband`s name is Roman. He is thirty-two years old. He is very jolly and often makes me smile. But he is always serious and responsible at work. He works as an engineer in the aerospace industry. We have been married for eight years. Our daughter`s name is Sophia. She is seven years old. In the spring she finished first class. She has long blonde hair and blue eyes. Sometimes she is thoughtful and serious but often drives us crazy with his pranks. She fantasizes a lot and invented many funny things. And she dreams to becoming a bat. Our little son`s name is Ruslan. Today he turned eleven months old. Like his sister he has blonde hair and blue eyes. He likes when is carried on hands and does not like to be alone. He laughs out loud when he is happy but even louder cries when he is disappointed about something. These three persons take away all my time and fill my life with happiness.