On our way to our dear friend (and time machine) GRISHA, we find a 50-ruble banknote laying just in front of her. “Wow, are we lucky or what?” Masha says with a big smile. We can buy a lot of things with this little piece of paper! “Yes, like treat ourselves to a 5-course dinner when we get back,” Marta smiles.
“But why do you have money just lying around GRISHA?” Masha asks. It turns out that GRISHA wanted to prepare us for our new trip with this note! It’s not just about the money, GRISHA informed us. He then tells us to look more closely at the note and tell her what we see. “Well, there are some music notes, a piece of paper that looks like an ancient scroll, a lyre, some laurel branches, a fancy feather that people used to write with…” Our time machine then interrupts us and tells us to look on the other side. We turn the paper around and immediately say “aha!”. “It’s the Mir Castle!” Masha screams. “I’ve seen this red castle in so many tourist brochures, but never had the chance to go!” Marta then explains that she’s been there once during one of the famous open-air concerts but never had the chance to really explore the place. “OOOH, let’s go!” they both shouted with excitement.
And yes, we were right indeed! Once we stepped out of GRISHA we were met with a magnificent sight. He has actually landed us inside the castle! I think we are between the outer castle wall and the castle itself, hence we have the chance to take in the whole building, and one word comes to our mind: impressive! The castle is surprisingly not red, but white-and-pink with towers on the corners, long and narrow embrasures all over the wall. “You know, it is beautiful and all, but at the same time formidable. I’m sure this castle could stop an entire army if necessary,” Masha says. “Let’s find the main entrance and see whether we can find someone who can tell us more about it!”
While walking around, we see the outer castle wall, which is really big and tall, and in part is a mound of earth. From some of the openings in the wall we can see a lake and a big garden. Amazing!
Then suddenly we see Urshulia walking around. What is going on here? Haven’t we already been back to this time? Did GRISHA make a mistake? Urshulia then sees us and greets us, “Welcome my friends and best actors I have ever met! I would very much like to introduce you to my husband; who just happens to be here!” We then see a very charming man approaching us, he introduces himself as Michal Kazimierz…“ But many, and especially lovely ladies like yourself call me Rybenko, meaning little fish.” Well we were certainly intrigued by him and his nickname! Urshulia tell him that we believe that we are time travellers, but whispers in his ear (loud enough for us to hear) that we are actually just very good actors with big imaginations. We nod politely and ask Michal Kazimierz whether he could give us a tour through this amazing castle. He replied, “Sure my dear friends, follow me!” We are super excited to meet this great man and even more excited to have a tour through Mir Castle!
He explains that we are looking at an Italian Renaissance style of architecture, with some Gothic elements left from the previous years. “I have rebuilt the insides of the castle, introduced a Parade hall, a Portrait hall, a Dance Hall, put in solid oak parquet, gilded carved ceilings, beautiful furniture made by local craftsmen, wallpaper, paintings, tapestries, and porcelain! There are 16 fireplaces in the castle and 17 furnaces, stucco ceiling,..” it was all very colourful and impressive. “As you most likely have heard, we have a grand tradition which my family has introduced of hosting amazing palace balls and festivals mostly organized by my lovely wife which she may have even invited you to perform at one of our many theatre performances. We invite nobles from all reaches and there is music, dancing, and the finest food and drink.” We both look at each other and then reply that we have never been to anything so spectacular. “Ah, poor girls, for our next grand event you are both most definitely invited, but on one condition, please find yourselves a suitable evening dress!”
He continues with his tour but then begins to whisper. “I would like to show you something that not many people know about! A secret I have been working on for a very long time.” He opens a heavy door and we see a huge underground tunnel being build! Michal Kazimierz looks very proud at us while we stare at it with big open mouths. “Wow what is this, why is there a tunnel? You want to organize underground party’s as well?” Masha asks. He looks at us with a surprised face, “Well that’s an idea! But no, that is not what this is for. This will be an underground tunnel that will connect Mir and Nesvich castle! Imagine what kind of impact this will have if one castle is being attacked! Or if we just want to secretly transport something!” he winks at us. We were truly amazed by the scale of this future tunnel! “It’s amazing!” we say. Michal Kazimierz then shows us back to where we had started.
We say goodbye to this creative and beautiful couple, who still don’t believe that we are time travellers! However, when seeing their faces while we enter Grisha, we finally think they may have gotten it or at least a bit intrigued. It was an amazing experience, and we are both feeling very lucky to have witnessed one our countries most legendary periods and secrets: the underground tunnel connecting two of our most beautiful castles!
Grisha, sounding very amused with himself, says, “I’m sure you both wont look at 50 rubles in the same way now?!” “No, we won't indeed!” Marta nods. Each bank note has a story to tell, and it not only helps us to get to know our history, it is also a good conversation starter next time you want to impress the cute cashier in the supermarket!
“But why do you have money just lying around GRISHA?” Masha asks. It turns out that GRISHA wanted to prepare us for our new trip with this note! It’s not just about the money, GRISHA informed us. He then tells us to look more closely at the note and tell her what we see. “Well, there are some music notes, a piece of paper that looks like an ancient scroll, a lyre, some laurel branches, a fancy feather that people used to write with…” Our time machine then interrupts us and tells us to look on the other side. We turn the paper around and immediately say “aha!”. “It’s the Mir Castle!” Masha screams. “I’ve seen this red castle in so many tourist brochures, but never had the chance to go!” Marta then explains that she’s been there once during one of the famous open-air concerts but never had the chance to really explore the place. “OOOH, let’s go!” they both shouted with excitement.
And yes, we were right indeed! Once we stepped out of GRISHA we were met with a magnificent sight. He has actually landed us inside the castle! I think we are between the outer castle wall and the castle itself, hence we have the chance to take in the whole building, and one word comes to our mind: impressive! The castle is surprisingly not red, but white-and-pink with towers on the corners, long and narrow embrasures all over the wall. “You know, it is beautiful and all, but at the same time formidable. I’m sure this castle could stop an entire army if necessary,” Masha says. “Let’s find the main entrance and see whether we can find someone who can tell us more about it!”
While walking around, we see the outer castle wall, which is really big and tall, and in part is a mound of earth. From some of the openings in the wall we can see a lake and a big garden. Amazing!
Then suddenly we see Urshulia walking around. What is going on here? Haven’t we already been back to this time? Did GRISHA make a mistake? Urshulia then sees us and greets us, “Welcome my friends and best actors I have ever met! I would very much like to introduce you to my husband; who just happens to be here!” We then see a very charming man approaching us, he introduces himself as Michal Kazimierz…“ But many, and especially lovely ladies like yourself call me Rybenko, meaning little fish.” Well we were certainly intrigued by him and his nickname! Urshulia tell him that we believe that we are time travellers, but whispers in his ear (loud enough for us to hear) that we are actually just very good actors with big imaginations. We nod politely and ask Michal Kazimierz whether he could give us a tour through this amazing castle. He replied, “Sure my dear friends, follow me!” We are super excited to meet this great man and even more excited to have a tour through Mir Castle!
He explains that we are looking at an Italian Renaissance style of architecture, with some Gothic elements left from the previous years. “I have rebuilt the insides of the castle, introduced a Parade hall, a Portrait hall, a Dance Hall, put in solid oak parquet, gilded carved ceilings, beautiful furniture made by local craftsmen, wallpaper, paintings, tapestries, and porcelain! There are 16 fireplaces in the castle and 17 furnaces, stucco ceiling,..” it was all very colourful and impressive. “As you most likely have heard, we have a grand tradition which my family has introduced of hosting amazing palace balls and festivals mostly organized by my lovely wife which she may have even invited you to perform at one of our many theatre performances. We invite nobles from all reaches and there is music, dancing, and the finest food and drink.” We both look at each other and then reply that we have never been to anything so spectacular. “Ah, poor girls, for our next grand event you are both most definitely invited, but on one condition, please find yourselves a suitable evening dress!”
He continues with his tour but then begins to whisper. “I would like to show you something that not many people know about! A secret I have been working on for a very long time.” He opens a heavy door and we see a huge underground tunnel being build! Michal Kazimierz looks very proud at us while we stare at it with big open mouths. “Wow what is this, why is there a tunnel? You want to organize underground party’s as well?” Masha asks. He looks at us with a surprised face, “Well that’s an idea! But no, that is not what this is for. This will be an underground tunnel that will connect Mir and Nesvich castle! Imagine what kind of impact this will have if one castle is being attacked! Or if we just want to secretly transport something!” he winks at us. We were truly amazed by the scale of this future tunnel! “It’s amazing!” we say. Michal Kazimierz then shows us back to where we had started.
We say goodbye to this creative and beautiful couple, who still don’t believe that we are time travellers! However, when seeing their faces while we enter Grisha, we finally think they may have gotten it or at least a bit intrigued. It was an amazing experience, and we are both feeling very lucky to have witnessed one our countries most legendary periods and secrets: the underground tunnel connecting two of our most beautiful castles!
Grisha, sounding very amused with himself, says, “I’m sure you both wont look at 50 rubles in the same way now?!” “No, we won't indeed!” Marta nods. Each bank note has a story to tell, and it not only helps us to get to know our history, it is also a good conversation starter next time you want to impress the cute cashier in the supermarket!
RSS Feed
