Why it is useful to stand at the Smolensk railway station with a sign "Walking in Moscow"

The other day I had a group from Walking around Moscow, with these wonderful guys who make many interesting excursions in Moscow, we have been cooperating for a long time.

It looks very strange, but I always expect groups from them at the Smolensk railway station with a sign "We walk around Moscow."

And somehow it happens that it is with their groups that the most amazing coincidences occur, the most memorable people come. For example, by a surprising coincidence, a tour of Talashkin is always or almost always conducted by the wonderful Tamara Isachenko.

In this group there was one native Muscovite, absolutely in love with the Smolensk region and deeply studying the history of her family. She said that all her ancestors come from the village of Molgino of the present Novoduginsky district of the Smolensk region. From there, they went to work in Moscow and brought French roots to the capital, since in 1812 one of the soldiers of the Napoleonic army remained in their family. The genes of the Frenchman turned out to be so strong that after him, many women in the genus passed on the traits of physique and character characteristic of the north of France.

The traveler shows me pictures:

"Look, there's Edith Piaf, and my grandmother -- it's amazing how similar they are in type and character."

Let us hope that this beautiful story will be continued within the walls of the State Archives of the Smolensk Region.

Well, in general, my thesis that many, many interesting things and people in Russia one way or another come from the Smolensk region, one way or another finds its confirmation.

And in the photo, Swiss chocolate, not because it tastes good, but because by coincidence, the children of this woman live in Switzerland, her granddaughter settles in Italy, and she herself dreamed of coming to Smolensk all her life. In her own words, she was absolutely fascinated. Even though it was raining all day.