My name is Andrey, and my name is Nastya. We are both Demenkovs, a young family from Rostov-on-Don. We organize various youth events together. Andrey works with video, and Nastya works with PR, media and mass media. That's why we laugh ourselves that we have turned out to be a very media family.
Rostov is a city for both of us that has given us a lot of opportunities. For Andrey, moving here was an important milestone: it was here that many new areas related to youth projects, events and work were opened. It was largely thanks to Rostov that we managed to be here at the International Youth Festival.
For Nastya, moving to Rostov was initially associated with studying at a university. But in the end, the city gave a lot more. Here I managed to seriously develop in my profession and turn my hobby into a full-time job. What I wanted to do before just for myself has become part of the job. And in many ways, this also happened thanks to Rostov.
«Therefore, for us, Rostov is primarily a youth city with a lot of opportunities»
There is really something to do here, especially if you want to develop, participate in projects, work in the media or organize events.
We all have our favorite places.
For Andrey, this is probably the Rostov embankment. She is really very beautiful, especially in the evening. From there you can enjoy a great view of the "Rostov Arena", and the embankment itself is ideal for walking. You can go there alone, turn on the music with headphones, walk along the Don and just put your thoughts in order. Sometimes you want to think about life, sometimes you just want to take a walk. Or you can turn on Basta, who, by the way, is also from Rostov, and just enjoy the atmosphere.
Nastya loves the city administration building very much. Every time she passes by, she pays attention to the architecture and wonders how it was possible to build such a beautiful and complex building.
«But Rostov is special for us for another reason: it was here that we met»
It happened at a youth forum. Andrey was the organizer of the cultural program, and Nastya was the curator of the teams. That's where our first intersection happened. Then there was the first date, which was quite unexpected and in a very Rostov style for us. We went to karaoke. And everything coincided with Andrey's birthday. Initially, he was supposed to celebrate it with his sister, but in the end, he spontaneously invited Nastya as well. So we can definitely recommend karaoke as a place for a first date.
If we talk about whether Rostov would be suitable for a large international youth festival, then we both think so.
Rostov is very multifaceted and multifaceted. Here you can show both the historical part of the city and the modern, youth part. You can show Rostov itself, or you can go further and get acquainted with the Rostov region. It seems to us that this would be interesting both for people from other Russian regions and for foreign participants.
It is not for nothing that Rostov is called the southern capital of Russia. Having arrived here, you can touch Russian culture, but it is to its southern version. It has its own character, its own atmosphere and even the peculiarities of speech. Sometimes Rostov residents are really recognized by the way they talk. People can immediately say, "Oh, are you from Rostov?" or just realize that the person came from the south.
If we describe Rostov in just a few words, then for us it is youth, strength and beauty. And also — the southern center of Russia.
If a person comes here for just one or two days, we would definitely recommend walking along Pushkinskaya Street. It's not too long, but it's very beautiful, especially in summer, when everything is in bloom.
Nastya would also definitely show the city library. When she first moved to Rostov, this place made a very strong impression on her. There is a real botanical garden inside: plants, fountains, lots of greenery. When you go in there, it feels like you're in a jungle, even though you're actually in a library.
We would also advise you to see the Theater Square, and be sure to go to the embankment again and see the musical theater. The building itself is unusual — it is made in the form of a grand piano.
And even if a person is not particularly associated with music, it's still worth going there: the place is beautiful, and interesting events are constantly taking place inside and around.
For us, Rostov is a city associated with study, work, development, youth projects and our own history. This is where we found professional opportunities, where we met, and where we became a family.
Therefore, if we were asked if a foreigner should come to Rostov to better understand Russia and the Russian south, we would answer unequivocally: yes, it is worth it.
