Roads are different, just like people. If you travel often, you surely know their different character types: straight and wide highways, winding provincial roads leading through cozy towns and villages, unpredictable field-paths, old cobbled tracks… And in each country these characters are different. But some roads have especially impressive fates: they bear the imprints of distant epochs and keep the memories of the hoary antiquity even centuries later.
Today, I would like to tell you about a road like this in Belarus. Actually, it is among my favorite ones. This is the road leading from Polack to Hlybokaje and further to Vilnius. The road between two historical capital cities.
Several centuries ago, rulers of vast and powerful Grand Duchy of Lithuania could travel by this road. Obviously, not by chance, less than a century ago, the local people called this way “Alhierd’s road” or “Vitaut’s road” – by names of glorious and wise rulers of the country that has long disappeared from geographical maps but stayed in historical documents, chronicles and poems as the legendary golden age of these lands.
Today, it takes three hours and a half to get from Vilna (present Vilnius) to Polack by car. Add the time for all the procedures related to crossing the state border. Historians say, half a thousand years ago, it took three days though there were no borders there. Nevertheless, famous prince Vitaut who lived in the 14-15th centuries often travelled across his country and, certainly, visited Polack – one of the biggest and most strategically important cities. The people’s collective memory saved these episodes. Back in the middle 19th century, researchers of the local folklore found an unusual stone here. Its top was flat, and there were six round hollows on it. The local people told the legend that Vitaut stopped there and ate his dinner served right on this unusual stone called “Vitaut’s plates” by the folk.
In the early 1920ies, one of the most original and mystic Belarusian artists of the 20th century Yazep Dradzovich travelled across these places and made a lot of drawings and paintings from life. One of his pictures is titled as “Vitaut’s bridges”.
Soon after that, another outstanding figure of the Belarusian culture, scientist and writer Vaclau Lastouski wrote his most impressive novel “The Labyrinths”. Its protagonist travels… right! From Vilna to Polack, and his trip results in a thrilling adventure that actually discovers a whole philosophical theory about the hoary past of Belarus.
Once, driving along this road, I pointed out a place that etched into my heart. I saw a huge spreading oak tree by the road and a table with benches under the tree. That time, the table was covered with a white table-cloth, and it looked as if someone was waiting for welcome guests. I hurried up that time but I promised to myself that I would certainly be back one day.
And later, being in Polack again, I recalled that point on the map and I decided that I had to go the immediately. It was evening, the weather worsened. A wind got up and brought a terrible black and blue thundercloud, first big and heavy drops of rain fell into the road dust. But I decided I would not change my plans – and drove out the city.
The frightening thundercloud sprayed some raindrops and passed by. A wide and bright rainbow emerged by the time I reached the oak. It was there impressively long and disappeared only at sunset. I stopped my car on the wayside, came up to the powerful tree and looked at the sunrays that penetrated the clouds.
It seemed to me that it was the greatest of all gifts I could get that day. However, there was one more surprise ahead. I turned around my car to drive back and soon, my look caught the thing I didn’t pay attention to before. I saw the reverse side of a common concrete stele – they are commonly installed in our country to mark the borders of administrative districts – and read: “The good will happen”.
Remember it or even write down, my friends: the good will surely happen. And don’t be afraid of a thunderstorm.
Sincerely yours,
Volha Blazhevich
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,
dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI
Hallo Radio Belarus,
ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.
Dietmar
Answer:
Lieber Dietmar,
das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
Dear English Service Radio Belarus,
Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
