Volgograd back to Stalingrad??

[DougD]

I have been to Stalingrad / Volgograd twice in the past few years and i have asked a few locals if they wanted to change the name back to S'grad. They all said no, with the exception of the three vets whom I met. They wanted it to have the same name as the city they defended they said. Others though said they had built a new identity as Volgograd that they were proud of.

I have no real plans to go back, but if they change the name i might have to, just to see "Stalingrad" at the airport and hear the pilot say we are landing in Stalingrad; has a better ring than Volgograd to me!

DougD

[Dolf]

Doug,

I'm considering the possibility to visit Volgograd (oh yes I'd love to see it renamed to Stalingrad again!) maybe this summer, so I'm trying to collect every possible information from people who have already been there: hotels (are the "Volgograd" and the "Intourist" the only two that accept foreigners?), serious agencies for battlefield tours (do you know VT, Volga Travels?), most important places to visit that are eventually not covered by the agencies, the cost of life, how and where to meet some vets, any tips that might help.
If you can help please email me.

Thanks a lot,

Dolf

[DougD]

Dolf,

No problem, i'll PM you; i can hook you up with a great contact. Through them I have done some amazing things 'over there' ( ridden on T-34, been to the Moscow air show twice, sat in front of admirals at navy day in Sevastopol, met countless vets, had vodka with admiral Lev chernavin on the Aurora 3 times, etc.)

DougD

[Dolf]

Dolf,

No problem, i'll PM you; i can hook you up with a great contact. Through them I have done some amazing things 'over there' ( ridden on T-34, been to the Moscow air show twice, sat in front of admirals at navy day in Sevastopol, met countless vets, had vodka with admiral Lev chernavin on the Aurora 3 times, etc.)

DougD

Doug,

Thanks a lot for the prompt reply
PM sent, email sent.

From your description that sounds more than great!!!

Best,

Dolf

[new world]

Putin pulling a Brezhnev like move; at the tomb of the unkown soldier in Moscow, the marker for Volgograd will change to Stalingrad.

DougD

Looks like purely political move to me, but Stalingrad name sounds better from historical prospective.

William