I visited Pskov for the first time in the spring of 2008: "The city is small, low-rise, quiet, cozy, very Russian and homely. It's old, which is evident from the many houses that haven't been renovated in a long time. And construction is proceeding very slowly. It's clear that this is not a wealthy city at all, but it has its pride. It resembles a hard-working peasant, solid but loving, generous with affection, and therefore the father of many children, and his wife scrapes the bins, concocting pancakes and porridge, and altering clothes from the eldest to the youngest, patching up the holes. They howl sometimes, but there's nothing to be done, life must go on, singing along, amicably and slowly."
In the autumn of 2014, Pskov looked different: the roads had improved, although not everywhere, the city had become neater, more well-groomed, more stately: that very pride of its seemed to have dressed up better, straightened its shoulders.
This is what the embankment of the Velikaya River looked like in 2008.
And this is what it looks like now (fall 2014).
View of the Pskov Kremlin from the Olginskaya Hotel, next to the Olginsky Bridge and chapel.
On the right, the Pskova River flows into the Velikaya River.
This is what the other side of the Pskov Kremlin looked like on the embankment of the Pskov River.
Now this place looks more civilized.
The tree at the entrance to the Kremlin has grown a lot:
View from the room of the Olginskaya Hotel.
Cottage hotels were built.
The feeling of the old city remains even among these buildings.
Pskov has preserved many old churches.
Guest House.
The Pskov Pushkin Drama Theater. It looks like it's been restored since last time, and a recreation area has been created in front of it. While I was there, they were finishing laying the paving for the pedestrian area.
Another family recreation area with a playground.
Source: travel.ru