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Yuri Gagarins last trip to his homeland, December 5. 1967

“…In moments of rest, he was the life and soul of any company; his initiative and imagination knew no bounds. And how he loved his native nature! On December 5, 1967, Yuri Alekseyevich and his family came to visit their parents. The men were getting ready to hunt. I begged my godfather to take me along (women weren't usually invited to such events—it was considered bad luck). We were assigned a number. But instead of standing there holding our breath, he and I, playing tag, made such a racket that we probably scared off every animal in the forest. Nothing was shot that day, but we were happy to be in touch with the winter nature and with each other. In the morning, they left for Zvezdny. The car was already steaming, but Yura couldn't tear himself away from his family. He didn't want to leave his parents' house, as if he felt he'd never return. This was his last visit to his homeland "

- Yuri Gagarin’s niece, Tamara Filatova