beetrock

The aircrafts keep on crashing over my motherland. Pulkovo is Saint Petersburg’s own airline and the thought that any number of the people I know could have been on that plane is unsettling.

I love the official comments – “definitely not terrorism, guys, everything was in order, crew sent mild cries for help.” Oh, thank god it wasn’t terrorism! What the hell! Can someone just come out and say that the newest Tupolev 154 was made in 1984? The pride of Soviet air-fleet, the model was banned by China in the late nineties. But surely, if China’s one billion citizens are not ready for our Cold War era mechanics, we will prove her wrong by flopping our rusted metal wings all over the wide Russian skies. Whatever it takes to cover up the shattered local industrial complex. Read more…

What I learned about Moscow: It’s huge and allergy inducing. It’s also very pretty, but um… did I say huge? I mean I am no stranger to a big city, but this ancient capital is a true giant. Compared to all the other large cities I know it is not only densely populated, it is also extremely broad and solidly massive. No narrow streets here, no small three story buildings, nothing tiny about this city. Perhaps that is why I feel lonely and dwarfed or perhaps it’s PMS, either way walking around Moscow I feel tiny.

Other highlights of my visit to the homeland’s capital include the tour of local coffee and eating establishments. So far pure delight. Read more…

Today my Godson and I went to a brand new shopping center, built where a children’s ground once stood and where dog owners used to walk their pets. The shopping center, reminiscent in size, shape, and steel lining to a Titanic, or some other massive ship, filled me with a feeling of anxiety as we approached. Dragging Kirill away from mean Russian drivers I guided him to the automatic doors.

I remember that when I was Kirill’s age automatic doors could be found only in one location in Saint Petersburg and seemed to be the most amazing thing that ever existed. Kirill passed through without even noticing.

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