I don’t have kids, but if I did, I wouldn’t be taking them to this bizarre Russian playground. Just look at this rusty contraption above — what kid is going to find this…thing fun? How do you even play on it? As a child, I would have taken one look at this thing’s mouth and ran off crying for my mommy. Be sure and check out all of the other photos in the collection at EnglishRussia.com — it looks more like a insane asylum art exhibit then a playground.
[via cyn-c]
Some of the world’s most famous architectural monuments were never built. Have you ever wondered what Berlin would looked like today if Hitler’s architect, Albert Speer, was able to complete his vision? The Nazis left only horrible memories and terrible destruction, but oh my! Berlin would have been a fantastic place had Germany won the war.
The rulers of Moscow, however, did have the opportunity to build a grandiose city “worthy” enough to be called the capital of Soviet Communism. Many of their most extravagant buildings, however, never got off the drafting board. For a fascinating look at such unrealized projects, click here.
The most famous building-never-built is undoubtedly the Palace of the Soviets. Designed during the height of Stalinism, the Palace was to be the tallest building in the world at the time, topped by the largest statue in the world (of Lenin, naturally).
Although construction actually began prior to World War II, complications prevented the massive structure from ever being built. As a result, Moscow lacks what was supposed to be the city’s architectural focal point.
So what would it have looked like? Thanks to the wonders of Photoshop, we can now get an idea of the impact this massive building would have had upon Moscow’s landscape. EnglishRussia.com hosts a selection of these doctored photos which provide a chilling glimpse into the architectural visions of Stalin and the cult of personality which he propagated.
Moscow architecture is bizarre enough without the Palace; thanks to these photographs we can now see just how much more bizarre it might have been.
There is nothing more irritating while watching the performing arts than someone’s cell phone going off in the middle of the show. But this is where it normally stops. I’ve never actually seen anyone answer that ringing phone, just turn it off in embarrassment.
In Russia, however, theater goers don’t just answer their phones, but chat at length during the performance.
The problem has become so common that one venue in St. Petersburg, the 18th century Alexandrinsky Theater, has installed jamming equipment to block the reception of cell phones during performances.
Way to put that old Cold War technology to practical use! Now if they can only figure a way to stop those annoying coughers.
In addition to teaching creative nonfiction (a.k.a. travel writing) classes at the Paris American Academy this July, Rolf Potts will also be teaching a two-week course in travel writing at the Summer Literary Seminar in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russia?! Isn’t that, like, far? Well, yes…but the idea is that by visiting a totally foreign culture, a writer will experience a jolt of creative energy that will energize their writing and inspire greatness.
If you want to experience a jolt, maybe you should sign up for the course, which runs June 17-30. In it, participants take part in daily writing and literature-ish activities, like “Literary Walks” in St. Petersburg, introductory Russian language courses, and more. The 2-week course runs $1850 plus room and board, so it isn’t cheap. However, this is a great opportunity to get away, experience a foreign culture in a very visceral way, and write about it.
Who knows? If you get inspired, you might get published, and the trip would pay for itself.
[Photo: vetkaa]
Yekaterinburg is one of Russia’s largest cities. Roughly 600 miles southwest of Moscow, this former home to Boris Yeltsin is mineral-rich — making it an important industrial center in the country — but also has a fair amount of culture and tourist-cachet. In addition to the area’s cross country skiing, proximity to the Europe-Asia border, magnificent Opera and Ballet House, and huge water park, it boasts another, lesser-known tourist draw: its cemetery.
In 90s, Yekaterinburg was known as the “crime capital of Russia.” Since many Russian mafia leaders lived — and died — there, the cemetery is filled with their bodies. Featuring blinged out tombs, a visit to Yekaterinburg cemetery is like going to the dark side of Miami Vice.
Don’t feel comfortable going alone? Sokol Tours will take you there. In the meantime, check out English Russia’s photo tour of the graveyard.