Chasing Away the Clouds

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I have been told, and this has been confirmed by many people (Russians), that in St. Petersburg during the summer there are fighter planes that fly over the city to chase away the clouds. It sounds crazy, I know. And maybe it is a matter of poor translation (or misunderstanding on my part), or maybe it is simply a figure of speech or some Russian saying to explain the beauty of St. Petersburg, but this was the explanation given to me for why it was raining in the jewish cemetery, which is on the outskirts of the city, and not in the center of town; because the jets had blown the clouds out of the center and they were stalled on the periphery of the city.
This makes no sense. Right? Because all of the Russians I talked to seemed to believe it to be so. Unquestionably so.

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Photos

Jewish Cemetary
Alla and her dad (next to his fathers' grave). Many of the gravestones in this cemetary are in disrepair either because of the lack of living relatives to take care of them, or because of vandalism.

Canal of St. Petersburg
The view from Nevsky Prospect, the main drag in the center of the city. Clouds in the distance......