Blogs from Northwest, Russia, Europe - page 4

Like many of you, I have been impressed by the metro transit systems of cities around the world. Some of my favorites are London, Moscow, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. According to Travel Trivia, the best are: London, Seoul, Hong Kong NYC, and Tokyo (best). Moscow is missing? Here is an excerpt of what they said about Tokyo: The Tokyo Metro system is another that is widely regarded as best in class. Perhaps it is best known for its nearly inconceivable punctuality. In 2018, the service felt it had to release url=https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/05/the-amazing-psychology-of-japanese-train-stations/560822/an apology for a timing error. The issue? One of the trains had left the station an unforgivable 25 seconds early. This kind of precision is laughable to people who are used to other, less smoothly coordinated public ... read more

When I started my first job after leaving school, all the men save one, smoked cigarettes...and all of the female staff. But in those enlightened days...everyone who had a TV knew that cigarettes were cool...and most importantly...they were good for you! When I left there 9 years later...none of the men smoked...not one...but many of the women still did. And that was before laws forbidding smoking in many public spaces including restaurants. 'Cos someone let the cat out of the bag...the cigarette companies knew all along...that cigarettes were not good for you...in fact they could ultimately kill you. In my travels in China...16 provinces so quite extensive...most of the men seemed to smoke...so I guess Chinese cigarettes are different...or the message had not yet got out that they are not good for you! Yet in Russia ... read more

Wildfires scorch and scour our Australian bushland as I rise to the 2020 New Year. Green can become flaming orange then become ashes and tears. Images of the ever spectacular Sydney NYE fireworks and simultaneous Fire & Rescue videos of sparks flying and endless flames leaping...homes and lives smashed or smouldering...wondering if our home backing onto National Park in Sydney's North will soon be threatened. And if so, what will we do? What will be our future? The smoke in the gorge behind us reminding that the closest fires are 20 kms away but as long as we are prepared...as long as we are ready. The uneasy ash filled air causing my eyes to squint...to close...to drift away to the Neva..the Svir...the Volga and our worry-less glide as the rivers of Russia wash any cares away. ... read more

I didn't come to Russia to go surfing. As Westly one of our Aussie mariners penned it, "Time slips past like the Svir under our river boat. However, I am still remembering the early mornings, the mist and upcoming sun as we quietly made our way up stream back in September and of course an enthusiastic photographer not wanting to miss a moment !" The Neva, Svir and Volga Rivers leading us 29 Aussies smoothly along...through sunrises, forests, frescoes, adornment everywhere. I didn't expect to go surfing...especially not in the Hermitage in St Petersburg...filled with three million works including thousands of paintings collected by Catherine the Great. I went in search of the Hunters Punishment by Paulus Potter and was caught in a tsunami...a tide swell of humanity that had me lost, battered and confused. I ... read more

They tell us Russians are schooled that smiling excessively is an indication of mental illness. Expecting stern demeanours...dour Stalinist architecture and constant reminders of a cold war communist past as we dance through Putin's pastures. A young couple...her long hair cascading...clasping close...his face snuggling into the nape of her neck. We turn the corner...his head arching back...lips elasticising then telescoping to plant a kiss on her cheek.She smiles. Can't forget the image of those telescopic lips. Young people everywhere...laughing...smiling...enjoying life...even older folk doing it. Where are the stern expressionless faces? Has everyone forgotten their lessons? A motorcyclist on Moscow's Sparrow Hill doing high speed wheel-stands past a police car. Repeating his screaming wheel-stands six times...us waiting for police pursuit that never comes.... read more