Ultra Slavonic

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March 07, 2005

tourist with a camera, beware

I have an obsession with trying not to look like a foreigner or, worse yet, a foreign tourist. Partly it's a paranoia about safety, but partly I'm just trying to see how many people I can fool. At bilingual social events I've confused people into thinking I'm Russian, but since there hadn't been sustained conversation before all was revealed, I don't consider this any special achievement.

But today I decided to take a few risks and pull out my camera in public. So here are some mediocre photos I took.

Pushkin gazes across Тверская ул. [Tverskaya Ave.)], with his back to Кинотеатр «Пушкинский» [the Pushkin Movie Theater], formerly Кинотеатр «Россия» [the Russia Movie Theater]. I guess he's always been facing this direction, but I like to think he's displeased that the building has a guady casino in it now rather than just a movie theater.

It's not quite Times Square, but Pushkin Square does have its share of oversized advertisements. I'd take a photo at night so you'd get the full effect of the flashing lights, but my night photos never turn out.

The longest transfer point between metro stations I've yet seen, and also one of the better looking ones. This goes between Театральная and Охотный ряд. The acoustics for street performers are quite good here too. Sorry it's fuzzy—I should have taken a second one, but I was too paranoid about being spotted.

I also saw an ad in the metro escalator today—but wasn't fast enough with my camera—for a brand of lingerie called Вендетта [Vendetta]. I guess to a Russian it sounds like the name of some beautiful Italian woman, but to me it just sounds like a very dangerous woman.

Posted by kshawkin at March 7, 2005 04:16 PM

Comments

Posted by: Nadya at March 8, 2005 11:44 PM

Posted by: eriC at March 11, 2005 06:20 PM