First impressions. . .

Trip Start Jun 23, 2007
1
11
Trip End Jul 25, 2007


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Russia  ,
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

When one thinks about Russia as an American what comes to mind?  Gorby's birthmark, concrete block apartments, nuclear warheads, furry hats and mean hockey players are a few.  Well, so far I haven't run into any former soviet leaders, seen any furry hats (it is summer after all), spied any military parades (lots of young conscripts in hats though) or encountered any resentment for the 1980 "miracle on ice."  Its hard to easily sum up my initial impressions of Russia but suffice to say, it is a country of paradoxes.  The tsars built ornate, grand and lavish palaces, often with the help of Italians, if slightly more scruffy than the European versions.  On the other hand, the Soviet's went for big, dense and solid, attempting to project strength, devoid of personality and very dull.  Think Boston City Hall.  They seem to glare saying "Don't Mess with Me."  Russians like everything BIG.  Big buildings, big boulevards, big bells (the largest bell in the world is in the Kremlin), even big gutters! (see the photos)  The whole society is a stew of the communist past, the commercialism (not capitalism necessarily) present and the ever constricting semi-tsarist government of Vladamir Putin.  This neo-strongman has taken nearly complete control of the media, especially television media and in this fashion, has essentially made the office of President an appointment or coronation, rather than a free election. He, or rather his party, United Russia, has also eliminated elections for most other offices in the country including provincial governors and city mayors.  Only the Duma (Parliament) and the president are "elected" by the people. Of the Russians I talked to, while most take issue with having a less-than-objective media and less-than-free elections, they are very proud of their tsarist President.  While taking away some freedoms, he has ignited Russian nationalism and kicked the economy into gear. Basically, the country has its mojo back. And feeling like the red-headed step child of the USA in the 1990's, they are ready to flex some muscle. No one had good things to say about the communist era, granted my sample size is small and composed entirely of young people. Regardless, as an American, its fascinating to experience Russia post-communism and see how similar and yet how different the country is from America.
Slideshow Print this entry St. Petersburg hotels