This picture was shot in Leningrad at midnight.

Russia 1979

 I used to joke that the only one who had air-conditioning in Russia was Lenin.  square2.jpg  No matter how austere, no matter how controlled, there's always someone who can get their hands on a powerboat. Go figure. When I went to Beijing, I got to ride in a powerboat on one of those moats that rings the city. Reminded me of this photo.  square.jpg
  square4.jpg  square5.jpg My mother always questioned my inability to take pictures of the things that mattered, us. I have a preference for taking candids, usually street scenes. I like this one, especially the look the man is giving me.
This is St. Basil's as shot from (I think) the hotel Russia. We were in there buying a much-needed extravagant meal and a maid let us in one of the rooms.   This was the GUM department store. gum2.jpg
  The Hermitage lenin3.jpg
  
This picture was taken by Elaine. We were in Kiev. Got in trouble here for harvesting their "pretty flowers" which we know in the US as marijuana.