Saint Petersburg
 

I've been back a couple of weks since the completion of the 8/26 Celebrity
Baltic cruise. As usual, Celebrity delivered a great service, the food and
entertainment and staff attitudes were incredible. All the ports were
interesting and worthwhile with the exception of Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg should be seen, the wealth and spectacule is jaw dropping, but
I will never return. Over a decade since the brutal commies went bankrupt
their evil presence still hangs over Russia. Imagine a place locked in rust
bowl 1950's gloom, run down trolley cars move sullen citizens through
dilapidated streets, teens drink beer at 10:00 AM, citizens are silent for fear
that an informant will report them, round slavic women peddle watermellons in
the midst of squalor, while sullen policemen solicit bribes from frightened
tourists.

Upon re-boarding the Constellation, I remarked to the woman in front of me that
I was glad to be out of that hell hole, she replied, "me too and they said
they'd bury us". I replied, "it looks like they buried themselves".

A friend, who works on the ship, confided in me that "everyone hates the
Russians". My reply was brief, "RIP state socialism, long live capitalism".
With the possible exception of New York City, Russia is the worst place I've
ever visited-I will never return!

You can replace St Petersburg and Russia with just about any city in the
world.

I will return there over and over again, I find it a fascinating place.



"KathyDFrog" wrote in message
...

Saint Petersburg should be seen, the wealth and spectacule is jaw
dropping, but
I will never return. Over a decade since the brutal commies went bankrupt
their evil presence still hangs over Russia. Imagine a place locked in
rust
bowl 1950's gloom, run down trolley cars move sullen citizens through
dilapidated streets, teens drink beer at 10:00 AM, citizens are silent for
fear
that an informant will report them, round slavic women peddle watermellons
in
the midst of squalor, while sullen policemen solicit bribes from
frightened
tourists.

You can replace St Petersburg and Russia with just about any city in the
world.

I will return there over and over again, I find it a fascinating place.



"KathyDFrog" wrote in message
...

Saint Petersburg should be seen, the wealth and spectacule is jaw
dropping, but
I will never return. Over a decade since the brutal commies went bankrupt
their evil presence still hangs over Russia. Imagine a place locked in
rust
bowl 1950's gloom, run down trolley cars move sullen citizens through
dilapidated streets, teens drink beer at 10:00 AM, citizens are silent for
fear
that an informant will report them, round slavic women peddle watermellons
in
the midst of squalor, while sullen policemen solicit bribes from
frightened
tourists.

You can replace St Petersburg and Russia with just about any city in the
world.

I will return there over and over again, I find it a fascinating place.



Do you also travel to Baghdad? Its your money and your life, I hope you avoid
the Gulag.

Doesn't sound like St. Petersburg has changed much in the 10 years since I've
been there. Shabby gentile. Trust me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that. Some fabulous wealth (the trappings of which are on
ample display there) and large amounts of poverty. It's nothing new there I'm
afraid.

Jeff

Doesn't sound like St. Petersburg has changed much in the 10 years since I've
been there. Shabby gentile. Trust me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that. Some fabulous wealth (the trappings of which are on
ample display there) and large amounts of poverty. It's nothing new there I'm
afraid.

Jeff

me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that.

Our Red October guide was often asked about the Communists. While answering
the questions his head reflexed backward ,over his shoulder; apparently he was
checking for informants. He must have been an informant himself because he
could over hear what I whispered to my wife in the back of the van. (I've seen
this same hyper-hearing sense exhibited by friends who were former operatives
in 'Nam.)

The glumness and paranoia of the place was pervasive and, inmho, can only be
explained by citizen memories of the workings of the former socialist state.

me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that.

Our Red October guide was often asked about the Communists. While answering
the questions his head reflexed backward ,over his shoulder; apparently he was
checking for informants. He must have been an informant himself because he
could over hear what I whispered to my wife in the back of the van. (I've seen
this same hyper-hearing sense exhibited by friends who were former operatives
in 'Nam.)

The glumness and paranoia of the place was pervasive and, inmho, can only be
explained by citizen memories of the workings of the former socialist state.

Starting to think perhaps, just perhaps it wasn't them who was affected by
the paranoia.

He's probably sitting around his red commie bar now banging back a few beers
off your tips laughing at how much fun it was to pretend the vase was
listening to him.




"KathyDFrog" wrote in message
...
me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that.

Our Red October guide was often asked about the Communists. While
answering
the questions his head reflexed backward ,over his shoulder; apparently
he was
checking for informants. He must have been an informant himself because
he
could over hear what I whispered to my wife in the back of the van. (I've
seen
this same hyper-hearing sense exhibited by friends who were former
operatives
in 'Nam.)

The glumness and paranoia of the place was pervasive and, inmho, can only
be
explained by citizen memories of the workings of the former socialist
state.

Starting to think perhaps, just perhaps it wasn't them who was affected by
the paranoia.

He's probably sitting around his red commie bar now banging back a few beers
off your tips laughing at how much fun it was to pretend the vase was
listening to him.




"KathyDFrog" wrote in message
...
me, it wasn't just the commies....Russia's
always been like that.

Our Red October guide was often asked about the Communists. While
answering
the questions his head reflexed backward ,over his shoulder; apparently
he was
checking for informants. He must have been an informant himself because
he
could over hear what I whispered to my wife in the back of the van. (I've
seen
this same hyper-hearing sense exhibited by friends who were former
operatives
in 'Nam.)

The glumness and paranoia of the place was pervasive and, inmho, can only
be
explained by citizen memories of the workings of the former socialist
state.