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. |
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