September 1

Classic video about russian girls that celebrates september first - first day of school year.

Only in Russia

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2 years in prison for dancing in church

Today, august 17, 2012 Khamovnichesky District Court announced the verdict in the case of Pussy Riot.

Two years in prison.

Here is the video of the crime:

No one was harmed, no one's live was not turned to any worst direction, but this girls will spend next 1,5 years (they already in prison for last half year) in prison. 

Russian justice.

Mother of God, send Putin away!

Just another drunk amusement

What is the reason to jump from 5th floor? Fire? Terror? Some other danger? Nothing from this in this case. This guy just get drunk and decided to try something new. I should note that getting drunk and trying something new is almost the only type of entertainment in small russian cities.

Guy was not seriously harmed.

Magnitogorsk

I could not find a picture that fits my vision of Russia any better:

© REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

No one cares

Dust storm

April 26th was very strange evening in Moscow. At first it was dust storm:
After that the city is stuck in traffic jams, rain began..

"Yubileiny"

Town Yubileiny - a tiny formation consisting of several streets, located in the town Korolyov, which is just 6 km from Moscow. No more words, next just about 40 photos of town "Yubileiny":

Found here: http://www.ridus.ru/news/29408/

And again.. Parking.

© drugoi

Bikes in Moscow

While I was in Berlin this winter, I was amazed by the conditions created for cyclists. Bicycle in Berlin is a very good alternative to car, and most people use it. Bike lanes almost on every street, bike parkings and rent of bikes. To overcome a large distance, bike can be transported by public transport: there is special space in U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains and elevators almost on every station.

The situation in Moscow is quite different. Bike lanes is rare in Moscow. Where there are bike lanes, they are ignored by drivers and pedestrians.

Police car parked on the bike lane

Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobianin on the opening of bike lane in the park

Little remark: Sergey Sobianin never used a bicycle to trevel to his office. In contrast of London mayor Boris Johnson:

Mayor of London Boris Johnson

There is no conditions to use bike as a primary transport in Moscow. Also it is very difficult to use bike even for fun and health. Bike lanes opened in parks are used by pedestrians, runners or even parents with prams what makes it hard to pass with a bike.

A Short Walk

Creapy picture on the playgroung

Abandoned church

Police

professionalism of russian police...

Zero tolerance speedcameras

Meanwhile in Russia

Photo from protest action in December 2011, but this image of "Russian Protest" is still actual. My favorite.

Russian Style

Roads & Fools

Roads and fools is a general problem of Russia indeed. But I believe that first problem is a consequence of second. Just a few examples below:

New technologies in road construction

Source:  http://www.ridus.ru/news/28612/ 

Even sighted person will have problem to cross this road

At least no one parked here

Advertising business

How to start advertising business in Moscow?
It is very easy!

1. Buy old, broken van (about $3000-$6000)
2. Construct the billboard on it (free, if you are handy)
3. Park this junk next to some busy road (free, or just a few fine)
Find a customer
4. ?????
5. Profit! ($2000-$5000 per month before taxes (that you never gonna pay))

Culture

This picture I made yesterday's evening next to entrance door to the local food store.

The spot near this food store is occupied by local alcoholics, that spend all their evening time and money for cheap beer and pointless talk.

April five. Winter

Just another few photos of Moscow's winter spring. It is really looks like some kind of curse.

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire

Fire in "Federation tower", the part of "Moscow-City" business center.

Khrushchyovkas: announcement

Some day I'm gonna make a post about "Khrushchyovkas", poky, cheap housing, which a lot was build in Soviet Union. This housing is still exists in Moscow, and for now it is not very cheap.

Red Square is closed due to protest actions

photo by Vladimir Varfolomeev found in Twitter

Today Red Square is closed. And it is not an April 1st joke. Protest actions planned on Red Square forced police to restrict access to entire square. Action moved to the nearest square Manezhnaya, where about 30 people was arrested.

Red Square is restricted area.

People on the Manezhnaya Square

White ribbon, the symbol of opposition protest in Russia, with label "For Russia without Putin", on the closed gates to the Red Square. Photo by Vladimir Varfolomeev found in Twitter.

Responsible Metro Worker

Escolator watcher's booth on the Paveletskaya station in Moscow.

In the bottom of each escalator in Moscow Metro you can find booth with Metro worker, who watching on the escalator entire his working day. In case of somebody stuck in stairs or any other emergency situation, this worker can stop the escalator. But can broom, dressed in Metro worker uniform, stop the escalator?

Gay Pride Parade - we don't need this

"Gay Pride Parade - we don't need this!"

Orthodox protest action in Krasnodar against actions of "Pussy Riot" punk-rock collective.

More photos and source:  http://potsreotizm.livejournal.com/1454886.html

Russian prisons

Look this movie about russian prisons and prisoners. Very interesting film about prisoners ("Zeks") culture, life and manners. Sad to realize, but Russian's prison culture have a strong influence on Russian culture and lifestyle in general. If you want to know Russia, you must know Russian prison.

In Russian, but have English subtitles.

Parking. The Moscow Way.

Traffic jams and lack of parking places is one of the most important problems of Moscow infrastructure. But despite this Muscovites keep buying cars and keep on using them. Moscow is filled with cars and it takes the scale of the disaster. Cars is parked everywhere! On the parkings, at the curb, on a sidewalks and on the lawns... Often this creates great difficulties for pedestrians.

More photos:

Homeless

Source: 

+Николай Колосунин (https://plus.google.com/116467385846271103353/posts/Vw8kBHy5HT3)

Headlines

Typical headlines of daily russian media:

• Moscow policeman shot the driver, who scratched his car while parking
• Officers of Federal Security Service beat up driver, who scratched their car with a flashlight
• Moscow policeman stabbed with a knife emergency physician because of parking place

And so on... Almost every day.

Another day of spring in Moscow

March, 25, -3°C, snow...

More photos below:

Hole. part II

Do you remember hole on Profsoyuznaya street? Well 2 or 3 days passed and utilities have taken steps...

"Housing Problem" spoiled Muscovites

Despite the scant infrastructure development of roads and terrible traffic jams, lousy climate and dirty air, Moscow still is the best place in Russia to live in and have an acceptable income. Population of Russia is about 140 millions of people, and about 20 millions of people living in Moscow and Moscow Region. And this is only official numbers. Nobody counts illegal immigrants from neighbour countries. At the same time population of the biggest region of Russia (Sakha Republic) is only about 960 thousand of people. Young and ambitious Russians strive to live in Moscow to get good education and best job after.

All this factors makes housing in Moscow extremely expensive. Price per square meter of housing in Moscow begins with $4,000. Average monthly salary in Moscow is about $2,000. Interest rates on loans from banks beyond good and evil. People, who wants to have an apartment in property must be in strong, profitable buisiness.

But despite this, the flow of wanting to be here, do not stop.

Let's see what you get for such money, if you want to buy an apartment in Moscow.

All photos are taken from the sites of real estate agencies.

While looking, keep in mind that this is NOT cheapest apartments in Moscow. Prices for all this items is above $5,000 for square meter!

Snow storm

Winter is not giving up

Entrance to Novye Cheryomushki station. 

March 22, 2012

Tough Moscow Spring

April is just behind the corner, but winter is not going to leave Russia. Snow storm started yesterday and continuous till this moment covered whole Moscow with thick layer of wet snow. Utilities do not hurry to clean this snow.

Road jumping

Even calm driving in russian city can be extremely dangerous.

Samara, Russian Federation.

Russians winter road effect

Large hole appears on the boardwalk of Profsoyuznaya street in Moscow. Fortunately no one fell into it

Russian Parliament

Source: http://drugoi.livejournal.com/3711113.html