Russian Street Scene

 

Usual story on lack of info, but

This seems to be Saint-Petersburg (Russia). The Astoria hotel, Saint Isaac's Square.

Probably from around here.

Bonus - Lest we forget...

Really?

The Lavender Roundabout.

 

The interesting thing is ... this is from a box of slides from a trip to Russia. In the early 1980s (?).

And it's probable not really a traffic roundabout. Or lavenders.

Bonus - 

People who claim that they could
fight a grizzly bear ... No.   
No you couldn't. 

This Should Have Been Interesting

 

But, alas, the photographer was sub-par.

It was a trip to Russia in 1985...yes, the year that Mikhail Gorbachev took commend, and oversaw the opening up of the USSR.

But THIS is a boring view from a grey river.

Bonus -  Settle down for a fascinating watch  Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone

Bonus - To lighten the mood...

I'm Sure That You Recognise This...

If you're struggling, it's from the Russia     1985 set.

Oh...come on.

It's easy.

  Pavlovsk Great Palace, St Petersburg

...and that's Sergei The Pigeon in the foreground.

Bonus - 

Never Give Up !

Meanwhile in Moscow...

 

I'm sure you'll recognise Moscow University, and I'm certain that you're already thinking - "What a hideously tedious picture."

And you'd be right. So, In an effort to add some interest, I've imagines what it would look like if Vlad Putin explodes due to touching anti-matter.

You're welcome.

Bonus -     

‘Oh my God’: live worm found in Australian woman’s brain in world-first discovery

Russia in desperate search for weapons for Ukraine Invasion

 

No, I know that joking about war is probably bad taste, but ... you know.... Putin is a twIt, and deserves to be ridiculed.

This is actually from a rather tedious set of slides from someone's visit to Russia in 1985.

And this is the Tsar Cannon

Bonus - Shingō village is the location of what is purported to be the resting place of Jesus, the “Tomb of Christ.” — Jesus Christ did not die on the cross at Golgotha. Instead, a man alleged to be his brother, Isukiri, took his place on the cross, while Jesus escaped across Siberia to Mutsu Province, in northern Japan. Once in Japan, Jesus changed his name to Torai Tora Daitenku and became a garlic farmer. In Japan, Jesus allegedly married a woman named Miyuko, with whom he fathered three children, all daughters. After his death at an age exceeding 100, Jesus was said to have been interred into one of two grave mounds in the village.

The Dance of the Record-Setting Tractor Production Factory No.8.

 

Written on the slide was "Sep-79 Kishinev, Trade Union Palace" but anyone who knows their Soviet Era Tractor Dances will recognise the outfits and choreography as the Dance of the Record-Setting Tractor Production Factory No.8.

With Yuri Putin (No, no relation) leading the performers. Later that year, be would tragically killed in an unfortunate slurry-pit test-facility accident.)

Bonus - Was there less lightning than usual during COVID lockdowns? Yes

Bonus 2 - Giant Black Cock.  Dare you "click for bigified"?

The Peasant and The Pickle

 I really haven't a clue about this one.

The woman, let's call her Olga, has the look of Russian Peasant Chic about her.

The boy, let's call him Yvgeny, seems to be carrying a giant pickled gherkin.

The background story - You tell me !

Bonus - Lord of the Rings’ uncredited Gimli double did the work, and has the tattoo to prove it

Name that Plane - Soviet Edition

 

Yes, it's another round of Everyone's Favourite Quiz - Name That Plane.

Have a look, and decide....

The Soviet Ideal, Corrupted

As soon as I saw this slide, my brain screamed Soviet NeoRealist Brutalist Art, and who am I to disagree.

Clearly, this is a culture that is fully behind the soviet Communist ideals...Never Surrender, Never Give Up.

My first guess was Moscow, but some searching revealed that it was Minsk. And nowawdays...

   ....oh my ....

It's a KFC franchise.   Ironic.

Bonus :

The Moscow Institute of Something

My Russian colleagues have left today, and ...frankly... I'm quite happy and slightly disappointed that they have left.

So, in their honour, another slide from teh Russia 1985 selection.

No information, but that aircraft T-Shaped tail-plane makes me think it may be aviation related.

Bonus - Nice !

Where in the world?

In honour of my Russian visitors, I offer this image of a postcard from....guess.

However, I'm having a ****ing awful day, so no bonus / discussion.

Meanwhile, in Russia...

At work, I'm dealing with a visiting group of Russian Government officials, and the experience is ....

What's the right word..... Challenging.

So, in tribute is this slide from a box full of Russian views...so I assume that it's Russia.

Bonus -

No comment from me, but...

Rolls-Royce's New Engine Test Bed

For all you engineers and architects out there, I thought you'd be interested in a seeing an artist's impression of Rolls-Royce's new aero-engine test bed in  Derby.

Impressive.

Apologies, but I'm rather unwell today, and my powers of concentration are lacking.  Off to bed now.

Bonus - Halitrephes maasi

Not Malta

it's YALTA.

Yes, it appears to be the Intourist Hotel complex in Yalta, in the Crimea.

Some people may find that interesting, but this slide is rather tedious.

Bonus-

Priorities. His and hers.

No idea what this is, but WTF?

Where's Del Boy?

For (almost) all Britons of a certain age, any image of chandeliers will provoke memories of a certain "Only Fools and Horses" clip.

Luckily, these ones hail from Russia, so are probable safe from Del and Rodney.

Bonus - Fridge Delivery in Nepal

Bonus 2 - Bigăr waterfall, Romania

Well .... That's Dull

Today's slide.  It's,  well,    dull.

To The Max.

If it wasn't for the fact it's from Russia, and dates from 1985, it would rate as Spectacularly dull.

Bonus -  To make up for that ...

Mad Skipping Skillz

"Some More ... Folk Dancing."

( I'm sure some of you might recognise that film quote....)

This slide shows the climax of The Dance of the Heroic Tractor Builders.

Sep-79 Kishinev, Trade Union Palace

Bonus -

Boring Russia

It's amazing, but when an American visits Russia in 1985, you'd have expected that the sights and sites would be interesting.

Not always.

Bonus for Mr Nick.
Alt.Tasteless was a Usenet newsgroup devoted to...well, guess. It had a better signal-to-noise ratio than most, and some absolute joys of writing.  For example, Anal Fissure Bob.   Probably NSFK.

Bonus - for the normals.

Russia 1985

What more needs to be said. Classic Russian Architecture before the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.

Bonus - Hand-Reared Newborn Pangolin.  Scaly, but sorta floof.