Russia, (part of the former Soviet Union) is a basket case.
I did a group tour there in 1991. Just after Gorbachev had liberated the opportunity of Eastern Bloc of countries to do the same. The time that the world was actually at peace after the fall of the Berlin wall.
My god, it was an eye opener.
Within an hour of our bus entering Russia from Finland, rivers were running all colours. Red, yellow, fluorescent green etc..... It was horrific. Just think of the Simpsons 3 eyed fish. That was it.
The infrastructure was 1950's like. Tractors ploughing farmland were so old. Like 1930's old.
When we arrived in St Petersburg, and bought food (and we struggled to find food), the attendants were using abacuses, not cash registers.
Everyone that we dealt with in public was rude and cranky. The Russians were a terrible race. The most unfriendly people I have ever come across.
However, their museums were amazing and the Moscow Metro is the most incredible, beautiful and efficient underground system I have ever experienced. If only Sydney had something even remotely close.
Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, St Basils etc, were stunning.
Back then we even got to go inside the grounds of the Kremlin and into rooms that Gorbachov met international leaders! True story. Incredible lifelong memories and experiences for me.
The problem with communism is that they put money towards the wrong objectives. And, they are seriously full of corruption.
This is what Zelensky is trying to stamp out in Ukraine.
As well as winning an unjust war.
I did a group tour there in 1991. Just after Gorbachev had liberated the opportunity of Eastern Bloc of countries to do the same. The time that the world was actually at peace after the fall of the Berlin wall.
My god, it was an eye opener.
Within an hour of our bus entering Russia from Finland, rivers were running all colours. Red, yellow, fluorescent green etc..... It was horrific. Just think of the Simpsons 3 eyed fish. That was it.
The infrastructure was 1950's like. Tractors ploughing farmland were so old. Like 1930's old.
When we arrived in St Petersburg, and bought food (and we struggled to find food), the attendants were using abacuses, not cash registers.
Everyone that we dealt with in public was rude and cranky. The Russians were a terrible race. The most unfriendly people I have ever come across.
However, their museums were amazing and the Moscow Metro is the most incredible, beautiful and efficient underground system I have ever experienced. If only Sydney had something even remotely close.
Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, St Basils etc, were stunning.
Back then we even got to go inside the grounds of the Kremlin and into rooms that Gorbachov met international leaders! True story. Incredible lifelong memories and experiences for me.
The problem with communism is that they put money towards the wrong objectives. And, they are seriously full of corruption.
This is what Zelensky is trying to stamp out in Ukraine.
As well as winning an unjust war.
