Russian Creations » Headwear Casual Fur Hats Mens Hats

Astrakhan Fur Ushanka (gray)

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:31:22 +0000

Authentic gray Persian ram ushanka hat. Ushanka literally means ear-flapped (hat) or (hat) with ear-flaps. Manufactured by the top class fur hat manufacturer in the capital of Moldova from authentic Gagauz fur, this soft and cozy, 100% Persian lamb hat will keep your head warm in any weather. Persian lamb ushanka hats are extremely rare making wonderful and luxurious gifts. The gray fur is historically considered to be the most elite one.

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Camping in Inner Mongolia

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:02:21 +0000

In the summer it is a scalding expanse of desert, in the spring verdant grassland; but in the winter, Inner Mongolia is a white kingdom few travelers, beyong the occasional Mongol nomad, brave to enter.

Indeed, the traditionally nomadic lifestyle of the native Mongolian reflects the region’s unforgiving climate. To quote the usually intrepid Lonely Planet guidebook chapter on Inner Mongolia, “…from December to March – forget it!”

Occupying 12% of China’s landmass in a majestic arching slope of over one million kilometers, Inner Mongolia borders 8 other Chinese provinces in addition to the colossal countries of Mongolia and Russia to the north.

Today, Mongolians make up only 17% of the provincial population. And while leather-skinned warriors on armored horseback may no longer pose a threat to the Chinese, the mainland is now seeing a second Mongolian invasion, this time in the form of sand.

The vast Gobi Desert, which already consumes Inner Mongolia’s northwestern border, is dramatically expanding at a rate of 10,000 square kilometers per year and is calculated to turn 40% of the People’s Republic into a veritable wasteland, evinced by the apocalyptic sandstorms from the north that assault Beijing during the summer months

But vacationers to Inner Mongolia (Nei Menggu in Putonghua) need not concern themselves with such things as environmental catastrophes, for in winter the gold sands of the Gobi slowly give way to white as frost slowly veils first the north and then the entire province.

Arriving in the Inner Mongolian capital of Hohhot (pronounced Ho huh ha ta), one finds that it truly is a “Blue City,” as its Mongolian name implies, but with a comparatively modern ambiance nonetheless.

The urban skyline falls behind the horizon as our journey via steam train progresses across the frozen plateau to the more rustic northeast. Following electrical lines from village to village, the train’s ice-trimmed windows reveal an otherwise barren countryside dotted with red brick homes stacked with chimneys continuously exhaling their coal smoke.

This is the pastoral life of Mongolian miners, farmers and shepherds hibernating for the winter, nary a sole outside save the occasional caravan of camels led through the snowy waste by men as furry and indistinguishable as their charge.

The flatlands give way to hills of white birch and sinuous rivers of blue ice. Veering north, the train then burrows into the Greater Khingan mountain range, which forms a natural provincial border separating Inner Mongolia from the plains of Manchuria to the east.

Passing frozen Hulan Hu, China’s fifth largest lake, and the Hulunbuir grasslands (now blanketed in snow), it comes as a pleasant shock to discover that the busiest land port of entry in the mainland is located here in the far reaches of Inner Mongolia. The Manzhouli crossroads, situated directly on the borders of China, Mongolia and Russia and the Trans-Siberian Railway, is a fascinating fusion of northeastern cultures.

Shops, hotels and restaurants are of distinct Russian personality and advertise in both Chinese and Russian script while the streets teem with rugged import-exporters and big blonde Russian tourists extravagantly attired in plush fur coats, pelt scarves and omnipresent ushanka hats.

But the final and most remote destination comes during the return trip south through tundra as vast as the sky above, the snowscape spotted with resilient brush, wind-swept fences and adobe villages of ice-glazed rooftops until…Xanadu, Kublai Khan’s summer palace.

While the name Xanadu invokes an air of mystery to those who have never been, there is in fact no “snow-white mares with sacred milk, rich and beautiful meadows” as observed by Marco Polo, nor Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s oft-cited “stately pleasure dome.”

Xanadu, otherwise known as Yuanshangdu, today is less an eternal world than a set of dilapidated stone walls and towers buried in centuries of dirt and weeds, leaving the fantasies of a romantic Mongolian city to be written by the opium-addled. China’s tourism bureau has all but deserted the ancient area for (literally) greener pastures, and, according to locals, it is a rare day when even one visitor can be found walking the venerable grounds during the winter months.

But the sheer desolation of Xanadu is exactly its attraction. Walking among 11th-century ruins mantled in dazzling whiteness, one is left completely alone to enjoy an untouched history and uncorrupted serenity that is otherwise not found in today’s China.

In the immortal words of disco queen Olivia Newton John, “Now we are in Xanadu!”

Tom Carter, a freelance writer and photographer from San Francisco, has lived in P.R.China the past two and a half years. He is currently backpacking through all 32 Chinese provinces.

Getting there

Daily flights from Hong Kong to Hohhot (connecting in Beijing), via Air China, Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air, 6 hours, 7000 HKD, round trip.

Daily trains from Hong Kong to Beijing, 24 hours, 800 HKD. From Beijing to Hohhot, 12 hours, 300 HKD

To reach the bordertown of Manzhouli, daily trains from Hohhot to Hailaer, approx 40 hours, 270 HKD for a sleeper. From Halaer to Manzhouli, via shuttle bus or express train, 3 hours.

There are no official tours or direct routes to Xanadu. From Hohhot or Hailaer, get off at Sangandali, and then take a shuttle bus to Zhenglanqi (simply called Lanqi by the locals). From Lanqi, a private taxi can be retained for approx. 100 HKD for a round trip to Yuanshangdu, 30 minutes away.

###

China photographer Tom Carter is the author of ‘CHINA: Portrait of a People,’ a definitive 600-page book of photography coming soon from Hong Kong publisher Blacksmith Books.

Best Shearling Coats – Tips On What To Look For

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:44:16 +0000

The desire for a fur coat seems to be rooted in two parallel but seemingly contradictory themes: having a taste for something the symbolizes the height of modern elegance and style, and the primal connection that fur coats offer to our great human forebears who wore fur coats to keep warm for thousands of years.

Fur coats come in many varieties. The richness of variety in fur coats is rooted in the different types of fur available and in the various cut choices. The fur itself can vary significantly in its qualities depending upon the country of origin and other factors. Meanwhile, the fur coats themselves vary in quality depending upon how they are made.

One of the most popular types of fur coats is the shearling coat. If you are looking to purchase one of the best shearling coats, here is a quick overview of fur coats, with some tips on what to look for in a shearling coat.

Types of Fur Clothing

Fur itself is animal skin (leather) which is processed with the natural fur still attached. It can be shorn very short to create a felt effect such as would be used in a hat or gloves, or it can be cut mid-length or long for use in jackets, coats and other articles of clothing.

There is a large range of fur clothing products available in the marketplace today. They generally vary by cut, fur type and country of origin, as follows:

Cuts: Fur clothing comes in a large variety of shapes and sizes, including coats, jackets, hats, muffs, capes, vests, trims, sheared, wraps, and shawls. Most of these products some in both men’s and women’s styles.

Fur types: Fur types vary of course by the animal from which they originate. Some of the most popular animals whose skins are processed as fur are: fox, beaver, sable, mink, and shearling (sheepskin).

Fox furs are among the warmest furs available. There are many types of fox fur, such as long-haired, fine and silky. These are found in Russia, Australia and many other parts of the world.

Beaver furs are not only warm, they have water repelling characteristics. Most beaver fur articles of clothing are brown, and most come from North America.

Sable fur are known for being very silky. Russian sable fur, in particular, is known for its silky qualities.

Mink fur coats retain the reputation of being among the finest and rarest of fur coats. They enjoy a timeless image. Most mink is found in North America, although some are sourced from parts of Europe.

Shearling coats are made from sheep who have been recently sheared. The fleece (fur) is retained to the leather and then sheared. Shearling coats are excellent all-weather wear. They are soft to the touch and very warm.

Popular countries of origin: As mentioned above, fur coats are sourced from all over the world, including Australia, England, Iceland, New Zealand, Scandinavia, North America and South America.

How the Best Shearling Coats are Made

Choosing the right shearling coat is all about the craftsmanship. Every stage of the production process requires great skill to complete if high levels of quality are to be attained. It takes about a year from the time a trapper or farmer auctions his furs until a coat is actually ready for purchase and delivery.

Here are the stages to examine when considering the purchase of a fine shearling coat:

1. Tailoring: For custom coats, the tailoring process includes measuring for coat length and arm length, as well as body girth.

2. Fur Selection and Sizing: The template for the new garment, based in part upon the measurements taken during the tailoring stage, is laid out for the new coat. It outlines the shape of the coat and resembles somewhat a snow angel. The designer can then assign certain pieces of fur to each part of the coat to see how it will look. Individual pieces of fur are usually about 3 inches wide and 12 inches long.

3. Stitching: The individual pieces are then sewn together with needle and thread. Once all of the pieces are sewn together, the lining is added and then double-stitched to the coat.

4. Additions: Finally, exterior or interior pockets are added to the coat. A label is adding, along with buttons and button hole stitching.

The Best Shearling Coats: What to Look For

If you are looking for the best shearling coats, here are tips on what to look for:

1. Inquire about the origin of the coats in which you are interested: avoid sheepskins coats from Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and England. The sheepskin from these countries is heavy and not as flexible, thus making it not suitable for coats and jackets. However, if you are in the market for boots, slippers and seat covers, sheepskin from these countries will do just fine.

Meanwhile, in terms of sheepskin coats, those made in Spain are among the best. Reason: the climate in Spain produces the ultra-softest sheepskin in the world. Also, sheepskin from Argentina are among the finest in the world.

2. For thicker and heavier coats, consider one from Uruguay. These are ideal if you plan to wear one during extremely cold weather conditions.

3. If necessary, ask about whether they cater to plus size women.

Choosing the right shearling coat can be made easier once you understand the various choices available to you.

Aspen Fashions offers the largest selection of styles and colors of shearling coats of any online store. Buy online and we ship to your door. Visit us at: http://www.AspenFashions.com.

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Mr. Viced Honest “Charmian Kittredge” 6.7.09

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:23:47 +0000

Mr. Viced Honest play “Charmian Kittredge” on June 7, 2009, at The Enginehouse in North Portland, OR. Mr. Viced Honest is Adam Hungate (guitar, at left, off camera), Mike Daily (speaking), Whitney Woolf (electronics), Chutz Ponderosa (bass), Luke Strahota (drums). www.myspace.com “clean oven / dirty kitchen / meat poet / Steve Richmond / I know you disliked parties / and postal holidays / and Jack London’s second wife / you said you slammed great novelists / because you couldn’t create what they did / and you were right / you said you could not yet describe / the blackbird in the green tree / and saw demons salute crows with bones for wings / dear Mr. Viced Honest / you had an aversion / to Russian fur hats / or at least one in particular / worn by an American poet / Beat Generation publisher / and proprietor of paperbacks / on Columbus Ave. / Charmian Kittredge”–Mike Daily

Comfort and Style For Babies

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:09:41 +0000

New mothers dote on their babies with clothes, toys, and other baby stuff. A very trendy baby clothes that is on the market nowadays are called Faux Fur Baby Clothes. As the name implies faux fur or fake fur or fun fur is not really made of animal fur but of cotton. It provides an animal friendly substitute to traditional fur, though it promotes the idea of wearing dead animal hides. Mothers who are against the butchering of wild animals for fur need not be afraid of letting their babies where this because it does not use real animal fur. Thus no animal is needed to be killed in the process of making these clothes.

This type of baby clothes was created in 1955 and has gain support from animal rights activists, animal welfare groups and other environmental organizations. These groups have even promoted the use of using these clothes to parents. Because by using faux fur, there was a decrease in the sales of real fur in many parts of the world. It became famous in the 1990s when animal rights groups started endorsing the products to parents.

By using this type of baby clothes, you are actually helping save wild animals from poaching. Aside from that, using fake furs for your babies also has other advantages. One, it is lighter than real fur. It is also more durable and can even be machine washed. Because it is made from cotton and not really real fur, thus it also has less shedding. And most of all, your babies will have lower probability of an allergic reaction. And unlike real fur, it does not need to be hand sewn and it can be manufactured anytime of the year and in any color quickly.

Faux fur baby clothes come in many products. But the most popular products are warm hats with flaps designed to resemble Russian winter hats. Baby blankets are also famous because they are smooth and warm. They are also very convenient as they can be wrapped around the baby’s head and neck. There are also throw rugs that are also very convenient for babies. There are also stroller blankets that can be tucked into the product and boots and mittens to keep the baby warm. It has everything a mother needs to keep her baby warm especially in winters. But product line also includes toys, dolls, teddy bears and other plush toys to keep your babies happy.

Fake fur products come in four main colors: beige, chocolate, dark brown and grey. Beige and chocolate are the most popular colors for customers. The texture of the products is smooth so it’s very safe for a baby’s sensitive skin. The product has also been improved through the years by adding extra cotton lining to prevent shedding. This has a dual role of durability for machine wash. Moms also prefer to use faux fur baby clothes because of its trendy and unique style. It keeps babies’ warm and still stylish looking.

Find the most comfortable clothing for your babies in UK. Let amongo – an online baby clothing comparison site help you out. You may also take a look at their Bonnie Baby clothes and many more children’s clothes at amongo.co.uk.

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Shapka – Ushanka

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:50:20 +0000

One could hardly exaggerate the meaning of “shapka-ushanka” in the life of any Russian man. The popularity of this head accessory had been fantastic since the World war II up to the dawn of the Soviet Union in the beginning of 90ies.

With the opening of the Russian borders the uninhibited flow of the new modern clothes, accessories and hats of all styles and trades has seriously dropped down the privileged position of shapka-ushanka. That’s why you can hardy meet a person in a large city wearing it now with the exception for maybe military men or orthodox.

About the military …Since 1940 ushanka has become a part of the uniform of Russian army and militsia (police) Picking out the fact that the half of Russian male population are either military or “menty” (cops) and practically all of the male population serve in the army at the age of 18 (we have an obligatory conscription) the benefits and advantages of shapka – ushanka were tested and highly estimated.

So, shall we consider the hat that has become an concurrent part of the stereotype image of the Russian man (e.g. in Hollywood, on caricatures, etc) and that is called simply “shapka” in English.

Shapka – ushanka – a winter fur hat, cloth or combined (initially – A male hat) a wide-known and widespread hat in Russia. It takes its name after its “ears” – (ushi – in Russian) that could be lowered or turned down but usually up and tied on the crown. On request when it’s necessary “the ears” could be untied and turned down with the nape flap (the back of the head part) to save real ears from frost and wind, partially cheeks, chin of the person wearing “ushanka”.

If we dig down the “ushanka” descending history we shall see that it comes from the Baltic (I would add) Finnish hats, that already had ears and the tapes added for tying up in XIX century.

The fashion for the round crowned hats first appeared among the St Petersburg working class then was spread across Russia.

The fur factories of USSR started manufacturing “shapka – ushanka” The basic production – for the bulk of population as we call mass market – was established on the rabit skin. Every mother “packing” her kid to the kindergarten and tying the tapes of “ushanka” under the kid’s chin was rested assured and confident that her kid wouldn’t get frozen. I should mention that during the Soviet power the ordinary Russian people were not spoilt with personal cars and private transportation. : It took long time to get to work from one part of the city to another and “shapka-ushanka” was of real use and help during severe frosts that are not a rare thing in Russia. So, one could hardly overestimate the role of shapka-ushanka in his/her life

If it was not too cold outside the “ears” of the hat was turned up and tied on the crown. If a person works outside on the fresh air (during winter) then there was a special variant to tie the “ears” – backwards on the nape (the back of the head) that worked better (as on the one hand the person kept ears save and on the other hand didn’t suffer from the heat) BUT in case of severe frosts nobody was shy to turn the ears down and tie up under the chin to avoid chilblain from Ded Moroz (Santa Claus)

I should admit that there were also hats made of different furs in the special fur ateliers. Shapka-ushanka made of squirrel, bear, dog, nutria, polar fox, marten of course mink! Oh, my God, mink hat! It was beyond one’s wildest dreams. The dream of Soviet citizen during the period of the late stagnation and the beginning of Perestroika! The person was proud to wear it and when he/she took it off he/she put it in front of oneself on the table. So, everybody could see it. It was the sign of prosperity. If one didn’t possess such a mink hat in province the waiter at the restaurant tried to pass you by The owner of the mink hat never lowered “ears” of the hat even in the sever frosts but pulled his hat over his eyes more deeply.

Send Flower and gifts to Russia, Ukraine, CIS. Delivery by local florists makes price half of what would you pay elsewhere. Discounts from 5-30%, large gallery of flower arrangements and gift baskets. Floral service covers the complete area of x-USSR.

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Top 5 Things To Do in Sofia

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:32:50 +0000

1. Start at the Statue
Start your city tour at the statue of St. Sofia, a 24m bronze statue of the goddess protector of the city, erected atop a pedestal on the Sveta Nedelya Square. The citizens of Sofia are said to love the statue but the church condemns it, contending that it is not a religious rendition of a saint. They may have a point: The golden saint, wearing a form-fitting gown with a plunging neckline, looks more like a Greek goddess.

2. Ancient Rotunda
Head over to the Sheraton Hotel Sofia, which was built in front of the oldest building preserved in Sofia, the 4th-century St. George Rotunda. The ancient church is situated amid the remains of the ancient Roman town of Serdica. The magnificent dome is protected by UNESCO and the church functions at present as a museum.

3. Admire the splendor of the Cathedral
The golden dome of St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the city’s hottest tourist spot, dominates the skyline. Considered the heart of the city, it was built between 1904 and 1912, commemorating the Russian soldiers who perished in the Bulgarian War of Liberation. The square in front of the church hosts a colorful street market selling souvenirs, antiques and bric-a-brac throughout the year. Everything from Russian fur hats and lacquered boxes to icons and embroidery is for sale.

4. Do some shopping & have fun
To round off your day you can take a relaxing shopping stroll along Vitosha Boulevard – the city’s main shopping thoroughfare. The boulevard, now closed to all traffic except trams, is lined with jewelries and fashion boutiques with designer clothes by world-famous brands. Vitosha Boulevard is also the hub of Sofia’s nightlife, hosting many cafes, bars, restaurants, and disco clubs.

5. Get some fresh air
The Vitosha Mountain rises out behind the city, just half an hour drive from downtown. It’s a great place for taking a hike and getting out of the big city. You can have a picnic in summer or go skiing in winter. Of course, if you’re not in the mood for exertion, you can always visit the Boyana Church (on UNESCO’s world heritage list), nestled at the foot of the mountain.

Need accommodation? Find more hotels in sofia here

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TnnTV Fashion_Alexander McQueen

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:14:15 +0000

Alexander McQueen extends an invitation to far-off places around India and the heights of the Himalayas. The English designer, who presents his men’s wear collections in Milan, has for winter 2008 delivered a range aimed at style-conscious adventurers and travellers aware of elegance and detail. The Savile Row touch is never too far away. Cardigans braided with metal, entirely embroidered gold coats, suits with double-breasted jackets and long shawls tied up like a dressing gown, without forgetting the Russian fur hats and cowboy hats which bring a touch of humour and frivolity dear to McQueen.

The Two Best Ways To Save Money when headed to Russia

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:55:48 +0000

You?ll pay $20 for a jar of red caviar. $30 for a bottle of good vodka. $85 for a Russian fur hat?

As with any travel destination, the price of souvenirs in Russia can add up quickly. Sure, you can skimp on the gift-buying, but the best way to save money in Russia or Ukraine is to make the right decisions ahead of time, at home. In fact, hundreds of dollars can be saved just by making two wise choices: Your flight, and your lodging. An $1100 round trip from New York to Kiev might seem reasonable enough, as might $95 per night for a room in a two-star hotel, but you can do better. Much better. And this article will show you how.

Explaining the existence of travel-related websites is akin to explaining how to operate a seat belt ? you feel silly explaining the obvious, but you just don?t want to leave someone out. In that spirit, allow me to mention the main travel sites. Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, Kayak?these are some of the most popular travel websites (and I have no affiliation with any of them). On these websites, you type in your travel dates and destination, and they search the databases of most of the major airlines, hotel chains, rental car companies and so forth. In a few moments they show you the best prices available based on the specifics of your inquiry.

A word of advice: When searching flights, be sure to check at least these four websites, and if you?re flexible, experiment with a variety of travel dates. It?s amazing how drastically prices can vary by changing your dates slightly. I?ve saved hundreds of dollars by traveling on a Saturday instead of a Friday. If you want to be completely thorough, check all seven days of the week, (though doing so on all four sites is tedious.)

After you?ve gotten a feel for the costs of your flight, go directly to the websites of the following airlines: Aerosvit (Ukraine?s national airline); Aeroflot (Russia?s national airline); LOT (Polish Airlines); and Wizzair (Hungarian). Depending on the time of year, and how far in advance you buy your ticket, $1100 might indeed be a fair deal. Nevertheless, I traveled round trip between Kiev and New York?s JFK in the summer of 2009 for $550 on LOT airlines. Though that?s the best deal I?ve ever found, I often find similar tickets in the $700 range.

The second money-saving decision you can make ahead of time is regarding lodging. Yes, if you?re committed to staying in a hotel, then by all means use the same travel sites mentioned above and find the best deal you can. But the real decision I?m talking about is whether to stay in a hotel at all. Don?t get me wrong, there are plenty of nice hotels in the F.S.U. (Former Soviet Union), particularly in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev. But the good ones aren?t a mere $95 per night. Think between $200 and $400 nightly. Meanwhile, for $60 or so per night in Kiev, you can rent a nice one-bedroom apartment. In Moscow, a similar apartment costs about $120. That?s a savings of between $1000 and $2000 during the course of a typical seven to ten day visit.

True, the best hotels are often perfectly located, right in the city center and steps away from the city?s main square. It?s hard to compete with that, and if such a level of convenience is the most important factor for you, that?s understandable. But if you don?t mind being a five or ten minute walk from the city center, then apartments provide a vastly more economical option. Plus, an added financial benefit to renting an apartment is the ability to cook your own meals. In Russia, for the cost of one meal in an expensive restaurant, you could instead stock your refrigerator for a week. The bottom line is that, whatever price you?re willing to pay for lodging, an apartment will give you twice the bang for half the buck.

If I?ve swayed you away from hotels and you?re interested in finding an apartment in Russia, go to your favorite search engine and type in your destination city, followed by the word ?apartments.? You?ll find plenty to choose from. There you have it.

Follow these two tips, and you?ll save enough money to buy all the fur hats and black caviar you can jam in your suitcase.

Safe travels!

Mark Thomson taught himself the Russian language and attained fluency in a short period of time. Want to learn more about his proven techniques? Claim Mark’s popular free Russian Power Phrases course, available at: => Quickly Learn Russian http://russian-video-blog.com

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An Encounter With the Bolshoi Ballet

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:20:51 +0000

I as many who have read my articles may gather am a tremendous opera fan though in all sincerity I can not claim to be an equal devotee of the ballet, however this should not be interpreted that I do not take joy from it. Perhaps it is because my tastes lean more to the passion of the singers and the drama in the opera rather then the grace of the ballet dancer. What ever the reason I must claim to be a bigger opera fan then ballet fan but in all truth I am a lover of the ballet however I did not become one till I in Santiago, Chile met the members of the Bolshoi ballet. This was a time I will never forget as it made me see all the grace of the ballet however before this encounter with the Bolshoi I had seen them perform in Moscow and perhaps it is there that I was introduced to the ballet. My decision to visit the Soviet Union came during the fall of 1988. It was the time of perestroika, glasnosts and Michael Gorbachov, the new leader of the Soviet Union who many Americans had taken a liking to as they could see a certain honesty in him. I for my part can not claim that my desires to visit the Soviet Union were influenced in any way by Gorbachov as the real reason for my trip was based on my wanting to travel the world, in search of all those cities and places I had read about in my extensive readings of history. Of course this was also at a time in my life when I was entertaining dreams of becoming a professional photographer and had it in mind to take photographs of Leningrad (previously called Petrograd, presently Saint Petersburg) and Moscow. These cities seemed ideal for this purpose, both having architecture that was so diverse from New York and the feeling of history would be enormous. After all these were two cities that had been almost in the center of World War II and the Russian revolutions of 1917. The first of which overthrew Nicholas II while the second in October (though the Russian Orthodox calendar marks this day as having been in November) put the Bolsheviks in power. I had even wanted to visit the Soviet Union before but the matter had not been so simple as I would have wanted it. First off all because the Soviet Union was a closed society I needed a visa; not that this was an inconvenience as I had already visited many other communist countries such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the DDR, and Yugoslavia. These countries also requiring me as an American to have a visa. I can even add how there was a time in 1987 in which I as an American was required to have a visa in to order to enter France as opposed to being given one automatically upon entrance as was the case with most European countries. The Soviet Union however was different, even from other communist countries which only required me to go to their embassy or consulate, naturally with my passport, two photographs and the money to pay for the visa. The Soviet Union not only required me to have the already mentioned but a prepaid hotel where I would be staying, which basically meant that I would either have to reserve a hotel in the cities I wanted to go to before departing New York or go on what is commonly referred to as a “guided tour”. I not so much by my own choice took the second option of going on the guided tour even if in all truth I would have preferred to go alone. It was with the intension of spending Christmas and New Year’s day in the Soviet Union that I in early November booked myself on a tour that would include Moscow, Kiev and Leningrad, in that order. It was while visiting these cities in the Soviet Union that I observed many things, some of which were even strange or at least in my opinion for a communist country (me having already visited several) for instance, in the Soviet Union there were stores which only accepted hard currency (this meaning any currency which could be converted outside its country of origin) and were off limits to Soviet citizens. Yes, passports were checked upon entrance in to the stores. It was not that stores like this did not exist in Poland or other communist countries I had visited but contrary to the Soviet Union in those countries anybody could buy what they wished so long as they had the right kind of currency, in the Soviet Union it was a case of Soviets not even being allowed to enter the stores, let alone make purchases of any kind. Naturally just as there were stores in which only foreigners such as myself could enter, there were also stores in which foreigners were banned from as only Soviets could enter and again passports or documents were checked. I even recall how on one occasion, somebody I met asked me to buy him something in the store for foreigners only. The Soviet Union also had other factors which made it different from any of the Communist countries I had already visited for instance again only guests of hotels were allowed to enter as a control was set up at the entrance where one was obliged to show one’s card from the hotel. This however did not present so much of a problem for me nor for many Soviets (I refer to them as such as I can not in all honesty claim to have known who was Russian or from one of the many republics that made up the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) who managed to get in to the hotel in spite of not being a guest of the hotel. Where the card required to enter the hotel was not a problem the fact that I was required to pay everything in hard currency was however more then slightly annoying as this made prices higher then they would have been had I been allowed to buy drinks or other such niceties in Rubbles, which I could get a lot more of on the black market. This however was not to be as hotels wanted hard currency not only for the cost of the room but even for what one purchased in them, this being in contrast to Polish hotels were one was only required to pay for the room in hard currency. It was in Moscow that I stayed in a hotel called “Cosmos” which I might add was the most exclusive at the time, though in all truth its standards were lower then those which I had known in the west. I arrived at the hotel on the 24th of December and on my second day of being in Moscow after having spent the first two sightseeing; I had what could be called my first experience in the Soviet Union. Two young men who must have been about my age at time (me being 21) knocked on the hotel room which I was sharing with one of the members of my tour group. It was in the company of another member of my tour that these two young men came asking if my roommate and I cared to barter trade. At first neither my roommate nor I knew what these two men had in mind and being in a country we knew not to be democracy; my American roommate, whose name completely escapes me and I were slightly apprehensive. It was one of these two young men who asked us if we had any blue jeans or anything we cared to trade such as American cigarettes or basically anything. I for my part felt I had nothing that would be worth their while as all I had was my cameras (which I was not ready to trade for anything), a couple of packs of cigarettes (me being a smoker at the time), the clothes I had brought with me (which included a pair of grey blue jeans that frankly speaking I was even slightly ashamed to even show given the condition they were in) and my cassettes which included some pop music. It did not take long with these two men and all those from my tour group who had come over to pick up a bargain; for the room I was sharing with a history teacher from Phoenix to become an national or international black market. Blue jeans were being exchanged for Russian fur hats, caviar (this being a French word as the Russian word is “ikra”) and other Russian goodies. It was inspired by the way these two Russians or so I think they were apparently willing to take just about any and everything we had that I decided to show them the old grey jeans I had bought over a year ago in London. Much to my near shock they accepted to take them for a black fur hat though given they were old they did ask me to throw in something extra which I did in the form of a pack of Marlboro which they accepted but however my having guilty feelings over the old jeans compelled me to add a tape by the British band known as “Led Zeppelin”. During these transactions; I noticed how people from two different countries and ways of life could trade and do business and though the English spoken by these two gentlemen was not exactly perfect it was understandable, making me think how even in a communist system it was always possible to find entrepreneurs. I even recall how one of the members of my group wanted to get something in exchange for a Jimmy Hendrix tape only to find out that neither of these two men (who had brought so much stuff with them as to make one believe they had a whole store with them) had the slightest idea who he was. Naturally we explained that Jimmy Hendrix had been a guitar player and they did take the tape though I do not recall what they gave for it. Of course it should be understood that these young men were not getting these things for themselves but to sell to others. One thing did strike my roommate at the time as being curious which prompted him to ask if they were staying in the hotel to which he was told by one of these two young men that they were not. It was then that I asked how they managed to get in the hotel, me having been told that only hotel guests who showed a card from the hotel were allowed in. It was then that they told us that because their English was not bad and in fact it was not and they dressed like westerns they could get in and obviously they had. Later on I would meet two other young men in the hotel who were also trying to do what ever business they could and it was from them that I really learnt a lot about how people in the Soviet Union felt toward not only Americans but many things. It might seem strange to some how I do not even remember the names of these two young men or even what they looked like but I remember almost everything that transpired between the three of us. First I went with them to Red Square instead of going with my group; after all if I had wanted to associate with other Americans, one can imagine where I would have stayed. Many things had I seen through out my travels in many countries, from the Coliseum in Rome (now one of the world’s seven new wonders) to the Eiffel Tower but neither of these two monuments or any other which I had seen for that matter could surpass the grandness of “Red Square”. The place as I observed it on that frozen day in the month of December seemed so overwhelming that I honestly was at a loss for words. It was not that the Kremlin or any of the buildings surrounding it; such as the one being hailed as the world’s biggest toy store or even Saint Basel’s cathedral were that large but the composition created by all that was Red Square had such a strong initial impact on me that I will never forget. It was mesmerizing to see this place and all its features that for a moment gave me the impression of being in a city above the clouds. The ornaments on the buildings being such that they almost seemed unreal. I naturally after having recovered slightly from my near shock took out my trusty Minolta to photograph this place and all it included; which in all honesty even looked like a small town rather then a large monument. It was in the process of photographing this place that I started with a wide angle lens; as to capture it all in one shot and then moved on to a zoom to get Saint Basil’s cathedral; the beauty of which in my opinion is most underrated. Needless to say my camera captured all of Red Square’s points of interest but none fascinated me as much as Saint Basil’s which to my mind was the typical Russian cathedral. Naturally in all that was Red Square one could not ignore the presence of the mausoleum dedicated to Lenin; which was visited by the thousands who would bare the cold and heat just to see the body of a dead man. As for myself personally I had neither the time or the inclination to stand on a line; even a short one as was the one for foreigners (as opposed to the other one for Soviet citizens) just to see a man in what in my opinion was an act of idolatry. Unsurprisingly by then the Soviet Union having long gone through a process of change had removed the remains of Joseph Stalin from Lenin’s presence, not that this made any difference to me at the time or even now for that matter. After their acting as my personal tour guide, they took me to a small neighborhood restaurant in Moscow, sort of like a bistro (this French word having its roots in a Russian word meaning fast) where we had some sausage and tea. It was there as opposed to the hotel that I discovered how cheap life could be in Moscow for someone who had US dollars or any other kind of western currency, so much so that I wanted to treat my tour guides to what they had consumed only to discover it was them who wanted to do likewise for me. At first I did not really know what to say and asked if I could pay at least for myself but was told it would be a good idea not to offend them by refusing their invitation. This I did agree to. It was during our time together that we discovered many things about each other’s countries, for instance they discovered that New York was not as dangerous a place to live in as they had been lead to believe by American television and their own media while I was also not excluded from finding find out many interesting things. First off all that Soviets, at least the people were not as anti-American as I had thought they would be and what really surprised me was that despite his popularity in America, specially after his last trip which had taken place a few weeks before; Gorbachov was not really liked in the Soviet Union by the average citizen, specially those who were not in the party. This at first seemed almost hard to believe as during his last trip to America (which had taken place on the 8th of December) people had literally lined the streets by the thousands in spite of the cold just to get a glimpse of him, in scenes reminiscent of “Beatlemania” at its peak. I for my account had even gone to where I knew his car would be passing in the hope of getting a photograph. Mine however was done more out of wanting to be a photographer then adoration, this in part motivated by the success I had had the same year in London when on Queen Elizabeth’s birthday of the 10th of June I managed to get a great shot head shot as she was coming down “The Mall” in her open carriage. Gorbachov however was a different matter all together as he was being driven in a closed limo, which made it impossible for me to be able to get any kind of photograph other then one of his car. I even remembered hearing on the news, how he while being driven through Broadway had actually gotten out of his car (much to my regret for not being there to capture on film this historic moment) on a day of extreme cold to shake the hands of some of the thousands who were lining the streets just to get a glimpse of him. This naturally caused joy to a lot while panic to his security guards who were as surprised as those who found themselves shaking hands with Gorbachov. It had been a case that Gorbachov had not informed his security of what he would do beforehand and due to this many of the security cars had driven on only to discover after a few seconds that Gorbachov’s car had stopped and that Gorvachov now found himself in the middle of a mob shaking hands with all those who were running up to him. As expected his security had to backtrack themselves to get to him in fear that something might happen which of course did not but I can imagine what anxiety they might have been going through at the time. Among these people there were also protestors from some of the Soviet republics such as Armenia; who even claimed that they felt for the first time that there was a man who at least was willing to hear what they had to say. After hearing that Gorbachov for the most part was not liked I asked what was it about him that most people did not like and to this question I encountered an answer that I did not really understand at the time and that was that most people did not like Gorvachov simply because his personal standard of living was a lot higher then their own. It was not because of political reasons or ideology or anything of the sort but the luxury he had surround himself in. They mentioned how he flew around the world and they could not, how he had a fur coats, a credit card by American Express (given to him I imagine mostly as publicity), expensive clothes while they did not. I at that point did not see anything strange or unusual in this as in America most Americans did not live as well as our president (Ronald Reagan at the time) and if some did not like him; it definitely was not for that reason. There might have been other reasons such as the “Iran Contra scandal” but that was another matter but not because he made more money then they did as this was and still is the case in most countries. This however was a case of what most people had come to accept in most countries that it did not matter that their leaders were financially better off then they were so long as their own standard was acceptable to them. However here in the Soviet Union people did not even want to know that their leaders had more then they did even if it was the top leader. This perhaps was the explanation why Soviet citizens were not allowed to enter certain stores, restaurants or hotels, as they would be exposed to what they could not afford anyway and perhaps that their system of financial equality was not really working all that well. I for my own did not comment on what I had heard; preferring to say nothing since I had not really understood the mentality behind the words and rather then get in to a quarrel with those who had treated me to this humble but pleasant lunch I asked what they thought of American films. This they told me they had seen some but several were being banned such as had been the case with “Red Heat” staring Arnold Schwarzenegger due to a scene in which the character played by Arnold (a Soviet policeman) trades a 10 dollar watch for a 1,000 dollar watch with an American policeman, played by Jim Belushi. I was curious how these two young men even knew about this scene, if they had not seen the film but this I did not ask. It was after having a nice meal (which was no worse then what I was getting in the hotel) in this friendly neighborhood place that I took a chance and went to the apartment of one of these two young men to get what they had promised me which was a Soviet military winter coat and a Jersey of the national football team. I having not much of anything to trade offered them American dollars which they did not refuse however we would have to go back to my hotel to get as I did not have them on me. It was when going back to the hotel that I rode the Moscow subway for the first time and was amazed at how often the trains came and how deep it was, a factor which I knew had not been undesirable during World War II given the bombing this city had been submitted to by the German air force. Upon return to the hotel I paid them the money I had promised them plus a pack of “Life Savers” in a gesture after theirs which had been to pay for my sausage and tea. Once concluded, the business of trade by barter with the hour being not far from an evening one I decided to shower and get ready for a night at the ballet. The bolshoi; it would be as if it could be any other being in Moscow, naturally at the Bolshoi (this word meaning great in Russian) theatre. With this in mind I put on my suit, the only one I had brought with me, a nice Cardin (him still being fashionable at the time) on top of which I put on my newly acquired military coat courtesy of the Soviet Union however; it was on the advise of our tour guide that I chose to wear another one. Him telling me that we were in a country were civilians specially foreigners were not allowed to wear Soviet military attire; meaning that it would be wise if I were to put on another coat which I did. The Bolshoi, I must say was something amazing, not so much the theatre which granted was large but not really impressive or at least not as much as the performance given by this magnificent group of dancers whom both my father and grandfather had always told me so much about. Tchaikovsky’s “The Nut Cracker” was what those in my group as well I were privileged enough to see that evening and though I was already familiar with the wonderful music; I was not so much with the dancing that went with it and as I watched, it seemed that this was the most radiant of all the performing arts in regards to its visual aspect. After the ballet, it was back to Hotel Cosmos for a night cap which I took at the bar; shots of Vodka accompanied by caviar which in America was so expensive but in the Soviet Union was literally cheaper then peanuts. The hotel had several bars, and it was in each that there were women, some I could imagine were there to exchange other then just souvenirs for money, while others went in groups looking for any westerner to buy them a drink. By “them” I mean all of them as they came in groups though this did not interest me other then just to see that women in the Soviet Union wore what I would call an excessive amount of make up; despite most of them being much more attractive then the average American woman. The following day came and off to Kiev it was on a plane by Aeroflot. It was something I will never forget; being on the runway and dozing off in my seat during the long wait which was required before take off, when suddenly I was awaken by the feeling of my ears getting blocked by the pressure. I remember being slightly upset; thinking that we had probably spent all that time on the ground and only then was the plane going to take off when the reality was that it was already going to land. Such a smooth take off and flight it was that not only had it not awaken me, I had not even noticed it or it could have been the fact that my cold was making my very drowsy along with my lack of sleep from the night before. Kiev was an interesting city though perhaps not as much as Moscow; but on that particular visit the only thing I recall was being far away from my hotel; me always the one to wonder from the rest and asking a Soviet policeman if he could find me a cab which much to my surprise he did. It being on one that was taking several passengers; in a sort of improvised transportation like I had known in countries like Argentina and Peru. As for the policeman, he told me in broken English how he was from Armenia, a place that had suffered from the effects of an earthquake the previous month, which made me tell him how I had in fact donated 20 USD to a relief organization. I do not know if this man really understood me but when saying goodbye in gratitude for his having found me this means of transportation I handed him one of my packs of cigarettes; which made him give me a small pen knife (which did not even open) in the shape of a fish as he said the word “souvenir” and went off. With Kiev being smaller then both Leningrad and Moscow, our stay was planed to last only one night after which we would be departing for Leningrad. I really can not say what it was in me that night which I was to stay in Kiev that made me do what I eventually did. This being to get what could be classified as extremely drunk. Vodka did I consume and plenty of it; perhaps to show that Italian Americans like their Soviet counter parts could also hold their liquor but what ever it was I did get sauced. In this elbow bending I do seem to recall a Soviet who also engaged in the same as I did after which we started a conversation in trying to solve who were more daft? Me claiming that it was Americans (me referring to those in my tour group) while he made the case for Russians; only to settle the issue by proclaiming a draw between Americans and Russians as to who were the more dippy. In this night that would go down with a certain degree of perhaps over joy my Soviet comrade and I also entertained ourselves by smashing our vodka glasses on the ground, which only managed to draw the attention of some policemen. Police however were called Militia at the time in the Soviet Union and two of them did approach us and when I could not understand what they were saying one of them, caught my off guard with a punch to the stomach. That by all accounts should have knocked the wind out of me. This probably would have been the effect during other circumstances but on that day after half a bottle of Vodka, I did not feel the blow which showed on my face as I did not even bend over in pain. This my reaction which almost sent this policeman in to shock as was clear on his face before I tried to strike at him with my camera, after all he was much bigger then me who only stands at 5’6”. Fortunately nothing became of the incident as the receptionist informed these policemen that I was a guest at the hotel and not some peddler (as they figured) who had come in to trade dollars, which of course was illegal at the time. Leningrad and the last stop on our Soviet trip before our return to the states. Leningrad I must say was more interesting at least from my point of view then Moscow. The city itself was different; after all this had been the capital of the country during the revolutions though that was the past even then as at that time the Winter Palace was the Hermitage. With the Hermitage being one of the world’s largest museums I could not help but spend one whole afternoon there out of the three I had; though one would really require more time to fully appreciate the entire museum. In Leningrad, I was fortunate enough to be given a hotel room which unlike the one in Moscow and Kiev I did not have to share with any of the members from my group. This factor would prove advantageous as I would go on to meet two very lovely young ladies from Kiev by the names of Victoria Ibanchenko and Svetlana. It was with these two friends that I would spend three very lustful evenings (two with Victoria, One with Svetlana), thanks to which I would draw inspiration for “Svetlana Ibanchenko”. Svetlana Ibanchenko being a fictional Russian soprano in my book “New York’s Opera Society”. There was something so romantic yet beautiful in these two that their dreams and ambitions took over me as I was creating this small but important character in my first book. Tragedy would also fill my stay in Leningrad as it was there that I found out that an American airplane (Pan Am) had been the victim of a bomb along with all of the passengers while flying over Scotland. At that moment there was little for me to do but be grateful that it was not I who had been on that flight and continue with the good time I was having; which is precisely what I did. The last night I would spend in Leningrad as I would be leaving the following evening was one I which will stay with me forever. My group and I went to see the Kirov ballet and what an experience it was. The Kirov was no less grand then the Bolshoi though different. My father had told me when I asked him that the difference was that the Kirov was more artistic while the Bolshoi was more dynamic and this I could see as I witnessed their performance of another Tchaikovsky piece; this time “Swan Lake” and what a show it was. They seemed to float in the air; almost as if they could fly and had an energy about them which let them to do as they wished with their bodies with such grace that it was almost like watching angels. Regarding my last two nights; these two were spent with Victoria and who knows what would have become of our relationship had it not been for the “Iron Curtain” which made it almost impossible for her to come live with me in America. I naturally tried to send her an invitation but even this was difficult given the closed system her country had at the time and though I did not have problems regarding money when it came to inviting Victoria over to the States still the matter was more complicated then I would have ever considered possible. It is hard for me to say what would have happened perhaps Victoria and I would have gone on to get married and have children but then my life would have been another, though also interesting. I for my part wish Victoria Ibanchenko from Kiev all the best in what ever she decided to do with her life. Upon my return to New York I naturally dedicated a lot of my time and money to trying to bring Victoria over to America; who in retrospective I can say I had fallen in love with and though my attempts ended in failure, I can in all sincerity say that I did make every effort to have her be with me in America. Once in New York; I also with the inspiration of having been in the Soviet Union still in me, went to see the world famous “Mosayeb” (Russian folk dance company) who just happened to be performing at “Radio City”. This too like the Bolshoi and Kirov was a performance that left me mesmerized as it combined grace and music in a way that also expressed so much though perhaps in a more modern fashion which was no less impressive. As a strange coincidence I will add that on that evening I bumped in to the man who had been our tour guide in the Soviet Union. Actually so much was my desire to have Victoria come to America and interest in what I had seen in the Soviet Union that I even started taking private lessons in Russian, which would come in very useful many years later in 1992 in Chile. A country I would have never imagined would require me to speak Russian. It was there in Santiago that one day after having taken photographs for one of the newspapers I was in contact with saw a poster advertising an upcoming performance by the Bolshoi. By then I was working as a freelance photographer and was not really planning on seeing the Bolshoi; believing it would be expensive but I was glad to see that they were in town. This being something to practically cheer about as there had been a time in Chile, not long before during the reign of Pinochet in which the Bolshoi and all other things from the Soviet Union were banned. It was on the same day after seeing the poster that I walked in to a shoe store where stood a couple; a woman whose slim body gave away that she must have been a ballerina with a man who had what I would classify as an athletic though not muscular build. In all frankness neither caught my attention till I heard them speaking Russian and it was at that moment that my mind put two and two together. The Bolshoi were in town, this woman was very slim and spoke Russian so it was at that moment that I decided to introduce myself; which I did so using the Russian I had learnt in Poland as well as my private lessons. I managed to get their names; hers being Nina Semizorowa (whom I would later find out was one of the Bolshoi’s biggest stars and their top attraction on that particular tour) and his being one which I have forgotten though he was Nina’s husband. Naturally, my being a photographer at the time made it that I had my camera which I used to get a snap shot of the two. I being ignorant about the ballet at the time did not realize that Nina was such a huge star of the Bolshoi and it was not her humble personality that gave her away either as her husband and her were among the most unassuming people I had ever met. This in spite of or maybe because both of them were stars of the Bolshoi; arguably the best ballet company in the world, where only the best are allowed. The Bolshoi being to ballet what the NBA is to basketball or the “Serie A” is to football, basically a collection of the world’s top talent. As a footnote I might add that an English actress named Joyce Frankenberg (later known as Jane Seymour or “Doctor Quinn” on the TV serial with the same name) was once accepted in to the Bolshoi in which she due to injury was only able to give one performance as a prima ballerina. After having chatted to Nina Semizorowa and her husband I quickly got the photo developed and took it over to the hotel where I knew they were staying and it was there where I got to meet the remaining members of the Bolshoi; who had made the trip to Chile. There was something about them that I must confess made them among the most interesting people not only to watch dance but to talk to and as I spoke to them one of their managers invited me over for the following day to not only watch them practice but to take photographs as well. It was that following day that I became a ballet fan, maybe it was knowing them and being able to ask them questions along with seeing the dedication they put in to what they did that made me appreciate the ballet all the more. I took many a photograph which would end up in a couple of Chile’s newspapers though in all truth I do not recall which but what mostly stuck out in my mind was the friendships I made with the members of the Bolshoi ballet specially with a very young dancer of twenty years of age by the name of Anna Petrova. It was through one of the member’s of their entourage that she asked if I cared to take her photograph and mail it to her which I naturally agreed to do. Anna was a shy young girl from Leningrad who spoke English well enough to at least hold a conversation which is what we did and what a delight it was as I not only took photographs (using a whole role of film on her) but getting to know her. She being one who could not have exceeded the 5 foot mark by much and whose weight could not have been that much over 100 pounds but in this body held the strength of one who could perform moves of incredible grace as the ballet requires. As far as our conversations were concerned, at least during our first encounter; they mostly centered around ballet with me asking her many question which ranged from what she felt was the difference between the Bolshoi and the Kirov with her telling me that it was difficult to put in to words however it was then that I wanted to try out my father’s theory which she admitted to there being some truth in. I also asked Anna what she felt about the Mosayeb which she claimed to be good but not as good as it had once been 20 years before. Many things were said between Anna and myself that day in a conversation that I found most fascinating but the one answer she gave me which distinguished itself in my mind the most was when I asked her what she thought of American Ballet. It was my question which yielded her reply and it I will never forget as I quote “American, French and British ballet are very strong and good but we’re the best”. A statement which would be hard to dispute prompted my comeback “as is the “dream team” in basketball”. My comment being made as that was the year in which Jordan, Bird, Magic Johnson, Carl Malone and many others showed their incredible talent during the Barcelona Olympic games as the now legendary “dream team”. On that day at the auditorium which had been designated to the Bolshoi; I also got to talk to other members of the Bolshoi; one of them being a friend of Anna’s who told me that he had received several offers from American ballet companies of more money but feared making the move given that he had heard perhaps rightly or wrongly that many American ballet companies went bankrupt. He however was considering the offer made to him by the Geoffrey Ballet but was not sure yet. Other things which this young ballet dancer told me included that he really did not have to watch his diet so much as some of the female dancers and that he felt that there were some dancers in the Bolshoi who had made it not so much because of their dancing abilities but their connections in the party. I of course could not say anything regarding this comment; me not knowing anything with regards but I was surprised at his comment, not so much at what he had stated but that he had at all as I could imagine there was a time, not that long before where one could have been in deep trouble for saying less. The day had been grand but the night would not be less as I was going to be seeing the Bolshoi ballet in action performing scenes from many ballets that included “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky along with others such as “Giselle” by Adams. I particularly remember this last one given that it was the one that featured my new friend (whom unfortunately I have lost contact with) Anna Petrova in the lead role and what a performance she gave. In saying this however I must confess not to be a connoisseur of the ballet as I am other things such as football or singing or acting; which makes it difficult for me to give an impartial view of her performance that evening but to my eyes she was wonderful in the role she played. She danced like a bubble from a bath, bouncing not even on the stage but in the air as she delighted all those present, one of them being the president of Chile at the time; Patricio Aylwin. To me not only Anna but all the members of the Bolshoi danced not as if they were dancing to the music which was playing for them but as if their dancing was creating the music, such was the coordination between music and the moves that it seemed that they were one in the same. As if they were an image that was being created by the music and how grand it was that night as I got to see something that will last with me till the end of my days and all not only due to the spectacle I witnessed but the bond of friendship that had been created. The following day I went to the Holiday Inn to see off the members of the Bolshoi and specially my friend Anna Petrova; whom I had agreed to meet at a certain hour only to find out that she and the rest of the members of the Bolshoi, were not back from an extended interview they were giving to the Chilean press which lasted over two hours. I however did not mind waiting as it was while I was doing so that I met a man from Chile who had been one of the people responsible for bringing the Bolshoi to Chile. We as one can expect talked about the Bolshoi (in Spanish) and how they had been allowed to come to Chile now that Pinochet was no longer president. Freedom of speech however had not come completely as the government, influenced by the Catholic church had banned the British heavy metal group “Iron Maiden” from playing in Santiago on their 1992 tour of South America. Once my friend Anna returned to the hotel our time was limited to say good bye given her late arrival (which she apologized for) and the fact that she and the rest of the Bolshoi had little time to get to their flight on time. Anna and I went for a walk around the hotel which must have lasted about 15 minutes in which we did not talk about the ballet but our lives and taste in music; her claiming to like Elvis Presley apart from Tchaikovsky and me claiming to be found of Iron Maiden apart from opera and classical music. Unfortunately time was not on our side as I would have liked to take her to a nice place for lunch given, not so much due to my physical attraction toward her but my desire to enjoy her company, however this was not to be as we had to limit ourselves to exchanging addresses, so I could send her the photos I had taken of her. I for my part bought her a flower from a street vendor as a token of the short but friendly time we spent together. I would go on to send her the photographs though in all honesty I am not sure she ever received them as I got no reply from her but this does not matter so much as I was truly enchanted by not only me encounter with the Bolshoi but with Anna Petrova.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. As for the details regarding my life I would say that there is nothing that lifts them above the ordinary. I was born in New York City in 1967 on May 21st and am presently living in Warsaw, Poland where I wrote my first book ?New York?s Opera Society? now Available on Amazon.