Last night my Wife and I went to Red Square. For it is now the great New Years celebration! I put together a video of some of the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Gum Department store and everything else that is located on the Red Square. If you have never seen the Red Square this will be a treat for you!
Hello,![](http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/kylekeeton/coffee.gif")
I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about…
As we continue through the Holidays, we must all be much more conscience about pedestrians. People need to get out to buy Holiday gifts & go to family and friends for Holiday dinners.
We do not all have cars; The ones who do have cars, need to care about pedestrians. In Russia as I have said before, Pedestrians are like a target in a Cross Walk! I have seen many close calls and very serious (death) involving crossing the roads in Moscow! WHY?….(Click: read more for rest of the story!)
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One Pedestrian Killed, 2 Injured by Police Vehicle
The Moscow Times
One young woman was killed and two others injured after they were mowed down by a police car while crossing the street in a crosswalk in southwest Moscow, police said Thursday.
The three women, all 18-year-old citizens of Kyrgyzstan, were crossing Ulitsa Profsoyuznaya at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when they were struck by the patrol car, a Lada hatchback heading out of town, police sources told Interfax.
The car was driven by a warrant officer from a police precinct in the Moscow region town of Domodedovo, the sources said.
The accident once again throws a spotlight on reckless driving in Moscow and the customary disregard that drivers demonstrate toward pedestrians here.
The warrant officer told investigators that he did not notice the women, and blood-alcohol tests showed that he was sober, Interfax reported.
The names of the women and the officer were not given in the report. City traffic police and the city branch of the Investigative Committee, which is handling the investigation, both declined to comment Thursday.
No one answered at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Moscow.
A Domodedovo police spokeswoman said only that an internal investigation had been opened. She refused to say whether any formal charges were brought against the warrant officer and whether he had been arrested.
Perhaps nothing encompasses the savage pace of life in Moscow like the widespread driver disregard for pedestrians. Anybody who has ever tried to cross the street in Moscow, whether at a crosswalk or traffic light, knows how perilous this mission can be. Drivers not only rarely stop for pedestrians, they often speed up to make sure the would-be crossers stay put.
Ulitsa Profsoyuznaya, in particular, is notorious for its dangerous crosswalks. In January, Nastya Pak, 8, and her 5-year-old brother, Pyotr, were struck and killed while crossing the thoroughfare in a crosswalk with their mother.
Several police officers throughout the country have been involved in serious traffic accidents this year.
In August, a traffic cop in Samara struck two pedestrians while driving his own Lada, killing one and seriously injuring the other. A blood-alcohol test revealed that he was drunk.
In July, the head of the juvenile delinquency department of the Interior Ministry’s Kirov region branch ran over a teenage girl in the town of Omutninsk. The girl suffered serious injuries, and when traffic police arrived, the officer refused to take a blood-alcohol test.
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What causes accidents at marked crosswalks?
Research suggests that marked crosswalks give pedestrians a false sense of security. Pedestrians often step off the curb into the crosswalk expecting drivers of vehicles approaching the crosswalks to stop. However, drivers frequently fail to stop and cause an accident. At all crosswalks, both marked and unmarked, it is the pedestrian’s responsibility to be cautious and alert before starting to cross the street.
At midblock crosswalks on multi-lane roadways, another frequent factor in causing accidents involves the driver in the lane nearest the curb stopping for a pedestrian that is waiting to cross or who is already in the crosswalk. The driver of a second vehicle traveling in the lane next to the stopped vehicle tries to pass the stopped vehicle and hits the pedestrian, even though it is illegal for drivers to pass a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk. Pedestrians should be very cautious when walking in a crosswalk, especially when their visibility is limited by vehicles already stopped at the crosswalk.
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The issue is the mentality of the driver in Moscow! Example; I try to stop for pedestrians in a cross walk. The driver behind me gets angry, honks his horn, flashes his lights & passes me on which ever side he can. (Remember that I am stopped to let someone cross!) The person in the cross walk then becomes a target for a rude, crude & socially unacceptable driver!
Sad!
What do you think?
Kyle
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/12/russia-sidewalks-are-made-for-driving.html
http://windowstorussia.com/2007/09/russia-safe.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/06/road-from-village.html
comments always welcome.
Hello,
I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about how Christmas is not even half over in Russia!
I had my Christmas at the 25th of December but now the Russian version of Christmas is coming twice (?) on the 1st & 7th of January…
http://russian-crafts.com/customs/christmas.html
New Year Eve instead of Christmas
Few people in Russia remember, but when the communists took power in 1917 they banned the open expression of religion. While it was easy to pray at home, the Russian people were concerned about giving up their traditional Christmas celebration.
But where there is a will, there is a way!
They re-invented the New Year’s holiday tradition to include a decorated tree, and introduced a character called “Grandfather Frost.” Known as “Ded Moroz,” Grandfather Frost looked very much like the western “Santa Claus” or “Pere Noel” – except he wore a blue suit.
Actually, Ded Moroz was a character that existed in the pagan culture, centuries earlier. For a time, Christmas was all but forgotten. In fact, it was generally celebrated only in small villages, where the citizenry was far from the prying eyes of the Party.
Today, Christmas is celebrated again, on January 7. But, to date, New Year’s remains the bigger event.
Russian Christmas
Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. It’s a day of both solemn ritual and joyous celebration
After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasn’t until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed. Today, it’s once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst the company of the painted icons of Saints.
Christmas is one of the most joyous traditions for the celebration of Eve comes from the Russian tradition. On the Eve of Christmas, it is traditional for all family members to gather to share a special meal. The various foods and customs surrounding this meal differed in Holy Russia from village to village and from family to family, but certain aspects remained the same.
An old Russian tradition, whose roots are in the Orthodox faith, is the Christmas Eve fast and meal. The fast, typically, lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears. The dinner that follows is very much a celebration, although, meat is not permitted. Kutya (kutia), a type of porridge, is the primary dish. It is very symbolic with its ingredients being various grains for hope and honey and poppy seed for happiness and peace.
Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin. Although all of the food served is strictly Lenten, it is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and style. The Russians call this meal: “The Holy Supper.” The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ’s swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place in the center of the Table, symbolic of Christ “the Light of the World.” A large round loaf of Lenten bread, “pagach,” symbolic of Christ the Bread of Life, is placed next to the Candle.
The meal begins with the Lord’s Prayer, led by the father of the family. A prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the past year is said and then prayers for the good things in the coming year are offered. The head of the family greets those present with the traditional Christmas greeting: “Christ is Born!” The family members respond: “Glorify Him!” The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on each forehead, saying: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year.” Following this, everyone partakes of the bread, dipping it first in honey and then in chopped garlic. Honey is symbolic of the sweetness of life, and garlic of the bitterness. The “Holy Supper” is then eaten (see below for details). After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. Then the family goes to Church, coming home between 2 and 3 am. On the Feast of the Nativity, neighbors and family members visit each other, going from house to house , eating, drinking and singing Christmas Carols all the day long.
So I get very confused; I ask Svetochka when is Christmas?
She tells me the 1st of January! Then she says but…. “It is also the 7th of January!” (pause) “Just that the 7th is not as important?”
I am not going to argue, I get lots of Winter Holiday fun & spend it with my Sweetie!
I am a lucky man!
Kyle
WtR
Hello,
For about a year we have slept on the worst bed on earth! Yes thee worst bed; I have slept on rocks, dirt, sticks, mud & you name it!!!! We had the worst bed in History of Mankind! :)))
Our Christmas gift to ourselves was a roll up 100% cotton mattress. This is the softest and most comfortable mattress I have slept on. Last night was the best night sleep we have had in a year.
It was pure heaven!
Cost was 964 Rubles that is about $40.00 American Dollars.
Ever wonder why we put up with things so easy to fix?
Kyle
Moscow, December 26, 2007. – The Salon Press publishing house, a subsidiary of the RBC holding (MICEX, RTS: RBCI), has completed acquisition of a 100% stake in the Kvartirny Otvet magazine. Salon Press has also received exclusive rights to publish the legendary Italian architecture, design and art magazine Domus. Both publications successfully complement the leading Russian interior design publisher’s product line and are set to boost its readership, as well as to create additional advertising opportunities for its clients.
“The publishing house’s development strategy implies continuous optimization of its product range in line with the market requirements. Kvartirny Otvet targets general audience, while Domus is intended for a more dedicated reader,” Salon Press General Director Sergei Shustov said.
Hello,
I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about Winter traditions again.
We had come across an article “Christmas Time in Black Canal Zone”.
It showed Svet and I about how Winter traditions started in Panama. We think that it is very important for people to know how traditions start!
We also came across this article from Malaysia! “Eid ul-Adha”! Another article on what another country does during the Winter Holidays!
http://tsl8.blogspot.com/
http://thesilverpeoplechronicle.blogspot.com/
I have traditions from America that I have put aside because they no longer fit my new life! My wife has gained new traditions from me & I have gained new traditions from Her!
What about You?
Kyle
comments always welcome!
I found several articles on real & very old “Windows in Russia”!
The old windows in Russia are true works of art. The craftsmanship is fantastic. But as all things in the world, the art is fading away.
These are very nice preserved specimens. Most windows in villages of Russia are now collapsing and rotted!
I think that is sad.
Thanks to Krusenstern for publishing such nice examples of Russian Windows!
Kyle
CHANGES IN VISA REGULATIONS:
1. A foreign citizen can obtain a visa to Russia ONLY in the country of his/her citizenship. Exceptions include those who have a residence permit for a foreign country for the period more than 90 days. A visa may also be issued in a country other than an applicant’s own in case of urgent necessity, such as participating in international, governmental, official, scientific, sport and cultural events. A final decision in these cases would be left up to the consulate.
2. A multiple entry business visa allows nationals of all countries to stay in Russia up to 90 days out of the period of 180 days.
Attention: a multiple entry visa is only available for people who have been issued a Russian visa before.
A copy of your previous Russian visa should be enclosed in your application for a multiple entry invitation.
If this is your first visit, you are only eligible to obtain a single or double entry visa for 1 to 3 months.
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/12/russia-visa-terror-continues.h
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/russian-visa-rules-are-changin
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/russian-consulate-locator.html
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HELSINKI — Russian trucks have lined up for 100 kilometers at the Finnish border ahead of the holiday season, prompting Helsinki to ask the European Union for help eliminating the record blockage.
While trucks are stuck at the border, retailers in Russia and the transportation firms are losing money, and local people are afraid to drive on the roads with one lane blocked by trucks……(Click; read more for rest of article!)
Finland’s government said Friday that Transportation Minister Anu Vehvilainen had pleaded for the European Commission to influence Russia to reduce the traffic blockage by increasing electronic customs services, reducing border bureaucracy and developing roads on the Russian side.
Truck lines were about 50 kilometers long on Sunday morning at Finland’s busiest border, Vaalimaa, east of Helsinki. They extended to more than 100 kilometers late Saturday, the Finnish Road Administration said.
“They now probably beat all records so far. A year ago the situation was similarly tough,” senior road administration official Jukka Tamminen said Sunday.
Tamminen said he expected the lines to ease and nearly dissolve by Monday.
Customs officials at Vaalimaa have said there were lines 300 days last year.
Finland has raised the issue with Russia. Finnish President Tarja Halonen said after a meeting in September with President Vladimir Putin that Russia had made decisions that would help improve border traffic but had not carried them out fully.
Russians prefer to import goods through Finland to minimize theft and because harbors near St. Petersburg lack sufficient unloading equipment and warehouses.
Finnish customs have said they could double the amount of trucks that pass through as processing export papers takes only a couple of minutes. But procedures on the Russian side take longer.
The amount of goods imported through Finland has doubled since 2002 to about 3 million tons in 2006 and Russia’s Transportation Ministry has admitted its officials cannot handle the growing number of vehicles.
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said earlier this month in an interview he was considering the introduction of a road tax for Russian trucks by 2011.
Kyle
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