silouettes

'city zero'

http://www.afisha.ru/article/sapr_net/

that is a truly true article about moscow. yet it does have some counter resoncance to it. 

indeed, one can find anything that is possible to think of in moscow. even a quite big yacht, having no sea here, only the 'moskva-reka'. the 90's were awful in their kitch and chasing for luxury, and poverty at the same time. now the 00's are about to end, and it seems that moscow has got to a new better level. 

now moskovites have everything: modern art, modern buildings, speedy-highways, cinema, concerts, luxurious and not very bars and restaurants, night life satisfying every taste and demand. But all the time something lacks. maybe it's the smell of the megapolis? megapolis gives this fake feeling of life running. moscow is indeed dynamic and chaotic, and you seem to have a feeling of your own life digging its way as you are inside the sea of people in the metro or on a street. 

moscow does its all best to be more like a european city, but it is way too eclectic to be so. it is eclectic in its architecture, in its atmosphere, in its attitudes. it is like a bizzare and irrational puzzle. 

it seems to answer all requirements of a 'western' city, but you cannot just walk out to a bolungerie, wearing home-wear to get a baguette, you cannot enjoy birds in the park. you cannot bike, cannot enjoy a street cafe. cannot say an innocent hi to a stranger without getting a frowned look back. cannot do the little things a city-life is composed of.  and this is the point of the article.

but: i do run out to small shops to get fruits/vegetables/baguettes, i do smile to people on the street, i do bike a lot (with flowers in my basket :-)), i do enjoy street cafes. my friends and i do all those little simple things. 

it took some time to discover that cozy side of moscow. because of the huge assortment, one has to work quite hard on making moscow home-like. and this is probably its main difference from a western city - you cannot love it at once, you have to work your own moscow out. Still, this 'like' always remains. 

and we don't like when life is too nice, ai? 

jeunesse lève-toi

jim beam

now it is warm enough to walk all night through!