Wednesday 23 January 2013

The Photo Gallery; Adventure

This post is for Tara's Photo Gallery, and this week's prompt is 'Adventure'.  Click here for links to the other entries.

If you've visited The Potty Diaries before, you may know that I'm currently living in Moscow, Russia.  Life here can be seen as taxing, exhausting, and insular, if you're not careful.  It's easy to reach the stage where you close yourself off from the constant assault of 'Foreign' on your senses, choosing to stay home, venture out only when the cupboards are bare, and live from the beginning of one school term to the end of the next, buoyed up only by the prospect of leaving for your next trip 'home' the instant the school bell rings.

People do that, here.  For years sometimes.

Or, you can simply treat each day as an adventure.  Even when all you're doing is making a trip to the supermarket.




















I've been wanting to take this particular photo for a while now.  Any ex or current Moscow residents reading this blog will probably recognise this spot; it's on the main road from Sheremetyevo Airport - for a long time, the only international airport for the city - into Moscow.  The soldier shown is in memorial of the soldiers of the 2nd World War (there is a female version on the opposite side of the road), and it's an iconic representation to many Muscovites of the pride they have in the sacrifice Russia's people made in fighting back the tide of Nazism.

To me, he and his female compatriot simply symbolise Moscow, and on a personal level - Adventure*.

* Because let me tell you, it felt pretty adventurous lowering the window in -15degC so I could take the photo whilst negotiating heavy traffic...



8 comments:

  1. Shivering just reading it. Great statue though

    ReplyDelete
  2. Moscow is somewhere I'd love to visit, so different to western cities. Great photo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such an amazing adventure and you area absolutely right, explore and dive in. I lived in Poland for 4 years in the mid 90s and visiting the post office was worthy of adventure status.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an adventure and great photo!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ha! As someone who grew up in Northern Minnesota (temp there currently -22 WIHTOUT windchill--and as you live where you do I KNOW you know what I mean about windchill factors) I totally get what an adventure it was to put your window down to get that shot!

    And what a cool shot it is (no pun intended). I can see what it's an important scene for you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. -15 ... that's def an adventure!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's funny how certain places come to signify things, isn't it? How's life treating out there my dear? Not too dark and cold I hope x

    ReplyDelete
  8. SES - it was cold. In fact, it still is (-16degC this morning. Toasty...)

    The Fool - you should give it a try. It's a very rewarding place to visit - if somewhat pricy!

    Mags, thankyou

    Michelle, oh YES I get the windchill thing. Although luckily I think we may get less of that you they do in some places.

    Claire, it certainly is

    Heather, life's good thank you - if somewhat dark and cold. (So yes, too much of both those things!)

    ReplyDelete

Go on - you know you want to...