Kronstadt

February 6, 2011

Not much has changed here since last time.

The Soviet Union still isn’t over in some parts.

But there’s a silver lining to this: the real Saint Petersburg is kept preserved here in its original, untarnished state.

Without plastic window units.

Without air conditioners on building facades.

Without flashy signs.

With endearing artifacts.

Walk-ing do-gs on the beach is forbidden

Sometimes even unexpected ones.

A particularly sculptural informational structure at a bus stop.

Komsomol St. Nevsky optics. Glasses. Frames. Contact lenses. Doctor. Computer vision diagnostics. 17 Petrovskaya St.

The bucket didn’t fit into the trash can.

Speaking of trash—there’s a lovely portrait of the composer Mussorgsky here, made of trash (the Russian word for which is musor) collected on the local beaches.

But it wouldn’t be fair to say that the advances of civilization have completely bypassed Kronstadt. There are street signs just like in any Saint Petersburg suburb here.

Posadskaya Street

There are two whole high-tech innovation-stuffed posts with wind turbines and solar batteries.

There’s a glass kiosk with tourist information.

There’s even a “Headlights and seatbelt!” sign as you leave the city (like in Tyumen, see also § 141. Make it short).

But overall, the place is an absolute time capsule.