Rostov

Map

December 11–12, 2010

Midnight. They’re already waiting for me in the kremlin (as town citadels are historically called in Russia).

I drive Coucousique up to one of the towers and honk. The tall gates slowly swing open, creaking in the frost. Leaving my car inside the kremlin walls, I proceed indoors, where my heated chambers await.

Waking up in the kremlin is nice.

Fresh air, quiet, frost outside the window. The first visitors are being let in.

The advantage to staying in the kremlin chambers is that you can roam the grounds at any time of day or night, whereas outside visitors are only allowed in during the daytime.

The kremlin electrical room.

After getting some sleep, it’s time to come out and greet the people. And the people are already awaiting—with an outstretched enameled bowl. There’s nationalistic graffiti on the row of shopping stalls.

All wogs sux

This issue is of great concern to the residents of Rostov.

No parking. Wall may collapse. Go suck cock where you belong wogs

Two stray pooches accompanied me on my stroll around the city. One of them squatted down to relieve itself upon seeing “glory to the Primorsky Partisans” stenciled on the wall.

A compound sentence with coordinate clauses.

Stas. M. is a loser and that’s the law!

A sentence without a subject.

...is a slut.

A sentence without a predicate.

Khovik—...!

A pillar with ads and flyers.

December 17th at Rostov the Great Theater: women’s and teens’ coat expo and sale. Sizes 42-64. Penza City. Holiday discounts and free gifts! December 17th, 2010 at Rostov the Great Theater: shoe sale. Natural leather. Made in Ulyanovsk, Belarus. December 15th at Rostov the Great Theater: Favorite Wagon dress shoe sale, Winter 2010. Over 30 new models, including natural leather. Everything for 1200 rubles. Cardiologist Andrei Aleksandrovich Karakin, PhD. Certification in Germany. Consultations in Rostov: call to make an appointment.

Hypnosis show (reminded me of Liberia).

Informative and entertaining Hypnosis Show. All acts involve audience participation. You will obtain: practical self-hypnosis and self-programming skills. Knowledge which allows you to enter the incredible world of your higher Self. A unique opportunity to utilize the untapped reserves of your mind to heal, get rid of bad habits, effectively shape your personality and future. Author and host: hypnotherapist, psychotherapist Alexander Gurin

Amidst all the ads, I suddenly encountered a taxi call button. How unexpected. The last time I saw a taxi call button was in Milan.

Lyon Taxi call button. Repairs. Jobs.

The doggies strolled right past the kitty.

The bus stops in Rostov are fairly dull.

But the little wooden zebras hanging above pedestrian crossing signs make up for it. Naïve and cute.

In general, Rostov is magnificent.

The provincial Russian charm still exists here in its pristine, uncorrupted form.

And that’s what makes the city interesting.

The doggies continued on their way

The architectural details are pleasing.

The materials and surfaces are pleasing.

Rostov got lucky with its surprisingly pretty gas main location markings.

And equally lucky with its 1960s street name signs.

50th Anniversary of October St. Marshal Alexeev St.

The only thing it wasn’t so lucky with is its name—whenever the city is mentioned, the first thing people think of is Rostov-on-Don. The attempt to rechristen it Rostov the Great wasn’t terribly successful because officially the name of city remained unchanged. And Rostov deserves love and recognition with its existing name.