Vyborg, PrimorskJune 17, 2007 Yes, yes, this is still that same trip where I forgot all of my photo cameras at home. VyborgMap![]() It turns out we too have our own piece of Scandinavian-Baltic antiquity, complete with a XIII century castle. The tower was already closed by the time we got there, and in order to get into the castle you had to buy a ticket to attend a night of shitty yelping music. The sound of drumming and overstretched vocal chords blared from behind the wall. ![]() Coppers with trendy hubcaps guarded the entrance. ![]() Let’s take a stroll through the streets. Even if you are a stranger to the problem of buildings being made to look awful using stupid methods, you can still tell that this Sberbank green colour is totally out of place. It should be obvious that how you feel in a town is more important than internal corporate rules. It should be obvious that a black-painted metal logo and panels would look a hundred times better on this building. ![]() In parts the town resembles Riga. ![]() In parts it’s like Amsterdam. ![]() In parts it’s like Tallinn. ![]() In parts it resembles Helsinki (where, just like in Santiago, buildings are frequently marked with the architect’s last name and the year they were built). ![]() However, if you gaze upwards you can instantly tell where you actually are. Only in Russian airspace will you see a granite plaque with typography about as sophisticated as that of a printed out office notice. ![]()
Central market building Now I know how to say “blini, pelemeni, doughnuts” in Finnish. ![]() Finns come here in droves to feel nostalgia and sadness. ![]()
Town of Vyborg Military Cemetery
Nonetheless, Vyborg is like something out of the Soviet Union. ![]() They could’ve really made something of this town, but they’ve handed it over to restaurant owners instead, the latter being more concerned with putting on banquets than doing restoration work. The general feeling you get from Vyborg is one of emptiness, like nobody could care less about this dilapidated backwater. ![]() PrimorskMapA village on its last legs. In the centre there’s a temple, which has been turned into cinema. ![]() Inside — stands with photo essays relating exciting events. ![]() Day of the Senior Citizen The highway linking Primorsk to St Petersburg was deliberately designed to test whether the wheels of your car are securely fastened in place. |
june
|
june
|
june 2007
Vyborg, Primorsk
← Ctrl →
|
june
Yakhroma, Serpukhov, Polenovo, Tarusa (Aviation Weekend) |
june
|
© 19952025 Artemy Lebedev |