Posts Tagged "nyc"
Russia-NYC Photo Series 14
When people in Russia bring up Harlem in conversation with me, it is almost always in the context of "a very dangerous place," as if they are picturing a scene from the 1970s film "The Warriors." So, I found it curious when Anna walked by me in Sochi wearing a shirt with Harlem written across it. I didn't get a chance to speak in detail with her and her boyfriend - they were tired from a near 7 hour car trip they made to Sochi for the weekend. Anna said she came from Krimsk, a town that was terribly damaged by flooding a few years ago, a tragic event that dominated headlines for several days.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 13
Russia-NYC Photo Series 12
Moscow has a reputation of being a cold city both literally and figuratively. I have heard people say on a few occasions something along the lines: 'Moscow is a place for earning money, not living.' But you will see many 'warm' moments that will convince you otherwise if you stroll through the city's parks on nearly any given day. This photo of a young guy in a Brooklyn shirt and his girlfriend was taken at the Moscow 'Color Festival' this summer ... though it may actually be a bit above a 'warm' moment on the temperture scale.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 11
As we exited the metro, I asked Roman if I could take his photo with the Bronx hat and he agreed. On the escalator ride up to the street, I asked him what kind of work he was involved in. He leaned toward my ear and whispered "I'm an artist."
Russia-NYC Photo Series 10
Roma, who lives in Moscow region, was wearing his Brooklyn Bridge shirt as he visited the Olympic Ski Resort Roza Khutor in Sochi with his family. His dad said Roma may want to serve in the armed forced when he is older, adding it has become "prestigious" again to do so. His father's words reminded me of an interview I had more than a decade ago with a former Russian officer, who said he left to work in business exactly because it was no longer "prestigious" to serve and moral low. Indeed, since that interview in early 2000s, salaries for the Russian armed forces have risen significantly and equipment/living conditions updated.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 9
I learned something new about Russian sports from my chance encounter with Mikhail, whom I saw standing next to Lenin's Tomb on Red Square in his New York hat and USA-flag shirt with Mickey Mouse. Mikhail, who lives about 200km from Moscow, was in town to visit his sister. He said he is a member of a stuntbike team, which is soccer (football) on motorbikes with the exception that the ball is much bigger. He said Russia as several stuntbike teams around the country. As for his t-shirt... It jokingly calls Mickey Mouse "America's version of Cheburashka," a Russia's cartoon character. Cheburashka was created in mid 1960s, whereas Mickey Mouse was created in 1920s.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 8
Vlad was standing with his girlfriend outside a metro station in northwestern Moscow. Vlad said he bought the shirt because he likes the Brooklyn Nets, which is owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Vlad is a fire-fighting specialist for the Russian Emergency Ministry, which probably explains his big physique.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 7
Zhenya was wearing a NYC shirt while practicing extreme biking in a sport center in Krasnoyarsk, a Siberian city 2,000 miles (3,200km) from Moscow. Zhenya said he bought the shirt during a trip to NYC for a break dancing competition. He said he started breakdancing when he was in kindergarden and that it's now popular in his school. His school break dancing team has won a few championships in Russia, he said.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 4
It's the equivalent of hitting two home runs in a game - finding two friends that are both wearing NYC-themed clothing. This wasn't the only time. I first saw the guy on the right in the metro with the Bronx hat, the first time I came across that borough here. I only noticed his friend was wearing a Manhaatan shirt once I got ready to take their photo.
Russia-NYC Photo Series 6
Zhenya, a dancer and DJ from Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia, was visiting a tattoo convention in Moscow when I saw him. He had just gotten a tattoo on his upper left arm. Zhenya said he bought his Brooklyn bikers cap in NYC last year during a work trip.
