I’ve been hard at work organizing travel photos to inspire future travel.  A lot has changed since these photos were taken in 1988 in Leningrad, Russia (now St. Petersburg).  Note the communist imagery and the absence of commercialism.


Leningrad

Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) has many extraordinary monuments including the State Hermitage Museum (located in part in the distinctive blue former Winter Palace), Peter & Paul Fortress (with the high, gold spire), and St. Issac’s Cathedral.


Leningrad, Hermitage Museum, Peter & Paul Fortress, & St. Issac’s Cathedral

The Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow bordered by Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral to the east and overlooking the Moskva River to the south.  It is surrounded by a defensive wall with multiple towers enclosing five palaces and four cathedrals.  The former residence of the Czars now serves as the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.


Moscow, The Kremlin

Red Square is the central square of Moscow.  In 1988, Lenin’s tomb was the main attraction, but the extraordinary onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral have always stolen the show. 


Moscow, Red Square, & St. Basil’s Cathedral

I love these photos of the Moscow Skyline and Gorky Park.  These ramshackle amusement park rides are now long gone.


Moscow, Gorky Park

Here’s a link to an interesting article about Gorky Park in post-Soviet times (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/world/europe/gorky-park-once-drab-now-glows.html). It is a little dated but still interesting.

All photos by Jay Yokley
Source: @jayspassport | Published: May 4, 2020