21 decembre 2005 - Nizhny Novgorod
I do finally know what makes "my country" so loved abroad. In fact, it simply mixes well tradition et hi-light. State-of-the-art of French refinement. These days, I felt nostalgic of the soviet era, as large rooms, well-heated room, cheap and convenient facilities. Nostalgic of very functional things/system. When new does rimes with economic and over-priced. Between the "my existidores are bigger than yours", and "I look good, while I’m actually not" attitude, when lounge and standards are au detriment de l’essentiel. I do prefer by much local but helpful staff, antiquities but ads-free TV-casts, hidden but cosy places, and so on... Today, for the 1st time since I’ve been travelling abroad, I found a cafe house which has successfully combined a French touch abroad: A Russian, slightly modern facade, with a "бон апети" smiley. Inside, two rooms, the 1st one, visible from outside, looks something between a bakery which would act like a bar-pmu, with cafe-pmu purpose, clean as a hairdressing salon. The second room is dedicated to catering, with a handful tables. It has a redolent atmosphere of "passe par le temps", thought it`s not. Music is classical but does not sound oldies. [Tune you might hear in a spot for Chanel]. Heat system is smartly displayed, some touristic pictures of France, which do not sound postcards for tourists. Sugar "en morceaux", not served in powder sticks. For a coffee time you can escape Russian harshness. Time’s still flowing, thought. But you do not suffer traffic annoyances, nor freezing and outbearing temperatures. You can feel tiny country, with the sea and Paris. What`s France? Montmartre, le Mt St Michel, et ses parcs "a la Versailles", avec ses bassins. Comfort, krasner (=red/beautiful). Colours? Black, wooden. cream, metal, red, stare. Bref... it’s time to leave this lovely place. But cleary this "Exotic country" is good to keep in mind when I’m to be there in two days. I`ll be in need to remember this. Au fait, what’s Russian here? Just a golden arrow above the Christmas tree, and a weak light, and a Кока-Кула machine. No picture, as It’s forbidden there. Et voila, Yves Rocher, L`Etoile, et ce salon de the. This is France in Russia.
La flamme eternelle avec "panorama" sur la Volga.
A l`interieur du kremlin, toujours un memorial de la grande guerre patriotique (comme celui de volgograd que je n`avais pas pu photographier), avec des drapeaux, et des vehicules exposes. Au fond a droite, l`entree principale du kremlin.
La flamme eternelle avec "panorama" sur la Volga.
une autre prise de la flamme eternelle, avec en arriere-plan un char et un monument aux heros de la grande guerre patriotique .
La flamme eternelle avec la cathedrale de l`Archange Michael.
A l`interieur du kremlin, toujours un memorial de la grande guerre patriotique (comme celui de volgograd que je n`avais pas pu photographier), avec des drapeaux, et des vehicules exposes. Au fond a droite, l`entree principale du kremlin.
