Sunday, August 3, 2014

Russia

This week's Sunday Stamps theme is faraway (or exotic, romantic).  Well, all places seem faraway and exotic to me, though some more so than others. But, I decided to go with what I think of as my first, or most lingering (in spite of the sometimes appalling leaders) exotic faraway place. I have had a fascination with Russia for many years, though I've no idea where this came from. 
I could say it had something to do with the Cold War, or the space race, or even the Olympics, but I don't think so. 


Sputnik

That would be where I heard about Russia - except it was called the Soviet Union then - and really, it was Imperial Russia that held my interest. Or it could have come from Dr Zhivago, but I think that might have just furthered my romantic notion of Russia. 

a Dacha, anyone?

By the time Baryshnikov had defected and I was studying Russian history in high school, I was saving up for a trip to St Petersburg. By the time I was 30, I knew that wasn't going to happen, not with my poorly paying career choices. So I bought coffee table books instead. 

And dreamed of The Kirov 











Catherine the Great and the Romanovs and The Hermitage

I was so excited to get this mini sheet from a generous postcrosser










And, in a flight of fancy, bought a samovar. Though mine didn't look quite like this and it remained solely for decoration until I finally consigned it to an antique shop where it was eventually sold to grace someone else's china cabinet.



15 comments:

  1. Far away places with strange sounding names................

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    1. yes, I loved those names - most of them so long. I despaired that I wasn't named Anastasia or Alexandra. Of course, pronouncing some of the names of the towns was tricky.

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  2. My favorite is the Dacha. Dachas always sound more exotic than cabins.

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    1. I agree, though I love the word 'cottage', which is what I've always equated it with. I now know it wasn't always the case!

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  3. The Kirov ballet stamp is a beauty, well in fact they all are. I even started learning Russian recently in an effort to pursue my dream but after 20 or so lessons I can reliably offer only two words.

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    1. I worked at an office that had mostly Russian clients, so I picked up a few phrases for when I was alone and had to answer the phone! I loved saying Dosvedanya.

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  4. I like the style of the Space stamp! thank you for joining in this week.

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  5. Russia seems to be a popular chojce this week; these stamps show me why.

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  6. Did you find like minded souls? Apart from Anna Karenina, russia seemed forbidding and scary in the Cold War era.

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    1. I was very young during the 60s, so didn't understand the politics. I think the fact of it being so closed off made it more mysterious to my childish mind.

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  7. Beautiful stamps..... very artistic and appealing images.
    I must admit that Dr Zhivago starring Omar Sharif was a very enticing film and every thing looked so romantic! Not so much now, though!
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

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    1. I'm trying not to tar the whole country because of the politics. It can be difficult, at times.

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  8. Great post. Samovar was new to me. Are all these stamps in your collection?

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    1. thank you. yes, they are my collection. I bought the samovar for making my tea without ever thinking about how it should be used. it was probably unfashionable and cheap at the time!

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  9. You've given a nice flavour of Russia through stamps. As I am nearer in distance to Russia I did mange to make it once about 20 years ago and can report the non use of samovars in hotels but the giant shiny tea pots wheeled in on catering trolleys were the tea receptacle of choice, they sure didn't run out tea.

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