Sir, – I have read with great interest Séamus Martin’s articles on Russia. It is, indeed, a powerful and concise account of its history, past and present, from one who lived there during the last days of the Soviet Union and he brings us right up to date with modern Russia.
Visiting Moscow some weeks ago, I saw a vibrant city with plenty of exclusive shops, expensive cars, no parking restrictions, so no parking meters. Thereby, traffic jams were the order of the day. Its subway system, just 70 years old, is amazing and is the fourth largest in the world. Unique in design, most of the stations resemble palatial halls with the most lavish of decoration which includes bronze, mosaic, chandeliers, stained glass worked into their design.
The same progressive vein runs through the little villages outside of Moscow and along the Volga, where modern Russia is very much in evidence while the villages retain their own traditional customs. – Yours, etc,
