3.19.13 St. Petersburg - the eye of the storm

Mys*&@^#r, I agree with you and was going to post pretty much the same thing. Thanks for saying it for me.

freaking out might have been harsh.....but there is some def angst and worrying.  Adam has a team of people and he's a smart man.  I don't see him doing anything to cause controversy while he's there.  He had no issues in Moscow so I'm sure he'll have no issues in St. Petersburg.  

I've never visited Russia, I wish I was in a position to travel like that...perhaps when I'm older, like many of the ladies on here, I can enjoy those luxuries.   The stories about all the places you guys have been makes me hope that when I'm your age I've done even half as much

As for the gov v. the people, the same can be said of the majority of countries IMO, including the U.S.  

 

I want to begin by making it perfectly clear that I think Adam will be fine in St. Petersburg.  He's a smart guy.   I am also with those of the opinion that Adam just being who he is and traveling to places that are notoriously intolerant of gays is enough of a statement.  Unlike Gaga or Madonna, he doesn't have to announce his support, he just has to be there with his fabulous talent and his ardent, fanatical fans.  (I'm picturing the long lines in the blizzard!) 
 
But since there has been discussion of what life is like today "behind what was the Iron Curtain" I thought I'd add a current anecdote.  My son just got back from a semester abroad in St. Pete's.  He loved the city for the most part, enjoyed the Hooka lounges at night.  He also was afraid for any of the girls to be on their own in the evenings but had only one truly scary incident.  While crossing the street a car basically stopped so close he had to jump away and instictually hit the hood of the car with his hand in anger/protest.  The driver got out with a big knife and came after him, along with his 2 passengers.  My son apologized profusely, or as profusely as he could with his elementary Russian, while trying to keep himself between the men and the girl he was with.  I guess they took pity on the foreigner and eventually retreated back to their abandoned car but, DS was scared shitless.  Of course he didn't tell us about this until he got home, thank God.  ???

It just seems like a place that looks safe and normal and beautiful, but underneath there is a touch of the old west lawlessness that could erupt at any moment.  I guess that's why people drive around with their dashboard cameras - to catch the unrestrained, bizarre occurrences that might pop up anywhere, at any time.  Just my impression - FWIW 8-)

This can (and does) happen in any city in the U.S.....of course the difference being the person would probably jump out with a gun and would likely shoot first and ask questions later.