The OLDER Photographers' thread...

Lbsimon wrote in post #16699552
How old are you?! NKVD was changed into MVD in 1946.

Sort of. All the "NK" (Naródnyy Komissariát) organizations were changed to "M" (Ministerstvo) in 1946, the NKVD being just one of them. Other than the name change, they remained the kind, friendly group we all knew and loved.

In 1954, they became the KGB, ready and willing to star in a bunch of James Bond movies.

Lbsimon wrote in post #16697923
I would not. It is a polluted country (air, water), with people who are not nice, to put it mildly, with food and drinks that you have no idea what in it, very expensive for tourists, with little or expensive services, and very unpredictable. I was there a few times - still have some family and friends there, but not since ten years ago. Keep in mind, Russian is my mother tongue, and still I always felt uncomfortable there.

I've got a good idea of what the country is like. I've been to Ukraine 3 times now, and although it is now a separate country, it's pretty much the same culture. Call me crazy, but I love being over there. I was there for 18 days last time, and had one warm shower. The rest were all straight cold water. I guess it's just adventurous for me.

You want extreme tourism? You will find it there!

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #16699985
I've got a good idea of what the country is like. I've been to Ukraine 3 times now, and although it is now a separate country, it's pretty much the same culture. Call me crazy, but I love being over there. I was there for 18 days last time, and had one warm shower. The rest were all straight cold water. I guess it's just adventurous for me.

And just what were you doing there that required you to take so many cold showers?

They have central heating systems for many city blocks, and that includes the supply of hot water into apartments. In summer they do the maintenance, and that shuts down all hot water for a month. Some residents in newer apartments install their own water heater, but they are just a few.

I visited Moscow a few times over the years, usually in summer, and every time it meant cold showers.

I cannot say what Jill was doing there!

Well, serious setback. A month and a half ago I had my total knee replacement. I was improving by leaps and bounds. I went in for a routine check up today. Am scheduled for surgery in the morning. I have an infection due to some rejection issues.

^^Sorry to hear that Scoody. All the best for this next round!

Scoody wrote in post #16703238
Well, serious setback. A month and a half ago I had my total knee replacement. I was improving by leaps and bounds. I went in for a routine check up today. Am scheduled for surgery in the morning. I have an infection due to some rejection issues.

Isn't it fun to get old?

I'm going in for cataract surgery in March. It's either get the surgery or paint my cane white.

Ricardo222 wrote in post #16703377
^^Sorry to hear that Scoody. All the best for this next round!

Well the surgery went just ducky and my recovery was set back no more than a week.

Scoody wrote in post #16705346
Well the surgery went just ducky and my recovery was set back no more than a week.

Excellent news!

20droger wrote in post #16700554
And just what were you doing there that required you to take so many cold showers?

I went on a few missions trips. Working and playing outside all day meant a person needed to shower every day. And just sweating all day in the summer heat. Hot water was turned off for maintenance so every shower was cold.

The second trip I went on saw us staying at a camp right on the shore of the Black Sea. The water there was so funky with sulphur that you'd smell worse after showering. I decided to just take my shampoo with me when I went swimming. Everyone else followed along pretty quickly.

Oh, and shaving your legs in sea water results in a very smooth finish. Just don't cut yourself!

Jill-of-all-Trades wrote in post #16705367
I went on a few missions trips. Working and playing outside all day meant a person needed to shower every day. And just sweating all day in the summer heat. Hot water was turned off for maintenance so every shower was cold.

The second trip I went on saw us staying at a camp right on the shore of the Black Sea. The water there was so funky with sulphur that you'd smell worse after showering. I decided to just take my shampoo with me when I went swimming. Everyone else followed along pretty quickly.

Oh, and shaving your legs in sea water results in a very smooth finish. Just don't cut yourself!

I don't normally shave my legs.

20droger wrote in post #16705636
I don't normally shave my legs.

Normally?

Must be a story here!

20droger wrote in post #16705636
I don't normally shave my legs.

Please, no pictures. Some things just can't be unseen.

20droger wrote in post #16705636
I don't normally shave my legs.

JAZZ D.P.G. wrote in post #16707436
Normally?

Must be a story here!

MikeThompson wrote in post #16707582
Please, no pictures. Some things just can't be unseen.

Well, one of them has been shaved for surgery, but that's about it.