Mongol Rally, 2009

(Taken by Tonia)

(Taken by Tonia) The Chernigov fountain. I was a bit aghast (along with the local population) when the famous and popular fountain made of giant frogs was done away with a few years ago. But now the city has really gone to town with things to boost and support the community. As well as the "old people's dancing" - waltzing around the town square of an afternoon - and the open-air karaoke, there was this: a new fountain with amazingly powerful jets, coordinated extremely tightly to a variety of musical pieces put out over a PA, all in time and mood with a series of coloured lights in the water. This must be the latest fashion in the CIS for a week or two later we found almost exactly the same thing in Bishkek, Kyrgystan. It was 11 o'clock at night and yet there were lots of families out enjoying the warm summer's evenings, and kids playing delightedly - and safely - amidst the splashes of water and feel of community.

(Taken by Tonia) The Chernigov fountain. I was a bit aghast (along with the local population) when the famous and popular fountain made of giant frogs was done away with a few years ago. But now the city has really gone to town with things to boost and support the community. As well as the "old people's dancing" - waltzing around the town square of an afternoon - and the open-air karaoke, there was this: a new fountain with amazingly powerful jets, coordinated extremely tightly to a variety of musical pieces put out over a PA, all in time and mood with a series of coloured lights in the water. This must be the latest fashion in the CIS for a week or two later we found almost exactly the same thing in Bishkek, Kyrgystan. It was 11 o'clock at night and yet there were lots of families out enjoying the warm summer's evenings, and kids playing delightedly - and safely - amidst the splashes of water and feel of community.

Vagabonds leading the way.

;-)

Based on an Opel (an entire production line was snaffled from Germany after World War II) this is an early Moskvitch, on a stick (of course) on a garage forecourt. I love the bonnet emblem :)

Everything about Stalingrad (now Volgograd) is pride. It's quite an amazing statement of defiance. Most imposing of all is the incredible, enormous statue of Motherland. She's cast from solid concrete, and I'm very grateful to have seen her, since she is held in place only by her own weight, and as a result of subsidence, is reported to be leaning by about six inches. A few more and it's feared she may topple.

Everything about Stalingrad (now Volgograd) is pride. It's quite an amazing statement of defiance. Most imposing of all is the incredible, enormous statue of Motherland. She's cast from solid concrete, and I'm very grateful to have seen her, since she is held in place only by her own weight, and as a result of subsidence, is reported to be leaning by about six inches. A few more and it's feared she may topple.

Everything about Stalingrad (now Volgograd) is pride. It's quite an amazing statement of defiance. Most imposing of all is the incredible, enormous statue of Motherland. She's cast from solid concrete, and I'm very grateful to have seen her, since she is held in place only by her own weight, and as a result of subsidence, is reported to be leaning by about six inches. A few more and it's feared she may topple.

("Comrades") Three of the four awesome Vagabonds of the Eastern World , as this Irish team was called, along with John who'd joined my team after losing his vehicle. These. Guys. Rock.