News: 2007-04-24

Lenin’s birthday 

Lenin's birthday was on the 22nd of April, 1870.So if you are interested in soviet history of Russia and the life of this infamous revolutionary, this month is a particularly relevant time to go and check out The State Museum of Political history of Russia. The house was bolshevik headquarters for a short period in 1917, thus Lenin's office has been recreated. The exhibitions here include the fascinating 1917-1985 Soviet Epoch-Between Utopia and Reality. As for Lenin statues, there used to be dozens of them, but now there are only a few  left.The Botanical Gardens on Petrograd Iceland have a serene image of Lenin on their grounds. In front of the City Administration Headquarters at Smolny, you can also find statues of Lenin, Marx and Engels. The statue of Lenin at Finland Station has quite a bit of Soviet legend attached to it.It was here that Lenin returned from exile in April, 1917, in  a sealed carriage drawn by atrain that was a gift from Finland. The train is displayed here in a glass pavillion.Out front, a majestic statue of Lenin points the way to a radiant future, and  at the entrance to the adjacent metro stop there is an impresive mosaic of Lenin.Ploschad Lenina (Square of Lenin) is also a home to the new singing fountains. These romantic fountains leap and dance in time with classical music played on speakers around the square.It is dreamy to walk through here eating sweet blini(russian pancakes) on a sunny morning!!

For the best example of Communist megalomania in city, go to the South and  head to Ploschad Moskovskaya (Moscow Square). Once it stood there with a statue  of  Stalin, but all "Man of Steel" statues were removed a long time ago. Keep a look out for the statue of Lenin (we call it "A Ballet dancer" due to the pose of Lenin) if you are heading to the down town from the airport