Author: admin
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The Museum of the USSR
The Museum of the USSR is a new and quirky museum at Moscow’s VDNKh exposition center. It’s really a “Museum of Everyday Life” in the USSR, with several large rooms full of everyday Soviet kitsch. Old fashioned electronics, teddy bears, Soviet motivational posters, etc, etc. It’s all reasonably amusing. The star of the show is…
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Space Aliens in Red Square
While in Moscow, I discovered that the space aliens who landed at Chelyabinsk have now set up camp in Red Square. A giant shimmering force field covers Lenin’s Mausoleum. Of course the authorities claim it’s a bubble tent to shelter repair work on the mausoleum, but this is Russia and who believes the authorities? More…
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Titan Missile Museum
You enter the silo control room and take the command chair. Bob enters the launch codes and takes the deputy commander chair. The green “Ready to Launch” light comes on. “One – Two – Three” and you both simultaneously turn your launch keys. The “Launch Enable” light comes on. The ICBM launch is now irrevocable…
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Iraq Tour Logistics
I visited Iraq in March 2012 on a private archaeology-focused tour with Babel Tours. I had a great time! Here are some notes for anyone considering a similar visit. Visas and Permissions. Right now you cannot visit Iraq as an independent traveler. To get a tourist visa you must visit with an approved tour company.…
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Baghdad: National Museum
Some sections of the Iraq National Museum in Baghdad are now open. (More PHOTOS.) The star exhibit is a stunning collection of Assyrian works from Khorsabad, including two enormous larger-than-life carved scenes of courtiers bringing gifts to the King, two giant guardian Lamassu, a large statue of Nabu the god of Wisdom and Writing, and…
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Ancient Babylon Rebuilt!
At first glance the Babylon site is a strange Disneyland vision of what Babylon ought to look like, with impossibly pristine new brickwork and fanciful towers and ramparts. Just as though some Wizard has cast a magical “rebuild” spell. But much of this fanciful reconstruction is built on original foundations. Our site guide pointed at…