A Contest

I decided to do something a little different today, so I am conducting a contest. Well, it's a test of your knowledge, really. Here are some photographs that, if you can identify them, you will receive a completely useless very valuable souvenir of Vancouver. Many of you may have seen these before, since they were making the rounds of the internet via a PowerPoint presentation. Well, you guys are all so smart, I know it will take about -- oh -- ten minutes before someone gets it right. But it's fun to share them with folks who perhaps have not seen then before. If you're not familiar with them, you will surely be surprised when you find out what they are. I first saw them when Phinnaeus told me about them. He's very interested in architecture and urban planning. Needless to say, when I found out what they are -- and where they are located -- I was gobsmacked. So, here you are. You can click on them to enlarge them. Enjoy!









Well, that didn't take long. Jennifer at The New Victorians guessed correctly. These are pictures of the magnificent subway stations in the City of Moscow. I think often we have preconceived ideas about other countries, other cities, other places, and -- just as often -- our ideas are wrong. Many of us have imagined Russia, or at least the Soviet Union as it was called, to be utilitarian rather than aesthetically beautiful. Who knew!

And now I am off to tour our newly-opened Canada Line on our rapid transit system. I'll take some pictures and videos to show you.