Women of the The World...Part 1
Moscow, October 2013. I saw her standing there, in her modest dress and muted colors. A simple splash of color and fashion with the bracelets draped around her wrist. An angelic, natural and beautiful face, free from the make-up brush that so many Russian women love. Dark, chestnut hair flowing down her back. She seemed deep in thought, perhaps enchanted by the music that echoed in her earphones. Maybe the tune reminded her of a past lover or some far-away place. But in an instant all the beauty faded...
She pulled an item out of her black handbag and lifted a cigarette to her mouth. Immediately my infatuation with this woman died. I'm not sure why so many people in Russia and Eastern Europe smoke, but if you look at any study you will see these countries dominate lists of the highest smokers per capita. It's the one habit that completely turns me off. I can tolerate almost anything else, and accept that everyone has flaws. I'll never forget entering a pub in St. Petersburg, being completely enveloped in a thick haze and foul smell. The scent permeated my heavy winter coat and lingered with me the entire journey. I understand there's now a smoking ban in effect, and for this I'm grateful. If someone wishes to smoke, it's their personal choice. But I support these bans in confined places like restaurants, airports and shopping centers, where the smoke impacts the well-being and enjoyment of others. Such bans have existed in America for almost a decade.
In all my travels, I pay close attention to the local women. So many beautiful and diverse bodies and faces in each country, much more interesting than the male form. And, no, I'm not a lesbian. :) So, I thought it would be interesting to start a series of posts dedicated to various snapshots I've taken of these beauties. The inaugural post is dedicated to your beloved Russian women.