The Helikon is a Moscow opera theatre, an elegant, pastel-green mansion dating back to the 18th century in the very heart of the city. As might be expected of an opera house, it exudes dignity and grandeur – or at least it did until it was covered up in green tarpaulin, and major renovation work started. It is these renovations that have made the theatre the centre of a bitter battle that has divided the Russian capital's artistic community and led the two sides to accuse each other of being vandals and extremists.


After a changing of the guard in Moscow's political scene, the row over the reconstruction has suddenly become a political and cultural test for the city's aesthetes – as well as for its new mayor, who faces a decision that will shape his cultural agenda barely three months into the job.

On one side of the battle lines is the Helikon, a young dynamic opera company that is regarded as one of the best in Russia. On the other side is Arkhnadzor, a group of architectural preservationists who have often been seen as the lone voices of protest as some of Moscow's heritage has been destroyed in recent years.

The Helikon company had planned for years to renovate its theatre complex, adding a big stage to the tiny 200-seat theatre it had previously used. Work finally got underway on the project two years ago, but in September, the Kremlin fired Yuri Luzhkov, Moscow's controversial mayor of 18 years. Almost immediately, the interim government suspended the work along with other Luzhkov-era projects, saying it needed time to decide on the objections.

This should not be confused with 'love at first sight' where one or both parties feel an instant connection - without any of the aforementioned behaviors.

There are many other factors that could be listed - but if the man if your life begins displaying the above qualities - realize it will not get better, only worse. He will likely be unwilling to discuss his emotions openly and feel that women are the inferior sex.

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It was probably about 30F degrees today with a strong wind blowing in from the arctic.

In the time that I have been here this has to have been the shortest summer I’ve ever experienced in my life. I am truly amazed at how quickly this autumn cold and rain has literally dropped in on us. No use trying to use an umbrella today unless you wanted to turn it completely inside out and then throw it away.

One of my lady friends from the Northern Regions just informed me that it has already started to snow where she is from. Amazing.. and we are only in the last half of September.

Here’s the funny thing though..

Unfortunately PETA ..

But I'm very fond of referring Russian lady in a fur coat.

If you live in a place like Siberia, there is simply nothing more incredible to watch especially during the long winters here.

And you know that the greatest thing?

Russian ladies who wear these coats completely without guilt, when they walk in them. In fact they are damn proud of their coats and rightly so.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a charming and statuesque young woman named Natasha, who spent last summer in the USA under 4 months of work and tourist visa.

She went to Maryland and waitresses-Ed in the family restaurant, who gave her a unique perspective on the "norms" of American food and dining.

So, to say the least ..

She was completely shocked at the large amount of food that can be consumed by one person in one sitting.

She was even more shocked when she realized that this time National Geographic bi-pedal hunters devour their "Grand Slam" production does not limit itself only to males.

I think congratulations to the people in the Turkish Mediterranean city of Antalya.

I can probably guess that these people are quite happy to live among such people Russian ladies.

I just came across an interesting article from the UK Telegraph, that something was said that most of us already know.

Men lose their minds talking to pretty women.

I'm hoping that this study was not too much, because I could give them the same information about the cost of iced tea. (In fact, I probably would have given it for free.)

In any case, I certainly do not need fancy laboratory tests to detect it. I know that this is simply because I see it all the time with different men, who travel to this part of the world in search of true love.

Now as fun as it may seem to you gentlemen to take spur of the moment trip to Cloud 9 road without your trusty little GPS in hand, there is a serious side to this that you should pay close attention.

Beautiful Russian women and high heels ..

Especially really high heels have always been a bit exciting mystery to me.

Just what is it about this seemingly simple invention that guys, how I love so much?

I admit that I'm in eviable position because I get to watch the ladies in this part of the world go to some of the sexiest shoes in the world.

9 May Victory Day in Russia.

And from a historical perspective does not mean anything to them, the victory over Nazi Germany in World War 2.

I've always been fascinated by the role that Russian women are in this epochal conflict. I've always heard different stories about the heroism and endurance they have demonstrated not only in supporting roles, but in actual combat.

When I think about that world, as now, it's hard for me to imagine what these women went through to defend their country. Because of this conflict, where more than 20 million Soviets were victims .. spared nothing and nothing was left of the table in the theater of operations.