Highlights

Stories

The good bits — small, self-contained anecdotes lifted from the letters, postcards, and ephemera. Follow a thread by tag, then open the source document to read it whole.

Showing 24 of 404 stories

1991 · Calendar card
A pocket of Siberia, glossed by hand
Из серии «БАЙКАЛ» [handwritten:] BAIKAL
Souvenir
1991 · Brochure
Seth maps his Leningrad for the folks back home
(Technical) University ... University ... Len Hotel ... MAIN STREET ... Seth's X-apartmt
Navigation
1991 · Brochure
Savisaar returns as the August coup begins
When Edgar Savisaar came back to Estonia from Sweden on the day the doomed Kremlin coup began in August, many Estonians expressed relief: "The man of action, the crisis manager was back in town. He'd…
August Coup 1991
1991 · Brochure
Kross: prison, deportation, and a Nobel candidacy
In 1944, spent half a year in prison during the German occupation; in 1946, deported by the Soviets to Siberia for eight years.
Jaan Kross
1991 · Brochure
The Meri family's 1941 deportation
In 1941, the whole Meri family was arrested by Soviet troops and deported to Siberia.
Lennart Meri
January 8, 1991 · Letter
The 'Made in...' Submarine (Knock and They Open)
"How do you know?" asked the captain? "Well," Vasily said slowly "I knocked on the door and told them to open it ------ and they did."
Russian Humor
January 8, 1991 · Letter
Asking Directions to the North Pole
"No" - the Russian yells gesturing with his finger "Is it this way - or that way!?!" [a comment on Russian guidance systems!]
Russian Humor
August 1991 · Form
Call your fellow travelers
You may want to call your fellow travelers to find out what they are packing, complain to each other about the baggage regulations, see who is on your flight, etc.
Pre Departure
September 1991 · Form
How to ride the metro and buy a 'yidiny bilyet'
It allows you to ride on any form of public transportation. It is called a "yidiny bilyet" and costs 6 rubles.
Transportation
September 1991 · Form
Mailing home from Leningrad
The Soviet postal service is very unpredictable. It usually takes about a month for a letter to get to the Soviet Union from the U.S., but it can take up to two months.
Mail
September 1991 · Brochure
The Russian Odyssey
Your Russian Odyssey came to an end. You are leaving this country carrying with you unforgettable memories and perhaps already making plans for your next visit.
Marketing
September 1991 · Brochure
Venice of the North
Divided by miles of rivers and canals into a hundred islands, this city is often referred to as "Venice of the North".
Saint Petersburg
September 20, 1991 · Postcard
Too lazy to change the return address
I'm too lazy to change my return address — besides all the old signs are still up here.
Renaming
September 20, 1991 · Postcard
A world too confusing to write about
this world is so confusing I can't seem to get my thoughts straight. Too many jumbled experiences float through my head.
Overwhelm
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
A general who can't milk a cow
"I haven't seen a general yet who can milk a cow."
August Coup
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Russians and Estonians cried together
"It's the first time that Russians and Estonians have cried together."
Solidarity
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Cheerful pessimism
"Cheerful pessimism.... This is the characteristic which has saved us...."
Jaan Kross
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
The Dalai Lama snubbed in Tallinn
"I always try to avoid causing trouble. If officials were uncomfortable, I don't consider it insulting."
Dalai Lama
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
A general who can't milk a cow
"I haven't seen a general yet who can milk a cow."
August Coup
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Russians and Estonians cried together
"It's the first time that Russians and Estonians have cried together."
Solidarity
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Forgive but not forget
"We must be able to forgive, but not to forget."
Reconciliation
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Baker in the corridors
"Of course! It's not every day that [redacted] Baker is walking around the corridors of the government building."
James Baker
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
Cheerful pessimism
"Cheerful pessimism.... This is the characteristic which has saved us...."
Jaan Kross
October 1991 · Magazine clipping
The Dalai Lama unmet in Tallinn
"I always try to avoid causing trouble. If officials were uncomfortable, I don't consider it insulting."
Dalai Lama