RUSSIA

IN LATE 1991 I WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF GOING TO RUSSIA ON A NEW VENTURE.  MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY BUT ALL OF MY LIFE I'D LIVED IN FEAR OF A WORLD WAR WITH THESE PEOPLE. I HAD TO SEE THEM, KNOW THEM, AND MAKE MY OWN CONCLUSIONS.  I HAD WORKED WITH SOME RUSSIANS IN ALGERIA IN 1972 AND FOUND THEM TO BE VERY NICE.  MY FEELING WAS THAT IT WAS MOSTLY POLITICAL.

I ARRIVED IN MOSCOW AND WAS FLOWN TO SIBERIA TO SEE THE OILFIELDS.  30 BELOW IS COLD

THIS IS A TYPICAL WOROVER RIG ON A SUB PUMP CHANGE.

A TYPICAL RUSSIAN DRILLING RIG.  IT IS MOUNTED ON A RAIL AND MOVED FROM WELL TO WELL. NORMALLY THERE WILL BE SIX TO TEN WELLS DRILLER ON A PAD.

THIS IS A SHOT WITH A RUSSIAN GUY ON THE PUR RIVER IN THE SUMMER.

THIS IS A TYPICAL STREET IN PURPE (SIBERIA) IN THE SUMMER. NOTE THAT THIS WHOLE COUNTRY IS A SAND DUNE.

PURPE HAD A POPULATION OF SOME 25,000 PEOPLE. IT IS ONLY A OIL CAMP WITH A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF FOOD.  HERE IS A TYPICAL STORE.

NOTE THE SALES LADY WHO DID NOT MUCH CARE IF SHE WAITED ON YOU OR NOT.

THIS MEMORIAL IS TO THE SOLDIERS OF WWII AND IS ON THE KREMLIN WALL IN MOSCOW.

THIS IS A HEAD CHOP BLOCK LOCATED ON RED SQUARE. IT WAS USED YEARS AGO TO CUT OFF HEADS.

A MONUMENT DEDICATED TO THE INVASION OF NAPOLEON. IT IS ON KUTOVOSKOY STREET.

ARBAT STREET WAS KNOWN AS THE CARRIAGE AND STABLE STREET IN OLDEN MOSCOW. IT IS NOW CLOSED TO AUTOMOBILES AND HAS SMALL SHOPS, ETC.   THE FIRST MCDONALDS STORE IS AT THE OTHER END.

THE PRESIDENTS HOTEL IN MOSCOW WAS THE COMMUNIST POLITICAL PARTY HANGOUT I AM TOLD. I WAS INVITED THERE BY A FRIEND MR. ANATOLIA LOPTIVE WHO WAS MAYBE A KGB GUY BEFORE RETIREMENT.  ANATOLIA HAS ESCORTED SOME WELL KNOWN AMERICANS DURING THE COLD WAR DAYS.

HERE IS NICKOLIA ORLIN AND HIS SON IN OUR OFFICE/APARTMENT IN MOSCOW. NICKOLI AND I BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS. HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN, ENGLISH AND CHINESE.

JACQUE CAME TO MOSCOW IN 1993. WE ARE WITH A COUPLE THAT I MET THERE. ANNA AND SERGA