Don and I recently took a short, but intense trip, to the city of Krasnador in the Kuban Territory of Russia.

This south east corner of Russia is the home of the Cossacks. A group of people famed for their horsemanship. They were often members of the light horse in the Russian army. Their history is kept alive in the art work, carvings and decorations that adorn some of the buildings.

Krasnodar, with a population of one million, is about the size of Calgary. It is similar to the Okanogan Valley (located in British Columbia, Canada) in terms of climate and vegetation. By early March spring is well underway. The mornings started with a drizzle that generally gave way to sunny skies before noon.

Russia has a reputation for sturdy practicality. This philosophy is evident in the water and gas pipelines that are built above ground. It isn't the most ascetic but practical in terms of cost of construction and, we were told, in terms of safety.

Krasnador is spread out over a large area. There are high-rise office buildings and apartments but no skyscrapers. A large segment of the population lives in apartments; some rental, others condominium. The older neighborhoods are comprised of small cottage style homes surrounded by four to five feet high fences.

Sergei told us that during the communism era it was against the law to build large houses. How ever, with the new regime restrictions are lifted and there is a mini building boom with large red brick houses going up in new subdivisions and also dotted throughout the older neighborhoods.

Click on these thumbnails to get some views of Krasnodar

A lot of the shopping is done in bazaars; small stalls jammed together, selling all manner of goods (in the Arab world these are called souks). There were however, a number of department stores and one supermarket. There was no shortage of goods but because wages are generally low there is a shortage of buying power.

Like everywhere teachers are poorly paid with a salary of $100. per month. (salaries quoted in US $'s) Surprisingly doctors are also poorly paid, however dentists do well earning between $1000 to $2000/ month.

Young men serve a 2 year compulsory military service. During this time they receive only a pittance for pay.

Sergei's comments: "Like many young men of my age I served two years in the military from 1976 - 1978. Here we are, pictured in this photo, former school-mates, having just come home from our services. I was serving in the vicinity of Vladivostok, Far East. The brave looking guy in the center was doing his duty somewhere in East Germany - right at the edge of the territory 'beyond the Iron Curtain'!"

For a large segment of the population life is hard as there are no pension plans for the elderly, welfare nor sufficient social assistance. Continued on the next page>>