Kazan — summer 2010

Kazan is a wonderful place. It's peaceful and safe, but today, of all days, our local friends advised us not to be out on the streets in the evening. Why? Because it's Airborne Ranger Day here (День воздушно-десантных войск). Tonight the city will be full of rangers, active and retired, out drinking and causing fights. It's the one night you don't want to be heard speaking a foreign language during these three weeks. This is probably excessive caution on the part of our hosts. Even drunk, most Russians don't immediately want to pummel you. But these guys are tough, courageous, and patriotic. Picture for yourself the most uneducated and America-centric parts of our own military out on a binge. Potentially the same thing.