Dog

Last year I was in Russia and I found this big, abandoned apartment building at a busy street. The facade was covered with green nets and it seemed difficult to get in. Windows and doors on the ground floor were blocked and also I could not find an entrance by walking around the building. Then suddenly by accident I saw an open window at street level behind the green nets. Unfortunately, right in front of a busy bus stop.

What to do? I inspected as discreet as possible this potential way in. Very easy. Someone had even been kind enough to cut the net. Piece of cake. But still, those people at the bus stop....

The entrance right behind the bus stop (google street view)

I think that fortunately people in Russia still mind there own business and are not so much into telling others what is allowed and what is not. Well, at least the people that saw me entering...

Once I were inside, I could start exploring. The building was huge, as many things are huge in Russian cities. It was build in the shape of an '8'. Later I learned this was a project other than most of the apartment building projects in those days. In was build in 1912 and pictures on the internet show that in 2013 it was already at least partially abandoned.

Decorative elements on the opposite wall

The artistic and social vision of the architect was that the building should not only look good from the street site. It should also look good from the court yard and from your bedroom window. Back in the days it was not common to spent any money on decorating the court yards as 'nobody' would see them. This architect, however had different ideas.

He also invented new construction methods that made it possible to build lighter. Constructions with hollow load-bearing walls. As I learned this only after my visit I did not take a picture of these elements (apologies for the engineers among us) but I HAVE seen the evidence.

Furthermore, the architect moved his offices and his employees to the top floor of the building, after construction works were finished. Later on, these offices were turned into apartments. While exploring this part of the building, I was puzzled with the connecting doors between those apartments. Although most of the doors were hidden in the wall, some were clearly visible due to the decaying plaster. The mystery was solved after fining out these apartments used to be offices.

I was taking my pictures in a staircase at the far side of the building when I heard someone strolling around on the floor below me. After a minute or so this trespasser appeared. In my staircase!

I'm always a bit cautious in this kind of situations although my basic rule 'I have as much right to be here as you', gives me comfort.

He turned out to be friendly. He was wearing jeans, a shirt and a summer coat. He looked pretty well maintained also because he was carrying a leather briefcase and wearing leather loafers. A bit ill-placed, looking at the surroundings.

I said in English that I don't speak Russian. He said he speaks a bit English and his name is Andrey. And it turned out that with this sentence he used his whole English vocabulary!

The guy was so friendly, that he kept following me and talking to me in 95% Russian and 5% English. I soon found out that in the 3 hours I've spend in the building, I had a better idea of how to find my way than he did.

He was very interested in the process of taking pictures and he kept showing me things that I had already seen or was not particularly interested in.

It became time to separate our ways. I told Andrey I was going to continue my exploration at the other end of the building and I said goodbye. But Andrey was not in a hurry and decided to follow me. Not much I could do.

I took a few more pics and told Andrey I really had to go now and said goodbye again . But Andrey, kind as he was, insisted to show me the way to the exit. It turned out the other way around with me leading him. Halfway we passed a room with some books scattered around. Apparently appealing for Andrey as he put one good looking copy in his briefcase.

In front of the window and before stepping out I said goodbye for the third time.

We both stepped through the window on the street, with a friendly smile for the people at the bus stop. I headed my way to the metro station. And Andrey still following me.

Suddenly I realized, this has happened to me before! Not with Andrey. But with a dog! In a forest. Followed me until the car. Wanted to get in. Had to drive away. I still see his disappointed face full of disbelieve in my rear view mirror....

Anyway. I was determined NOT to let Andrey follow me to the hotel!

At the first crossing I asked him which direction he was going. He pointed straight ahead. “Good. I must go left here. It was very nice meeting you and thanks for the company” and I crossed the street.

On the other side I looked around and saw the disappointment and the disbelieve in his face....