VDNKh

A very grey day to start the month of February.  No snow, just cold.  This is the central pavilion at VDNKh (or in English, the "Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy"), the Soviet-era exhibition center, and venue for my meeting this morning.  A statue of Lenin stands towards the back and usually enjoys a grand view of the entranceway, but now obscured by the lights hung up for Moscow's never ending new year celebrations.  He would probably be dismayed at the rather rude and robust commercial activity that goes on around him these days.