Joe, why do all Eastern Europeans long for the bad old days? – Michael Oliver, Halesowen, U.K.

I don’t know about Eastern Europe, but very many people in our country do long for the old days, despite their totalitarian horrors. Why? Because, by and large, standards of living were higher. They tell me there was order, yes, but in good prisons in the West there is also order. To me, freedom of speech, a multi-party system, parliamentary democracy and human rights are much more important than an extra piece of meat, or an extra pair of shoes.

How do you start your car in your winter conditions? And how does the public-transportation system keep the roads clear of snow and ice? – Harry Simpson, Detroit, MI, U.S.

I’ve driven a car through 48 Moscow winters. Your ignition system must be well tuned, the same applies to your carburetor. Your battery must be well charged and you must use good winter grades of oil. It also doesn’t hurt to use a stronger battery than the one the manufacturer provided. Then, there will be no trouble at all. Of course, it takes a little bit of practice and knowhow, but I’ve had no trouble. Today most drivers use their car all through the winter. People may have trouble when it’s -25 or -30 degrees Celsius. But with a strong battery even that is no problem.

Roads in Moscow are cleared of snow by snow ploughs and brushes and snow is loaded onto trucks with special loaders and conveyors. The roads in Moscow are pretty well-cleaned and I have never felt the need for snow tires or chains. Before, they used salt to help melt the snow. Now it seems they use a special chemical.

What mountains in the former Soviet Union are the greatest challenge for mountain climbers? – Ken Smith, Birmingham, U.K.

Before I answer your question, I’ll tell you about a mountain climber from former Soviet Lithuania, who in three years climbed the highest mountains on all five continents. He’s been on top of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mont Blanc and Elbrus in Europe, Kosciusco in Australia and Akonkagua in the Andes in South America. His name is Vladas Vitkauskas. He’s also climbed the greatest challenge to Soviet mountain climbers, Peak Communism in the Pamir Mountains, Central Asia. It is 7,500 meters high. When Vitauskas was climbing Peak Communism, he fell quite a distance down a steep incline, but miraculously caught onto a ledge and saved his life. He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and always climbs alone, which is unusual and very dangerous. He loves it and says, when "I’m up there, on the very top, I feel life is worth living." There are several peaks in the Pamirs and the Tien-Shan only very slightly lower than Peak Communism.

Please tell me briefly about the city of Kazan. – Donald Gillespie, Scotland, U.K.

Kazan is the capital of the Tatar Republic, 797 km east of Moscow. The average January temperature is -14 degrees Celsius, the average July temperature, 19 degrees Celsius. We call that a mild climate. Kazan is a large river port, a center of a highway system, and naturally has an airport. The population in 1979 was about 1 million. The city was founded in 1777 by the Bolgari. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it was the capital of the Kazan Dukedom. From the 15th century on, it became the capital of the economy and trade of Middle Volga. In 1552 it was conquered by Ivan IV and annexed to the Russian government. In 1727 it was burnt down during the Pugachev rebellion. In the 19th century it became a large metal working and industrial center, engaged in soap making and wood working. Several textile mills were built.

In 1804, a university was founded. Lenin studied there in his younger years. Kazan was one of the flourishing towns of Russia. During World War II it took in many refugees. Oh yes, in the mid-19th century it was visited by Dumas. Today, it boasts of aviation factories, engine-building plants; it has food-processing enterprises, many colleges and universities. Kazan has a Conservatory of Music, theaters, an opera and ballet theater, a Russian drama theater and much more.

(E-mail Joe at editor@russiajournal.com.)