Kilted in Russia --- A HUGE SUCCESS !!!!

[parpin]

Hi to the kilted community,

As mentioned in an earlier post I spent 12 days in Russia where I was for the aug. 1st total solar eclipse.

I visited Moscow, Novosibirsk and St-Petersburg and I was kilted all time. My first stop was Red Square and without any doubt I was almost as popular as the St-Basile cathedral. Tourists and Moscovites looked at me and smiled. Many of them asked me to be taken in pictures alone or with their family members. Many of them asked me if I was from Scotland or why I weared that type of cloth.

I would have made a fortune If I had charged few roubles for each pictures taken during that stay. I estimate that at least 300 persons have taken pictures.

In Novosibirsk my kilt triggered an unexpected stop to discuss with young 12 yrs old children to talk about the eclipse and their activities. It was obvious that they were gifted children by the way they spoke.

Even on eclipse site I was kilted with my Quebec flag. I met 4 scotmen who asked me many questions about my kilt, a Lamont Ancient, AKA The Sloppy kilt, I use to travel by plane or doing my grocery. I explained them my non scottish origins and we talked kilts before totality.

The trip ended in a St-Petersburg nice restaurant were we celebrated my birthday. I weared my Jacobite outfit with my Braveheart Modern Warrior tartan. My female russian guide told me that I looked great.

Here are some pictures of me kilted

[michaelbeeman]

Looking good! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

[be da veva]

Wait a minute, A kiltie near me....
I gotta pm you about a pint somewhere...

[Freelancer]

Well done!

So, how was totality? Was it clear?

[Macman]

I would have liked to have seen the eclipse! Thanks for all the pictures. Were you on the Potemkin, Pierre?

[Beertigger]

Nice.

I've always wanted to go to Russia. Studied that language in college; don't remember a word except 'Zina cleans the fish.'

[CDNSushi]

Good stuff, man. I'm actually not too surprised that the Russians could appreciate someone wearing a kilt.

Russia, like many other countries, have (had) their own "national costume" or national dress. In most places such wear has fallen out of common usage, with only few exceptions. I think that for many such people, seeing someone wearing their own "national costume" is quite natural. I.e. Oh! "You're wearing a kilt. You must be from Scotland", without actually stopping to consider whether kilts are commonly worn there by everyone or not.

Thanks for supplying the pics in any case.

[macwilkin]

Russians are also big devotees of Robert Burns. My friend who performs as Burns frequently travels to Russia to perform at the St. Andrew's Society's Burns Supper -- he has pictures on his web site with him dressed as Burns walking through Red Square.

T.

[beowulf67]

Very cool!

[parpin]

For those wanting to know if I have seen totality, the answer is DA.
Unfortunatly my automatic picture taking refused to collaborate. :-(
I recommend to all kilties to go somewhere a total solar eclipse will be visible.
It will be fun to go in China next year and watch totality kilted in downtown Shanghai.

Here is an other picture of me kilted on eclipse site, a beach located south of Novosibirsk.