Moscow during this time of the year, it's cold yes, but decorated so nicely that you won't feel the frost. Especially the cultural offerings make the city, together with an excellent infrastructure, really worth staying. A lot changed in the last years, and for those who still have the immediate past Perestroika Moscow in their minds, it's time to return and have a look. Given I would decide to move to a big city, Moscow would be my first choice, and this not just in summer (still in close competition with Buenos Aires). For some winter impressions, have a look below: from the Chrismas and New Year Market on the Red Square to “The Chinese Pilot Jao Da” (a cult venue, where the first Sovjet Rock Bands played and which still performs in a cellar in central Moscow).

Meanwhile, of course, I also follow the news on the American assassination of General Qasem Soleimani. I may not comment on politics on this website, but today's threat of the U.S. President to target Iranian cultural sites touches the scope of this blog. It made me remember that I postponed a planned trip to Iran to visit these venues. And now it is obviously a bad moment to go. I learned in my artillery training, in the 80s, that even in wartime, the destruction of culture has to be avoided under all circumstances. It would be a war crime. At least there is one thing that may be clever in the president's threat: The Iranians cannot retaliate that symmetrically. What should they target? Dunkin' Donoughts? Starbucks? McDonalds? What a genius of president they have.