The Grand Staircase
Russia 2009
Can’t you imagine the guests climbing these stairs to a ball given by the Tsar? Everyone in new clothing: clothing they often could not afford but were compelled to buy for the sake of status. Even in those days, Russians were enamored of medals and men and women would wear a sash decorated with the honors bestowed on them.
The Tsars were often short of cash. One source of their income was the sale of vodka. At one time, vodka sales provided 50% of the state’s revenue. Putin needs the tax revenue from vodka as well, even though alcoholism is a scourge especially among Russian men who die at an early age…late 50’s is the average.