Having trouble multi-tasking? See how the Russians do it.

No bikes on the sidewalks, but horses are okay.

So it might be a bit hard to see since I took this picture through the window of a moving bus, but you’ll have to trust me on this: this young woman is indeed riding a horse down the sidewalk in St. Petersburg, a designer purse on one shoulder, while drinking a bottled iced tea (or is it vodka in disguise?), smoking a cigarette, and talking on her cell phone.  Ah, you say, impossible, as she’d have to be doing it all with one hand since her right is holding the reins.  I promise.  I and a dozen other passengers saw it with our own eyes.

Shoes and Stockings St. Petersburg Style

While the vestiges of communism linger here (there’s no such thing as an elegant family home; ramshackle apartments are all the rage), fashion is a serious priority.  Jeans and sneakers are not a common sight on the streets of St. Petersburg.  Women prefer heels, mini-skirts, and chunky accessories.  This former Russian capital is a virtual poster child for Sex and the City sans New York.

If you’re into shoes, bring your camera and your zoom lens….

Yep, the Russians love it, too.