When I was studying in Moscow in the last year of the Soviet Union, I happened to catch the Metro out to the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy.

It was 20 kopecks admission. Utterly broken down and shrouded in mist. Nothing was open, except for a few sad showcases of commonplace technology here and there. The immense statue of the Worker and Collective Farm Woman welcomed desolate souls to the failed dream of an empire.

The site is so huge, it is larger than the principality of Monaco.

I think there was ice cream. Russian ice cream is incredibly good. When I was there, the only flavor was beige.

It is now the All-Russia Exhibition Centre and the monumental statue is gone.