The Russian model reminds me of Dina Meyer, but one that's been crossed with The Girl from Ipanema …

Come to think of it, she really does look very much like Dina Meyer. No wonder she looked kind of familiar.

My experience with Russian women has not involved anything resembling that tan at all. 🙂

I'd wager it's a combination of consistent use of orange filters on all of her shots, with mixed-race heritage.

Curly hair is extremely unusual among Russians, as is red hair. My guess is that she is part Armenian. The Armenians have a pretty strong immigrant contingent within Russia – I've met a few of them who work in the southern parts of Moscow where I was staying. Their skin and hair tend toward either very light and red, or darker and black. There is very likely some genetic mixing going on with that girl somewhere in her family tree.

The fact that Ms Yaroshenko there has curls, supports this notion. A reader of mine personally knows of a Russian girl working in their military who is half-black, and she looks like a catwalk model. (I've seen her picture.) But she has curly hair. This is very unusual among Russian women – and even more so for them to leave it curled.

About that "Hotel California" parody: once I kept hearing that bit about "We haven't had any spirit here since 1979" in my head, I just had to do it.

What can I say? It was hilarious and awesome. I have great readers ))

The Russian model reminds me of Dina Meyer, but one that's been crossed with The Girl from Ipanema …

That tan … no, seriously, it's that tan.

My experience with Russian women has not involved anything resembling that tan at all. 🙂

About that "Hotel California" parody: once I kept hearing that bit about "We haven't had any spirit here since 1979" in my head, I just had to do it.

Took about thirty minutes.

You're welcome. 🙂

Not to brag or anything, but I do know how to pick 'em.

Dude, that takes the cake for the greatest blog comment I've ever seen here.

There he stood at the airport
We heard the munitions fell
Anyone on the ground there wasn't thinking
This could be Heaven, because this was Hell
Then they raised up the Red Flag
And declared a new day
There were muezzins inside the temple
Afterward people heard voices say

Welcome to the Hotel Iran Republic
Such a bloody place (such a bloody place)
Plenty of room at the Hotel Iran Republic
Any kind of fear (any kind of fear)
You can find it here

His mind was definitely twisted
His brother sold Evin experience tours
But his eyes never misted
When his brother sent those friends of yours
How they made movies in the Seventies
And lived without a regret
Some fled to London to remember
Most fled anywhere to forget

So I called up the Ayatollah
Send over tea, don't need any wine
He said, We haven't had any spirit here
Since Nineteen Seventy-Nine
And those prison voices at Evin scream away
Waking everyone in the middle of the night
So everyone could hear them say

Welcome to the Hotel Iran Republic
Such a bloody place (such a bloody place)
Plenty of room at the Hotel Iran Republic
We have nice allies (we have nice allies)
Who believe our alibis

Chains hang from the ceilings
Bare electrical wires aren't nice
He said, they choose to be prisoners here
Through their religious device
And in the Supreme Leader's chambers
They circle around the Great Beast
They yell at it their screeching lies
But they just can't get it to feast

Looking back, I remember, I was
Flying into Heathrow
I had to find a passage out
And leave behind everything I know
Relax, said the British border watchman
People like you, we are ready to receive
You can leave Iran whenever you like
But your history will never leave!

(to the tune of "Hotel California" by The Eagles)