Young monks laugh at their own photos taken by a German photojournalist in the main courtyard of the Dzong on October 13, 2011 in Punakha, Bhutan. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31 and Queen of Bhutan Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, 21 wed in Bhutan's historic 17th century Punakha Dzong the same venue that hosted the King's historical coronation ceremony in 2008. (Photo by Triston Yeo/Getty Images)

Only the most intrepid urban explorers cross the tattered ruins of the old Iron Curtain to endure the excessive bureaucracy, military paranoia and freezing winds of the East to hunt for the ghosts of an empire. Rebecca Litchfield is one who couldn’t resist the haunting allure of the ruins of the Soviet Union.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain receives treatment in her women's singles first round match against Bianca Andreescu of Canada during day three of Internazionali BNL D'Italia at Foro Italico on May 10, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Japan's Shingo Kunieda celebrates with trophy after winning the men's wheelchair tennis final against Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez at the French Open in Paris on June 4, 2022. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

The Washington Wizards dancers strike a pose during the team’s basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Capital One Arena on November 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Wizards won 142-127. (Photo by Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports via Reuters)

Winner Jorge Prado of Spain in action during the first MXGP race at the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, 10 April 2023. (Photo by Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA)

Japan's Miho Nonaka competes in the women's boulder dicipline of the sport climbing Asian qualifier final event for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Jakarta on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Adek Berry/AFP Photo)

Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps compete in the pairs short program during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing on December 7, 2023. (Photo by Tingshu Wang/Reuters)