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.

Dr. P.A. Smithe was sent by the American Red Cross as a doctor and surgeon to work at a hospital in Vienna. He sailed to Europe in December 1915 and returned home in August 1916, according to his daughter, who donated his images to the National World War I Museum. Photo: Turkish army, including cavalry, infantry and artillery. (Photo by Dr. P.A. Smithe/National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Mo.)

“Serebro (Серебро, Silver) are a Russian trio, formed in Moscow, Russia in 2006. Serebro is currently one of the most popular Russian bands. They are also famously known as the band who finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki with the song “Song #1”. On 30 July 2011, Serebro premiered their eighth single, “Mama Lover” at Europa Plus Live. It is their third official English language release after “Song #1” and “Like Mary Warner”. On 15 September 2011, the music video for “Mama Luba” (Russian version of “Mama Lover”) was released”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Russian trio «Serebro», 2008

Dotty, a short-haired pointer belonging to Simon Kirby MP, devours a Parliament shaped cake watched by a jack russell Maximus (L) owned by Matthew Offord MP during the Westminster Dog of The Year competition in Victoria Tower Gardens on October 13, 2011 in London, England. The annual competition was won by Conservative MP for Tiiverton and Honiton Neil Parish with his Labrador Wilberforce, who was among the 15 Conservative MPs to enter versus only two Labour MP entrants. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Neapolitan Christmas Nativity figurines on display at “Maestri Ferrigno”, which opened in 1836, at Via San Gregorio Armeno on December 14, 2011 in Naples, Italy. Via San Gregorio Armeno, Christmas Alley as it is known, is considered by many to be the world capital of the Nativity and home to the artisans and merchants who specialize in the art and the craft of the Neapolitan Presepe. Over the Christmas period, more than half a million tourists come to see the shops. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

American actor and politician Ronald Reagan stands behind his wife, actor Jane Wyman, who sits down to dinner, circa 1940s. She is seated between two unidentified men, both in military uniforms adorned with Arms Qualification medals, the man on the right with Sharpshooter and Marksman badges and the man on the left, a Captain, with Expert and Sharpshooter badges. Reagan wears a military uniform with Cavalry branch insignia and Wyman wears a black dress with stranded pearl necklace, and a black hat with a veil. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

“Husky is a general term for several breeds of dogs used as sled dogs. Huskies were originally used as sled dogs in northern regions but are now also kept as pets. The word “husky” is a corruption of the derogative term “Eskie”, also given to the Esquimaux tribes that came into contact with Europeans who made early expeditions into their lands. The most common huskies are the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky”. – Wikipedia

Photo: A husky looks out from his pen as competitors and teams prepare for the 27th annual Aviemore Husky Sled Dog Rally beside Loch Morlich on January 21, 2010 Aviemore, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A reveller covered in paint takes part during the annual Cascamorras festival in Guadix, southern Spain September 9, 2015. The festival was inspired by a dispute between the town of Baza and Guadix over the possession of an icon of the Virgin of Piedad. The Cascamorras refers to representatives from Guadix, who were sent to Baza to recover the statue. As the Cascamorras had to stay perfectly clean to gain possession of the statue, Baza residents attempt to make them as “dirty” as possible. (Photo by Marcelo del Pozo/Reuters)