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.

Cast member Yara Sophia of “RuPaul's Drag Race” visits the Empire State Building in New York City on June 24, 2021. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Performers dressed like Stormtroopers dance during “The Empire Strips Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Parody” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 1, 2018. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Katy Perry attends the European premiere of Katy Perry: «Part Of Me 3D» at Empire Leicester Square on July 3, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland)

Lizzy Cundy attends the UK premiere of The Eagle held at The Empire Leicester Square on March 9, 2011 in London, England.

Tiny Irons attends the UK Film Premiere of Anuvahood at Empire Leicester Square on March 15, 2011 in London, England.

Emma Watson poses at the winners boards at the Sony Ericsson Empire Film Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on March 9, 2008 in London England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A woman looks at The Empire State Building and the New York Skyline during a preview of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck, which is spread across the top four floors of the new One Vanderbilt tower in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, New York, U.S., October 18, 2021. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)