Week 1: No valid passport

Hey! Exciting start!

Arnold like my new passport!

I didnt even make it out of Arlanda (that's the Stockholm airport, not some excotic Russian village) before there were troubles.

Of course, the SAS representative had major issues with me traveling to A NON SCHENGEN COUNTRY!!! with a passport from 2000 (aka, before the Swedish government started using decent glue to hold their passports together). So, she illustrated what could possibly go wrong  by tearing at my passport until, well, it tore 2/3s down the picture page. But, it turns out it is still ok to leave Sweden with it, just not to leave Russia, so off I went to St Petersburg!

So St Petersburg was super exciting, government office-wise:

I got to go to the Swedish Embassy (heart rate almost normal),

chocolate 2

then to the foreign ministry reprentative's office for Russia at the airport in St Peterburg (heart rate slightly elevated, no one spoke english and I needed a new russian visa),

and the Chinese Embassy (heart rate yet a few beats up, no one spoke English that worked there, and I had to fill in the applications that were ONLY IN RUSSIAN AND CHINA.  I only know 10 words in Russian, and there were no questions about "I dont eat meat" "water" or "thanks" "English" "German", they didnt really help me. Luckily Natasha the Angel showed up to deliver something for her boss and helped me fill things out).

St Peterburg is super cute (for a city with 5 million people). We went to the ballet and saw Swan Lake and almost walked out before the last act because we thought it was over (uncultured!!). I went to the Hermitage and saw a lot of Matisse, and to the Russian Museum and saw a lot of Malevich. Etc. Etc. Michelle: We also met up with Andrej and had some Vodka!

First russian vodka

Signing off.

L.

For men only!