Paka paka St Petersburg
Trip Start
Aug 10, 2008
1
3
59
Trip End
Ongoing
St. Petersburg,
North-West Russia,
Russian Federation
Sunday, August 24, 2008
In my last week I visited the inside of the Church of Spilled Blood, and the museum of anthropology and ethnography (Kunstkamera) which was full of things collected by Peter the great from around the world. It included a strange, disturbing but fascinating collection of foetuses and heads in jars. Oh and a cross section of an elephant penis?
Italian for 22 people
!Also went to a memorial to the St Petersburg 900 day siege which although it was in the middle of a roundabout, it had a sunken bit which had burning beacons, music and statues and was quite striking. On the way back to the station there was a huge gathering in a square surrounded by more military and police than I'd ever seen. They were checking papers of everyone nearby and patrolling the parameter. We had to go in just to see what it was, and entered through the metal detectors to find...a tea and coffee festival! All very strange but we had a free cup of fruit tea and a little wander around.
On my last day of school we were presented with a certificate and had a little vodka party with free vodka and nibbles - a nice way to finish off the classes. Back at home, for my last meal the host family took photos 'to remember me' and gave me a little present which was really sweet. Life with them had certainly been strange and awkward at times but was overall a good insight and I'm glad I did it.
On Sunday I took the train to Moscow - I'll write more about that soon.
Before I sign off though I have to write some bad points. It wasn't so bad but at one point I felt like a little moan so I wrote this list:
About me:
I've already had a cold and cough - fortunately I had some lemsip tablets and some of my 'feel good' tea (Honey, Vanilla and Chamomile) to keep me going
Italian meal
. It hung around a while and I was knackered in the last week but better now.My legs are aching already - maybe it's just because I'm tired out with the course and everything - I'll just have to keep them moving.
This place:
It's dirty/dusty/smoggy - not dissimilar to London but with cars that definitely wouldn't meet UK emissions standards...
You take your life in your hands crossing the streets - zebra crossings and/or red lights do not mean cars necessarily stop.
The climate - St Petersburg was built on a swamp and apparently that explains the weather - its been warm - around 25 degrees and sometimes up to 30 degrees but also very humid. It's been impossible to know what to wear - whether to dress for sun or rain. It could be worse - the winters here can get to around minus 35 during the day...the thermometer outside my bedroom window measure down to minus 50.
The state of the buildings, pavements, roads etc. For a fairly new city, it is in a bad state. Roads and pavements are cracked and potholed. The buildings are run-down and not looked after.
The shop assistants are often rude and unhelpful
Italian Meal
. It's a rarety to raise a smile and if you don't have the correct change it's usual to have your money thrown back at you (literally). A lot of people push ahead and queue-jump, even when there is little or nothing to be gained.
Alcoholism is a big problem. It is common to see people walking to work with a beer in their hand - and I have seen more people drinking beer on the streets than soft drinks. In the time I've been here I have seen 2 people totally unconscious on the streets - one was in a kids park.
The food is very fatty and stodgy. The family do not have or use a grill - everything is fried or baked and fruit and veg are rare to have. Salads are covered in oil or mayonnaise.
I'm glad to say that I'm over my moan now and enjoying Moscow! But just finding it hard to get time to write this...
