Trip Notes - Day 1
Lost Luggage, Hookers and Hospitality

Trip Notes: Day 2
Luggage Found, International Roommates and a Fun New Hostel

I’m calling day 12 an “adjustment day” I woke up greasy and unkempt due to not have my toiletries and change of clothes. Not getting the kind of start to a day of exploring a new city. So, making the most of it. I sat down in a funky room for coffee. Half awake, the magic of cubahostel began while I sipped my crappy instant coffee. I was joined by a couple of cute, young Russian girls. They were very genuine and sweet. University students that wanted to practice their English. I was happy to obligate. They don't know that in my home country, girls like them run from me not seek my company. ha-ha. At one point  I explained were I was from and showed them a map and picture of my motor home.

Charming energy flowed around as one of the girls ask me to pronounce a Russian word. FC. I did and I asked what it meant. And out of nowhere a young attractive Russian women applying makeup at a sink in the same room said “Cement mixer” The word means “cement mixer” I smiled and got excited wonder what the hell was the word relevance? It was so cute, I was hooked to this new atmosphere. There are many funny moment in a country where you don’t speak the language. This was one of them. Needless to say, every time I saw a cement truck on the street I pointed at it with a smile and said to myself "cement mixer"!

I made my way out onto the street to find a decent lunch. I try to make the first meal in a new place special. And set aside my cheap focus momentarily. Unless you can pick up and hand something to the cahier, chose isn’t much more than pointing and saying "pazhalsta" (Please) It was stall microwave stuff and a tiny bottle of Pepsi. Not great but I have something in my belly. Back to the hostel to check on my bag.

Thankfully in had arrived putting to rest my fear of the bag being lost or stolen. Making my bed and kind of “settling in” to my room I found myself in the company of a guy from Belgium, Egypt and Finland. Great guys very friendly. The beginning of a great experience at this hostel. Very different to the pervious hostels/cheap hotels of Moscow and Volgograd. As part of an adjustment day I choose to wash my clothes at a local place down the street. A bar and Laundromat combined. What a cool place to wash your clothes. A strange and cool bartender/DJ helped with the process. I was a good boy and didn't partake in the many beers around me. Patiently waiting for my clothes. For some reason this was the "twilight zone" of Laundromats because 3 hours later my clothes were not finished and still damp. I was pretty disgusted by this point and left with them. I almost prefer damp clothes to over dried ones that have struck and are unwearable. A real danger when you travel with such few clothes.

Trip Notes: Day 13
Walking Tour, Great Sights and Beautiful Brides

Went on a nice self guided walking tour following a route laid out by my Lonely Planet Guidebook.  Lonely Planet keeps you independent and in the “know”.  First stop was St. Isaac’s Cathedral for a bird’s eye view of St. Petersburg. From up there one is reminded of the typical European city planning limiting buildings height below that of churches. No tall builds. Churches are always the tallest. On to Palace Square and the Hermitage Museum. Following canals, bridges and pretty, colorful buildings. The camera was very busy.

Simple put St. Petersburg is a place that you can’t seem to walk a few feet without being moved to take a picture and try and capture its beauty. Taking to capture what you’re seeing and how it makes you feel. The climax of the route ends with the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (for the first time I am seeing a church similar to St. Basil’s in Moscow, it grandeur, magnificent detail and colors. Onion domes like St Bail’s) Wedding parties taking picture with grand backgrounds. Such beautiful brides that made me cry. A common theme throughout Russia are the wedding parting hiring limos and use the beautiful places for their wedding pictures. Slowly getting a start on the city.

Trip Notes: Day 14

The Hermitage, Anger and Calm

A goal for me when traveling is to try to do one great thing each day. Two or three if I’m really motivated. In St. Pete the undeniable must see attraction in the world famous art museum The Hermitage. Housed in the beautiful blank blank with its characteristic green paint with gold accents. The building itself is something to see. Being at place square and affront to Neva river FC? This area was an easy walk from the Hostel. Such a bonus of the CubaHostel was its location. The day started early with a line of hundreds wait before they even opened.

 I have a habit of double and triple checking things sometimes. Like making sure this was the right line. The only place I saw to check was a group ticketing counter. I lady behind the glass was not helpful saying no English again and again. Then she started yelling. This was the beginning I try to be of my best behavior when abroad but the moment was very frustrating and I shouted back “Go Crazy, Go Crazy”! Something I noticed in Russia is the lack of help toward English speaking foreigners. This is one of the reasons Russia is a tough destination. I spoke to others about this and substantiated my sentiment. They don’t seem to understand the foreign tourism thing. Anyway I got in line and stood for 3 f’ing hours.

Cold cloudy with some rain at times and no one to talk to, to past the time. Once inside, bought a ticket looked at the map they handed me and tried to get started. Still angry as hell I tried to find the starting point in the mist of the chaos of tour groups and fatigue. I had made a mistake and in disgust tried to exit to get to the right part. No! At the info desk the lady was nice enough the grant me reentrance by calling ahead to the gate keeper. I was confused thought because there were no people in this part. I walk a little trying to follow this map and then it happen.

 I came upon a Renoir and a calming wave came over me. I would be ok. Renoir is my favorite artist. I study this work, its color, focus and brush strokes. God what beauty. All of the angry, fatigue and frustration left me. I spent the next 4 hours admiring works of art from around the world. The many colorful, ornate and thematic rooms were art in themselves. My camera was working overtime. It was special to see not just one or two works but a room full of Picassos, Renoirs, RubinsFC, and so many others. Great views over the square out front. The map was pocketed and not looked at again. I was going to see what I was going to see and not know what I missed. Be in the moment and let fate by my tour guide. It work, I loved every minute of the four hours. They had to tell me to leave at closing time. I had just experienced one of the world’s great art museum and was a better person for it. I true highlight of a trip to Russia.

Trip Notes: Day 15

Peter and Paul Fortress, Sculptures and a Date

I took a long walk for the hostel to the Peter and Paul fortress. Saw  the cutest scene as a man and his baby bear walk across a bridge on their way to work. I think it was the same guy that’s at the Hermitage accepting donations for tourists.. Across a long bridge over the Neva river. I saw some guy with some cool bicycles power by little motors. Thinking that the way to go, the hell with all that pedaling. Straight up to the ramparts for a unique view. Getting closer and closer to the noon time attraction. The firing of a canon. Timing was perfect because a few minutes latter and about a hundred feet away BOOM. It was so loud my ears hurt. This happening can be heard all over the city and now I’ve witnessed the source. The buildings and grounds were nice. But I didn’t go in any. Pay for just about everything. You can get burned out on churches and such from time to time. The highlight was stepping into and a government mint office were a bought a really cool soviet era souvenir. A one ruble commemorative coin with Mother Russia on it. There is a beach affront to the river with the walls of the fort to its back. There were a few sunbather and swimmers. A sand sculptures competition was under way. Impressive artistic creations. Pretty light day back to the hostel for a nap.  Met Michelle from the US in our mixed dorm room.  Asked her to join me tomorrow to visit the Peterhof. She Agreed.

Trip Notes: Day 16

New Friend, Peterhof FC and the Ballet

Michelle and I traveled by metro and bus to the Peterhof. Our first sight was a pretty church with a baptism of children underway inside. We entered the grounds of the Peterhof shortly after. Walked and talked and took many picture of this beautiful place. Down side was the crushing amount of people, tour groups etc. But the complex is huge and there was plenty of open space. Took a fast moving hydrofoil back to the Hermitage. We had a nice dinner and raced hand in hand in the rain to the MariinskyFC theatre for a performance of the ballet Swan Lake. I remarked to Michelle that you don’t have to understand something of beauty to be moved by it. And I was.

Trip Notes: Day 17

Trip Notes: Day 18

Trip Notes: Day 19

Conclusion

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