Back in the U.S.S.R. NOT!

Inside the Winter Palace, in front of a throne
see all photos »

Hello everyone! Time is flying - our adventure in St. Pete has come to an end quickly. The White Nights were down right spooky; it's literally light out at 11PM...

We of course did all the touristy things and hit the highlights of the once magnificent city. Actually the place looks pretty gray and somewhat rundown. It was fun to see Alyssa experience Russian and Georgian food here in different restaurants ("PECTOPAH", as pronounced by Alyssa).

We stayed in a nice and clean hotel close to the center of the city. It was a relatively inexpensive and pleasant experience (Ambassador).

outside Winter Palace
see all photos »

I freaked out a little the fist night and felt overwhelmed and scared but then I realized no one is lurking to rob us or kill us. I relaxed and actually had fun after the first night, still staying very much on guard but less so.

Of course I schemed all the time to get the russian rate for all museum tickets...it went smoothly the entire time except one church in the center of the city where the elderly woman at the gate questioned my russian citizenship and raised a big stink about...but we got through, it was all worth it knowing that we saved $8 each.

Pelmeni - stuffed with dill-flavored meat, delicious!
see all photos »

We utilized public transportation almost exclusively and it's everything I remember it to be, stinky with many drunks, some quite, some not so...

Tonight overnight train to Moscow and more updates coming...

Alyssa here: Boris did freak out once we got behind the "Iron Curtain" of his past, but has managed to relax and navigate us beautifully through this city, where people are hard (for me) to interpret (literally & figuratively). We stick out like sore thumbs, which is probably why the woman at the museum didn't believe Boris is Russian. We shower daily, don't stink of cigarettes and/or booze, my cleavage is unexposed, my hair its natural color, my pants aren't tight, no makeup...you get the picture. We are *so* uncool here.

We ate and practiced our Russian faces...
see all photos »

Have had great blini (nothing compared to Olga's, of course), pelmeni (Russian equivalent of ravioli), soups (salty and sweet, hot and cold), kvas (weird sweet brown malted carbonated drink), Georgian foods (spicy meats, hot bread stuffed with cheese - who could complain?!?), and a fair amount of beer since we've been warned there's giardia in the water.

Anyway, off to Moscow tonight, more Russian experiences to come!