St. Petersburg - Septembe 28, 2005.

Guards....Bring me my Royal........

Today was mostly spent in the Hermitage Museum. It is quite amazing. Just to imagine the Royalty and the history behind the Winter Palace. I was able to see the ballrooms where the Czars and Czarinas held their grand parties. I also saw two of three throne rooms. After that all the rest was a blur. I basically got lost wondering around looking at all the collections of art and sculptures. I won't even begin to think that I know anything about art. I was able to rent an english audio guide. So i was somewhat able to be educated on what I was seeing. Quite amazing.

After spending 4 hours in the Hermitage, I walked..... some more. It feels like I have walked every square kilometer of this city. I failed to get some postcards mailed. Although, I was able to find the central post office but there was no place to buy the stamps. I asked someone and I could not understand their response. And of course they did not have the patiences for my crappy Russian.

After my failed attempt at the post office it started to rain. So, I decided to start the trek back to my hotel. At least a 30-40 minute walk from where I was. But then I came across my favorite little beer garden. It is just 5-6 large umbrellas with some tables to sit at. I decided to sit there and have a beer and write in my journal . It was very relaxing, of course !! The rain remined me of home. I got homesick.....for only a minute ! :)

As I was leaving the beer garden I overheard some women speaking english. So I went over and said hi. They were students from "Vassar" (sp?). There were 4 of them. Two had been living in an apartment since July and are studying the Russian language and Art History. It was kind of cool to talk to them because I had been here 15 years ago doing very much the same thing. Ironic.

So....tomorrow is my last day in St. Petersburg. I have to check out of my hotel room and then I have 12 hours to wait for my train to Moscow. The train leaves at Midnight. I have a first class ticket in a sleeper car. If I had purchased my ticket on line at home in Seattle I would have payed $140 U.S. Because I was able to buy my ticket here at the train station in St. Petersbug I payed $50 U.S. Big difference. It was worth the struggle. So tomorrow night (09-29-05) I'm on the train. Then I'll be in Moscow until 10-03-05. I'll fly from Moscow to Berlin. One night in Berlin and then I have not decided where I will go from Berlin. I think I will skip Prague. I'm feeling like I want to slow down a bit ! Until later !! I love you Mom..... Dad !