Day 5: 8th September

Wednesday, and sometimes thursdays (every other week) - today I just had to go and get my visa lengthened (which doesn't really happen, as I have to go back again in a few weeks - thank goodness, as the photos they took make me look a bit boss-eyed and like I'm spending my first day without the men in white. So I can re-do them, thankfully). I then get completely lost in the university and I, giggling, tell a woman that I've no idea where I'm going.

I've realised how IRRITATING and so very Western this is - you laugh at bumping into someone by accident. You laugh at getting lost - why do we laugh politelyat these things when, in all honesty, it isn't even the slightest bit funny? It doesn't need to be entertaining - do as the Russians do, keep it cool...
I go to the coffee house after being led out the correct way, out of the university, and head for the coffee house (which, at the moment, is my place to update my blog, talk to friends and family, drink litres of tea and sometimes eat - that day I have a baileys coffee and a sandwich (embracing the culture through irish liquers? Um.)

I tend to head for the cafes just to, as I might have said already, get my bearings - to be able to find out where you are while standing in the middle of the street, holding a map which is bigger than you, is a skill that I have not yet mastered. Do it inside, where the people know you're english anyway (because you can't even order without them realising you're not from around here) - nevertheless I go and wander, find that I might very soon get lost....then I spot a golden spire in the distance...well apart from getting horrifically lost, there is no fear, let's visit see anyway.. - I head into a bar, have a shot of vodka (русский стандард - Russki Standard, why not), burning mouth. Oops. I realise that that is a very STEREOTYPICAL image of settling into Russia. Oops. Again. Do not drink the russian shots by themselves unless you love vodka/the taste of paint stripper - Russian measurements are 50ml a shot, a far more generous shot than British shots and going one step further than the Irish shots...

So, I leave the bar, head for the same spire - which is 'St Issac's Cathedral', which is opposite a serene green, that I think is called Alexander's Garden. There, there are a lot of headstones, including Lermontov (who we studied about last year in literature) among other writers, and a great fountain in the middle. Wandered around a little..took photos etc, as is the norm...and over the road, when I reach the end of the garden, there is a huge pale green building (seems familiar but can't put my finger on it - in hindsight, a very ridiculous thing to hear from a Russian student,oops), and a huge square that looks like a nelson's column in the middle (obviously not a nelson's column - must put the disclaimer here, as people think I'm as thick as I look :) ). OH AYE - it's the Hermitage. It is so beautiful. The gold and the white, that outline the windows, are just stunning. I cannot believe how vast the square is as well - totally amazing... One thing to cross off the list

Horses and Carriage outside the Hermitage

Hermitage

Bridge, Hermitage
popping through

Pevchesky Bridge

I may have also found St Catherine's statue but must first consult the map...I forgot about this little detail - I will put up pictures at some point..
So I go round a few roads - having now consulted the map, as I discover that something that I am desperate to see in Petersburg, is just a tiny little walk away.....hm, I am fantastic by getting lost - hello, Church on Spilled Blood! I have not yet been inside, but plan to in due course (when my funds are up...) First reaction - holy christ! (I'd probably be not welcome there. DO NOT USE THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN!). I'd seen pictures of it and thought...'yes I can see myself falling in love with it...', it was quite overwhelming. The photos I've taken of it don't even nearly do it justice, it is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever seen.

It's situated next to a little body of water and one of these little bridges as well (that you have to cross to get to pretty much any part of the city). You can completely see why it's called the 'Venice of the North' - little bridges are surrounded by beautiful slender buildings, between which you can see (e.g.) other buildings. Also, under these bridges, you can go in tour boats, which take you under the road, and, I suppose, through much of the city, due to the abundance of bridges in the city.

Bridge near Sadovaya

Once I've taken too many photos, I head for a place to sit down at - a place called 'The Other Side - Gastro Bar and Refuge', which is between Nevsky Prospekt and the church, down one of those little lanes. It is quite a dark little bar, a little underground, that prides itself on its homemade cocktails, invented by the barmen there. I like that, I am so fed up of generic cocktails - margueritas, mojitos, pina coladas, that kinda thing....my point is, this was a new experience. I try two cocktails - a 'King Louie' - the cocktail could not have been worse for me. Barcardi, lemon, malibu, is what I saw that went into that drink - add cider, and you've probably got everything I hate, in one glass. Shit man - and a 'White Cloud' - more vodka... Though I like the experimentation. I am in Russia, an alien country, I am having cocktails that I am guessing what they have in them - how much of this given situation sounds bad?

There is a cocktail there called 'drink me'. This sounds a bit deceptive. Although, I don't understand its name - with cocktails, or even any type of liquid, you're bound to drink it (except the obvious like...I dunno, petrol and bleach..)...Tempting nevertheless...

There I also talk to some american and a canadian car manufacturers- this was probably the aspect I liked most about this bar - in coffee shops, you get stared at, whereas in the smaller bars and cafes, people will talk to you from across the other end of the bar, similar to locals in UK. Definitely a friendly place. I grumbled that too many little bad things were happening at once, and got told to get some REAL problems and just to enjoy yourself while you're out in Russia (so so true. Then again, I have always been melodramatic...) The two men tell me that they know Cardiff and proceed to tell Hitler jokes and talk about a film 'Boys of Brazil' where someone clones Hitler babies or something, following a conversation about men not being able to multi-task. Yep, the audience for humour definitely does not change from place to place - Hitler still seems to be a hit in the comedy world... But yeah I suppose, Hitler is a perfect example of why you should not incessantly grumble (I may have quite a lot to learn...)

Tiring but fantastic day - as Wednesdays are my free days, I plan to have many days like this.