Well it's been a
crazy last month since I last had time to write a post…wow! I made it safely to
Russia and back home in one piece, and started work back at Maja's House on
Wednesday. I'm getting back into the swing of things in the 612, most
significantly, legally purchasing alcohol at East Lake Liquors. But to recap: I
had my Polish exam on June 5 and celebrated one last night out in Notts with my
Polish family! It was so great to see everyone and have fun before I left. June
6 I managed to (somehow) pack up my entire room aka everything I own, get to
London via train, and crash at my friend's flat before repacking most of my
stuff, so that I could be all set to go to Russia.
Russia was an
absolutely amazing trip! To sum up, I've never felt so brave and so happy. I
faced a lot of setbacks, harsh criticisms, negativity, people telling me I
can't go because I'm a woman, etc. with this trip. While Russia is no place to
mess around, people seemed to have this idea that since I was a woman traveling
by myself, I shouldn't go to Russia—despite the fact that I have traveled by
myself many, many times this year already (and had two solo trips to Eastern
Europe already under my belt). Of course I appreciate the concern, since it is
RUSSIA. But once I got there, it really was the same as any other trip to any
other foreign country. I was always extra cautious, which maybe was
unnecessary, but as a confident solo traveler my plan is always rather be safe
than sorry. Russia is NOT an unsafe, scary, horrible place for
tourists/women/Americans. Granted, I wasn't running around shouting USA
everyday, but still. To anyone who is reading this and considering going to
Russia: please go. Even with the visas. Even with all the negativity you will
face. It is one of the most fascinating places I have ever been, and you will
not regret it. Be smart and safe and enjoy your time.
So to go day by
day of the first week of my adventures…
June 7: I got out
of London to Gatwick airport, got to wait in the bag check queue for 45 minutes
even though I didn't have a bag to check so that I could get my boarding pass
printed, waited at the airport, waited at the gate, and then boarded my flight.
Unfortunately, my Transaero flight was operated by EasyJet. For my feelings on
EasyJet, please see my blog post about Paris. (Fuck EasyJet.) My flight was 3
hours and I got to Moscow Domodedovo airport a little after 9:00pm. My first
impression of Russia: an airport worker lying (possibly napping) on the
conveyer belt that transports the suitcases to the trucks. You know you're in
Russia when… I got through the passport checks just fine and my visa cleared,
turned down Cinnabon since I was tired and wanted to go to sleep, got the
Aeroexpress (Аэроекспресс) train into Moscow, and successfully transferred to
the right station for my hostel (Tsvetnoi Bul'var). My Russian professor once
made us spend over an entire class period going over the Moscow Metro map and
asking each other how to get to different stations. This is my sincere thanks
to her, since seeing a Metro map I already knew was a huge relief. I managed to
find my hostel (thanks to their stellar directions) going through a back path
and showed up around midnight. Success! Just kidding. I had to pay in cash
(rubles) of which I had like 100 (I needed like 6000 to pay for my hostel for
the week) so I had to go run around Moscow at midnight by myself to find an
ATM. I found an ATM, only to realize that my US debit card wasn't working aka I
had no money. I was able to withdraw some of the money I needed via my UK debit
card (which still had a bit of money on it), ran back to the hostel, and was
able to pay for two nights, so I could at least sleep safely until I figured
out my card. Since it was now past 12:30am and I was completely exhausted, I
got to my bed and went to sleep.
June 8: Spent the
morning trying to figure out my card—luckily my parents had been able to
unblock it, which was good, since I was unable to call my bank due to the whole
being-in-Russia thing. I was able to get money and buy food!!! YPA!!! I set off
for Red Square, and wow. Just wow. Seeing it and finally being there…it's the
stuff I've been dreaming of for years. The Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral,
Lenin, everything…the stuff of dreams. Since I had 5 full days in Moscow (or so
I thought! LOL #gettingsickwhenyou'retravelingaloneinRussiasucks) I really
wanted to take my time with things and not rush anything. So this day I just
went to St. Basil's Cathedral. It was amazing. The (medieval) wall paintings
were incredible, I've never seen anything like it. The individual chapels were
all beautiful, the towers seemed so high, wow. I got the cheapest food in Red
Square aka McDonalds (Макдоналдс) and had my first ever Big Mac (Биг Мак) since
I couldn't figure out which one on the menu was a double cheeseburger. I spent
the rest of the afternoon walking around the Kremlin walls and getting sunburnt
in the boiling sun. I also made my best/favorite purchase of the trip, a set of
nesting dolls of the Romanov family. Greatest thing I have ever bought. The
biggest one has Nicky, Alix, and Alexei on it, and then the next 4 (decreasing
in size) were of Olga, Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia. So wonderful! I walked
back to my hostel down Tverskaya, one of the main streets, basically pretending
that I was an extra in the final scene of one of my favorite Russian movies,
Stilyagi (Стиляги). Had a resting period and successfully ordered food for
myself in Russian.
June 9: I went to
both the Kremlin (most importantly, the Armoury) and the State Historical
Museum today! The Kremlin/Armoury ticket was super expensive, but sooo worth it! The Armoury was
absolutely incredible. Definitely worth the extra money. First it went through
a bunch of religious stuff (gospels, icons, etc.) from around the 13th century?
Then it went through all these gold/silver works including…the Faberge eggs!!!
The real ones!!! The ones that Nicky gave to Alix in real life! The ones I've
only ever read about and only ever seen in pictures! The one with the working
model of the Trans-Siberian Railway, the one with all five kids…they were
there! I saw them! Definitely a highlight of my time in Moscow. They had a room
of silver gifts to Russia from other countries, section on arms/weapons/horse
armor, a huge selection of royal carriages, thrones and crowns/state regalia,
and last but not least, clothes. Catherine the Great's wedding dress, her
coronation dress, Alix's cornation dress, her shoes…wow. Wandered around the
Kremlin more, saw the Grand Kremlin Palace and the three main cathedrals, as
well as Ivan the Terrible's Bell Tower (here comes the cat!). The State
Historical Museum was huge and a bit overwhelming, they take you through
Russia's history from the Stone Age to the 1900s, so there's quite a bit to
cover. The building was really interesting, since it was built in the late
1880s and each room was built and designed specifically for the exhibit that it
housed. Saw my first portrait of Nicky!!! I succesfully bought a map (using my
Russian #skillz) and got blini for dinner. Oh my god, I love blini. Blini all
day every day. Blini for days. #datyungblinilyfe
June 10: Started
my day off by seeing the man himself—V. I. Lenin. Lenin's Mausoleum is free,
you just have to wait. I walked past a bunch of graves of people buried in the
Kremlin walls, then go through this creepy ass dimly lit
have-fun-tripping-over-your-own-feet-and-nearly-falling-down-the-stairs
building to see a waxy Lenin in his tomb. Crazy to think he's been dead for 90
years!!! He looked really lifelike, I almost expected him to sit up or blink or
start breathing. Walked past a bunch of other graves on the way out—Brezhnev,
Stalin, Yuri Gagarin, etc., then headed to the Tretyakov State Gallery. Even
though I hate art, I am SO glad I went! It wasn't very expensive and it was
sooo great! There were several portraits that were highlighted in the book I
was reading (Natasha's Dance by Orlando Figes, highly recommended to anyone who is interested in
anything to do with Russia and Russian culture) which was awesome, they had a
portrait of Nicky (!!!), AND they had the portrait of Ivan the Terrible and
His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581, also known as one of my favorite Repin paintings due to this tumblr 'Ivan
the Terrible Killing Things He Shouldn't': http://ivankillingthings.tumblr.com/
Walked halfway through the rain back to the hostel before I decided fuck this
shit and took the metro. Blini again!
June 11: So for
those people who did not have the lovely opportunity to talk to me during or
immediately after my trip to Russia, I'd just like to give a notice that the
next few days will be very short due to the fact that I got very sick with a
UTI and several other types of infections during my time in Russia. And there
is nothing that will make you feel more alone than being a single woman
traveling alone in Russia and getting sick. Bonus points if you get to talk to
a plethora of (Russian) men about these types of problems. I started off the
day not feeling the greatest, but still went out and saw the Lubiyanka building
(KGB) and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. I started to feel really not
good, nauseous and a bit feverish, and headed back to the hostel. The good news
is that you can buy literally anything over the counter in Russia—the only
thing you need a prescription for are controlled substances. I was able to get
antibiotics after a great conversation at the apteka (pharmacy) with a man who
spoke English and was trying to help me out, and once I told him what I had, he
awkwardly laughed and said 'oh I'm so embarrassed.' You're embarrassed? YOU'RE
embarrassed?? Dear everyone: if you can avoid getting sick in Russia, please do
so.
June 12: I spent
most of the day lying in bed resting, since I just wasn't able to get up and go
do things. I was able to get to the minimart for food and water, and got myself
to my blini place for dinner—breakfast blini this time, aka blini with bacon,
egg, and cheese. Three of my favorite things, all together!!!
June 13: I was
hoping I would feel better this day, as I had a 7 hour train ride to St.
Petersburg. I did not feel better. However, I was able to get sufficient train
food and embarked upon my horribly shitty trip. I made it to St. Petersburg,
alive, only to get off the train and they were playing some Soviet-esque heroes
welcome song, which did not make me feel better considering that my family
wasn't there/no one was waiting for me, and only served to remind me that I was
sick and alone in Russia. #спасибоРоссия I was able to get to my hostel in one
piece, after a half-hour walk down Nevskii Prospekt (!!!!) and check in. Then I
had the chills so bad I was unable to get out of bed for the rest of the night.
Again, if you can avoid getting sick when you're a single woman traveling alone
in Russia, do it.
I'm going to cut
my post off at the half-way point of my trip because 1. It's a nice stopping
point and 2. I really want to take a shower right now! For the record, I am
feeling better since (spoiler alert!) I was able to get new medications in St.
Petersburg that helped. Writing this post has made me super nostalgic (minus
the sick and in pain part), since Russia really was the trip of all my dreams.
I got to do and see so many things I've only ever read about or dreamed about!
And I got to use my Russian in real life situations, which, considering it's my
minor and everything, I think is pretty cool. Next post to come soon!
Red Square |
St. Basil's Cathedral |
Kremlin walls |
Grand Kremlin Palace |
inside the Kremlin |
Ivan the Terrible Bell Tower |
graves along the Kremlin walls |
my favorite Repin painting in real life!! |
Cathedral of Christ the Savior |
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