This narrative begins at 11:00......last night. Yep, a little twist to the normal Four Corner's travel style.
At about 19:00 last night I took a look and my bed and decided sleep was on the agenda. Now, you might remember that Ivan had gone away to a concert, and he said that maybe I should rest, and then when he finished we could go out. Now, that might seem like a strange idea, here in St. Pete's it makes sense, because during the summer months, it doesn't get dark until REALLY late, like early morning. When I awoke at 2300, I did a double-take looking at my watch, since it looked like early evening outside.
That timing was perfect, as Ivan had just called his sister, Alice, who I met after my power nap, to go pick him up at the concert location, not far from their home. So Alice and I (we hit it off immediately, she is a lot of fun) drove over (again courtesy of Henry Ford) to find Vanya (Ivan's nickname...nobody really calls him Ivan, now even I don't after he told me this), stoked from having just heard classic hits like "Californication" and "Other Side", live.
After probably the latest dinner of my life back at their flat, we headed out as the clock neared 0100 to a bridge near the Hermitage Musuem, known as the Palace Brigde. The bridge draws up at 0100, and crowds like to gather to watch. Now, usually a city street would be pretty sparse at that time, but now here, particularly on a Friday night.
So we watched the bridge come up for passing ferries, and then after-wards we strolled along Nevsky Prospekt, the cities famed main drag. It is lined with old, ornate building, though many house modern amenities like Pizza Hut, KFC, and clothing stores. The also passed by the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, a gorgeous onion-domed church.
Soon though, as 0200 came and went, I was again feeling the effects of my trip, and we headed back. It headed up being a great idea on Vanya's part, because I am now on Russian time, just like that.
So today we started the day like days should be started, with a massive breakfast, courtesy of their mother (absolutely lovely woman, the Russian version of my mother. It would be pretty cool if we could communicate beyond smiles, thumbs up, and the occasional "spaceba" (thank you) though). She made crepes filled with cheese (awesome, very awesome) and flat crepes we could fill ourselves with honey, sour cream, or this dairy product that was like pudding almost, a mixture of milk and sugar, they didn't know the English name, so we are out of luck there. Anyway, we ate like kings, and pretty much confirmed that Americans have NO idea what a good breakfast looks like.
With full bellies, Vanya (remember now, this is Ivan) and Alice escorted me to the the Peter and Paul fortress, a citadel located on an island in the Neva River (the main waterway here in St. P's), across from the Hermitage. Its ramparts offer good panoramas of the city, and there is a church located inside that holds the tombs of many Russian tsars, including Peter the Great himself, founder of the city. We spent a chunk of time there, including walking along the sands that ring the fortress. Locals like to come here and sunbath, which this morning was an appropriate time for, with near perfect weather. Unfortunately though, some should not partake in this activity...I'm talking about you Russian dude in a thong (really? I mean, come on) or the fat guy with so much hair on his body (and in a speedo nonetheless) that may have really been a Russian bear.
Well...this post is pretty lengthly, and I should hit the sack for a busy day tomorrow. I'll finish this part tomorrow, stop on by. Until then, peep some photos:
At about 19:00 last night I took a look and my bed and decided sleep was on the agenda. Now, you might remember that Ivan had gone away to a concert, and he said that maybe I should rest, and then when he finished we could go out. Now, that might seem like a strange idea, here in St. Pete's it makes sense, because during the summer months, it doesn't get dark until REALLY late, like early morning. When I awoke at 2300, I did a double-take looking at my watch, since it looked like early evening outside.
That timing was perfect, as Ivan had just called his sister, Alice, who I met after my power nap, to go pick him up at the concert location, not far from their home. So Alice and I (we hit it off immediately, she is a lot of fun) drove over (again courtesy of Henry Ford) to find Vanya (Ivan's nickname...nobody really calls him Ivan, now even I don't after he told me this), stoked from having just heard classic hits like "Californication" and "Other Side", live.
After probably the latest dinner of my life back at their flat, we headed out as the clock neared 0100 to a bridge near the Hermitage Musuem, known as the Palace Brigde. The bridge draws up at 0100, and crowds like to gather to watch. Now, usually a city street would be pretty sparse at that time, but now here, particularly on a Friday night.
So we watched the bridge come up for passing ferries, and then after-wards we strolled along Nevsky Prospekt, the cities famed main drag. It is lined with old, ornate building, though many house modern amenities like Pizza Hut, KFC, and clothing stores. The also passed by the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, a gorgeous onion-domed church.
Soon though, as 0200 came and went, I was again feeling the effects of my trip, and we headed back. It headed up being a great idea on Vanya's part, because I am now on Russian time, just like that.
So today we started the day like days should be started, with a massive breakfast, courtesy of their mother (absolutely lovely woman, the Russian version of my mother. It would be pretty cool if we could communicate beyond smiles, thumbs up, and the occasional "spaceba" (thank you) though). She made crepes filled with cheese (awesome, very awesome) and flat crepes we could fill ourselves with honey, sour cream, or this dairy product that was like pudding almost, a mixture of milk and sugar, they didn't know the English name, so we are out of luck there. Anyway, we ate like kings, and pretty much confirmed that Americans have NO idea what a good breakfast looks like.
With full bellies, Vanya (remember now, this is Ivan) and Alice escorted me to the the Peter and Paul fortress, a citadel located on an island in the Neva River (the main waterway here in St. P's), across from the Hermitage. Its ramparts offer good panoramas of the city, and there is a church located inside that holds the tombs of many Russian tsars, including Peter the Great himself, founder of the city. We spent a chunk of time there, including walking along the sands that ring the fortress. Locals like to come here and sunbath, which this morning was an appropriate time for, with near perfect weather. Unfortunately though, some should not partake in this activity...I'm talking about you Russian dude in a thong (really? I mean, come on) or the fat guy with so much hair on his body (and in a speedo nonetheless) that may have really been a Russian bear.
Well...this post is pretty lengthly, and I should hit the sack for a busy day tomorrow. I'll finish this part tomorrow, stop on by. Until then, peep some photos:
The Palace Bridge draws up at the normal time of 0100.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood at night.
Chillin' on the ramparts with my fantastic hosts.
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