St. Petersburg

Here I am, sitting in an internet cafe in the middle of St. Pete's, half-watching the newest music videos (I'm perpetually out of the loop on music, movies, & TV shows thanks to being abroad), pausing between songs to tell Kristin, who's sitting just across from me, which ones I think suck & which ones rule. It's my last day in Russia so I thought I'd better post.

St. Petersburg is a beautiful city, though it doesn't feel very Russian -- in fact it's very European in many ways. I must admit I prefer St. Pete's to Moscow: it's less crowded, less crazy, more laidback, & far easier to walk around. There's a law that says no buildings can be taller than the Hermitage so there are no skyscrapers, which makes it unique & attractive. There's so much history here too & with over 200 museums you'd never get bored.

I feel like a stumpy midget in a land of tall, leggy Russian chicks, & like the Japanese, they dress up to go anywhere outside so I feel like a slob to the max in my traveling clothes. And they don't just dress up but they dress like they're going clubbing. Guys, take note: Belly baring shirts & halter tops galore; the tiniest of miniskirts everywhere; tops & bottoms so revealing you feel like you're in a hip hop music video. Not only that but they're beautiful! I've seen 4 Anna Kournakova lookalikes in my short time here. This would be an ideal spring break destination for college guys if number one, it wasn't so cold here in March & number two, Russian women weren't cold, distant & master game players (dare I say bitchy?) -- this is according to our tour leader who's spent extensive time in Russia & has a thing for Russian chicks so he knows what it's like to chat 'em up). Another observation -- there are heaps of marriage agencies here for foreign men looking to marry Russian women & erotic clubs outnumber normal bars & clubs 20 to 1.

And now for my FAVORITE part about Russia: the customer service. In case you didn't catch it & I'm sure you didn't, that statement was absolutely drenched in sarcasm. Customer service simply doesn't exist. My favorite example has to do with trying to cash traveler's checks, which was a nightmare. Kristin & I actually managed to get to the point of being flat out broke & so we went down the main shopping street, Nevsky Prospect, in search of a bank or currency exchange office. Every bank we stopped in to see if they cash traveler's checks said simply "no." It was the same story at the exchange bureaus. Apparently traveler's checks with the American Express logo are ok, but not Visa, which is what we had. The best part is, whenever you ask for help or assistance anywhere, the shop clerks give you blank, vacant stares & look at you as if you're a moron for even asking. Then they rudely turn you down. My personal favorite is the eye roll-huge dramatic sigh combo. Awesome. So one bank who had an astoundingly helpful clerk tells us that oh, there's this bank around the corner that should cash your traveler's checks. So we go & that bank closes as we walk up. Damn. Now what? We happen to wander into the Grand Hotel Europe & lo & behold, they have a currency exchange office that has a Visa traveler's checks sticker. Excitedly we run up, pull out our TC's & ask (just to make sure), "Are Visa TC's ok?" The woman pauses & mumbles, "Mmmm, this is not possible." WTF? Flabbergasted (is that spelled right?), we point to the sign & say, "But your sign says you take Visa TC's." Her: "Just a moment," while she calls someone. 5 minutes later: "Ok, those are ok." What the heck was that all about? Welcome to Russia, where they only help you if they feel like it. Grrr...

Tomorrow I'm off to Milan, Italy to see the one, the only Elaine & her husband Marco. Can't wait! See you tomorrow Elaine!