Tangent: I have trained myself so well in procrastination that I actually have a hard time starting a paper if it is not the day before it is due. I feel like this could come back to bite me, buuuuuut I'm not going to think about that right now.
So, lets pretend it is 2 months ago and this post is timely and prompt!
The Back Story
Mark and I got married on May 5th 2012. We went on a wonderful honeymoon that my family pitched in on (housing wise) it was somewhat close by and very low key and completely perfect. Mark told me before our wedding he was planning something small for out honeymoon because it was so short and that maybe next summer we could do something bigger for our 1 year anniversary. Role to september, I was checking Groupon one day (nifty website that gives decent coupons on almost anything) and came across a Groupon to Russia. Wahhh? Yes Russia. I don't know were my russia obsession came from but it started early in my life (ok it might have something to do with fiddler on the roof, good movie, and my wicked awesome russian accent I picked up in middle school. Man I sound like a cool kid). Anyway I saw the groupon, it was a 10 day trip to St. Petersburg, Nov Gorod and Moscow flight included. What a deal. I asked mark if we could do it for our anniversary and at first he laughed and then realized I was serious and was like, ok ya, lets do it! Man I love that guy, he lets me be so nutty some times. Groupon to Russia? For someone who has never left the country I can't believe russia would be the first place he would want to go but he said yes!
Fast Forward to June 28
Sadly when we finely went to Russia mark was sick! The first two days were a little rough for him and he spent most of the 17 hour (+6 hour lay over) travel time sleeping.
Side note: Half way through the trip mark looked at me with a huge smile and said his ears finally popped from our flight over. 5 days! I had not idea he couldn't here me that first half of the trip. Maybe I should be a little more observant?
Then we made it to St. Petersburg!
^^ Happy man at the St. Petersburg airport
^^ We stayed in a hotel that was within walking distance of the "main road" of St. Petersburg.
I can't tell you how much I love St. Petersburg and it's wonderfully eccentric architecture!
^^ Russia who knew?
For most of the trip we were left to our own devices or could sign up for group activities. There were only a couple things that were truly planned, on the first day we had one such activity. We took a bus tour around the city. We stopped at St. Isaacs Cathedral (pictured above and below, peter the great is statued in the above picture), Peter and Paul Fortress (where the Romanov's are buried) and one random tourist shop.
^^St. Isaacs
^^ peter and paul fortress
^^ I think half my pictures in this place were of these bad boys
hint: not the last chandeliers in this post
^^ Romanov's buried right below this, yes, even Anastasia
^^Sneaky mark kept on taking pictures of my back (read: behind)
so I give him a "I know what you are doing look"
There happened to be a marathon going on when we took our bus tour so me had a good 20 min wait while a road became unblocked and our tour guide made us get off the bus and look at this "original russian nick-nack" store. The conversion rate for rubles is 30 to $1. So when we got to the store everything was so cheep! It took us a little bit to realize that everything was actually in Euros Wah Waa. So we window shopped and acted like the outrageous tourists you just need to be sometimes.
^^ stack dolls for dayzz
Our last stop of the day was the Hermitage. It is a a palace in the heart of St Petersburg that was converted to a museum. Interesting fact: St. Petersburg was actually known as THE place to build your summer palace or winter palace or vacation home. It was really a town full of royals, so a lot of the building use to be palaces at one time or another.
^^Hermitage
^^ The elegance in this museum is breathtaking
^^ Gold and Diamonds ALSO That is the size of my apartment
^^ It was PACKED and no air conditioning
^^ SO my eyes always found the chairs when we first entered a room. Usually it was me and a bunch of elderly stealing seats whenever we could. THE BEST was when there were chairs in rooms, but wait, they were really old chairs that were just for show. Who does that! I had my fair share of glazed looks in this hot house.
^^ The "Gold Room" All the pillars are actually paper mache and gold leafed over.
You know, being economical and what not.
^^ the floor was wood mosaic.
Tiny pieces of wood!! mind blown
^^ rebel child. I couldn't... not do it. Right?
^^ Da Vinci and Raphael ( I told mark to reenact it, I don't see the resemblance mark...)
^^ behind us is the biggest vase in the world. It is 4 tons.
What do you even do with that much vase.
^^ Mark at the weeping fountain.
Look at those fake tears , THIS reenactment went quite well!
This was a very exciting day for our group because someone ALMOST got pick pocketed. I stress almost because it wasn't even close. It was very dramatic. Also there was a nice group of Native American's dancing in traditional clothes and playing traditional music right outside the Hermitage. When in Russia? This concludes part I, Part II will feature the white nights aka booze cruise, Peterhof Palace and church of spilt blood. Stay tuned!
