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Ladies and gentlemen, get ready: there is more a sentimental journey of Marcie. Having spent the Carnival 2010 in Warsaw, this year Marcie was the other land connected to their parents: St. Petersburg, Russia. The trips helped with tips, and now she returns to his account.
As my age was already announced on national television chain by none other than my own husband, I can reveal - without embarrassment - I've heard of St. Petersburg hostel for over 50 years. My parents (especially my mother, hostel of Russian descent) said wonders of this place, for me, just getting fairytale status. Palaces, bridges, monuments, emperors, empresses, treasures, wars, all under a lot of snow and the thermometer reaching temperatures well beyond the imagination of a poor girl living in Patropi. Grew so amid much pelmeni, vodka, and long talks about the day that my parents would visit finally the long awaited city.
For over 50 years, I do not. In fact, in 1994 almost was. I was in Moscow and seriously hostel considered the possibiidade taking a train - but the fear was greater than the will. The political opening was still a recent thing in the country hostel and, as was scary to walk 100 meters on the streets, imagine traveling more than 600 miles of train ...
Cut to the Carnival of 2011. Taking advantage of a stay in Europe, bought a nice package and off I go! Three hours flight from Paris. Only three hours! I never tire of note and trumpet the advantages enjoyed by the lucky ones who live in the old continent. Especially in Paris, which is the perfect starting point for any European destination.
I come to St. Petersburg at 3 pm with the mercury in -10º house. I mean, freshly baked. And in the car already have the same first impressions hostel I had in Moscow in 94: gray, heavy architecture, dark clothes, the mammoth monuments, all contributing to a kind of sadness - that maybe it's just sadness for us accustomed to the sun , colors, tables on the sidewalks, these things ...
Nearly two hours later ... Right, a two hour drive to the hotel! Is that we are on the Friday before a holiday on Tuesday. The first bridge of spring. Yes, spring under 10 degrees (in Russia, do not ask me why, spring begins March 1). Why holiday on Tuesday? Why is the International Working Women's hostel Day. Saw the detail? Not only sapecaram an adjective as turned hostel into a national holiday.
Well, the hotel was the time to leave the bags (oh, yes, and to refuse the two first rooms) to go out and do the first recognition area. With snow to the knee, of course. And here the second surprise: the city impassable not only in the streets but also on the sidewalks. What a contrast hostel to Warsaw, where the sidewalks were given permanent care town hall!
But nothing stopped us and in a short time (even because the hotel was practically across the street), I dreamed before the Hermitage - already closed, hostel depending on the schedule. The size is shocking, but the Rococo style of the main building, especially in green and yellow !, I confess that a little disappointed. But the important thing is what's inside, I said, while taking to visit the impressive Alexander Column (a monolith standing placed hostel 3,000 men, without foundation or any other connection with the land) and the Palace Square, the size a few football fields ...
Then came sabadão! And I ticket in hand (even rhymed), previously purchased on the internet. A ticket for two days, despite allowing one entry per day. Recommend highly! Even with the snow and the cold breaking over the city, the queue was spinning in the courtyard. And I, in my book ownership, stuck the "tail" (as we say in Portugal) and in a few minutes he was in, - I repeat, people! - Within the Hermitage.
There, all very organized. Quickly, the reservation was exchanged hostel for tickets. The coat