2008-10(Oct)-08 Smolny Palace Views,

http://picasaweb.google.com/terricallaway/SmolnyPalace#

This past weekend was a busy one - the weather continues to be wonderful, which makes me nervous for the upcoming winter. Between the two of us, we took over 200 pictures which I do not intend to bore you with. I will break this down into a couple of emails and try to keep the pictures to 20 or so.

On Saturday, we took a road trip with the office to the oldest town in the area - buildings date back to 1000. I'll tell you about that next time. On Sunday, we walked miles! After church and breakfast at a new place, we went to the Church of our Savior on Spilt Blood which is a memorial to one of the czars who was loved (one of the few) but was assassinated at that spot. This is probably the most visited spot in St. Petersburg after the Hermitage. We finally went inside. The entire church is full of mosaics with detail in tiles looks like a painter decorated the walls, not someone placing tile pieces. We didn't have a camera, but we are planning to go back when the sun is not shining to see how different it will look in subdued light. We'll take pictures then. Just so you know, since John has a work visa, we are considered residents (who pay taxes!) and we get the Russian prices to enter attractions - 100 rubles ($4) and 50 rubles to take pictures! Tourists pay 2 or 3 times as much.

In mid-afternoon we walked about 20 minutes to a palace east of our apartment on the Neva River that was built by Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. It is a 'compound' of buildings that has included a cathedral, monastery, a girl’s school. In fact it is most famous as a place in the 1800s where middle class girls were educated. I have mentioned before that all Russians are educated - even the poorest read. There are lots of bookstores; newspapers are posted on big boards around the city. One of John's drivers complained that TV is making reading less popular. Don't Americans know it. Back to Smolny. We did not go inside - we wanted a view of the city before it was freezing cold and while the sun was out (soon we'll be in 20 hour darkness). We climbed all the way to the top of the bell tower. I wish I had counted the steps, but it was a long way up. John admired the construction. It is so amazing that there was no cranes, no electricity, no computers...and they made fabulous buildings. The stucco is painted blue with white trim and gold accents - it is a stunning picture. As we were leaving we saw a bride and groom taking pictures in front. If you want to learn more about Smolny, use this link. Then try some of their links. I am hoping we will go to a concert in Smolny sometime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolny_Convent

I also made John take a picture of the soviet-style building across the street. And this is definitely one of the more attractive ones. He was a little hesitant because about three months ago, he was at the other end of this street, close to our apartment and was waiting for someone. He took out his phone to call the person and a man in a uniform quickly came up and started fussing at him - "no pictures!" He wasn't taking any but a Russian friend pointed out that they were at the corner where the KGB complex for St. Petersburg is and it would be best to keep his hands in his pocket. Since then he has avoided taking pictures of government buildings.

Question of the week: What is an average day for you when John is working?
No, I do not watch soap operas and eat bonbons. But I do play more computer games than is healthy. I am also eating entirely too much. But besides that, I am trying to walk a couple miles 4-5 times a week - in the Garden by my home or on errands. Other ladies in our group shop twice a week for shoes, handbags or clothes but I haven't done that yet because I don't plan to buy anything like that here and because it has been so pretty weather wise, I wanted to learn my way around. I take Russian lessons twice a week and do homework. I have read several books since I got here; have done two puzzles which I intend to glue on boards for fun decorations in John's office. I cook dinner on Tuesdays for the 'bachelors' guys and a gal whose spouses are not here. I clean our apartment (it is entirely too big) which is a chore because the air here is so dirty - so much construction going on that I sweep several times a week. That is why Russians take off their shoes at home. The International Women's Club has lots to do and I am getting involved and meeting women from all over the word in addition to a few Americans. This week I went to the Hermitage (largest museum in the world) with 10 other ladies.

Tomorrow I am going to see how Imperial China is made. Shopping takes either alot of money or alot of time. Good prices on groceries (which are high compared to the US) can be found at the big stores (their version of Walmart) but they are in the suburbs and with no interstates, it takes at least an hour to get there; another to get back. We have a pool of drivers we can schedule but you can really only get about two stops accomplished in a day. If you shop at a local market, it costs more and then how do you get your groceries home? You are on foot. So you can only buy two bags at a time. Plus you haul them upstairs! I must admit that I have been bored a good bit. But then I remind myself to get out and learn something!

I wish you would do something about the economy. We may not afford to come home!
Love, Terri