Russia I - Moscow

I havent been writing for a long long time now. The reason is simple: I've been traveling. Well, not really traveling, rather a short city trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I really needed this trip and I feel how much energy it gave me again. Even tho I was yesterday and am today just sitting around I feel how this one week filled up my batteries a bit. It was good to meet new people again and have good conversations to them.

I left Ekenäs, where I'm staying with A and her parents right now, on the 5th, so last Saturday. I went to Helsinki and took the night train to Moscow. I had really nice cabin mates, brother and sister, both Russian. They came from an AC/DC concert in Stockholm. I was lucky, since they spoke English and we were talking the whole evening. It was funny, because the guy, Ivan, bought beer on the ship as he explained it with a thick Russian accent:
"On boat I came downstairs in shop. I saw Koff 24 beer, I saw cheap price, I bought. Now have to drink, but it is too much. You help me."
While saying that he poured me the first drink into my glass. I thanked him and drank it. When my glass was empty he took my glass and said again:
"Too much beer. We have to finish!"
and filled up my glass. This went on and on until late in the night and left me quite tipsy.

When the train arrived in Moscow the next morning I had a slight headache. I was picked up from the train station by K., a Russian girl, who I knew from university in Helsinki. I had contacted her before, just to have a local contact. But since she was scared of me being alone in Moscow for the first time and not speaking a word of Russian, she agreed to meet up and to be my private tour guide.We went first to the hostel, so I could leave my luggage. Then we made our way down to the Kremlin and the red square, the attraction, that shout more than anything "Russia". I felt bad that K. used her day off to take care of me and so I paid her coffee and entrance fees. After half a day she said goodbye and I realized, that, since I paid everything twice, my budget for the day was nearly used up. Later that day, when I went to the supermarket my money was just enough to buy water and dry bread.After the goodbye I was strolling around the city alone and was amazed how many people considered me one of them. A lot of people were asking me stuff in Russian and were totally disappointed when they realized I didnt understand a word of what they were saying nor could answer them in a way they would understand. In the evening this changed. My hostel, which didn't had water or electricity, was mainly used by Germans. I talked to them and they agreed, that we could do something together during the next couple of days. The most important thing was, that we were helping each other to cope with the situation of the hostel not having water or electricity. Next to the hostel was a construction ground and in a talk to one of administrators of the hostel I found out, that the hostel was standing on extremely valuable ground and that the construction workers did cut the utilities off, so they hostel-owners would finally give in onto the buying offer of their neighbors. According to the guy I was talking to it was pure anarchy and everybody could and would do things like this to get what they want.

It was however not such a bad situation as it might appears. The owners had another hostel just five minutes away and we were able to shower and use the toilet there. Even tho it was not that convenient it was working and to be honest, I was anyways just sleeping in the hostel and during that time I dont need running water nor electricity.

During the next days I was walking through the city with the four Germans I met. We visited the Museum of modern Arts, a very impressive graveyard of Moscow and went to the university of Moscow, which is located a little bit outside on a small hill, in order to get a good view over the city. But when we came there we could not enter. Since the terror attacks a couple of months ago the whole city and especially important buildings were secured by police, military and security companies. This however gave a safe and controlled feeling in this rather hectic and intimidating city. Although a lot of weird people were on the streets, even in the night it felt safe. Therefore we decided to go one night to a classical concert in the Tshaikovski Concert Hall, which is one of the biggest classical theaters in Russia.
The three days in the city passed like nothing, especially because of the good company and the many sights to see. It was really nice and I was a bit sad to leave and was envying M. & L., for whom Moscow was just the first station of there 3-months trip through Russia, Mongolia and China. After the three days together I wished them good luck for the rest of their trip and took my plane to St. Petersburg.

~M~

On my way again!

I am shortly posting! I am leaving now to Russia, Moscow & St. Petersburg! I am so excited and cant wait to be there.

It's incredible, I really feel how I need to get out again. It's even more exciting, since it is my first solo-trip. I am traveling alone. Nobody of the ERASMUS people is still in Finland and A. has to work. So I am the first time going somewhere alone.

I think it will be a good opportunity to see if this is my thing or if I prefer traveling with one or two other people. I've never done this, so I am looking forward to it!

I am happy however, that I have a local contact for the first day in Moscow. One of the Russian girls I met here in Helsinki was willing to meet up with me tomorrow to show me around! I reckon it will be fun!

I will try to post in between, if I find the time and if I am in the mood. Otherwise, I will be back on the 11th in the night, so first opportunity to post will be the 12th! See you then!

~M~

Going forward!

I am happy, the weather is nice, I had a presentation today, which went well, I finished with G., a French guy, one assignment and whats even more important, I got my Invitation Letter for my Russian visa. Now I can start booking my trip!

I actually right now just came back from a group meeting for another project, which we also have nearly finished now. The rest of the day I was, as I said in uni, and when I came back I started learning again. This is basically what I am going to do also after this post.

It's really nice and summery here and this has a positive effect on all people. I was in the students union office after the group meeting and wanted to buy the last batch for my Halare. I didn't had enough money in cash and wanted to pay with the card, but the women in the office just asked: 'How much do you have?' - '1,50€', I replied, 'Well, just give it to me, it's ok!'
Also when I went to the supermarket today there were people dancing on the place in front of it. Somehow there was a small yet loud stereo and the people were dancing. Something I would have never expected to see here in Finland, since the people are normally quite reserved.

Anyways, it's always nice to get positively surprised!

~M~

Eventful Day!

Today I have to triple-thank S.. First he made us lunch, then he cut my hair and then he was running with me.

But first things first:
My day started today quite early and with a nice surprise. When I got up at 8 o'clock it was already 20°C outside and so I put on shorts and a t-shirt, my summer hat and sunglasses and went out. My destination was the Russian embassy in Helsinki, not far from the park A.and S. were a couple of days ago. I wanted to get clear information, what I needed for my Visa application, since, as mentioned before, the websites are contradictory and advice how to get an invitation letter, which is needed for the application.

Anyways, I took the train to Helsinki center and was listening to my Ipod. The music was nice and was lifting up my mood. Exactly in the moment I stepped out of the train station and into the sun the song I'm Yours by Jason Mraz started, really the perfect summer song! I made my way through the sunny Helsinki and was soon at the Embassy. I used the waiting time, which I had to stand in line, by reading something for uni. It was so weird to wait in a line again, here in Finland you normally take a waiting-number... anywhere... for anything...

In the embassy I got the information that I needed and furthermore the contact details of a tour operator who could help me. I contacted them already and it looks promising, so maybe I can soon go on planning my trip.

I went back home and had a second breakfast with S. It was again nice to talk to him and just sit together. He then went to town, I did my laundry and went back to study. We then met up at 2 o'clock in Pasila to have lunch. But since it was today a bridge day the restaurant was closing earlier than normal.

We went home and S. was preparing a really nice and fresh mixed salad. The best thing to have on a warm day like this. Ah ja, by the way, when we left the Pasila campus the display of Haaga-Helia was showing 27°C. Awesome. (click on the picture to see it!) S. went then after the lunch, with which we had a nice cold German beer, back to town, since he didnt had had enough money the first time he went.

When he came back, he cut my hair

and then we went out running. It was really refreshing, but exhausting. I haven't been running for a long time and all the beer made me fat & lazy. I hope I will stick with it a bit, because I really missed the running.

Anyways, I am going to read something more and maybe go for an evening walk, who knows. I just love this summery weather and want it to last the whole summer!

~M~

Nice!

There is nothing more to say!

Well, maybe a little bit! It's a wonderful day, the weather is awesome, I can wear shorts and sunglasses and the best thing about it, it is not making me look ridiculous. The Finns are still shy and nobody is really wearing summer clothes, even tho it is 25°C.

However, everybody is outside, everybody is smiling. The people are taking walks, riding their bikes, taking care of their gardens, playing football, running and doing all kinds of stuff. The sad and quite time is over and I really don't recognize this country anymore. It totally changed within a couple of days. This is the Finland I like!

Anyways, I just had half the day to enjoy this wonderful weather, since I was working this morning and doing stuff for uni. I was therefore sitting the first half of the day inside, but now I just went out for a walk, went to a park nearby and was sitting there on a bench in the sun, reading my book.

I actually wanted to write this post outside in the sun as well, but the small park here between the houses is super dirty, since someone left his waste from a grill party there and the birds ripped the plastic bags open and scattered the stuff all over the place. Not so nice to sit there now.

Anyways, I planned also my trip to Russia further, but now I am stuck a bit. I wanted to organize the trip myself and not with a tour operator. The problem is, that the information given on the internet is not clear. Some websites of the government say, that a normal accommodation booking and the train/airline tickets are enough to issue a visa, some say that they are not and that I need some paper from the tour operator. It's a bit confusing and now I am waiting for an answer from the Russian Embassy here in Helsinki. The problem is, that today is a public holiday and they are not working, so I will pass by the consular section tomorrow to get information.

Otherwise everything is fine, I am going to go on doing stuff for uni now and then I will see, what the rest of the evening brings!

~M~

First Day of Real Spring!

This day was awesome! It was 22°C (finally) and I was a lot outside. It started with a long walk this morning with A. here in Kannelmäki. We walked pretty far and were enjoying the warm morning sun. For lunch we went to Pasila and met S., who went to the city center before to take pictures.

After lunch I had a group meeting and A. and S. went to a park overlooking the harbor of Helsinki. As far as I know were they sitting there in a café and were enjoying the good weather. My meeting took about two hours and afterwards I called A. to ask where they were. We agreed to meet up on Esplanadi, the one and only Boulevard of Helsinki. In the middle of the street is a nice and wide park, where you can sit on the benches and just observe people walking past.

This is also what I did, while waiting for A. and S., but instead of looking at people I was reading a book. It was so nice and warm, that I didn't had to wear a jacket nor a pullover. However, after a while there came a cold wind and since I anyways feel a tini-tiny bit sick, I put my hoodie on - just in case. On the way back it got even better, since we got free Nescafé® in front of the train station.

Now I came back from Pasila. A. took the train back to Ekenäs and I am alone again. It is now really weird. She took all her stuff from here, emptied out here space in the closet and the cupboard. My parents left Finland today and took also a lot of stuff with them, as I mentioned before and now I really feel, that the time here in Helsinki is soon over.

However, I am going with A. to Stockholm for two days, soon and right now I am planning already the next trip. This time I wanna go to St. Petersburg and Moscow. I actually planned to go by train, but when I - more as a joke - checked the flights I realized, that they are way cheaper. There is one airline, which is flying within Russia for super low prices. The trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg costs just 14€. I will inform myself a bit about this airline and see if I really wanna fly with them.

Anyways, I will go on planning and then to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow. Even tho it is a public holiday I will do a lot for uni!

~M~