RUSSIA BROKE ME.
Seriously. No one's kidding about Russia being the most expensive country like ever.
Fortunately, I get paid tomorrow, and when I get all those extra rubles back into good old American dollars-- and get all those good old American dollars back into my bank account, I won't feel so broke. Seriously. I think I have brackets on my account.
Today Nurse Uncle Chip informed me that I've been running around Russia with bronchitis. It's been absolutely terrible today. Not only have I been coughing up flegm since seven this morning, I have an awful sore throat, a fever, and congestion. Spending tomorrow on an airplane is going to be nothing short of hell. Even so, I found some nice things for the family and to share with the kids. The rest of my posse is out eating dinner right now, and I'm so sick I don't think I'm going to attempt to join them. Masha suggested tea and vodka, and went so far as to actually give me some during one of our stops. It's not uncommon for Russian stores to present free vodka, tea, and coffee to shoppers. Masha says it's a trick she's been using for years.
Today was packed. As noted before, we woke up at seven and hit the ground running, swinging by the town of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoe Selo), hitting the Tsar Summer Palace, the Leningrad Siege Museum, a restaurant which served Russian cuisine (hurr durr we're in Saint Petersburg), three orthodox cathedrals, two bridges, several architectural stops, and I'm sure I'm missing something, but we tore the city down with our presence. We even accidentally crashed a funeral-- Leslie would be pleased.
I'd love to serenade you all with stories, but I think I just coughed up something that I wasn't supposed to. :) Good night!
Fortunately, I get paid tomorrow, and when I get all those extra rubles back into good old American dollars-- and get all those good old American dollars back into my bank account, I won't feel so broke. Seriously. I think I have brackets on my account.
Today Nurse Uncle Chip informed me that I've been running around Russia with bronchitis. It's been absolutely terrible today. Not only have I been coughing up flegm since seven this morning, I have an awful sore throat, a fever, and congestion. Spending tomorrow on an airplane is going to be nothing short of hell. Even so, I found some nice things for the family and to share with the kids. The rest of my posse is out eating dinner right now, and I'm so sick I don't think I'm going to attempt to join them. Masha suggested tea and vodka, and went so far as to actually give me some during one of our stops. It's not uncommon for Russian stores to present free vodka, tea, and coffee to shoppers. Masha says it's a trick she's been using for years.
Today was packed. As noted before, we woke up at seven and hit the ground running, swinging by the town of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoe Selo), hitting the Tsar Summer Palace, the Leningrad Siege Museum, a restaurant which served Russian cuisine (hurr durr we're in Saint Petersburg), three orthodox cathedrals, two bridges, several architectural stops, and I'm sure I'm missing something, but we tore the city down with our presence. We even accidentally crashed a funeral-- Leslie would be pleased.
I'd love to serenade you all with stories, but I think I just coughed up something that I wasn't supposed to. :) Good night!