May 5, 2009

May 5, 2009

 

We have been in Russia for 22 days already and I still love waking up to a Russian breakfast.  Today’s schedule is simpler than most days, class with Heather discussing Crime and Punishment Part II and then completing our fourth scavenger hunt. 

 

Class was a hoot, during discussion, Shannon compared Raskolnikov to Firefox when it freezes and shuts down while Jill was blunter in calling him a pansy.  The discussion went really well, but everyone was so antsy to start the Scavenger Hunt to pass the time because in four hours we will be boarding a train for Moscow!

 

The Scavenger hunt was a lot different from our last three, but it was so much fun.  Instead of survival skills, we had looking beneath the surface.  We were sent off into the city to photograph things like craziest fashion and the weirdest shoes in addition to an architectural style we cannot recognize and art nouveau.  Five of us went off together to eat at Subway because I was craving a grinder so bad.  We all ended up staying together and finishing the scavenger hunt while getting some shopping in.  Taking pictures of all the crazy fashions was a blast because it is everywhere.

 

On the way back to the hostel, traffic in the city was ridiculous and the streets were filled.  In preparation for Victory Day on Saturday, a parade of military vehicles descended Nevskiy Prospekt and a metronome sound was played from the remaining loud speakers from WWII.  The other day on the Siege Tour, Mike told us that the metronome was played over the public broadcasting lines during the 900 day Siege of Leningrad to let people know their speakers were still working and they had noting to worry about at the moment.

 

It was intense actually experiencing a part history and knowing what that sound meant to so many people.  Everyone is back from the scavenger hunt and now the pressure is on to shower, eat and pack for Moscow.  We are all going a little crazy to make sure we are all prepared and it is mixing in with our excitement and elation to finally be leaving for our excursion.  We leave for Moscow at nine pm tonight and will arrive tomorrow at six am.  From six am to eleven pm we will be exploring everything Moscow and don’t worry, we won't forget to buy fur hats :)

 

-Angela