These (High Heeled) Boots Are Gonna Walk All Over You. Seriously.

I will be pre-dating these posts to the date I wrote them, as I do not have computer access everyday I’m in Russia.

First, let me start of with a glance at the KLM airline.  Although I have been on many planes, I have never been on one with my own personal tv.  Reason for this being that I usually flew Zoom and similar.  We all know what happened there this past week.  No wonder they couldnt afford tvs!

I found that the KLM staff were not entirely friendly.  At the checkin the lady informed us that we were only allowed 2 peices of carry on luggage.  One being our small carry on suitcases and a purse.  Well that all fine, except that I also had a small backpack and my mom had a small duffel bag.  We ended up condesing everything with much effort in the end. However, at the boarding gate there were multiple…let me emphasize MULTIPLE….individuals with way more than what we had even originally brought with us being let through! Bah.  My mothers terror of our luggage being lost and not checking anything in was frustrating!

Aboard the flight was alright.  As expected.  Food was rice and chicken with a cous cous salad.  Movies were great since I got to choose my own.  I was unfortunately stuck in the middle seat, beside an “elbower.” Although, I cant blame him.  He was a very large, 6′4″ African American man.  Very sweet and soft spoken actually. (He helped me with aforementioned personal tv – although I felt very uncomfortable sitting beside him during the multiple nude sex scenes during my “Sex and the City” movie).

We landed at our connection destination, Amsterdam, and got herded into this little tiny boarding gate with the other passengers.  It was hot.  Very hot.  As the KLM man took my boarding pass, he also said my bad was too big (it weight 11.5 kg) and had to be checked in.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Even though I already had in the cabin baggage in the previous flight?

Him: Yes.

Me: Even though it says “pre-approved cabin baggage on the bright yellow sticker stuck to it?

Him: Yes.

Me: Even though my mom just went through with the exact same size bag?

Him: Yes. Mam, can you please step aside? I need to continue doing my job.

Me: Oh.

Did I have locks? No. Uh Oh.  Thanfully, it got back into my awaiting hands safe and sound and unscathed.  I cant really say anything about the 2nd flight as I slept throught it all.  All I know is that the plane was much smaller, with no tv’s and we received salad with a desert of some kind.  I still have it actually. Gross.

Anyhoo, we’re in St. Petersburg now.

OBSERVATIONS:

• The mullet is in! And its EVERYWHERE!  Either they are really behind the times, or North American is missing this craze.  I hope we never catch up.  Maybe they are trying to rival our “fohawk.”
• If you dont have heels, you’re a give away as a foreigener.  Also, if they don’t glitter or aren’t sprinkled with animal print, you’re also a foreigener. (I was clearly a foreigener in my spandex lululemon pants, and white Puma’s.)
• Hell roughly translates to to “rush hour at the metro station” in Russian.  Imagine a bug on a windshield.  Now picture my face and the subway train doors.  Not pretty, eh? Bless the Toronto Tranist System.
• You need glittery, goddy make up to compliment the high heels.  My black mascara isnt cutting it here.  I need to step up my game.
• Lack of tourists.  Where’d they go? Is it the VISA requirements? Did we scare them away? We’re not communist anymore! We’re nice people, I swear!

I’m excited to actually see the city tomorrow.  Aside from metro station and airport that is.  OH! I almost forgot! For my loyal TORONTO readers, they have the METRO paper here too! Crazy business that is!  I wonder if its worldwide.  I’m getting my walking shoes out for tomorrow.  The black sneakers perhaps, so that I look more inconspicuous.  Besides, its my birthday tomorrow, so it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.

Mother Russia? Da!

On September 7th, I leave for my 2week vacation with mother to Russia. St. Petersburg to be exact.

Even though I was born in Russia (well technically it was the Ukraine, but it was all the USSR back then), I really don’t remember anything at all. I was only 6 years old when we immigrated to Canada. It will be like seeing it for the first time, so I’m pretty excited! I still get torn whenever I watch any sporting event – do I cheer for Russia? Ukraine? or Canada? They are all winners in my heart.

Since I will be turning the big 2-4 (OMG, I’m almost in my mid-twenties, *insert heart attack here*) on September 9th when I happen to be in Russia, my mother is taking me to the Russian National Ballet to see Giselle. Growing up doing competitive dance all my life, this is a BIG DEAL!

Back when it was still called “Leningrad” (to be pronounced in a thick Russian accent), my mother attended University here, and still has friends living in the area. School in Russia is very different than it is in North America. While we change our classmates every year when we enter a new grade, the Russians enjoy the comforts of having the same people move from Kindergarten all the way up to highschool. So you can imagine how close you must become with the people you’ve spent your whole childhood with. My mom is pretty excited to show me the places she used to visit and where she studied. It will be good to get an insiders perspective since she can compare it to what it was then to what the places look like now. Also, good to get off the tourist track sometimes.

My mom is also convinced that all we need to bring is 1 carry one luggage each (since we have a layover in Amsterdam she is scared our luggage will get lost). She doesn’t see the need to bring shampoo’s or any other liquids along with us as she thinks we can buy it all there or borrow from friends. While I think this is a tremendous idea in theory – I’m afraid she has grown too accustomed to the North American life, and forgets that there isn’t a 24hour convenient store nearby where we can pick up all necessary things for 2 weeks for a cheap price. Am I wrong to think that my facewash is not readily available in downtown St. Petersburg? (And just to justify the fact about my facewash – I’m a redhead with extremely sensitive skin – trust me, skin products are like my 3rd leg).

Russia here I come!

Q: Any of you have tips on what to see in St. Petersburg? What to watch out for? What to bring? What NOT to bring?