Blogs from Russia, Europe - page 290

I needed another lie-in today. I went to Zhanna's class after lunch still yawning but there were only two of us there so I could just sit in the corner with two bottles of fruit yoghurt and write a few more paragraphs of my essay - the Russian black market in the late 1980s. At the end of the lesson Zhanna said to me: "Jon it's our last lesson, we won't see each other again - can I ask you a question?" "Of course" I replied. "You don't like studying, do you?" I said no. I used to, sort of, but I'm bored of it. My head has been full of other things for a couple of years and whenever I sit down to work it is almost impossible to concentrate. It's something I will try ... read more

Hello I found a driver in UB, Mongolia. Muj was his name and he, I a guy from France, and two girls from Switzerland hit the road for 10 days. We explored central Mongolia and most of the Gobi desert. Muj had a Soviet jeep/van type 4-wheel drive type vehicle. It fit us all plus our packs and food for part of each day. Muj knew nomads and families along our way so we would sleep in Gers or camp each night and sometimes they had extra food. We gave them some money which was much needed. I loved this trip. We had such a good time. We all were great friends by the end of our time. That many days and nights together. So many great things to see and do. I don't have the ... read more

PART II: RUSSIAN FAR EAST Impressions from Yul Brunner-town Yes, that bold Yul was a Vladivostokian. Today the town lays peacefully at the shores of the Pacific ocean, and shares topographical features with its’ geographical counterpart San Fransisco - it’s made up by hills, hills and more hills. “Vladivostok” quite literally translate as the Lord of the East. I have no idea who this historical gentleman was, but I’ll inform you as soon as I know. It is probably not referring to Yul, anyway. The town which once was Chinese territory, lays peacefully in the Golden Horn bay. It used to be off-limit for foreigners, and most Russians as well, during Soviet-times, and it opened up only recently. Maybe that is why its’ inhabitants are so welcoming to visitors. Compared with St. Petersburg which annually get ... read more

Again I woke up this morning feeling weak. It is as if I lose energy every night rather than get it back, even though my bed is becoming quite comfortable. My snooze alarm is now fifteen minutes rather than ten, and there are more of them. Before I did anything I tidied my room - threw away all the worksheets that I know I will never read again, sorted my books and made a 'miscellaneous' folder of presents and photos. Then I took my suitcase out of the cupboard. It's the sign - as it was in Yaroslavl - not that it's time to leave, but that I'm ready to leave. With all that done I joined Kaisa, Liisa and Johani at the obelisk at the beginning of ulitsa Sovetskaya. Unfortunately finding them was so hard ... read more

Hi all. The Russian train pulled in to cosmoploitan Helsinki station looking like some Communist Relic, this was obviously the right platform. Speeding through northan Finland was much like any rail journey in the uk, but once we crossed the border it was a different story. Nothing really prepares you for the poverty when you can see it at that range. And of course there was the infamous Russian border crossing, whilst on the train I must have shown ID, Passport and Immigration cards to at least five different officals. Arriving in St. P's I was able to track down the group at a bar by the Hostel and they seem like a cool group. Peter and Catherine - The Flying doctors Simoan and Dani - The Academics Marco - Partyboy Zoe - Legal Eagle Chloe ... read more