Settling in SPB

The last two days were consumed with moving and with getting to know St. Petersburg. I began with another delicious breakfast in the Moscow hotel, though this time I avoided most of the starchy items. OK, couldn’t resist the boiled potatoes, but skipped the pancakes, etc.

At 8 am my taxi was waiting and off we went. We got there in no time. I had a little problem at the ticket counter. The ticket clerk spoke no English and wanted me to go to the Cashier to pay a fee for my excess baggage. Gradually the message emerged, but at no time did he clearly indicate where the cashier was. Eventually I figured it out, however.

Arriving in St. Petersburg, I was met by my lovely colleague Victoria Evtodieva, her husband Vladimir, and their young son Fyodor. They drove me to a roomy studio apartment very close both to their home and the Conservatory. After giving me some time to unpack, Victoria took me on a walk around the neighborhood, showing me good places to shop and to eat. At the local farmers’ market she showed me how to negotiate with the merchants over the quality of the pears.  Oddly, you do not pick your own produce but ask the vendors for the quantity you want. Then when they give them to you, you have to make sure you are not getting damaged goods.

Later that night I went to the local supermarket and purchased some more groceries. The supermarket is the salvation of a person who has difficulty speaking the language. There is plenty of everything and you just put it into the basket without having to figure out the right names for things. Thrillingly, next to the supermarket is the authorized Mac dealer! Good to know in a pinch.

After a spotty night’s sleep—I was a bit too smug too soon about getting over jet lag—Victoria came over again and took me on a walking tour of the essence of St. Petersburg. We went to the Admiralty, the Neva river, the Winter Palace/Ermitage (the H is only in the French version and of course isn’t pronounced in French either), Nevsky prospect, Gastiny Dvor shopping center, and a variety of churches and cathedrals. Victoria also helped me purchase a wireless modem for the computer—instant internet access wherever you are.

She left me at home to do a little practicing and then had me over for a late evening cup of tea at her home. She has a spacious living room in which she rehearses chamber music with her colleagues. She is preparing for two concerts this week of baroque/early classical music, which is one of her specialties and that of her husband, an accomplished violinist, who performs this repertory almost exclusively.

She served me some bouillon with some nice chunks of beef added, a delicious salad, and a delicious piece of home baked apple cake. A perfect end to the day.

History of the main square near my apartment

Neva River