First Impressions of Mother Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia

Occasionally, I ask myself the question that I'll probably ask myself many more times. Was I mad? I don't speak Russian. I don't read Russian. I can't even order from a menu properly. What in the blazes am I doing in Russia?!
Pretty much every step at the moment is an adventure. Then again, that's what I set off for, right? An adventure. And people did call me mad. And never underestimate how far a few pointing gestures and a big smile get you. Not many people here speak English - not out of my sample, at least (only one so far, hostel staff).
Sadly, this led to the missed opportunity to photograph two cute girls who (as it turned out) actually asked me for it.
On the other hand, I'm slowly getting the hang of capital letters. Some are similar to Greek and Roman letters with the same sound. Some look the same but sound different. Others can be deduced. It's like a puzzle game but things are beginning to make sense:
КОФЕ=cafe, РЕСТОРАН=restaurant.
Something to be proud of (a little bit). (back pat)
At least here, as a foreigner, you appreciate every Anglicism in the language.
The area around the hostel is nice. ПАРК ПОБЕДЫ - Park Pobedy - is beautiful. Frequented by locals and very few tourists (since it's a bit out of the way) on this warm, sunny Sunday. They walk, row a boat across the little lakes or just sunbathe.
Then there's buildings. All built for size, all built to impress. Columns, tall windows. Sadly, especially in side streets, many are in a state of disrepair. It gives neighbourhoods a certain melancholic character. Old memories of grandness slowing eaten up by decay. One thing is for sure. Russians went all the way with their architecture and city planning. Everything is on a grand scale. From metro stations featuring domed ceilings and cast iron sculptures to main streets - prospects - with three plus lanes each way plus tram tracks in the middle.
I am impressed.