Our first contact with Russia was definitely a shock. We felt like when you enter the house of someone who does not want to host you. After struggling with russian customs lady to get a latin alphabet form, we went into a old bus where everybody seemed to be sad looking down. The weather was cold and rainy, definitely not a good start!
As every rule has an exception, Sasha, our friendly host in St. Petersburg, had an endless smile to receive us. Kindly he explained us that we should not take the first impression of russian people as the real one. Our trip through Russia helped us to confirm what Sasha told us. We met great people, happy and positive, but we realized that some time is needed for them to be open to new people.
Probably the reason for the Russian cold behaviour is the recent history, since Russians have gone through so much. Actually, one of the main reasons for going into this travel was to hear from local people why the former system, an ideal one in theory, collapsed. We got so many interesting answers to that question: some thought that everything was based on a big lie, others believe that the bad leadership performed at the end made everything to crash and some other thought that everything has a begining and end.
The funny thing of all this, is that the answer to the question turned to be another question itself: why to worry about it? Young people, does not really care about the mistakes or smart moves of former leaders. They don't mind to go to a McDonalds to have a meal or to live in a global world based on Capitalism. They just want to live a new era, happy and with a more democratic government. That's why we felt that Russian Youth is looking to the future.
Sasha and Jimmy in front of the Church of Saints Isidor and Nicholas (St. Petersburg)
Griboedova Canal (St. Petersburg)
St. Isaac's Cathedral (St. Petersburg)
Palace Square and Alexander Column (St. Petersburg)
Portico with Atlantes, Historical Entrance (St. Petersburg)
Winter Canal (St. Petersburg)
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (St. Petersburg)
Church of Saints Isidor and Nicholas (St. Petersburg)
really nice post!! but I'd suggest including some photos;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
I was in Russia 4 years ago, even if i dont like to generalize, i really didnt like it. The ppl is cold and rude and i felt unsafe.
ReplyDeleteJM
Thanks for the suggestion! You are totally right!
ReplyDeleteThat is what you get from the first impression...however once you "break the ice" and you get to know them more, they are friendly, hospitable and generous people. About unsafety that's right...but it all depends where you are, and who is totally safe in a big city?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
Much better know;)
ReplyDeleteIñaki, enhorabuena por el post, siempre se aprenden cosas nuevas e interesantes. Me han gustado mucho las fotos, se nota el curso!!!
ReplyDeleteAhora nos quedamos a la espera del siguiente post, impacientes de leer más aventuras del transiberiano que seguro nos sorprenden.
NAGORE
Glad to hear that you´ve succeeded looking behind the "stone-like" faces of russian people and discovered their real character. Hope to see some more stories and pics from more eastern parts... :)
ReplyDeleteYeah! Definitely, the blog will be more interesting as far as we approach the east!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment!
Kaixo!!
ReplyDeleteBuenooo ... Iritsi dala azkenean bloga... Oso interesgarria dirudi. Beste artikuluren baten esperoan egongo naiz. Hori bai ez da inoiz iritsiko zure zuzeneko kontakizunen mailara jajajaj!
thumbs up, That was great..., I can imagine it will get more warm and lovely as you head east;) Waiting for upcoming posts of yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks man! That's right, the best of the blog is still to come! But I'll keep you updated...
ReplyDeleteApa Gorka,
ReplyDeleteEskerrik asko! Saiatuko naiz hurrengotan hitzulita jartzen, eta gustoko dituzun hurrengo postak!
Great post Iñaki and cool pictures.
ReplyDeleteEspecially interesting to read about your perception of Russian people as Hungary was going through some very similar changes in recent decades that left a mark the on people of the era and on our society. I wonder if you had a similar impression when u were out here in Budapest.
Waiting for more stories from the "Wild East" ;-)
Péter T
Hi Peter,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely I had a similar impression when I was in Budapest. Actually, in St. Petersburg, Budapest came to my mind several times. There are similarities not only when it comes to people behavior or culture, but also the way the buildings and streets look like. It's interesting to see how one culture can affect that much many others.
Thanks for your comment. Definitely you will have stories from the East, indeed it was the most interesting part of the trip.
I'll keep you updated!
Iepa berriz!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresgarria jartzen hasi da bloga, esperientziari buruz irakurtzen dugun heinean. Gogorra hasierako inpresioa, e!?? Nik izugarrizko gogok dazkat Errusiara juteko... someday! I'll keep reading!! Lan politta ta argazki txukunak. ;)
Olaiz
Iepa Olaiz,
ReplyDeleteBa bai nahiko desberdina da kulturalki errusia. Batez ere ekialdean, baina mendebaldean ere aldaketa nabarmena da. Beste post batean, Trans-Siberianoa egiteko gomendatuko nukeen itinerarioa idatziko det. Seguraski ondo etorriko zaizula bertara jutea pentsatzen ari bazera. Abixatuyazu bidai hori planeatzen hasten zeanen eh!
Iñaki