Getting Around Town

I tried to ease my way into using the city's many forms of public transportation and I must admit, that I think I'm doing pretty well. Initially, I was hesitant to travel around the city by myself due to my inability to read all of the Russian signs as well as my inability to always accurately ask for directions. Safety is my number one concern and I didn't want to go strolling around during these white nights without Google maps to get me home.

Luckily, I quickly got the hang of it -- especially since this city has turned out to be a lot smaller than I originally imagined. There are many different types of transportation here in St. Petersburg. Of course there's your typical walking or driving to your final destination (although the drivers here are the craziest I have ever seen!) There is also the underground metro which has undoubtedly the largest subway stations I have ever experience in my life -- and I like to think I've ridden on a pretty large number of metro systems! The stations are beautiful though, and I hear Moscow's are even nicer so I am excited to check those out next month! The city also has a tram system which I have yet to use. They are pretty outdated and the tram system is currently undergoing a renovation. The old ones are stilling running though, even though some of them look really, really broken down. There are buses which seem pretty efficient. My first day of class I thought my host mom was walking me to school, but instead she pulled me on a bus that was heading in the same direction. Additionally, there are trolley buses. These are quickly turning into my favorite way of getting around. Although they are so hot and there is absolutely zero air circulation on them; they go everywhere I need to be, are fast and extremely efficient. Trolley buses are a combination of a tram and bus -- there are wheels that drive on the street and then electric wire overhead as well. Not only is public transportation here in St. Petersburg. There are small private mini-buses that drive along a pre-determined route called marshrutkas. I've ridden on a marshrutkas for a class excursion and boy was it an experience! Ultimately, the public transportation here is surprisingly easy to figure out and SUPER cheap! One ride on the trolley bus is 25 rubles, that's less than $1USD. Take that MTA and your $2.50 subway fare plus your new $1 fee just to buy a metrocard!

M-M-Metro Face

Today we continued our orientation to this new city. Culturally, Russians do not typically smile in public. Although this is something you wouldn't typically take note of when travelling, it is an important cultural difference we need to be aware of. Our on-site staff recommended we keep a "metro face" when travelling on the metro and going around the city. Personally, I was very excited by this -- especially since most people in America usually comment on my "stone-cold" expressions as rude or uninterested. Now, I can get away with not smiling all the time and it be considered normal!!

All joking aside, we spent the afternoon taking a bus tour around the city center. I was surprised at how breathtaking the city is! The nice weather attracts tourists and locals alike to come outside and enjoy the beauty of St. Petersburg. We drove by countless cathedrals, fortresses, and museums; all more exciting than the next!

I am looking forward to meeting with my host family tomorrow evening and starting classes on Tuesday morning! It's currently 11pm here and it is bright as day outside!!! This is definitely going to take some getting used to...