Arrival

We're finally in St Petersburg. Although it's currently 1:45am, it's still light out, you can comfortably walk down the streets and see everything in sight. During the summer time this is what they call "White Nights". The city becomes suspended in what seems to be a perpetual twilight where neither the sun nor moon know whos turn it is to take the sky. I have a feeling this is definitely going to mess with my sleeping pattern. Can you imagine going to bed while outside the sun is still shining? Neither can I.

It took almost a 1 hour ride in a taxi to get to my mum's cousin's place and that is still what they referred to as fast. If you ever go to St Petersburg or Russia for that matter, I highly recommend hiring a taxi driver who actually knows how the roads work. It's like one giant Fast and the Furious movie. Well… almost, they still stop for traffic lights but other than that, there are no regards for road rules. Seat belts? Pfft, who needs them. You'll probably get laughed at for wearing one anyway.  The roads in Russia are no laughing matter, they're not for the feint hearted.

As I struggle to keep my eyes open from the serious jet lag, St Petersburg is a beautiful city. All I could think about is how much I wish all my friends were here to see this with me. I can't wait for tomorrow, when all the real sight seeing will begin.

We were warmly welcomed at my mum's cousins place, my home for the next 5 days. We walked into the kitchen to find plates of cupcakes topped with mountains of rainbow coloured icing, St Petersburg specialty chocolates, tea and of course plates of cheese, fish and ham. And that, is just the beginning.