Laura’s Russian Adventures

What a Sunday!
It had the potential to be fantastic, and it seemed to be going that direction only to be completely ruined by mid-day (roughly 5 o’clock)
So, let’s go through the day in themes! Starting with Amazing:

So today was the first day I had the chance to visit the Hermitage. In the early afternoon we did some boot shopping for Jessi (she needs a good pair of boots here in Russia!) and around 2 o’clock we headed toward the Hermitage. Entrance to the Hermitage is free since we’re students (which is flipping amazing!!!) so I have a feeling I will be visiting it quite often.

Anyway, arriving at the Hermitage was a little surreal (you hear and read so much about the history, to be the place of some of the biggest historic events is really something else).

So, let’s start with a little film. Below is Nicholas II annoucing World War One to the Russian People:

And now, here is the same balcony:

So much happened in this palace square. Before WWI was Bloody Sunday (not a topic that’s very happy) but the consequences of the event forever changed Russia!

A little back story… in 1905 there was a lot of unrest in Russia. On January 9th 1905 (Gregorian Calender) a peaceful protest to the Tsar positioned itself here in this palace square:

After the protesters arrived, they were faced with lines of military. What happened was Tsar Nicholas II was not living in the winter palace (the Russian people always assumed he lived there) and so he was not present for this protest, so the local police and military were ordered by some government officials to get the situation under control. Problem is, the way military soldiers get situations under control is appropriate when you have crowds of men, women, and children.

Needless to say, the military fired on the crowd. The number of those killed still hasn’t been agreed upon, but many people were killed. This was an important event because before this, people viewed the Tsar as the “little father” who would always look out for them, and cared for them unconditionally. After the 1905 Bloody Sunday and the way Nicholas II reacted to it, I believe that Revolution was no longer a possibility but a definite.

Anyway! That was just the history outside of the Hermitage, inside it was amazing. Since we arrived at 3:00pm, and the Hermitage was only open until 5pm, we only got to tour the first floor. Luckily, since I am now a local student, admission to the Hermitage is free, so I can go back as many times as I want to take it all in (which is great, because there is too much to take in for one trip). One of these days I will make a post just on the interior of the Hermitage, I feel I would make everyone fall asleep if I went into detail now about how amazing it is inside.

So overall, the visit to Palace Square and the Hermitage was amazing… Once we left the Hermitage, that’s when things got awkward (and worse).

Outside of the Hermitage, there are a couple touristy things within Palace Square. (as well as Tourist Traps) Lucky for my group, we didn’t get nailed with a negative tourist trap, only an awkward one!

Two people dressed in Imperial Garb walked towards our group and started talking to us in French. (I guess we look French?) After we responded in some broken french he realized we were English speakers and asked us if we wanted a picture with him and his co-worker (wife?). I felt a little guilty for having chatted them up a little and say no to the picture, so for 100 Roubles (about $4Cdn) we agreed to take one picture with them:

This isn’t too bad, sure it isn’t my best pose, but at least I got a group shot with Jessi. (I really dislike it when all the attention is on me)… but then, after that group picture, as I tried to get out my 100Rbls and pay the guy, he grabbed my hand and would not let go.

He asked for another picture and said it would be a good memento of my trip. I told him it was okay, and thanks, but that I really had to get moving. At that point the picture op moment went from awkward to downright embarrassing. I get really flustered when men pay attention to me, having this guy grab my hand and not let go turned my face beet red. And then to make it worse, he did this:

Leah grabbed a picture of the moment, and if you look closely you can see how red my face was. Awkward moment!! After he was satisfied with Leah taking the picture, I quickly gave him his roubles, thanked him for his time and quickly ran off further out on Palace Square.

We left through the archway of the General Staff Building, and inside this archway were tourist vendors. This was when things went from alright (albeit awkward) day to an awful, awful day. From a distance I could see a hawk tied to a stand, and two men offering photoshoots with it. I also noticed that these men seemed to be holding dolls. I was confused at this, but kept walking.

As we passed these men, I realized that these ‘dolls’ where not dolls at all, but monkeys trapped in what looked like stiff snow suits. These suits had no movement to them at all, and these monkeys were trapped so tourists could take pictures with them. What broke my heart even more was the faces these monkeys had as we passed them. They looked so sad. Overall the whole thing really upset me and the only thing I could think about after that was what I could to to help these monkeys. I realize now that there really isn’t much I could have, or can do. It’s not like I can take a monkey outside of Russia back home, and I know my roommates would not allow me to bring a monkey into the dorm. But the whole idea of these poor monkeys in suits that they can’t move around in, put in the hands of strange people all day makes me really upset. I’m sure some of you guys know where I stand on animal rights, it’s hard for me not to want to do something when I see particular things. Russia is not the place if your faint at heart for animals.

Anyway! That’s one long update!
I hope that everyone is doing well! I think of you guys a lot!
Until Next Update!!
♥ Laura

Laura Mabee Uncategorized