Going to Russia was a little daunting but when the big black bus pulled up and we knew we would cross the border in style. Big shiny bus, big black feelers, plush seats, tagged luggage placed neatly on the carpeted storage hold.
From Tallinn to St Petersburg took most of the day. We would cross the border around midday. Research suggested it would take and hour and a half.
The Estonian countryside was as beautiful heading east as it was in all Estonia. Rolling fields, tall forests, neat houses.
Russia loomed. The crossing marked by a river and a fortress, guard gates and fences. The guard checked the passports and it was done in half an hour. Drive on.......to next gate.
Off the bus, with luggage, through customs, bus is checked, we are checked, passports are checked, and hour later we are on our way. No English to tell us what was going on.
The landscape changed immediately. Shabby, run down houses, fallow fields, dark and depressed scene for miles.
The bus stop was forbidding and strange; dirty and confusing. We just wanted to stay on the bus, with its clean toi toi, hot drink machine, inflight tvs, reclining seats and air conditioning.
After checking out the subway and a few taxis, we negotiated a half decent fare and were taken to our B&B. Dirty, seedy streets, markets, scaffolding and smells distracted us from finding the right brown fortress door (off the street down a lane way, 50m from the street address).
Our room is lovely and clean, a bedroom in an apartment owned by Natalia. We share her house for two nights. We can see the markets below, hear the sounds at night and watch the Russian world go about its business in a truly Russian way.
From Tallinn to St Petersburg took most of the day. We would cross the border around midday. Research suggested it would take and hour and a half.
The Estonian countryside was as beautiful heading east as it was in all Estonia. Rolling fields, tall forests, neat houses.
Russia loomed. The crossing marked by a river and a fortress, guard gates and fences. The guard checked the passports and it was done in half an hour. Drive on.......to next gate.
Off the bus, with luggage, through customs, bus is checked, we are checked, passports are checked, and hour later we are on our way. No English to tell us what was going on.
The landscape changed immediately. Shabby, run down houses, fallow fields, dark and depressed scene for miles.
The bus stop was forbidding and strange; dirty and confusing. We just wanted to stay on the bus, with its clean toi toi, hot drink machine, inflight tvs, reclining seats and air conditioning.
After checking out the subway and a few taxis, we negotiated a half decent fare and were taken to our B&B. Dirty, seedy streets, markets, scaffolding and smells distracted us from finding the right brown fortress door (off the street down a lane way, 50m from the street address).
Our room is lovely and clean, a bedroom in an apartment owned by Natalia. We share her house for two nights. We can see the markets below, hear the sounds at night and watch the Russian world go about its business in a truly Russian way.
Love the videos
ReplyDeleteHow was that bridge! OH&S not anywhere! Nyet - none of that here!
ReplyDelete