August, 17th, 2002 - the first Rusloboda meeting in Russia took place in StPetersburg. Unfortunately, there were just two of Ruslobodians here, but still it was a cool week...

One of the most famous travellers in Russia - Olja Zykova - after visiting some more places in this huge country, managed to come to StPetersburg. She wanted to see her brother by heart - Jurij Shulguin.

I met Olja at the railway station. It was such a strange feeling. It reminded me something: Vejen Banegaard, departures of some of our brothers and sisters just few months ago. To be honest with you, I was almost crying inside. This meeting brought me back to paradise.

The first day we didn't walk around too much. Olja was a bit tired after all her jouneys. So we took a small trip around the city and went back home to take a rest and gather energy for the next day.

The next day we had suck a nice trip to Peterhoff (such a fountain's capital of the world). We took a motor boat from the central embankment of the city (right in front of Hermitage). Twenty minutes by water and we came to Peterhoff's pier. Took tickets and came into one of the most beautiful parks, I have ever seen.

About one hundred of fountains, thousands of tourists... Adn two Ruslobodians among all this. We were walking around this lovely place for almost the whole day. You know, when you came to Peterhoff, you can't just leave it. Because it's so damn nice, that you want to stay there forever.

We saw almost all fountains... I should say, that it took plenty of time. But as I have already told you, time is nothing there. We took a lot of pictures. Most of them you can find here.

But the most funny thing is, that we were almost complitely wet after this trip around the park. There are a lot of "funny" fountains all over the park. So, you can be suddenly poured over. And without noticing, from where it had happend. For me it was not the problem: first, I got used to that, and second, I could wring out my clothes. But Olja... Poor girl ;-)

So, you can imagine, that when we came back home that day, we were damn tired. So, didn't even want to do anything else except going to bed.

Next few days we were walking around StPetersburg. Actually, shame on me, I couldn't be with Olja all the time because of my job. But I really tried to do all my best (did I, Olja?) to be with her as long as I only could. And we still had enough time to spend evenings and nights together.

On summer StPetersburg is one of the most beautiful city in the world. Actually, Olja came here in August, so she couldn't see our White Nights. But still, it was not that bad during the night. We went to see briges drawing (half a year they open for nights to let ship come through the Neva river. But if you leave on the island (like I do), you can stay out of your home for the whole night if you are a bit late for brige-drawing schedule). I think, that Olja can describe much better how it looks like, because I got used to that. And it became too natural for me.

For three days Olja (such a traveller) went out from StPetersburg to visit Ira (do you remember her?) in Petrozavodsk. So, I took a pause from this walking-around-time.

Then she came back just for one day. As I can remember, we bought a CD with "Ice Age" cartoon and made a cinema right in my room. Actually, we still use lines from it (find it, if you haven't seen it yet). It was really funny.

Those week was the best time I had since I left Askov. I look forward to see all of you here or anywhere else. And if you come here, please remember to take all your shooes back, and don't forget them here... My room is not a shooes-store ;-)

Oljushka... I guess, here should be your version of this trip to StPetersburg... Just write it and send to me.