4. Highlights from St. Petersburg

August 5, 2018 by Ivan in Travel

It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m settling in for the 9-hour train ride from St. Petersburg to Moscow. It is the perfect time to reflect on my stay in what is probably one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. The unique architecture, the canals, and the mix of old and new make it incredibly special.

Here is a recap of my 11-day stay:

Friends & Faces: I was lucky enough to reconnect with almost all the friends I made back in 2010, plus meet plenty of new ones. Growing my circle of friends here just gives me more reasons to return, and coming back to St. Pete is always good news.
The Language Barrier (or lack thereof): I’ve been speaking Russian about 80% of the time. I’m finally feeling comfortable with the language, I can even pronounce the letter ‘ы’ now!
Adventures: We went on some amazing excursions, including a trip to Vyborg (near the Finnish border) for Ilyusha’s birthday. We also visited a beautiful island park, explored the Proletarskaya neighborhood, and caught the Zenit vs. Arsenal Tula match at the massive Zenit stadium.
The Festival: Being announced and playing at an international festival was a huge milestone for my career. The press coverage was great, and it opens up a lot of perspective for the future.
The Weather: I had incredible luck: 11 straight days of sun with temperatures ranging from 18°C at night to 30°C in the day. The rain started just a few hours before I caught this train, likely marking the end of summer.

Now, onward to Moscow! I’ll be staying with my good friends Fob & Yuka for 5 days, and I can’t wait to see the crew there.