With it being almost a week since my last post, I felt the weekend was an opportune time to update my ventures of the previous week.
After waking up almost 3 hours later than I had planned for my first day, I woke feeling fairly fresh and hoping to have a look around Petrozavodsk and maybe go down to the lake Onega. After breakfast with Tatyana she explains the best ways (by foot, Marshruta and Trolleybus) to get to the Petrozavodsk State University. But after a long talk over a cup of tea, Tatyana suggested going for a drive with her to pick up, her daughter, Leah from university. I thought nothing of it and it would be a good way to gather my bearings and points of interest.
Russian roads are often criticised for their poor standard. But I just thought this was one of the famous negative stereotypes we have of Russia and that my cultural visit here would help me disprove the vodka drinking, bear baiting images we have of Russia. How wrong I was when it comes to roads...
People in England complain about small potholes on the roads However if they were to drive on Russian roads, they'd probably see our roads as a red carpet to drive on. Russian drivers often swerve, almost like drink drivers, but it is necessary. The roads have pot holes, and some even have parts of the road missing. Oh and it seems it is unheard of here to wear your seat belt in any car.
While on the journey, the mixtape that is on in the car seems to show that the people I am living with have a good taste in music (in my opinion) with the likes of Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' and Bullet for my Valentine's 'Hand of Blood'.
It seems that in Petrozavodsk all the money for the road surfacing has been spent on the main road which the State University is on and the rest have just been scrimped and saved on. Tatyana later informed me that there are some experts from St. Petersburg will soon come and help rebuild the roads but how well that will be done is unknown.
As I have mentioned the Marshrutkas previously, I should explain what they are. They are unlicensed transit vans with a few seats in the back which pick people up at the bus stops throughout the city. I am yet to use one as most sound like they could explode at any time. The transport throughout the city is cheap though, both the Trolleybus and the Marshrutkas cost less than 15 RUB (or 40p). Certainly a hell of a lot cheaper than Stagecoach buses in Torquay.
But at this present moment, it is hot enough and the sun is shining so why not take advantage as soon the nights will draw in, the snow will fall and the mercury will dip below 0.
After waking up almost 3 hours later than I had planned for my first day, I woke feeling fairly fresh and hoping to have a look around Petrozavodsk and maybe go down to the lake Onega. After breakfast with Tatyana she explains the best ways (by foot, Marshruta and Trolleybus) to get to the Petrozavodsk State University. But after a long talk over a cup of tea, Tatyana suggested going for a drive with her to pick up, her daughter, Leah from university. I thought nothing of it and it would be a good way to gather my bearings and points of interest.
Russian roads are often criticised for their poor standard. But I just thought this was one of the famous negative stereotypes we have of Russia and that my cultural visit here would help me disprove the vodka drinking, bear baiting images we have of Russia. How wrong I was when it comes to roads...
People in England complain about small potholes on the roads However if they were to drive on Russian roads, they'd probably see our roads as a red carpet to drive on. Russian drivers often swerve, almost like drink drivers, but it is necessary. The roads have pot holes, and some even have parts of the road missing. Oh and it seems it is unheard of here to wear your seat belt in any car.
While on the journey, the mixtape that is on in the car seems to show that the people I am living with have a good taste in music (in my opinion) with the likes of Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' and Bullet for my Valentine's 'Hand of Blood'.
It seems that in Petrozavodsk all the money for the road surfacing has been spent on the main road which the State University is on and the rest have just been scrimped and saved on. Tatyana later informed me that there are some experts from St. Petersburg will soon come and help rebuild the roads but how well that will be done is unknown.
As I have mentioned the Marshrutkas previously, I should explain what they are. They are unlicensed transit vans with a few seats in the back which pick people up at the bus stops throughout the city. I am yet to use one as most sound like they could explode at any time. The transport throughout the city is cheap though, both the Trolleybus and the Marshrutkas cost less than 15 RUB (or 40p). Certainly a hell of a lot cheaper than Stagecoach buses in Torquay.
But at this present moment, it is hot enough and the sun is shining so why not take advantage as soon the nights will draw in, the snow will fall and the mercury will dip below 0.
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