Как я бухала в Ярославле

[peacetraveler22]

The long road trip in Russia is now over. I just returned to Moscow this afternoon from Yaroslavl, where I finally met a Russian boyfriend, who spoke almost no English! :)) He came to our table, sat down, started petting my hair, blowing me kisses and trying to have a lot of conversation over coconut beer. Each trip, it's necessary to explore the local bars for one night, and one night only. It started at a basic pub, and then onward to a Soviet style kitchen, with a unique feature!

1. An old school telephone at the table. My hosts told me to dial a number and place an order to the kitchen. Ring, ring...no answer. Maybe they were just playing games with me. :) It was hard to tell after so many vodka shots.



2. Basically, Yaroslavl can be summed up in one photo. I'm usually getting drunk once a year, and it somehow always happens in Russia. It isn't necessary to touch alcohol again for a very long time. Thanks to Olga, Ilya, lovigin and macos for the local hospitality! And special thanks to Timur for showing me some sights in Yaroslavl.





Now I sit in Moscow for only a few hours, and will board the night train to Kazan this evening. This time, I'll travel third class, and maybe meet some interesting bunk mates. When I took the long train ride from Moscow to Adler last year for the Olympics, I was in a first class cabin, with someone I knew. Now, a solo adventure on Russian Railways. If I have readers in Kazan who have a car, and free time, please write in comments or send me a message. I really want to get out of city center and especially meet an authentic Tatar family who is willing to speak with me and be photographed. Of course, I need someone who can speak English and translate because my Russian is very, very bad!

In will be in Kazan all day Thursday and Friday. What is there to see and do, besides churches??

Comments

[roman-dochkin.livejournal.com]

Very brave traveler.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't know why everyone considers me so brave? It's normal to interact and drink with locals when you travel abroad. I have never been one to just sit in a hotel or resort. I guess I'm a hardcore American. :) We are adventurous people also.

[elgreco.livejournal.com]

Все таки лучше не бухать, а делать вот так:



Где-то читал, что у мужчин хронический алкоголизм появляется через 10 лет употребления 1 бутылки пива 1 раз в месяц, а у женщин всего через 2 года. Связано с разницей в гормонах.

[creaze.livejournal.com]

(шлёпает себя по лбу) ЧЕТЫРЕ сотки! В Сибири!

[avanik.livejournal.com]

Well, you is health)
In Russia would not otherwise get.
In Kazan there UDIKOV Alex

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know this blogger and he has been very helpful. Unfortunately, he does not speak English so well and has a normal day job, like most people. So, most readers in the area are occupied during the weekday.

[elgreco.livejournal.com]

Вот интересно было бы не только "программу студентами по обмену", а еще и программу обмена президентами.

Обаму на годик в Кремль, "нашего всё" на его место, Порошенко в Германию, а Меркель — наводить порядок на Украине.

Хотя зря она замуж за Каддафи в своё время не вышла, я так надеялся ;-)

[alex-laskin.livejournal.com]

Меркель мутная. Я за Далю.

[gella-key.livejournal.com]

What an excellent title for a post about Russia :-). Wish you'd rather travel to Saint Petersburgh from Moscow, then you'd pass my town and I'd be happy to show you a lot of authentic russian lifestyle :-) called глубинка. Well, maybe some other time. Have a safe and interesting trip to Kazan.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've already traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg via car during my first trip to Russia, and been to both cities numerous times. Each journey, I'm trying to visit different cities and areas. About traditional Russian life, I saw plenty, because I stayed in a village in the Kostroma region for one day and night. It was the most heartwarming and interesting day of the trip. :) I will write that story later. Now I have time for only short posts.

[perycalypsis.livejournal.com]

Some solo hitchhikers travel with a travel buddy mascot, for example, one girl with toy donkey named Vladimir. Do you ?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No. :) A lot of travelers do this. Take a small stuffed animal or object, and place it in photos throughout their travels. I am always carrying too much stuff. Big camera, purse...no room for one more item like this. :)

[Юрий Безфамильный (from livejournal.com)]

It seems to me that the last photo has staged.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Staged? :)) Everything I write here is real. Somehow readers always find a way to develop a conspiracy theory about me.

[vitsky.livejournal.com]

"Third class" - is it "плацкарт"? Надеюсь, на боковушках? ;)

[noizz-orb.livejournal.com]

I guess "third class" is what we call "общий вагон", i.e a ticket without a seat.

Попробую угадать

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

In the first photo there is Kolyan Naumov, the star of "Real guys" show.

Re: Попробую угадать

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Kolyan is more handsome. :) I don't know this show, or any Russian television. On Aeroflot, I watched some sitcom about a former mobster who is now a P.E. (physical education/sports) teacher at a school. I was most surprised that you can say "shit" and other very dirty words in Russian TV shows. In the U.S, I think it's pretty much limited to "ass" and "damn." Extreme bad words like "fuck" or "shit" never appear on broadcast TV shows, only cable.

[mytb.livejournal.com]

http://e-kazan.ru/upload/redactor/images/47fd0c9933ddf800be7f9de37e6d8890.jpg - it's a beautiful view from a rooftop.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

Nice trip. Coming to Russia to visit lot of American bars and got drunk as a Russian drunkard. Reminded me the old soviet anecdote.

The students are 1-st day back in their school after summer vacation.
The teacher asked them to write composition "How I spent the time in my vacation"
Girls started to write down, but boys stayed idling.
- What happened, children, why do you boycott my task? - wondering teacher.
- Sorry, teacher, we don't remember nothing what happened in the summer.
????
- Because we drank vodka all vacation long.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I drank only one night the entire trip. :) Even in the U.S., I am rarely drinking alcohol and definitely not getting drunk. I'm not a social person, usually I'm sitting at home reading, watching the news, or working on the blog in the evenings.

[j1980.livejournal.com]

отличное название поста )

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is always necessary to have provocative or amusing titles to draw attention on LiveJournal. :)

[bblack-78.livejournal.com]

Good luck!!!
I'll waiting you post about Kazan.
Thanks

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have so many posts to write from this trip, I don't know when I will find the time. I will go back to my lawyer job the day after I return to the States.

[notabler.livejournal.com]

The last picture is the best! But I bet it isn't selfi )))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, it is not a selfie! I did not even know this photo was taken, until I awoke the next morning. :))

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

You will travel in platzkart? :))
I think someone will offer you to drink with them.
Keep your money and documents on your body while sleeping.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I do not think I will sleep. I barely even sleep at night in hotels, so probably not on the train either. To drink with strangers, I won't. Esp. as a female traveling alone. Necessary to exercise caution in such situations.

[valterboot1.livejournal.com]

а по фоткам не в одном глазу,и так во всём,американцы такие американцы.

[anna tairova (from livejournal.com)]

You are kinda cute at this photo. Of course he was petting your hair after some vodka especially )))))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cute? Well, thanks. :) I have very wild and curly hair. Difficult to maintain when traveling. I think he thought I was an American bear. :) At one point, he called me a panda..lol!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_ostara_/]

Nice post!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it's nice to hear. Seems most Russian readers are never happy with anything I write, or impressions I share, from my Russian journeys. Everything is usually taken as an insult, when it is not meant to be. I don't think Russians like when foreigners speak about their country, but it is okay for them to do it amongst themselves. :))

[liver22.livejournal.com]

Hello.
I left you a message (personal), maybe this will help)).

[c250.livejournal.com]

:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I made you smile! :)

[popados.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, very funny post!)) Why don't you tell me before? I have friends in Kazan, and one of them is a couchsurfing member!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I was not sure I would visit Kazan, but decided to go. :) Does your friend speak English? If so, tell them about me, or give them my email address or Facebook page.

[drfunfrock.livejournal.com]

I see some vodka and russian 'sobootyl'nik'. I see a beer's skin. Well... where a balalayka and gypsy's chorus? ;))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In the communal kitchen, one drunk man got up and started singing songs. He had an excellent voice. :)

real name of this city is ХЕРОСЛАВЛЬ

[fostral2.livejournal.com]

.

Re: real name of this city is ХЕРОСЛАВЛЬ

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is not spelled that way anywhere!

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Take care...

if you do not find anybody with a car, book a minibus excursion to the Raifa monastery; ask the driver to make a stop at the "Universal Temple" on your way back (he'll have to turn from the main road for that). Do not miss the Old Tartar Settlement (Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda) beyopnd the Birge Quaban lake (it's in the city center), and eat local food at the Tartar Estate compex (Tatarskaya Usad'ba), or at any halal place near the Nurulla Mosque (a.k.a. Hay (sennaya) Mosque); do not worry, most of the interesting places are either in the center or easily accessable by metro or tram (e.g., the "Kazan" (kettle") wedding palace is at the Kozya Sloboda ("Goats' settlement", Tat. Käcä Bistäse, [Ko:je Bisto:ce:] metro station).

Walk to see the Agricultural Palace, that's an interesting example of architecture; of course, explore the Kremlin; walk all along the Bauman pedestrian street, and don't miss the museum of Konstantin Vasilyev (a very interesting romantic artist of the late 20th century); perhaps eat at the Tartar Cuisine House, that's across the road from the Vasilyev's museum.
Check ths: http://www.tripadvisor.ru/members-citypage/gaikokujinp/g298520

Try their Timerkhan bitter vodka, kumys dairy drink, better the horse-milk one and local pies (leke 'echpochmak'); good local food supermarket chain is Bakhetle (they have halal and general departments, and the former one does not sell booze of course).

P.S. Hope you still managed to see Yaroslavl after all: the Old Town is beautiful.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes, a local drove me around various sights in Yaroslavl, with many nice views of the frozen river. I am so tired of churches, honestly there are of no interest to me and they are everywhere in Russia.

[okolostand-up.livejournal.com]

CrimeaNASH!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Political trolling prohibited! This is a drunk, happy post. :)