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

Re: Попробую угадать

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

I have not seen any Chris Rock's movie that would be generously equipped with curses:( Robbie Williams's Rainbow-fucking-Randolph role in the movie "Death to Smoochy" is beautiful. I learned the phrase " pillow biter" from there :)

[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.

Re: Попробую угадать

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is not his movies, he has a lot of stand-up comedy specials which are dirty and use a lot of curse words. These are very funny, esp. his jokes about married life. :)

[anna tairova (from livejournal.com)]

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

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

On a train it's easier to fall asleep because it rocks like a baby's cradle

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

Nice post!

[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!!

[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. :))

[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. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I do not know. On the ticket, under "Класс", it says 3П. I guess I will find out when I board the train. :)

[liver22.livejournal.com]

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

[gella-key.livejournal.com]

yep, after a day and a night in Russian village one can hardly be wanting more of this traditional life spending :-) Anyway, look forward to your impression of it!

[vitsky.livejournal.com]

Oh, "П" means "плацкарт". So, it's ok, it is not "общий вагон". :)
Although russian "плацкарт" will also be an interesting experience for you. :)

"3" means not a class, but a number of your wagon.

[c250.livejournal.com]

:)

[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.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I made you smile! :)

[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? ;))

real name of this city is ХЕРОСЛАВЛЬ

[fostral2.livejournal.com]

.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

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

Re: real name of this city is ХЕРОСЛАВЛЬ

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It is not spelled that way anywhere!

[drfunfrock.livejournal.com]

Seems most Russian readers are never happy with anything I write, or impressions I share, from my Russian journeys.

Don't worry! It's just grumblers. "Boo-boo-boo-boo..." They are always unhappy.

[Андрей Шаламов (from livejournal.com)]

RT is russian chanel whitch translated in America, not in Russia, in Russia RT you can watch if you order it as cable TV or something similar. in my houme i have no RT translation, for example. this mostly for people who interested or speak in english. all RT content created in America mostly by american journalists.

[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.

[drfunfrock.livejournal.com]

Drunk singers it's real Russian national reserve. Like oil or gaz. ))