The Last Lap

Usually when I visit a place, I like to find out a lot about it before I go so that I can know what I'm looking at. But during the last few months, I've discovered that one of my favorite things to do is explore. Just explore. This usually starts out with Miles picking a place that we don't know much, if anything, about. Whoever wants to--usually Shelli, Miles, me, and Maxime--joins us to see where it will wind up.

Last week, the four of us decided to go to Gorky Park after our class. With the days not getting dark until 9pm, we have more time and daylight for our adventures. Gorky Park is still pretty much shut down before the summer months and at first it seemed kind of desolate. The rides were sitting empty and there was nothing going on. The four of us walked along the riverbank and enjoyed the sunset (yeah, have I mentioned they're my favorite?). A few dancers were out dancing to some traditional Russian folk music and it was fun to watch them. Shelli commented that now she feels like she's in "real Russia."

The weather has finally let up and it has been absolutely beautiful during the past week. Although we've been very busy with the last lap of classes, we have been able to spend a good bit of time just exploring the city. No more museums or indoor activities, though--we want to be outside all the time now that we can! For me, it's really the last opportunity to. We leave for St. Petersburg this weekend! I can hardly believe it.

Now, I'm driving through the last lap and I'm so excited to finish our last class and spend my 22nd birthday in St. Petersburg!