from Russia with love

Our first Russian experience:
Tori and Amanda stand at the baggage carousel, and look around. Sniffing ourselves, we realize to our relief that the smell isn't coming from us.
The customs lady yells at us for coming through together, sends Tori about 30 feet back, and then makes Tori take off her glasses to better compare her with her passport picture.
The hotel people express confusion at our arrival - Why are two dirty girls with giant backpacks standing in the lobby of the Radisson? (Thanks for your credit card points, Sandy and Paul!)
We successfully ordered dinner off the entirely Russian menu. Pointing and gesturing works just fine when no one speaks English, especially if the menu has pictures!

Other highlights:
Laundry. At first we thought we'd send it out at the hotel. But then we realized our underwear alone would cost $200. We found what may be the only "laundromat" in St. Petersburg. Amanda thought it was close. So we walked, 3 weeks worth of laundry in hand, for about 45 minutes. We arrived at Cafe Sketch (actually Stirka), and the man with the half-shaved head/half dreads (worked really well on him) pointed us to the 3 machines in the dingy basement. 5 hours later we emerged starving but with clean laundry. We only did 2 loads. But we now had clean underwear!
Tori and Amanda thought they got pizza for lunch at Tsarskoe Selo, but instead it turned out to be round bread with cheese, cut up hot dog pieces (not visible when we pointed at it), and ranch dressing and ketchup (both added without our knowledge). Yum. If anyone wants us to bring some back, let us know.
Amazing Georgian food to counteract the pizza.
75% of Russians have mullets.
100% dress like clowns.
Fishnets totally acceptable, even cool, for everyone. Both whores and grandmas alike.
Palaces. If anyone wants to buy us belated graduation presents, or med school housing (we'll commute!), Tori likes the Catherine Palace, complete with grounds, please! and Amanda will take the Winter Palace.
Red Square and the Kremlin. Phenomenal. Again, presents from the Diamond Fund are appropriate for any occasion. This, we believe, would apply to Jessie and Maggie as well, judging by the gleam in Jessie's eyes. (Jessie to tour guide: "Why don't they sell just one of these diamonds? It would end the recession.")
Lenin's tomb. Or more accurately, more policemen than we think we've seen anywhere. Totally the 2 hour wait just to see the intensity and glimpse the communism. No talking. No stopping. No folded arms. No hands in pockets. Just walk past the dead man somberly. We were shushed, snapped at, and whistled at.
Irkutsk. The small city we're currently writing from. We flew in this morning and get on the train tonight to head to Mongolia. Incredibly fun open air markets. Hysterical Russian clothing. The best part? Explaining at the airport at 6 am this morning that we wanted to go to the train station. We pointed it out on the map, pointed to the Russian spelling of the word "train station", and finally something clicked. One taxi driver said, "ch ch ch ch choo choo!" and moved his arm up and down. Success!!

More to come!! We'll write about our train adventures from China! Look forward to perhaps a guest blog entry from the other Ruskys :)

P.S. Cary freaking Mosley. Do you know everyone from San Diego? We met two couples waiting in line for Lenin's tomb. They were from San Diego! When they found out we went to Pomona, they asked if we knew you. Not sure of their names; one husband was British, and they said they travel with you and your family.