So here we go
We got our accreditations
looked at the special Newsboard where we could find all the info about the competition, trainings and off-ice events and noticed it was too late to go to the Ledovy already
the training of dancers and men was finished already
we were not very interested in Ladies and in any case we couldn't be in time even for them and Pairs already. But I was not sad at all!!! We went outside.
- Yaaaay!!! We are acredited!!!!!
We can go to the trainings tomorrow morning
the Opening ceremony will be only at 17h00 and we are allowed to be at the skating rink from 9h00
We were laughing & laughing
Uuuffff, what to say - we were happy
First I wanted to stay at the hotel to wait for Albena & Max or just to meet Silvia & Kosio, but then Elise convinced me we had a wonderful opportunity to walk about the Peter
and I realized she was devilish right!
it was obvious we were going to spend all the other three days at the rink!!!!
so it was a great chance to see some places I adore
BTW, Elise wanted to visit the Hermitage sooo much
some of you knows already where our journey to the Hermitage finished But before the Hermitage we went shopping
Elise is fooooond of shopping actually, because since Marina has become a coach of Johnny, Elise is a fan of Johnny and Joooooohnny adores shooping
very logical, eh?
After that we decided we couldn't go to the Hermitage without eating something
but..
we were on the Nevsky prospect and all the cafes are verrry expensive
except verrry "healthy" McDonalds and another american thing like that called KFC
I turned my head to the left..
to the right
"Liiiiz, I don't see my coach!
So we can go there and eat something
" and we burst laughing
We took a twister, French Fries, Coca-Cola & Lerochka took an ice-cream
We chose a place near the window to observe the Nevsky
(just to add about the place we were sitting
- this very gorgeous Kazansky cathedral was just opposite
) annnnd draged out our GPF booklet and began to examine the pics
Do you know what page did Lerka open first?!
Thiiiiis one
"Awww
the photo of Albenche & Max is soo beautiful
" "Yeah, not bad
" - my friend agreed
The page with Isabelle & Olivier was nice, too..
but their photo wasn't as big as A&M's one
"Ohh, it's one of my favourite moments of Isabelle & Olivier's FD
I love it. It's so emotional, so strong!"
Then we began to discuss our fav theme
pronunciation of skater's names in different languages
commentators and their variants of pronunciation
my poor stomach
And here is a lovely photo of Elise with her drink
And theeeeen we went to the Hermitage
the entrance is free for russian students
it's very nice of the administration
I wanted to show Elise my favourite exhibition
Antiquity
the art and culture of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and Italy, and ancient settlements on the Northern Black Sea coast, Egypt
we were making circles & circles, but we couldn't find it
we were always in the hall of Old Russia
we tried to go to the right, to the left, to ask people
but nothing helped
Old Russia 13th-17th centuries was pursueing us
finally one women advised us to go out and then to reenter
that was just fab
but when we reentered we clearly saw a table which told us where the hall of Antiquity was situated
we went there
and found the MaX-cafe
inteeerneeeeet
Elise looked at me in a very nice way: "I want to check my e-mail.. 30 minutes maybe?
" "Aww
I wanted to write a message on the forum so much!
" You know what happened later
We found the hall of Antiquity and also one of our fav exhibitions with Elise - Impressionism
especially, french artists
Claude Monet.. Henri Matisse
Pierre Auguste Renoir et Edgar Degas
I like this picture of Matisse.. La danse
When we left the Hermitage it was already getting dark
It's soooo beautiful when the streets are dark.. everything is shining..
awww..
This is the Palace square where the Hermitage is situated ->
carriages with horses
another carriage-shadow & the Hermitage's wall as a background
We were walking about the streets.. admiring the wheather that WAS NOT RUSSIAN at all
waaaaaaarm
no snow
there was no snow in Russia in December
"Eliiiise, maybe we are not in Russia?? Just look.. New Year Trees, Santas.. but no snow
maybe I'm delusional and you can find a tiny snow-flake, huh?"
"No, no, calm down, there is no snow! You know it's much colder in Lyon now
"
Suddenly I saw a booth
"I MUST BUY THIS FOR LAAAANAAAA!!!!!!!" - Lerka cried and ran to the booth..
I think it's just a perfect place to stop today, eh, Lanochka?
luv
P.S. all the photos are clickable
so click them to see a large picture