The Winter Palace viewed from the bus going to the StrelkaSt Petersburg, Russia
Today we were joined by a guest from the Russian Federation. Welcome!I was blessed to visit St Petersburg twice, once in September 2001 (yes, then) and again in November 2004. I love the city and I enjoyed meeting and chatting (to the extent I could) with the Russian people there.
Just a few more weeks until my first Russian class. Очень ҳорощо!
--the BB
5 comments:
I went to St. Petersburg when it was Leningrad, in 1977. Wow -- that was 30 years ago! Yeesh. My mother and I went there on the overnight train from Moscow. (She and my father were living and working there for three years. CBS News.) It is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. And it was June so the days were long, long, long. I remember walking along the canals.
My Russian was a little fresher then. I had three semesters in college and then dropped it. Pure laziness - I liked it and pronounce it fine. It is, by the way, a great language in which to curse. Lots of consonants. All I remember is "Go to the devil!" which is not a very strong curse. (Apparently "Go to the devil's grandmother!" is stronger.) I once saw a whole book of Russian curses in a little Harvard Square bookstore (the languages one behind the Square -- I think it is now defunct) and made the mistake of not buying it. I've been thinking of that book ever since!
Well, Jane, I confess to having a book of obscenities in five languages lying about somewhere. Perhaps I should check the Russian section when I am better at it. Of course, you're just trying to get me into trouble.
I would love to go there- one day.
And Jane you remind me that we often regret NOT spending the money to buy something more than we regret buying something we don't need.
I however have taken that philosophy to high art and and buying nothing for awhile as a result!!
Russian. Not even a word!
My husband's parents left Ukraine in the late 30's and ended up in Germany, in work camps. They finally came to the US in 1952, Mark (hubby) was born in 1957. He has one older sister born in '47 in Germany.
Anyway the Ukrainian that they spoke at home and in their little immigrant community near Binghamton, NY was arcane.
When Mark and his sister visited the Ukraine in 1996, the only people who understood them well were those over 70... Between the general organic nature of language and the influx of Russian language, what they said was not really comprehensible.
Can I ever leave a comment without a story? Don't answer that.
Dear Fran,
You may leave comments without stories but I'm so glad you usually don't. [broad grin]
Someone is being very generous with his blog real estate! (grin returned!)
Post a Comment