My new blog is open!

 http://jillresearching.blogspot.com/

Looking backwards and forwards

After 491 posts, I'm closing this blog. This was not my intention when I was unable to post from Saint Petersburg -- in fact I have the script for several posts in my notebook and folders on my desktop with photos -- plus a story about almost having my PIN number and ATM card stolen and being REALLY frightened -- but then, somehow, I was never able to bring myself to post from Gothenburg and Helsinki, or even when back in Connecticut, where I have been for almost a week. Yesterday I realized the reason. The purpose of this blog was to document and reflect on my process of becoming "re-designed". And now that has happened. I am a different person professionally than when I left Sacred Heart University. My field is "design mangagement" and my institutional base is the University of Gothenburg, I'm respected by the dean, accepted as a working member of the reserach group by my colleagues, and friends with other people in the city. I haven't abandoned my former close colleagues, but my academic orientation is different.

So there is no need for this blog; it was never intended to be just a travelogue, which is what I felt it had become.

I will start a new blog sometime in the not too distant future when I have uncovered a new reason for blogging. And I'll post a link to the new blog on this site for anyone who would like to follow me there.

Thank you for your support and comments. 'Bye!

Hop on/off Thursday

We hopped on the Big Red Bus CityTour - with good descriptions but
poor location makers - left/right or in front/behind do not seem to
exist, and we have several maps with different numbering schemes.

We hopped off at Saint Peter and Paul to identify the tomb of Peter
the Great and compare the Trubleskoy Bastion with Alctraz -- Russian
prison cells are more spacious!

Dinner was at the FishHouse www. Fish-spb.ru where the herring (with a
shot of vodka) was the best I have ever tasted!

PICTURES TO COME

A day at the Hermitage

PICTURE TO COME

Today was an experience that exceeded all expectations. Between the
grandeur of the palace rooms and the extensive art collection, with
not one but roomfuls of the masters, it was a day spend in another
world. When I say that my favorite part was the inflame parquet
floors, I hope I am conveying that every detail was magnificent.

And we saw Matisse's Dancers.

Walkabout on Tuesday afternoon.

PICTURE OF CANAL TO COME

Peter the Great laid out his city to resemble Amsterdam, so we decided
to experience the similarities. Using the DK guide, we joined a
walking tour mid way. What a disappointment! The canal was littered
with floating rubbish, the houses were dilapidated with peeling paint,
andq cars were parked haphazardly alll over the place.

But after crossing a main street onto a different canal, our opinions
changed. The houses were more graceful, though in no way as elegant as
Amsterdam, and we were able to walk along the bank of the canal
unimpeded by cars. There were many tour boats - like both Amsterdam
and Moscow - and the whole scene was reminiscent of Amsterdam. We
ended where we should have begun, at the Church of Spilled Blood. It's
impossible to describe the overwhelming sensation of glitter and
religious decoration of the interior. I'll add a photo once I ama back
on my computer to at least give followers a glimpse.

Onwards to Saint Petersburg

PICTURE OF COUNTRYSIDE TO COME

We boarded the 7am train at the Lenongrad station in Moscow. Leaving
the city we saw block after block of high-rise apartment buildings,
then fir and birch forests, punctuated by villages with simple wooden
houses, or stucco houses with corrugated iron roofs. Industrial areas
were run-down and rusty, all signs of a poor country.

Travelling first class on the fast train had its perks: an attendant
who spoke English, breakfast served to us, wifi and a service that
organized a taxi to meet us on arrival. Speed varied between 188 and
248 km/hr. There were two stops: one of two minutes, and the other of
one minute. We pulled into the Moscow station in Saint Petersburg at
11 am. A repres ntative of the taxi service met us on the platform.

First impressions of Saint Petersburg. More "European". The buildings
are still substantial, but less oppressive. they have a simpler
architecture and the stucco is painted in pastel colours. But after
Mosocw's power-washing and regilding in preparation for May 9, the
city had a dingy feel. We arrived at our hotel - American - to be
greeted with glasses of champagne!

Victory Day

May 9 is a day of celebration of the signing of the surrender document by the Germans that ended WWII for Russia, and a day of remebering and learning for Russian children. Veterans walk around Victory Park wearing their old uniforms and medals, and children give them flowers and say thank you. It was a beautiful morning (we did not watch the parade in Red Square.). In the afternoon we went on a river boat ride, followed by a farewell dinner at a Georgian restaurant. We were sad to leave - we'd had a very full and exciting five days in Moscow.