Can you imagine this:
At a typical Metro station in St. Petersburg
Classy light fixtures, sculptures and NO GRAFFITI ! Marble walls and floors with decorative tile, very clean and not too “fragrant”. This is what public transportation should be. Of course there is a closed circuit camera you can see in the upper left and the rope barrier is there to keep the status quo. I can live with that.
A trip “Through the eyes of the Russian people”
While Jeanne toured the Spilled Brood Church, I took the EYES tour which started off rather bland but got better as the day proceeded with 1) A sampling of traditional Russian condiments served with various concoctions of homemade vodka; you were welcome to drink more than three shots if you sat at the right table (which I did!). 2) You were given a metro token and told the proper way to use it in the antiquated token machines. 3) Our tour guide informs us of where we have to go, where to transfer, and where we should be at the end of our journey. Tour guide says “I hardly ever lose anyone on the Metro”. Note: Vodka helps you forget who you were sitting with on the bus back to the ship. 4) The market place. 5) Normal meats displayed just like at home. 6) Not so much. Outside on the sidewalk there were the traditional “Babushkas” selling mushrooms.