Back in London

Top of the morning to you! Wait, I think thats what the Irish say… what do the English say? Oh bugger.. yeah that. Anways, I’m back in London and can confidently say that our travels to Finland and Russia were a success! I’m sure its pretty apparent by now that I’m ready to move to Finland. As for Russia; wow. I’m still digesting everything and trying to make sense of my impressions of this gigantic place. I’m also nursing a cold that tried to kick my ass in Moscow but I ate some healing super-honey that our Russian friends had in their pantry and I think it kept me from going completely under. I experienced all 4 seasons in Russia; the first day was superbright and warm (seriously; the sun is so much brighter here its crazy!) the next day it was overcast and rainy, then it was windy and super freezing and we amazingly witnessed sporadic spurts of snow falling. (Not enough to wear a ushanka and pretend you’re in Dr. Zhivago but close enough.) I think its safe to say that I liked Moscow much more than St. Petersburg though I understand that each city has its own unique story and amazing cultural treasures. Its pretty late right now so I’ll save the philosophical details for when I get back (mostly since I’m still figuring that part out) but I will share some photos from my stay in Moscow for fun (like the cocoa pops straws from Finland: “For fun”). I’ll tell you one thing; traveling and seeing other parts of the world and how people live has definitely flipped some kind of switch in me in an indescribable way. I cant put my finger on it but I’m definitely hungry for more, which makes my going back to the states a bit more confusing for me than I hoped, ha. But my travels are certainly not over and maybe I’ll make more sense of this je ne sais quoi in the coming weeks. Or tomorrow, while I’m in Scotland. Yes, that’s right, Scotland. Edinburgh, to be exact. 3 days there and then 4 days in Paris thereafter. Then its off to Germany for a few more days and back to the states we go. But one at a time for now. Tomorrow hopefully I see what Haggis is all about and maybe medicate my sore-throat self with some proper whiskey too. Stay tuned! Dosvedanya moyi druzya (goodbye my friends), Marnie.


This totally looks like a paper cutout but its not! I’m really in Red Square! ps: its waaayyy smaller that you’d ever imagine it to be. I thought it went on for miles and miles. Its not small by any means but just more compact than I thought. Maybe Red Rectangle might be more appropriate.


This is me chillin in front of Lenin’s masoleum. Doodes, I totally went inside and saw Lenin. It was one chilling experience. We first went through serious metal detectors and our bags were searched (all cameras were prohibited, poo). At the entrance the guard told my dad to take his hands out of his pockets, and my dad thought he heard “put your hands in your pockets” which made for a tense but funny couple of seconds. Down we went a dark dark marble staircase (guards at each corner, mind you. Staunch, unflinching officers in full uniform standing under dramatic spotlights that made me think at first they weren’t human, but wax. Then they told me to keep walking and I thought, ok, they’re real.) until we turned a corner and saw Lenin resting in his glass case, bathed in a red glow which seemed like the only light in the room. It was spectacular, spooky and just unbelievable. My parents and I stopped walking and just stared but this wasn’t allowed and again, we were told to keep walking. then we walked past the Kremlin Wall Necropolis which features the graves of Communist bigwigs such as Stalin and Brezhnev. Insane, just a totally insane experience.


I feel bad not knowing the name of this cathedral at the top of my head at this sleepy moment but its one of the prominent cathedrals inside the Kremlin. Its old old old and very pretty inside. One of more than a dozen old churches we saw in Russia.


Again, the name escapes me at the moment but this is another church inside the Kremlin where many ancient Russian monarchs are buried in grim stone caskets including one very famous Ivan the Terrible.


This might look like the word “Mempo” to you but in Russian it says “Metro”.


Its no joke; the Russian metro is a thing of beauty AND function which is a rare combination anywhere, especially Russia. Each station had its own motif, from chandeliers to mosaics to sparkling marble floors and walls. One of my favorite things about this country for sure.