Constantine, Constantine, wherefore art thou Constantine?

I must say that I am highly disappointed.

I have been in Eastern Europe for over a month now, and I have yet to see ONE vampire. I mean, seriously! I have been to cathedrals, the sites of gory atrocities, ancient graveyards, and forboding ancient tombs. In fact, I've been to several places that were all of those at once. I've even been to a desecrated cathedral, and nothing! Same goes for ancient streets and deep underground metro stations at midnight. What gives?

Maybe it's just the wrong season- if the sun never sets this time of year, it's probably when all of them go on vacation or something. Still, I've got at least two sightings at home- I was hoping that Russia would be more fruitful.

Anyway, today is the kind of day that in Russian is called 'miraculous,' and I can believe it. The sun is shining, shining up in a huge blue sky with puffy white clouds floating past. It's very warm in the sun and fairly chilly in the shade, and it's just glorious. I did my laundry on Saturday, and almost everything was dry the next day, which is miraculous in itself- I was beginning to suspect myself of being a waterwitch, because every time I did laundry it poured.

Saturday was mostly kicking around the apartment. Yesterday I went to the Mariinsky- again!- and saw a one act opera and a one act ballet. The opera was stravinsky- might be called Nightingale in english- and awesome. The ballet... meh. Modern ballet about ancient gods is not my forte. The coolest thing that happened there was that I was late- no, that's not the cool thing- and had to sit on the floor for the opera. Then, during the intermission, I actually managed to have a conversation with an usher about where I was supposed to be, and they didn't break into English the minute they heard my accent. Joy! (It was actually better to sit on the floor for the opera- I think that I had one of the best seats in the house. The ballet was good from the balcony, so all around good luck.)

Thank the gods for my foresight in bringing a book of crossword puzzles. I didn't do a single one on the planes, I didn't do any for weeks- I was to the point of thinking that I would never, every do one and I'd bring it back to the united states untouched. Then, on Saturday, a spirit seized me and I think I did about seven in a row. I've been glued to that little book.

I may soon have a working photo gallery. I'm extra leery now about carting my technology around if I'm going to be out at night, now- one of the guys in my group had his cell phone stolen by the police, on his way home at about two. I'm rarely out past eleven, but it's still nervous-making.

Heh. Last night I must have been feeling a little subconsciously homesick, because my internal 'Time to Feed the Horses!' timer went off. It hasn't done that since my first week out.

Once again, I'm absolutely sure that there are a thousand more things to say, but I can't remember any of them right now. Miss you all!

comments

I've read that sign, Nurmi. I can totally believe it now. I have yet to see any humorous signs in english, but the shirts are certainly entertaining. The disillusioned punk with a sweatshirt that said "punk are not dead,"; the young man striding across a bridge in a shirt that says "PLOW"; a tiny old bird-like babushka, kerchief over her hair, waiting for a bus and looking for something in her handbag, in a baggy jacket that says in huge orange letters, "Wanna take it? Feel free."

Martha Stewart probably has a genetically engineered poodle that folds out into a full bathroom suite and dressing room, and can fold a perfect napkin at the same time.

PS

Almost forgot to mention this. I heard NSYNC playing in the supermarket yesterday. Horrors.