Yesterday, Tuesday we realised that we need to register with the local authorities. Its the law, apparently people that come with visas to Russia need to get registered. As in tell them : Oooookaaaay we are heeeere....
So we went over to the police station because that is what we were told to do. Upon our arrival at th police station, the officer told us that we shouldn't be here but at the migration bureau. So we went there. And they told us to go to the nearest post office. WHen we got to the post office we thought that it was a matter of them putting a stamp and signing and we were done. Well turns out we need to fill out two forms (both sides) and make photocopies of our visas, passports and migration cards (customs declarations we filled out on the plane to St-Petersburg). Oh and everything should be mailed to the consulate. I got so angry! I thought that we were done with the paperwork... But hey, nothing you can do about it :(
So Wednesday we woke up super early to bring in the papers to the post office. When we got there, it turned out that there were two copies of each form that needed to be made. So I took another 30 minutes and rewrote everything into another two blanks. (Before you ask, no they did not offer to photocopy the freaking form, but that is because we are in Russia and why work when you can make others work instead) Finally it cost up about 300 roubles (10$) to send the whole thing and we were finally done with the paperwork. I think I will have spend more time doing paperwork to gain access and stay in the fucking country than my actual 11 day vacation! Unbelievable!
Grandma decided that we should do a road trip to Pechory, a village where there is a beautiful monastery (and yes, I SERIOUSLY have been almost only checking out churches in the past few days). Pechory is about 50km away from Pskov.
We got into my uncle's Mercedez (gangsta!) and left.
On the way there we came across Izborsk, another village that has a big fort and famous springs. So we went there.
This cat was chilling at the entrance to the fort, near the souvenirs place. So cute !
There was some kind of archeological digging going on near the walls.
This is an arch that is almost all ruined. By the way, everything in the fort is super old, we are talking about constructions made in the XIV century!
This was a nice house right next to the church. I think it has been renovated since the 14th century :P
This is the tower at the far end of the fort. It is called Lukovka. The tower was used to guard the fort (see far faaaar awaaaay) and also as a storage space for the weapons. The tower is 13m high and the diameter at the base is 9.8m (I didn't memorise this, I took a picture of the information sheet next to the tower :P)
This is the car of the year 987. Very environmentally firendly, aerodynamic design and luxe wood plating. The wheels are custom made by Russian slaves. So hawt!
And this is the view just outside the tower. Dad and Uncle Alexey are pretending to be russian knights (bogatyri).
We are now on the other side of the fort, there is some kind of grave here. The stone is dated 1657 and its for those who died during the war then.
The Izborsk springs are supposed to be healing. There is a spring of love, happiness, money, strength, health, but only a VIsion (we are talking about full on religious hallucination) can tell you which spring is which (as in which on you should drink from). For those who dont know, Russian folk tales love the "you drink from this spring, you get this" kind of stories. There is even one where a boy drank from a river and became a goat... But I digress. Back to the springs
The water is ridiculously cold here (5-8 degrees Celsius). As it was a hot day I decided to dip my feet in the water. It felt like I was burning them. But with cold :) I didnt swim since we were gonna visit the monastery and I didnt want my clothes to be wet and transparent (Russian monasteries and churches require women to have a long skirt and cover their hair, as you will see later on!)
Unbelievable. The guy's house and garage look like they are about to fall apart, but he has SATELLITE TV!!!!
Fish! Dried fish! A delicacy in Russia.
The monastery of Pechory. Beautiful palce, strict dress code (I look so Russian lol)
They had these gorgeous blue roofs! WIth golden stars on them!
Somehow even the ventilation thing had a cross on it. Dad thinks its not ventilation. I still think is is.
Funny story, the whole place is made to look like the people (mainly the priests) that live there live like they are in the 17th century. Except that I overheard a conversation between two priests:
- So how will you know what it is?
- As, I'll just google it!
Internets. It is everywhere!
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