So it was New Year’s Eve morning and I was in St Petersburg.
Excited … you bet!
I am not a fan of crowded places and mostly I am content to spend this time of year on my own…indeed last year in China I worked!.
But this is Peter… the cultural capital of Russia and I was about to experience the beginning of a week of celebrations culminating with Orthodox Christmas… a week of festivity and fun.
Eating and drinking Russian style!
I had spent the day in anticipation ….texting and speaking to family and friends …had watched the fireworks in Sydney Harbour and then got ready to go and meet up with Grace ( new BFF )
I had treated myself to the hairdresser earlier in the week, the first time in nearly 9 months to get a cut and colour…put my lippy on and feeling fabulous, I took a selfie and posted on Facebook.
I was about to have an experience of a lifetime…something I would remember as one of the best nights of my life!
Peter was shining… street decorations glorious, buildings covered with lights, people milling around, buskers playing …it doesn’t get better than this!
We had a wonderful time just chatting in a typical Russian kitchen, where all the action happens … a few quiet drinks of classic Soviet Champagne and of course watched Putin deliver his national New Year’s address….
Yes this was Peter and I was here!
I cannot describe the excitement that was welling up inside of me …. pulling on my boots and putting on my winter scarf and coat ..I was ready …new iPhone in my pocket so I could share this trip of a lifetime!
We walked outside into what I have to say was a mild evening.
I remember thinking to myself …
‘what a shame its not snowing, but then you can’t have everything in life.’
As we left the apartment compound my hands were in my coat pocket and I was chatting excitedly with Grace.. I could hear singing and could see people walking past the gate…
and then suddenly…
All I remember is stumbling and the sound of something crunching…
It felt like for ever before I pulled my face off the ground and then blood was everywhere …
Fuck!
What had just happened?
I was on the ground!
How? (Apparently I had tripped over the gate railing!)
I was sober!
… sadly!
Jesus!
Grace and her flatmates were around me trying to help me up.
I could just hear the sound of someone wailing..
Fuck ..that was me!
‘Shut the fuck up you idiot!’ I remember saying to myself.
Standing up on shaky legs, I watched people staring at me as they walked past.
Why were they looking at me ?
I didn’t get it!
Why was blood pouring down my face?
What had just happened?
Seriously nothing actually made any sense!
Somewhere in the next few minutes an ambulance came and paramedics were helping me.
Now my Russian has got pretty good but I don’t remember much except them asking me if I had my passport (which I didn’t) and what had happened.
I don’t remember my answers!
I could hear the Russian National Anthem being sung just meters away from where we were.
In a daze I remember telling Grace I just wanted to get home – now that meant a metro ride and a walk home..
Grace helped to the metro…
In the midst of confusion, (a convert to the age of selfies), I took a photo …
Jesus! I looked like shit…
I managed to get home and put myself to bed
I woke up in the morning and feeling sore and confused …I went to the bathroom where I actually saw my self properly
That was scary…
enough said really!
Yep.. it was the trip of a life time but not quite the way I had imagined!
