On the eve of a journey.

Here now on the eve of my departure to St. Petersburg Russia, I sit and ponder the future. What will happen in these four months? What historic places will I visit? What communist era relic will stir in me some new leftist tendencies (gasp)?  When I have passed safely through the veritable wall that is Russian customs, and into the expanse that is the Pulkovo airport, what smells will waft into my nostrils? what sights and sounds will stimulate my sensory receptacles? When facing such new and foreign prospects (and I don't mean the great Soviet boulevards) such as these,my character is sure to be effected, in some way or another, for good or ill. All I can do is to hope and pray that when I emerge from the belly of the bear, and have been vomited back safely upon Canadian soil, I am stronger in mind, body, and spirit.


Philosophical musings on life aside, here is an awesome song by Turisas, a Finnish Folk/Viking metal band:

Turisas - To Holmgard and Beyond


Holmgard is the old Norse name for a city which was founded by Swedes travelling to the East. The city is now called Veliky Novgorod, and it is situated between St. Petersburg and Moscow.