Life with Lydia

I got to celebrate my 21st birthday last October in Russia!  My friends bought me flowers and AMAZING chocolate :) Fun times in the lounge room, especially when someone put a bow in Matthew's hair. ^_^ Chess time again! Isaac and I went to Maza Park the day before my birthday to check it out. This is where I ended up having my party! A fun place where you can play all sorts of games including bowling, archades, ping-pong, rollerblading, and pool to name a few. This is my friend Daniil. He and I helped each other learn English/Russian for ten months before I came to Russia! He and his friend Oleg live in Murmansk, but they came to SPB for their vacation. We climbed to the top of this roof for a great view of the city! So glad I finally got to meet Daniil! Vanessa and Holly! This is my friend Lindsay. She bought my first ever drink :) Thanks Lindsay! At midnight of the 25th I turned 21 because I was born exactly at midnight! 

A fun evening in a small pub in Russia :) It was my beautiful friend Holly's birthday! <3 Emily looking classy Lauren posing with her tea  I thought the wallpaper in the bathroom was cool! I actually had just bought this dress and hat at a second-hand store that night! It's now my favorite hat :) A small alley in SPB has this painted on the wall. <3 Tchaikovsky! Hookah time with great conversation Chloe <3 Me and Isaac. I don't look prepared for this photo ^-^ Walking home A beautiful night out. This was actually the night I stayed up late and watched my brother's wedding happening in the U.S. on video chat. Even though I couldn't be there in person, I got to experience it live :)

Some of us went to Saint Peter and Paul's Fortress. It's the oldest place in SPB. This photo is inside the cathedral. Tombs including that of Peter the First's, founder of Saint-Petersburg and this fortress The room where the Romanov family is buried including Anastasia. Sure is an old place! Tour guide with the best! Next to the Canal My lovely friends :) An extremely cute cafe in the park. So adorable! Beautiful mallards at my favorite spot in the park This is a few blocks from where I lived. Walked past these pigeons everyday. The metro stations there are so fancy! Outside the grocery store, someone left their dogs while they were shopping :) Candy shopping with Isaac. Lol More shopping. Emily was brave and asked a Russian lady where to find something. Making Kolaches! Ready to be baked! Chess every day in the break room at the university. Chris contemplating his next chess move