A New Leotard and an Old Friend

Today, a videographer came to record our ballet class. I had been warned not to be surprised by the frequency with which people come to the academy to take videos of classes or interview teachers, but I still was not expecting to have a camera show up in my ballet class within my first week here. 

Class was challenging and enjoyable, and remained mostly uninterrupted by the cameraman, which I was grateful for.

After class, another new international trainee and I decided to venture out in St. Petersburg in search of the Grishko store (since the one located in the school has, much to my disappointment, remained closed all week). Along the way, we consulted Google Maps a few times to make sure that we were where we thought we should be and were still headed in the proper direction. We did a fine job of navigating ourselves, though, and managed to stay on track the whole time. Google Maps didn't need to come rescue us.

It was unusually warm and sunny today, and I was feeling rather toasty in my thick sweater by the time we arrived at the Grishko store.

I did not end up buying any pointe shoes, since the store did not carry the style of shoe that I wear. Instead, I bought a new leotard. 

Later, my friend Оля (Olya) surprised me by letting me know that she had arrived in St. Petersburg earlier than I had expected. We had not seen each other in more than two years, when her family hosted me during part of my time in Moscow with an NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) program, so it was a very happy moment for both of us when we saw each other this evening.

Оля introduced me to a shop, just a few blocks away from the academy, where one can buy all sorts of delicious foods, from chocolate truffles to raspberry hard candy to brightly decorated cupcakes and pastries topped with frosting shaped like flowers. The inside of the store is painted in mint green and embellished with ornate decorations. There are chandeliers and old wood cabinets throughout the store, and a giant pineapple in the center. There is music coming from a piano that plays itself.

The store has an excellent selection of macaroons, which this picture is doing no justice to. (There are a lot more further down the counter that I missed with the photo, and they also look much more delicious in real life). I ate a black currant flavored macaroon, and it was absolutely superb. I most certainly will be returning here for more delicious delicacies.

Оля then took me to see the Mariinsky Theater for the first time. I am already in love with building, and I hope that I will be able to see a performance here soon.

This was a full and exciting day- an excellent way to end the week.

(P. S. - Bonus points to anybody who can find me in the picture of the Mariinsky Theater :)