holmes away from home: a bunch of awesome.

Our last few days in Russia, we filled with awesome things. i don't think i could ask or plan for anything better.

Alexander Nevsky Cemetery and Cathedral

I think this cemetery was one of my favorite things i saw in russia. i don't know what it is about it that's so cool, but with the cold, humid day there was just something very peaceful about it. but, it was also really sad to see that they weren't very well taken care of.

and then we went on a pretty little nature walk...

and then we walked like 2 miles along the side of a river, AKA freezing, to get to the...

Smolny Cathedral

i was kind of disappointed when we got there and realized it wasn't open to go look at. we could walk inside the door, but it was a concert hall or something, so we couldnt just go look around. but at least we could sit there for a minute and get warm! that was a definite plus.

even though we couldn't see much of the inside, this is still one of my favorite cathedrals. i just think it's really beautiful.

another awesome Christmas display :)

KGB anyone?

gotta love Russian architecture...

and.... to end the day we went to a Christmas party at the Institute building! there were videos, skits, and testimonies. and of course good food. there's always food when you're mormon :)

Russian Museum

personally, i'm not a huge fan of museums. i just get really bored after not very long. i feel bad about it, but really not at the same time. well, the russian museum is one of the few exceptions to that rule. i LOVE the russian museum. we went to the hermitage and overall i got really bored, really fast. i just really wasn't all that interested in the art there, regardless of how classic it is. the russian museum is just that, a russian museum. it's all things russian. about russia, by russians, all the good stuff. i loved it.

<3 this painting.

hell= waiting in line for eternity. literally.

kinda intricate i think....

you can't tell, but this is actually like, 2x1 inches probably. it's tiny. do you see that detail?!

this picture was done in the hermitage. i've been there. and stood there. no big deal or anything.

A Dinner Date with Heather

there's a really good, but kind of expensive restaurant that Heather and i love. so, we had to go one last time before we left. remember the mint mojito and chicken sandwich? most importantly the mint mojito, same place. well, it was freezing outside so i decided to get some hot chocolate. at least that's what i thought i was getting. who doesn't love a nice, hot cup of hot cocoa on a freezing cold december night? well, that's not what i got. i got a cup of a melted down chocolate bar and a glass of luke-warm water. we were almost gagging trying to finish it all.