Hello from Russia! Nothing too exciting to share with you this week! It was a pretty quiet and typical week over here - I worked, I traveled to Svetogorsk for a few days, I came back home for a really quiet (but relaxing weekend).
So here's a few pictures
This is Svetogorsk! The location of our IP paper mill, a town of around 15,000 people in the Northeastern corner of the Leningrad Oblast. 1 kilometer from the Russian/Finnish border, it has been part of Russia since 1944. The town was founded in 1887 when a paper mill was built there by the Finns.
That's about all that can be said! Not exactly a hotbed of fun & excitement. In my new job, I have to travel to the mill a few days each week. It's a painful & rough 3 hour car drive on really bad roads. I should own stock in Dramamine considering how many I've taken in the past 3 years.
Other than work, this is where I spend all of my time. The Svetogorsk Hotel. Or as we call it "Sveto Hilton".
Our company owns the hotel. And as an American manager, I get to stay in the luxurious 5th floor. We have our own bathroom with running water! Steam heat from the mill! And a comforter that I immediately throw onto the floor once I get settled.
Plus a whole separate sitting room with flat screen TV (although there are only Russian channels, so I tend to watch a lot of music videos).
In all seriousness, It's not that bad. It's clean, it's safe, and the restaurant downstairs makes a mean Chicken Kiev with fries, which is ALWAYS a safe choice.
A view from my room
Another view. Not much more to say about it. Except that I think I'll be watching a lot of videos on my iPad this winter on my trips to Svetogorsk.
Back in St. Petersburg for the weekend, I got some nice nighttime pictures one evening after work.
The Bronze Horseman.......
The Senate Building
They really do a great job lighting up the city buildings and monuments. It helps make my quiet walks home much more comfortable
Hmmmm ! Maybe I'll invest in Prestige Brands, Inc.
ReplyDelete