Ace Of Base

I have decided that there can be few things more interesting/terrifying than taking a taxi in Russia.

When looking around the streets, very few actual taxis are seen. Rather than legitimate taxis, Russians seem to rely on 'private taxis', which are basically just people driving their cars and looking for a little extra money. To find one of these private taxis, you simply put out your arm, and wait for someone to pull over - it's essentially city hitch-hiking. When the driver pulls over, you negotiate a price for where you want to go, and if you come to an agreement, you get in. Once you're in the car, the real fun/horror begins, as there doesn't appear to be any real traffic system in place to deal with the number of cars in this city. Cars move quickly, and without any real sense of order. I have no idea how the streets work, and I spend most of the travel-time convinced that I won't be making it where I need to go without some minor/major collision. So far, I've been surprised and I've managed to make it to where I need to go with absolutely no problem, and for a very reasonable price. I hope this continues.

Right now I'm going back to the Hermitage Museum, where I spent most of the day, to enjoy Swan Lake performed in Catherine the Great's private theatre.

In other news, Ace of Base is playing in town shortly, and there are posters everywhere.