Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Babushkina - Kirov
Winter 2000
———
Chris
I stepped off the St Petersburg-Murmansk express into the freezing gloom of early
morning Petrozavodsk. A couple of old ladies wrapped in countless shawls awoke
from a standing doze. They were selling sunflower seeds and they raised hopeful
eyes to the few passengers. I walked past them, my boots crunching the gritty snow
on the platform as I shrugged my heavy backpack into position and made my way
into town. I took a deep breath and tried to collect my thoughts.
A lot had happened in the weeks since we'd said goodbye to Baba Galya. Tim
and I returned to Finland and spoke at over a dozen schools throughout the country.
Afterwards, Tim headed back to Russia to spend Christmas with his mother and
sister, who'd come especially to see him. As for me, I hitchhiked to London where
I'd booked a cheap return flight back to Australia.
Home! My heart throbbed at the thought of it. Home and Nat.
It was both a reunion and a confirmation. We'd spent two and a half months
apart, and proved that our relationship could last.
We got engaged via a sort of mutual proposal. The topic had hovered unstated
on the edge of our e-mails and letters ever since we parted in Bucharest and now,
oblivious to the world and basking in each other's adoring gaze, the subject had
come up with ease. Smiling and without need of words, Nat gave me an engage-
ment ring.
We spent most of the two weeks in each other's arms. I was relishing this new
sense of commitment, a new and wonderful top priority in my life. We were both
trying to catch up on the months past and to fill our senses and memories with each
other to help us survive the year apart.
