“Russians live among the ruins”: the American humiliated St. Petersburg, but “Swallow” made her swallow the words
Sarah came to St. Petersburg and almost immediately began to criticize the city. She didn't like old buildings, deep subways and historic cathedrals. In her opinion, instead of restoration, it was worth building modern skyscrapers and investing in roads.
Her Russian friend decided not to argue, but to show the guest the city. In the St. Petersburg metro, Sarah was surprised by the depth of the stations and called the cars old. The man explained that the local subway not only carries passengers, but is also part of the history of the city, writes Zen channel “Talking about education”.
On the streets, the American continued to criticize the old facades. She believed that historical buildings should be replaced by modern glass buildings. However, her companion reminded that it is the architecture of past centuries that gives St. Petersburg a special character.
At St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Savior on Blood, Sarah again expressed her skepticism, calling the temples simply large stones. In her opinion, the money for the restoration was better spent on the roads. The man argued that the preservation of cultural heritage does not interfere with the development of modern infrastructure.
The turning point came during the trip on the Swallow. At first, Sarah wondered why they chose a train instead of a taxi, but soon noticed the convenience and speed of the trip.
On the way back, the American admitted that she used to consider old buildings a sign of poverty. Now she saw that the historical architecture is quite combined with modern transport.
Her companion did not convince the guest with loud statements. He simply showed her St. Petersburg, giving her the opportunity to draw her own conclusions. This story reminds us that the first impression of another country is not always true. Sometimes it is enough to see the city with your own eyes to reconsider previous beliefs.
