My memories of the city are still hazy after a four year absence, but as I walk the city streets, once again rediscovering all it has to offer, these memories trickle back into consciousness. Along with the historic gravitas of its imperial past, it welcomes me with nuances that point to another era in the country's rich history. The cold, bureaucratic (in)efficiency of Pulkovo airport, the layers of dust filling the streets, paint peeling along decade-old cracks in centuries'-old buildings--these are unmistakably the remains of Soviet rule. Reminders of this bygone era follow you around the city, adding a charm all its own.
I enter my new home on the prospect of Rimskovo-Korsakova. A damp stench fills my lungs as a cup filled with hundreds of cigarette buds catches my eye. I make my way up to the fourth floor and a familiar doorway leads me into an even more familiar apartment, where I'm now re-energizing for the days to come. The apartment is just as I left it four years ago, and my room is cozier than ever. It's 5 a.m. and daylight has never left my eyes, as if jetlag wasn't disorienting enough. I'm excited to see what the next day brings. It seems like I have a lot in store for myself (and hopefully for you too) as I refresh my memories and create new ones along the way.
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