isn't it pretty?

still not sure this visa for a limited time only to st. petersburg was worth the interminable wait, the impenetrable red tape or the unprompted rudeness from the russian bureaucrats.

highlight of the exchange with the man expressly tasked with facilitating my application:

me: what documents will i need to present to apply for the visa?
russian press officer: i don't know what documents you need, i've never had to apply for a russian visa

fair enough. but i'm counting myself lucky, my boss is still empty-handed