Hello, dear reader!

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts, which I jotted down in my notebook during the difficult and fun moments of Summer 2018.

I want to say right away that these are excerpts of my memories, divided into chapters, so you can read them during your subway commute or on a coffee break at university.

So, let's begin!

Story 1 - I want to go to London!

I'm sure you've heard somewhere that if you fly to America via England, you get the right to walk around London for 24-48 hours. Yes, I heard that too back in the day. I didn't think long or reflect seriously, I just bought the tickets.

I bought these tickets: St. Petersburg - Riga - London - Reykjavik - San Francisco. The first mistake: I didn't buy transit tickets from London to San Francisco to save money.

We arrive in London, there's a huge waiting hall where everyone is standing with their English visas waiting for the customs officer to let them through. My passport is empty. I approach the counter, explain the situation, and immediately hear: "No, I am sorry, you should be waiting for your plane only here." I approach different staff members, hear the same thing, and with my peripheral vision, I'm already looking for a soft spot to spend 48 hours. A coincidence saves me.

An elderly border guard walks by, I tell him everything again, and he promises to help. My saviors: two American visas and a booked hotel room that would be lost if I wasn't let in. He "takes me by the hand" and goes to the chief customs officer, saying he vouches for me and that I won't stay in England illegally without transit tickets or a visa. He takes my passport and stamps it. That's it, I'm in England.

Next, I visited Reykjavik (Iceland), but it's easier there. It's Schengen.

Video from London